Decemvirs Dictators and one then was viz. Pagan-Emperours and the Seventh was not yet come viz. Christian Emperours amongst whom springs Antichrist who is said to be the Eighth and yet of the Seventh ver 11. So then during the time of the Roman-Pagan-Emperors the Dragon had but Six Heads therefore by the Dragon we are not to understanding the Devil as acting in that state but in the Antichristian when he had his Seven Heads compleat The Ten Horns are also interpreted Rev. 17.12 to be Ten Kings which had at that time of Johns writing received no Kingdom They respect a time when the Roman-Empire should be divided into Ten Kingdoms which was not while the Empire was Pagan but under the Seventh Head about the Year Four Hundred fifty six To which add that John doth painly enough intimate that these Ten Horns did not appertain to the Sixth Head that then was or the Roman-Pagan-Empire but to the Seventh which was to come for though he tells us they were Ten Kings yet he adds that they had received no Kingdom at that time i. e. they were Kings not actually but only in the purpose of God to be produced as such under the Seventh Head or Roman-Christian-Empire Besides the Beast with Seven Heads and Ten Horns is expresly said to carry the Whore or Antichristian-Church Rev. 17.3 From all which its most clear that the Dragon with Seven Heads and Ten Horns is to be understood the Devil as acting not in the Roman-Pagan but Christian or rather Antichristian State 2. By the Woman we are to understand the Churches of Christ So call'd upon the account of their visible espousal to him or giving up themselves to him as their Lord and Husband owning his despotick Authority in their profest Subjection to all his Institutions This seems evident Because 1. By Woman in the first verse is meant the Churches of Christ as is generally granted the Primitive Churches say most the Churches of Christ as appearing in a latter-day-glory say others And as the Woman was at first call'd of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ish the Man 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Isha Woman because she was of him So are the Churches of Christ call'd 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hashulammith Shulamitesse or Salomona or she that is peaceable of him who is the true 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sheloma Cant. 6.12 2. These are frequently as is already proved call'd the Bride the Wife of Christ said to be betrothed espoused to him He is call'd their 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ish Lord Husband 3. The Woman as related to Christ is in the Book of the Revelation set in opposition to the Whore or Mother of Harlots Rev. 17. Now she types out the false Churches therefore by the Woman we are to understand the true Churches of Christ 3. By the remnant of the Womans Seed some understand such as were brought forth by her in the Wilderness or particular members of the Church as others who by reason of the iniquity of the times cannot come together to Worship God in the Solemn Assemblies openly as formerly yet seperately and apart they do worship him Now there are several things that I humbly conceive lye in the way of these interpretations I. This War is not in but out of the Wilderness For into the Wilderness the Dragon could not it seems pursue her Therefore he casts a Flood of VVater out of his mouth to swallow her up but with little Success for the Earth helps her opens her mouth and swallows up the Flood Rev. 12.15 16. Besides he would if he could have attaqu't the Mother in the VVilderness as well as the Children brought forth by her there whereas this is a particular VVar against the remnant of her seed Nor 2. Can I see how their Worshipping severally and a part is consistent with the Characters given of the remnant of the Womans seed ver 17. who are expresly said to Keep the Commandments of God and to have the Testimony of Jesus Christ Nor 3. Would Satan have lookt upon them in their divided State to be so considerable as to go about to make so formal a War against them as is intimated could he disunite break dissipate scatter the Disciples of Christ he would think he had done his work at least so far that he might pick them up by degrees as he saw meet and not put himself to the cost and trouble 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of raising a War against them Little do some think how much they serve Satan by driving on a design of scattering the Saints and calling them off their Church-Assemblies A work he hath been attempting by various artifices and methods ever since Christ had his Churches in the World but hitherto without success This matter then must farther be considered By the seed of the Woman in the first Scripture-Notion of that expression we are to understand the Messiah Christ Gen. 3.15 Here it hath respect to the Saints begotten by the Word and Spirit of Jesus call'd the seed of the Woman because born in the midst of the Churches of Christ before that their flight into the Wilderness mention'd v. 14. As also