three years and an halfe before the end of the 1260 years neither sooner nor later and done with so much secresie policy and craft as no such Beast or Government shall be expected or thought of till it be brought forth And howsoever it hath a mean and low beginning yet it will rise to a monstrous height of Pride against God and man This State or Kingdome of the Beast will be full of darknesse great oppression exercised by reason the people have their power Laws and liberties taken from them And howsoever this be so yea and withall the blessed Cause of Christ destroyed in his Witnesses by an usurped power yet this Beast or Goverment shall have with it such a glorious out-side of Religion and Form of Godlinesse as among Gods own people many of them shall not know this State or Government to be the Beast which slays the Witnesses till the three years and halfe are expired And thus much for the Beast who he is and what is signified by him We come now to the Witnesses and how they are kild 1. By the Witnesses I understand not persons but the Truth or Testimony it selfe which is held forth and asserted by them I say it is not the person which the Beast is said to kill but the holy Cause and Interest of Christ witnessed too and for by the Saints of the most High So that the person may live though he be slaine in his Testimony 2. For the Testimony or Witnesse it comprehends not all Truth For the Beast shall allow much Truth and countenance men in the practice of it Therefore the Testimony which he shall slay is to be taken restrictively that is some particular Truth which he will not indure as proper to that Generation and Time In all the dayes of the Papall Beast the Sack-cloth Witnesses might safely and without danger assert many Gospel-Truths That which they suffered for was for asserting such Truths and speaking against such Errours and lies as that Time would not bear it being to the disadvantage of the Beasts Kingdome that such abominable filthinesse should be discovered So this Beast will not make war against every Truth but seeks only to destroy that Testimony which he thinks if not kild will be his utter ruine Quest What is that Truth or Testimony here slaine by the Beast Answ It is the last witnesse which Saints shall hold forth for and in the behalfe of Jesus Christ against the Enemies of Gods people And being the last of their Testimony it can be no other then bearing witnesse to Christs blessed and visible Kingdome That he as heir of all things will take all power rule dominion into his own hands and that all the present Powers and Governments of the world shall be broken to pieces And more particularly they shall now bear witnesse against this Beast as to be that Power and State by whom the witnesses are to be sâ—ain and after three years and an half his Dominion shall be taken from him The observing of this will lead us to the knowledg both of the Beast and Time for it cannot be this Beast unlesse he slay such a Testimony in the Saints as is here set down that is A testimony for Christ against all present powers and particularly against the Government of this Beast as declaring openly who he is where his seat is and that the Lord after three years and an halfe will utterly consume him And here I think lies the difference between the Testimony of the Sackcloth witnesses before the Beast ascended out of the bottomlesse pit and afterwards Their Testimony before was mainly against the Idolatry of the whorish Church bearing witnesse to the Propheticall and Priestly office of Christ and suffered upon that account But afterward when the three years and half begin their Testimony is as I said before for his Reigne and Kingdome And this witnesse will the Beast seek to murder allowing that Testimony which was born before to his Propheticall and Priestly office by which meanes the slaughter and murder he commits will not easily be observed 3. That the witnesses are said to be two I conceive it is for this reason Because their Testimony consists of two parts viz. 1. That Jesus Christ ought to have his right his honour glory service dominion 2. That his enemies in not giving the same to him But instead of exalting him exalt themselves and their own interest shall extreamlysuffer for it Or two as witnessing for righteous things and against unrighteous things Now for the manner of their Slaying He shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them First though the witnesses in their Testimony are slaine upon the rise of the Beast and there we are to begin the three days and an half yet doth he continue his persecution till the whole terme be ended Secondly There may be something in the words make warre overcome and kill more then hitherto hath been minded In Chap. 12. 