holy one into others the Spirit as it floweth from them sometimes penitrates into those that are strangers aliens to Jesus Christ whereby they are brought home to the imbraces of Jesus Christ and then Saints are excellent in their eyes also And so David cals them Psal 16. 2 3. My goodnesse extendeth not to thee but to the Saints that are in the earth and to the excellent in whom is all my delight And excellent they are Secondly Because they are not only as Olive-trees but as Candle-sticks For as it is said of Jesus Christ so it is said of them They are the light of the world Mat. 5. 14. They are as light shining in a dark place Now how precious is light to them that are continually in a sensible darknesse Light is one of the most precious things in the world it puts a beauty upon other things it chears and comforts the heart it causes men to see the dangers that are in their way that so they may avoid them and many others are the excellent properties of this naturall light but many more are the precious effects of spirituall light And this is that that Saints have though others are in the darknesse of hell yet they enjoy the light of heaven The Lord God almighty and the Lamb are a light unto them Rev. 21. 23. And in this respect also Saints are excellent and precious ones But I would be brief in this particular and therefore shall not further enlarge it Deduction 8. Eighthly The next Deduction in which I shall be brief also is to discover from the fifth verse the dangerous condition of those wicked men that are enemies to Saints Though Saints seem to be poor weak despicable creatures and their enemies in outward appearance seem to be strong and potent and to be overcomers of them yet these seeming weak Saints are strong and mighty for they can but send up a message to heaven and bring secret and invisible arrows from thence which shall destroy their enemies The breath of their mouth kindles coals of fire that destroies their enemies And if any man will hurt them he must with this fire be killed Little doe wicked men think that when they deal cruelly with Saints they bring coals of fire upon their owne heads yet so they doe if they continue irreconcilable enemies unto them There is a notable place to shew the danger men run upon when they offer to wrong the Saints of God it is Zech 12. 3. In that day saith the Lord will I make Jerusalem a burdensome stone for all people all that burden themselves with it shall be cut in pieces though all the people of the earth shall be gathered together against it Though the spirituall Jerusalem the Saints of God had all the people of the earth gathered together against them yet so potent and strong are they through the Lord of host their God as they should overcome them all they should be as a burdensome stone and should crush in pieces all that burden themselves with them Therefore it would be wisdome in men to beware how they offer any violence to any one of the Saints of God either to their lives or liberties how colourable so ever the pretences be upon which they doe it seeing it is such a dangerous thing to abuse Saints as that in wronging them men be devoured or destroied by them And so I have done with this particular also Deduction 9. Ninthly In the next place from the sixth verse might be discovered the reason why there hath been such a hardnesse of heart and impenitency upon the Beast and the Babylonish crew namely because that as a judgement upon them for persecuting the Saints of God the heavens have been so shut up against them as that none of the waters of the spirit have descended upon them But I passe this by with some other particulars that might be observed in that verse Deduction 10. The tenth Deduction is from the seventh verse where it is said The Beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre c. It doth enform us that this title The Beast is the most proper title of the Pope as is evident in the comparing of the several passages in this prophesie where the Beast is mentioned together which is done in the explicatory part of this Discourse where it appears evidently that by the Beast is meant the Pope Now in all the other passages of the prophesie of this book where the Pope is mentioned and in this seventh verse he being called the Beast it is evident that this is his most proper title Though it is true the Pope is Antichristian yet we doe no where in the prophesie of this book nor in any other Scripture where he is expressely spoken of finde the title of Antichrist given to him But generally in the prophesie of this book and in the prophesie of Daniel where there are some things spoken of him he is called the Beast And for the 2 Thess 2. where he is also expresly spoken of and plainly described he is not called there Antichrist neither but is there called That man of sin the son of perdition and that wicked Now it is said there are many Antichrists 1 John 2. 19. But it is no where said There are many Beasts and therefore he is called The Beast and that man of sinne the sonne of perdition and that wicked As we use to say The King of such a Kingdome and The Governour of such a place and The Maior of such a City or Town importing there is but one So the Pope is called The Beast For though there be many Antichrists yet there is but one Beast but one Pope who is The Beast I doe the rather observe this first to discover the exceeding greatnesse of the wickednesse and the abominablenesse of the Pope who for his opposition to God and his enmity to the Saints is exprest by a peculiar title that is proper only to that wicked one to shew that he is above al others hateful and cursed And secondly I doe the rather speak of this because some doe confusedly speak of the Beast and Antichrist confounding the Beast with Antichrist whereas there be many that are and may be called Antichrists especially some that are risen up lately That deny that Jesus is the Christ making themselves equal with the Lord Jesus Christ and who do also deny That Jesus Christ is come in the flesh or at least have a light esteem of Christs coming in the flesh by looking upon that flesh which was so united unto the God-head as when the life of it was laid down it was said to be the life of God 1 John 3. 16. as no more to be esteemed then the flesh of a common man I say these and such as these are Antichrists as is clear 1 John 2. 22. and 1 Joh. 4. 3. But though there be many Antichrists yet there is but one that may be called the
