those very Kings which held Communion with the Beast and after hate and burn Antichrist Rev. 17.16 shall yet lament to see the smoak of that burning which they themselves kindled Rev. 18.9 which may intimate to us that Cross-Interests engag'd them in that burning of Babylon more then any true Repentance of their Popish Religion 189. Not much unlike the Proceedings of Israel against Benjamin which when they had destroyed they were sorry they had gone so far Such cross-Interests fell out lately 'twixt the Pope and the King of France about some affronts to the French Ambassador Chigi in Rome whereupon the French King sends an Army of twenty thousand Men over the Alpes against the Pope and reduced the Pope from his Luciferian Highness to the Order of the Humbled Brethren 190. This Commotion betwixt them two made many good Men that wait for the consolation of Israel in the Accomplishment of that word the Kings shall hate and burn the Whore to be yet fulfilled to hope that God was putting it into the heart of the King of France to execute his Vengeance upon Babylon However it was clearly discover'd to be the declining Age of Antichrist for the Pope durst not use those bruta fulmina of his Predecessors against the King but must satisfie him in all things that he demanded even to the erecting of a Trophy c. 191. It is most probable that all those Kings shall not hate the Whore c. But some of the Ten shall take part with Antichrist after the fall of Rome till they be destroyed at Armageddon Rev. 19.18 Rev. 16.14 18.9 The flesh of those Kings were there eaten and others of them shall deal with this Harlot as Men do with a Strumpet when they see what harm they have got by her as Ezek. 16.36,37,38,39 192. The great God who hath the hearts of Kings in his own hands and turns them as he pleases Prov. 21.1 will certainly raise up the Spirits of some of those Kings to repent of their Friendship with Antichrist and to rage against him as professed Enemies and to lay waste his dwelling and to destroy him for ever Whereas the King of France in that late Contest with him powr'd out only some drops of the Vials upon him Some of those at last if not he shall pour upon him the whole showre and this at the end of his Lease at the expiration of his Power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to do 42 Months Rev. 13.5 193. T is a ruled Case what hath been may be now we have seen already in past Providences how God hath cal'd of several Princes from all amity with Antichrist especiall in the Northern Parts of Europe since the Reformation of Luther To say nothing of the Duke of Saxony and Landgrave of Hassia c. which came forth with Luther and other Reformers to help the Lord against the mighty Beast We find that several of the 1â— Kings that formerly gave up their Kingdoms to Antichrist are now faln off from him since the Reformation 194. God hath cut off several Kingdoms in the North from the Jurisdiction of Antichrist as England Scotland Denmark and Swedeland which were 4 of the 10 Horns and some of the Kings of those Kingdoms have personally appeared against Antichrist some with their Pen as King James and some with their Sword as Gustavus Adolphus 195. To say nothing of Germany that in a great part broke of from Antichrists See under those wonderfull Reformations wrought there both in the Higher and Lower Germany Nor of France from whence came the Angel Waldus that laid the first Foundation of Antichrists ruine as before and which hath in a great part separated from Rome for the View of France tells us the Hugonots had about 2150 Churches of the Reformed Religion this was above 60 years ago in all likelihood they are much increased now 196. Thus though their Kings have not themselves declared open Hostility and hatred against Antichrist and so to weaken his Power by their personall Atchivements yet their Kingdoms hath contributed much to the pulling down of this man of sin So that if we reckon France and Germany though but in part battering at Babylon together with those four before mentioned England Scotland Denmark Swedeland which together with their Supream Magistrates have for a long time oppos'd Antichrist we must needs say that the Viall's already poured out have dry'd up a great part of the Sea or Jurisdiction of the Pope 197. If Kings and Kingdoms have been thus bold with his Holiness under the former Vials and while so much of his Lease was yet to run how lively and vigorous may we expect them to be in the power of God under the latter Vials and when his Term of Continuance is about expiring The wheel of Providence will be quicker and sharper in its Motions and Revolutions at the end of his Time 198. Thus have we seen in the first place the three personal Engines in Gods hand against this Beast 1. Powerfull Preachers 2. Profound Writers and 3. Potent and pious Princes Now 2ly come we to the things that the wise Jehovah hath and doth use as Instruments for Demolishing this mystical Jericho and they are principally four to wit 1. Spiritual practicing 2. Unanimous Praying 3. Publick Printing and 4. Powerfull Preaching of all which very briefly in the following Paragraphs 199. First an holy practice of Piety a close walking with God and a living in the power of Godliness doth prove an excellent Means for the extirpation of Popery the reason is because Popery is nothing else but a meer Form denying the Power 'T is a loose Religion and its Worship is a carnall compound of Flesh-pleasing things it hath Musick to gratifie the Ear Perfumes to please the Nostrils and gawdy Pictures to bewitch the Eye in these and many other particulars 't is every way accommodated to an earthly Mind 200. Popery is a drawing nigh to God with the body when the heart is far from him 't is a being circumstantial in Substantials and substantial only in Circumstantials the Opus operatum of a Ceremony will expell Devils and work Wonders the Cheapness of their Pardons must needs render them notoriously licentious How did Lewis of France multiply his execrable Oaths when he thought the Kissing of his Crucifix was a sufficient Expiation from them all 201. Now 't is a Physical Rule Contraris curantur contrariis one Contrary is best cured by another so is this loose Antichristian Religion by an holy Evangelical Conversation Such a Conversation as this doth not only put to silence the ignorance of foolish men from dispraising but also opens the Speech of knowing Men for comnending the way of Reformation not only among Pagans 1 Pet. 2 1â—.15 but also among Papa-gans beholding men in the Flesh do live according to God in the Spirit 1 Pet. 4.6 202. This Engine I would commend to all those of the Reformation that they may adorn their
enemy to the God-head and pure Gospel of Christ so he is an Antichrist called Orientalis Antichristus the Eastern Antichrist 39. Yea our Dr. Holmes doth strongly assert that the Turk and the Pope make up one Antichrist and he gives those reasons for it 1st Mahumetism was hatched by Sergius a Popish Monk 2ly according to Dan. 7. ver 8.24 The Turk possesses three of those Kingdoms which were under the Pope 3ly the Turk sits over the Material as the Pope over the Spiritual Temple 4ly both their names amounts to 666. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Greek as well as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5ly both are Sons of perdition the two Master-limbs of Antichrist the one Eastern the other Western 40. Unto all this concerning the Turk I shall only subjoyn the choice observation of that holy and learned Servant of Christ Mr. John Cotton who intimates in his Treatise upon Revel 13. that while the Pope stands no war against the Turk can prosper for it was because of Romes sin that the Turk was so advanced God raising up a beastly Engine to punish a beastly Religion Thus may the Turk be one Antichrist but not The Antichrist or at most but one Limb of him which shall stand longer than the other Limb for we Read of the Turks Rise in Revel 9. but no where of his Ruine till Revel 20.8 CHAP. III. 41. HItherto Negatively what is not The Antichrist now I come to shew Positively what is If we hunt this beast home quasi cum Catulis fidelibus this Fox that hath most spoil'd the Vineyard of Red-Wine will be found to Kennel in Rome The Ld. Chancellor Bacon told K. James in a dispute about Antichrist had he an Heu and Crye for it he must apprehend the Pope by it And as for his birth and Nativity his Father was an Amorite and his Mother an Hittite what ever he profess to the contrary 42. Antichrist is taken either Generally for every one that is against Christ and thus all those opposers of Christ forementioned are Antichrists in this Sense there were many Antichrists in the Apostles time or t is taken Specially and that two ways 1st Either for some notable Empire that openly opposes it self to the Kingdom of Christ thus the Turkish Empire may be Antichrist or that doth it privily and closely so 't is the Popish Empire 2ly 'T is taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the most principal part of that Empire and so the head of the Popish Empire is truly call'd The Antichrist 43. That we may come more distinctly to the knowledge of this Antichrist Learned Chamier lays down a most sure Rule Quicunque omnes Capit Antichristi Notas quas Scriptura delineavit est Antichristus whosoever hath all those Characters wherewith the Scripture deciphers Antichrist by is the Antichrist but it will appear by the Sequel that the Pope of Rome hath all those Characters upon him by which the word of God describes him therefore it necessarily follows that the Pope of Rome is the Antichrist 44. And there is another infallible Axiom used by our Protestant Divines to the same purpose Cui Competit Definitio ei Competit Definitum but the Definition that the holy Scriptures afford us of Antichrist doth best accord with the Pope of Rome therefore he is the thing defined to wit Antichrist that description the word of God gives of Antichrist doth not only shew what but who he is called Antichristus ille magnus the Great Antichrist 45. The holy Scriptures gives us this definition of Antichrist 1st he is an Apostate or Runegado-Christian 2ly professing friendship to Christ but practising enmity against him 3ly Stirred up by the efficacy of Satan 4ly Usurping a Monarchy in the Church 5ly Excercising his Kingdom in the great City that Reigneth over the Kings of the Earth 6ly Behaving himself in the Church of God as if he were God 7ly Seducing the Nations with lying wonders 8ly A man of Sin a Son of perdition a wicked one an Idolater 9ly Ambitious Cruel full of all uncleanness 10ly To be revealed in those last times 11ly to be Consumed by the breath of Christs mouth and 12ly to be destroyed by the brightness of his Coming 46. That he must be 1st an Apostate a faller away from the truth 2 Thess 2.3 demonstrates Refuga à domino suo as Austin calls him one that departeth from the faith and purity of Religion 1 Tim. 4.1 2ly in pretence a Friend to Christ but in truth an Enemy He must be a Christian titulo-tenus is shown us by his sitting in the Temple of God 2 Thess 2.8 and by his having horns like a lamb Rev. 13.11 This veil of the name of Christ colours over all his wickedness and makes him a mystery of iniquity 2. Thess 2.7 47. Yet in reality Antichrist must be an enemy to Christ notwithstanding all his pretences for him 1. Joh. 4.3 though the Greek particle 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies Substitution and Vicegerency so Antichrist is one for Christ yet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it implies opposition and Contrariety shows he is one against Christ though he look like a lamb yet doth he speak like the Dragon Rev. 13.11 yea and Acts like the Dragon also for the Dragon gives power to the beast Rev. 13.4 and the beast makes war with the Saints v. 7 yea and with the lamb too Rev. 17.14 though he seem to be like him and for him the beast and all his ten horns do war against Christ Rev. 19.19 he is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess 2.4 an Adversary 48. It appears 3ly that Antichrist is one stirred up by the efficacy of Satan not only because the Dragon gives power to the beast Rev. 13.4 but also his coming is described to be by the working of Satan 2 Thess 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Antichrist must have the most eminent Activity of Satans skill both to found and finish his Kingdom Satan delivers the Key of the bottomless pit to him Rev. 9.11 and makes him the great Steward of his house insomuch as Antichrist hath a greater power according to their belief in Hell then Joseph had given him by Pharoh in Egypt thus Antichrists Doctrine is call'd the Doctrine of divells and his habitation the habitation of divells 1. Tim. 4.1 and Revel 18.2 49. Antichrist must 4ly Usurp a Monarchy in the Church not onely a Spiritual but also a Temporal Kingdom for this beast is describ'd with two horns to signifie his double power Rev. 13.11 his Spiritual power Consists in the Excercise of that Key of the bottomless pit which Satan gives to the Star of the Antichristian Church as above whereby he binds and looses not Ministerially in Christs name but rather Magisterially in his own name usurping an absolute Authority of Decreeing and Condemning what he pleases without the Authority of the Holy Scriptures 50. He hath also a Temporal or Political Kingdom for the Antichrist or second
