is the government and discipline of the Church which is to cover the shame of the Churches nakednesse that it doth not appeare unto the world every member of the Church and the Church her selfe walking according to the rule and order of the Gospel Matth. 18.15 16 17. We shall see this Seale agree with the fifth Trumpet and fifth Viall in the sense of it The fifth Angel sounding a Star fals from Heaven unto the Earth The fifth Trumpet sounds Rev. 9.1 Isa 19.15 Rev. 13 1â— unto him was given the Key of the bottomles pit By Star is meant a Minister or Ministers of Christ by Heaven is meant the Church by Key is meant power by bottomlesse pit is meant the depth of the craft and subtilty of that nian of sin in his cursed doctrine traditions So the Ministers of the Churches were invested with power from Christ in the preaching of the Gospel to open the depth of Satan and Antichrist in his cursed doctrine ferched out of that bottomlesse pit especially concerning the usurpation of his power Whereupon commeth a great smoak noting thereby darknesse and therefore it is said That the Sunne and Aire was filled with darknesse and in Rev. 16.10 when the fifth Viall was poured out it said His Kingdome was full of darknesse This smoake notes misery likewise therefore Locusts are said to come out of the smoake unto whom was given power as the Scorpions of the earth have power and they were to torment the men of that Antichristian world five moneths a certaine time set downe for an uncertaine and their torment is very sore as when a Scorpion striketh a man that they shall seek death and shall not find it This is noted further that these Locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battell when Christ and his Saints take the power of Churches and States from Antichrist it is to be pre-supposed that Antichrist will presently raise a very great Army to make warre with them as ye shall see anon fall out to be so by the sounding of the next Trumpet But these men that was counted as Locusts unto Antichrist they have Crownes of gold to note their victory if Antichrist should make warre with them and they have faces like men to note their Majesty and authority and haire as the haire of women to note their terriblenesse and fearcenesse and teeth of Lyons to note their greedinesse to prey upon these Antichristian men to eat their flesh Rev. 19.17 and to burne them with fire And brest-plats of iron to note their strength to encounter with him the sound of their wings being as the sound of Chariots of many horses running to battaile and their tailes like unto Scorpions to torment them Rev. 6.12 and to put them unto grievous paine and he that is King over them is the Angel of the bottomlesse pit even the Lord Christ see Rev. 20.1 2. that will ere long cast the Beast and that false Prophet into it Rev. 19.20 Rev. 20.10 yea and the Devil himselfe and shut him up and set a seale upon it binding him for a thousand yeers verse 1 2. Thus the first woe is past and behold there commeth two woes more herereafter The fifth Angell poured forth the fifth Viall The fifth Vial. poured forth Rev. 16.10 Rev. 16.10 upon the seate of the Beast and then they gnawed their tongues for paine And all this torment was when the fifth Angel poured forth his Viall upon the seat and throne of the Beast Rev. 11.12 Dan. 7.26 even when the Lord Christ and his witnesses ascended up into Heaven 1639. and when the judgement sate and tooke his Kingdome and Dominions from him For wicked and ungodly men to be taken from their high places of honour it is as great a torment to them as when a Scorpion striketh a man when Pope Cardinall and Prelates are cast from the high place of Judicature they that do it are as Locusts unto them and their torment is insufferable they gnaw their tongues for paine and they desire to die and death flees from them When the sixth Seale was opened Behold a great earth-quake Sixth Seale opened Rev. 6.12 and the Sun became black as haire-cloath and the Moon as blood and the stars fall from Heaven unto the Earth and the Heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together and every mountaine and Island were moved out of their places and the Kings and great men and mighty men of the Earth hide themselves in dens and in the rocks of the mountaines that they might be hid from the face of Christ that sits upon the throne because the great day of his wrath is come and they will never be able to abide it Christ and his witnesses being upon the throne takes away Antichrists Kingdome and Dominions from him Rev. 12.7 whereupon there fals out to be war between Christ and Antichrist foretold by the fifth Trumpet In this war there followes a great earth-quake a great slaughter amongst the men of that Antichristian Earth and the Pope the sun of this heaven becomes black as haire-cloath Isa 14.13 and his Cardinals set forth by the Moon become as blood and Popish Lords and Prelates set forth by Stars fals from Heaven those high places where they had their seate and throne even above the stars of Gods in Gods House and Temple and in the civill throne upon the Mount of the Congregation After they are fallen from Heaven their Heaven fel with them and is rolled together as a scroll and all their Mountaines and power of States and Islands is moved out of their place and set in their right place And in this battell and earthquake Kings the great men of the world crie to the Mountaines to fall upon them and to hide them from the face of the Lambe the Lord Christ because now the great day of his wrath is come in which he will take geance upon all these five grand enemies of his Church and upon that Antichristian world But this is noted in Rev. 7.1 2 3 4. that at this time in the midst of all this wrath and fury of Christ against this wicked antichristian crue he takes care of his Elect chosen people especially those that are in a true Church-state as the children of Israel was therefore set forth by them who are said to be upon Mount Sion with the Lambe Rev. 14.1 singing a new Song these must be all sealed and have the marke of God set in their foreheads Rev. 7.1 2 3 4. therefore those foure Angels that stands upon the foure corners of the Earth to hold the foure windes of Gods wrath in their hands ready to blow upon that antichristian World must not let those windes blow untill an Angel hath sealed the servants of Christ and there was sealed 144000. the same number that are upon Mount Sion in a true Church-state with the Lambe the Lord Christ their Lord
liberty to have the Gospel preached which is indeed the pouring forth of the seventh Viall that he that runs may reade it Upon the seventh Trumpet sounding and declaring what was now done in Heaven the high place of Judicature presently there was great voices of confidence and affiance in Heaven the Church that now the Kingdomes of this world should be taken out of that wicked antichristian Beasts hands and given into the hands of Christ and his Saints The people of God seeing Jesus Christ and his witnesses taking but the tenth part of the Kingdoms from Antichrist they looke from the beginning of the work to the end and were confident that the time of the enemies ruine was now come and the Churches sinall deliverance and the civill power of all the Kingdomes in the world should be put into the hands of Christ and his Saints and they shall raigne for ever and ever The same thing was shewed to Daniel almost 2300. yeares since when he saw the ancient of daies sit and the thrones of the Beast cast downe Dan. 7.9.13.14 Then one like the Son of man came to the ancient of daies and there was given him dominions and glory and a Kingdome that all people nations and languages should serve him and not him only but the Saints of the most High and the Kingdomes and Dominions and the greatnesse of the Kingdomes under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high and they shall possesse the Kingdome even for ever ever and ever Three terms and sections of times shall the Saints possesse the Kingdoms of the world after Antichrist hath his powers taken out of his hands as we shall shew anon The Churches of Christ do not only expresse their confidence and affiance they had in God for the accomplishment of this great worke that was now begun Vers 16. but they with all humility and reverence fall upon their faces before God and worship him in giving him thanks and praise which is and was and is to come who hath taken to him his great power and hath raigned And they further declare that the Nations of the antichristian world were angry Vers 18. as indeed they were at his great worke now begun and that the time of his wrath against the wicked is now come and the time of the dead that they should now be judged that is that now judgment shall be given to the poore Saints of God and witnesses of Christ that were slaine and lay dead for three daies and a halfe and that he should give a reward unto his servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name both small and great and should destroy them that have destroyed the Earth which the Lord will accomplish in this present age The third effect is the opening of the Temple by Christ and his witnesses which sate in Heaven Effect 3. Vers 19. and the Temple of God was opvned in Heaven By Temple is meant the Church the people of God By Heaven is meant the high place of Judicature so by the Temple of God being opened in Heaven is nothing else but Christ and his Witnesses giving leave and liberty to the people of God thus congregated to worship Christ in his Temple And this they did first by their connivence and forbearing to trouble them and to molest them as Antichrist and his faction did and afterwards they shall give them some liberty Rev. 6.12 being tender over the consciences of men in matters of worship Rev. 21.6 But at the end of the ruine of Antichrist Then the Temple shall be set wide open that whosoever will shall enter in if they be not such as defile or work abomination This we have seen fulfilled before our eyes that those that were Christs Witnesses Rev. 10. they countenanced and spared to molest the people of God that had joyned themselves in League and Covenant to come out of Babylon Rev. 27. and not to meddle at all with that Antichristian cup of spirituall fornications and to worship their Lord and Husband Christ according to divine institution but those that were of Antichrists side though pretended otherwise they would be stirring up the common people against them untill they were cast out of Heaven to the earth even all those popish affected ones When the Temple of God was thus opened there was seene in his Temple the Arke of his Testament that is verse 19. then the Lord Christ who is the Arke of Gods Testement was seen to be in his Temple in the midst of those people that before was looked upon as factious and seditious men but the Temple being open they prove otherwise And when the Antichristian party saw that Christ and his Witnesses tooke part with these men then there were Voyces and Thunderings and Lightnings and an Earthquake and a great Haile that is then there was great stirs combustions hurliburlies quakings and feares amongst the Antichristian party And last of all these grew to a great haile or great storme and war as weshall see