excommunications for such a term also but likewise to make War against the Church as War is taken largely and not strictly seeing that all those Three are joyn'd together by the Holy Ghost and t is so expresly mentioned in our Greek Copy Power was given him to make War 42. Months Rev. 13.4,5 379. The whole Reign of the Beast is quodam modò a certain kind of War and opposition against the Church for the Devil is her restless Adversary and never departs from her but as he departed from her Lord only for a season Luk. 4.13 once in the Month he will be sure to assault her and thus he makes the Beast fulfil those 42. Prophetical Months though there may be some lucida intervalla some Respit Thus the Red-Dragon makes three Assaults or Persecutions in Revel 12. The first is against the Man-Child which that glorious Primitive Church clothed with the Sun c. after many strong Prayers for a Nursing Father in the Empire and after ten sharp Throes in the 10. Persecutions brought forth Chap. 12. v. 4. 380. The second Assault was against the Woman or Church it self that brought forth this Man-Child after he was caught up to God and to his Throne v. 5. and the Dragon being cast out v. 9.13 Thus when Constantine that Man-Child had destroy'd the Dragon then did the Dragon cast out of his mouth a Flood of Arrianism to drown the Woman But the third Assault was against the Womans Seed or Remnant v. 17. that kept Gods Commandments by the Antichristian Beast Ch. 13. t is said he went to make War with them Chap. 12.17 which is the same word in Ch. 13.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that the Beasts Reign is call'd a making War with the Seed of the Church 381. This War or Persecution against the Remnant of the Seed Antichrist began betimes after he had got his Kingdom as our Martyrologies do shew in all those ten Kingdoms that belonged to his Jurisdiction for he had the Sword of those ten Horns at his Command to War against this Remnant withall Those Kings were to fulfill Antichrists will Revel 17.17 and was like so many Vassal-Kings under the Beast to go and do at his bidding Such a Check and Command he had over them as the Centurion had over his Soldiers Matth. 8.9 382. If Antichrist say to this King Go he presently Goeth if to Another Come he Cometh If to a Third do this he must do it if he bid any of those Horns Go push this Remnant Go Strike them with your Sword They must fulfil his will right or wrong If he bid them Go make War against Turks or Hereticks they went as appears in the Holy-War so call'd and in the Churches Persecutions he had also his Emissaries those Fryar-Frogs that stirr'd up People with promises of universal Pardons to persecute Hereticks Rev. 16.13.14 yet all this amounts not to a formal War Strictly taken the formalis Ratio of War being a fighting of several Battles betwixt two Parties by force of Arms Now though there were many butcheries and Massacres of the Saints from the Primitive times yet properly no War till the 12. Century for then the Waldenses took up Arms in their own just defence both as Men and as Christians against the Popish Croisadoes 383. There is a 5th Intimation to wit The Womans dwelling in the Wilderness which Mr. Mede makes Contemporary with the Reign of the Beast and to begin at the same Instant of time 1. Because of the Equality of both their Times as 42. Months and 1260. days being an Equal Number therefore they must concur in the whole Intermediate space of Time from beginning to ending 2ly Because upon her entrance into the Wilderness she meets with this double Beast the 10 Horned and the two Horned one to the former of which the Dragon standeth on the Sea-shore gave his Power and Throne as he saith 384. But because this also is Incumbred with several Ambiguities I dare not insist upon this neither as 1. It doth not necessarily follow that equal Times must be the same Times for bare Equality hinders not but some of those Times may be before and some after and so have differing Dates Therefore Mr. Mede confesses t is not Infallibly Concluding 2ly The Womans flight into the Wilderness if it Commence at Constantines comming to the Crown and the times of the Beast Synchronize with it as Holy Brightmans opinion was Par. 285. this makes the Beasts Expiration long before t is found really to be so by Experience