at last the waters arose to that height that they became a mighty river wherein a man might swim and without which he could not passe over them So that the Saints under the first second third Trumpets did all hold forth a profession of the truth and according to their measures did give a testimony thereunto though but in some small weake and faint discoveries of it and more in the letter then in the spirit These were glorious lights also in respect of the darknesse of those ages and generations they lived in but yet in respect of that light discovered and that declaration of the truth made out by the Saints under the sixt and seventh Trumpet they were under much darknesse and weaknesse not being come up to that degree of light that the Lord hath of late discovered and will make knowne unto his people Thirdly observe There shall be a most 3 Observ compleat and glorious discovery and declaration of truth made out by the Saints under the seventh Trumpet The seven Trumpets are all comprehended in one the last Trumpet includes all the former Seven as you heard is the number of perfection and rest So all the Trumpets are involved and wrapt up in this last The seventh seale is the highest revelation of truth the seventh Trumpet is the highest and most perfect declaration by which the Saints do proclaime and make it forth Suitable unto this is that Prophesie Esa 30. 26. Moreover the light of the Moone shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be sevenfold as the light of seven dayes So that here is seven dayes brought into one day and one day shall have the light of seven So that the last and highest discovery of truth shall comprehend all the former The seventh and last Trumpet signifies the highest declaration of the glory of God the truth and kingdome of Jesus that ever the Saints publish or sing forth it is the breaking forth of the highest praises and greatest glory of God In this great and last dispensation the Saints obtaine a fuller measure of the spirit then ever they are now sevenfold more enabled to proclaime the glory power and kingdome of Christ then ever they could doe in former time Fourthly from the great voyces heard in heaven observe That the Saints 4 Observ fully risen and ascended up into heavenly injoyments at the finall destruction of Antichrist shall with one harmonious and sweet consent sound forth the praises and glory of Christ'â— kingdome Indeed the Saints could alwayes sing while they prophesied in sackcloth but it was like David when he sung of his deep waters so it was of their afflictions and sufferings as Paul and Silas sung in prison they had weake and faint joy in the middest of their sufferings But now the Saints in heaven they cry out they sing aloud and shout for joy These voyces be full of power and authority the world and it's strength and foundation trembles to heare them the riches the strengths the powers the governments of men are shaken by them So great and powerfull are these voyces that as it was said of Israel of old The voyce of a King is among them they sing forth the grace the excellency the authority and glory of Christ's kingdome saying The kingdomes of this world are become our Lords c. The Saints are sayd in Revel 15. 3. To sing the song of Moses and the song of the Lamb. As Moses sung forth the praises of God for delivering his people Israel and destroying their enemies the Aegyptians Exod. 15. so his people shall sing forth the praises of his power and greatness for delivering them from Antichrist's yoke and tyranny And the song of the Lamb who worketh great and marvellous things to the destruction of Antichrist whose cruelty and oppression he had long suffered They shall extoll him as being King of Saints and shall acknowledge him just in his judgements punishing Antichrist and in his wayes true in performing all his promises made unto his people Having given you the observations from the former part of the verse namely from the seventh Trumpet and the voyces heard in heaven I now proceed to speake of the subject matter of these voyces The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall raigne for ever and ever These words containe a glorious proclamation or declaration of the kingdome and raigne of Christ wherein we may take notice of these six particulars to be enquired into First What is meant by the kingdomes of this world Secondly How these kingdomes have been detained from Christ Thirdly How Christ will recover these kingdomes to himselfe Fourthly By what right Christ shall possesse them Fiftly The manner or nature of Christs raigne Sixtly The time and duration of his raigne Concerning the first thing namely what is meant by the kingdomes of this world we may easily perceive what they are by opposing them to the kingdome of Christ for these kingdomes of the world are diametrically opposit and contradistinct to the kingdome of Christ The kingdome of Christ is of a heavenly and spirituall nature Rom. 14. 17. It 's King Laws government and subjects are all spirituall it 's set up and advanced by no humane force or power but by that which is meerly divine Dan. 2. 45. Now the kingdomes of this world are called the kingdomes of men consisting of externall glory riches strength government policy that men by humane power have set up and doth act by In a word all the wisdome and policy all rule and government all power and strength all Constitutions and Lawes all the riches and glory of men of these are made up and formed the kingdoms of this world called the kingdomes of men Dan. 4. 25. consisting of worldly greatnesse externall glory humane policy outward strength advanced into the forme of rule government acted and brought forth by man this is the state glory and kingdome of the world Secondly How these kingdomes have been detained from Christ and that 's thus whereas Christ hath given forth his power by earthly men as by Kings and Princes of the earth according to that place in Pro. 8. 15 16. By me Kings reigne and Princes decree justice by me Princes rule and Nobles even all the Judges of the earth These have been the substitutes and deputies of Christ having received all their wisdome their strength their authority and dominion from him the Lord hath by these administred unto the world even by carnall fleshly wicked men by the Kings of the earth the Lord hath not administred by his people but by those that have raigned as Kings and Princes of the world Now this being so these Kings of the earth have committed fornication with the whore Rev. 17. 2. having mixed and joyned their power with hers and have with one consent and minde given up their power and strength unto
God and ruine his people Hence it is that mystery is written upon the head of the whorish woman Chap. 17. 15. when in her ornaments of purple and decking of silver gold and precious stones she is full of abominations and filthinesse of fornication being but the mother of harlots and abominations of the earth Here is the fountaine of all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse that the world seeth not the depth of neither can it fathome the bottome of this wickednesse of this mystery it ascendeth from the pit as deep as hell it selfe Fourthly doth this beast ascend upward Then Observe There is a time 4 Observâ— when Antichrist doth ascend high in greatnesse and power All that wickednesse and abomination all that blacknesse and darknesse all that deceivablenesse and iniquity suggested by Satan into mans heart that we spake of before it is gathered up and acted in greatnesse power and dominion The spirit of selfe-righteousnesse pride malice and envie now comes forth in the forme and power of a beast There is a time when this wickedness shall raigne and beare sway this is the houre and the day of the powerfull raigne of the beast according to that saying in Revel 13. 5. Power was given unto the beast to continue forty and two msneths And therefore it is permitted that he should for a time act according to his will because he is great as it is spoken by Daniel of the king of a fierce countenance Dan. 8. 4. Thus we have it in Revel 17. 13. The ten hornes doe with one minde give their power and strength unto the beast They do with one consent use all their personall and royall authority to uphold the power and dominion of the beast By this meanes the beast doth ascend becomes great and mighty in power But as there is a time of the beasts ascension so also there is a time of his descension and declining when the ten Kings shall withdraw their power againe and hate the whore and burne her flesh with fire Revel 17. 