Antichrist the Pope of Rome, Part 2 · Chapter 3
CHAP. 3. Touching the two witneſſes that ſhould riſe vp againſt Antichriſt, Apoc. 11.2.
1. BEllarmine and other of that crew produce this as a demonſtration to proue that Antichriſt is not yet come, becauſe Enoch and Elias hauehave not yet appeared, who ſhould ſtand vp to fight againſt him, not with corporall but with ſpirituall weapons: which fable deſerues to be entertained rather with ſcoffes and hiſſes, then to be confuted by ſerious reaſons. By how much the more I wonder at their impudency or blindneſſe, that ſhould obtrude that for a demonſtration, which hath not ſo much as the leaſt probability of reaſon: for as this dreame hath no ground in holy Scripture, as may eaſily appeare by the ſolid anſweres giuen by this Author to thoſe arguments which are deriued from thence; ſo the opinions of the ancient Fathers are ſo diſcordant betweene themſelues, and ſo variable and enterfering with each other, that no man of ſound iudgement will deriue a demonſtration from them. It is an opinion of Irenaeus, that Antichriſt ſhould deſcend out of the tribe of Dan, which notwithſtanding Bellarmine reiecteth as erronious, and why ſhould he then cleaue to this deui… of Enoch and Elias, which hath ſure no greater, yea euen leſſer reaſon in it then the former.
2. The ground of this conceit is out of, Apoc. 11.2. where it is ſaid, that the holy City ſhould be troden vnderunder foote by the Gentiles two and forty moneths: at which time, Chriſt promiſeth, that he will giuegive power to his two witneſſes to prophecy, 1260. daies. And that their teſtimony being ended, they ſhould be ſlaine by the Beaſt, their dead bodies lying in the ſtreets of the great City, and that after three daies and an halfe, the ſpirit of life ſhould enter into them againe: and by that miracle, the Iewes ſhould be conuerted. Hence was that fable framed, that the Iewes vnderunder the conduct of Antichriſt, ſhould poſſeſſe the City of Ieruſalem, and that thoſe two witneſſes which ſhould riſe vp againſt him, were Enoch and Elias, who were for this purpoſe reſerued aliue in Paradiſe, to come againe in the end of the world, to oppoſe againſt Antichriſt; and at laſt after their reſurrection ſhould ouercome him in Mount Oliuet, and then fiue and forty daies interceding, ſhould bee the ſecond comming of Chriſt. This is the fable which hangs ſo ill together, as no man can beleeue it without hazard of his wits. For firſt, how can it be that by theſe two witneſſes ſhould be preciſely vnderſtood two men, and no more, ſeeing it is ſaid in the ninth verſe, That people, and kindreds, and tongues, and Gentiles ſhould ſee their corpſes three daies and an halfe, were of all Nations and people of the world gathered together at Ieruſalem to ſee this ſpectacle? And againe in the tenth verſe it is ſaid, That theſe two Prophets vexed them that dwelt vponupon earth: and is it likely that two were enough to trouble the whole world with their preaching, and to turne them into this rage and fury? Beſides, how could the report of their death be divulged in the world in three daies and an halfe, that it ſhould reioyce at their deſtruction?