because like her of the same nature spirit temper walking in the same footsteps owning the same Principles Doctrine practising the same Worship found in the observation of the same Institutions Ordinances with her By the remnant then of her seed we are to understand such as remain behind her when she flies into the Wilderness go not with her thither The Wilderness points out a state of secrecy retirement and so safety The Woman i. e. the body of the Churches Flies into the Wilderness from the face of the Serpent Worships in holes corners whilest this remnant keep on in their visible owning the Wayes Ordinances Institutions of Christ as formerly Who with submission I speak it I conceive to be most strictly the Witnesses in their last testimony to Jesus 4. As touching the fourth and fifth particular what this War is and to what period of time it hath relation It seems at least to me evident from what hath been already offer'd that 't is the last advance of the Dragon or Devil acting in the Papal-Antichristian-Wilde-Beast ascending out of the bottomless Pit or coming forth in more than ordinary malice fury against the two Witnesses or such of the Womans seed who shall at this time most strictly have the Spirit of Prophesie with them and so bear up for a season in a testimony for Christ against him the issue whereof shall be their slaughter or the driving them off that publick testimony they are bearing into the Wilderness whether the Woman or the body of the Churches was before fled And this seems more than Probable Because 1. Though here 's mention of the Dragons going about to make War with the remnant of the Womans seed yet there 's no intimation of the least execution as to any corporeal slaughter he makes upon them but they seem
20.1 2. the dead Saints raised 1 Thes 4.16 1 Cor. 15.23 Antichrist perfectly destroyed 2 Thes 2.8 The Kingdoms of this World become his Dan. 7.13 14. Object But Christ came personally on Earth to Stephen Paul John Answ Nothing more false As to Stephen 't is expresly said concerning him that he saw Jesus in Heaven standing on the right hand of God Act. 7.55 The same line of Interpretation is to be drawn over that sight that Paul had of him 'T was a sight of him not on Earth but in Heaven May be when he was caught up into Paradice John's was evidently visional For 1. He expresly tells us he was in the Spirit in a Prophetick exstasie or rapture Rev. 1.10 taken out of himself when objects are not presented to the outward senses which are not in an extasie capable of seeing or beholding them but to the inward mind 2. He also tells us that he whom he saw was only like unto the Son of Man ver 13. was not really substantially so 3. If it were a real personal appearance then the seven golden Candlesticks must be seven real golden Candlesticks the white Garment down to Christ's feet the golden Girdle girt about the paps the seven Stars in his right hand the sharp two-edged Sword coming out of his Mouth must also be real which is absurd ridiculous to imagine 't were to make Christ a monster 4. 'T is expresly said that he sent and signified the Revelation God gave him by an Angel Rev. 1.1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ every particular the whole of what 's contain'd in this Book which God gave unto him he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his Servant John Repeated again Rev. 22.6 The Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent his Angel to shew unto his Servants the things which must shortly be done John 't is true mistakes him for Christ ver 8. but is quickly rectified ver 9. I am thy Fellow-Servant and of thy Brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this Book CHAP. IV. The Book of the Revelaetion containes a Prophetick discovery of the State of the Church from the time of its being given forth to the glorious personal appearance of Christ The continuance of Gospel-Churches prophesied of in this Book to the time of Christ's coming The seven Churches of Asia a Type of Gospel-Churches and their continuation to that time Four signal periods of time mentioned in the Revelation viz. The time of the Roman-Pagan Empire of the Prophesying of the Witnesses of the last Dragon-War of the Witnesses rise and pouring forth of the Vials which periods in the personal coming of Christ The continuation of the Church-state through these several periods of time demonstrated The Womans or Church's flight into the Wilderness and the Witnesses prophesying in sackcloath contemporize Her feeding in the Wilderness what the manner of it An Objection answered The two Witnesses are not two particular Persons proved They are before the last of the last dayes Who meant by the Gentiles Rev. 11.2 Why call'd Gentiles The Court without the Temple and the Holy City the treading under foot of the Holy City the Temple of God the Altar and Worshippers therein Explained The fourty-two Months or 1260 Dayes not ordinary Months or Dayes evinced The Antichrist is long since come The Papal Kingdom is the Antichrist Rev. 12.17 at large explained The Dragon