Scripture does teach thereof but also signifies little Insight into the State of the opposite Kingdoms of Christ and the Devil in the World the conflict between which and the decree of God to put the Powers of the one under the Feet of the other are the main occasions of his making such Changes by which he pursues the fulfilling his decree as well as awakens in men a fear of him I have therefore given some brief Account of the Rise and State of those Kingdoms in the World driving on to that happy Issue of the great conflict between them whereby the great works of Providence for accomplishing the same may be contemplated with better Judgment than blindly to be censured as dismal works of darkness AN Enquiry into the Vision OF THE Slaying and Rising OF THE WITNESSES c. THe time of the Prophesying of the Witnesses being certain viz. 1260 Prophetick days which are so many years If we can find out the beginning of their Prophesying it will discover also the time of their finishing the same and of the Slaying and Rising of them thereon But I must first note a mistake in Expositors in making the 1260 days of their Prophesying and the Womans abode in the Wilderness to be Synchronal with the 42 Months of the continuance of the Ten-horned-beast and the Treading down of the Outer-Court whenas the Commencement of the former does precede the latter Those times being of equal extent does make it easy to fall into that mistake especially when they cannot much differ in the time of their commencing but that they differ therein is evident First From the continuance of the Ten-horned beast after the Witnesses finishing their prophesying For when they have finished the same the beast ascending out of the bottomless-pit which is the Ten-horned-beast makes war against them and overcomes them c. Also the same Beast is to continue till the abolishing of the Antichristian Powers by the battel of the great day of God Almighty at the seventh Trumpet and the seventh Vial when the Beast and the false Prophet are to be cast into the Lake of Fire Rev. 19.20 Therefore the 42 Months being the same extent of time with the 1260 days and continuing after their Expiring must also Commence after them Secondly From the Persecution which the old Serpent being cast into the Earth Rev. 12. did raise against the Woman fled into the Wilderness before the Rise of the Ten-horned-beast For after his being so cast down he casts out water like a Flood after her to carry her away And after he hath so spent his wrath against her he proceeds to make war with the Remnant of her Seed by the Ten-horned-beast c. 13. Now the Womans abode in the Wilderness being 1260 days the same with the Prophesying of the Witnesses and there suffering this Persecution preceding to the Rise of the Ten-horned-beast its plain that the 42 Months of his continuance must commence after the 1260 days It appearing therefore that the 1260 days and 42 Months are not wholly Synchronal I proceed to the commencement of the first being the time of the Witnesses Prophesying and the Womans abode in the Wilderness Thither she fled from the Persecution of the Devil for her bringing forth the Man-child who was caught up unto Gods Throne and thereby the Devil cast out into the Earth So that her abode there does commence from the time of his being so cast down which befell him about the end of Theodosius Magnus his Reign when the Heathen worship became abolished by his shutting up the Heathen Temples and depriving the Priests of their Revenues Whereby the devil fell from his Heavenly Station of being worshipped as the God of this World as also from the Power which upheld that worship Which further appears from the commencement of the Trumpets which according to Mr. Mede and others was by the Incursion of the Barbarous Nations which immediately succeeded the said Theodosius his death For their sounding being the subject of the seventh seal the devils being cast down must immediately precede the same being that befell him by the Revolution in the Heathen Government which is the subject of the Sixth Seal His fall from Heaven appears therefore both from the abolishing of the Heathen Worship and the immediate succeeding of the Trumpets to be about the end of the said Theodosius his Reign which Mr. Mede makes to end in the year 395 and also makes the devils fall from Heaven by the said Revolution in the Sixth Seal to be then completed or fulfilled But the Persecution thereon which drives the Woman into the Wilderness having no notable Transaction whereto to fix its beginning and being not to be supposed so immediately to succeed the devils being cast out as not to have some small space of time for the raising it and the 1260 days of her abode in the Wilderness being a Computation by Centuries with an odd sixty it s most Congruous to make them Commence with the fifth Century which so soon succeeds the said Theodosius his death viz. begins five years after it and so the odd sixty years to succeed a Century And thus making the beginning of the fifth Century to be the Epocha of the 1260 days of the