others thus promoting Sorcery and Conjuration and if those be not evidences of the Popes coming by the working of Satan what can be To say nothing of the Key of the bottomless pit which Satan hath given to him as before 84. The 4th part of the Induction is usurping a Monarchy in the Church which is taken pro Confesso by all Popish writers that the Pope doth who challengeth to himself the Monarchy of a double power Spititual and Temporal Insomuch that his Parasites have courted him with that double title proper to our Lord Christ of King and Priest yea and this as Peters Successor as if Peter had not only the Keys committed to him but the Sword too whereas their own Image-makers frame Peter with the keys and Paul with the sword See instances Paragr 90. 85. Boniface was hard put to it for warranting his double Sword when he had no better proof then that of Luke 22.38 behold Lord here are two swords Here he understand the Church and Christ he saith doth not tell them these two swords are too many in the Chuâ—ch but only it is enough and Peter had one of those swords by Christs allowance for Christ bad him put his sword into his sheath and why may not Peters Successor have a Temporal sword too Therefore this same Boniface the 3d. upon a great Jubilee appear'd one day with a goodly Mitre in his Pontisicalibus and the next day with a Crown and a naked Sword born before him a clear evidence of his usurpation of this double Monarchy 86. That the Monarchical power is usurp'd by the Pope in the Church appears in his calling himself the Monarch of the Church acting absolutely as to Spirituals and universally as to Temporals so far as they say they are in ordine ad Spiritualia Thus Bellarmine affirms that the Pope hath power to depose Kings and dispose of Kingdoms for advancing the Catholick Church Thus this grand Thief and Robber so call'd John 10.8 sitting in the Temple of God robs both God of his part and Caesar of his too committing high Treason against both God and Caesar 87. Indeed the Apostle 2 Thess 2.4 does not say that he sits 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Temple but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Templum upon or against the Church as Austin reads it and others to show how tyrannical a Monarch he will be but the Enallage of the Preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is usual in Scripture as Mat. 2.23 Mark 1.9 So the reading holds in the Temple or Church of God That the Pope sits in the Church res ipsa loquitur and himself boasts of his Apostolical Seat which was indeed a true Church in Paul and John's time though now degenerated in the Pope's time thus the Temple of Jerusalem was call'd the Temple of God even when it was become a den of thieves or the Pope may be in the Church as a Wenn is said to be in the Body 88. The 5th clause of the Induction is that his Seat must be in the great City that ruleth Nations this is so accommodated to the Pope that none can contradict it for he hath erected his Episcopall See upon the 7 hill'd City call'd by the Antients 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Rev. 17.9 calls it the city on 7 Hills to wit Rome which in Johns time was the great City by way of eminency superlatively great call'd the Lady of kingdoms and the Mistriss of the world For John liv'd under the 12th Caesar when Rome was predominant almost over all Lands and was dignified with this Encomium Orbis in Urbe CHAP. V. 89. THe 6th clause exalting himself as God above all that is called God is the 6th part of the Induction which doth exactly quadrare cum Papa the Pope is the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2 Thess 2.4 that lifts up himself above all Kings and Emperours who are as titular Gods on earth This is as clear in all Histories as if writ with a Sun-beam though in profession the Pope be stiled Servus servorum yet in practice he is found Rex Regum many instances we read of those Earthly gods holding his Stirrop kissing his Toe as well as waiting at his Gate his leasure and pleasure 90. To particularize the Popes pride and exaltation in some few instances Boniface the 8th wrote thus Imperiously to the French King we would have thee to know that thou art Subject to us as well in temporal as spiritual matters So t is Recorded in the Hist of France Pope Pius in his 2d Epistle to Mahomet the Turkish Emperour pag. 396. promises to make him Emperour of the East as his predecessors had made Charlemain Emperour of the West if he would turn Christian and supply the necessities of the Church Remondus in his Antipap Chap. 20. Relates of Pope Innocent saying the Church hath given me a Mitre for my Prelacy and a Crown for my Kingdom as I am Vicar of the King of kings and Lord of lords 91. Platina writes that Pepin one of the Kings of France having kissed the Toe of Pope Steven the 2d held his bridle for him on horseback and serv'd him as his Lackey or Footboy in vita Stephani secundi The Emperor Frederick holding the stirrop to Pope Adrian the 4th and mistaking the wrong stirrop the Pope rages against him although the Emperor excused himself saying he had not been brought up with holding Stirrops and Benedict the 9th sent a Crown to Peter King of Hungary with this Motto Petra dedit Romam Petrâ— tibi Papa Coronam But more proudly did he that set the Crown on Henry the sixt's head and kick'd it off with his foot again 92. Yet most proudly of all did Alexander the 3d carry to Frederick Barbarossa the Emperor who comes creeping to the Pope for an Absolution and kissing his Feet the Pope like a proud devil Incarnate sets his foot on the neck of the Emperor then prostrate before him saying those words of the Psalmist Ps 91.13 Thou shalt tread upon the Lion and Adder the Dragon and Basilisk thou shalt tramph under foot The Pope calls himself the Sun and the Emperor but the Moon in a lower orb to him 93. Nich. Vignier in his Eccles History relating the manner how the Emperors were consecrated and crowned says that after Mass the Pope in his Pontifical Chair holds the Crown betwixt his feet which the Emperor bowing down his head lifts up from his feet and presently the Pope strikes the Crown of with his foot from the Emperors head down to the ground to signifie that he hath power to depose them again at his pleasure and then the Cardinals that stand round about takes up the Crown and sets it on with great reverence is not this like one of the spuâ—… or kicks of the beast 94. Thus the Pope though he pretend himself to be Peters Successor yet walks he not in Peters steps for whereas Peter takes up
in Heaven 3ly That Reign in Heaven is for more time than a 1000 years 't is for Eternity 244. And 4ly Satan must be let loose again as before which cannot be after the day of Judgement 5ly This marriage of the Lamb with the bride and so by consequence this glorious estate of the Church must be a state on Earth because it is said at that time the Tabernacle of God is with men and God will dwell with men Rev 21.3 Now were it a state in heaven then it should rather be said that men dwells with God then God with men 245. There must therefore be a Coming of Christ I say not personal before the Day of judgement to receive his Kingdom of the Father Dan. 7.13 Not the natural or essential Kingdom which he has as he is God for ever but a dispensatory Kingdom delegated to him as he is Mediator which when he hath put down all Power all the 4 Monarchs and all the 10 Kings of the last Monarchy the Beast and false Prophet yea Gog and Magog after the 1000 Years of the Churches peace and after his Judging the World he resigns up his Kingdom again 1 Cor. 15.24.25 246. Thus we see there is a coming of Christ which will be a Restitution of all things Acts 3.21 Whereas the coming of Christ at the Day of judgement shall be the Dissolution of all things and this coming of Christ may be cal'd Epiphany from the brightness of it for then the clouds of Antichristianism shall be dissolved and so shall it be not only bright to the Church but destructive to Antichrist who shall be Destroyed by the brightness of the coming of this Sun of Righteousness at his presence will the mountains of the Man of Sin melt away like Snow before the Sun Psal 114.7 247. This is the Brightness of Christs coming that brings in Antichrists utter extirpation 2 Thess 2.8 For at the sounding of the 7th Trumpet in the Seal-prophecy the Angel swears that time should be no longer to wit for Antichrist Rev. 10.6,7 then the mystery of God shall be finished and then Christ comes at the 7th Trumpet and takes to himself his great Power and reigns Rev. 11.15,17 Then all Kingdoms become the Lords though the Nations be angry at it 248. In the like manner at the pouring out of the 7th Vial in the Book-prophecy it is said It is done Rev. 16.17 that is all is finished concerning Antichrist not only his Seat and Kingdom is ended but the Beast and the false Prophet are taken in Person and all his Retainders are utterly destroy'd by Christ Rev. 19.20,21 And then begins the Kingdom of Christ. 249. Thus we have seen at large how Antichrist's doom is to be destroyed O daughter of Babylon who art to be destroyed Psal 137.8,9 This Beast must go into perdition Rev. 17.8 't is said Go not Run for it must be gradually done every Vial must bring a degree of Ruine on him as before Now those two last clauses of the Induction are subordinate but not contrary for Antichrist may be both consumed and destroyed ever since the Separation and Reformation he hath been wasting away 250. But when Christ shall come with a brighter Manifestation of himself of his Grace and of his Gospel to the World then men shall be clearly convinced that this is the great Whore that bewitches the Nations with her wine of Fornication and that she is a common Strumpet with the Kings of the earth Rev. 17.2 The Lord will then also mightily discover her to the Kings of the earth that have given up their Power to her and cause them to hate her and to burn her for a Witch Rev. 17.16 As the Beast hath killed with the Sword so he shall be killed with the Sword himself at last Rev. 13.10 after a long Consumption and Captivity as if one kind of death were to little for him 251. This Antichrist therefore is a Son of perdition passively as well as actively for he must go into perdition but whether by the battle of the Warriour and by Garments rolled in bloud at first some doubteth Osiand Epitome 7. Cent. Pa. 315. However it shall be by burning and fewel of fire Esa 9.5 God will kindle a fire in the hearts of those Kings and they shall make Rost-meat of the Whore at last she shall have bloud to drink for she is worthy sooner or later Rev. 16.6 cap. 18.6 And something hereof is mention'd in the 3d Vial Rev. 16.6 CHAP. X. 252. NOw come we to the great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the grand Enquiry concerning the time of the fall of Antichrist which hath puzl'd so many grave holy and learned Interpreters There is a strange Itch and a strong propension of desire to know this Oh that we may go to Christ privately as the Disciples did Mat. 24.3 and say to him tell us when shall these things be and what shall be the sign of the Coming of Christ We are ready to say with Balaam Numb 24.23 who shall live when God doth this 253. Various Calculations and Computations of time about Antichrist's fall are extant at this day even by many good Men and great Lights in their Generation My present Work shall be to draw a compendious Scheme of the several Conjectures of those most illuminated Servants of Christ passing by others I conceive were less enlightned and then superadd my own Conceptions quales quales sunt though I may say with Luther Ego nullus sum in Propheticis I am neither a Prophet nor the Son of a Prophet 254. There be two several ways of Computation especially according to the diversity of mens Apprehensions which they take to find out the time of Antichrists fall some grounds their Conjectures upon that Number given to Daniel who was the great Revealer of those Secrets in the Old Testament as John was in the New Dan. 12.11 That from the time of the daily Sacrifices taking away and the Abomination of desolation setting up there shall be a thousand two hundred and ninety Days or Years 255. To omit all forrain Writers which would make the work more tedious I shall only speak of our own Countrymen who according to their Light hath made inquiry into this great Mystery Some of those follow the Computation of Daniel as 1st Dr. Willet in his Comment on this Dan. 12.12 who relating Bullinger's Opinion That those 1290 Days have reference to the last destruction of Jerusalem because the Jewish War before the final destruction of their great City lasted so many Days 256. The Doctor answers Bullinger thus That those 1290 Days must not be reckoned from the beginning of the Jewish War but from the setting of the Abomination in the Temple by Antiochus which lasted 3 Years and an half and seeing the Number 1335. mentioned in the 12. ver differs from 1290. just 45 Days he conceives that hath relation to Judas Macabaeus his cleansing of the Temple 45 days before
without a parable and plainly characteriz'd he is by a Prophetick spirit so punctually and with so many circumstances described as if pointed at by the finger and as if that description were an History of things past and not a Prophecy of things to come 8. The New-Test indeed tells us there be many Antichrists as 1 John 2.18 that were as petty-enemies to Christ in comparison to the grand Impostor such as Theudas Act. 5.36 who under pretence of a Prophetick spirit misled many Jews and Judas the Galalean v. 37. who seduc'd the People into a Sedition in which they perished and Simon-Magus Act. 8.9 who was so great a deceiver that he was attended on as an Oracle v. 10. and accounted of as a God after those Barchozba or Benchochebah so famous in Jewish Stories the Son of a Star though but a blazing one that soon consumed it self into ashes 9. All those grand Hereticks that liv'd in the times of the Evangelist John such as Ebion Nicolaus and Cerinthus and that black-Roll mention'd by Eusebius and other Church-History-writers such as Cerdo Marcion Novatus Arrius and many others Ejusdem farinae were all particular and inferior Antichrists who plaid at small games against the Church in respect of this great one who was to tread down the outward Court of the Temple for so many Centuryes of years 10. All those false or pretended Christs that are spoken of in Scripture as Matth. 24.11.24 Act. 20.29.30 1 Tim. 4.1 were but harbingers to him that is call'd the Antichrist by way of Emphasis to Usher him into the World Thus as if Christs Ape he hath his 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or forerunners to attend him as John-Bapt was praecursor to our Lord briefly all such as deny Christs coming in the flesh are Antichrists 1 Joh. 4.3 such as are for Judaisme and Jewish Ceremonies following Moses as if there were no Messiah for the Churches Lawgiver such as set up a covenant of works who in denying the Testament deny also the death of the Testator yea all such as oppose either the natures or offices of Christ are quodam modo Antichrists 11. But as there be many Devils yet but one Beelzebub one prince of Devils so though there be many Antichrists yet but one grand-prince-Antichrist that bears Gods brand upon him in Scripture-Record The Holy-Ghost hath stigmatized him as Ahaz was this is that King Ahaz 2 Chron. 28.22 so this is the Scarlet-Whore Rev. 17.3 this is the Teraefilius the base-born-Beast that springs out of the Earth Rev. 13.11 This is he the man of Sin which is an Hebreaisme for one notoriously sinful the first-born amongst the Sons of Belial This is that Son of perdition 2 Thes 2.3 brother to Judas who betray'd his Lord whom Christ calls by the same name the Son of perdition Joh. 17.12 Those are all 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 dicta pointing at 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that like Saul overtops all the other Antichrists by the head and shoulders 12. The name Antichrist properly imports one having contrariety and opposition to Christ Thus is he contrary to Christ in that Apostolical description of him to the Church at Thessalonica as 1. in his pride he is contrary to Christ in his Humility who was lowly in heart and came not to be Ministred unto but to Minister Matth. 20.28 but Antichrist exalts himself above all that is called God 2 Thes 2.4 This incarnate Devil as the Fathers call him like his elder Brother Lucifer Esa 14.12.13 would advance his Throne above the Stars of God whereas Christ is call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he will be called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as if he were not only above the Stars of God but also above the Sun of Righteousness himself His Title is Holiness it self he is contrary to Christ 2ly in His Holiness as well as in his Humility for he is called the wicked one 2 Thes 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Lawless one who makes not the Laws of God his Rule as the Holy Child Jesus did but can abrogate or at least dispence with such Divine commands as holds not consistent with his mistery of iniquity 3. He is contrary to Christ in his Truth for Christ is Truth it self Joh. 14.6 but Antichrists coming is after the working of Satan with lying wonders and all deceivableness 2 Thes 2.9.10 the Father of lies as he was the first raiser so he is the chief supporter of Antichrist in the World Thus in those and other respects Antichrist is a contradiction to Christ CHAP. II. 14. NOw come we to enquire who this Antichrist is about which there hath been much controversy since the smoak of the bottomless-Pit hath darkened the truth of God in the World If there were such doubtful Questions in the days of the Gospel about the Person of Christ yea even among the Disciples of John-Baptist saying Art thou He that should come or must we look for another Matth. 11.3 no wonder then if there be so in our days about the Person of Antichrist who he should be whom the word of God so fully describes yea and that among our own Divines also see Baxters Association Pag. 69. 15. In my inquisition after him I shall follow this Method 1. Negatively showing who he is not and 2. Positively who he is of the 1st Negatively some would have Theudas to be him because he was a great Impostor Act. 5.36 others Simon-Magus who was a greater Deceiver and to find Grotius a man of great learning of this Judgment I much wonder at which makes some fear he plaid the Cassandrian in gratifying the Romanists herein who would gladly enough receive any Interpretation to wipe their mouths from the Beast I have shewed above how both those indeed were inferior Antichrists but neither of those could be the great Antichrist for they wanted both Time Place People Kingdom and Succession 16. As Grotius mistakes in this of Antichrist so in that of the Witnesses whom he makes Two Bishops in Jerusalem witnessing against that Sorcerer Thus Dato Vno absurdo mille sequuntur This Interpretation is full of Absurdity for the Revelation about the Beast and the Witnesses was a Prophecy of things to come Revel 1.1,3 and 4.1 but the Story of Simon-Magus was past and of no such consequence though many in Samaria and at Rome wondred at this Magician yet this was nothing to the whole Worlds wondring after the Beast that slew the Witnesses and if Simon were the Antichrist then Peter and Paul must be the Witnesses against him rather than the Two foresaid Bishops because they lived in his time and encountred with him and Peters Ministry if Eccles Story be true destroy'd him 17. Bellarmin affirms that Antichrist must be a Jew of the Tribe of Dan whom the Jews must receive for their Messiah Bell de sum pont lib. 3. and Remandus de Antichristo says further of him that he must Reign in Jerusalem three years and half and at length attempting
