The Late Great Revolution in this Nation, Title page – To the reader
THE LATE Great Revolution IN THIS NATION;
Argued according to Rev. 17. 16. 17.
To be duely Aſcribed to the Supreme Spirit now about to move in the Fulfilling All Prophecy; The earneſt of which is vouchſaf'd to us in this ſo wonderful Change.
In purſuance of a Diſcourſe Publiſhed Twelve Months paſt, viz,
The Command of God to come out of Babylon:
Wherein is more fully proved the [NOW] Roman Communion is Intended, and that the Words of God will be fulfilled concerning the Preſent State of the Papacy in its Expiration, and the Hatred of the Whore, 1697.
By T Beverley.
For the Teſtimony of JESƲS is the Spirit of Prophecy, Revel. 19. 10.
Printed for John Salusbury in Cornhil, near the Royal Exchange. 1689.
A PREFACE TO THE READER, Upon the following DISCOURSE, ſuited to the preſent Juncture of Affairs in the World, and to the particular Signs of the Times now Emerging.
THat which bore up the great Princes, and Leaders among the Servants of God in Elder times, to ſuch a Tranſcendency of Action, was immediate Revelation from God; The Word of God came to them, as Chriſt ſpeaks, and ennobled them, as Gods upon Earth.
Immediate Revelation in the ſame manner bore up ſo High the Spirits of the Prophets, that they feared none of the Powers upon Earth, how great, and formidable ſoever, in delivering the Divine Meſſages, even when they threatned them with that Ruine, which they knew would moſt enrage them to Hear of.
The very ſame immediate Revelation, ſtirred up the Spirits of the Ʋniverſality of the Servants of God in Prayer, and ſuitable Action, ſo that they offered themſelves willingly to the Services of their Generation, even in the Loughtieſt Atchievements, when they knew themſelves Arm'd with the Aſſurances of the Purpoſes of God to be fulfilled in thoſe Seaſons, wherein they were ſummoned to ſuch Actions.
That which next to ſuch immediate Revelation would now Inſpire the Servants of God in each Station, to the higheſt Elevation, in Divine Manifeſtations to the World, in Prayer, and Action, muſt be a Diſcovery of the Signs of the preſent Time according to ſacred Propheſie, and eſpecially that great Propheſie of the New Teſtament, which is peculiarly entitled The Revelation; Becauſe it is and ought to be in the place of immediate Revelation to All, who Read, and Hear it, and all the Servants of Chriſt ought to Read and Hear it. For it is the Revelation, that God gave to Jeſus Chriſt to ſhew to his Servants, things that are ſhortly to come to paſs. And that ſhewing is plainly declar'd to be by their Reading, and Hearing: For it immediately follows Chriſts ſhewing, and ſignification of it by the Teſtimony, and Writing of his Servant John. For he is commanded to write for after Ages; And to encourage in ſuch Reading, and Hearing, There is a Promiſe of Bleſſedneſs adjoyn'd to the Reading and Hearing.
I do not at all doubt, there is a myſtical Reading, and Hearing by the Spirit, and Power of Chriſt inſtructing and actuating his Servants, according to the Principles, and Services of this very Propheſie. And that, what is now doing, and operating, in the World, and in our Nation, is according to it, without explicite underſtanding, or attending to the Explanation of it.
But yet undoubtedly, a more open, and bold Explanation is due; eſpecially to this Age of the Churches of Chriſt, and approach of his Kingdom. We ought now to be more skill'd in the Signs of the Times, than by a meer kind of Implicite Faith. And that muſt be by the Calculation of them according to this Propheſie; for the Signs of the Times are compounded eſpecially of the Definition of times by Propheſy, and the events determin'd to come to paſs in thoſe Times, and our diſcerning the Signs of the Times, is to be by a compare of Propheſie, and the product of Times, agreeable to the Propheſie, together; even as the Time of Meſſiahs coming was deſign'd by the ſure Word of Daniels Propheſy, and Jeſus Chriſt, mighty in Word and Deed, came at the ſame Time. Now our Lord condemns the Ignorance of the Scribes, and Phariſees, and People, who did not diſcern the Signs of that Time, not as ſimple Ignorance, or Neſcience, but as groſs Hipocriſie, that they would not know what they might have known; and proportionably in all times, but eſpecially in theſe Times, wherein mighty Works are to ſhew forth themſelves, and begin to ſhew forth themſelves in the downfal of the Turkiſh Tyranny, with which the Papal is to meet in ſuch degrees of Ruine, as are determin'd to be parallel in each, and in parallel Times.