3. Secondly, ſuppoſe that by theſe two witneſſes are meant two men preciſely: how will they proue by any reaſon, that Enoch and Elias ſhould bee theſe two? The Scripture ſpeakes nothing of them to this purpoſe, as is ſufficiently proued by the Author of this Treatiſe: nay, it is flat …gainſt it, for Heb. 11.5. it is ſaid, that Enoch was tranſlated …hat he might not ſee death, and yet theſe fellowes in a plaine …ontradiction, will hauehave him to dye, and to riſe againe: and ſo whereas the Scripture ſaith, that he was tranſlated that hee …ight not ſee death, they on the contrary affirme, that hee was tranſlated that in the end of the world hee might ſee …eath. And though the Scripture doth not affirme the ſame of Elias, yet why ſhould we not thinke the ſame condition to …elong to him, ſeeing they are both ſee forth to vsus as types of Chriſt? and as patternes of our immortality, one in the time of Nature, and the other in that time of the Law? Neither can it with any reaſon be imagined that being thus tranſlated they retained ſtill mortall bodies, but rather that they were changed into immortality, as they ſhall be that ſuruiue …t Chr…ſts comming. As touching the Fathers, they are ſo much diſtracte… in this opinion, that it is folly to ground vponupon their coniectures: ſome ſaying, that by theſe two witneſſes are meant the Old and New Teſtament, which is Saint Auguſtines opinion, and i… both godly and probable: ſome, the two Churches of the Law and the Goſpell, as Beda: ſome Elias and Elizeus: other Elias and Moſes: others Enoch and Ieremy; others adde to theſe two, Iohn the Euangeliſt, which both Arethas and Theophilact affirme, was the opinion of many in their time: others the Church and the Scripture, which are both double, the particular Church of the Iewes, and the Catholike of Iewes and Gentiles, and the Scripture of the Old and New Teſtament, and ſo the two Oliues ſhould repreſent the Scripture, and the two Candleſtickes the Church, which receiueth Oyle of grace from theſe Oliues: others, two kinde of Martyrs, one in habit, the other in act; or two kinde of witneſſes, Confeſſors, and Martyrs, figured by Enoch and Elias; for Enoch walked in peace with God, but Elias endured grieuous perſecution: or laſtly, two kindes of Preachers, Prieſts and Monkes, which though they are many, yet are ſaid to be but two, in alluſion to the practiſe of our Sauiour Chriſt, who ſent forth his Diſciples to preach by two and two; with diuers other mai… taine coniectures which I forbeare to name. So that the Fathers are neither for them in this point, as they audatiouſly boaſt, nor yet indeed for the truth, which can bee but one, and ſimple. With how much greater modeſty doe other of the Fathers ſpeake of this ſecret?Nazianz. de Theolog. …at. 2. Gregory Naziazene ſpeaking of Enoch, ſaith, that it is not yet manifeſt whether he already hath comprehended the nature of God, or ſhal hereafter comprehend it.Chryſoſt. in Gen hom. 21. Chryſoſtome holdeth it a maner beyond the capacity of mortall man, too curiouſly to enquire whither Enoch was tranſlated, and how he liues: that Enoch was tranſlated (ſaith he) and that Elias was aſſumed vp into heauen, wee beleeue, becauſe the Scripture tels vsus ſo: but where they are,Oecumen. in epiſt. a. Hebraos cap. 11. and how they liue, the Scripture is ſilent. So Oecumenius concerning Enoch, ſaith, that he was tranſlated aliue, but where, and how, it is vncertaine. Of the ſame opinion is Theophilact, Theophil. Ibid.and diuers others: and therefore I conclude with Saint Auguſtine, where the Scripture is ſilent, Cohibere ſe debet humana praeſumptio, Mans preſumption muſt bridle it ſelfe. I might adde beſides all this, that this deuiſe croſſeth directly the ſpeech of our Sauiour Chriſt; for he ſaith, That no man knoweth the day and houre of Chriſts ſecond comming, but that hee ſhall come as a thiefe in the night, and as a ſnare vponupon the Fowle. But if this opinion bee true, then that day of his comming may bee certainely knowne 45. dayes before: then which, nothing can bee more oppoſite to our Sauiours words.
