make a Province of it In the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes who began to raign about the year 579 after Rome was built who was he that commanded Swines flesh to be offered on severall Altars in the Temple at Ierusalem the Romans have increased their Dominions so largely as that they take upon them as to command him to depart out of Egypt who had almost subdued that Country and he obeyes In the dayes of Demetrius the Son of Seleucus Philopater elder Brother to Antiochus Epiphanes Iudas Macabeus sends Embassadors to Rome who make a League with the Iewes Macabeus 8. who at that time saith Iosephus f. 315. had conquered Gaule or France Spain Carthage and Greece whose power and dominion from that time groweth up mightily for in the dayes of Pompey all Syria was subdued and he himself gone up into Armenia in pursuit of the warre betwixt the Romans and Tygranes Iosephus lib. 14. ch 4. And in the dayes of Augustus Cesar there came forth a decree that all the world should be taxed Luke 2. 1. which the Author of the Notes in the Bible of the Geneva Translation saith that it was so far as the Empire of the Romans did extend which was of a far greater extent than all the precedent Monarchies did contain especially towards the South and the North West from Babylon and Ierusalem And this was agreeable to Daniels Prophesie chap. 2. 4. who saith that the fourth Kingdome from Nebuchadnesser should be strong as Iron for as Iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things and as Iron bruisetb all those things so shall it break in pieces and bruise it And in his Vision in the first year of Belshazar he seeth these four Kingdomes under severall Types of Beasts but the fourth was different from or unlike to all the rest verse 7. And in the interpretation it is said it shall be unlike to all the Kingdomes and shall devoure the whole earth and shall tread it down and break it in pieces verse 23. And out of this must arise ten hornes which are ten Kings and another shall arise after them and he shall be unlike to the first and subdue three Kings and shall speak words against the most High verse 24 25. So that we find Daniels Prophesie concerning this fourth Kingdome or sixth King in the Apostle Iohns Revelations chap. 17. 10. to have been fulfilled in the time of Christ and his Apostles it then being in its heighth For Master Edward Grimstone in his Emperiall Hystory in the life of Augustus folio 37. saith that the Subjects of the Empire were very obedient unto him and all others sent him Embassadors seeking his favour and friendship offering him their service yea the Indians a people of the remotest parts of the East and also the Scythians which inhabit in the North and the Parthians a people most feirce and untamed sent their Embassodors to him giving security to keep the peace and delivered the Standerds and Eagles taken â—n battell when Marcus Crassus was slain There came also Kings Friends and Subjects to the Empire to Rome to doe him honour as his familiar Friends leying aside their Ensignes and Rovall Robes and many of them built Cities to his Name â—or hâ—s â—onour calling them Cesareas in remembrance of him 〈◊〉 whose time the Temple of Ianus was thrice shut up which never waâ— but twice before from Romes foundation So that his Dominion must needs be of a large extent Rome still being the apitall City or Imperiall Seat and continued so till Constantine removed it who made Byzantium in Thracia scituated between the two Seas viz. the Euxine and the Mediteranean his Emperiall City which was afterward by him and to his Honour called Constantine the Noble and by contraction Constantinople this being done about the year o our Lord Christ 332. Now though Constantine by reason of his removing of his Imperiall Seat from Rome out of the West to Constantinople in the East did much weaken the Imperiall Power yet the Empire was not fully divided in many yeares after but some partings there were before as in the Raign of the Emperour Iovinianus the Successor of Iulian the Apostate about the year of Christ 366. who reigned but seven months he was compelled to make peace with Sapores the King of Persia for thirty yeares leaving unto the said Persian King all the Provinces belonging unto the Romane Empire lying beyond the River Tygris as also some Cities in Armenia and he was not to aid or assist Arsaces King of Armenia And about the year of our Lord 420. the Gaules or French in the West in the dayes of the Emperours Honorius and Arcadius Sons of Theodosius the Great fell off from the Empire and set up Pharamond the Son of Marcomir for their King About which time did the Gothes who possessed a great part of Spain and some part of that Country which is now under the Dominion of the Frâ—nch set up Vallia their first King whose Royall Seats were Narbonâ— and Tholouse Also in the year 440. Hermerick King of the Sueves a little before his death had so pacified the people of Galicia as he raigned over them And about the year 447. in the Raign of Theodosius the second and Valentinianus Emperours the Brittaines in this Island being sorsaken of the Roman aid which they expected against the Picts chose Vorâ—iger for their King About which time Alaricus King of the Gotheâ— came into Italy and took and destroyed the City of Rome 1160 yeares after it was built Honorius the Emperour with his Brother Arcadius living at Ravenna which in those dayes was a great and principall City But the great division of the Empire was in the dayes of Constanstine the sixth and his Mother Irene Lâ—o the third being Pope of Rome who at a solemn Mâ—sse being assisted by his Cardinals Crowned Charles the Great King of France born in Germany Emperour of Rome on the 25. of December in the year of our Lord 800 about 468. yeares after Constantine the Great removed his Emperiall Seat out of the West into the East Which division some doe apprehend to be the time that Daniel's Vision of the Image which Nebuchadnezar saw did hold forth as consisting of two legs that were of Iron which implieth strength But how could that be for this division of the Empire instead of strengthning of it made it weaker daily as the that will take a little paines to search in Grimstones Imperiall Hystory from and after this time shall find for the Western Empire is afterwards divided into severall Kingdomes and Governments and the Eastern is quite devoured by the Turks in the year of our Lord 1453. Constantine Paleologus being the last Emperour and slain in the City of Constantinople when it was taken by that famous Turk Mahomet the Great the first of that name and with it the whole Grecian or Eastern Empiâ—e about 1121 yeares after it had been the