I moſt humbly, and earneſtly threfore Beſeech the Angels of the Reformed Churches, That they would ſearch this ſo great Propheſie of the New Teſtament, as commenſurate, as hath been ſaid to Immediate Revelation, and that they would Miniſter out of it to the Princes and Powers of the Ten Kingdoms, that have ſo long given their Power, and Kingdom to the Beaſt, eſpecially to thoſe, which are already of the Reformation; For the Words of God are near to be fulfill'd, for God had ſaid, The Beaſt ſhall have Power to continue Forty two Months, and to receive great Power, and Authority from thoſe Kings, giving their Power, and their Kingdom to Him. And the Word of God was fulfill'd, ſo that their Kingdoms were entirely ſo given till the Reformation, when the Morning of the laſt half Day, or half Time of the forty two Months, gave Liberty to ſome of thoſe Ten Kings to reverſe, and recal the giving of their Kingdom: As Chriſt aroſe early in the Morning of his laſt third Day, and appeared to ſome of the Apoſtles, and Diſciples; But it was Evening, e're he met them in a Body; and thoſe, who ſaw him firſt, were Inſtrumental to prepare thoſe, who did not ſee him till the Evening: ſo thoſe Princes already of the Reformation ſhall be Inſtrumental to oblige the reſt, who have not yet renunciated to the Beaſt and the falſe Church, to do the ſame, now near the End of the laſt of the forty two Months.
Let them therefore have thoſe grand excitements, and encouragements of Propheſie; undoubtedly Cyrus though a Gentile Prince was highly animated by the Propheſies of Iſaiah and Jeremiah for the Deſtruction of Literal Babylon, which Propheſies we may be aſſured were expounded to Him by Daniel, ſo great a Prophet in his own Times; how much more will Chriſtian, and Proteſtant Princes, exalted in their Spirits, ſummon their Proweſſe, and puiſſance for the ſervice of the Kingdom of Jeſus Chriſt to be within theſe Eight next Years proclaim'd by loud Voices from Heaven: For when the Words of God are to be fulfill'd, that the Ten Kings and their Nations, do give their Power no longer to the Beaſt; Then the Kingdom of Chriſt is proclaim'd, although his Inauguration, as we ſpeak, ſhall not be till ſeventy five Years after.
If any ſhould ſay, the Propheſie is dark and not to be underſtood, and Men very diſenclin'd to believe the Explications given of it; let them conſider, it is very dangerous to ſay of any Book of Scripture, with the unlearned, we cannot read it, becauſe we are not learned, and with the learned, we cannot read it becauſe it is ſealed. If there were by the pouring out of the Spirit upon the Reformed an united endeavour to ſearch by the Books of Scripture, and other Eccleſiaſtical Records with Prayer, what, and what manner of Time, the Holy Spirit in it did ſignifie, as they have ſearch'd for the Senſe of Antiquity in ſome things of far leſs moment, or concern to the Kingdom of Chriſt, what doubt can there be but that the two leaved Gates of Truth in it had open'd to them; and by their concerted Light, and Authority, Princes would be awaken'd, and perſwaded, ſo that the great City, and its Decimal power would ſoon feel the Earthquake, and fall.
