Rev. 11. 13. and so their rising cannot be under the fourth or fifth or seventh Vials for then they repented not but blasphemed God Rev. 16. 9 11 21. Their Resurrection and Ascension then must be under the sixth Vial. It must be before the seventh Vial at Armageddon For at the seventh Vial the whole fourth Kingdom of the Beast falleth whereas at the rising of the Witnesses it is but a tenth part that falleth and that upon an Earth-quake under the sixth Trumpet Rev. 11. 13. after which there is another and the greatest Earthquake under the seventh Trumpet v. 19. Whereas the seventh Vial is the last of the last Plagues and bringeth the greatest Earth-quake Rev. 16. 18. and so cannot be that at the rising of the Witnesses for that is not the last nor greatest And further after the destruction of the Whore there is an interval for the lamentation of some of her friends which survive Rev. 18. 9 10. and for the rejoycing of others her Enemies and making themselves ready Rev. 19. 8 9. when the great supper at Armageddon by the seventh Vial is to come ver 19 20. Only we must distinguish between the destruction of Babylon at Rome which is at the Earth-quake near the rising of the Witnesses under the sixth Vial Rev. 11. 13. and the Perdition of Babylon as extending into the Nations or the whole compass of the Roman Dominion which is not till the Earth-quake at the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 9. and at the seventh Vial when the Cities of the Nations fall Rev. 16. 19. and then great Babylon cometh into remembrance to give her the fiercest wrath but Babylon at Rome was destroyed before Rev. 18. Some not observing this distinction run upon mistakes either to think that Rev. 18. belongeth to the seventh Vial which is the last wrath whereas that Rev. 19. 19 20 cometh after Or else say that the Turks and Constantinople are the Babylon mentioned under the seventh Vial which I dare not think they being no where called Babylon in the Apocalyps but rather belong to the Beast or Dragon And it is untrue for the Ten-Horned Beast carrieth the Whore of Babylon Rev. 17. 3 5 7. whereas the Ten-Horned Beast never carried the Turks nor did the corrupt Church of Rome Ride upon the Turks neither was Constantinople the great City which in the days of John did Reign over the Kings of the Earth v. 18. but Rome was that City and stretching into the Nations so it is the Babylon mentioned in the seventh Vial. And here observe that this slaying or lying dead of the Witnesses three days and half cannot be successively in one Kingdom after another For at their Resurrection or Ascension the tenth part of the City falleth Rev. 11. 13. the sixth Trumpet passeth v. 14. and soon the seventh Trumpet soundeth v. 15. that notion would make divers slaughters resurrections and falls whereas the Scripture maketh but one slaughter one resurrection one Earth-quake one fall of the Tenth part neither can the sixth Trumpet pass or the seventh sound in one Kingdom after another for when that soundeth not onely one Kingdom but the Kingdoms of the World become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ v. 15. Prop. VII That the Death of the Witnesses Ann. 1680. was not past but to come There are various thoughts among learned Men whether this black and dismal day of the Witnesses Death be past or yet to come I think it is near approaching not only because the days of their Sackcloth in all probability are finished and the Warring time seemeth near at an end but because the sixth Trumpet hath sounded a long time above 200 years if it began when the Turk obtained Constantinople Ann 1453. therefore the conclusion of it cannot be far off I do not think the Church to be the proper subject which the Trumpets sound judgment against but the Civil State of the Roman Empire and clearly the seventh bloweth good to the Church Rev. 11. 15. I shall refer the Reader to Mr. Mede and others to see how and when the several Trumpets sounded All things concerning the sixth agree to the Turk and if the hour day month and year Rev. 9. 15. notifie the time allotted to the Turkish Tyranny then the end of his work is hastening for the time must be counted not from the time of their being prepared but of their being loosed to do the work of slaying the third part of Men v. 14 15. This loosing of four Angels or Sultans seemeth to be before Ann. 1300. for then they fell into one Ottoman Family however taking a day for a year as elfewhere the time for that Woe will expire within a few years which is after the Witnesses Resurrection and Ascension But my opinion is that the Death of the Witnesses is yet to come 1680 I should be glad herein to be mistaken my grounds are these I. Vntil the 1260 days and the Warring State be at an end their death-state is not come for it is after finishing their Testimony that the Beast maketh War with them and killeth them Rev. 11. 7. So long as their Testimony is not finished and the War not ended so long they are not Dead nor the three days and half begun And therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was yet to come It 's true in the time of their Death there may be Edicts or Acts as after the Death of Christ Sealing the Tomb to hinder the Witnesses Resurrection but till there be a suppression of their Testimony they are not dead II. The Condition of the Witnesses since finishing of their testimony hath not been for three years and half far worse than it was before by a greater suppression of Testimony and other unparallelled sufferings therefore Ann. 1680. their Death was not past but to come The consequence is clear because the Death-state is far worse than the Sack-cloth-state as death is far worse than life though in a mournful condition this hath been proved before Prop. 2. III. Whatever the Death of the Witnesses consisteth in some recovery out of that is the immediate issue of the three days and half For else they must be longer dead whereas Rev. 11. 11. after three days and half the Spirit of life from God entred into them c. This life standeth in opposition to the Death and no medium between them no moment wherein they are not either dead or alive at the expiration of these days before the fourth day they live If their Death consisteth in an unparallell'd cessation of Testimony then there is some recovering into witnessing work again before four years be expired and so whatever else their Death may be placed in But no such recovery out of that which is their Death or no removal of that wherein it doth consist hath been the immediate issue of three years and half of any supposed time for their death already past and so that is yet to come I see no Scripture
grounds as 1. From the number of Vials already poured out indeed the accomplishments of foregoing Prophesies are indications of what events are next to follow and a sure guiding thread for our direction to discover where we are 2. The state and condition of the Turks when the Turks cease to be a woe to the Roman Idolaters to scourge whom they were raised up Rev. 9. 13. to the end then the second Woe passeth Rev. 11. 14. and then the next revolution will be the Jews will appear and v. 15. the Kingdoms of the World will become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Christ this must be either by a Peace with the Turk which may delay the work or else by losing much of his Dominion and if Rev. 9. 15. denote his time of prevailing a month in the Revelation being 30 days then if we begin their Empire with Oguzians Ann. 1294. then his time allotted to slay the third part of men expired Ann. 1685. since which time he hath been losing ground and it is hopeful his further fall may be approaching Leonicus Chalcoconditos 3. Especially the death of the Witnesses by the darkness and dreadfulness of it together with their Resurrection and the consequences thereof are the most sure prognosticks and most signal marks of the approaching glorious state Rev. 11. 7. to 16. And if any should inquire whether the death of the Witnesses be yet past I answer if remarkable occurrences since Ann. 1680. by Persecutions in Germany Hungary England Scotland and Ireland and especially in Savoy and in France in the unparallell'd sufferings of the Protestants there did not amount to the Death of the Witnesses then that fatal black and gloomy day is yet to come No preceding time which men have fixed upon can answer the character of it but when I consider the marvelous and almost miraculous return of the Vandois to their places together with the wonderful liberty here established in England by Law and else where with some other matters I have some hopes that it is past and that the Resurrection of the Witnesses is begun until I see to the contrary Neither doth the darkness of some present dispensations altogether dash my hopes for Luke 18. when the Son of Man cometh there will be distress of Nations so as it will be hard to find Faith without fainting on the Earth I have now answered the desire of friends in publishing these sheets and if any will be contentious I think not to reply without great necessity if this may put others upon enquiring further into these prophesies to the encreasing a knowledge of the times and the encouraging the faith of Christians I have my design and they may lift up their heads for the redemption draweth near FINIS ADVERTISEMENT * ⎠* THE Life and Death of that Old Disciple of Jesus Christ and Eminent Minister of the Gospel Mr. HANSERD KNOLLYS Who Died in the Ninety Third year of his Age. Written with his own Hand to the Year 1672. and continued in General in an Epistle by Mr. William Kiffin To which is added his last Legacy to the Church Price Stitcht 6 d. or bound 8 d. Errata Corrigenda IN the Preface Pag. 15. Marg. Lin. 7 8. read P. 103 104. P. 24. l. 7. r. been P. 53. l. 11. r. his P. 60. l. 26. r. Roast P. 62. l. 8. r. Man In the Contents Pag. 5. Lin. 8 9. read Schecinah In the Book Pag. 3. Marg. Lin. 18. dele sine P. 17. l. 4. r. as are not P. 35. Marg. l. 22. r. caviâ— P. 50. l. 25. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 P. 58. l. 3. del of P. 70. l. 20. r. prevails P. 75. Marg. l. 25. r. Baptizari in P. 80. l. 14. r. Harmoniously P. 91. l. 3. del fore and in the same line r. offered for P. 92. â— 27. r. were P. 93. Marg. l. 4 5. r. 48. 53. P. 94. Marg. l. 3. r. 46 47. P. 100. Marg. â— 4. r. 94. P. 120. Marg. l. 16. r. instituto P. â—27 l. ult r. Antipaedobaptistic P. 133 l. 3 4. r. Obstacle P. 136. l. 21. del they P. 138. l. 15. del the
