with both their great Adversaries the Turk and Pope the Mystical Antichrist until Christs appearing not improbable to be about the same time aforesaid for some few years difference there is in the Computations of years in Authors concerning the last causing of Sacrifice to cease in Julians time as was observed and of the time of the fixth Viol the end whereof may happily be sooner felt of many then known or believed when the 7th Viol will be poured out to fulfil that terrible destruction which both Old and New-Testament as was shewed give witness unto But all circumstances considered it may seem very probable upon all these said accounts so concurring in a joint period That the Great and Dreadful Day of the Lord to the wicked World approaches nigh before which an Elias was to be sent to his ancient people of Israel Mal. 4.5 happily already come to the Israelites we now hear of c. Upon all which considerations it behoves all sorts of men wisely to weigh in the ballance of the Sanctuary both these and such like Scriptural Advertisements and all other providential signs of the times otherwise our manifold Warnings both from the Word and Providence will make our Judgment the more heavy and our neglect thereof will make us the more inexcusable and wo be unto us if we unfaithfully go about to put off the evil day far from us when God is about to bring it suddenly upon us His Judgments begin now to appear terrible in the World and he seems to begin his great Earth-quake to come when the Beasts eminent fall is to begin Therefore let all the Inhabitants of the World learn righteousness both righteousness of Justification by the right knowledg and application of the Doctrine of Faith in Jesus Christ alone as Dan. 12.3 and righteousness of new obedience being led by the Spirit of Sanctification by the Rule of the Word in the pathes of Holiness Righteousness and Sobriety in their whole life and conversation which are those Garments most needful at such times to be kept close to us Rev. 16.15 against these times wherein the storms of Gods wrath begin to arise upon the wicked world in these last of dayes And so we have done with the sixth and last Consideration to wit of the utter ruine and perdition of the Roman Kingdom and all the broken Limbs of the other with it whereunto the Monarchy of Christ is solely to succeed in the next place to be considered Here onely let me add the Consideration of the proportioned Degrees of Gods proceedings against three sorts of men in three great revolutions of times wherein partly he hath manifested and partly he will manifest most eminently his wonderful Grace since the old Worlds drowning by water and Sodom and Gomorrahs destruction by fire set forth for examples to all succeeding ages and yet for ought we find they had not the like tenders of Grace that those since their destruction have had and yet will have First Against the Jews at their last desolation and captivity Secondly Against Antichrist at his utter perdition Thirdly What his word declares shall be against that last Gog and Magog at the worlds last destruction for these terms of Gog and Magog are taken for the great resolved and implacable Enemies of Gods Church First The Nation of the Jews were brought near to God after all the twelve Tribes deliverance out of Egypt and setling in Canaaan enjoying above their Brethren a peculiar nearness to God more than any other people a long time having his Oracles and Ordinances and Messengers amongst them and many tokens of his gracious presence with them great things revealed to them great things done for them and long patience exercised towards them but when they continued not onely unreformed but obstinate that they set themselves against God and his Messengers in such a notorious rebellious manner that there was no remedy they were led Captive to Babylon but yet with a gracious promise of returning again after 70 years But afterwards when neither Mercy nor Judgments did them good but after all their wickedness and transgressions they killed the Lord of Life and persecuted his Messengers that sought to save their fouls such an horrible desolation befell them as in all the world the like had not been heard But 2dly Since the Romans have rejected greater tenders of Grace wherein both Christs and his Apostles both Preachings and Miracles were performed and whereby the Jews Desolation was accomplished for resisting of Christ and his Gospel which after the wicked Example of the Jews they have so rejected despised yea opposed and persecuted both the Gospel and all that owned it in such bloody cruel and savage manner that the just wrath and vengeance of Almighty God hath almost all along pursued them but especially it will appear in the utter ruine of the Roman Kingdom at Antichrists destruction who hath of all others abused the greatest clearest and most glorious light of Gospel-Grace after his fore-fathers owning of it and taking up a profession thereof yet after by his abominable Apostasie so wickedly to pervert such precious Truth and so many hundred years to proceed in such abominable hellish practises of Atheism Blasphemy Idolatry with all varieties of VVickedness Persecution and Bloodshed of the Saints his last utter ruine will according to the VVord be so much the more terrible by an immediate hand of Christ by Fire and Sword and otherways to make it so dreadful to all succeeding Generations as is said Dan. 12.1 and Ezek. 38 39. in reference both to him and the Turk who hath likewise got so great a share in the Empire where the false Prophet Mahomet is also set up that it will be a time of trouble such as never was since there was a Nation more fully again explained of the Pope and happily that false Prophet too Rev. 19 11 to the end But 3dly VVhen the Hypocrisie