Woman remnant of her Seed who they are to what period of time that Prophesie hath relation The slaughter of the Witnesses not a corporeal slaughter proved The risen Witnesses and the Vial-Angels Contemporize None of the Vials yet poured forth Rev. 15.5 at large opened What 's meant by the Temple Why call'd the Temple of the Testimony What the opening of the Temple signifies Demonstration IV. THroughout the Book of the Revelation we have a plain and full account of a Church-state or Saints Worshipping God in Gospel-Churches till the Personal appearance of Christ Two things must be premised 1. This Book of the Revelation is a discovery from God the Father to Jesus Christ of things especially relating to his Churches that were shortly to come to pass Rev. 1.1 i. e. the accomplishment of some of the things there prophesied of was immediately to take place Yet 2. It containes a prophetick discovery of the State of the Church from that time to the personal coming of the Lord Jesus Rev. 20.1 And I saw an Angel Constantine say some an Arch-Angel so others Christ the Angel of the Covenant so rather come down from Heaven having the Key of the bottomless Pit Christ alone hath so Rev. 1.18 chap. 21.3 The Tabernacle of God is with men And 22.20 He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen even so come Lord Jesus So then if we demonstrate that the Continuance of a Church-state or Gospel-Churches is prophesied of throughout this Book the continuation of Gospel-Churches with the Worship Ordinances Institutions peculiar to them cannot be denied A late learned Author and some others before him asserts that by the seven Churches of Asia Rev. 2. 3. the State of the Church of Christ downwards to the end of all things is represented And the truth is with that strength of Arguments that I know not how it can be refelled The Church of Ephesus representing the State of the Church of Christ to the tenth of Nero's raign A.D. 63. Smyrna the State of the Church from 63. tell A.D. 324. when Constantine had subdued the most potent Enemies of the Church and comprises the Ten Presecutions Pergamos the state of the Church from 324. to A.D. 1242. when the Popes Legate Amelin made an end of the Albigensian War with Trancavel Bastard of the Earl of Beziers Thyatira the State of the Church from 1242. till whole Nations fell off from the Papacy Sardis from the rise of the Witnesses to the last Vial. Philadelphia from the time of the Last Vial to the fourth Thunder Laodicea the State of the Church from the fourth and fifth Thunders i. e. from the loosing of Satan to the appearing of Christ's coming to Judgment under the sixth Thunder Now though I have several reasons why I cannot comply with this Learned Author as touching the computation of time yet his Arguments to prove the State of the Church from that time to the Confummation of the World to be represented by the seven Churches of Asia seem unanswerable As 1. The title of the Revelation ver 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ to shew unto his Servants things which must shortly come to pass The Asiatick Churches then were this Book containes a Revelation of things that were to be 2. John's present saluting of the Seven Churches upon his calling this a Book of Prophesies with this Salutation Grace be unto you and Peace from him which is and which was and which is to come manifests as much 3. The description he gives of Christ which is and which was and
difference God makes betwixt Professors some he curiously Measures others he deals not so with as not worth minding being Virgins Nullius Pretii of no reckoning value 4. That the building of the Church is Gods work his measuring-line not Man's must be stretcht over it 5. His care to preserve this remnant in that purity simplicity of Worship that was according to his Will and they had attain'd to during the whole time of the Antichristian Apostacy and Prophesying of the Witnesses against it Measuring in Scripture somtimes at least denotes the care concern of Jehovah for the thing measured III. All the time of Antichrist's rampancy there are two Witnesses that have Power given them from the Lord at least till the time of their slaughter to prophesie against Antichrist i. e. to stand by the Lord of the whole Earth against him Rev. 11.3 4. viz. to take Christ's part against Antichrist maintain defend the things of Christ against the incroachments devices carnal inventions of Antichrist Now this man of Sin made not onely advances against the Doctrine of the Gospel but against the oeconomy order thereof with respect to Worship Christ hath his particular Churches with fixed Officers in them Institutions Orders of his own affixed to them all gather'd by the Power of the Spirit and voluntarily giving up themselves to the Lord and one another Pastors Teachers chosen by them from amongst themselves He the Head of them all Antichrist hath his oecumenical Universal Church Officers Institutions Ordinances Forraign contrary to Christ's He sets up himself as Head of this Antichristian-Church gathers into it by force