trampled under foot but such as by way of Office were distinguished from others Mat. 10.41 Prophets distinguished from righteous men and Prophets distinguished from Saints Babylon is therefore ruined because in her is found the blood of the Prophets and of the Saints Revelat. 17.24 Twelve hundred and sixty days These are not natural days but prophetical every day taken for a year as Ezek. 4.6 Numb 14.14 the days of their Prophecying in sackcloth are twelve hundred and sixty years and so expire not till the 42. months of the Beasts raign be expired For months taken prophetically as before every day for a year and reckoning for every month 30. days now multiply the 42. by the 30. and the raign of the Beast is 1200 and 60. years and though there be great difficulty when to begin the rise and raign and most expositors herein much vary yet in the continuance there is a general accord and none can rationally make any question of it Now if we descend from the words of this Prophecy and come to observe the answerable events in History we shall find that in every age there were Witnesses opposing the 〈◊〉 canny Idolatry and Blasphemies of Antichrist their particuler names times places and their manner of resisting the man of sin it would be too large to infirst upon From the 600. year of Christ to the 16. century See a Catalogue of the Witnesses in their several ages in the Ministers of London their Jus Divinum Ministerii Evangelici page 53. Also the Histories of the Maegdeburgon See also Illyricus his Catalog Testium Veritatis Also Jacob. Vsher de Eccles Success Statu And Mr. Sim. Birckbeck his Treatise called Protestants evidence yet a Catalogue is given of them by Protestant writers As Our famous Jewel for 600. years from the time of Christ and his Apostles hath abundantly proved that the truths professed in the reformed Churches were maintained by the Antients And in the succeeding centuries when the man of sin began to prevail there were in their several ages godly and learned Ministers who opposed Popish errors defending the sufficiency of the Scriptures and of Communions to be received in both kinds justification by free grace disclaiming the defilements of worship in adoring Images invocation of Saints praying for the dead worshipping reliques declaiming against his supremacy and Title of universal Bishop as Antichristian Yea Protestant writers make mention of Magistrates as well as Ministers opposing Antichrist yea in this one Kingdome you shall find in History before the Conquest Kings for piety called Saints opposing the insolency and wickedness of the Church of Rome King Edgar acknowledged no Supremacy in the Pope but saith the care of the Church ad nos spectat it belongs to the King and not to the Pope Yea when the Popes were swelled to that hight that Kings kissed their feet yet then the Kings of England opposed their Usurpation Object If the Witnesses Prophecy 1200 and 60. days then they Prophecy after they are slain Answ In that sense they are said to be slain they may prophecy in sackcloth nay they will necessarily do so viz. performe their witness with sadness and mourning Their finishing their Testimony doth not cause their Prophecying to cease their suffering and their slaying is the most glorious part of their sackcloth Prophecy And so I proceed to the fourth Verse Vers 4. These are the two Olive trees and the two Candlesticks c. That is they are like unto Zerubbabel and Joshua restorers of the Jewish Church under the Babylonish Captivity in resemblance to whom the two Witnesses should endeavour to bring the Church out of Antichristian bondage and slavery These are represented by two Olive trees Zach. 4. ◠standing on the two sides of the Candlestick continually supplying it with Oyl But why two Candlesticks when Zachary mentions but one See the conjecture of Mr. Mede upon this Chap. The Candlestick signifying the Church of these times maintained with spiritual supplies not by strength or armies but by Gods special blessing and influence the Olive Trees extraordinarily dropping Oyl for light into those Candlesticks Vers 5. And if any will hurt them fire cometh out of their mouths and devoureth their enemies And if any will hurt them he must in this manner be killed Here the witnesses are compared to Elijah and Elisha restorers of Gods pure Worship from Baalitical Idolatry In this allusion is signified a double power which is granted to them First A power to avenge themselves against their Enemies not by any external fire or sword-power when hurt by them but their revenge like fire proceedeth out of their mouth t is by the mystical fire of the word they preach denouncing Gods wrath against their wickedness As Elisha called for fire from Heaven upon the Captains and their fifties 2 King 2.9 10 11. If any shall hurt them he must in this manner be killed i. e. spiritually and mystically by the word of their prophecy which as fire devoureth them according to that of the Prophet Jer. 5.14 he makes his word a savour of death unto death to them they have ever the vengeance in a readiness for their enemies 2 Cor. 10.6 Thus they avenge their own wrong but how the wrong done to the Church Secondly Therefore secondly they have power to avenge the Church of Christ against the defilers and Gentilish prophaners thereof These saith the Text have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the days of their Prophecy viz. Mystical rain As Elijah shut Heaven that it rained not on Israel almost consumed with drought and famine in the days of his Prophecy till he had destroyed the false worship and worshippers of Baal So these Witnesses by the Keys of the Kingdome of heaven have power to shut heaven against the Idolatrous Gentiles excluding them from hope of eternal lise by the blood of Christ and showers of Divine grace till they repent and forsake their Idolatrous worship and being mindful of their baptismal Covenan returne to the pure worship of God by one mediator Jesus Christ and so put an end to the mournful Prophecy of these witnesses Of this power of the Witnesses we have an example Chap. 14.9 where t is said the third Angel whereby is meant according to Interpreters Luther and his Successors denounceth most woful torments to all the followers and worshippers of the Beast If any shull worship the beast and his Image or receive his mark c. he shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God c. It is added Annotations upon the Bible In the days of their Prophecy three years and six months in Elijahs time answerable to the number of months here verse 2. Vers 6. Lastly These witnesses have power over maters to turn them into blood And to smite the Earth with plagnes as oft as they will Here the Witnesses are resembled to Moses and Aaron deliverers of Israel out of
the beast that is described Chap. 18 and 19. doth altogether precede the destruction of the beast and the False Prophet as is manifest in the Text. To sum up all in a word happily it may so come to pass that that first destruction of Babylon viz. of the City of Rome may be without any very great slaughter at least without the total destruction of the Citizens for though the City be utterly destroyed yet a great part of the Citizens may fly from the destruction of the City timely consulting their own safety or for some other cause which the event will make manifest and thus the doubt or scruple concerning the small number of the slain may be satisfied 2. And will yet more fully if we consider what number may be designed in the words names of Men. Names of men may be taken for eminent and renowned Men high and great persons cheif heads of Noble Families Names of men is as much as to say men of name An Hypallage frequent in Scripture as silver Shekels for Shekels of silver Levit. 5. the Law of righteousness for the righteousness of the Law Rom. 9. Riches of grace for rich grace Ephes 1. So names of men may here be put for men of name persons of great honor and dignity in opposition to men without name base and ignoble Persons Job 30. According to this interpretation which nothing can be said against Names of Men signifing high and great persons suppose they be of the Popish Ecclesiastical Order whom we call Church men by great names and titles distinguished from the inferiour Clergy if 7000 of these be slayn how many of a lower rank and order which the Holy Ghost would not so much as count or reckon Besides this there may another interpretation be given of Names of Men viz. Companies and Societies of men which are wont to be called by proper names as well as particular men as Cities Towns Parishes Villages Monasteries and Nunneries and what are these if we consider the Matter but names of men as the Roman name is put for the Romans themselves the Thebane Polity is called the Thebane name what is therefore the Names of those humane Societies whether they be either of Rome or in that they call the Church State be the 7000 in this great Earthquake to be slain i. e. subdued by the adverse power which the Scripture useth to call death but we must not rashly determine any thing in a thing to come the best commentary of a Prophecy is the fulfilling of it but I bring these things to shew that of these words a larger sense may be given then is commonly conceived When the word Name in Scripture doth not use to be restrained to one single signification neither are Names of men joyned together in any place of Scripture but in this neither is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Names taken simply for particular single persons but onely in two places Acts 1.15 Rev. 3.4 in other places it hath several significations It follows And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven i. e. the rest of the Bestian party are amazed and terrified and thereby compelled to acknowledge the just judgements of God which he hath poured out upon them and to confess their sins which to do is to give glory to God Vers 14. The second we is past and be bold the third we cometh quickly The Second we is past the meaning is this great Earthquake continues to the end of the second we or of the sixth Trumpet together with which is to be finished the Prophecying of the mourning Witnesses For after so great a Victory over the beast and their ascending up into the Church-Heaven with so great honour they put on their mourning weeds no more But now if this second wo or plague of the sixth Trumpet be the Turks from Euphrates flowing in upon and over-running the Roman Empire in times past as was interpreted Chap. 9. it cannot be but the passing away of this second wo must be the overthrow of the Turkish Empire the drying up of the waters of Euphrates at the end of the pouring out of the fifth Vial whereby way is made for the coming of the Kings of the east cap. 16.12 At which coming of the Kings of the East least there should be left too wide a space betwixt both Trumpets the seventh Trumpet seems to begin Hiatus And so the wonderful preparation of the beast and false Prophet to the Armageddon Battel Cap. 16.13 together with the event thereof at the pouring out of the last Vial vers 17. must be made to begin at the sounding of the seventh trumpet And truely it seems very congruous that the preparation to the Battel as well as the battel it self should appertain to the same Trumpet but here an objection must be removed out of the way viz. Object Whether the Beasts 42 months and the Witnesses 1200 and 60 days are one and the same terme but now these days of the mourning Witnesses ending at the passing away of the sixth trumpet plague or second we It may very well be asked why the months of the beasts may not be supposed to be longer when after this time so great a part of the beast still remaines not to be quite abolished till the beginning of the seventh Trumpet It may be answered Answ This may be either because at the calling of the Jews there called the Kings from the East a new kingdom begins Or because in the duration of the beasts reign there is an ey or respect chiefly to the Empire of the City of Rome but now this great Royal City of the Beast in this Earthquake is taken demolished So that the Beast from thenceforth shall have changed his form when he is driven from his Metropolis it can no longer be counted which is the signification of his other seven heads a seven-mountained Kingdom Behold the third wo comes quickly This begins at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words immediately follow Verse 15. And the seventh Angel sounded And the seventh Angel sounds a Jubilee and then there be great proclamations and acclamations in heaven Called by some Divines the wo-joy Trumpet that the kingdoms of the world are the kingdoms of Christ and whereas before the Devil Dragon and Beast and his horns reigned now Christ takes to himself his great power and reigneth for which the whole Church under the type of 24. Elders praise him though the Nations be angry as they ever are when Christ puts forth his just power Verse 15 16 17 18. He now gives reward unto his servants the Prophets c. and destroys them that destroyed the earth that is he ruines the wicked and Idolatrous generation of Antichrist who wasted his Church before ver 18. His tabernacle is now open in heaven and the ark of his testimony seen ver 19. i.e. Christ represented by the ark is clearly manifested before
