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
this holy City or new Jerusalem commeth downe out of Heaven from God Rev. 3.12 prepared as a Bride adorned for her Husband the Spouse of Christ had before her inward cloathing all of wrought gold standing on the right hand of the King in gold of Ophir Psal 45.9.13 called gold tryed in the fire which made her spiritually rich and beautifull in her soule in the eyes of her Lord and Husband Christ But this is not sufficient shee must also have an outward raiment to make her beautifull without both in the eyes of her Lord that looks upon her and the men of this world therefore it is said that shee shall be brought to the King in a raiment of needle-worke Psal 45.14 Rev. 19.8 curiously wrought and imbroidered even in fine linen clean white which is the righteousnesse of the Saints That which none hath right unto or ought to meddle with but Saints Isa 35.8 it being the Government and Discipline which Christ is to set up and exercise in his owne House and Temple over his Saints and people and this fine linen was granted to her by Christ and his Witnesses and it was also granted to the soules under the Altar which saw themselves slaine for the testimony which they held that they should have white robes given them by Christ and his Witnesses when the fifth Seal was opened which was when the fifth Viall was pouring forth betwixt 1639. and 1655. but not fully to all the Saints untill the end of the seven Vials 1700. Rev. 15.8 And the holy Ghost gives the reason why no man that is not many shall not be able to enter into the Temple because the Temple was filled with smoak from the glory of the Lord and from his power By smoake is noted Gods presence Gods presence in his House and Temple is so glorious and so holy that very few shall be able to endure it his Government in his House will be too strict for loose and formall spirits By smoak is likewise noted darknesse the way of Christs Government in and over all the Churches of the Saints is for the present hard to be found out it lyes deep and is as it were hid in the inmost bowels of holy writ not open in the letter of the Scripture but wrapped up in the spirituall sense thereof And Antichrist hath by his Antichristian ayre which he brought with him into the world out of that bottomlesse pit so darkned the understanding of men yea of many of the deare Saints of God that they cannot see Christs way in his House and Temple Again Antichrist having taken kept this Church power from the Saints 1260. years and therefore they are as it were quite ignorant of this Discipline and Government as well they may therefore not able to enter into the Temple but this Church power shall be granted unto the Saints again by Christ and his Witnesses the year 1700. The Church being thus adorned with pure gold in her inward man and with a broidered garment and fine linen upon her outward man and that by authority from Christs civill Magistrates in the place of Judicature Rev. 21.10 11 is said to descend out of Heaven from God haveing the glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like unto a Jasper stone Verse 3. clear as Christall And at this time the Tabernacle of God shall be with men even with the Saints and people and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shall be with them and be their God verse 3. And God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes and there shall be no more death nor sorrow nor crying neither shall there be any more paine All those teares or death sorrow or paine which came by the oppressour shall be taken away for Verse 4. saith he the former things are past away all oppression and tyranny of the enemy and he that sits upon the Throne will make all things new new Heaven and new Earth Verse 5. new Government in the Church and a new Government in the State In this new Jerusalem shall be no Temple nor need of the Sunne or Moone to shine in it That is the Church and people of God shall have no need of outward glory to make them beautifull in the eyes of Nations but God and the Lambe shall have their spirituall Throne there Rev. 22.3 4. and be their light and glory and his servants shall serve him and shall see his face that is the brightnesse of his glory and his Name shall be in their fore-heads Rev. 3.12 22.4 The power of Christ in his Church shal be as visible upon them seen to belong to them at that day as though it were written in their fore-heads And in this City shall be a pure River of life cleare as Chrystall that is Verse 1. all pure Ordinances of worship which proceed from the Throne of God and the Lambe who sits in the midst of his Church and on both sides of those pure Ordinances is Christ the Tree of life communicating himselfe to his Saints Thus shall this holy City and new Jerusalem be built by authority from Christ and his Witnesses in the yeare of Christ 1700. which shall be that great worke of the Witnesses that same yeare throghout all their Dominions Zach. 9.10 Psal 72.8 Dan. 7.13 14. 18. 27. Psal 2.6 8 9. Rev. 5.9 10. Isa 24.23 c. which shall be from sea to sea from the River even to the ends of the Earth after they have kept silence in Heaven halfe an houre At this time will God make good all his promises made unto Christ and his Saints concerning their reigning over the Nations and upon the hill of him in his new Jerusalem CHAP. XI The two Governments of Christ the one over the Nations and another over his new Jerusalem Christ reignes 1000. yeares Satan and wicked men bound all that same time afterwards loosed and utterly destroyed The Saints reigning three Termes CHrist and his Witnesses having taken all power into their hands both Civill and Ecclesiasticall and being to reigne over the Nations and upon Mount Zion and in Jerusalem they must have two Governments set up to rule them by one to rule the Nations another to rule upon Mount Zion That whereby Christ and his Saints is to reign and rule the Nations by is just and righteous Lawes Christs government over the Nation Isa 32.1 Psal 72.2.3.4 Verse 7. Jer. 33.15 A King shall reigne in righteousnesse and Princes shall decree justice he shall judge thy people with righteousnesse and the poore with judgement the mountaines shall bring peace to the people and the little hils by righteousnesse he shall judge the poore of the people he shall save the children of the needy and shall breake in pieces the oppressour and in his dayes shall the righteous flourish