violence rules governs it by Canons Laws of his own If then Christ hath his Witnesses and their work be to Witness for him against Antichrist's innovations they must be found not only pleading against these which would be only a negative testimony but witnessing for the Order Institutions of Christ and so consequently be in the practice of these For it cannot be imagin'd that Christ's Witnesses should own that in Principle and plead for it which they are themselves out of the practice of Nay the truth is this last is that wherein their witness signally lyes IV. That the Woman's flight into the Wilderness Rev. 12.6 and the Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth contemporize is not onely generally granted but 't is from hence evident because the time of the Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth and the Womans continuing in the Wilderness is the same Rev. 11.3 They shall Prophesie a thousand two hundred and sixty dayes clothed in sackcloth Rev. 12.6 And the Woman fled into the Wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God that they should feed her there one thousand two hundred and three-score dayes That she was in the Wilderness in a Church-state waiting upon the Lord in Institutions Ordinances of his own appointment is evident 1. She is therefore call'd the Woman as the false Church is call'd the whorish Woman because of her Antichristian Church-state Worship Ordinances 2. 'T is said They should feed her there Quest Who shall feed her there Answ Persons appointed by the Lord and chosen by the Church in this her Wilderness-state shall do it Quest How should they feed her Answ There 's no extraordinary way of feeding pointed at by the Spirit of the Lord therefore she 's to be fed in God's Ordinary way in her attendment on Institutions of his own appointment for that end So that evidently there were Churches Church-Institutions Worship all the time of the Witnesses prophesying Object All this may be granted and yet the continuance of Gospel-Churches not proved for the Witnesses began not to Prophesie till a few years ago Answ Though this Objection be very weak frivolous the basis upon which it is built generally exploded by all Reformed Christians and therefore may seem not worthy our notice yet resolving not willingly to pass by any thing that may seem to have the least shadow of Argument in it against what we are pleading for and for the sake of some that are or may be in danger to be led aside by such pretensions as these we shall particularly examine it Several things are supposed as the basis upon which this Objection is built that are evidently false which being demonstrated to be so the Objection will presently evaporate into smoke and vanity As 1. That the two Witnesses spoken of are two particular Persons 2. That they are to come in the last of the last dayes 3. That the time of their Prophesie is but One thousand two hundred and three-score natural dayes Now the Heterodoxy of all this will presently appear I. As touching the first 't is true Bellarmine the Jesuite and others tell us not only that they are two particular Persons whom some of late follow but also who they are viz. Enoch and Elias who they say shall come and fight against Antichrist in Jerusalem and there be put to death by him Bellar. de Rom. Pontif. l. 3. c. 13. But that they are not cannot be two particular Persons is evident 1. The Two Witnesses are call'd two Candlesticks which Christ interprets to be Churches as was said before 2. The Two Witnesses Prophesie all the Wild Beast's Antichrist's Reign viz. Fourty-two Months or One thousand two hundred sixty dayes viz. prophetick dayes i. e. Years as shall by and by be demonstrated 'T is not to be imagined that any two particular Persons should ever live so long 3. During the time of their Prophesie They torment them that dwell upon the Earth Rev. 11.10 i. e. the Antichristian Kingdom which 't is not probable two particular Persons especially considering that those which hold this notion assert also that the 1260. dayes are natural dayes or three Years and an half should do in so short a time 4. When they are slain and lye dead in the street of the great City three dayes and an half natural dayes as they 'l have it they of the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations viz. the multitude over which Antichrist presides see their dead bodies and rejoyce over them Which that they should do if but two particular persons and they lye dead for so short a time is the first-born of absurdities 'T is impossible within that limit the persons mention'd should all hear of it much more come to see it II. That the two Witnesses are to come in the last of the last dayes is also an unscriptural-vanity as is evident 1. The two Witnesses Prophesying and the Gentiles treading under foot the Holy City contemporize Rev. 11.2 3. But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it 's given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot fourty and two Months And I will give Power unto my two Witnesses and they shall Prophesie 1260 Dayes cloathed in Sackcloth The fourty two Months according to the Grecian account are exactly 1260. Dayes so long then as the Gentiles tread down the