beast excercises all the power of the first beast Rev. 13.12 that is takes on him Civil Authority and using a Secular as well as an Ecclesiastical Sword he must sit in the same Seat where the Imperial civil Courts hath been kept and there set up his own Courts that as a compleat Plenipotentiary he may hear all causes Civil aswel as Sacred Rev. 13.2 52. That he must 5ly exercise this his Monarchy and Kingdom in the great City that Rules over the Nations appears from Rev. 13.2 The Dragon gives to the beast not only his power but also his Seat where his Throne had been and the woman that Rides upon the beast is call'd plainly the great City which then had the Empire and Reigned over the Kings of the Earth Rev. 17.18 call'd the great whore Sitting upon many waters to wit many Nations of sundry languages Rev. 17.1,15 which shows not onely the largeness of Antichrists Territories but also the Instability of his Kingdom which hath no better a foundation than as built upon Unconstant-waters 52. That he must carry himself 6ly in the Church of God as if he were God is expresly declared in 2 Thess 2.4 Antichrist must exalt himself above all that is called God or worshipped 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 either with Civil or Religious worship There are that are called Gods 1 Cor. 8.5 to wit Magistrates Psal 82.6 Those he exalts himself above in deposing Kings and disposing Kingdoms yea not only above those titular gods but also above the true God In ambitione plus-quà m Luciferianâ beyond Lucifer himself for he said only I will be like the most High Esa 14.14 But Antichrist will be above the most High not only in dispensing with but also in contradicting his Laws 53. Antichrist must 7ly Seduce with lying wonders this is proved from 2 Thess 2.9 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 To astonish his beholders and to maintain his Reputation he should come with signs and wonders wrought by the power of Satan Those should be the means of his advancement he doth great wonders Rev. 13.13 calling fire down from heaven as if another Elijah the spirits of devils issuing out of the mouth of this Antichrist works wonders Cap. 16.14 54. Antichrist must have 8ly a threefold brand put upon him as appears from 2 Thess 2.3,8 1st a man of Sin 2ly a Son of perdition 3ly a wicked one all those Epithets to shew what a notoriously Sinfull lost lawless one he should be the 1st 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 denotes him the eldest Son of all the children of Belial a Superlative Sinner the worst of men as Christ to whom he is contrary was the best the 2d 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 describes him a man of destruction actively a destroying Son call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rev. 9.11 So he is to the Church of God and for destruction passively to be cast into Hell Rev. 19.20 the 3d. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as above fig. 13. deciphers him one that neither fears God not reverences man as Luke 18.2 for the Laws of neither can keep him within compass 55. That he must be further Stigmatiz'd 9ly for being Idolatrous the first Adjunct is manifest from Rev. 17.2 not onely in his own person but like another Jeroboam making others to sin with his Intoxicating cup of Fornication thus is Idolatry termed by the Holy Ghost Ezek. 16.17 the 2d adjunct is Ambitious 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one advancing himself above every Monarch on earth and more than equalling himself with the great God of heaven as above fig. 52. 2 Thess 2.4 his 3d. Title Cruel is Represented by the woman made drunk with the blood of the Saints Rev. 17.6 and by the name of a devouring beast so oft put upon him as before in fig. 7. his 4th Title Unclean is shadowed out by those names of Sodom and Egypt Rev. 11.8 and by those names of great whore and mother of fornication 56. 10ly Antichrist is one to be revealed in those last times appears plainly from 2 Thess 2.7,8 he must be in the world along time before he be Revealed while he remains a mystery of iniquity or iniquity in a mystery he is under a vail The depths of Satan Rev. 2.24 Unknown Unrevealed This mystery was working out of sight in persons as Diotrephes and in Doctrines as touch not tast not c. forbidding Meats and Marriages betimes but his Revealing is an Antecedent of Christs coming 2 Thess 2.3 57. The 11th clause in the Definition of Antichrist is he must be consumed with the Spirit of Christs mouth 2 Thess 2.8 The manner 1st it must be gradual not all at once but a lingring death this the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 signifies a wasting a little and little till he be Annihilated and 2ly the means of his consuming the spirit or breath of Christs mouth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to wit by the preaching of the Gospel whereby the Spirit of Christ works powerfully yet gradually in the hearts of men to bring them off from supporting Antichrists Kingdom This is call'd by the Prophet the Rod of his mouth and the breath of his lips Esa 11.4 and the Sword of his mouth Rev. 2.16 1 Kin. 19.17 58. The 12th Clause is Antichrist is one that must be destroyed with the brightness of Christs coming 2 Thess 2.8 wherein 1st the manner 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 shall be brought to nought and utterly abolished though he Seat himself among the Stars yet from thence the Lord will bring him down Obad. v. 4. even into utter destruction 2ly The means 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which may not be taken strictly for that precise point of time wherein Christ shall come personally to judge the world See infrá 227 Paragraph as Estiâ—… observes on the place but largely for the Spiritual manifestation of Christs presence in his Church before which this Antichrist shall melt away as dew before the Sun even to an utter extirpation 59. Thus in those 12 clauses I have shewn the Scriptural marks and definition of Antichrist which are beyond Controversie and Undeniable these are the claws of the beast Ex ungue leonem A Lion is known by his paw my Assumption now is that this difinition doth quadrare cum Papâ suits with the Pope hoc restat ad probandum I Argue thus Hypothetically If the Pope have those marks and this definition of Antichrist then he is the thing defined but the Antecedent is true ergo the Consequent or Categorically thus whoever hath those marks and this definition is the Antichrist but the Pope has them ergo this is to be proved by an Induction CHAP. IV. 60. THe 1st part of the Induction The first thing to be now demonstrated for clearing my assumption is that the Pope and his Church hath apostatized from the Faith which is evidenced thus the Church of Rome with her Pastors in the primitive Apostolical times was a beloved Spouse of Christ as that famous Epistle of the
the Pope that Beast described in the Revelation and the Antichrist This was only muttered at the first separation from the Romish Church by Waldus and his Companions saying in modest terms only Romanum praesulem Reliquis Episcopis parem esse as Bishop Usher de Successione Ecclesiae tells us loco predicto that the Pope of Rome was but equal to all other Bishops 175. But in the following Ages boldness growing as well as knowledge Ecclesia Romana was proclaimed to be Meretrix Babylonica as Bishop Usher Cap. 17. shews that the Church of Rome was the whore of Babylon This was done especially by Wickliffe and his fellows about the year of Christ 1371. This 2d Angel Wickliffe seeing the Kingdom of Antichrist shaken by the Ministry of Waldus that went before him now declares boldly that God had then laid the foundation of the destruction of it his cry was Rev. 14.8 Babylon is faln is faln and would as surely destroy it shortly as if he had seen it faln already 176. Then comes the 3d. Angel more vehement than the rest and that was Martin Luther and his fellow-labourers This Angel proceeds further and preaches Damnation to all that would not come out of this mystical Babylon telling the World more boldly than the other two Angels did that God had a Cup of Indignation without mixture that is not allayed with any mercy for all those that continued to drink of the Cup of Fornication God would give them Wine for Wine Wine of Wrath for Wine of Whoredoms Rev. 14.9.10.11 177. None of those great Reformers whom God stirred up in those Ages were so like this third Angel as Luther who denounc'd horrible and hainous torments easless and endless pains to the whole train of Antichrist and such as abode in the Worship of the Beast Vrging separation from Rome under the pain of damnation and to Rebel against such light as then was held forth could not consist with Salvation as 2 Thess 2.12 Luthers Epitaph was Pestis eram vivus moriens tua mors ero Papa 178. Then 2ly profound Writers have from the Quiver of common Reason human Testimonies and especially from the Holy Scriptures drawn out and shot such arrows at the Beast that though his first Wound was healed Rev. 13.3 yet those Wounds they have given him those last Centuries are plainly incurable by any other Engine save by private Treachery and publick Violence The Beast can hardly lick himself whole again no not with his Order of Jesuits and all their endeavours to uphold his tottering Kingdom 179. Quot ac quantos Scriptores Evangelicos haec postrema aetas in lucem protulit c. how many famous Champions of the Protestant Religion hath been Valiant for the Truth and strenuously batter'd the Walls of Babylon such as Melancton Oecolampadius Zuinglius Bullinger Aretius Gualther Musculus Lauater Polanus Polyander Zanchy Beza Chemnitius Calvin Pareus Marlorat and our own Jewel Reinolds Whittaker c. those and many others non modò docendo sed etiam Scribendo damnum Antichristo vel maximum attulere did him very great harm 180. Besides many other famous Authors in former Ages which Illyricus in Catologo Testium Veritatis doth abundantly enumerate Christ hath had his Witnesses against Antichrist in all the Ages of the Beast though most and clearest in the latter Ages which hath given their Testimony both by Preaching and Writing though but in Sackcloth against the Antichristian Idolatry all along the lease of 42. Months that is granted to the Beast to tread down the holy City 181. The Pen of those famous Lights in their day was an Artificial Tongue whereby they spoke to Places and People absent as well as present to them afar off as well as to them that were nigh and thereby abundance of knowledge was communicated to the World Writing hath an Image as it were of Eternity in it it makes a man live when he is dead though the Prophets cannot live for ever Zech. 1.5 yet their laborious Writings may preach both when and where they themselves neither may nor can nor dare Hebr. 11.4 182. But 3ly and lastly Potent and Pious Princes are Instruments in the hand of God to pull down Antichrist we read of an Angel that had on his head a Golden Crown and in his hand a sharp Siccle Revel 14.14 which may well resemble some glorious Prince that shall begin to execute Gods Judgments on Babylon and v. 15. is some Zealous Preacher out of the Church that calls on him to do this Execution 183. When Godly Princes do exercise their Power for Christ and against Antichrist then is it said that Christ the Son of Man sits in the Throne to Rule with them having a Golden Crown upon his head as he is described in that Vision Rev. 14.14 He is call'd the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Rev. 1.5 and then are Christian Kings said to be caught up to God and to his Throne Rev. 12.5 when they do Authorize and Execute the Reaping of this Harvest by their Kingly Power 184. But more plainly and without a Parable the Lord tells us Rev. 17.16,17 that the ten Horns which he calls ten Kings v. 12. shall hate the Whore and make her desolate and naked they shall eat her Flesh and burn her with Fire for God hath put it into their hearts c. Those very Kings that were the occasion of his Rise before shall by an overruling providence be the Instruments of his Ruine First God in Justice gives them up to be Vassals to Antichrist and then in Mercy he moves them to destroy him 185. Dr. Sibbs in his Evangel Sacrifice Serm. First Relates the occasion of Antichrists Rise thus The Roman Emperor having Enemies in the East was forced to Reside at Constantinople and Rome thereby being neglected the Pope takes this occasion to set up himself to depose Childerick a weak Prince and to set up Pepin Father to Charles the great to gratifie him This brief Landskip he gives 186. The Dr. relates also how those 10 Kings betray their own Kingdoms in giving up their power to the Beast therein doing wrong 1st to God 2ly to Themselves and 3ly to their Subjects And though it be said that God puts it into their hearts to give up their Kingdoms to the Beast Rev. 17.17 Yet we may not understand this as done by either outward Command or by inward Infusion but God finding them in an evil Estate he uses their sin to his own End 187. However this shall be done only untill the words of God be fulfilled ver 17. And as sure as God hath put it into their hearts to give up their Kingdoms to that Beast so surely God will in his own appointed time put it into their hearts also to destroy the Beast But whether they shall all agree in this latter as 't is said they do in the former is some doubt 188. It is the judgement of some solid Interpreters that