during his own and that out of Naturall and politique ends The first in that he was a cruell Tyrant whose will was a law and his Flatterers told him that all things were lawfull for the Kings of Persia upon which he married two of his Sisters against the Lawes of his Kingdome And for the second he had an intention to invade Aegypt and feared least the Iewes should prove such as his Provintiall Governours had written to him under the name of Artaxerxes of Ezra 4. 7. to the 23. that the Iewes and Inhabitants of Ierusalem were a rebellious people and thaâ— it was a common Opinion that the Iewes descended of those Nations because they issued thence under Moses when they conquered Iudea and that if their City were repaired and fortified they might give some disturbance to his intended Conquest of that Country as they had done in Hâ—zekiah's dayes to Sennacherib when he went to invade Aegypt Wherefore he commanded them to be hindred in that work of the building of the Temple and City Which hindrance continued till the second year of Darius King of Persia Ezra 4. 24. the Successor of Cambyses or as the Scripture calls him Artaxerxes how he came to the Kingdome read Sir Walt. Rawleigh 3. book 4 chapter 4. paragraph who in that yeer gave order for the building of the Temple of Ierusalem at his own charge Ezra 6 7 8 9 10 11 The Iewes being incouraged unto this by the Prophets Haggai and Zacheriah Ezra 5. 1. which work was finished in the sixth year of the Raign of Darius Ezra 6. 15. though not fulâ—y because in the fourteenth verse he saith they builded and finished it according to the Commandement of Cyrus Darius and Artaxerxes Kings of Persia In the dayes of Artaxerxes the Successor if not Son of Darius in the seventh year of his Raign Ezra and his Company goe from Babylon to Ierusalem Ezra 7. 7 8 9. In the twentieth year Nehemiah obtaines leave to goe and build the walls of Ierusalem Nehem. 2. 1. who sets the King a time for his return verse 6. And in the two and thirtieth year he obtaines leave the second time to goe to Ierusalem again chap. 13. 6 Concerning what is spoken about Esther in the dayes of Ahashueresh who he was whether this King Artaxerxes or any other the Scripture is silent much might be said that he was or was not the same Person but it would be found a very difficult thing to make an agreement in severall Scriptures concerning the same Who were the succeeding Kings of Persia till the coming of Alexander the Macedonian the Scripture mentioneth not onely Daniel is shewd in a vision in the third year of Cyrus chap. 10. 1. what Kings there should be after him in Persia whose words are these And now I will shew thee the Truth Behold there shall stand up yet three Kings in Persia and the fourth shall be farre richer than they all and by his strength through his riches he shall stirre up all against the Realm of Grecia Dan. 11. 2. Now if we may give credit to Historians concerning whom this last rich King was they say he was Darius the Son of Arsames who was subdued by Alexander the Grecian or Macedonian which brings us to the fifth Head or Monarchy The fifth Head was the Grecian revealed to Daniel in a Vision of a He Goat or Rough Goat chap. 8. 5 21. as the Meades and Persians was a Ram with two hornes Dan. 8 3. 20. What this Grecian did we must be beholding to Historians for our knowledge the Scriptures Canonicall not mentioning any the Apocripha but a little that which is may be found in the first book of the Maccabees chap. 1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 verses which as he did much in regard he came to be a third of Daniels Beasts or Monarchies therefore it is said he carried his Victories with wings who from a small Kingdome extended it to a very great distance Eastward and Southward and Northward but withall it was but of short continuance as all violent things and motions are but twelve yeares being poysoned by the conspiracy of his Servants who stood in fear of his cruelty Upon whose death his large Dominions was divided though not presently among four of his great Captaines according to Daniels Vision chap. 8. 8 and interpretation verse 22. Iosephus names five viz. Antigonus was Lord of Asia whose Dominion being lost there his Posterity injoyed Macedon Seleucus Nicator of Babylon and the bordering Nations Lysymachus had Hellespont Cassander had Macedon whose Dominion ended with him his Sons being slain not long after his death And Ptolemy the Son of Lagus had Aegypt All which took the Titles of Kings on them in a short time onely Cassander whose Successor did take the same also though with ill successe Seleucus Nicator was the first that took the Title of King of Babylon and the bordering Nations his Son Antiochus Soter succeeds him and raignes nineteen yeares after him his Son Antiochus Theos raignes fifteen yeares his Son Seleuchus Callinicus twenty yeares and left two Sons viz. Seleucus Ceraunus who raigned three yeares and Antiochus the Great thirty six yeares who left Seleucus Philopater who raigned twelve yeares saith Eusebius seven yeares saith Iosephus and Antiochus Epiphanes which was he that commanded Swines flesh to be offered on severall Alters in the Temple at Ierusalem which caused much affliction and misery to the Iewes being a Type of that which Daniel Prophesied in his eighth chapter but cannot be the same as is apprehended by some because the Lord Jesus would not have told his Disciples by way of Prophesie what had been past but rather he told them what should be hereafter Mathew 24. 15. What the Successors of Alexanders Captaines did who had divided his large Dominions among themselves History doth declare This may be noted concerning them which is Sir Walter Rawleigs observation of them f. 555. that the Successors of Ptolemey were the first that made a League with the Romans and the last that were subdued by them Which brings us to the sixth Head Government or Monarchy viz. the Romans whose chief City was Rome which was built in or about the year of the world 3280. and after the building of the Temple of Salomon 287. and before the birth of our Lord Christ 684. whose greatnesse began to appear out of its infancy in the time of Pyrrus King of Epirus Successor to Cassander in half the Kingdome of Macedon taken from Cassanders Children by him and Lysimachus King of Thracia he being a powerfull Prince viz. Pyrrhus and they viz. the Romans but few yeares before freed themselves from the Gaules who had taken all from them yea Rome it self the Capitoll excepted and drove him out of Italy in or about 487. yeares after Rome was built and about 107. yeares after they take the whole Kingdome of Macedon with Perseus the last King thereof and
