Antychrist Stormeâ— Antichrist STORMED OR Mystery Babylon the great Whore and great City proved to be the present Church of Rome Wherein all Objections are fully answered To which is added The Time of the End or a clear Explanation of Scripture Prophecies with the Judgment of divers Learned men concerning the final Ruine of the Romish Church that it will be in this present Age. Together with an Account of the Two Witnesses who they are with their Killing Resurrection Ascention Also an Examination and Confutation of what Mr. Jurieu hath lately written concerning the Effusion of the Vials proving none of them are yet poured out With Mr. Canns Reasons to confirm the same Likewise a brief Review of D. Tho. Goodwins Exposition of the 11th chapter of the Revelations concerning the Witnesses and of that Street in which they should lie slain proving it to be meant of Great Brittain And a brief Collection of divers strange Prophecies some very Antient. By Benj. Keach Author of Sion in Distress To which is annext A short Treatise in two parts 1. The Calculation of Scripture numbers by Scripture only without the help of Humane History 2. Upon the Witnesses giving light to the whole Book LONDON Printed for Nath. Crouch at the Bell in the Poultrey near Cheapside 1689. TO THE READER Christian Reader THat which induced me to publishthe insuing Treatise at this time is first the consideration of the present Providence of the great God under which we are exercised wherein it may appear to all that he hath with an out-stretched Arm begun to deliver his people and to plead the controversie of Sion against his old and implacable Enemies such a gracious dispensation as we have certainly never before seen and what the issue or event of it will be we cannot be ignorant if we consult his word Babylon must fall that is evident and that this Mystery Babylon is the Church of Rome is fully cleared in this Treatise which we hope may tend to convince such who have had any doubt upon their Spirits about it and confirm others in the stedfast belief thereof true 't is not above 6 or 7 years since we wrote something of the same nature but that lying in a folio a book that comes but into a few hands Besides this is great part new and many things of another nature insisted on I have been stirred up to make it publick in this small tract hoping that such who read it will see some further cause to hate the Whore and all her off-spring who still retain her Persecuting Spirit tho' blessed be God this Nation and Scotland likewise are stirred up of late with just revenge against her the Lord continue it for there is much work still to be done both here and abroad before that glorious state of the Church comes in which we have so long waited for as touching the time of Babylons final ruin and overthrow something we have here said and have also given the various Apprehensions of many learned and worthy Writers in respect of that as also touâ—â—ing the Slaying and Resurrection of the two Witnesses together with their Ascention which will have its further opening by the works and providence of God so that our light like the path of the Just shall shine more and more to the perfect day time will make manifest what is in the Womb of the present Providence That which adds further incouragement is I perceive almost every where Gods people are much upon the search into the Prophesies of the Scripture and Revelations of St. John about the time of the end We have given some brief hints touching the seven Seals Trumpets and the seven Vials or last Plagues spoken of by St. John which may we hope let in a little light into some mens understandings and tend to the putting of them upon a further search we conclude that the six first Seals spoken of Rev. 6. open things that were to come to pass in the World from the time that John received his Revelations until the years 311 or 320 or there abouts which produced 1. That fearful Apostacy from the Apostolical Faith and true Christianity of the Gospel Church 2. The utter overthrow of the sixth Head of the Beast or Pagan Emperors Reign and so put an end to the ten bloody Persecutions under them for under the sixth Seal was effected or brought to pass their final ruin signified by an Earthquake Rev. 6. Which overthrow was first begun by Constantine the great and fully compleated according to History by Theodosius about 379. under the 7 Seal there was silence in Heaven for half an hour viz. A short time of rest for the Church and Saints of God which began in Constantines dayes and lasted as some conceive till the troubles rose by the Arians which was if I mistake not about the latter end of his Reign but others say it continued till Theodosius died in the year 395. also under the Seventh Seal come in the Angels with their Seven Trumpets the 6 first Trumpets 't is concluded by most learned writers brought in those things that were effected or accomplished under the Papal power and Turkish Empire as also the death and Resurrection of the Witnesses and so brings in the second woe The seventh Trumpet as I conceive brings in the Ascention of the Witnesses and then comes out the seven Angels with the seven Vials and last Plagues the first of which I cannot believe hath as yet been poured out nor shall till the Ascention of the Witnesses which will be attended with that second Earthquake Rev. 11. and from that very time I conclude the Kingdom of Christ will begin which I know is quite contrary to what Dr. Goodwin Dr. More Du Moulin and of late Peter Jurieâ— have written the reasons why I am of this Opinion you will find if you read the latter part of this Treatise Dr. Goodwin if I mistake him not says that Waldo c. might be said to pour out the first Vial and that two or three more of them have since been poured out by the Angels or Ministers of God out of the Temple as they have been indued with more or lesser light but we cannot think any of the Sackcloth Witnesses who have lived under the time of the Beasts 42 months can be said to pour out any of those Vials because they are said to be clothed with pure white linnen and to have Golden Girdles about their breasts and for several other reasons which we have here given 't is indeed very strange to many wise men that Mr. Jurieu should so confidently affirm that all the Vials should be already poured out by Gods Ministers and that they are still in their Sackcloath and have so all along Others there are who Judge that the Seven Vials shall none of them be poured out till the Seventh Trumpet shall begin to sound which will effect her utter overthrow and so bring in the third woe of this
arguments that are broughâ— by others to prove that France Germany or any other countrey under the Papal power should â— there intended with those that may justly be alledged to prove England is the spot where that prediction was to be accomplished And now saith he if the witnesses are upon thâ—â— feet as I am strongly inclined to believe they are and am more and more confirmed in my notion in that respect and that so as they shall never more be flung upon their backs then I may confidently affirm that it will not be long ere they shall hear a great voice from Heaven saying unto them Come up hither And accordingly they shall ascend up into Heaven in a Cloud their Enemies beholding them in which ascent of theirs they must be conformable to the resurrection and ascention of Christ himself But whereas it is objected that if the witnesses are risen indeed so as to be on their feet in pursuance of that sacred prediction Rev. 11. there must needs have been some more than ordinary appearance of the presence of God in the midst of his people or at the least in a greater degree thereof than as yet we see Ans. I say no it doth not therefore follow that it must be so nor indeed it cann't rationally be expected till the time comes of their ascention for this is an established rule with me that there must and will be a signal proportion or resemblance betwixt the Death Resurrection and Ascention of Christs witnesses and that of Christ himself Now as to what concerneth the resurrection of our Saviour himself in his own person thus we are told that he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs being seen of his Disciples forty days and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God yet for ought as appears to us he appeared unto them in all that time but as he did before there was no discovery of any signal Majesty or visible glory upon him more than they had seen upon him before his Death and Suffering neither indeed was the Spirit come down upon them And the reason is expresly rendred because that Jesus was not yet glorified neither could the glorification of Christ be expected till his â—…cention and consequently they could not look 〈…〉 the effusion of the Spirit till then Wherefore tho' it is true there is as yet no appearance of any signal glory upon Gods people nor any considerable measure of the Holy Spirit thâ—â— there was before yet for as much as it is highly rational to conceive that there must be and will be as clear resemblance or proportion as I said before betwixt what passed at the Resurrection of Christ and his Ascention and that of the Witnesses from hence it plainly sollows that we have 〈◊〉 just ground to expect that abundant effusion of the Spirit which God hath promised and we have been a waiting for till we see the Witnesses upon thâ—â— Ascention-work For as it is evident that thâ—â— will be a time of great confusion and desolation upon the Enemies of God so it is as evident and we may no less groundedly expect but that it will be a time of great glory and refreshment unto Godâ— people by the abundant pouring out of the Spirâ—â— upon them whereby Conversion work will swiftly go on and prosper and the Gospel run and 〈◊〉 glorified to which let me add why may we noâ— then expect such great light to break forth or thâ— Spirit in such a manner to be given as to convict 〈◊〉 Gods Children who they are that are in the trueâ— order of the Gospel so that all the Saints and Protestant Churches may be United into one Body anâ— Communion according to that holy Primitive anâ— Apostolical pattern and purity Then saith he 〈◊〉 may justly conclude that as it was promised of 〈◊〉 in the Type it shall be much more in the Antitypâ— viz. That the glory of the latter House should exceed the glory of the former which in the Tyâ—â— was fulfilled by Christ's Personal presence therâ— according to that promise The desire of all Nâ—tiâ—◠〈…〉 and I will fill this House with glory saith 〈…〉 of Hosts Hag. 2. 