16. There will be times when these shall no longer submit to the tyranny of the beast but shall conspire against him and strip him of his ornaments and prey upon his spoyles and ruines Then shall the beast descend into the pit of perdition and destruction from whence he did ascend and as Solomon saith The righteous shall be delivered the wicked shal come in their steed Thus Antichrist hath his timeâ— of rising into power and greatnesse and shall also have his declinings time of falling when he shall grow weak and feeble and shall not be able to stand Fiftly and lastly doth the beast make war against overcome and kill these witnesses then observe That the witnesses 5 Observâ— are continually overcome and slaying all the time of the powerfull raigne of the beast The slaying of the witnesses cannot be confined to one age or time towards the latter end of their prophesie and that onely some particular persons should be slainâ— and that by martyrdome onely but the beast doth alwayes make war with the Saints and by civill power and ecclesiasticall law doth alwayes overcome them and by the execution of that law doth kill them by hindering them in the course of their prophesie and rejecting their testimony turning the truth into a lie thus I say the witnesses are alwayes slaying the whole time of Antichrists raigne Hence it is sayd that the little horne should weary out thg Saints of the most high Dan. 7. 25. by continuall vexing and tormenting of them It is sayd of the Locusts that ascended out of the smoke of the bottomlesse pit That they had faces like men having a shew of humanity and their haire was as the haire of women by reason of their perswasive flatteries and faire shewes of gentlenesse and meeknesse but they had the teeth of Lyons rending and devouring the Saints by their cruell exactions and tyrannicall governments whereby they have alwayes suppressed the Saints And thus have the faithful witnesses of Christ been continually in slaying under the powerfull raigne of the beast VERS 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great Citie which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified IN the former verse we had the death and slaying of the witnesses Now here we are to enquire what becomes of their bodies of which we have an account in this and the two following verses First their bodies lie in the great Citie Secondly they are kept from buriall vers 9. Thirdly their enemies rejoyce over them vers 10. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street c. Here take notice First what is meant by their dead bodies Secondly the place where they lie and that is in the street of the great Citie Thirdly we have a description of this great Citie First by it's resemblance first to Sodome secondly to Egypt Secondly by it's action Where our Lord was crucified First to enquire what is meant by the dead bodies of the witnesses We must beare in minde how and in what manner they were slaine and that was mystically and metaphorically and therefore their bodies must be so understood also Then if it were meant of the Witdesses being slaine in their testimony then it must here be meant of the outward forme and body of their testimony therefore by these bodies are meant all the externall figures and formes of worship in which the witnesses were exercised and through which they did sometimes give forth their testimony When the Church was driven into the Wildernesse to worship God in the secret Temple the outward Court the whole body of their externall formes of worship they left behinde them and the Gentiles made use of them so that this body or whole forme of worship did remaine in the street of the great Citie The outward and externall part of worship when the spirit life waâ— departed from it and the witnesses had left it becâ—me as a dead body or carkase as having no breath or true life in it for as the body becomes as a carkase when the soule and life is departed so is the externall forme of worship when the spirit of the Lord is departed from it Now that the externall part of worship in the formes and figures of it when 't is spirit-lesse and without life is as a dead body or carkase We have a full place of Scripture to prove this interpretation if we rightly observe that Text in Matth. 24. 28. where Christ saith Wheresoever the carkase is there will the Eagles be gathered together The common interpretation of this Text is that here by the carkase should be meant of Christ and that Saints are compared to Eagles as resorting to Christ But consider how far remotâ— this opinion is from the adequate sence of the place For first it would be a most iâ—ksome and naâ—seous comparison to liken Christ to a dead stinking carkase The like comparison of
name honour strength and dignity then he had been formerly So the Witnesses shall ascend into a state and condition much more excellent then they had before enjoyed This ascention is diametrically opposed to their sack cloath condition to that meane and low condition these Witnesses had lived in while they were under the power and raign of the beast This ascention is not a carnall or bodily transmutation or a motion from place to place but of a mutation of state and condition 't is an ascention unto more liberty freedome knowledg strength and glory then they had lived in before Secondly the place unto which they are to ascend and that 's to heaven the kingdome of Christ is mystically called Heaven The Saints are said to dwell in Heaven as Antichrist is said to dwell in Earth the meaning is they shall ascend into a more heavenly condition of liberty power strength wisdome knowledge light and life They shall come to possesse the Kingdome of Christ and enjoy all the immunities thereof They shall live more in heavenly discoveries of God and Christ and his will their externall peace and internal glory shall be very heavenly and glorious And in this respect the Saints that shall sound forth the everlasting Gospel are said to be in the midst of heaven Chap. 14. 6. The Saints are called Heaven it selfe Chap. 18. 20. The multitude of Saints that shall sing Allelujah's and praises unto God upon the destruction of Babylon are called a people that dwell in heaven Chap. 19. 1. because they live in heavenly enjoyments and praises So here the Witnesses are said to ascend up to heaven in respect of that heavenly and glorious condition and state that the Lord will advance his people unto when hee shal wholly break the power of the beast and advance his people to partake of the glory and dignity of his owne kingdome Thirdly wee have the manner how these Witnesses ascend that 's in a cloud This great thick Cloud that God draws over the Earth and with which he doth over-shadow the face of all things this is that darkness that confusion division contest warre envie this I say is that dark cloud that the Lord hath drawn over the face of the Earth Hath not God drawn this black cloud upon the affairs counsels wisdome and actions of men the order government peace prosperity of the world is all over-shadowed men know not where they are nor what they doe when they goe too fast nor when too slow the very hearts and affections of men are divided the world is full of contests and wars and confusions and there is such a mist upon mens spirits that they scarce know which way to turn themselves It 's in this cloud of confusion in which the Witnesses do ascended We cannot but remember that the Lord brought his people from Aegypt by dividing of the Sea by separating of the great waters so wil the Lord raise up his Saints by dividing of the men of the earth the great Sea or peoples of the earth by dividing of them by confounding of the wisdome and policie of the world by dashing one part of the earth against another I say in this manner and by this means the Lord will cause his faithfull ones to ascend Lastly we have that special Adjunct that is hereunto annexed And their enemies beheld them By their enemies we are to understand People Nations Kindreds and Tongues with all the inhabitants of the Earth All worldly carnall Antichristian men these shall behold them to their griefe and vexation This is mentioned first as to the torment and excessive grief that the Adversaries shall take when they shall see them that they have despised trampled upon and contemned to be lifted up to ascend unto honour and dignity unto life and glory And secondly it 's mentioned in the praise and happinesse of those that doe ascend in the view of their Adversaries As the Prophet makes it an augmentation of bounty that the Lord should spread his table in the midst of his foes Psal 23. So this is an addition to their honour they shall ascend in the midst of their Adversaries in their view and before their eye This is the saddest sight that earthly men can behold they shall see them ascend and shall not be able to stop their passage this shall be as worm-wood as gall and bitternesse to their spirits this shall even make them gnash their teeth but they shal not be able to help themselves The words being thus far opened we now come to raise some observations from them First observe That the Witnesses are 1 Observ enabled to ascend by the powerfull voyce of the spirit of God They can never rise nor ascend until they are called up to the Lord by this great voyce this loud heavenly voyce this voyce of Majestie and glory Antichrist was able to suppresse and keepe under these two Prophets of the Lord untill the Lord comes and raises them up by his owne voyce and command If all the world should call upon them to arise they could not untill the Lord speake the