of the last Gog and Magog so long restrained by the wonderful Glory and powerful Grace of Christmanifest both before in the destruction of Antichrist and all along the thousand years not onely to all the Generations of the faithful for the inward and outward man but to the raised Saints in so blessed and holy an Estate continued that time on Earth all under that Universal Dominion of Christ and his Saints yet notwithstanding all reasons and motives to the contrary when at last by Satans seducement upon the advantage of the numerousness of those hypocritical slaves formerly to the Church they shall so Atheistically after all dare to break out into open Enmity and Hostility probably to free themselves from Christs and his Churches outward yoke to think and attempt to compass the Camp of Saints from all the Quarters of the Earth by the Conduct of the Devil and even to besiege as it were Heaven it self upon Earth the beloved City it will be an Attempt so far beyond all parallel in the height of
in the Image that were the lowest and last parts of it it should I say make those together with the Silver and the Gold and the Brass and the Iron at once become as the chaff of the Summer Threshing-floor namely in regard of what was said in chap. 7.12 to wit though the Dominions of all the former Kingdoms were taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a time and season till the last great and utter destruction of the Fourth Beast should be accomplished when the first Great Judgment was set and the Books opened Dan. 7.9 10 11. and when Christ came with Clouds to receive the Kingdom which his Father the Ancient of Dayes gave him over all the world ver 13 14. which should never pass away nor be destroyed as he there fully shews Now how this First State of the Kingdom of the Stone began to be set up as it is stiled ver 23. until the Kingdom of the Mountain took place as verse the 34. by the God of Heaven and hath all along been upheld powerfully and graciously by him as Daniel foresheâ—ed is to be observed from the History of the all along the times of the Roman Empire being Contemporaries with it Vide Irenicon on Rev. 5.27 28. in respect both of the affairs of the State under both Seals and Trumpets now near to the end of the sixth Trumpet or second Wo when the Turk must be destroyed Dan. 11. ult 12.1 And also in respect of the affairs of the Church both true and false till Antichrist the Pope with the former half of him the Turk be likewise destroyed as is probable at the same time or near together To which purpose observe how this spiritual Kingdom of the Stone was set up in that manner as Christ-shewed to Zachary in a Vision Chap. 4. how the Oyl was supplied to the Candlestick and its seven Lamps and seven Pipes thereof from the two Olive-Trees standing by it the use whereof he explains vers 6. Not by power nor by might but by my Spirit saith the Lord of Hosts which is applied to the two Witnesses Rev. 11. and in this manner the Spirit of the Lord was originally as in the Fountain upon Christ himself being anointed above his fellows to preach the Gospel as Isa 61.1 This anointing was derived from him unto and fell upon the Apostles in an abundant measure and likewise in their measure upon all succeeding Messengers of Christ in the primitive Times and so forward in the times succeeding till this day and also on all faithful Christians in their degree all along unto the Antichristian Apostacy and from thence during the Popes forty two months wherein those anointed Ones or as the original word signifies those Sons of Oyl 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the two Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth 1260 days of years Rev. 11. have fed the Woman the true Church in her wilderness condition her time times and half a time now probably almost expired all which time this Oyl hath been divinely conveyed and supplied to preserve that light of Divine Truth and Grace by their Ministry in the Candlestick the true Church And as it appears this Kingdom of the Stone was at first set up so divinely by the God of Heaven and so spiritually and powerfully upheld by him that no wicked opposition could either destroy it or hinder it but even his spiritual Power and Grace made the opposition of men and Devils to promote it in the faithful Christians inward man So it may further appear to be his work both to set it up and preserve it by the unlikeliness of the means whereby he hath and still doth the same not as was said by power and might of the World for that not onely hath usually been deficient to help in that work but hath with Satans help made strong and violent opposition against it both in the Dragons heathenish and Antichrists apostatizing times which hath abundantly been evident both in the time of Christs own Ministry and in the Ministry of the Apostles who were his Legati a latere or Ambassadors immediately sent from him on the Message of the Gospel with all other mediate Messengers and Ministers sent by him from their times and also in all real and true subjects of the Kingdom of the Stone ever since to this very day To instance a little in each respect 1. Of their own outward meanness 2. Of the Worlds fayling to help them and 3. Of both the Devils and the wicked Worlds both malicious and violent opposition for the most part made against them First As Christ himself at his coming in our flesh was that foundation-Stone elect and precious which God sets such an Ecce Behold unto it that his People should take notice thereof when he should lay it in Sion Isa 28.16 and witnessed unto it by other Prophets long before his coming yet when he came into the World every way wonderful in Conception Birth Life Doctrine Miracles yea before in and after his death yet was he not by the Great Ones or the most or wisest or learnedest of men either owned or received But even then though he was very divinely and spiritually wonderful yet in regard his outward aspect and garb appeared to the Worlds Eye mean and contemptible the very Builders themselves rejected that elect and precious corner-Stone though to faithful mens eyes and Angels discovery very conspicuous and glorious So that our Saviour toward his Death applies the Prophecie of David Psal 118.22 unto the then Rulers which respected both him and them Matth. 