anon between the servants and Witnesses of Christ and those that were for the Dragon and Antichrist in Heaven The fourth effect was A great wonder which appeared in Heaven Effect 4. a Woman cloathed with the Sunne By Woman is meant the Church of God who is cloathed with the Sunne of righteousnesse and which have her Officers in the midst of her officiating and emptying the golden Oyle out of themselves into the bosome of the Church 〈◊〉 4.12 〈◊〉 1.6.20 and are as a Crowne of gold unto her head set forth by 12 Stars after the Tribes of the children of Israel and the Moon is under her feet that is under her feet are all sublunary conentment and delight shee contemning them with holy scorn derision and being great with child cryed travailing in birth and pained to be delivered that is the people of God seeing Christ and some of his Saints and Witnesses in Heaven and many that were with them were against Christ and for the Dragon The Church hereupon is with child as it were and travailes in paine to have a godly Magistracy set up in the world that those which were in Heaven the high place of Judicature that was against Christ and his Government might be cast out that so the Lord Christ that man-childe might in and by his Saints rule the nations with a rod of iron and this they cryed and travailed in paine to God by humble and fervent prayers and to his Witnesses that sate in Heaven by humble petitions from the yeer of Christ 1639. to 1641. ☞ Whereupon another Wonder appeares in Heaven a great red Dragon having ten Hornes and seven Crownes upon his heads he stood ready to devoure this man-child so soone as it was borne The devil and satan in the Roman Beast and his Image the Pope and they in and by those popish Lords
the throne and of the foure beasts and in the midst of foure and twenty Elders he onely was counted worthy because he had beene slaine and redeemed his Church and people not onely from the wrath of God and Hell and Death but out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation and hath made them to God Kings and Priests and they shall reigne with Christ upon the earth 1000. yeers Rev. 20.4 This mysterie being now finished and this little booke and seales broken open Rev. 11 12. which were done the yeere the witnesses ascended up to Heaven 1639 when the tenth part of that Antichristian City fell as shall be shewed at large in its place then the Lord commanded his Prophet to make it plaine upon tables Vers 13. that he may run that readeth it Hab. 2.2 3. Dan. 12.10 And saith further that at the end the vision shall speake and not lye The Lord promising they that are wise shall understand this vision at the time of the end Rev. 1.3 Prov. 1.6 Now they are counted wise and blessed in this respect to understand a vision or mystery and the interpretation thereof Dan. 9.2 the words of the wise God and his darke saying who search and read the books and rolls wherein God hath wrapped and folded up these great mystery of the enemys ruine and the Churches deliverance and that trace and eye God in those secret wayes of his providence as that holy man of God did Psal 107. By which acts the Lord makes his vision and mystery plain upon tables that he that runs may read The Lord of his free love and grace having given some understanding in this great mystery and vision accordingly we will by Gods assistance endeavour to hold forth this light knowing that it is a great and hainous sinne inexcusable before God at that great day either to put our light under a bushell or to hide that talent in the earth which the Lord hath giuen us to trade with for his glory his Churches good and our owne everlasting comfort Therefore we will declare and make knowne what we understand of this great mystery in severall Chapters What is gold and pure mettall will endure the day of fiery triall but what is hay and stubble shall be burned which is my hearts desire THE MYSTERY OF God opened CHAP. I. The Vnion and Onenesse of those five grand enemies of the Church Daniels foure Beasts and little Horne set forth by one Image and one Beast THese foure Beasts and little Horn that carried the Church of God captive at the first into Babylon some 600. yeers before Christ and hath kept them in bondage 1600. yeers and upwards Isa 28.15 all these were confederate together to break devour and trample under their feet with great fury rage Dan. 7.7 and malice all the time of their reigne Isa 21.15 are therefore said to make a Covenant with Hell and Death for the same purpose First Dan. 2.31 the enemies are set forth by one Image the King of Babylon being the head of it who carried the Church of God first captive ver 38. is the first Beast chap. 7.4 The King of Persia which is the Breast and Armes of this Image who took the Kingdome from the King of Babylon Dan. 5.31 was Daniels second Beast Dan. 7.5 The Belly and Thighs of this Image was the King of Graecia who took the Kingdom from the King of Persia Dan. 8.6 7. 20 21. which was Daniels third Beast Dan. 7.6 The Legges and feet was the King of the Romans who took the Kingdome from the Grecians Dan. 11.20 set forth by this Character a raiser of Taxes as indeed he was as we may see plainly Luk. 2.1 2 he was Daniels fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 and was more terrible in his persecuting the people of God then any of the three Kings or Monarchs were that went before him set forth in these words Verse 7. Dreadfull terrible and strong exceedingly and had great iron teeth who devoured and broke in pieces and stomped the residue under his feet Dan. 2.41 And in this Kings dayes this great Kingdome and Monarchy was divided into ten Provinces or Kingdomes set forth by ten hornes Dan. 7.7 and by ten toes Dan. 2.41 which were on his feet but yet all under his power and jurisdiction and therefore he is said to have ten horns ten Kings that had ten powers under him and these ten Kings are not absolute Kings Rev. 17.12 therefore are said to have received no Kingdome but reigne as petty Kings under him and so receive power as Kings one houre with the Beast not distant from him Dan. 7.8 Rev. 13.11 but one with him Now this little horne which Daniel saw come up amongst those ten hornes which is that second Beast which John saw come out of the earth from amongst the common men of the earth as indeed he did was Antichrist for he did not come or issue from any royall race or blood therefore called by the Spirit of God Dan. 11.21 verse 24. a vile person to whom they shall not give the honour of the Kingdome but he shall come in peaceably and obtaine the Kingdome by flatteries as you may read ver 24. So that the Roman Monarch who is set forth by a raiser of Taxes was destroyed neither in anger nor in battell ver 20. but this little horne through his policy caused craft to prosper in his hand Dan. 8.25 he is noted to be very deep and subtill understanding darke sentences ver 23. shewing signes and wonders Marke 13.22 Rev. 13.13 14. and miracles making fire to come downe from Heaven by which signs he deceives the whole world would have seduced the Elect if it had been possible and by his policy and craft he began to work himself into favour with Constantin 320. who gave him the power of the civill sword in Rome and the other places adjacent in his time Rev. 13.2 afterward obtained the whole Kingdom or Monarch by flattery from the Dragon the Roman Emperour and therefore he is said to give him his power seat great authority Rev. 13.2 Dan. 11.23 for after he had made a league with the Roman Emperour about 365. he works deceitfully became strong with a small people therfore saith the Spirit of God his power shall be mighty but not by his own power no Dan. 8.14 for he got the power from the Roman Emperour by flattery and deceit and not by strength of Armes neither did the Romans give him the honour of the Kingdome at the first but he by his policy and craft like a Serpent wound himselfe into the Roman Beast and so became one with him and so this Antichristian Whore made the Roman Emperour her stalking-horse to carry her to the Kings of the earth that shee might commit spirituall fornication with them Rev. 17.3 7. Rev. 18.3 and
The great MYSTERIE OF GOD OR The Vision of the Evening and the Morning opened Whereby comparing Scripture with acts of Divine Providence will plainly appeare that the Ruine of Mysticall Babylon and the Erecting of spirituall Jerusalem are the ground of these present Commotions which are not to cease till by meanes of this present Parliament The Worke being so compleated That Christ shall in and by his Saints in tranquility reigne on earth one thousand yeeres Revel 1.2 Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie and keep those things that are written therein for the time is at hand Exod. 15.18 The Lord shall reigne for ever and ever Dan. 2.22 For he revealeth deep and secret things he knows what is in the dark and the light dwelleth with him Revel 22.10 Stale not the sayings of the Prophesie of this Booke for the time is at hand LONDON Printed for John Wright in the old Baylâ—y 1645. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE the House of PEERS AND TO THE HONOURABLE the House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT at Westminster HIgh and most honoured ever renowned Senators the Lord of his free grace and love having about some two or three yeers since cast my thoughts and meditations upon that great vision shewed unto his servants Prophets Daniel and John concerning the time of the raign and the ruine of these five grand enemies of the Church set forth by the Spirit of God to Daniel to be one Image and to John to be but one Beast all in league together to persecute the Saints of God by comparing the Words of God and the Acts of Gods providence one with the other I finde that these enemies destruction is nigh at hand and Gods peoples finall deliverance neere yea the worke is begun already and will not be long before the Lord will consummate it Withall I humbly conceive that You are those two great Witnesses which the Spirit of Christ foretold long since should be raised up to Heaven the high place of Justice and Judicature though all the people and Saints of God from the yeer of Christ 375. unto 1639. be reckoned for his Witnesses and so looked upon by Christ because they all bore witnesse unto those Truths of Christ which that man of sinne denied yet You in a more especiall manner at this time because You are not onely to protest against Antichrist and his grand lie who said That the power of Churches and States belonged to him But You are that Judgement which should sit and take his Kingdome and Dominion from him Dan. 7.26 raised up to Heaven by the power of Christs Spirit for the same end Dan. 2.34 45. And by that little stone cut out of the Mountaine without hands even by the Spirit of God the day You ascended up into Heaven by this little stone shall you destroy all those enemies and when You have taken all powers from them As will further appeare in the following Treatise Psal 149.6 the Civill power will remaine in Your hands as You are Christs civill Magistrates and all the exercise of the Ecclesiasticall power of Churches shall You give unto the people of God which are the Body of Christ whereof You being Members and sitting with the rest