continue by the Lords sufferance to exercise the cruelty and wickednesse mentioned in the Vision That the meaning is so appears by the Question and Answer Dan. 12. 6 7. How long shall it be to the end of these wonders for a time times and an half As if hee should say For the vision of the little Horn it shall bee for a time times and an half so long hee is to continue to scatter the power of the Holy People and when that time shall bee expired the words of the Prophesy are fulfilled concerning him For soon after the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion c. Qu. But by a time and times and dividing of time what time is there meant or how much is this time The common received opinion is three years and an half These persecutions saith Diodate shall last one year two years and halfe one year that is to say three years and half I confesse in the application I finde few to agree with me yet for the time tobee three years and an half neither more nor lesse few writers which I have seen but take it so as I do And for these few which understand it otherwise as making first a time times and dividing of time to bee three years and an half and then out of the three years and half to reckon each day for a year this I conceive neither agrees with Daniels manner of reckoning the time nor with other Prophets That three daies and an half should be taken for three years and an half So forty two months for so many years as there are dayes in the months Again One thousand two hundred and threescore dayes for so many years this is right and according to the Scriptures Numb 14. 34. Ezek. 4. 5. But by a time to understand a year by times two years and dividing of time an half year and afterward from these three years and an half to number years by daies There is not for this I think any ground in the word of God Besides why should not Daniel when hee useth words and terms alike be alike understood in chap. 4 25. it is said seven times shall passe over â—hee here it is not questioned but by seven times seven years are meant no raising of another number from daies to years Now I see no reason why the Prophet in one place should bee understood by Time strictly a year and in another as many years as a year hath daves especially seeing it is familiar with Daniel to set down his account in this manner as ch 11. 13. in the end Haghiâ—tim shanâ—m of the times of years see chap. 7. 12. and 8. 17. and 11. 14 35 40. and 12. 4 9. I might add how three years and half was the term of Christs persecution in the flesh the which being expired immediately begunne upon his resurrection the setting up of his spiritual kingdome all the world over So three years and an half is the time of the sufferings of his witnesses under the little Horn the which being ended they shall rise and stand upon their feet again and then beginnes that which you have Rev. 11. 13 14. the great earth-quake and the sounding of the seventh Trumpet and the kingdomes of this world becomming the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Quest But how doth it appear if by time and times and dividing of time three years and half are meant that these are the three years and half which period the number of one thousand two hundred and threescore years and contemporises with the latter Apostacy and slaying of the witnesses Answ 1 Graserns against Junius gives many reasons that the Vision shewed Daniel concerning the Little Horn is to have its accomplishment in Novissim diebus in the very last times toward the end of the world and judgement shall not passe upon him usque ad consummationem irae untill the indignation bee accomplished Dan. 11. 36. that is unt ill the forty two months are expired Histor Antichrist pag. 115. 119. c. If this bee so as I see nothing against it then must this little Horn be before the rise of the witnesses and the forty two months are expired for hee shall have no Dominion or Power after that time 2 Upon the destruction of the Little Horn the Saints possesse the kingdome but this they do not neither is the Kingdome theirs till the witnesses rise and the time of the Beasts Tyranny is expired Hence I gather that the three years and an half allowed the Little Horn and the three years and an half in which the witnesses lye slain must needs contemporise I would have the reader observe this for I think there is some weight in it If the taking of the kingdom by the Saints bee upon the ruine of the Little Horn and the rising of the witnesses as clearly it is so to me then it must follow necessarily that the three years and half given to the Little Horn and the three years and half spoken of the slain witnesses are all one see Dan. 7. 25 26 27. compare Rev. 11. 8. 11 12 13 15 c. 3 Another Argument I lay down thus the book is not to bee opened untill the time of the end which is in the three years and half and the understanding of it will bee partly by the Characters of a little Horn. Now it is the Lords usual manner not to lead his people back to things past but to teach them the understanding of Prophesies by what is present and doing in their own time when yee shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holy place c. Again when yee shall see all these things c. Mat. 24. 15. 