word and say Come up hither When the Lod speaks with a heavenly voyce it is so full of love and joy of light and life that every thing in the hearts of his doe heare his voyce every faculty every member all parts heare and obey The soule is never willing to ascend untill the Lord calls by his eternall voyce and that hath such force and power such excellency and and majestie that it removes every obstacle out of the way and sets aside every thing that would hinder And again this voyce is so great so powerfull carries with it so much authority that the men of the Earth cannot hinder their rising If the Lord speak with a powerful voyce to the world â—o Antichrist to the men of the Earth Let my people ascend lâ—t them come up hither all the force power policie of men shall not hinder them This voyce is dreadful to the men of the earth and doth so much affright them that they are forced at last as once Pharaoh was to let the Israel of God goe and ascend out of Aegypt to Jerusalem from bondage to liberty from weaknesse to strength from persecution to dominion from light to darknesse from Earth to Heaven Now the Saints are taken up to live in heavenly comforts and joyes in heavenly discoveries of â—ight and life in heavenly immunities and priviledges And all this is done by the great the mighty and powerful voyce of God Secondly observe from the ascention it selfe That the Witnesses have their 2 Observ time of triumph and rejoycing as well as they have a time of sack cloath and mourning When they ascend they shal shake off their sack-cloath and mourning they shal ascend farre higher unto an estate of more liberty honour peace and glory then their former estate was They shall not alwayes be made the scorne and reproach of the
The Mystery of the two WITNESSES UNVAILED Wherein wee have a Description of their persons time acts death and office manner of prophecie sufferings resurrection With the Consequences that follow TOGETHER With the seaventh Trumpet and the Kingdome of Christ explained by JOHN ROBOTHAM Preacher of the Gospel in Dover LONDON Printed by M. S. for G. and H. Eversden at the Greyhound in St Pauls Church-yard 1654. TO HIS EXCELLENCY the Lord Generall CROMWELL c. MY LORD IT is not for any worth performed on my part that I have taken the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or boldness here to prefix your name but rather from the subject matter of this ensuing Discourse it being an Exposition of the mystery of the two Witnesses wherein we have a description of their persons and prophesie their time and actions their death and resurrection together with the consequences that follow thereupon all which I humbly conceive may be very suitable for you As well for the greatnesse of your place and imployment as it 's necessary to be retained in your knowledge and judgment Therefore in the first place I present this to your Excellency as unto a choise faithfull witness of the Lord and after to all those that give forth their testimony for the truth and authority of Christ against the falshood and usurpation of Antichrist It 's most certain as the Apostle doth affirme that Antichrist shall be destroyed by the brightnesse of Christ's coming which is no other then his coming forth in the bright beames and glorious rayes of divine light shining forth in his people The Saints of the most High by the testimony they give forth are the rod of his mouth and the breath of his lips Whereby he will bruise his enemies and breake them in pieces Thus the true Spirit of Christ in the Saints shall darken and dry up that counterseit and corrupt Spirit of Antichrist that is abroad in the world But not withstanding the power and authority of the Beast shall be dissipated and broken as it were vi armis And hence it is that in these times the Lord hath appeared among us as a mighty man of warre clothed with his zeale as with a garment and hath indued his people with such masculine vertue strength that their hornes have been as iron and their hoofs as brasse whereby they have threshed the Mountaines and the hills as Chaffe And this they have not done by power or might but by the Spirit of the Lord. It was the glorious appearance of GOD in the midst of his people that hath subdued these three Nations Now though Dutch Dane and French should combine against us yet shall the arme of the LORD awake for his people and shall as in former dayes cut Rachah and wound the Dragon he shall dry up the sea and the waters of the great deep It 's not an arme of flesh can doe this but a divine presence with an Army with whom are the hearts affections prayers and spirits of the Saints with a sweet complyance gathered up into and going along with them This causes the shout of king to be in the midst of us though the king in his person be taken away yet the everlasting King lives and shall take to himself his great power and raigne It 's a most undeniable truth that the sword hath been the originall of all kinds forms of government in the world it 's the mother of all power protection and preservation When any disturbance doth arise in a kingdome or Common-wealth whither do they run but unto a military power for succour and defence as not being able to subsist untill they do as it were resolve into their first principles And though the sword in it's selfe be a dark and sad dispensation eating flesh and drinking bloud it 's proper worke being to wast and destroy yet when t is accompanied with wisdom righteousness goodness and justice it becom good and desireable My Lord I have but three words more to speake The first is of you The second to you The third for you That of you is That the Lord hath so far honor'd you as to make you an instrument of glorious atchievements and hath made you head of your brethren and hath given you a name with the great ones of the earth but above all he hath bestowed on you the spirit of his Son which makes you most acceptable to himselfe and precious in the eyes of his people It 's a true saying Honor est in potestate hono heart and make it suitable to your worke that your will may be drawn forth to the extent of the divine will that your soule may have a true sympathy with God that your heart may be fortified against all stormes without feares within and that you may cast down your wisdome valour honour succeste at the feet of Christ so shall you take all up againe with unspeakeable advantage What ever you expend sor Christ in Christ you shall finde it againe Now that you may enjoy all in Christ spend all for him is the desire of him who shall indeavor to be in all faithfulnesse Your Excellency's humble servant JOHN ROBOTHAM To the Reader THe importunity of diverse Friends caused me to suffer these notes to passe abroad into the world they were taken by writing from my mouth my time and occasions would not permit to cast them into such a forme as would have best becomed the presse therefore thou shalt meet with truth coming forth in it's owne nakednesse without the clothing of humane Eloquence As for the matter it 's mysterious and therefore if in any thing wherein I may possibly be mistaken thy candour and ingenuity is desired to passe it by If thou art Criticall and thy aime be onely to espie out the faults either of the Writer Printer or Preacher I suppose thy time would be more advantagiously spent to search out the defects of thy own heart If thou wilt accept of it as it 's presented to thee with the right hand it 's all that 's desired by him that shall remaine thine in any office of love JOHN ROBOTHAM The Contents of the following Treatise concerning the principall things therein contained SIx things from the Book of the Revelation observed 1. The Author who indited it Pag. 2. 2. The Messenger who brought it idem 3. The Pen-man which writt it p. 3. 4. The forme into which it is cast id 5. The matter that is containes p. 4. 6. The parties unto whom it 's directed id The summe of the whole Chapter p. 5. From verse 1. we have 1. Johns call to measure p. 6 7. 2. His qualification p. 8. 3. The things to be measured 1. The Temple p. 9. 2. The Altar p. 10. 3. The worshippers p. 11. Observations from the words 1. Ob That the Lord doth suitably prepare his people to receive such things as himselfe doth impart unto them p. 12 13 14. 2. Ob