of Your Brethren in Gods House Rev. 21.2 10. shall exercise that spirituall Sword and by Your leave and Authority the Saints of God are to build that holy City new Jerusalem Psal 149.6 where God and the Lambe will have his Throne Rev. 22.1 He who is the meanest and lowest Instrument that ever the Lord Christ made use of for so great a worke doth humbly crave leave to conceale his name and to present these his Labours to Your Honours that the whole world may see and know what great things Christ will by You doe for his Church and people The Lord make good his great and gracious promise unto You Isa 28.6 who hath promised to be a Spirit of Judgement to You that sit in Judgement and Strength to You that have turned the battell to the gate and for a Crowne of glory and for a Diadem of beauty unto the residue of his people The Preface to the Christian Reader THe union and onenesse of all the grand enemies of the Church of God Dan. 8.26 from the evening to the morning with their fury and rage against the people of the most High and the time of their destruction and ruine with the time of the Churches Captivity with those severall Titles which the Spirit of God sets them forth by sutable to their conditions they were to be in and the time of the enemys fall the finall deliverance of the Church together with the ways and means of their Redemption is called The great Mystery of God Rev. 10.7 and 5.1 Dan. 12.9 and 8.19 Rev. 1.1 and 22.6 and 5.3 written in a little booke and sealed on the back side with seven seales and the words closed up and sealed till the time of the end A mystery and vision shewed to Daniel and John But no man was found in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the earth worthy to open and to read the booke Vers 5. neither to looke thereon but the Lord Jesus the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he prevailed and was counted worthy to open this little booke and to loose the seven Seales thereof And you have this Lion or Lambe who had been slain opening all the seven Seales 5 6 7 and 8. Chapters And this mysterie of God or little booke was not finshed or opened till the seven Trumpets sounded Rev. 10.5 and then an Angel that stood upon the sea and upon the earth lift up his hand to Heaven and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever That there should be time no longer that is that the enemies of the Church should have no longer time to tyrannize and raign over the Churches of the Saints nor the mysterie any longer concealed And saith further that in the dayes of the voyce of the seventh Angell when he shall begin to sound the mysterie of God should be finished Vers 7. And we shall finde that this Angel did not begin to sound untill the witnesses were ascended up to Heaven and the tenth part of that Antichristian City fell Rev. 11.5 Therefore though many learned and pious men have undertaken to open this book and to loose the seven Seales thereof Rev. 5.4 yet indeed were not able because they were not found worthy and because this vision was to be shut up for many dayes and the words and booke closed up and sealed with seven Seales till the time of the end Dan. 8.26 and 12.19 Rev. 5.1 Something indeed hath bin done by way of Ecclesiasticall History and paraphrasing upon the Text Vers 9 10. but to open the booke and loose the seven Seals did only belong to that Lamb which was in the midst of
all of them were with childe and travelled for a godly Magistracy 1641. Therefore set forth by a woman in travell So by two witnesses yee see is meant all the people of God and not two distinct men or distinct offices the Magistracy and the Ministery as some of our learned have supsed nor the two Testaments CHAP. III This Chapter shewes the time of those five Monarchs raigning and tyrannizing it over the Church especially of the little borne Antichrist when he began and when he ended his raigne at the same time the witnesses began to prophecy and ended THose five cruell and malicious Enemies of the Church of Christ Dan. 8.26 were to continue for many daies From the very first beginning to the last period and time of their end when they shall be quite destroyed and the Church set free from all her enemies and set downe in peace and tranquility upon the throne with Christ here on Earth to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron The Spirit of God holds forth in Daniel Dan. 8.14 to be two thousand and three hundred Propheticall daies or naturall yeares Six hundred years from the first time that the people of God and Church of the Jewes was carried captive by the Babylonians to Christs time And from Christs time to the enemies last period or totall ruine and the Churches finall deliverance 1700. yeares Isa 14.19 And then the Beast and Antichrist shall be quite cast out of the World as an abominable branch And this the Spirit of God notes Dau. 8.26 that the time of this vision is not only true but is the vision of the evening and morning The evening beginning at the first time that the people of God went into captivity and entred upon the night of their exile and banishment by the Caldeans And the morning beginning not before all the darknesse of that antichristian night be gone the Church freed from all her enemies Mal. 4.2 Rev. 2.27 Isa 24.23 and risen with that Sun of righteousnesse to the thrones of his glory to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron And to raigne upon Mount Zion and in his new Jerusalem before his Antients gloriously From the evening to the morning shall be 2300. propheticall daies and not naturall daies for that cannot be meant providence hath declared the contrary very evidently This is the full time of all the enemies raigne in generall and of the people of Gods captivity and bondage from the evening to the morning but Antichrist that little horne or power which Daniel saw come up amongst the other ten hornes ☜ Dan. 7.8 the Spirit of God spake more distinctly and exactly of the time of his raigne and of the time of his ruine then of any of the other foure Monarchs Dan. 2.7 and 11.12 he being the last more cruell in his persecution against the Saints then any of the other though the Roman Monarch came very neer to him the time of his raigne is set down to be a Time Times and halfe a Time by Daniel and 42. Moneths by John ☜ Dan. 12.7 Rev. 13.5 Power was given to him to continue forty and two moneths And the Saints captivity under him the same time who are set forth by the worke which they did and the state they were in the same time Antichrist is said to begin his raigne their worke was to give testimony and to beare witnesse of that great truth of Christs Kingly power in his Church and Temple and to protest against Antichrist his lye who said he had the power given to him and against his act sitting in the Temple of God And they were to continue witnessing and prophesying the same time which Antichrist is to raigne Rev. 11.3 Rev. 12.6 set forth by 1260. daies and to be in their exile and banishment in the wildernesse of that antichristian world nourished and fed by Gods providing and overshadowing hand of providence Rev. 12.14 for a Time Times and half a Time the same with Antichrist A time may be taken for 1000. yeares times for 200. yeares halfe a time for halfe a hundred years Or thus a time to be one year times to be two years halfe a time halfe a yeare there being 1260. daies in three yeares and a half And so the Holy Ghost reckons a day for a yeare us he doth in Daniel in the vision of the evening and morning Dan. 8.14 26. 2300. daies for so many yeares Rev. 11.3.12 6. and this agrees with the other times that the witnesses should prophesie and that the woman was to be fed in the wildernesse which was 1260. daies a daie for a yeare being so many propheticall daies or naturall yeares Rev. 13.5 Antichrist continuing forty and two moneths being the same with the former every moneth containing 30. daies which according to the Grecian account amounts to the same number 1260. daies a day for a year So the time of Antichrists raigne and the people of Gods bondage and slavery under him is 1260. propheticall daies or naturall yeares Now we are to finde out when he began his raigne and when he is said to end About the yeare 320. Constantine stood up the Church and people of God having been exceedingly broken to peeces devoured trampled under foot for some 320. years by Daniels fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 Constuntine standing up for the Christians and favouring their way Syluster Bishop of Rome Dan. 11.23 thereupon resigne the civill power of Rome and other places adjacent to the Bishops of Rome and so he began to take the power of the Emperour and the civill sword being noted by Daniel that he began by a small people and is called a little horne as indeed they were but very few Christians to the whole body of that Roman Empire neither had he any great power at this present time But at this time he did not begin his raigne some say 315. or 316. but that cannot be But most agree upon 365. and that the whole power of the Empire was resigned up to him by the Roman Emperour at this time which is very likely that he by his policy and craft gained the power of the Empire at or about this time Dau. 11.21.23 or the most part of it for he crept in by little and little into the hearts of the Roman Emperours and so into the hearts of his Kingdome even by flattery and began with a small people Dan. 11.25 and through his subtilty and policie caused craft to prosper in his hand and by peace destroyed many pretending to the Christian Emperours that he was for the good and welfare both of their souls and bodies Church and Empire and if the power of the Empire might be resigned up to him he would imploy it for the good of both Whereupon the Roman Emperour resigned up the whole power or most of it to the Bishop of Rome 365. or thereabout And this
