liberty to have the Gospel preached which is indeed the pouring forth of the seventh Viall that he that runs may reade it Upon the seventh Trumpet sounding and declaring what was now done in Heaven the high place of Judicature presently there was great voices of confidence and affiance in Heaven the Church that now the Kingdomes of this world should be taken out of that wicked antichristian Beasts hands and given into the hands of Christ and his Saints The people of God seeing Jesus Christ and his witnesses taking but the tenth part of the Kingdoms from Antichrist they looke from the beginning of the work to the end and were confident that the time of the enemies ruine was now come and the Churches sinall deliverance and the civill power of all the Kingdomes in the world should be put into the hands of Christ and his Saints and they shall raigne for ever and ever The same thing was shewed to Daniel almost 2300. yeares since when he saw the ancient of daies sit and the thrones of the Beast cast downe Dan. 7.9.13.14 Then one like the Son of man came to the ancient of daies and there was given him dominions and glory and a Kingdome that all people nations and languages should serve him and not him only but the Saints of the most High and the Kingdomes and Dominions and the greatnesse of the Kingdomes under the whole Heavens shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high and they shall possesse the Kingdome even for ever ever and ever Three terms and sections of times shall the Saints possesse the Kingdoms of the world after Antichrist hath his powers taken out of his hands as we shall shew anon The Churches of Christ do not only expresse their confidence and affiance they had in God for the accomplishment of this great worke that was now begun Vers 16. but they with all humility and reverence fall upon their faces before God and worship him in giving him thanks and praise which is and was and is to come who hath taken to him his great power and hath raigned And they further declare that the Nations of the antichristian world were angry Vers 18. as indeed they were at his great worke now begun and that the time of his wrath against the wicked is now come and the time of the dead that they should now be judged that is that now judgment shall be given to the poore Saints of God and witnesses of Christ that were slaine and lay dead for three daies and a halfe and that he should give a reward unto his servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear his Name both small and great and should destroy them that have destroyed the Earth which the Lord will accomplish in this present age The third effect is the opening of the Temple by Christ and his witnesses which sate in Heaven Effect 3. Vers 19. and the Temple of God was opvned in Heaven By Temple is meant the Church the people of God By Heaven is meant the high place of Judicature so by the Temple of God being opened in Heaven is nothing else but Christ and his Witnesses giving leave and liberty to the people of God thus congregated to worship Christ in his Temple And this they did first by their connivence and forbearing to trouble them and to molest them as Antichrist and his faction did and afterwards they shall give them some liberty Rev. 6.12 being tender over the consciences of men in matters of worship Rev. 21.6 But at the end of the ruine of Antichrist Then the Temple shall be set wide open that whosoever will shall enter in if they be not such as defile or work abomination This we have seen fulfilled before our eyes that those that were Christs Witnesses Rev. 10. they countenanced and spared to molest the people of God that had joyned themselves in League and Covenant to come out of Babylon Rev. 27. and not to meddle at all with that Antichristian cup of spirituall fornications and to worship their Lord and Husband Christ according to divine institution but those that were of Antichrists side though pretended otherwise they would be stirring up the common people against them untill they were cast out of Heaven to the earth even all those popish affected ones When the Temple of God was thus opened there was seene in his Temple the Arke of his Testament that is verse 19. then the Lord Christ who is the Arke of Gods Testement was seen to be in his Temple in the midst of those people that before was looked upon as factious and seditious men but the Temple being open they prove otherwise And when the Antichristian party saw that Christ and his Witnesses tooke part with these men then there were Voyces and Thunderings and Lightnings and an Earthquake and a great Haile that is then there was great stirs combustions hurliburlies quakings and feares amongst the Antichristian party And last of all these grew to a great haile or great storme and war as weshall see anon between the servants and Witnesses of Christ and those that were for the Dragon and Antichrist in Heaven The fourth effect was A great wonder which appeared in Heaven Effect 4. a Woman cloathed with the Sunne By Woman is meant the Church of God who is cloathed with the Sunne of righteousnesse and which have her Officers in the midst of her officiating and emptying the golden Oyle out of themselves into the bosome of the Church 〈◊〉 4.12 〈◊〉 1.6.20 and are as a Crowne of gold unto her head set forth by 12 Stars after the Tribes of the children of Israel and the Moon is under her feet that is under her feet are all sublunary conentment and delight shee contemning them with holy scorn derision and being great with child cryed travailing in birth and pained to be delivered that is the people of God seeing Christ and some of his Saints and Witnesses in Heaven and many that were with them were against Christ and for the Dragon The Church hereupon is with child as it were and travailes in paine to have a godly Magistracy set up in the world that those which were in Heaven the high place of Judicature that was against Christ and his Government might be cast out that so the Lord Christ that man-childe might in and by his Saints rule the nations with a rod of iron and this they cryed and travailed in paine to God by humble and fervent prayers and to his Witnesses that sate in Heaven by humble petitions from the yeer of Christ 1639. to 1641. ☞ Whereupon another Wonder appeares in Heaven a great red Dragon having ten Hornes and seven Crownes upon his heads he stood ready to devoure this man-child so soone as it was borne The devil and satan in the Roman Beast and his Image the Pope and they in and by those popish Lords
The great MYSTERIE OF GOD OR The Vision of the Evening and the Morning opened Whereby comparing Scripture with acts of Divine Providence will plainly appeare that the Ruine of Mysticall Babylon and the Erecting of spirituall Jerusalem are the ground of these present Commotions which are not to cease till by meanes of this present Parliament The Worke being so compleated That Christ shall in and by his Saints in tranquility reigne on earth one thousand yeeres Revel 1.2 Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie and keep those things that are written therein for the time is at hand Exod. 15.18 The Lord shall reigne for ever and ever Dan. 2.22 For he revealeth deep and secret things he knows what is in the dark and the light dwelleth with him Revel 22.10 Stale not the sayings of the Prophesie of this Booke for the time is at hand LONDON Printed for John Wright in the old Baylâ—y 1645. To the RIGHT HONOURABLE the House of PEERS AND TO THE HONOURABLE the House of COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT at Westminster HIgh and most honoured ever renowned Senators the Lord of his free grace and love having about some two or three yeers since cast my thoughts and meditations upon that great vision shewed unto his servants Prophets Daniel and John concerning the time of the raign and the ruine of these five grand enemies of the Church set forth by the Spirit of God to Daniel to be one Image and to John to be but one Beast all in league together to persecute the Saints of God by comparing the Words of God and the Acts of Gods providence one with the other I finde that these enemies destruction is nigh at hand and Gods peoples finall deliverance neere yea the worke is begun already and will not be long before the Lord will consummate it Withall I humbly conceive that You are those two great Witnesses which the Spirit of Christ foretold long since should be raised up to Heaven the high place of Justice and Judicature though all the people and Saints of God from the yeer of Christ 375. unto 1639. be reckoned for his Witnesses and so looked upon by Christ because they all bore witnesse unto those Truths of Christ which that man of sinne denied yet You in a more especiall manner at this time because You are not onely to protest against Antichrist and his grand lie who said That the power of Churches and States belonged to him But You are that Judgement which should sit and take his Kingdome and Dominion from him Dan. 7.26 raised up to Heaven by the power of Christs Spirit for the same end Dan. 2.34 45. And by that little stone cut out of the Mountaine without hands even by the Spirit of God the day You ascended up into Heaven by this little stone shall you destroy all those enemies and when You have taken all powers from them As will further appeare in the following Treatise Psal 149.6 the Civill power will remaine in Your hands as You are Christs civill Magistrates and all the exercise of the Ecclesiasticall power of Churches shall You give unto the people of God which are the Body of Christ whereof You being Members and sitting with the rest of Your Brethren in Gods House Rev. 21.2 10. shall exercise that spirituall Sword and by Your leave and Authority the Saints of God are to build that holy City new Jerusalem Psal 149.6 where God and the Lambe will have his Throne Rev. 22.1 He who is the meanest and lowest Instrument that ever the Lord Christ made use of for so great a worke doth humbly crave leave to conceale his name and to present these his Labours to Your Honours that the whole world may see and know what great things Christ will by You doe for his Church and people The Lord make good his great and gracious promise unto You Isa 28.6 who hath promised to be a Spirit of Judgement to You that sit in Judgement and Strength to You that have turned the battell to the gate and for a Crowne of glory and for a Diadem of beauty unto the residue of his people The Preface to the Christian Reader THe union and onenesse of all the grand enemies of the Church of God Dan. 8.26 from the evening to the morning with their fury and rage against the people of the most High and the time of their destruction and ruine with the time of the Churches Captivity with those severall Titles which the Spirit of God sets them forth by sutable to their conditions they were to be in and the time of the enemys fall the finall deliverance of the Church together with the ways and means of their Redemption is called The great Mystery of God Rev. 10.7 and 5.1 Dan. 12.9 and 8.19 Rev. 1.1 and 22.6 and 5.3 written in a little booke and sealed on the back side with seven seales and the words closed up and sealed till the time of the end A mystery and vision