Lord sent before them a dread and feare of them among their Enemies It is said their hearts melted neither was their spirit in them any more because of the children of Jsrael Josh 5. 1. This was upon the expiring of the 430 years So the three years and an halfe being out The presence of God will be such among his faithfull ones in raising them up to such high Resolutions and filling them with so much Spirit life and power from on high as it will strike a terrour and amazement every where among Revolters None of the men of might have found their hands the stout hearted are spoiled The King of Babylon hath heard the report of them and his hands waxed feeble anguish took hold of him and pangs as a woman in travell Jer. 50. 43. It will be their case now as if a man should appear who was thought to be dead and rotten many years before He needs not fight his Enemies they will fly fast enough before him My opinion is God will send such a faintnesse into the hearts of his Enemies and strike them with such a horrour and dread that the sound of a leafe shall chase them they shall fly and none pursue them And as they are Apostates and so have sinned against knowledge and conscience by so much their fear and terrour will be the more Now will that Text be fulfilled The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulnesse hath surprized the Hypocrites who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire Who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burning Fifthly Whereas it it is said They heard a great voyce This voyce I take to be Christs the same which afterwards speaks out of the Temple to the seven Angels Goe your wayes and poure out your Vials Rev. 16. 1. Isa 66. 6. Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2. It is said to be great 1. Because it is the voyce of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah roaring out of Zion against his Enemies which is powerfull and full of Majesty Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2. 2. The matter spoken of is of great concernment 3. It must be heard by all the faithfull risen Witnesses every where 4. To signifie that it is operative and prevalent see Psal 29. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Sixthly That the voyce is said to be from Heaven This Denotes 1. Notwithstanding the great Apostacy at this time in Churches especially the Officers the Lord will have a remnant still abiding in the faith and fellowship of the Gospell which shall keep themselves pure and unspotted from the world 2. The fall of the Beast will be by a power from Heaven There brake he the arrowes of the bow the shield and the sword and the battel Psal 76. 3. O God thou art terrible out of thy holy places Ps 68. 35. Zech. 4. 6. Seventhly Come up hither These words I think have this meaning Christ himselfe speaks now for Union and one-nes amongst Brethren and will heal all the breaches and divisions which have long been unhappily between them Come up hither As if he should say Howsoever you have born forth a good Testimony for me against the last Apostacy the little Horn and Beast yet ye could not agree among your selves but did bite and devour one another But this enmity shall cease and be no more Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim For I will have you now all here with me in heaven together not divided and sepeâ—ated as ye have been And as there is but one Lord and his name one Zâ—ch 14. 9 So ye shall serve him with one consent Zâ—ph 3. 9. Thus is the primitive Spirit restord and given againe to the Saints viz. to be of one accord and of one mind Act. 1. 14. 2. 1 46. 15. 25. Eightly It follows And they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud Alluding to Christs ascension Act. 1. 9. The Saints of the most High being 〈◊〉 together and having the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace are now formed the Armies of Heaven to fight the Battles of the Lord of Hosts to destroy the little Horne the Image Babylon c. that Christ alone may Rule in the midst of his Enemies Who is she that looketh forth as the morning cleare as the Sun and terrible as an Army with banners Song 6. 10. The noise of a multitude in the Mountaine like as of a great people a tumultuous noise of the Kingdomes of Nations gathered together The Lord of Hostes mustereth the Host of the battle They come from a farr Country from the end of Heaven even the Lord and the weapons of his Indi nation to destroy tha whole Land Isa 13. 4. 5. So then the witnesses being ascended up to Heaven Now is fullsild that vision which John saw A signe in Heaven great and marvellous seven Angells haveing the seven last plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God Rev. 15. 1. This is the stone cut out without hands which must smite the Image upon his feet Dan. 2. 34. To this time of the witnesses in heaven belongs that in the Prophet Behold I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth thou shalt thresh the Mountains and beat them small and shalt make the hills as chasse Thou shâ—lt fanne them and the wind shall carry them away and the whirlwind shall scatter them And thou shall rejoyce in the Lord and glory in the holy one of Israel Isa 44 15 Againe The Lord shall send the Rod of his strength out of Zion Psal 110. 2 see also Jer. 51. 19. 20 21 â—2 2â— 24. Ninthly But what followes And their Enemies beheld them They saw them before when they stood upon their feet and were astonished at it But much more now being ascended and gotten above them to pour out a vial full of the wrath of God upon their heads There is nothing said what the Enemies of the Witnesses doe more then Behold them that is saw them as Balaam did Israel abiding in his Tents according to their Tribes The Lord his God is with him and the shalt of a King is among them Behold the People shall rise up as a great Lyon and lift up himselfe as a young Lyon he shall not lie down untill he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slaine God brought him out of Egypt he hath as it n ere the strength of a Vnicorn he shall eat up the Nations his Enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrowes Num. 23. 21 24. 24. 8. In this manner and no otherwise shall the Enemy now behold them Neither doe I find any thing that they shall doe or be able to doe for their own safety Is it not said All hands shall be faint and every mans heart shall melt and they shall be afraid pangs and sorrowes shall take hold of them they shall be in paine as a Woman that travelleth and they