4. Touching Paradiſe wherein they ſay theſe holy men doe liue till the comming of Antichriſt; if they vnderſtand thereby that heauenly Paradiſe which is the receptacle of bleſſed ſoules ſpoken of by our Sauiour, Luke. 23.43. and by Saint Paul, 2. Cor. 12.4. we condeſcend that there theſe two iuſt men enioy eternall beatitude: but then they would not returne from thence to be ſlaine heere on earth, becauſe a mortall creature could not reſide in that place of immortality. But if they meane the earthly Paradiſe which Moſes deſcribeth, Gen. 2.8. we ſay, that this was vtterly defaced by the flood, and ſo could be no receptacle for Enoch at that …ime, nor for Elias afterward: which to be true, the deſcrip…ion of Paradiſe giuen by Moſes doth euidently demon…trate. For he ſaith, that God placed a Garden Eaſtward in Eden: where the word Eden is not to be taken in it proper ſignification, for pleaſure and delight, from whence is deriued the Greeke word foreign pleaſure, but for a Country called by that name, as is plaine, Ezek. 27.23. Haran, Conneh, & Heden, were thy Merchants: and 2. Kings. 19.12. where Rabſakeh maketh mention of the people of Meſopotamia conquered by the King of the Aſſyrians, to wit, Haran and Rezeph, and the children of Eden which were in Thelaſar; which Thelaſar was a Fortreſſe of the Babylonians, ſituate in the midſt of Euphrates, to withſtand the Aſſyrians, and is otherwiſe called Tiluthan by Ammianus Marcellinus. So that when it is ſaid, that God planted this Garden in Eden, it cannot but be vnderſtood of the Country wherein it was planted, and ſo if we can finde out where this Country of Eden was ſituate, we may alſo eaſily iudge where Paradiſe was, for it was planted in the Eaſt part of that Country. Now all auow that the Country of Eden was in Meſopotamia or Babylon, and therefore there alſo was this Garden or earthly Paradiſe. And to make the matter more plain, Ptolomey an ancient Geographer calleth this fruitfull tract, by the name importing a delicious Country Auramitides, or rather Audanitides, as Iunius hath iudiciouſly obſerued: and it is certaine, there is not at this day a more fruitfull and pleaſant Country in the world then this is: and that which is moſt remarkable, it agreeth in eueryevery particular with Moſes his deſcription. For the Riuer that ran out of Eden to water the Garden is Euphrates which diuided it ſelfe into foure heads, that is, foure currents or channels, named by Moſes, and knowne at this day to be there, and no where elſe. If Paradiſe then was in Meſopotamia, as is manifeſt by this deſcription, then it muſt needes follow, that it was defaced by the flood, and ſo could not remaine the habitation for Enoch and Elias.
5. Hence appeareth how fond and improbable thoſe opinions are which are taken vp by many both ancient an… moderne writers. Origen with others, tranſlate the whole literall ſenſe of the hiſtory into allegories, affirming Paradiſe to be no corporall, but a ſpirituall place. Ioſephus ſaith, this Paradiſe was diſtended ouer the whole earth,I ſephus Antiqui lib 1. and ſo Adam being caſt out of Paradiſe, muſt by this interpretation bee caſt out of the earth. Toſtate, with Arioſto and others, place it in the top of an high Mountaine, in the third region of the ayre, neere vntounto the circle of the Moone, a place as Philoſophy tels vsus vnfit for mans abode, by reaſon of the proximity of the Element of fire, and of the Planets. Some ſend it ouer beyond the riuer Ganges into the Eaſt Indies, not conſidering that the ſituation of the riuer Euphrates with the channels deriued thereout, doe plainely contradict this conceit. In breefe, the common opinion of the moderne Papiſts is, that this place is ſo farre remote from the knowledge of man, that no man can tell where it is ſituate, but yet that a remaines entyre and ſound notwithſtanding the flood: which opinion is more abſurd then all the reſt: for if it bee remote from all humane knowledge, to what end ſerues the deſcription which Moſes makes of it ſo expreſly? Why doth he paint out the courſe of the riuer Euphrates with it diuers currents, the bordering Countries, the things wherewith thoſe Countries are renowned, as Gold, Bdellium and the Onix ſtone of the land of Havilah, all which are circumſtances by which Geographers vſe to marke out the Countries which they deſcribe? And that this place could not conſiſt entire without being waſted by the flood, theſe reaſons euince. Becauſe Moſes ſaith, Gen. 7.19. that the waters of the Deluge aſcended higher then the higheſt Mountaines of the earth, fifteene cubites, and how then could Paradiſe bee exempted from this deſtruction? If they ſay that it was preſerued miraculouſly from this inundation, as the Iſraelites were preſerued in the midſt of the Red Sea and of Iordan: I anſwere, that this being a dreame hauing no ground in holy Scripture, may bee as eaſily reiected as it was raſhly forged. And beſides, it is manifeſt that all Meſopotamia where doubtleſſe this Garden was planted, was anciently after the Flood, and is ſtill at this day inhabited, without any trace left of this delicious Garden. And further, to what purpoſe did God command Noah to build the Arke for his preſeruation, with ſo great paine and labour, if this Garden of Eden had bene ſafe? And laſtly, if Enoch was preſerued aliue in that Garden, how is it true which S. Peter affirmeth, that onelyonly eight perſons were preſerued in the Arke? 2. Pet. 2.5.