33. So the little Horn must be seen before the wise will understand the end and this is proper to the three years and half 4 It seems by Daniel that the cause and ground of the Little Horns making warre against the Saints wearying them out and scattering their power will bee for bearing witnesse to Christs visible and glorious kingdome so that the controversy now will not bee as formerly it was about the Church Ministery worship and discipline but about the whole Rule Dominion and government under the Sunne that is whether the kingdoms of the world shall continue as they are in the hands of Tyrants and oppressors or they shall bee Christs and the Saints of the most high according to that promise And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdome that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not passe away and his kingdom that which shall not bee destroyed Again And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdome and all power shall serve and obey it Dan.
sent back to search the erring Histories of old times and to enquire what was done many hundred years ago it doth therefore behove all such who are running to and fro that knowledge may encrease to STUDIE THE PRESENT TIME whether the things which must be in the last three years and half are already come or not THE CHARACTERS OF THE Last Apostacie OPENED I Know already what the understanding Reader doth expect from me If the three years and an half are begun that I shew him the Little Horn the Later Apostacie and the Beast ascending out of the bottomless pit with all their Characters set down in sacred Scriptures If I do not this and make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it let not my Writing be received For I desire no mans belief any further then he see every thing well and fairly proved Now because from the Apostacie as the bottomless pit the Beast ascendeth who with his Horn slays the Witnesses I shall therefore begin with the Apostacie first And here we have two Questions 1. Why the Apostacie in 2 Tim. 3. must be in the last three years and an half 2. How it appears that the present Apostacie of our time is that Apostacie of which Paul speaks should be in the Last day This know also The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 likewise or besides carries the matter back to the former Epistle chap. 4. 1 2 3. and his meaning being opened it is as he should say In thy person I speak to all Saints of future ages and would have them forewarned of two great Apostacies which shall arise in the Christian Church before the time of the end And these distinguished 1. By their Times The former shall be in the later times that is when he that letteth is taken out of the way then shall the wicked be revealed 2 Thess 2. 7 8 meaning the Great Whore or kingdom of the Beast the other will be in the last days neer or about the period of the Beasts dominion 2. The former Apostacie shall be in Doctrine Some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lyes in hypocrisie forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats The later will be in manners and conversation Men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous proud c. Again that by the last days the three years and half are meant I prove it thus The Word of God doth not onely distinguish between Time and Time as there is a set time to every purpose under the sun Eccles 3. 1. but likewise shews that all Prophecies have their due accomplishments in their fixt appointments Thus there was a time for the Dragon to reign in the Romane Heathen Emperours and that Time must be expired before the first Apostacie or Antichristian kingdom could arise 2 Thess 2. 3 7 8. So there is a time for the two Witnesses to prophesie in sackcloth which time must be finished before they are slain in their Testimony Again being killed in their witness they must lie three days and an half unburied which is another distinct time For Application This later Apostacie cannot be carried up to the persecution of the Saints under the Heathen Romane Emperours I think no man holds it so Nor can it be referred to the time of the Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth for then the last days were not come for there was a time after that Neither can it be understood of a time after the sackcloth Witnesses are risen for then there shall be time no longer Rev. 10. 6. to wit either for the first or second Apostacie but both are to be destroyed and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11. 12 13 15. Therefore I take it neither before nor after the later Apostacie must necessarily contemporize with the last three years and half So that three years and an half is the whole time of the later Apostacie answerable to the time of the slain Witnesses But the other is the great Point How it can be proved that the Apostacie of this age is that Apostacie of which Paul speaks 2 Tim. 3 1 2. The matter being weighty I shall speak the more to it yet with bowels and tenderness sighing for the abominations that are done in the midst of us and mourning for them as the Prophets did for backsliding Israel and Judah First it appears by the Scriptures that the two great Apostacies shall in many things be like each other the former being a Type of the later Concerning the first Apostacie 1. It had its rise in the true Christian Church and among the professors of the Gospel Hence it is called a departure from the faith 1 Tim. 4. 