Exitus acta probat 385. A 3d. Incumbrance that this Intimation seems to be perplexed with is that there seems to be a double Computation of the Womans flight into the Wilderness one before the Battle was fought Revel 12.6 for the Battle is related after in ver 7.8.9 the End of which was there was no place for the Dragon in Heaven the other was after when the two wings of an Eagle was given to her ver 14. as Mr. Cotton observes so then this double Computation must needs make the time of the Reign of the Beast the more Ambiguous and 4ly If Mr. Medes Notion hold that the two wings given to the Woman were the two Caesars of the Empire divided into East and West by whose help she got into the Wilderness Then the latter Computation of her flight must not be till after Theodosius for the division of the Empire into East and West stood not till his two Sons came to inherit them 386. But then 5ly The Flood of Arrianism must precede the Rising of the Beast which took up a great Interspace after the destroying of the Dragon This Heresy continued some hundreds of years and was a long time publickly received in the Church spreading it self universally East and West from thence Jerom Ingemuit totus Orbis se Arrianum miratus est and persecuting the Orthodox under Constantius beyond all the Pagans till the Earth which help'd the Woman Revel 12.16 of the Barbarous Nations providentially broke this Arrian Faction Thus this Synchronism wants not Ambiguities 387. And Ignotum per Ignotius a dark by a darker can never be any good demonstrative Argument to find out the certainty of any Postulatum or Question whatsoever Those Ambiguities both about the Beasts War and about the Womans flight makes them the less demonstrative for there seems to be a double accompt of both Of the Beasts War one is against the Remnant when the Church was got from the Dragon into the Wilderness as Israel from Pharaoh into the desert then began that War with her Seed that could not get into the Wilderness with her so had not Temples nor Prophets to feed and nourish them as the Church in the Wilderness had Revel 12.6.14 but served God privately without either Meetings or Ministry as some say in Antichrists Dominions 388. And that Decree which Pope Innocent the first made to wit that omnes Hereticos esse Vi cogendos
Popery is but mans Wit and Invention 282. Now come we to the other Apocaliptick Number to wit the 42 months or 1260 days or years which some interpret in a way of conjunction with this last Number 666. and therefore I do speak of it the latter though in the Introduction I made it the former Many late Writers hath concurr'd with T. L. in making 1260 Y. to be Antichrists Term and 666. the millenary Number being understood though not express'd as before to be the period of that Term and to find a fit Correspondency betwixt those two Numbers they look out for the rise of Antichrist 283. And finding the Egg of Antichristianism to be lay'd in the Days of Innocent the first in the Ye of Christ 406. and that by express Commission there was furthermore granted to the Beast his Heirs and Successors 1260 Years for the hatching fostering and perfecting of this Egg or Child of Perdition which being added to 406. makes 1666. to be the very Year wherein the Judgements of God denounced shall fall upon Antichrist And he shall as easily weigh the fire or measure the wind or call again the day that is past as avoid the decree of his Down-fall then determined and as T. L. saith then my Lord of Rome must lay down his proud waves 284. Other Interpreters labour for no concurrence or Coincidency betwixt 1260 and 666. but doth measure Antichrist only by that Lease or Term that is given him to do or continue to wit 42 Months or which is all one 1260 Y. Thus many learned and holy Men binding up themselves to this Number only and varying in their judgements where to make the Epocha or Beginning of the Beasts Rise hath likewise exceedingly varyed in their Opinions about his Period and Ruine 285. Mr. Brightman makes the beginning of the Term of Antichrist to be at Constantines coming to the Crown for then began the war with the Dragon c. when the Man-child was brought forth that is advanced to Imperial dignity Rev. 12.5 and so he makes the Authority of the Beast to expire about the Year of Christ 1546. which year or