of God in his providential dispensations It hath been the practice of worldly powers to justifie their unrighteous Wars and Murthers by crying up Providence As if their Victories and Conquests must needs be lawful because of the Oportunities and advantages which they had though yet no otherwise then what Thieves and Highway-robbers may pretend to Saul fell twice into David's hands might not this be thought a Providence as leading him to take the kingdom but there was something more in David's eye as he waited for the kingdom namely the Appointed time CONSID. VI. Therefore neer or about the period of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years that is to say in the last three years and an half of that Number certain most remarkable and wonderful things will come to pass for there shall appear then a Little Horn of which Daniel speaks Chap. 7. the later Apostacie foretold by the Apostle 2 Tim. 3. 1 2 c. and a Beast ascending out of the bottomless pit who shall slay the Witnesses Rev. 11. 7. These things shall be so obvious and plain not onely in respect of the certain time when they did rise but so exactly agreeing in all things with the Scriptures as hereby the wise shall understand that now The Time of the End is come Concerning this notable Time I finde many Writers both ancient and modern to mention it although not agreeing in their Application Some think these three years and an half shall be immediately before the ultimate or last Judgement Others a little before Christ s personal coming to reign on earth Others think of which opinion I am that these three years and an half in which will be the Little Horn the later Apostacie and Beast shall be a long time before the Judgement of the great day yea and many years before Christ's personal appearing But howsoever in application they differ yet in these two great points they agree 1. That these three years and an half do period the forty and two months and one thousand two hundred and sixty days and that there shall be in this Time a Little Horn a great Apostacie and a Beast ascending out of the bottomless pit 2. Immediately after these three years and half there will be a visible and universal change of things thorow the whole world For the little Horn shall be destroyed Babylon fall all earthly powers broken to pieces and the Saints of the most High raised up to a most glorious and blessed estate Neither is it to be thought strange that this hath been the opinion of some men in all ages since the Primitive time even hitherto for if the Prophecies be read with heed and observation so much in my understanding lies open and very clear in them But of this more hereafter CONSID. VII Now for the characters of the little Horn the later Apostacie and Beast this must be heeded Look as the Scriptures set them down so they must have all their full and due accomplishment yea more these Characters at least most of them cannot be applied to any persons or things without force to the Text but onely to THAT little Horn THAT Apostacie and THAT Beast which are to be in the three years and an half Hence I may say though with much tenderness some have very much wrested the Prophecies in applying the Little Horn to this man and that man the Apostacie to be meant of such persons and the Beast to be understood so and so the which applications in many particulars have no ways parallel'd But there is no need of doing so for when the three years and half come there shall appear such a Little Horn Apostacie and Beast as all the Scripture-characters shall fall in altogether and every way with them CONSID. VIII Though we might finde out a littile Horn characterized according to Daniel but no Apostacie or suppose an Apostacie and a little Horn but no Beast slaying the Witnesses This could not be the three years and an half for I conceive all three must be at one time begin and end together Not minding this some have been mistaken in taking the little Horn single and apart from the Apostacie and Beast and would have him to be many hundred years before the two later were in the world Whereas to me the one shall not be before nor after the other but as I said before contemporize Of this likewise I shall speak more when I come to the particulars CONSID. IX But the great Question is Seeing the period of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days shall be as I think in this way and manner made known viz. by a little Horn an Apostacie and Beast appearing in the last three years and half By whom and how will the Lord do it This methinks is shewed in Daniel chap. 12. 5 6 7 c. Two are said to stand by the river the one on this side of the bank and the other on that side of the river These two I take to be Types the one of the Gentile-Churches the other of the Jews to whom Jesus Christ the Man clothed in linen which was upon the waters of the river being ask'd of both for the word one is not in the text How long shall it be to the end of these wonders the Gentile-type is answered first vers 7. It shall be for a time times and an half and so referr'd to the three years and an half as if he should say What concerns you Gentiles as to the understanding of the Visions and Prophecies of this book the words are sealed up for a time times and an half and when that time shall come namely the last three years and an half of the one thousand two hundred and sixty years I will put of my Spirit into some of my servants represented here by one of the two standing on the bank of the river whereby they shall open this great mystery to the Churches of the Saints among the Gentiles Fulfilling herein what is said in the Prophet Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets Amos 3. 7. As for the other carrying the type of the Jews he hath his answer vers 11 12. Again I conceive the Gentile-type in Daniel is the same with Rev. 18. 1. that angel which cometh down from heaven having great power and the earth was enlightned with his glory If the order of things be duly observed enlightning goes before the work I say before smiâ—ing the Image and rendering vengeance upon Babylon It is true the followers of the Lamb are bid to reward her as she hath rewarded you and double unto her double c. vers 6. yet so as to be enlightned first the which enlightning must needs be understood part at least of the set and appointed time when to begin to reward her That none of the seven last plagues are yet poured out I have given some Reasons publikely Now whereas unto John
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