14. The womanâ— to shun the face of the Serpent slyes into the wildernes where she is nourished for a time and times and halfe a time The slaying of the witnesses and that slight of the woman is at one time And I think the occasion of that flight is this war of the Beast So that he slays not the whole Testimony or witnesse but the Lord preserves a remnant as he did the 7000 in Israel up and down the Nation which keep the Commandments of God and have the Testimony of Jesus all the time that the witnessesly slaine Thirdly He shall make warre against them and shall overcome them These words are taken from Dan. 7. â—2 and have been opened before It is true in Daniel there is no mention of killing The reason may be because he hath respect to what the Horn or Beast shou d doe against the persons of the witnesses but speaks nothing of killing because the Lord will not suffer him to proceed unto blood John names killing in regard he should slay the Truth and Testimony in many persons though not the person for the truths sake This likewise is worth the Observing to know the Beast by Quest But how doth he slay the Testimony of Jesus I answer many wayes First In some he slays their Testimony by preferment and bestowing great Offices and places upon them Here I may say changing a few words what is said Rev. 12. Woe to the Inhabiters of heaven Churches and Church-Officers and Professours of Religion for the Devill is come down unto you having great wrath because he knoweth that the hath but a short time This Beast scornes to be serv'd for nought specially if they are religious and men searing God these rather then others shall be prefer'd in his Councel Army Navy Vniversities Parish-Tithes so they will fall down and worship HIM and his Image And in this designe he hath a double advantage 1. He is sure to slay in them the last Testimony of Jesus for Noman
Officers of true Churches have so fallen in with the world have gotten such riches houses lands moneys have liv'd in such pleasure plenty riot pomp and state I cannot finde that the like hath been before and I hope after this time it will be so no more And indeed I should have thought this thing which is now come to pass very strange had not this Apostacie been foretold that in the last days there should be in the Churches of the Saints and amongst the Ministers Men Lovers of their own selves covetous proud c. 4. If the present Apostacie be that of which Paul speaks the time under it will be perillous hard difficult The Dutch translates Schwertzeiten heavie grievous or troublesome because saith their noâ—e The time will be full of grief and hard for the Godly perillous saith Diodate in regard of the spiritual state of the Church The Reasons why the time will be so hard and heavy under the later Apostacie may be these 1. Because out of this Apostacie as the bottomless pit a beast shall arise headed with a little horn by whom the witnesses shall be slain 2. It will be a hard and heavy time because the Rights Liberties and Freedoms of the people shall be taken from them an Arbitrary Power set up illegal Taxes impos'd and onely force and violence bear sway 3. The prudent now must either keep silence or extremely suffer And so a heavy time 4. Such snares and temptations will be laid as many good men shall be corrupted and drawn aside from their former righteous principles and from faith and a good conscience to pernitious ways Lastly so heavy a time will it be that men shall be at their wits end not knowing what to do nor what course to take for their own safety nor how to keep a good conscience without suffring by this Apostacie For it will be as much as a mans life to appear for the just liberties of the people and to hold forth a publike testimony for the visible and glorious kingdom of Jesus Christ Hence the Aethiopick translator renders it the bad year because Religion and the holy Name of God would suffer more dishonor and reproach at this time then in any age before by reason of the base revolting of eminent and forward professors every where To prove these Reasons that is my part the which if God permit I shall do when I come to open the sins and characters of the little Horn Then I will shew that for these Considerations it will be a perilous time under the later Apostacie The Application that is the Readers part The which of the two I conceive is the least and easiest But fifthly and to come neerer yet to the matter The question is Whether the particular sins set down in 2 Tim. 3. 2 3 c. may be found among the Apostates of this age directly and fully and not appliable since the first Apostacie to any men till now If it be not so without forcing the Text what I have said in the Considerations I shall abide by it viz. This Apostacie is not that which the Spirit of God intends in 2 Tim. 3. but some other is yet to come Now to name the sins and open the wotds with a little Application will be enough for my part Lovers of their own selves The Apostle begins at the Spring-head Self-love as the bitter root brings forth this unblessed weed called THE STATE-APOSTACIE OF THE LAST TIMES Neither indeed can it be otherwise for if men begin to love themselves they will soon be covetous proud boasters c. And what thinkest thou Reader when men shall love themselves more then their oaths vows covenants c. more then truth and righteousness more then the laws liberties and rights of the people more then faith and a good conscience say more then heaven and their own souls yea and more then God and his Christ Whether such may not be thought to be the Self-lovers intended by the holy Ghost who should make the later Apostacie Covetous The word signifies not onely lovers of silver and money but of other things As Lands Houses Castles Parks Courts Titles great Offices and Places c. Besides the word signifies an immoderate desire and appetite to have the possession of such things Hence the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is often rendred studium pecuniae the Study of money How this is made good in the present Apostacie their practice is proof enough neither do I mean to speak much