issue as to the Dragon is Rev. 20. That he is bound 1000 Years i e. restrained from former Persecutions and at last is utterly destroyed v. 10. CHAP. II. Of the Ten Horned Crowned Beast Rev. 13. 1. IT is impossible to regulate our Knowledge in these Prophetical Matters or our ensuing Practice without rectified Apprehensions in what state the Roman Empire must be considered when it became a Beast I cannot concur with an eminent Writer in thinking the first â—east Rev. 13. 1. to be the Roman Catholick Visible Church For I cannot find that the claim of Universal Churchship was first before the claim of Universal Supremacy or Headship to make a second Beast Nor do the other Characters v. 3. 5 7. agree to that If that were the first Beast then who is the Whore that rideth upon the Beast Rev. 17. 3 7. Surely that is the pretended Roman Catholick Church and so that cannot be the Beast that is ridden upon Nor is the Church one of the eight Kings or seven Heads v. 11. and so cannot be the first Beast Nor is this first Beast Rome as under Pagan Emperours For then it had but seven Crowns and these upon the Heads Rev. 12. 3. Whereas this first Beast hath Ten Crowns and these upon the Horns Rev. 13. â— Because the Ten Horns assumed a Supremacy and Soveraignty which Crowns are Emblems of to themselves And this Beast is the Dragons Successor v. 2. and received a deadly wound in one of his Heads v. 3. Whereas although â—aganism was wounded by Constâ—â—â—â—ne the Great yet the sixth Head of Emperours was not wounded much less unto Death during the Dragon or Pagan State it was 〈…〉 this Beast nor wounded until the 〈…〉 were upon the Horns nor did Pagan Emperours continue forty two Months as this Beast doth Rev. 13. 5. Nor is the Pope the first Beast I am perswaded that the accounting him so hath caused divers mistakes in the matters of the Revelation as seeking the Eâ—ocha of the Prophetical days in him which should be found in another as this first Beast I grant that the Pope is the second two Horned Beast Rev. 13. 11 12. and Antichristian but I humbly conceive that there was a first Antichristian persecuting Beast up above two hundred years before the second Beast arose and so before the Pope became the two horned Beast and seventh Head Take my Notion under this Rule Rule 2. That the first ten horned Crowned Beast is a Civil State of the Roman Empire as broken or divided into ten persecuting Kingdoms For 1. The first Beast is distinct from the two horned Beast or these are two distinct Beasts and not barely a double Power Temporal and Ecclesiastical of the same Beast Here are many Notes of Distinction They have a different manner of rising One out of the Sea Rev. 13. 1. the Other out of the Earth v. 11. the former is wounded in one of his Heads v. 3. the latter is another Beast v. 1. 11 14. they are differing in Shape the first hath ten Horns Crowned v. 1. the second hath two Horns v. 11. Nay the second Beast exerciseth all the Power of the first Beast and that before him i. e. before the first Beast and therefore they are distinct yet some part of the time exist together i. e. the second Beast is up before the first is down else it could not be before him And hence it cannot be the same Beast considered as wounded as the first Beast and as healed as the second Beast For how could the second Beast as healed exercise the Power of the first Beast before him as wounded Seeing the wounded State as well as that before the wound is past when the healing time cometh and so it could not be before him if after the second Beast were up the first were not up also How can one act before another if both be not up together as distinct each from other even still in some respects And hence it is evident that it cannot be limited only to a double Power of the same Beast seeing whatsoever Power the first Beast hath the same the second hath also and so the first is in some degree subjected to the second if the first Beast did exercise Temporal Power then so did the second also for the second exerciseth not only some but all the Power of the first Beast v. 12. From all which it is evident that they are two distinct Beasts and that therefore the first Beast cannot be the Pope or seventh Head For there are but seven Heads in all Rev. 13. 1. Chap 17. 3 9. And if the Pope be the first Beast and seventh Head how can another distinct Beast come after and exercise all the Power of the first without making eight Heads And who should that second Beast be after Popes or seventh Head if the Pope be the first Beast 2. He to whom the Dragon resigned or gave his Power Throne and great Authority about the time of Crowning the Horns he is the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. Vpon his Horns ten Crowns And v. 2. The Dragon gave him his Power and his Seat and great Authority Now the Pope had not from the Dragon i. e. from Pagan Rome his Throne Power or Military Forces nor great Authority he had the same Seat before and at Crowning the Horns and therefore the Pope is not the first Beast but the Crowned Horns who had these as Alaricus 3. That which was Head of the Roman Empire after the rising of the first Beast received a deadly wound which afterward was healed Rev. 13. 1 2 3. I saw one of his i. e. of the Beasts Heads wounded as it were unto Death It was then one of the first Beasts Heads that was wounded and so in his time after he was up And therefore the Pope cannot be the first Beast or the seventh Head then for the Head of â—opes as it was not up so early as the Crowning of the Horns so did not receive a deadly wound he was rather in a rising than a falling posture thence forward But there was a manifest wound in the sixth Head of Emperours by Alaricus about Ann. 410. and others afterwards till about Ann. 475. in Augustulus that wound was so great that there were no Emperours in the West or at Rome till Charles the Great about Ann. 800. when the wound was after a sort healed again yet it had not the extent of the former Empire The manner and occasion take thus Alaricus took Rome and set up a Mock Emperour that he might bring the Majesty of the Imperial Scepter into Contempt and Derision he proclaimed Emperour One whose Name was Attalus and the same day they carried him up and down the Streets in the habit of an Emperour and the next day they made him serve as a Slave It 's said to be occasioned thus Alaricus having over-run many places sent Messengers to Honorius declaring that if Lands were granted to him and
subjici i. e. by civil subjection to him noted by worship Gen. 27. 7. and 37. 7. and 49. 8. Isa 45. 14. Saying Who is like unto the Beast who is able to make War with him So early they admired the Horns of the Beast as the Goths and Vandals and their great Power and others as Attila King of the Hunns who after the death of Ecius grew so mighty that he overthrew the Imperial General and Army took many Cities and was held for the most powerful Prince in the World and was so much feared that Martianus the Emperor sent to sue for Peace and sent him Presents See Imper. Histor and v. 5 6 7. made War with the Saints Obj. 1. It 's a mark of Perdition to worship the first Beast Rev. 13. 8. but it is not so to yield civil subjection to Civil Power A. 1. It is not made a mark of Perdition The Text doth not shew the danger of worshipping the Beast but describes him by the multitude of Reprobates that are admirers of him See Brightman Civil subjection may lawfully be yielded to the Civil Power of those who are over-much honoured by many who shall perish 2. If a corrupt Religious Worship must be intended which is not proved yet this agreeth to the first as a Civil Persecuting Beast For it is a Scarlet-coloured Beast i. e. a cruel Persecutor Rev. 17. 3. warreth with the Saints Rev. 13. 7. a blasphemer of God v. 6. And divers of the Ten Horns in their first rising were such being either Pagans or in Pagan Worship or Arrians blaspheming his Name and Tabernacle i. e. Jesus Christ and latter-ward it was a Whore-ridden Beast Rev. 17. 7. And to magnifie him in these corruptions or in that wherein he is a Beast is pernicious yea compliance with him in Persecution is an evident token of Perdition Phil. 1. v. 28 29. And thus it may be a mark of Perdition though the Pope be not the first Beast Obj. 2. There is but one Beast mentioned Rev. 17. 8. which is the interpretation of Rev. 13. A. Beast is a name common both to the first and second and so Rev. 17. may notifie the whole Beast-state in distinction from Dragon-state Rev. 12. they are sufficiently diversified Rev. 13. and need not be so again in Rev. 17. When compared each with other they are two Beasts differenced from each other by many notes of distinction but when differenced from Dragon both agree in the common name of Beast As the Roman Monarchy from first to last is called a fourth Beast Dan. 7. v. 3 19 23. yet that will not deny Dragon and Beast to be distinct each from other part of its time But their being two is implied Rev. 17. v. 10 11. There is another and an eighth which agrees with the word King in gender and there cannot be an eighth King i. e. different Government if there were not two Beasts In short Beast without distinction may be taken promiscuously either for the first or second Beast as the matter enforceth but it noteth most commonly the first Beast or whole Roman State after it ceased to be under Dragon i. e. after Pagan Headship ended and may be understood either of its after Headship or the complex body of the crowned Horns comprizing the Roman Territory or Provinces in East and West the same that the Dragon had before But Beast when with distinction is usually taken for the first Beast Thus when Beast and false Prophet are distinguished the false Prophet is he that worketh Miracles Rev. 19. v. 20. which is the second Beast Rev. 13. v. 14. and therefore the Beast distinguished from him must be the first Ten-horned Beast So when Beast and Image are distinguished Rev. 14 9 11. and 15. 2. and 16. 2. and 19. 20. and 20. 4. The first with Ten Horns crowned is intended by Beast for it is an Image of him that received a Wound by a Sword and did live Rev. 13. 14. which was the first Beast v. 1 3. not the second It is the second Beast which had power to give life to the Image of the Beast and work Miracles and that in his sight v. 15 and so he cannot be the Beast it self whose Image is animated and hath life given to it and in whose sight those Miracles are wrought but the first Also when Beast and Woman are distinguished as Rev. 17. there Beast signifieth the first Beast at least till the rising of the seventh Head and this in so many of the Horns as were ridden by the Whore of Babylon after she arose v. 3. So when Beast and Dragon are distinguished Rev. 13. 1. and 16. 13. there Beast noteth the first Beast or so many of the Horns as were professedly Christian and were ridden by the Whore and Dragon noteth such as were not professedly Christian for we must note that all the Horns of the Beast were not of the same Spirit or Religion About the time of their first crowning some were Dragonish Pagans Rev. 12. v. 13 14. Others professedly Christian and corrupt some Arrians as Goths Vandals c. and towards the latter end of the Beasts Dominion some Horns or Provinces are Dragonish not professedly Christian Rev. 16. 