offence or fault they have committed Reader the Application is thy part And prevailed against them How this is done is shewed chap. 12. 7. hee shall scatter the Power of the Holy people the which place hath reference to Moses words when hee sees their Power is gone Deut. 32. 36. Not onely may the slaying of the Witnesses bee here meant but this Horn shall proceed and prosper so farre in this war as all hope will bee taken away from Christs cause ever to rise again I shall give the Reader my thoughts of the thing As the darkest time of the Night is about the dawning so a little before the expiration of the three years and half The interest of Christ and his People will bee at the lowest ebb and the Horn-State at the highest spring of glory and greatnesse For the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left Thus Moses and Daniel speak of one thing that the Horn will not bee to the height of his persecution till his body bee ready to bee given to the burning flame and therefore whosoever shall live under his Dominion must expect that hee will bee most fierce and cruel when the period and end of his time is come And shall wear or tire out the Saints of the most high Here wee have the Angels explanation of the words before how hee shall prevail namely weary out the Saints that is by keeping some of them under bonds and banishment as thinking thereby to yre them out and so compel them to deny Christ as himself had done before Others by poverty and outward wants being forced to leave their former imployment and maintenance that they might not be partakers of his sins Re. 13. 16 17. This makes mee think that the Lord will not suffer him to shed much bloud for howsoever hee will not fear God nor man and bee most wrathsul specially towards the end of his time Neverthelesse hee shall but fulfil the Councell and purpose of God as did Pharoah Judas Herod and Pontius Pâ—late that is not put the Saints to death but â— eary them out no further or very little shall hee go in spight of his Stont looks But again they are not onely Saints but of the most high which seems to import that some Saints shal do well enough under this Horn as to their peace liberty and worldly enjoyments onely those who are not for him but for the most High he will make war against And in this his Hypocrisy and other wickedness will bee â—he lesse seen and noted In honouring some Professors of Religion promoting them to great places and offices in his Councel Army Colledges and making them his familiar friends such I mean as will have fellowship with him in the works of darknesse and justifie his unrighteous wayes howsoever in the mean time hee shall persecute others who are in truth and really for the cause and interest of Christ I would have the Reader likewise to observe this as a special thing whereby to know the time of the Little Horn. There will bee then two sorts of Saints the one hee will hate the other seem to love the one he will take into his Palace the other cast into Prison the one shall be raised from one degree of preserment to another the other thrown out of all And the Reason is because the former are Saints of the most high The latter are not according to the meaning of the text The former like Moses will esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt The latter like Demas will imbrace the present world and not care what becomes of the Kingdome of the most high so they may reign as Kings themselves in Pomp Pride and Pleasure c. with the HORN And think to change times and Laws To know what is here meant it must bee observed what the Holy Ghost speaks of this Horn as to bee his great work and businesse and this is set down in two things viz. making warre against the Saints of the most high and plucking up by the roots three Kingdomes so that as he takes twosorts of people for his greatest enemies The fift Monarchy-men and the Common-wealth-men so hee is fallen upon a design whereby he thinks to keep up his Power and Dominion in spight of both Parties that it by changing times and Laws where note how in the first hee shews himself a very Atheist in the latter a deep Polititian We will speak of both distinctly By Times in this place I understand the set Time in which the father hath promised to give his son and the Saints with him the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven Psal 102. 13. Isa 14. 31. Hab. 2. 3. Rev. 10. 6 7 and 22. 10. Dan. 8. 19. and 10. 1. and 11. 27 29 35. As the Israelites after four hundred and thirty years were set free from the Egyptian bondage And afterward delivered from the Captivity of Babylon the seventy years being expired So the forty two months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and the three years and half being sulfilled it is Gods purpose to begin the deliverance of his people from Tyrants and Oppressours and to make them his battle Axe and rod of his strength to break the Image to peices and take the Kingdome Dan. 7. 18. Now the little Horn reading such prophesies and what great things are promised the Saints after a Time Times and dividing of time and when three dayes and an half are ended And perceiving what encouragement some take from such places as intending to follow the call of God when that Appointed time shall come What doth he I not beleeving the holy Prophesies bee thinks to change the Times that is wheras after three years and half the Saints make account the Times will bee Christs and Theirs he on the contrary THINKS to have it his still and to continue the Little Horn as he was before Yea and to have his son a Horn after his decease That the Reader may clearly understand what my meaning is This I think When the dayes of the Little Horn are almost expired the Wise shall understand that hee is the Horn and God will put in their hearts to fulfill his Will upon him which is to take away his Dominion to consume it and to destroy it unto the End Dan. 7. 26. This being perceived by him hee shall perswade himself to frustrate what the Scriptures testify and the Saints beleeve concerning him by some crafty devises which he hath thought upon As Herod a Type of this Horn when hee heard of the birth of the King of the Jews gathered all the chief Priests and Scribes of the people together to know of them where hee should be born Though hee intended onely the death of the Holy Child Jesus yet hee seeks to know
c. yet do fast prey practice Church-Ordinances and pretend great zeal and conscience for the Interest of Christ and his people Again 3. How can this Later Apostacie be worse then that under Antichrist If understood of Quakers Ranters c. wherein are these men worse then the other it is true the Later Apostacie shall be worse then the Former in slaying the Witnesses The former destroyed good men but not their Testimony It killed the Body but not the Truth This Later shall kill the Truth but not the Body slay in most good men their Testimony and Witness for Christ but leave their persons unkilled True therefore as he saith Of the two State-Apostacies the last is the worse 4. That the Apostle should foretel the Later Apostacie to be heavy and perillous there is little ground to apply this to poor naked and inconsiderable persons Besides what have they done whom have they banished and imprisoned wherein have they been Traytors when did they change Laws and Times All which the Later Apostacy shall do and more too 5. Let the sins in the Text be viewed as I have open'd the words and compare them with Ranters Quakers c. it will appear they hold not parallel almost in any particular whereas the Text as I have said must not be wrested but such an Apostacie found out which agrees with the place altogether and in every thing 6. Seeing Ranters and Quakers err in Doctrine as holding dangerous opinions they come under the first Apostacie rather then the later Lastly If the evils which he mentioneth viz. when men forget all Rules of Law and Nature and break all bonds c. be essential characters of the later Apostacie I shall leave it to the Reader whether he cannot finde such things more visible certain somewhere else then among Ranters Quakers or Levellers Neither doth Paul alone speak of two Apostacies but Peter likewise and sets them down in the same manner the other doth the first of things viz. errors doctrines of devils 2 Pet. 2. 1 2 3. the later of persons namely corrupt and sinful walkers 2 Pet. 3. 