of their doings seeing the same is so obvious and manifest to the world and by many published already For their coveteousness what it is from the head to the tail God sees it and men know it and what scandal and reproach they have brought to the truth by it they themselves will know one day But because the Reader may do his part the better which is Applicative I shall commend three things to him 1. That he take notice These here whom the Apostle saith shall be lovers of their own selves Covetuous Proud c. were men formerly seemingly at lest of other principles and practices for else it could not have been an Apostacie It cannot be forgotten what was laid to the charge oâ— the Bishops for their covetousness pride pomp following the court and what to the King and his party for their excess But now who more covetous of Money Lands Houses Castles Parks Courts Titles great Offices and Places c. then they who condemned these very sins in others see Rom. 2. 1 3. 2. It must be remembred If the Apostacie now be it of which Paul speaks all the sins in the Text must be applied to it for though we should see men to be covetous boasters proud c. yet if they have not the other vices that is if they are not truce breakers false accusers traitors c. it is not that Apostacie Lastly neither can it be the later Apostacie if any having the form of Godliness have formerly walked as these do after such lusts Boasters Crackers or Braggers vain-glorious-men which boast of that they have not Ulpianus Kickerm and others take 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be such as arrogate and assume too much to themselves promise more then they can do and more then is truth The word seems to be taken from Quack salvers and Mountebanks who Crack of their great Skill and rare Cures being in the mean time ignorant of the true grounds and principles of Physick and Chyrurgery If it be the last Apostacie great things will be promised the Nation about Reformation of Church and State This shall be talk'd of a long time and in their Books published a ain and again But what will all come too Reader Look about thee and be hearkning if thou doest not hear poor creatures in bitterness make this complaint as having cause enough ye are Physitians of no value ye are Crackers indeed you have taken much
offence or fault they have committed Reader the Application is thy part And prevailed against them How this is done is shewed chap. 12. 7. hee shall scatter the Power of the Holy people the which place hath reference to Moses words when hee sees their Power is gone Deut. 32. 36. Not onely may the slaying of the Witnesses bee here meant but this Horn shall proceed and prosper so farre in this war as all hope will bee taken away from Christs cause ever to rise again I shall give the Reader my thoughts of the thing As the darkest time of the Night is about the dawning so a little before the expiration of the three years and half The interest of Christ and his People will bee at the lowest ebb and the Horn-State at the highest spring of glory and greatnesse For the Lord shall judge his people and repent himself for his servants when he seeeth that their power is gone and there is none shut up or left Thus Moses and Daniel speak of one thing that the Horn will not bee to the height of his persecution till his body bee ready to bee given to the burning flame and therefore whosoever shall live under his Dominion must expect that hee will bee most fierce and cruel when the period and end of his time is come And shall wear or tire out the Saints of the most high Here wee have the Angels explanation of the words before how hee shall prevail namely weary out the Saints that is by keeping some of them under bonds and banishment as thinking thereby to yre them out and so compel them to deny Christ as himself had done before Others by poverty and outward wants being forced to leave their former imployment and maintenance that they might not be partakers of his sins Re. 13. 16 17. This makes mee think that the Lord will not suffer him to shed much bloud for howsoever hee will not fear God nor man and bee most wrathsul specially towards the end of his time Neverthelesse hee shall but fulfil the Councell and purpose of God as did Pharoah Judas Herod and Pontius Pâ—late that is not put the Saints to death but â— eary them out no further or very little shall hee go in spight of his Stont looks But again they are not onely Saints but of the most high which seems to import that some Saints shal do well enough under this Horn as to their peace liberty and worldly enjoyments onely those who are not for him but for the most High he will make war against And in this his Hypocrisy and other wickedness will bee â—he lesse seen and noted In honouring some Professors of Religion promoting them to great places and offices in his Councel Army Colledges and making them his familiar friends such I mean as will have fellowship with him in the works of darknesse and justifie his unrighteous wayes howsoever in the mean time hee shall persecute others who are in truth and really for the cause and interest of Christ I would have the Reader likewise to observe this as a special thing whereby to know the time of the Little Horn. There will bee then two sorts of Saints the one hee will hate the other seem to love the one he will take into his Palace the other cast into Prison the one shall be raised from one degree