13. The Turk has part of the Territory of the first Beast Rev. 13. 1. others are Popishly affected By all which it appeareth that there is no necessity that the Pope should be the first Beast And although herein I differ from other Interpreters yet I am more for them than against them the matter being rightly stated especially seeing hereby I extricate them out of many difficulties where they are at a loss for a ground in their fixing the Epocha of the Prophetical days on the Pope which I hereby prove should be taken from another Beast viz. The first Civil Ten-horned crowned persecuting Beast CHAP. III. Of the Two-Horned Beast the Pope Rev. 13. 11 Rule 3. THAT the Two-Horned Beast is the Horn of Ecclesiastical Power is a false Prophet by his second Horn of Temporal Supremacy became the seventh Head of the Roman Empire This appeareth for all the Characters of this second Beast agree to the Pope and to none else As 1. He arose out of the Earth Rev. 13. 11. not from Heaven but from below from Satan and carnal earthly men and means Not out of the Sea or Confluence of People and Nations as the other v. 1. but had a mean Original from a poor Bishop at last ascended to this dignity 2. He hath Two Horns like a Lamb. Horns denote Power Rev. 17. 12. Dan. 8. 5. So the Pope usurpeth a twofold Power Temporal and Spiritual The first Horn of Ecclesiastical Power arose in the time of Phocas Anno 606. who made Boniface the Third Universal Bishop This was a new Institution and not only a Declaration for Statuit he ordained Hic i. e. Phocas sedem Romanae Apostolicae Ecclesiae caput esse omnium Ecclesiarum quia Ecclesia Constantinopolitana
primam se omnium Ecclesiarum scribebat P. W. Diacon P. de Gest Longobard l. 4. c. 37. If Justinian a little before decreed that the Pope of Rome should be the first of Priests to keep footing at Rome or because of Old Rome was the Imperial Seat yet not as Peter's Successor for the same Justinian pronounced by Law the Church of Constantinople the Head of all the holy Churches And John Bishop of Constantinople assuming the name of Vniversal Bishop about Ann. 590. Gregory Bishop of Rome so disclaimed this Title as he concluded the time of Antichrist to be at hand because John usurped it L. Dupless Histor of Pap. Cent. 6. Magd. c. 7. It being the Controversie of that day he obtained not that first Horn till the time of Phocas As to the second Horn of Temporal Supremacy he obtained not that so early Indeed Celestinus Bishop of Rome about Ann. 424. began to aspire after it passing the bounds of his Priestly Order presumed to challenge unto himself Secular Power and Authority Saith Socrat. Hist l. 7. c. 11. He saith the same of the Bishop of Alexandria ib. l. 7. c. 7. But after Anno 500. Anastasius sent this Answer to Pope Horsmida Imperatoris proprium esse Imperare non imperata Pontificis accipere Cent. 6. Magd. c. 7. And after the Popes of Rome had Confirmation from the Emperors Cent. 7. Magd. c. 7. Et suit ipsa Vrbs Roma non in Pontificum sed Imperatorum potestate dominio ib. Under Justinian by Narses turning out the Goths both Italy and Rome were annexed to the Eastern Empire His Temporal Power and Headship must have its first date either from the Donation of Rome to him which of old was the Imperial Seat or from his obtaining Superiority either over the Head of Emperors or over some of the Ten Horns Now about Ann. 725. the City of Rome came under the Power of the Pope Leo the Emperor forbidding the use of Images in Churches Pope Gregory forbad the Tribute of Italy and Rome Removit Roman Italiam necnon omnia reip quam Ecclesiastica jura in Hesperiis ab obedientia Leonis Imperii sub ipso constituti Romam cum tota Italia ab illius Imperio recedere faciens Paul Diacon Anast l. 21. Saith Platina Leonem tertium Imperatorem Constantinopolitanum Imperio simul communione fidelium privat quiae Sanctas Imagines è Sacris adibus abrasisset Which sufficiently evidenceth that the pretended Donation of Constantine the Great was but a fiction they belonging to the Eastern Empire till now they were usurped by the Pope who made himself Prince of Rome And afterward Pope Zechary deposing Childerick set up Pipinus the French King who in requital compelled Aistulphus King of the Lumbards to restore all the Towns and Lands which he had taken and by his Donation bestowed on him the Exarchate or Princedom of Ravenna and Pentapolis and a very large Dominion and Possession which afterwards were confirmed by others with Additions as by Charles the Great Anno 800. All which argue that now the Pope was become not only a Temporal Prince by the Dukedom of Rome but by getting power over some of the Crowned Horns and opposing and over-topping Emperours so as without their consent by degrees they had their elections and swelled in their power till at last they disannulled the Inauguration placing and displacing Emperours at their pleasure This appeared most manifestly in Hildebrand or Gregory the Seventh Ann. 1073. who not only Excommunicated Henry the Emperour but deposed him and gave away his Kingdom to Rodolphus Duke of Suevia And now Emperours had their confirmation from Popes whereas of old the Popes had confirmation from the Emperours Whether this were the first of his being Regnant as some assert or the time of his being Triumphant in the Temporal Power I leave it to others to judge 3. He spake as a Dragon so did Hildebrand and other Popes not only in their Excommunications and Depositions but also in those they call Hildebrands Dictates or Canons and Decrees as That no Book may be accounted Canonical without his Authority That he ought to be judged of none Vid. Onuphr in vita Greg. 7. 4. He exerciseth all the Power of the first Beast before him and causeth the Earth to worship the first Beast Rev. 13. 12. This the Pope doth by letting none be Emperours without his confirmation deposing Emperours and sending the Imperial Crown to others as Rodolphus setting up persecuting Emperours at his pleasure and causing the Earth to obey their decrees by influencing the Horns to persecute As Pope Martin perceiving the Gospel prevailed in Bohemia stirred up the Emperour and German Princes to making War against the Bohemians and thus exercised the power of the first persecuting Beast and caused Earthly men to worship him 5. He doth Wonders so that he maketh fire come down from Heaven and deceiveth the Earth with his Miracles Rev. 13. v. 13. 14. So the Pope as a false Prophet pretendeth to Miracles One saith that the garments of Hildebrand or Gregory after his death wrought Miracles Cardinal Benno who lived at the same time saith of Hildebrand that when he list he would shake his Skirts and fire would come out like sparks and by such Miracles he abused the eyes of simple People and therefore when the Devil could not persecute publickly Jesus Christ by Painims he disposed himself fraudulently to destroy his name by this false Monk under the shew and colour of Religion Estate of the Church p. 298. Benno in vit Hildebrandi Vsher Graviss Quaest Hist Explic. Also to incourage Rodolph in War against the true Emperour Henry which he had deposed Hildebrand foretold that the false King whom he interpreted to be Henry should die the same year before the Feast of St. Peter But Rodolph lost his life before the day and Henry lived after and so Hildebrand not only by false Miracles but by foretelling what did not come to pass was proved to be a false prophet Deut. 18. 20 21 22. Rev. 19. 20. Matth. Paris Onuphr B. Vsher Graviss Quaest Histor Explic 6. He saith to them that dwell on the Earth that he would or they should make an Image to the Beast Rev. 13. v. 8. 14 What this Image is it is a great question It must be an Image not of the second but of the first Beast that was Wounded v. 14. and so it is not the first Beast it self and the rather because the Beast and Image are made distinct Rev. 14. 9. but a representation or resemblance of him yet such as the false Miracles were to win Credit and Honour to this Image v. 14. saying that they should make an Image which in making is to when once made of the Beast v. 15. or that he had made it and he urgeth worshipping of it upon pain of death v. 15. This is not Image worship for Images are dead things but this is living
Beast and appeared for the restoration of the Church It is when they rejoice with singing for redemption from and victory over Antichristian Pollutions v 2 3 4. which plainly must be at the beginning time of pouring out the Vials for then a like Song of Moses and the Lamb is sung upon the same account Rev. 15. 1 2 3. for victory over the Beast his Image and Mark and the number of his Name it was then after some getting out of Spiritual Egypt So that the imposing the Mark of the Beast and the Churches first restoration by the Fathers name on their foreheads in an open profession are of the same date beginning at the first Vial and thence the number of the Beast is 666 years to the time of his Fall And the first Vial I think began about the time of Berengarius whose opinion was condemned by Popish Councils at Vercellis and Rome about Ann. 1049 or 1050 c. therefore his 〈◊〉 â—rofession was before how many years 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 â—udge CHAP. IV. Of the Little Horn. Rule 4. THAT the Two-Horned Beast the Pope is the Little Horn Dan. 7. Note that there is a little Horn Dan. 8. 5 9. growing on the Hee-Goat which is expressly there said to be the King of Graecia v. 21. that Horn is Antiochus Epiphanes But the Little Horn Dan. 7. groweth on another Beast the fourth Monarchy v. 7 8 19 20 24. and all the Characters of him agree to the Pope therefore he is that Little Horn. As the Pope in his Original or Rise was a little Horn v. 8. a poor Bishop yet grew in his looks more stout than his fellows v. 20 25. he did grow up among the ten Horns and was diverse from them v. 8 24. Another had Eyes like a Man i. e. full of Policy and Wisdom hath a mouth speaking great things against the Most High v. 8. 11 25. making himself supream Judge in matters of faith a Vice God He Warreth with the Saints by Persecutions and prevaileth v. 21. weareth out the Saints as a Garment by long rubbing fretting and ill using of them And he thinketh to change Times and Laws i. e. change Gods Laws for his own as in Doctrine Worship and Discipline particularly in Marriages Meats Festivals all which obviously agree to the Pope and also 1. The little Horn prevaileth against three of the other Dan. 7. 