c. Nor that he that had faith had not wisdome nor knowledge c. Nor that he that had knowledge had no faith nor wisdome nor prophesie c. Nor that he that had discerning of Spirits had no knowledge nor prophesie nor wisdome nor faith c. But this is the Apostles meaning That he that had the word of knowledge might not have so much faith nor wisdome nor discerning of spirits c. as he that had lesse knowledge so he that was full of faith might have lesse wisdome and discerning of spirits and knowledge c. then those that were more weak in faith But now as some might be eminent in one of these gifts only so some might be eminent for two or three and others might be eminent for them all And those that were eminent for one only could not be said to have none of the rest Now by this time the reason is evident why the Apostle speaks of Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers distinctly and withall it is evident that he that is a Prophet is an Evangelist a Pastour and a Teacher For as it cannot be said of him that hath faith that he hath no knowledge nor wisdome nor discerning of spirits c. So it cannot be said of a Prophet that he is no Evangelist nor Pastour nor Teacher And now it is evident That Prophets have been continued all the while the Saints have been in Babylon and in the continuance of Prophets there hath been a continuance of Evangelists and Pastours and Teachers whereby that Scripture hath been made good Ephes 4. 10 11 12 13. which saies they must all continue Till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God c. And this being so evident it appears to be from weaknesse and darknesse that any have questioned whether any of these have been during the time that the Saints have been captivated to Babylon But here this query may be made May there be Prophets Evangelists Apostles and Teachers that were never ordained by the laying on of hands Answ Yes they may for the Scripture speaks not of laying on of hands upon any but only of Bishops and Deacons and they only had the laying on of hands because they were ordained to doe some particular things which were to be done by them and was proper to them only and none in the Church else were to act in them but only they But Prophesying and Evangelizing and feeding and teaching and building up one another was common to all in the Church as every one had received the gift so to minister as good stewards of the Grace they had received For their gifts are not given to be laid up in a napkin But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every one to profit withall So that these I say were not restrained only to be done by Bishops and Deacons who only were persons ordained by the laying on of hands but were common to be done by all Now a Bishop which the Scripture indifferently cals either a Bishop or an Elder or a Presbyter is ordained by the laying on of hands because he is appointed to the work which is proper to that Office and not to any other in the Church Now the works that are proper to a Bishop Elder or Presbyter Are First To rule and guide and govern the Church and this is clear by that of the Apostle 1 Tim. 5. 17. Let the Bishops that rule well be counted worthy of double honour And 1 Tim. 3. 4. the Apostle saies That a Bishop must be one that rules well his own house implying that he is not fit to rule the Church of God if he doe not rule his own house well And of those it is that the Apostle speaks Hebrew 13. 7. Remember them which rule over you who have spoken unto you the word of God And vers 17. Obey them which have the rule over you and submit for they watch for your Souls And of these he also speaks 1 Thes 5. 12. Know them which labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you Moreover secondly It is the work of a Bishop or Presbyter to ordain Elders or Bishops in the Churches where they are wanting as appears Titus 1. 5. The Apostle there speaking to Titus who was a Bishop or Presbyter saith For this cause left I thee in Crete that thou shouldest set in order the things that are wanting and ordain Elders in every City And so Timothy being a Bishop it was his work as appears by that rule given him 1 Tim. 5. 22. Lay hand suddenly on no man Again it likewise is made evident to be the work of Presbyters 1 Timothy 4. 14. and 2 Tim. 1. 6. Now these things were proper to the Office of a Bishop and others that are not ordained to be Bishops have no warrant to take upon them to act in these things But there are other things that Bishops are also enjoined to doe that may be and ought to be done by other brethren but Bishops are enjoined to doe them in an especiall manner and they are these First To feed the flock over which they are made over-seers and this is that Paul enjoins the Elders of the Church of Ephesus to doe Acts 20. 29. Take heed unto your selves and unto all the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you over-seers and feed the Church of God which he hath purchased with his own bloud And this is that which Timothy who was an Elder or Bishop was enjoined to in these passages 1 Tim. 4. 3. Preach the word be instant in season and out of season reprove rebuke exhort with all long-suffering and Doctrine And vers 5. Doe the work of an Evangelist make full proof of thy Ministery And 2 Tim. 2. 