I am not at all in doubt, but that to me, leſs than the leaſt of all Saints, and the chiefeſt of Sinners, as upon the Banks of Chebar, Ulai, and Hiddekel, and as in the Iſle of Patmos, that Grace hath been vouchſaf'd upon my moſt Attentive Thought and Contemplation of this and other Propheſies of Scripture; and upon the whole Scheme of Scripture Time, that I have certainly found, That at the year ſixteen hundred ninety ſeven, Theſe great Things ſhall come to their Complement, that are to be at even Dates with the Proclamation of the Kingdom of Chriſt; That the Pollution of the Sanctuary ſhall be ſo far finiſh'd, that the meaſur'd Temple, and it's worſhippers ſealed up [within eight,] the laſt twelve hundred ſixty years ſhall be opened, and a far more excellent Church-ſtate Appear. The Miniſtrations of Truth, and Divine Worſhip much purer, as the Ark of Teſtament ſeen; and the Witneſſes Shall have come out of their Sackcloth, wherewith the ſo long Apoſtacy, together with the Turkiſh Woe, a Judgement upon that Apoſtacy, hath cover'd them.
I have publiſh'd ſeveral Diſcourſes to this purpoſe, viz. A Scripture line of Time and Solomons Song adjuſted to it, and have found none, who hath thought fit to remonſtrate to them, or reſiſt the Evidence with which I have written; not becauſe I have written, but becauſe of what I have written, I may ſay, It is written. It is written in the Scripture of Truth.
Particularly the annexed Diſcourſe, I publiſh'd a year ago, and I cannot but look upon the preſent appearance of things in the World a Juſtification of it: I have obſerv'd hitherto a very wonderful progreſs of Divine Government in the World, according to the Calculation of Propheſie I have made. I obſerve a great Preparation for the Ceſſation of the Turkiſh Woe, upon the Imperial Conſtantinople and the Greek Cities, that thoſe Candleſticks may be Re-placed: I obſerve yet, This ſeems to wait for the Fall of the Tenth of the great City, which motion it is to attend: I have been always of the Judgment, the Reformed Churches, that lye in the Bowels of Nations, whoſe Princes, and Staple Laws had not eſtabliſhed the Reformation, were in Danger of freſh Martyrdoms by the cruel Policies of the Jeſuites Order, whoſe Arcana Imperii, or Politics, may well be ſtyl'd the depths of Sathan. I have underſtood thoſe Churches ſymbol'd by the Church of Thyatira, in regard of whom the Feet of Chriſt burn as in a Furnace to this day.
The Nations, whoſe Princes and Laws have eſtabliſh'd the Reformation, I have had firm Aſſurance, could not be re-enſlav'd, under the enchantment of Reſtoring that Power to the Beaſt, which they had repeal'd from him, nor ſhould the Churches in them, except by a ſhort Hurricane, be in any danger of force. I have had the ſame Confidence with particular Relation to this Nation, and the Churches in it, and that the Soveraign Power of it ſhall be of the principal, that ſhall perfect that Revolution of the Reformation into it's Complement, and on that account have pray'd for the good underſtanding of our Supreams to that very end.
I have compar'd ſuch Reformed Churches, and particularly this, to that of Sardis, eſteeming our greateſt danger to be a Security, a ſlumber in a State though ſplendid as to this World, yet ſhort of the Glory intended by Chriſt in the Advances of his Kingdom; and that thereupon, he would come upon us, and we ſhould not know at what hour he himſelf would come upon us. I find no Reaſon to change, or ſo much as to ſuſpect, but to be more and more confirm'd in theſe Sentiments.
I make no more doubt, the preſent Conjuncture, is a dawn of that great Revolution, awaiting the Year ninety ſeven, next enſuing, than I doubt, whether the dawn of the day be in advance to the perfect Light; becauſe I am not upon any ſingle Conjecture, but upon the whole Conſpiration of Apocalyptical Times, compar'd with the Regiſtries of Hiſtory in the courſe of Time ſince our Lords Reſurrection, as famous, and as well known, as the Reformation from Luthers Time is known. I am not on any ſingle Line of Time, but upon the Concatenation of Times throughout Scripture, not as it is perplex'd with the Irreconcileable Chronological Controverſies, but aſſur'd by Maſſy, Sterlyn Scripture, both by compare of the Texts themſelves, and Scripture Reaſon, argued from them.