21.42 saying The Stone which the Builders rejected is become the Head of the Corner which was the Lords own doing and was marvellous in the Eyes of men And so it hath been with the Kingdom of the Stone all along that Kingdom of Patience as we may by Gods assistance set down afterwards Now how this Stone it self in respect of his humane Nature may be observed eminently to be cut out of the Mountain by the God of Heaven without hands was declared also as a wonder before he came by the Evangelical Prophet Isaiah Behold saith he a Virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and his Name shall be Immanuel God with us Isa 7.14 So he was conceived by the holy Ghost and born of his Mother a Virgin without any real natural Father of his Flesh though he had a reputed one appointed by God himself to be a very useful help to the Virgin Mother of the Son of God yet how mean and low were then their outward conditions what attempts were made to destroy that spiritual King as soon as he came into the World How was he driven about to endanger him in his tender infant age soon after he came into the World How was he exposed and driven about whilst a child neglected and despised by the most of men and that amongst his own People and Kindred in the time of his private life where it was so
much the more hard to do good among them by how much men usually disregard a Prophet in his own Countrey as he shewed that Proverb to be fulfilled by them in regard of himself with many other considerations to this purpose manifested in the Gospel But after he shewed himself in publick in preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom declaring how that Kingdom of God was come unto them namely the Kingdom of the Stone is easily there observable Quest But why may some say was the spiritual Kingdom of Grace called the Kingdom of the Stone Answ First because Christ had been promised and prophesied of long before under the Name as was in part shewed before and might by many places of Scripture be made further evident Secondly Some Stones as the Adamant are harder then the four Metals to be bruised by it hence our Saviour saith of himself Mat. 21.44 Whosoever should fall on that Stone should be broken but on whomsoever it should fall it would grind him to powder And though the Doctrine of the said Kingdom was so powerfully preached by him as was acknowledged by the very Auditors themselves to be with authority and not as the Scribes although he did such and so many Miracles as never man did and though his life was so perfectly exemplary who did all things well as was also acknowledged of him and no evil nor guile was found in his mouth as Gods Spirit witnessed of him and that he went about doing good though suffering evil for it yet it was his meat and drink so to do his heavenly Fathers will and to finish his work and even to suffer so as no man ever did nor all men ever could to that end yea how was he straightened until he had fulfilled it and all that was but to lay that Foundation of that Kingdom of the Stone which began to appear when he was declared by his Resurrection from the dead to be the Son of God with power Rom. 1.14 whereupon he was so owned of his Father Thou art my Son this day have I begotten thee Psal 2.7 applied Act. 13.33 Heb. 1.5 and thereupon all power being given to him as he declared soon after to his Disciples when he gave them Commission to preach the Gospel and wherein his Divine Power should chiefly be manifested in the World Matth. 28. viz. in preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom saying upon that account of his Divine Power vers 18 19 20. Go preach the Gospel to all Nations c. which Commission in succeeding Ministers was to reach to the end of the World that was to be accomplished at his coming again When God shall bring his Son again into the World Heb. 1.6 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as the Original shews when all the Angels of God shall worship him and every knee bow to him Phil. 2. and the fame World is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Heb. 2.5 the World to come and by our Saviour that World at the Resurrection Luk. 21.35 in which interim it was to be preached to all that should believe through their word for which our Saviour prayed before his death John 17. until that great period was come when all the World should both believe and know that God the Father had sent him as he there speaketh yet after all the Divine Glory shewed in Christs Birth Doctrine Miracles Life Death and Resurrection so neglected opposed gain-said persecuted in all Christ was did and suffered so accomplished and published in the World the Rulers believed not on him but hindred others that would and though many Prophecies had been fulfilled all that time in and by Christ and he had foretold many others to be fulfilled by the Worlds wicked actings and proceedings against him and to be fulfilled upon them for their so doing in the ruine of that People their City and Nation yet by their infidelity and wickedness they brought on the accomplishment thereof upon themselves and though his Doctrine was acknowledged to be such as never was taught and his Miracles such as never were wrought by any other and nothing was