8. before him three of the first Horns were plucked up by the Roots and v. 20. fell V. 24. he shall subdue three Kingdoms This agreeth to the Pope for he was a means of rooting out the Grecian Exarchs the Lombards and also the Goths who ruled in Italy and had Soveraignty over Rome Silverius the Bishop brought this to pass saith Evagr. l. 4. c. 18. and these were precisely three and this doth not lessen the number of Horns or reduce them to seven but giveth him more Power at Rome Or Mr. Parker thinketh they were three Mahumetan Kings viz. Solyman in Asia Cassianus in Syria the Egyptian Caliph in Judea which were subdued by the Pope who raised the War and this was one of the greatest acts that ever he did and these are precisely three and properly subdued by him and these were of the Ten Horns or their Territory belonging to Daniels fourth Beast 2. The Little Horn continueth until a time times and the dividing of time wearing out the Saints Dan. 7. 25. yea after till he overcometh them v. 21 22 27. Neither doth the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 until deny its being longer as one observeth donec signifieth Consecutionem non exceptionem vel exclusionem futuri temporis Genebr in Psal 109. So until is not exclusive Psal 110. 1. and 57. 1. Cant. 2. 16 17. Mat. 12. 20. And besides the Little Horn is up Dan. 7. 22. Until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was given to the Saints of the Most High and the time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdom which is not till after the Death and Resurrection of the Witnesses and sounding of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 14 15. Daniels Beast is comprehensive of the whole fourth Monarchy from first to last and so may clearly enough be distinguished from the little Horn as Dan. 7. 11. though the Pope be it he hath but a part thereof not all the Ten Horns CHAP. V. Of the first rising of the Ten-Horned Beast Rule 5. THat the first rising of the Ten Horned Beast in all probability was in the time of Valens however before Ann. 400. It is a great mistake that a knowledge of the day of his Birth will give a certain knowledge of the day of his death for he may not so early be in that work which giveth the first date to the Prophetical numbers and he surviveth some of these viz. the 42 months which many would have to be the whole of his time yet seeing he must be up before he can act it is of great importance to enquire after the time of his first rising and take it thus 1. When the Roman State or Empire became like a troubled Sea after the Dragons downfal then did the Beast arise and this was before Ann. 400 I saw A Beast rise out of the Sea Rev. 13. 1. Sea is the gathering together of Waters Gen. 1. 10. and Rev. 17. 15. Waters are people and multitudes and Nations and Tongues Ammianus Marcâ—llinus who lived at the very time of Valens and Valentinian and was a Souldier then useth these words At this time as if the Trumpets had sounded the Battel throughout all the Roman World most Fell and Savage Nations rose up in Arms and Invaded the next limits to them the Alemanes wasted at once both Gaule and Rhaeâ—ia the Sarmaâ—ians and Quadi made spoil in Pannonia both the one and the other The Ticts Saxons Scots and Allacots infested the Brittains with continual troubles The Anstorians and other Manrite Nations made Rodes more fiercely than they had wont into Africk certain Bands of Gothick Brigands and Rovers rifled and ransacked Thracia the King of Persia laid violent hands upon the Armenians c. thus far he lib. 26. cap. 5. And now judge whether the Roman Empire was not at this time like a troubled Sea and so whether the Beast did not rise out of it especially seeing some of the Horns were Crowned in this time of Valens about Ann. 376 and 378. as is proved Antichristi excidium But further the Alemanes brake through the limits of Germany provoked thereto with a more mischievous mind than usually c. about that time or not long after Procopius in the East rose up in arms and plotted to usurp the Empire c. There were most woful Tempests and Storms up in both parts of the Empire at one and the self same time in the same Months both in the West and also in the East part of the World c. Ib. lib. 26. c 6. See much more lib. 27. c. 8. The State of Rome
most corrupt in those days â—b lib. 28. c. 8. Yea they over-ran those parts even to the Suburbs of Constantinople and besieged that but at last were repulsed Sccrat lib. 4. c. 31. and others 2. When the Body of the Roman Empire was changed from its Ancient form of Provinces into the form and shape of Crowned Horns then the Beast was up For it 's said in the days of John Rev. 17. 17. They have received no Kingdom as yet but receive power as Kings one hour or the first hour with the Beast The rising then of the Beast and the crowning of the Horns are about the same time This Beast is differenced thus from the Dragon that he the Beast hath his Crowns Emblems of Soveraignty upon his Horns Rev. 13. 1. and from the two Horned Beast that he hath more than two even Ten and upon his Horns Ten Crowns Not that they must all be up first so as the rising of the tenth Horn should give the first date to the Beast For they are all Horns of the Beast and therefore speak a Beast up for them to grow upon and they receive Power as Kings One hour with the Beast Rev. 17. v. 12. Not the Beast one hour with them intimating the Beast to be first in order rather than otherwise But as the Dragon is said to have seven Heads Rev. 12. 3. When as the seventh Head of Popes was not up till Dragon Pagan Power was down so as well may this be called a Ten Horned Crowned Beast Rev. 13. 1. Before all the ten were Crowned because there were to be so many principal ones and ten may not be taken precisely neither more nor fewer but indefinitely for many as Numb 14. 22. Job 19. 3. Gen. 31. 7. Now before Ann. 400. diverse Horns were Crowned see an Elaborate book Entituled Antichrists Excidium which proveth the riseing of the Kingdom of the Alemanes Ann. 356. the Ostrogoths Ann. 377. the Visogoths Ann. 378. the Hunns Ann. 378. and others even ten about Ann. 410. Therefore then the Beast was up 3. When the Dragon gave unto Crowned Horns in the Roman Empire his Power Throne and great Authority then the Beast was up For it is the Beast he gave these to Rev. 13. 2. the Dragon gave him i. e. the Beast his power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strength or force distinguished from authority and so it is outward strength or military power his Throne i. e. the City of Rome or a Government there and great Authority so as to become a lawful ruler within the Roman Empire Now all this was given before or soon after Ann. 400. For Crowned Horns had power such military power as they did wage War with the Emperours as the Goths and others and after the death of Valens they over-run Thracia and spread themselves even to the Suburbs of Constantinople and besieged that Am. Marcell l. 31. c. 14. 15 16 17. Alaricus King of the Goths occupyeth Thracia Graecia Athens Corinth and other Cities c. Returneth to Italy Calvis Ann 395. The Hunns destroyed Armenia and other Countries of the East Socrat. l. 6. c. 1. By Armenia brake into Asia and besieged Antioch Calvis Ann. 395. Gainas with an Army of Goths over-ran the Eastern Empire and Constantinople was in great danger Socrat. l. â— c. 6. Gildo usurped Africa Magd. Cent. 5. C. 16. And his Throne the City of Rome was given to crowned Horns for Alaricus King of the Goths took it about Ann. 410. It is true this was a little after Ann. 400. But it proveth the Beast to be up before having such great power as aforesaid It is true Alaricus then did not keep Rome long but then he took possession of the Throne And it is not said the Beast kept the Throne but that the Dragon gave it to him and afterward also Gensericus King of the Vandals sacked Rome And after the Goths reigned over Italy about 70 years Yea Crowned Horns obtained in the Roman Empire great Authority for before Ann. 400. Valentinian the Emperour made a league with Macrianus King of the Alemanes and ratified it by â—ath about Ann. 374. Am. Marcell lib. 30. c. 4. Afterwards Valens granted some Countries in Thracia to the King of the Goths about Ann. 376. and so he became a crowned Horn. ib. lib. 31. c. 4. Socrat. Diacon and consider whether this was not the birth-day of the Beast this being the first crowned Horn that received not only Power but Authority in the Roman Empire I might mention other Leagues as between the Emperour Honorius and the Goths and so with Theodosius and others All this argueth that the Beast was up before Ann. 400. 4. When the deadly wound was given to one of the Heads then the Beast was up For it was a Head of the Ten-Horned Beast that was wounded as it were unto death Rev. 13. v. 1 2. And so the Beast must then exist and be up to receive the wound Now this deadly wound was made when Alaricus sacked Rome and perfected at Augustulus Indeed this act was after Ann. 400. but it presupposeth the Beast to be up and so we may reckon that he did rise before Ann. 400. And here note 1. It is not the Pope but this ten Horned Beast who in respect of his first State is said to continue a short space Rev. 17. 10. For it is not said the seventh Head but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 another i. e. another of the eight Kings with whom the word agreeth not another Head There were eight Kings and but seven Heads this was another King or State of Government when the Empire was so broken and changed from its antient form and shape of Provinces into crowned Horns and this was but a short time before it was wounded even unto death Whereas the seventh Head the Pope hath continued a longer time than any of the other Heads if compared with them And further to confirm this he immediately addeth the different States of the first Beast v. 11. was and is not and yet is as before v. 9. and so was is before wounding this short space is not is when wounded yet is is after healed 2. If the first Beast be the man of sin 2 Thes 2. 6 7. Then the lett which hindred not meerly his rising but his revelation must be imperial power which was removed by the aforementioned breakings and woundings of it But if it be the second Beast then the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is their Imperial Authority and it was removed when Popes over-topped and assumed power over Emperours as Hildebrand and others Rule 6. That the Eastern parts belong to the first Ten-Horned Beast as well as the Western This is denyed by some but seeing it conduceth to the clearing up of truths and some material points I shall give these grounds of it 1. The same Dominion which the Dragon i. e. Pagan Emperours had the same the Beast hath Compare Rev. 12. 2. and 13. v. 2.