I have only three parts of that Line to publiſh, viz. from Abraham to the going out of Egypt, from the going out of Egypt to Solomons beginning the Temple, and from the Temple begun to Cyrus his Decree for reſtoring it, after the Babyloniſh Devaſtation. I have alſo prepar'd ſo great a Probation, that the day of Judgment, and the Reſurrection ſo generally acknowledg'd in Chriſtian Doctrine, are at the full dimenſions of Expoſition the very Milennial, or thouſand years, Kingdom of Chriſt, that I think upon the comparing of Scriptures, I have vouch'd and argued, it cannot be denyed; and as a Complement of all, I have adjuſted to thoſe Illuſtrious Scriptures the Prayer, we ſo generally acknowledge by the Name of the Lords prayer in the Explanation of it, and proved it to be the Prayer of, and prepared for that Glorious Kingdom of Chriſt, as alſo by eminent Scriptures the Lords Supper to be the Sacrament of the Kingdom.
I hope by the good Hand of God towards me to be ſo aſſisted, as to make Publication of theſe with the great, and confiding Expectation; that ſince I have had ſo great cauſe to believe, no one ſees Reaſon to chaſtiſe the Diſcourſes I have publiſh'd, and that the Divine Adminiſtrations of theſe latter Times, are going on to juſtifie them, they will be ſerviceable as Go…ds to the enquiries of greater Maſters of Aſſemblies, and their every way …ore acceptable Reſearches into theſe things, to the greater haſtning of the Glory, and coming of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, and the fall of his Enemies to be his Footſtool, by the earnest Prayers of his Churches, and Saints, and that in the mean time, they will be as Nails faſtning thoſe Tents, and Pavilions of Princes, who are to ſerve the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords in their Station. For I am ſure, they are given from one, even the chief Shepherd, and Biſhop of his Church, Jeſus Chriſt.
I am not enclin'd, nor have ever had a Temptation to repreſent the Propheſies of Scripture as a Doctrine of Blood. I am ſenſible, what Spirit Chriſtianity is of to its greateſt Enemies. Chriſt came not to deſtroy mens lives, but to ſave them; I expect a Battel of Chriſt, that ſhall not be as of the Warriors with confuſed noiſe, and Garments rolled in Blood, but with fewel of Fire, pure and clean Holineſs, a pure Ether of Juſtice, and Righteouſneſs; for in Righteouſneſs he Judges and makes War, and that in the mean time, there ſhall be no more uſe of Inſtruments, to deſtroy, than the moſt Righteous, and juſt Conſtitutions and Governments of Nations allow: For the Angels of the Vials upon the Anti-Chriſtian State are cloathed with Linnen pure, and white, and their Breaſts girded with golden Girdles, their Vials full with no other wrath than of God Almighty, Rev. 15.
Yet not offering to be particularly definitive; I Avow in the general, Yet Eight years, and the Kingdoms of this World ſhall become the Kingdoms of the Lord and of his Chriſt, and Papacy and Mahometaniſm ſhall ſink down before Him, his Monarchy ſhall then begin its Succeſſion, although his glorious Inveſtiture ſhall not be till ſeventy five years after; In which time, The everlaſting Goſpel ſhall be preached by a new Miſſion equal in ſpeed, and effect to that of the Apoſtles, and more univerſal; ſymboll'd therefore by an Angel flying through the midſt of Heaven, bringing in the fulneſs of the Gentiles, and effectual to the Converſion of the Jews; upon which Saviours ſhall come upon Mount Sion, and deſtroy the whole race of Pagan, Mahometan, Anti-Chriſtian Edomites, and the Kingdom ſhall be the Lords.