1. and a falling away 2 Thess 2. 3. And of this Apostacy I think Paul speaks For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your selves shall men arise speaking perverse things c. Acts 20. 29 30. Secondly as the first Apostacie had its rise in the Church of Christ so the cause of it was for that men were lovers of their own selves covetous proud c. Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you 2 Pet. 2. 3. 2 Thess 2. 4. Thirdly this Apostacie being made through self-love covetousness pride c. there was one appointed to be Head or King over it Rev. 9. 11. called That man of sin 2 Thess 2. 3. The lawless one vers 8. The angel of the bottomless pit Rev. 9 11. and typically the Little Horn in Dan. 7. To this King or Head of the first Apostacie it was given to change times and laws as Having all power in his hands and being above all and to be obeyed by all For he is dominus omnium temporaliu◠solus verus Dominus The true and onely Lord of all Temporal things Non potest subjicere se Concilio generali He cannot subject himself to a general Councel Legi non subjicet ulli judicium est pro lege He is subject to no law and his judgement is in stead of law He hath all manner of law and right in scrinio pectoris sui in the closet of his own brest In its quae vult est ei pro ratione voluntas In those things which he will his Will is unto him for Reason His power is absolute and extendeth as far as himself listeth He may do all things suprajus contra jus extrajus Above Law against Law and without Law Facit quicquid libet imo illicita What he pleaseth he may do yea although unlawful Besides as for the Head of the first Apostacie he must not say they be judged by any man for any crime either of murther or tyranny but rather be excused l Si Papa erraret
Officers of true Churches have so fallen in with the world have gotten such riches houses lands moneys have liv'd in such pleasure plenty riot pomp and state I cannot finde that the like hath been before and I hope after this time it will be so no more And indeed I should have thought this thing which is now come to pass very strange had not this Apostacie been foretold that in the last days there should be in the Churches of the Saints and amongst the Ministers Men Lovers of their own selves covetous proud c. 4. If the present Apostacie be that of which Paul speaks the time under it will be perillous hard difficult The Dutch translates Schwertzeiten heavie grievous or troublesome because saith their noâ—e The time will be full of grief and hard for the Godly perillous saith Diodate in regard of the spiritual state of the Church The Reasons why the time will be so hard and heavy under the later Apostacie may be these 1. Because out of this Apostacie as the bottomless pit a beast shall arise headed with a little horn by whom the witnesses shall be slain 2. It will be a hard and heavy time because the Rights Liberties and Freedoms of the people shall be taken from them an Arbitrary Power set up illegal Taxes impos'd and onely force and violence bear sway 3. The prudent now must either keep silence or extremely suffer And so a heavy time 4. Such snares and temptations will be laid as many good men shall be corrupted and drawn aside from their former righteous principles and from faith and a good conscience to pernitious ways Lastly so heavy a time will it be that men shall be at their wits end not knowing what to do nor what course to take for their own safety nor how to keep a good conscience without suffring by this Apostacie For it will be as much as a mans life to appear for the just liberties of the people and to hold forth a publike testimony for the visible and glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ Hence the Aethiopick translator renders it the bad year because Religion and the holy Name of God would suffer more dishonor and reproach at this time then in any age before by reason of the base revolting of eminent and forward professors every where To prove these Reasons that is my part the which if God permit I shall do when I come to open the sins and characters of the little Horn Then I will shew that for these Considerations it will be a perilous time under the later Apostacie The Application that is the Readers part The which of the two I conceive is the least and easiest But fifthly and to come neerer yet to the matter The question is Whether the particular sins set down in 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 c. may be found among the Apostates of this age directly and fully and not appliable since the first Apostacie to any men till now If it be not so without forcing the Text what I have said in the Considerations I shall abide by it viz. This Apostacie is not that which the Spirit of God intends in 2 Tim. 3. but some other is yet to come Now to name the sins and open the wotds with a little Application will be enough for my part Lovers of their own selves The Apostle begins at the Spring-head Self-love as the bitter root brings forth this unblessed weed called THE STATE-APOSTACIE OF THE LAST TIMES Neither indeed can it be otherwise for if men begin to love themselves they will soon be covetous proud boasters c. And what thinkest thou Reader when men shall love themselves more then their oaths vows covenants c. more then truth