Matrons how many Godly Virgins and comely and noble Bodies were Mocking-stocks to those Beasts he speaketh of barbarous Nations The Bishops taken and divers Orders of the Clergy slain c. Ubique lucuts ubique gemitus plurima mortis imago In these People the chief were the Goths and Vandals whereof seeing part were Strangers to Christianity and given to the Superstition of the Gentiles taking some occasion they did not only extreamly persecute Christians but also endeavoured utterly to abolish them but part although in Profession they were numbred among Christians yet because they were Infected with the Poison of Arius they also did no less sharply oftentimes afflict the Church There is every where a meeting of Pagans there are heard Roarings and Blasphemies against the Christian Faith Complaints of the Neglect of the Religion of their Forefathers therefore so great Evils hung over them because omitting the Ancient Rites of sacrificing and rejecting their Father's Gods many imbraced Christ Immediately therefore leaving all things they consult of reiterating their Sacrifices of repairing of Altars and restoring wholly all the Idolatry of the Ancients and devise to abolish Christianity every where Paul Diacon Oros About the same time the Churches also of France sustained great Persecutions for the Vandals over-running destroying France overturned many both Cities and Churches and made many famous godly Men Martyrs c. See also Jerom Epist ad Geront Also the Churches in Spain experienced their Calamities and Afflictions for the Vandals about 16. Honor. occupied Spain and when some of them were Arians and others Gentiles Catholicos more suo afflixerunt c. See more Cent. 5. c. 3. And now Judge whether the Woman was not in Sackcloth and the holy City trodden and persecuted by a revengeful Dragon turned into a Beast with Crowned Horns at that Day and so whether the 42 Months and 1260 Days were not begun 2. The Church also in the East Empire under Arcadius sustained like Persecution about the very same time Cent. 5. c. 3. Gainus a Barbarous Cruel and Military Man of the Nation of the Scythians troubled the Church before An. 400. being by Profession an Arian desired one Temple of the Emperour within the Walls Chrysostom told the Emperour it must not be to Blasphemers Gainus did get an Army he going by Thracia destroyed all as he went Constantinople was in eminent danger A little after Chrysostom saw the most corrupt state and dissolute Discipline of the Churches and began the Correction of these things he was deposed and twice banished and at last died in Banishment presently after he was gone out of the City there was a great Fire which they laid to the Charge of Chrysostom's Followers they take and Imprison many some were carried to Chalcedon Prison and neighbouring places and others carried beyond Sea to divers Islands being first vexed with divers Torments others fled The Governour because a Pagan and out of Hatred of that Religion took great Pleasure in the Misery of Christians many had great Tortures and were tormented unto Death and not only in the City but in other places was Trouble The Friends of Chrysostom could not communicate with his Enemies and therefore a great Persecution was raised against the Churches of God by the instinct of Atticus and there was a Law made for their Banishment lb. Cent. 5. c. 3. out of Sozom. Nicephor And since there hath been a Continuation of the Persecution of the Beast by its Heads or Crowned Horns As The cruel Vandals passing out of Spain into Africk under Genserick their Captain an Arian about An. 427. as Calvis or 430 as others being one of the Crowned Horns raised a sore Persecution against the Christians they wasted and destroyed all before them with Fire and Sword but especially raged against the Churches the Bishops and Ministers they destroyed with many kinds of Torments When he had taken Carthage all the Ministers were thrust into weather-broken Ships and so banished all in the Province were despoiled of all their Substance and turned out of their Churches After Genserick his Son Hunnerick succeeded who also used Tortures and became a great Persecuter he banished into the Wilderness of Bishops Ministers Deacons and other Members of Christ 4976. By an Edict in one day he caused all Christian Churches throughout Africk to be shut up giving to the Arians all the Goods and Churches of the Orthodox and some of them were told that they should be banished into the Wilderness He also sent abroad through all Africk his cruel Tormentors so that no Place no House remained free from Lamentation Screeching and Out-cryes These things and many more are written by Victor Bishop of Utica who lived at the same time and was himself a Sufferer under this Persecution And it is remarkable that the Suffering is once and again expressed by being in the Wilderness which is the very Notion it is under Rev. 12. 6. 14. as if it were literally to be fulfilled Attila King of the Hunns when he wasted both Empires did also not a little trouble the Church 9000 Virgins were made Martyrs and many others Cent. 5. c. 3. So Anastasius Emperour about Ann. 492. raised great Persecutions See Cent. 6. c. 3. It were almost endless to mention the After-Persecutions under Emperours and Crowned Horns But whether any Acts of either aforementioned or some other Acts did give the first Date to the 1260 days I must leave to others to judge I am comfortably perswaded that these days of their Sack-cloth state are come to their Period and end some Years since As a small Act Ishmael's Mocking might be the Epocha of the 400 Years Gen. 15. 13. so some less obvious Act possibly might begin these Prophetical Days CHAP. VII Of what Ensueth after the 1260 Days are at an End IT is confidently concluded by many Writers that exactly and immediately after the Perioding of the 42 Months and 1260 Days there is an end of the Dominion of the Beast and of the Sufferings of the Saints whereas I am confident they are mistaken in both another Event was to be expected It 's true then the Witnesses come out of their Sackcloth-state but soon after they pass into a worse state as will appear under the next Rule Rule 8. That after the Expiration of the 1260 Days and finishing of the Testimony there is a Witness-killing War the Death and Resurrection of the Witnesses and a great Commotion before the sounding of the Seventh Trumpet This appeareth For It 's clear that Daniel's little Horn continueth after the time times and half Dan. 7. 25 26. the Judgment shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion to consume and destroy it to the End Therefore his losing his Dominion and his Destruction will be by a Consumption after those times which are the same with 1260 Days are ended Yea he is prevalent thinketh to change Times and Laws How long v. 21 22. until the ancient of days came
them Where note It was not by the Dragon i. e. not by any of the Ten Persecutions in the First three hundred Years after Christ under Pagan Emperours but by the Beast who was the Dragon's Successor he is the slayer of the Witnesses and not the second Beast the Pope though it may be by his Instigation but by the first Civil Persecuting Ten-horned Crowned Whore-ridden Beast for it is by him which ascendeth out of the bottomless Pit Compare Rev. 17. v. 3 7 8. with Rev. 13. 1 2. and 11. 7. And it is by a War not a meer worldly literal War but a Spiritual Mystical War by a difference stated between the Witnesses and the Bestians and so not where the power of the Beast hath wholly prevailed but where Christ hath a potent party to make opposition And not any War soon after the rising of the Ten-Horned Beast or during the 1260 days but when the Witnesses have finished their testimony as to time and work and are overcome and the War ended and hence this Death of the Witnesses was not by any National distresses and calamities which equally betide Bestians and the true Witnesses nor could the Death of the Witnesses be before or at the Smalcaldian War nor at the Council of Trent Ann. 1546. nor at the Massacre at Paris Ann. 1572. for from the rising of the Horns to those times the 1260 days could not be ended or testimony finished and so the Witness-killing War was not then so much as begun Prop. IV. That it is in an open place of Mystical Babylon that the Witnesses lie dead How long this Witness-killing War lasteth the Scripture doth not determine but the event must but it leaveth Spiritless Lifeless Rev. 11. 8. their dead bodies shall lye in the Street of the great City which Spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was Crucified This great City is Mystical Babylon see Rev. 14. 8. and 16. v. 19. and 17. v. 18. and 18. v. 10 16 18 19 21. and the description agreeth to that for it is Spiritually i. e. not literally but mystically called Sodom for spiritual Whoredom and Idolatry Rev. 17. 5. and Egypt for tyranny and cruelty Rev 17. 6. where our Lord was Crucified which was under Pontius Pilate a Roman Deputy and in that Jurisdiction It cannot be literally Jerusalem for that was not a great City in the days of John nor ever after till the New Jerusalem Rev. 21. 10. after which there will be no more sorrow or death v. 4. Zâ—ph 3. 15. Zâ—ch 9. 8. Amos 9. 14 15. Ezekiel's measuring is after restauration not before Ezek. 40. 17 19 20. and 48. 15 16. and therefore that is under the Seventh Trumpet after which they will not lye dead and therefore that is not the same nor at the same time with Johns measuring for that and the death of the Witnesses is before the end of the Sixth Trumpet Rev. 11. 1 7 14. They lye dead in the great City the Roman dominion not in the whole compass of it but in a Street thereof where some eminent testimony was held for Christ and his Kingdom against the Beast not in Streets Yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 though distinguished from City as being only a part thereof Luk. 10. 