time was so far from ending the Beast that at that time he was rather more advanced for then did the Councel of Trent condemn the Scriptures in advancing the Vulgar Latin to be most Authentick and then did Charles the fift war against the Protestant Princes in Germany 286. Mr. Durham comes near to this Computation of holy Brightman making the close of the 1260 Y. of Antichrists absolute and uninterrupted Tyranny and triumphing over the Witnesses to fall out in the Year 1559. when Reformation began by publick Authority at Ausperg till then he saith the Witnesses ascended not into heaven For then not only in Germany a Dyet enacted for Religion but also in England it was rais'd up by Q. Elizabeth and the Year before that it was receiv'd in Scotland and the year after to wit 1560. in France by Charles the ninth thus he in his Comment on Revel 287. But 't is objected saith he against this Opinion that this Computation places the rise of Antichrist over-high in the 3. Century after Christ which was a time when the Church enjoy'd both Purity and Liberty in the Days of that good Emperor Constantine To this he answers thus As Antichrist began to work from the Apostles time so much more from the time of outward Rest and Peace which the Church enjoy'd by Constantine who freed her from Heathenish Persecution 288. Pride soon saith he infected her Pastors Hodiè venenum in Ecclesiam fudisti was imputed to Constantine when he made the Church as it were luxuriant with Temporal Priviledges and the Roman Pastor having the greatest advantages of sharing in those Priviledges as Rome was then the Lady of Kingdoms began soon to improve them at least ad Potentiam Pontificiam though not suddenly ad Omnipotentiam as afterwards 289. The Pontificial Omnipotency or settled Superiority and the title of Universal Bishop he confesses was not indeed usurp'd till Boniface the third assum'd it in the Year 606. After this came in the Latin Service and the Mass in the Y. 666. as I mention'd before Paragr 274 by Vitellianus the Pope then also was Pantheon the Temple of the Heathen God opened and dedicated to All Saints and so by degrées comes in all the Romish Trash till Antichrist came to his full Growth 290. But there is yet a stronger Objection against this Opinion which the judicious Scot labours to remove to wit that the Kingdom of the Beast is contemporary with the Sackcloth-Prophecy of the Witnesses and this must be for after the Ascension of the Witnesses and the Earthquake the 7th Trumpet sounds and all Kingdoms become the Lords Rev. 11.11,12.13,15 The downfall of the Beasts kingdom must be before this though he say the Ascension of the Witnesses may consist with the decaying Kingdom of the Beast who must be destroyed gradually under the 7th Trumpet yet this sense is cumbred with many difficulties as will appear afterwards 291. Mr. Cotton goes yet a little lower then either of the former in placing the beginning of this 1260 Y. to wit to 96 or 97 Y. after Constantine rendring this Reason that though the War began with Constantine and the Woman fled into the wilderness as Mr. Brightman rightly observes yet it cannot be said in his time that there was no place found for the dragon in Heaven for this saith he was the failing of that good Emperor that he stil allowed the Heathen-Idol-Temples to continue only shutting their Doors which his Successor Julian opened again and restored the Dragon to his Heaven of spiritual Authority 292. Though the war was begun by Constantine yet was it not accomplished by him so as to cast out the Dragon wholly and so as no more place to be found for him in Heaven this was not he says till the time of Theodosius then did the Emperors renounce and not before the title of Pontifex Maximus Hereupon the Beast the Pope the very next year after takes up this Name and holds it to this day What ever be the Popes name 't is Pontifex Maximus now this was about 396. Y. after Christ as 96. after Constantine which Number being added to 1260. makes up 1656. Antichrists Period 293. This learned and holy man was not alone in his Expectations of eminent Providences in that Year or about it as is manifested before in Paragr 262 267. yet his modesty in this his Conjecture is very eminent saying I will not be too confident because I am not a Prophet nor the Son of a Prophet to foretell things to come yet he expected a great blow would be given to the Beast and to the head of the Beast yea and the Expiration of his Power and great Authority in his Comment on 13. Rev. pag. 87 88 90 93 94. 294. Yea Mr. Mede himself whose Labours the Church of God hath much cause to