shall be amazed one at another their faces shall be as flames Isa 13. 7 8. But when shall this be At this time I say now the Lord having called his Mighty ones and his sanctified ones and mustered the host of the battell agaixst Babylon v. 1 2 3 4. And this is one Reason why I doe conceive For material weapons the Saints have no need to make much provision before hand Though Joshua took All the People of war with him and all the mighty men of valour Yet there died more with hailstones then they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword Josh 107 11. So at this time howsoever there shall be the Sword of the Lord and the Sword of Gideon yet Gideon but a thousand and David his ten thousand And here I desire the discreet Reader to observe the Method and order which the Lord as it seemes to me will follow in making Christs enemies his footstool When the three yeares and an halfe are expir'd for till then the appointed time will not come for him to arise and have mercy upon Zion there will be a pouring out of the Spirit in abundance whereby the hearts of the faithfull every where will be raised up to high and great resolutions against the later Apostacie the little Horn and Beast Even publickly to declare the war of the Lamb against that Government and State and the whole dominion of Antichrist This will strike a dreadfull terrour through the hearts of the Enemies especially HYPOCRITES AND SINNERS IN ZION They will be driven to their wits end not knowing what to doe seeing judgment must begin at them And that the Lords work may the more effectually goe forward and prosper now the Lamb himselfe will speak to the hearts of his sincere ones touching the great Commandment of love and for peace and union By whose Spirit working effectually in them his Commandment shall be obeyed â—o that all breaches and differences will be speedily and perfectly done away and they all of one accord and of one mind And what then As the Armies of Heaven and Angels of the last plagues goe out of the Temple to pour out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the Earth And as the Saints are thus raised up in faith life light love wisedome courage c. So on the contrary the Enemies now fall and are cast down under unbelief death darknesse division folly fear c. Reader I pray thee mark it The three yeares and halfe being expird This will follow As the followers of the Lamb shall have faith love light courage and understanding rise and increase among them So among the followers of the Horn and Beast quite otherwise viz. Fear unbeliefe contention blindnesse and confusion will break out and abound And by this many will be convinc't and satisfied that the set time is come That which is next is Action And it follows in the Text. And the same houre was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven Here I think the Vials begin this shaking Earth is the Earth Rev. 16. 2. the subject of the first Viall That State-Apostacy of which we have spoken out of Entituled which as the Bottomlesse Pit Truth ascended the Beast headed with with Time a little Horne But of this I have elsewhere written and shall refer the Reader to it I come now to our last point and so will Conclude Whether the Prophesie of slaying the Witnesses be fulfild in our time or no Answ By what hath been said let the READER Judge I shall add nothing of mine own But draw up some particular Heads from the the Prophesie opened If it be fulfild in whole or part These things must be as I soberly think I. A Government or State set up by Apostates II. No sooner is it erected but there will be a glorious Testimony of Jesus formerly held forth imediately kild III. If it be this Beast his dominion and Government must suddenly and strangely come forth neither expected nor desired of the people nor hath it their consent Yet IV. For craft and policie there will be more used about raising this Beast then hath been known before V. Hypocrisie in religion will be the great thing whereby the Beast being ascended out of the bottomlesse pit shall seek to establish his Government VI. They are not Persons he shall slay but the Truth witnessed by them yet not all truth But that Testimony which is now held forth for the Reign and Kingdome of Christ against worldly powers VII This Testimony he will kill in many great Professours by corrupting them with preferment Job 34 30. Again he himself will pretend much piety perswading people it is not the Testimony of Jesus he kills but errour and falshood Besides if he be the Beast he will have such Souldiers about him as will act any wickednesse he bids them Lastly he will make Lawes against the witnesses VIII This Beast shall not be under the authority of the Church of Rome neither shall the place or Country where the witnesses are slain in their Testimony belong to the Jurisdiction of the Papal Beast IX Neverthelesse this Beast shall be a main pillar and supporter of Babylon in her greatest Idolatry and Tyranny X. Though this Beast shall indeavour to destroy utterly the present Generation Testimony yet he shall not be able For the Lord will have a Remnant in whom the witnesse shall live Though he have kild it in others XI Where this is their hypoctites doe reigne It will be a time in which Apostates shall florish XII Now the Carnall and corrupt professour will rejoyce and make merry And Priests say as Agag surely the bitternesse of death is past call for Samson that he may make us sport Who is wise and he shall understand these things Frudent and he shall know them For the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them But the transgressors shall fall therein Hos 14. 9. FINIS A POSTSCRIPT Ye Precious Ones and Saints of the most High It is not much that I shall add But it is to give YOU an Account of the Occasion of this Work UPON my Banishment from Hull for what Cause I know not there being nothing to this day made known to me I went a part as Elias did into the Wildernesse And as I lay under hedges in holes my Soul in bitternesse breathed forth many sad complaints before the Lord. It is enough O Lord take away my life for I am not better then my Fathers Often and sore wrestlings I had with my God to know His Meaning and Teaching under this Dispensation And what further work whether Doing or Suffering he had for me his Poor old Sevant being now againe Banished after 17 years Banishment before Being brought thus at the feet of God and there waiting