10. and 14. 21. noteth a publick broad and open place in opposition to what is private as Mat. 6. 5. and 7. 13. wide is the Gate Rev. 21. 21. and 22. 3. So that the Witnesses shall lye dead in the Street i. e. in a most open place of Mystical Babylon exposed to the view of all even of Enemies The openness of it is such as v. 9. they of the People Kindreds Tongues and Nations shall see their dead bodies and not suffer them to be put in the Grave Denying Burial to the Dead generally soundeth disfavour and being barbarous Am. 8. 3. Psal 79. 2 3. Jer. 16. 4 6. and 22. 19. and 25. 33. but if it be an act of favour here securing them from utter destruction yet it is a very publick business the sadness of their condition is notoriously known to those of various Nations and Kingdoms by the dead Witnesses being personally present there And so either they are slain in diverse Nations and Kingdoms or else after dead they are transported exiled banished and by flight dispersed and driven for refuge thither and finding welcome there by their kindness are sheltred and secured from burial from utter ruin and destruction Or else as some think military men of all gatherings of several Nations Kindreds and Tongues will have power over them and hold them under their death and the Bestians are expressed under the same notions Rev. 13. 7 8. and the Earth-dwellers rejoice over them Rev. 11. 10 and to be sure these are Enemies Prop. 5. That when the Witnesses have lain dead three years and half they shall be eminently revived and advanced Rev. 11. 11 12. After three days and half the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they heard a voice from Heaven saying unto them Come up hither It is a determinate time else it might have been said as well after three or four days if only a short uncertain time had been intended whereas it is three days and half and so twice mentioned Nor can they be Natural days for the Earth-dwellers could not so congratulate one another at a distance in three natural days and half Nor are they the same with the 1260 days For who can imagine that so many days should signifie no more than three days and half in the same breath And besides they are different states the one of Sackcloth the other of Death Neither are they dead when they begin their testimony as that would have it nor till they finish it It remaineth then that the time of the Witnesses lying dead is three years and half not to be counted from the first beginning of trouble that is longer for the witness-killing War bringeth trouble but from the end of the War when it can be said Now the Witnesses are overcome and killed are able to make no more considerable opposition against the Bestians but are Spiritless their power is gone thence begin those days And hence where the Witnesses remain in the same deplorable and sad condition or go into a worse a longer space as four or six years that is not the time of the Witnesses lying dead For it is said After three days and half the Spirit of life from God entred into them Rev. 11. 11. Some extraordinary if not immediate hand of God beyond all expectation before the fourth year is come giveth some reviving removeth that wherein the Death of the Witnesses did consist And they stood upon their feet they were fallen down but now are recovered into a better posture to the affrightment and astonishment of Spectators Great fear fell upon them which saw them This second step followeth not long after their reviving a resurrection Afterwards they
have an invitation or call into a more honourable condition v. 12. and they heard a great voice from Heaven saying Come up hither It is not the highest Heaven for the call thither is not till the end of the Seventh Trumpet but the Church is the Heaven they are called up to which they were greatly cast down from during the time of their Death now they are called to publick exercises again in a Church State of exaltation and advancement and they ascended their Resurrection is immediately after the half day but their Ascention may be some time after more gradual and in a Cloud i. e. with a great multitude as Heb. 12. 1. a Cloud of Witnesses a vast number who at their death seemed fewer what if this Cloud should be that fulness of the Gentiles coming in as an immediate fore-runner of the Jews return and Israels being saved Rom. 11. v. 25 26. and their Enemies beheld them Rev. 11. v. 11. 12. this expression at the second view differeing so much from the first v. 11. maketh me question whether the great fear after the resurrection of the Witnesses when they stand upon their feet be not of friends as Enemies answerable to that great fear at the Resurrection of Jesus Christ all alluding to him which fell upon those that kept the Watch to hinder his rising as well as upon those Disciples that sought him after risen Matth. 28. v. 2 3 4 8. Mark 16. v. 5 6 7. So after the Resurrection of the Witnesses at first hand not only those that have kept the Watch and by Edicts and Acts in the time of their Death sought to hinder their rising are struck into a pannick fear but as well many Friends and Witnesses may be filled with great trembling fear and amazement at the first hand by the Earth-quake and terrible dispensations The rising of the Witnesses at first may not be obvious to eminent Christians so as to deliver them from fear or great workings of unbelief but at their Ascention their exaltation by that call is so eminent and publick that then the Enemies of the Witnesses only fall under astonishing fears And observe that whilst the Witnesses lie dead there is a remnant that is secured from that death all the Witnesses in all places do not die it is not so general God hath a reserve in that day of a number that shall bear some testimony and not suffer at the rate that others do where the stage of this Tragedy is in the time of lying dead For those that lay dead all of them for ought I know are called up into Heaven into a state of exaltation Rev. 11. 12. and therefore there are others who give the call and not those that lay dead these do not call themselves but are called therefore there are others who did not fall under that Death but these Witnesses or Friends who are reserved shall not appear so eminently till about the time of their Ascension then the Witnesses had that call and they Ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud Prop. 6. That there is an Earth-quake or stupendious alterations to the desolating a famous tenth part of the City about the time of the Witnesses restoration Rev. 11. 13. and the same hour or day as in some copies there was a great Earth-quake i. e. at the same time with the Witnesses Resurrection possibly as a means of their rising it alludeth to Mat. 28. 1 2. or at their Ascension There was an Earth quake i. e. commotions or wonderful alterations in the face of things as Rev. 6. 12. and would hardly be called a great Earth-quake if it did not extend to many Nations and Kingdoms This seemeth to be a Turkish Earth-quake for it is closed thus Rev. 11. 14. The second Woe is past i. e. the Sixth Trumpet is over which sounded by the Turk as is generally granted and proved in that all matters of it aptly agree to him So that this is a sure direction to tell us where we are at the Witnesses Ascension viz. at the conclusion of the Sixth Trumpet And it is very observable that the fifth Trumpet is closed thus Rev. 9. 12. One Woe is past but when he had mentioned much work of the sixth Trumpet v. 13 c. he doth not end the chapter in the same manner but suspendeth and deferreth that till he had mentioned some other eminent occurences chap 10 11. and then addeth v. 14. The second Woe is past i. e. the Witnesses being Risen Ascended and the Earth-quake over now the Turks have done their work of the sixth Trumpet the punishing the Romanists for their Idolatry Worshiping Images of Gold and Silver Rev. 9. 20 21. now the Turks will cease to be a Woe as formerly to them no more famous exploits of theirs against Papists are to be expected The Turks then may lose their dominion or much of it though their utter ruine and destruction may not be till afterwards and that upon the Mountains of Israel Ezek. 39. 4. but they will be much concerned in this Earthquake as the last part of their work against the Romanists Now this Earth-quake is signalized by the destruction of a vast number of Dignitaries either of the Turks or Romanists Rev. 11. 14. and in the Earth-quake were slain of men 7000. names of men i. e. men of Name and Office many more than of Enemies of the common sort possibly parallel to Rev. 18. 6 8 15 16. and by the Repentance of some Rev. 11. 14. And the remnant were affrighted and gave Glory to the God of Heaven and especially by the Destruction of a famous tenth part And the tenth part of the City fell To fall is to be ruined overthrown destroyed made desolate as Rev. 18. 10 17 19 21. This Tenth part which falleth some think to be one Kingdom where the Witnesses did lye Dead which is not proved and is unlikely seeing their Death and the effect of their Ascension reacheth other Kingdoms v. 15. it is then either Constantinople or some other famous Kingdom belonging to the Turks as Hungary or Greece Seeing the Turkish Woe now soon passeth and loseth ground before the seventh Trumpet Or else seeing it is a tenth part of the City I think it rather is Rome it self not upon Mr. M. too curious notion of that being but a tenth part now of what it was of old but as being emphatically the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and because its fall is an immediate fore-runner of the seventh Trumpet Rev. 11. 13 14 15 16 17 19 20. There is a Triumphant Song that the Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord aâ—â— of his Christ which is the same that is 〈◊〉 the destruction of the Whore of Babylon and by the same persons compare it with Rev. 19. 7 9 11 15 19 20. And hence Rev. 18. is an explication not of the fifth Vial but the sixth and the rather because after the Witnesses Restoration a remnant repented
