of the Woman in the wilderness chap. 12. vers 6. The fortie two moneths of the Beast and of his blasphemies chap. 13. vers 5. The time of the Image of King Nebuchadnezzar Dan. chap. 2. The determined time of the four Monarchies Dan. chapter 17. vers 12. 25. The one thousand two hundred ninetie daies of Dan. chap. 12. vers 11. c. The spirit of life from God entered into them In the chapter 37. vers 14. of Ezekiel God in the behalf of the Jews in the Captivitie of Babylon doth use such an expression saying I will put my spirit in you and yee shall live and I shall place you in your own Land c. The same will befal to the exiled and oppressed Evangelical Professors God will send them an unexspected help by such means which never entred into anie man's thoughts God will revive them again bring them into their own Land re-establish them in their dignities and publick functions and give them greater and higher Privileges and Liberties then they ever had before And they stood upon their feet The Exiled Evangelical Professors do appear again and take possession of their Land and places The oppressed also com forth again and are delivered from their heavie yoak And great fear fell upon them which saw them As now there is great joie and exsultation amongst the Papists about the issue of this war so there will bee great terror when they shall see the Exiled return into the hereditarie Provinces again and the Oppressed take possession of their former dignities and honorable functions Then will bee a livelie example set before us of that which is written in the book of Wisdom chap. 5. Vers 12. And they heard a great voice from Heaven saying unto them Com up hither c. By the Heaven the Church is understood By the great voice is signified that after the end of three years and an half a great and chief Instrument an high Potentate amongst the Evangelical Professors shall rise and bee exalted who to the great fear and terror of Papists shall open again a free cours to the Gospel and Call with a great voice upon the exiled and oppressed re-establish them into their publick imployments and possessions and saie unto them Com up hither This is the Divine Diploma or Letters Patents the vocation or calling which is published by that High Potentate The exiled do obeie They ascend up to Heaven that is they enter into their charges again and perform that in the Church which is committed to their trust In a Cloud that is with great autoritie respect power and glorie Isa 14. vers 13. 14. And their enemies beheld them namely those that formerly did rejoice at their afflictions and miseries 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doth signifie contemplari ludos spectare vel celebrare to see a Comedie or plaie The Papists had hitherto acted as it were a Comedie with the Euangelical Professors and tormented them with all sorts of plagues Now they see the event and issue thereof wherin doth befal unto them what is threatned Jer. 50. vers 10 11 12 13. Vers 13. And the same hour was there a great Earth-quake All the Peace which the Papists do imagine to themselvs is now at an end For immediately the reformation of this Evangelical Potentate causeth an exceeding great insurrection and combustion in the Romane Empire And the tenth part of the Citie fell By the Citie is here meant 1. Either the whole Papacie and thus one of the ten streets hath its fall Namely the Germane Empire which is the street where the dead bodies of the two Witnesses had lien who are now standing again upon their feet 2. Or the Citie of Rome it self which in regard of the old Citie of Rome when shee was in her florishing condition is counted this daie but the tenth part As the same is proved by Lipsius lib. 3. admirand And there were slain That is cut off and destroid In the Earthquake That is in this war Seven thousand That is a great number or multitude Of men That is high and great persons chief heads and noble families And the remnant were affrighted and gave glorie to the God of Heaven The rest of the Papists stand amazed and do acknowledg the just judgments of God which hee poured out over them Vers 14. The second wo is past These words do not import that by the destruction of the Citie of Rome and the other things which have been set down in the aforegoing words the second wo is brought to an end but the overthrow of the Turkish Empire is thereby especially intimated Revelations 8. vers 13. St John beheld and heard an Angel flying thorough the midst of Heaven saying with a loud voice Wo wo wo to the inhabitants of the Earth by reason of the other voices of the Trumpet of the three Angels which are yet to sound The first Wo hapned by the Saracens and Arabians whereof in Revel 9. vers first till the twelfth The second Wo hapned by the Turks Revelations 9 vers 13. till the 19. Hereunto do agree almost all the Expositors and refer this second Wo unanimously to the Turkish Empire And do infer from thence becaus it is said here the second Wo is past that immediately after the destruction of the Citie of Rome and these Revolutions in the Germane Empire the Turkish Empire shall have it's fall Vers 14. Behold the third Wo cometh quickly All the three Woes are poured over the Popish Romane Empire But the third Wo is the last and beginneth at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words do immediately follow Vers 15. And the seventh Angel sounded Wherewith beginneth the seventh and last plague poured out over Babel And withal is briefly described 1. The great joie which ariseth in the Evangelical Church 1. Becaus they have gotten an Evangelical head Vers 11. 