shewed to Daniel and John But no man was found in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the earth worthy to open and to read the booke Vers 5. neither to looke thereon but the Lord Jesus the Lion of the Tribe of Judah he prevailed and was counted worthy to open this little booke and to loose the seven Seales thereof And you have this Lion or Lambe who had been slain opening all the seven Seales 5 6 7 and 8. Chapters And this mysterie of God or little booke was not finshed or opened till the seven Trumpets sounded Rev. 10.5 and then an Angel that stood upon the sea and upon the earth lift up his hand to Heaven and sware by him that liveth for ever and ever That there should be time no longer that is that the enemies of the Church should have no longer time to tyrannize and raign over the Churches of the Saints nor the mysterie any longer concealed And saith further that in the dayes of the voyce of the seventh Angell when he shall begin to sound the mysterie of God should be finished Vers 7. And we shall finde that this Angel did not begin to sound untill the witnesses were ascended up to Heaven and the tenth part of that Antichristian City fell Rev. 11.5 Therefore though many learned and pious men have undertaken to open this book and to loose the seven Seales thereof Rev. 5.4 yet indeed were not able because they were not found worthy and because this vision was to be shut up for many dayes and the words and booke closed up and sealed with seven Seales till the time of the end Dan. 8.26 and 12.19 Rev. 5.1 Something indeed hath bin done by way of Ecclesiasticall History and paraphrasing upon the Text Vers 9 10. but to open the booke and loose the seven Seals did only belong to that Lamb which was in the midst of
the throne and of the foure beasts and in the midst of foure and twenty Elders he onely was counted worthy because he had beene slaine and redeemed his Church and people not onely from the wrath of God and Hell and Death but out of every kinred and tongue and people and nation and hath made them to God Kings and Priests and they shall reigne with Christ upon the earth 1000. yeers Rev. 20.4 This mysterie being now finished and this little booke and seales broken open Rev. 11 12. which were done the yeere the witnesses ascended up to Heaven 1639 when the tenth part of that Antichristian City fell as shall be shewed at large in its place then the Lord commanded his Prophet to make it plaine upon tables Vers 13. that he may run that readeth it Hab. 2.2 3. Dan. 12.10 And saith further that at the end the vision shall speake and not lye The Lord promising they that are wise shall understand this vision at the time of the end Rev. 1.3 Prov. 1.6 Now they are counted wise and blessed in this respect to understand a vision or mystery and the interpretation thereof Dan. 9.2 the words of the wise God and his darke saying who search and read the books and rolls wherein God hath wrapped and folded up these great mystery of the enemys ruine and the Churches deliverance and that trace and eye God in those secret wayes of his providence as that holy man of God did Psal 107. By which acts the Lord makes his vision and mystery plain upon tables that he that runs may read The Lord of his free love and grace having given some understanding in this great mystery and vision accordingly we will by Gods assistance endeavour to hold forth this light knowing that it is a great and hainous sinne inexcusable before God at that great day either to put our light under a bushell or to hide that talent in the earth which the Lord hath giuen us to trade with for his glory his Churches good and our owne everlasting comfort Therefore we will declare and make knowne what we understand of this great mystery in severall Chapters What is gold and pure mettall will endure the day of fiery triall but what is hay and stubble shall be burned which is my hearts desire THE MYSTERY OF God opened CHAP. I. The Vnion and Onenesse of those five grand enemies of the Church Daniels foure Beasts and little Horne set forth by one Image and one Beast THese foure Beasts and little Horn that carried the Church of God captive at the first into Babylon some 600. yeers before Christ and hath kept them in bondage 1600. yeers and upwards Isa 28.15 all these were confederate together to break devour and trample under their feet with great fury rage Dan. 7.7 and malice all the time of their reigne Isa 21.15 are therefore said to make a Covenant with Hell and Death for the same purpose First Dan. 2.31 the enemies are set forth by one Image the King of Babylon being the head of it who carried the Church of God first captive ver 38. is the first Beast chap. 7.4 The King of Persia which is the Breast and Armes of this Image who took the Kingdome from the King of Babylon Dan. 5.31 was Daniels second Beast Dan. 7.5 The Belly and Thighs of this Image was the King of Graecia who took the Kingdom from the King of Persia Dan. 8.6 7. 20 21. which was Daniels third Beast Dan. 7.6 The Legges and feet was the King of the Romans who took the Kingdome from the Grecians Dan. 11.20 set forth by this Character a raiser of Taxes as indeed he was as we may see plainly Luk. 2.1 2 he was Daniels fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 and was more terrible in his persecuting the people of God then any of the three Kings or Monarchs were that went before him set forth in these words Verse 7. Dreadfull terrible and strong exceedingly and had great iron teeth who devoured and broke in pieces and stomped the residue under his feet Dan. 2.41 And in this Kings dayes this great Kingdome and Monarchy was divided into ten Provinces or Kingdomes set forth by ten hornes Dan. 7.7 and by ten toes Dan. 2.41 which were on his feet but yet all under his power and jurisdiction and therefore he is said to have ten horns ten Kings that had ten powers under him and these ten Kings are not absolute Kings Rev. 17.12 therefore are said to have received no Kingdome but reigne as petty Kings under him and so receive power as Kings one houre with the Beast not distant from him Dan. 7.8 Rev. 13.11 but one with him Now this little horne which Daniel saw come up amongst those ten hornes which is that second Beast which John saw come out of the earth from amongst the common men of the earth as indeed he did was Antichrist for he did not come or issue from any royall race or blood therefore called by the Spirit of God Dan. 11.21 verse 24. a vile person to whom they shall not give the honour of the Kingdome but he shall come in peaceably and obtaine the Kingdome by flatteries as you may read ver 24. So that the Roman Monarch who is set forth by a raiser of Taxes was destroyed neither in anger nor in battell ver 20. but this little horne through his policy caused craft to prosper in his hand Dan. 8.25 he is noted to be very deep and subtill understanding darke sentences ver 23. shewing signes and wonders Marke 13.22 Rev. 13.13 14. and miracles making fire to come downe from Heaven by which signs he deceives the whole world would have seduced the Elect if it had been possible and by his policy and craft he began to work himself into favour with Constantin 320. who gave him the power of the civill sword in Rome and the other places adjacent in his time Rev. 13.2 afterward obtained the whole Kingdom or Monarch by flattery from the Dragon the Roman Emperour and therefore he is said to give him his power seat great authority Rev. 13.2 Dan. 11.23 for after he had made a league with the Roman Emperour about 365. he works deceitfully became strong with a small people therfore saith the Spirit of God his power shall be mighty but not by his own power no Dan. 8.14 for he got the power from the Roman Emperour by flattery and deceit and not by strength of Armes neither did the Romans give him the honour of the Kingdome at the first but he by his policy and craft like a Serpent wound himselfe into the Roman Beast and so became one with him and so this Antichristian Whore made the Roman Emperour her stalking-horse to carry her to the Kings of the earth that shee might commit spirituall fornication with them Rev. 17.3 7. Rev. 18.3 and
Roman Emperour did it ignorantly Antichrist knowingly against the light of his owne understanding he did it as an open professed enemy Antichrist as a secret enemy and open professed friend like Judas yea he and the rest with him who dealt wickedly against the Covenant professed themselves to be the Spouse and Witnesse of Christ And for them to deale trecherously and break this holy Covenant and Oath of wedlock and play the harlot and commit spirituall fornications with the Kings of the earth and not so onely but to break this Covenant betwixt Christ and his deare Spouse and take the Crowne from his head and his Spouse out of his bosome and cast him and them out of his House and Temple and sit as Lord and King as though he was God or Christ himselfe surely this is a greater sinne then that of the Roman Emperour for he never did sit in the Temple shewing himselfe to be God The worke and imployment of the Saints of God and witnesses of Christ all the time of Antichrists tyranny and their being in sack-cloth Rev. 11.3 7. was to prophesie and give testimony To prophesie is to speake and preach to the mutuall edification and comfort of another this they had liberty to do all 1 Car. 14.31 all the time of their bondage 1260. years I will give power to my two witnesses and they shall prophesie Rev. 11.3 When God gives liberty and power neither Devils nor the Roman Beast or his Image the Pope can hinder them Secondly they are to give testimony or beare witnesse to all the truths of Christ especially that truth which Antichrist was to deny in point of power that Christ was Lord and King over his Church which they did from the first rising of Antichrist 375. to his end 1635. for they are said Rev. 11.7 not to finish their testimony untill that time and to his Priestly office that we are freely justified by his grace and not by our owne merits CHAP. V. The witnesses are slaine by Autichrist and lye dead three daies and a halfe are raised upon their feet and ascend up to Heaven THe witnesses were to prophesie and give testimony 1260. years from 375. to 1635. and had power given them of Christ so to do when they have finished their testimony and done their work Rev. 11.7 then Antichrist that Beast that ascended out of the bottomlesse pit was to make war against them and slay them There is a naturall civill and spirituall slaying we cannot suppose it to be meant of a naturall slaying for by those two witnesses is meant all the Saints and people of God and Christ will not suffer the Devill and wicked men to slay all his people at one time or in one age no not in the hottest persecution of the Roman Emperour in those 300. yeares though many hundred have been slaine at a time And if we should understand by these witnesses the godly ones of the Magistracy and Ministery and to be naturally slaine so they have been in former ages in the daies of their prophesie as other of the Saints have been as is set forth by the word devoure and so the Spirit of God hath said no new thing but what he had formerly spoken therefore it cannot be meant a naturall slaying