head City of that Empire So that the decay of one of these Iron legs of the Image viz. the Roman Empire makes way for the other Iron leg upon which the whole Body is supported which is the seventh Head or King in Iohns Revelation chap 17. 10. And there are seven Kings and they are seven Kings saith the Geneva Translation five are fallen one is and the other is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space which compared with the 11. Daniel 20. and you shall find him there stiled a Raiser of Taxes Then shall stand up in his Estate a Raiser of Taxes in the Glory of the Kingdome but within few dayes he shall be destroyed neither in anger nor in battel Object In the 2. Daniel 33. verse the two Iron legs in the Vision are called but one Kingdome in the interpretation verse 40. Answ. That many times the Lord is pleased in the Visions of the Prophets to wrap up many things in one As for instance in the 8. Daniel in the Vision of the Rough Goat upon whose fall four Hornes or Kingdomes arise and out of them came forth a little Horn which waxed exceeding great c. verse 8 9 10 11 12. which compared with the interpretation thereof verse 22 23 24 25. it will evidently appear that this little Horn must be the same with the vile Person Man of Sin and Beast that Iohn speaks of in the 17. Revelations because his power is mighty but not by his own power he getting the Dominion by flattery Dan. 11. 21 And he shall stand up against the Prince of Princes which Antiochus never did as some say who imagine him to be this little Horn and be broken without hands which cannot have relation to his Person onely but to his Power also which Antiochus power was not though he himself were consumed by Wormes But this vile Person little Horn Man of Sin or Beast his Army is destroyed and himself taken alive and cast into a Lake of fire Revel. 19 19 20 21. Which if so then is not onely the fourth Kingdome left out in the 2. Dan. 40. but also that Raiser of Taxes Daniel 11. 20. Another instance in the 11. Daniel in that Vision he having spoken of the Persian and Grecian Dominion and the ruine of the last and rise of the four Kingdomes out of it there is declared what shall fall out between the two Dominions of the North and the South viz. the Seleucides and Ptolomeys but nothing at all of the fourth Beast or Kingdom and sixth Head or Kingdome in Iohns Revelation And then comes to mention the Successor of the King of the North whom he calls a Raiser of Taxes verse 20. where it is said Then shall stand up in his Estate a Raiser of Taxes in the glory of the Kingdome but within few dayes he shall be destroyed neither in anger or in Battell and verse the 21. And in his Estate shall stand up a vile Person c. One instance more in the 7. Daniel where the Prophet sees the Vision of four Monarchies typified by four Beasts and the fourth Beast to have ten Hornes verse 7. where is left out the Raiser of Taxes that is to arise before the ten Hornes as will plainly appear in the 17 chapter of Iohn's Revelations The seventh Head must arise before the Beast and the ten Hornes are to have power one hour with the Beast verse 12. So that these three instances doe make it evidently appear that the Lord in His Visions to his Prophet doth not at one time shew all things that should be or fall out but in some more in some lesse as we see here in these instances in the first is left out the fourth Kingdome or sixth Head and the Raiser of Taxes or seventh Head In the second is left out the fourth Kingdom or sixth Head onely And in the last is left out the Raiser of Taxes or seventh Head onely Now concerning this seventh Head in Iohns Revelations chapter 17. according to the Geneva Translation it is rendred thus Here is the mind that hath Wisdome the seven Heads are seven Mountaines whereon the Woman sitteth they are also seven Kings verse 10. Five are fallen and one is and another is not yet come and when he cometh he must continue a short space and verse 11. And the Beast that was and is not is even the eighth and is one of the seven and shall goe into destruction which compared with the 11. Daniel 20 21. we shall find that the Raiser of Taxes which by what we have already proved â—ust needs be this seventh Head doth arise the next before the vile Person Then shall stand up in his place in the Glory of the Kingdome c. yet he viz. the vile Person shall come to his end and none shall help him verse 45. Object But may we not question the Geneva Translation as to this particular seeing all our common Translations render it in another sense as thus And there are seven Kings not They are seven Kings Answ. We doe not onely find it in our English Bibles of the Geneva Translation and that of Tindals Translation but also the Italian and ancient French Bibles printed near one hundred yeares since at Lyâ—ns however the current of the Scriptures will clear it to be so as that Mountaines doe imply Persons and Powers or Persons in power look upon and consider well of that expression of the Prophet Ieremy in his 51. chapter 25. Behold I am against thee O destroying Mountain saith the Lord speaking of Babylon in the foregoing verse which destroyeth all the Earth and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee and roll the down from the Rocks and will make thee a burnt Mountain Also that of the Prophet Zachery in his 4. chapter 7. Who art thou O great Mountain speaking of the Persian Monarch before Zerubbabell thou shalt become a Plain And if that we should say that this seventh Head is now arising for we have already shewed that the sixth Head is so farre decayed that there is little of it now appeares in comparison of what it was I hope we should not be found to be in an error And we shall lay down some grounds for what we hope or in this thing should seem to maintain 1. First we are to observe that the rise of one Head was the ruine of that which was before it or the decay of the one made way for the rise of the other as we have already proved 2. That this seventh Head or Government according to Daniels Prophesie chap. 11. 20. is stiled a Raiser of Taxes that is a Government which is upheld by Taxes not a Government that hath a vast Treasure hoorded up as was in the Capitall at Rome nor that hath a great Revenue of Lands or Tribute as Kingly and Monarchicall Governments in these Ages have and in particular this Nation had when under such a Government but
Objection Object If there be such a distinction between the Church of Christ and Virgins then may not we safely conclude that the one hundred fourty and four thousand mentioned in the 14. Revelations 4. who are there called Virgins to be the Virgins that attend the Spouse in the 45. Psalm 14. Answ. No for when the Spouse or the Kings Daughter is presented unto the Lamb she hath both Virgins and Companions attending on her whereas the one hundred fourty and four thousand are not sealed till after the Spouse of Christ that is the believing Saints are taken up consider well of that part of the vision that the Apostle John saw in the 7 chapter of his Revelations 2 3 and 4. verses where after he hath given some account of the opening of the sixth Seal in the precedent chapter from the 12 verse to the end in the first verse of his seventh chapter saith and after these things which went before in the sixth chapter not that all things mentioned in this book of the Revelations are to succeed in order as they are laid down but to question the things related in the opening of the seven Seales whether or no they shall succeed in order as we find them writtenwere to question whether it were day when the Sun shineth I saw four Angels c. And in the 2 verse I