Profession and bring it into credit even among the Worshippers of the Beast That whereas the Papists speak evil of the Protestants as of evil doers they may not only be ashamed of falsely accusing their good Conversation in Christ as 1 Pet. 3.16 but also be constrained to say that God is in them of a truth as 1 Cor. 14.25 and those are the Seed the Lord hath blessed as Isai 61.9 Just as light expells darkness so doth Evangelical Conversation the mist of Popery 203. The 2d thing is Unanimous Praying how doth all the Saints of God in all the Nations of the World with one consent pray against Babylon and by the help of Gods Spirit gets many a kind pull at her as Sampson did at the pillars of Dagons Temple Judg. 16.29,30 How doth praying Souls every where with one lip as it were bow themselves with all their might to pull down this Antichristian Dagon 204. As David danced before the Lord with all his might 2 Sam. 6.14 so the Servants of the Lord prays before the Lord with all their might to make this Dagon fall before the Ark of God Solomon saith whatsoever thy hand findeth to do do it with all thy might Eccles 9.10 Now the Saints finding this great wâ—… of Demolishing the Kingdom of Antichriâ—… not more a work for their Hands then for thâ—… Hearts therefore they do it with all thâ—… might 205. All the Servants of Christ should bâ— Habakkuk's that is Wrestlers they should come forth as Princes before the Lord in this Work as Job 31.37 coming near to God with Princely minds all the seed of Jacob shall he like their father Jacob wrestling till they have power with God and have prevailed Hos 12.4 3. not letting God go without this blessing Gen. 32.26 Prayer commands God concerning the work of his hands Esa 45.11 All such as love Christ and hate Antichrist should be as the Sun when he goes forth in his might Jud. 5.31 for dispelling the Fog of Popery 206. How should all the Godly strive together in their Prayers to God even to an agony Rom. 15.30 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to pull this Tower of Babel down whose top hath well-nigh reach'd to Heaven These are the thundrings and lightnings that fill'd the Temple and brings the hailstones and earthquake on the Mother of Harlots Rev. 11. last 207. The 3d thing is Typography or publick Printing a rare Engine for Communicating the knowledge of the Truth to the pulling down the strong holds of Antichrist The Art of Printing was bestow'd as a special Gift by a gracious God on the last Age of the World that Knowledge might fill the Earth as the Waters cover the Sea that is that there might be a full sea of Knowledge Isa 11.9 for the expulsion of all Popish Ignorance which they say is the Mother of their Devotion but indeed of Destruction Hos 4.6 I am sure 't is no mother in Israel 208. There is a witty Interpretation of that passage of Dan. 8.2,4 Many shall run to and fro and Knowledge shall be increased that the passage of Commerce 'twixt one Nation and another by the Art of Navigation being opened it brought along with it a great increase of Knowledge Many run or pass by that Art from one Land to another and so abundantly improve their Intellectuals thereby It may as congruously be applyed to this Art of Printing as to that of Navigation 209 For hereby many Books run from one Nation to another and so exceedingly increases Knowledge as many Persons do by Navigation they may both equally be alluded to Daniels Text as well the one as the other both being instrumental Conveyances of all kind of Knowledge divine and humane though neither of them be the genuine Sense of the place 210. Alsted saith that this Art of Printing was first published at Moguntiae Mentz and from thence carried to Argentine Strasburg and other parts of Europe to the great improvement of Learning Other Authors say it was first known to John Gottenburgh at Argentine where John Mentelius Printed the first good Authors for the information of a blind ignorant World and experience Justifies this assertion that Typography as well as Navigation hath been great advancers of knowledge 211. Incredibilem Usum Generi humano haâ—… ars Typographica in Omnes partes prebuit saith Pareus Medul Histor Eccles Pag. 311. It hath been of very great advantage to all parts of the Earth Printing is like a Wing on which knowledge flies through all the Habitable World and is at this day a famous Instrument of Gods holy Spirit to publish his Sacred and Infallible Truth though Satan do use it also to spread his damnable Errors The best things that are used are found also to be abused yet lose they not their due worth thereby 212. Sympson in his Church History speaks home to this point saying when Popedom was come to its height then God graciously bestowed this Art of Printing on Mankind for the Unvailing and Unmasking of this Mystery of Iniquity to the World This was a marvellous providence of God in the 14th Century for ever since Antichrist hath begun to decline and in the 15th Century to languish more and more 213. The 4th and last thing for the bringing down of Antichrist is powerful Preaching and this is held out in the very expression of this 11th clause of the Induction to wit his Consumption or wasting away by the breath of Christs mouth 2 Thess 2.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Spirit or breath which is the administration of Christs Word by the help of his Spirit This Ordinance of Preaching hath been a most effectual battering Ram against the lofty Walls of Babylon 214. We may say of this as David said of Goliahs Sword none like it 1 Sam. 21.9 oh that the Lord would give it to all places and People not only Satan but also his Eldest Son Antichrist would fall like lightning thereby Luke 10 17.18 Though Printing as we have seen hath its peculiar Excellency yet in this respect Preaching is above it as it is attended always cum vivâ voce for Milk in a warm Breast is more effectual nourishment than Milk in a cold suckling Box so a Sermon Preach'd batters Babylon more than one Printed 215. The Rod of Christs mouth and the breath of his lips the Prophet tells us shall slay this Wicked one Esa 11.4 Thus hath God raised up his Boannerges or Sons of Thunder Marc. 3.17 the Syriack word comes of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sons and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to Thunder Thus Nazianzen honours Basil the great with this Epitaph 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sermo tuus tonitru vitaque fulgur erat He Thunder'd with his Doctrine and Lightned with his Life he had Urim and Thummim indeed 216. Those Three Angels who were the Three first powerful Preachers for separation from Antichrist Waldus Wickliffe Luther were Sons of Thunder especially the last of them what a filius
fragoris was Luther that did not throw bruta fulmina at the Pope as the Pope did at him but rather such a Thunderbolt as according to Ovids Fiction struck Phaeton out of his Charet surely the Thundring Sermons that have been preach'd by those Sons of Thunder have caused this Son of Perdition to shrink downward from his pinnacle of Pride many degrees 217. The efficacy of this Ordinance of Preaching against the Walls of Babylon is clearly held out in the type of the fall of Jericho Josh 6.13 7 Priests bearing 7 Trumpets of Rams-horns went on continually and blew with those Trumpets the Priests going on before the Ark and blowing with their Trumpets This they continued to do all the 6. days and v. 16. it came to pass on the 7th day when the Priests blew with the Trumpets the People hearing the Trumpets v. 20. shouted with a great shout and the Walls of Jericho falls down flat to the ground 218. The Antitype to the Sounding of those Ramshorns is the Ministry of the Word which though it be contemptible to man yet is it in poor Fishermen the power of God a Weapon that is Mighty for the pulling down of the strong holds of Antichrist 2 Cor. 10.4,5 God hews down his Forts by his Prophets Hos 6.5 and Cursed is he that rebuilds them again Josh 6.26 God writes him childless that does so 1 Kings 16.34 all from eldest to youngest dye 219. We read in 1 Kings 19.17 How it was not only the Sword of Hazael and the Sword of Jehu that cut off that Idolatrous house of Ahab but such as escaped their two Swords should Elisha slay Yet read we not any where of a material Sword that this Prophet used but he slew them by a Prophetical denouncing of Divine Vengeance against Idolaters Thus powerful Preaching is an hewing down of Antichrist by the Sword of the Spirit which is the word of God Eph. 6.17 220. As the Prophet Jeremy was set over Nations and Kingdoms to root out and to pull down to destroy and to throw down Jer. 1.10 to wit by his Menances and Denunciations of Wrath which should as surely be effected as if the Prophet had himself effected them So are all the Ministers of the New Testament set up against this Kingdom of Antichrist to root it out and to pull it down yea and to destroy that man of Sin that abusing this same place of Scripture assumes a power of setting up and pulling down Kings and disposing of their Kingdoms at his pleasure God expounds it better Jer. 18.7.9 221. Oh pray then for such Ministers of the Lord as may blow continually the Rams-horns as may lift up their Voices like Trumpets Isa 58.1 as may with the Sword of the Spirit hew down this cursed Bramble out of which so much fire hath issued as hath burnt down the Cedars of Lebanon Judg. 9.15 Oh pray that the slain Witnesses may Prophecy again and reveal Antichrist that was born in darkness for the quintessence of Preaching is a Revealing of the mystery of Godliness and the mystery of Ungodliness 222. There be therefore many demonstrative Arguments to prove the fall of Antichrist by as 1. He must fall because he hath no foundation in the Word of God the Sandy foundation that he stands upon cannot long uphold him he is not built on the Rock of ages he is no Plant of Gods planting 2ly There is not a promise for his standing in all the holy Scriptures but a direful threatning against his standing Math. 15.13 every Plant which God hath not planted shall be Rooted up 223. And 3ly There is never a true Spiritual Prayer for him neither in the Word nor 〈◊〉 the World but all Prayer is against him Eâ—…siastical History tells us how Prayer broke the neck of Simon Magus and it will at length also break the neck of Antichrist The Popish Queen of Scots seem'd something sensible of this when she said she fear'd Mr. Knoxs Prayer more then an Army of Twenty thousand men 224. He is 4ly Not only guilty of much Blood which cries for Vengeance upon him but also he is drunk with it therefore as he now Staggers like one that is drunk so he must likewise both stumble and fall Isai 8.15 Jerem. 25.27 then 5ly Solomon saith pride goes before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall Prov. 16.18 Antichrists pride was related before Parag. 52.55 and from 89. to 97. all which must bring his fall and destruction 225. But sixthly and lastly because so many battering Engines are planted against him not by weak man but by the Mighty God therefore down he must come for strong is the Lord that Judges him Revel 18.8 When Joshua comes against Jericho in the name of the Lord and surrounds it with the Ark of God and blowing of Trumpets this plainly portends the downfall of it So when our Joshua or Jesus hath batter'd Babylon with those Persons and things forementioned for some years already since Luthers days especially this plainly portends it cannot stand but must tumble down CHAP. IX 226. HAving thus demonstrated Antichrists lingring Consumption and the means whereby it is accomplished which is the 11th clause I come now next to the 12th and last part of the Induction to wit his utter extirpation he must be destroyed by the brightness of Christs coming the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hath an elegancy in it as its simple is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be idle The Beast hath power 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which Mr. Mede Reads faciendi to do 42. Months Rev. 13.5 but the brightness of Christs coming puts a Period to his lease of doing cuts the traces of this wicked plower and then he can't plow or do no more Ps 129.3,4 he will be then 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 one out of Employment and out of being also 227. Some indeed take this brightness of Christs coming to be at the day of Judgment because it s said then He shall come in flaming Fire 2 Thess 1.8 and then shall the Beast and false Prophet be put to death and cast into the Lake Rev. 19.20 This interpretation makes the final abolishment of Antichrist to be much later then indeed it shall be 228. This coming of Christ is not saith Dr. Sclater to be taken 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in that Individual point of time wherein Christ shall come to Judge the World at the last day but it must be taken extensely and with some latitude so as under it may be comprized the Anterior part and the foregoing both Signs and times thereof and he approves of that Critick Scholiast that says this phrase is not to be understood of his comming in Person to General Judgment but of the manifestation of His Presence in the Church by effects of Power Justice Grace and Mercy 229. If this Extirpation of Antichrist be the same thing with the downfall of Babylon that is describ'd Revel 18. then under correction saith
power to my two Witnesses c. which no created Angel could say gives him two Periods the one 1290. as before the other 1335. which is the ending of the dispatch of those great things before the Kingdom of Christ as the other is the beginning thereof and which from Julians time ends about 1700. Y. of Christ There be 45. Years to accomplish all the preparatory work in as Antichrists Ruine Jews Call c. and the first Period brings blessed times but blessed is he that cometh to the end of the 45. Y. for then is Christs Kingdom 270. There be a 3d. sort of Holy and Learned Interpreters that neither build their conjectures on Daniels prophetick Number wholly nor yet as it stands in conjunction with the Apocalyptick number of John but solely upon those numbers they find in the Revelation which are of two sorts 1. That 42. Months or 1260. Days or Years which is the very term of time the Beast hath given him to tread down the holy City Revel 11.2.3 and to do or continue in Revel 13.5 271. The 2d Apostolick Number is that famous 666. Revel 13. last which seems to cast up the Number of the Beast to wit the date and end of his Tyrannical Kingdom whose days shall then be numbred that is finished as the phrase is of old Babylon's ending Dan. 5.26 God hath numbred thy Kingdom and finished it and the Holy Ghost hath computed it as they have conceived to be in the Year which according to mens computation shall be called Six hundred sixty six Years Number expressing time for Aristotle defines Tempus to be Numerus motus secundum prius est posterius Time is the number of Motion 272. And of this Judgment is an unknown English writer in 1589. of Christ Intituling his Book To the Church of Rome and Subscribing himself by the two Letters T. L. whose Writing speaks him a man of a Savoury Spirit and of no mean ability I have read it with much complacency who says that in that Year 666. The great man of Rome shall fall as the Uncircumcised 273. In the Number of the Beast he saith the millenary Number is omitted not only as Known and unchangable for Antichrist was to Reign no more Thousands then One but also as Respecting the common use of all Nations as well Hebrews as Gentiles who in their Stiles for brevities sake do both speak and write by the Imperfect Number omitting the Millenary as Munster in his Calendario Hebraico well observes more then after the Perfect adding the Millenary 274. There be others indeed that finding the Number of the Beast to be 666. have therefore made this Number to design out the very Year of Antichrists beginning or Revelation of his Tyranny and Kingdom to wit in the Year of Christ 666. so Mr. Stephens and the rather because they find in Eccles History that in that very Year the Latin Service began in the Church which is the Popish Service in all Lands see Osiander Epitome Cent. 7. Pag. 189. see Paragr 289. 