2. Becaus the Citie of Rome is destroied and Germanie is fallen away from the Papal State vers 13. 3. Becaus the Turkish Empire is com to an end Vers 14. 4. Becaus the Son of God hath taken possession of the Kingdoms of this world and useth his great power and reigneth vers 15 16 17. This joie is also described in the 19. chapter vers 17. And upon this joie did David in the spirit reflect In the 93. Psal The Lord reigneth and is cloathed with Majestie c. In the 97. Psal The Lord reigneth let the earth rejoice And in the 99. Psal The Lord reigneth bee the people never so impatient 2. The wrath of the Heathen That is the furie and rage of the Papists against these the Lord riseth becaus the daie of his wrath is com utterly cutting them off and destroying them vers 18. This Act is with a double sign confirmed 1. The Temple of God is opened and there was seen in his Temple the ark of his Testament 2. There were lightnings and voices and thunderings and an Earth-quake and great
OF St JOHN DEscribeth the State of the Christian Church in the New Testament and also the things which shall com to pass in the Romane Empire or in the fourth Monarchie under which the Church of God doth subsist This description comprehendeth three periods or three sorts of times The first Period containeth Regnum Draconis Ethnicum the time of the Dragon until the three hundred nintie fifth year of our Lord. This is the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Revelations 12. vers 3. and the Dragon himself under the Heathenish Emperors was publickly adored and worshipped but the Christians persecuted banished and put to death till at last Constantine the Great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the Church prevailed and triumphed until the death of the Emperor Theodosius at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great autoritie unto the Beast with ten horns when it rose up out of the sea Revel 13. vers 2. The second Period comprehendeth vicariatum Draconis Antichristianum or the time from the three hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord in which the Pope at Rome as the Antichrist and installed Lievtenant of the Dragon blasphemeth God and his name and persecuteth his Saints for the space of one thousand two hundred sixtie years Revel 13. vers 2. when the Dragon was overcom and cast out of the Church-Heaven hee did cast out of his mouth water as a flood after the woman Revel 12. vers 15. that is hee stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Romane Empire intending thereby to root out and destroie the Church But the Earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations imbraced the Christian Faith remained in the Romane Empire and erected several Kingdoms in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that hee could not maintain the Heathenism wherein hee openly was worshipped and served hee resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the sea Revelations 13. vers 1. and is ridden and governed by the great Whore of Babylon 17. vers 3. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Romane Empire his power and his seat and great autoritie chapter 13. vers 2. and so make's him his Vicar and Lievtenant by giving over to him his seat and residence the Citie of Rome and the whole Romane Empire Whence it came to pass that about this time the Bishops of Rome begun to oppose the marriage of Priests and to seek to have the Primacie and preeminencie both in Church and State The Dragon doth resigne to his Lievtenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 his whole Host for in this sens the LXX Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exodus 14. vers 14. and 15. vers 4. and in other places as Matthew 24. vers 29 30. c. The host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the Heathen These viz. Idols the Antichristian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name and shape of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the text in the words following vers 3. and 4. doth speak The whole Earth did wonder at the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast c. The Dragon doth give also unto him great Autoritie and make's him a Head over great Countries whereof David did prophesie in the