and righteousness more then the laws liberties and rights of the people more then faith and a good conscience say more then heaven and their own souls yea and more then God and his Christ Whether such may not be thought to be the Self-lovers intended by the holy Ghost who should make the later Apostacie Covetous The word signifies not onely lovers of silver and money but of other things As Lands Houses Castles Parks Courts Titles great Offices and Places c. Besides the word signifies an immoderate desire and appetite to have the possession of such things Hence the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often rendred studium pecuniae the Study of money How this is made good in the present Apostacie their practice is proof enough neither do I mean to speak much of their doings seeing the same is so obvious and manifest to the world and by many published already For their coveteousness what it is from the head to the tail God sees it and men know it and what scandal and reproach they have brought to the truth by it they themselves will know one day But because the Reader may do his part the better which is Applicative I shall commend three things to him 1. That he take notice These here whom the Apostle saith shall be lovers of their own selves Covetuous Proud c. were men formerly seemingly at lest of other principles and practices for else it could not have been an Apostacie It cannot be forgotten what was laid to the charge oâ— the Bishops for their covetousness pride pomp following the court and what to the King and his party for their excess But now who more covetous of Money Lands Houses Castles Parks Courts Titles great Offices and Places c. then they who condemned these very sins in others see Rom. 2. 1 3. 2. It must be remembred If the Apostacie now be it of which Paul speaks all the sins in the Text must be applied to it for though we should see men to be covetous boasters proud c. yet if they have not the other vices that is if they are not truce breakers false accusers traitors c. it is not that Apostacie Lastly neither can it be the later Apostacie if any having the form of Godliness have formerly walked as these do after such lusts Boasters Crackers or Braggers vain-glorious-men which boast of that they have not Ulpianus Kickerm and others take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be such as arrogate and assume too much to themselves promise more then they can do and more then is truth The word seems to be taken from Quack salvers and Mountebanks who Crack of their great Skill and rare Cures being in the mean time ignorant of the true grounds and principles of Physick and Chyrurgery If it be the last Apostacie great things will be promised the Nation about Reformation of Church and State This shall be talk'd of a long time and in their Books published a ain and again But what will all come too Reader Look about thee and be hearkning if thou doest not hear poor creatures in bitterness make this complaint as having cause enough ye are Physitians of no value ye are Crackers indeed you have taken much
in that hee saith I will make c. this cannot bee understood of Christ as the instrument of the work but Saints And this same order and manner of proceeding we find every where in scripture that the executing of the last judgements upon the Kingdomes of the world shall be by Gods people first these shall cut off the Little Horn be new threshing instruments and weapons of war Carpenters Reapers the Angels of the Vials c. by whom Jehovah will make Christs enemies his foot-stool Dan. 7. 26. Isa 41. 15. Jer. 51. 19. Zach. 1. 21 Rev. 14. 4 Upon the rising of the witnesses there follows an Earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell Rev. 11. 13. This cannot be meant as done by Christ personally for afterwards it is said The Kingdomes of this World are become his and â—ee reigns vers 15. 17. Therefore I think the Earth-quake and the Earth Rev. 16. 2. is one thing viz. The earthly Apostacy headed with the little Horn on which shall bee poured out the first Vial as soon as the Witnesses are ascended up into Heaven 5 When Christ shall come and all his Saints with him Zach. 14. 5. The enemy shall not bee destroyed by any materiall weapon And the Armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen white and clean Rev. 19. 14. No armour is mentioned neither do I think that any such thing will bee used or that the followers of the Lamb shall strike a stroke but the enemies shall fall and perish by some extraordinary judgement And there sell upon men a great hail out of Heaven every stone about the weight of a Talent Rev. 16. 21. Again I will plead against him with pestilence and with Bloud and I will rain upon him an overflowing raine great hail stones fire and bloud Ezek. 38. 21. But in subduing the little Horn and the ten Kings in smiting the Image and the Dominion of the Beast here shall be fighting and instruments of war used Isa 13. 18. Jer. 50. 9. 14. 22. 35 36 37 42. and chap. 51. 3. 11. Rev. 13. 10. 18. Now I come to the fourth head which is the judgement it self The Beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning slame Dan. 7. verse 11. And they shall take away his dominion to consume it and destroy it even to the end vers 26. 