found in his Life or Death that justly could be proved against him yet all was disregarded and rejected by the most of men living in his time If it was acknowledged at one time he did all things well another time he was judged a drunken and a gluttonous man a friend of Publicans and Sinners if one time his Doctrine seemed Divine and Powerful another time he was esteemed as one that deceived the People if at one time he be acknowledged to have done many wonderful and powerful Miracles he is again traduced that he cast out Devils through Beelzebub the Prince of Devils if by some he be stiled the Son of David he is by others called the Carpenters Son the Son of Joseph and Mary whose Brethren were with them if at one time he is thought to be a great Prophet or the Messiah he is again another time called Jesus of Galilee if the People one while by an over-ruling hand of God entitle him King of the Jews that was to come to the Daughter of Sion and sing Hallelujahs to him in the highest and Hosanna's to the Son of David yet not long after they cried Crucifie him crucifie him and fulfilled those horrid evils that brought their Judgements declared by him before upon them in the most dreadful ruine of that People with their City and Countrey unto this very day and which must continue whilst the time of the Gentiles as our Saviour witnessed be fulfilled Luk. 21.23 And after the foundation of the Kingdom of the Stone was â—o said by the God of Heaven and after his Resurrection all Power was given to him in Heaven and Earth and he had given Commission to his Apostles to preach the Doctrine of the Kingdom and to others succeeding under the first Seal Rev. 6. First the Apostles went out without any worldly power and though they were indued with Power â—â—om on high when the holy Ghost sate on them Act. 2. like cloven tongues of fire on each of them whereupon they were enabled to speak with strange languages who not long before were poor ignorant unlearned Fishermen of low condition yet were then suddenly enabled both to speak miracles and work miracles and Divine Power was manifest to go along with their Preaching of the Gospel to the conversion of many thousands at one Sermon yet the powers of the world even then stood up against them whilst they that were unlearned before spake miracles of strange languages and which was more miraculous they heard them when there was so many as the Text witnesseth of strange Nations which heard them every one speak in their own language the wonderful works of God yet even then they say blasphemously of this wonderful work of God These men are full of new Wine They hear of their miracles but they seek to suppress them for we say the Rulers prevail nothing these men do many
Tribes of Israel should be united into one stick that it might not be doubted how it should be done chap. 38 39. he shewed how the Gog and Magog of the preceding times then namely the Pope and the Turk should be destroyed and that the happy consequents of this might be known then to the faithful Jews he hath another Vision of the New-Jerusalem suited much unto the Jewish state but very excellent and in this especially that the Name thereof should be Jehovah Shamma the Lord is there chap. 40. to the end of the Book which our Saviour in a manner more suitable to the Christian Churches excellency sets forth as coming out of Heaven from God Rev. 21. which he shewed to Saint John was to succeed upon the destruction of Antichrist and his Complices in the Armageddon Battel chap. 19.11 to the end when so great joy had been v. 6 7 for that Brides making ready of Jews and Gentiles so largely celebrated in the beginning of that Chapter The like I may briefly hint of Christs Spouse in that Song of Songs which as Mr. Cotton judiciously observes all along to be Prophetical to the calling of the Jews with the Gentiles more abundant coming in at their rising as the Prophets phrase is Es 60.3 4 5 6 c. and whose fulness shall be the greatest riches of the Gentiles Rom. 11.12 which Spouse will then in the New-Jerusalem Rev. 21. be the Lambs Wife in that holy City where she and Christ will be made perfect in one and one member with another who since the Apostles believed through their Word till all these should so be perfect as our Saviour prayed John 17.20 21 23. that then in the time of the New-Jerusalem the whole world might both believe and know that God had sent him into the world when his glory in his Kingdom on Earth should be so eminently set up there which Kingdom at his death he willed to them as a Legacy or birth-right with his Fathers Consent and Grant the Apostles being Witnesses thereto as v. 24. of the same Chapter that they might all have their part with him there and that as our blessed Saviour further teacheth for a thousand years Rev. 20.4 to which purpose tends likewise the 45 Psalm Thus having briefly given you an Account of this my poor endeavour for the benefit of faithful Christians and for the greater evidence and clearness of these amongst many so little believed mysteries of such Christs coming to begin the Judgment and such manner of his raising up the Saints in the time of his said visible glorious Kingdom on Earth in the thousand years I shall endeavour by the further assistance of his Grace and Spirit and by the evidence of his Sacred Word of Truth and in the further explication whereof Christ Jesus himself hath above what was afforded Daniel in this Book as the true and faithful witness so unsealed and opened to his Church in that Divine Book which was so gloriously given unto him in that Vision which St. John saw Rev. 5. concerning things to come and hereupon in reference to such a future Parallel we have premised this ensuing short Abridgment of the whole that the particular branches thereof might the better be made use of to their several due intendments by such as are rightly conversant in them and the greater light of truth might so be made evident to all serious and impartial seekers thereof by the blessing of God thereupon as God may order their Meditations for their own and others edifying Now as that short comprisal in the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 on the fifth Chapter of the Revelation pag. 27. as likewise in the Letter May 20. 