Psal 110. vers 6. The time of this Lievtenantship shall continue fortie two moneths that is one thousand two hundred sixtie years since then it did begin in the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord therefore it doth end in the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year shortly to com Upon this followeth the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum the true peace and quiet condition of the Church here on earth Seeing at the sound of the trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third woe doth com upon the Romane Empire and at the same time the seventh Vial of God's wrath is poured out wherewith the Enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroied yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Revel 20. vers 1 2 3. therefore now nothing but a true and constant peace can ensue Whence it is that the Church of God rejoiceth with a great voice Revel 11. vers 15. saying The Kingdoms of this world are becom the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Church and hee shall reign for ever and ever And in the v. 17. Shee giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almightie because hee hath taken to himself his great power and reigneth Unto these three times all the three parts of the Revelation of St Iohn are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the state of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Romane Empire in a threefold manner as 1. By seven Epistles chap. 2. and 3. 2. By a book sealed chap. 4 5 6 7. 3. By a little book open chap. 10. And following Hee doth appear also to John everie time in an other shape As 1. In the likeness of a son of man chapter 1. who suffereth in the first period 2. As a Beast in the shape of a Lamb having seven horns and seven eies ch 5. which doth fight in the second period 3. As a mightie strong Angel clothed with a cloud chapter 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth 1. In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven Candlesticks c. chapter 1. vers 12 13 14 15 16. Hee declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period the third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second and the promises chap. 2. and 3. to the third 2. As a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eies hee openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden Decree of God and intimateth thereby the things befalling to the Romane Empire under which the Church is built up and preserved chap. 4 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall bee carried In the Political State In the first Period until the three hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord which by opening of the first six seals is performed chapter 6. where in the first five seals the condition under the heathenish Emperors but in the sixth the fall of Heathenism under the Christian Emperors from Constantine the Great until the death of Theodosius who died the 17. of Ianuarie Anno three hundred ninetie five fifteen prefigured In
Jesus Christ chap. 1. vers 1 2. doth import to mee somthing more then what is in the outward visible events which everie rational man who can read Histories and understand Symbolical speeches is able to take notice of and discern to bee fulfilled as they were foretold therefore although to manifest the Truth of God the events are very useful if not necessarie to bee look't after yet I am cleer that they are neither useful to us nor necessarie to bee known but as they are subordinate unto this Mysterie of the Kingdom and Testimonie of Christ the knowledg and keeping of which doth give us a right unto the tree of life and an entrie thorow the Gates into the Citie This then is the Mysterie which I look after viz. to finde the Manifestation of the spiritual Kingdom of Christ in the Nature of man and in humane societies so advanced that the works of the Devil are destroied therein and that the salvation of Israël doth thereby effectually com out of Sion to bring back the captivitie of the people of the Lord and to make the whole Creâtion partaker of the glorious libertie of the Sons of God for to shew unto the eie of our Faith by what means and waies this is to bee brought to pass in the Regenerate souls of men and by the state of Regeneration in the outward societies and professions of believers I conceiv the visions were mainly sent unto the Prophet and that it was his principal aim by describing of them to declare this unto us if then by the representation of bare outward events wee are not made capable of partaking this Mysterie whereby Christ beeing apprehended in his testimonie doth becom in us the hope of glorie all our discoveries will bee of no great advantage unto our happiness nor shall wee reach the aim which the Holie Ghost had in sending this Prophesie unto us wee must therefore consider what the keie is whereby the secret of that dispensation