15. Study to shew thy self approved unto God a work-man that needeth not to be ashamed rightly deviding the word of truth Thus ought Bishops in a more especiall manner to feed the flock of God and to instruct and admonish them But this is not their duties only but the duty of all the brethren according to their severall abilities But Secondly It is the duty of Bishops or Presbyters to be good examples to believers this also Timothy was enjoined unto 1 Tim. 4. 12. Be thou an example to believers in word in conversation in love in spirit in faith and purity And this Titus who was a Bishop was also enjoined unto Tit. 2. 7. In all things shew thy self a pattern of good works in Doctrine shewing uncorruptnesse gravity sincerity And 2 Tim. 2. 2. The things which thou hast heard of me among many witnesses the same commit thou to faithfull men who shall be able to teach others also Thus it is the duty of Elders or Presbyters to be a good example to believers but it is not their duty only but the duty of all other Saints also Thirdly It is the duty of
Bishops to watch over the souls of the flock which are committed to them for they must give account of them to God and this the Elders or Bishops of the Church of Ephesus are enjoined unto Acts 20. 28. Take heed saith the Apostle unto your selves and unto the flock over which the holy Ghost hath made you over-seers for I know saies he that after my departure there shall grievous wolves enter in among you So that the Elders of the Church ought to look to the flock to keep them from the pernicious Doctrines of wolvish men and Heb. 13. 17. saith the Apostle Obey them that have the rule over you and submit your selves for they watch for your souls as they that must give account that they may doe it with joy So that it is evident that it is the duty of the Elders of the Church to watch over the souls of the people But this is not their duty only but the duty of all believers to watch over one another Thus the Scripture declaring that Bishops are ordained by the laying on of hands declares what things are to be done by Bishops as Bishops and not by other Saints and what things are to be done by them which is to be done by others also Now the Scripture speaks but of one Office more to which persons are ordained by the laying on of hands and that is of Deacons Now the Office of a Deacon the Scripture expresses distinctly also namely that they are to receive the collections for the poor and to distribute it to the poor to widows and to such as are in want and to all according to their necessities And this appears Act. 6. 1. 2 3. and 4. verses compared together this was the work which Deacons were ordained to doe and which is to be done by them only and not by others in the Church But we finde that Stephen and Philip being Deacons were such as did feed the flock preach the Word opposed gainsaiers were Teachers and did the work of Apostles and Evangelists and wrought miracles and wonders among the people as appears in the sixth seventh and eighth Chapter of the Acts but these are the duty of Deacons but not their duties only but the duties of all the brethren in which they are to act according to the measure of grace received And now since the Scripture speaks but only of Bishops and Deacons that were ordained by the laying on of hands and declares it is the duty of the rest of the brethren in the Church to prophesie as 1 Cor. 14. 31. Ye may all prophesie one by one and that it is the duty of others in the Church to doe the work of Evangelists Pastors and Teachers It is hereby clear that they may be Apostles Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers that were never ordained by the laying on of hands And so much for answer to that query And since it is made so evident that Prophets Apostles Evangelists Pastours and Teachers have continued all the while the Beast hath continued I hope hereby they that thorow darknesse have been of the contrary minde will be hereby convinced of their errour herein And now be ye exhorted to frequent the Assemblies of Saints and come to those meeting places where such as are precious Saints doe hold forth the word of truth and by the Spirit of Prophesie doe sprak unto men to edification exhortation and comfort O come you and partake of those gifts of the Spirit whereby some are inabled to hold forth the glad tidings of the Gospel to publish peace and grace and mercy thorow Jesus Christ and to doe the worke of an Evangelist and partake you of those gifts whereby others are inabled to unfold the mysteries of the Gospel and to teach and instruct the simple and to doe the work of a Teacher In a word Come and partake of Apostolicall Propheticall and Pastorall gifts of all the particular operations and manifestations of the Spirit of Christ in his Saints which are given to profit withall Consider that Jesus Christ saith I will give unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie It is the gift of Jesus Christ unto his people which he gives not only for the good of the persons in whom it is but for the good of others also Saints have an interest in one anothers gifts and therefore Paul speaking of such as were Prophets as himself and Peter and Apollo saith he to the Saints 1 Cor. 3. 