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
denied the Church power to be in the hands of the Spouse of Christ and that Christ had not left that Ecclesiasticall power of the Church with them but with him that he was Christs Vicegerent sitting in the Temple of God 2 Thes 2.4 lording it over all that is called God To this great truth of Christs Kingly power in his Church do they give testimony and beare witnesse denying that he or any in the world hath power to lord it over the Church and Spouse of Christ in Ecclesiasticall matters Rev. 11.3 for this belongs onely to God and Christ and so they are called Christs Witnesses I will give power to my two Witnesses Rev. 1.1 It was Christ that spake here this book being called the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him they who give testimony to any truth though it hath been held forth by any other going before such a one is called his witnesse thus God is called Christs witnesse in saying that he was his Sonne Joh. 5.32 John is likewise called Christs witnesse ver 33. the Apostles are called Christs witnesse Acts 1.38.3.15 2 Pet. 1.16 Christ is called the true and faithfull witnesse Rev. 1.5 chap. 3.14 So the people of God and Churches of the Saints are said to be Christs witnesses in the day and yeer that Antichrist entred into the Temple and denied the Kingly office of Christ Anno 375. Secondly Title 2. Rev. 11.4 they are called two Candlesticks and two Olive trees they are set forth by two Candlesticks and two Olive trees to shew to us that at this time they were in a true Church-state as the people of the Jewes formerly were Zach. 4.2 Rev. 1.20 who are set forth by one Candlestick and the seven Churches of Asia by seven Candlesticks and the Officers of the Churches are set forth by two Olive trees that stand before God Zach. 4.12 and are on both sides of the Candlestick to empty the golden Oyle of divine truth out of themselves into the bowle of the Candlestick into the bosome of the Church so it is clear they were at this time in a true Church state Why the people of God are called two Candlesticks Dan. 18.32 being compleat with their Officers two Olive trees they are called but two Candesticks not only to note to us that the people of God were worshiping him aright in a Church way but at this time when Antichrist entred into the Temple denied Christs Kingly office were few in number even two the least of all numbers for many professors at this time did do wickedly against the Covenant even broke that Church Covenant which was amongst them Thirdly Title 3. they are set forth by this title The Saints of the most high or high Saints Dan. 7.21 Rev. 13.7 2 Thes 2.4 Cant. 5.7 Rev. 12.6.14 Antichrist having entred into the Temple and dis-throned the Lord Christ and pluckt the Crowne from his head stripped the Spouse of Christ of her vaile persecuted the Church into the Wildernesse of that Antichristian world and taken away all their Church power which the Lord Jesus gave them in the day of their espousall Dan. 12.7 And therefore he is said to scatter the power of the holy people having so broken them to pieces by his hot persecution in the yeere 375. that they could not neither might be suffered to hold forth the true worship of God in a Church way therefore are called Saints of God Dan. 7.18.21 25 26. Rev. 3.7 and high Saints they being scattered some into one place some into another The fourth title by which the people of God are set forth by Title 4. is a woman cloathed with the Sun and travelling Rev. 12.1 1 5. and pained to be delivered of a man childe that was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron the Saints of God being broken to peeces by a wicked and unjust Magistrate and scattered up and downe in the wildernesse some here and some there not being suffered to congregate into a true visible Church by that man of sinne for the space of 1260. yeares they having been persecuted by him that full space of time and afterwards slaine and laid dead for three propheticall daies and a halfe And some of their brethren and fellow-witnesses being raised up to the high place of Judicature and Magistracy as was evident in the foregoing chapter Rev. 11.12 The rest of the godly were now with child with this great truth of Christ in point of Civill Government by which the Lord Jesus in and by his Saints was to rule all nations with a rod of Iron Therefore cryed they earnestly to God by zealous and fervent Prayer and to his witnesses their fellow-servants that sate in Heaven by humble request and petition that they might have a godly Magistracie set up in the world and that Antichrist that wicked oppressour who had made the world as a wildernesse Isa 14.17 and destroyed the Cities thereof and that wicked murderer which had devoured the people of God for many ages and slaine his witnesses Rev. 11.7 8. and laide their dead bodies in the streets might be cast