which bring 's with it felicitie doth stand is opened I shall now briefly till God grant a fitter opportunitie to bee larger touch this matter onely to let you know that as the keie of the Historical Mysterie of the visions is the discoverie of Paralel events by Syncronisms and the understanding of the Symbolical speeches of the Scripture wherein the harmonie between the great and little world is expressed So the keie of the spiritual Mysterie of the visions must bee the discoverie of the paralel perfections which are found to bee between Christ as the head and the Church as the Bodie which is the fulness of him that filleth all in all and the understanding of the harmonical properties of things visible and invisible wherein the correspondencie between the outward and inward man the temporarie and eternal natures of things and the state of true life as it is present in the first fruits and as it is to com in the full harvest are expressed Now to finde these keies as they are properly fitted to open the locks of this Prophesie as it should bee our studie so when wee have found them our care must bee to use them discreetly This Prophesie is not shut in respect of the matter but yet that matter is not obvious to the capacitie of everie one in respect of the manner of the dispensation for it is certain that all the counsel of God whereby wee are made partakers of the Divine nature if weelook upon the substance of the Truth it is made manifest by the Gospel without vail and with much plainness of speech as the Apostle saith 2 Cor. 3. vers 6. till the end of the chapter but here the wonderful waie and manner of dispensing of that nature to the Church and working out the counsel of God in all the world as this world is to bee made subordinate to Christ and his Saints is laid open in the Apocalyptical visions which although they are not covered with anie vail which doth hide the glorie of God's work as Moses's face was yet they represent it onely to us as in a glass with Images wherein the face of Christ doth appear by waie of reflexion and through a medium till wee com to behold directly his glorie face to face without a medium and to apprehend him in it so as wee are apprehended by him wee may not then call those visions dark Mysteries without injurie to the Spirit of Christ but they are livelie figures of the truth of God's presence in his Saints and over the world to represent it to those that have eies to see it and to help our weak eie-sight which may bee dazled at the resplendencie of the glorie thereof wee should make use of the prospective waies which are offered unto us in the word elswhere which are applyable to these visions either as keies to unlock the dispensation of the Mysterie conteined therein or rather as directing and multiplying glasses through which our understanding may bee led and enlarged to reflect upon the spiritual objects properly so called which concern the state of the Kingdom which is inwardly everlasting in it self and to the Reasonings of men invisible and incomprehensible Now the prospective waies to bee made use of for the discoverie of this Mysterie are of two sorts som relate unto the Matter it self conteined in the visions som to the dispensation of that matter by waie of vision the waies relating to the matter it self are the cleer and universal Rules of Scriptural and Prophetical interpretation and the waies relating to the dispensation of the Mysterie by waie of vision are the special rules of Interpretation leading us to take notice of the peculiar characters and circumstances of each vision as they are subordinate unto the Mysterie of the Kingdom which is administred by Jesus Christ unto the end and in the end of this world If I should enter upon these Subiects at large you may perceiv that I would bee obliged to write not a brief epistolical discours as now my purpose is but a whole Treatise therefore I shall onely give you the summarie heads of that which might and somtime must bee more largely spoken to that by the hints which shall God willing bee suggested you may exercise your thoughts to dive into the Mysterie by your self as the Lord shall guid you for none of us can profit in these things any further then God's Spirit doth lead us forth to meditate through faith upon Christ and to improve practically our talents about the work of the Mysterie of our union with him Thus then in reference to the matter the universal Rules of Prophetical Interpretation are generally known to bee these The first that wee must prophesie according to the Analogie of Faith Rom. 12. v. 6. The second that wee must keep the form of sound words delivered in the Scriptures 2. Tim. 1. 13. The third that wee must analyse that is resolv and divide the text aright 2 Tim. 2. 15. and to the