7. Now if the Personal 〈…〉 of Christ in that day and state of his Humiâ—… filled that latter House or material Temple 〈◊〉 glory so that it exceeded the glory of the forther we may after the same rule as justly conclude that tho' the Spiritual or Gospel Temple in the first Edition of it in the Apostle's days was glorious through the abundant effusion of the Holy Spirit that the same Spiritual House in the second Edition thereof in the latter days to be sure will not come short but rather exceed in glory c. To which let us add the glorious Deliverance promised from outward Oppression and Persecution which never quite ceased in the Primitive days together with that glorious Union they shall have that pure Language and shall serve the Lord with one consent together with the great increase of the Church bringing in both Jews and Gentiles into one Sheep-fold but till the Ascention of the Witnesses comes to pass these things cannot groundedly be expected He also gives some hints concerning the time of the slaying of the Witnesses as also of their Resurrection which things he doth not presume positively to determine but rather conjecturally expresseth himself the exact time he mentions I shall not relate but you may conclude he fixes the slaying of them between the year 1680 and 1688. For since the â—ime that the pretended Protestant Plot was talk'd â—f and as they said discovered and several worthy Christians Executed as the ever Renowned William Lord Russel Sheriff Cornish the Noble Earl 〈◊〉 Essex Col. Sidney and that godly Woman and Martyr Mrs. Gaâ—nt c. What a Flood of contempt reproach and what not hath been as he â—â—serves cast upon the whole of the true interest 〈◊〉 Christ in this Kingdom with the barbarous slaughter of those worthy Christians and Witnessâ—â— in the West together with that Storm of Persecâ—tion which we have no ground to doubt was â—â—â—ried on by the Popish Enemy and Emissaries of Râ—â—â— together with the turning out of places of truâ—â— many good Protestants and the taking away of Charters of Cities and Corporations silencing worthy Ministers c. nay striking at the root and whole constitution of the English Government â—â—thing being designed but the utter subversion of the Protestant Religion things growing every day worse and worse nothing appearing but the blackness of darkness and that which was worst of all many of Gods witnesses seemed to be strangely despirited whilest others truckl'd to the Enemiâ—â— yoak suffering Chapels to be erected for Popery and Cursed Mass Priests and Jesuites and that toâ— in many of the chief of our Cities nay in famoâ—â— London it self and that in the very Heart of it Oâ—â— state seeming desperate and hopeless in the view 〈◊〉 all at home
and abroad many good men basely misled joining in with them unawares in carryâ—â— on the design of this Whore in this her great 〈◊〉 last attempt wherein she doubted not but to 〈◊〉 all the Hereticks under her Foot and utterly to extirpate the Protestant Religion such a death 〈◊〉 face of things never sure appeared before this hoâ—â— and power of darkness and it was strangely prâ—â—ged as many feared by that lightening before 〈◊〉 in 1678. upon the discovery of the Popish 〈◊〉 when our hopes were raised by that great zeal 〈◊〉 our brave English Parliaments against the Paâ—â— and Popish Religion most thinking at that 〈◊〉 our morning light appeared to break forth the â—â—â—terness of death was over but lo what a sudden châ—â—â— did we see how was our light turned into darkâ—â— and our joy to sorrow and lamentation and 〈◊〉 â—oy and triumph attended our Popish Enemies what â—ingings of Te deum at Rome and in all Popish Countreys and sending gifts one to another for joy that these witnesses of Christ were overcome and â—aid by the walls and their testimony and spirits gone in this Kingdom which was always a terror to the Popish Church together with that wonderful success they had about the same time over the Protestants Turks in Hungary that Kingdom being restored to her too these things made her doubtless to say â—n her Heart I sit a Queen c. But as God foretold the â—eople of the Nations viz. the neighbouring Nations would not see nor indure to see the dead bodies â—f Gods witnesses and people put into Graves 〈◊〉 for their eyes were upon us before they appeared for our help and the fear of them doubtless â—â—id prevent under God our Enemies from attempting that which we may conclude they longed to be 〈◊〉 The worthy Gentleman I mentioned before â—ells us that he was so much the more strengthned in â—is opinion in respect of the death and resurrection of the witnesses from a threefold testimony The first is that of Socrates who in his Ecclesiastical History affirmed that such things did appear in â—â—ch a year which he mentioned that gave him â—â—use to conclude there to begin the Epoch or beginning of the 1260 years of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth viz in the year 426 which brings â—â—wn the said time of the slaying of the witnesses â—â—ft to the same year he speaks of which if he was â—â—ght the witnesses must now be risen and upon â—â—eir feet The second was Mr. William Alleine whose â—â—count brings the great things down to the very â—â—ne year Third Mr. Bright-man he says also affirms that about the self same year Antichrists Kingdom should expire And our Author looking for these great revolutions just at that time and now perceiving them to appearance come to pass as he says it may be easily supposed could not but be filled with joy besides intimates he still continues in a hopefulness of expectation that the present work will go on sol hope it is with us all for that God who hath begun to work such a miraculous and blessed work wâ—â—â— perfect it he that hath shewed us such things wâ—â—â— yet shew us greater and certainly the present work of God in this Nation is the admiration of all the Nations round about and strikes terror into the Hearts of all the Lords Enemies And in particular makes the French King to have other thoughts thâ— he had a few months ago and we hope his time 〈◊〉 at hand to drink of the cup of divine vengeance Dr. Goodwin speaking p. 172. of the resurrectiâ—â— of the witnesses saith that whereas through a forced consent and yielding the Popes power 〈◊〉 again been entertained by that tenth part of 〈◊〉 City for the killing the witnesses they now 〈◊〉 cast off that power with a mighty commotion 〈◊〉 insurrection and so proceed to ruin the oppoâ—â—â—â— party unto the witnesses who were the instruments of that former slaughter of which pâ—â—â— the remnant unslain do as men affrighted gâ—â— glory to God and turn back again to embrace thâ— truth and acknowledge God to be in these witnesses and in their cause So that although this may and shall end in 〈◊〉 ruin of Rome which is the highest effect of 〈◊〉 fifth Vial for this Resurrection and Ascenâ—â—â—â— of the witnesses are truly the preparation unto 〈◊〉 yet this other passage of the Earth quake c. 〈◊〉 here is said to be the same hour with their rising is rather to be understood of the means or thing making way unto that their Resurrection so that this Insurrection or rising of the people in the tenth part of the City which is meant by the Earth quake is the preparation unto their resurrection which ends in the ruin of Rome the scope of the holy Ghost here being to shew what did properly and peculiarly concern the rising of the witnesses as the means to it yet so as still this Earth-quake here and fall of the tenth part of the City are reducible unto that fifth Vial as a degree unto it and so that fifth Vial may also be ultimately intended in this passage recorded of the witnesses rising as the preparation unto it thus in the interpretation of the Vials I shewed that there may be many sprinklings of the same Vial both long before it come to its 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vigour also after all which are notwithstanding to be reduced unto that Vial of the kind whereof they are or unto which they are either preparations or appendixes 1. By the tenth part of the City I understand as Mr. Brightman before me some one tenth part of Europe which as it all once belonged to the Jurisdiction of the City of Rome and is in this book called ten Kingdoms so now again upon the Gentiles or Idolatrous Papists their recovering the outward court shall now at last more or less come under the Jurisdiction of that City but especially or at least this tenth part of it here intended where most faithful witnesses shall be â—ound and where most of them shall be triumphed over and slain shall during these three years and a half become a part of the City again and so is â—â—lled a tenth part of the City City being put â—ere as it often is in this book for the extent of the jurisdiction of the City of Rome which had these ten European Kingdoms by Charter allotted unto it Chap. 17. and unto which these Kingdoms are a second time to agree to give up their power in one of which ten or in the tenth part of the whole the witnesses shall first begin to rise and therein shall this Earth quake accompany their resurrection this tenth part of the City may perhaps be all one with that Street of the City mentioned v. 8. 2. By the Earth-quake here which is said to be a great one is meant as still in this book it is a great concussion or shaking of States Poliâ—ique 〈◊〉