Womans abode in the Wilderness its clear when they must end viz. in the year 1660 and consequently the 1260 days of the Prophesying of the Witnesses which I think none doubt but that it s during the same time must do the same And as the thus fixing the Epocha of those years or Prophetick days appears so reasonable so the truth thereof will be much confirmed when we come to apply the same to History that is when we find that at the end of those days the slaying and rising of the Witnesses c. became fulfilled which we find not how otherwaies to make out so as to agree with the Vision That the time and times and half c. is synchronal or signifies the same time with the 1260 days appears from both being the measure of the Womans abode in the Wildernss cap. 12. But the 42 months of the Ten-horned beast cannot commence till the Empire became divided into ten Kingdoms by the barbarous Nations that over-ran it which was not till after the middle of the fifth Century Mr. Mede makes it to be soon after the taking Rome by Gensericus the Vandal which he says was A.D. 455. and that the year following or soon after the whole Empire became divided into Ten Kingdoms But the reviving of the Ten-horned-beast cannot well be reckoned till the expiring of the Western Empire in Augustulus A.D. 476. For the Emperors being the sixth Head under which the Beast received its deadly wound by a sword that ought to be expired before its reviving under a new Head Also the Man of Sin was not to be revealed till He that did let viz. the sixth Head or Roman Emperors was taken out of the way And tho' those Emperors
till the sixth Vial and then it will fulfil The drying up the River Euphrates to make way for the Kings of the East unlikely to last long and at present even to cease from continuing the Plague of a Woe-Trumpet And being at the time when the second Woe-Trumpet is past and the tenth part of the City is fallen both which are now about being fulfilled it 's said The third Woe cometh quickly it can hardly be at a greater distance than the said year 1735 and therefore the great event signified then to fall out must in all likelihood be it Which is much confirmed by the 42 months of the continuance of the Beast so agreeing therewith For his time beginning in the year 476 and ending at the seventh Trumpet as before shewed the 42 months from the said Epocha end in the year 1736 the year after the said 1735. But it may be objected That the said Numbers of Daniel in â—…e typical sense mentioned should rather commence with the 〈◊〉 months of the Antichristian Reign which in their typical sense â—…ey respect than with the 1260 days which have an higher Eâ—…ha To which I say that the taking away the dayly Sacriâ—… c. may in a typical sense be well applyed to the Epocha 〈◊〉 the 1260 days both in respect of the persecution by which 〈◊〉 Devil caused the Woman to fly into the Wilderness and â—…o in respect of the Advance Antichrist had then made in corâ—…ing the World with the Mysteries of Iniquity And thereâ—…e though his Reign cannot be said to commence till he beâ—…e a new Head of the Ten-horned-beast succeeding the sixth â—…ead which expired A.D. 476. yet those Numbers in their tyâ—…al sense may well respect him before the proper commenceâ—…nt of his Reign And they being there introduced in reference 〈◊〉 the preceding time and times c. as aforesaid they are to â—…ve the same Epocha and so notifie signal times of the advanceâ—…g and accomplishing the deliverance of the People of God â—…ch commenceth at the end of time and times c. or 1260 â—…ys by the rising of the Witnesses after the slaying them and 〈◊〉 the Judgment that then begins to sit as aforesaid to take â—…ay the dominion of the Beast c. Having thus discovered the time of the expiring of the 1260 â—…ys and so of the slaying and rising of the Witnesses thereon â—…e are next to enquire How History Answers the same or â—…ere and how the same hath been fulfilled The year 1660 â—…ing as before shewed the time of the expiring of the 1260 â—…ys nothing then fell out that appears capable of Answering â—…e description of the slaying and rising of the Witnesses unless 〈◊〉 great Revolution by the Restauration The slaying them is â—…ed chiefly to one of the ten Kingdoms the Empire was diviâ—…d into by the falling of the Tenth Part of the City that 〈◊〉 one of those ten Kingdoms on their rising and ascending 〈◊〉 Cloud And what Kingdom can this be but ENGLAND â—…deed the French Persecution and also the Hungarian did beâ—… about the same time both the French and the Imperial Court â—…ing Encouragement thereunto from our KING's Restauraâ—…n as well they might considering what he as well as his Broâ—…er proved to be on which and the preceding Pyrenean Peace 〈◊〉 Design was set on foot for Ruining the Reformed Religion So that it 's a very remarkable time for the slaying of the Witnesses to commence at which considered together with the Reasons I have given for the 1260 days ending then seems to make it unquestionable to be the true time thereof But nothing then or since fell out in France or elsewhere