holie Citie the Christian Church The Historians also make a singular observation of that time which followed the death of Theodosius the Great and refer unto the changes of the Roman Empire Carion in his Treatise of the four Monarchies printed in the year one thousand five hundred thirtie one doth prefix before the description of Arcadius and Honorius this title the Destruction of the fourth Monarchie Philippus Peucerus writeth in his reviewed Chronicles of Carion under Theodosius p. 302. Theodosius hath been the last Emperor who possessed and maintained the whole Romane Empire both in the East and West For immediately after his death under the reign of his son Honorius the Franconians entred into France took the same and their Duke Warmundus named himself King of France and reigned as King without anie hinderance In like manner was Rome taken of Alaricus King of the Goths And pag. 306. After him Theodosius the great was the Empire pitifully torn and divided by the Goths and Vandals into Hungarie Italie and Spain but France was possessed partly by the Franconians partly by the Burgundians Under Honorius pag. 313. The beginning of the Kingdom of France is derived from the taking of the Citie of Trier in the year of our Lord four hundred three This hath been the beginning and occasion of the division of the Romane Empire towards France The second breach or diminution of the Romane Empire from the Hungarians towards Italie happened by the Goths And hereunto agreeth Munsterus in in his Cosmographie printed in the year one thousand six hundred fourteen pag. 381. and of the Edition of one thousand six hundred twentie eight pag. 356. sub quaestione How and when the Citie of Rome was taken again where hee writeth thus When the Goths had rebelled against the Romane Empire and set up Alaricus for their King they subdued and reduced not onely the Provinces of Thracia and Anglia under their power and plucked two strong Feathers out of the High-flying Eagle's wings but attempted also to cut off his head quite Daniel Pareus writeth thus in Medulla Hist. Eccles universalis pag. 195. Fuit mors Theodosii verè fatalis ad ruinam interitum Imperii Occidentalis ut secum abstulisse pacem Ecclesiae Reip. penè omnem videatur Seeing now the Characters of the beginning of the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years are applied to the three hundred ninetie fifth year since the birth of Christ As also the Character of the beginning of the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of Daniel applied unto the three hundred sixtie fifth year And the difference of thirtie years betwixt the one thousand two hundred sixtie and one thousand two hundred ninetie years are punctually found out And contrariwise it doth not appear by the histories where such two times may bee found which have thirtie years with such accidents following one to another whereunto the aforesaid Characters can bee more suitably applied Wee have reason to stand firm to this opinion so long as wee are not convinced of a better and conclude That the one thousand two hundred ninetie years of the Prophet Daniel 12. vers 11. begun with the last abominable desolation of the Temple at Ierusalem in the year of our Lord three hundred sixtie fifth and the Apocalyptical one thousand two hundred sixtie years with the Invasion of the Roman Empire by the Goths in the year three hundred ninteie five and that both together do exspire with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year which is now shortly at hand 2. With the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year since the birth of Christ do exspire the six thousand years since the Creation of the world The Chronologer's supputation in general is this that this present one thousand six hundred fiftieth year since the birth of Christ is the five thousand five hundred ninetie ninth year since the Creation of the world But if wee do well consider the Chronological numbers expressed in the Scripture it will evidently appear that in this present one thousand six hundred fiftieth year of our Lord the five thousand nine hundred ninetie fifth year since the Creation of the world doth exspire and the six thousand year of the world will end with the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord. According to the vulgar Supputation of years the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year of our Lord will bee the five thousand six hundred fourth year since the Creation of the world Unto these add the years which either by the Chronologers have been omitted or made too few and left out 1. One year whilest the Flood lasted Genes c. 7. vers 11. and chapter 8. vers 14. after the supputation of Funccius Reusnerus Partiltius and others 2. Sixtie years until the birth of Abraham who was not born in the seventieth but in the one hundred thirtieth year of Terah For Terah died in Haran Gen. 11. vers 32. when hee was old two hundred five years Immediately after the death of Terah Abraham departed out of Haran Gen. 12. vers 4. Acts 7. 