nothing else but the Kingdom of Babylon and the power of the strong hunter Nimroth when they Burnt Luthers works he burnt the Bishop of Romes Law and the Decree then lately published openly Ib. l. 2. So Calvin Melancthon Zwinglius and many others as well as Luther scorched men with Fire as Rev. 16. 8. and this is a sure Direction when this Vial was poured out viz. when men by their Preachings Writings Disputations c. denounced Fire and Brimstone and the greatest Torments against such Worshippers and so it is explained Rev. 14. v. 9 10 11. If any worship the Beast and his Image and receive his mark in his fore-head i. e. openly or in his hand i. e. secretly v. 10. The same shall drink the Wine of the Wrath of God poured out without mixture and shall be tormented with Fire and Brimstone which was clearly fulfilled in Luther and Calvins time How many Countreys and Kingdoms by such Preaching fell off from Rome and took up Reformation as desiring to preserve themselves from that Fire which therefore scorched the Papal party After a Disputation Religion was Reformed not only at Bernes but also proclaimed by Magistrates in sundry places thereabouts Masses Altars Images abolished in all places They wrote the day and year wherein they forsook the Popish Religion upon a Pillar in Golden Letters that it might be an everlasting memorial to their Posterity Likewise they of Geneva did imitate them of Bernes wherefore the Bishop and Clergy forsook the City in anger Then the Reformers began to be called Protestants of whom there were seven Princes The Protestants made a League that if any did stand in danger for Religion one might help another Ib. li. 6. Another symptom of its being then poured out is the great following persecutions raised by the Bestians being incensed by the torment of this fire as Rev. 14. 12. Here is the Patience of the Saints i. e. here at this time is the tryal of their patience that even death it self shall be desireable v. 14. Blessed are the dead answerable to which in the fourth Vial it is said Rev. 16. 9. men were scorched with great heat and blasphemed the name of God and repented not All which was manifestly accomplished for after Luther and Calvin and others had proclaimed fire against the worshippers of the Beast they repented not witness the Council of Trent wherein they sought to establish their Abominations and then followed the great and sore Persecutions in most Kingdoms of the Beast in the West as France Spain Germany Bohemia England all which give evidence that then the fourth Vial was poured out 5. The fifth Vial is poured out upon the Throne of the Beast Rev. 16. 10. and the effect is his Kingdom is full of Darkness and they have anguish and indignation gnawed their Tongues Throne either is the Government of the Beast his Soveraignty and Authority as Psal 89. 36 37. Psal 122. 5. and if it be taken thus then this Vial might be poured when the Popes Supremacy was cast off by Protestant Princes as Hen. VIII Edw. VI. Q. Eliz. Duke of Saxony Brandenburgh and when Popish Orders and Branches of that Government were rejected The German Princes told the Popes Ambassadors they acknowledged not his authority in such matters and Q. Elizabeth would not suffer them to come into the Land Sympson of the Church p. 408. Or the Throne of the Beast most properly is the chief place of his residence wherein he appeareth in his highest Majesty and Glory And this Vial was poured out upon Germany or the German Empire since Ann. 1600. especially by Gustavus Adolphus I know many think the City of Rome to be the Throne of the Beast which this Vial falleth upon but the City of Rome is the Woman Rev. 17. 18. or whore of Babylon which sitteth upon the Beast v. 3. and so cannot be the Throne which the Beast sitteth upon And the more improbable is it that Rome should be this Throne for when a Vial cometh upon that it is with an utter destruction Rev. 18. and so it is by the sixth Vial whereas the fifth Vial doth not destroy but darken the Kingdom of the Beast It will be hard or impossible to prove that the Throne of the Two-horned Beast the Pope is intended here and if it be of the Ten-Horned Beast then although the Throne of the Dragon was given into his possession yet he made it not as his Throne For when the Beast was very young the Emperour did not take up his residence at Rome but at Ravenna Sigon de Reg. Ital. 1. speaking of Ravenna saith Postremo Honorius eam sibi atque Occidentis Imperio sedem urbe Rom. relicta constituit quod institutum Successores quoque illius tam Imperatores Rom quam Reges Gotthorum custodierunt That as Honorius was enthroned not at Rome but at Ravenna so other Emperours till Augustulus Ann. 475. and then there were no Emperours in the West or at Rome till Carol. Magn. Ann. 800. Neither have the Emperours ever since to this day made the City of Rome their Seat or Throne but Germany and there are seven Electoral Heads and Ten Horns or Provinces in the West as the Beast Let the Throne then upon which this fifth Vial falleth be Germany especially seeing the event doth admirably answer there to all that is said of this fifth Vial. For the Case was thus as it 's said Some Seeds of Division being sown by the proscribing and forcing Donawerdt on the occasion of a Tumult at a Procession there and mastering Gulick the German Protestants received the Alarm and assembled at Hall and the Catholicks at Wirtsburgh This quickly did fly like Wild-fire filled all Germany and involved all Europe in a prodigious War some compare it with that of Zisca and the Bohemians I shall give some short account of it out of J. Parival History of the Iron Age and shall refer to the Book it self for a larger and fuller discovery of it He speaketh much in favour of the Papists but declareth himself in this manner I abhor to begin the Discourse of the longest and most cruel War that ever was in Christendom and which drew more Blood more altered the Christian Faith and caused more ruine and desolation than all that ever were in Europe ib li. 3. c. 1. And Ann. 1630. Gustavus Adolphus King of Sweden invited by the Germans incited by France England Venice the United Provinces as also by his own peculiar interests entered Germany with an Army was sure of his Allies and of the inclination of all the Protestants whose Cause and Religion he came to defend King Gustave takes Francfort beats the Imperialists cleansed Pomerania Ambassadours of the Princes Imperial Towns and Protestants States treated an Alliance with King Gustave These sparkles encompassed all Germany with a Fire which lasted till the year 1649. ib. cap. 17 18 19 20. Gustave worsted Tilly before the Fort of Werbern being joined
to the forces of the Electors had a great Battle with Tilly the Emperours General at Leipsick This Battel wherein were hazarded the Caps of two Electours the Liberty of the Princes of Germany the conquests of so many years and the whole hope of the Roman Catholicks was very bloody and the old Bands which had never been seen fly gave gound here ib. c. 21. King Gustave hath the Victory and Tilly with the Imperialists were put to flight An Army of Four and Twenty Thousand Captains that is old Souldiers were broken in the Plain and open Field This Bloody Battel was Sept. 7. 1631. which was called a day of Blood and changed the Countenance of the Affairs of Germany And the news of this victory unspeakably rejoiced not only all the Protestants but also all such as to whom those glorious Eagles seemed too proud and too much undertaking Ib. c. 21. The first Post which arrived at Vienna brought news of the defeat of the Saxons the second that of Tilly which disturbed the joy and the Third filled the whole Court with sadness and made it think of a way how to repair this great loss If the Africans were much amazed to see them i. e. the Romans before Carthage so to say the truth the Bishops and the Roman Catholicks were not a whit less by the destruction of this Army which had always been victorious and by means whereof after the gaining of one Battel they hoped to see the Mass and the Imperial Authority restored throughout all Germany A flock of Sheep is is not more scattered when it sees itself environed by Wolves and without a Shepherd than were the Ecclesiasticks by this accident for terrour having thrust it self in amongst them they betook themselves all to flight some to the other side of the Danube and others by the Rheyn to Cologne c. ib. c. 21. Italy was Alarmed by the report of so great prosperity The Swede still goeth on though not without some checks and even after the death of Gustave yet often had great successes and prevailed much against the German Emperour and at last forced him to stoop to such terms as he could make with him And now judge whether the fifth Vial was not here poured out upon Germany as the Throne or Chief Kingdom of the Ten-horned Beast For this War was stated between the Beasts party of the one part to the striking great terrour into the Hearts and overthrowing so many thousands of them and the Protestants as the other party And seeing this is a distinct storm upon that party after four Vials had been poured out what can this be but the fifth Vial and the rather because all things answer to it even as to effects As The whole Kingdom of the Beast was darkned as Rev. 16. 10. even by that one blow given by Gustavus Adolphus did it not suffer a greater Eclipse of its esteem and glory at that day than ever before even at Jankow Battel March 6. 