Secondly there is a spirituall slaying and this cannot be meant neither men nor Devils can spiritually slay the Saints and witnesses of Christ none is able to pluck them out of Christs hand There is a civill slaying and that must needs be meant in this place Now by civill slaying is meant nothing else but a taking away all their civill power which they had as they were free born subjects in the State or Kingdom wherein they live that they might not give testimony to the truths of Christ and prophesie to the mutuall edification and comfort one of another as they had formerly done for 1260. yeares But if any Magistrate or Minister or private man did protest against that grand lye of Antichrist saying that they had no Power Pope Cardinall or Prelate to sit in Christs Temple and to Lord it over the consciences of his people presently they were cast out of office their mouthes were stopped and their bodies imprisoned or they banished out of their own native Country And this was very apparent here in our Island when most of the witnesses were so dealt withall who did openly oppose Antichrist between the yeare 1635. and 1638. and a halfe Those three ever honoured worthies of Christ Master Burton Doctor Bastwick Master Pryn who were a lively embleme of the rest witnessing against the power of the Prelates and others who were forced to â—lye their owne Country Thus were they civilly slaine by Antichrist Rev. 11.8 and 11. and their dead bodies lay in the streets of that spirituall Sodome three daies and a halfe the power being taken out of their hands that they might neither give testimony nor prophesie in the Scripture sense they are said to be not only slaine but to lye as dead bodies that is men made as uselesse in the world And they would not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves That is they would not suffer humane courtesies to be shewed to them not to buy nor sell no not not to have commerce or converse with any Rev 13.17 so bitter and cruel were the Pope and Prelates between 1635. and 1638. and a half We in England found it by wofull and sad experience and our neighbour Nation of Scotland in both which most of Christs witnesses were slaine Rev. 15.2 IndeÌ„ed there were other witnesses which the Lord Christ had in other places but those had got victory over the Beast Rev. 7.14 15. and his Image and marke and number of his name who came out of the great tribulations had indured great conflicts with Antichrist but at last came out of them and so made their garments white with the blood of the Lambe and now worship God and Christ in his house and Temple day and night Rev. 7.4 who are the sealed ones of God sealed when the sixth Viall was to be poured upon the great River Euphrates Rev. 16.12 when those foure Angels were loosed that were bound in that River These were not slaine by Antichrist but are said to be upon Mount Sion with the Lambe Rev. 9.14 upon the hill of his Church singing a new Song Rev. 14.1 which none can singe but the 144000. who have not defiled themselves with that Antichristian Whore or any of her spirituall fornications Vers 3. these are redeemed from amongst men from being slaine by Antichrist Vers 4. that they might be the first fruits to God and to the Lambe in a Church way When Antichrist had thus slaine the witnesses and laid them dead three daies and a halfe not suffering their dead bodies to be put in graves then at the end of time which was 1638. and a halfe
to sin but this he shall be bound from tempting men to civill war against one another Mic. 4.3 all that 1000. years and therefore they are said not to learne war any more that is not all that 1000. yeares and wicked men shall be civilly slain and laid as dead men and not to live untill that 1000. years be ended Rev. 20.5 and shut up as prisoners in a pit not but that they shall have as much liberty as the Saints in an outward way to trade and to have commerce in the world but they shall have all civill power taken out of their hands and so lie as dead men and uselesse men in the State or Kingdome where they live and be in that respect as prisoners gathered into a pit and shut up in prison Isa 24.22 But after this thousand yeares is ended then Satan shall be unbound in the yeare 2700. and the rest of the wicked Rev. 20.7 Vers 5. Isa 24.22 which were civilly dead shall live and the prisoners which were shut up shall be visited that is let forth out of their prison and the Devil shall go out to deceive the Nations of the earth by stirring up wicked men to make civill war with the Saints and the wicked of the earth shall be suffered by God to take up armes against his people and so are said to be let out of prison for it is a prison to wicked men and the Devill Rev. 20.5 to be kept from warring against the people of God And likewise are said to live when the 1000. yeeres are ended that is civilly they now having taken up Armes have civill power in their hands Ezek. 39.1 and so live And they shall gather together into a great Army horses and horsemen all of them cloathed with all sorts of armour even a great company all of them handling the sword the number of whom is as the sand of the sea God and Magog The chiefe Princes of Meshech and Tubal Captaines of this great Army shall goe upon the breadth of the earth and compasse the Campe of the Saints and the beloved City But God will destroy them with a mighty destruction Rev. 20.9 First he will call for a sword against him throughout all his Mountaines or powers of States all being in the hands of him and his Saints at the same time throughout the world Ezek. 38.21 Secondly God will turne the sword of the enemy against themselves every mans sword shall be against his brother Thirdly God will send his pestilence into their army Vers 23. Rev. 20.9 Ezek. 39.2 4.9.12 Ezek. 28.23 and raigne upon them great haile-stones fire and brinstone and but the sixt part of them shall returne back and the rest shall fall upon the Mountaine of Israel and the people of God shall be seven moneths burying the dead and seven yeares burning their weapons Thus will the Lord magnifie and sanctifie his great Name in the fight of the Heathen and in the eyes of many Nations and they shall know that he is the Lord and they shall know that the people of Israel went into captivity for their iniquity and for their sin Therefore God hid his face from them and gave them all into the hands of their enemies and the house of Israel shall know that the Lord is their God from that day forwards neither will he hide his face from them any more because he hath poured his Spirit upon them And thus shall God destroy this great army of Gog Magog the Devil that deceived them shall be cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Rev 20.10 where the Beast and false prophets are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever And then the Saints of God and Churches of Jesus Christ shall reigne in peace and quiet never to be molested by the Devill and wicked men in a way of civill war more and shall reigne to the end of the world but when that end of the world shall be is not knowne Our Saviour gave foure signes of his comming to judge Antichrist but of that last judgement of quick and dead when Christ shall deliver up the Kingdome to his Father and God to be all in all 1 Cor. 15.24 28. Mark 13.32 of this day and houre knowes no man no not the Angels in Heaven neither the Son but the Father Onely he hath hid this time and season in his owne heart and breast and it is not for us to search into it or to meddle with it It may be hundreds or thousands of yeares after this yeare 2700. when Gog and Magog shall be destroyed But this is noted in the Scripture of truth that the Saints shall reigne for three periods they shall take and possesse the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Ever is a terme of time Dan. 7.8 the first ever begins 1655. when the Beast and the false prophet and their Armies shall be destroyed and the Saints take possession of the Kingdome to the yeare 1700. unto which time the seventh Viall shal be pouring upon that Antichristian aire and so cast out of the world as out of the grave as an abominable branch Second Ever is from the yeare 1700. to the yeare 2700. all that 1000. yeares reigne of Christ and his Saints wherein Satan is to be bound and the wicked civilly slaine and lye dead at the end of which terme they shall assay to take the power out of the hands of the Saints but shall not be able This is the second terme of time or ever to which the Saints shall raigne The third Ever is from the yeare of Christ 2700. to the end of the world when Jesus Christ shall come to judge the quick and dead and deliver up the Kingdome to his Father and God be all in all Then also who knows whether the Lord will fulfill all these things in a literall and naturall way at his last and personall comming to judgment as he hath fulfilled them in a spirituall and mysticall sense as hath been shewed in this discourse so that the sun shal be darkened and the moon be turned into blood the stars fall from Heaven Heaven and Earth to be rolled together as a scroll and passe away and their place be no more found and the sea not only to roare but there to be no more sea and a new Heaven and a new Earth to be made by the almighty power of God which shal be as a great new City for the servants of God to dwell in and to behold his face and see his glory which City will have no need of the light of a naturall sun or moone for the Lord God and the Lambe will be the light and glory thereof FINIS
by his Spirit is come and sits upon the Throne to judge Antichrist we shall see it more plainly if we look into and open those foure signes which the Lord Christ gives us of his comming to judge Antichrist One signe is before his comming another just at his comming two after he is come The signes before his comming is First signe of Christs comming to judge Antichrist the Sunne shall be darkned and the Moon shall not give her light we are not to understand this litterally at Christs first comming to judgement to judge Antichrist but at his last comming to judge quick and dead then it may be litterall but not now of those two luminaries but mystically Antichrist is said to have a world Isa 14.13 to ascend up to Heaven In this Heaven here is the Sunne and Moon and Starres himselfe being the Sunne Oh Lucifer Sonne of the morning Isa 14.12 and his Cardinals that receive their light from him are the Moon and the Prelats the Stars of this Heaven for they are in this Heaven in the House and Temple of God where the Stars or Saints of God were and they lorded it over all that was called Gods as though they themselves had been God and they likewise sit in the high place of judicature ☞ Now these two great lights of this Antichristian Heaven were darkned a little before Christ came in the clouds of Heaven they began to grow darke in Luthers time and in King Edward the fixths time and likewise Queene Elizabeths time by the rising and shining of that glorious Sunne of righteousnesse in the preaching of the Gospels truth Matth. 