21 22. all are yours whether Paul or Apollo or Cephas c. Thus the gifts that are given to others are given to them for me and the gifts that are given to me how weak soever are not altogether for my self but for others also for Jesus Christ hath so disposed of it to give several gifts to several Saints to this end to maintain Communion among Saints O therefore you that are Saints have Communion one with another that you may receive benefit from one another as Christ hath appointed For he gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers What to do For the perfecting of Saints for the work of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ Now doe you desire to be edified Doe you desire to presse forward toward perfection that you may not be as children carried about with every winde of doctrine Then frequent the Assemblies of the Saints that you may partake of their gifts Jesus Christ hath given them to effect these things in you and all his people and for the keeping a spirit of love among Saints that they receiving benefit one from another may not say one to another I have no need of you as those seem to doe that forsake the Assemblies of Saints but that all being joyned and knit together may encrease with the encrease of God And so much shall suffice to be spoken to this Deduction 6. Sixthly The next instruction that I shall come to though it be not the next in order yet I shall place it here because of the affinity it hath with this is this That since the Witnesses the Saints of Jesus Christ have had a spirit of praier all the while the Beast hath continued whereby their enemies have been devoured as by a spirituall fire then hereby they may be convinced of their errour that say they are in Babylon and therefore doe not joyn with any in pouring out their fouls to God in praier nor yet doe it themselves Now let such consider that in the darkest mid-night of Popery Saints have had a spirit of praier and indeed it is not possible to be a Saint and not to have a spirit of praier It is the very nature and constitution of the spirit of a Saint to ascend upward to God in praier at all times and upon all occasions The truth is that though the Saints may be without other Ordinances as baptism and breaking of bread though I know no rule they have willingly to neglect
you to consider how evident it is that Jesus Christ hath had some true Prophets during all this twelve hundred years that the Beast hath troden the Saints under foot For Jesus Christ saith expresly I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and sixty daies cloathed in sackcloth And this hath been made good for it appears thaâ— in all times since Christ hath had some that have prophesied that is have held forth the Testimony of Jesus Christ For the Testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophesie And indeed every true Saint is a Prophet because the Lord revealing his secrets to a soul as it maketh it a Saint so it maketh it a Prophet and so the Lord looks upon his Saints as his Witnesses and Prophets Now this being evident That Christ hath had true Prophets this maketh it clear that as it is said Ephes 4. 10 11 12 13. That Jesus Christ when he ascended up farre above all heavens gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastours and Teachers for the perfecting of Saints for the worke of the Ministery for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come into the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Sonne of God unto a perfect man unto the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ. So this word hath been fulfilled Jesus Christ hath alwaies continued these For First Apostles have been continued for the edifying of the body of Christ as it is here said for the Apostles being the eie-witnesses of the Lord Jesus Christ in all that he did and suffered and of his Resurrection as it is evident in that expression of Peter when another Apostle was to be chosen in the place of Judas Acts 1. 21 22. Wherefore of these men which have accompanied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us Beginning from the baptisme of John unto that same day he was taken from us must one be ordained to be a Witnesse with us of his Resurrection I say they being eie-witnesses of the Lord Jesus their witnesse which they gave of him is left still upon record in which Apostles still continue usefull to the Church for perfecting of Saints for the work of the Ministery and for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come c. and in this sense Apostles have continued but Prophets Evangelists Pastours and Teachers have actually continued in the Church and that doth appear by this because we here see it is evident that Prophets have been continued Now a man that is a true Prophet of Jesus Christ may be and in some degree truly is an Evangelist and Pastour and a Teacher also For First To be an Evangelist is to be able to hold forth the Gospel in the grace and sweetnesse of it and he that is so is an Evangelist And Secondly To be a Pastour is to be able to feed the flock of Christ both the sheep and tender lambs with the wholsome saving truths of Christ to the nourishing and strengthning of their Souls And Thirdly To be a Teacher is to be able to unfold the mysteries of the Gospel and clearly to hold forth the truths of Christ to the instruction of the ignorant and encreasing of knowledge and he that is so is a Teacher Now he that is a Prophet may be all these First He may be a man that publisheth the glad tydings of the Grace of the Gospel And secondly A man that teacheth and instructeth people with knowledge and understanding And thirdly A man that feeds the flock of Christ with wholsome saving truths I say a Prophet may be an Evangelist a Pastour and Teacher and so was Paul that he was a Prophet appears Acts 13. 