4. beeing old seventie five years From thence it doth follow that Abraham was born when Terah was old one hundred thirtie years 3. Two hundred fifteen years of the sojourning of the Children of Israel in Egypt In Exodus 12. vers 40 41. wee read these words The sojourning of the Children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt was four hundred and thirtie years Which the aera vulgaris or the common supputation doth derive from the time of Abraham's calling when hee was seventie five years old Genes 12. vers 4. in this manner as followeth Until the birth of Isaac Gen. 21. vers 5. twentie five years Until the birth of Iacob Gen. 35. vers 26. sixtie years Iacob was old when hee went into Egypt Gen. 47. vers 9. one hundred thirtie years Which make up two hundred fifteen years The Children of Israel dwelt in Egypt two hundred fifteen years Which is against the clear text which doth not speak of the times of the Fathers but of the children of Israel not of the pilgrimage but of the sojourning and bondage not without and in Egypt but onely in Egypt Abraham indeed went down into Egypt Gen. 12. vers 10. but sojourned there not long and was not in anie bondage Isaac came not at all into Egypt beeing forbidden Gen. 29. vers 2. Jacob was one hundred thirtie years old before wee went down into Egypt So that the four hundred thirtie years of the sojourning of the Children of Israel who dwelt in Egypt Exod. 12. vers 40. and when the seed of Abraham was a stranger in a Land that was not their's and served them and was afflicted there Genesis 15. vers 13. are to begin their supputation from the one hundred thirtieth year of Jacob and his entrance into Egypt unto which must bee added here two hundred fifteen years 4. One hundred years from going forth out of Egypt
Government in Poperie are counted for One wherefore the Angel saith The eighth is of the seven Whence wee conclude that by the Beast which ascended out of the bottomless pit is understood the Popish Ecclesiastical Government which useth the Temporal sword and the power of worldlie Potentates as a Rider maketh use of the power and and strength of his hors Of this Beast is said here that it shall make war against the two witnesses and shall overcom them and kill them That is there shall bee in the Romane Empire a persecution set a foot against the Evangelical Protestants by the instigation of the Pope and the Prelats towards the end of the appointed time in the last sixtie years from the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth until the one thousand six hundred fiftie fifth year The two Witnesses shall bee overcom and killed That is they shall bee removed and thrust out of all Ecclesiastical and Political Offices and imploiments Vers 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great Citie which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified Here is the place described where the persecution shall happen It is not an universal persecution which goe's throughout the whole Romane Empire but a particular Act becaus the dead bodies of the two Witnesses do not lie in all the streets but onely in One in the street of the great Citie By the great Citie is understood the Citie of Rome of which the Angel saith in the 17. chapter vers 18. The Woman which thou sawest is that great Citie which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth Which is called in the 14. chapter vers 8. Babylon the great Citie And that by Babylon is meant the Citie of Rome is granted by the Jesuits themselvs as Blasius Viegas in cap. 17. Apoc. sect 3. Remacius de Vaulx in Harpocrate divino part 1. fol. 235. Bellarm. lib. 2. Pontif. Rom. c. 2. lib. 3. c. 5. But by the Citie with the streets is the whole Romane Popish Empire set forth as it is elswhere compared unto a Beast with ten horns chap. 13. and 17. and unto the Sea with rivers and fountains Chapter 16. Compare also Luc. 14. vers 21. 23. The Citie of Rome is called spiritually that is the Citie of Rome or the Romane Papacie Is among the Hebrews especially the Prophets to bee called signifieth as much as to bee and that in a singular high manner and waie as appeareth by Isaiah chapter 1. vers 26. chapter 7. vers 14 chapter 9. vers 6. chapter 56. vers 7. chapter 60. vers 14. chap. 26. vers 4. Ierem. 3. vers 17. chap. 23. vers 6. Ezech. 