saw another Angel ascending from the East having the Seal of the living God and he cried with a loud voyâ—e to the four Angels to whom it was given to hurt the Earth and the Sea saying hurt not the Earth neither the Sea nor the Trees till we have sealed the Servants of God in their foreheads And I heard the number of them which were sâ—aled and there were sealed an hundred fourty and four thousand of all the Tribes of the Children of Israel Now this doth clearly prove that the hundred fourty and four thousand who are called Virgins cannot be said to be the Virgins that attend the Spouse the Lambs Wife seeing they are upon the Earth after the said Spouse is taken up And hereafter we shall with the Lords assistance prove that this a hundered fourty and four thousand is the Women that flyeth into the wildernesse mentioned in the 12. Rev. 6. Now as we have declared something what the Scripture doth hold forth to be the night of darknesse in which the Virgins do go forth to meâ—t the Bridegroom so in the next place we are to consider their actions what they do First they take their Lamps and go forth to meet the Bridegroome Their Lamps is the Word of God it s the Expression of the holy Spirit in the mouth of a man after Gods own heart the Kingly Prophet David in the 119 Psalm 105. Thy Wâ—rd saith he is a Lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path Secondly The wise took Oyle n their vessels with their Lamps So that there we have a distinguishing of them for although all of them take their Lamps yet five of them are said to be wise five of them to be foolish that which gives them this tittle is their taking or not taking Oyl with them For the foolish took their Lamps yet took no Oyl with them but the wise took Oyle in their vessels with their Lamps Their vessels which all of them had â—s their bodies For proof thereof take an expression of the Apostle Paul to the Church of Corinth speaking of the glorious Light of the Gospel of Christ But we saith he have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power might be of God and not of us 2 Cor. 4. 7. Look also on that portion of Scripture written for our learning in 2 Tim. 2. 21. As also 9. Acts 15. By the Oyle is meant joy and gladnesse as for Ioy take notice of the Prophet Esaies expression from the Lord to his people To appoint unto them that mourn in Sion to give unto them beauty for ashes and the Oyl of jâ—y for mourning 61 Esai 3. And for Gladnesse see what the Spirit of God by the Prophet David speaking concerning Christ Thou lovest Righteousnesse saith he and hatest wickednâ—sse therefore God thy God hath annointed thee with the Oyle of gladnesse above thy fellows Thirdly They slumbered and slept not a naturall but a spirituall slumbring and sleeping which they fall into by reason of the Bridegroomes long tarrying for had they not so done they would have yeelded obedience to all the Commands of Christ and laid the foundation Principles compleat whereby they might have been admitted as the Spouse of Christ which now by reason of their sleeping condition they proceed no further than to repentance and Faith and thereby are deprived of that happinesse yet holding fast what they had they have this honour to be Virgins to attend the Bride the Lambs Wife And this sleeping condition seized not onely upon the Saints who had laid these beginning doctrines of Christ Repentance and Faith presently after the falling away of the Churches but also upon the Saints for many ages since and it would be much rejoicing to us if we could see the Saints by profession in this age freed from it that is that would rouze up their Spirits and no longer neglect the means afforded them whereby they may attain unto the hight of happines that is to be members of the Spouse the Bride the Lambs wife Oh the abundance of corruption that is in all our hearts by nature and which we are too much in love withall which appears evidently in that we are so unwilling to hazard the losse of honour friends means and reputation for the gaining of so great an happinesse and Honour as to be the Spouse of Christ Truly they that will not forsake all for Christ are not worthy of him 10. Mat. 37. 38. But the Saints in this age ought to consider what they do for they cannot deny but that they are awakened by the cry that is begun to be made Behold the Bridegroom cometh which is the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdome And if they do not proceed so far as to attain the happinesse of being the Lambs Wife through their own neglect and corruption yet they ought to be very carefull that they take and Trim their Lamps and Oyl in their Vessels Joy and Gladnesse in what they hâ—ve bâ—gun least they act the part of the foolish Virgins and so be shut out with a verily I say to you I know you not Again let us consider of some other things that were to fall out in this Time of darknesse beside the Virgins sleeping A the coming forth of the Mysticall Whore of Babylon which will be in the sixth Head or Monarch 17. Rev. 9 10. and will continue till the coming forth of the ten hornes which will not be till after the rise and fall of the seventh head verse 11 12. Concerning this Mysticall whore we are to consider these particulars First who
she is the discription of her you will find in 17. Rev. 3 4 5. verses 2. The place of her abode see the 18. verse of that 17. Chapter where the holy Spirit unfolding unto Iohn the mystery of those things mentioned in that Chapter tells him And the Woman which thou sawest saith the Angel is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Which City comparing Scripture and History together we shall find to be and it could be none other but Rome the chief Seat of the sixth Head or Roman Monarchy as we shall more fully clear hereafter the Lord assisting us 3. What she would doe consider what the Apostle Paul did by the Spirit foretell what should fall out in the latter times in his second Epistle to Timothy Chap. 4. 1 2 3. whose words are these Now the Spirit speaketh expresly that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith giving heed to seducing Spirits and Doctrines of Devils speaking lies in hypocrisie having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron Forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth Which words spoken of some in the Plurall Number cannot more properly be applied to any then to the Popes of Rome typified by the Woman setting upon a scarlet coloured Beast Râ—vel 17. 3. And we may appeal to the hearts and consciences of all true Christian Readeis hereof whether that which the Apostle wrote in those three verses to Timothy hath not been fulfilled by the Papall Power of Rome Again let us see and consider one other Prophesie concerning her acting which the Angell shewed unto the Apostle Iohn and which he saw Revel. 17. 