now out of heaven the place of Judicature and the people of God and those that would raigne for that man childe Jesus might be left in Heaven to sit as Kings in the Civill Throne * This birth and travell of the people of God was in the yeare 1641. and 1641. And thus the Church and people of God travelled for and tooke great pains to have it come to passe and was much pained and travelled in their minds untill they had accomplished their desires and was delivered of this man child the year of Christ 1641. as shall be shewed more fully when we come to speake of those effects and consequences which followed upon the witnesses ascending up to Heaven Thus you see the Spirit of God set forth the state and condition in which his Church and people were to be in the time of their exile captivity under those five grand enemies of his Saints especially that little horne Antichrist by these severall titles which he gave them very fitting and agreeable with the present condition which they were in at the same time not at any time mentioning some of his people and leaving out others but intending all of them For Antichrist could not deceive any of Gods Elect it was not possible he should Mar. 13.22 From the yeare of Christ 375. to 1635. Therefore all of them as one man did witnesse to that truth of Christ in point of power that he was to sit Lord and King in his Temple and not Antichrist and to be Lord over the consciences of his Saints and Spouse and not man So they were all scattered into the Wildernesse and there did prophecy and speak one to another for their mutuall edification and so are called Saints of the most High and
all of them were with childe and travelled for a godly Magistracy 1641. Therefore set forth by a woman in travell So by two witnesses yee see is meant all the people of God and not two distinct men or distinct offices the Magistracy and the Ministery as some of our learned have supsed nor the two Testaments CHAP. III This Chapter shewes the time of those five Monarchs raigning and tyrannizing it over the Church especially of the little borne Antichrist when he began and when he ended his raigne at the same time the witnesses began to prophecy and ended THose five cruell and malicious Enemies of the Church of Christ Dan. 8.26 were to continue for many daies From the very first beginning to the last period and time of their end when they shall be quite destroyed and the Church set free from all her enemies and set downe in peace and tranquility upon the throne with Christ here on Earth to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron The Spirit of God holds forth in Daniel Dan. 8.14 to be two thousand and three hundred Propheticall daies or naturall yeares Six hundred years from the first time that the people of God and Church of the Jewes was carried captive by the Babylonians to Christs time And from Christs time to the enemies last period or totall ruine and the Churches finall deliverance 1700. yeares Isa 14.19 And then the Beast and Antichrist shall be quite cast out of the World as an abominable branch And this the Spirit of God notes Dau. 8.26 that the time of this vision is not only true but is the vision of the evening and morning The evening beginning at the first time that the people of God went into captivity and entred upon the night of their exile and banishment by the Caldeans And the morning beginning not before all the darknesse of that antichristian night be gone the Church freed from all her enemies Mal. 4.2 Rev. 2.27 Isa 24.23 and risen with that Sun of righteousnesse to the thrones of his glory to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron And to raigne upon Mount Zion and in his new Jerusalem before his Antients gloriously From the evening to the morning shall be 2300. propheticall daies and not naturall daies for that cannot be meant providence hath declared the contrary very evidently This is the full time of all the enemies raigne in generall and of the people of Gods captivity and bondage from the evening to the morning but Antichrist that little horne or power which Daniel saw come up amongst the other ten hornes ☜ Dan. 7.8 the Spirit of God spake more distinctly and exactly of the time of his raigne and of the time of his ruine then of any of the other foure Monarchs Dan. 2.7 and 11.12 he being the last more cruell in his persecution against the Saints then any of the other though the Roman Monarch came very neer to him the time of his raigne is set down to be a Time Times and halfe a Time by Daniel and 42. Moneths by John ☜ Dan. 12.7 Rev. 13.5 Power was given to him to continue forty and two moneths And the Saints captivity under him the same time who are set forth by the worke which they did and the state they were in the same time Antichrist is said to begin his raigne their worke was to give testimony and to beare witnesse of that great truth of Christs Kingly power in his Church and Temple and to protest against Antichrist his lye who said he had the power given to him and against his act sitting in the Temple of God And they were to continue witnessing and prophesying the same time which Antichrist is to raigne Rev. 11.3 Rev. 12.6 set forth by 1260. daies and to be in their exile and banishment in the wildernesse of that antichristian world nourished and fed by Gods providing and overshadowing hand of providence Rev. 12.14 for a Time Times and half a Time the same with Antichrist A time may be taken for 1000. yeares times for 200. yeares halfe a time for halfe a hundred years Or thus a time to be one year times to be two years halfe a time halfe a yeare there being 1260. daies in three yeares and a half And so the Holy Ghost reckons a day for a yeare us he doth in Daniel in the vision of the evening and morning Dan. 8.14 26. 