of preserment to another the other thrown out of all And the Reason is because the former are Saints of the most high The latter are not according to the meaning of the text The former like Moses will esteem the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt The latter like Demas will imbrace the present world and not care what becomes of the Kingdome of the most high so they may reign as Kings themselves in Pomp Pride and Pleasure c. with the HORN And think to change times and Laws To know what is here meant it must bee observed what the Holy Ghost speaks of this Horn as to bee his great work and businesse and this is set down in two things viz. making warre against the Saints of the most high and plucking up by the roots three Kingdomes so that as he takes twosorts of people for his greatest enemies The fift Monarchy-men and the Common-wealth-men so hee is fallen upon a design whereby he thinks to keep up his Power and Dominion in spight of both Parties that it by changing times and Laws where note how in the first hee shews himself a very Atheist in the latter a deep Polititian We will speak of both distinctly By Times in this place I understand the set Time in which the father hath promised to give his son and the Saints with him the Kingdome and Dominion and the greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven Psal 102. 13. Isa 14. 31. Hab. 2. 3. Rev. 10. 6 7 and 22. 10. Dan. 8. 19. and 10. 1. and 11. 27 29 35. As the Israelites after four hundred and thirty years were set free from the Egyptian bondage And afterward delivered from the Captivity of Babylon the seventy years being expired So the forty two months and the one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes and the three years and half being sulfilled it is Gods purpose to begin the deliverance of his people from Tyrants and Oppressours and to make them his battle Axe and rod of his strength to break the Image to peices and take the Kingdome Dan. 7. 18. Now the little Horn reading such prophesies and what great things are promised the Saints after a Time Times and dividing of time and when three dayes and an half are ended And perceiving what encouragement some take from such places as intending to follow the call of God when that Appointed time shall come What doth he I not beleeving the holy Prophesies bee thinks to change the Times that is wheras after three years and half the Saints make account the Times will bee Christs and Theirs he on the contrary THINKS to have it his still and to continue the Little Horn as he was before Yea and to have his son a Horn after his decease That the Reader may clearly understand what my meaning is This I think When the dayes of the Little Horn are almost expired the Wise shall understand that hee is the Horn and God will put in their hearts to fulfill his Will upon him which is to take away his Dominion to consume it and to destroy it unto the End Dan. 7. 26. This being perceived by him hee shall perswade himself to frustrate what the Scriptures testify and the Saints beleeve concerning him by some crafty devises which he hath thought upon As Herod a Type of this Horn when hee heard of the birth of the King of the Jews gathered all the chief Priests and Scribes of the people together to know of them where hee should be born Though hee intended onely the death of the Holy Child Jesus yet hee seeks to know
what the Scriptures had foretold of the place and time And why so to change the time that is to make void the Councel of God The like may be done by the Little Horn being Troubled to hear that Christ is appearing against him to take away his Dominion hee gathers the Priests and Scribes together and inquires of them about the Time who can inform him some of them at Least that after three years and half the Horn must bee destroyed what doth hee now Thinking to change the Time hee doth all that hee can by power and craft to escape the revenging hand of God Again it is worth the noting though the chief Priests and Scribes had not the Grace to go with the Wise men unto Christ yet had they so much knowledge in the Scriptures as they could tell the Tyrant the place where hee should bee born whereby to further his bloudy design So some Ministers of the last Apostacy by the light which they have of the Prophesies of the Last Times may bee able to inform the Horn when his three years and half are ended and yet remain still with him and not go forth with the Wise to follow the Lamb. Quest How will hee think to change the Times that it may not bee Christs time but His after the three years and an half are expired Answ My opinion is these three wayes 1 As the Saints of the most high will rise in their Testimony against him especially about the Time of his End So on the other hand hee will ingage revolted Professours to appear for him more than they did in justifying his Government and wayes aspersing their Dissenting Brethren to speak things of spight ignorance Preposterous zeal and what will they have men may be as good as they will c. And thus getting the Apostates every where to cry him up for a Nursing Father and his Government the prop and pillar of Religion he will think to change the times As a little before Israels deliverance out of Egypt Moses and the Magitiaâ—s had a sore conflict and the like between Elias and Baals Priests a little before they were put to death So I conceive a little before his Dominion is taken