day he entred into the Temple 375. and broke that League and Church-covenant which were amongst them and so he and many more that were of them in the same League and Covenant are said to doe wickedly against the Covenant and his heart is said to be against the holy Covenant meaning that Church Covenant that was amongst the people of God for he knew very well that so long as the people of God kept close to that Church Covenant that they would retaine that Ecclesiasticall and Church power amongst themselves and so have kept him from mixing his cup and his inventions with the pure doctrine of the Church therefore his heart was said to be against this hâ—ly Covenant Rev. 12.13 14. Dan. 12.7 and he brake it all to pieces persecuting the Saints into the Wildernesse scattering their power up and downe into the world here one Saint there another and thereupon he takes all the Church power into his hand Thus the Church and Church Covenant was broken all to pieces by him 2 Thes 2.3 8. and so he scattered the Ecclesiasticall Church power for which act of his he is called That man of sinne and That wicked one and saith the Spirit of God He is Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Sonne 1 Joh. 2.22 Antichrist he sits in the Temple of God shewing himselfe to be God in that wicked act of his in exalting or lording himselfe over the consciences of all those that are Gods and so deny Christ to have any power in his Temple in that he denied the Saints of it to whom Christ had given it saying that he was Christ that he hath power over mens consciences in matters of worship therefore saith our Saviour Luke 21.8 False Christs shall come in my name in my power saying that the power belongeth to him and so he denies the Sonne 1 Joh. 2.23 now saith the Scripture He that denies the Sonne denies the Father for he denies that God or Christ hath now the power in their hands but hath delivered over to him all concerning worship in his Church verse 22. and so he indeed is Antichrist This sinne of his is called The Mystery of Iniquity 2 Thes 2.7 It is such a deep and covered sinne as that it is called a Mystery having such faire pretences and glosses going along with it yea and it may be he did really intend to rule for God and the good of his Church as out of doubt it was thus with the Bishop of Rome at this time 375. Therefore men might think surely God and Christ had given him power so to order things both in the State and Church that there might be a uniformity in Religion that men might be all of one mind in the worship and service of God and so both the Church and the whole Empire might live and be in much peace and quietnesse Who would think this to be an evill or sinne If a sinne yet not such a sinne as the Scriptures make it to be no indeed a man would not think it to be so at the first view therefore the Spirit of God saith 2 Thes 2.10 Rev. 11.7.17.8 Dan. 8.25 That he ascended out of the boâ—â—omlesse pit digged deep for this his subtilty and craft and that his working is after the manner of Satan with all deceivablenesse of unrighteousnesse transforming himselfe into an Angell of light through his craft and policy pretending it is for their good and welfare as the Serpent did to Eve thereby deceiving the whole world Gen. 3.5 Marke 13.22 John 10.6.8 and would have done the like to the Elect of God and witnesses of Christ if it had been possible But the Sheep would not heare him for they know not the voyce of a stranger but they know the voyce of Christ and will follow him ver 4. But Antichrist that was a stranger they would not follow for they know not his voyce to come from God Whereupon he brake them all to pieces and their Church Covenant and cast the Spouse of Christ out of Gods House and Temple sitting as God himselfe over mens consciences directing and teaching them how to worship God after his owne precepts for which God cals him proud Lucifer Isa 29.13.14.13 who said in his heart I will ascend up to Heaven I will exalt my Throne above the Starres of God I will be like the most High verse 14. Oh proud Lucifer sonne of the morning Therefore the Lord cals him that man of sinne and that wicked one and his sinne 2 Thes 2.3.8 a Mystery We doe not meet with the like expressions in the Scripso high and sublime to note and set forth to us the heinousnesse of this sinne a sinne next to the sinne against the holy Ghost and the depth of his sinne a Mystery For to take the Crown from the Kings head and to take him off from his princely Throne and throw him out of his Palace against law and justice is a horrible thing yea further to force his Queen to make her to prostrate her selfe to a stranger yea to a vile person this is a sin unparaleld but to doe so to the Prince of Princes and of the Kings of the earth Rev. 1.5 and to his Spouse the Church of Christ and Saints of the most High this is a sinne brought out of the bottomlesse pit by Lucifer sonne of the morning even that sonne of perdition the Lord of his free grace and mercy kept his Witnesses from this sinne who now are ascended up to Heaven to execute judgement upon Antichrist for this sinne Yea he hath secretly hinted to us in holy writ that he will keep them from this sinne yea they shall be so farre from this sinne that they shall give some liberty to weak consciences for the present Rev. 6.11 while they are pouring forth the fifth and sixth Viall Secondly Antichrist did not onely breake the Church and people of God and that Church Covenant into pieces but devoured many of the Saints all the time of his reigne witnesse all those holy and godly Martyrs that suffered Martyrdome before and in Queen Maries dayes Thirdly the rest that were left of the Saints he stamped under his feet that is he kept them in slavery and bondage all his reigne by those ten hornes or Kings who gave their power and strength up to him who are set forth by those ten toes that are on his feet Thus Antichrist exercised all the power of the former Roman Beast Rev. 3.12 and exercised as much malice and cruelty against the Saints in breaking them to pieces devouring and trampling those that were left Dan. 7.7 as the Roman Emperour did Object But it will be objected how comes it to passe that that sinne of Antichrist in breaking the Churches and Church Covenant to pieces to be so great in him and not in the Roman Emperour when he did the same thing Dan. 7.7 Answ The
Roman Emperour did it ignorantly Antichrist knowingly against the light of his owne understanding he did it as an open professed enemy Antichrist as a secret enemy and open professed friend like Judas yea he and the rest with him who dealt wickedly against the Covenant professed themselves to be the Spouse and Witnesse of Christ And for them to deale trecherously and break this holy Covenant and Oath of wedlock and play the harlot and commit spirituall fornications with the Kings of the earth and not so onely but to break this Covenant betwixt Christ and his deare Spouse and take the Crowne from his head and his Spouse out of his bosome and cast him and them out of his House and Temple and sit as Lord and King as though he was God or Christ himselfe surely this is a greater sinne then that of the Roman Emperour for he never did sit in the Temple shewing himselfe to be God The worke and imployment of the Saints of God and witnesses of Christ all the time of Antichrists tyranny and their being in sack-cloth Rev. 11.3 7. was to prophesie and give testimony To prophesie is to speake and preach to the mutuall edification and comfort of another this they had liberty to do all 1 Car. 14.31 all the time of their bondage 1260. years I will give power to my two witnesses and they shall prophesie Rev. 11.3 When God gives liberty and power neither Devils nor the Roman Beast or his Image the Pope can hinder them Secondly they are to give testimony or beare witnesse to all the truths of Christ especially that truth which Antichrist was to deny in point of power that Christ was Lord and King over his Church which they did from the first rising of Antichrist 375. to his end 1635. for they are said Rev. 11.7 not to finish their testimony untill that time and to his Priestly office that we are freely justified by his grace and not by our owne merits CHAP. V. The witnesses are slaine by Autichrist and lye dead three daies and a halfe are raised upon their feet and ascend up to Heaven THe witnesses were to prophesie and give testimony 1260. years from 375. to 1635. and had power given them of Christ so to do when they have finished their testimony and done their work Rev. 11.7 then Antichrist that Beast that ascended out of the bottomlesse pit was to make war against them and slay them There is a naturall civill and spirituall slaying we cannot suppose it to be meant of a naturall slaying for by those two witnesses is meant all the Saints and people of God and Christ will not suffer the Devill and wicked men to slay all his people at one time or in one age no not in the hottest persecution of the Roman Emperour in those 300. yeares though many hundred have been slaine at a time And if we should understand by these witnesses the godly ones of the Magistracy and Ministery and to be naturally slaine so they have been in former ages in the daies of their prophesie as other of the Saints have been as is set forth by the word devoure and so the Spirit of God hath said no new thing but what he had formerly spoken therefore it cannot be meant a naturall slaying Secondly there is a spirituall slaying and this cannot be meant neither men nor Devils can spiritually slay the Saints and witnesses of Christ none is able to pluck them out of Christs hand There is a civill slaying and that must needs be meant in this place Now by civill slaying is meant nothing else but a taking away all their civill power which they had as they were free born subjects in the State or Kingdom wherein they live that they might not give testimony to the truths of Christ and prophesie to the mutuall edification and comfort one of another as they had formerly done for 1260. yeares But if any Magistrate or Minister or private man did protest against that grand lye of Antichrist saying that they had no Power Pope Cardinall or Prelate to sit in Christs Temple and to Lord it over the consciences of his people presently they were cast out of office their mouthes were stopped and their bodies imprisoned or they banished out of their own native Country And this was very apparent here in our Island when most of the witnesses were so dealt withall who did openly oppose Antichrist between the yeare 1635. and 1638. and a halfe Those three ever honoured worthies of Christ Master Burton Doctor Bastwick Master Pryn who were a lively embleme of the rest witnessing against the power of the Prelates and others who were forced to â—lye their owne Country Thus were they civilly slaine by Antichrist Rev. 11.8 and 11. and their dead bodies lay in the streets of that spirituall Sodome three daies and a halfe the power being taken out of their hands that they might neither give testimony nor prophesie in the Scripture sense they are said to be not only slaine but to lye as dead bodies that is men made as uselesse in the world And they would not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves That is they would not suffer humane courtesies to be shewed to them not to buy nor sell no not not to have commerce or converse with any Rev 13.17 so bitter and cruel were the Pope and Prelates between 1635. and 1638. and a half We in England found it by wofull and sad experience and our neighbour Nation of Scotland in both which most of Christs witnesses were slaine Rev. 15.2 IndeÌ„ed there were other witnesses which the Lord Christ had in other places but those had got victory over the Beast Rev. 7.14 15. and his Image and marke and number of his name who came out of the great tribulations had indured great conflicts with Antichrist but at last came out of them and so made their garments white with the blood of the Lambe and now worship God and Christ in his house and Temple day and night Rev. 7.4 who are the sealed ones of God sealed when the sixth Viall was to be poured upon the great River Euphrates Rev. 16.12 when those foure Angels were loosed that were bound in that River These were not slaine by Antichrist but are said to be upon Mount Sion with the Lambe Rev. 9.14 upon the hill of his Church singing a new Song Rev. 14.1 which none can singe but the 144000. who have not defiled themselves with that Antichristian Whore or any of her spirituall fornications Vers 3. these are redeemed from amongst men from being slaine by Antichrist Vers 4. that they might be the first fruits to God and to the Lambe in a Church way When Antichrist had thus slaine the witnesses and laid them dead three daies and a halfe not suffering their dead bodies to be put in graves then at the end of time which was 1638. and a halfe