3 4. knowing this first that there shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lusts and saying where is the promise of his coming for since the Fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were from the beginning of the Creation It is worth the heeding how the Apostles begin their Prophesies alike This know also saith Paul that in the last dayes Knowing this first saith Peter that there shall come in the last days c. 1. They would have Saints upon whom the Time of the End is come to observe well the Symptomes and Characters of the Later Apostacie Fore-warn'd fore-arm'd to know when this Apostacy is come will be a special preservative against it and to shun it and not to be parcaker of other mens sins 2. They both pitch upon one Time In the last dayes that is the three yeers and half as I have shewed before and as it is one time so the persons here are one and the same Scoffers When Popery overspread this Nation besides Persecution of tongues and hands the Papists endeavour'd to refute the Protestants by Scriptures Fathers Councels Antiquity c. And so did the Prelates after them the Non-Conformists and Separatists when the power was in their hands But what do we hear now Truly little more then scoffs and jests so that he is no body if he have not a jeer a gird some taunt or other that in their Pulpits against the Fiâ—t Monarchy-men And this I take to be the reason why the Holy Ghost useth the word Scoffers to signifie that besides jesting and mocking at the Assertors of Christs visible and glorious Kingdom little will be done by the Adversaries as to the confutation of them The Truth whereof appears evident at this present Time Psal 124. 3 4. 2 King 19. 3. Walking after their own lusts What these lusts are was shew'd before the sins mentioned by Paul 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 4 5. The phrase walking after them denotes how their affections will be wholly set upon these lusts and so guided and led by them that all their Counsels and Designs shall be for the upholding and maintaining of them Insomuch that not a Soldier in the Army not a Mariner in the Navy not a Minister or Magistrate in the Nation shall be allowed if they be known they are men disaffected to the lusts proper to the later Apostacie Where is the Promise of his coming Had not this been added we should not have known what kinde of Scoffers the Holy Ghost intended But the words do manifestly shew who are meant It cannot be understood of Christ's coming to judgement at the last day For who scoffs at that all generally believe it It being an Article of their Creed Questionless therefore it must be taken of Christs personal coming to reign on earth and of the throwing down of Babylon and all the corrupt powers of the World and the bringing in of the new heavens and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousness This indeed is mockt at both in Court and Country The Promise of his coming which these Apostates are said to scoff at are these and such-like Dan. 2. 44 45. 7. â—4 27. Psal 2. 6 7 8. 45. 72. Rev. 2. 26. 5. 10. 11. 15 17. 20. 4. Luke 19. 12. Zach. 14. 1 2 3 4 c. Hos 3. 5. Isa 53. 12. Act. 1. 11. Joh. 1. 51. Act. 3. 19 20 21. Rom. 8. 19 20 21. 2 Tim. 4. 1. 2 Pet. 1. 11. Joh. 18. 36. That the Apostle brings in these Scoffers by way of Question where is the promise of his coming He doth it to shew the occasion of their scoffing This great Truth of Christs visible Kingdom and personal Reigning in it being publickly held forth by many and some going so far as to fix the time when the Lord as they thought would begin to Roar out of Sion and to utter his voice from Jerusalem Now nothing by the unbelieving Adversary being seen in order to it O what scoffing and jeering is there now Where is the promise of his coming Watchman what of the night watchman what of the night Where is your Kingdom Where are your reigning Saints where is your 56 and 57 Ha ha say they ye are dreamers indeed For since the Fathers fell asleep all things continue as they were That this later Apostacie may be the better known when it comes The Holy Ghost shews what will be the saying of the Scoffers at that time You talk say they of wonders what great changes there will be in the world what breaking-work and destroying Kingdoms and Powers Nothing but overturning overturning overturning and that strang things and unheard-of will shortly come to pass But this proceeds from the folly and vanity of your hearts meer delusion for there is nothing new under the Sun but what is
The TIME of the END SHEWING First until the three years and an half are come which are the last of the 1260 dayes the prophecies of the Scripture will not be understood concerning the Duration and Period of the FOURTH MONARCHY and Kingdom of the Beast THEN Secondly When that TIME shall come before the expiration the Knowledge of the End or that there shall be Time no longer will be revealed By the Rise of a little Horn The last Apostacy and the Beast slaying the Witnesses contemporizing The Characters Of which little Horn the last Apostacy and Beast as the Scriptures shew them are here faithfully opened And the Application left to the Wise By John Canne Surely the Lord God will do nothing but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the Prophets Amos 3. 7. Think not that I come to send peace on earth I come not to send peace but a sword Mat. 10. 34. London Printed for Livewel Chapman at the Crown in Popes-head-Alley 1657. To the Reader THat enmity which from the beginning Jehovah Elohim the Lord God did put between the Serpent and the Woman and between their seed as always so now doth work with marveilous earnestness in all those who in every age from their proper spirit are engaged by their principals to maintain the combate to the time of the end The Righteous is an abomination to the wicked and the wicked is an abomination to the Righteous from the beginning to the end of this present evil world For as then even in Abrahams time he that was born after the flesh persecuted him who was born after the spirit even so it is now in these last days and will be so till the old serpent the Divel and Sathan be cast into the bottomless pit and then according to the scope of the Scriptures of Truth the bond-woman and her son will be cast out and the children of the free-woman shall be the heirs And when I say So it is now in these last dayes I desire it may be well weighed for assuredly the Serpent and his brood will muster all their forces will improve all their policies will come forth with utmost inraged malice to do the most mischief they can against the true spiritnal â—eed The fresh Auxiliaries which are used in this service of the Dragon that old Serpent are the Apostates of the last times who are such Christians in a form of Godliness as the Devil is an Angel of Light when he is so transformed retaining his cursed properties and designs under the pretence of such a glorious transformation Therefore saith the Apostle it is no great thing if also his Ministers be transformed as the Ministers of Righteousness Which words are or may be to the more cautelous Christians a great preservative against the poysonous infection of the present Apostacy for multitudes of careless ones have been beguiled by these deceitful or cheating workers into a compliance with the interest of the Kingdom of the Beast But Blessed be the name of our Lord Protector the Patron of Innocency Truth and Righteousness that these deceitful workers resisters of the Truth Patrons of the carnal worldly Church shall not proceed much farther for their folly in its appointed season shall be made manifest to all men as the folly and madness of other of their brethren before them have been made manifest in like manner And which is matter of great rejoycing to the Lords suffering servants the Prince of the Apostates himself hath bin compel'd by the over-ruling Power of our Lord Jesus to defile his own nest to throw dirt in the face of his own Brat to trample upon his own Government with notable contempt in the presence of his cowardly men of war Oh! what joy of heart is it to us to live to see how in that very thing wherein they dealt so proudly so imperiously the Lord is above them and leaves them to such a degree of folly as to set at nought in such notable language in set Speeches the works of their own heads and hands and that in so short a space of time verily it cannot be treason any longer no not in the sence of the Court it self to imagine speak or write against the Instrument or instruments which brought forth that monstrous Government Ye may all speak treason by authority 〈◊〉 ye Inhabitants of these three Isles of the Sea for your Lord Protector himself hath lately set you a Pattern to pour contempt upon the whole Fabrick both Foundation and Superstruction It is to be ascribed to the preventing Grace of God himself and to no other cause that some few of us have been preserved from that dangerous communion and conformity wherewith many professors well meaning souls like the followers of Absalom of old have been unawares surprised and intangled That Scripture in 2 Tim. 3. the first five verses which by the servant of Christ the Author of the insuing Treatise is opened and compared with two other famous Prophesies concerning the little Horn and the Bottomless-pit-Beast was made effectual to my spirit and conscience to deliver me from those snares wherein the feet of others not a few have been taken faith the Apostle in