is shewed in the wilderness the judgement of the great whore by one of the ange's which had the seven vials Rev. 17. 1 3. this may be gathered That neer or about the time of the womans coming out of the wilderness John carrying the type of the Church in that present state the destruction of Babylon as to the set time shall be made known unto some of the Lords faithful servants by whom others shall have it revealed to them and whom he will employ to pour out vials of wrath upon the kingdom of the Beast CONSID. X. The time being known when the three years and half shall end that which follows next and immediately upon the expiration of the foresaid time will be to do what the Lord commands his sanctisied ones Liâ—t ye a banner upon the high mountains exalt the voice unto them shake the hand that ye may go into the gates of the nobles Isa 13. 2. So Jer. 50. 2. Declare ye among the nations and publish and set up a standard publish and conceal not that Babylon is taken The publishing of this war against Babylon will be I conceive by the angels Rev. 14. 6 8 9. and that voice from heaven Rev. 18. 4. These shall gather the Saints together Psal 50. 5. the hundred fourty and four thousand Rev. 14. 1. the called chosen and faithful Rev. 17. 4. at their rendevouz to the Lamb on mount Sion where the Lord of hosts will muster the host of the battel Isai 13. 4. So that the Lords people shall not go forth in haste nor conceal their work or do things covertly but come out in the light and boldly as Israel did out of Egypt They shall have Gods presence so visibly and powerfully with them that the enemies through a dreadful fear shall not know what to do for their own safety nor how to oppose the work of God in the hands of his mighty ones As it is said of Barak Gideon Samson c. that the Spirit of the Lord came upon them and in that Spirit they went forth conquering and to conquer so now the time being come and known the like Spirit will be in the Lambs followers a faith to which all things are possible And in this Spirit and faith I believe those who are now waiting for to see that day of the Son of man shall rise up in the places where they are and joyn together against Babylon and all her helpers Hence the present worldly powers may take notice how plainly that Scripture is fulfilled upon them THEY IMAGINE A VAIN THING Psal 2. 1. Ah poor wretches ye do so indeed in taking counsel against the fifth kingdom For 1. These men which are for that Kingdom will not stir till the set time be come and known Then 2. They will publikely proclaim war against Babylon and say The day of the Lords vengeance and the year of recompences for the controversie of Zion is come 3. As it is the Lords cause and work so they are sure whosoever resisteth shall be broken to pieces and become as the chaff of the Summer-threshing-floor Did not the first Monarchy fall before the second so that before the third so again the third before the fourth when their times ended and must not this fourth fall likewise before the fifth in the appointed time The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this But it seems they have no Gamaliel now in their Councels I say unto you Refrain from these men and let them alone for if this counsel or this work be of men it will come to nought but if it be of God ye cannot overthrow it lest haply ye be found even to fight against God Acts. 5. 38 39. CONSID. XI Though I shall here but speak over what hath been hinted before yet because the Consideration is weighty and much to our purpose I will adde a little Howsoever it be true as I am perswaded that the Visions and Prophecies of the Scriptures concerning the period of the Beasts dominion will not certainly be known till the three years and half begin and probably the greater part expir'd As Daniel knew not the deliverance of Gods people to be so nigh till the very year or less in which they were delivered see Dan. 9. 1 2. with Ezra 6. 1. nevertheless when this time comes before it expires the knowledge of it shall be given in to some as they are seeking the Lord by fasting and prayer and searching the Prophecies 2 Chron. 20 13 14. This appears First by Dan. 12. 10. The wise shall understand If the series and scope of the place be noted two great Truths are there set down 1. The holy Ghost speaks not of understanding in a large sense but restrains it to a special and proper understanding that is they shall know the end of these wonders vers 6. As Noah knew the time when the sloud would come before it came of which the world was ignorant so the end of the one thousand two hundred and sixty days before it is finished shall be revealed to the wise but none of the wicked shall understand 2. The wise shall not understand this till the time of the end so much likewise is held forth in the place The three years and half must begin and to know that such a time is come there will be a little Horn an Apostacie and Beast whereby the wise shall have such understanding 2. That the time will be known before the fourty and two months expire I think so much is manifest by comparing Dan. 12. 9. with Rev. 10. 6. The first tells us that the words are to be opened at the time of the end now this must be before the fourty and two months are expired for the other tells us After that there shall be time no longer Besides if the two texts be observed they belong to one matter time The one saith the opening of the Mystery of God is left to the three years and half the other that it shall be opened before that time goes out 3. I finde that one of the four living creatures gives unto the seven angels seven golden vials full of the wrath of God Rev. 15. 7. but these angels are not bid by him to pour them out that is done afterwards by a voice out of the temple Rev. 16. 1. The giving of the vials I conceive is the opening of the mystery of them as to the time when and the work how to be done so to prepare the angels for the execution of the wrath and all this before the end But their call to it seems to be after the fourty and two months are expired He hath shewed his people the power of his works that he may give them the heritage of the heathen Psal 111. 6. CONSID. XII Seeing according to the determinate purpose and counsel of God to the little Horn the later Apostacie and Beast three years and an half are allowed this I would gather
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