body of this Prophecy now in order to this ponder and weigh advisedly two things First The Scope or Intent of the Book Secondly The Synchronisms or the contemporaneousness of the Prophesies therein how the Visions therein run parallel one with another and what an acurate harmony and sweet consent there is among them in respect of time First Eye and observe intentively the scope of the Book that is the common time and Period whereunto all the particular Prophecies and passages in the Revolation do joyntly run and wherein they do ultimately determine For this is the Pole-stâ—â— and compass we must steer by the chief mark or white which must be aymed and levelled at in interpreting this whole book and all the mysterious visions therein contained Like an accurate Archer therefore keep the eye of thy judgement fixed stedfastly on the Scope that so far as possible thou shoot not wide not short nor over Now the Scope or intent of the Revelation 1. Parts of the book is more generally to make known to the Apostle John and by John to the Churches the present things that then were when the Revelation was given and the future things that should be afterwards from Johns time to the end of the World as the title of the Book intimates Rev. 1.1.1.19 2. More particularly Jesus Christ intends in this Book to declare the future condition of the Christian Religion and Churches of the Gentiles especially the European Churches the remaines of the Roman Empire and the Tyrannical dominion of Antichrist those singular subject matters of this book extending themselves in Europe peculiarly or as another learned writer expresseth it to the same purpose Christ intends in this book to describe the state of the Church in the New â—â—â—ament The Arocal vp is a Prophefie of the destruction of the Roman Empire not only as Heathenish but as Christian when as it were it was paganised again and persecuting the Church Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Sermon before the Parliament 1645. and also the things that shall come to pass in the Roman Empire or the fourth Monarchy under which the Church of God doth subsist and that in divers remarkable Periods of events Now this description comprehends three Periods or three sorts of times The first Period containes the time of the Dragon the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Rev. 12.3 when the Dragon himself under the heathenish Emperors was publiquely adored and worshiped but the Christians banished persecuted and put to cruel death till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial Seat whereby the raign of the Dragon came to an end for he throws down all both Idol-worship and Princes that upheld it So the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the whole Empire turning Christian though as one well said the Devil did not thâ—â— turn Christian for he stirred up thâ—â—â—â—rian Christian world to persecute the Orthodox Christians as much as Heathen Rome had done yet notwithstanding the Church prevailed was built up and triumphed until after the death of the good Emperor Theodesins at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great authority unto the beast with ten horns that rose out of the Sea Cap 13.1 2. The second period comprehends the time of Antichrists raign Period 2. or the time in which the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist and enstalled Leiutenant of the Dragon Blasphemeth God and his name and persecutes his Saints for the space of 1200 and 60 days Rev. 13. Which God hath permitted as a scourge to Arrian Rome when the Dragon was overcome and cast out of the Church Heaven he did cast out of his mouth Water as a flood after the Woman Rev. 12.15 i.e. he stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Roman Empire So Brightman Deed. Piscator I unius intending thereby to root out and destroy the Church but the earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations embruned the Christian faith Some by the flood understand Heresies especially Arrianism overflowing the Christian world and so interprers the earth to be the multitude of Christians mer in general Councels who defending the true faith overthrew and drank up these heresies as dry ground drinketh up water remaining in the Roman Empire and erected several Kingdomes in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that he could not maintain the Heathenism wherein be was openly worshipped and served he resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the Sea Rev. 13.7 and is ridden and governed by the great whore of Babylon Rev. 133. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Roman Empire his power and his seat and great authority Cap. 13. vers 2. And so makes him his Vicar and Lieutenant by giving over to him his Seat and Residence the City of Rome and the whole Roman Empire whence it came to pass that about the time the Bishops of Rome began to seek to have the primacy and preeminence both in Church and State as Innocentius the first did in the year say some 402. others 406. The Dragon doth resign to his Lieutenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Dragons delegate or Inostirute Râ—â— his whole host for in this sence the seventy Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exod. 14.14 and 15.4 as Mat. 24.29.30 The Host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils So Mede and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the heathen These Idols the Anti-Christian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the Text speak's Cap. 13.3 4. The whole earth did wonder at the beast and they worshipped the Dragon that gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the beast The Dragon doth give also to him great authority and makes him a head over great countries whereof David did prophecy Psa 110.6 The time of his Lieutenantship shall continue forty two Months i.e. one thousand two hundred and sixty years Vpon this follows the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum Period 3. as the pure so the peaceable and quiet estate of the Church upon earth Seeing at the found of the Trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third we do come upon the Roman Empire and at the same time the seventh Viol of Gods wrath is poured out â— wherewith the enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroyed yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Rev. 20.1 2 3. therefore there can nothing but a true and constant peace ensue whence it is that the Church of God rejoyceth with great joy with a great voyce saying as Rev. 11.25 The Kingdomes of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of
his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever and v. 17. She giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almighty because he hath taken to him his great power and reigneth Now unto these three Periods The scope of the Revellation or times the whole body of the Revelation of St. John and the parts of it are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the State of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Roman Empire in relation to the Church in a three fold manner First By seven Epistles Cap. 2.3 Secondly by a Book Scaled Cap. 4.5 6 7. Thirdly By a little Book open Cap. 10. and so following He doth also appear to John every time in another shape First In the likeness of a Son of man who suffereth in the first Period i. e. in his Members Rev. 1.12 I saw one like to the Son of man in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks Secondly By his horns and eys which are 7 is noted the absolute perfection of his power wisdom all for his Church against his enemies As a beast in the shape of a lamb having seven horns and leven eyes chap. 5.6 which doth fight in the second period Thirdly As a mighty strong Angel cloathed with a cloud cap. 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth First In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven candlesticks cap. 1. vers 12 13 14 15. These Epistles are by Christ not onely intended to those particular Churches named but to all the Churches wâ—h then were elsewhere in the world which should be in all ages till his 2d comâ—ing He declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles for though these seven Epistles seem primarily and immediately to have respect to the state of the Church then present to the state of the seven Asian Churches especially Yet secondarily mediately and Analogically they have respect to other following Churches as it were adumbrated and resembled by them Yea Mr. Brightman goes further and makes them to contain in them Prophesies touching the future state of all the Gentile Churches and so makes all these Epistles as well prophetical in respect of the future Counterpane Churches as historical in respect of the present Antity â—e Asian Churches So then I say Christ declares the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period viz. Ephesus and Smâ—rna The third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second period And the promises cap. 2 and 3. to the third period For then those promises made to the Church conflicting with her enemies and overcoming them as that chap. 2.7 I will give to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God parallel to that Rev. 22.14 and cap. 2.3 He shall walk with me in white parallel to that Rev. 7.9 13. and 19.8 and that chap. 2.26 To him that overcometh I will give power over the nations and he shall rule them c. and that cap. 3.21 I will grant to sit with me upon my throne parallel with Rev. 20.4 All which promises relating to the graceful and peaceful estate of the Church after her deliverance from her enemies by their just ruine and destruction shall be accomplished Secondly Christ appeareth to John as a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes and openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden decree of God and intimateth thereby the things befalling the Roman Empire Mede divides the Apocalyps from the fourth chapter to the end of the book into two Systemes of prophetical Visions the one containing the fate of the Empire from cap. 4.1 to 10. and 8. yea to cap. 12. ver 1. the other of the Church from cap. 12.1 to 22.6 both begining from one Epocha viz. the second in such sort as the first as by comparing c. 4.1 with 10.8 Hence the second prophesie seems nor to be subsequent or sâ— bordinate to the first but coâ—ordinate thereto These two series of prophesies seems to be plainly intimated Rev. 10.11 Thou must prophesie again before many peoples nations and tongues q. d. thou hast prophesied once already by vertue of the vision of the seven seals and seven trumpets now thou must prophesie again a second time by vertue of the little book thou hast eaten up under which the Church is built up and preserved cap. 4 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall be carried both in the Political and Ecclesiastical State and first in the Political State And that both in the first second and third period In the first period which by opening the first six seals is performed cap. 6. where in the first five seals is set forth the condition of the Church under the Heathen Emperors but in the sixth the full of Heathenism under the Christian Emperors from Constantine the great until the death or after the death of Theodosius is prefigured In brief the meaning of the first six seals is this That Prince of unspotted righteousness the rider of the white horse with his arrow and his bow in his hand aimeth at something of high importance and it is no less then what he promiseth his followers at their lowest ebb Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom and he hits the mark in the sixth Seal where the Pagan Empire is shattered to the purpose by Constantine turning Christian But to adorn the course of time till then by some prophetick Remarks the Riders of the Red Black and Pale Horses are brought in as also most concerningly the cry of the souls under the Altar whereby is denoted especially the reign of Dieclesian and that ten years unparalleld persecution then commencing which fifth Seal the rescuing of the Empire into the hands of Christ by the subversion of the Pagan power doth immediately succeed and is matter of the sixth Seal figured out by proper prophetical expressions as of a great earthquake the eclipse of the Sun and Moon and falling of the stars which Mr. Mede interprets to be when by Constantine the Great and his Sucessors there was such a mighty change and subversion of the Roman Heathenish affairs signified here by the great earthquake wherein all the heathenish gods were shaken from their heaven their Priests rejected and for ever deprived of their revenue their Idol Temples broken pulled down burnt demolished throughout the whole Roman world and the Emperors Kings and Potentates endeavouring to succour their indangered gods themselves subdued frighted put to flight at last none daring to defend their Roman Heathenish Religion so terribly crushed and fallen This is the first complement of Christs victory over the Roman heathenish Empire the foundation whereof Christ laid in the first Seal For the particular accommodation of events to the