4.2 and the more this Sunne shined the more those Antichristian lights grew paler and darker untill the very time that he came in the clouds of Heaven this signe before Christs comming was and is plainly fulfilled and accomplished before our eyes Secondly the signe at and in the very instant time of his comming and this signe is in Heaven Matth. 24.30 we are to keep the metaphor not litterally to be understood for those naturall Heavens as many have supposed and so have dreamed of a glorious light which was to shine or break forth from those Heavens immediately before Christ came which may be true at his last comming But by those Heavens or Heaven is meant the Heaven or high place where Antichrist had his seat and throne First he had his high place where he sate about Ecclesiasticall affaires and Church matters this is not the Heaven here meant Secondly he had his high place and throne where he sate to determine matters of the State and Common-weale Isa 14.13 Vpon the Mount of the Congregation in the sides of the North where the Judges of the civill law were wont to sit in ancient time this is the Heaven or high place where the signe of the Son of man is to appeare immediately at his comming in the clouds of Heaven and this signe was nothing else but that sudden alteration that was in this Heaven the day or yeer the Witnesses ascended up to this Heaven in the yeere before 1638. Pope and Prelate sate as sole Judges in this Heaven over the Saints and people of God but 1639. the Witnesses are raised up to this Heaven in Scotland and sit as Lord and Judges of them who by a solemn Oath made with the most high God cast out Pope and Prelate out of Heaven never to have to do or to meddle with Church or State affaire but to be cast from Heaven as the Spirit of God foretold Isa 14.2 How art thou fallen from Heaven O Lucifer sonne of the morning and how art thou cut downe to the ground which didst weaken the Nations Rev. 12.9 and againe The great Dragon was cast out into the earth and his Angels with him This is the signe of the Sonne of man in Heaven which appeares plainly by this which our Saviour notes to be at the same time Then saith he shall all the Tribes of the earth mourne when they see the Sonne of man come in the clouds of Heaven Mat. 24.30 Rev. 1.7 Was not this very evident did not all the Tribes of that Antichristian earth mourn when they see the godly party not onely to stand upon their feet which had lien dead three yeers and a halfe but now seeing them ascend to the high place of Judicature they were filled with feare and sorrow supposing some dreadfull thing would follow The Popes Master-piece witnesseth at large what feare and sorrow was not onely here amongst the Antichristian party but at Rome it selfe Thirdly the third signe was that the Starres should fall from Heaven By Starres Matth. 24.29 we shewed was meant those lesser lights of that Antichristian Heaven which was popish Lords and Prelats which were as fixed Starres of this Heaven they fell downe to the earth not to have any more power in the Church or State in Scotland the yeer 1639. and in England 1641. and shall fall from Heaven in all the other eight Kingdomes of the Beast very shortly The fourth and last signe of Christs comming in the clouds of Heaven to judge Antichrist The fourth signe Luke 21.25 is the roaring of the Sea The Sea and the waves thereof shall roare we are to keep to the metaphor Antichrist had a world in that world he had his Heavens and lights therein and he hath an earth and sea by sea in a naturall way is meant Rev. 17.15 Psal 2.1 3. Psal 149.8 Psal 2.6 nothing else but many waters gathered together metaphorically and mystically many people multitudes and nations and tongues and these are said to rage and roare when Jesus Christ in his Saints are about to bind the wicked with cords their Kings in chaines and Nobles in fetters of iron and when God is about to set his King upon his holy hill of Sion And have not we seene the Heathen and the Antichristian party rage and fume even like the waves of the Sea as though they would overwhelme and beare downe all before them but yet this their rage is nothing or but very little to what will be in all the other eight Kingdoms Oh how will they rage and lift up their waves to Heaven when Christ and his witnesse shall come to poure forth the fifth Viall upon the seat and throne of the Beast and the sixt Viall upon the River Euphrates amongst them there which will be as soone as they have poured them forth here Matth. 24.30 Thus have we seene these foure great signes of Christ comming to judge Antichrist in the clouds of Heaven in part fulfilled before our eyes And be is said to come in power and great glory This glory is not an outward luster or glory as some have suposed to be in the firmament Matth. 16.27 Exod. 34.6 Exod. 33.19 which may be true at his last comming but a mysticall and spirituall glory at this time even the
glory of God his Father The same glory which God shewed unto Moses when he defired to see his glory which was called all his goodnesse or excellency which indeed is the glory of all his Attibutes and in this glory Christ is said to come at this time when he came in mysticall clouds First Rev. 11.12 he is said to come in power What great power did Christ manifest in raising up his Saints and Witnesses from such a low state a state of death and to set them upon their feet by his Spirit that entred into them the yeere 1639. and raised them up to Heaven and cast their enemies out Here was the glory of his great power seene Rach. 4 6. as the holy Ghost saith not by power of an Army or by the might of a fleshly arme was they raised up to Heaven but by the Spirit of God Secondly Rev. 11.8 the glory of Gods mercy did shine forth in delivering his Saints and people which were in a such miserable condition who were slain and lay as dead men in the streets of that spirituall Sodom their dead bodies not suffered to be put into graves for the Lord Jesus to send his spirit of life into them to set them upon their feet and to raise them up to Heaven whereby they were freed from the rage of their enemies and made Lords and Judges over them to reward their enemies as they rewarded them yea to returne them double Rev. 18.6 Oh the glory of the mercy of Jesus Christ towards his poor servants Thirdly the glory of Gods wisdome was much seen in this great work to doe it at such a time when his people could not see how or by which way they should be delivered Antichrist thinking himself to be now securer and safely seated in peace tranquility Rev. 18.7 Rev. 11.10 rejoycing and sending gifts one to another because those two Prophets were slain which tormented them The wisdome of God now stept in at the very nick and point of time and by his wisdome makes this to be the onely and chiefe time of the beginning of the enemies downfall and the Churches deliverance Oh the admirable and unspeakable glory of Christs wisdome his wisdome is infinite and there is no searching of his understanding Fourthly the glory of Gods free grace and love were wonderfully manifested there was no worth nor desert in his servants to move him to have pitty or compassion on them in such a low condition All that they did in the days of their prophesie and giving testimony was but their duty and in all they were but unprofitable servants and therefore what the Lord did to them and for them at this time was of his free grace and love Zach. 4.7 therefore well may we with shouting cry Grace grace unto this great worke Luke 18.7 Rev. 18.8 Fiftly the glory of his truth and faithfulnesse appeares in making good his Word and promises unto his Church and people which he hath made often in the Scripture of truth and in performing his Word and threatnings against the enemies of his Church The glory of his justice and holinesse shineth forth with much glory and brightnesse verse 6. in executing justice upon such an ancient enemy of the Church which with his predecessors hath been an enemy this 2300 yeers almost and so cruell and malicious an enemy who hath magnified himselfe to the Hoast of Heaven yea Dan. 8.10 11. to the Prince of the Hoast and cast him from his Throne taken his Crown from his head cast him and his Spouse out of his House and Temple strip◠her of her robes and would have forced her to commit spirituall fornication and broken the Church all to pieces devoured many of them and trampled the rest under his feet and last of all slaine the Witnesses of Christ and laid their dead bodies in the streets not suffering them to be put into graves all this villany hath he done to the Saints and for the people of the Antichristian earth Ya 4.16 17. whom he hath reigned over so long he hath made the very earth to tremble and did shake Kingdomes the world he made as a Wildernesse and destroyed the Cities thereof by his tyranny and oppression and loosed not the house of his prisoners Doth not the glory of Christs justice and severity appeare wonderfully in the ruine and utter destruction of such a grand notorious cruell malicious and insolent an enemy as this and the glory of his holinesse in destroying such a filthy Whore and Strumpet as Antichrist is Rev. 17.2 who hath committed spirituall fornication with all the Kings of the earth and the Inhabiters of the earth have been made drunke with the wine of her fornication Rev. 15.4 therefore saith the Scripture who shall not feare thee and glorifie thy name for thou onely art holy and all Nations shall worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest and againe True and righteous are his judgements for he hath judged the great Whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornications Rev. 19.2 and hath avenged the blood of his servants at her hands In the glory of these great Attributes is the Lord Jesus come and they have shined forth in some measure to the joy and comfort and salvation of his people and to the sorrow and destruction of his enemies But when the Lord Christ shall come to the end of this great work of his in the utter ruine of his enemies and perfect deliverance of his Church then will the glory of these Attributes shine forth with such glory and splendor as shall darken the eye of the clearest understanding and affect the most flinty heart putting them to admiration and astonishment But this the Spirit of God notes in the Scripture ☞ Luke 18.8 that when Christ shall come to avenge his Elect meaning this very time which is the time of the enemies utter ruine and the Churches small deliverance he shall hardly find faith upon the earth he meanes he shall hardly find faith in his Saints concerning the enemies ruine and their deliverance and not justifying faith intimating to us that the Church shall be brought so low as they shall not have faith enough to raise them so high as to look to God for their deliverance through so many difficulties Dan. 12.9 This time mystery was hid from all former ages and the words closed up and sealed untill the time of the end written in a little book and sealed with seven seals none being able to open it neither in Heaven or earth Rev. 5.1 Rev. 5.4 Rev. 5.5 Rev. 10.7 or under the earth but Christ only it is called The great Mystery of God not opened till the seventh Trumpet begins to sound and we doe not read he began to sound untill the Witnesses were in Heaven and the tenth part of the City fell which was the yeere of