1 Being now come to his end that he is called the Beast and a little Horn before The Reasons may be First to signify that he is fatted for destruction His Hypocrisies Deceits Mockings of God and men and other abominable sinnes are full and ripe Jer. 12. 1 2 3. and Jer. 51. 40. 2 Seeing the Witnesses are to bee slain by him the Wisdome of God thinks good to give him here the same name which hee hath Rev. 11. 7. 3 That hee perisheth under the name of a Beast though formerly a Horn it shews how little his death will bee pittied any where No more than if a bloudy Lyon or crafty Fox had been killed by hunters Moreover what rejoycing there will bee among the Saints that so cruel and fierce a Creature is taken out of the way Allelu-jah and again Allelu-jah Psal 58. 1â— 2 Though it bee true whatsoever is spoken of his end is no more if we take the words in general then that his government and Pouer shall bee broken to peeces yet I think there is something in every word as to a particular kind of punishment and how several parties as distinct shall be punished some in one kind and some in another This State or Government to be destroyed is made up of three sorts of people 1 Souldiers to fight for it 2 Lawyers and Priests to plead for it 3 The Authors and Inventers of it Now observe how the Lord in destroying the whole fits his judgement to each party 1 The Beast is slain This respects the Souldiery And probable it is that many of them will be slain For howsoever the greater part of them at least the better part such as have any thing of God left in them will lay down their arms and forsake him neer his end yet some desperate and prophane wretches newly rais'd will stand it out and so fall by the sword of the Lord in the hand of his mighty ones It is said in the earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand Rev. 11. 13 what number of souldiers will bee slain at this time it is not exprest a great slaughter no doubt Every one I think put to the sword that shall bee found in Armes for the Horn they having warning given them before to come out and not to fight in his behalf see Isa 34. 2 3. And his body destroyed This seems to bee another kind of punishment as beheading hanging and putting to death by a Judicatory and the word imports so much This follows the slain Army But who is the body of the Horn The later Apostacy of which we spake so that Judgment will now begin at the house of God at the sanctuary Woe now to Apostates Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites The Lords day is upon you such as did justifye and encourage the Horn when hee thought to change Times and Laws Acted unrighteously under him Executed his unlawful Orders and Commands against the Saints of the most High made to themselves an advantage of his Tyranny and Oppression Oh how are the sinners in Zion afraid and fearfulnesse surprized the Hypocrites Now Church members and Church Officers are likely to experience the soul that sins shall dye and that the righteous God loves Righteousnesse And it is not fasting praying prophesying c. will deliver corrupt men and such as have basely betrayed the cause of Christ in the day of the Lords wrath Mal. 3. 2 3. Isa 33. 14. 66. 5. Thus the Lords hand at this time will lye heavy upon Professours they are the body of the little Horn Apostates I mean which must bee destroyed It will bee their turn I verily think to drink first of the Vials 1 Cor. 3. 15. And by this means the Lord will make his way the more plain and his Judgements manifest when he shall afterwards go forth against the Ten Kings and the great Whore for what may Idolaters and men visibly Prophane and wicked expect but dregs and wrath without mixture seeing the Lord before spared not Church-members and such as had a form of Godlinesse Jer. 25. â—8 29. And given to the burning flame As this judgement is greater than the former so it is for the Horn himself and the chief instruments which raised him up by whose means Souldiers Lawyers Ministers and others were brought into the Snare This kind of punishment I take to bee the same with that of the Beast and false Prophet a lake of fire burning with Brimstone Rev. 19. 20. Now howsoever this bee not Hell properly so called yet it is some temporal Judgement more than
when they have finished their Testimony Hence I think this may be asserred for a Truth Whosoever this Beast is it cannot be the Dominion of the Papal Beast nor can the German Empire be meant nor any of the ten Hornes or Kings for these were risen long before the Witnesses had finished their Testimony The matter here is of weight and being well considered will give us some light to know who this Beast is and where the Witnesses shall be slaine The Popes Jurisdiction it cannot be nor the Emperours Spaniard French c. these rose before the three years and an halfe and have stood many hundred years It is a common received opinion In the Lords bringing Israel out of Egypt was shadowed out the deliverance of his Church and people from all Tiranny and oppression in the last dayes Now of Pharoah a Tipe of this Beast and commanding all the male to be cast into the River a figure of killing the witnesses it is said And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up for to shew in thee my power and that my name may be declared through out all the earth Exod. 9. 