Erecting a Pillar of Praise, Treatise
A moſt Humble REPRESENTATION In a Further Review, ERECTING A Pillar of Praiſe, In acknowledgement of what GOD hath been pleaſed to Do in this Laſt Remarkable Year.
WITH Reaſons from thence of Expectation of a Happy Revolution in the Riſing of the Suffering Witneſſes of Chriſt, or Proteſtants in France, &c. The Fall of the Papal and Ottoman State, and the Beginning of the Kingdom of Chriſt in the World, ſpeedily to be brought to paſs by the Stone cut out of the Mountains not in Human hands, but to become Himſelf a Great Mountain, filling the whole Earth.
I Am moſt ſenſible, The great Events, I hoped this laſt Year, have not had their Complement; and that therefore, The Cenſures of many are very ſevere upon me, according to the great Rigor of Human Nature upon it ſelf in this Degeneracy of it.
But upon the Review of the whole Year, and the Events of it, which muſt needs be acknowledged to be very Extraordinay Ones; and the particular Times, in which the Divine Providence did advance them, I find great Reaſon of Encouragement; For it pleaſed the great LORD of Time, through Grace in Jeſus Chriſt, the Mediator of His Churches Times, the Great Palmoni, or Wonderful Numberer of Time; the Supreme Apocalyptes, to whom God gave that Illuſtr…o…s Prophecy of the New Teſtament; The Revelation; to direct me in a Paper publiſhed in the Fifth Month, called, July to the moſt particular. …ſe Times of the greateſt of Events this Laſt Year, in both, Old, and New-Stile.
The times I fix'd upon, were, the Month of Auguſt from the 15th to the end of the Month; the 1ſt of September the Ancient Feaſt of Trumpets; the 10th of September, the Day of Jubilee; the Feaſt of Tabernacles from the 15th to the 22th of the ſame Month.
Accordingly on the 22th of Auguſt, Old-Stile, juſt on the Time of the Ceſſation of the Empire of Rome in the Weſt, (as was more fully ſet out in that Paper) and in New-Stile, September the 1st, the Feaſt of Trumpets; The French King comes forth, taking upon himſelf as a Caeſar-Augustus, or Ʋniverſal Monarch, to ſhut the Temple of Janus in an Ʋniverſal Peace, or, as he ſpoke, Giving Repoſe to Europe.
On the ſame 22th of Auguſt, Old-Style, and September the 1st New-Style, the Imperial Armies were in motion towards the Turkiſh Forces, and on the 31th Old-Style, That ſo extraordinary and monumental Victory was obtained over the Grand Signior and his Baſhaws.
On the 10th of September, Old-Style, the 20. of September, New-Style; the Articles of Peace were Sign'd at Riſwick.
Theſe Things came to paſs at the very times of this Year, that had been Foretold (as …ath been ſaid) in that Paper; which, as it may be ſubject to Cenſure becauſe Things have not riſen to that h…i…h…, yet ought to be conſidered and juſtify'd, in what the Year hath attained in ſuch Determinate Times for Events; That though not to the higheſt themſelves, yet …ontain within themſelves the Seeds, Beginnings, and Principle, or theſe Higheſt, and are the Pledges, Earneſt…, and Aſſurances of them; As the Peace, which the French King takes upon himſelf to have given, imports (however he underſtand it not the Reſignation of Ʋniverſal Monarch; and the Ʋniverſal Peace of the …rce of Peace: The Mabo…etan Ottoman Def…t aſſ…es the paſſing aw…y of the ſ…ond …o. viz. Of the Ottoman lyranny; and That …in… coming to an end, and none to help him; His Day. Hour, Month, Year, being expired, and the Kingdom of Chriſt immediately ready to ſucceed; and therefore, the Papacy, on which it is a Judgment, certainly to …ad with it.
And though I do not pretend to have affixt the following Events to their proper Points and Times; They are yet great Events of this Year, that ought to be Recorded as ſo. The Articles of Peace, with the Empire, after a time of Suſpenſion, holding the Peace at ſome incertainly, were accepted by the Emperor, …lob. …. and Signed N…v. the 1ſt. New Style, and Remarkably ſo, as it Divine Providence would Note the Half …e, or an … Years paſt, ſince The Reformation by Luther more illuſtriouſly ſhew'd it ſelf in the Empire; who affix'd his Antipapiſ…ed Poſitions to the Church-doors at Winemberg the ſame …bob. 31. for the ſ…re of the Popiſh high All-ſ…irts Day following, to be thereby made of the moſt Publick Noteri… ty in the Empire; and it gives great Hopes, ſome great Intentions of Providence, for the Glory of His Goſpel in the Reformation, and … his …ngdom in the Empire, are laid up in … Peace.