just at that instant of time did the Spirit of God enter into the hearts and spirits of the godly part Rev. 11.11 Ezra 1.1 both in England and in Scotland as he did into Cyrus And they stood upon their feet that is they tooke courage and put liberty life goods and all to their hands and tooke to them all that power and strength they had to free themselves from that dead and slavish condition wherein Antichrist had brought them Thus the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and saith the Text Feare fell upon them that saw them And indeed so there did fall a great fear upon all that saw them of the antichristian party Rev. 11.11 both in Scotland and England yea at Rome it self witnesse the Popes Masterpeece All that knew of the godly party rising feare and horrour seized upon them and when they stood thus upon their feet Vers 12. ready to do any service that God should put them upon Presently they heard a voyce from Heaven saying Come up hither This voice was not from the materiall Heavens or the third or high Heavens where God and his Angels are for then they should have ascended up thither neither is this voice from the Church or Temple for then they should at the same time have ascended up into a true Church-State and if they had done so Antichrist would quickly have brought them down broken them all to peeces again as he had formerly done by the power of the civill sword which was still in his hand Therefore by Heaven is meant in this place the place of Judicature the mount of the Congregation ssa 14.13 the place of justice the voice came from this Heaven That wise and godly men would now ascend to this place to do justice upon Antichrist who had slaine the Saints of the most High and witnesses of Christ and by his oppression and cruelty This voice was heard first from the whole Commons in Scotland in whom all the power which is in Heaven did originally reside and afterwards in England both from the whole Common-weale and likewise from the King himselfe who sate in Heaven Rev. 11.12 And they ascended up to Heaven that is they ascended to the high place of Judicature the same time 1639. in Scotland and afterward here in England They ascended up in a cloud Maâ— 4.16 that is in a time of great darknesse and ignorance the whole world being overwhelmed with darknesse and ignorance Likewise by a cloud and darknesse is set forth Joel 2.2 a state of misery and distresse And what misery and distresse was the people of God in and all the whole world at this very time and therefore is truly said that they ascended up in a cloud in a time of great ignorance and misery CHAP. VI. Christ is said to come at this time in the clouds of Heaven or in his Saints to execute juddgement upon Antichrist with those signes of his comming very few of his Saints that have faith to beleeve this only some few who are counted wise THe witnesses being in Heaven Mat. 14.30 the Lord Jesus is to come in the clouds of Heaven to execute judgement upon that man of fin By clouds is mystically meant the witnesses of Christ in whom he is by his Spirit as is noted in the Scripture of truth When he is said to come in the clouds of Heaven he is said at the same time to come with his Saints Dan. 7.13 Daniel saith He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the Sonne of 〈◊〉 come in the clouds of Heaven when the thrones of those Beasts or Kings were cast down Zach. 14.3 And Zechariah saith when the Lord shall goe forth to fight against those Kings that carried Jerusalem captiveâ— meaning the Church of God whether Jâ—â—es or Gentilâ—â— and by those Kings he meanes those foure Beasts and the little horne Antichrist then saith he The Lord my God shall come verse 5. and all his Saints with him and when the Lord Christ speaks of his comming to judge the enemies of the Church and to deliver his people he saith That he shall come in the clouds of Heaven and againe saith John Matth. 24.30 Behold he commeth with clouds and every eye shall see him and they that pierced him meaning the Jewes Rev. 1.7 who shall be brought to Christ in this age and Enoch the seventh from Adam saith Behold the Lord commeth with 10000. of his Saints to execute judgement upon all for their ungodly deeds which they have committed c. ☜ The Saints of God and witnesses of Christ that are now in Heaven are very fitly resembled to clouds in a two-fold respect They serving for the same end and use in a mysticall and spirituall way as clouds doe in a litterall and naturall way First clouds are to keep us from the scorching and burning hear of the Sunne so doe the clouds of our mysticall Heaven the Saints of the most High and Witnesses of Christ keep the people of Christ from those scorching and burning beames of that Antichristian Sunne which hath burned many of the deare Saints of Christ to aâ—â—es and would doe the like to us at this time being so much enraged with malice and fury as they are if it were not for these mysticall clouds that are fixed fast in our Heaven Secondly clouds serve to carry water and moysture to water and fatten the dry and barren earth to make in fat and fruitfull To the same end in a mysticall and spirituall way serve the clouds of our Heaven not only to the Saints of God but also to all other who have been dryed and parched by the heat of that Antichristian Sunne even by his oppression tyranny and cruelty and the clouds of our Heaven are to carry water that may refresh the people of God and the whole land I meane just and righteous lawes and ordinances which may free us from those great taxations and oppressions which wee meet with from Antichrist which hath been done in part and were those evill spirits which were raised by those three unclean spirits like frogs which came out of the mouth of the false prophet Rev. 16.13 out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast destroyed out of our land we should see such great floods of waters flow from our clouds as though the windowes of Heaven and flood gates of the great Ocean were set open foretold and prophesied of by the servants of God and therefore it is said The Lord will send downe blessings like raine upon the mowen grasse Psal 72.6 and as showres that water the earth the Valleys shall bring forth abundantly and the hils shall drop down fatnesse verse 3. the mountaines shall bring peace to the people and the little hils by righteousnesse Thus we see the Saints and Witnesses fitly resembled to clouds in whom the Lord Jesus
glory of God his Father The same glory which God shewed unto Moses when he defired to see his glory which was called all his goodnesse or excellency which indeed is the glory of all his Attibutes and in this glory Christ is said to come at this time when he came in mysticall clouds First Rev. 11.12 he is said to come in power What great power did Christ manifest in raising up his Saints and Witnesses from such a low state a state of death and to set them upon their feet by his Spirit that entred into them the yeere 1639. and raised them up to Heaven and cast their enemies out Here was the glory of his great power seene Rach. 4 6. as the holy Ghost saith not by power of an Army or by the might of a fleshly arme was they raised up to Heaven but by the Spirit of God Secondly Rev. 11.8 the glory of Gods mercy did shine forth in delivering his Saints and people which were in a such miserable condition who were slain and lay as dead men in the streets of that spirituall Sodom their dead bodies not suffered to be put into graves for the Lord Jesus to send his spirit of life into them to set them upon their feet and to raise them up to Heaven whereby they were freed from the rage of their enemies and made Lords and Judges over them to reward their enemies as they rewarded them yea to returne them double Rev. 18.6 Oh the glory of the mercy of Jesus Christ towards his poor servants Thirdly the glory of Gods wisdome was much seen in this great work to doe it at such a time when his people could not see how or by which way they should be delivered Antichrist thinking himself to be now securer and safely seated in peace tranquility Rev. 18.7 Rev. 11.10 rejoycing and sending gifts one to another because those two Prophets were slain which tormented them The wisdome of God now stept in at the very nick and point of time and by his wisdome makes this to be the onely and chiefe time of the beginning of the enemies downfall and the Churches deliverance Oh the admirable and unspeakable glory of Christs wisdome his wisdome is infinite and there is no searching of his understanding Fourthly the glory of Gods free grace and love were wonderfully manifested there was no worth nor desert in his servants to move him to have pitty or compassion on them in such a low condition All that they did in the days of their prophesie and giving testimony was but their duty and in all they were but unprofitable servants and therefore what the Lord did to them and for them at this time was of his free grace and love Zach. 4.7 therefore well may we with shouting cry Grace grace unto this great worke Luke 18.7 Rev. 18.8 Fiftly the glory of his truth and faithfulnesse appeares in making good his Word and promises unto his Church and people which he hath made often in the Scripture of truth and in performing his Word and threatnings against the enemies of his Church The glory of his justice and holinesse shineth forth with much glory and brightnesse verse 6. in executing justice upon such an ancient enemy of the Church which with his predecessors hath been an enemy this 2300 yeers almost and so cruell and malicious an enemy who hath magnified himselfe to the Hoast of Heaven yea Dan. 8.10 11. to the Prince of the Hoast and cast him from his Throne taken his Crown from his head cast him and his Spouse out of his House and Temple strip◠her of her robes and would have forced her to commit spirituall fornication and broken the Church all to pieces devoured many of them and trampled the rest under his feet and last of all slaine the Witnesses of Christ and laid their dead bodies in the streets not suffering them to be put into graves all this villany hath he done to the Saints and for the people of the Antichristian earth Ya 4.16 17. whom he hath reigned over so long he hath made the very earth to tremble and did shake Kingdomes the world he made as a Wildernesse and destroyed the Cities thereof by his tyranny and oppression and loosed not the house of his prisoners Doth not the glory of Christs justice and severity appeare wonderfully in the ruine and utter destruction of such a grand notorious cruell malicious and insolent an enemy as this and the glory of his holinesse in destroying such a filthy Whore and Strumpet as Antichrist is Rev. 17.2 who hath committed spirituall fornication with all the Kings of the earth and the Inhabiters of the earth have been made drunke with the wine of her fornication Rev. 15.4 therefore saith the Scripture who shall not feare thee and glorifie thy name for thou onely art holy and all Nations shall worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest and againe True and righteous are his judgements for he hath judged the great Whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornications Rev. 19.2 and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hands In the glory of these great Attributes is the Lord Jesus come and they have shined forth in some measure to the joy and comfort and salvation of his people and to the sorrow and destruction of his enemies But when the Lord Christ shall come to the end of this great work of his in the utter ruine of his enemies and perfect deliverance of his Church then will the glory of these Attributes shine forth with such glory and splendor as shall darken the eye of the clearest understanding and affect the most flinty heart putting them to admiration and astonishment But this the Spirit of God notes in the Scripture ☞ Luke 18.8 that when Christ shall come to avenge his Elect meaning this very time which is the time of the enemies utter ruine and the Churches small deliverance he shall hardly find faith upon the earth he meanes he shall hardly find faith in his Saints concerning the enemies ruine and their deliverance and not justifying faith intimating to us that the Church shall be brought so low as they shall not have faith enough to raise them so high as to look to God for their deliverance through so many difficulties Dan. 12.9 This time mystery was hid from all former ages and the words closed up and sealed untill the time of the end written in a little book and sealed with seven seals none being able to open it neither in Heaven or earth Rev. 5.1 Rev. 5.4 Rev. 5.5 Rev. 10.7 or under the earth but Christ only it is called The great Mystery of God not opened till the seventh Trumpet begins to sound and we doe not read he began to sound untill the Witnesses were in Heaven and the tenth part of the City fell which was the yeere of
and King Rev. 14.1 This sixth Trumpet appeares to be one and the same with the sixth Seale Sixth Trumpet sounds Rev. 9 14. when this Trumpet sounds Those foure Angels which were bound in that great river Euphrates is loosed for an houre day moneth and yeare to slay the third part of those antichristian men a certaine time for an uncertaine as is supposed about the space of 14. yeares beginning in 1641. and ends 1655. By foure Angels is meant a certaine company of men instruments of Gods wrath to destroy Antichrist and his great Army the number of these men are set downe in the next Verse to be two hundred thousand thousand Rev. 17.15 By river Euphrates is meant mystically a great company of People Nations and Tongues on which that antichristian Whore did sit and amongst those was these instruments of Gods wrath bound by that civill power which Antichrist had in his hand Rev. 12.16 before the witnesse ascended up into Heaven but after they were ascended and Christ had cut a little stone out of that great monntaine even a little civill power out of Antichrists great power by vertue of this did Christ and his witnesses loose those foure Angels out of this great river Euphrates and being loosed they presently stand up with Christ and his Saints Rev. 12.16 and open their mouthes and swallow up that flood which the Dragon cast out of his mouth after the woman yea and they shall take part with Christ and his Army and hate the Whore and shall make her desolate At this time is noted in Rev. 10.2 and 8. that this little book was open in the hand of the Angel which had been formerly shut and sealed up yea this Angel sweares by him that liveth for evermore that there should be time no longer that is this mystery of God should now be finished and made plaine that men may now see and understand what was contained within this little booke This Seale and Trumpet agrees with the sixth Viall The sixth Viall poured forth Rev. 16.12 and so appeares to be one and the same Which was poured upon that great river Euphrates whereupon three spirits like froggs goe out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false prophets even the Devill and the Roman Emperour and the Pope and these are the spirit of Devils working miracles Priests and Jesuites c. who go forth to the Kings of the Earth to gather together many waters or people unto the battell of the great God Almighty now upon this great river Euphrates or many people doth Christ and his Saints with the men of the Earth that help them poure forth the sixth Viall and so drieup this great river that way may be made for the Kings of the East yea that Christian Kings and Princes may raigne upon the Earth The second woe is past and behold the third woe commeth quickly Rev. 11.14 The seventh Seale being opened silence is in Heaven The seventh Seal is opened Rev. 8.1 the high place of Judicature for the space of halfe an houre see chap. 9. at this time is the Prayers of all Saints offered up to God upon the golden Altar which was before the throne in the Temple that is then shall the Churches of the Saints in and upon that golden Altar Christ offers up praises and thanksgiving unto God for executing vengeance upon his Enemies and for the delivering of his Churches from bondage and misery which hath been the prayers of all Saints from the evening to the morning 2300. yeares almost and now will be fully answered at this time This agrees with the voice of the seventh Trumpet for when it sounded there was great voices heard in Heaven in the Church The seventh Trumpet sounds Rev. 11.15 saying the Kingdomes of this world are now become the Lords and his Christs and now Antichrist is destroyed and the powers of States is in the hands of Christ and his witnesses and therefore he and they shall raigne for ever and ever Whereupon the Church with her officers which sit upon the Seates of their glory in Christs House and Temple fell upon their faces noting thereby their owne humility and their high esteeme of Christ worshipping him and giving thanks to God Almighty which was is and is to come because he hath now taken to him his great power and doth raigne Which Seale and Trumpet argues with the seventh Viall which was poured upon that Antichristian aire The seventh Viall poured forth Rev. 16.17 18. by the peaching of the Gospel which is to be done when the fifth and sixth Viall is poured upon the seate of the Beast and that great River Euphrates Even then came voices out of the Temple which causeth a great spirituall earth-quake amongst those antichristian men that there shall be such infinite store of men converted to the faith and brought home to Christ as never was since men was upon the face of the Earth and then shall an infinite company as it were be before the throne singing Alleluiah saying Salvation and glory and honour and power be unto the Lord our God for executing justice and judgement upon that great Whore Rev. 19.1 2. and 6. Yea the voice of a great multitude and the voice of many waters of many people and of mighty thunderings saying Alleluiah and the foure Beasts and the twenty foure Elders fell downe and worshipped God that sate on the throne saying Vers 6. Amen Alleluiah vers 4. Thus the third woe is come upon that antichristian state to her utter ruine and destruction Thus we have seen the seven Seales and the seven Trumpets and seven Vials to be all about one and the same thing First sealing up Gods judgements for a time afterwards the Seales broke open the Ministers of the Churches by the preaching of the Gospel declares what these judgements are and then the Angels poured forth their Vials upon that Antichristian world The next thing we are to doe in the following Chapters is to shew what the fifth and sixth and seventh Vials are more fully and whom those Angels be which are to poure them forth CHAP. VIII The first worke of the witnesses after they are in Heaven is chiefly the pouring forth of the fifth Viall and the meanes whereby they doe it with those effects which follow upon it THe witnesses being ascended up to Heaven and Christ come in them and sate downe upon the throne to execute judgment upon Antichrist Isa 28.6 Rev. 16.10 Isa 14.13 the first thing we reade shall bee done is the pouring forth the fifth Viall which is poured forth upon the throne and seate of the Beast He is said to have his throne above the Stars of God above his Saints in his Temple and likewise upon the Mount of the Congregation the high place of Judicature It hath appeared to all the world that hee hath taken
and Prelats stood ready to hinder this great designe and birth of the Church by all the power and strength they could make which were cleare and evident to all our sights 1641. when the people of God bestirred themselves both to God by prayer and to the godly party in the Parliament that those popish Lords and Prelats might be cast out Rev. 12.5 Whereupon those Petitions and prayers were heard of Christ and his Witnesses and so the Church did not onely bring forth the man-child or government but it was likewise received up to God and his Throne into the high place of Judicature and the Dragon and the Beast in those popish Lords and Prelats were cast out to the earth by a wonderfull and miraculous hand of divine providence These foure Effects have beene very evidently fulfilled and brought to passe before the eyes of all from the time the Witnesses first ascended up to Heaven 1639. in Scotland to the yeere 1641. when the Popish Prelats were cast out of Heaven here in England Some say that the Church travailed in birth 320. with Constantine who was that man-child and so he was taken up to Heaven and then the Church fled into the Wildernesse But that cannot be the meaning of the Text for the Churches worke at that time as the Spirit of God hath declared was to beare witnesse and to give testimony to that great truth of Christs kingly power in his Churches and so to all other truth which Rev. 11.3 Antichrist would afterward deny all the time of their prophesie 1260. yeers And as for Constantine he was not to rule all nations with a rod of iron this onely belonged to Jesus Christ and to his Saints Rev. 2.21 who were to reigne with him therefore this cannot be meant of Constantine nor of that time but of this very time which we may plainly see by those things which have been done in our sight and for that 6. verse chap. 12. of the woman fleeing into the Wildernesse is brought in as a seale to the prophesie with the 15. verse For from the 7. verse of chap. 11. to the end of the 12. chap. the Spirit of God sets downe nothing but what was to come to passe in our time here amongst us from the day and yeer 1635. when the Witnesses were slaine to the yeer 1641. when the warre fell out to be in Heaven between the Dragon and his Angels and Christ and his Angels onely those two verses 6. and 14. of the 12. chapter of the Church fleeing into the Wildernesse 375. And when this man-child was received up to Heaven and the Dragon and his Angels cast out of Heaven to the earth here in England by Christ and his Witnesses was a second degree of the pouring forth of the fifth Viall upon the Throne of the Beast for this casting him out of Heaven to the Earth is a taking away all his power from him both Civill and Ecclesiasticall in Church and State Thus that proud Lucifer Sonne of the morning Isa 14.10.12 is said to be fallen from Heaven and to be cut