Constantiue the Great commeth to the Imperial seat the Dragon is overcome and Heathenism extirpated vers 4 and following In the second Period from the 400. years and upward Period 2. until the end of the 1200. and 60. years these seven concurrent times are described 1. The holy City is trodden under foot by the Gentiles 2. The two Witnesses cloathed with Sack-cloth Cap. 11. ver 2 3. to the 10th the explaining of which I refer to the 11. Chap. 3. The woman fled into the Wilderness and is fed there The primitive Church rescued from heathenish bondage fled into the wilderness i. e. into a midle estate not wholly hid and invisible nor yet gloriously visible but as it were in a middle condition betwixt both Rob. The two wings of a great Eagle given to the woman to by into the wilderness Mede refers to the Roman Empire whose Ensign is an Eagle and to the two Cesars of the Eastern and Western Empire divided as two wings by whose aid and protection the Church fled into her wilderness estate Cap. 12. verse 6. to 14. As Mary upon the birth of Christ fled from Herod into Aegypt So the Woman i. e. the Primitive Church notwithstanding the persecution of the Dragon having brought forth a man Child who was to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron which primarily belongs to Christ personal Psa 2. Secondarily to Christ mystical his Church and members which Christ mystical ruled all Nations by a rod of Iron subjugating the Roman Empire partly by a spiritual Gospelvictory promoted by Michael and his Angels against the Devil and his Angels rulers in that Empire partly by a corporeal conquest afterward when Christians prevailed and obtained such power and success under Constantine the great and his Successors fled into the Wilderness where she hath a place prepared by God that they should feed her there 1200 and 60. days vers 6. which is again related v. 14. The meaning I conceive is this the Church though freed from heathenish tyranny yet is afresh imbarked in new troubles and persecutions by divers enemies Now during all this time the Church is in her wilderness condition as Israel of old was after their deliverance from Aegypt Thus take the parallel Israel delivered from Egyptian bondage under Pharoah fled towards the wilderness but was persued by Pharoah had liberty to worship God in the Wilderness where their Tabernacle was erected there Apostatized from God and his pure worship in the matter of the Calf Baalpeor Baalam c. and was there exercised with new troubles and afflictions of hunger thirst fiery Serpents and of divers enemies abode in the Wilderness 40. years during which space they made 42 journeys and stations from Aegypt to Jordan And at last all their enemies being subdued Numb 33. from 1. to 50. they quietly possessed the promised rest the Land of Canaan So the Church being freed from Heathenish Tyranny under the Red Dragon fled into the Wilderness but was persued and persecuted by the Dragon had liberty granted of worshipping God in the wilderness by the edicts of Christian Emperors and Kings who erected for them Temples or publique places for Christian worship yet in that her Wilderness estate she made many idolatrous defections Apostatizing from God and his pure worship especially to Antichristianisme Cap. 12.17 And the Dragon was wroth with the woman went to make war with the remnant of her seed c. Cap. 13.1 And I stood upon the sand of the Sea c. Mede saith the words are to be read not steti but stetit Cum Latinis omnibus Syre interpr i. e. The Dragon stood upon the sands i. to bring up this beast out of the sea to persecute the woman Further he saith v. 3. And I saw one of his heads wounded to death That the word vidi is not in some Editions as the Complutense reading the sentence thus The Dragon gave him his power seat and great authority and one of his heads wounded to death that it might be healed or that had been wounded to death and the healing of his wounds which is added this he either saw to be done while he was rising out of the sea or as soon as he was risen out of it is there exercised with new troubles and persecutions by the Dragon Beast and False Prophet abides in this Wilderness seat 42. moneths At last the Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet with all her enemies being vanquished the Church obtaines the new Heavens and new Earth and reigns with Jesus Christ a thousand years yea for ever and ever the former and following series of this Prophecy clears this parallel This state of the Church seems to last till the seventh Trumpet So that to this day the Church is still in this Wilderness-condition but drawing towards the borders of a far happier estate 4. The beast with ten horns blasphemeth God and maketh war with the Saints cap. 13. v. 5 6 7. This ten horned Beast as was mentioned before is the Dragons Delegate or Substitute he is said to rise out of the Sea by Sea here understand that multitude of ten Kingdomes into which the Barbarians had shredded the whole compass of the Roman Territories out of all which the Dragon now endeavours to extract and of which to compose one Roman Dominion or that conflux of Armies and people striving in war like a tempestuous Sea He is said to have seven heads and so is the same beast cap. 17.3 compared with vers 9 10. His seven heads are interpreted by the Holy Ghost himself to be seven Mountains whereon the Royal Seat of the Empire of Rome was built and seven Kings or kindes of Government by which the Empire should be governed The names of blasphemy notes his blasphemous idolatries tending to the extream reproach of God his Religion and Saints his ten horns and upon his horns Voyce out of the Wilderness p. 38. ten crowns these signifie that he should not come to his crown by the strength of his Sword his Leaders and his Legions But of the crowns upon the hornes see another interpretation p. 90. as the Dragon did but by the base and voluntary submission of all the Caesars Kings and Princes as should with one Councel and Vote deliver up their authority and power secular to the devotion and pleasure of the beast therefore he wears his Diadems not upon his heads as the Dragon did but upon his Hornes and upon his Hornes ten crownes Which ten Hornes crowned say most Writers denote ten Kings or Kingdomes into which the Roman Empire of the sixth head was divived all which were to be conjoyned Mede in Cum. Apoc. part 2. cap. 13. into one for carrying of the whore These 10. horns thinks Mede belong not to all the seven heads but onely to the seventh because the heads flourishing the horns flourish the heads fulling the horns necessarily fall therewith Now these ten
the true mystery in the particular intended thereby I finde four opinions about it two of them more considerable 1. Opinion 2 Of those that labour to finde out such names especial in Greek or Hebrew in which tongues all the letters are numerals and fignifie some number or other as may agree to this Roman beast the numeral letters of which name or names may exactly amount to 666. and they especially pitch upon the name Latinos the numeral letters whereof come to 666. and multitudes of other names are found out to like purpose not only by modern but ancient writers but this opinion about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Forbs saith is so childish an Egyptical toy that he marvels much how ever any solid mind could propound it for a rare point of wisdom And t is the saying of a learned English Writer Voice out of the wilderne s. long before Forbs if I mistake not They that have thought to calculate and find out the mystery of Antichrists number 666. in a word at a word he saith they are deceivd not knowing the power and construction of the Scripture Others hold Opin 2d that Antichrists power should begin Anno Dom. 666. so a late learned Writer hath referred the number 666. to the time of Antichrists revealing Mr Stevens upon the four metall Kingdoms So Ball and Bullinger which opinion is rejected by Pareus Comment Apocalyp and year of rising and coming to his full power and supremacy which was in Phocas his time and so would make the 1200 and 60 days to begin then Which saving my respect to such a learned man I judge cannot be the meaning of the mystery because the 1200 and 60. days and the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloth begin together Now the treading down of the holy City the time when the Witnesses began to prophesie in sackcloth and the womans flight into the wilderness where she was fed 1200 and 60 days is judged by the best Writers upon the Revelation to be after the death of Theodosius when the Roman Empire was overrun by the barbarous Nations which was long before Phocas his time A third third Opinion is also of a learned Writer Opinion 3d. To this way of Interpretation of the number 666. learned Marlorat agrees his words are these Losi hujus tot fere sunt expositiones qout exposiâ—ores And then reckons up and rejects some common opinions about it and then concludes thus Rectius ergo ad tempus Regni Antichristi nonnulli hunc numerum referunt Vt ad Regem Babylonicum dicebatur Numeravit Deus Rignum Tuum perfectissime numeravit illud Dan. 5.26 Nam completis 70 annis captivitatis populi ei per Jeremiam praedictus finis Regni illins aderat perendeigiture est ac si diecret Joannes quemadmodum humana regna dauturnae esse non possunt sed certum habent annorum numerum diviaitus constitatem ita Antichristi Regnum quod ad piorum consolutionem dictum est ne putent Antichristi regnum eternum fore Nam finem habiturum est regum Christi relique amnia cessara Felixagitur est qui numerum hune bestia intelligit cui a Deo datum cognoscere c. Ma lorat on Rev. 13.1 who queres for this Mey who wrote a Treatise many years ago Anno 1592 called Babylen is fallen to which he only sets two letters of his name T. L. and he interprets 666. to reveal Rev. 13.18 the secret counsel purpose of God concerning the period and final end of Antichrist and his Church dominion Where rejecting all opinions but this about it he saith 1. The word Number is never used in Scripture for the begining and rising of any term of time limited and predicted by the Prophets but onely for the end period and determination thereof 2. He calls it the number of a man by man saith he is meant the total sum of that succession of beastly men which make and constitute the existence and person of one Antichrist and by the word number is meant the fatal end and fual determination of their raign and government for so the Finger of God speaketh to Belshazer God hath numbred thy Kingdom i. e. God hath ended and finished the days of thy Kingdom So that by the number of the beast is nothing else but the Period and Final determination of the usurped tyranny and damnation of Antichrist which the Lamb the Lord and preserver of Israel for the glory of his name consolation of his Church and confusion of her foes shall bring to pass in the year which shall be 666. 3. He saith for as much as the Egge of Antichristianisme was laid in the days of Innocent tha first successor to Anastasins the first also of that name in Anno. 406. And that by express Commission there was furthermore granted to the beast his heirs and successors 1260. years for the hatching fostring and perfecting this child of perdition and mystery of iniquity which being added to 406. by rule of true audit must needs verifie this admirable judgen ent which the Spirit of God hath here denonnced and determined to make good upon him in the year which shall be 1666. In which account and discovery of his end the Holy Ghost of purpose leaves out the millenary number as not onely known perfect and immutable but as respecting also the common use of all Nations as well Hebrews as Gentiles who in their stiles for brevity sake do no less often speak and write by the imperfect number omitting the millenary then after the perfect adding the millenary as Munster well observes 4. Vide Calindarium Hebraicum Sebastiani Munsteri This learned Author triumphantly concludes this his interpretation in these words to the Church of Rome And in that year shall my Lord of Rome lay down his proud waves and although he fortifie never so strong and lay his foundation as low as Hell and build his Turrets as high as Heaven and place his Mitre above the Stars yet in that day he shall die the death of the uncircumcised and perish like the Amorite whose fruit is destroyed from above and root from beneath Amos 2.9 and the multitude of his offences shall consume the multitude of his Forces And it shall be more possible for him and easie to him to weigh the fire or measure the wind or call again the day that is past or recover the virdure of the withered grass as a holy one saith then to avoia this counsel and decree of his downfal here determined by the spirit a gainst him saying And the number of him is 666. This interpretation is very pleasing Qui numerum hunc besti a intelligit ae Deo datum est cognoscere c. Ibid. Marlorat and would be less questioned then the former if it did agree with the beginning of the verse which the Author calls a little short Preface of the Holy Ghost to prepare his Reader to attention Here