1. and that he was a Pastour appears in that he was so frequent in feeding the Church of God and that he was a Teacher appears Acts 13. 1. and 2 Tim. 1. 11. and Acts 20. 27. and that he was an Evangelist appears in all his Epistles by his full and sweet holding forth the Grace of the Gospel in them and as Paul was so so it might be also said of Apollo and Peter and Barnabas and Timothy and others But here it may be objected If one man may be both a Prophet and Evangelist a Pastour and Teacher Why doth the Apostle speak of them particularly as given to particular persons For saith he Jesus Christ when he ascended gave some Apostles and some Prophets and some Evangelists and some Pastors and Teachers And again 1 Cor. 12. 29. he saith Are all Apostles Are all Prophets Are all Teachers Implying that the Spirit had dispenced out the gift of prophesying to one of teaching to another of Apostleship to a third and not all these gifts to one Answ Though it be true That a Prophet may be also an Apostle an Evangelist a Pastour and Teacher as Paul was yet the Scripture speaks particularly of them because they are severall gifts and sometimes they are severally dispensed so that one man may be more properly said to be an Evangelist because he may be more able to hold forth the sweet word of the Gospel and to be a son of consolation and to be more Evangelical then other and so may be more properly said to be an Evangelist And so of the rest one man may be more eminent in one of these gifts then in the rest and so may be more properly said to be either a Pastour or a Teacher and yet notwithstanding he that is an Evangelist may in some sort be able to act as a Pastour or a Teacher so he that is a Pastour may in some sort be able to act as an Evangelist or a Teacher though in an especiall manner he may be fitted to doe the work of a Pastour and so of the rest So that the reason why they are particularly spoken of is because that some Saints may be more eminently fitted for one of them then for the rest and not that they that have one of these gifts have only one of those gifts and is utterly void of the rest and this will be the more confirmed and cleared by comparing this with that passage 1 Cor. 12. 8 9 10. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdome to another tbe word of knowledge by the same Spirit to another faith by the same Spirit to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit to another the working of miracles to another prophesie to another discerning of Spirits to another divers kindes of toungues to another the interpretation of tongues Here the Apostle speaks of severall gifts and saith that one is given to one and another to another and a third to a third c. And his meaning is That one Saint is more eminent for one gift and another for another and not that he that had the word of wisdome had no knowledge nor no faith
For on the 23. day of October 1641. did the Beast begin the war in Ireland and he continued overcomming the Witnesses the Saints of Jesus Christ in Ireland and in England untill the 5. day of April 1645. and from the 23. of October 1641. unto the 5. of April 1645. there is just a thousand two hundred and sixty daies which according to the Scripture account though not according to the Heathen account is three years and a half compleat and when this three years and a half were expired which was I say one the 5. of April 1645. then was the resurrection of the Witnesses for they having lain dead for three years and a half before then the Spirit of life from God entred into them And the year 1645. as it is the year wherein the Witnesses were raised from the dead so it is the year wherein the term of time in which they were to prophesie in sack-cloth and to be troden under foot was to expire and the year also wherein the prevailing power of the Beast over the Saints was to expire as is made evident in the opening of the 2 vers pag. 60. c. Now that one the 5. day of April 1645. the Saints Witnesses and Servants of Jesus Christ were raised up and that then a Spirit of life from God entred into them appears thus On the 5. day of April 1645. the Parliaments Army who had stood for the defence of the Saints against the Beast and had bin before that time exceedingly overcome and were brought into a very low condition at that time being new modelled and having a great many precious Saints in it both eminent Commanders inferiour Officers and common Soldiers and being then put under the conduct of Sir Thomas Fairfax they then began to march against the enemy and then had a Spirit of life from God that entred into them as did appear in all their actings afterward for they went on with such vigour courage life and fortitude as they effected every work they took in hand defeated all the enemies with whom they did encounter had the victory in every battle they fought never sate down before any City Town or Castle but they took it in before they raised their siege Thus they acted like men raised from that dead low condition they were in before And why Because now a Spirit of life from God was entred into them and unto