downe to the ground and to become weake like the common people of the earth both in Scotland and here in England CHAP. IX The sixt Viall poured upon Antichrist with the way or meanes by which it is done and the Instrument by whom it is poured forth the Beast and the false prophet taken and cast into a Lake of fire with the silence in Heaven about the space of halfe an houre THe Churches of the Saints declaring to all the world that the way to have all oppression and tyranny removed and to bring in all peace and tranquility was to have all those that did formerly tyrannize over them cast out of office and place of government and let the Civill power be put into the hands of Christ and his Witnesses shee bringing forth this man-child into the world is presently received up to Heaven by Christ and his Witnesses the devil and his angels who ruled the world before is now cast out of Heaven to the Earth ☞ Upon this followes warre between the Dragon and his angels and Michael and his angels Rev. 12.7 The Dragon at the same time by his taile drawes the third part of the Starres of Heaven after him verse 4. the devil will not fall from Heaven alone but he will draw some of the Starres with him By Heaven is meant the place of judicature by Starres is meant those men that sits in Parliament And was not this evident did not the third part of the Parliament fall off at the same time and was drawne after the Dragon even with his taile the popish Lords and Prelats who are his taile to make warre with Christ and his Church Rev. 16.13 14 There gâ—es at the same time three uncleane spirits like Frogges out of the mouth of the Dragon the devil and out of the mouth of the Roman Beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet the Pope which are the spirits of devils working miracles That is those Jesuiticall spirits which work with as much policy and craft as though they did work miracles and so deceive and delude men These goe forth to the Kings of the whole world to gather them to the battell of the great God Almighty Rev. 11.15 so the devil is said to cast a flood out of his mouth after the woman the Church which brought forth this man-child a flood of wicked and ungodly men which he had gathered by those three spirits This hath bin partly fulfilled before our eyes Did not those Jesuiticall spirits goâ— up and downe to the Kings of the earth France Spaine c. to gather them together in battell against the Witnesses and the Church of God when they saw that popish Lords and Prelats were cast out of the Parliament 1641. who are still at worke with the Kings of the earth and will be untill the worke be done Christ and his Witnesses seeing this presently they prepare and make ready for to wage warre against Antichrist Therefore he is said in righteousnesse to judge and make warre and shall breake them in pieces like a Potters Vessell Rev. 19.11 Dan. 7.26 Psal 2.9 Rev. 18.6 Rev. 2.27 Sixth Viall poured our Rev. 12.7 8. so the Dragon fought and his angels and Michael and his Angels but saith the holy Ghost they prevailed not neither was their place any more found in Heaven Antichrist shall not prevaile though the warre be long and bloody neither shall he get the power of Church or State any more into his hands after it is once taken out This warre which is in Heaven between the Dragon and his Angels and the Lord Jesus and his Witnesses that sit in Parliament Rev. 17.15 is the pouring forth of the sixth Viall upon that great River Euphrates which must be dryed up before that mysticall Babylon can be taken as that old river Euphrates was before literall Babylon
Isa 13.12 that a man of that Antichristian and mysticall Babylon shall be more precious then fine gold even a man then the golden wedge of Ophir Dan. 7.11 For by fire and by sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slaine of the Lord shall be many Isa 66.16 In this war the Roman Beast shall be taken and slaine and his body given to the burning flames and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him Rev. 19.20 with which he deceived them that had received the marke of the Beast These both are cast alive into a lake burning with fire and brimstone this is the purpose which is purposed upon the whole earth and this is the hand that is and shall be stretched out upon all Nations for the Lord of Hosts hath purposed and who shall disanull it and his hand is stretched out and who shall turne it back Isa 14.26 27. Thus we see the fifth and sixth Viall poured upon the seat of the Beast and upon that great river Euphrates all his powers and strength taken from him in heaven himself cast down to the earth yea to hell and his armies utterly destroyed and given to the beasts of the field and to the fowles of Heaven Yet there is another Viall to be poured out namely upon the aire wherein Antichrist breathed but when the Witnesses Christs civill Magistrates that sit in Heaven have done that worke which is proper for them as they are civill Magistrates they shall sit still and keep silence in Heaven about the space of halfe an houre which is the full time that the seventh Viall shall be pouring forth though the Beasts have their Dominions taken from them Yea both the Beast and false prophet are cast into a lake burning with fire and brimstone Dan. 7.12 yet these are said to live still in the hearts of those men in whom those errors and heresies do still abide which they brought into the world by their Antichristian aire and this remnant of men are not to be destroyed by the power of the civill Sword Rev. 19.21 but to be destroyed by a mysticall and spirituall sword which proceeded out of the mouth of him that sits upon the white Horse and by spirituall men sent out of the Temple Rev. 16.17 therefore the civill Magistrate shall keepe silence all the same time even about the space of halfe an houre and sit and rest themselves having done the best worke that ever was done before them or that shall be done after them We cannot suppose this silence to be in Heaven strictly for half an houre no nor half a day moneth or yeare for the seventh Viall must be poured forth upon that Antichristian aire all the ten Kingdomes over in this space of time that this silence is to be in Heaven which cannot be in so short a time neither can it be meant of any longe time Luk. 21.32 because Antichrist must be destroyed in one age and generation of men Christ speaking of the ruine of Antichrist mystically as well as of Jerusalem literally therefore we are to take this silence for the space of half an houre for the space of 45. yeares in which time the seventh Viall is pouring forth as shall appeare more fully when we come to speake of the time or times of the ending of these Vials It is said that this silence was in Heaven when the seventh Seale was opened this we are to note that it was the custome of the Jewes to write those things that were of greater consequence in sheets of parchment and so to roll them up and seale them if they were things secret The Spirit of God alluding to this their custome sets forth to us that every Viall was written in a roll of parchment and every roll was sealed seven Vials were written in seven rolls and every roll had a seale and when the first Viall was to be poured forth then the first seal was broken open and the first trumpet sounded The Seale was broken open that men might see what was written in the roll and the trumpet which was the Gospel in the mouth of the Ministers of the Churches was to declare to that Antichristian world what the Judgement or the Viall was which God was then pouring forth upon them and the Viall or Judgement that they were to feel with paine and anguish when the Lord poured it forth ☜ So when the first Viall was poured forth the first Seal was opened and the first Trumpet sounded and so in order the second and third unto the seventh And when the seventh Seale was opened the seventh Viall was poured forth and then this silence was in Heaven Before we leave speaking of the sixth Viall we are to take notice of this that although the Lord be come in the clouds of our Heaven even in his Witnesses standing upon the Mount Olives and the judgement seat and the Thrones are casting downe yea and the Lord is gone out to fight and make warre with those Kings that carried the Church of God captive and himselfe upon the white horse and much of the worke is done yet at this time the holy Ghost saith Zach. 14.6 Rev. 2.28 That the light shall not be cleare no◠darke the morning Star is but newly risen and a very little light doth yet appeare There is so much darknesse as very few of the Saints themselves doe not see nor know what the Lord Christ is doing either for Churches or States great feares amongst most of the Saints that sorrow and misery will come to both They cannot as yet see how or when the Church of Christ shall be delivered nor the pure way of Christs worship in his House and Temple set up onely a few choyce ones that be wise Dan. 12.3 and they shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament That is those godly ones whom the Lord hath made wise to understand the Mystery of pure Ordinances of worship and the way and Government of Christ in his House and Temple at this time wherein the worship of God is so exceedingly corrupted and polluted by the abominations of that Babylonish Whore they shall shine in this Antichristian world as the brightnesse of the Firmament for the present And they that turne many to righteousnesse as the Stars for ever and ever When they shall not onely see and be able to discerne between gold and drosse water and pure wine Christs owne institutions and mens inventions and the false government of Antichrist and the true government of Christ in and over his Church and people but also turne many unto those righteous and pure Ordinances of worship even they saith the Lord shall shine as Starres not in this age and time onely but for ever and ever their names shall be famous unto all the Churches of the Saints For the first ever or terme of time which Christ and his Saints shall reigne in peace even a