Jesus can deny himself can take up his Cross daily and follow his prince and his Saviour through the fire and through the water if need be and the cause of Christ call for it The wicked instead of understanding these Prophecies shall do wickedly against those who watch and pray for the accomplishment of them shall secretly wish that the Lord would delay his coming cannot eccho to the voice of the Spirit and of the Bâ—ide saying Come Lord Jesus shall be found smiting their fellow servants conforming themselves to this old evil world eating and drinking with the gluttons and with the drunken the Kings and the Inhabitants of the earth who are made drunk with the wine of the fornication of the mother of Harlots c. They cannot brook the hand-writing of God in the Scriptures concerning the numbring weighing and finishing of their Kingdoms and Governments so well as that Baby lonish Prince Belshazzar did bear the interpretation of the hand-writing upon the plaster of the wall But in stead of doing them honour who forewarn them of their approaching destruction cannot behold them with a cheerful aspect from the moment of such their faithful admonitions and reproofs but the will of the Lord be done I desire moreover it may be understood and remembred by friends and enemies that we have not by our Testimony ingaged our liberties and lives against the Gen. the Apostatizing part of the Army meerly or indeed principally upon the account of the expiration of the time allotted to the litle Horn the Beast as it may be some have done but upon the account of that good righteous and blessed Cause which He and his Officers seemed formerly to have loved better then their own lives though since they have most unworthily preferred Barabbas before Christ and so gratified the humours and the lusts of the children of Belial throughout the Nations whilst the Lords remnant have been weeping and mourning in this day of trouble rebuke and blasphemy for that abominable back-sliding whereof they are guilty before the Lord Let that counsel of Solomon and Paul rake place among those who have not yet fallen before him because there hath been no opportunity of conversing with him but yet through the power of credulity and simplicity are obnoxious to entanglements When he speaketh fair believe him not for there are seven abominations in his heart Avoid those who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ but their own bellies and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple All such upright Christians as are not nor shall be softned by his tears nor intrapped by his spies have cause to reckon those two deliverances in the catalogue of their choice mercies from the Lord the best preservative is to keep out of the sight of the one and out of the reach of the other far enough and safe enough What is written in the few following sheets may be through the Lords blessing of great use to caution many pretious souls for the time to come who having little experience and acquaintance with the spirits and designs of the worldly Powers in their managing the mystery of iniquity the deceivablenes of unrighteousness are very apt to plead their cause and make Apologies on their behalf of whom they will find cause to be ashamed when the hidden things of darkness and of dishonesty shall be brought into the open light The truth is we erre not knowing the Scriptures We erre not being well instructed in the mystery of godliness and in the mystery of iniquity Godliness and ungodliness righteousness and unrighteousness are both of them mysteries they lie very deep they are remote from common understanding We need the candle of the Lord to find out the depths of God and the depths of Satan for each have their deeps as Paul and John have written but those who are light in the Lord are inabled to descend into the depths of God and into the bottomless pit or depth from whence the Beast who slayeth the Witnesses ascendeth and into which the Dragon that old Serpent the Devil and Satan shall be cast and deceive the Nations no more Amen Although we in our preachings and writings may to the present age seem audacious men thus to meddle with these dark prophecies yet the succeeding generations shall bless the Lord for raising up some before their times to forewarn them to flee from the wâ—ath that is to come The Lord give forth such a measure of the holy unction to his people in reading these things that being inabled to distinguish betwixt probabilities and certainties they may receive the Truth and inquire further into that which is but probable and so come to make a judgement of things according to the mind of Jesus Christ I shall not add any more at this time save only that through the rich administrations of Free-grace I am still and hope to continue to the end The servant of Jesus Christ and of all the Saints for Jesus sake according to the measure received CHR. FEAâ—E AN Epistolary Perambulation OR A Word to every one round the World IT was a saying of one who read a Comment upon the Patience of Job That poor Job was more miserably tormented with his Comment then with his Condition of botches and boyls and indeed I was the more doubtful of answering my friends desire in publishing my poor Epistolary thoughts upon so pregnant a piece and profitable as this is lest he should suffer more by so deficient and indigent a Comment as mine then by the whole matter or subject of this discourse so feelingly and faithfully since his exile and suffrings presented to the publike judgement Wherefore I fear to adde to what with so much Evidence and Demonstration he hath produced lest I should diminish and do rather wish that men would proportion Meditation to reading that they may prove them staple Truths and Commodities in their own Souls and Consciences For they can best report them who best relish them and dispirit them into their own Spirits or Breasts When I prepend how perplexable and out of order we are in these times I the less wonder at those high Distempers and burning Paroxysms of Opinion Pride lust and Passion among carnal Church-members and worldly professors who like thirsty Travellers are ready to drink of every puddle let the water be wholesom or hurtful and in their heat will have it though they surfeit for it Such must be purged and better dieted if ever they do well Now I do think as to the venome of the times contracted by taking in things untrue and obnoxious to the things and times of the end these Streams which run from the Rock Christ and glide through the valley of this Book or Brook may be of singular use to expel through the Savour Sweetness Sence Simplicity Evidence and Wholesomness of them to all Souls They are slain and so perhaps not such placentia to the Court-palates that