6. And I saw the Woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Iesus and when I saw hâ—r I wondred with great admiration Now if we may give any credit to Mr. Fox his History of the Martyrs of Jesus which we shall not question that Prophesie hath been fulfilled to the purpose of which many of the poor Saints in this Island in the dayes of Henry the eighth and Queen Maries time were witnesses thereof 4. Her Judgement with the Persons oâ— Powers that shall execute it take one clear Scripture for it in the 17. Revel. 16. And the ten Hornes saith the Angel unto Iohn which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make hâ—r desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn â—er with fire Object But some may say how can this Scripture clear or prove that which you bring it for it speaking concerning the hating of the Whore not of the Woman therefore this verse may rather seem to have relation to the first verse of that 17. Chapter where the Angel tells Iohn He will shew him the Iudgement of the great Whore thâ—t sitteth upon many Waters and in the 15. verse of that chapter the Angel tells him that the Waters whiâ—h thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are Peoples and Multitudâ—s and Nations and Tongues Answ. The Book of the Revelations is full of Mysteries and Prophecies and not easily to be understood not onely upon the first but also not upon many readings thereof for if it had how comes it to passe that those Interpreters thereof whose writings are extant are so dark in those things that they undertook to open and clear as in this Age we find some that have contradicted others that went before them in the unfolding of these Mysteries and we question not but the Lord will give a clearer light to others to make more clear those things which in this short Treatise we have in some measure though darkly unfolded But as to the Objection we say that by comparing one place in this chapter with another and by clearing some improbabilities if not impossibilities in it that which we have affirmed concerning the Judgement of the Woman or Whore will evidently appear to be truth First consider whether the Title Whore be not proper to this Woman in the 4. verse of that 17. chapter she is said to have a golden Cup in her hand full of the abominations and filthinesse of her fornication Now judge whether she that hath committed Fornication doth not justly deserve the Title of Whore to be given her Secondly for the improbability of it consider whether its likely that the beast unto whom these ten Hornes give their Kingdome would be acceptable unto him when as they had destroyed the Seat of his Empire Babylon if so be that the word Whore in the sixteenth verse had relation to the word great Whore in the first verse or Whore in the fifteenth verse 5. The fifth thing to be considered of and that will fall out before the taking up of the Saints is the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdome Math. 24 14. The Lord Jesus speaking to his Disciples in answer to the three questions propounded by them to him in the third verse begins with the first telling them what should fall out in after times and amongst other things tells them That this Gospel of the Kingdome shall be preached in all the world for a witnâ—sse unto all Nations and then shall the end come This Gospel of the Kingdome was begun to be preached by the Lord Jesus himself as the said Evangelist Mathewâ—ath recorded in the 4. chapter 23. And Iesus went about all Galilee teaching in their Synagâ—gues and preaching the Gospel of the Kingdome also in Mathew 9. 35. you have it there recorded again of his so doing And this he doth not onely make a part of his own work but also when he sends forth his twelve Apostles he commands them saying As ye gâ—e preach saying the Kingdome of Heaven is at hand Mathew 10. 7. Which also Phillip one of the seven Deacons preacheth up as appeares in Acts 8. 12. And that chosen vessell of the Lord the Apostle Paul he declares and preacheth the same And now behold I know that yee all among whâ—m I have gone preaching the Kingdome of God shall see my face no more Act. 20. 25. Yea the last words and actions that are recorded of him in the 28. Acts 30 and 31 verses doth declare as much the words are these And Paul dwelt two whâ—le years in his own hired house and received all that came in unto him preaching the Kingdome of God and teaching those things which concern the Lord Iesus Christ with all confidence no man forbidding him Now this Gospel of the Kingdome ceased to be preached after the falling away of the Churches and hath continued so for many Ages but the time drawing nigh of the coming of that Kingdome it is begun to be held forth again and must be preached in all Nations before that time come which was not done in the primative times by reason a great part of the now known world was not then discovered
according to what we have already declared from the mouth of the Lord Jesus Math. 24 14. Sixthly When the Gospel or glad tidings of the Kingdome is begun to be preached in the last Age of the world which is a sign of the near approach of that Kingdome then will follow the calling of the two Tribes of Iudah and Benjamin to Ierusalem See what the Lord declares by the Prophet Ieremy concerning this Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents and have mercy on his dwelling Places And the City shall be builded upon her own heaps and the Pallace shall remain after the manner 〈◊〉 So that comparing the latter part of the verse with the former part it will plainly appear that by Iacobs Tents cannot be meant the whole twelve Tribes or the ten Tribes but the two Tribes onely not but that there may be some of every Tribe amongst the two Tribes as there was some did cleave to the house of David when it s said the ten Tribes fell away for these here that shall be brought back are said to be first brought back and then the City is built which bringing back of the ten Trâ—bes wâ—â—l not be compleated till aâ—ter the Saints are taken up when as before that time both Ierusalem and the Temple will be built and Sacrifices offered of which we shall have â—ccasion to inlarge upon hereafter Consider of â—nother Prophesie concerning this in the 12 Zachâ—râ— 6 7 In that day I will make the Governours of Judâ—h likâ— a haâ—th oâ— fiâ—e among the wâ—od and like a torch of 〈…〉 shall devour all the people round about on the 〈…〉 and on the left And Jerusalem shall be inhabited 〈…〉 own place even in Jerusalem The Lord also shall save the Tâ—nâ—s of Judah first Seventhly After the calling of the two Tribes for to build and inhabite Ierusalem the next remarkable thing that will in those dayes fall out to be is the rising or manifesting of the Beast and ten Hornes or Kings mentioned by the Apostle Iohn in his 17. Chapter of the Revelations In which these following particulers will be worthy of our consideration in the opening of them 1. Who the Beast is and secondly Who the ten Kings are 2. The place from whence they and he will arise 3. What they and he are to doe when risen viz. First before the Saints are taken up and secondly after they are taken up 4. His reign viz. how long time 5. His ruine and how farre they suffer in it For the first the Beast who he is He is that Beast that was shewn to the Apostle Iohn which he describes in his 17. Chapter of the Revelations and 3. verse having seven heads and ten hornes which compared with other Scriptures we shall find him to have several titles or denominations 〈◊〉 which he is discovered viz. he is called the little Horn Dan. 7 8. The vile Person Dan. 11. 