testimony of Jesus were they that did prophesie in sackcloth I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore daies clothed in sackcloth Jesus Christ having in the former verse declared that the holy City should be troden under foot which is the afflicted condition of the Church he doth here declare what supplies they should have in that condition in that he saies that he would give unto them this gift that they should prophesie Though they are to be destitute of outward comforts and outward liberties by the enemies persecuting of them yet they are to have inward comforts the Lord will reveal his secrets to them which shall exceed all outward comforts they shall have the testimony of Jesus which is the spirit of prophesie I will give unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore daies That this one thousand two hundred and threescore daies is a thousand two hundred and threescore years appears in pag. 59 60 c. Where it is evident that it is the same term of time with that in the former verse and with that in former passages of this book and that the meaning of them all is a thousand two hundred and threescore years there appears Cloathed in sackcloth While the Church was in the materiall Babylon they were in a sad and mourning posture for they wept and hung their harps on willows and could not sing the songs of Sion So the Church now being in mysticall Babylon and insulted over by their enemies God having for a time given them to be troden under foot by them they are in mourning sad and sable garments clothed in sackcloth though they inwardly enjoy the discoveries of the bosome secrets of the Father the comforts of the Spirit though they have the Spirit of prophesie yet they prophesie in sackcloth their out-side their cloathing is sackcloth to the outward eye they are in a sad posture and they cannot be otherwise while they are under the power and tyrany of Babylon Verse 4. These are the two Olive-trees These that is these two Witnesses are the two Olive-trees In that they are said to be the two Olive-trees it implies it hath reference unto some passage of Scripture wherein there is a former mention of them Now the place where they are mentioned is Zech. 4. so that Zechariah doth prophesie of these two Witnesses under the expression of two Olive-trees and therefore the holy Ghost mentioning the Witnesses here declares that these are they that are elsewhere called the two Olive-trees Now in that place Zech. 4. 4. we finde that the Prophet doth ask the Angel What these be And then the Angel makes this answer This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel saying not by might nor by power but by my spirit saith the Lord of hosts Who art thou ô great mountain Before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain and he shall bring forth the head stone thereof with shoutings crying Grace Grace unto it Now this is somewhat a mysterious answer but thus much appears in it That though the Saints seem to be little in the eyes of men and their enemy whether it be the materiall Babylon or the mystical Babylon seem to be a great mountain as if it were impossible for the Saints to remove their mountainous enemy yet they shall be removed out of their way the great mountain shall become a plain before them and those Saints that seem to be little but as an handfull to a mountain they shall when the great mountain is become a plain again become a glorious Temple and when it shal be thus there shall be shoutings crying Grace Grace unto it And this appears to be spoken of the two Witnesses in the Text for they have seemed to be small and little and their enemy a great mountain but undoubtedly this mountain shall become a plain before them and they shall again become a glorious Temple a mountain of holinesse the praise of the whole earth But the Prophet at the 12 verse is said again to ask the Angel What the Olive-branches are and receives this further answer These be the two anointed ones that stand by the Lord of the whole earth here is another description of them in which it is most evident that by the two Olive-trees is meant the Saints Servants and Witnesses of Jesus Christ for this is a plain character of Saints for first Saints are anointed ones and are said to be anointed 2 Cor. 1. 21. and are said to have received an unction from the holy One 1 Joh. 2. 20. Again secondly as Saints are anointed ones so it is they only that can come into the presence of God it is they only that can enter into the Holy of Holies by the new and living way which Jesus Christ hath made for them Now by this time it is clear That by the two Olive-trees is meant all Saints for they are anointed ones and they stand in the presence of God they then are the two Olive-trees which have prophesied cloathed in sackcloth and though they have been but as a handfull compared with that great mountain the Beast so that they could not prevail by might nor by power yet by that unction by that anointing that Spirit that is upon them they shall prevail These are the two Olive-trees and the two Candle-sticks These Witnesses are also said to be candle-sticks because all Saints as they are anointed ones so they are the light of the world Mat. 5. 14. they are light in the Lord and they shine as lights amidst a crooked and perverse generation These are the two Olive-trees and the two Candlesticks standing before the God of the earth The wicked saith the Psalmist shall not stand in thy presence neither shall evil dwell with thee It is indeed onely the prerogative of those holy ones that are washed in the bloud of the Lamb that are unblameable and unreprovable in his sight and to these doth hee hold out the golden scepter of his grace and these do stand in the presence of the Lord of the whole earth Verse 5. And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies The Saints in a sence are the Judges and Executioners of their enemies Behold a King saith the Prophet Isa 32. 1 shall raign in righteousnesse and Princes shall rule in judgment speaking of the raign of the Lord Jesus and his Saints ruling with him so that as he judgeth so doe they and they passe sentence with him upon their enemies and therefore is it here said If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies That is that breath of the spirit that proceedeth out of their mouth in their praiers doth both pronounce the sentence and bring down the fire of wrath upon their enemies And this is clear Revel 8. 3. for there it appears That when