1664. in the Fore-runner are as it were an A. B. C. for some Christians to learn to spell out the meaning of the substance of things contained in that Book of the Revelations which were to come So may the following short Abridgment of the Visions of Daniel be for this Book when they come to be a little acquainted with it and by the help of both which together I hope by Gods blessing both great clearness of the truth and of the necessity of the substance of the Doctrine of Christs Kingdom upon earth may unto many sorts of men in due time be undeniably made evident to be such Divine Truth as is both profitable and necessary appearing so infallibly and strongly grounded upon both those Divine and blessed Books of holy Scripture which being once rightly understood will manifest them to be as indeed they are the sure key for the right opening of many other Prophetical Scriptures in the Old Testament and sundry other pertinent Texts in the New which otherwise are little rightly understood by most sorts of men But after all such outward means to boused with humble and faithful prayer meditation and conference of them must then be likewise inwardly done by him who is said to open the understanding of his Disciples together after his resurrection Luk. 24.35 to make them understand the Scriptures To whose most gracious guidance and teaching I commend both you and all truly Christian and teachable Spirits seeking for a blessing to you and all such in my prayers upon this my poor and weak endeavours with all other good means to any like purpose Amen An. Dom. 1665. Therein remaining yours and their faithful Servant in him our great Lord in what I may be useful MVNVS An Endeavour of a short and plain Abridgment of the Prophetical Visions in Daniels Prophesie in reference to a Parallel of what is foretold of the 4th or Roman Monarchy and of Christs Kingdome on earth further explained by Christ in the book of Revelations for the use of the Christian Church IN the second Chapter Nebuchadnâ—zzars dreamexpounded Nebuchadnezzar a Gentile as Mr. Mede observes had in a dream represented unto him a great Image shaddowing forth tâ—e four worldly Monarchies the first of which was his own Caldean Kingdom whereof he was the head of gold to contirue after him in Evilmerodack his Son and Beishazzar his grandchild unto which was then to succeed the breast and arms of silver begâ—n by Darius and soon after by Cyrus in the Monarchy of the Medes and Persians to which succeeded the third of brass as Daniel expounded namely the Grecian Impire begun in Alexander the Great and the fourth after that of Iron stronger then all the former breaking all the other to pieces namely the Roman of long continuance under many forms of Government but especially long in the feet and toes thereof all the Popes time with the ten crowned horns as appeared more to Daniel a Jew Chap. 7. unto which the Kingdome which the God of heaven would set up in the Stone cut out of the mountain without hands should succeed which should never be destroyed but should break in pieces and contume the four former Kingdoms and then become a great mountain filling the whole earth it self and should
three Ribs of Babylon Media and Persia in his mouth so the Grecian much of the Persian together with its own though many Limbs and Parts remained of them after their greatest breakings as Daniel also speaketh their Lives were prolonged for a time and season chap. 17.12 So when the Roman of all others the strongest terriblest and fiercest came upon the Stage to act its part besides its own nature so rapacious and cruel it had advantage after all to make use of all the broken parts of the former Three above any before it and therefore so proudly and cruelly triumphed ever their ruinous states on all parts on East and South and North and after and above all extended its Dominions very far in the West likewise even ad toto divisos Orbe Britannos to these furthest known Brittish Islands and in those known parts of the World of Afia Africa and Europe was the spreading of the Gospel by the Apostles in so many Countreys mentioned in their Writings whose boundary shewed them to be the Roman Empire in a manner and the encouraging also afterward the profession thereof in East and West by Constantine the Great when he threw down Idolatry and set up and encouraged Christianity in all the Empire And this also is further manifest by what hath been since taken away by the Saracens and Turks after his time from those Roman Dominions besides the considerations of those many Conquests the Romans obtained till they came to the height about our Saviours life-time as in the Abridgment in part is set down whence it is manifest upon all the said considerations that the Roman Monarchy was of the largest â—â—tent of all the other and therefore by that Emperors command the whole World was said to be taxed The Roman Empire for its largeness then containing in some sort the known habitable World or which none could withstand which Daniels former expressions do eminently foreshew and even of the Pope Rev. 13. it was said the World wondered after the Beast and who is able to make war with him But when the Dragon himself sate in that seat with his seven Heads and ten Horns of Paganish Persecutions with such ample Dominions before the