the Kings of France have by their liberalities made the Popes great at this day it is the most flourishing State of Europe it is in the middle of the Popish Empire between Spain Germany England exactly as a Street or place of Concourse is in the middle of a City 't is also four-square as such a Place or Street of a great City i. e. almost as long as broad and I believe saith he that 't is particularly in France that the witnesses must remain dead i. e. That the profession of the true Religion must be utterly abolisht this is already done by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes and by the enormous Cruelties of the Souldiers Pag. 254. saith he we are in my opinion certainly in this Persecution which must extinguish the true Religion for three years and a half if we will reckon those 3 years a half from the abrogating of the Edict of Nantes in the month of October 1685. The deliverance of the Church will fall out in the year 1689. And this is absolutely the conjecture of Monsieur du Moulin in his accomplishment of the Prophesies he hopes that the Persecution of the Church by the Antichristian party shall cease in the year 1689 But in p. 255. He seems to intimate he is not confident it will happen then one main reason I cite this French Writer thus far is to give you all his reasons why he Judges France to be the Street of the great City where the two witnesses shall be slain c. And to gratifie my Reader I shall also here add something out of Clavis Apocalyptica written many years ago by a famous German Doctor who indeavours to make it appear that Germany is meant by the Street of the great City in which the two witnesses shall lye as dead but by the way 't is observable what he says p. 46. Concerning the 7 Trumpets in the Second period saith he from the three hundred ninety fifth until the one thousand six hundred fifty fifth year of our Lord where the seventh seal is opened and seven Angels with seven Trumpets declare to the Roman Empire by seven Judgments its ruine c. 8. which Plagues have been fulfilled See he calls the Trumpets Plagues The first by the invasions of barbarous nations Anno 395. v. 7. The Second by the destruction of the City of Rome which first happened by Alaricus Anno 410. v. 8. The Third by taking away Imperial dignity in Augustulus Anno 476. v. 10. The Fourth by the Abolition of all eminent publick charges at Rome Anno 552. v. 12. The fifth by Saracens as the first wo c. 9. The Sixth by the Turks Chap. 9. v. 13. as the second wo. In the Third Period when the 1655. year doth begin the seventh Angel doth sound and withal the seventh Judgment is executed upon the enemies of the Church with the third woe whereby the Mysteries of God are fulfilled Rev. 10. 7. Now tho this great Author was mistaken as all have been hitherto who have prefixt upon an exact time and yet he may be right as to the seventh Trumpet which he says brings in the last Plagues and the third and last woe But to proceed p. 69. The two witnesses shall be overcome and killed saith he that is they shall be removed and thrust out of all Ecclesiastical and Political Offices and Imployments it appears he understood the death of the witnesses to be taken as we have hinted before i. e. Only a Civil death and so too do all Expositors affirm that I can meet with but now observe what Street it is in his Judgment they must lye as dead in and that is he saies Germany p. 74. The tenth horn yet remains Germany or the German Empire cannot be accounted saith he but one of the Horns which we do not deny and a Kingdom saith he by it self in the whole body of the fourth Monarchy this is the Principal Street in the great City the Principal Horn of the Beast the Principal Kingdom in the fourth Monarchy whose head is represented by the City of Rome this German Empire is called the Street per excellentiam because it is the Principal Street in the Empire because 1. 'T is called the Roman Empire 2. By reason it is as it were a Figure and Image of the old Roman Empire having seven Heads in regard of the seven Princes Electors and ten Provinces in respect of the ten Circles into which it is distributed 3. It hath the pre-eminency above all other Kings adhering to the Papal State now saith he in this Street we must seek the War c. he seems to say more for Germany being the Street in my Judgment than Jurieu for France to be it But they that read our great Writer Dr. Goodwin will soon I am persuaded see more ground to believe that Great Britain is that very Street of the great City in which the Witnesses of Christ were to be slain and lye dead than any other for as my worthy Friend before cited intimates God values not nor accounts of People and Nations from their Greatness or external Grandeur but from their Light Glory Excellency of their Spirits Purity now what Nation or Kingdom is so famous or has been since the beginning of the Reformation or hath obtained so great Light as this of Great Britain It must be in one Street of the great City doubtless where the Witnesses have finished their Testimony in which they were to be slain and lye as dead and I question whether in any one Kingdom of Europe the faithful Witnesses of Christ may be said to have finished their Testimony as here in this Nation for by finishing their Testimony may be meant as some observe bearing Witness to Christ not only in respect of every one of his Offices but also in all his Ordinances And that according to the Primitive purity of them which many think there has not been the like Testimony upon this respect born any where else as also in respect of true Church Constitution and Discipline and to true Magistracy and Ministry and to Christ's absolute Authority as King of Saints and King of Nations and born in such a publick manner as it has been here formerly and of late take the Doctors words p. 165. And if in this last Combate the Witnesses be singled out as one party and by Witnesses be meant only such faithful Christians and Professors as do in respect of their Godliness and Sincerity hold forth an Eminent Testimony and Witness above that which others of the croud of the common Professors do and so not men of Learning but of Holiness and Zeal are they who are here said to be the real tormentors of these Enemies Then surely in that part of the Reformed Churches where such Witnesses are chiefly found who do continue eminently to hold forth such a kind of powerful Testimony as holy men for this is a Testimony of Holiness not of Learning surely
there especially will be the Seat of this War and the field where this Combate is to be fought Now then look generally over almost all the Reformed Churches and how few of such Witnesses with difference from the common croud do appear amongst them the fire the heat of those godly men their first Reformers which is the thing that should torment these Enemies at last being gone and the light only remaining which gives but a faint cold and dull Testimony and which these Enemies do therefore despise Only in the Witnesses of Great Britain both the light and heat of Religion have been kept up and increased and among them only hath the profession of the power of godliness been continued with difference from the croud of common Professors And according to what appears in view more of such true Witnesses now in these last days wherein this slaughter is to fall out are to be found in it and belonging to it than in all the Reformed Churches besides and that according to the Testimony which they of those Churches who in these times of scattering have come hither for refuge have and do give and surely the place of this killing the Witnesses must be where most Witnesses are And so that that Kingdom may be designed more than any other as in which also more Eminent are found of those last sorts of Champions for the Beast who receive only the number of his name who yet shall be the chief Executioners of this last slaughter Add unto this this conjecture upon Daniel 11. ult which Chapter from v. 36. hath Graserus and Mr. Mede in his Discourse of Daemons upon 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. applied unto the Pope who is that King there mentioned Now when he shall go forth in this last War in such fury and rage with a purpose utterly to destroy the main event and issue of that expedition of his is made to be this viz. That he shall plant the Tabernacle of his Palace between the Seas in the glorious holy Mountain yet he shall come to his end and none shall help him Dan. 11. ult which the Dr. says he fears that these British Islands are here intended in that they so eminently above all other places of the Churches Reformed and with difference also from all others do stand between the Seas even wholly among Seas penitus toto divisos Orbe Britannos which Islands likewise God hath made the Eminent Seat of the Church in these latter days and which he hath loved above all the Inhabitants of Jacob. And in that the Angel there calls this Mountain in an high and transcendent phrase yet of further difference the Mountain of delight of holiness or as Junius turns it the Mountain of holy comeliness it seems in some way of peculiarity from others even in that respect also to note out a place which for holiness should more eminently be Gods delight and comely in his Eyes where he should have a most holy people and which he should make a Land of uprightness where his Ma jesty and Glory should more eminently shine which place notwithstanding for the tryal of the Witnesses in it God shall again give up unto the power of Antichrist there to plant the Tabernacle of his Palace or Throne or his Clergy as Graserus reads it even as a sign Nebuchadhezzar did his Throne at Taph-hannes when he had Conquered Egypt as a sign of that his Victory by the Conquest of which Kingdoms and regaining them unto him he shall seem so rooted in his ancient power that in hope of all the rest the Whore shall fing I am no Widow and that just before her fall Yet this prevailing is but a preparation to Antichrist's ruin for is follows there in Daniel Yet he shall come to his end and noâ—e shall help him which notes out as that this is to be done just before his end so also that that regaining his power should seem so to strengthen him that he should be as it were out of the danger of ruin and as for ever secure But this his sudden Victory is but as the planting of a Tent or Tabernacle in a Field not to stand past three years and a half tho that Party and their Abettors do in their hopes think they build for Eternity but it being of mans not Gods planting it shall come to nothing I cannot but conclude what this great man hath said that Great Britain is more like to be that Street of the great City in which the Witnesses should be slain rather than France or Germany or any other Kingdom and also am much persuaded the late times have accomplished what he so long ago foretold Methinks three years and a half sometimes since expired looked just like the times he mentioneth had not the Pope placed his Tents here again and hoped to have had a setled Throne and hath not also here been a dreadful slaughter of the true Witnesses of Christ as we before have hinted and doth there seem any ground to expect the like again So that either the time is past or I hope the Dr. was mistaken if it be to come it will be the amazingest providence and revolution that ever was in the World I must conclude we are in a most happy hour or else there is the most dismal hour near that ever the Godly knew or saw since the Reformation a little time will shew us more I can't but expect the ascention of the Witnesses to draw on apace in which will first fall out that great Earthquake wherein 7000 men of name will be slain who were the chief instruments in bringing that death and dismal hour upon the Witnesses of Christ which the Dr. hath most excellently opened moreover there is one thing more he hath shewed his thoughts upon that I am affected with viz. concerning Daniel's 1290 days and 1335 days or years the first he says begun from Julian's time which he concluded ended at 1650 or 1656 and that the other 45 years will bring in the Kingdom of Christ which makes 1335 and that will expire about 1695 or 1701 between which time he prefixeth the Death Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses and the Earthquake c. We are no doubt coming towards the end of the wonders and the Vials of Gods wrath will suddenly be poured forth upon the Enemies of the Church neither can I think that Jurieu is in the right who thinks the Papal power c. will fall without or with little Blood for although when the Harvest is ripe there may not fall so many as at the time of the Vintage yet 't is said of men of name shall be slain seven thousand how many of other sorts who can tell Besides that is a certain number put for an uncertain but when the Vintage time comes the Blood shall come out of the Wine-press even to the Horse Bridle by which our Expositors generally say is intended a wonderful slaughter and under the second Vial which