it denotes unto us the great authority and power that Christ came forth in He doth not appeare low and meanly clothed in flesh or humane forme but doth as it were ride upon the wings of an Angel by the shining glory of an angelicall administration doth he declare this glorious mystery Thirdly into whose hands these truths are committed that is into Johns who was the beloved Disciple of Christ that leaned on his bosome as having much neernesse and intimacy with him This John was called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Divine but not so much from dignity of office as from the superexcellency of his graces and annointings The Ancients did compare him to an Eagle because he soared aloft in the knowledge and understanding the secrets of divine truth This Apostle is honored above others in writing this propheticall booke of the Revelation Fourthly take notice of the forme of this booke it is cast into the forme of an Epistle containing things present past and to come Chap. 1. 19. The things that John had seen were the glorious appearance of Christ in the middest of the seven golden Candlesticks Chap. 1. 12 13. The things that were in being were those several messages both of praise and reprehension that he was to give forth to the seven Churches as appears in Chap. 2. and 3. The things to come were the prophecies that begin at Chapt. 4. and hold on to the end of the booke Fiftly we have presented to us the subject matter of this booke and that 's called a Revelation and that because it is not so much a doctrinall or historicall narration as it is a symbolicall and propheticall prediction containing such glorious mysteries and divine Revelations that did far surpasse the wisdome art or reason of any humane creature none but Christ himselfe and that by the mouth of a mighty Angel could bring to light or declare such unutterable visions of divine glory Sixtly and lastly observe unto whom this booke was directed and that was to the seven Churches in Asia Chapt. 1. 4. Seven is a perfect number seven days containe mans labour and rest seven times seven is the great Jubile of the Lord and rest of all things So that these Churches being set forth by the number of seven they are a compleat representation of all Churches and all Saints The perfect number of Churches and all beleevers are most lively deliniated and set forth by seven Churches Therefore whatsoever is here directed unto or spoken of the seven golden Candlestickes is both directed and spoken to all Churches and Saints in the world Thus much to be noted of the booke in generall Now to begin with the Chapter I shall not stand upon any curious artificiall Analysis of the whole Chapter that which is principally contained therein is the mystery of the two Witnesses holding forth a description of their persons and prophecie their time and acts their death and resurrection in the opening whereof we shall give much light to the whole booke and much discover the secret mystery wrapt up contained therein The two first verses of the Chapter doe prepare us for what doth follow and here I shall begin with the first And there was given me a reed like unto a rod and the Angel stood saying Arise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein IN this verse take notice of three things First Johns call to measure the Temple And the Angel stood saying arise and measure c. Secondly His qualification for that worke And there was given me saith he a reed like unto a rod. This was the instrument that John was to measure by Thirdly We have the things that were to be measured they are namely three First the Temple Secondly the Altar Thirdly the worshippers therein I shall first open the words and then give you some observations from them And the Angel stood saying arise In Johns call observe three things First the Messenger an Angel this denotes the eminent power and great authority that this Message was brought in unto John as wee hinted before Secondly the posture of this Angel he stood which doth shew his willingnesse and dexterity his preparednesse and readinesse to deliver his Message that is evidently implyed by his posture of standing Thirdly we have this Angels direction saying arise thereby to prepare John to receive his message Now this command or direction of the Angel saying arise doth not imply that John was sitting and thereby to meane a change of his posture or mutation of his bodily station but rather that he should stir up his minde and affections and raise up his thoughts and apprehensions to attend unto that glorious vision or revelation that the Angel was about to impart unto him As if the Angel had said arise lift up thy selfe far above thy carnall minde and earthly affections raise up thy thoughts and apprehension far higher then poore low earthly and carnall things to contemplate on things of a more spirituall and glorious of a more divine and heavenly nature So that t is not meant here a change of bodily motions but a translation of minde Secondly Consider Johns qualification for the worke in hand And there was given me a reed saith he like unto a red It was the use of many Nations to measure things with reeds or canes because they were hollow and light and so fit for that use This reed was like unto a rod which was also used in measuring Hence it was that the children of Israel were called the rod of Gods inheritance Psal 74. 2. So that by this reed like unto a rod we have a resemblance unto the instruments that the Nations did use or of their manner of measuring by which is signified the Spirit of the Lord the onely rule and standard of divine things that can give a true description and dimention of the Temple of God Thirdly We have the things to be measured and they are first The Temple secondly the Altar Thirdly the worshippers therein First The Temple of God doth represent unto us the divine presence of the Lord with his people which makes them his Temple and Tabernacle according to that in 2 Cor. 6. 16. For yee are the Temple of the living God saith the Apostle for God hath said I will dwell in them and walke in them c. There is a cohabitation and a coambulation between God and his people they dwell together they walke together The Lord by his divine presence and in-dwelling of his spirit in their hearts doth make them his glorious Temple Suitable unto this is that in Revel 21. 3. Behold the Tabernacle of God is with men and he will dwell with them c. Which phrase is an allusion to the Tabernacle of old mentioned in Psal 15. 1. The Tabernacle was a solemne pledge signe of Gods presence with his people wherein was also the Arke of God kept which doth intimate unto us the Lords divine
the originall and ground it 's perfection and end it 's the judge and standard of all truth It is most true that God hath made sense and reason the judge and standard of such truths that are within their owne compasse and circuit and are able to perceive and discerne such objects that are suitable to themselves but they can ascend no higher Now for spirituall things saith the Apostle they are spiritually discerned 1 Cor. 2. 12. They cannot be judged or rightly understood without a spirituall apprehension and enlightned judgement therefore he saith in verse 9. Eye hath not seen eare hath not heard c. That is both the sense of seeing and hearing and also the reason and understanding of the heart are poore low and darke principles too superficiall too scant and narrow to judge divine things by Therefore the Apostle concludes in vers 11. That none knows the things of God but the Spirit of God which searcheth the deep things of God it is that alone openeth the deep and hidden mysteries of truth And hence the Apostle affirmes in verse 15. The spirituall man judgeth or discerneth all things Secondly Heavenly things are best discovered by a divine impression of them on the heart This is that the Apostle testifies of the Corinthians saying Yee are our Epistle written in our hearts knowne and read of all men for as much as ye are manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by us written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in the fleshly Tables of the heart 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. As if the Apostle had said yee are the seal of our Apostleship ye are our commendatory letters the truth is most of all manifested by that divine impresse it hath upon your hearts it 's written there with a more lively character and more easie to be deciphered then if it were written with inke and paper or on Tables of stone The truths of God are not so well discovered by the word and letter without us as by the word and spirit within us The mystery of the Gospel is most of all seen when it is engraven upon our hearts by the indeleble characters of the Spirit of God Thirdly To know the truth aright is to know it in Jesus according to that expression of the Apostle in Ephes 4. 21 22. If so be that ye have heard him and have been taught by him as the truth is in Jesus that ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man which is corrupt according to the deceitfull lusts and be renewed in the spirit of your minde and that ye put on the new man which after God is created in righteousnesse and true holinesse The Apostle shews plainly that to know the truth in Jesus is by the putting off the old man being corrupt and by putting on the new man c. wherein he doth compare the naturall and corrupt estate of man to an old worn-out garment which is fit for nothing but to be cast off layd aside and the new man which is the impression of the image of Gods righteousnes and holines on the soul he doth compare to a new garment fit to put on be adorned withall and hereby our mindes shall be renewed changed and regenerated from the naturall depravation of the understanding will and affections and wholly be filled and acted with spirit light life of Christ And hereby are we able to discerne the truths of Jesus as they are manifested to our new man or as they are represented to our mindes as being renewed according to the image and glory of Jesus Christ Fourthly and lastly we come to know the truth by our conformity unto it When there is a sweet complyance of our spirits with the will of God then we come to know most of the mystery of his will And this Christ himselfe doth beare witnesse of when he saith If any man will doe his will he shall know of my doctrine Joh. 7. 