God did they give all the praise and so let them doe still for they had as surely fled before their enemies and been beat down as the myre in the streets then as ever they had been before if the Spirit of life from God had not been put upon them Thus the 5. day of April 1645. did the Witnesses the Saints of whom the Beast thought to make an utter end stand upon their feet having a spirit of life from God put upon them when the Army that fought their battles and defended their righteous cause began to march against the Army of the Beast to the overthrowing of it And they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them that saw them The Saints being raised from the dead from that dejected low condition in which they were for three years and a half a Spirit of life from God being put upon them they then stood upon their feet to the fear and amazement of their enemies Before indeed the Saints did lie dead in the street and were as the street to them that went over them but since the Spirit of life from God entred into them they have stood upon their feet and as men that stand upon their feet so long as they doe stand upon their feet are not in a capacity of being trod under foot of men So the Witnesses and Saints of Jesus Christ since they stood upon their feet could not be troden under foot of men Though they have been troden under feet a thousand two hundred and threescore years and the Beast hath had power so long to trample them under feet yet since the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet it was not possible for the Beast nor any of his adherents so to trample them under foot any more And they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them The Witnesses standing upon their feet as men risen from the dead did cast a great fear and terrour upon their enemies for now they begin to fear what will become of themselves and their great Idoll The Beast they seeing the Witnesses of Jesus to stand upon their feet fearfulnesse doth surprize them because now they conceive that their Kingdome is going down as indeed it is going down wonderfully as they did rejoyce and make merry when they saw the Saints or Puritans as they termed them brought into a low condition when they lay dead so now on the contrary they seeing these Puritans the precious Sonnes of Sion to stand upon their feet now a fear a great fear is fallen upon them Vers 12. And they heerd a great voice from Heaven saying unto them come up hither And they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud and their enemies beheld them As the Beast and they that joyn with him are in severall places of the prophesie of this book called The earth So the Saints and Witnesses of Jesus Christ are in opposition to the Beast called Heaven As Rev. 13. 6. it is said of the Beast That he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwelt in Heaven By them that dwelt in Heaven is meant the Saints of God who are called Them that dwell in Heaven As the members of the Beast are called Them that dwell upon the earth Rev. 11. 10. And so Rev. 15. 5. It being said in the former verses of the Saints that had gotten the victory over the Beast and over his image and over his mark that they sung the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb saith John After this I looked and behold the Temple of the Tabernacle of the testimony in Heaven was opened And Chap. 11. 19. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven and there was seen in his Temple the Ark of his Testament c. It is evident that in both these places the Saints the Church of God is called Heaven for it cannot be understood of Heaven it self for there is no Temple So in this verse whereas it is said the Witnesses heard a voice from Heaven by Heaven here also is meant the Church the Saints of God So that the meaning of this verse is this The Witnesses of Jesus being raised from the dead and having a Spirit of life from God put upon them and standing upon their feet like living men that part of the Saints that in a more especiall manner acted in opposing the Beast and had a most eminent Spirit of life and courage put
into them did hear a voice from the Churches of Christ from most of the Saints wherein they expressed their great affection to them and owned them and embraced them in their societies They said unto them Come up hither and they again mutually embraced them they went into the Heavenly societies of the Saints they ascended up to that Heaven but it was in a cloud it was not clearly seen of men but though not clearly yet it was seen by them for their enemies beheld them their enemies beheld them though in a cloud in an obscure manner And thus it was with those Saints that were in the Army on the Parliament side as before they stood upon their feet and prevailed against their enemies they had the praiers of all other Saints so afterward were they with great affection received into the societies of Saints and embraced by them and this did appear to their enemies though not very clearly Vers 13. And the same hour was there a great earth-quake The Kingdome of the Beast being called the earth it is that earth of whom this earth-quake is spoken Now this earth-quake is said to be the same hour when the Witnesses being risen from the dead did ascend into the societies of the Saints and were by them received and embraced in that same hour there was a great earth-quake The state of the Beast hath been shaken before The Witnesses have made a former earth-quake in the Kingdom of the Beast which was mentioned Chap. 7. 