is wisdom That is saith he here is the discovery of a mystery a point of high understanding and the spirit saith not he that will but he that can he that hath understanding let him count the number of the beast but I rather incline to this opinion then the Former The 4 opinion is of those that parallel and compare the number of the beast Opinion 4 666 with the number of the Lambs company and the new Jerusalem 144. which are set as opposites one against another and as opposites may serve to explain one another To this end by computation they find that the Lambs number 144. is onely builded by multiplication of 12. upon 12. and can no otherwise be multiplied shewing that the true Church of Christ is built onely upon the 12. Apostles doctrine and still holds the foundation in all that is built thereon But on the contrary the beasts number though it seems more compact accurate and uniforme cannot be raised nor builded upon 12. take what multiplyer ye will no can it be divided or quartered by 12 shewing that Antichrists Apostatical Church riseth not on the foundation much less keepeth the foundation of the twelve Apostles Doctrine nor can endure to be tried thereby Thus far Forbes in his Comment Rev. 13.18 After him Mr. Potter hath further improved this Opinion He saith t is called the number of the Beast without mentioning any name Iotter also the number of a man without intimating any thing to do with his name Now the meaning of Numerus Humanus is such a number as men usually deal with and may be numbred by humane art but it seems there is some skill to be used herein for he saith here is wisdom and let him that hath understanding calculate the number of the beast And the Holy Ghost sets down the very number that is to be numbred 666. which number yet cannot be numbred after the manner of men which way notwithstanding is intimated but by extraction of the roots of these two numbers the root upon which the Lambs number and true Church is raised 144. being twelve the Apostolical basis the Root upon which the beasts number 666. the character of the Antichristian Apostatical Church is raised being that fatal number twenty five both which he describes and amplifies at large This Interpretation lights so pat upon the Romish Hierarchy that a man cannot but be amazed at so exact a providence for this learned Writer hath out of History made it even over clear that 25. is a Character as essentially interwoven into the Hierarchy of Rome as 12. is into the State of the new Jerusalem and these Six main things that this Holy City is set out by in Rev. 17. First Twelve Gates Secondly Twelve Angels at the Gates Thirdly Twelve Tribes writteni on the Gates Fourthly Twelve Foundations with names written on them Fifthly Twelve thousand furlongs the solid measure of the City Sixthly Twelve manner of fruits of the tree of life These six have their opposites exactly in the Roman Hierarchy or City First Twenty five Gâ—â—es whether taken literally or mystically for Churches to baptize in Secondly Twenty five Angels i. e. Pastors Thirdly Twenty five Titles or Parishes Fourthly Twenty five Cardinals Fifthly Twenty five thousand furlongs the perimeter of which Cube is the circuit of Rome as the perimiter of the Cube twelve thousand Furlongs the circuit of Jerusalem Sixthly Twenty five Articles of the Creed which should be the food of the tree of life to all beleivers In these essentiall matters and in many other things besides hath he evidently shown how exactly the Root 666. is applicable to the Roman Hierarchy the two horned beast to whose Treatise I refer the Reader for further satisfaction also to Dr. More who approves this opinion and answers the most material objection against it in his Book of The Mystery of Godliness Book fifth There is another opinion I have met with of the number 666. since the funishing this Treatise which though new and different from all the former yet is worthy of consideration I refer the Reader to the Treat se Entituled Christ and Antichrist or 666. multiplied by 2½ whereby the true number of Antichrists raign is discovered Page 196. I confess I like this opinion far better then the first as being in my judgment 1. More grave and ponderous 2. More certain and determinate 3. More conforme and sutable to other mysteries revealed in this book 4. More accurately discriminating between Antichrists false Apostatical Synagogue and Christs true Apostolical Church 5. And in the right computing whereof more true Theological spiritual and heavenly wisdome will be found Thus much of the fifth concurrent time under the second Period and therein a description of the Beast with two hornes Cap. 13. wherein I have been more large then I intended I come now to A sixt concurrent time under this second Period That is at the same time viz. of the holy City being trod under foot and the two witnesses prophecying in Sack-cloth The State of the Church and virgin company during these distresses and persecutions and the woman fled into the Wilderness and of the ten-horned and two horned beast Cap. 13. the hundred and forty four thousand sing a new song Meretrix a Ioanne consprâ—itur in desertâ— Cap. 17.3 4. Ergo tempus bestigest tempus deserti Mede and live without blame Cap. 14. v. 1 to the 6. In which Verse is set down the true hurches or Virgin companies constant and pure adhering unto Christ in the midst of Antiâ—bristian Idolatries and persecutions described in a vision of the Lamb and his company standing on Mount Zion when the world wondred after the beast and worshipped him then the true Church did adhere to and attend upon the Lamb. I looked and loe a Lamb stood on Mount Zion and with him 144000. having the name of him and of his father written in their foreheads vers 1. 1. Their standing with the Lamb on mount Sion intimates the notable stability of the Church against all Antichristian Machinations 1. The Lamb stood as in his Watch-tower vigilant over his Church for her protection and they stood as his Servants and souldiers attending upon him 2. Their number 144000. is the same number before mentioned in the preparatories to the seventh seal Rev. 7.4 the number of the true Church which is built upon the Doctrine of the 12. Apostles as this number is built onely on twelve as was before observed this number is here opposed to the number of the Beast 666. in the close of the former Chapter which can by no means be built upon twelve 3. They are said to have his fathers name on their foreheads or rather the name of him and the name of his father c. which more fully expresseth their Character as opposite to the name of the beast hereby they are distinguished from the beasts worshippers this notes their true profession of
thirdly and lastly her Topical Denomination The Holy Ghost so clearly indigitates and as it were names her that he that runs may read and not mistake That this Whore is Rome the known Motropolis and Royal Seat of the Roman Empire Ribera in Cap. 17. Bellarmin l. 2. de pont Rom. Cap. 2. Papists themselves confess And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth This is that beast that goeth to perdition or Destruction Of which Destruction God causeth her to be First Forewarned cap. 14. vers 6. and following verses Which premonition is described in the Vision of three Angels It is called the everlasting Gospel in opposition to those innovations and traditions of men under which the Churches of Christ had laboured a long time Vide Mr. Bridge his Sermon on Rev. 14.8 i.e. Evangelical Ministers preaching the everlasting Gospel against the Beast and Beast-worshippers 1. The first Angel exhorts all that had given their names to Christ by profession to consider how Gods judgements were now inflicted upon the Heathenish Idols and Idolaters and therefore to worship God the Creator onely and purely ver 6 7. This Angel learned Mede interprets of the Council of Constantinople in the East consisting of Three hundred thirty seven Bishops wherein the worship of the Virgin Mary and invocation of Saints was opposed 720. And of Frankford Synod in the West under Charls the Great consisting of about 300 Bishops 790th year of our Lord which damned both the worshipping of Images and also the second Council of Nice that established it Others interpret it of divers in England Pareus Brightm as Killington Langland especially Wicklife about Anno 1371. and of divers in Bohemia John Husse Hierom of Prague 2. The second Angel the first Angels doctrine being despised denounceth Babylons irrevocable ruine from that time forward till it be consummated for their obstinacy and impenitency in Idolatries The substance of the Angels doctrine is a commination of Babylons fall with the reason of it vers 8. Babylon is fallen it is fallen i.e. she is now fallen initially and shall fall totally and finally This Angel Mede interprets of the Waldenses and Albigenses who first of all other renounced Romish Idolatries and many followed them which falling off from Rome was the laying of a foundation from Babylons fall till it should be utterly ruined 3. The third Angel going beyond the former warneth all the Worshippers of the Beast what horrible vengeance hangs over their heads and would fall upon them if they persist still in following and worshipping the Beast and not renounce him And the third Angel followed him saying with a loud voyce If any man worship the beast and his Image and receive his mark c. the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God c. vers 9 10 11 This Angel thinks Brightman and Mede was M. Luther with his associates and Successors who so vehemently opposed Papal doctrine and superstition whereupon followed the eminent Reformation of the German and other Churches Luther saith Pareus left this Fatidical verse behind him Pestis eram Vivens moriens er mors tua Papa O Pope I was thy plague while I had breath And though I dye yet I will be thy death Parens thinks this Angel to be understood of Luthers succession to the end of the world from Anno 1546. because no fourth Angel follows but Christ sitting on his white throne of judgement Secondly As Babylon is forewarned so her punishments and plagues are not onely threatned As the seals brought in judgements upon the Pagan world Trumpets on the Christian world as ruled by Christian Emperors so the seven last vials are poured out upon the Antichristian world Cotton on the Vials These seven plagues are compared to the plagues of Egypt as Sores Blood Darkness Frogs Thunder and Lightning And in the pouring out of these vials understand nothing but meer divine wrath no mercy runs out of the vials Further note As the seven Trumpets were sounded to the ruine of the Roman Empire so the seven Vials are poured out to the ruine of the Beast and to the gradual ruine of the Beast they all tend For every Vial is a degree to the Beasts destruction who as he rose so he shall rall by degrees but gradually inflicted which dreadful judgements and the actual inflicting of them are represented under vials and the pouring forth of these vials which vials are full of the wine of that wrath of God poured out without mixture Rev. 14.10 This we have in Chap. 15 and 16. Thirdly When no reformation doth follow as did not for in pouring out of the Vials it is said cap. 16. vers 9. They blasphemed the name of God c. but repented not to give him glory so vers 11. they blasphemed God because of their plagues but repented not of their deeds God passeth sentence upon her and destroyeth her which destruction is briefly touched upon chap. 17. but is largely and pathetically described cap. 18. Whereupon in the third Period follows the description of the great joy and triumph of the Church over the total ruine and destruction of her enemies Period 3. chap. 19. and the desired peace and tranquillity of the Church In this 19. Chapter is set down the victorious triumphs and gratulations of them in heaven i.e. the Church Saying Hallelujah Salvation and honor and glory and power unto the Lord our God ver 1. And that 1. For the judgement of the great whore justly executed upon her vers 1. for her wicked Idolatries and persecuting cruelties against the Saints vers 2. 2. For the Dominion of Christ Hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth vers 6. Parallel to that in Rev. 11. to 18. 3. For the marriage of the Lamb vers 7. ver 7. Let us be glad and give honour unto him for the marriage of the Lamb is come c. whose marriage garments are freely given her by Christ verse 8. And all the marriage guests which are called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb vers 8. are pronounced blessed vers 9. And because this victorious Triumph and gratulation of the Church is for the total ruine and destruction of her enemies therefore as in the former part of the Chap. John speaks of the judgement of the whore so in the latter part of the Chap. he speaks of the judgement of the beast and false prophet together with their Armies of Adherents warring against the Lamb and his Army These Adversaries are all mustred together under the sixt Viol in Armageddon Rev. 16. 13 14 16. now the seventh Viol the exposition whereof is yet continued describes the event of the battel in Armageddon Cap. 19.11 to the end viz. the beast and his adherents are entrapped and ensnared easily and suddenly royled by Christ the Beast and the false Prophet are both taken as wild beasts in