offered by the Learned Mede Lib. 3. p. 643. 1. Because though they did arise to great Power in the World yet they had not their seat in that great City which in St. Johns time reigned over the Kings of the Earth which this Babylon is Expresly said to have 2. That they did not rise by Apostacy from the Christian Religion which this Babylon with her head the Man of Sin did for as this worthy Author saith the Turk whatever he be could be no Apostate because he was of a Nation that never was Christian. To which we shall add somthing for the clearing of this head that we may discharge that Debt we owe to God to the Church and the World. 3. It cannot be the Turks because they are not strangely and wonderfully mysterious which this Babylon is said to be Rev. 17. 5. And upon her fore-head was a name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And the Angel said unto me Wherefore didst thou Marvel I will tell thee the mystery of the Woman and the Beast which carryeth her which hath the Seven Heads and Ten Horns What special mystery hath shewed it self to the World from the Turks and Saracens more than from other common Empires or Kingdoms that is matter of admiration to the wisest of men Is it matter of wonder that the Turks do own but one true and most high God Is it matter of wonder that they do own Jesus Christ to be a Prophet and a good man Is it matter of highest wonder that they prefer Mahomet above Jesus Is it matter of wonder that they appear true to their Contracts in matters of Civil Commerce Is it matter of highest wonder for them to endeavour to keep what Dominion they have and to enlarge it to make Slaves and Prizes of those profest Enemies they take Prisoners We say in none of these things is there any high Mystery or matter of greatest Wonder being things common to all Places and Kingdoms Invested with Power For 1. Did not the great King of Literal Babylon own the only true God yet still held the Church in Captivity 2. Did not Israel own the same and yet kept their Idols after their revolt from Judah 3. Did not Judah prefer Moses above and before Christ and at that time when Christ was personally among them working most Stupendious Miracles which did evince his Divine Mission Nay did they not prefer a Common and Notorious Villain before the Blessed Lord of Glory when they desired a Murtherer to be freed and pressed hard to have the good and Blessed Jesus the Saviour of the World killed And did not this wise Apostle know this to be true in fact and to Equal nay outdo any thing that the Turks or Saracens ever did or can be accused of And if St. John was Transported with astonishing wonder at Matters much less than he had seen before doth it not give good reason to suspect him of Weakness and Defect that he should suffer himself to be surprised with the greatest wonder at far less things than he had seen and known before certainly therefore we must conclude there was something more of mystery in Johns Vision than what had been shewed to the world by the great Turk or any other Power and indeed undoubtedly the greatest Mystery that ever the World was acquainted with For the Characters of Babylon must either be singular that is such as none have besides or else they must be transcendent to go far beyond what others had in a Lesser degree Otherwise John might have kept the Description of Babylon to himself there being no clear Distinctions to render the wisest and most Discerning men able to make Judgment upon her The mystery then that is written upon this woman Babylon seems clearly to lye in these particulars following First That she doth transact the most horrid wickednesses that ever the world was or is like to be acquainted with Secondly That under this monstrous Guilt she is prodigiously Confident and without all regret or show of shame and most Impudently boasts of the highest Sanctity and Holiness in the World viz. That she is Totally Pure Infallibly Certain and cannot err c. That this indeed is a Mystery to be wondered at let it be Considered 1. That a Shepherd should be a Wolf and devour that flock which he pretends to be an Overseer or Pastor of 2. That a professed Servant of Jesus Christ and the meanest of Saints should exalt himself above his Master and not above his Master only but above the God of his Master and all other Deputed Gods that are Vicegerents to the King of Heaven by slighting and trampling upon the holy Scriptures and Laws both of God and Princes dispensing with the breach of them indulging the highest violation thereof and setting up his own Inventions Traditions and Decrees above them insomuch that there is a thousand times less danger in their esteem in respect of Excommunications and Corporal Punishments in this World or of Damnation in the World to come in breaking and violating the Laws of God and Princes than there is in the violation or breach of the Inventions Traditions and Decrees of Mystery Babylon and her Head. 3. That one sitting in the Temple of God pretending himself as a poor Apostle Vicar and Successor of Christ nay as the Successor of a poor Fisher man should wear the highest Ensigns of Imperial Dignity 4. That he should be so Lordly and prodigiously Insolent who was commanded to the greatest Humility and Abasement as to tread upon the necks of Emperors kick off the Crowns of great Princes and make Kings his Foot Pages 5. That he should pretend highly most highly to God Christ Religion and Holiness and yet Espouse to himself as the Darlings of his Bosom not only the Chiefest Sons of Belial but all that will decline Sanctity and Religion and embody themselves with those first born Sons of Wickedness that are of the highest Magnitude and engage themselves in such Monstrous and Butcherly Practices that humane Nature as such could never act in the Butchering Brute Beasts 6. That the Spouse of this prodigious Monster should in Profession own God Jesus Christ and the things of Religion of which Justice and Charity Holiness and Compassion are not the least parts and yet under this Vizard and in the very time of these pretensions perpetrate the greatest and most unparallel'd Villanies in the World First In being the Top of Pride Secondly In committing palpable Idolatry Thirdly Fill themselves with Excess and Drunkenness Fourthly To curse swear and blaspheme the very name they profess to be sacred Fifthly To cast down the Truth burn the Bible deface the holy Books and Laws of God Sixthly To assume not only a Power to Dispense with the Violation in the highest Nature but to pardon and forgive them at pleasure Seventhly To commit Adultery and account it a Venial Crime Eighthly To break
ordained as sufficient to establish a Truth by as much as to say God hath â—ad sufficient witnesses to bear a testimony to his Word and Gospel in every age against Antichrist his abominable lies usurpation and cursed Idolatry 2. As touching the slaying of them it must either intend a natural Death or external slaying or else â— civil death now I see no ground to conclude the former because they were so killed all along whilst they Prophecied in sack-cloath besides friends nor enemies would not suffer their Dead Bodies to lie â—â—buried in the Street for the space of three years and half for the best of expositors conclude generally that is the time meant by three days and a half therefore it must be a civil Death or slaying This then I conclude to be intended viz. near the end of the two and forty months or 1260. years of their Prophecy the Beast who rose out of the bottomless Pit shall make a new rally or attempt upon Gods faithful people quite to extinguish or put â—n end to their testimony and so far prevail as they shall be lookt upon as dead in Law or be accounted as dead and lost people in the eye of the Enemy and in their own sight also both in respect of the Ministry and Magistracy too To this effect also Dr. Tho. Goodwin speaks p. 154 155. This killing them considered as witnesses not as men that is a taking away of all power from them of prophecying as they were wont a general silencing of Ministers and deposing Magistrates and men of worth that profess and uphold Religion c. putting them out from all places c. That the Popish party should again arrive to such â— in some one or more Kingdoms that were formerly a Horn or Horns of the Beast or one â— the Streets of the great City nay and prevail â— far as to have great hopes to work the utter â— of Gods faithful people and witnesses as to rejoyâ— and conclude the day will nay is their own â— that to such a degree that she viz. Mystery Babylâ— shall say in her Heart I sit a Queen and shall see â— sorrow nor know less of Children any more This â— ing dead saith the Dr. here of the witnesses â— needs be taken metaphorically and understâ—â—â— of a civil death and of a suppression of them â— their cause And as they are witnesses to be put doâ— and extinguished that they for a time remainâ— men dead laid forth by the Walls for dead and â— men in whose Testimony there is in appearâ—â—â— no likelyhood of a revival their Enemies has â— now got such power over them this certaiâ— made the great matter of their Enemies rejoycâ— that as the Pharisees thought they had Christ 〈◊〉 enough when they got him condemned and crâ—cified and had him in the grave so these Enemies shall think they have the witnesses doâ— sure enough for ever so great desperate 〈◊〉 helpless in all view will the suppression of 〈◊〉 witnesses be by their Enemies And this is principally intended