praesidet orbi The Seven-hill'd City that governs the World saith Propertius But take the Letter or that which Letteth in either of the forementioned sences and he hath been actually taken away for above this thousand Years Immediately upon which Antichrist was revealed whose time and the Beast's are the same for they themselves are the same Therefore the fourty-two Months cannot possibly denote fourty-two Ordinary Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty natural dayes viz. Three Years and a half but a much longer tract of time By what hath hitherto in this matter been offered the Judicious Reader will find a plain probation of the main Thesis we are now in the confirmation of viz. that the two Witnesses come before the last of the last dayes For 2. The two Witnesses are expresly said to prophesie One thousand two hundred and sixty Dayes i. e. Years according to the Prophetick reckoning as we have proved 3. The Witnesses Prophesying and the rampancy of the Wild-Beast Rev. 13.2 3. take up the same time of fourty two Months or One thousand two hundred and sixty Dayes but it hath been demonstrated that the term of the Wild Beast is not so short as three Years and an half therefore the Witnesses Prophesying cannot be thrust into so narrow a compass 4. The time of the Witnesses Prophesying and Antichrists day after his Revelation are the same For Antichrist and the Wild Beast Rev. 13. are the same And the Witnesses Prophesying and the rampancy of the Wild Beast take up the same time as hath been proved That Antichrist hath been reveal'd in the World for hundreds of Years past hath also been demonstrated Therefore the Witnesses Prophesying hath been also thus long so must have their existence as Prophesying Witnesses before the last of the last Dayes Quod erat demonstrandum As touching the third supposition upon which the Objection is built viz. III. That the time of the Witnesses Prophesie is but for One thousand two hundred and sixty natural dayes the contrary hath been from what hath been said touching the second particular abundantly evinc'd to which add The Witnesses are to Prophesie all the time of Antichrist as hath been proved The truth is they are raised up Spirited by the Lord as witnesses to prophesie against him and his incroachments upon the Soveraign Authority of Christ T is true the Papists that they may clear the Pope of the charge hath been by the Protestants laid against him as the Antichrist assert That Antichrist is not yet come that he is not to come till towards the period of time to continue when he comes but three years and an half Thus Bellarmin l. 3 De Pontif. Antichristus debet regnare non nisi tres annos cum medio praecise Antichristi adventus erit paulo ante finem mundi continuo post mortem ejus mundus finetur i. e. Antichrist ought to raign but three years and an half precisely The coming of Antichrist shall be a little before the end of the World By and by after his death the World shall terminate Two things in this matter are easily demonstrated 1. That Antichrist is long since come I. That the Papal Kingdom is the Antichrist spoken of which if plainly from Scripture demonstrated it undeniably follows that the time of the witnesses prophesie cannot be shut up within the limits of one Thousand two Hundred and Sixty natural days 1. That Antichrist is long since come is evident for 1. He is Prophesied of as to come when the Apostacy should break forth 2. Thes 2.3 Except there come a falling away first and that man of sin be revealed So that evidently upon the coming in of the Apostacy the man of sin or Antichrist is to be revealed But the Apostack hath been already for several hundreds of years witness the corruption in doctrine viz. Justification by Works Transubstantiation c. in Worship viz. the veneration of Reliques the invocation of Saints the Worship of the breaden God Images c. 2. The Mystery of Iniquity wrought viz. in Order to the bringing forth of the man of Sin in the Apostles Dayes 2 Thes 2.7 It cannot then be imagin'd but his birth was near What in the Womb then and not to be brought forth for hundreds of years after credat Appella 'T is a figment that the repetition of is refutation sufficient 3. The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or that which letted his Revelation 2 Thes 2.6 was long since removed out of the way as hath been demonstrated Immediately upon which he was to be revealed ver 8. The truth of this will more evidently appear in our discussions of the second particular viz. 2. That the Papal Kingdom is THE ANTICHRIST spoken of in the Scripture Which we shall in a distinct Treatise 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 fully demonstrate The third Period of time mentioned in the Revelation is III. The time of the last Dragon-War When we have an account also of a Gospel-Church-state Churches Worshipping God according to the appointment of