from him the Controversy will grow high between the Witnesses of Christ and Apostates on whose side the Truth is 2 Hee will scatter the Power of the holy people grow so high in Pride and Stoutnesse neer his end that it shall seem their Power is gone and there is none shut up or left So farre shall hee prevail against the remnant of the womans seed that having before stain the witnesses hee shall think there are none left either in prison or out of Prison to take away his Dominion and cast his body to the burning flames when the three years and half are expired As the scum and drosse is wiped off and thrown into the fire when it hath spread it self over the Pot and nothing of the liquor seen so the destruction of this Horn will bee when he thinks hee hath the cause of Christ down under him and no appearance or sight thereof is left Psal 119. 119. But lastly Hee thinks to change the Times by his Army And indeed his greatest hope will bee in this For first The Army must bee purg'd that is to say not a conscientious Souldier left in it specially an Officer not a Man if known that his Principles are for smiting the Image Secondly Such mercinary fellows shall bee raked together as like the Turkish Janazaries and Spanish slaves in the Indies they will serve his turn in any thing As those Bloud-suckers which are applied to mens bodies Wheresoever they are laid be the place well or ill there they stick and do the work they are applied for So the Souldiers of this Horn whatsoever they are Commanded that they will do bee the party good or bad sick or sound all is one to them The will and Lust of their great Master shall bee obeyed though it bee against the expresse Law of God 3 Their main businesse is now to hunt after the Saints of the most high break their meetings and imprison such as they think might promote the interest of Christ and his people against the Little Horn had they liberty Fourthly it is probable hee will cause his souldiers to take away from some of the Fift Monarchy-men their Armes and Weapons not leave them a Sword Musket Pistol Pike c. it may bee not a Horse nor Money to buy them bread And having done all this now hee thinks and hath hee not reason for it he hath changed the Times It is observed by some when Ahab was told by the Prophet that the Lord would bring evil upon him and cut off his posterity 1 King 21. 21. that hee takes more Wives and Concubines and begets no lesse than seventy Sons 2 King 10. 1. Thinking thereby either to have prevented what the Lord had threatned or to make him the more work So the Horn understanding that his Power and Dominion is to bee destroyed now hee will bestir himself devising and practising all hee can either to cross the Lords decree against him change the Time or put him hard to it Thus vain man would be wise though man bee born like a wild asses colt Job 11. 12. For the other particular Wee are to consider 1 What is meant by Laws 2 How he thinks to change them Quest. What are these Laws which he thinks to change Answ 1 That Form of Government which was established before and to which the People had submitted and engaged to maintain This I think is meant by changing the Laws the abrogating of that kinde of Government which by the Legislative Power of the Nation was ordained and the good people every where had consented to 2 A change in all Fundamentals As to that Power and Right which is in the people to chuse their own Representatives and the Priviledges of Parliaments These two things hee will pluck up by the roots viz. take away from people and Parliaments their power and priviledges and assume all to himself yea so Arbytrary and Lawlesse will hee bee herein that never a Tyrant before him governing the Nations where hee shall bee ever durst to attempt the like And so much the Reader is to observe For my minde gives mee whosoever doth not this hee is not the little Horn in Daniel If the foundations be destroyed what can the righteous do Psal 11. 3. 3 Such laws as were made for every individual person wherby every private man before had ways and means to help himself in case of wrong and oppression whether it concern'd his person or Estate But these hee will make void and instead thereof his Will shall be for a Law as to imprison and banish whom he will and keep them there as long as hee will And to take mens Goods and Estates from them when and how much hee pleaseth So that onely his will and nothing
when they have finished their Testimony Hence I think this may be asserred for a Truth Whosoever this Beast is it cannot be the Dominion of the Papal Beast nor can the German Empire be meant nor any of the ten Hornes or Kings for these were risen long before the Witnesses had finished their Testimony The matter here is of weight and being well considered will give us some light to know who this Beast is and where the Witnesses shall be slaine The Popes Jurisdiction it cannot be nor the Emperours Spaniard French c. these rose before the three years and an halfe and have stood many hundred years It is a common received opinion In the Lords bringing Israel out of Egypt was shadowed out the deliverance of his Church and people from all Tiranny and oppression in the last dayes Now of Pharoah a Tipe of this Beast and commanding all the male to be cast into the River a figure of killing the witnesses it is said And in very deed for this cause have I raised thee up for to shew in thee my power and that my name may be declared through out all the earth Exod. 9. 