6. The Ie…uite Pererius, conuinced with theſe reaſons, hath forſaken his fellowes, and deuiſed a dreame of his owne braine: for he confeſſeth, that the Paradiſe ſpoken of by Moſes, was defaced by the Flood: but becauſe it is certaine that Enoch was not touched with that deſtruction, therefore he ſaith; Firſt, that it may be, he was taken vp miraculouſly by God into the ayre, and there ſaued aliue during the deluge. Secondly, that though S. Peter nameth but eight perſons preſerued from drowning, yet Enoch is to be added vntounto them, and that no mention is made of him, becauſe he liued not in the ſociety of men. And thirdly, leaſt he ſhould croſſe the vulgar tranſlation of Eccleſiaſticus, where mention is made of Paradiſe, though the word be not found in the originall: he imagineth that there is another Paradiſe, ſituate in ſome ſecret and vnknowne Country of the world. Thus he propoundeth his owne fancies, as men do that forſake the Scriptures: and giueth vsus beſides the heauenly Paradiſe ſpoken of in the new Teſtament, and the earthly Paradiſe deſcribed by Moſes, a third neuer heard of before, ſituate either in the aire, which the Scripture maketh the lodging place of the diuels, or in a world vnknowne to all Geographers, or at leaſt in the New-found Land of Eutopia, deſcribed by Sir Thomas More, or in the land of Phonacia, which our Engliſh Mercury ſpeakes of.
7. The plaine truth then according to the Scripture is this, that Enoch and Elias were taken vp into heauen, into the place and ſeate of the bleſſed, where hauing changed mortality into immortality, they liue ſtill, and can neuer taſt of death: for Gen. 5.23. it is ſaid, that all the daies of Enoch were 365. yeeres, And that he walked with God, and vsus not, for God tooke him: that is, liued no longer amongſt men, but was taken of God to himſelfe, for ſo the word importeth. And Heb. 11.5. it is ſaid, That he was tranſlated, that he ſhould not ſee death: where the word foreign vſed by the Apoſtle, ſignifieth properly to be changed from one eſtate into another, and alludeth to that, 1. Cor. 15. where it is ſaid of thoſe that are aliue at Chriſts comming, that they ſhall not ſleepe, but ſhall be changed; how changed, but from mortality to immortality, and where is the place of immortality but in heauen? But concerning Elias, it is a more cleare caſe: for the Text, 2. Kings. 2.11. ſaith plainly, That he aſcended by a whirlwind into heauen: Now there is no doubt but Enoch was tranſported into the ſame place whither Elias after was, that is, into heauenly Paradiſe. I know that Heauen is taken in three ſignifications in holy Scripture. Firſt, for that ſpace which extendeth it ſelfe from the earth to the circle of the Moone, where the birds flie, and raine, ſnow, and thunder are framed. Secondly, it is taken for the coeleſtiall circles, wherein are the Stars, Gen. 1.14. And thirdly, for the place of the bleſſed, whither Chriſt viſibly aſcended, and of which the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, 2. Cor. 12. when he ſaith, That he was rapt vp into the third heauen. But to ſay, that Enoch and Elias were aſſumed vp into the firſt heauen, that is, into a region of the aire, full of more tumultuous agitations and diſquietneſſe then the earth, is a thing without all ſhew of reaſon: And to imagine that they are amongſt the Coeleſtiall bodies of the firmament, either there to be rolled about the world with the Spheares from the Eaſt to the Weſt, or to be fixed in one of the Poles, this is a prophane imagination,Peter. in Sent. lib. 7 diſput. de tranſlat. Enoch. q. 2 Hieron aduerſ. errores Ioh. Hieroſ…lymit ad Pammachium. more proper to the Stoicks, then to Chriſtians. Therefore it remaineth, that they were receiued into that heauen which is the reſting place of the bleſſed, and the deſired Country of all the Saints. Neither is this a nouell opinion, for Pererius confeſſeth, that Procopius Gazelus was of the ſame mind: And S. Ierome alſo confirmeth the ſame in an Epiſtle of his: where to proue, that after the reſurrection, we ſhall hauehave the ſame fleſh, bones, and members, as we now hauehave, he firſt alleadgeth the authority of the Apoſtle, 1. Cor. 15.53: Secondly, the example of the transfiguration of Chriſt, which was not onelyonly in his face, but in all his members: And thirdly, the example of Enoch and Elias, tranſlated in their bodies into the heauenly beatitude.Iuſtin. Martyr reſp. quaeſt. orthodox. q. 85. Iuſtine Martyr alſo affirmeth, that Enoch and Elias were gathered into the ſame place, where the ſoules of the faithfull reſt till the reſurrection. Of the ſame opinion is Irenaeus, Irenaus aduerſ. hereſ. lib. 5. c. 5. Epiphan. in An corat.and to conclude, Epiphanius calleth them, The two firſt borne of our reſurrection: thereby ſhewing that they are already ſo beautified in ſoule and body, as we ſhall be after our reſurrection, and therefore to theſe two, he oppoſeth Dathan and Abiram, who as he ſaith, both in ſoule and body deſcended into hell.