Popes time How much more might it have been said The whole world wondred after the Dragon and who was able to make war with him had not Christ himself in the first Seal undertaken that encounter and set him his line how far he should go and his limits of time under the sixth Seal when his term should end by casting him from his Heaven of Paganish Worship to the Earth Rev. 6. later end Sixthly And so we proceed to the last step or period of our Parallel of Daniels Prophesie and the Book of Revelations as respecting what they say jointly of the end ruine and destruction of the Roman Monarchy and first for the ruine of the Beast chap. 7.9 the Ancient of Dayes is said to have the Judgment set and that with a fiery Throne with Wheels of burning fire and to that end a stream of fire issued and came forth from before him and for the execution of the Judgment those thousands ministred unto him and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him and the Books were opened and the first part of the execution and the special occasions thereof seems to be upon the provocation of the Beast ver 11. because of the great words which the Horn spake which execution is done first upon the Beast to slay him and destroy his body with the burning flame and so again ver 26. the end of the Judgment is declared to be to take away the Dominion of the Beast to consume and destroy it unto the end And Daniel then further saw ver 13. one coming in the clouds of Heaven like the Son of man the same which Rev. 1.7 is said to come with clouds and every eye shall see him and they also that pierced him with Even so Amâ—â— added shewing then that promised Mercy is then to be fulfilled to the Jews Zac. 12.10 That they shall then mourn with penitent contrition though many others with woful lamentation at that time and unto this was the glorious description of the Alpha and Omega the said Son of Man set before him who at the finishing of the things of this Book saith he comes quickly and of this coming of Christ speaks the Apostle Paul 2 Thess 1.7 When the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels in flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power when on the other hand he shall be admired of his Saints and glorified in all them that believe And in the next Chapter ver 3 4. he describes the man of sin against whose wickedness the Apostle shews with Daniel he will â—â—â—ially be revealed whom saith he ver 5. the Lord shall destrâ—◠〈…〉 the appearance of his coming and in like manner when that King of Kings with his Armies in the Armageddon Battel Rev. 19.11 cometh against the Beast and his Armies and then takes the Beast and the false Prophet they are both said to be cast alive into a Lake of fire and brimstone thereby describing the Hellish destruction that then will fall upon that Roman Monarchy for ever Now as the Roman Monarchy the strongest and fiercest and of much the longest continuance hath been the most wicked having attempted by abominable Idolatries Blaâ—phemies and unheard of cruelties in their persecutions so highly against Christ and his Saints in those ten most barbarous Persecutions notwithâ—anding all the light tendered in their Dominions by the Preaching of Christ himself and his Aposâ—les whom they likewise had rejected peâ—ecuted and killed for the most part and so all along the primâ—tive times buâ—ed their power to extinguish the Christian Religion until God raised up Constantine the Great to put a period to their Paganish proceedings in that â—readful manner that the wrath of the Lamb as it is said was executed upon them that is for the terribleness of it resembled to the day of Judgment as is largely set down under the sixth Seal Rev. 6. latter end But when upon the taking away of the Successions of those Heathenish Persecutors the afterwards Apostatical Church of Rome did become Antichristian though the extent of their power hath been lessened yet their wickedness so far as they then could reach hath been many wayes greater and more notorious and that for a longer time after their former owning of the Truth and again revolting from it and even perverting it to their own and others ruine in such a mysterious contrived Hellish Apostasie by such Artifice of bloody cruelty and wickedness so monstrously executed above their Paganish Predecessors so many hundred years together by their long holding out the Cup
beginning of the following state namely of the Kingdom of Power or the Kingdom of the Mountain then to succeed as Rev. 20. and Rev. 11. which as that of the Stone was many hundred years in passing to this last state So this shall never pass away or be destroyed while the World continues but shall at last be perfected in the Kingdom of Glory in Heaven for evermore as that of Patience was perfected in the Kingdom of Power before Now of the time of the beginning of the first saith Daniel chap. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdom c. and of the beginning of the Second chap. 7. saith he again v. 13 14. I saw the Son of man coming with the Clouds of Heaven and unto him was given Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him c. Of which more by Gods assistance afterwards 3dly We must especially observe how the first Session of the day of Judgment begins the said last state of Christs Kingdom where the Judgment is said to be se and the Books opened at the destruction of the Beast and upon that account Dan. 7.12 because of the great words which the Horn spake ver 9 10 11. will be executed by Christ at the Armageddon Battel Rev. 19.11 to the end spoken of Rev. 16. And likewise another like Session of Judgment after the thousand years we may again observe will according as God hath appointed and our Saviour declared Rev. 20.11 13 c. perfect the said Kingdom