Christ Of this War we have an account Rev. 12.17 And the Dragon was Wroth with the Woman and went about to make War with the remnant of her Seed V.L. And the Dragon was Wroth against the Woman and went to make War with the rest of her seed Ar. Therefore that Serpent was wroth against the Woman and went to wage War with the Seed of the Woman that was left Syr. And that Dragon was wroth against the Woman and went to make War with them who are the residue of her Seed Aeth And this Beast was wroth against this Woman and went that he might oppugn the rest of her Sons Much to the same purpose A few things must be considered 1. Who is meant by the Dragon 2. Who by the Woman 3. Who are the Remnant of her Seed 4. What this War is 5. To what Period of time it hath Relation 6. That in the time of this War there is a Gospel-Church-state of the appointment of Christ to which Saints are found in Conformity I. As touching the first by the Dragon we are to understand the Devil So the Spirit interprets ver 9. And the great Dragon was cast out that Old Serpent call'd the Devil and Satan So also Rev. 20.2 So call'd upon the account of his 1. Sublety 2. Malice Enmity against mankind especially the Saints 3. Cruelty in devouring swallowing them up 4. Strength Power to put in Execution by Divine sufferance his enmity against them But yet the Devil as acting not in the Roman-Pagan-state but in the Antichristian wherein he most evidently displayes his enmity bloody cruelty subtilty and Power Now this seems to be very evident For this Dragon is said to have Seven Heads and Ten Horns and Ten Crowns upon his Heads The Seven Heads are interpreted Rev. 17.9 10. not only to be Seven Mountains but also Seven Kings or seven sorts of Government whereof five were fallen when John writ viz. Kings Consuls Tribunes
rather with respect to that in as great safety as the Woman that before was fled into the Wilderness In answer to which the slaughter of the Witnesses is not cannot be a corporeal slaughter as amongst others is most evident from this single consideration viz. Such as their slaughter is such will their Resurrection be if their slaughter be corporeal their Resurrection must be so But their Resurrection is not cannot be a corporeal Resurrection because it crosses the Scripture 1 Cor. 15.23 Every one in his own order Christ the first-fruits afterwards those that are Christ's at his coming clearly asserting that the Saints rise not till the personal coming of Christ But now the Witnesses rise before as is granted by all 2. After this advance of the Dragon you hear no more of this remnant of the Womans seed till the great Randezvouz upon Mount Sion Rev. 14.1 Where they are the risen Witnesses represented under the notion of One Hundred forty and four Thousand with their fathers name upon their foreheads going forth under the conduct of the Lamb to execute the Judgements written against Antichrist ver 7.8 9 10 11 12. to the end And no wonder for all this while viz. from the time of their slaughter to the time of their rise they lie Dead as to any publick visible witness for Christ which formerly they bear till the Spirit of Life from God re-enters into them and they stand upon their feet 3. This War against the remnant of the Womans seed is much about the same time with her second flight into the Wilderness ver 14. That that flight of the Woman into the Wilderness is a second flight is evident For 1. She is represented ver 10 12. as coming out of it with Tryumph Shouting having greatned confidence that she should never return thither again for she sings ver 10. Now is come Salvation and Strength and the Kingdom of our God and the Power of his Christ 2. The Wilderness whether she flies is call'd HER PLACE ver 14. viz. with respect to what 's said ver 6. with relation to her first flying thither And the Woman fled into the Wilderness where she hath a place prepared of God Into this place which is now call'd her place because before prepar'd for her of God doth she now fly Now that second flight of the Woman into the Wilderness is exactly the same with the time of the Witnesses lying dead She is nourish't for a time times and half a time from the face of the Serpent So the Witnesses lye dead a time one Year times two Years and half a time half a Year viz. Three Years and a half which is congruous to the Scripture-Notion of time or times Dan. 4.23 25. VI. That in the time of this War there is a Gospel-Church-state is evident For 1. There 's the Woman i. e. the Saints in Church-Communion Worshipping God in the wayes of Christs Institution for upon this account she 's call'd the Woman Bride of Christ as hath been proved fled into the Wilderness just as 't were upon its commencement 2. The Remnant of the Womans seed which keep the Commandments of God ver 17. If by the Commandments of God we understand the Commandments of God the Father or of Jesus Christ it comes all to one For one great Commandment of the Father to the Sons of Men is to hear Christ Deut. 18.18 19. And on the Holy Mount a voice is heard to the same purpose Mat. 17.5 