Nets and Gins and are joyntly executed in a most dreadful manner being both cast alive into a Lake of fire burning with Brimstone Their whole Army put to the Sword and the Fowls invited and filled with their flesh and enriched with their prey This is to be understood of Chricts final victory not onely spiritually but corporally over the beast and false Prophet now vexed and enraged at the iudgement of the Whore and this by some remarkable and dreadful demonstration of his providence In the 20. Cap. is set down the judgement of the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and Satan that had incited and used as his instruments the whore beast and false Prophet and their followers to oppose and persecute the Lamb and his Saints and the 21. and 22. Chap. containe the Churches happy estate upon her enemies destruction and the glory of the new Jerusalem These things we may see and learn by observing intentively the scope of the boon of the Revelation of Saint John that is the common term and period whereunto all the particular prophesies and passages in the Revelation do joyntly run and wherein they do ultimately determine Now having done with the scope or Intone of the Book I am next according to the method I propounded in the beginning to speak of the Synchronismes Which we must pouder and weigh advisedly in order to the understanding of the Prophecies contained in this book concerning which I will premise four things 1. A Synchronisme of Prophecies is a concurring or meeting together of things foretold in those Prophesies at the same time or which may be said to be contemporaneous or coaetaneous of the same time and age that fall out or come to pass in the same intervals or spaces of time or if I may so phrase it that time together 2. The order of the seals and in them of the Trumpets is certain and indubitable the same certainly which the number assigned to them both doth indigitate or poynt to as it were with the Finger viz. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. The Seals are opened one after another in order in opening of the seventh Seal whereof the Trumpets are sounded one after another successively 3. Therefore the rest of the Prophesies compared first with themselves and then with the Seales by Synchronismes the order of the whole Revelation will be made manifest 4. These Synchronismes are not built upon the Hypothesis or argument drawn from any interpretation not do they lean or stay upon the praejudgement of the event of things but upoon the innate Characters of the visions themselves and are Apodictically or demonstratively true to any that have but a competency of wit and patience to peruse them as these Synchronismes The treading underfoot of the outward court the Witnesses prophecying in sackeloth the Woman in the wilderness the ten horned and two horned Beast the sealed servants of the Lamb the whore of Babylon the succession of the first six Trumpets the chief matters of the Apocalyps being comprehended within these Synchronismes All these are circumscribed within the space of 1200. and 60. days i.e. years 5. The dililent and heedful comparing together of visions that are contemporary will notably and especially help to the more certain defining and determining of the beginning and period of future times foretold in this book and so to the true understanding of the Revelation It being one of the greatest difficulties of the Revelation punctually and certainly to find out the beginnings and periods of the times therein intended Now in laying them down I will follow my former method and without prejudice to any mans judgement I may persue that method which to me seemes most clear and genuine most plain and easie to be understood how-ever the disposing of the Method will not alter the matter The contemporaneousness of these Prophecies or of the visions in these Prophesies stands thus 1. The first six seals appertain to the first Period viz. that time when Rome was heathen the sixt whereof signifies the mighty change of things to the advantage of the Church the Empire becoming Christian The Visions that are synchronal to the time of the six seals Rev. 12. are the fight of Michael and the seven-headed dragon about the childs birth wherewith the woman travailed the measuring the Temple and Altar and them that Worship therein which are Symmetral or commensurable to the Angels measure Rev. 11. Mr. Mede interprets the fight of the seven-headed Dragon and Michael the conflict of the Church of Christ with the Pagan cruelty till Constantine and Theodosius his time which therefore as it is synchronal so it hath great Cognation with the visions of the six seals For the Archer on the white Horse aimes at that effect all the time of that bloody Battel which he hits and reacheth in the completion of the sixth Seal The inward Court of the Temple that is measured signifies the pure Christian Church before it was adulterated by a kind of Christian Paganisme which condition also of the Church hath a plain cognation with other things synchronal as their resolute opposing the Dragon and their being so serious in their Religion that they preferred it before their own lives so that the measure of the Temple and the Altar and the battel of the seven-headed Dragon and Michael are contemporaneous to the six first Seales and one to another 2. The six first Trumpets sounding under the seventh Seal appertain to the second Period when the Empire was turned Christian and Paganized again under Christianity So they appertain to the Churches apostacy and the cruel persecution of the Members of Christ in this Apostacy Now I will shew you these things that are synchronal to the six first Trumpets 1. The unmeasured outward Court of the Temple or holy City given to the Gentiles to be troden under foot Rev. 11.2 42. months 2. The Lords two Witnesses at last to be overcome and killed by the beast after they have finished their testimony prophecying in Sackcloth 1200 and 60. days chap. 11.3 3. The Woman that brought forth the man child and fled from the Dragon into the Wilderness chap. 12.6 and was nourished there 1200 and 60 days or for a time times and half a time 4. The seven-headed and ten-horned beast after the deadly wound of his last head was healed blasphemeth God and his Tabernacle c. 13.5 6 7 and them that dwell in Heaven warreth with and overcomes the Saints 42 months 5. The two horned beast or false Prophet who restoreth the first beast Rev. 13.11 to the end of the chapter and exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him whose deadly wound was healed c. whose number is 666. 6. The Lambs Virgin Company 144000 redeemed from the earth who alone could learn and sing the new song standing with him on Mount Zion the Fear and worship of God is commanded Rev. 14. the ruine of Babel and them
that worship the beast is threatned 7. Babylon the great Mother of Harlots and abominations of the earth sits upon the seven headed beast now in the course of his seventh head being ten-horned Chap. 17. making the inhabitants of the earth drunk with the Wine of her Fornication and going to perdition with which doth Synchronize six of the seven Vials of Gods wrath destroying the beast which are also contemporaneous to the sixt Trumpet For pouring out the Vials doth bring mine and destruction upon the beast as is manniest from the text for the conquerours of the beast do sing the song of Moses Cap. 15.2 3. And further it doth speciaily appear from the first Vial Cap. 16.2 which caused a noysome fore to fall upon the men that had the mark of the beast and on them that did worship his Image And from the fifth vial v. 10. which was poured upon the throne of the beast and his Kingdom was full of darkeness also from the sixth Vials pouring out provoking unclean spirits like Frogs to come out of the mouth of the Dragon beast and false Prophet who by their subtle art of deceiving shall draw the Kings of the earth and the whole world i.e. all the Beastian party together to battel against Christ to their utter ruine and destruction therefore the pouring out of six of the seven Vials and destroying the beast are contemporaneous to the sixth trumpet also contemporaneous one to another Thus I have shewed these seven Synchronals to the six first trumpets founding under the seventh Seal which are also contemporaneous one to another Now these Visions that are Synchronal to the six first Trumpets though they be more then any Synchronals besides yet they have all a neer cognation and manifest colligation one with another The general summary of the condition of times they point out is the Apostacy and degenerating of the Church which yet is never conceived so all but that there are some pure Apostolical Christians in it and therefore to present the two sotts of Professors of Christianity there are two sorts of Visions 1. Those of the Whore of Babylon the ten horned beast and the two-horned beast relating to the degeneracy of Christensom 2. The two Witnesses mourning in Sickcloth the Virgin company the sealed of the Lamb to those that kept me purity of the Church all these Synthronize with the six first Trumpets out of which is blown the wrath of God upon the Roman Empire as is but just by reason of their Apostacy As it is also equal with God to protect his own then And therefore the company of the Lamb are Sealed and marked to he kept from the common calamities Again Note the general Apostacy could not have crept in 1. If the Ecclesiastical and Secular power had not conspired Which may refer to the time of Inne entius for then this Apostacy did first sprout out when Rome obtained at the Emperors hands priority of place suffrage and censure over all for as the tree pulls up the creeping Ivy so the primacy of the Church of Rome pulled up the aspiring supremacy of the â—ishop thereof which Church â—rthem nency and proâ—â— on aâ—â—ct long ruffling and shouldering was first obtained at the lands of Honorius though alter wards upon great concertation or Daggers-drawing 't was by other Cesars and Kings confirmed renewed and â—â—ptiated and at last compleated in Phoâ—s his time 〈◊〉 and â— who by the advantage of the wâ—â—ness and death of his eldâ—s â—rother Arâ—â—us having obtained power and protectorship subjected the Church of the East Empire which most withstood the West and Roman supremacy with all other Churches whatsoever to the Church and Sea of Rome At the instanâ—â—â—it and importunity of the then Bishop of Rome whose name was then Innocent the fust in the First year of his creation and in the year of Redemption 406. therefore there is the two-horned beast as well as the ten-horned beast Against which are opposed the two mourning Witnesses the one sustaining the person of the faithful magistracy the other of the faithful Ministery 2. And this Apostacy consisting much in gross dolatry and vain superstition which according to the Scripture language is termed whoredom This state is also set out by the Vision of the Whore of Babylon Rev. 17. To which is opposed the Virgin company Rev. 14.4 3. There is lastly the like cognation or affinity between the six first Trumpets and the six first Vials For as the trumpets were sounded to the ruine of the Roman Empire so the Vials are poured out to the ruine of the Beast out of the first viz. the Trumpets the wrath of God was blown upon the Roman Empire out of the other viz. the Vials the wrath of God is poured out upon the beast his Worshippers his seal and throne and all his partakers to their â—â—ter ruine and destruction And thus of the Synchronismes that relate to the second Period Thirdly The Seventh Trumpet appertains to the third and last Period The Churches recovery out of her Apostacy and her graceful and peaceful estate from that time Now the Synchronals that are contemporary to the seventh Trumpet and commence at the ending of the Sixt under which the mystery of God shall be finished and to the innumerable company of white robed palm-bearing Triumphers of all Nations Kindreds and Peoples and poagues and also contemporary to each other are 1. The pouring out of the seventh Vial to the beginning onely of the seventh Trumpet 2. The binding of Satan a Thousand years 3. The first resurrection and reigning with Christ a thousand years 4. The holy City the New Jerusalem prepaved as a Bride adorâ—e â—o for her Husband in the light whereof the Nations of them that are saved shall walk and whereunto the Kings of the earth shall bring their glory cometh down from God out of heaven These are the last Synchronals that are contemporary to the seventh Trumpet and commence at the ending of the sixt and end at the day of Judgement properly so called that immediately leads to Hell or Heaven These are contemporaneous Visions or mysteries in the Prophesies of this sacred Book which give great light to the Revelation and are truly the key of it therefore necessary to the understanding of it They that attempt the interpreting of the Revelation without the guide of Synchronisms taken from the innate characters of the Visions themselves do cast themselves upon unnatural distorted and impossible applications This may be the reason why many learned men of note we do not speak of all have been much mistaken in their Expositions for to say nothing of that reason given by some viz. That the antient Interpreters in the primitive times have applied to these times many things which yet as then had no relation to them the modern Interpreters following their steps not minding so much the History as the Authority of the Interpreters have thereby led themselves and others out