Christ 1639â— at which time God promiseth it shall speake and not lye Hab. 2.3 as indeed it did speak if we could have heard it and understood it But saith the Lord None of the wicked shall understand Dan. 12.10 but the wise shall understand none of the wicked shall understand Isa 29.10 11 12. Priests nor Prophets Rulers nor Seers all hid covered the vision is become to them all as a sealed book if one desire them to read they cannot it is sealed but the Lord gives many reasons why these wise learned Doctors Rabbies could not understand the vision of the time of the end when it is to speak and to be made plain upon Tables Hab. 2.2 3. Isa 29 9. First because they are drunke but not with Wine they stagger but not with strong drinke This drunkennesse is not a drunkennesse with naturall wine but it is a spirituall drunkennesse with the wine of that spirituall fornication Rev. 17.2 with which that Antichristian Whore hath filled her cup and made them drunke with it therefore they erre in vision and stumble in judgement Isa 28.7 Secondly Isa 28.10 they having drunk of this wine of spirituall fornication now a deep sleep of security and spirituall stupidity hath seazed on them and so cannot make use of their understanding nor learning in such a spirituall way as to come to understand a vision or mystery of God It is true there is darknesse as well as light Zach. 4.6 7. but if it were not for this spirituall slumber they might see as well as others though the light be not cleare Thirdly Because they draw nigh to God with their lips verse 13. but their hearts is farre from him Teaching men to feare God by their owne precepts and commands Therefore the Lord will proceed to do a marvelious worke amongst this people even a marvellous worke and a wonder for the wisdome of the wise man shall perish and the understanding of the prudent shall be hid yea such a marvellous worke shall be done in their daies that they will not beleeve it though it be told them Hab. 1.5 Fourthly Vers 15. Because they seek deep to hide their counsels from the Lord and their works are in the darke and they say Who seeth or who knoweth They by their owne policy craft did take counsell together to mingle their owne water with the Saints wine and their drosse with the people of Gods silver Vers 15. their owne traditions with Gods institutions and for this they digged deep wrought in the darke and hid their craft from Gods people and said in their hearts Who seeth us Vers 16 or who knoweth by this means they are said to turn the worship of God up side downe even quite overthrow the whole worship of God and to make his Law of none effect But saith the Lord It shall be counted as Potters clay at the end all broken to peeces and never set together againe Thus none of the wicked shall understand nor but few of the Saints only the wise The wise they shall understand Dan. 12.10 we are to finde out who are said to be wise in this sense which the Spirit of God speakes of in this place This is not that wisdome which makes a man wise unto salvation for with that all the people of God are invested but it is that wisdome which the wise man speakes of Prov. 1.6 To understand a Proverbe and the interpretation thereof the words of the wise and their darke saying Which is to be done two waies First Dan. 9.2 by searching and seriously pondering the bookes and the roles of the Proverbs and Vision as Daniel did which speakes of the vision and mystery which God hath shewed to his Prophets and they that do so are blessed of God and wise Secondly and they that secretly eye God in those secret and hidden acts of his providence by which he usually makes a vision to speak Psal 107.43 and makes it plaine upon tables Who so is wise and considereth these things saith the Text what things why they were the acts of Gods providence all the Psalme over Even they shall understand the loving kindnesse of God to his Church and people And who are those you have seen they are none of the great Rabbies and Doctors of our age but such that are weaned from the milke and drawn from the breasts Isa 28.9 those young babes of Christ that have not drunke of that filthy abominable cup of that Antichristian Whore Them will the Lord teach knowledge and instruct in the way of understanding Thirdly they that have not dranke or sipped of that Antichristian cup but hath overcome that beast and Whore with all their abominable errors and heresies to them hath Christ promised to give the morning Starre Rev. 2.28 By Starre cannot be meant Christ as some have supposed for there is none able to overcome Antichrist his marke or number of his traditions brought in by his power which is called his name but he must first be made one with Christ by faith and draw and derive power and strength from him to enable him thereunto therefore by morning Starre is meant some thing else Rev. 13.14 The morning Star doth rise before the day come an houre or two to give notice the day is not far off but nigh at hand So the Lord Christ by his Spiritin those secret waies of his providence will give to those his servants that overcome Antichrist the bright morning Star That is will discover such a light to them as shall be as the morning Star to give them notice that the glorious day of Jesus Christ shall shortly appeare wherein he and his Saints shall raigne in peace and tranquility for 1000. yeares Thus those that are wise shall understand and they that overcome shall see the first dawning of that glorious day of Christ God doth so loath that abominable cup of spirituall fornication that whosoever drinks or sips thereof shall not lye so neare Christs heart as to have the vision or mystery made knowne to him no they that are the young men they shall see visions even the young babes of Christ Act. 2.17 Mat. 21.16 that out of the mouthes of babes and sucklings he may perfect praise This vision is both meant of Christs comming in the flesh and of his comming to judge Antichrist and none of those great Doctors and Rabbies did understand when Christ should come in the flesh but the young men and poore men they understood and beleeved And so it is with this present age who will beleeve of all our great men and learned Prelates that Jesus Christ is come in the clouds of Heaven and is set downe upon the throne of Judicature in his Saints and witnesses to judge that man of sin CHAP. VII The seventh Chapter openeth the seven Seales Trumpets and Vials shewing that they are
all power into his hand both Ecclesiasticall and Civill upon these powers must the witnesses poure forth the fifth Viall that is they are to take all power from Antichrist both in Church and State Dan. 2.26.9 therefore saith Daniel the judgement shall sit and they shall take away his dominions Againe saith he I beheld till the thrones were cast downe And when Jesus Christ sate upon his throne Rev. 6.16 then every mountaine was moved out of his place meaning the powers which Antichrist had in the world Now the meanes by which Christ and his witnesses shall take these powers and dominions from Antichrist and so slay him as he did them is by the power of the civill sword as the Lord saith He that leads into captivity Rev. 13.10 shall go into captivity be that kils with the Sword shall be killed with the Sword Antichrist by the power of the civill sword which he received from the Roman Emperour Rev. 13.2 did carry the people of God captive into the wildernesse for the space of 1260. yeares where they prophesied in sack-cloath and afterwards civilly killed them and laid them dead for three daies and a halfe The like must the witnesses do to Antichrist carry him captive and civilly kill or slay him this was that which the Saints of God beleeved long since and with patience have they waited for it therefore saith the Lord This is the faith and patience of the Saints the Saints beleeved it and patiently did waite for it By this power shall Christ and his witnesses take the Kingdomes and Dominions from Antichrist Dan. 7.26 Dan. 2.45 and consume him to the end which is set forth to be a little stone cut out of the Mountaine without hands By Mountaine is not meant the Church and by little stone Christ Isa 2.2.14.13 Psal 48.1 Mich. 4.1 as some have supposed but by mountaine is meant that great civill power which the foure great Beasts and little horne Anrichrist had in the world set forth by those ten hornes For by Mountaine or Mountaines is meant power or powers either the civill power of States and Kingdomes of the Ecclesiasticall power of Churches usually and frequently set forth by Mountaines That great civill power which these great Beasts had is set forth by a Mountaine Dan. 2.34 35. and there must be a little stone or little power cut out of this great power that must smite this great Image of those five Beasts upon its feet and break it all to peeces and it shall become like the chaffe of the summer threshing-floore that no place shall be found for it And this little stoneâ— shall become a very great Mountaine and fill the whole Earth a little stone shall be cut out of this great mountaine without hands that is a little civill power shall be cut out of that great civill power which Antichrist had in all his ten Kingdomes and this must be done without power of hands not the power of an Hoast or Armes but another way And this wee see fulfilled before our eyes in the yeare of Christ 1639. when the witnesses ascended up to Heaven and the Lord Jesus not only raised them from that dead state and condition and set them upon their feet but tooke them up to the high place of Judicature and by his Spirit hewed or cut a little power out of that great civill power which the Roman Beast and the little Horne had in all these ten Kingdomes By which little power or stone the witnesses in Scotland and they here in England have begun to break this Image and will go on in this and the other eight Kingdomes till they have broken it all to peeces and this little stone in their hands shall become a very great Mountaine and fill the world very shortly So yee see the meanes by which the Lord Christ and his witnesses shall take the Kingdomes and Dominions from Antichrist and consume and destroy him to the end even by the power of the civill sword so far as he hath seated and rooted himselfe in the world but as he hath â—ooted himselfe in the hearts and mindes of men by his cursed errors and heresies 2 Thes 2.8 Eev 19.21 ☜ So the Lord will consume him by the breath of his mouth and brightnesse of his comming even by that spirituall sword of the Gospel which sword proceeds out of his mouth The fifth Viall must be the first worke which Christ and his witnesses shall do after they are ascended up to Heaven and sate upon their throne and this they must do by that little stone cut out of the Mountaine by that little civill power put into their hands which we see done the same time in which they ascended to Heaven in Scotland Did not the godly party by a solemn Oath taken before the most high God cast off Pope and Prelate and all that whole Antichristian rabble out of Heaven for having any more power either in Church or State but to be cast out to the Earth And this was done by vertue of that little civill power which they had as they sate in the place of Judicature This was evident