three years and an halfe before the end of the 1260 years neither sooner nor later and done with so much secresie policy and craft as no such Beast or Government shall be expected or thought of till it be brought forth And howsoever it hath a mean and low beginning yet it will rise to a monstrous height of Pride against God and man This State or Kingdome of the Beast will be full of darknesse great oppression exercised by reason the people have their power Laws and liberties taken from them And howsoever this be so yea and withall the blessed Cause of Christ destroyed in his Witnesses by an usurped power yet this Beast or Goverment shall have with it such a glorious out-side of Religion and Form of Godlinesse as among Gods own people many of them shall not know this State or Government to be the Beast which slays the Witnesses till the three years and halfe are expired And thus much for the Beast who he is and what is signified by him We come now to the Witnesses and how they are kild 1. By the Witnesses I understand not persons but the Truth or Testimony it selfe which is held forth and asserted by them I say it is not the person which the Beast is said to kill but the holy Cause and Interest of Christ witnessed too and for by the Saints of the most High So that the person may live though he be slaine in his Testimony 2. For the Testimony or Witnesse it comprehends not all Truth For the Beast shall allow much Truth and countenance men in the practice of it Therefore the Testimony which he shall slay is to be taken restrictively that is some particular Truth which he will not indure as proper to that Generation and Time In all the dayes of the Papall Beast the Sack-cloth Witnesses might safely and without danger assert many Gospel-Truths That which they suffered for was for asserting such Truths and speaking against such Errours and lies as that Time would not bear it being to the disadvantage of the Beasts Kingdome that such abominable filthinesse should be discovered So this Beast will not make war against every Truth but seeks only to destroy that Testimony which he thinks if not kild will be his utter ruine Quest What is that Truth or Testimony here slaine by the Beast Answ It is the last witnesse which Saints shall hold forth for and in the behalfe of Jesus Christ against the Enemies of Gods people And being the last of their Testimony it can be no other then bearing witnesse to Christs blessed and visible Kingdome That he as heir of all things will take all power rule dominion into his own hands and that all the present Powers and Governments of the world shall be broken to pieces And more particularly they shall now bear witnesse against this Beast as to be that Power and State by whom the witnesses are to be sâ—ain and after three years and an half his Dominion shall be taken from him The observing of this will lead us to the knowledg both of the Beast and Time for it cannot be this Beast unlesse he slay such a Testimony in the Saints as is here set down that is A testimony for Christ against all present powers and particularly against the Government of this Beast as declaring openly who he is where his seat is and that the Lord after three years and an halfe will utterly consume him And here I think lies the difference between the Testimony of the Sackcloth witnesses before the Beast ascended out of the bottomlesse pit and afterwards Their Testimony before was mainly against the Idolatry of the whorish Church bearing witnesse to the Propheticall and Priestly office of Christ and suffered upon that account But afterward when the three years and half begin their Testimony is as I said before for his Reigne and Kingdome And this witnesse will the Beast seek to murder allowing that Testimony which was born before to his Propheticall and Priestly office by which meanes the slaughter and murder he commits will not easily be observed 3. That the witnesses are said to be two I conceive it is for this reason Because their Testimony consists of two parts viz. 1. That Jesus Christ ought to have his right his honour glory service dominion 2. That his enemies in not giving the same to him But instead of exalting him exalt themselves and their own interest shall extreamlysuffer for it Or two as witnessing for righteous things and against unrighteous things Now for the manner of their Slaying He shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them First though the witnesses in their Testimony are slaine upon the rise of the Beast and there we are to begin the three days and an half yet doth he continue his persecution till the whole terme be ended Secondly There may be something in the words make warre overcome and kill more then hitherto hath been minded In Chap. 12. 14. The womanâ— to shun the face of the Serpent slyes into the wildernes where she is nourished for a time and times and halfe a time The slaying of the witnesses and that slight of the woman is at one time And I think the occasion of that flight is this war of the Beast So that he slays not the whole Testimony or witnesse but the Lord preserves a remnant as he did the 7000 in Israel up and down the Nation which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus all the time that the witnessesly slaine Thirdly He shall make warre against them and shall overcome them These words are taken from Dan. 7. â—2 and have been opened before It is true in Daniel there is no mention of killing The reason may be because he hath respect to what the Horn or Beast shou d doe against the persons of the witnesses but speaks nothing of killing because the Lord will not suffer him to proceed unto blood John names killing in regard he should slay the Truth and Testimony in many persons though not the person for the truths sake This likewise is worth the Observing to know the Beast by Quest But how doth he slay the Testimony of Jesus I answer many wayes First In some he slays their Testimony by preferment and bestowing great Offices and places upon them Here I may say changing a few words what is said Rev. 12. Woe to the Inhabiters of heaven Churches and Church-Officers and Professours of Religion for the Devill is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that the hath but a short time This Beast scornes to be serv'd for nought specially if they are religious and men searing God these rather then others shall be prefer'd in his Councel Army Navy Vniversities Parish-Tithes so they will fall down and worship HIM and his Image And in this designe he hath a double advantage 1. He is sure to slay in them the last Testimony of Jesus for Noman