of the way This I conceive to be the main reason the method and harmony of the Revelation is not observed In the Revelation all things are set down in good order what from time to time should come to pass the Synchronisms or concurrencies of times are set down one after another and the Revilation and changes in the Ecclesiastical and Civil States are exactly and punctually distinguished even as an excellent and well versed Historian is wont to do in the description of humane astions Dot contrary to all this many interpreters do pervert overturn and disturb the method seek and find out by-way boof error the things which as Relaâ—n belong to one and the same time they see down as following one another what shall come to pass after the call of Babyâ—â— they place before it ofttimes not knowing themselves where they stack or how they shall winde themselves out Besides they mistake and confound the States one with another not observing where mention is made of the Exclesiastical or Civil State So that many times they apply Monastical matters and the actions of Antichrist to that which is in the Revelation spoken of the Civil State Hence it is that the more one doth read some Expositors the more one is confounded But by the benefit of this key or guide of Synthronisms easily appears how natural a sense is made of every Vision and how perfectly answerable to History and events And thus much of the main body or substance of the Book Now before I come to the Eleventh Chapter I will here set down something concerning the time of Antichrists begining If we search the instant of his begining we shall hardly finde it seeing in the Apostles time it began to work under a mystery 2 Thess 2.7 but if we ask the time when he should be revealed we find it in Scripture to be at the ruine of the Roman Empire which being the onely obstacle to Antichrist was first of all to be taken out of the way that afterwards Antichrist might be displayed in his colours by these three degrees 1. Of a voluntary succession and removal of the Imperial Throne from that very place where Antichrist should place his Chair Hence learned Vsher saith Rome became the seat of the Beast by the means of the transâ—â—ting of the Seat of the Empire from Rome to Constantinople 2. The second of a violent oppression of Christendom by a forraign people viz. Goths and Vandals which Antichrist by glosing and flattery must win by little and little to the embracing of his abominations for the more speedy and surer planting of his ten several hornes 3. The third of a fraudulent Usurpation of a double sword the one spiritual in the Church the other temporal in the Common-weal by Antichrist himself then peeping abroad For the first it was to sall out at or about the three hundredth year after Christ about that time was the voluntary changing his seat dividing his Empire which Chrysostom expounds to be the removing of the let 2 Thes 2.7 For the second the overrunning of Christendom by the barbarous Nations when Antichrist did crouch at the feet of those Tyrants fawning and flattering them till out of them such Kingdomes might be settled as might give their power to the beast This was to fall out about the four hundredth year after Christ For the third when by these hornes he was hoysed up to that huge height of unjust Usurpation as to exalt himself above Kings and Emperors ruling not onely in the external and temporal estates but even in the faith and consciences of men this was about that year after Christ which some interpreters make the number of his name to intimate unto us Rev. 13.18 PART II. Concerning that great Question when did the 1200 and 60. days begin I will here set down further THe great Earthquake Rev. 11.13 whereby the Kingdomes of the grand Antithrist the whore of Babylon and all their supporters shall be utterly subverted in all Nations drawn near It may possibly be with us as it was with the people of the lews when our Saviour Christ name in the flesh or with the Churches of the Gentiles when Antichrist came Our Saviour was both come and gone before the Jews generally would know him for the Messiah and Antichrist was grown to his full age and stature before the world took any notice of him So Antichrist is neer his end and going a pace to perdition before the most of Gods people do so much as begin a little to discerne it That this grand earthquake is at hand appears because the Beast Antichrist who is to fall by it is so well stricken in years and so near his end The whole terme of his life and raign without the womb for the mystery of iniquity was framing this Embrio even from the Apostles times 2 Thes 2.7 is 42. months Rev. 13.5 or 1200. and 60. days that is so many years putting a day for a year as Numb 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 Now these years grow towards their full period for it is well nigh so much time since they begun this will be made to appear by these two Indices First it is almost so long time since the Papel state became the seventh head of the Roman Monarchy Secondly because is almost 1200 and 60. years since the ten Kings began and the Beast began with them as may appear Rev. 17.12 First It is almost so long since the Papal state became the seventh head of the Roman Monarchy Indice or Evidence first and when it began to be that head then it began to be the beast Rev. 17.11 that we may understand this we are to look upon the Text. Rev. 17.9 10.11 Here is the mind that hath wisdom the seven heads are seven Mountains on which the woman sits and there are seven Kings five are fallen and one is the other is not yet come See the same Exposition of these words before on the 17 th And when he cometh he must continue a short space and the beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seventh and goeth to perdition The seven heads of the Roman Monarchy signifie two things First Seven hills upon which the woman siâ—s i. e. upon which the City was built for the City is called the woman vers 18. the seven Hills what they were see before page 78 79. Secondly The heads also signifie seven Kings i. e. seven several formes of Supreme government that have been in Rome what these also are see before Page 78. Of these five are fallen when the Apostle received the Revelation that is Kings Tribunes Decemvirs Dictators Consuls One is That is the Emperor a Souldier chosen for the most part by the Armies And the other is not yet come He doth not say the seventh but the other This sense of the words though not the same with that I give on Chap. 17. Page 81 82. yet meeting
Luther of error by solid demonstrations out of the Word of God 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but mainly because his doctrine was contrary to the decrees of Popes c. He doth also charge and command Patriarchâ— Metropolitans Primats Archbishops Bishops and all other Ecclesiastical Orders downward even to the begging Friarâ— and then all Kings Electors of the Empire Princes Dukes and so on and at last all men throughout the whole univerful world the very voyce proper and native language of the grand Antichrist on pain of the great Excommunication that they do not embrace Luthers doctrine nor adhere to or favour his person Now the Popes challenged this supremacy in some degree soon after the fourth Century Pope Innocent the first drew all Appeals from other Bishops to the Apostolick Sea according to former Statutes and Customs as be he saith in his Epistle to Victricius Innocent Epist 2. ad Vâ—coriâ—ium Majores cansae ad sâ—dem Apostolicam sicut Synodus statuit beata consuaetudo exigit Aâ—no 404 or 406. post judicium Episcopale reseruntur not to speak of their claiming the title of Vniversal Bishop nor yet their assuming the title of Pontifex Maximus the name of the cheif Heathenish Priest among the Romans which dignity many of the Emperors had annexed to their Imperial greatness which Graecian the Emperor first renounced Anno 380 and the rest after him they did about that time plainly arrogate and usurp a judiciary power over Councils and Churches As in the time of Innocentius the first who did sue for and obtained of the Emperor Honorius Priority of place suffrage and censure over all Churches In his time therefore Historians report the Roman Church began to swell with pride and to usurp Jurisdiction over other Churches And this appears by the insolent letter which this Pope Innocent the first sent to the fifth Council of Carthage in which Council the heresie of Pelagius was condemned This Council sent their letters to this Bishop of Rome expressing therein the decree of the Council See Sympsons History of the Church Cont. 5. The answer that this Innocentius returned to this Council was intermized with words of swelling pride as if no decree could be firm unless it had the allowance of the Roman chair Besides they did then claim this prerogative that Appeals ought to be made to the Bishop of Rome from all Churches and he to give the last definitive sentence yea so zealous were they about this time that three Popes Zosimus Boniface Coelestine did in the sixth Council of Carthage in which Saint Augustine was present in the cause of one Appianus who had appealed out of Affrick unto Rome as many had done before not onely challenge the receiving of Appellations from all Churches but also forge a decree of the great Council of Nice which had been almost a hundred years before to support it This was by the Fathers of the Synod indeed then rejected and the pretended Canon found to be forged and spurious yet this was a right by the Popes then challenged Before the Council of Constantinople which some reckon to be in Anno 381. others in Anno 383. Wolphius Lection memorab Tom. 1. p. 131. saith Hoc scilicet tempore gliscebat Antichristus Rome i.e. Antichrist did then begin to appear at Rome c. yea that very Council of Constantinople consisting of 150 Bishops moderated by Nectarius Archbishop of Constantinople did acknowledge the Primacy of the Bishop of Rome onely reserving to the Bishop of Constantinople the second place among the Bishops and immediately after this Council the Bishop of Rome did mightily labour to draw all causes to his own Consistory Morn Mystery of Iniquity p. 40. But this Supremacy they were ambitious of long before as learned Brightman and others observe for in the first great Council of Nice where Constantine was present the Bishop of Rome was not there of whose absence Bellarmin gives two reasons 1. It did not seem convenient that the Head should follow the Members 2. Because in the Eastern Councils always the Emperor was present or his Ambassador who did challenge the first Bellarm. l. 1. de Concil Eccles c. 29. at least material place to himself Lest therefore he should either suffer this or else make a tumult he would not go to the Council but rather sent his Ambassadors Hence Brightman concludes That in the time of this Council the man of Rome though not outwardly and openly Home Romae Brightman Antichrist Nascen Antichrist Crescent Antichrist Reâ—nant and Triumphant He was the first when he usurped an universal Authority over all Bishops See Dr. Crackinthorp his Treatise of General Councils cap. 13. p. 186. yet inwardly and secretly did lift up himself above all that is called God 2 Thess 2.4 From all which I conclude that about 400 years after Christ the grand Antichrist was not only as a great big Embrio swelling in the womb and ready to come forth but rather as a childe lately born lying in the cradle that it is probable yea I may say more then probable that between 403 and 410 Antichrist begun Object Daniel speaking of these horns intimates that the little horn Antichrist that grew so great should come up after the rest Dan. 7 24. Answ He spake as it were in his preception and observation the little horn rose with the rest but he did not discern it until he considered the horns as is were with a prying eye vers 8. And as it was in the Vision so it was in the accomplishment indeed he rose imperceptibly because the world mistook what manner of Creature he should be No we may rather suspect that Antichrist was up before the Kings the Papacy having such strange appearance of him before any of the Kings sprung up Rev. 17.12 And so some read these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They received power as Kings one hour not with the Beast but after the Beast Thus I have given two Indices or Evidences to prove and that a priori that the 1200. and 60. days are near to a period And so the Earthquake that must ruine the Beast is at hand But there are two other Evidences of it a posteriori which are more certain and more indubitable 1. The slaying of the Witnesses or rather their lying dead in the street of the great City which precedes the great Earthquake which shall be at their resurrection Centemporary with which resurrection as a second Evidence is the pouring out of the fifth Vial upon the throne of the Beast Some think this vial is now about to be poured out for at the pouring out of this Vial this great Earthquake begins and so continues and ends not till the pouring out of the seventh Vial. Of the first of these see the following AN EXPOSITION OF THE XI CHAP. OF THE REVELATION THere are many important things contained in the Revelation of