17. Now what is it to do the will of God but to have an harmonious consent and sweet complyance of our wills with the divine will of God whereby our wills are more enlarged in the knowledge and extent of his will our wills and his will as it were meeting and concentring in one Thus the soule becomes best acquainted with the knowledge of the truth and is enabled to understand the unknowne and hidden mysteries of heavenly things whereby it is able to judge aright and give a true dimention or measure of them And thus much for the rules or principles by which we are to judge and measure divine things Thirdly Observe from the Temples 3 Observ being measured That the Lord hath alwayes afforded his divine presence with his people even in the darkest and saddest time of Antichrists raigne The measuring of the Temple here hath an allusion unto Ezek. 40. where the Temple was measured that it might appeare the whole frame and order thereof was from the Lord. So here the Lord doth preserve a holy people to himselfe and by his divine presence with them doth measure them out for his Temple So that he doth preserve a spirituall forme of a Temple by his divine presence with his people even all the times of the generall Antichristian Apostacie and defection when there was no outward forme of a Temple when Antichrist sat in the visible Temple and exalted himselfe above all grasping all power and authority all rule and dominion then I say at the very time of the powerfull raigne of the Man of sin God would have us take notice that he did preserve a people to himselfe and by his divine presence love and protection did make them his Temple Fourthly Observe from the measuring 4 Observ of the Altar That the Lord had alwayes a people that did truly worship him Christ is the true Altar of God and all the Saints are made spirituall Priests to offer up their sacrifices and services on him The Saints draw nigh to God in sincerity they serve the Lord in spirit they worship him in spirit They did alway offer up upon the true Altar sacrificing all that was deare unto them their friends their goods their preferments their parts their lives and all that was deare unto them Such hath been the love of the faithfull unto the service of Christ that not withstanding all the rage and sury of Antichrist vexing and persecuting of them by imprisoument and death and whatsoever could be inflicted on them yet they could never be made weary of the profession of Christ but their faith and graces have alwayes been so impregnable and indefatigable that they could never be worne out or made to give over the service of Christ Fifthly Observe in that the true 5 Observ worshippers must be measured That the Lord doth accept of none but his true worshippers such as worship in his Temple and offer upon his Altar Christ
incendiaries to draw together all their strengths and powers to uphold the power of the beast which now is like to be broken and consumed These are the spirits of Devills being full of uncleannesse working miracles by some counterfeit spirituall actings or setting up some new invented formes of worship thus they gather the Kings of the earth to the great battell of God Almighty where God shall shew the greatness of his power in destroying of them for they are brought to Armageddon which signifies devoted for destruction that they are seduced and by â—uoâ—iâ—â—ie brought together to be destroyed Baraks victory over Sisera was by the waters of Megiddo Judg. 4. 15. So all that give up their power to uphold the beast shall come to the great battell of God Almighty even to Armageddon where they shall assuredly be ensnared and broken in pieces Hitherto agrees the effect of the sixt seal Chap. 6. 12. c. And I beheld when he had opened the sixt seal and there was a great earth-quake a greaâ— feare and terrâ—ur fell upon all men great concussions and commotions should be on the earth And the Sun became blacke the glory of the state and Church of Antichrist turned into blackness mourning into great confusion and astonishment And the Moone became bloud all the invented ordinances of the man of sin were darkned and obscured And the Stars fell â—rom heaven as a figtree casteth her untimely figs Such as seemed to be Ministers and profâ—ssors of Christ now appeare to be fleshly and carnall and fall from that appearance of heavenly light unto the earth cleaving now to an earthly power even like untimely figs that never come to maturity or ripenesse Then their State and Church which seemed to be as high as heaven departed as a scroll and all their mountaines of strength and confidence were removed out of their places And the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chiefe Captaiues and mighty men and every bond-man and every free man hid them selves in dens and in the rockes of the mountaines c. All sorts ranks and degrees of men from the highest to the lowest they now fly to the rocks and mountaines of their trust and confidence every one will fly unto his God unto that he trusts in the States and powers of the world will fly to the Church and hide themselves under religious formes of worship and the Church will fly to the earthly powers for shelter and protection and the people will run to those that seduced them for succour and reliefe but shall not be able to secure themselves from the wrathful countenance of the Lamb â—e being exalted upon the throne of his power in the great â—ay of his venge nâ—e when he shall reckon with the Antichristian powers that have shed the bloud of the Martyrs and rejected the testimony of his witnesses This at the rising of the witnesses Add hereunto the effect of the sixt Trumpet And the sixt Angel sounded and I heard a voyce from the four hornes of the golden Altar which is before God Chap. 9. 13. The voice and power of Christ prefigured by the golden Altar Exod. 30. 1. having hornes vers 10. signifying the power strength of Christ whereby the foure Angels that were heald in the river Euphrates were loosed The great multitude of Saints that were bound up by the strength and power of Antichrist are now set at liberty now they goe forth with great authority and hold forth the truth making glorious discoveries of the same These slay the third part of men for fire smoke and brimstone comes forth of their mouths the light and truth they hold forth as fire doth devour and as smoke doth darken all the light and glory of Antichrist And in their tailes or conversation they hurt by condemning the men of the world and of those that repented not of their deeds And in Chap. 10. Christ comes forth as a mighty Angel clothed with a cloud of darknesse obscurity that the world could not see him having a rain-bow or Covenant of grace on his head and the booke of the Gospel unsealed in his hand he set his right foot upon the sea of the common people and his left upon the earth or worldly powers And crying with a loud voice the seven thunders uttered a perfection of feare and amasement of dread and terrour falls upon the sea and upon the earth upon all the people and powers of Antichrist The seventh Viall was powred into the 7 Viall aire and there came great voyces out of the Temple of heaven saying it is done Chap. 16. 17. The very ayre that Antichrist lives and breaths in is now destroyed there is no longer breath spirit or life in any thing that Antichrist would live in or receive comfort from so that the whole worke is done the beast is quite destroyed and there were voyces and thunders and lightnings and great earthquakes such grievous concussions and earth-quakes as if heaven and earth were conspired together to destroy Babylon the work is done or Bah loâ— undone though once it had a being now it hath none now it is divided into three parts as being torne to picces by the earth-quake and every Mountaine and Island fled away as things that could yeeld no protection And there fell great haile out of heaven upon men about the waight of a talent and men blasphemed God because of the plagues of haile for the plague thereof was exceeding great Here is an allusion to the great plague of haile that fell upon Aegypt Exod. 9. 22. This haile falls from heaven from the light and truth held forth by Saints in the middest of heavenly enjoyments these raine downe great and weighty haile-stones upon the state order and worship of Antichrist Compare hereunto the effect of the seventh seale And when he had opened the seventh seale there was silence in heaven about the space of halfe an houre Upon the opening of this last seale there is some respite or intermission and as it were for a time some rest and cessation of the Saints from persecuâ—ion and trouble Now is the full revelation of truth now is the kingdome of God come and now the Gospel goes forth without let or molestation now the servants of God have peace without and also a sweet tranquillity and quietnesse in their owne spiritâ— Add hereunto the seventh Trumper Chapt. 11. 15. And the seventh Angel sounded and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of the world are become the kingdomes of the Lord and of his Christ c. Now the kingdomes and nations cast downe their crownes at the feet of Christ who will take his great power unto himselfe and raigne Thus we see how the Saints smite the earth with all plagues by powring out all the vialls of Gods wrath upon the State and Church of Antichrist Aiso you perceive that there is an agreement between the seals