the forementioned place after he had made a catalogue of Characters whereby to describe the Apostates and Hypocrites of the last time from such turn away And the first and last of those Characters lay with most weight upon my spirit Men shall be lovers of themselves covetous proud lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God having a form of Godliness but denying the power thereof from such turn away And what I spake publikely in a great Assembly concerning the little Horn in two general Observations and nine special Characters whereby to discern it from the other Horns amongst whom it came up is remembred by many then present since which others have likewise given their judgements But this Author by what conduct of providence time will shew hath found cause to make those two Prophesies concerning Daniels little Horn and Johns Bottomless-pit-Beast to synchronise and to bring in the Apostacy of these last times to accompany them in their accomplishments It is remarkable what is told Daniel Chap. 12. v. 10. Mary shall be purified and made white and â—â—yed but the wicked shall do wickedly and none of the wicked shall understand but the wise shall understand Surely the Apostates and Hypocrites of the last times are some of these wicked ones these will do wickedly but they cannot understand Understanding dwelleth not taketh not up her rest in the Assemblies in the Counsels of the last and worst sort of wicked ones The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him the wise shall understand who is a wise man he that fears the Lord for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom He that is become a fool for Christs sake that he may be wise He who from a principle of saith and love which is in Christ
sent back to search the erring Histories of old times and to enquire what was done many hundred years ago it doth therefore behove all such who are running to and fro that knowledge may encrease to STUDIE THE PRESENT TIME whether the things which must be in the last three years and half are already come or not THE CHARACTERS OF THE Last Apostacie OPENED I Know already what the understanding Reader doth expect from me If the three years and an half are begun that I shew him the Little Horn the Later Apostacie and the Beast ascending out of the bottomless pit with all their Characters set down in sacred Scriptures If I do not this and make it plain upon tables that he may run that readeth it let not my Writing be received For I desire no mans belief any further then he see every thing well and fairly proved Now because from the Apostacie as the bottomless pit the Beast ascendeth who with his Horn slays the Witnesses I shall therefore begin with the Apostacie first And here we have two Questions 1. Why the Apostacie in 2 Tim. 3. must be in the last three years and an half 2. How it appears that the present Apostacie of our time is that Apostacie of which Paul speaks should be in the Last day This know also The particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 likewise or besides carries the matter back to the former Epistle chap. 4. 1 2 3. and his meaning being opened it is as he should say In thy person I speak to all Saints of future ages and would have them forewarned of two great Apostacies which shall arise in the Christian Church before the time of the end And these distinguished 1. By their Times The former shall be in the later times that is when he that letteth is taken out of the way then shall the wicked be revealed 2 Thess 2. 7 8 meaning the Great Whore or kingdom of the Beast the other will be in the last days neer or about the period of the Beasts dominion 2. The former Apostacie shall be in Doctrine Some shall depart from the faith giving heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils speaking lyes in hypocrisie forbidding to marry and commanding to abstain from meats The later will be in manners and conversation Men shall be lovers of their own selves covetous proud c. Again that by the last days the three years and half are meant I prove it thus The Word of God doth not onely distinguish between Time and Time as there is a set time to every purpose under the sun Eccles 3. 1. but likewise shews that all Prophecies have their due accomplishments in their fixt appointments Thus there was a time for the Dragon to reign in the Romane Heathen Emperours and that Time must be expired before the first Apostacie or Antichristian kingdom could arise 2 Thess 2. 3 7 8. So there is a time for the two Witnesses to prophesie in sackcloth which time must be finished before they are slain in their Testimony Again being killed in their witness they must lie three days and an half unburied which is another distinct time For Application This later Apostacie cannot be carried up to the persecution of the Saints under the Heathen Romane Emperours I think no man holds it so Nor can it be referred to the time of the Witnesses prophesying in sackcloth for then the last days were not come for there was a time after that Neither can it be understood of a time after the sackcloth Witnesses are risen for then there shall be time no longer Rev. 10. 6. to wit either for the first or second Apostacie but both are to be destroyed and the kingdoms of this world become the kingdoms of our Lord and of his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 11. 12 13 15. Therefore I take it neither before nor after the later Apostacie must necessarily contemporize with the last three years and half So that three years and an half is the whole time of the later Apostacie answerable to the time of the slain Witnesses But the other is the great Point How it can be proved that the Apostacie of this age is that Apostacie of which Paul speaks 2 Tim. 3 1 2. The matter being weighty I shall speak the more to it yet with bowels and tenderness sighing for the abominations that are done in the midst of us and mourning for them as the Prophets did for backsliding Israel and Judah First it appears by the Scriptures that the two great Apostacies shall in many things be like each other the former being a Type of the later Concerning the first Apostacie 1. It had its rise in the true Christian Church and among the professors of the Gospel Hence it is called a departure from the faith 1 Tim. 4. 1. and a falling away 2 Thess 2. 3. And of this Apostacy I think Paul speaks For I know this that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you not sparing the flock also of your selves shall men arise speaking perverse things c. Acts 20. 29 30. Secondly as the first Apostacie had its rise in the Church of Christ so the cause of it was for that men were lovers of their own selves covetous proud c. Through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you 2 Pet. 2. 3. 2 Thess 2. 4. Thirdly this Apostacie being made through self-love covetousness pride c. there was one appointed to be Head or King over it Rev. 9. 11. called That man of sin 2 Thess 2. 3. The lawless one vers 8. The angel of the bottomless pit Rev. 9 11. and typically the Little Horn in Dan. 7. To this King or Head of the first Apostacie it was given to change times and laws as Having all power in his hands and being above all and to be obeyed by all For he is dominus omnium temporaliu◠solus verus Dominus The true and onely Lord of all Temporal things Non potest subjicere se Concilio generali He cannot subject himself to a general Councel Legi non subjicet ulli judicium est pro lege He is subject to no law and his judgement is in stead of law He hath all manner of law and right in scrinio pectoris sui in the closet of his own brest In its quae vult est ei pro ratione voluntas In those things which he will his Will is unto him for Reason His power is absolute and extendeth as far as himself listeth He may do all things suprajus contra jus extrajus Above Law against Law and without Law Facit quicquid libet imo illicita What he pleaseth he may do yea although unlawful Besides as for the Head of the first Apostacie he must not say they be judged by any man for any crime either of murther or tyranny but rather be excused l Si Papa erraret