275. But Number when it is put to signifie Time as Dr. Goodwin saith doth not so properly signifie the beginning of Time as the ending of it When the Number is finished and as it were cast up and made compleat then is his Time Numbred and the account of it summ'd up and not before and therefore Daniel useth this Phrase Thy days are Numbred to denote to us the ending of the Time of the Babylonish Kingdom and not the beginning of it as was said before 276. Therefore many godly-learned declining this latter Notion hath yet gone over into the Opinion of the former with T. L. saying this Cumputation being called the Number of a man that is the ordinary vulgar way of Reckoning years and measure of time in the stile of the whole Christian World holds out the very year of Antichrists Expiration when his Number shall be summ'd up that is in that Year which is according to mans Computation of years ordinarily stiled 666. as we usuall say 88 for 1588. 277. Yet Mr. Durham in his Comment on the Revelation puts another sense on that Number 666 saying it neither denotes the time of Antichrists Rise or of his Ruine but to shew saith he that this Beast is not any ordinary Heretick but a Chief one that hath a great Number of lying Doctrines his name of Blasphemy compact together and we are call'd in Rev. 13. last to weigh his Heresies judiciously not to number his Figures Arithmetically 278. He that hath understanding of spiritual Truths and his Senses exercised to discern them will ponder the Doctrines of Antichrist in the ballance of the Sanctuary 〈◊〉 Belshazzar was numbred and found light Antichrist's number is the number of Man for there is no Article in the Greek not the Wisdom of God his Doctrines are not of God but of Man yea Doctrines of Devils And there be sexcenti errores Pontificii as some Book-titles be as if Antichrist were a Compound of 666 grand errors 279. Mr. Cotton upon Rev. 13.18 declares his opinion of this 666 that it is neither the Number of his Years when he began nor the Number of his Years when he shall end not the former saith he for though some think Antichrist arose to a name in the Y. 606. yet they cannot though Boniface then took upon him the title of Chief Bishop make that 666. seeing there is 60. Y. difference and 't is probable the Holy Ghost would not have err'd so much in such an express Number Besides Antichrist was begun before this 606. and this Headship or spiritual Advancement is but a part of Antichrist 280. Nor can the latter be saith he for 666. cannot be the number of the end of Antichrists Years seeing he continues still to this time which is almost a Thousand years since 666. and to say that in this round Number something is omitted as when we say 88 we mean 1588. yet in Scripture-phrase saith he such small Numbers are not regarded and seeing Wisdom is required to find out this Number what wisdom were it for the Holy Ghost to leave out a thousand as we leave out when we say 88. for 1588. the Holy Ghost he saith doth not so here and therefore it cannot hold out the number of his Period 281. He thinks as the number of the Beast is an opposite number to the Number of the Lamb which consists all of 12. as of every Tribe 12000 and the City had 12 foundations c. Rev. 21.14,16,17 the whole fabrick of Jerusalem is 12. the foundation is Apostolical but in the Number of the Beast there is nothing Apostolical six falls short of twelve Boniface summs up all their Canons in one Book which he adding to the 5 Books of Decretals calls it Sextus thus all their Religion is wrap'd up in 6 Volumes and the 6. they call the most perfect of all hence the Number 6. is pitched on here the number of a man for
Popery is but mans Wit and Invention 282. Now come we to the other Apocaliptick Number to wit the 42 months or 1260 days or years which some interpret in a way of conjunction with this last Number 666. and therefore I do speak of it the latter though in the Introduction I made it the former Many late Writers hath concurr'd with T. L. in making 1260 Y. to be Antichrists Term and 666. the millenary Number being understood though not express'd as before to be the period of that Term and to find a fit Correspondency betwixt those two Numbers they look out for the rise of Antichrist 283. And finding the Egg of Antichristianism to be lay'd in the Days of Innocent the first in the Ye of Christ 406. and that by express Commission there was furthermore granted to the Beast his Heirs and Successors 1260 Years for the hatching fostering and perfecting of this Egg or Child of Perdition which being added to 406. makes 1666. to be the very Year wherein the Judgements of God denounced shall fall upon Antichrist And he shall as easily weigh the fire or measure the wind or call again the day that is past as avoid the decree of his Down-fall then determined and as T. L. saith then my Lord of Rome must lay down his proud waves 284. Other Interpreters labour for no concurrence or Coincidency betwixt 1260 and 666. but doth measure Antichrist only by that Lease or Term that is given him to do or continue to wit 42 Months or which is all one 1260 Y. Thus many learned and holy Men binding up themselves to this Number only and varying in their judgements where to make the Epocha or Beginning of the Beasts Rise hath likewise exceedingly varyed in their Opinions about his Period and Ruine 285. Mr. Brightman makes the beginning of the Term of Antichrist to be at Constantines coming to the Crown for then began the war with the Dragon c. when the Man-child was brought forth that is advanced to Imperial dignity Rev. 12.5 and so he makes the Authority of the Beast to expire about the Year of Christ 1546. which year or time was so far from ending the Beast that at that time he was rather more advanced for then did the Councel of Trent condemn the Scriptures in advancing the Vulgar Latin to be most Authentick and then did Charles the fift war against the Protestant Princes in Germany 286. Mr. Durham comes near to this Computation of holy Brightman making the close of the 1260 Y. of Antichrists absolute and uninterrupted Tyranny and triumphing over the Witnesses to fall out in the Year 1559. when Reformation began by publick Authority at Ausperg till then he saith the Witnesses ascended not into heaven For then not only in Germany a Dyet enacted for Religion but also in England it was rais'd up by Q. Elizabeth and the Year before that it was receiv'd in Scotland and the year after to wit 1560. in France by Charles the ninth thus he in his Comment on Revel 287. But 't is objected saith he against this Opinion that this Computation places the rise of Antichrist over-high in the 3. Century after Christ which was a time when the Church enjoy'd both Purity and Liberty in the Days of that good Emperor Constantine To this he answers thus As Antichrist began to work from the Apostles time so much more from the time of outward Rest and Peace which the Church enjoy'd by Constantine who freed her from Heathenish Persecution 288. Pride soon saith he infected her Pastors Hodiè venenum in Ecclesiam fudisti was imputed to Constantine when he made the Church as it were luxuriant with Temporal Priviledges and the Roman Pastor having the greatest advantages of sharing in those Priviledges as Rome was then the Lady of Kingdoms began soon to improve them at least ad Potentiam Pontificiam though not suddenly ad Omnipotentiam as afterwards 289. The Pontificial Omnipotency or settled Superiority and the title of Universal Bishop he confesses was not indeed usurp'd till Boniface the third assum'd it in the Year 606. After this came in the Latin Service and the Mass in the Y. 666. as I mention'd before Paragr 274 by Vitellianus the Pope then also was Pantheon the Temple of the Heathen God opened and dedicated to All Saints and so by degrées comes in all the Romish Trash till Antichrist came to his full Growth 290. But there is yet a stronger Objection against this Opinion which the judicious Scot labours to remove to wit that the Kingdom of the Beast is contemporary with the Sackcloth-Prophecy of the Witnesses and this must be for after the Ascension of the Witnesses and the Earthquake the 7th Trumpet sounds and all Kingdoms become the Lords Rev. 11.11,12.13,15 The downfall of the Beasts kingdom must be before this though he say the Ascension of the Witnesses may consist with the decaying Kingdom of the Beast who must be destroyed gradually under the 7th Trumpet yet this sense is cumbred with many difficulties as will appear afterwards 291. Mr. Cotton goes yet a little lower then either of the former in placing the beginning of this 1260 Y. to wit to 96 or 97 Y. after Constantine rendring this Reason that though the War began with Constantine and the Woman fled into the wilderness as Mr. Brightman rightly observes yet it cannot be said in his time that there was no place found for the dragon in Heaven for this saith he was the failing of that good Emperor that he stil allowed the Heathen-Idol-Temples to continue only shutting their Doors which his Successor Julian opened again and restored the Dragon to his Heaven of spiritual Authority 292. Though the war was begun by Constantine yet was it not accomplished by him so as to cast out the Dragon wholly and so as no more place to be found for him in Heaven this was not he says till the time of Theodosius then did the Emperors renounce and not before the title of Pontifex Maximus Hereupon the Beast the Pope the very next year after takes up this Name and holds it to this day What ever be the Popes name 't is Pontifex Maximus now this was about 396. Y. after Christ as 96. after Constantine which Number being added to 1260. makes up 1656. Antichrists Period 293. This learned and holy man was not alone in his Expectations of eminent Providences in that Year or about it as is manifested before in Paragr 262 267. yet his modesty in this his Conjecture is very eminent saying I will not be too confident because I am not a Prophet nor the Son of a Prophet to foretell things to come yet he expected a great blow would be given to the Beast and to the head of the Beast yea and the Expiration of his Power and great Authority in his Comment on 13. Rev. pag. 87 88 90 93 94. 294. Yea Mr. Mede himself whose Labours the Church of God hath much cause to
God and now already fulfilled by him 346. If there be controversie about beginning those Accounts though of Dispensations that are past and of Promises that are fulfilled amongst the best Chronologers at this day How much more difficult must it needs be to pitch upon a certain period of Time for the fall of Antichrist which is a dispensation yet to come and the promise hereof only expected to be accomplished The highest attainment of notions herein can but amount to a probable Conjecture and the many Mistakes of good Men that are extant at this day doth much confirm it Aliena errata me cautum faciunt Other mens mistakes make me wary 350. To find out therefore by Scripture-light what I conceive most probable about this great Subject I shall wave those numbers of Daniel which so many have insisted on as before manifested because they are obvious to sundry Exceptions As that they have already had their accomplishment in Antiochus c. and keep to the Apocaliptick number against which no such exception can be made 351. The Apocaliptick Number being taken for granted to hold out the undoubted Term or Lease of Antichrists Reign in the world to wit 42 Months which being dissolved by Reduction into days allowing 30 days to a month according to the old account make up the just sum of 1260 Days Those two Computations of 42 Months and 1260 Days being granted to be one and the same for though they be mentioned apart in Rev. 12.6 ch 13.5 yet are those two numbers put together in Rev. 11.2,3 that by this linking them together all doubt might be taken away in accounting the 42 Months to be the same Computation with 1260 Days 352. And it being taken pro Concesso likewise that those 1260 Days are not Solar days either Natural of 24 hours or Artificial from Sun-rise to Sun-set but Prophetical days as in Daniels Week or 7 Days which signifie 7 Years Dan. 9.24,26 So 30 Days for 30 Y. and 1260 Days for 1260 Years as 70 seven-nights of Days signifie in the Prophet 490 Y. thus also in Ezek. 4.5,6 and Num. 14.34 ut supra Upon this Hypothesis I build my Conjecture about the Ruin of Antichrist granting him according to Gods Lease to him 1260 Y. to continue in the World 353. Now for guiding us in this intricate Labyrinth of Reckoning the continuance of Antichrists Kingdom the Holy Ghost hath given us some certain Hints and Intimations which like Ariadne'e Threed may help us herein for the greatest knot of difficulty in this Work hath evermore been acknowledged to find out where to foot the account Now may we but meet with direction from Scripture where the Epocha or Root of this Account must begin it will be manifest enough where to end it namely at the Expiration of those 1260 Years CHAP. XIII 354. THe first of those Scriptural Hints or Intimations for footing our Accompt is in Rev. 17.12 from the rising of the 10 Kingdoms The Holy Ghost saith expresly there that the ten Kings should receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast which phrase implies that they both had their Rise about the same time and in the same Age 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is in some Readings at one hour as in Joh. 4.52 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is translated at the 7th hour and this Reading plainly imports that the 10 Kings rose with the Beast and the Beast rose with the 10 Kings at one and the same hour the 10 Kings be the 10 Horns of the Beast that beareth them 355. And though in the course of Nature horns do grow up after the Beast be come forth into the World yet 't is not so in this monstruous Beast for he brings his horns with him Rev. 13.1 the Beast that bears the Horns and the 10 Horns rise together at one hour and now our work is to make enquiry when the Ten horn received their power 〈◊〉 Kings Chronicles doth shew us how the Goths and Vandals broke off from the Imperial Yoke sundry Nations which were subject to it and gave opportunity to set up those ten Kingdoms which remain in Europe to this day 356. Those ten Horns rose not all at once but gradually as was observed before of the Beast that bears them now the first rising of any of those Horns was in the days of the Emperor Honorius about the Y. of Christ 410. when the Emperor being driven away from his Imperial Seat by those barbarous Nations was constrained for the recovering of Rome again to allow them by Covenant to set up a Kingdom in France that was the 1st Horn and about the Y. 415. the same Honorius was forced to allow the like in Spain and by the Y. 456. all the 10 Horns who gave their Kingdoms to the Beast were up 357. This is not only confirmed to us by Sigonius Sleidan Orosius Alsted Pareus c. but also by the Jesuit Petavius in his Rationarii Temporum parte primâ lib. 6. pag. 275. writing thus Alaricum ut averteret Honorius Gallias Hispanias ei concessit c. Now after that Gensericus the Vandal had spoiled Rome about the Year 456. or not much after not only those two Horns of France and Spain were extant but the whole Empire appear'd to be divided into ten Kingdoms which 〈◊〉 had all one mind and gave their power and strength to the Beast Rev. 17.13 that he should rule in their Dominions and so though they had the title of Kings yet they obey'd rather then ruled 358. Now if we take this hint and character of the Holy Ghost and reckon from it not from the appearance of the first of those Horns about 410. though then was laid the foundation of the Beasts Kingdom but from the time that all the 10 Horns were set up for he is represented in his Rising as a compleat Beast having 7 Heads to plot with and 10 Horns to push with against the Church of God those ten horns or Kingdoms must set up Antichrist and those ten Horns were all come forth about the Y. 456. to which if we add those 1260 Y. it will make Antichrists period to fall out about 1716. 359. I must acknowledge this Rev. 17.12 will admit of various Interpretations as this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be taken indefinitely for a short space as in those Phrases this is your hour and the power of darkness Luke 22.53 and the hour of temptation Rev. 3.10 and tho we take it thus it is yet comfortable for neither the Pope nor his ten Horns shall abide for ever 't is but for a short space v. 10. but for an hour t is but short to God though long to us and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be read after the Beast as signifying those ten Kingdoms rose after Antichrist but we read it not so and however t is not long after t is but an hour after they both rise in the same Age this Beast puts forth his horns betimes