of the Mountain in glory after the last Gog and Magog shall be destroyed after the thousand years shall be ended when also the Judgment will again be set and the Books opened which is proper only to the Judgment of the great Day as St. Jude calls it and why should it seem strange that Christ should have such a great Day to judg and rule in over all creatures as he is Mediator whilst the Kingdom which the Ancient of Days gave him shall remain in his hand when Antichrist had his Day of before And not to speak of the days of Captivities of the Jews or of 1260 years their forty years in the Wilderness Heb. 4. St. Peter reckons Eternity under the name of a day 1 Pet. 3. last 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as in the Original So that upon many considerations Mr. Mede might well reckon all that time from Christs coming with clouds Dan. 7.13 of which Rev. 1.7 and Rev. 19.11 c. to the last Sessions end under the title of the Day of Judgment wherein first at the destruction of Antichrist when he destroys the quick with visible temporal judgment and rewards his Servants the Prophets and his Saints and all that fear his Name both small and great in their order Rev. 11.18 and Rev. 20.4 5. when likewise Daniel sheweth the Saints shall take the Kingdom being then given to them and possess it for ever to the Worlds end as Christ then will receive it of his Father to give it to them ver 13. yet they shall rule for him ver 27. all that time in all Nations under the whole Heaven 4thly In the next place the God of Heaven is said to be first the Founder of Christs Kingdom in the whole of it under both states of the Stone and Mountain of Patience and Power chap. 2.44 In the dayes of those Kings the God of Heaven shall set up a Kingdom that shall never be destroyed c. And also he is said to be the Doner or Giver of it to Christ his Son chap. 7.9 13 14. So likewise Rev. 5. Christ hath not onely the Revelation given to him from God the Father to open and make known the same to his Church but the Lamb hath Riches and Honour and Power and Wisdom and Strength c. to execute and fulfil all things contained therein ver 12 13. which he himself declared before his ascention Matt. 28.18 19 20. his Commission from the Father enables him to fulfil the contents of that Book in both states of that Kingdom in order from the beginning of the first Seal chap. 6. when he sent out his Apostles as before Matt. 28. to and in his 1000. years reign on Earth Rev. 20.4 Rev. 5.10 5thly So likewise for the extent of his Kingdom under both States In the first state it is large without restraint unto Jews or Gentiles Greeks or Barbarians in respect of the tender of it Go preach the Gospel to every creature Mar. 16.15 Go preach the Gospel to all Nations Matt. 28.19 As Augustus Coesar would have all the World taxed so Christs riding on the white Horse hath the same bounds Rev. 5. No doubt their sound went into all the world and their words to the end of the earth saith the Apostle Rom. 10.18 So Dan. 2.24 It shall never be destroyed but shall break in pieces all those Kingdoms and extend sometimes very largely in the Empire and at one time or other all over the known World But the other state of the Kingdom of the Mountain is not onely unlimited in the tender of it but also boundless in the extent of it over all the whole Earth as an huge Mountain it fills the whole Earth Dan. 2.35 and ch 7.13 14. To the Son of Man was given Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Deputies the Saints take the Kingdom ver 18. and that which was the greatness of the Kingdom under the whole Heaven v. 27. and then all Dominions shall serve and obey him So Rev. 20.4 the Saints reigned with Christ a thousand years and the representative Church exult assuredly That they shall reign upon Earth Rev. 5.10 and Rev. 11.15 The Kingdoms of the World are become the Kingdoms of our God and of his Christ c. 6thly Again for the nature of this Kingdom although the first state of it being mostly invisible and therefore in the outward aspect for the most part despised neglected yea opposed by the men of the World of all sorts for the most part of the time of the Kingdom of Patience in which state though the Devil and the wicked World have endeavoured earnestly to destroy it yet it could never be destroyed Dan. 2.44 And though the Beast make war with the Saints and think to wear them out yet his time is limited to a time times and dividing of a time but then the Judgment shall sit and destroy him Dan. 7.25 26. even when he shall have accomplished to scatter the Power of the holy people Dan. 12.7 for he shall never utterly destroy their Power Rev. 12.6 So Rev. 13. Rev. 11.2 But in the second state it will not onely be an inwardly invisible true Church but also an outwardly visible and glorious Kingdom likewise when Jews and Gentiles shall be so largely and unlimitedly brought into it Rom. 11.12 c. Dan. 7.14 Even