but in England that can answer the Vision of the slaying them c. For it 's said thereon They that dwell on the Earth shall rejoyce and make merry and send Gists one to another because that those two Prophets tormented them that dwell on the Earth But no such rejoycing hath been at those foreign Persecutions they being not so much approved of as to cause such solemn rejoycings but on the contrary those that have been deeply concerned in promoting the French Persecution have been ashamed to own the same it being so inhumane and barbarous as to move pity and favour from Papists themselves whereas it 's well known what great and solemn rejoycings there was both at home and abroad for the King's Restauration by reason that the dwellers on earth had been tormented by that Party which was then prevailed against and which thereon was retaliated with those severe punishments and sufferings which they have since undergone But then How was the Witnesses lying dead three days and a half that is three years and a half fulfilled in England To which I say That there may be such a symbolical meaning of their lying dead as to make the fulfilling thereof according to the Prophetick time needless For it may refer to Antiochuâ— Epiphanes his Prophaning the Temple and to the time of Elyah's mournful prophesying when he caused great Famine by shutting up Heaven c. both which were for the same time and so signisie that their lying dead shall be alike short time of Tryal and have thâ— like happy Issue Yet a fulfilling thereof according to the prophetick time may be aptly enough assigned For reckoning the slaying the Witnesses here chiefly to respecâ— the excluding so many Non-conforming Ministers by the Bartholomew-Act yet including also those who were shut out of Civil Employment by the Corporation-Act or otherwaies for favouring that Cause that was then so run down from Bartholomew-day 1662 the three years and half will end in Februarâ— 1665. About which time the dreadful Plague had so finisheâ— its slaughter as to make the Citizens flock fast to London agaiâ— And the Non conforming Ministers having during the Plague 〈◊〉 the Risque of that danger which the Parish-Ministers sled 〈◊〉 and supplyed their Pulpits which they deserted did thereâ—… gain that Reputation with the City as was a beginning of â—…e Entrance of the spirit of Life into them to set them on their 〈◊〉 For the People were so affected with that dreadful Judgâ—ent and the Zeal and Faithfulness to their Duty which the â—on-conforming Ministers did manifest thereon as much to â—…ntenance their Meetings which they were then encouraged 〈◊〉 set up and were so born out therein that the Oxford-Act â—…de during the Plague could take little effect to drive them â—…om the City On which see Mr. Baxter's Non-conformists â—…ea for Peace p. 236 237 238 239. and he hath these remarkâ—…le Words thereon Thus the dreadful Plague began that which 〈◊〉 so much offendeth as a dangerous Schism Also the next disâ—…l Judgment which laid the City in Ashes and so gave more â—…untenance to the Non-conformists Meetings by reason of the â—…ish-Churches being destroyed and the Unsuccessfulness of â—…e Dutch War wherewith it was expected to ruine that Naâ—… were together with the preceding Plague such astonishâ—…g Providences as must
needs strike the evil World with some â—…ead of that Divine Power so wonderfully manifested in its â—…dgments But the Contemplation thereof was such reviving â—…d animating of the Witnesses which might be with a due â—…passion of the evils inslicted by those Judgments and an â—…ancing of their Repute and Interest as to complete the setâ—…g them on their feet from their slain condition Which begat in their Adversaries such fear of them fulfillâ—…g what is said of the Witnesses raised again on their feet That â—…t fear fell on them that saw them as brought the Penal Laws 〈◊〉 them to suppress and hath since begotten many politick Arts 〈◊〉 keep them under and hinder their ascending in a Cloud to 〈◊〉 Heaven of Power whether the great Voice ver 12. does 〈◊〉 them Notwithstanding which they have continued still eâ—…ging in the World and will do so till that Voice be fulâ—…ed And as our late Revolution hath gained them that Liâ—…ty which is like to be so holding as to prove an open Door â—…em which no man can shut so it seems designed also for the â—…illing that Voice and thereby accomplishing the Fall of the â—…th Part of the City though the same be hitherto much obâ—…cted by continuance still of the former Enmity against them and Jealousies of them notwithstanding the great detriment the Publick receives thereby Though this Vision thus concerns our Nation as it chiefly respects one of the ten Kingdoms the Empire was divided into as before noted yet it hath also a concurrent fulfilling in other Countries where the afore mentioned design against the Reformed Religion on the Restauration c. hath been pursued to the utmost whereby as the slaying of the Witnesles hath been fulfilled with them so there hath and will be a fulfilling of their Resurrection by the aforesaid Judgment