8. All the difficulty of this interpretation lieth in this, that it ſeemeth by Iohn. 3.13. and 1. Cor. 15.20. that no fleſh euer aſcended into heauen before Chriſt, becauſe he is ſaid onelyonly to hauehave aſcended, that did deſcend, and that he was the firſt fruites of them that ſleepe, and the firſt borne of the dead. But if we vnderſtand theſe Texts aright, this difficulty will ſoone vaniſh. For by aſcending into heauen in S. Iohn, is not meant any locall, or corporall aſcenſion, becauſe Chriſt himſelfe was not then aſcended, but either a ſpirituall aſcenſion in the knowledge of heauenly myſteries, as Beza, and Maldonate, and others thinke: or more ſimply,Beza Annot. in no vum teſtam. Maldon. in Ioh. 3. as Tollet another Ieſuite ſuppoſeth, that Chriſt alone deſcended from heauen by the aſſumption of our nature, to teach and inſtruct the people, & yet ſtill remained in heauen in his Deity: And whereas he is called the firſt fruites of them that ſleepe, and the firſt borne of the dead; it doth not proue, that none went to heauen before his aſcenſion: but onelyonly that the reſurrection of the other Saints to eternall life, and their reception into heauen, depends vponupon the reſurrection of Chriſt, as the true cauſe thereof: as the bleſſing of the whole harueſt depended vponupon the bleſſing of the firſt fruites, as the Apoſtle ſpeaketh, Rom. 11.16. and ſo all that euer aſcended into heauen, either in body and ſoule together, as Enoch and Elias did, or in ſoule alone, as the reſt of the Saints did, thi… was by vertue of Chriſts reſurrection and aſcenſion, which extended it ſelfe vntounto all Ages, both before his comming in the fleſh, and after: and doubtleſſe, if the ſoules of the Saints had acceſſe into heauen before Chriſts aſcenſion, then might their bodies alſo, for the ſame reaſon is of both: but their ſoules did, as may appeare by Lazarus his ſoule, which was tranſlated into Abrahams boſome, which boſome of Abraham, ſignifeth nothing elſe but the felicity, and ioy, and reſt of the ſoules of Gods Saints after this life in heauen, as Chriſt himſelfe auoucheth, Mat. 8.11. Where he ſaith, that many ſhall come from the Eaſt, and from the Weſt, and ſit downe with Abraham, Iſaac, and Iacob, in the kingdome of heauen. And thus both Beda, and S. Ambroſe, and Sulpitius Seuerus, Bed… in Luc. lib. 5. cap. 65. Ambroſe in orat. de ob…tu. Valentiniani. Sulpit. Seuerus. epiſt. ad Baſſ.interpret the place. For as for Limbus Patrum, that is a doting dreame without all ground either in holy Scripture, or reaſon: and …o alſo is this conceite (as appeareth by that which hath bene ſaide) to wit, that Enoch and Elias were reſerued aliue in the earthly Paradiſe, to come againſt Antichriſt in the end of the world, and by him to be put to death.