all Hereticks must be compell'd by force was a fair foundation for and an Introduction to that force of Arms which Antichrist used afterwards against the Saints under the name of Hereticks in all his Dominions the other War is not only describ'd in the Parties against whom it is raised but also in the success of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saints are the Party against whom and Victory is the Success of the Beasts War whereof no mention is made in the former if we compare Revel 12.17 with Revel 13.5.7 in all which 3 places this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used Revel 13.5 holds out the Term of the War Revel 12.17 the War it self and Revel 13.7 names not only the Seed Saints but the Success too 389. Thus as we have a double account of the Beasts War so likewise of the Womans flight into the Wilderness as before therefore can we not so fully fix upon either of those two last Intimations unless we could find out the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Article and point of time when those double computations began wherein I must confess my self to be at a loss and the more because I am at this day deprived of the help of my own Library may we but fully inform our selves of the exact Epochas and beginnings of all those Hints aforesaid it would bring not a little light to this intricate Question the full discovery of which I must refer to men of greater abilities and opportunities for Chronology 390. There is also a 6th Intimation to wit the treading under foot of the outer Court or holy City by the Gentiles for the time of 42. Months Revel 11.2 which is the very express Term of the Lease of the Beast as Revel 13.5 Mr. Mede makes this likewise to Contemporize with the Beast having one and the same beginning and ending not only because of the Equality of their times as before but also because of the Identity of their Expiration for when the great Earthquake hath destroyed the Imperial City and with it the Kingdom of the Beast Rev. 11.13 and the Kingdoms become the Lords v. 15. those very Gentiles that had trodden underfoot the holy City so long are then cast out at which they are enraged v. 18. 391. The outward Court and the holy City Mr. Mede makes to be Synonimus and mutually to expound themselves because the outward Court was the place of Worship for the People of the holy City as the Inner Court was for the Priests and Levites And those Gentiles that tread it down are not Pagans but Papagans which are Idolaters like unto the Gentiles who are also call'd Sodom and Egypt yea and the Synagogue of Satan â—… those shall possess the Holy City or Europe the allotted Seat of the Church they shall tread under foot the outward Face of the visible Church for 42. Months 392. Now could we but find out the beginning of this treading down of the Holy City this would guide us as by a Synchronism to the time of Antichrists fall but I shall not insist upon this neither not only because a late Learned Critick makes this casting out of the Outward Court to the Gentiles a Dispensation under the 6th Trumpet and in the last times of Antichrist as if he should recover all those Kingdoms again before his fall that have made a protestation against him hence are they call'd Protestants and not to contemporize with him from first to last but also because this hath such a fair Coincidency with the time of the Witnesses in Sackcloth which I purpose to speak more largely to in the next place CHAP. XIV 393. I Come now to the 7th and last Intimation for guiding of us into this intricate point about the fall of Antichrist to wit the Sackcloth Prophecy of the two Witnesses which to be Contemporary with the Dominion of the Beast none ever denied but that the Sixth Trumpet ends them both is granted of all so having one and the same term of time it necessary follows they must both begin together the Witnesses must begin their mourning Prophecy when Popery and Antichristianism begins unto both which the 7th Trumpet puts a final Period So that