before our eyes 1639. done by the godly party in Scotland and it was foretold to be so by the Spirit of prophesie Rev. 11.13 The same houre was there a great earthquake a great shaking and feare amongst the antichristian party when the tenth part of the City fell By City is not meant the City of Rome but all those ten Kingdomes that are under the government of the Beast and his Image and the tenth part is one of these ten Kingdomes which was Scotland and this fell the same houre and in this earthquake when the tenth part fell there was foure great effects or consequences which followed upon it First there was slaine of men seven thousand Foure effects which follow upon the fall of the tenth part of that Antichristian City a certaine number set down for an uncertaine this slaying is not naturall but a civill slaying a taking away all that power which they had in Church and State affaires so it came to passe in Scotland at the same time when they cast off the power of Antichrist there was civilly slaine a great number of Popish Lords and Prelates Secondly the second effect is the sounding of the seventh Trumpet vers 5. which was the preaching of the Gospel Effect 2. the witnesses being in Heaven gave leave to have the Gospel preached which was denyed by Antichrist at the sounding of which Trumpet the Lord foretold Rev. 10.8 that then the mystery of God which was revealed to his Prophets and written in a little booke Rev. 5.1 Dan. 11.9 Hab. 2.2 3. sealed with seven Seales fast closed up till the end is now finished and is to speake and to be made plaine upon tables The seventh Trumpet is said to sound presently upon the Witnesses ascending up into Heaven because they gave
Isa 13.12 that a man of that Antichristian and mysticall Babylon shall be more precious then fine gold even a man then the golden wedge of Ophir Dan. 7.11 For by fire and by sword will the Lord plead with all flesh and the slaine of the Lord shall be many Isa 66.16 In this war the Roman Beast shall be taken and slaine and his body given to the burning flames and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him Rev. 19.20 with which he deceived them that had received the marke of the Beast These both are cast alive into a lake burning with fire and brimstone this is the purpose which is purposed upon the whole earth and this is the hand that is and shall be stretched out upon all Nations for the Lord of Hosts hath purposed and who shall disanull it and his hand is stretched out and who shall turne it back Isa 14.26 27. Thus we see the fifth and sixth Viall poured upon the seat of the Beast and upon that great river Euphrates all his powers and strength taken from him in heaven himself cast down to the earth yea to hell and his armies utterly destroyed and given to the beasts of the field and to the fowles of Heaven Yet there is another Viall to be poured out namely upon the aire wherein Antichrist breathed but when the Witnesses Christs civill Magistrates that sit in Heaven have done that worke which is proper for them as they are civill Magistrates they shall sit still and keep silence in Heaven about the space of halfe an houre which is the full time that the seventh Viall shall be pouring forth though the Beasts have their Dominions taken from them Yea both the Beast and false prophet are cast into a lake burning with fire and brimstone Dan. 7.12 yet these are said to live still in the hearts of those men in whom those errors and heresies do still abide which they brought into the world by their Antichristian aire and this remnant of men are not to be destroyed by the power of the civill Sword Rev. 19.21 but to be destroyed by a mysticall and spirituall sword which proceeded out of the mouth of him that sits upon the white Horse and by spirituall men sent out of the Temple Rev. 16.17 therefore the civill Magistrate shall keepe silence all the same time even about the space of halfe an houre and sit and rest themselves having done the best worke that ever was done before them or that shall be done after them We cannot suppose this silence to be in Heaven strictly for half an houre no nor half a day moneth or yeare for the seventh Viall must be poured forth upon that Antichristian aire all the ten Kingdomes over in this space of time that this silence is to be in Heaven which cannot be in so short a time neither can it be meant of any longe time Luk. 21.32 because Antichrist must be destroyed in one age and generation of men Christ speaking of the ruine of Antichrist mystically as well as of Jerusalem literally therefore we are to take this silence for the space of half an houre for the space of 45. yeares in which time the seventh Viall is pouring forth as shall appeare more fully when we come to speake of the time or times of the ending of these Vials It is said that this silence was in Heaven when the seventh Seale was opened this we are to note that it was the custome of the Jewes to write those things that were of greater consequence in sheets of parchment and so to roll them up and seale them if they were things secret The Spirit of God alluding to this their custome sets forth to us that every Viall was written in a roll of parchment and every roll was sealed seven Vials were written in seven rolls and every roll had a seale and when the first Viall was to be poured forth then the first seal was broken open and the first trumpet sounded The Seale was broken open that men might see what was written in the roll and the trumpet which was the Gospel in the mouth of the Ministers of the Churches was to declare to that Antichristian world what the Judgement or the Viall was which God was then pouring forth upon them and the Viall or Judgement that they were to feel with paine and anguish when the Lord poured it forth ☜ So when the first Viall was poured forth the first Seal was opened and the first Trumpet sounded and so in order the second and third unto the seventh And when the seventh Seale was opened the seventh Viall was poured forth and then this silence was in Heaven Before we leave speaking of the sixth Viall we are to take notice of this that although the Lord be come in the clouds of our Heaven even in his Witnesses standing upon the Mount Olives and the judgement seat and the Thrones are casting downe yea and the Lord is gone out to fight and make warre with those Kings that carried the Church of God captive and himselfe upon the white horse and much of the worke is done yet at this time the holy Ghost saith Zach. 14.6 Rev. 2.28 That the light shall not be cleare no◠darke the morning Star is but newly risen and a very little light doth yet appeare There is so much darknesse as very few of the Saints themselves doe not see nor know what the Lord Christ is doing either for Churches or States great feares amongst most of the Saints that sorrow and misery will come to both They cannot as yet see how or when the Church of Christ shall be delivered nor the pure way of Christs worship in his House and Temple set up onely a few choyce ones that be wise Dan. 12.3 and they shall shine as the brightnesse of the Firmament That is those godly ones whom the Lord hath made wise to understand the Mystery of pure Ordinances of worship and the way and Government of Christ in his House and Temple at this time wherein the worship of God is so exceedingly corrupted and polluted by the abominations of that Babylonish Whore they shall shine in this Antichristian world as the brightnesse of the Firmament for the present And they that turne many to righteousnesse as the Stars for ever and ever When they shall not onely see and be able to discerne between gold and drosse water and pure wine Christs owne institutions and mens inventions and the false government of Antichrist and the true government of Christ in and over his Church and people but also turne many unto those righteous and pure Ordinances of worship even they saith the Lord shall shine as Starres not in this age and time onely but for ever and ever their names shall be famous unto all the Churches of the Saints For the first ever or terme of time which Christ and his Saints shall reigne in peace even a
1000. yerres And for ever to the second terme or end of time after the 1000. yeares are ended from the destruction of Gog and Magog unto the end of the world because they were so wise to see and diligent and faithfull to turne many unto the right way of divine worship But there is some light though it be not cleard so that those which are said to be wise can see and understand in part that now the day-starre is risen and the great work concerning the enemies ruine and the Saints finall deliverance is begun and the Sunne of righteousnesse the Lord Christ will ere long arise with healing in his Wings Maal 4.2 But at this time it is not light nor darke Zach. 14.6 7. a day as it were knowne to the Lord onely none else knowing or understanding what God is doing for his people onely a few whom he hath made wise to understand a vision the words of the wise God concerning this great Mystery and the darke sayings thereof Againe this is noted that it is not day nor night The day of the Churches peace is not yet come nor the night of her misery and bondage is not fully upon her as it hath been but shee is between the day and night in the birth and upon the borders of spirituall Aegypt and Canaan But at the even-â—ide when the worke shall be almost at an end Zach. 14.7 then it shall be day-light all shall see what God is doing for his Church and then will that glorious Sunne shine forth in his full brightnesse and glory that the light of the Moone shall be as the Sunne and the Sunne seven-fold then the eyes of the blind shall be opened to see the way of Christ in his House so plainly that way faring men though fooles shall not erre therein Isa 35.8 6 And this is also noted in the Scripture of truth that an Army out of the North shall come up against Babyon and be the chiefe cause of her mine and destruction They come from a farre Country from the end of Heaven Isa 13.5 the Lord and the Weapons of his indignation to destroy the whole Land which is meant of England and Scotland For we are a very remote Country from mystical Babylon from the end of Heaven as Scotland is yea if we look to the men that are to be imployed in this warre we shall see them to be the same which the Lord Christ hath in his Army at this day as we may see in the third verse I have commanded my sanctified ones verse 3. I have also called my mighty ones for my anger even them that rejoyce in my highnesse The Lord meaning his owne servants who are said to retoyce in his highnesse aud are set forth by chosen and faithfull ones which are now with the Lamb Rev. 17.14 following him upon white horses in Heaven Rev. 19.14 who are this day upon the high places of the field and are said to be in Heaven with their Army because they are raised by Christ and his Witnesses who are in Heaven and by that ciuill power which they have in their hands by right as they are lawfully called to that high place Againe wee shall see that the Lord intended England and Scotland to come against this mysticall Babylon if wee looke in Jeremy 50.9 I will raise and cause to come up against Babylon an Assembly of great Nations