5. but that is not said to be a great earth-quake but this is said to be a great earth-quake And indeed this was a greater earth-quake a greater shaking to the Kingdome of the Beast then any that hath been before it as doth appear by the effects of it mentioned in this verse Though it is true this is not the greatest earth-quake that shall come on the Kingdome of the Beast for there shall be a farre greater earth-quake that shall come upon it as appears Chap. 16. 18. yet this was a very great earth-quake a very great shaking to the Kingdome of the Beast For in this earth-quake The tenth part of the City fell This word The City hath reference unto a City formerly mentioned in this Chapter and that is vers 8. and it is there so plainly described as it doth evidently appear to be the mystical Babylon And the tenth part The ten Kingdomes that were the ten horns of the Beast were ten severall parts of mysticall Babylon which did raign over them So that England being one of them was a tenth part of mystical Babylon And a tenth part of the City fell This was one of the effects of the earth-quake which was occasioned by the resurrection of the Witnesses the Saints in England it did so shake the great Babylon of the Beast as a tenth part of it fell And this most exactly came to passe in the year of the Resurrection of the Witnesses 1645. for then did the Kingdome of England which was a tenth part of great Babylon fall from Rome for then was that removed from it whereby it had continued to be a part of Babylon the place of Saints slavery namely the power of men over the consciences of Saints For after the Army which was for the Witnesses stood upon their feet in 1645. they so cast of that power that men had had over their consciences and over their persons and estates for their conscience sake as it was not possible for the Beast nor any of his Adherents to recover that power again over the consciences of the Saints in this Kingdome though they did with all their strength and greatest industry endeavour it afterwards for the Witnesses then standing upon their feet there was such an earth-quake great Babylon was so shaken as England fell from it the yoke of bondage which was upon the consciences of Saints in England was then cast off And this was one effect of the great earth-quake which there was in mysticall Babylon at the resurrection of the Witnesses that England fell from it Thus England is fallen from the great Whore mystical Babylon and is become a president to the other Kingdoms who must all in time cast off the yoke of bondage under which they are and hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked c. Revel 17. 16. And in the earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand This was another effect of the earth-quake that as a tenth part of the City fell so there were slain of men seven thousand What is meant by the fall of the tenth part of the City is already apparent and it is not the material falling of a tenth part of any material City but the mystical falling of the tenth part of a mysticall City And sutable to this is the meaning of this slaying of seven thousand men not by the material falling of any part of a material City But the earth-quake being a mysticall shaking of mystical Babylon this is a mystical slaying of seven thousand men whereby they die mystically that is cease to live any longer to mystical Babylon being by beholding the great victory which the Saints had over the Beast converted and fallen off from the Beast which seven thousand men were before either secretly or openly lovers and worshippers of the Beast But it may be objected How doth it appear that seven thousand men or persons were so converted by the resurrection of the Witnesses Answ Though it doe not visibly appear to the outward eyes of any yet it is sufficient to perswade me and should be to perswade all Saints to believe it in that this Scripture this oracle of Heaven saith it When there was no true worshippers of God in Israel that were visible to Elijah the Prophet and that then the Lord telling him that he had left seven thousand in Israel who had not bowed the knee to Baal nor had kissed him with the mouth it was sufficient to perswade Elijah to believe it although not one of those seven thousand did visibly appear to him Therefore much more ought Saints now not to question the truth of this that seven thousand are in this mysticall earth-quake mystically slaine though it be not altogether so visible to us as other things are because this Scripture saies it And besides what the Scripture saies in it there is a probability of it for it is very probable that many are convinced that the Witnesses the Saints are Gods people and those that sight against them are enemies of God and doe fight against God I say it is probable that many are convinced of this because God hath so owned his people and given them such victory over those vile wretches that did oppose them and formerly reproach them and say Where is your God And now God appearing to be for them when the enemy were come to such a height of impiety and insolency there is no question but that many were convinced by it and fell from the Beast