1645. there was a most sensible Defeat to the Imperial Party for it left Bohemia as a Prey and opened the Passage into Moravia and the Emperours Hereditary Lands as far as the Danube Every one thought that the Emperour was lost if the Swedes chanced to pass the Danube They were in great amazement to see the Swedes at one and the same time at the Gates of Vienna Copenhaghen and Bremen every where treading down their Enemies â—b Part 2. c. 16. This therefore was the fifth Vial which seemed to have spent its greatest Strength and to be drawing towards a Conclusion when the Pacification was made in Germany or Peace Ann. 1649. but some Effects may have continued since Neither will this deny it to be that Vial that the Effect of the German War fell as heavy upon God's People there as his Enemies For at the first hand here was a great distinction between the People of God and others And however in some of the first Plagues in Egypt to which the Vials allude the Lord made no distinction between the Israelites and the Egyptians till Exod. 8. 22. And further the Effect of this Vial is Rev. 16. 10 11. they gnawed their Tongues for pain and blasphemed God and repented not Which argue the indignation vexation rancour and extremity of Rage which the Beasts Party shall be filled with by the pouring out of this Vial upon them and so they not only persist in their Evil way without repentance blaspheming God but like distracted Mad-men they seek to revenge their own quarrel by falling upon and raising bitter Persecutions against the Protestant Party and therefore this is but an expected issue of the Kingdom-filling darkness and Tongue-gnawing Pain an event of this Vial and so rather a Confirmation of its being then poured out Neither will this deny that German War to be a Vial because the Empire is yet standing For I see no Scripture-Evidence that any Vial except the 6th or 7th do bring a Total Destruction upon the Subjects on which they fall for if the Beasts Earth Sea Rivers and Fountains had been utterly destroyed by the three former Vials there could have remained nothing for several other Vials to be poured out upon these comprising the whole Antichristian World And this fifth Vial doth but darken not utterly destroy the Kingdom of the Beast Rev. 16. 10. and so the German Empire may be yet standing after that Vial is poured out upon it as Egypt was darkened before Pharaoh and the Egyptians were destroyed And immediately before that Vial which destroyeth the Whore she fitteth as a Queen saying she shall see no sorrow Rev. 18. 7. and how could she sit in such Pomp if former Vials had caused an utter Destruction of what they fell upon In short either Rome cannot be the Throne which this fifth Vial is poured out upon seeing then they repented not Rev. 16. 10 11. or else it cannot be the Tenth part Rev. 11. 13. for then they repent And if the fifth Vial was poured out in Germany then we are under the latter part of that or the beginning of the sixth Vial. That which followeth is mostly hereafter to be fulfilled or in a great part to come 6. The sixth Vial is poured out upon the great River Euphrates Rev. 16. 12. The Effects of it are the drying up the Waters thereof and war-like Preparations v. 12. to 17. The Subjects of the other Vials are not Literal but Mystical or Metaphorical and therefore Euphrates is not to be understood literally here of that very River especially seeing all the seven are Plagâ—es or Vials of the Wrath of God Rev. 15. 1 6 8. and the drying up that River is no such Plague neither is the Wrath of God kindled against it more than against any other River Therefore the River Euphrates here must notifie either that which is the strength of Mystical Babylon as Euphrates was of Literal Babylon Or else the People inhabiting about Euphrates which are the
Livii lib. 3. Dec. 1. See Tacitus Annal. l. 1. and others who speak of Dictators and Tribunes 1. Kings cannot be denied to be Supream as Romulus c. 2. Consuls were created in the room of Kings Regibus urbe propulsis Romani Consules creaverunt pro uno rege duo hac causa Creati Paul Diacon lib. 1. p. 13. 3. Dictators The Romans smitten with fear Dictatorem creant cujus auctoritas potentia Consulem praeiret Oros lib. 2. c. 5. The like saith Dempster 4. Decemviri Pro duobus Consulibus Decem facti sunt qui summam potestatem haberent constituendarum legum Atticarum gratia qui a numero Decemviri sunt Nominati Paul Diacon lib. 1. See Paul Oros lib. 2. c. 13. 5. Tribunes were of two sorts Tribuni Militum were of Consular Authority Paul Diacon lib. 2. 6. Emperours are known to have had Supream Authority 7. Popes have over-top't Emperours as Hildebrand or Pope Gregory VII and others Obj. 4. But the Supream Power was in the Senate and that is made none of the Six A. It 's said That Romulus the King first constituted the Senate at Rome yet he was Supream still Centum Senatores creavit quos Patres auctoritate nuncupavit Messalae Corvini lib. Eutropii Historia cum Diacono p. 6. the number was increased afterwards It 's true there were Contests after between the Senate and Emperours and the Senate had a hand in making Decrees but Emperours had the Supream Power in the Administration of the Government of Rome or in the Executive part of the Law for who will say that there were two Supream Powers at the same time there And those who make the Objection by their asserting particular Emperours to be the seven Heads Rev. 13. 1. and Rev. 17. 9 10. they must unavoidably grant not the Senate but Emperours to be Supream Obj. 5. The Pontifex Maximus might as well be named as one of them A. 1. It s denied For Pontifex Maximus was first instituted by Numa Pompilius a King who had Supream Power over him See Messal Corvin Libel 2. Afterward it was sinfully annexed to him who had the Supream Power viz. to the Emperour as one of his Titles After C. Julius Caesar all Emperours assumed that wicked Title Pontifex Maximus even Constantius until the Emperour Gratian and he did forbid to be called by it See Dempster and Rosin and Zosimus 3. It 's against Rev. 17. 10. for if Pontifex Maximus was one of the Seven which were the Five fallen in the days of John how can the number Seven be made up Obj. 6. Shew that The Beast that was and is not is meant that it is not now nor ever was but shall be and when the Pope falleth shall not be And v. 15. where the Whore sitteth where she shall sit hereafter A. 1. It may be as difficult to Answer if the Pagan Empire were the Beast for that was in the days of John yet it is said and is not 2. It is usual in a Prophetical strain to mention things as past or present which are to come hundreds of Years after because they shall certainly be future as Rev. 18. 2. Babylon is fallen whereas it was not fallen in the days of John no although the Pagan Empire were the Babylon intended which it is not Thus Dan. 2. 29. his Dream was of what should come to pass afterward yet in Vision it was as if present or past v. 32. to 46. so Dan. 7. 3 4. to v. 15. v. 17. to the End and Dan. 8. Such reasoning then does but darken truth with many words And as to Rev. 17. 8 11. the Apostle interpreteth it the Beast was before wounding is not what he was when wounded unto death yet is when healed Also The Gowned and literate Tribe of Pagan Rome could not be the second Beast Rev. 13. 11. for various Characters thereof do not agree to them as v. 12. they did not exercise all the Imperial Power and Authority of the first Beast nor did they so much as pretend to work Miracles v. 13. they do not make fire come down from Heaven on the Earth in the sight of men and so they are not the second Beast Take this Rule A Correspondency or agreeableness of some Matters or Events unto a Prophesie will not prove its accomplishment if there he disagreeableness in other things Thus some observing great Sufferings of Churches at divers Seasons about Three Years and half have concluded these for the times of the Witnesses Death Rev. 11. 7 9. and yet have been mistaken as I before evidenced So others finding Pagan Rome to answer some Characters in Rev. 17. 4 5 6. as being great and a Mother of Harlots and Abominations c. have groundlesly concluded that to be the Woman or Whore of Babylon Whereas Pagan Rome was down as I have proved before the Scarlet-coloured Beast was up which carrieth her v. 3 7. and before the Ten Horns were crowned v. 12. and so that cannot be the Babylon here intended But as to the Whore of Babylon Rev. 17. all the Characters of her agree to Rome Papal and so we may conclude that to be it Rome undeniably is that great City which in the days of John reigned over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17. 18. though now it is not of the same Magnitude as then yet it is the same City that now is the Seat of the Papacy And her bad Qualifications of Spiritual Fornication or Idolatry and Cruel Persecution v. 2 3 4 5 6. do now notoriously and undoubtedly agree to Rome Papal And therefore Rome Papal is the Whore of Babylon and I think Antichristian If the name Antichrist be not in this Book yet the thing is It is not against it if her riding upon the Beast was not until Pope Gregory VII or Innocent III. or the Latâ—ran Council For there is no Scripture Evidence that the rising of the Whore of Babylon was as early as the first Beast much less her riding upon him that might not be until the rising of the second Beast Hundreds of Years after especially seeing Babylon is first mentioned in this Book Rev. 14. 8 9. with the Image and Mark of the second Beast Rev. 13. 14 15 16. But how unimaginable is it that almost the whole Book of the Revelation should be spent about Pagan Rome in the first Three Hundred Years after Christ's Nativity and that all the great Events should be passed over in a deep silence which have been for many Hundreds of Years since and this when they were so remarkable to the Church and do so clearly and exactly answer the Prophesie which yet certainly extendeth to the End of time even to the Day of judgment Rev. 20. 11 12 I might add that as this Prophesie of the casting down the Dragon Rev. 12. tended greatly to the Consolation of Christian Jews and Gentiles in the â—rimitive times and here is a triumph on that account v. 10 12