2300. daies for so many yeares Rev. 11.3.12 6. and this agrees with the other times that the witnesses should prophesie and that the woman was to be fed in the wildernesse which was 1260. daies a daie for a yeare being so many propheticall daies or naturall yeares Rev. 13.5 Antichrist continuing forty and two moneths being the same with the former every moneth containing 30. daies which according to the Grecian account amounts to the same number 1260. daies a day for a year So the time of Antichrists raigne and the people of Gods bondage and slavery under him is 1260. propheticall daies or naturall yeares Now we are to finde out when he began his raigne and when he is said to end About the yeare 320. Constantine stood up the Church and people of God having been exceedingly broken to peeces devoured trampled under foot for some 320. years by Daniels fourth Beast Dan. 7.7 Constuntine standing up for the Christians and favouring their way Syluster Bishop of Rome Dan. 11.23 thereupon resigne the civill power of Rome and other places adjacent to the Bishops of Rome and so he began to take the power of the Emperour and the civill sword being noted by Daniel that he began by a small people and is called a little horne as indeed they were but very few Christians to the whole body of that Roman Empire neither had he any great power at this present time But at this time he did not begin his raigne some say 315. or 316. but that cannot be But most agree upon 365. and that the whole power of the Empire was resigned up to him by the Roman Emperour at this time which is very likely that he by his policy and craft gained the power of the Empire at or about this time Dau. 11.21.23 or the most part of it for he crept in by little and little into the hearts of the Roman Emperours and so into the hearts of his Kingdome even by flattery and began with a small people Dan. 11.25 and through his subtilty and policie caused craft to prosper in his hand and by peace destroyed many pretending to the Christian Emperours that he was for the good and welfare both of their souls and bodies Church and Empire and if the power of the Empire might be resigned up to him he would imploy it for the good of both Whereupon the Roman Emperour resigned up the whole power or most of it to the Bishop of Rome 365. or thereabout And this
is noted in the Scripture of truth That he took away the Jewa sacrifice the same yeer called Dan. 9 11. The daily Sacrifice therefore it is said that an host was given him against the daily sacrifice Dan. 6.12 The Spirit of God charactariseth him by a little horne which none of the other Monarchs were ever set forth by and because he is said to wax great to the host of Heaven which none of the other did Vers 12. And by him saith the Text was the daily sacrifice taken away and an host was given him by the Roman Emperour against the daily sacrifice Dan. 11.31 and armes shall stand on his side and they shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength and shall take away the daily seerifice and they shall set up the abomination that maketh desolate Antichrist the Bishop of Rome could not be against the Jews way of worship 1 Thes 1.7 so as to destroy it and take it out of the way nor pollute Gods House and Sanctuary and set up his abomination untill the Roman Emperour was taken out of the way that is untill he had resigned the civill power of the Empire to him or most of it And therefore it is said that an host was given him against the daily sacrifice and armies shall stand on his part So it 's cleare the daily sacrifice was taken away by Antichrist and those armies and hosts were given him by the Roman Emperour and this he did by an host and by the power of aims which was the civill power of the Empire and he tooke the daily sacrifice away about 365. as Carion affirms Carian Chron. lib. 3. But the Spirit of God doth not begin his time when Antichrist took the power of the Empire into his hand nor when he tooke away the Jews daily sacrifice for if he had not entred into the Christians Churches and true Temple of God and dis-throned Christ and stripped his Spouse of her vale and scattered the power of the holy people by the civill sword of the Empire but ruled for God and Christ and the welfare of his people the Spirit of God would not have looked upon him as Antichrist And therefore the Lord begins Antichrists time when he first entred into his Temple 2 Thess 24. and sat as God himselfe lording it over the consciences of men in matters divine which only belong to God and to Christ From this time doth the Spirit of God begin Antichrists reigne and the Churches slavery and bondage under him which he did not doe so soon as he entred upon any of the power of the Empire either 320. or 365. for this is noted of him He came in saith John like a Lambe Rev. 13.11 seeming to all the Churches of the Saints and to the people of the whole Empire to be an innocent Lamb one that would doe no harme which he did not from 320. when he had the civill power of Rome and other places adjacent resigned up to him untill he had through his policy and craft made a League with the Roman Emperour Anno 365. or thereabouts Ban. 11.23 Then after this the Spirit of God notes that he shall worke deceitfully as indeed he did now at the comming in of Constantine that great persecution for 320. yeers against the Churches ceased and the Saints had through Constantines becomming a Christian respite and reviving for now the Roman Beast had such a wound given him at this time as if that he would die presently and not live again But after