finished at the last said sudden and terrible ruine of the Roman Monarchy by the destruction of Antichrist And here again observe how God all along the Beasts forty two months gave his Spiritual Power unto his two Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth those Sons of Oyl as they are called Zech. 4. to prophesy against Antichrist to consume him with the Spirit of Christ's mouth 〈◊〉 bring on the said Destruction gradually accomplished by the seve◠Angels with their seven last Plagues poured out upon him Rev. 15 16 chapters till that Destruction be accomplish'd at the seventh Trumpet and last Vial of the seventh Angel poured-out upon him about the said time fore-spoken of when Christ comes in the clouds of Heaven Dan. 7.13 14. to receive his Monarchy upon Earth spoken of likewise Rev. 1.7 when the Jews shall generally be brought home unto him as Isa 66.8 and when the iniquity of that Land shall be removed in one day Zech. 3.9 And then will the four living Wights with the twenty four Elders have that honour given to them which they were assured of to their so great exultation aforehand See Iren. pag. 32. Rev. 5.10 and whereupon all Angels and all Creatures render to Christ the glory due to him which they acknowledge there to be his deservedly saying Thou art worthy to receive Riches and Power and Wisdom and Strength and Glory and Blessing c. And then the Kingdom of the Stone will become a Mountain filling the whole Earth when there will be given to him the Son of man by his Father the Ancient of dayes Dominion and Glory and a Kingdom that all People and Nations and Languages shall serve him and that for ever whose Dominion is an everlasting Dominion that shall not pass away as the four former Kingdoms did and his Kingdom such as shall not be destroyed as the four former were Dan. 7.14 with many other Texts in Daniels Visions as we shewed which manifest it evidently to be to the utmost extent of Dominion both of place Over the whole Earth and under the whole Heaven as was said chap. 7.15 27. and of continuance and duration for ever while the World remained and for ever and ever to eternity v. 18. when that Kingdom of the Mountain shall be perfected in the Kingdom of Glory in the highest Heavens In that visible Kingdom of Power Christ having received that Kingdom of his Father he will then give it to his Saints who shall then take it as Dan. 7.18 and manage it for him as ver 27. having the Judgment that is the authority of judging then given to them to reign with Christ a thousand years Rev. 20.4 And that it is the same Kingdom given at the same time as the series and order of the Prophecy of Daniel and of the Revelation both manifest and the same Authority of Judging in the like expressions of Ruling and Governing is in both places assigned to the Saints as followeth For first Judicandi potestas illis facta Rev. 20.4 It is said I saw Thrones and they sat upon them Dan. 7.9 So I beheld till the Thrones were pitched down and the Judgement that is the Judges were set Rev. 20. And Judgement was given to them Dan. 7.22 And Judgement was given to the Saints of the most High Rev. 20. And the Saints lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years Dan. 7. And the Saints possessed the Kingdom with Christ the Son of Man that came in the Clouds of Heaven But after the finishing of the said thousand years Reign of Christ with his Saints on Earth we are to observe what Christ in Rev. 20.7 8 9 10. further explains shall be fulfilled concerning the last wicked attempt of Satan after he shall be loosed for a little season vers 3. from his thousand years imprisonment in the bottomless pit all which time he was bound that he could not seduce the Nations until the said thousand years were ended namely that after that time was finished that he shall then seduce the last Gog and Magog the wicked Hypocrites then in the World who shall then become very numerous in the four quarters of the Earth from whence he shall tempt them to come with a joynt consent who being a wicked generation that had been forced in the thousand years unwillingly yet-outwardly did conform to the holy and good Government of the Saints successively unto whom before time they were necessitated to be subject for the said thousand years space though against their own heart yet shall think then upon Satans seducement and conduct to free themselves from their yoke by attempting to compass with their multitudes the Camp of the Saints and even attempt to besiege the beloved City too the New Jerusalem that came down from God out of Heaven even Heaven it self upon Earth where the blessed and holy raised Saints had all the thousand years before happily beheld Christs glorious Presence shining bright with light and comfort upon them the Lamb being in each respect the light of that City Rev. 21.23 Isa 60.1 expecting by such means to free themselves from that by them supposed heavy yoke of the Saints good Government that so the Kingdoms of the World might again become the Kingdoms of Satan and of themselves his Vassals Upon which abominable attempt of Satan and those by him seduced hypocrites the Vengeance of God by fire as formerly upon the Beast and false Prophet shall again fall from God out of Heaven upon them and devour them and thereupon the Devil that deceived them be cast into the lake of Fire and Brimstone where the said Beast and false Prophet were cast above a thousand years before to be perpetually there tormented with them unto which will succeed the end of the World and the general judgement when again the Judge will sit and the Books will be opened and another Book will be opened which is the Book of Life and the Dead shall be judged out of those things that shall be written in the Books according to their Works as follows Rev. 20.11 12 c. whereunto succeds Eternity of Blessedness or Misery to every Man and Woman accordingly as they stand or fall in that general Judgment And thus briefly of the main things of Christs Kingdom in its several states of the Stone and of the Mountain filling the whole earth with what respects the beginning and ending of the latter state of the Mountain namely that it begins upon the destruction of the first Gog and Magog to wit of the Turk and Pope Ezek. 38. 39. before the New Jerusalem Ezek. 40. to the end of the Book which shall be called Jehova Shamma the Lord is there and at the end of the 1000 years reign of Christ and his Saints will succeed the attempt and defeat and ruine of the last Gog and Magog of wicked hypocrites against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City as was shewed upon which will ensue the end