excommunications for such a term also but likewise to make War against the Church as War is taken largely and not strictly seeing that all those Three are joyn'd together by the Holy Ghost and t is so expresly mentioned in our Greek Copy Power was given him to make War 42. Months Rev. 13.4,5 379. The whole Reign of the Beast is quodam modò a certain kind of War and opposition against the Church for the Devil is her restless Adversary and never departs from her but as he departed from her Lord only for a season Luk. 4.13 once in the Month he will be sure to assault her and thus he makes the Beast fulfil those 42. Prophetical Months though there may be some lucida intervalla some Respit Thus the Red-Dragon makes three Assaults or Persecutions in Revel 12. The first is against the Man-Child which that glorious Primitive Church clothed with the Sun c. after many strong Prayers for a Nursing Father in the Empire and after ten sharp Throes in the 10. Persecutions brought forth Chap. 12. v. 4. 380. The second Assault was against the Woman or Church it self that brought forth this Man-Child after he was caught up to God and to his Throne v. 5. and the Dragon being cast out v. 9.13 Thus when Constantine that Man-Child had destroy'd the Dragon then did the Dragon cast out of his mouth a Flood of Arrianism to drown the Woman But the third Assault was against the Womans Seed or Remnant v. 17. that kept Gods Commandments by the Antichristian Beast Ch. 13. t is said he went to make War with them Chap. 12.17 which is the same word in Ch. 13.5 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so that the Beasts Reign is call'd a making War with the Seed of the Church 381. This War or Persecution against the Remnant of the Seed Antichrist began betimes after he had got his Kingdom as our Martyrologies do shew in all those ten Kingdoms that belonged to his Jurisdiction for he had the Sword of those ten Horns at his Command to War against this Remnant withall Those Kings were to fulfill Antichrists will Revel 17.17 and was like so many Vassal-Kings under the Beast to go and do at his bidding Such a Check and Command he had over them as the Centurion had over his Soldiers Matth. 8.9 382. If Antichrist say to this King Go he presently Goeth if to Another Come he Cometh If to a Third do this he must do it if he bid any of those Horns Go push this Remnant Go Strike them with your Sword They must fulfil his will right or wrong If he bid them Go make War against Turks or Hereticks they went as appears in the Holy-War so call'd and in the Churches Persecutions he had also his Emissaries those Fryar-Frogs that stirr'd up People with promises of universal Pardons to persecute Hereticks Rev. 16.13.14 yet all this amounts not to a formal War Strictly taken the formalis Ratio of War being a fighting of several Battles betwixt two Parties by force of Arms Now though there were many butcheries and Massacres of the Saints from the Primitive times yet properly no War till the 12. Century for then the Waldenses took up Arms in their own just defence both as Men and as Christians against the Popish Croisadoes 383. There is a 5th Intimation to wit The Womans dwelling in the Wilderness which Mr. Mede makes Contemporary with the Reign of the Beast and to begin at the same Instant of time 1. Because of the Equality of both their Times as 42. Months and 1260. days being an Equal Number therefore they must concur in the whole Intermediate space of Time from beginning to ending 2ly Because upon her entrance into the Wilderness she meets with this double Beast the 10 Horned and the two Horned one to the former of which the Dragon standeth on the Sea-shore gave his Power and Throne as he saith 384. But because this also is Incumbred with several Ambiguities I dare not insist upon this neither as 1. It doth not necessarily follow that equal Times must be the same Times for bare Equality hinders not but some of those Times may be before and some after and so have differing Dates Therefore Mr. Mede confesses t is not Infallibly Concluding 2ly The Womans flight into the Wilderness if it Commence at Constantines comming to the Crown and the times of the Beast Synchronize with it as Holy Brightmans opinion was Par. 285. this makes the Beasts Expiration long before t is found really to be so by Experience Exitus acta probat 385. A 3d. Incumbrance that this Intimation seems to be perplexed with is that there seems to be a double Computation of the Womans flight into the Wilderness one before the Battle was fought Revel 12.6 for the Battle is related after in ver 7.8.9 the End of which was there was no place for the Dragon in Heaven the other was after when the two wings of an Eagle was given to her ver 14. as Mr. Cotton observes so then this double Computation must needs make the time of the Reign of the Beast the more Ambiguous and 4ly If Mr. Medes Notion hold that the two wings given to the Woman were the two Caesars of the Empire divided into East and West by whose help she got into the Wilderness Then the latter Computation of her flight must not be till after Theodosius for the division of the Empire into East and West stood not till his two Sons came to inherit them 386. But then 5ly The Flood of Arrianism must precede the Rising of the Beast which took up a great Interspace after the destroying of the Dragon This Heresy continued some hundreds of years and was a long time publickly received in the Church spreading it self universally East and West from thence Jerom Ingemuit totus Orbis se Arrianum miratus est and persecuting the Orthodox under Constantius beyond all the Pagans till the Earth which help'd the Woman Revel 12.16 of the Barbarous Nations providentially broke this Arrian Faction Thus this Synchronism wants not Ambiguities 387. And Ignotum per Ignotius a dark by a darker can never be any good demonstrative Argument to find out the certainty of any Postulatum or Question whatsoever Those Ambiguities both about the Beasts War and about the Womans flight makes them the less demonstrative for there seems to be a double accompt of both Of the Beasts War one is against the Remnant when the Church was got from the Dragon into the Wilderness as Israel from Pharaoh into the desert then began that War with her Seed that could not get into the Wilderness with her so had not Temples nor Prophets to feed and nourish them as the Church in the Wilderness had Revel 12.6.14 but served God privately without either Meetings or Ministry as some say in Antichrists Dominions 388. And that Decree which Pope Innocent the first made to wit that omnes Hereticos esse Vi cogendos
all Hereticks must be compell'd by force was a fair foundation for and an Introduction to that force of Arms which Antichrist used afterwards against the Saints under the name of Hereticks in all his Dominions the other War is not only describ'd in the Parties against whom it is raised but also in the success of it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Saints are the Party against whom and Victory is the Success of the Beasts War whereof no mention is made in the former if we compare Revel 12.17 with Revel 13.5.7 in all which 3 places this phrase 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used Revel 13.5 holds out the Term of the War Revel 12.17 the War it self and Revel 13.7 names not only the Seed Saints but the Success too 389. Thus as we have a double account of the Beasts War so likewise of the Womans flight into the Wilderness as before therefore can we not so fully fix upon either of those two last Intimations unless we could find out the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Article and point of time when those double computations began wherein I must confess my self to be at a loss and the more because I am at this day deprived of the help of my own Library may we but fully inform our selves of the exact Epochas and beginnings of all those Hints aforesaid it would bring not a little light to this intricate Question the full discovery of which I must refer to men of greater abilities and opportunities for Chronology 390. There is also a 6th Intimation to wit the treading under foot of the outer Court or holy City by the Gentiles for the time of 42. Months Revel 11.2 which is the very express Term of the Lease of the Beast as Revel 13.5 Mr. Mede makes this likewise to Contemporize with the Beast having one and the same beginning and ending not only because of the Equality of their times as before but also because of the Identity of their Expiration for when the great Earthquake hath destroyed the Imperial City and with it the Kingdom of the Beast Rev. 11.13 and the Kingdoms become the Lords v. 15. those very Gentiles that had trodden underfoot the holy City so long are then cast out at which they are enraged v. 18. 391. The outward Court and the holy City Mr. Mede makes to be Synonimus and mutually to expound themselves because the outward Court was the place of Worship for the People of the holy City as the Inner Court was for the Priests and Levites And those Gentiles that tread it down are not Pagans but Papagans which are Idolaters like unto the Gentiles who are also call'd Sodom and Egypt yea and the Synagogue of Satan â—… those shall possess the Holy City or Europe the allotted Seat of the Church they shall tread under foot the outward Face of the visible Church for 42. Months 392. Now could we but find out the beginning of this treading down of the Holy City this would guide us as by a Synchronism to the time of Antichrists fall but I shall not insist upon this neither not only because a late Learned Critick makes this casting out of the Outward Court to the Gentiles a Dispensation under the 6th Trumpet and in the last times of Antichrist as if he should recover all those Kingdoms again before his fall that have made a protestation against him hence are they call'd Protestants and not to contemporize with him from first to last but also because this hath such a fair Coincidency with the time of the Witnesses in Sackcloth which I purpose to speak more largely to in the next place CHAP. XIV 393. I Come now to the 7th and last Intimation for guiding of us into this intricate point about the fall of Antichrist to wit the Sackcloth Prophecy of the two Witnesses which to be Contemporary with the Dominion of the Beast none ever denied but that the Sixth Trumpet ends them both is granted of all so having one and the same term of time it necessary follows they must both begin together the Witnesses must begin their mourning Prophecy when Popery and Antichristianism begins unto both which the 7th Trumpet puts a final Period So that may we find out the Epocha of their Sackcloth Prophecy it will give great light to the time of Antichrists fall 394. This Prophecy of the two Witnesses may be truly call'd crux Interpretum it hath put so many Learned and Holy Men to a kind of torture in the Interpretation of it and we may say of this Scripture as Maldonate of another Scripture Locus facilior si nemo exposuisset It hath been so ruffled with variety of Interpretations that they have made it seem darker by their Various and Heterogenal Conjectures God hath left many places of Scripture dark to our understandings nè illas Scripturas semel lectas fastidiremus that we should not disdain the plainness of it Austin yet may we not make bawds of our own wit to beget our own sences on Scripture for that is to break the bones of the Lamb and to do Violence to the Law of God Zeph. 3.4 we should carry no sence to Scripture but only fetch one from it 395. That God had his Witnesses all along the Reign of Antichrist is manifest by Johns measuring out a Church for God under the Antichristian Persecution to wit the Church in the Wilderness as before Ruled by the Reed of Gods Word and fed by the two Prophets there Revel 12.6,14 that they to wit those two Prophets should feed her though not fully feast her in her Wilderness-state and those Witnesses should have the Temple given them in the Desert while Antichrist exercises his Idolatrous Worship in the Outward Court and Holy City wherein true Christian profession and Worship hath been before 396. Those witnesses which are in general terms call'd the holy People Dan. 12.7 and must be scattered and slain before all these things of Antichrist be fulfilled are largely described in the 11th of Rev. with many particular and distinct Characters An inspection into which may contribute some light in our enquiry after the Epocha or Beginning of this Sackcloth-prophecy which doth so exactly commensurate the times of the Beasts dominion their slaughter being the last bite of the Beast as Christs death slew death the Distick is Mors mortis morti mortem nisi morte dedisset Aeternae vitae janua clausa foret So the death of Christs Witnesses brings death on the Beast that slew them 397. In this description observe 1. their Names 2. their Number 3. their Condition 4. their Actions 5. their Death or end and 6. their Resurrection 1st Their Names which are not proper but appellative being two 1. Witnesses 2. Prophets 1st they are call'd Witnesses as being in all Ages to witness against Antichrist and to testifie to the Truth but most eminently t is probable in the last Age when they come to be slain for their Testimony 2ly They are