in their being said to lie 〈◊〉 And oppositely the revival of them and the cause is set forth by a resurrection from the deâ— this great man hath given such an account of â— slaying and lying dead of the Witnesses that cannâ— I think be gainsayed and speaks tho' so maâ— years ago as if he had lived to see what our Eâ— have beheld actually accomplished in this Kingdom in a few years last past time is the only opener â— interpreter of these Mysteries was there ever sâ— â—n hour upon the Lords people since the beginning of the Reformation as hath been in these five or six years last past both here and in France if he is right certainly we have seen the death of Gods witnesses â—nd with this doth a worthy pious and learned friend â—gree in a late manuscript which is come to my â—and and also in his said Papers he speaks of that â—treet in which they are said to lye as dead and alâ—o of the Resurrection of them as already tho' but â—ately come to pass yet with that care and caution that 't is left to the consideration of the wise and thinking Christian for too great confidence in matters of this nature is not necessary But because some are ready to object saith he that if the witnesses are already slain and are rose in these nations they think there would then be a far greater appearance of divine Glory in order to the rescue and deliverance of Gods people in other parts of the World as well as here whereas we know that the generality of Christs witnesses elsewhere do yet remain under great Persecution c. In answer whereunto he saith it ought to be duely considered that the death and resurrection of the witnesses spoken of Rev. 11. must have of necessity a peculiar reference unto one of the Streets only of the great City for so the Text expresly tells us their dead bodies shall lye in the Street or in that Street of the great City v. 8. which â—eems plainly to point unto some one principal Street or part of the Roman Jurisdiction which must needs denote such a Street as where there shall be the greatest number of the most eminent and faithful witnesses of Christ even are such who have born the clearest testimony against the supperstiâ—ions and abominations of the Mystery of iniquiâ—y and that have born the clearest testimony concerning Christ and the Gospel in the due exercise and administration of the Kingly Priestly and Prophetical offices of the Lord Jesus for aâ— reference hereunto it is that Christ values natioâ— and Kingdoms not in respect of their opulency â— greatness or vastness of dominions but where there are the greatest numbers of his chosen Jewels this may serve to Answer clavis Apoc. in assertiâ— Germany to be this Street also our French Authoâ— concerning the Kingdom of France some one Street we see by the plain words of the text is designed â— the scene where this glorious Prophesie was to bâ— accomplished for the work must begin some where And what that Street should be but thâ— Kingdom of Great Brittain we see no cause to doubt which all acknowledge to have been once one â— the ten Horns of the Beast and where also I thiâ— we may modestly affirm there are the greatest number of Christs most enlightned faithful Witnesses I will not determine but I suppose there are fâ—â— of Ingenuity but have read and considered tâ— several convincing arguments of Dr. Goodwin â— Rev. 11. wherein he doth assert and I think â— clearly prove that that prediction concerning tâ— death of the Witnesses and their Resurrection muâ— of necessity be limited to one of the Streets of the great City and cannot fairly be expounded as having any immediate reference unto any of the rest so â— doth as clearly demonstrate that the English Juridiction must of necessity be that street which â— doth by comparing the
Plagues of Egypt as it is generally held then it is probable when there is once a beginning they will suddenly all be poured out Some have observed from History in Exodus that within the space of 30 days the ten Plagues fell upon the Egyptians now if in the Antitype we reckon a day for a year as it is often in Prophetical Types then the seven last Plagues will be finished in thirty years when begun neither is it to be doubted but a short work will the Lord make upon the Earth Rom. 9. 28. when those Vials begin to be poured out upon the Earth wherefore is Babylon's fall set forth under the sign of a great Milstone cast into the Sea by a mighty Angel not only to denote her irrecoverable desolation but also what speedy and quick dispatch the Lord will make when he calls his Angels out of the Temple therefore shall her Plagues come upon her in one day Rev. 18. 8. in one hour v. 10 17 19. iâ— a moment suddenly Isa. 47. 11. why 〈◊〉 ought not to conclude her Plagues to intend â—ose 7 last Plagues all of them as well as some of them I know not I desire this may be considered hinted it before when I had not seen this worthy writer for this French Author makes Babylon a â—elling many hundred years which must doubtless be a grand mistake these Scriptures considered He further confirms this reason and answers Objections which I have not room to insert 5. I cannot conceive saith he how any of those Persons to whom the first second and third Angels are ordinarily applied do fairly or fitly parallel and agree with what the Scriptures hold forth certain it is none of the Angels came out of the Temple till John saw as it were a Sea of Glass mingled with Fire and them that had gotten the Victory over the Beast and over his Image and over his Mark and over the number of his Name standing on the Sea of Glass having the Harps of God and they sing the Song of Moses the Servant of God and the Song of the Lamb Rev. 15. 1 2. All this well agrees with the description of the 14440. Rev. 14. 1 2. But to carry these things to Grostead Armachan Wickliff Luther c. if need were I could shew by many reasons of the improbability of it for tho' many of Gods people formerly received not the Mark of the Beast nor his Name yet to say any of them during the 42 Months got the Victory over the Beast or over his Image and number of his Name I cannot assent unto neither do I think their Opinion is well bottomed who hold this Victory over the Beast and singing the Song of Moses and the Song of the Lamb to be before the rising of the Witnesses which is the time of their prophesying in Sackcloth and whilst the woman is in the wilderness 'T is strange indeed to think the witnesses wearing Sackcloth or in a mourning condition can be said to sing the Song of Moses as having got Victory over their Enemies and yet overcome by their Enemies for the Song of Moses 't is well known to be that iâ— Exodus 15. Thou hast overcome the Horse and his Râ—der c. Again saith he by way of question p. 16. Why should the Song of Moses Rev. 15 c bâ— carried up to the times before the rising of the Witnesses and the new Song Rev. 14. 3. brought down many hundred years after this seems to be against the order of the Prophesie 2. The matter of the Song if rightly understood is not suitable to any time in which the Beasts reigned neither Lastly Can it be shewed that ever the Church of the Saints have had any occasion through any Deliverance or Victory to sing the Song of Moses c. I am of the same Opinion unless it be in these and the approaching days 6. That none of the seven last Plagues or Vials are yet poured out nor will be till after the rising of the Witnesses does appear for this reason viz. because none of the seven Angels come forth with their Golden Vials until the Tabernacle of the Testimony is opened in Heaven Rev. 15. 5. but that part of the Tabernacle of the Testimony is to be shut all the time of the Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth may be gathered from Rev. 11. 1. with v. 19. Hence this Argument might be framed viz. No Angel is to come forth with his Golden Vial till the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven is opened But the Tabernacle of the Testimony is not to be opened till after the rising of the Witnesses Therefore no Angel with his Golden Vial is come forth till after the rising of the Witnesses The proof of this Argument are the Scriptures before viz. Rev. 15. 5. cap. 11. v. 1 19. Now if any do think that the four last Angels shall come forth from the Temple opened in Heaven and not the first three such an Opinion is against the Text expresly 〈…〉 saith the seven Angels come out of the Temple verse 6. Neither do I know any ground they have who think that the Angels pouring out the four last Vials shall have more Light Zeal Faith Holiness c. than the former three had but certainly there is a vast difference between the state of the Church now and that when they say the first Vial was poured out nay and the second or third too and none can doubt but the opening of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven points to some greater Church glory that shall be then or a different state of the Church than ever was before under the Beasts reign 7. Neither do I saith he think that the effects of any of the Vials which some suppose are poured out make good what is said Rev. 15. 4. For thy Judgments are made manifest which holds forth to me much more than what followed the preaching of Grostead Wickliff Huss Luther Melancthon c. or the Switzers Wars or of that of the Parliament in England for Gods Judgments notwithstanding what hath been yet done remain still more dark doubtful and disputable especially to the World than shall be under the effects of the Vials For the followers of the Beast as the Egyptians under their Plagues tho' they are hardened and repent not but blaspheme the God of Heaven not giving glory to him shall notwithstanding see the hand of God lifted up and be ashamed for their envy at his people Isa. 26. 11. So manifest at that time shall his Judgments be but hitherto no such things have appeared notwithstanding all the Judgments of God upon them so dark and hidden not manifested have the actings of God been to his Enemies nay and not clear or plainly manifested to his own people neither as it appears by their different apprehensions and opinions about what hath been past until these very days And hence it is also that Mystery Babylon ever unâ—il of late if