9. Theſe two witneſſes then are not Enoch and Elias, neither are they any two ſingular perſons: for as Rupertus, one of the moſt learned men of his Age ſaith,R…pertus. in Apoc. lib. 6. Is it likely that the Lord of the Prophets, and the Author of all Prophecy, ſhould hauehave but two witneſſes? Were not all the Apoſtles, the Martyrs and confeſſors, his witneſſes? Surely this is a great, graue, and waighty ſpeech, to wit, that though there be innumerable witneſſes, yet he ſaith that their ſhall be but two. By which ſpeech, as alſo by the reſt of his diſcourſe, he ſignifieth, that this number is not to be reſtrained to two alone, but that the Spirit of God would notifie vntounto vsus, that though the fury of Antichriſt, doth labour to ſtifle the truth, yet God will not ſuffer it to want ſo many witneſſes, as ſhall ſuffiſe to confirme the ſame. And therefore the moſt probably opinion is, that by theſe two witneſſes are meant, all the con…ant defenders of the truth againſt Antichriſt, who though …hey be many, yet are ſaid to be onelyonly two, for theſe reaſons. …irſt, becauſe of the paucity of them, in compariſon of the …nfinite number of falſe teachers, and Antichriſtian Locuſts. …econdly, becauſe all their whole doctrine is deriued out of …he Law and the Goſpell, the two Teſtaments which God …ade with mankind. And thirdly, becauſe this number is …ufficient by the Law of God to conuince falſe-hood, For by …he mouth of two or three witneſſes (ſaith the Law) ſhall eueryevery …atter be eſtabliſhed: to which Law it ſeemeth the holy Ghoſt hath reference in this place: and certainly the worke …f defending the truth againſt Antichriſt, is ſo great, that it …equireth more workemen then two alone. And yet we …inde, that two men ſtirred vp by God, to wit, Iohn Huſſe, …nd Ierome of Prage, witneſſed the truth, and ſought the re…ormation of the Church, againſt that great famous Councill of Conſtance, wherein the whole power of Antichriſt was gathered together. For the Emperour was there preſent in …is owne perſon, and the Pope, foure Patriarchs, 29. Cardi…als, 47. Archbiſhops, 170. Biſhops, 564. Abbots, with Doctors and learned men innumerable: and yet theſe two holy men, witneſſed the truth againſt them all, and willingly …ayd downe their liues in defence thereof.
10. I ſpeake not this in minde that the holy Ghoſt aimed at theſe two particularly, and yet why not any two rather then Enoch and Elias? Muſt God needs ſend them out of heauen, or elſe his truth could not be witneſſed? And if Enoch and Elias in their aſcending vp into heauen, were figures of Chriſt, aſcending and triumphing; to cauſe them to deſcend againe to ſuffer death, is it not in a ſort to bring downe Chriſt againe from heauen to ſuffer on earth? For it deſtroyeth the figure of his triumph. Beſides, hauehave we not an expreſſe Text, Luke. 16.29. That we muſt not looke for …y to come from heauen to inſtruct vsus, but muſt hold to that which is written in the Law and the Prophets? In a word, to what purpoſe ſhould Enoch and Elias come? To diſpute againſt Antichriſt, and conuince him out of the word of God? W… what then ſhall become of the Church of Rome, which they ſay cannot erre, and againſt which, the gates of hell ca… preuaile, and that it is the hammer of all Hereſies, according to Baronius his deuiſe: vicit haereſes ſubegit gentes? ſhall it be encloſed vp in ſome caue with the ſeuen ſleepers, that Enoch and Elias muſt needs leaue the place of their repoſe, and come downe to ſupply her office? Is not this to ouerunne their owne ſtrong propoſition, touching the continuance of the Church of Rome?