some few yeers this wound was cured and Antichrist starts up in the former Beasts stead Rev. 13.11 Dan. 7.8 20. and speaks like a Dragon very great things against the people of God and wrought deceitfully against the Saints pretending at the first to be all for them but now having got the civill power in his hand is quite against them and by this civill horne or power enters into the Temple where the people of God was congregated according to the order of the Gospell and takes away their power and so is said to be a Lambe that had two horns two powers the Civill and Ecclesiasticall Eev 13.11 which was done about the yeere of Christ 375. some ten yeers after the daily sacrifice was taken away From this time doth the Lord reckon Antichrist begins his reigne and thus Antichrist is said to begin his reigne 375. and reigns 1260. yeers and the two witnesses to be in sackcloth and to prophesie the full space of time 1260. yeeres Then they are to end in the yeere 1635. for 375. and 1260. makes 1635. untill this time is Antichrist to reigne and the witnesses to prophesie That he began Anno 375. will appeare more fully when we come to speak of the witnesses arising and ascending up to Heaven and Antichrist his fall God having promised Hab. 2.3 That at the end the visâ—on shall speake and not lie Now it must speake by those great acts of Gods providence by which God is pleased to open visions and mysteries For this time of Antichrists reigning over the Saints was hid from all men both in Heaven and Earth he not beginning when he tooke the Civill power as all our former writers have supposed none looking to the time when he entred into the Temple and made war with the Saints which were in a Church way and this he tooke but by parcels And in that he is said not to begin untill he enter into the Temple and when he entred is not recorded in Ecclesiasticall History truly as I conceive the reason may be That it might be hid CHAP. IV. The tyranny and cruelty of Antichrist against the people of God all his time he was to continue and the Saints to prophesie and likewise when they had ended their testimony with the worke and imployment of the Saints and witnesses while they were in sackcloth THe tyranny of Antichrist is set forth by this that he exercised all the power of the former Beast Rev. 13.2 Rev. 17.3 7. the former Beast having given him his seat power and great authority This Antichristian Whore now rides upon the Roman Emperour and makes him her stalking beast Vers 2. not onely to commit spirituall fornication with the Kings of the earth and make all the Inhabiters of the earth drunk with the wine of her fornication but likewise to devour breake in pieces and stamp the residue under his feet even the poore Saints and Churches of Christ for 1260. yeeres and he is said to exercise all the power of the former Beast the Roman Emperour Daniels fourth Beast Rev. 13.14 15 First steps of Antichrist cruelty against the Saints Dan. 11.38 Dan. 11.30 Dan. 11.32 Dan. 11.28 who did the same to the Saints as ye may see Dan. 7.7 And fitly called the Image of the Roman Beast both in his malice cruelty and strength First he breaks the Saints or Churches of Christ in pieces the
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
just at that instant of time did the Spirit of God enter into the hearts and spirits of the godly part Rev. 11.11 Ezra 1.1 both in England and in Scotland as he did into Cyrus And they stood upon their feet that is they tooke courage and put liberty life goods and all to their hands and tooke to them all that power and strength they had to free themselves from that dead and slavish condition wherein Antichrist had brought them Thus the Spirit of life from God entred into them and they stood upon their feet and saith the Text Feare fell upon them that saw them And indeed so there did fall a great fear upon all that saw them of the antichristian party Rev. 11.11 both in Scotland and England yea at Rome it self witnesse the Popes Masterpeece All that knew of the godly party rising feare and horrour seized upon them and when they stood thus upon their feet Vers 12. ready to do any service that God should put them upon Presently they heard a voyce from Heaven saying Come up hither This voice was not from the materiall Heavens or the third or high Heavens where God and his Angels are for then they should have ascended up thither neither is this voice from the Church or Temple for then they should at the same time have ascended up into a true Church-State and if they had done so Antichrist would quickly have brought them down broken them all to peeces again as he had formerly done by the power of the civill sword which was still in his hand Therefore by Heaven is meant in this place the place of Judicature the mount of the Congregation ssa 14.13 the place of justice the voice came from this Heaven That wise and godly men would now ascend to this place to do justice upon Antichrist who had slaine the Saints of the most High and witnesses of Christ and by his oppression and cruelty This voice was heard first from the whole Commons in Scotland in whom all the power which is in Heaven did originally reside and afterwards in England both from the whole Common-weale and likewise from the King himselfe who sate in Heaven Rev. 11.12 And they ascended up to Heaven that is they ascended to the high place of Judicature the same time 1639. in Scotland and afterward here in England They ascended up in a cloud Maâ— 4.16 that is in a time of great darknesse and ignorance the whole world being overwhelmed with darknesse and ignorance Likewise by a cloud and darknesse is set forth Joel 2.2 a state of misery and distresse