not still said in her Heart I sit a Queen and am no Widdow and shall see no sorrow Rev. 18. 7. Nay and also 't is from hence that the Antichristian party in their Writings and ordinary discourse do stifly maintain that Gods Judgments have been and still are as much manifested upon the Witnesses i. e. the Hereticks as she calls Protestants and all such who oppose them as those of their Church viz. the Papists however let the Judgments of God be hid or made manifest to them certainly the vengeances shall clearly be seen and known to the godly when the Vials of his wrath come upon the great Whore or when the hour of her Judgments shall come they shall see it rejoyce and all iniquity shall stop her mouth Psal. 107. 42. 8. 'T is evident the Witnesses do not put off their Sack-cloth till they have finished their testimony which will not be until the end of the 42 months of the Beasts Reign and Tyranny but saith he these Angels which pour out the seven last Plagues or Vials of Gods wrath have put off their Sack-cloth and are clothed in pure white linnen and are said to have Golden Girdles from hence it must needs follow as he observes that none of the Saints of God in the time of the Sack-cloth state during the 42 months can be meant by any of these seven Angels neither Waldo Wickliff Luther c. for what is meant saith he by being clothed in White Linnen the Scriptures shew it was an Ensign of honour which great Persons used to wear their condition and state being changed Gen. 41. 42. Est. 8. 15. Pro. 31. 22. Ezek. 16. 10. Psal. 30. 11. The truth is if we take not heed to distinguish between the Sack-cloth time of Mourning Saints and the time in which they are clothed with White Linnen having Golden Girdles that is raised out of the dust and set with Princes even with the Princes of his people Psal. 113. 7 8. but confound these times which ought to be kept distinct and apart we shall want that excellent light to bring things to their proper places I would to God our French-man and others would consider this for I find those that affirm Luther Mclancton c. to be one or more of those Angels that poured out one or two of the Vials do hold that the Witnesses had put off their Sack-cloth the time of the 1260 days being expired c. But Jurieu denies this with many others and yet says all the seven Angels have already come and poured out their Vials and yet in their Sack cloth state but I can see no reason to believe he speaks right 9. Saith Mr. Canne If what is spoken Rev. 18. 21. of the mighty Angels taking up a great Milstone and casting it into the Sea saying Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down and shall be found no more at all belongs to the Vials as it seems most evident then what is attributed to Grostead Wickliff Luther c. is far from the works of the Angels which shall pour forth the 7 last Plagues Thus shall Babylon be thrown drown c. A Milstone rises no more c. thus that is when any of the 7 Angels pour out their Vials the work shall prosper in their hands and not be hindered nor retarded by any power whatsoever But hither by whatsoever hath been done us yet upon Babylon she hath not so fallen but one while she seems to sink and then rises again many Judgments have been poured out upon Babylon no doubt of that nay and some too soon after she got up but doubtless none of the seven last Judgments hath she felt to this day every Vial shall effectually do its work where or on whom it is poured out it being full of the divine wrath of God. 10. According to this notion that some of the Vials are poured out he observes all the Vials may be poured out and but a little may be done for 〈◊〉 three or four have been poured out and no more â—ffected for the tyranny and Idolatry supprest by â—hem did soon rise and spread it self again in the â—ame places And if so why may not after all the Vials are â—oured out the enemy rally or rise again or the â—nterest of Christ be suppressed after the pouring â—orth of the last Vials as it has been after the pourâ—ng out of the former Besides how can we think the Harvest of the Earth can be said to be ripe before the set time is come that God hath appointed for its cutting down which is 42 months or 1260. years The sin of the Amorite was not fully ripe or that Harvest fit for cutting down till the 400 years were expired Gen. 15. 13. and yet shall Babylon be ripe and the Harvest of wrath come so long before the set or appointed time of Harvest this is a paradox Jurieu saith p. 79. the first Vial and Plague where saâ— I begins the Harvest was in the tenth Century which is 600 years ago and above so many years before the set time of Harvest for that was before or about the time the Beast was in the height of his glory he seems to assert the Harvest came soon after the seed time tho' 't is true he fixes it on the last Age this cannot be thought we must sure make the first Vials the time of the Harvest and the latter the time of the Vintage let this be considered certainly none of of the former Judgments on Babylon belongs to the seven last Plagues for the dominion of the Beast was not then ripe nor the Harvest come but now 't is near wo unto the Earth and Earthly Men the gross body of the Antichristian professors for they must have the dregs of this first Vial 't is poured out upon the Earth those that partake with her in her sins must receive of her Plagues many will be found in her who little think of it But again if the Vials be poured forth by the Witnesses Preaching the Gospel in the time of the Beasts reign and tyranny why do they begin the Vials no sooner for there were faithful preachers who bore their testimony against the Beast from his first rise and so downward all along and it had much like effects with Waldo's Luthers preachings c. to conclude with what Mr. Canne hath said upon This account it doth appear to me that he is right in respect of the seven Vials not being yet poured out because the Temple is said to be filled with smoak from the glory of God and no man could enter in until the seven Plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled Rev. 15. 8. If by the Temple being filled with smoak from the glory of God c. the Spirit alludes to the History of the Tabernacle and History of the dedication of the Temple which was filled with the Cloud of the glory of God as most agree to then here is signified
a most glorious pouring forth of the holy Spirit upon the Angels who pour out the Vials and that they must tarry in the Temple as the Disciples were to do at Jerusalem until endued with power from on high Luk. 24. 59. and this may be expected at the Ascention of the Witnesses and not before for as yet we see not such a spirit given from the glory of God and from his power nor may we expect it until then that the Church cometh out of the Wilderness as clear as the Sun and as terrible as an Army with Banrers Cant. 6. 4. and like Pillars of smoak perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincese Cart. 3. 6. 7. the Judgment of the 7 last Plagues for the ruin of the Enemy will be the time of Glory and Salvation of the Church and by the 14440 on Mount Sion with Harps c. Singing the Song of Moses c. are held forth I am perswaded the ministrations of the Saints under the seven Angels with the seven Vials or seven last Plagues which days we hope are now even upon us or very near and that we might let in what light worthy men of different opinions have helpt us to about the Slaying and Resurrection of the Witnesses we shall give you a brief account of what Jurieu our French Author saith of them see p. 241. c. these words when they shall have finisht their testimony must saith he not be understood as if the holy Ghost would say when the 1260 years shall be finisht for after the 1260 years are run out there can be no Persecution seeing the Beast shall have lost his power so that this Persecution must begin and end within the 1260 years but yet at the end of them 't is the ordinary custom not only of Scripture but of all men to say that something comes to pass when this or that is finisht because it happens when that thing is finished and very near its end this is therefore the last Persecution of Antichrist against the Church this Persecution hath its Characters 1. 'T is compared to a War The Beast that comes up out of the Bottomless Pit shall make War against them 2. This War of Persecution must end in a victory over the two Witnesses and shall overcome them mark God does not reckon the Death and Martyrdom which the faithful suffered for the truth as a victory that the Devil gains over them a very good note for 't is said they i. e. the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus overcome them i. e. the Beast and his Emissaries and they loved not their lives unto the death Rev. 12. 11. He speaks of martyrs when he saith He that overcometh I will make to sit down on my Throne c. So that when 't is said that the Beast shall overcome the Witnesses this signifies that he shall make them saint under their Tryals which thing ought to be well observed that we discern the singular Character of this present Persecution that hath conquered and overcome above a Million of Souls he means the late and present Persecution in France 3. This victory of the Beast must prevail even to a total extinction of profession there shall remain no more signs of outward life in the faithful who shall stand for truth they shall lye on the ground as dead bodies 4. This murther and effects of this Persecution shall be done in the Street of the great City 5. The death of these Witnesses must be 3 years and a half denoting these 3 years and a half 6. During those 3 years and a half the truth shall remain as it were dead but notwithstanding not buried men shall not dare to make profession of it notwithstanding it shall be visible the people who are neighbours of them who shall have slain it shall hinder it from perishing and putrefaction 7. At the end of 3 years and a half the faithful who are oppressed and whose profession shall have been violently suppressed shall rise again after that shall ascend to Heaven and shall be exalted 8. At the same time and after the exaltation of the faithful there shall be an Earth quake i. e. a great emotion and trouble in the World and in Antichrists Kingdom 9. In this emotion a tenth part of the City shall fall i. e. a tenth part of the Antichristian Kingdom shall be taken away from it and seven thousand men shall perish in this Earth-quake and be buried under the ruin of this City that this shall be brought about with some Blood sheâ— tho' not considerable Now when I search after the time in which this Persecution must happen I cannot doubt but this is that in which we now are after this Persecution shall be over God will begin to strike those sore blows to destroy the Antichristian Kingdom which must be destroyed with in 25 or 30 years That none may wonder saith he that I speak so positively about a thing which seems to be as yet hid in futurity I intreat all equitable