continue by the Lords sufferance to exercise the cruelty and wickednesse mentioned in the Vision That the meaning is so appears by the Question and Answer Dan. 12. 6 7. How long shall it be to the end of these wonders for a time times and an half As if hee should say For the vision of the little Horn it shall bee for a time times and an half so long hee is to continue to scatter the power of the Holy People and when that time shall bee expired the words of the Prophesy are fulfilled concerning him For soon after the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his Dominion c. Qu. But by a time and times and dividing of time what time is there meant or how much is this time The common received opinion is three years and an half These persecutions saith Diodate shall last one year two years and halfe one year that is to say three years and half I confesse in the application I finde few to agree with me yet for the time tobee three years and an half neither more nor lesse few writers which I have seen but take it so as I do And for these few which understand it otherwise as making first a time times and dividing of time to bee three years and an half and then out of the three years and half to reckon each day for a year this I conceive neither agrees with Daniels manner of reckoning the time nor with other Prophets That three daies and an half should be taken for three years and an half So forty two months for so many years as there are dayes in the months Again One thousand two hundred and threescore dayes for so many years this is right and according to the Scriptures Numb 14. 34. Ezek. 4. 5. But by a time to understand a year by times two years and dividing of time an half year and afterward from these three years and an half to number years by daies There is not for this I think any ground in the word of God Besides why should not Daniel when hee useth words and terms alike be alike understood in chap. 4 25. it is said seven times shall passe over â—hee here it is not questioned but by seven times seven years are meant no raising of another number from daies to years Now I see no reason why the Prophet in one place should bee understood by Time strictly a year and in another as many years as a year hath daves especially seeing it is familiar with Daniel to set down his account in this manner as ch 11. 13. in the end Haghiâ—tim shanâ—m of the times of years see chap. 7. 12. and 8. 17. and 11. 14 35 40. and 12. 4 9. I might add how three years and half was the term of Christs persecution in the flesh the which being expired immediately begunne upon his resurrection the setting up of his spiritual kingdome all the world over So three years and an half is the time of the sufferings of his witnesses under the little Horn the which being ended they shall rise and stand upon their feet again and then beginnes that which you have Rev. 11. 13 14. the great earth-quake and the sounding of the seventh Trumpet and the kingdomes of this world becomming the kingdomes of our Lord and of his Christ Quest But how doth it appear if by time and times and dividing of time three years and half are meant that these are the three years and half which period the number of one thousand two hundred and threescore years and contemporises with the latter Apostacy and slaying of the witnesses Answ 1 Graserns against Junius gives many reasons that the Vision shewed Daniel concerning the Little Horn is to have its accomplishment in Novissim diebus in the very last times toward the end of the world and judgement shall not passe upon him usque ad consummationem irae untill the indignation bee accomplished Dan. 11. 36. that is unt ill the forty two months are expired Histor Antichrist pag. 115. 119. c. If this bee so as I see nothing against it then must this little Horn be before the rise of the witnesses and the forty two months are expired for hee shall have no Dominion or Power after that time 2 Upon the destruction of the Little Horn the Saints possesse the kingdome but this they do not neither is the Kingdome theirs till the witnesses rise and the time of the Beasts Tyranny is expired Hence I gather that the three years and an half allowed the Little Horn and the three years and an half in which the witnesses lye slain must needs contemporise I would have the reader observe this for I think there is some weight in it If the taking of the kingdom by the Saints bee upon the ruine of the Little Horn and the rising of the witnesses as clearly it is so to me then it must follow necessarily that the three years and half given to the Little Horn and the three years and half spoken of the slain witnesses are all one see Dan. 7. 25 26 27. compare Rev. 11. 8. 11 12 13 15 c. 3 Another Argument I lay down thus the book is not to bee opened untill the time of the end which is in the three years and half and the understanding of it will bee partly by the Characters of a little Horn. Now it is the Lords usual manner not to lead his people back to things past but to teach them the understanding of Prophesies by what is present and doing in their own time when yee shall see the abomination of desolation spoken of by Daniel the Prophet stand in the holy place c. Again when yee shall see all these things c. Mat. 24. 15. 33. So the little Horn must be seen before the wise will understand the end and this is proper to the three years and half 4 It seems by Daniel that the cause and ground of the Little Horns making warre against the Saints wearying them out and scattering their power will bee for bearing witnesse to Christs visible and glorious kingdome so that the controversy now will not bee as formerly it was about the Church Ministery worship and discipline but about the whole Rule Dominion and government under the Sunne that is whether the kingdoms of the world shall continue as they are in the hands of Tyrants and oppressors or they shall bee Christs and the Saints of the most high according to that promise And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdome that all People Nations and Languages should serve him and his Dominion is an everlasting dominion which shall not passe away and his kingdom that which shall not bee destroyed Again And the Kingdom and Dominion and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high whose kingdom is an everlasting kingdome and all power shall serve and obey it Dan.
7. 14 27. And this proves likewise that the three years and half of this Little Horn must bee the last of the one thousand two hundred and threescore years it being the last testimony of the witnesses in the behalf of Christ and the main cause of their slaying by the Beast And here the Reader may understand not onely the Time when the Little Horn shall stand up but one manifest Character to know him by under his government there will bee a large tolleration of Religion for hee will pretend great care to tender consciences as that every one may have liberty to worship God in what form hee listeth onely hee will not allow that any should assert what the Scriptures plainly testify concerning the breaking of the Image and in particular that hee shall bee slain and his body destroyed and given to the burning flame The Saints shall take away his dominion to consume it and to destroy it unto the end any thing but this but this will not bee suffered no tolleration here of tender consciences any lye rather will be born then this truth and how to suppresse it will bee the great businesse And therefore crafty councel will bee taken against Jehovah and his Christ I have handled the former points the more briefly because I think they lye open to very little exception That which follows next is whether the present State-Apostacy bee the Little Horn I have said often before I undertake not the APPLYING PART I shall onely shew going over all the Characters what this Little Horn will be as to his deportment and carriage when he comes upon the stage to act a sad tragedy Behold there came up among them another little Horn Dan. 7. 8. Though this little Horn bee not one of the Ten yet hee grows upon the body of the fourth beast vers 7. and so is part of the Image Dan. 2. And here I would have the Reader observe which indeed hath not been heeded by Expositors that the little Horn cannot be the persons or states to which most men formerly have applied it for either they have taken it for a person or state which was not upon the head of the fourth beast as Antiochus Epiphanes Mahomet the Turkish Empire Antichrist or one of the ten Horns as the Norman race William the Conqueror Charls Stuart c. And thus both wayes have mis'd the mark For however as I said before this little Horn is not one of the ten yet among them that is upon the head of the Beast as the rest are Hence I think this certainly may bee asserted that if the present state-Apostacy bee not the little Horn it hath not yet risen For Daniels descripttion of it in this place among them and yet another agrees not with any person or State hitherto mentioned by any writer that I have seen Quest But why is he said to bee among the ten Horns on the body of the Beast Ans 1 Though he be none of them yet through ambition hee will seek to be like them in state pompe and all wastful vanities hee will assume their Titles Power Priviledges be as absolute a Monarch as any of them in a word either he will follow the former Horns in all their exorbitancies riot and excess or will strive what he can to have it so 2 That he is said to bee upon the Beast it is to shew notwithstanding his former Declarations and Engagements and warring a long time against Kingship when he comes to bee the Horn hee shall uphold the rotten interest of the fourth Beast as her members namely Priests and Lawyers her