Saint John which do relate to our present times especially in the 11. Chap. and in Chap. 16. in the Description of the pouring out of the Vials of Gods wrath This 11. Chap. is the heart and kernel of the whole Book The eleventh Chapter goes through all the three Periods of times before mentioned and is as it were an abridgement of the whole Revelation It is declared unto John how things shall come 〈◊〉 the Christich Church In the first Period verse the first Period 1. In the second Period verse 9.10.11 Period 2. In the third Period from verse 11. to the end Period 3. Vers 1 In the first Period vers 〈◊〉 thus writeth John 〈…〉 And there was given unto me a Read like unto a Rod and the Angel 〈◊〉 saying Wise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein Here he gathering and building of the Christian Church is commanded unto John under the measuring of the Jewish Temple 〈◊〉 Jerusalem the length whereof not 60. Cubits breadth 20. height 120. which Cubical number of the Dimensions of the Jewish Temple hold of â—â—th of the mystical Temple the number of the New Testament the number of them that are sealed which is 144,000 By which is meant the regular purity of the Church and Religion at the first which is set forth under the particular vision or mystery of measuring the inner Court of the Temple situate immediately next the holy of holies where God dwelt between the Cherubins Intimating that the Primitive Church and Religion therein immediately next unto Jesus Christ and his Apostles was exactly examined by and conforme to the measuring reed of the written word of God and therefore singularly pure and holy The Church was then gloriously beautified and cloathed with the sun of righteousness Cha. 12.1 had the moon under her feet despised all earthly and worldly things and raigned over the works of darkness and she had upon her head a crown of twelve Stars the Apostles and the wholesome Doctrine of the same Chap. 12.2 But though this was a time of great purity yet it was a time of great persecution under which the Church was built up at that time then the Dragon under the Heathen Emperors raged against the Church the Christians were persecuted banished and put to cruel deathe killed like Sheep appointed to the slaughter hence not onely the Temple but also the Altar is said to be measured and them that worship therein i.e. in the inner Court where the Altar of burnt Offerings stood where the Priests did Sacrifice called Thysiasterium Hereby the holy Ghost meanes the Christian Church should be exposed to afflictions and persecutions suffer many grievous forments and tribulations therefore he â—â—â—seth the suffering and miseries they should undergo to be measured out to them whereby he setteth certain bounds to the Tyrants beyond which they cannot go and when they are come so far then must vengeance overtake them hence it is that the sacrificed souls of the Martyrs who were slayn for the word of God and testimony of Jesus and lye under the Altar as slaughtered Sacrifices cry with a loud voyce to the lord holy and true for vengeance Rev. 6. vers 9 10. yet under all these persecutions they did worship i. e. serve â—o daâ— with purity so with perseverance so the end they did stick close to him in all sorts of persecutions even to the yeilding up and sacrificing of their bodies and lives Now the persecution of this pure Apostolical Church continued 300. years till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the Church-heaven Rev. 12. This regular purity of the Church ordered according to the Scripture rule and standard continued till after the death of Theodosius it continued till the beginning of the 42. months when the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his host with his residence and seat and great authority unto the beast with ten hornes See before p. 10 11. when it rose out of the Sea Rev. 13.1 Vers 2. But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given to the Gentiles and the holy City they shall tread under foot forty two months Here in this verse and verses following the second period is set down viz. under the Antichristian Vicar in two Synchronismes or concurrences of times First the Gentiles tread the Holy City under foot 42. months Secondly The two witnesses prophecy in sackcloth 260 days To begin with the first where begins the Churches Apostacy from her primitive Apostolical purity which is set forth under the particular vision of the outward Court of the Temple further distant and remote from the holy of holies signifying the Church succeeding the Primitive Church in the following ages should not be in Religion so regular and conforme to the Canon and measuring reed of Gods word as the primitive Church but should grow irregular and exorbitant in gentilish idolatrous worship Prophaning it as if heathenisme were again revived for heathemish Idolatry by Popery is brought in again The Heathens worshipped Saturn Jupiter Juno Venus c. in the Popish Religion Mary Peter Paul George are set up in stead of these and called upon in time of distress so there is but little difference between them Here more particularly let us consider 1. A prophetical direction to leave out the outward Court or holy City and nor to measure it the outward Court and holy City seem to be all one the latter exegetical to the former For the outward Court was the Place for the holy City or the people of Israel to meet for divine worship yea in the wilderness the Tabernacle having but one court into which ordinarily it was not lawful for any to enter into but the Priests and Levites there was no outward Court but the tents of Israel or the Holy City So these words outward Court and holy City mutually explain one another So then by the outward Court here is to be understood the outward worship and service of God which consisted in the outward appearance and a company of superstitious ceremonies whereof God takes no notice but rejecteth it leave it out measure it not saith the Angel 2. We have a reason of this direction for it is given to the Gentiles c. i. e. this outward Court or holy City unmeasured is given to the Gentiles i. e. It was to be left out or cast out as prophane and that which God will make no account of yea to be given to the Gentiles to be trodden under foot 42. months i. e. it shall be given or left by Gods just dispensation to the Gentiles vix to them that exercise Gentilish Idolatrous Worship the event whereof should be treading under foot the holy City as the Gentiles trod Jerusalem under foot hostilly
possessing and overthrowing the City to which this Text here seems to allude Luke 21.24 by being trodden by the Gentiles is meant the imitation of Pagan Worship introduced by the Apostacy of Christendome Dr. More so the Church typified by Jerusalem should be possessed and prophaned by Romish Gentiles and their Idolatries the meaning is as Mr. Mede well observes the Antithristian Apostacy which he calls Redivivus Ethuicismus Heathenisme revived shall prevail over the Christian Church and shall bring in a new kind of Idolatry into the places where the true religion was professed or the imitation of Pagan Worship This came to pass after Constuntine and immediately after the death of Theodosius the â—â—oths Huns and Alans with other barbarous Nations invade the Roman Empire ruined and destroyed the same on all sides whereby the Church in this sense as the holy City began to be trod under foot and the Antichrist had an occasion given to break forth and shew himself And this treading under foot shall continue 42. months parallel with the time of the Witnesses prophecying in Sackcloth which follows Vers 3. And I will give 〈◊〉 to my 〈◊〉 Witnesses and they 〈◊〉 Prophecy two 〈◊〉 â—â—â—dred and sixty days 〈◊〉 in sackcloth Here we 〈◊〉 the Concomitant â—â—ent attending upon this defiled and deplored estate of the Church the Lords 〈◊〉 Wiâ—nessâ—s prophecying all the while in Sackcloth 〈◊〉 continually bewayling and lamenting the 〈◊〉 For we must know that the Apostacy and degeneracy of the Church was never conceived so ill but there were some pure Apostolical Christians â—â—it The Apostacy though generall â—ver all toughâ—â— kindreds and Nations yet it was not so universal in all individual persons but them were a remnant according to the election of grace Rev. 11.4 as in the â—â—alitish Apostacy the Lord reserved 7000 that had not bowed their knees to Baal so in this antichristian defection the Lamb 〈◊〉 Mount Sion had twelve times twelve thousand that adhered to the Doctrine of the twelve Apostles Rev. 14.1 4 5 And as the Lord had his Saints during all the reign of Antichrist so he raised up his magistrates and his ministers who in 〈◊〉 several successive ages in several phares testified against the Tyranny spiritual whoredomes and Idolatrous worships and deceiving frauds of Antichrist It is true as the generality of the people so the generality of the Magistrates â—uinees and Priests in those times did worship the Beast even all that dwell upon the worth whose names wore not written 〈◊〉 the Lambs Book of Life But in this general defection both of people and of 〈◊〉 guides a â—â—â—trachers the Lamb had a remâ—â—â—t with him who were called Rev. 17.4 and the 〈◊〉 and faithful even an afflicted poor remâ—ent of Pastors as well as of people reserved in the midst of Balysia who during the reign of Antichrist solidwed the Lamb did not defile their garments but preached and prayed and liâ—â—d and died in their constant and consâ—â—â—â—â— us opposition of the man of Sinle appears not onely from this verse but also from chap. 12. vers 6. that the Church during the whole time of the 〈◊〉 of Antichrist should be in a sad laâ—â—entable and wilderness condition yet margre all the fury of the ten-headed and two horned Beast the Church as preserved safe all that time in the Wilderness she is fed and nourished Forty two moneths See Jus Divinum Ministerii Anglic. p. 35. This woman is not onely kept alive in the Wilderness all the time of Antichrists reign but she is 〈◊〉 and nourished there by Gospel Administrations She is fed by the two Witnesses for the prophecying of the Witnesses is contemporary with the womans flight into the Wildernese even as Elias was nourished in the Wilderness Doctos More makes the two Witnesses to be the two Testaments as well as Magistracy and Ministry Doctor More his Mystery of godliness Book 5. chap. 17. page 207. and kept safe 〈◊〉 the fury and rage of Jozâ—â—â—â— And as God by good Obadiah preserved a hundred Prophets of the Lord alive all the time of Ahaba bitter opposition against them Even so the Lord had his good Obadiahs some faithful Magistrates to encourage support preserve and nourish the faithful Ministers of Christ though in a wilderness condition all the time of Antichrists prevalency And as the two-horned Beast and ten-horned Beast the Ecclesiastical and Secular power conspired and united together in the general Apostacy which else could not have crept in so against these are opposed as united together the two mourning Witnesses the one sustaining the person of the faithful Magistrate the other of the faithful Minister Now the Text faith I will give power to my two Witnesses These two Witnesses prophecying were not two Individual persons Enoch and Elias as Bellarmin and other Papists affirm But a succession of holy men not in private but in publike station stirred up all that time to testifie the truth of Christ against Antichrist By the two Witnesses in general This noted by their Prophecying in Sackcloth are meant saith Mr. Mede all the Interpreters and Assertors of Divine truth who should by their daily complaints bewail the foul and lamentable pollution of Christs Church And in particular it is conceived by the two Witnesses to be meant say learned Expositors the faithful Teachers and Governours of the Church Clavis Apoc. both Ecclesiastical and Political More especially say the London Ministers in their Jus Divinum Ministerii Anglicani the true Ministers of Jesus Christ who are called Witnesses of Christ Acts 1.8 and whose proper office it is to bear witness to truth and holiness against all Heresies Blasphemies Idolatries and ungodliness of Antichrist To these Witnesses power is given To such I will give power that they may edifie and propagate the Church and preserve the same against all Heresies and hostile attempts Clavis Apocal. i. e. Authority and Commission yea the power of Christ is bestowed upon them by which they are enabled not onely to pray and to mourn but to prophesie not so much by prediction of things future as by preaching the everlasting Gospel It was a mighty power from on high that a few condemned persecuted Ministers should have gifts to be able and power to be couragious to preach against the Son of perdition when all the world wondered after the beast To my two Witnesses Two because very few in comparison of the Ministers of Antichrist who were innumerable and because two Witnesses were sufficient to confirm any truth but cheifly they are called two like their types in allusion to Moses and Aeron in the Wilderness on Elijah and Elisha when the Israeliteaâ— or shipped the Calves and Beal â—â— â—orobabel and Joshua in Babylon and 〈◊〉 the return of the Istatitie from raptivity And they shall Prophecy These sackcloth Propheciars were not onely Saints who mounfully bewailed the abominations of those times that the Holy City should be