For it is expresly said that this Horn must bee stouter than any of the ten I shall open the words in three things 1 Howsoever wee read of many stout Horns among the Ten which were very Tyrants and for their oppression and cruelty some of them were deposed others banished some imprisoned some put to death as Charls Stewart in our time yet hee cannot bee the little Horn who doth not in an arbitrary and lawless way exceed them all how tyrannical soever their Government was And therefore unlesse wee see a State that hath more violated and broken the Laws of the Nation destroyed the priviledges of Parliaments and Rights of the People more than ever Charls Stewart did yea than ever was done since the Conquest or since the rise of the Beast the Holy Ghost acquits it here from being the little Horn. Nay I say more for God forbid I should condemn the righteous if since the rise of the Ten Horns it can appear that for plucking up by the roots the Laws Liberties and Freedome of the people and ruling according to will and lust there hath been done by any of the Ten what hath been done in our Time wee are not yet come I speak as I think to the daies of the little Horn. 2 That hee is said to have his looks stoâ—â—ter then his fellows here I think the spirit of God intends the likenesse between the heads of the two Apostacies how stout the first was wee have shewed now much more might be added As thus No man saith hee must dispute or doubt of my actions Those that will not obey my Decrees are to be dispossessed and sequestred of all Honours and Estates without restitution My power is greater than all created powers I can aispense with Laws Vows Oaths Covenants c. What I say that must bee reverenced and received for Truth And whosoever speaketh against it is forthwith an Heretick yea a very Pagan a Witch an I do later an Infidel In a word I cannot bee judged by any Prince or Prelate upon the Earth Neque ab omn bus simul in Concilio congregatis not by all the Princes and Prelates in the world though in Councel together And such as I take to bee my enemies others are to take their enemies and forthwith to withdraw from them and not so much as to look upon them I would have all men very carefull whom they make the Little Horn For I am perswaded what person soever he shall bee for Stoutnesse hee will bee like the head of the first Apostacy that is what the former hath said the latter will attempt to do 3 It is observed by some Expositors that in verse 8. there is no mention made of his Stunt looks But afterward verse 20. Hence they conceive that hee will bee worse at last than at the beginning grow more fierce and tyrannous against the interest of Christ and his people towards his end than hee was before Indeed Evil men and seaueâ—rs shall wax worse and worse 2 Tim. 3. 13. And the same Horn made war with the Saints and prevailed against them â— As the Characters of this Horn are proper to him so in opening each particular if the meaning of the spirit bee understood wee must finde out such things to bee done by him as were not done before by any other Touching this war 1 The ground of it will bee as hath been said about Christs interest and right to the Kingdome For in the dayes of this Horn the Saints will bee raised up very high in bearing witnesse for the son of David against the Rulers of the World that the Time is at hand in which all their Power and Dominion shall bee taken from them But more especially will they stand up against the Horn as taking him to be the little Horn and the first Enemy that must bee destroyed as the subject of the first vial and the greatest obstructer to the work of the last times in execnting the vengance of the Lord and of his Temple upon Babylon whereupon hee will use all the Policy and Power hee hath to keep his body from the burning flame by persecuting the Saints many ways in appearing thus for the Lamb. That such a Controversy shall be before Christs Personal comming is manifest But those my enemies which would not that I should reign over them bring hither and slay them before wee Luk. 19. 27. I know the place is usually interpreted of Christs spiritual reigning in the hearts of Beleevers But the scope and series of the Parable carries it otherwise read vers 11. 12. and foreward The meaning I take thus towards the end of the forty two months in the three years and half the dispute will grow high about Christs visible Kingdome Some will assert it others oppose it and here beginnes the warre between the Horn and the Saints which was never before in the world 2 Though the warre bee raised upon this occasion yet will the Horn so palliate the same with pious pretences as it may well have the name of the Holy War For here the Persecutors Smiters of their Brethren and who cast them outâ—t these must bee Saints and the well affected and the good people And they that are imprisoned banished and overcome these Malignants Traitors Fools Beasts not worthy to live in Church or Common-wealth So that for Hypocrisy the like was never shewed before 3 For this War Iâ—o not conceive that the Saints shall come forth into the field and fight the little Horn and so bee overcome by him For till his three years and half are expired The Lord of Hosts will not muster the Host of the battle against him But by making warre is meant hee shall oppresse them many wayes for bearing witnesse to Christs Kingdome against his power and standing See Jam. 4. 1. Quest But why is it called a war if nothing bee more intended than the Horn persecuting the Saints they making no resistance I answer the Holy Ghost I conceive calls it a making war because this Horn shall have his greatest aid and help by an Army These kinde of men will principally do his Commands against the Saints bee they never so unrighteous and cruel For other men in Civil places as they will not care to serve him in such a way so hee will not make use of them as of Souldiers under him These will bee most for his turn whether it bee to banish or imprison or to put a Saint to death Truely for this Reason I think though the Saints are meer Patients yet it is called a war To signifye if it bee this little Horn Then 1 The instruments which he shall chiefly imploy against Gods people will bee Army-men 2 His Souldiers will bee so degenerate and mercinary as they will not spare any of the Lords pretious ones but whomsoever hee bids them to banish imprison murder they will do it though they know no