11. But if by the two witneſſes are meant the faithfull miniſters and people, that ſhall maintaine the truth againſt Antichriſt; why do they not preach in ſackcloth, and why are not ſome of them raiſed from the death, after they ha…e bene ſlaine, and aſcend vp into heauen? for thoſe things are attributed vntounto theſe two witneſſes. I anſwer, that by this ſackcloth, we may well vnderſtand, priſons, perſecution, tortures, and all manner of afflictions wherewith the Sain… and miniſters of Chriſt, are hauocked vnderunder the tyranny of this Man of Sinne: theſe are the garments wherewith theſe faithfull witneſſes are cloathed, without ſacks or hairecloath on their backes: whereas a number of their Fryars, as the Capuchins by name, weare haire on their backes without affliction, being puffed vp with worldly glory, and eſteemed and cheriſhed of all men. Which then are the likeſt witneſſes of Chriſt, whether they that preach without ſackcloath being ſubiect to all manner of opprobries and afflictions, or they that are adored of the world, and yet weare ſackcloath o… their backes? And for their riſing againe from death after three daies and an halfe, I ſay it is truly accompliſhed in theſe our witneſſes, though not according to their groſſe imaginations, yet according to the intention of the Spirit of God, ſpeaking by the mouth of S. Iohn. For as all things elſe i… this Propheticall booke, ſo is this reſurrection of theſe two witneſſes to be vnderſtood ſpiritually, not of their bodies, but of their doctrine, order and profeſſion, raiſed vp and encreaſed by the ſucceſſion of others in their roome: As alſo …y their aſcending into heauen, we may well vnderſtand a …ollecting and gathering them together by the diuine calling, …to the forme of a Church, in ſpite of the malice and fury of …heir Antichriſtian Aduerſaries: as we ſee at this day verifi…d, in England, Scotland, Germany, Denmarke, and other Countries. For as the Congregation of the malignant …s called in this Prophecy, The world, or The earth; ſo is the Church of the elect and faithfull in oppoſition thereunto, cal…ed Heauen. And if we conſider the ſtate of the true Church …erſecuted in all Ages, we ſhall eaſily ſubſcribe to this truth. For after the ten firſt perſecutions, wherein it was ſcattered and ſpoiled like a ſhip in a tempeſt, did it not againe reuiue and recouer life, when Conſtantine gaue peace vntounto it? So afterward, in the time of the Arrian Hereſie, wherewith it was long tormented as with a burning feuer; was it not againe reſtored as it were to life and ſafety, by the faithfulnes of Chriſtian Emperours, and diligence of godly Biſhops? In the time of Boniface the eight, how were the faithfull perſecuted and tormented, till within three yeeres and an halfe before his death, when his perſecutions ceaſed, and the Church tooke a little breath and reſt? But of all, this is moſt apparant after the Councill of Conſtance, where Iohn Huſſe, and Ierome of Prague, were put to death: for immediately after that Council, which laſted three yeeres & an halfe, theſe two witneſſes ſtood againe as it were on their feete, and the ſpirit of life entred into them, not in their owne perſons, but in their doctrine, which being condemned by that Popiſh Councill, began to ſpread it ſelfe and to preuaile, and to hauehave more followers and abetters, then euer it had before: and that not onelyonly in Bohemia, but after an hundred yeeres, in Germany, and other Countries, as the ſame holy Martyr Huſſe had prophecied at the houre of his death. And indeed it is ſtrange to conſider, what a number of excellent, learned, and holy men God ſtirred vp at that time, to enter combate with the Pope, and to batter downe the wals of Babylon: and thus this Prophecy is eueryevery way accompliſhed, if it be ſpiritually and rightly vnderſtood.
12. Note one thing more, and ſo an end of this? they ſay, that theſe two witneſſes ſhall prophecy 1260. da… which come to three yeeres and an halfe, and then they m… be put to death by Antichriſt. Now the continuance of Antichriſts reigne is by their deuiſe but three yeeres and a… halfe; ſo that he muſt begin his reigne the ſame day with the Prophecy of theſe pretended witneſſes, Enoch and Elias, and dye alſo the ſame day, which how ill hangs together I neede not ſtand to proue. And to ſhut vp all in a ſhort compaſſe, I affirme two things. Firſt, that if it were true that Enoch and Elias, or any two other men, ſhould come into the world to oppugne Antichriſt; yet it cannot be concluded, that the Pope is not Antichriſt, becauſe theſe two are not yet come, ſeeing they may yet come in due time: vnleſſe they can proue, that the world ſhall hauehave an end, within theſe foure yeeres, or 1335. daies, which one anſwer, is ſufficient to ouerthrow their whole demonſtration. Secondly, it is moſt probable, that S. Iohn ſpeaketh not of Antichriſt in that …hapter, Reuel 11. becauſe firſt it is aid there, that the holy City ſhall be deliuered vp foreign, To the Heathen, therefore not to the Iewes or falſe Catholikes, which they make the followers of Antichriſt: And ſecondly, becauſe the Beaſt which is ſaid to fight againſt them, ariſing out of the bottomleſſe pit, and hauing ſeuen heads, and ten hornes, is not meant Antichriſt, but the Romane State, whoſe laſt head is onelyonly the repreſentation of Antichriſt.