that wicked generation had forbidden men to read the Scriptures had kept them in unknown tongues and involved the mysteries of Christ in Masses and rude heapes of other superstitious Ceremonies but now he and all his excellencies shall be fully manifested to the Nations Now I will not make Application of the explications of this Chapter it being beyond my scope only from the time of Antichrists reign mentioned in this Chapter viz. 1200 and 60 years and the time of the Witnesses lying dead which is three years and a half we may infer for our comfort 1. That no sorrows or afflictions can steal upon the Church but all are foreseen and determined by God In all our sorrows and restraints consider they are foreseen of God and we are not unseen in them Let us with Hagar in the Wilderness say Then God seest me Have I also looked after him that sees me Gen. 16.13 2. God hath measured out all the afflictions of his Church that though her enemies may disturb and hinder pure Religion by force and violence yet it is but for an appointed time Antiochus may interrupt Jewish Religion and bring in swines flesh into the Temple but it is but for three years and ten days a time times and a piece of time Antichrist that grand enemy of Gods Church may make havock and tread under foot the holy City but it but forty two moneths a time times and half a time 1200 and 60 days Jezabel wastes the Church and causeth the Prophets to hide themselves in caves but it was but three years and a half in the letter the Jews may bury Christ in the grave and roll a stone upon him and seal and watch the Sepulchre but they can keep him down but onely three days Know whatever affliction thy self or any member or the whole Church sustaineth it is not endless neither shall the whole nor parts suffer one hour more then Gods wisdom hath assigned The proudest waves cannot pass those bounds and banks which Gods power hath set them 3. In all the present sufferings and oppressions of the Church this comfort abideth by the Godly that she is not lest of God nor destitute of his presence nor without a promise of deliverance nor without faith of the â—ccomlishpment nor without a joyful hope that the time of this oppression and suppression of the Church is not far from Expiration Dr. More in his book of the mystery of godliness Book 5. cap. 17. of the usefulness of Apocalyptick Visions painted 1660. To which I will only add for a Conclusion the words of a late learned Writer I am not ashamed to profess that I think it clear out of the Apocalyps that the scene of things in Christendom Dies vel annus certe statui non potest in quem erunt exiquâ—iae Rome tamâ—◠〈◊〉 aliis Scripturis pe â—spicâ—◠〈◊〉 est arbitror non differendas ad longiss◠〈◊〉 â—ltra Sexagiâ—◠〈◊〉 Brightman Apocalyp cap. 19. ve◠〈◊〉 The time when he wrote this Book appears in his Epistle to be 1606 Feb. 25. will in a short time be very much changed for the better the time of the Churches appearing that is purely Apostolical hath in life and doctrine appears by the computation of Prophecy to be very near at hand when the Witnesses shall rise and the woman come out of the wilderness and the kingdoms of the world shall be the kingdoms of the Lord and his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11.11 And he further saith There is no stability to be expected in Christian kingdoms but vengeance will ever and apâ—n flow in upon them till that City be resed whose not onely foundation is laid in Twelve but whose Gates Tribes Angels the byâ—adth and heighth of the wall and the lâ—llid content of the whole City are nothing else but the replication still of Twelve throughout that is to say till that Church appear that is purely Apostolical in Doctrine Worship c. Which time being so very near at hand as appears by compute of prophesie it should be a great encouragement for every one to look thitherwnâ—d Besides the characters set upon the 1200 and 60 days as the treading down of the holy City cap. 11.2 the division of the Roman Empire into two parts cap. 12.14 and the rising of the Beast out of the Sea cap. 13.2 Historians agree to be soon after or about the beginning of the fourth Century and to shake off that dulness and lethargicalness that hath possessed the world so long as if it would never be better Wherefore let every Chrâ—stian beleive repent pray reform himself exhort and encourage his neighbor conquer his corruptions resist unto blood striving against sin For these times come not by rapine and violence but by encrease of righteousness upon the earth Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophecy of this Book Rev. 22.7 To him which is and which was and is to come the Almighty be glory and dominion for ever and ever Amen Rev. 16.8 FINIS
that made Heaven and Earth which they do mainly in envy and opposition to the Christians profession of the Trinity while themselves are in the mean time under Abaddon and Apollyon which signifieth a destroyer and are still as truely Pagans as the Assyrians and Greeks that worship Adad and Apollo The sixt Trumpet Vision as the second wo Tramp 6. is the loosing of the four Angels that were bound in the River Euphrates This was fulfilled upon the Roman Monarchy by the Turks which four Angels at the River Euprates Mr. Mede very fitly Interprets to be the four Sultans of the Turkish Dominion Bagdad Cosarea Aleppo Damascus planted on this side and that side Euphrates he Calculating the time of a dar month and year that is 396 years from the Inauguration of Togzulbeck the Prince of the Turks to the taking of Constantinople v. 14 15. which is just 396. years he applying those Myriads of Myriads of horse vers 16. to the known numerosity of the Turkish Armies who being Persians by their long abode in that Country are called Persee in the Greek History 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Paras quo nomine in saâ—râ—s literis vocatur Persia so that the foot are in this allusion horsemen too the Hebrew word signifying Eques as well as Persia which allusion to names is used also by Daniel in making the He-goat stand for the Kings of the Aegeades i. e. of the Macedonians their brest-plates of Fire Jacinct and Sulphus he interprets of that aspect they seem to have by discharging their Carbines or Pistols in the fight which makes all their breasts for a time seem fiery then of a blew Jacinct colour by the smoke and the most lasting object of sence is the stincking Sulphur which representation is to be understood of them nearer at hand this invention of Gunpowder foreseen by that spirit that inspired John and not vainly pointed at in these visions but for the better assurance of the time they belong to is again intimated in that it is said the heads of their Horses were as the heads of Lions because of the terror of their noise dreadful like to the roaring of a Lyon when they discharge against the enemie For presently follows vers 17. Out of their mouths came fire and smoke and brimstone all were breathed out together from their jaws at once this interpretation of Mr. Mede seems very apposite before him also Brightman Interprets this of guns peices of Ordinance and Gunpowder more used by the Turkes then any other men the greatness of that Gun was almost incredible which Mahomed used in the beseiging of Constantinople for the drawing whereof seventy Yoke of Oxen and 2000. men were used as Laonicus Chalcocondular in his Eighth Book of Turkish History reports And those 1200. Jenazaries which are the ordinary Guard of his body are all Gunners The tayls of the Horses were as if they had been half a Serpent vers 19. clapt to and hanging out with her head Mede makes in Embleme of that sad after-clap of their victory over men the Devil then that Old Serpent being ready to parley with them vers 20. and to seduce them to Mallonatism to drink in the Sarazen Mahometan Religion whereby they proved very hurtful and pernicious as the Sarazens before them The calamitous effect wrought by the loosing of these four Angels and their Euphratean Horsemen and Horses was the killing of the third part of men i. e. many of the Roman Empire which was the third part of the world This is amplified by the incorrigibleness and impenitency of the rest of the Roman Empire that had escaped the deadly fury of this Euphratean Army of Turks though these judgements were inflicted before their eyes on their brethren yet they repented not of their sins and abominations 1. Not of their devil-worship this worshipping of Demons and Idols Mede interprets in the proper sence and applies it to the rest of the Roman Empire infected with that we call Papal Superstition and Idolatry This is very fit and appropriate none can deny 2. Nor of their murders of the Saints whose souls cry under the Altar 3. Nor of their Sorceries v. 20 21. 4. Fornications 5. Thefts procuring upon the Roman world the judgements of this Trumpet The Application of these two last Trumpet-visions is so particular and exquisite that it would make one eager to know the meaning of the seventh and last Trumper-Vision which consists of loud praises to the God of heaven that all the kingdoms of the world are become the kingdome of the Lord and his Christ Cap. 11.15 This we have in the third Period when the seventh Angel doth found Period 3. and withall the seventh Judgement is executed upon the enemies of the Church which is the third wo. Cap. 10. It being a Trumpet of wo to the wicked and unbeleiving answerable to the seven thunders that filled the space of the seventh Trumpet whilst that mighty and illustrious Angel roars like a lion and is justly conceived to represent our Saviour Christ the lyon of the Tribe of Judah who being once stired up will never cease pursuing the prey till he hath brought all under his feet death it self not excepted And so I come to speak of the Third Appearance of Jesus Christ to John mentioned before p. 13. in the likeness of a strong Angel cap. 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth In this 10 cap. according to Mede begins the second Prophesie Here the judicious Reader may be pleased to consider that the holy Spirit of Christ seems purposely here to have suspended the actual sounding of this 7th Trumpet by interposition of so much of the second prophefie contained in this I trie book as is parallel with and contemporary with the first Prophefie from the very beginning of it to the end of the fixth Trumpet that to by linking and as it were by looping these two prophesies together after this manner he might indigitate unto us the right way of interpreting both these prophesies by parallelling and comparing them one with another in respect of their visions and mysteries which are so notably contemporaneous This Angel is said to be be cloathed with a cloud having also in his hand a little book which John swallowed down and thereupon prophefies how things shall come to pass especially In the Ecclesiastial State In the first Period for 400 years and upwards Period 1. Where 1. The Church is built up under great persecution chap. 11.1 2. The Church is gloriously beautified and cloathed with the Sun of Righteousness hath the Moon under her feet despiseth all worldly and earthly things and reigneth over the works of darkness and upon her head a crown of twelve stars the Apostles and the wholesom doctrine of the same chap. 12.1 2. 3. The red Dragon the Devil stirreth up many heresies persecuteth the Church