that hath no bottome this beast or forme of wickednes this beast-like power that slayeth the witnesses hath no foundation it is not brought forth by any institution of Christ it hath no such bottom to fasten it selfe on but doth arise from the evill imaginations of mans heart this wickednesse rage hath no limits or bounds the heart of man closing with Satan doth hatch bring forth all the most abominable hideous the most black and monstrous wickednesse that is acted in the world This wickednesse arising into power and greatnesse breaketh forth into cruelty and rage into madnesse and beastlinesse Antichrist acting upon this principall becomes as a beast and is fierce and cruell he being in power doth kill and slay the witnesses and faithfull servants of Christ And this beast ariseth out of the bottomlesse pit that is without breadth or length such as cannot be fathomed or measured being full of darknesse and blacknesse of torment and confusion Thus we see what is meant by the bottomlesse pit from whence this beast cometh that maketh war with the Saints Hence it is that the Apostle sayth The coming of the man of sin is after the working of Satan 2 Thes 2. 9. It is Satan that doth captivate the mindes and understandings of men and powerfully seduce and deceive them So that Satans working upon the hearts of men doth produce all those strange inventions deceits all that darknesse and confusion all those horrid designes and plots that causeth all that rage and cruelty that mans heart doth hatch bring forth even all that killing and slaying enmity that Antichrist doth exercise against the witnesses So much for the description of the bottomles pit from whence the beast cometh Thirdly the manner of this beasts coming he doth ascend up c. that is into greatnesse and power he doth arise up high in dignity and dominion This beast doth ascend from the bottomlesse pit of the workings of Satan from that darknesse blacknesse confution rage cruelty in mans heart up unto greatnesse power and dominion This wickednesse doth not lye in the hellish imaginations of mans heart closed up in those unfathomed and endlesse thoughts and inventions but it ascendeth up into power and action it ariseth into height and dominion and then breaketh forth into cruelty and oppression Thus the beast is sayd to ascend out of the sea Chap. 13. 1. that is he as being greedy of supremacy and greatnesse did ascend by little and little untill he was lifted up into the highest power and dominion So this beast doth ascend out of the bottomless pit to a state of strength and power As it is sayd in Chap. 13. 2. The Dragon gave unto the beast his power and his seat and great authority that so he might make war with the Saints and overcome them and kill them Thus much for the manner of the beasts ascension The third thing to be considered is the manner how the witnesses are to be slaine and that is expressed by a threefold action of the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit he shall First make warre against them Secondly shall overcome them Thirdly he shall kill them First we have the war that this beast makes against the witnesses This is the war in heaven spoken of in Chap. 12. 7. between Michael and his Angels fighting with the Dragon and his Angels That is Christ and his people waging a spirituall war against the Devill and his agents This represents us with the spirit of enmity and malice of the Serpent put forth in the power and authority of the Dragon here is the seede of the Serpent and the seed of the woman conflicting and fighting one against the other When the woman is fled into the wilderness and Antichrist himselfe having taken the possession of the outward Court yet the Dragon makes war with the remnant of her seed Chap. 12. ult This war is in heaven being a spirituall Combate between Christ and Antichrist The envie the malice and the inveterate hatred of the seed of the Serpent is alwayes putting it selfe forth against Christ his servants his image and truth Hence it was that Christ told the Jewes That they were of their father the Devill who was a murtherer from the beginning Joh. 8. 44. They received the root and seed of malice and hatred from Satan the accuser of the servants of Christ who doth alwayes raise calumny war and contention against them Thus the beast being filled with the cursed seed of the envie and malice of the Serpent doth alwayes make war with the Saints Secondly this beast shall overcome the witnesses This represents us with the craft and subtilty of the Serpent whereby he shall ensnare and intrap the Saints for the time that they shall be given into his hand Thus it is said of the King of a fierce countenance that through his policy he should cause craft to prosper in his hand Dan. 8. 25. And so in Dan. 11. 31. He shall corrupt with flatteries Such is the craft and subtilty of Antichrist who by faire pretenies and subtill devices doth betray the Saint And thus he doth by translating himselfe into an Angel of light taking up the forme of Christ to persecute the spirit and life of Christ The beast comes forth with faire pretences like a woman in some glorious dresse arayed in purple and scarlet colour decked with gold and precious stones and pearles Revel 17. 4. having many excellencies of nature and formes of worship humane gifts and a counterfeit spirit that so the whole world wander after the beast saying Who is like unto the beast But when he hath by subtilty and deceit brought about his owne ends then he openeth his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and abuse his people by Ecclesiasticall Cannons Lawes and Constitutions so that to the malice here is added the subtilty of the beast to overcome and ensnare the Saints and to bring them under his power and jurisdiction all the appoynted time while they are given into his hand Thus the beast by turning Religion into a Law and by establishing his formes of worship by civill sanction and humane authority taking into his assistance the powers of the world he doth prevaile against and overcome the witnesses Thirdly the beast is sayd to kill these witnesses And this represents us with the spirit of cruelty herein he doth beast-like devour and destroy the faithfull servants of Christ Now we must not understand this killing of the witnesses of a literall or outward slaying but of a Mysticall slaying for they are not here slaine as men but they are slaine as witnesses and so their killing here imports two things First a restraint layd upon their persons sometimes by imprisonment and banishment sometimes by throwing them from place and office from rule and government by silencing and suspending of them some way or other hindering them in the course of their prophesie Thus the Jewes cast out
his poor despised people they shall have another name which the Lord himself shall name a name of praise and glory when the Lord shall adorne his Spouse with the brightnesse of the sun and make her terrible as an army with banners then the daughters that see her shall blesse her and the Queens and Concubines they shall praise her This shall be the state and condition of the Witnesses when they shall ascend up to heaven to live in heavenly enjoyments or liberty and freedome in respect of their outward and externall glory they shal be freed from the oppression of their Adversaries Their enemies shall serve them they shal abound in peace and be blessed in praises Now it followes that wee speake something of their internal glory and excellency that they shal be advanced unto And that you may take in these particulars following First the Saints shall abound in heavenly knowledg and understanding of the mysteries of truth The earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the Sea Isa 11. 9. And he will destroy in this mountaine the face of covering cast over all people and the Veile that is spread over all nations Isa 25. 7. Moreover the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold as the light of seven dayes in the day that the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people and healeth the stroke of their wound Isa 30. 