offence or fault they have committed Reader the Application is thy part And prevailed against them How this is done is shewed chap. 12. 7. hee shall scatter the Power of the Holy people the which place hath reference to Moses words when hee sees their Power is gone Deut. 32. 36. Not onely may the slaying of the Witnesses bee here meant but this Horn shall proceed and prosper so farre in this war as all hope will bee taken away from Christs cause ever to rise again I shall give the Reader my thoughts of the thing As the darkest time of the Night is about the dawning so a little before the expiration of the three years and half The interest of Christ and his People will bee at the lowest ebb and the Horn-State at the highest spring of glory and greatnesse For the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left Thus Moses and Daniel speak of one thing that the Horn will not bee to the height of his persecution till his body bee ready to bee given to the burning flame and therefore whosoever shall live under his Dominion must expect that hee will bee most fierce and cruel when the period and end of his time is come And shall wear or tire out the Saints of the most high Here wee have the Angels explanation of the words before how hee shall prevail namely weary out the Saints that is by keeping some of them under bonds and banishment as thinking thereby to yre them out and so compel them to deny Christ as himself had done before Others by poverty and outward wants being forced to leave their former imployment and maintenance that they might not be partakers of his sins Re. 13. 16 17. This makes mee think that the Lord will not suffer him to shed much bloud for howsoever hee will not fear God nor man and bee most wrathsul specially towards the end of his time Neverthelesse hee shall but fulfil the Councell and purpose of God as did Pharoah Judas Herod and Pontius Pâ—late that is not put the Saints to death but â— eary them out no further or very little shall hee go in spight of his Stont looks But again they are not onely Saints but of the most high which seems to import that some Saints shal do well enough under this Horn as to their peace liberty and worldly enjoyments onely those who are not for him but for the most High he will make war against And in this his Hypocrisy and other wickedness will bee â—he lesse seen and noted In honouring some Professors of Religion promoting them to great places and offices in his Councel Army Colledges and making them his familiar friends such I mean as will have fellowship with him in the works of darknesse and justifie his unrighteous wayes howsoever in the mean time hee shall persecute others who are in truth and really for the cause and interest of Christ I would have the Reader likewise to observe this as a special thing whereby to know the time of the Little Horn. There will bee then two sorts of Saints the one hee will hate the other seem to love the one he will take into his Palace the other cast into Prison the one shall be raised from one degree of preserment to another the other thrown out of all And the Reason is because the former are Saints of the most high The latter are not according to the meaning of the text The former like Moses will esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt The latter like Demas will imbrace the present world and not care what becomes of the Kingdome of the most high so they may reign as Kings themselves in Pomp Pride and Pleasure c. with the HORN And think to change times and Laws To know what is here meant it must bee observed what the Holy Ghost speaks of this Horn as to bee his great work and businesse and this is set down in two things viz. making warre against the Saints of the most high and plucking up by the roots three Kingdomes so that as he takes twosorts of people for his greatest enemies The fift Monarchy-men and the Common-wealth-men so hee is fallen upon a design whereby he thinks to keep up his Power and Dominion in spight of both Parties that it by changing times and Laws where note how in the first hee shews himself a very Atheist in the latter a deep Polititian We will speak of both distinctly By Times in this place I understand the set Time in which the father hath promised to give his son and the Saints with him the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven Psal 102. 13. Isa 14. 31. Hab. 2. 3. Rev. 10. 6 7 and 22. 10. Dan. 8. 19. and 10. 1. and 11. 27 29 35. As the Israelites after four hundred and thirty years were set free from the Egyptian bondage And afterward delivered from the Captivity of Babylon the seventy years being expired So the forty two months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and the three years and half being sulfilled it is Gods purpose to begin the deliverance of his people from Tyrants and Oppressours and to make them his battle Axe and rod of his strength to break the Image to peices and take the Kingdome Dan. 7. 18. Now the little Horn reading such prophesies and what great things are promised the Saints after a Time Times and dividing of time and when three dayes and an half are ended And perceiving what encouragement some take from such places as intending to follow the call of God when that Appointed time shall come What doth he I not beleeving the holy Prophesies bee thinks to change the Times that is wheras after three years and half the Saints make account the Times will bee Christs and Theirs he on the contrary THINKS to have it his still and to continue the Little Horn as he was before Yea and to have his son a Horn after his decease That the Reader may clearly understand what my meaning is This I think When the dayes of the Little Horn are almost expired the Wise shall understand that hee is the Horn and God will put in their hearts to fulfill his Will upon him which is to take away his Dominion to consume it and to destroy it unto the End Dan. 7. 26. This being perceived by him hee shall perswade himself to frustrate what the Scriptures testify and the Saints beleeve concerning him by some crafty devises which he hath thought upon As Herod a Type of this Horn when hee heard of the birth of the King of the Jews gathered all the chief Priests and Scribes of the people together to know of them where hee should be born Though hee intended onely the death of the Holy Child Jesus yet hee seeks to know