in Germany in Bohemia Anno Dom. 1618. and in the Palatinate 1621. and later in Piedmont at Lucerne about 1655. as Mr. Tillinghast 408. Dr. Twiss Judgeth that this slaughter of the Witnesses hath been on foot many years ago not by Judicial proceedings only in the Martyrdom of Gods Saints but by the Sword of War also 1. In the Low-Countreys by Duke d' Alva then in France by the Guisses in that bloody Massacre of Admiral Coligni and many Thousand Protestants then in Germany as above after that in Ireland where some Hundred-thousands were butcher'd by the Irish Rebels and since that in England by the Antichristian brood with so manifest opposition unto Truth and Holiness under a Protestant Prince as he thinks the like was never known since the beginning of the World 409. Though it be very Consentaneous to our minds to think this Slaughter over yet seems it not to be so to the Truth who would not saith Mr. Mede much rather hope that so lamentable an accident to the Church were past than fear it to be yet to come but a mistake on that hand is more dangerous then on this for the expectation of a future Calamity conduceth more to Piety then an over-credulous Security thereof as if it were already past We are prone by nature to put the evil Day far from us Amos 6.3 to keep on our watch-tower in expectation of this Dispensation doth most promote the power of Godliness 410. There be several Arguments that Captivates my Judgment in this point that the Witnesses are not yet slain the 1st Reason 1. Before the Witnesses be slain I conceive their Testimony must be full before it be finished But in those Slaughters foremention'd and in those by Queen Mary in our Land the Testimony that was given them was to the Doctrine of Christ but never that I know of to the Discipline of the word which hath been the Controversy of our present Generation 411. As the first Reason is taken from the want in those former Slaughters of a plenary Testimony so the 2d Reason is drawn from a Concomitancy of it Various are the Concomitants that attend this Dispensation as 1st The pouring out of the 5th Vial upon the Seat of the Beast to darken Antichrists Kingdom and to extinguish the glory of it for this Slaughter is his last scattering of the holy People with which he should accomplish his Time Dan. 12.7 This shall be the last bite of the Beast then his power to do mischief for 42. Months shall End at the same hour is a great Earthquake Revel 11.13 saith Mr. Mede 2ly It must be about the end of their Sackcloth-Prophecy which evidently continues still for God hath not said yet to his Witnesses as he said to Joshuah coming out of Babylon Take away those mournful Garments and give change of Raiment Zech. 3.4 412. And 3ly upon the accomplishing of 3. Years and half attends it also a glorious Resurrection which the Spirit of Life from God causeth Setting them upon their Feet to Preach against Popery again to the great confusion of their Enemies Revel 11.11 yea and a more glorious Ascention into a more Excellent Church-state than before v. 12. those I call Concomitants not because they are so strictly taken but because they fall withiâ— the Verge of that Dispensation so as to evincâ— those foresaid Slaughters in Germany France c. not to be the Slaughter because noâ— thus attended it being above an 100. Years since the Eldest and far above 3. Years and half since the latest of them and likewise because I would distinguish them from Remoter Providences 413. The 3d. Reason is taken from the Consequences of it as 1st The passing away of the second woe v. 14. which is the 6th Trumpet to wit the Turkish Power and Tyranny that stands in its full strength and height at this day notwithstanding all those late Stones of the Jews Embodying themselves against it 2ly The blowing of the 7th Trumpet which comes quickly after the former v. 14 and brings in the Kingdom of Christ v. 15. now since the Smalcaldian War is 120. Y. yet Antichrist Reigns not Christ Rome is in her Ruff the Witnesses in their Sackcloth and no foundation of any of the Praemisses apparently laid 414. It is therefore safest for us not to flatter our selves as if this evil day were past and gone for so long as the 5th Vial is not powr'd out on the Seat of the Beast Rev. 16.10 we may daily expect that the Beast will be powring out some of the Vials of his Wrath on us and it is not determined in Scripture what time this last War of the Beast shall take 〈◊〉 before he hath fully Conquer'd and Slaughâ—…d them which may be a Salvo to the â—…esaid opinions that those Slaughters were â—…innings and parts of this last War 415. And also a Salvo to a latter Opinion â—…en any of the aforesaid to wit that the late â—…ssion of Parliament which put forth the Godly Ministry out of place as well as Maâ—…racy at one time was the time of killing 〈◊〉 Witnesses which I shall speak more to 〈◊〉 the place of killing them This also may 〈◊〉 look'd on as some skirt at least of the last â—…wer of Antichrists Rage but however 〈◊〉 last War must end about 3. years and half before the downfall of Antichrist how long soever it continue for otherwise it would â—ake an Inequality in the Synchronism betwixt â—…e 42. Months and 1260. days should it be â— litte before or a little after 416. Thus of the time of Slaying them now 2ly Of the place where the Witnesses be Slain there they lie dead now much controversy hath been about this Street what it should be Mr. Mede makes it the whole Territory of Romes Dominion taking 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the largest sence as Synonymical with the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chuts which it oft Answereth in the Septuagint-translation as he saith Discoursing of it very Critically and Learnedly 417. Graserus a Judicious Divine conceives this place of the Slaughter to be noâ— the whole Territory of Romes Dominion buâ— the Universal States and Kingdoms of thâ— Protestant Religion saying quod hactenâ—… per partes Impleri nunquam desiit jam plenariâ—… Universaliter perficietur this Slaughter that in some place or other never Ceased but hath been in fulfilling by parts in every Kingdom where the Witnesses have been but at last he saith there shall be a General totall Ecclipse of the Churches at once for 3. years and half 418. Mr. Tillinghast goes still narrower looking upon this street to be Germany as it is one of the ten Kingdoms that belongs to the Beast as if the great City consisted of 10. Streets and this to be one as the 10th part of that Dominion this makes the Opinion probable that it shall be one of the ten Kingdoms as one of the ten Streets of the great City especially considering how the
great Earthquake strikes off a 10th part from the great City Revel 11.13 which may well be one of those 10. Kingdoms though not likely Germany according to his Opinion for the Slaughter he fixes on Germany hath not been so attended as before c. 419. Another gives better Evidences that this Street is Britain 1. Because there be more for the purity of Discipline distinct from the World in it then in all other Kingdoms â—…d where there be most Witnesses there in 〈◊〉 likelihood must be the Slaying of them â—…y As Antiochus so Antichrist shall plant 〈◊〉 Tabernacle of his Palace between the Seas Dan. 11.45 and none of the 10. Kingdoms â—…ays so Inter maria between the Seas as Brittain does 420. And to make it more probable this late dispensation of slaying the Godly Magistracy and Ministry as to their Office might be further improved praesupposing two things 1st that the Magistracy and Ministry be the two Witnesses and 2ly that their slaughter is but a Civil slaughter but the first of those is doubtfull not only because the Witnesses are called Prophets which is a title rarely given to Magistrates neither is it their peculiar work to Prophecy as of those but also because we cannot find a Series of Magistracy all-along testifying against Antichrist in every Century as may be of the Ministry 421. As to the 2d concerning the civil Slaughter I shall speak to in the next place in the manner of it adding only here that the time of commencing that Act by which the Magistracy and Ministry were excluded to that great year of Expectation 1666. making up compleatly and exactly 3 Years and half and Nations all that time warring against those Slaughterers to hinder them from burying the slain Witnesses as Dutch French Dane c. made it more probable that this was the Place where and that was the Time when the Witnesses were to be slain but that those following Considerations doth at least counter-ballance that Probability and now Event makes it seem improbable 422. As 1st That great year of Expectation is now fully expired the Year 66. is gone and the Witnesses are not only in their Sackcloth still but lays slain in the street after that term without any Resurrection from that state or Ascension into a better Yea and Rome also after that Year says still I sit like a Queen and am no Widdow and doth see no sorrow No powring out of the Vial on the Seat of the Beast is heard of but that Year brings forth the Burning of London where the Mystery of Godliness hath long flourished and not the Burning of Rome that Mystery of Iniquity 423. 2ly Consider whether a limiting of their slaughter to England be not over narrow and private an Interpretation it being but a Shovel-full of Earth as the K. of Spain once called it in his Haughtiness a very small Island in respect of the whole World and we find Mr. Brightman blam'd for his overmuch restrictiveness of Interpretation in calling Lord Cecil Lord Cromwell and Bishop Cranmer those Angels in the Revelation Fullers Chur. Hist 17. Cent. b. 10. pag. 50. which seems he saith to be unsuitable with the large concernment of Scripture as if England half an Island were more considerable than all the World besides 424. And 3ly consider the Witnesses must be slain expresly by the Beast that ascends out of the bottomless pit Rev. 11.7 Now the Witnesses that have been accounted slain in England were not slain by the Beast but only by the Image of the Beast for so is Prelacy esteemed it was a Prelaticall not a Popish power that slew them 4ly It may also be doubted whether the Witnesses shall be slain by a Protestant Power as well as in a Protestant State because t is said Rev. 18.24 In Rome must be found the blood of those Prophets and of all private Christians that are slain for Religion what was said of Jerusalem a Prophet cannot perish out of it so nor can those two Prophets perish out of Rome they must be slain by a Popish not a Protestant Power and so long as any State professes the Protestant Religion they cannot be deem'd the Beast that slaughters the Witnesses 425. I confess one hath an excellent Notion to qualifie this saying there is a Generation of Men set forth as the Beasts last Champions Rev. 15.2 who yet shall not at least at the first so openly allow the Beasts name and character though they receive the number of his Name and are therefore reckoned his as truly as the other and as the Pharisees acknowledging again the foreign Power of Rome Joh. 19.15 slew Christ that faithfull Witness So the Prelates advancing the Popish interest by Superstition and Arminianism and by Canon Law and Discipline as Mr. Cotton shews in Rev. 13. p. 260. shall also slay Christ mystical in those Witnesles yet the Event of 66 confirms not this Notion 426. Then 5ly it may be also consider'd whether this civil slaying of the Witnesses in our Land be comprehensive enough to hold out the last Slaughter which may be more than a civil Slaughter And this brings me to the 3d thing to wit the manner how they must be slain there be two manner of ways how the Witnesses may be slain 1. Civil 2. Natural 1. There be grounds of Hope that it shall only be a civil Slaying for 1. they must be slain as Witnesses not as Men and when those Prophets of Christ are silenced and so put out of the way of witnessing then are they slain as Witnesses 427. A 2d ground of this Hope is this accomplisheth Antichrists end which is twofold 1st a rendring the Witnesses contemptible this is obtained by putting them out of their Prophecying-work for thereby they lay as dead men in the street Rev. 11.8 like despised broken Idols in whom there is no pleasure and so is his 2d end too obtain'd by a civil Death to wit a freeing himself from their tormenting him Rev. 10.11 which they did as Prophets in their Prophecying-work and not as Men. A 3d ground of this Hope is their Slaughter shall be like their Resurrection now as their resurrection is mystical and metaphorical and not real for no Resurrection properly so call'd can be before the Coming of Christ under the 7th Trumpet but this comes to pass while the 6th Trumpet is in being as Mr. Mede shews therefore their Slaughter then shall be civil 428. A 4th ground is taken from the Beasts policy who dare not martyr the Saints as formerly because he found that sanguis Martirum was semen Ecclesiae Therefore it may be like that Persecution of Julian who put none to death as Christians but used other means to oppose Christ not only by Fines and Ejections but also by Flatteries and Preferments and this is the more probable because it was the method and manner of promoting Heathenism just at its last extirpation in Julian so may it be of promoting Antichristianism
put this Wisdom into the hearts of some of those Kings and they shall say with Darius why should wrath be on us and our Realms 449. God hath given all the Kingdoms of the World to this David Psal 2.6 long before the Devil proferr'd him a Sophistical Representation of them in Matth. 4.8.9.10 All these will I give thee which the Centurists interpret I will make thee Pope because Rome was then the Mistress of the World and is call'd the World Luke 2.1 and no where could such glory be seen as was a fit temptation for Christ but the Pompe of the Roman-Empire thus Satan offers to Christ that which he knew should be the Seat of Antichrist he would have the Singular Seeed of the Woman to become the Singular Seed of the Serpent and makes Rome a Stumbling-block betimes yea and after he had offerr'd Christ all Kingdoms he accuses him by his Instruments for aspiring to one and that a little one the King of the Jews but as Christ said to Satan Get thee behind me so will he say to this his Eldest Son to wit Antichrist 450. Though Christ refused what Satan offerr'd yet will he take to himself the Kingdoms that God hath given him Revel 11.15.17 and Christs Rise shall be Antichrists Ruine Antichrists Evening shall be Christs Morning Zech. 14.7 though Antichristianism may revive at last as Heathenism did in Julian before its utter Extirpation for she says the day before destruction came I am no Widow as if Married to her 10. Sons again Revel 18.7.8 and though he should plant the Tabernacle of his Palace Inter Maria â—etween the Seas as above Dae 11.45 â—et shall he come to his end and none shall help â—im when the Whore sings her own Requiem I sit as Queen in that day is her Ruine 451. But the great Cry of Gods People is â—… Lord how long and why are his Chariots so â—…ng in coming as wearied with their Wilderness-State their Eyes failing while they look for their God we measure Christs slackness in coming 1. By the shortness of our own lives 2. By the scantness of our own patience and 3ly By the edge of our own desires to see his Coming Now a little time in all these Respects is a long time Yet in deed and in truth Christ is not slack as some men count slackness 2 Pet. 3.9 after some of those 3 ways our time is always ready but His time is not yet John 7.6 only this he comforts us withall in due Season ye shall Reap if ye saint not be not weary in well doing Gal. 6.9 452. Oh pray that our Carcases may not sell in this Wilderness that we may pass over this Jordan into that good Land even to that goodly Mountain and Lebanon Deut. 3.25 Dr. Stoughton tells of a Prophecy that Antichrist should never overcome Venice Paris and London what is done to the 2 former is known Oh pray he may never totally overcome this last alas we are tainted both with Egypts Idolatry and Wilderness-sins only here 's our hope God dealt with Israel in the Wilderness after the tenure of the Old Covenant so they fell there through Unbelief and enter'd not into Gods Rest But God will deal with us after the tenure of the New Covenant the free Grace whereof comes riding Triumphantly over all our Unworthiness Mercy Triumphs over Justice Oh pray that though we be not worthy we may be accounted worthy to escape those things that may come to pass and to stand before the Son of Man in a better Dispensation Luk. 21.36 An Appendix concerning the Witnesses CHAP. XVI 1. AS the Oracles of God which were committed to Israel were by a special Miracle of Mercy preserved in the Captivity of literal Babylon So the Truth in the Old and New Testament hath been no less wonderfully continued all along the Tyranny of Mystical Babylon And as God preserved his Truth so his Church in Babylon during the Rise and Reign yea and till the Ruine of Antichrist though the Apostacy was General yet was it not so Universal in all Individual Persons in those Tongues Kindreds and Nations that wondred after the Beast but that there was yet a Remnant according to the Election of Grace Rom. 11.4.5 As in the Baalish Apostacy God reserv'd 7000. that