And what misery and distresse was the people of God in and all the whole world at this very time and therefore is truly said that they ascended up in a cloud in a time of great ignorance and misery CHAP. VI. Christ is said to come at this time in the clouds of Heaven or in his Saints to execute juddgement upon Antichrist with those signes of his comming very few of his Saints that have faith to beleeve this only some few who are counted wise THe witnesses being in Heaven Mat. 14.30 the Lord Jesus is to come in the clouds of Heaven to execute judgement upon that man of fin By clouds is mystically meant the witnesses of Christ in whom he is by his Spirit as is noted in the Scripture of truth When he is said to come in the clouds of Heaven he is said at the same time to come with his Saints Dan. 7.13 Daniel saith He 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like the Sonne of 〈◊〉 come in the clouds of Heaven when the thrones of those Beasts or Kings were cast down Zach. 14.3 And Zechariah saith when the Lord shall goe forth to fight against those Kings that carried Jerusalem captiveâ— meaning the Church of God whether Jâ—â—es or Gentilâ—â— and by those Kings he meanes those foure Beasts and the little horne Antichrist then saith he The Lord my God shall come verse 5. and all his Saints with him and when the Lord Christ speaks of his comming to judge the enemies of the Church and to deliver his people he saith That he shall come in the clouds of Heaven and againe saith John Matth. 24.30 Behold he commeth with clouds and every eye shall see him and they that pierced him meaning the Jewes Rev. 1.7 who shall be brought to Christ in this age and Enoch the seventh from Adam saith Behold the Lord commeth with 10000. of his Saints to execute judgement upon all for their ungodly deeds which they have committed c. ☜ The Saints of God and witnesses of Christ that are now in Heaven are very fitly resembled to clouds in a two-fold respect They serving for the same end and use in a mysticall and spirituall way as clouds doe in a litterall and naturall way First clouds are to keep us from the scorching and burning hear of the Sunne so doe the clouds of our mysticall Heaven the Saints of the most High and Witnesses of Christ keep the people of Christ from those scorching and burning beames of that Antichristian Sunne which hath burned many of the deare Saints of Christ to aâ—â—es and would doe the like to us at this time being so much enraged with malice and fury as they are if it were not for these mysticall clouds that are fixed fast in our Heaven Secondly clouds serve to carry water and moysture to water and fatten the dry and barren earth to make in fat and fruitfull To the same end in a mysticall and spirituall way serve the clouds of our Heaven not only to the Saints of God but also to all other who have been dryed and parched by the heat of that Antichristian Sunne even by his oppression tyranny and cruelty and the clouds of our Heaven are to carry water that may refresh the people of God and the whole land I meane just and righteous lawes and ordinances which may free us from those great taxations and oppressions which wee meet with from Antichrist which hath been done in part and were those evill spirits which were raised by those three unclean spirits like frogs which came out of the mouth of the false prophet Rev. 16.13 out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast destroyed out of our land we should see such great floods of waters flow from our clouds as though the windowes of Heaven and flood gates of the great Ocean were set open foretold and prophesied of by the servants of God and therefore it is said The Lord will send downe blessings like raine upon the mowen grasse Psal 72.6 and as showres that water the earth the Valleys shall bring forth abundantly and the hils shall drop down fatnesse verse 3. the mountaines shall bring peace to the people and the little hils by righteousnesse Thus we see the Saints and Witnesses fitly resembled to clouds in whom the Lord Jesus
and King Rev. 14.1 This sixth Trumpet appeares to be one and the same with the sixth Seale Sixth Trumpet sounds Rev. 9 14. when this Trumpet sounds Those foure Angels which were bound in that great river Euphrates is loosed for an houre day moneth and yeare to slay the third part of those antichristian men a certaine time for an uncertaine as is supposed about the space of 14. yeares beginning in 1641. and ends 1655. By foure Angels is meant a certaine company of men instruments of Gods wrath to destroy Antichrist and his great Army the number of these men are set downe in the next Verse to be two hundred thousand thousand Rev. 17.15 By river Euphrates is meant mystically a great company of People Nations and Tongues on which that antichristian Whore did sit and amongst those was these instruments of Gods wrath bound by that civill power which Antichrist had in his hand Rev. 12.16 before the witnesse ascended up into Heaven but after they were ascended and Christ had cut a little stone out of that great monntaine even a little civill power out of Antichrists great power by vertue of this did Christ and his witnesses loose those foure Angels out of this great river Euphrates and being loosed they presently stand up with Christ and his Saints Rev. 12.16 and open their mouthes and swallow up that flood which the Dragon cast out of his mouth after the woman yea and they shall take part with Christ and his Army and hate the Whore and shall make her desolate At this time is noted in Rev. 10.2 and 8. that this little book was open in the hand of the Angel which had been formerly shut and sealed up yea this Angel