moth-eaten customes and Traditions and what else that filthy part of the image viz. feet and toes is compounded of Another Little Horn Junius Piscator and many others translate the last horn being little achari saith Willet signifieth the last as well as another The wisdome of the Holy Ghost is to be minded here in making choice of a word whereby to shew what this little Horn shall be 1 Another here is signified though this horn bee a State or Government as was said before yet shall it not have the constitution and form of a civil State it shall not have I say any stamp upon it suitable either to a kingdome or a Commonwealth as the ten Horns had for howsoever some of them at first were not fairly constituted yet within a while that question was taken off and the government acknowledged by the People to bee just and lawful But this little Horn for all his policy and craft will be Another still never able to wipe off usurpation and Tyranny by gaining a formal constitution of a State And hence I take it hee is said to bee another But secondly That hee is said to be the Last me thinks here I cannot but say with Paul O the depth both of the wisdom knowledge of God As there are two Apostacies the first and the last so there are the first Horns and the last Horn the first Apostacy and the first Horns rise together So saith the Scriptures And the ten Horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no kingdome as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast Rev. 17. 12. The Kings and Horns I understand to bee all one The Roman Empire broken to peeces that is severall Nations and people casting off the Roman yoke and constituting themselves absolute and free States The Beast to be the first Apostacy or Antichristian kingdom now these two have their rise beginning at one time so the last Apostacy and the last Horn rise together I hope the Reader will heed the sweet harmony of Scripture Prophecies surely it is not for nothing that the little Horn is called the Last for as the first Apostacy first Horns came up at one time so the last Apostacy and the last Horn will bee in one hour But again for great is the mystery of godlinesse here also may bee meant as the little Horn shall not grow upon the body of the Beast till in the last daies when perillous times shall come and the former Horns neer cutting off So he shall bee the last indeed as vers 24. For I think Gods hand will bee so visible and eminently lifted up against him in giving his body to the burning flame that none after him will presume to set up any State or government any more upon the old Beast Before whom there were three of the first Horns I think it would rather darken than lighten the matter to mention the several opinions of men about these three Horns Some understand the Turkish State to bee meant by the little Horn will have Asia Grecia and Syria to be these three Horns Others Egypt Syria and Cylicia Others Siria Egypt and Africa Again such as take Antiochus Epiphanes for the little Horn are various in their account Some number Seleucus his elder brother and Demetrius son to Seleucus and Philopater his sisters
specially comprehended such who before witnessed against his Apostacy and Tyranny and suffered under him for their testimony Isa 14. 2. and 33. 1. Ezek. 39. 10. As Gideon with three hundred men broke the Hosts of the Midiarites and others afterward came in to them and pursued the enemy and so obtained a full and perfect victory Thus some may beginne the work and then others fall in with it till his Power and Government bee utterly destroyed Quest But shall none but Saints bee used as instruments to execute Gods judgement upon him Answ Some indeed think so and give these Reasons 1 This honour have all his Saints Psal 149. 9. as if this were their priviledge alone to execute the judgement written the which relates say they unto the Vials 2 If the hundred forty and four thousand Rev. 14. 1. do take in the whole number which the Lord will imploy against the Dominion of the Beast Civil and Ecclesiastical then it must follow that Saints onely shall destroy him But the first is clear and cannot bee denyed Ergo c. 3 They read no where in scripture that Christ will take any Instruments with him to execute his last plagues upon the Kingdomes of the World but holy persons neither are wicked men in any place so much as once named Psal 149. 5 6. 7. â—sa 13. 3. Dan. 7. 18. Joel 3. 11. Rev. 17. 14. Psal 110. 2. Psal 50. 5. 4 The work it self they think will not admit of any but Saints For First It is to destroy all manner of ungodliness and unrighteousnesse in persons and things Secondly It shall bee done fully and faithfully not by halves and haltingly as things formerly were which cannot bee so if prophane persons should bee used Thirdly The work is properly Christs and for Christ that hee alone may bee exalted and therefore very unlikely it is that hee will bee beholden to his Enemies for it Fourthly It is a work that requires spiritual principles neither can it bee done without Faith which wicked men have not Thus some Howsoever I do agree with these men that the Kingdome-work shall bee in the hands of Saints and by them managed and carried on And therefore called the Warre of the Lamb. Yet two things are to bee minded 1 Though they shall all have I think the Characters of visible Saints yet not all alike Some will bee weaklings men very low and of little light and life to the work to what others have and yet received Again Secondly howsoever in the judgement of Charity all may bee reputed Godly yet there may be some not enlightned further than for Reformation in Civil things And in that respect to wit upon Common-wealth principles will joyn with their brethren the fift Kingdome men against the Little Horn and Babylon thereby to recover their Ancient Liberties and Rights As the Two Tribes and half went armed over Jordan before their Brethren and left them not till the other Tribes were set and setled in Canaan and then returned back to the Country which they had chosen So it is probable some who have chosen the Land on this side Jordan I mean COMMONWEALTH-PRIVILEDGES will not onely joyn with their Brethren whose Lot is on the other side but it may bee bee before them in the Warre and when the Canaanites are subdued will be content to sit down in their Lot of Freedome and Liberty Object But some say that Saints shall not destroy the Little Horn nor the ten Horns neither the Image Babylon c. neither must they as Saints and to advance the cause and Kingdome of Christ make Warre at all But suffer all things and bee patient under Tyrants and Oppressours till Christ himself appear and march in the head of his Army When the Ziphites had treacherously betrayed David unto Saul what saith the Tyrant blessed bee yee of the Lord for yee have compassion on mee 1 Sam. 23. 21. I must confesse these men shew a great deal of Compassion to Tyrants and Persecutors as to hearten and incourage them in their cruel and bloody waies But in the mean time let them know whether it bee done of knowledge or through ignorance that I leave They do most unworthily betray the son of David as to his Cause Kingdome and People into the hands of Bloud-thirsty Sauls That much work shall bee done by Saints as Saints and upon the account of the fift Kingdome before Christ personally appear I prove thus 1 Christs personal comming will not bee till after the pouring out of the sixth Vial at the great battle of Arma-geddon against Gog and Magog specially in the Jews behalf Rev. 16. 15. and 19. 11 12. c. Ezek. 38. 12. Joel 2. 11. Zach. 14. 1 2 3. Dan. 12. 1. But before that time the Little Horn and the ten Horns and the great Whore or Babylon are to bee destroyed as the subjects of the five first Vials 2 The Ten Kings which shall hate the Whore and make her desolate c. Rev. 17. 16. do not this untill the Lamb overcomes them vers 14. Now by the Lamb Christ personally cannot bee understood but his powerful presence with his called chosen and faithfull as instruments in that work For if Christ overcome them personally how can it bee said that they afterward have burnt the Whore and yet Christ not come Reader note this it seems clear by the Scripture that the Whore I mean the State and Dominion of the Beast must fall by the ten Kings before Christ come in person see Revela 18. with Chapter 19. 1 2 3 4. where the Lord is praised for that victory and this is before Christ appears vers 11 12. c. Now then what more absurd than to say Christ in person shall overcome the ten Kings and they afterward ruine Babylon and yet Christ doth not come till Babylon be ruined 3 In Psal 110. The Prophet shews how and in what manner the Father will set his Son upon his holy hill of Zion and the Throne of David to order it and to establish it with judgement and with Justice The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion ve 2. By the rod of his strength surely hee means the Saints called the Rod of his inheritance Psal 74. 2. Jer. 10. 16. with which Rod hee will smite the earth Isa 11. 2. break the Powers of Nations and Kingdomes to peeces like a potters vessel Psal 2. 9. ler. 51. 19 20 21. c. Then follows The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through Kings in the day of his wrath vers 5. meaning no doubt at the Arnia-geddon Battle where the Kings of the Earth and of the whole World are gathred together Rev. 16. 14. In the former Warre Christ sits at the fathers right hand whilst hee is making the enemys of his Son his foot-stool that is by the rod of his strength sent out of Zion But in the latter warre the Father is at the Sonnes right hand Besides