bowed not to Baal So in the Antichristian Defection God had his 144000. Virgins that were not polluted with the Babylonish Whoredoms Revel 14.1,4.5 2. As there were all that time the true Seed of the Woman which kept the Commandments of God and had the Testimony of Jesus Christ Revel 12.17 against whom the Dragon raged yet the Gates of Hell could not prevail so during all the Reign of Antichrist God raised up his Ministers who in their several successive Ages in several Countreys gave their Testimony as Gods Witnesses against the Spiritual Whoredoms and Idolatrous Worships of Antichrist and nourished the Church in the Wilderness Revel 12.6,14 The smoak of the bottomless Pit was never so thick as to darken wholly the light of the Gospel and the Dragons Tail never so long as to knock out every Star out of Heaven or the Church the Lamb hath all along a Remnant of poor afflicted Pastors as well as of People reserved in the midst of Babylon which were called chosen and faithful Revel 17.14 Those are the Witnesses which the Holy-Scripture foretells should Prophecy in Sackcloth 1260. days or which is all one all the 42. Months of the Reign of Antichrist 3. Though it cannot be denied but the People of God all this term mournfully bewail'd the Abominations of those times wherein Antichrist trod down the Holy City so may be call'd quodam modó Witnesses in Sackcloth Yet the Godly Pastors of this People distinct from them in Office and in the Act of their Prophetical Function are more properly and peculiarly call'd the Witnesses for 1. The first Reason is the People are not call'd any where in Scripture Prophets as those Witnesses be The 2d Reason is the People are the Church in the Wilderness which those Prophets fed Revel 12.6,14 so may not be confounded with them unless we will make a double pair according to the notion of some from Rev. 11.4 the 2 Olive trees to be the 2 Prophets and the 2 Candlesticks to be 2 Churches which the People make up in the Wilderness 4. The 3d. Reason is from the power the Lord gave those Witnesses not only to pray and mourn which is the work of private Christians as well as of publick Ministers but also to Prophecy not so much by praedicting future things as by Preaching the Everlasting Gospel against the Son of Perdition as their proper Function which is not the Function of the People the 4th Reason Prophets are usually distinguished from the People where they are placed both together as Mat. 10.41 Prophets and Righteous men are distinct so in Revel 17.24 Prophets and Saints the 5th Reason Ministers have in all ages born
Receptus videatur qui posteriori seculo veluti maturus faetus est editus and in Century 6. Cap. 1. pag. 1. G. Antichristi Regnum quod quasi in alvum Ecclesiae superiori seculo receptum est hoc seculo vitam Incrementa accepit quasi ad maturitatem suam ad ipsum partus Tempus sub Phocâ imperatore est deductum Antichrist lay lurking in the Womb all the 5th Century and when he was fully ripen'd for the Birth he was brought into the World by Phocas in the 6th Century This is a clear proof from many Learned men 34. So likewise Osiander in his Epitome Histor Eccles Cent. 5th Pag. 1. says that then might be Antichrists Birth and Craddling as well as Conception Antichristianismus saith he hâc in Centuriâ conceptus and Pag. 179. haec fuere Antichristi Romani incunabula not yet made manifest and Cent. 6. Pag. 1. he saith In hâc Centuriâ Antichristus pedem in Ecclesiâ dei posuit fixit and Cent. 7. Epist 2d Pag. tunc Antichristus Rom. sedem suam plenariè in Ecclesiam dei collocavit quam ipsius Antecessores aliquoties inferre conabantur Antichrist fix'd his foot he took full possession of the Church of God in the 7th Century which his Predecessors did but endeavour to do 35. And Cent. 7. Pag. 1. he saith Antichristus adjuvante Phoca Ecclesias dei sub jugum suum misit Antichrist by the help of Phocas brought the Church of Christ under his Yoke for till Boniface the 3d. those words Volumus Jubemus which he calls vox Superba Antichristi was not heard of and the Bishop of Rome became not Antichrist donec Malefacius ille Bonifacius a Phoca Imperatore obtinuit c. till he obtain'd a full power of calling together and breaking up Synods of Confirming and Abolishing the Decrees of the Synod till then he did not Seat himself in the Church of God as Paul foretold it should come to pass 2 Thess 2. Osiand Epit. Cent. 7. Pag. 14. 15. 36. Illyricus also makes this Boniface the 3d. primum in Regno magnae bestiae Regem the first King in the Beasts Kingdom who had the mouth of a roaring Lyon and spake like a Dragon Revel 13.2.11 2ly He makes Pope Joan to begin the Kingdom of the great Whore and 3ly He makes Pope Sylvester the 2d to begin the Kingdom of the great Dragon because then began the Pope-Conjurers Necromancers Robbers Murderers c. then 4ly He makes Innocent the 4th to begin the Kingdom of the Locusts by whom the Fryar-Mendicants came and spread themselves all over the World and lastly The declining Kingdom of Antichrist he reckons from Julian the 2d who threw Peters Keys into Tyber as Unvaileable and took Pauls Sword which he said should prevail Illyr Catal. Test Ver. Pag. 650. 37. Illyricus likewise Relates a famous Story of Agestinus in this 6th Century that was expell'd the Colledge for his Witnessing against Popish fooleries to Eustasius for Redress of this grievance the Synod at Matiscon was summon'd by King Lotharius wherein Agestinus makes a particular Invective against the Superstitions of that day in Y. of Christ as Helvicus reckons 625. and could we have a faithful account of this Synod saith Illyr freed from the Monkish Writers some grave Witnesses against Antichrist would be found Illyr Pag. 676. Alsted also begins the Infancy of Antichrist at Innocent the 1st Year 404. his Childhood at Boniface the 3d. Year 606. his Youth at Leo the 3d. Year 800. his grown Age at Hildebrand Year 1075. and his old Age at Leo the 10th Year 1517. then rose Luther against Leo's Indulgences Alsted Chroonl Pag. 392. 394. 38. And in the 7th Century Bishop Usher demonstrates that at least the Church did live then though she had not sound health in giving her Testimony against Antichrist as many Bishops exploded Antichrists Images at Constantinople in Y. 754. and further shows how the Brittish German and Gallick Churches gave the like Testimony sighing out their proh dolor like mournfull Witnesses with the Oriental Churches against Image-worship Usher de Successione Ecclesiae pag. 33 34. 39. But in the 8th Century Gregory the fourth unlike to the first of that name forenamed appeared such a man of Sin in his proud Tyrannical Usurpations that Italy it self had several Sackcloth-witnesses against that Antichrist as Baronius confesses Ann. 863. Sect. 42. Inter quos fuit Basilius Zosimus Metrophanes cumque ipsis multi alii qui hujusmodi tyrannidem deplorabant ad Ecclesiarum defensionem multis cum lacrymis opem ab aliis implorabant Many Witnesses then deplored Antichrists Tyranny and implored the help of others against him Usher de continua Success pag. 39. 40. In this Century also Albertus Clemens complures alii à Bonifacio dissenserunt Histor Magdeburg Cent. 8. and vehemently opposed him Avent Annal. lib. 3. I name but few witnesses in those Cent. because it is not doubted of by any but by Enemies and they be too many to be quoted See Magde Cent. 7. pag. 277. 40. Then in the 9th Century Agobardus Rabanus Maurus Bertram yea and Scotus were all Orthodox about the Lords Supper and opposed the Popish Doctrine of the Real Presence with the Authority of Austin as well as of the Scripture Fox Martyrol 1st Vol. pag. 187. And he shews how Scotus also assented to the Graecian Church more than to the Roman See also Jus divinum Ministerii p. 54. Osian Epit. 9. Cent. pa. 44. li. 4. c. 1. Clark Martyr Engl. pa. 42. Dr. Humphry Regius Professor at Oxford tells this story of Scotus out of Crinitus in his Preface to Praxis Jesuitism pag. 22. that Scotus was supposed to be poyson'd by some of his own Popish Scholars for his Testimony against Popery in that Point And about the latter end of this Century Arnulphus Bishop of Aurelia speaks boldly in a Synod at Rhemes Quid hunc in sublimi solio residentem veste purpured aurea radiantem quid hunc inquam censetis Antichristus est and sadly mourns there quòd Religione profligatâ nomen Dei impunè humilietur Cultus divinus etiam à summis Sacerdotibus condemnatur who is this that sits on his Throne in Scarlet 't is Antichrist who by a loose Religion lays the Truth wast yet scapes scot-free Usher Ibid. pag. 44. 41. In the 10th Century though Bellarmin says Nullum seculum indoctius infoelicius Yet God had his Witnesses against Antichrist as appears by our own Aelfricks Homily in the Saxon Tongue appointed to be read at Easter to the People in Confutation of the Real Presence neither was this the Opinion of one Bishop to wit Aelfrick only but Wulfsine Bishop of Sherbourn and Wulfstane Bishop of York and divers other Learned Men in that time but especially Berengarius was a witness in Sackcloth against Transubstantiation an error that crept late into the Church and yet was the first that was most vigorously
opposed 42. In the 11th Century Bernard writes wo be to this Generation for the leaven of the Pharisees c. all pretend to be the Ministers of Christ and yet serve Antichrist for he is Antichrist which counterfits himself not only the Day but the Mid-day extolling himself above all that is called God this is as he calls him the meridian Devil c. And in another place he in Prayer mourns out those words Oh God thy near Friends in pretence come near to conspire against thee c. Alass alass oh Lord God these are the chief in Persecution that are chief in the Church and about their forbidding Marriage he saith it fills all Concubinariis incestuosis seminifluis mollibus masculorum concubitoribus omni denique Immundorum genere with filthy Fornicators effeminate incestuous Seed-shedders Sodomites all manner of uncleanness This is spoke like a Witness 43. Then in the 12th Cehtury more Light began to break forth and the Waldenses appear'd those famous Witnesses against Antichrist that communicated Light to many Nations Insomuch that in the 13. Cent. our own Grosthead Bishop of Lincoln Romanorum malleus daringly wrote to the Pope himself that he was Antichrist In the 14. Cent. appear'd Bradwardin Armachanus and that famous Sackcloth-Prophet John Wickcliffe In the 15 Cent. John Hus Jerom of Prague and then Luther c. So that in no Cent. did the Lord want witnesses to his Truth besides many others that mourn'd in secret places of the wilderness which are not found upon Record 44. Thus from the beginning of the 6t Century Witnesses in Sackcloth may be found against Antichrist revealed but not so clearly from the 4th Century which yet many hath followed from Innocent the first which not only Event but also this Argument seems to gainsay to wit though Innocent the first attempted Supremacy yet on a slender Foundation insomuch as his Successors Zosimus Boniface the first Caelestine the first and Sixtus the third bottom'd their claim of Supremacy upon a supposititious Canon of the Councel of Nice This fraud was detected by the African Bishops comparing it with the Authentick Copies Alsted Encuclop Histor pag. 2849. at large 45. Methinks to foot the accompt of Antichristianism from Leo the first seems far more probable than from Innocent the first because this Leo the first insisted upon no supposititious Canons for his Supremacy claimed but as Alsted saith Cunctis majoribus suis astutiùs egit he was more crafty than all his Predecessors pleading a Divine Right for his Primacy that Christ gave to Peter above all the Apostles so consequently to the Roman Bishop Peters Successor above all other Bishops This plea his Legats strenuously urg'd in the Counsel of Chalcedon in the Y. of Christ 450. as Helvicus accounts it or 440. as Prideaux being the 4. Oecumenical Councel to which if we add the term of Antichrist 1260. it will fall about 1700. or 1710. Y. after Christ 46. This seems a more probable Epocha not only because Event hath not yet confuted this as it hath done the other but 2ly because the highest claim for Supremacy to wit Jus divinum was then pretended 3ly the name Leo suits well with the Beast Antichrist who is said to have the mouth of a Lion and a mouth speaking great things Rev. 13.2,5 as if this Leo call'd Magnus were graphically pointed at in that description But 4ly t is observed that 3 great Dispensations about Antichrist fell out under 3 Leo's Beasts all this Leo the first laid the foundation Leo the third advanc'd the Kingdom of Antichrist by crowning Charles the Great And Leo the ninth or as some say the tenth weaken'd it and perhaps a 4th Leo may arise to destroy it about the Y. of Christ 1710. 47. But the most probable of all is the timing of Antichrist at 606. ut suprá For 1. Gregory the great said after Leo the great that Antichrist was but at Hand in his time 2ly Boniface the third then caught the Bird of Supremacy which his Predecessors only beat the Bush for 3ly Luther then timed Antichrist who was so much enlighten'd against him and many solid holy and learned Men since according to which Antichrists fall may be protracted till about the 18. Century Exitus acta probat Event will be the best proof 48. Thus through the help of Christ I am at length arriving out of this troublesom Sea wherein I could find so few way-marks to guide me in my search after so abstruse a point Those first Ages of Antichrist were very unhappy in the rarity of famous Writers or at least the Monuments of very few be come to our hand because the mystery of Iniquity more and more prevailed hence Illyricus saith Pontificiorum astu scripta omnia quae Primatum Romanum Superstitiones ejus seculi impugnabant suppressa sunt ex bibliothecis ablata flammis consecrata Illyr Cat. Test pa. 676. those Writings are few upon Record being either consumed with the teeth of Time or cancel'd by an Index expurgatorius 49. Yet this is a received Truth and subscrib'd by all That the Faith which Christ and his Apostles taught in the first Age had visible Professors and Witnesses in all ages for otherwise the gates of Hell would have prevail'd against it and Christ would not have been present with the Church to the end of the World Therefore that there were Witnesses in every Age can be doubted by none but to assign all the Witnesses in every Age to that Faith which was once delivered to the Saints from the primo Antichristi ortu hic labor hoc opus est and though Witnesses to the Truth be found to be few in comparison of the Enemies to the Truth yet by those few we may conjecture many more as in Ahabs time lay hid unregistred So that to say our Religion was not before Luther is a Popish slander seeing it is unanswerably proved that the Faith of our Religion is the same Faith which Christ and his Apostles taught in the primitive times 50. To conclude the precise point of time for Antichrists fall can hardly be demonstrated from Boniface the third neither because Phocas his grant to Boniface Palmerius makes to be in Y. of Christ 607. and Beda 612. Magdeburg Centur. 7. pag. 121. D. E. though most make it in the 606. This uncertain substratum compells me to leave the pointing out of this Punctilio of time to God only It shall be one day known to the Lord Zech. 14.7 Hu Jevadang Jehovah is an exclusive expression God only and not Man knows it t is neither night nor day with us When the Church hath no Prophet there being Chathimath Chazon a sealing up of Prophecy Dan. 12.6,9 to tell her how long then she goes to God and cries Oh God How long Ps 74.9,10 The Saints upon Eearth cry How long Ps 13.1,2 The Souls under the Altar cry How long Rev. 6.9,10 And Christ himself cries How long Zech. 1.12