48. vers 35. Zach. 6. vers 12. chap. 8. vers 3. Finkius Can. 49. Cent. 11. Spiritually that is Mystically in a mysterious sens and resemblance Another Sodom becaus of their Paederastia and other horrible Sodomitical Abominations and sins which not onely are committed but commended there As Sleidan lib. and Balaeus in Catalogo do write concerning Ioannes de la Cata Archbishop of Benevent that hee published in print a Treatise to commend Sodomie so that this is fully agreeable to that which the Prophet Isaiah saith chap. 3. vers 9. The shew of their countenance doth witness against them and they declare their sin as Sodom they hide it not Shee is another Egypt becaus of the great blindness and hardness of heart as also becaus of the Tyrannie and grievous bondage wherewith shee doth afflict the people of God driving and compelling them to a slavish servitude of Poperie Shee is also a true likeness of Ierusalem becaus shee like the Iews doth despise God and his word killeth the Prophets nay refuseth to hear and to receiv the Son of God himself blaspheming calumniating persecuting and crucifying him in his members as by experience is cleerly seen And their dead bodies shal lie in the street These words are spoken as it were with som amazement abruptly and without the concluding word to make up the sens The dead bodies of the Witnesses in this street But which street A Citie hath manie streets and so hath the papal State which is here called the great Citie having under it manie streets and Kingdoms in subjection those wee must reflect upon to discover where such wars and persecutions in these years from the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth of our Lord are hapned Three principal streets or Kingdoms hath the Oriental Antichrist the Truth in his subjection hee hath not used anie such persecution against the Christians in his Dominions Seven are under the Occidental Antichrist In Italie France Spain and the British Kingdoms no such remarkable persecution did happen within this time nor also in Poland The attempt which was made in Prussia in the one thousand five hundred ninetie fifth year of our Lord was of no long continuance What came to pass in Hungarie and Transylvania in the year one thousand six hundred two and som following was quieted by the Putshkeyish insurrection and cannot bee referred to this The tenth Horn yet remain's Germanie or the Germane Empire which in the whole Beast or Empire cannot bee counted otherwise but one horn and a Kingdom by it self in the whole bodie of the fourth Monarchie This is the principal street in the great Citie the principal horn of the Beast the principal Kingdom in the fourth Monarchie whose head is represented by the Citie of Rome This Germane Empire is here called the street per excellentiam becaus it is the principal street in the Empire which doth appear hence 1. By reason it is called the Romane Empire 2. By reason it is as it were a figure and Image of the old Romane Empire having seven heads in regard of the seven Princes Electors and ten Provinces in respect of the ten Circles into which it is distributed 3. By reason that the head of the Germane Empire hath still the name of a Romane Emperor and hath the the preeminencie above all other Kings adhering to the Papal State Now in this street wee must seek the warr and wee shall also finde it if wee consider what is passed from the one thousand fiue hundred ninetie fifth year until this present hour against the true Professors of the Gospel The Pope indeed hath from the beginning of the Reformation which hapned by Doctor Luther alwaies aimed at this how hee might wholly root out and destroie the Professors of the Gospel and to this effect the Counsel of Trent was called in a special manner But this would not take place in Germanie until the Jesuitical Sect prevailed and brought things to that pass that the peaceable and meek hearts of Potentates have given too too much credit and yielded to their flatterings calumnies and deceits Whereupon in the year one thousand five hundred ninetie eighth begun the persecution against the Evangelical Protestants in Styria Carniola and Krain and what success it had and what thereupon
11 12 15 16. Whom the Armies which are in heaven follow upon white-horses cloathed in fine linnen white and clean vers 14. These are the Martyrs to everie one of whom are given white robes chapter 6. vers 11. Nay These are they which came out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes chap. 7. vers 14. These are they that are called and chosen and faithful Chap. 17. vers 14. Against these are gathered the Beast and the Kings of the earth and their armies to make war against them The end and issue of this war is that the Beast and with him the fals Prophet that is the Romane Empire and Popedom shall bee taken and both cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone chapter 19. vers 19 20. But the Dragon as their General hath quarters given him in this war hee is laid hold on and cast into the bottomless pit and shut up wherein hee remain's bound a thousand years that hee should deceiv the Nations no more nor bee able to stir them up against the Church Chapter 20. vers 1 2 3. In the mean while the faithful Children of God have their rest Hebr. 4. vers 1. like as God did rest the seventh daie from all his works vers 4. But the last Judgment and the end of the world is afterwards described chap. 20. vers 11. till the 15th Hereunto agreeth the Prophesie of Daniel chap. 2. vers 34 35. where the Image which representeth the four Monarchies is seen so long till the stone