minds to consider that I have as I think with great evidence proved 1. That the Reign of the Popedom must last 1260 years 2. That these 1260 years began about 450. or 455. and consequently they must end about 1710. or 1715. This being so we are but 25 or 30 years from the end of the Popish Kingdom And if this be so the present persecution must needs be the last since there is no probability that this present persecution being ended the calm restored to the Church should leave room for another For we must allow the space of at least 20 or 25 years in which Popery shall be attacqued and not be the Aggressor and the Persecutor And certainly a shorter time cannot serve for the utter destruction of so vast a Kingdom for it shall not be destroyed in a way of violence but in a way of perswasion Yet he says it shall not be done without blood and slaughter I have saith he further proved that the fall of this Popish Babylonian Monarchy is divided into two parts viz. The Harvest and the Vintage that the Harvest is the reformation of the last age and the Vintage is the reformation that must be made in this present age c. He then proceeds to shew his apprehensions that France must be that Street of the great City in which the two witnesses should be slain and lye as dead c. p. 24â— The bodies of the two witnesses saith he shall lye in the Street of the great City 'T is to be observed that in the Text 't is not in the Streets in the Plural but 't is in the Street in the Singular And I cannot hinder my self from believing that this hath a particular regard to France which at this day is certainly the most eminent Countrey which belongs to the Popish Kingdom her King is called the Eldest Son of the Church the most Christian King i. e. The most Popish according to the dialect of Rome
Monarch This has been Printed several years Nostradamus predicts THAT Rome shall be ruled by the Britanish head That the new Prince that joins the lower and Northern Countries of Europe shall be the instrument of loss to the Church of Rome And that the Bishop of Rome together with his Clergy except they shew themselves willing to be reformed shall be made to spit Blood when the Rose shall flourish That of the Trojan Blood shall spring a Prince of a doughty Dutch Heart who shall attain to so high a degree that he shall chase far away the Arabick or Mahometan multitude and likewise return to the Church her Ancient Eminency and Sincerity I leave every man to his own liberty to Judge of those predictions as he pleases I always lookt upon such kind of Prophesies as doubtful and no certain conclusions to be drawn from them A Postscript Giving an Account of the Judgment of a late nameless French Author concerning the Non-offusion of the seven Vials with his Answer to Mr. Jurieu JUst as I had quite finished this Treatise I met with a Book lately writ by another worthy French Minister intituled A new Systeme of the Apocalypse who asserts the Non-effusion of the Vials proving that none of the 7 Vials or last Plagues as yet are poured out with an answer to Mr. Jurieu which Author I am not a little affected with and therefore have thought good to add some short hints of the most remarkable passages contained in it about our present Controversie First Of the Harvest and Vintage The Harvest he says signifies those initial Judgments which were executed by means of the Reformation begun in the last Age by the ministry of Luther Zuinglius c. p. 91. to which I cannot agree because I judge the Harvest is not ripe until the end of the 42 Months and signifies more and greater ruin to the Beast and his Kingdom than was effected then or till this time 2. The Vintage he says signifies a definitive Judgment which shall ruin the Papal Empire beyond recovery and to begin at the beginning of the end of â—he 42 Months I conclude the Harvest comes in at â—he beginning of the 7 Vials and the Vintage at the â—â—tter part of them Secondly As to the opening of the Temple and of the Smoke c. He says the opening of the Temple alludes to the Church of the Jews which was shut up under â—haz and opened under Hezekiah From hence he notes three things 1. That the Vials belong to this state of the Church wherein Antichrist is made manifest and wherein there shineth a measure of light in the Church 2. That the Vials are all contained under the 7th Trumpet 3. The Temple is not only here represented open in order to give passage to the 7 Angels that pour out the Vials but to give way for all Nations to enter in according as it is said v. 4. That all Nations shall come and worship before God. The smoke that filled the Temple answereth to the Cloud that covered the Tabernacle of Moses and the divine glory the Smoke was a Symbol of Gods gracious presences in the midst of Israel and so signifieth Gods return to his Temple or the glory of the Church 't is added No man was able to enter into the Temple till the 7 Plagues of the 7 Angels were fulfilled which inmateth that tho' the time of the destruction of the Churches Enemies draweth near and the time wherein the Gospel shall shine bright in the World yet that the Gospel will not be universally received till after the subversion of Babylon which will not be until the Vials have been poured out yet some are ready to think the fulfilling of the 7 Plagues c. alludes to the fulfilling of the time of their first pouring out and not till they are all poured out Of the 7 Trumpets 7 Thunders and 3 Woes As touching the 7 Seals and 7 Trumpets he much agrees with our Expositors he concludes the first Woe fell out under the 4th and 5th Trumpets take his own words St. John tells us c. 8. 13. that he heard an Angel flying through the midst of Heaven saying with a loud voice Woe woe woe to the Inhabitants of the Earth by reason of the Trumpets that are yet to sound After the sounding of the 5th Trumpet St. John adds One woe is past and behold there come two more hereafter One of these two woes fell undoubtedly out under the 6th Trumpet under which Mahometanism and the Turkish Army destroyed the whole East and therefore the third woe must come to pass under the seventh and last Trumpet That all the Vials saith he being contained under the 3d woe they are yet to be poured out foras much as we are this year 1687. still under the sixth Trumpet and groaning under the pressure of the 2d woe So that here we have a new proof that all the Vials from the first to the last are yet to be poured out for as much as the Vials are no other thing than the 7 Thunders which are spoken of Rev. 10. and indeed the Thunders are 7 in number as well as the Vials are and as the Thunders do signifie the Judgments of God against the Enemies of the Church so the Vials do signifie the same in that by them the wrath of God is to be consummated Moreover the things threatned by the Thunders are delayed from being executed until the sounding of the 7th Trumpet and therefore were to be sealed up until the Mysteries of God should be finished which in my judgment means the whole of the Beasts 42 Months which agrees with what he further says p. 249. The Mysteries of God saith he is the bringing in of the Kingdom of Christ and the uniting of all Christians from whence that peace of the Church shall arise and if there be any difference between the Vials and the Thunders it consisteth only in this viz. the Thunders are the denunciation of the Judgments of God and the Vials are the execution of them for tho' the Thunders were heard by St. John under the 6th Trumpet yet they were not to be executed till under the 7th when all the Vials shall be poured out He then proceeds to speak his conjectures about the pouring out of all the 7 Vials 1. On the earth which he thinks intends the Joss of Church Revenues and so falls upon the Worldly and Carnal Interest of Antichristian men let the Carnal Earthly and Self-seeking Prelates and Clergy look to it 2. Vial upon the Sea c. The Sea he says is the Papal Kingdom in this he agrees with reverend Mr. Knowles In its uttermost extent not only the Countrey where the Pope is Soveraign but likewise all those Princes who acknowledge him and this Empire shall become as the blood of a dead man c. So that every Soul which liveth in it shall die That is saith he the government of Popish Princes shall not be able
are risen or suddenly here in Great Britain will rise Bone methinks is coming to his Bone or already have not we seen of late a day like that spoken of Ezek. 36. 7 8. A noise like that of shaking and the Bones came together Bone to his Bone and Sinews and Flesh coming upon them and is not Breath come into them and do they not begin to live is not their hopes revived and are they not up upon their feet They â—ay be a very great Army in due time Look about you O ye Saints what is your expectations are ye ignorant of the signâ— of the times and willingly ignorant do you not look for great things or are ye still as men that dream know ye assuredly that the Kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ is near nor let none perswade you there is no greater glory nor different Kingdom state approaching than what hath been since the Resurrection and Ascention of Christ for 't is not till the ending or the latter end of the fourth Monarchy that the God of Heaven will set up his Kingdom in the glory of it when the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall fill the Earth as the waters cover the Seas all the Kingdoms under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most High. Dan. 7 Look suddenly for a fearful and an amazing Earthquake for it will come it cann't be far off and it will be such a dispensation that England has not known it will be the time of Jacob ' s trouble but he shall be saved out of it woe to the Earth to the wicked to those who have had a hand in the slaying the Witnesses who are Enemies to the power of godliness who strive to keep up an Antichristian state their day is near and the time they must be judged God will now turn his hand upon his Enemies his wrath is come and the day in which he will plead the Controversie of Sion the Decree is gone forth and it cannot be reversed watch and pray take heed you are not found in the Earthly Spirit for if you are you will be shaken in pieces and full with the Enemy and rise no more yet I doubt not but the Enemy will strive kick and struggle exceedingly like a Beast that has received its deaths wound just as they go off the Stage and somewhat like this methinks we plainly see at this very time But tho' the work may seem to be obstructed yet I doubt not but it will revive again and in due time prosper and be accomplished The Mystical Numbers in Daniel and the Revelations calculated by the H. Scriptures only without the help of Humane History By a worthy Minister of the Gospel GOD having given the Scriptures to his Church 2 Tim. 3. 