sweares by him that liveth for evermore that there should be time no longer that is this mystery of God should now be finished and made plaine that men may now see and understand what was contained within this little booke This Seale and Trumpet agrees with the sixth Viall The sixth Viall poured forth Rev. 16.12 and so appeares to be one and the same Which was poured upon that great river Euphrates whereupon three spirits like froggs goe out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the Beast and out of the mouth of the false prophets even the Devill and the Roman Emperour and the Pope and these are the spirit of Devils working miracles Priests and Jesuites c. who go forth to the Kings of the Earth to gather together many waters or people unto the battell of the great God Almighty now upon this great river Euphrates or many people doth Christ and his Saints with the men of the Earth that help them poure forth the sixth Viall and so drieup this great river that way may be made for the Kings of the East yea that Christian Kings and Princes may raigne upon the Earth The second woe is past and behold the third woe commeth quickly Rev. 11.14 The seventh Seale being opened silence is in Heaven The seventh Seal is opened Rev. 8.1 the high place of Judicature for the space of halfe an houre see chap. 9. at this time is the Prayers of all Saints offered up to God upon the golden Altar which was before the throne in the Temple that is then shall the Churches of the Saints in and upon that golden Altar Christ offers up praises and thanksgiving unto God for executing vengeance upon his Enemies and for the delivering of his Churches from bondage and misery which hath been the prayers of all Saints from the evening to the morning 2300. yeares almost and now will be fully answered at this time This agrees with the voice of the seventh Trumpet for when it sounded there was great voices heard in Heaven in the Church The seventh Trumpet sounds Rev. 11.15 saying the Kingdomes of this world are now become the Lords and his Christs and now Antichrist is destroyed and the powers of States is in the hands of Christ and his witnesses and therefore he and they shall raigne for ever and ever Whereupon the Church with her officers which sit upon the Seates of their glory in Christs House and Temple fell upon their faces noting thereby their owne humility and their high esteeme of Christ worshipping him and giving thanks to God Almighty which was is and is to come because he hath now taken to him his great power and doth raigne Which Seale and Trumpet argues with the seventh Viall which was poured upon that Antichristian aire The seventh Viall poured forth Rev. 16.17 18. by the peaching of the Gospel which is to be done when the fifth and sixth Viall is poured upon the seate of the Beast and that great River Euphrates Even then came voices out of the Temple which causeth a great spirituall earth-quake amongst those antichristian men that there shall be such infinite store of men converted to the faith and brought home to Christ as never was since men was upon the face of the Earth and then shall an infinite company as it were be before the throne singing Alleluiah saying Salvation and glory and honour and power be unto the Lord our God for executing justice and judgement upon that great Whore Rev. 19.1 2. and 6. Yea the voice of a great multitude and the voice of many waters of many people and of mighty thunderings saying Alleluiah and the foure Beasts and the twenty foure Elders fell downe and worshipped God that sate on the throne saying Vers 6. Amen Alleluiah vers 4. Thus the third woe is come upon that antichristian state to her utter ruine and destruction Thus we have seen the seven Seales and the seven Trumpets and seven Vials to be all about one and the same thing First sealing up Gods judgements for a time afterwards the Seales broke open the Ministers of the Churches by the preaching of the Gospel declares what these judgements are and then the Angels poured forth their Vials upon that Antichristian world The next thing we are to doe in the following Chapters is to shew what the fifth and sixth and seventh Vials are more fully and whom those Angels be which are to poure them forth CHAP. VIII The first worke of the witnesses after they are in Heaven is chiefly the pouring forth of the fifth Viall and the meanes whereby they doe it with those effects which follow upon it THe witnesses being ascended up to Heaven and Christ come in them and sate downe upon the throne to execute judgment upon Antichrist Isa 28.6 Rev. 16.10 Isa 14.13 the first thing we reade shall bee done is the pouring forth the fifth Viall which is poured forth upon the throne and seate of the Beast He is said to have his throne above the Stars of God above his Saints in his Temple and likewise upon the Mount of the Congregation the high place of Judicature It hath appeared to all the world that hee hath taken