may we find out the Epocha of their Sackcloth Prophecy it will give great light to the time of Antichrists fall 394. This Prophecy of the two Witnesses may be truly call'd crux Interpretum it hath put so many Learned and Holy Men to a kind of torture in the Interpretation of it and we may say of this Scripture as Maldonate of another Scripture Locus facilior si nemo exposuisset It hath been so ruffled with variety of Interpretations that they have made it seem darker by their Various and Heterogenal Conjectures God hath left many places of Scripture dark to our understandings nè illas Scripturas semel lectas fastidiremus that we should not disdain the plainness of it Austin yet may we not make bawds of our own wit to beget our own sences on Scripture for that is to break the bones of the Lamb and to do Violence to the Law of God Zeph. 3.4 we should carry no sence to Scripture but only fetch one from it 395. That God had his Witnesses all along the Reign of Antichrist is manifest by Johns measuring out a Church for God under the Antichristian Persecution to wit the Church in the Wilderness as before Ruled by the Reed of Gods Word and fed by the two Prophets there Revel 12.6,14 that they to wit those two Prophets should feed her though not fully feast her in her Wilderness-state and those Witnesses should have the Temple given them in the Desert while Antichrist exercises his Idolatrous Worship in the Outward Court and Holy City wherein true Christian profession and Worship hath been before 396. Those witnesses which are in general terms call'd the holy People Dan. 12.7 and must be scattered and slain before all these things of Antichrist be fulfilled are largely described in the 11th of Rev. with many particular and distinct Characters An inspection into which may contribute some light in our enquiry after the Epocha or Beginning of this Sackcloth-prophecy which doth so exactly commensurate the times of the Beasts dominion their slaughter being the last bite of the Beast as Christs death slew death the Distick is Mors mortis morti mortem nisi morte dedisset Aeternae vitae janua clausa foret So the death of Christs Witnesses brings death on the Beast that slew them 397. In this description observe 1. their Names 2. their Number 3. their Condition 4. their Actions 5. their Death or end and 6. their Resurrection 1st Their Names which are not proper but appellative being two 1. Witnesses 2. Prophets 1st they are call'd Witnesses as being in all Ages to witness against Antichrist and to testifie to the Truth but most eminently t is probable in the last Age when they come to be slain for their Testimony 2ly They are
God answers with good words and comfortable v. 13. to wit v. 21. that his hamers shall 1 fray the Beasts horns 2. cast them down 3. cast them out as Gentiles 4. cast them away as a stone out of a sling 1 Sam. 25.29 God will give them scattering for scattering 1 Sam. 2.3,13 Luk. 1.51,52 1 Kin. 14.10 In the mean time our work is Waiting and Watching which is 1. Angelical Dan. 4.10,13 and 2. Evangelical Work Mat. 24.42 25.13 Mark 13. last No Watchman can tell us what time of Night it is Isa 21.12,13 onely that the Sun-set to our Antipodes or Antichrist is Sun-rise to us untill the Day dawn and the shadows flee away the Church saith I will get me up to the mountains of Myrrh and hills of Frankincense Can. 4.6 This holds out 1. our Repenting which is as bitter as myrrh Lam. 3.19 2. our Praying-work which comes up as Incense Ps 141.2 Oh that we may be found so doing til the sun of right arise with healing in his wings then shall we go forth from the bondage of Babylon and grow up as calves of the stall Mal. 4.2 FINIS THE TABLE CHap. 1. The Preamble Antichrist in his Resemblances and Realities signified by names and titles Proper and Appelative p. 1. to 6. many Antichrists but one The Antichrist p. 7. he is one contrary to Christ in his Humility in his Holiness and in his Truth pag. 8. Ch. 2. Shews 1. Negatively who is not the Antichrist not Simon Magus as Grotius nor a Jew of the Tribe of Dan as Bellarmin p. 9. to 14. nor Mahomet p. 15. to p. 21. Ch. 3. Shews 2. Positively who is the Antichrist t is the Pope p. 22. what is the Scripture-definition of Antichrist the 12. branches of that Definition p. 23. Ch. 4. Proves first that he is an Apostate from p. 31. to 37. 