16. As Pharoah at that time was raised up that is ascended out of the bottomlesse pit that in him the Lord might fulfill his Councel and purpose concerning the inlargement of his people and thereby glorifie himselfe in shewing his great Power wisedome faithfulnesse So this Beast as another Pharoah is brought up out of the depth for the three years and an half that in him and by him the Lord might accomplish what in his eternall councell he had determined conteyned in this Prophesie Secondly There may be something in the phrase ascendeth To signifie 1. How suddenly and unexpectedly this Beast will appeare altogether unlookt for yea and to strang the thing will be especially among Saints as they would never have believ'd it though thousands had told them so much before had they not seen it with their own eyes 2. Whereas it is said the Beast ascendeth it is to shew that he comes up of himself not sent for nor desired by the people but it is his own plotting and designings that he takes power and Rule to himselfe And this I take to be an essentiall character of this Beast Ascendeth he will be a meat Intruder and will slay the witnesses by a power which he hath assumed and usurped and not otherwise Compare with this Dun. 7. 8. The little Horn comes up that is of it self he arose not by Election nor by Inheritance Right or such kind of Succession but by his own craft and strength So the later Apostacie is said to rise or ascend 2 Tim. 3. 1. Not raised up by the Lord. 3. By the word may be signified the horrible pride of the Beast for though his descent be from the Depth that is a most base beginning yet ascendeth viz. In Titles Pomp State Court c. As if he had not been illegitimate but lawfully begotten That which the Lord by the Prophet speaks against the King of Babylon I think is in part meant of this Beast For thou hast said in thy heart I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my throne above the starrs of God I will sit also upon the Mount of the Congregation in the sides of the north I will ascend above the height of the Clouds I will be like the most high Isa 14. 13 14. Is not this the boastine of a mighty man Not only will he be above the Starrs and â—it upon the Mount of the Congregation scatter the holy people weary out the Saints and kill the witnesses But like the most high take to himself the Attributes of God Isa 13. 3. That this Beast ascendeth out of the depth inmay be for these Reasons 1. Because of the great secrecie and closenesse which is used in the forming of him All things here must be done in the deep and under ground None except a few six or eight persons perhaps which model the Beast must know any thing of it untill he come forth to the publique view of the world Doing herein like those against whom the woe is pronounced in the Prophet That seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and their works are in the darke and they say who seeth us and who knoweth us Isa 29. 18. 2. Of the deep pollicie used in the framing of him All Civil Beasts before him rose either out of the Earth or Sea but this out of the depth signifying that there was not halfe that craft and subtletie about them as about this Beast For there shall be so much art and workmanship bestowed about him that when he comes forth To warr against the witnesses and to overcome them and slay them very few will perceive any such thing Not one I say of many will take him for all this to be the Beast And why so He ascendeth out of the depth from the depths of Satan as being transformed and no marveil for at this time he will be Satans chiefe Minister into an Angel of light So that by the place may be signified He will not be taken for the Beast but a great Saint 3. Wheras the last Apostacy is here called the depth it shews that there is no way to carry on a bad designe for closenesse and craft like to Apostacy and Hypocrifie in Religion And by how much men rise high in a shew and form of Godlinesse though hypocrites the more they shall advantage themselves by it It is true other Beasts before him carryed on their own Interest partly by Religion but they were ignorant and unskild of the great mystery which this Beast hath learnt For before him note it Reader no Civill State ascended out of this depth of Satan that is from Apostacy in Religion And therefore before him there was never a Government in the world raised up by hypocrisie in Religion in that manner as this will be Hence Justin Martyr calls the little Horne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Man of Apostacy In Dial. cum Trypl pag. 336. 4. Whereas the word signifieth without light it may be to denote what shal be the practice and doing of this Beast notwithstanding his secresie policy hypocrisie when he is ascended It is said of the first Beast His kingdome was full of darknesses Rev. 16. 10. So the kingdome of this Beast the head of the latter Apostacy as the other was of the first his kingdome will be full of darknesse For he will destroy and put out the light of the Law and leave nothing to the people but Abissus his Own blind will for them to walk by From what hath been said we may gather in short A true description of the Beast according to the Scripture for I desire to follow that perfect word without adding auy thing of mine own to it Thus then by the Scripture I take the Beast to be A State or Government set up by a few Apostates