And Christ tells us that those that have heard and learnt of the Father come to him viz. to be instucted by him John 6.45 And he that hears him i. e. obey's subjects to him his in-doctrinations teachings hears the Father 3. They are also said to have the Testimony of Jesus i. e. 1. Negatively they hold not to the Decrees Canons Laws Institutions of Pope Councils Fathers c. They abhor to comply with any Antichristian Superstitions Worship Orders Ordinances would they have done so the Devil had never gon about to make War against them The Spirit testifyes of them that they were not defiled with Woman Rev. 14.4 i. e. with none of the Idolatries Superstitions Fornications of the great Whore or any of her Daughters 2. Positively they do visibly own Jesus Christ in all his Offices Laws Institutions nor will they be perswaded to leave them or cease to conform to them whatever it cost them The Lord testifies of them in their risen-state that they are Virgins Rev. 14.4 i. e. chast to Christ faithful to his Institutions And thus much touching the Third Period of time in which it's evident there are Churches of the institution of Christ That there are so 4. At the Witnesses rise and all along the pouring out of the Vials is very evident by the same Book of the Revelation By the way I would modestly give my Judgment touching Two things I. That the risen-Witnesses and the Vial-Angels contemporize This seems evident For 1. The time of the Witnesses Prophesying is a time of Mourning to them being in their Sack-cloth-state and for the most part the time of Antichrist rampancy but at the time of their rise the scene begins to alter and the Vengance of God falls so fearfully upon the Antichristians that the tenth part of the City falls or one of the Ten Kingdoms totally draws off from Antichrist and is brought into subjection to Christ The time of the beginning of the pouring out of the Vials is a time of Mourning to the Antichristians for the Vials are Vials of the Pure Wrath of God Almighty pour'd forth in his Authority and by his Appointment upon them 2. From the Witnesses rise the destruction of the Kingdom of the Beast or of Antichrist goe's on till he be wholly destroyed and the Kingdoms become the Lords Rev. 11.14 15 16 17 18. The same fate befals the Antichristians under the pouring forth of the Vials their Kingdom is gradually wasted consumed till it cease to be Rev. 16 from first to last But this is not a place fully to prosecute this matter II. That there are none of the Vials yet poured forth These few things amongst others which must not now be mentioned lead me captive to the belief of this Assertion 1. The Witnesses I humbly conceive are not yet risen 't is to be feared not yet slain Now the risen-witnesses and Vial-Angels synchronizing they not being risen these have not pour'd forth one Vial. 2. We have not yet seen the preparatory work to the powring forth of the Vials mentioned Rev. 15. 3. The subject of the Vials are the persons or things of Antichrist The Vials being Vials of pure Wrath on whatever persons or things they fall they totally consume them so as that they shall never stand up or exist more What of the Persons things of Antichrist have been thus removed destroyed Are they not all in their splendour height glory at this day 4. The Vial-Angels and the Stone-smiting Dan. 2.
Revelation then made by him with respect to Institutions Worship is in every day to be attended to by the Saints A Church-state is then bottomed upon the Prophetick-office of Christ and to continue from the time of its erection by him to the consummation of all things II. As 't is bottomed upon the Prophetick-Office of Christ so 't is upon his Sacerdotal or Priestly The Apostle argues from the change of the Levitical priest-hood to the change of the whole of that Church-polity its Laws and Institutions Heb. 7.12 For the Priest-hood being changed there is made of necessity a change also of the Law If this be a cogent Argument it follows strongly on the contrary If there be no change of the priest-hood as the Melchizedekian Priest-hood or the priest-hood of Christ after the order of Melchizedeck abides for ever as the same Apostle tells us then there is no change of the Law or institutions appertaining thereunto That the whole of Gospel-institutions have a dependance upon the Priestly-Office of Christ is manifest 1. That the legal Ministration or Worship was affixt to had a dependance upon the Aaronick Priest-hood the Apostle plainly enough declares in the forecited place Heb. 7.12 Now if the Worship of that day had such dependance upon that Priesthood that it liv'd and dyed stood and fell with it the Gospel-ministration and Worship must have the same dependance upon the real Eternal Priesthood of CHRIST for that was Typick of this throughout 2. Christ by his Death or the Oblation of himself which was a principal part of his Priestly-Office vertually put a period to the Law of Commandments contain'd in Mosaick-Ordinances Eph. 2.15 And so by the removing of them made way for the erection of the Gospel-church-state