smite's the Image upon his feet not at the beginning of the fourth Monarchie for then the feet and toes were not as yet but at the end thereof and break 's it to pieces But the stone that smite's the Image becom's a great mountain after the breaking and grinding of the four Monarchies to dust that is a Kingdom that shall break to pieces and grinde to dust all these Kingdoms which are represented by the great Image vers 44 45. And in the 7th chapter vers 1. till the 8th by the four Beasts are described the four Monarchies which Daniel beheld vers 9. till the thrones were cast down as the words are in the Original For the ancient of daies did sit vers 9. not for the universal and last judgment which hath been committed unto the Son Iohn Chap. 5. v. 22. but for the particular judgment over the enemies of the Church in the fourth Monarchie over the fourth Beast of the Romane Popedome which Daniel beheld even till the Beast was slain and his bodie destroied and given to the burning flame and the power of the other beasts came to an end vers 11 12. For a set time was determined over them how long each of them should last The Saints shall bee given into the hands of the fourth Beast so long as the Woman rideth on the Beast until a time and times and the dividing of time vers 25. And when these 3 ½ times Anno 1655 shall com to an end the Judgment of the judgment of the Ancient shall sit and then his power is taken away so that it wholly is abolished and come's to an end Vers 26. But the world therewith is not destroied but the Kingdom and dominion and the greatness under the whole Heaven shall bee given to the people of the Saints of the most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdom and all dominions shall serv and obeie him Vers 27. compare vers 13 14. The words of St Paul 2 Thes chap. 2. vers 8. where hee writeth And the Lord shall destroie him with the brightness of his coming are expounded in the Revelations chap. 19. vers 11. till 21. But what may bee the true meaning and sens of these words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I leav to the consideration of judicious Divines It seem's they do not speak of the universal and last Judgment which St John describeth in his Revelation chap. 20. vers 11 12 13 14. Nay the text doth not bear that the two Acts in the said 19. chapter vers 11. till 21. and chapter 20. vers 11. till 15. shall bee counted for one or reduced together to one and the same time Becaus it appeareth that one thousand years are interposed For the two great Guests the Beast and the fals Prophet are one thousand years before lodged in the Inn in the Lake of fire burning with brimstone then the Hoast the Devil come's who after the one thousand years is associated to them at the end of the world chapter 20. vers 4. Whereupon immediately vers 11. the last Judgment is held Wee are here led into the Mysteries of God into which wee will not too much presume to penetrate nor search too far into them but wee turn and address our selvs both with ears and hearts to the Son of God who standeth at the door knocketh and calleth If anie man hear my voice and open the door I will com into him and will sup with him and hee with mee To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with mee in my Throne even as I also overcame and am set down with my Father in his throne Revelations c. 3. vers 20 21. Blessed is now hee that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophesie and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand Chap. 1. vers 3. Elessed is hee that keepeth the sayings of of the Poophesie of this book c. 22. v. 7. Nay blessed are they that do his Commandements that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the Citie v. 14. To him which is and which was and which is to com the Almightie bee glorie and dominion for ever and ever Amen Revel chap. 1. v. 6. 8. A List of the things which are shortly to com to pass collected out of the XI and XVI Chapters of the REVELATION 1. THe last Actus reformationis sive evacuationis of the Evangelical Protestant Churches which will appear in Silesia chap. 11. v. 7. 2. The 3 ½ years following thereon when the dead bodies of the two Witnesses lie in the street v. 9. till 11. 3. The continuance of wars in those Kingdoms wherein the innocent blood of the Martyrs is avenged chap. 16. v. 4. 4. The sudden fall of the strong pillar of the Papacie vers 8. 5. The exaltation of an Evangelical Protestant head chap. 11. v. 12. 6. A Reformation in Germanie v. 11. 12. 7. The destruction of the Citie of Rome chap. 11. v. 13. c. 16. vers 10. 8. The end of the Turkish Empire chap. 11. v. 14. c. 16. v. 12. 9. The controversie of the Jews c. 16. v. 12. 10. The great endevors of the Papists and gathering of all their utmost power c. 16. vers 13. c. 19. v. 16. 11. The ruine of the whole Papacie chap. 16. vers 18. till the 21. c. 19. v. 20. 21. 12. The accomplishment of the Mysterie