16. for her use and benefit here on Earth so the Times Numbers part thereof have are and will be of use to her Therefore the Angel Dan. 10. 21. for the opening the Vision and the confirmation of his Faith in the Will of God revealed therein v. 14. concerning his Church and what should befal her for times to come here on Earth tells him that he would shew him what was noted in the Scriptures of truth And although this part of the Word hath been most hard to be understood yet besides that common advantage to our Faith that the times are set by God not only in his own Eternal purpose but his revealed Will which is a good Foundation of Faith to believe and expect accordingly the more particular knowledge of them as truly opened must be of special use and help to our Faith both to prepare for suffering and expect deliverance With what diligence then should we with unbiassed minds make our applications to him that is the Revealer of secrets An Essay towards which followeth First I premise there is as sweet a Harmony in this part of the Word as in any other Secondly That this harmony and the right understanding of the Times set is to be found out in the Scriptures them selves The first number I shall begin with is that great number of 2300 days a day for a year as is usual in Scripture Dan. 8. 14. Which I conceive includes all the lesser in Daniel and the Revelations all of them being but parts of this God in his wisdom having so divided this number according to the several Circumstances of Providence the Church was to come under I conceive this number of 2300 was headed or doth take its beginning from the year God translated the Babylonian Monarchy to the Medes and Persians which was the third and last of Belshazzar's Reign who was also the last of the Babylonian Kings 1. Because I find no times set in Scripture to begin before they are given forth tho' several a great while after 2. The Question Dan. 8. 13. is How long is the Vision to give both the Sanctuary and the Host to be trodden under foot and the answer is to 2300 days So that time relates to the suffering of the Church then to come 3. Daniel chap. 8. 1. dates it in the Third of Belshazzar in the year he saw the Vision tho' when he saw it he was in Shushan a chief City in the Province of Elam which is in Persia. Daniel was in Babylon call'd to Expound the Hand-writing when the City was taken chap. 5. 13 30. But when Darius the Median had taken Babylon and had so inlarged his Dominions by the Kingdom of Babylon he for the better Government of the whole Dan. 6. 1 2. set over the Affairs of the Kingdom 120 Princes and three Presidents over them of which he made Daniel chief so that there is great reason why he should be in the Royal City Shushan But this falling out in the third of Belshazzars Reign that he lost his Kingdom Daniel dates the Vision that year tho' he was in Persia when he saw it God chap. 7. and in the first of Belshazzar's Reign shewed in Vision unto Daniel under the representation of four Beasts the four Monarchies which should rule in those parts of the World where his Church then was and was to be in after times during all her suffering state till Christs Kingdom on Earth was to come Dan. 7. 27 28. God having before shewed by Jeremiah chap. 25. 11. the sufferings of his Church under the first of these for 70 years The ending of that Monarchy and the 70 years was to be together in the self-same year which was also to fall out in the Reign of Nebuchadnezzar's Grandson Jer. 27. 7. which was this Belshazzar Now in the last of this Belshazzar and the first of the Medes and Persians God shews to Daniel how long the Church was to suffer under the three that were to succeed and 't was to be for 2300 years longer before the Churches deliverance was to be compleated and Peace and Righteousness established in the Earth under the blessed
a time between both the Church of God had been at as great uncertainty as if no time had been set almost Therefore if we take the finishing their Testimony to respect their work then it is our concernment to consider wherein this finishing part doth lye And that I conceive to be in a witness to the Kingly Office of Christ. His Prophetical and Priestly Offices were first Witnessed to And this hath been lastly contested for even to blood in the last Wars in England as the other had been upon which this last War hath been commenced The Testimony being further confirmed in the Martyrdom of many of those concerned in the finishing of this Testimony The sufferings of the Church in these late years has been carried on against her otherwise than in former ages in other Methods and under other names and pretences all bespeaking that the time of finishing the Testimony is come and the War commenced and it may be an overcoming if not killing also Sixthly where this shall be Ans. It will be there where this finishing part of the witness to Christ is born for there the last War is which is the last effort which Antichrist shall make against the Church of God and overcoming and killing will be And where they shall lye dead and where they shall rise when the Spirit of life from God comes upon them Now where shall all these things be The Holy Spirit tells us it shall be in the Street of the great City Rev. 11. 8. Not in all the Ten but in one Street and upon their resurrection the tenth part of the City falleth not the whole City at once v 13. So that in the Street or Kingdom where the Testimony hath been finished there all the rest follow and there the deliverance of the Church shall begin to an utter overthrow of all her Persecutors and Mortal Enemies Seventhly When this shall be Ans. To know the beginning and end of these times and things there are two ways of calculating The one is beginning at the Head of a number so reckoning forward to its end The other is back-wards as Daniel did Chap. 9. beginning our reckoning at the end of the number and so reckoning to the beginning Now by one of these two ways in Gods time we shall infallibly know But to the Question I suppose both ways may be a help to us now and Scripture numbers have a dependance one upon the other and there lies the harmony of them when that is understood The great number which includes all the rest throughout the sufferings of the Church of God under the three last of Daniels four Monarchies is that of 2300 years which I have indeavoured to carry on by Scripture to the end of it within forty five or forty four years from this year of our Lord 1686. There are two other great numbers in Daniel chap. 12. one of 1290. the other 1335. which is forty five more than the other so that altho' they both begin together they do not both end together by 45 years That they begin together is evident for the 45th is the addition of so many to the 1290. therefore blessed is he that lives to the forty five longer than the 1290. for altho' the Churches deliverance shall begin at the 1290. it shall not be compleated till forty five more Therefore blessed is he that lives till that time so that when ever these 1335. years begin they end with the 2300 years also Again the 1290. is thirty more than 1260. in Rev. 11. therefore tho' they may end together yet they cannot begin together And because of this expositors have generally judged that the 1290. in Daniel relate to the Jews and the 1260 to the Gentile Church but by what reason I cannot be satisfied Hence they head this 1290. at Julians attempting to rebuild the Temple The reason of which was this he had apostatized from Christianity and restored the Gentile Worship and Sacrifices and as an affront to Christians put the Jews upon Sacrificing also who told him that it was not lawful for them but in the Temple at Jerusalem therefore he orders them to build it which they attempted to do but could but attempt for God by his immediate power prevented them This Julian began his Reign in 365. and Reigned but three years so that this opinion time hath confuted For add 1290 to 368 it makes but 1658. at which time they reckon'd the Jews would be called but no such thing hath been Therefore they expounded all these places which we read Sacrifices with a supplement in Dan. 8 12. chap. 11. 31. chap. 12. 11. to intend the Jewish worship which Julian attempted to set up in confront to Christianity to be the abomination that makes desolate for all or any of which I see no reason It is properly translated Sacrifice in one place as chap. 9. 26 27. And this doth relate to the taking away of the Sacrifices then in being of Gods own appointment which accordingly were taken away as Christ himself also admonished Mat. 24. 15. by Titus c. 368 1290 1658 But the abomination which makes desolate I conceive is some corruption in the Gospel worship the true worship of God And therefore seeing we as before find the Apostle concerned so much in forewarning the Church by a Spirit of Prophesie of what had also been expresly foretold by the Spirit of God If it was expresly foretold it must be written some where or other and take the Apostles own exposition 1 Tim. 4. 1 2 3. Why may we not rather reckon this to be the abomination to astonishment foretold by Daniel and this came in in the 383. year when Syricius was Bishop of Rome and continued 15 years in his time Marriage was forbidden to the Priests and in the 425. year Caelestinus was Bishop of Rome and continued eight years He assumed the temporal power as 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 4 5. and why we may not head these numbers here I would be glad to understand In the last of which I conceive Antichrist did make his first visible appearance in the World so that add the 1260 to 425 it makes 1685 and you bring it to the end of 2300 days within forty five years or a year or two which time I conceive is alloted to pour out the Vials and to accomplish the great revolutions in that shall come upon the Earth in order to the possessing of the Kingdom that shall be given to the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. 26 27 28. There is time expressed by time times and dividing of time three times in Scripture as Dan. 7. 25. 12. 7. Rev. 12. 14. I find time thus expressed but in one place more and that is Dan. 4. 23. where it's certainly taken for years and by what rule we will construe it otherwise in other places I see not And that in Dan. 12. 11. seems plainly to relate to a special time of the Enemies accomplishing