can serve two Masters He that acknowledgeth the Government and Power of the Beast to be Lawfull cannot bear a faithfull Testimony to the present Cause and Interest of Christ For to have now the Testimony of Jesus is to bear a witnes against the Beast 2. That he slayes the Testimony of Jesus by preferment in many great Professours such as formerly asserted what they now either deny or are silent in By this means the common people ignorant of the mystery of iniquity working in the last dayes following the others example have their Testimony kil'd likewise Gal. 2. 13. Secondly Another way is by his hypocrisie and dissimulation in religion As David said of Goliahs sword there is none to that give it me So I think there is no weapon or crafty course which this Beast will use like to his hypocrisie in the things of God as his fasting weeping praying honouring Ministers Sermons c The report and noise of this will ring far and neer and by the simple who believe every thing so believ'd and he taken for such a Saint that now he may do what he will For though he have all the Characters of the little Horn and do whatsoever is foretold of the Beast yet his hypocrisie will cover all and hence slaves the Generation Testimony Thirdly When Christ was put to death by the Jewes though they could prove nothing against him neither indeed had any thing to lay justly to his charge yet they pretended great matters and would have men believe what they did in the killing of him they had cause and reason enough for it So will this Beast slay Jesus Christ in his Testimony Hence it is said Where our Lord also was crucified Howsoever he hath nothing against the present Generation Truth born Witnesse to For what can he have Seeing nothing is Asserted by them but what the Scriptures plainly declare nor is he able to resist the Wisdome and the Spirit by which they speak yet will he pretend high things against them As Nero when his Mastives would not destroy the Christians clad them in Bear-skins So will this Beast doe that his Dogs may rent and tear the Testimonie of Jesus He will cloth it with reproachfull names as Blasphemy Errour Madnesse Faction Treason Sedition c. And by this trick the sooner effect his purpose So that howsoever it be the Testimonie of Jesus that he kills yet he will kill it under pretence that it is the doctrine of Devills blasphemie the delusion of Satan c. Fourthly This Testimony is to be slain by War He shall make war against them Howsoever I have shewed my opinion already yet the matter being considerable I would have the Reader observe 1. This Beast whosoever he be shall trust in the arme of slesh by this he will seek to strengthen his Government and Greatnesse and to reach his ends and designes every way 2. His Army will be so corrupt that whatsoever he shall bid them doe against the Testimonie of Jesus they will doe it right or wrong For they will be men not having principles of honesty or conscience And by this meanes likewise he will prevaile very far over the Witnesses viz. by his Soldiers For those men if he command them will banish and imprison any of the Lords faithfull Servants that they may not Witnesse for Christ against the Beast Fifthly No sooner is this Beast ascended out of the bottomlesse pit but doubtlesse he will enact some Law against the Testimonie of Jesus As for Example That it shall be Treason for men to speak or act any thing against his Person promise to live quietly under his Government not call him the little Horn and Beast And what is the meaning of all this But to require all men upon pain of death to deny Christ before men For if it be the Government of the little Horne and Beast in the three years and halfe Not to Witnesse then against it much more to promise not to Act any thing against it is no other then to deny Christ so far as concernes a Generation-Testimonie But howsoever this be so yet the dread and terrour of such an Edict will so seaze upon people of low and poor spirits as they will chuse rather to have the Witnesse of Christ kild in them then be persecuted by the Beast for bearing any publick Witnesse against him Thus I have shewed Who the Beast is and the Witnesses and how they are kild Our Third Point is How it doth appear their lying three dayes and an halfe unburied contemporizes with the last Apostacie and the little Horn. And after three dayes and an halfe I shall speak the lesse of these three dayes and an halfe because it is not questioned scarce by any one neither indeed rationally can it But here is meant either the last three years and an halfe which close the number 1260. Or so much time following immediately upon it Indeed there are some few whose opinion is the terme here is the same with the 1260 years But 1. This is plainly against the Text. For the Witnesses are not slaine till about the finishing of their Testimony that is when the 1260 years are almost expired 2. To take dayes for years and then againe to reckon so many years by dayes I see no ground for this in Scripture to cast up Prophetical numbers This Point needs no further enlargement 3. The Apostacy is to be in the last days Now if we consider Times and seasons by their appointments and periods No Days can be said to be last but the distinct time closing the 1260 years in which Time is the little Horne and Beast And therefore necessarily they must contemporize But there are some other things which need Explanation First What the Street is in which ly the dead bodies of the Witnesses Answ Where they were slaine there doubtlesse they ly The Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it is well observed by many signifying a broad and spacious place cannot be taken for any street within the walls of the great City For 1. Our Lord was slaine in no street of Rome or Jerusalem but without the gate in Golgotha 2. Men seldome make war within the City walls but in open fields 3. In Cities are many Streets but this is expressed in the singular number neither is the word properly a street 4. That their dead bodies lie visible and obvious to all Nations kindreds peoples c. it must be without the City and not within the walls By the great City I understand here and so alwayes in this Book the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Papal Beast not onely the Ecclesiasticall kingdome but all Civill States and Governments under the Sea of Rome acknowledging the Pope head of the Church This is the Great City often mentioned in the Revelation It is said And the same houre was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell v. 13. Here it is not the great City
but City which I take to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the place without the walls of the great City where the slaine Witnesses lie that is the power and Government of the Beast by which they were kild But to open the matter more fully The place where the Witnesses lie dead is not any Kingdome Common-wealth Province or Country under the Authority and Jurisdiction of the Pope Neither are they slaine in their Testimony by any State or Government that holds the Great Antichrist of Rome head of the Church For all this is within the wall and part of the great City So that the Witnesses are not to be slain under the power of the Germane Emperour nor the Kings of France Spaine Poland or any Catholick King Prince Duke c. so called But by a power and State that is off from subjection and Obedience to the Romish Beast There are two things one I hinted before which will give us much light to understand where the Witnesses lie and by whom they are slaine 1. By a Beast that shall not ascend out of the Bottomlesse Pit till the 1260 yeares are neer expir'd Neither shall his power and dominion being risen continue above three yeares and an halfe Hence then none of the present States and Governments of the world which have stood many three yeares shall kill them 2. Their dead bodies lie not in any Popish Country Nor are they slaine in their Witnesse by any State subject to the Sea of Rome So that whosoever the Beast is it cannot be the Emperour nor the Duke of Savoy or such like nor in any such Countries For it is but one State or Goverment that slayes them neither shall they ly dead under more States then one And this one not under