16. As Pharoah at that time was raised up that is ascended out of the bottomlesse pit that in him the Lord might fulfill his Councel and purpose concerning the inlargement of his people and thereby glorifie himselfe in shewing his great Power wisedome faithfulnesse So this Beast as another Pharoah is brought up out of the depth for the three years and an half that in him and by him the Lord might accomplish what in his eternall councell he had determined conteyned in this Prophesie Secondly There may be something in the phrase ascendeth To signifie 1. How suddenly and unexpectedly this Beast will appeare altogether unlookt for yea and to strang the thing will be especially among Saints as they would never have believ'd it though thousands had told them so much before had they not seen it with their own eyes 2. Whereas it is said the Beast ascendeth it is to shew that he comes up of himself not sent for nor desired by the people but it is his own plotting and designings that he takes power and Rule to himselfe And this I take to be an essentiall character of this Beast Ascendeth he will be a meat Intruder and will slay the witnesses by a power which he hath assumed and usurped and not otherwise Compare with this Dun. 7. 8. The little Horn comes up that is of it self he arose not by Election nor by Inheritance Right or such kind of Succession but by his own craft and strength So the later Apostacie is said to rise or ascend 2 Tim. 3. 1. Not raised up by the Lord. 3. By the word may be signified the horrible pride of the Beast for though his descent be from the Depth that is a most base beginning yet ascendeth viz. In Titles Pomp State Court c. As if he had not been illegitimate but lawfully begotten That which the Lord by the Prophet speaks against the King of Babylon I think is in part meant of this Beast For thou hast said in thy heart I will ascend into Heaven I will exalt my throne above the starrs of God I will sit also upon the Mount of the Congregation in the sides of the north I will ascend above the height of the Clouds I will be like the most high Isa 14. 13 14. Is not this the boastine of a mighty man Not only will he be above the Starrs and â—it upon the Mount of the Congregation scatter the holy people weary out the Saints and kill the witnesses But like the most high take to himself the Attributes of God Isa 13. 3. That this Beast ascendeth out of the depth inmay be for these Reasons 1. Because of the great secrecie and closenesse which is used in the forming of him All things here must be done in the deep and under ground None except a few six or eight persons perhaps which model the Beast must know any thing of it untill he come forth to the publique view of the world Doing herein like those against whom the woe is pronounced in the Prophet That seek deep to hide their counsel from the Lord and their works are in the darke and they say who seeth us and who knoweth us Isa 29. 18. 2. Of the deep pollicie used in the framing of him All Civil Beasts before him rose either out of the Earth or Sea but this out of the depth signifying that there was not halfe that craft and subtletie about them as about this Beast For there shall be so much art and workmanship bestowed about him that when he comes forth To warr against the witnesses and to overcome them and slay them very few will perceive any such thing Not one I say of many will take him for all this to be the Beast And why so He ascendeth out of the depth from the depths of Satan as being transformed and no marveil for at this time he will be Satans chiefe Minister into an Angel of light So that by the place may be signified He will not be taken for the Beast but a great Saint 3. Wheras the last Apostacy is here called the depth it shews that there is no way to carry on a bad designe for closenesse and craft like to Apostacy and Hypocrifie in Religion And by how much men rise high in a shew and form of Godlinesse though hypocrites the more they shall advantage themselves by it It is true other Beasts before him carryed on their own Interest partly by Religion but they were ignorant and unskild of the great mystery which this Beast hath learnt For before him note it Reader no Civill State ascended out of this depth of Satan that is from Apostacy in Religion And therefore before him there was never a Government in the world raised up by hypocrisie in Religion in that manner as this will be Hence Justin Martyr calls the little Horne 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Man of Apostacy In Dial. cum Trypl pag. 336. 4. Whereas the word signifieth without light it may be to denote what shal be the practice and doing of this Beast notwithstanding his secresie policy hypocrisie when he is ascended It is said of the first Beast His kingdome was full of darknesses Rev. 16. 10. So the kingdome of this Beast the head of the latter Apostacy as the other was of the first his kingdome will be full of darknesse For he will destroy and put out the light of the Law and leave nothing to the people but Abissus his Own blind will for them to walk by From what hath been said we may gather in short A true description of the Beast according to the Scripture for I desire to follow that perfect word without adding auy thing of mine own to it Thus then by the Scripture I take the Beast to be A State or Government set up by a few Apostates