else shall be a Law for men to walk by and trust to neither will they have any other defence whiles this Horn raigns to preserve themselves and families from ruine Quest But how doth hee think thus to change the Laws Answ 1 Ex parte altissimi in the behalf of God as following providence and necessity and that he could do no otherwise to preserve the Nations in Peace Especially the godly party and tender Consciences who above all earthly things hee hath a fatherly care of And this will bee in the time of the Horn the greatest plea among Apostates How much it concern'd the honour of God and the interest of Christ and his people to take away from the People their Power and from Parliaments their ancient Priviledges Remove foundations lay the Law aside and Rule by Will and Lust leave the People nothing to help themselves from violence and wrong in respect of their Persons or Estates yea the Impudence of Turn-Coats and Hypocrites at this time will bee such that whosoever grieves and Complains because the Laws are changed shall bee branded for Malignants men that seek themselves and are discontented because the Power is not in their hands 2 Whereas it is said hee will change Laws the meaning seems to bee when hee hath laid the former aside hee will to use the Scripture phrase Invent to himself the INSTRVMENT of a foolish shepheard stuff up some thing as Michal did the Bolster with goats-hair and lay it in the place of the other Not that hee shall think what hee hath done is worth any thing for he will laugh at it himself and before the three years and half are expired call it all to nought But as men to quiet fools and children when they have taken good things from them put a bable or trifle into their hands So it is some BABLE or Trifle which hee will give the People of purpose as Children and fools to still them and that they may not cry after the GOOD OLD LAWS which hee hath taken from them 3 My Opinion is when this Horn shall reign in changing the Law he will do as D. Alva did chuse a Councel And in this hee will be very subtle as taking the persons whom hee will have to be of his Councel out of several sects and parties It may bee from the Anabaptists one from the Independents two or three and so from the Presbyterians and Cavileers more or lesse By which means hee makes account that his changing of the Law will be the sooner allowed by all sides and sects 4 In this change of the Law he will make use of Corrupt Lawyers a thing easy to bee done for I verily think when this Horn shall rule there will bee few Lawyers but as rotten as dirt These Wretches and Traitours to God and their Country to have preferment and places under him and to keep up old rotten Customes and Corruptions in the Law will bend their tongue like their bow for lyes Countenance him and go along with him in the worst oâ— his Actions contrary to all Law and against their Knowledge and Conscience and Oathes which they had often taken To this might bee added what a watchful Eye the Horn will have on such as shall appear for Laws and Freedome of their poor Countrey not onely thrust them out of place and practice but imprison them and possibly more too when that time is before it do expire But 5 And Lastly as no People have had their Laws changed and an Arbytrary Power set over them and so enslaved to the unlimited Commands of some men but it hath been by the Power of the sword so questionlesse whatsoever this Horn shall do he will do it by an Army which will readily put in execution all his Orders and Appointments bee they never so unreasonable illegal and unjust as was said before It is said of Christs enemy Mat. 13. 25. that he sowed Tares among the wheat Hee pluckt not up the wheat though he mixed his Tares with it But this Horn doth worse For though other Tyrants before him sowed Tares that is brought in many things which were Arbytrary and Illegal yet they pluckt not up the Wheat but this MIGHTY MAN will not leave any good Corn standing nothing but his bitter Tares for the people to feed upon But for all this the Holy Ghost tells us he doth but think to change Times and Laws for no such think indeed can hee do But like a man in his sleep dreams hee hath great things and when hee awakes findes it altogether otherwise So will his actions bee hee builds Castles in the Air promiseth a great deal to himself but hee that sits in heaven doâ—h laugh him to scorn and will scatter this proud Horn in the imagination of his heart So that in the three years and half nothing is done for him as to the changing of Laws and times though his own creatures bee imployed in the work read Psalm 52. and 75. Exod. 15. 9 10. as appliable to this That it was no more but Thinking in respect of changing the Times will appear by and by when wee come to speak of his End Neither will it bee more than thinking in respect of changing Laws For never shall he bee able to establish his Government nor will any of his Acts or Ordinances made by him in the three years and half bee acknowledged for LAW when that short time is expired but thrown out as things execrable and abominable This too is very considerable howsoever the main work of the Horn in the three years and half will bee about his own interest how to secure himself and settle the Government of the three Proâ—inceâ— which hee hath pluckt up by the roots in his own Family yet shall his Dominion bee taken from him before any thing is perfected So that hee is but a THINKER and DREAMER at most Nothing shall hee bring to pass for his own turn and purpose Thus shall the Scriptures bee fulfilled in him A man shall not bee established by wickednesse Prov. 12. 3. The expectation of the wicked shall perish Prov. 10. 28. The wicked shall fall by his own wickednesse Prov. 11. 5. The house of the wicked shall bee overthrown Prov. 14. 11. The Lord will destroy the house of the Proud Prov. 15. 25. An inheritance may bee gotten hastily at the beginning But the end thereof shall not bee blessed Prov. 20. 21. And they shall bee given into his hand This may be meant 1 Of God by whose sufferance the Horn shall prosper yea take root and grow as the Prophet saith Jer. 12. 2. and so doubts not but to bring to pass all his designes in respect of changing both Times and Laws 2 They shall bee given him by men viz the Apostates of that time And these the most eminent and heads of the people whether Ministers Magistrates Lawyers Souldiers It was told David that Ahitophel was among the Conspirators with Absolom Hee