the obedience of the Church of Rome Reader Consider what I say and the Lord give thee understanding in all things Object Though 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 be without the walls yet it is of the great City Answ It is so indeed and the thing is very much to be heeded For howsoever the State and Government by which the witnesses are slaine is not under the Jurisdiction of the Romane Beast yet it is FOR IT That is it doth more strengthen and support Babylon at this time then any State or Government properly the Beasts For observe who are slaine the last Witnesses that is the Testimony of Jesus never till now so high eminent and full of light and life against the Antichristian Kingdome The Witnesses before pluckt off but leaves and branches these laid the ax to the Root and would have the very Foundation of Babylon razed down And now ascendeth the Beast out of the bottomlesse pit and slayes such A WITNES as the like was never before held forth against the Great Whore So that in doing such a thing he hath done more in the behalfe of the Great City then any State under the Beasts dominion ever did before For in this regard he would not suffer her abominations to be ript up her basterdly Brats to be dash't against the stones nor the blood of the martyrs found in her to be reveng'd But sought to cure her deadly wound And therefore not without cause doth the holy Ghost tell us though the place be without the great City yet FOR IT a friend and brother to it and one that doth her more service then any formall member and part of it One thing further may be meant here Whereas the Spirit of God tells us that the place where the Witnesses lie slaine is without the great City yet of it The hypocrisie of the Beast the GREAT CHARACTER of him is here againe notably laid open As if he should make war with one part of Babylon For Example The Spaniard pretending therein to be without the great City and against the Whore and yet at the at the same time to be of it and for it in making Leagues and Covenants Offensive and Defensive with others of the same Antichristian kingdome suppose Portugall and France and as Idolatrous and as great Enemies to Jesus Christ as that part of Babylon against whom he Wars Secondly That the slaine Testimony of Christ is set forth under dead bodies This may be to signifie 1. As a thing dead is soon forgotten yea men will endeavour to put away the remembrance and thoughts of it So Apostates having forsaken the Truth It is no other now then Dead and that their consciences may not smite them for it They fall upon new matters not intending to bear witnesse any more to the good old cause IT 'S DEAD 2. Persons dead loose their beauty No fairnesse or comelinesse appeares in them Though living sweet and lovely to behold So the Principles of Justice honesty Conscience c. When once slaine what excellency can the Beast see in them Hypocrisie deceit pride oppression look better in his eye a thousand fold 3. To shew the cruell design of the Beast that nothing would satisfie his turn but the HEART BLOOD OF GODS CAUSE the utter extirpation of it that the name of Israel might be no more 4. Dead men are not fear'd Neither doth the Beast now fear the Testimony of these men for he hath by craft and cruelty taken such a course As he thinks himself very secure and the dead Interest of the holy Child Jesus will never rise to trouble him more 5. When they put Christ to death some mockt at him Let him come down from the Crosse and we will believe him As if he could not be the Son of God because they slew him So here is meant How the Enemies of our Lord passing by the dead bodies will scoff wagging their heads Had it been say they the Testimony of Jesus it would have sav'd it self and not been kild but it appears now it was onely their own Testimony when they were so hot against Tythes Tryers Priests Lawyers Ha ha And this is one Reason why the wrath of God will be so terrible upon the Beast and the Apostates of his Time because none before them caused the holy name of God and his Truth to be so much blasphemed For in the whole Time of his Reigne men will not cease to curse and revile the Testimony of Jesus yea the very Apostates themselves will turne Scoffers Specially near the Time of the Witnesses Rising Then Apostate-Professours will begin to jeere and taunt indeed when they see Christ in his Testimony not onely naild on the Crosse but to their thinking gives up the Ghost Now hearken Where is your fist Kingdome say they The little Horne Your three years and a half Neither will they spare the slaine Testimonie in their Pulpits But there they will break their Jests against it to have the people laugh But Thirdly It is worth enquiring Why not onely the great City is nam'd which should be preserved and defended by the Beast slaying the Witnesses But added which spiritually is called Sodome and Aegypt where also our Lord
Lord sent before them a dread and feare of them among their Enemies It is said their hearts melted neither was their spirit in them any more because of the children of Jsrael Josh 5. 1. This was upon the expiring of the 430 years So the three years and an halfe being out The presence of God will be such among his faithfull ones in raising them up to such high Resolutions and filling them with so much Spirit life and power from on high as it will strike a terrour and amazement every where among Revolters None of the men of might have found their hands the stout hearted are spoiled The King of Babylon hath heard the report of them and his hands waxed feeble anguish took hold of him and pangs as a woman in travell Jer. 50. 43. It will be their case now as if a man should appear who was thought to be dead and rotten many years before He needs not fight his Enemies they will fly fast enough before him My opinion is God will send such a faintnesse into the hearts of his Enemies and strike them with such a horrour and dread that the sound of a leafe shall chase them they shall fly and none pursue them And as they are Apostates and so have sinned against knowledge and conscience by so much their fear and terrour will be the more Now will that Text be fulfilled The sinners in Zion are afraid fearfulnesse hath surprized the Hypocrites who among us shall dwell with the devouring fire Who amongst us shall dwell with everlasting burning Fifthly Whereas it it is said They heard a great voyce This voyce I take to be Christs the same which afterwards speaks out of the Temple to the seven Angels Goe your wayes and poure out your Vials Rev. 16. 1. Isa 66. 6. Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2. It is said to be great 1. Because it is the voyce of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah roaring out of Zion against his Enemies which is powerfull and full of Majesty Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2. 2. The matter spoken of is of great concernment 3. It must be heard by all the faithfull risen Witnesses every where 4. To signifie that it is operative and prevalent see Psal 29. 3 4 5 6 7 8 9. Sixthly That the voyce is said to be from Heaven This Denotes 1. Notwithstanding the great Apostacy at this time in Churches especially the Officers the Lord will have a remnant still abiding in the faith and fellowship of the Gospell which shall keep themselves pure and unspotted from the world 2. The fall of the Beast will be by a power from Heaven There brake he the arrowes of the bow the shield and the sword and the battel Psal 76. 3. O God thou art terrible out of thy holy places Ps 68. 35. Zech. 4. 6. Seventhly Come up hither These words I think have this meaning Christ himselfe speaks now for Union and one-nes amongst Brethren and will heal all the breaches and divisions which have long been unhappily between them Come up hither As if he should say Howsoever you have born forth a good Testimony for me against the last Apostacy the little Horn and Beast yet ye could not agree among your selves but did bite and devour one another But this enmity shall cease and be no more Ephraim shall not envy Judah and Judah shall not vex Ephraim For I will have you now all here with me in heaven together not divided and sepeâ—ated as ye have been And as there is but one Lord and his name one Zâ—ch 14. 9 So ye shall serve him with one consent Zâ—ph 3. 9. Thus is the primitive Spirit restord and given againe to the Saints viz. to be of one accord and of one mind Act. 1. 14. 2. 1 46. 15. 25. Eightly It follows And they ascended up to Heaven in a Cloud Alluding to Christs ascension Act. 1. 9. The Saints of the most High being 〈◊〉 together and having the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace are now formed the Armies of Heaven to fight the Battles of the Lord of Hosts to destroy the little Horne the Image Babylon c. that Christ alone may Rule in the midst of his Enemies Who is she that looketh forth as the morning cleare as the Sun and terrible as an Army with banners Song 6. 