that now sits at the end of time and times c. To take away the dominion of the Beast and to consume it unto the end This Account of the slaying and rising of the Witnesses as respecting one of the ten Kingdoms c. is further confirmed from the Persecution here which succeeded the Restauration it s better agreeing with the slaying of the Witnesses than those Persecutions which then and since have faln out elsewhere coming short of their barbarous Inhumanity though so severe and heavy as to prove ruinous to many and so better answering to the slaying the Witnesses which is different from the former Antichristian Persecutions both as being peculiar to the Witnesses the Worshippers in the Inner-Court or Temple and Altar whereas the former extends also to the Outer-Court trodden down and as being not so much designed to destroy as to silence and subdue importing a political and a spiritual Death viz. as to their exercising their Function of Prophesying from whence they are raised by the Spirit of LIFE entring into them c. Also the Persecution here is more likely than any elsewhere to be the slaying the Witnesses because the Sufferers under it were such as espoused the Cause they were engaged in upon their own Judgment and Choice and much contrary to their worldly Interest both in respect of their excluding themselves thereby from Preferments and also exposing themselves to manifold evils from Punishment of Laws and Enmity of their prevailing Adversaries Whereas the Persecution in France and elsewhere being against a Religion so long established by Law that the Professors of it received it by Education it was therefore like a National Religion which involves all Professors true or false and so had multitudes in its Communion not so much from Principles of Conscience as the Influence of Education whereby the Truth was not so rooted in their hearts as to enable them to abide those Tryals that came upon them But this Account of the slaying and rising of the Witnesses tho' enforced with so strong Reasons will not be easily digested by those who so highly esteem the Reformation as to make the breaking then with Rome to be a dismembring us from the Ten-horned-beast or a separating this Kingdom from continuing one of the Horns thereof Which cannot be if the slaying the Witnesses was fulfilled according to my Account thereof For they being slain by the Beast that ascends out of the Bottomless-pit that is the Ten-horned-beast which cap. 13. is said to arise out of the Sea and cap. 17. to ascend out of the Bottomless-pit this Kingdom must continue a Member of that Beast or one of the Horns thereof at the time of the slaying them Which that it did so seems so clear from other Reasons also as to make it hardly conceivable to be otherwaies For the Reformation made no Alteration in the Civil Government and therefore could not make any as to this Kingdoms continuing a Part or Member of the Ten-horned-beast which is a representation of the Politick or Civil State of the Empire Nor did it make any in the Ecclesiastical Jurisdiction so called the same Hierarchy continuing here with rejection of the foreign Jurisdiction usurpt by the Pope And though the Reformation made in Religion was much Praise-worthy as a good beginning yet it fell much short of obeying that Voice Come out of her my People c. Rev. 18. And yet instead of making further progress it proved retrograde and backsliding became so prevalent as to beget dismal apprehensions of our relapsing to what we had reformed from and thereby involved us in the calamities of the Civil War Yet so far were we from being warned thereby that the Restauration proved a reviving of the same designs which before had produced such sad effects and which now became more eagerly driven on both out of enmity to that Party which were God's Scourge for the former pursuing the same and also to prevent the like sufferings from them again by a total suppressing them It appears therefore that the Antichristian Spirit of the World hath been the prevailing or predominant Spirit in the Nation since the Reformation and how can it then not continue us of the same Antichristian-body the Ten-horned-beast as formerly whatever Variance we have had since with Rome And being refin'd in Profession by the Reformation whilst the same Antichristian Spirit and worldly Power continues to bear sway does rather make us more complete Members of that Beast than make us cease from continuing Members thereof the Mystery of Iniquity consisting in warring against Christ under a Christian Profession or having Horns like a Lamb yet speaking as a Dragon And such Reformation in such enlightened times is indeed serviceable for the prolonging of worldly Power in opposition to the coming of Christs Kingdom whilst Satan being transformed into an Angel of Light and his Ministers into Ministers of Righteousness become thereby enabled the longer to vye with the true Children of Light Also the 1260 days of the Witnesses Prophesying and the Womans abode in the Wilderness ending as before shewed but in the year 1660 and by some not so