from the North Countrey Now of all Countries in the World England and Scotland is North to mysticall Babylon And againe Dan. 11.44 Tydings out of the East and out of the North shall trouble him By East here surely as may be supposed is meant the Sweedes And by North is meant England and Scotland so consequently they shall joine together against Antichrist Object Rut all these threatnings were against literall Babylon Answ I grant they were in the Letter but as truly as Rome is called mysticall Babylon Rev. 17.5 and as truly as all these threatnings which the Lord hath pronounced against literall Babylon were made good in the Letter against them so will the Lord do against mysticall Babylon in a spirituall and mysticall way Therefore when Scotland and England have dryed up the River Euphrates here they shall not then sit downe on this side Jordan to enjoy peace themselves and leave their brethren in misery beyond the Sea and out of their owne possessions but shall go over Jordan with a strong Army to help their Brethren that they may likewise dry up that River Euphrates there to the utter ruine of Antichrist and for the setling of a perfect peace in the ten States that the powers of States and Churches may be put into the hands of Christ and his Saints that they may live and raigne over the Nations of the earth in peace and tranquility 1000. yeaees CHAP. X. The seventh Viall poured forth two great effects follow thereupon The first is the hringing in the fullnesse of the Gentiles And the second is the calling of the Jewes with the time when the fifth sixth and seventh Viall began and ended and liberty given to the Saints by the Witnesses to build that new Jerusalem THe fifth and sixth Viall being poured upon Antichrists seate and thrones and upon his Armies the Beast and false prophet taken by Christ and his Army that followed him upon white Horses in Heaven and both of them cast into a lake Rev. 19.21 hurning with fire and brimstone Yet there is a remnant of that Antichristian race left whom Antichrist hath poysoned with his Antichristian aire with errors and heresies in whom those five Beasts are said to live Dan. 7.12 though they be dead Therefore the Lord Jesus hath another Viall to poure upon these men as is the maladie such is the medicine Rev. 17.10 and as the disease so is the cure The disease is inward in their spirits their understanding is filled with mists and darknesse which Antichrist brought into the world with which he filled his whole Kingdome Rev. 15.10 This Vial must be poured upon this Antichristian aire and darknesse by the preaching of the Gospell For this being an inward and spirituall worke is fittest for spirituall weapons and spirituall men and such will Christ have to do the worke Rev. 16.17 Therefore voices came forth of the Temple The Ministers of the Churches are to be imployed in this worke and spirituall weapons or swords therefore saith the Scripture The remnant were slaine by the sword of him that sate upon the white horse which sword proceedeth out of his mouth Chap. 19.21 The way of Antichrist hath been to slay such men as they conceive factious and erronious with the civill sword Dan. 8.12 therefore he gets an Host or the power of Princes The civill sword used by Antichrist to root errors out of mens hearts and hales them before Princes and Judges for to root out errors as they pretend out
of their mindes but this is a preposterous way they may sooner root their hearts out of their brests But we see Christs way he useth the Civill Sword to take away all Antichrists power which he got by the Civill Sword Christ useth a spirituall sword to remove and cast out all those errors that are in mens spirits and so slays him carry him captive and likewise dry up that River Euphrates but spiritually to slay men in removeing darknesse and ignorance out of their understanding and so consequently errors and heresies he hath a spirituall Sword fit for the worke So the seventh Angel poured forth the seventh Viall into the aire and then came a great voice out of the Temple of Heaven Rev. 16.17 from the Throne saying It is done By aire is meant that Antichristian ignorance and darknesse wherewith Antichrist had filled the whole world Rev. 16.10 Rev. 14.6.7 By voices is meant the Gospel By Temple is meant the Church or Churches of the Saints 2 Cor. 6.16 This voice came out of the Temple that is the Churches of the Saints sent forth Messengers or Ministers to preach the Gospel Rev. 14.6 to every Nation kinred tongue and people The Temple of Heaven from the civill throne Christ and his witnesses being in Heaven the high place of Judicature where they have their throne the Spirit of God joines the Temple and this Heaven together and Christs civill Magistrates and his Churches go hand in hand and with joint consent send forth Ministers to preach the Gospel Rev. 14.6 therefore it is said I saw an Angel flee through the midst of Heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach c. saying It is done These Ministers shall declare to all the world that now the worke is done the Kingdomes and Dominions are taken from the Beast Dan. 7.11 12. and their bodies given to the burning flame and their Armles utterly destroyed and given up to the slaughter and so the worke is as good as done Isa 34.2 And another shall come after them and say Rev. 14.8 Babylon is fallen Babylon is fallen And another after him shall come and pronounce the judgments of God against every man that retains and holds fast those Antichristian errors Vers 9 10. saying If any man worship the Beast and his Image and receive his marke in their hands or in their foreheads the same man shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is poured out without mixture into the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lambe Upon this great voice of the Gospel shall follow two great effects or consequences First the bringing in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles Secondly the calling home of the Jewes First the fulnesse of the Gentiles shall come in declared in these words That there were voices and thundering and lightning Rev. 16.18 and there was a great earthquake By voices lightning c. is meant great stirs and combustions amongst men not in a warlike way as were before but in disputing and arguing about matters of Religion And by earthquake is meant a great falling off and renouncing those Antichristian tenets and errors which they formerly held to imbrace the sincere truths of the Gospel both for Doctrine and Discipline which is called the bringing in of the fulnesse of the Gentiles And this earthquake shall be so mighty and so great as was not the like since men lived on the earth there will be such a generall falling off and renouncing of their errors Rom. 11.25 and such a true and thorow imbracing of the truths of the Gospel as never was since men were upon the earth this is called the first resurection Rev. 20.6 And this great City is said to be divided into three parts Rev. 16.19 one part is to be slaine civilly to have all their civill power taken from them as those seven thousand were slaine in Scotland Rev. 11.13 at the fall of the tenth part of the City by Christ and his witnesses that sit in Heaven Secondly Another part is to be slaine by the naturall sword Rev. 19.11 and 14. by him that sits upon the white Horse and they which follow him upon white Horses in Heaven upon the high places of the field in his Army Thirdly The third part is to be slaine spiritually by that spirituall sword of the Gospel which proceedeth out of the mouth of Christ which is that voice that came out of the Temple So this great City is divided into three parts Vers 21. and thus great Babylon is said to come into remembrance before God and to drinke of the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath and fury Thus will the Lord deal with Babylon even deal with her as she did with the Saints yea reward her double Rev. 18.6 she brake the Saints to peeces so shall she be broken to peeces like a Potters Vessell that shall not be set together againe Psal 2.9 Rev. 2.27 she devoured the Saints so shall she be devoured Every man that is found of her shall be thrust through and every one that is joyned to her Isa 13.15 shall fall by the sword She slew the Saints by a civill sword and tooke away all their powers from them and led them into captivity so shall she be civilly slaine by the same Sword and carried captive Rev. 13.10 and shut up as prisoners in a pit and civilly bound for many yeares They laid the witnesses dead bodies in the streets of that spirituall Sodome Isa 24.22 so shall they lye dead and bound with Satan a thousand yeares Rev. 20.3 5. not put into their graves Isa 14.19 nay worse they shall be cast out of their graves like on abominable branch loathsome and vile for all men to behold even as the rayment of him that is thrust through with a Sword and as a carkasse trodden under foot thus shall it be done to mysticall Babylon the mother of Haroots Rev. 17.5 rindx and the abominations of the whole earth the zeale of the Lord of Host will do all this in his appointed time And the Lord gives the reason of all this his fury Esa 37.32 and wrath and indignation against Babylon and saith Isa 34.8 It is the day of the Lords vengeance the yeare of recompences for the controversie of Zion and it is the vengeance of the Lord even the vengeance of his Temple Jer. 50.28 the violence done to me and to my flesh be upon Babylon shall the Inhabitants of Zion say and my blood upon the Inhabitants of Chaldea Jer. 51.35 shall Jerusalem say Thus will the Lord pleade his Churches cause and take vengeance for her The second great effect which followes upon the seventh Vials pouring forth is the calling of the Jewes The