in that hee saith I will make c. this cannot bee understood of Christ as the instrument of the work but Saints And this same order and manner of proceeding we find every where in scripture that the executing of the last judgements upon the Kingdomes of the world shall be by Gods people first these shall cut off the Little Horn be new threshing instruments and weapons of war Carpenters Reapers the Angels of the Vials c. by whom Jehovah will make Christs enemies his foot-stool Dan. 7. 26. Isa 41. 15. Jer. 51. 19. Zach. 1. 21 Rev. 14. 4 Upon the rising of the witnesses there follows an Earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell Rev. 11. 13. This cannot be meant as done by Christ personally for afterwards it is said The Kingdomes of this World are become his and â—ee reigns vers 15. 17. Therefore I think the Earth-quake and the Earth Rev. 16. 2. is one thing viz. The earthly Apostacy headed with the little Horn on which shall bee poured out the first Vial as soon as the Witnesses are ascended up into Heaven 5 When Christ shall come and all his Saints with him Zach. 14. 5. The enemy shall not bee destroyed by any materiall weapon And the Armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen white and clean Rev. 19. 14. No armour is mentioned neither do I think that any such thing will bee used or that the followers of the Lamb shall strike a stroke but the enemies shall fall and perish by some extraordinary judgement And there sell upon men a great hail out of Heaven every stone about the weight of a Talent Rev. 16. 21. Again I will plead against him with pestilence and with Bloud and I will rain upon him an overflowing raine great hail stones fire and bloud Ezek. 38. 21. But in subduing the little Horn and the ten Kings in smiting the Image and the Dominion of the Beast here shall be fighting and instruments of war used Isa 13. 18. Jer. 50. 9. 14. 22. 35 36 37 42. and chap. 51. 3. 11. Rev. 13. 10. 18. Now I come to the fourth head which is the judgement it self The Beast was slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning slame Dan. 7. verse 11. And they shall take away his dominion to consume it and destroy it even to the end vers 26. 1 Being now come to his end that he is called the Beast and a little Horn before The Reasons may be First to signify that he is fatted for destruction His Hypocrisies Deceits Mockings of God and men and other abominable sinnes are full and ripe Jer. 12. 1 2 3. and Jer. 51. 40. 2 Seeing the Witnesses are to bee slain by him the Wisdome of God thinks good to give him here the same name which hee hath Rev. 11. 7. 3 That hee perisheth under the name of a Beast though formerly a Horn it shews how little his death will bee pittied any where No more than if a bloudy Lyon or crafty Fox had been killed by hunters Moreover what rejoycing there will bee among the Saints that so cruel and fierce a Creature is taken out of the way Allelu-jah and again Allelu-jah Psal 58. 1â— 2 Though it bee true whatsoever is spoken of his end is no more if we take the words in general then that his government and Pouer shall bee broken to peeces yet I think there is something in every word as to a particular kind of punishment and how several parties as distinct shall be punished some in one kind and some in another This State or Government to be destroyed is made up of three sorts of people 1 Souldiers to fight for it 2 Lawyers and Priests to plead for it 3 The Authors and Inventers of it Now observe how the Lord in destroying the whole fits his judgement to each party 1 The Beast is slain This respects the Souldiery And probable it is that many of them will be slain For howsoever the greater part of them at least the better part such as have any thing of God left in them will lay down their arms and forsake him neer his end yet some desperate and prophane wretches newly rais'd will stand it out and so fall by the sword of the Lord in the hand of his mighty ones It is said in the earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand Rev. 11. 13 what number of souldiers will bee slain at this time it is not exprest a great slaughter no doubt Every one I think put to the sword that shall bee found in Armes for the Horn they having warning given them before to come out and not to fight in his behalf see Isa 34. 2 3. And his body destroyed This seems to bee another kind of punishment as beheading hanging and putting to death by a Judicatory and the word imports so much This follows the slain Army But who is the body of the Horn The later Apostacy of which we spake so that Judgment will now begin at the house of God at the sanctuary Woe now to Apostates Woe to you Scribes and Pharisees Hypocrites The Lords day is upon you such as did justifye and encourage the Horn when hee thought to change Times and Laws Acted unrighteously under him Executed his unlawful Orders and Commands against the Saints of the most High made to themselves an advantage of his Tyranny and Oppression Oh how are the sinners in Zion afraid and fearfulnesse surprized the Hypocrites Now Church members and Church Officers are likely to experience the soul that sins shall dye and that the righteous God loves Righteousnesse And it is not fasting praying prophesying c. will deliver corrupt men and such as have basely betrayed the cause of Christ in the day of the Lords wrath Mal. 3. 2 3. Isa 33. 14. 66. 5. Thus the Lords hand at this time will lye heavy upon Professours they are the body of the little Horn Apostates I mean which must bee destroyed It will bee their turn I verily think to drink first of the Vials 1 Cor. 3. 15. And by this means the Lord will make his way the more plain and his Judgements manifest when he shall afterwards go forth against the Ten Kings and the great Whore for what may Idolaters and men visibly Prophane and wicked expect but dregs and wrath without mixture seeing the Lord before spared not Church-members and such as had a form of Godlinesse Jer. 25. â—8 29. And given to the burning flame As this judgement is greater than the former so it is for the Horn himself and the chief instruments which raised him up by whose means Souldiers Lawyers Ministers and others were brought into the Snare This kind of punishment I take to bee the same with that of the Beast and false Prophet a lake of fire burning with Brimstone Rev. 19. 20. Now howsoever this bee not Hell properly so called yet it is some temporal Judgement more than