10. The noise of a multitude in the Mountaine like as of a great people a tumultuous noise of the Kingdomes of Nations gathered together The Lord of Hostes mustereth the Host of the battle They come from a farr Country from the end of Heaven even the Lord and the weapons of his Indi nation to destroy tha whole Land Isa 13. 4. 5. So then the witnesses being ascended up to Heaven Now is fullsild that vision which John saw A signe in Heaven great and marvellous seven Angells haveing the seven last plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God Rev. 15. 1. This is the stone cut out without hands which must smite the Image upon his feet Dan. 2. 34. To this time of the witnesses in heaven belongs that in the Prophet Behold I will make thee a new sharp threshing instrument having teeth thou shalt thresh the Mountains and beat them small and shalt make the hills as chasse Thou shâ—lt fanne them and the wind shall carry them away and the whirlwind shall scatter them And thou shall rejoyce in the Lord and glory in the holy one of Israel Isa 44 15 Againe The Lord shall send the Rod of his strength out of Zion Psal 110. 2 see also Jer. 51. 19. 20 21 â—2 2â— 24. Ninthly But what followes And their Enemies beheld them They saw them before when they stood upon their feet and were astonished at it But much more now being ascended and gotten above them to pour out a vial full of the wrath of God upon their heads There is nothing said what the Enemies of the Witnesses doe more then Behold them that is saw them as Balaam did Israel abiding in his Tents according to their Tribes The Lord his God is with him and the shalt of a King is among them Behold the People shall rise up as a great Lyon and lift up himselfe as a young Lyon he shall not lie down untill he eat of the prey and drink the blood of the slaine God brought him out of Egypt he hath as it n ere the strength of a Vnicorn he shall eat up the Nations his Enemies and shall break their bones and pierce them through with his arrowes Num. 23. 21 24. 24. 8. In this manner and no otherwise shall the Enemy now behold them Neither doe I find any thing that they shall doe or be able to doe for their own safety Is it not said All hands shall be faint and every mans heart shall melt and they shall be afraid pangs and sorrowes shall take hold of them they shall be in paine as a Woman that travelleth and they
shall be amazed one at another their faces shall be as flames Isa 13. 7 8. But when shall this be At this time I say now the Lord having called his Mighty ones and his sanctified ones and mustered the host of the battell agaixst Babylon v. 1 2 3 4. And this is one Reason why I doe conceive For material weapons the Saints have no need to make much provision before hand Though Joshua took All the People of war with him and all the mighty men of valour Yet there died more with hailstones then they whom the children of Israel slew with the sword Josh 107 11. So at this time howsoever there shall be the Sword of the Lord and the Sword of Gideon yet Gideon but a thousand and David his ten thousand And here I desire the discreet Reader to observe the Method and order which the Lord as it seemes to me will follow in making Christs enemies his footstool When the three yeares and an halfe are expir'd for till then the appointed time will not come for him to arise and have mercy upon Zion there will be a pouring out of the Spirit in abundance whereby the hearts of the faithfull every where will be raised up to high and great resolutions against the later Apostacie the little Horn and Beast Even publickly to declare the war of the Lamb against that Government and State and the whole dominion of Antichrist This will strike a dreadfull terrour through the hearts of the Enemies especially HYPOCRITES AND SINNERS IN ZION They will be driven to their wits end not knowing what to doe seeing judgment must begin at them And that the Lords work may the more effectually goe forward and prosper now the Lamb himselfe will speak to the hearts of his sincere ones touching the great Commandment of love and for peace and union By whose Spirit working effectually in them his Commandment shall be obeyed â—o that all breaches and differences will be speedily and perfectly done away and they all of one accord and of one mind And what then As the Armies of Heaven and Angels of the last plagues goe out of the Temple to pour out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the Earth And as the Saints are thus raised up in faith life light love wisedome courage c. So on the contrary the Enemies now fall and are cast down under unbelief death darknesse division folly fear c. Reader I pray thee mark it The three yeares and halfe being expird This will follow As the followers of the Lamb shall have faith love light courage and understanding rise and increase among them So among the followers of the Horn and Beast quite otherwise viz. Fear unbeliefe contention blindnesse and confusion will break out and abound And by this many will be convinc't and satisfied that the set time is come That which is next is Action And it follows in the Text. And the same houre was there a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earthquake were slaine of men seven thousand And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven Here I think the Vials begin this shaking Earth is the Earth Rev. 16. 2. the subject of the first Viall That State-Apostacy of which we have spoken out of Entituled which as the Bottomlesse Pit Truth ascended the Beast headed with with Time a little Horne But of this I have elsewhere written and shall refer the Reader to it I come now to our last point and so will Conclude Whether the Prophesie of slaying the Witnesses be fulfild in our time or no Answ By what hath been said let the READER Judge I shall add nothing of mine own But draw up some particular Heads from the the Prophesie opened If it be fulfild in whole or part These things must be as I soberly think I. A Government or State set up by Apostates II. No sooner is it erected but there will be a glorious Testimony of Jesus formerly held forth imediately kild III. If it be this Beast his dominion and Government must suddenly and strangely come forth neither expected nor desired of the people nor hath it their consent Yet IV. For craft and policie there will be more used about raising this Beast then hath been known before V. Hypocrisie in religion will be the great thing whereby the Beast being ascended out of the bottomlesse pit shall seek to establish his Government VI. They are not Persons he shall slay but the Truth witnessed by them yet not all truth But that Testimony which is now held forth for the Reign and Kingdome of Christ against worldly powers VII This Testimony he will kill in many great Professours by corrupting them with preferment Job 34 30. Again he himself will pretend much piety perswading people it is not the Testimony of Jesus he kills but errour and falshood Besides if he be the Beast he will have such Souldiers about him as will act any wickednesse he bids them Lastly he will make Lawes against the witnesses VIII This Beast shall not be under the authority of the Church of Rome neither shall the place or Country where the witnesses are slain in their Testimony belong to the Jurisdiction of the Papal Beast IX Neverthelesse this Beast shall be a main pillar and supporter of Babylon in her greatest Idolatry and Tyranny X. Though this Beast shall indeavour to destroy utterly the present Generation Testimony yet he shall not be able For the Lord will have a Remnant in whom the witnesse shall live Though he have kild it in others XI Where this is their hypoctites doe reigne It will be a time in which Apostates shall florish XII Now the Carnall and corrupt professour will rejoyce and make merry And Priests say as Agag surely the bitternesse of death is past call for Samson that he may make us sport Who is wise and he shall understand these things Frudent and he shall know them For the wayes of the Lord are right and the just shall walk in them But the transgressors shall fall therein Hos 14. 9. FINIS A POSTSCRIPT Ye Precious Ones and Saints of the most High It is not much that I shall add But it is to give YOU an Account of the Occasion of this Work UPON my Banishment from Hull for what Cause I know not there being nothing to this day made known to me I went a part as Elias did into the Wildernesse And as I lay under hedges in holes my Soul in bitternesse breathed forth many sad complaints before the Lord. It is enough O Lord take away my life for I am not better then my Fathers Often and sore wrestlings I had with my God to know His Meaning and Teaching under this Dispensation And what further work whether Doing or Suffering he had for me his Poor old Sevant being now againe Banished after 17 years Banishment before Being brought thus at the feet of God and there waiting