a Time Times and halfe a Time see the third Chapter At which time then almost all his cruelty against the Saints shall be finished for he did to this very yeare slay the Saints and laid them dead and triumphs over them and make merry sending gifts one to another and at this time Antichrist is said to finish his reigne over the Saints having slaine them and so is one time of his end come Second time of his end is 1290. dayes which time begins saith the Text when thn daily Sacrifice was taken away and that abomination set up which made all desolate Which was done in the yeare of Christ 365. now 365. and 1290. are 1655. which is the second time of his end which is the end of the fifth and sixth Viall pouring forth Carion Chro. lib. 3. Rev. 12.17 18. Dan. 7.11 when all Civill and Ecclesiasticall power shall be taken from him and his Armies destroyed and given to the Fowles of Heaven and their bodies to the burning flames And all the civill power of States put into the hands of the godly but not the Ecclesiasticall power untill the seven plagues of the seven Angels be fulfilled The third time of his end is set down in the 12. verse to be 1335. dayes By dayes he means propheticall dayes a day for a yeare This time is to begin when the 1290. began at the yeare 365. so 365. and 1355. make 1700. which is the third and last time of his end when he shall be spiritually slain and cast out of the hearts minds of men in whom he hath fastly rooted himself by his Antichristian errours Dan. 7.12 in whom he and the rest of the Beast was said to live after they had their Dominions and Kingdomes taken from them At this time the Lord Christ is said to sit upon the Throne Rev. 19.1 6. and much people in Heaven crying Alleluiah and the voyce of a great Multitude and as the voyces of many waters and the voyce of mighty thunderings saying Alleluiah for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth In the yeare 1655. Christ and his Witnesses are to take the powers of all the ten Kingdomes which Antichrist had into their owne hands and shall reigne but yet Christ is not said to reigne fully Christ not said to reigne untill his reigne in and over his Church as well as over Nations untill Antichrist be quite removed out of the hearts of men and the Church way of Christ clearly seene by all his servants both by his Witnesses in Heaven and other of his Saints that so he may reigne not onely upon the thrones of Nations but likewise upon the hill of Sion his Church and then Christ is said to reigne truly which he shall doe at this last terme 1700. Then shall the Lambe Christ be married unto his Church and the new Jerusalem built Antichrist being quite destroyed and cast not onely out of the would but out of the hearts of men and all that Antichristian darknesse and ignorance out of the mindes of men that the way of Church-discipline at that time shall be so plaine Isa 35.8 that wayfaring men yea though fools shall not erre therein and so much light that all shall see the way of Church-discipline Zach. 14.7 which way the uncleane is not to passe over but it shall be for those At even time it shall be light which is meant of this yeare 1700. Rev. 19.7 The Spouse married to Christ by a Church-Covenant even for those that are holy which doe not pollute nor defile and not for the uncleane At which time all the people of God seeing the Church way of Christ so plaine are said to make themselves ready and prepared to be married to Christ not but that they were married to him before in a spirituall way by faith and love Else how could they have this title of Bride or Wife But to be married to him is in an outward way by a solemne League and Covenant in the sight of all the world and Nations round about them which is called the building of that new Jerusalem and holy City Rev. 21.2 10. which is said to come downe from Heaven By Heaven is meant the place of judicature where Christ and his Witnesses sit from this high place or Heaven the Church and Spouse of Christ who is that new Jerusalem or holy City being invested with liberty and leave from Christ and his Witnesses to enter into a true Church-way and to set up such a Government in all the Churches of the Saints Isa 24.22 whereby the Lord Jesus may be Mount Sion and in his new Jerusalem before his anciemts gloriously The Lord Jesus who is the Tree of Life Rev. 22.2 who is in the midst of his Church is said to yeeld twelve manner of fruits twelve sorts of fruits after the twelve Tribes of the Children of Israel That is in him is all kindes of spirituall meats to feed and nourish all the Churches of his Saints though their wants be divers and many And this Tree yeelds his fruit every moneth in the yeare The holy Ghost secretly hinting to those Churches that shall live in those thousand yeares that he would have them to eat of that Tree of Life but once a moneth Now by Tree of life is set forth to us the Lord Christ in that great Ordinance of the Lords Supper who doth fully communicate himself to his Saints by that Ordinance In other Ordinances there is but a communication of Christ by parcels but in this of whole Christ and a participation of all spirituall gifts and graces and therefore the Lord Jesus the Tree of life is said to yeeld his fruit but once a moneth therefore the Saints are not to take fruit from this Tree but as it yeelds it not to pluck the Tree before the fruits be ripe and it is likely this will be the custome of all the Churches in the thousand yeares reigne Though the Churches in the primitive times did receive it every seventh day because they were then in their infancy and childhood and so the Lord Jesus had need to be as a Nurse with his Breasts full of Milke to nourish his young ones every day as it were But when the Church shall be growne up to the age and stature of a man and so to be fed with meat and not with milke then Christ will be a Tree of life in his Church yeelding meat and fruits for strong men every moneth for his Saints at that time are foretold by the holy Ghost to be ancient men ancient Christians Isa 24.23 such that are growne up towards the measure of the stature of the fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13 before whom he is said to reign in Mount Sion in Jerusalen gloriously This liberty to build this holy City new Jerusalem shal be to the Saints 1700. by the Witnesses in the high place of Judicature therefore it is said againe That
and abundance of peace so long as the Moone endureth at that time will I cause the Branch of righteousnesse to grow up to David and he shall execute judgement and righteousnesse in the Land justice and judgement shall be the habitation of his Throne mercy and truth shall goe before thy face Psal 89.14 Jer. 23.5 a King shall reigne and prosper who shall execute judgement in the earth Secondly Christ will not only give them just and righteous Laws but he will also give them his Gospel Rev. 14.6 Zach. 14.16 which shal be preached to all Nations they shal come up to Jerusalem to worship keep the feast of Tabercacles They shall submit to his power so farre as to have the Gospel preached to the people of the Nations Rev. 22.2 Which Gospel is called the leaves of that Tree of life which is to heale the Nations of their deadly wounds and diseases that they may doe the Commandements of God and have right to the Tree of life and so enter in through the Gate in-that holy City Isa 65.17 new Jerusalem This Government by which Christ will rule in the world Rev. 21.1 Matth. 24.35 is called The new Earth which God promised to make the old earth being passed away even that old Government of oppressions and cruelty which the five Beasts set up Rev. 21.1 being now dissolved by Christ and his Witnesses Christ set up a new Government to governe the men of the earth by called The new Earth lust and righteous Lawes and his Gospell Rev. 14.6 to be preached unto all Nations The second Government which Christ is to set up in the Churches of his Saints and new Jerusalem is a more stricter government then the former Zach. 2.1 Rev. 21.15.16 Rev. 11.1 He shall sit upon the throne of his glory in his Church and Temple with a measuring line and golden reed to measure Jerusalem that holy City to see that the length and bredth and hight of it be equall the highest Officer and the meanest Member of the Church must be equall in point of power and with this rod or golden reed he is to measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein but the outward Court must not be measured They that come into the outward Court that is they that come to the preaching of the Gospell measure not them for it is given to all the Nations of the world to be as leaves of the Tree of life to cure them therewith but the stones of the Temple and Altar and they that worship therein must be measured First Christ will measure all the stones which this holy City new Jerusalem is to be built withall none is to be admitted but precious stones Rev. 21.18 even of Jasper godly men and women and the city is to be all of pure gold like unto clcere glasse None are to enter into a Church-league and Covenant to be a stone of this new Jernsalem but such as have their cloathing of wrought gold Psal 45.13 befitting the Spouse of Christ and Queen of Heaven those graees of Gods Spirit which are as gold tryed in the fire Rev. 3.18 like unto cleare glasse without spot or defilement which are so I say in the judgement of Charity for so must the Saints judge if one be without spot not defilling by any outward sin as to worke abomination or make a lye he is to be admitted the Saints is to believe that such a one is a precious stone and pure gold in the judgement of charity 2. The Temple must not only be measured that is godly men and women which are as lively stones and spirituall Psal 1.2.5 Ezek. 43.13 to build this spirituall Temple but the Altar must be measured all ordinances and instruments with which the Saints are to worship are to be measured nothing is to be admitted as an Ordinance of worship but what is of divine institution which will agree with the touch-stone of the Word and ballance of the Sanctuary Not any of that Romish trash of mens inventions and humane traditions with which the Whore of Rome mixed her cup Ezek. 43.26 27. but the Altar must be cleansed seven daies seven times as gold or silver and then the Lord will accept of our offerings These are the Ordinances of the Altar of Christ within his Temple 3. They that worship in the Temple must be measured Christ sits upon the throne of his Church in the Temple and all that come in after it is built to worship shall be measured if they doe not agree with the golden reede of divine truth no admittance into his Temple nay after they be admitted if they walke not according to the rule of the Gospell after the third admonition Matth. 18.17 they are to be cast out of his house 1 Cor. 5.7 As none shall enter into his house that defiles so nothing is admitted to stay there for he would defile all the rest A little leaven leaveneth the whole lump 1 Cor. 5.6 therefore he must be cut off by the sword of Christ that goeth out of his mouth This is that government and discipline which Christ will set up in his Temple and holy City Rev. 2.16 and exercise in all the Churches of his Saints all the 1000. yeares and to the end of the world And these are the lawes ordinances and forms and going out thereof and commings in thereof this is the law of the house Ezek. 43.12 upon the top of the mountaines which is called that new Heaven which he will make A new Heaven that old Heaven being passed away and there was found no more sea no more of that Romish doctrine or humane traditions which that Antichristian Whore brought into the world with her but that Roman Beast and Babylonish Whore with all her abominations is now to be removed out of the way which she set up in the Temple and Heaven and now the Lord sets up pure ordinances of worship in all the Churches of the Saints which he calls the new Heaven which new heaven and earth shall ever continue Isa 61.17 Rev. 21.1 Rev. 20.3 4. Isa 24.22 not only for 1000. yeares in which Christ and his Saints shall raigne Satan be bound and wicked men shut up as prisoners in a pit and lye civilly slaine but even to the worlds end and then shall that be fulfilled Isa 16.16 17 18 19 20 21. Thou shalt also suck the milke of c. So the Lord Jesus is to raigne over the Nations of the world and Churches of his Saints 1000. yeares which 1000. yeares begins when Antichrist is quite destroyed which will be 1700. yeares and continue unto 2700. in which time Satan is said to be bound and shut up Rev. 20.3 and sealed in that bottomlesse pit Not so shut up but he shall still tempt and intice the men of the world yea and Saints too