with the Institutions appertaining thereunto This the Apostle fully declares v. 18 19 20 21 22. For through him as our High-Priest for as such he 's discoursing of him as is Evident from v. 13 14 15 16 we both viz. Jewes and Gentiles have an access in Gospel-institutions by one Spirit unto the Father Now therefore ye are no more Strangers and Forreinners but Fellow-citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God And are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-stone In whom all the building fitly joyn'd together groweth unto an holy Temple in the Lord. In whom you are builded together for an Habitation of God through the Spirit Nothing could be more Evident if written with the beams of the Sun than this that Gospel-churches call'd the Houshold the Building of GOD with all the Institutions of CHRIST through which they have access to God are bottom'd upon the Priestly-Office of Christ 'T is through him as our Priest that we have access in Worship to the Father and equally in and through him as such that we are of the houshold of God his Habitation Temple 3. All the fittings preparings of Souls as fit materials for this Spiritual-Temple Building and the management of the Ordinances thereof are bottom'd upon the Priestly-Office of Christ That men in their natural state are altogether unfit for such a building or work will be granted otherwise Arguments enough lie near at hand for it's confirmation Our Lord hath solemnly determin'd this Controversy if with any it be a Controversy Joh. 3.3 5. That persons fitness lies in the communication of the Spirit a divine principle of Life the participation of the grace of the Covenant that therein also lies their meetness ability for the work and service of this Temple will not be denied Now whence flowes all this but from the Oblation Intercession of Christ the two signal parts of his Priestly-Office Nay 4. The Saints comming to God with their Temple-Worship all of it hath its Foundation here were it not for the Priest-hood of Christ they must stand off at an eternal distance Jehovah would be a terror consuming fire to them This all know who have a sight of themselves in their lapsed corrupt depraved state and of the infinite purity and righteousness of God This the Apostle treats of Heb. 4.14 15 16. and 7.19 Yea 5. All the acceptance of their Persons and all their Temple-worship with the Father of Spirits is bottomed here Were not Christ our High-priest had he not as such made an Attonement Reconciliation for us did he not make Intercession as such for us both we and our most solemn performances would be loathed rejected by the Lord. 6. Their encouragement to come to God with boldness the great motive to abide in their Temple-Worship and not to forsake the Assembling themselves together to be diligent in the discharge of the duties they are obliged to perform to one another in their Church-relation is fixed here Heb. 10.20 21 22 23 24 25. Their rejection of Gospel-communion is accounted an undervaluing of the Priestly-Office of Christ v. 28 29. To which add 7. That the preservation of Gospel-churches Ordinances is a fruit of the Priestly-Office of Christ bottomed upon his Oblation Intercession Why are they not dispersed scattered Why have not their Adversaries ruin'd destroyed them Whence is it that they have liberty to tread the Lords Court and Worship before the footstool of his Throne in Peace yea whence is it That the Devil with all his power policy hath not been able to ruin destroy the Churches of Christ It 's Christ that died yea rather that is risen again who ever lives to make Intercession Rom. 8.34 so that in this matter hear's full measure of Demonstration pressed down running over that Gospel-Churches Institutions appertaining to them are bottomed upon the Priestly-Office of Christ If he continue our High-priest if there be any vertue in his death energie power in his Intercession they must continue also And when these fail we are content to sink perish Maluimus cum Christo perire quam cum Caesare regnare III. Gospel-churches Institutions are also bottomed upon the Kingly-Office of Christ whence their perennity perpetuity is Evident That Christ is a King hath his Subjects Laws by which he governs them cannot be denied That he hath yet doth exercised his Kingly-soveraignty over them will be granted if he do not do so he is not King his despotick authority is at an end Who are his Subjects Those that dwell in Sion his Church his Body his House his Kingdom which hath been demonstrated to be Saints embodied and worshipping him in a Gospel-church-state to these he is a Head Lord King What are the Laws he Rules them by gives forth for the tryal of their Faith Love Obedience They are Gospel-Ordinances of his own institution and appointment And as of old the people of the Jewes that Church of God when they rejected his Ordinances are said to reject him cast off his Soveraignty Ruledom So because of their pertinacious adherence to the Laws of Moses when Christ had perioded that Ministration had left the World and was gone to his