indeed the Lord Jesus Christ that doth order and dispose all things in and concerning his Church and all things in the world and therefore it is that all power is given unto him in heaven and earth Mat. 28. He is the King of the holy hill of Sion Psalm 2. And he must rule the Nations with a rod of iron and break them in peeces like a Potters vessel and he must raign untill he have put all his enemies under his feet Rise and measure The Lord Jesus doth not leave his people in the hand of enemies nor under the rod of the wicked in a carelesse manner as if he did not care how much they were given up to the hand of the enemies no but they are measured out to affliction and so far as they are measured out unto it so far shall they be under affliction and no farther So God measured Job to affliction All that he hath is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thine hand Job 1. 12. and again Behold he is in thine hand but save his life The wicked shall not goe a hairs-breadth beyond the measure Jesus Christ hath such a tender respect unto all his people in their sufferings that they shall have no more then need 1 Pet. 1. 6. Measure the Temple The word Temple in the old Testament is used only for that House that Solomon built in Jerusalem unto the Lord which was called the Temple of the Lord it being the place wherein God was in a speciall manner present and wherein he would in a speciall manner be worshipped But in the new Testament it is used first for the Church the Saints of God of which that Temple was a figure for as God was in a speciall manner present in that Temple so he is in a speciall manner present in his people And so we have it 2 Cor. 6. 16. For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 1 Cor. 6. 19. What know ye not that your bodies are the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you c. and thus the word Temple in the new Testament is used for the Saints as the Temple was a figure of them as they have a speciall presence of God in them Which is likewise spoken of Isay 66. 1 2. Thus faith the Lord the Heaven is my Thron and the Earth is my foot-stool where is the house that ye build unto me and were is the place of my rest for all these things hath my hand made and all these things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even unto him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word So that he that is of a poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at the word of God shall be the house the Temple of God As we have it also Isay 57. 15. But secondly The word Temple in the new Testament as it is used for those in whom there is a speciall presence of God so it is used to signify that means by which knowledge and instrustion is given out as the Temple of old was the place where people were to receive instruction and knowledge And in this sense it is used Rev. 21. 22. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it This is spoken of the new Jerusalem of that glorious state the Church shall be in when they shall be all taught of God from the greatest to the least Now the word Temple heer in the Text doth signify these Eirst It signifies the Saints of God as they are they in whom God in a speciall manner dwels And Secondly It signifies the Ordinances and means whereby knowledge is dispensed and instruction is received for it is the Saints that are as lights in the World and they both instuct the ignorant and edify one another especially when they are congregated assembled together to worship God according to his own will and to prophesy to edify one another The Temple of God and the Alter and them that worship therein It clearly appears in these words that the word Temple heer includes the Saints both as they are an habitation of God through the spirit and so are his Temple and as they are being assembled together the means of instruction and increasing knowledge and doe worship God aright For least the word Temple should not be full enough to expresse this it is added And the Altar which in the Temple was the place where they worshipped God and them that worship therein Not only the place of worship but the worshippers So that this takes in all Saints as they are a Temple as their assemblies are the place wherein God is worshipped and instruction is given and received and as they are worshippers as Saints worshipping God and possessing God Verse 2. But the Court that is without the Temple The Court is said to be without the Temple as of old the Court was without the Temple and was a more common place not so holy as any part of the Temple was so that the Court heer being without the Temple it is some outside thing it is no part of the Temple Now it being apparent that Saints onely are the Temple of God this Court heer mentioned though it seem to be neer the Temple yet is not the Temple is none of the Saints but some outside professors that seem to the outward eye to be near to Saints as the Court was near to the Temple yet they are not of that holy place they are but an outside they are without the Temple But the Court that is without the Temple leave out or cast out and measure it not Though Jesus Christ have a tender care of his Saints under affliction and they are measured out to the chastisement appointed to them yet hath he no such respect unto such as are not his Though they are professors Though they seem to be near the Temple yet if they be not the Temple though they do professe him yet if they do not possesse him as the Temple doth they must be left out cast out of the care of Jesus Christ But the Court that is without the Temple cast out and measure it not Jesus Christ will not own that as his and therefore it must not be measured For it It was the Temple and the Altar and them that worshipped therin that was measured out to chastisement So then it was it that was to be given unto the Gentiles by measure so that this word for it may be read thus for the Temple Is given unto the Gentiles The word Gentiles in the old Testament when the Temple was in its glory was used to expresse such as were not of the Church of God for the Israelites only were accounted the Church all others were looked upon as