26. There hath been a vaile of covering spread over all Nations and that by the operation of the man of sinne but now the vaile shall be taken away and the light of one day shall be as the light of seven there shall be a perfect discovery of light a perfection of truth shall appeare in the Saints Secondly the Saints shall be taken up into higher enjoyments of spirituall comfort and joy by a clearer apprehension of divine love then when they sate mourning under the sense of their owne defects And the ransomed of the Lord shall returne and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joyes upon their heads and they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall â—â—e away Isa 35. 10. and Chap. 51. 1â— And the dayes of mourning shall be ended Isa 60. 20. And God shall take away all teares from all faces and the rebuke of his people shall be taken away from the earth Isa 30. 8. And GOD shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine for the former things are passed away Revel 21. 4. And the inhabitant shall not say I am sicke the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity Isa 33. 24. All which places shew that when the Saints shall be delivered from the spirituall captivity of Babylon they shal have no more occasion of sorrow those evills that exposed them to reproach and persecutions which lay so heavy upon them and those evills that caused them to shed so many tears shall be all done away they shall not now be grieved under oppression and crying for deliverance For their Officers shall be peace and their Exactors righteousnesse righteous ones shall have the dominion Neither shall the Saints live under any such apprehension of sinne as now which causes soule sicknesse for their iniquity shall be done away and they shal enjoy spiritual freedome and comfort Thirdly the Saints shal act more in the power of God and lesse from selfe and creature And he that is weak among them at that day shall be as David and the house of David shall be as God as the Angell of the Lord before him Zech. 12. 8. For there the glorious Lord will be unto us a place of broad rivers and streams wherein shall goe no Galley with oares neither shall gallant ships passe thereby Their tacklings were loosed they could not well strengthen their mast they could not spread their saile Then is the prey of a great spoyle divided and the lame take the prey Isa 23. 21. 23. The weake and the feeble shall be filled with so much grace majestie authority strength and truth that as the very Angels of God they shall be carried forth in the most heroicall and divine vertues that the most weak and impotent shal be able to take the spoyle and seize on the prey of divine things they shal not saile in any gallant Ship of outward enjoyments there shal be no rowing of the Galley with oares of creature-strength and ability but they shal got forth in the name of the Lord and shal in his strength alone performe all their undertakings Fourthly and lastly God shal more immediately communicate all knowledge comfort strength and all divine grace unto his people then hee hath formerly done The Saints shall enjoy divine things by a more neer and intimate way from Christ then formerly they have done They shall not so much rejoyce in the externall part or out-side of things as in the indwellings of the spirit and life of God within them The Sunn shall be no more thy light by day neither for brightnesse shall the Moone give light unto thee but the Lord shall be unto thee an everlastong light and thy God thy glory Thy Sunne shall goe no more downe neither shall thy Moone with-draw it selfe for the Lord shall be thine everlasting light and the dayes of thy mourning shall be ended Isa 60. 19 20. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it And the Citie had no need of the Sunne neither of the Moone to shine in it for the glory of God did lighten it and the Lamb is the light thereof And the Nations of them that are saved shall walke in the light of iâ— for there shall be no night there Rev. 21. 22 23. When all external means and wayes shall cease God and Christ shal be all in all to his Saints The earthly Jerusalem had à Temple and visible signs of Gods presence in it but now in the new and spiritual Jerusalem that shall come down from above this heavenly frame and condition that the Saints shal ascend into after the Witnesses shall arise it shall be more heavenly and divine more pure and spiritual then ever they enjoyed before yea all their wayes and worships shal be more holy and spiritual their light and communion with God and Christ shal be such as that they shal not need any outward or external meanes They shal not be over-shadowed by the night of ignorance or persecution or darknesse but shal be filled with the in-dwelling of God and of the Lamb and they shal walk in the glory of that divine light This and much more might be spoken of the glorious condition of the Saints when they shal ascend up to heaven to live in heavenly enjoyments and priviledges both of externall liberty and peace and
in some respect and in some things cast off the service and dominion of the beast yet they have not cast off the image of the beast For if we cast our eyes upon the reformed Churches abroad we shall see a national church a carnall Ministry worldly Christians invented ordinances of mans framing civill and earthly lawes and institutions humane and naturall gifts parts exercised so that these reformed churches so much talked of are but some politick and humane frame that sets up an image to the beast or Antichrist coming forth in another forme and shape then that of downright Popery And therefore we cannot judge any of them to be the tenth part of the Citie neither can we expect the rising of the witnesses to be from thence Now for as much as England is the first nation that is wholly thorowly casting off and disowning all Antichristian powers and for as much as the Lord hath raised up his people in a great measure from their sackcloth and mourning the Saints here begin to stand upon their feet to ascend above the power of their adversaries into the liberty of Christs kingdome and in that God hath begun this great earthquake here shaking all powers both accleâ—â—asticall and civill this I say doth plainly demonstrate that England is that tenth part of the Citie where the witnesses shall first rise out of their sackcloth bondage Now this great earthquake that had it's first beginning here shall continue and by degrees reach other nations the Lord will from hence goe on to shake all nations the sea and the dry land And though Dutch and Dane and French shall combine against us and becompasse the Camp of the Saints and the holy Citie yet the fire of the Lord shall come from heaven and consume them The Lord shall be unto this Island a wall of fire round about Zech. 2. 5. And thus the Lord will undoubtedly goe on untill he hath subdued the power of the nations broken the strength of the ten hornes that they shall wholly withdraw their power and authority from the service of Antichrist and shall devote all their strength riches authority to advance the kingdome of Christ Thus not onely a tenth part shall fall in the earthquake but all the ten hornes by degrees shall be scattered and broken and whereas they have given their power and service to the beast so now all their strength and power shall serve Christ and his ends The kingdomes of the world shall become Christs at the sound of the seventh Trumpet of which we shall speake in it's due place now we proceed Fourthly from the second effect 4 Observ and there were slaine of men seven thousand Observe Those principally and chiefly shall be slaine in the earthquake that are the upholders and maintainers of Antichrists cause and quarrell Those here sayd to be slaine are the names of men or men of name of fame of note of qualitie of office of dignity such as these are slaine these are slaine in their offices The Lord puls downe the mightie from their seats and exalts the humble and mâ—eke â— powers riches honours these are cast out of ecclesiasticall civill power and rule and as it 's said of the Dragon they are cast out of heaven down to the earth they are degraded and cast out as an abominable branch This earthquake doth not so much shake and scatter the poore ignorant seduced people as those that are great in power in office in parts and renowne There is not one of these shall escape the seven thousand the full perfect and compleat number of those chiefe props and stays of Antichrist such as mannage his cause and maintaine his quarrell there is not one of those that shall escape that shall not be throwne downe How hath this earthquake shaken men out of their honours and dignities out of offices places as those that were in ecclesiasticall jurisdiction Bishopâ— Deans Chapters Câ—ancellors Commissaries Ordinaries Parsons and Curates with all the rest of the Prelaticall crew And then those in civill power dominion King Lords Parliaments and all others of place and power that have set their hands to uphold the power of the beast the Antichristian or Cleargie interest they have been broken and sâ—ared All men of name of civil or ecclesiasticall power and rule that have set and engaged themselves to uphold or maintain the cause interest of the beast they have been all broken slaine in this great and â—errible earthquake Therefore let all States and powers take heed how they mix their authority with the usurped ecclesiasticall power for whosoever doth so shall surely be destroyed For the beast and the false Prophet shall be both taken together and be cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Revel 19. 