21. The Man of Sin 2 Thes. 2. 3. In Iohns description befoâ—e quoted he hath seven Heads as well as ten Hornes Now that â—e may know who or â—hat these seven heads are if we coâ—sider well of the Angels interpretation to Iohn Chap. 17 10. and upon search of other Scriptures we shall find that they are seven Governments that should be Supream in the severall Ages of the world from the dayes of Noah after the Floud till the rise of the ten Hornes Five of which Heads or Governments had been before Iohn saw this Vision the sixth was then in being and is now towards its period and the seventh was not then come but is now arising The first Head or Government was the Assyrian and Babylonian Monarchy joyned under one head viz. Nimrod compare the Writings of Moses concerning this Person Government and Country with that of the Prophet Esay and consider how they prove our assertion Moses giving us some account of Noahs Posterity and speaking of that of his Son Ham saith Ham begat Cush and Cush begat Nimrod He began to be a mighty one in the Earth He was a mighty Hunter before the Lord Wherefore it is said even as Nimrod the mighty Hunter before the Lord And the beginning of his Kingdome was Babell and Eresh and Achad and Caâ—neh in the Land of Shinar Out of that Land went forth Ashur and builded Niniveh and the City Reho both and Calah Also the same Moses speaketh farther concerning Noahs Posterity And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech And it came to passe as they journeyed from the East that they found a Plain in the Land of Shinar and they dwelt there Now take what Esay writeth concerning this Bâ—hold the Land of the Caldeans this People was not till the Assyrian founded it for them that dwell in the Wilderness They set up the Towers thereof thâ—y raised up the Pallaces thereof and he brought it to ruine So that Moses gives us to understand thus much that Nimrod was the first mighty One upon the earth whose â—â—â—gdome was Babell and Ashur went out from thence and built Niniveh which Ashur could be no other then this Nimrod for when he came or journeyed out of the East he came into the Land of Shinar and dwelt there which Land of Shinar must needs be Caldea Babell being built in it as we have now related out of Moses which the Prophet Esay calls Câ—ldea as you have his words also In brief thus much Nimrod an Assyrian by birth or habitation or both comes into Shinar or Caldea sets up his Kingdome builds Babell his chief Seat and other Cities afterwards goeth out thence into Assyria again and builds Niniveh and other Cities which is the ground of our stiling him by the title of the Assyâ—ian and Babylonian Monarch And he is the first after the Floud that the Scripture mentioneth but of his continuance or length of his raign it is silent Some Historians doe give some account thereof but with diversity of Opinions concerning it therefore leave the curious therein to search them The second Head is the Assyrian alone under another Family the Line of Nimrod being extinct in Sardanapulus as Sir Walter Rawleigh in his History of the World the first Impression the first part folio 482. doth at large relate whose first King that the Scripture mentioneth was Pull or Phull by whom and Tiglath Pilessar his Successor if not Son the two Tribes and half were first carried away captive See a proof for this out of the Scripture in the 1 Chron. 5. 26. And the God of Israel stirred up the Spirit of Pull King of Assyria and the Spirit of Tiglath-Pilnesar King of Assyria and he carried them away even the Reubenites and the Gadites and the half Tribe of Manassah and brought them unto Halath and Habor and Hara and to the River Gosâ—n unto this day By whom also the Syrians the great oppressors of Israel in several
part thereof to Niniveh and not to Babylon though much the nearer not daring to trust to Mâ—rodash as having had some inckling of his Ambition if not of his Treason then a hatching as is supposed and within a short time after Tobit saith five and fifty dayes chap. 1. 21. is slain by two of his Sons the reason supposed is that they being the Eldest were disinherited by their Father and the younger Brother appointed to be his Successor which they could not prevent with their Paracide and Asâ—rhaddon being but weak in himself though strong in Friends and Souldiers for he held Merodâ—sh hard to it all his dayes which was eleven yeares he supposeth it no difficulter a peice of work to gain the Kingdome of Babylon unto himself then Pull found who joyned with Arbacâ—s the Median to unthrone Sardanapulus the last of Nimrods Race whose Posterity became eminent afterwards especially Sennacherib who is called the great King of Assyria 2 Kings 18. 19. And therefore upon Sennacheribs death breaks out into open Rebellion and stiles himself King of Babylon and is so called in Scripture 2 Kings 20. 12. Whose Posterity is not spoken of in Sacred Writ till Nebuchadnessar But our afore quoted Author faith his Son Ben Merodach raigned after him and then Nebulassar his Son the last year of whose raign was the third year of Iehoiakim King of Iudah Dan. 1. 1. For the Prophet Ieremy in his 25. chap. 1. saith that the first yeer of Nebuchadnessar's raign was the fourth year of Iehoiakim's raign which may seem to be some contradiction in the Prophets but both Scripture and History will help us to clear this for it was the usuall custome of those Eastern Kings to appoint their Successors in their life time and to admit them to have a share in the managing of the Affaires of the Kingdome as David doth Solomon Vzâ—iah or Azariah doth Iotham and Iehoiakim doth his Son which latter seemes something difficult to be apprehended at the first view and therefore shall clear it before we passe any farther Iehoiakim the Son of Iosiah being made King in the room of Iehoahaz by Pharaâ—h Necho raigneth eleven yeares and is bound to be carried captive to Babylon but is slain and had the buriall of an Asse according to Ieremies Prophesie chap. 22 18 19. and his Son Iehoiakim reigneth in his stead who was eight yeares old when he began to raign and raigned three months in Ierusalem 2 Chron 36. 4 5 6 7 8 9. And in the 2 Kings 24. 