could be taken by the King of Persia as the Lord foretold by his Prophet Jeremy as yee shall see in Ieremy 50.38 so see 38. compared with Jer. 51.32 where you shall see the Lord threatning destruction unto literall Babylon with the drying up of that great river Euphrates by stopping up the passages and by burning up the reedes thereof with fire which were done by Darius who tooke this City from the King of Babylon Dan. 5.30 31. so shall this mysticall river Euphrates be dryed up in a mysticall sense By this river is meant those great multitudes of people that shall be gathered together into Armies to destroy Christ and his Witnesses and to keep the Dragon Beast and false prophet in Heaven in their seate and throne And they are said to be gathered together into a place called Armageddon by the Devil the Beast Rev. 16.16 Rev. 17.13 14. and the false prophet and with them those ten Kings which gave their power and strength to the Beast these shall all make war with the Lambe Rev. 17.4 and he shall make war with them and will raise a great Army against them who are said to be called and chosen and faithfull Rev. 12.6 The called ones are the men of the earth who are said to help Christ and his Church Rev. 17.16 and the ten hornes which were upon the Beasts head are to hate the Where and make her desolate and naked and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire By these hornes is meant the Commons of all those ten Kingdomes which were under the government of the Beast in whom the power of States originally lies and these shall be with the Lambe and take part with him against the Beast as we see Scotland and England hath done already and so will the commons of all the other eight Kingdomes doe for the Word of God must be fulfilled But those ten Kings that were heads of those ten States they shall take part with the Dragon and make warre with Christ Secondly by chosen are meant the Saints of the most High who are said to overcome Antichrist Firstly Rev. 10.11 By the blood of the Lambe Secondly By the word of their testimony And last of all They loved not their lives unto death ☞ They willingly ingaged themselves in this great quarrell between Christ and the Beast Chosen ones will be faithfull but not the called chosen and faithfull The Lord Christ notes this of them that are chosen that they shall be faithfull to him in this war but yet he secretly hints to us that the men of the earth will be trecherous This great Army of Christ shall be raised by that little stone cut out of the Mountaine without hands by that civill power which Christ and his witnesses hath in their hands now they sit in Heaven therefore Heaven is said to be opened Rev. 19.11 that is now there is liberty given by them that sit in Heaven That now men shall take up armes against Antichrist The Lord Christ is upon a white Horse in Heaven as the Captaine of the Lords Army Josh 5.14 and the Armies which followes him is said to be in Heaven being raised by that civill power which the witnesses have in their hand in Heaven and Christ and his Army is said to be upon white Horses which note the innocency of the cause and victory over them in this quarrell it being the custome of the Romans to ride in triumph after victory upon white horses or else their Horses and Chariots covered with white Againe Zach. 14.4 the Lord Christ is said to stand upon his feet upon the Mount of Olives in the day he goes out to fight against those Kings that carried the Church and people of God captive which is meant of this very time By Mount is meant power and there be but two powers in the world the Church power and the State power It is not meant the Church power for then this mount should have been called Mount Sion by which the Church power is alwaies set forth and this Mount should have been in Jerusalem in the Church and not before the Church But this Mount is that civill power of States set forth by that Mount Olives which is before Jerusalem so this civill power is before the Church of God and chiefly for the good of the Church And upon this Mount or power doth Christ stand with his feet By feet he meanes his Saints so the Lord Christ by his Spirit in his Saints and witnesses stands this day upon this Mount Olives And this mount saith the Text shall cleave in the midst towards the East and towards the West towards the North and towards the South This is fulfilled at this day Is not this power or Mount cloven in the middle part of it is in the hands of Christ and his Witnesses as they sit in Heaven and part of it in the hands of Christ and his Army which is in Heaven upon white Horses And this power shall extend it selfe from West to East from North to South to take away the power from Antichrist in all his ten Kingdomes and to dry up that great river Euphrates from one end of the world to another and this power or Mount is to be divided one part in the high place of Judicature and the other part in the Armies as is at this day untill they have poured forth the fifth and sixth Viall and then it shall close and become one in the yeare of Christ 1655. So by that little stone even that little civill power which is in the hands of the Witnesses shall the fifth and sixth Viall be poured upon the Beast and that great River Euphrates This sixth Viall of Gods wrath and indignation Isa 34.2 is said to be poured upon Euphrates upon all Nations and his fury upon all their Armies upon all the ten Nations of Antichrist and upon all their Armies that shall be raised be will utterly destroy them Vers 5. and give them up to the slaughter The sword of the Lord shall be bathed in Heaven upon the high one◠which are on high Isa 24.21 upon the Kings of the Earth upon the Earth it shall be filled with blood Isa 28.18 that the Mountains shall be melted with their blood This is called the overflowing scourge which was to passe over the whole earth and the houre of temptation that should come upon all the world to try them Rev. 3.10 Chap. 19.17 18. and the slaine shall be so many that it is called the supper of the great God and all the fowles of Heaven are to eate the flesh of Kings of Captaines of mighty men of the flesh of horses and them that sit on them and the flesh of all men Rev. 9.18 small and great bond and free Even the third part of men that are upon the Earth shall be slaine in this warre to dry up this great river Euphrates
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