20. The beast is corrupted Magistracy or forme of power ecclesiasticall and civill mixâ— together compounded and joyned into one and so acts and comes forth in the forme of a beast The false Prophet is meant of those Priests that speake lies in the name of the Lord that seeme to work miracles and cause fire to come downe from heaven in the sight of men counterfelting the spirit of God when they speake but a divination and falshood of their own spirits Now the beast and the false Prophet fall together The one speaking lies and the other upholding him The Clergie first studying and inventing formeâ— of worship and the earthly power mainâ—aining them O that the powers of the earth might see how much they are damnified by Cleargie interest what a heavie burden it is to carry the weight of spirituall jurisdiction which will prove as a talent of lead upon the shoulders of all that stand under it The woman is sayd to ride upon the beast Revel 17. 7. The Antichristian church carried upon the back of earthly powers Hath not experience told us that there hath not been any sort of men of what title or qualitie soever that have layd hold of Antichrists interest and sought to uphold and maintaine his cause but they have been ensuared and broken in pieces Why hath there been all those turnings and overturnings of men of note and place but because they have joyned interest and power with the beast and have endeavoured to uphold that usurped ecclesiasticall power either Prelaticall or Classicall Fiftly from the third consequent And the remnant were affrighted c. observe That when God doth scatter the great 5 Obser and mighty ones of the earth it doth much amaze affrighten the poore and ignorant people that have been seduced by them When the pillars of Antichrist are shaken it must needs perplex and trouble those that depended upon them For when the poore misled people shall see the men of name their great rulers throwne downe and debased this cannot but affright them when that power that ruled them shall be subdued when that wisdome that led them shall be
the beast as is declared vers 13. to serve his ends and designes And though it be true that all this while Christ hath intermedled with all the affaires of the Nations their policies and governments that all occurrances therein hath tended at least by degrees to advance his own kingdome and to bring about his owne ends yet these kingdomes and policies and governments have served Antichrist and it hath been their worke and businesse to oppose the kingdome of Christ and suppresse and persecute his people and truth so that these kingdomes of the world have not served Christ though Christ hath served himselfe by them but they have been devoted unto Antichrist and served him Thirdly How doth Christ recover these againe into his owne hand And that is by breaking and scattering the powers of the world he will shake all Nations Hag. 2. 6. when the Lord shall cast aside these oppressing tyrants of the earth he will come forth in the ministry of his owne people and by them administer righteousnesse and peace unto the world The Lord will dash in pieces all the powers of the earth that have oppressed his people and will so come forth in his owne people to administer to the world that the earth shall be at rest and quiet when violence shall be no more heard in the Land but our officers shall be righteousnesse and our exactors peace And how shall this be See what the Lord saith by the Prophet Esa 24. 21 22 23. And it shall come to passe in that day that the Lord shall punish the host of the high ones that are on high and the Kings of the earth upon the earth and they shall be gathered as prisoners are gathered in the pit and shall be shut up in the prison and after many dayes they shal be visited or found wanting as the margent reads it Then the Moone shall be confounded and the Sunne ashamed when the Lord of host shall raigne in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem and before his ancients gloriously or as the Margine renders it There shall be glory before his ancients The meaning of these words take thus The great and mighty Kings of the earth who have opposed the kingdome of Christ and have undertaken all power ecclesiasticall and civill to rule in Church and State to determine all spirituall causes by temporall power and civill sanction God will so advance his Saints by his spirituall appearance in them that they shall oppose and punish these Kings of the earth not onely by the sword of the spirit but also with a temporal sword the Kings of the earth upon the earth they shall be able to overcome those that did enslave and rule over them He that kills by the sword shall be killed by the sword here is the patience of the Saints Revel 13. 10. This is the fruit of all their patience in all their former sufferings And after many dayes they shall be found wanting men shall after a time be willing to beare the losse of Kings and great ones without trouble or vexing when the Moone shall be confounded and the Sun ashamed viz. all civill ecclesiasticall powers governments orders and rulers shall be broken Then the Lord shall raigne in Mount Zion to wit in his Saints and people as before his ancients in whom he shall gloriously appeare to administer righteousnesse peace unto the world By these ancients are meant no more then the twenty foure Elders mentioned Revel 4. 4. who sit in white clothing having Crownes upon their heads as raigning in royall state glory and trâ—umph So that the Lord will no longer come forth in and by the men of the earth to raigne by Kings and Potentates but he will come forth in his glorious appearance in his Saints and thorow them will administer righteousnesse to the world Sutable hereunto is that Scripture Dan. 7. 22. where it is sayd that the little horne should make war with the Saints and prevaile against them untill the Ancient of dayes should come and then judgement was given to the Saints of the most high and the time came that the Saints possessed the kingdome Christ himselfe shall inherit all Nations and he will put his people in possession of all power riches rule and dominion When the Lord shall take away power and dominion from the men of the earth Then the kingdome and dominion and the greatnesse of the kingdome under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdome is an ever lasting kingdome and all dominions shall serve and obey him vers 27. All that 's good and excellent that 's rich and beautifull that 's noble and honourable shall be given to the Saints The forces of the Gentiles and their Kings shall be brought to them Esa 60. 11. And they shall eat the riches of the Gentiles and boast themselves in their glorie Esa 61. 6. All Dominions and States shall serve them strangers shall stand and feed their flock and the sonnes of the alient shall be their plow-men and vine-dressers dressers vers 5. So then when the Lord shall take the power riches dominion and authority from the great ones of the earth and invest his Saints with the same when all power rule shall be brought under the feet of Christ who will come forth in the appearances of his people then Christ doth take to himselfe his great power and raign Thus the Lord doth recover the kingdomes and nations into his own hand stripping the men of the earth with their strength riches glorie rule and conferring of the same upon his people and so will administer no longer by Kings and Nobles but by Saints and faithfull ones He will raigne among his Ancients gloriously Fourthly By what right or title Christ will lay claime to the kingdomes of the world and that is by his owne native and proper right These kingdomes shall become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ The originall right and propriety of all the kingdomes of the world are the Lords they are his right and he will maintaine his owne priviledge and prerogative he will take to himselfe and possesse all they of right belong unto him and he from the beginning did possesse all It is true the Lord did intrust Kings and great ones of the earth to be his Substitutes and Stewards he committed the care of these to them as his Servants or Deputies but when the Lord will cast these Stewards out of their places dispossesse the Kings and Nobles of the earth then presently the kingdomes of the world returne to him whose they were from the beginning But these kingdomes of the world are so the Lords as they are Christ's also Christ the anointed one of the Lord he shall raigne he is son over his owne house Heb. 3. 5. He hath right and propriety with the Father by vertue of Sonship and anointing The actuall administration is put into his hand he being