8. it is said that Iehoiakim was eighteen yeares old when he began to raign and reigned three months in Ierusalem so that to reconcile these two places it doth appear that Iâ—hoiakim the Son was but eight yeeres old when he began to raign with his Father and reigned with him ten yeares and he was eighteen yeares old when he began to reign alone and reigned three months So that although the Scripture doth not so fully clear it to us that Nebuchadnessar was the great Grand-child of Merodash Baladan King of Babylon yet the two Prophets Daniel and Ieremy cannot be reconciled without admitting Nebuchadnessar to reign some time with his Predecessor one year at the least besides the Scriptures doe mention some distance of time between the first year of Merodash and the first year of Nebuchadnessar for Hezekiah reigned about fifteen yeares after the death of Sennacherib Manasseh reigned fifty five yeares Ammon two yeares Iosiah thirty one yeares and in the fourth year of Iehoiakim doth Nebuchadnessar begin to raign Ieremy 25 1. So that there iâ— about 107. yeares which must â—â—eds admit of some Successors to Merodash before Nebuchadnessar Object But how comes it to passe that we have no more concerning the Kings of Babylon from Merodash's time till Nebuchadnessar or the last year of his Predecessor Answ. Merodash had but laid the foundation of his Kingdome in the fifteenth year of Hezekiah and Sir Walter Rawleigh saith that he had eleven yeares contention with Asarhaddon even till his death which gave Merodash a little better assurance of what he then had and some hopes to inlarge his Dominion especially towards Assyria As for Syria he had no fear from thence having as may be apprehended made a League with Hezekiah and therefore did chuse rather to inlarge his Dominion Eastward and Northward agreeable to what the Prophet Ezekiel had prophesied though not upon that account where the Prophet speakes concerning the destruction of Ashur and other Nations by the Babylonians Ezek. 32. 22. to the 31 verse And for what the other two Successors of Merodash did seeing the Scripture is silent and Historians speak but little onely their taking the great City Niniveh and bringing the whole Dominion of Assyria under the Cald an or Babylonian yoak which was not accomplished in or near 100. yeares time we shall treat concerning him whom the Scripture doth mention that is Nebuchadnessar or as he is called in some places of the Scriptures Nebuchadressar The first year of whose raign was the fourth year of Iehoiakim King of Iudah as we have formerly mentioned in which year he smiteth the Army of Pharaoh Necho King of Aegypt by the River Perah or Euphrates in Carchemish Ierem. 46 2. In the second year of his raign he hath a dream which he forgets and Daniel declares to him with the interpretation thereof Daniel 2. the whole chapter About his seventh year he takes Iehoiakim and binds him to carry him to Babell at which time or a little before he began the famous seige of Tyrus which lasted thirteen yeares but causeth him to be slain and gives him the burial of an Asse according to the Prophet Ieremies prophesie for his burning of the Roll Ierem. 22 18 19. compared with the 36. chapter 29 30. And for his Son Iehoiakim he raigned but three months alone and was carried captive to Babylon with his Mother as the same Prophet prophesied chap. 22 24 25 26. compared with 2 Kings 24. 15 which was done in the eighth year of Nebuchadnessar's raign verse 12. Who set up Zedekias his Uncle King in his room who about the nineteenth year of his raign which was the eleventh year of Zedekias raign takes Ierusalem and the King and destroyes the City and the Temple and carries the remnant of them that escaped the sword captive to Babylon 2 Kings 25. About which time the famous City oâ—Tyrus was taken also by him after which he destroyed Edem and the Zydonians and several other Nations according to Ezâ—kiels prophesie chap. 32. 17. to the end In the three and twentieth year of his raign Nebusaradon the Captain of his Guard comes up to Ierusalem again and carries away 745. Iewes captive Ierem. 52. 30. After which when be hath subdued all the Nations about him he sets up his golden Image for all People Nations and Languages to fall down and worship it Daniel 3. 7. Which when Shadrech Meshach and Abednego refuse so
many hundred yeares after them and it may well be questioned whether it hath at all been preached yea hardly known or believed by any there in the English Plantations in America much lesse in the Plantations of other Nations in that now known part of the world who cannot endure to have the least light of spirituall things to break forth in their Dominions witnesse that damnable doctrine of theirs so highly cried up by the Popish Party that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion joyned with another of the same stamp that Images are Lay-mens books but chiefly their cruell tyrannizing over the Consciences of their people by setting up their Hell upon Earth their cruell Inquisition which so long as that is maintained in a Nation there is little hopes of this Gospel to be preached there And as concerning that Scripture of the Apostle Paul in his 10. chapter of his Epistle to the Church at Rome verse 18. if the coherence of the words be well weighed the Gospel there spoken of cannot be the Gospel of Christ which the Apostles had in Commission from him to preach But it was the Gospel or glad Tydings spoken of in the Writings of the Prophets viz. in Isaiah and Nahum for the Apostle in the 15. verse of that 10. chapter saith as it is written how beautifull are the feet c. Therefore we suppose we may conclude safely that this Gospel of the Kingdome or Raign of Christ upon Earth hath not been published or made known in all the world Object But why must it now be preached in these dayes in the time of the seventh Head or Government or what necessity is there for it Answ. First because it hath in some measure been proved if not fully that it hath not been preached in all the world as yet therefore it must be continued to be preached till it hath so been Secondly because the time of the seventh Heads power or Raign is but short therefore to be hastened in that time for there is little hopes of Peace or Liberty for the Saints in the time of the ten Hornes or Kings and the Beast Thirdly it cannot be published in any place but where there is Liberty and Peace as there is among us and it is hoped the Sword that is in the now Magistrates hand of this Nation will procure the same in other Nations that there it may be preached also Fourthly because the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ draweth nigh especially in relation to the taking up of the Saints for if it be so that the seventh Head be arising and shall continue but a short space then immediately upon his decay or setting the ten Hornes and the Beast will arise before whose power is at the height viz the Beasts the Saints will be taken up as we shall clear it more fully hereafter especially when we open the 12. chapter of the book of the Revelationâ— therefore the more reason to set upon this most necessary work of the preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdome least we be found retarders of our own happinesse And as concerning the calling of the Iâ—ws in thiâ— time oâ— Government we say that is that other work the Lord will now have brought to passe for as yet they