of their mindes but this is a preposterous way they may sooner root their hearts out of their brests But we see Christs way he useth the Civill Sword to take away all Antichrists power which he got by the Civill Sword Christ useth a spirituall sword to remove and cast out all those errors that are in mens spirits and so slays him carry him captive and likewise dry up that River Euphrates but spiritually to slay men in removeing darknesse and ignorance out of their understanding and so consequently errors and heresies he hath a spirituall Sword fit for the worke So the seventh Angel poured forth the seventh Viall into the aire and then came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven Rev. 16.17 from the Throne saying It is done By aire is meant that Antichristian ignorance and darknesse wherewith Antichrist had filled the whole world Rev. 16.10 Rev. 14.6.7 By voices is meant the Gospel By Temple is meant the Church or Churches of the Saints 2 Cor. 6.16 This voice came out of the Temple that is the Churches of the Saints sent forth Messengers or Ministers to preach the Gospel Rev. 14.6 to every Nation kinred tongue and people The Temple of Heaven from the civill throne Christ and his witnesses being in Heaven the high place of Judicature where they have their throne the Spirit of God joines the Temple and this Heaven together and Christs civill Magistrates and his Churches go hand in hand and with joint consent send forth Ministers to preach the Gospel Rev. 14.6 therefore it is said I saw an Angel flee through the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach c. saying It is done These Ministers shall declare to all the world that now the worke is done the Kingdomes and Dominions are taken from the Beast Dan. 7.11 12. and their bodies given to the burning flame and their Armles utterly destroyed and given up to the slaughter and so the worke is as good as done Isa 34.2 And another shall come after them and say Rev. 14.8 Babylon is fallen Babylon is fallen And another after him shall come and pronounce the judgments of God against every man that retains and holds fast those Antichristian errors Vers 9 10. saying If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his marke in their hands or in their foreheads the same man shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lambe Upon this great voice of the Gospel shall follow two great effects or consequences First the bringing in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles Secondly the calling home of the Jewes First the fulnesse of the Gentiles shall come in declared in these words That there were voices and thundering and lightning Rev. 16.18 and there was a great earthquake By voices lightning c. is meant great stirs and combustions amongst men not in a warlike way as were before but in disputing and arguing about matters of Religion And by earthquake is meant a great falling off and renouncing those Antichristian tenets and errors which they formerly held to imbrace the sincere truths of the Gospel both for Doctrine and Discipline which is called the bringing in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles And this earthquake shall be so mighty and so great as was not the like since men lived on the earth there will be such a generall falling off and renouncing of their errors Rom. 11.25 and such a true and thorow imbracing of the truths of the Gospel as never was since men were upon the earth this is called the first resurection Rev. 20.6 And this great City is said to be divided into three parts Rev. 16.19 one part is to be slaine civilly to have all their civill power taken from them as those seven thousand were slaine in Scotland Rev. 11.13 at the fall of the tenth part of the City by Christ and his witnesses that sit in Heaven Secondly Another part is to be slaine by the naturall sword Rev. 19.11 and 14. by him that sits upon the white Horse and they which follow him upon white Horses in Heaven upon the high places of the field in his Army Thirdly The third part is to be slaine spiritually by that spirituall sword of the Gospel which proceedeth out of the mouth of Christ which is that voice that came out of the Temple So this great City is divided into three parts Vers 21. and thus great Babylon is said to come into remembrance before God and to drinke of the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath and fury Thus will the Lord deal with Babylon even deal with her as she did with the Saints yea reward her double Rev. 18.6 she brake the Saints to peeces so shall she be broken to peeces like a Potters Vessell that shall not be set together againe Psal 2.9 Rev. 2.27 she devoured the Saints so shall she be devoured Every man that is found of her shall be thrust through and every one that is joyned to her Isa 13.15 shall fall by the sword She slew the Saints by a civill sword and tooke away all their powers from them and led them into captivity so shall she be civilly slaine by the same Sword and carried captive Rev. 13.10 and shut up as prisoners in a pit and civilly bound for many yeares They laid the witnesses dead bodies in the streets of that spirituall Sodome Isa 24.22 so shall they lye dead and bound with Satan a thousand yeares Rev. 20.3 5. not put into their graves Isa 14.19 nay worse they shall be cast out of their graves like on abominable branch loathsome and vile for all men to behold even as the rayment of him that is thrust through with a Sword and as a carkasse trodden under foot thus shall it be done to mysticall Babylon the mother of Haroots Rev. 17.5 rindx and the abominations of the whole earth the zeale of the Lord of Host will do all this in his appointed time And the Lord gives the reason of all this his fury Esa 37.32 and wrath and indignation against Babylon and saith Isa 34.8 It is the day of the Lords vengeance the yeare of recompences for the controversie of Zion and it is the vengeance of the Lord even the vengeance of his Temple Jer. 50.28 the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon shall the Inhabitants of Zion say and my blood upon the Inhabitants of Chaldea Jer. 51.35 shall Jerusalem say Thus will the Lord pleade his Churches cause and take vengeance for her The second great effect which followes upon the seventh Vials pouring forth is the calling of the Jewes The
to sin but this he shall be bound from tempting men to civill war against one another Mic. 4.3 all that 1000. years and therefore they are said not to learne war any more that is not all that 1000. yeares and wicked men shall be civilly slain and laid as dead men and not to live untill that 1000. years be ended Rev. 20.5 and shut up as prisoners in a pit not but that they shall have as much liberty as the Saints in an outward way to trade and to have commerce in the world but they shall have all civill power taken out of their hands and so lie as dead men and uselesse men in the State or Kingdome where they live and be in that respect as prisoners gathered into a pit and shut up in prison Isa 24.22 But after this thousand yeares is ended then Satan shall be unbound in the yeare 2700. and the rest of the wicked Rev. 20.7 Vers 5. Isa 24.22 which were civilly dead shall live and the prisoners which were shut up shall be visited that is let forth out of their prison and the Devil shall go out to deceive the Nations of the earth by stirring up wicked men to make civill war with the Saints and the wicked of the earth shall be suffered by God to take up armes against his people and so are said to be let out of prison for it is a prison to wicked men and the Devill Rev. 20.5 to be kept from warring against the people of God And likewise are said to live when the 1000. yeeres are ended that is civilly they now having taken up Armes have civill power in their hands Ezek. 39.1 and so live And they shall gather together into a great Army horses and horsemen all of them cloathed with all sorts of armour even a great company all of them handling the sword the number of whom is as the sand of the sea God and Magog The chiefe Princes of Meshech and Tubal Captaines of this great Army shall goe upon the breadth of the earth and compasse the Campe of the Saints and the beloved City But God will destroy them with a mighty destruction Rev. 20.9 First he will call for a sword against him throughout all his Mountaines or powers of States all being in the hands of him and his Saints at the same time throughout the world Ezek. 38.21 Secondly God will turne the sword of the enemy against themselves every mans sword shall be against his brother Thirdly God will send his pestilence into their army Vers 23. Rev. 20.9 Ezek. 39.2 4.9.12 Ezek. 28.23 and raigne upon them great haile-stones fire and brinstone and but the sixt part of them shall returne back and the rest shall fall upon the Mountaine of Israel and the people of God shall be seven moneths burying the dead and seven yeares burning their weapons Thus will the Lord magnifie and sanctifie his great Name in the fight of the Heathen and in the eyes of many Nations and they shall know that he is the Lord and they shall know that the people of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity and for their sin Therefore God hid his face from them and gave them all into the hands of their enemies and the house of Israel shall know that the Lord is their God from that day forwards neither will he hide his face from them any more because he hath poured his Spirit upon them And thus shall God destroy this great army of Gog Magog the Devil that deceived them shall be cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Rev 20.10 where the Beast and false prophets are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever And then the Saints of God and Churches of Jesus Christ shall reigne in peace and quiet never to be molested by the Devill and wicked men in a way of civill war more and shall reigne to the end of the world but when that end of the world shall be is not knowne Our Saviour gave foure signes of his comming to judge Antichrist but of that last judgement of quick and dead when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father and God to be all in all 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Mark 13.32 of this day and houre knowes no man no not the Angels in Heaven neither the Son but the Father Onely he hath hid this time and season in his owne heart and breast and it is not for us to search into it or to meddle with it It may be hundreds or thousands of yeares after this yeare 2700. when Gog and Magog shall be destroyed But this is noted in the Scripture of truth that the Saints shall reigne for three periods they shall take and possesse the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Ever is a terme of time Dan. 7.8 the first ever begins 1655. when the Beast and the false prophet and their Armies shall be destroyed and the Saints take possession of the Kingdome to the yeare 1700. unto which time the seventh Viall shal be pouring upon that Antichristian aire and so cast out of the world as out of the grave as an abominable branch Second Ever is from the yeare 1700. to the yeare 2700. all that 1000. yeares reigne of Christ and his Saints wherein Satan is to be bound and the wicked civilly slaine and lye dead at the end of which terme they shall assay to take the power out of the hands of the Saints but shall not be able This is the second terme of time or ever to which the Saints shall raigne The third Ever is from the yeare of Christ 2700. to the end of the world when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the quick and dead and deliver up the Kingdome to his Father and God be all in all Then also who knows whether the Lord will fulfill all these things in a literall and naturall way at his last and personall comming to judgment as he hath fulfilled them in a spirituall and mysticall sense as hath been shewed in this discourse so that the sun shal be darkened and the moon be turned into blood the stars fall from Heaven Heaven and Earth to be rolled together as a scroll and passe away and their place be no more found and the sea not only to roare but there to be no more sea and a new Heaven and a new Earth to be made by the almighty power of God which shal be as a great new City for the servants of God to dwell in and to behold his face and see his glory which City will have no need of the light of a naturall sun or moone for the Lord God and the Lambe will be the light and glory thereof FINIS