sort what they did I need not mention But when their hearts were merry Then Sampson is cal'd for And what is now the Subject of all their scurrilous Talk and Jests but the short liv'd Parliament Oh this cruell Sampson that had it in his heart not onely to have brought their Craft in danger to be set at nought but the Temple of the great Goddesse Diana And to say the truth the Priests were not much mistaken in it For probable it is had not that glorious Testimony of Jesus been kild They would have seâ—t the Tayle of the Beast after the Head Swept away that other part of Popish dung and trash which the former Parliament had left in the Nation Now if the Holy Ghost meant not these men and their making merry yet I am sure it was fulfilled in them according to the letter of the Text. One part of the Prophesie yet remaines and it is the better part Namely The rising of the Witnesses And here we have the Time the Means and the Manner with the Enemies amazement at it and the like And after three dayes and an halfe the spirit of life from God â—ntred into them and they stâ—od upon their feet and great fear sell upon them that saw them And they heard a great voyce from Heaves saying unto them come up hither And they ascended up to Heaven in a cloud And their Enemies bsheld them First Of the Time I have spoken Assoon as the Beast ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit he kills the Witnesses Three years and an halfe they lie unburied The which time being expir'd they immediately Rise and then begins the ruine and fall of the Beast So that I conceive it is not the Lords meaning that any should go forth to take his Dominion from him untill it evidently appear that the Witnesses are Risen the Spirit poured forth the Beast certainly known and the Lord appearing in some visible providence making the way plaine for the Angel of the first â—iâ—ll Secondly By the Spirit of life from God c. I understand and the sending of the Comforter that great promise of the Father to be endued with power from on high Lak 24. 49. As herbes flowers and grasse seem dead and hang the head by reason of drought but rise againe flourish and grow green when raine falls thereon So the Testimony of Jesus which seemed withered and scorch't hath now from the Lord life and Spirit put into it and so that Death is taken off which lay formerly on it And this I take to be the Time in which Saints may expect the returne of their prayers concerning the pouring out of the Spirit and the fullfilling of such Promises In the wildernesse shall waters break out and streames in the desert Isa 35. 6. I will pour waters upon him that is thirsty and â—louds upon the dry ground I will poure my Spirit upon thy seed and my blessing upon thine Of-spring And they shall spring up as among the grosse as willows by the water-courses Isa 44. 3 4. I will put my Spirit in you and ye shall live Eze. 37. 14. After two days he will revive us in the third day he will raise us up and we shall live in his sight Hosea 6. 2. And it shall come to passe afterward that I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh and your Sons and your daughters shall Prophesie your old men shall dream dreames your young men shall see visions And also upon the servants and upon the hand-maids in those dayes will I pour out my Spirit Joel 2. 28 29. Howsoever before the rising of the witnesses there will be some sprinkling of the Spirit here and there For the understanding of the Time As a man knows by the dawning that the night is past yet I think till the witnesses are risen the Saints shall not be endued with power from on high neither Generally nor largely For now is The Tabernacle of the Testimony of heaven opened and not till now Rev. 15. 6. I mean in respect of a beginning Thirdly No sooner doth a Spirit of life from God enter into them But they stand upon their feet By which manner of speaking according to the Scripture is signified 1. An open confession and publishing of the Lords wonderfull mercy remembring his truth and Testimony in its low estate 1 Chron. 28. 1. Acts 3. 7 8. and 14 14. As the Sons of Zion are to have a two-edged-sword in their hands so the high praises of God in their mouth It is true they are to execute vengeance upon the heathen and punishments upon the people To bind their Kings with chains and their Nobles with fetters of Iron But what goes before Allelujah sing unto the Lord a new song and his praise in the Congregation of Saints Let Israel rejoyce in him that made him let the Children of Zion be glad in their King c. Psal 14. 9. So then by this standing upon their feet is meant that New sâ—â—â—Rev 14 3. An high exalting and â—â—ung up the holy Name of God every where among the faithfull Remnant For that life and Spirit which is now given them The Testimony of Jesus it was before flame and born down by the Enemy But now it goes forth conquering and to conquer prevailes and gets victory in every place over them And the Ransomed of the Lord shall come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads they shall obtaine joy and gladnesse and sorrow and sighing shall be no more Isa 35. 10. compare Rev. 15. 3 4. 2. The standing upon their feet signifies not only The Testimony raised up to greater boldnesse against the Beast speaking more freely and plainly against his hypocrisie Apostacie Blasphemy Tiranny c. then before Ezek. 2. 1 2 and 3 24. But likewise the hundred forty and four thousand are preparing to stand with the Lamb on mount Zion Rev 14. 1. Now I think open war begins to be proclaim'd against the Beast and Babilon according to the Prophets Isa 13. 2. Jeâ— 50. 2. Againe It shews with what assurance of victory the warr is undertaken For by faith they see all ready their feet upon the necks of their Enemies and that they shall take the Beasts dominion from him and give his body to the burning flame Josh 10. 24. Zech. 14. 4. Some understand this and their ascending up to heaven of the witnesses not only restored to their places but promoted to more eminent preferment howsoever I take the witnesses as hath been said for the Truth witnessed by them yet no doubt such as suffer under the Beast for their Testimony continuing faithfull the Lord will greatly honour For out of Prison he cometh to Reign Eccles 4. 14. Fourthly For the persons upon whom this great feare fell I take to be they that dwell upon the earth the Apostates and followers of the Beast It seemes to allude to the State and time of Gods people coming out of Egypt when the