are not so called nor permitted by the Turks who have the possession of their Country to make any habitation there nor to come thither but as Pilgrims or to bury the bones of their deceased Friends which they bring thither from all parts where they inhabit Secondly the Scriptures of the Prophets doe declare that Ierusalem must be built in its own place which now it is not if we may give any belief to Historians and Travellers so what the Prophet Ieremy foretels concerning this particular in his 30. chapter 18. whose words are these Thus saith the Lord behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacobs Tents and have mercy on his dwelling places and the City shall be builded upon her own heap and the Pallace shall remain after the manner thereof Also consider of the Prophet Zachery's Prophesie as to this particular in his 12. chapter 6. In that day will I make the Governours of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood and like a Torch of fire in a sheaf and they shall devoure all the People round about on the right hand and on the left and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place even in Jerusalem And the other Prophets doe declare that the City must be beseiged and the daily Sacrisice taken away and great tribulation upon that people and all this before the Beast is at his height in regard of his power who doth immediately arise upon the fall of the seventh Head So that now having fully made manifest the Beast in respect of his seven Heads the next thing to be declared and opened is the ten Hornes or Kings viz. who they are concerning which the Scripture is silent onely that they are the ten toes of Nebuchadnessar's Image Daniel 2. as to their Persons and Dominion in respect of Countries where they shall particularly raign we find not and that as yet they are not risen for the Apostle Iohn in his 17. Revelations 12. saith They are ten Kings who have received no Kingdome as yet but receive power one hour with the Beast But thus much we may take notice of by the way that the ten Hornes and the Beast when they arise will make Nebuchadnezars Image compleat Daniel 2. 33. whose feet were part of Iron and part of Clay of whose Iron legs we have already given some account which in the interpretation he saith Whereas thou sawest the feet and toes part of Potters Clay and part of Iron the Kingdome shall be divided but there shall be in it of the strength of Iron for as much as thou sawest the Iron mixed with the mirie Clay and as the toes of the feet were part of Iron and part of Clay so the Kingdome shall be partly strong and partly broken And whereas thou sawest the Iron mixed with the mirie Clay they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men but they shall not cleave one to another even as Iron is not mixed with Clay And in the dayeâ— of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a Kingdome which shall never be destroyed and the Kingdome shall not be left to other People but it shall break in peices and consume all these Kingdomes and it shall stand for ever verse 41 42 43 44. So that as they are partly strong and partly weak they being but a mixt power that are united for the perfecting of some great design but will not long hold together for before the little Horn will three of the ten Hornes be pluckt away Daniel 7. â— which in the interpretation verse 24. its said he shall subdue three Kings it intimates that they will be divided and he shall have those that will oppose him yea and destroy
Assistance treat upon will be the opening of the 12 chapter of the Apostle Johns Visions and Revelations which as we shall not declare rash and sudden thoughts thereon so we desire it may not be suddenly expected from us but rather to wait a while for light is breaking forth daily and that which may be apprehended for a truth to day to morrow may easily be discerned to be a mistake It is with us as with Military Persons upon duty in the Field especially those that are upon the Guard who looking about them continually but chiefly upon break of the day discover variety of Objects as they apprehend as there are quot homines tot Sententioe so many men so many minds or opinions for one saith that such a black thing that is at a pretty distance is a Man another saith a Tree another a Horse another this or that when as possibly within a short time after the day dawning more and more they plainly perceive that they were all in an error though then when they gave their opinions they all might be confident that what they said it was it was and then as we apprehend no evill in them because they knew not the contrary though not possible that one Object upon the near approach or by day light could be the same thing that men of severall judgements said it was So it is with us in respect of what we have already written or shall for many before us in times of darknesse have given their interpretation on these Subjects In a contrary sense and saying that these Prophesies have all or the most part been fulfilled long since but we who are come near to the dawning of the day of the Lord Jesus doe clearly discern that thâ—se that went before us and writ on these Subjects were much mistaken and those that come after us will have a clearer and fuller discovery of these things then as yet we have which then we hope will appear evidently to the eyes of all those whose eyes of their understandings are enlightned by the Word and Spirit of God to be such Now to God onely wise and our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour who hath not left us comfortlesse but hath sent us His holy Spirit into our hearts to guide and direct us in the way of Truth be Glory Praise and Dominion for ever Amen FINIS a 1 Sam. 17. 4. b 1 Chro. 20. 8. c 1 Sam. 17. 4. Persecuton a 3. Judges 11 b 3 Judges 30 c 5 Judges 30 d 8 Judges 28 2. Falingaway of the Churches 3. The night of darkdnesse Rom. 11. 19 20 21 22. The Virgins go forth 2 Cor. 11. 2. 2. The Mysticall Whore of Babylon The preaching of the Gospel of the Kingdome The gathering of the two Tribes to Jerusalem Jer. 30. 18 The rise of the Beast with the ten Kings The Beast who he is First Head Gen. 10. 8 10 11. Gen. 11. 1 2. Esay 23. 13 2d Head 2 Kiâ—gs 18 13 15 16. 2 Kings 19 8 v. 9. and 14. v. 15. v. 36. Sir W. Rawleâ—gh first part f. 476. Sir W. R. f. 482 483. 3d 〈◊〉 Sir W. R. â—irst part f. â—07 Sir W. R. First part f 541. and 551. Sir W. R. 4th Head third Book chap. 2. Sir W. R. 3. book 3. chap. 7. Pâ—ragraph 5th Head Vide Sit W. R. 4. book chap. 2. from the beginnlng of Alexanders Raign to his end Josephus 12. book first chapter Sir W. R. 5 book f 338. Sir W. R. 4. book f. 232. 6th Head The Romans Sir W. R. f. 665. Daniel 7. â—â—â—mstone â— 35. Generall History of Spain f. 132. Grimstone â— 280. Howe 's Chronicle f. 50. Grimstone f. 266. Grimstone f. 381. 7th Head Calling of the Jewes The ten Hornes Feet and Toes The place where Jer. 50. 39 40. What they will doe The time of his Raign how long after the Saints are taken up His Ruine