2 ly That he is Christs Enemy p. 28. 3 ly Stirr'd up by Satan p. 39. to 41. 4 ly That he hath a Monarchy in the Church p. 42. 5 ly In the great City p. 44. Ch. 5. Proves 6 ly That he exalts himself as God to 47. 7 ly Seducing with lying wonders to 54. 8 ly He hath a 3 fold brand to 59. 9 ly His 4 fold Adjuncts to 62. 10 ly That he is Revealed in 6 Periods Nascent Crescent Regnant Triumphant Cadent and Morient to p. 66. Ch. 6. Answers the Romanists objections 1 st That Antichrist must be a single Person 2 ly That he must Reign but 3. Years and half 3 ly That Christs Vicar cannot be Antichrist 4 ly That his Seat must be Rome Heathen to p. 70. 5 ly That the Gospel must be Preach'd in all the World before Antichrist Rise 6 ly That Antichrist must slay Enoch and Elias the 2 Witnesses to p. 75. Ch. 7. Holds out Antichrists Morient Period in the 11 th and 12 th Characters the 11 th is he must have a lingring Consumption 1 st The manner of it described to p. 80. Ch. 8. Holds out 2 ly The means of pulling down Antichrist which are two 1 st Persons who are Three 1. Powerful Preachers 2. Profound Writers and 3. Potent Pious Princes to p. 91. 2 ly Things which are 4. Spiritual practicing 2. Unanimous Praying 3. Publick Printing and 4. Powerful Preaching to 102. Ch. 9. Shews the 12 th Character that Antichrist must be destroyed by Christs Comming that this Comming of Christ cannot be meant the day of Judgment to p. 110. Antichrist shall be Destroyed as well as Consumed p. 111. Ch. 10. Enquires after the time of the fall of Antichrist Conjectures 1 st From Daniels Number 2. From Johns distinctly 3. From both joyntly to p. 119. from the 42. Months or from 666. to p. 125. various opinions about the term of Antichrist to p. 131. Ch. 11. Contains Mr. Foxes and Dr. Beards Opinions differing from all others about the term of Antichrist to p. 134. my own Opinion laid down 1. Negatively against Mr. Foxes and Dr. Beards Reasons why to p. 142. a 3 d Opinion that the number of 42. Months must not be taken definitly but indefinitly refuted to p. 145. Ch. 12. Refutes the whole Computation of the Learned Men aforesaid both from Daniel and Johns Number to 1666. The grand Salvo's for their Vindication as 1 st Uncertainty of Chronologies 2. Variety of Computations 3. The difficulty of computing the bondage of Egypt and the Captivity of Babylon to p. 154. 2 ly My positive Opinion paragr 348. how grounded to wit upon sundry Scripture Hints and Intimations to p. 157. Ch. 13. Holds out the 1 st Scripture-Hint from the rising of the 10. Kingdoms to p. 160. the 2 d. is the removal of the Roman Empire from the Seat of the Beast to p. 163. the 3 d. hint is from the healing of the deadly wound to p. 165. a Digression proving the 1 st Beast to relate to Antichrist to p. 168. when the wound was healed to p. 162. the 4 th hint is the Beasts War with the Saints to p. 172. the 5 th hint is the Womans dwelling in the Wilderness to p. 176. the 6 th hint is the treading under the Outer Court to p. 178. Ch. 14. Contains the 7 th Scripture-hint to wit the Sackcloth-Prophecy of the 2 Witnesses to p. 180. the Witnesses described by 1. Their Names 2. Number 3. Condition 4. Action 5. Death 6. Resurrection to p. 184. of the time when the place where and the manner how the Witnesses are to be Slaughter'd to p. 186. Reasons why this Slaughter is not yet over to p. 189. what the Street is to p. 129. the manner how Slain whether Civilly or Naturally the 1 st hoped the 2 d. feared to p. 200. Ch. 15. The Rising of the Witnesses is the Fall of the Beast Mr. Burroughs is Cautelous in his Conjectures to p. 202. an account of the several Computations paragr 443. the precise time is known to God only not to Man p. 204. a paralell betwixt Ish-bosheth and Antichrists Kingdom Antichrists last outburst is as Sheba's Rebellion p. 205. Satan tempts Christ to make him Pope or Antichrist p. 206. Refer the timing of Antichrist to God to p. 208. Ch. 16. Of the Witnesses not People but Pastors p. 210. their first appearing p. 225. Antichrists Conception Birth and Craddling p. 226. the Kingd of the Beast Whore Dragon Locusts and its Decay p. 227. Antichrists Infancy Childhood Youth Middle and Old Age p. 228. the soonest time of his fall Y. 1710. the 4 Leo's terminates him p. 233. the precise day referr'd to God p. 236.