This Year hath produced a very obſervable App…ance of the …zir of Muſ…ovia. and in a Victoriouſneſs over the Ottoman S…g…iory, as … B…in…n… of the C…iar (as we …tile…em) … out of their I…norance, Bar…, Sla…ry, …ording to preph…; of which … Prince i… a i…ſt Fruits, and the m…re for his co… into ſo cle…r an Air of … in this Nation; and whene…r That doth come to paſs, I am In…allibly certain. the Great City Rome ſhall be ready to …
But That, which in the laſt place, but with a Primary Intention, I Record as a great Event of this Year 97. is, That, though It is much to be Lamented, The Proteſtant Intereſt could not be comprehended in the Peace; and that the Herodian Spirit hath appeared in a time of Univerſal Peace, which ſlaughtered the Infants at one time, and at another time ſtreached forth its hand on the Chriſtian Church to vex and to kill; So a Perſecutory Spirit hath even, ſince the Peace, raged in the French Monarch: A great Remove from the Magnanimity of Chriſtian or Princely Compaſſion, that would overſlow at ſuch a time towards all. Oh that there were a due ſenſe of it among Proteſtants, that are at eaſe; and that ſolemn Faſting and Prayer, without ceaſing. were made for ſuch Sufferers; For why ſhould there be Wrath agairst Protestant Princes, Churches and Nations! Who would not bewail, That Protestancy, our greateſt Priviledge, Glory, and Enjoyment, ſhould be puniſh'd on them as their only Crime! But I cannot but hope that God hath been pleaſed to ſuffer it, that it might be made Evident, that the Suffering Proteſtant; beyond the Seas, who at this time, Keep the Commandments of God, and Hold the Faith of Jeſus, are thoſe Witneſſes of God, in whom God is pleaſed at this time, as in an Epitome, or Summary, to draw up the ſufferings of all the Confeſſors, and Martyrs under the Papacy, and Antichristian Apostacy for ſo many Hundreds of Years, before their Full, and Compleat Ri…ng, and the op…ning of his Kingdom. There is therefore a perfect Sciagraphy, or plat-form of the Apocalyptick Viſion, cap. 11. in their preſent Caſe and State.
They lye, at this time, in a Large Bredth of the Great City, the Roman Artichristian Church, viz. The Empire, In which the Reformation h…an; and more eſpecially in France, whe…e ſo many Dread…l Scenes of their Maſſacres, and Perſecutions have heretofore been pre…en…ed; and in Pi…mo…t and S…rcoy, where They have been (as many Faithful Hiſtorians witne… continued by an uninterrupted ſucceſſion of ſo many Hundred Years, as will make up the 1260. in the pure Profeſſion of the Goſpel; and However Perſecuted, they have been preſerved, as Moſes his buſh, burning, … not confirmed; Now in this very Year, They … this Breadth lye dead, (but as was ſaid eſpecially in France) & under A…athemaes, Proſcription, Edicts for D…at…, and Baniſhment, Able …ion to the Gallies; their Teſtimony to Chriſtianity, and their Sufferings, as it were Vying one with another.
T…ey of the Popiſh People, and Kindreds and Tongues, and Nations, have by their Plenipotentiaries looked upon their Dead Bodies to the purpoſe, and determined they ſhould lye Dead: and the Protestant Plenipoteniaries have beheld them dead, and profeſſed they could not help them.
They cannot yet be Buried, in Regard of God's Gracious Bearing up of their Spirits with Renewed Reſolution, to keep up their Faith to Chriſt in the mid'ſt of ſo great Crueky upon them; and further, There are ſuch great Kingdoms, and States, that standing upon their feet; that is, ſubſiſting upon their own Strength. Authority, Laws, and Government; Avow the ſame Profeſſion publickly, in defiance of Papal Powers, whatever, and ſo are called Protestants, or open Avowed Witneſſes.
They that dwell upon the Earth; The Popiſh Princes, and States, The Eccleſiasti…k Head, which the Scripture calls The Beaſt, as the Image of Ancient Empire, have ſent their Compliments of Congratulation and Joy, and their Gifts, and Preſents, one to another, upon the ſuppreſſed State of Proteſt…ncy ſo far, as they have attained; and what Alliances they are forming further, if the Stone cut out of the Mo…ontains ſhould not ſurpriſe them, Time would Diſ…over: And that they may think themſelves more ſecure, & That they are ſtill to continue. Providence hath given them the returns into that Adulterous B…ſo…t, of one of the German El…lors, in the Cou…t and Territories of whoſe Predeceſſors, Proteſtancy had its firſt Protection; that babylon may ſay, I ſit a Queen, …d…a… no Widow, and ſhall ſee to ſorrow, and that ſo, Her Plagues may come in one hour. For therefore I Record theſe as ſignal Events of this Year, becauſe I look upon all theſe as ſigns at the Time, God hath ordained, when the ſpirit of Life f…o… God ſmall enter unto the Witneſſes; their whole tim… of 126… Years of Sa…k…loth Prophecy being expired; and their preſent po…are, ſuch as Prophecy hath deſcribed it at their Ri…ing and Deliverance.
But it is y… a moſt Remarkable Event of this Year. That God hath been pleaſed, this Year, by the Peace, to place it, as an Honour, upon the King, as Prince of Orange, to provide …at His Principality, as a Sanctuary; that his Witneſſes there may not only not be buried, but not ſo much as lye Dead; but their Profeſſion … born up there, when in Regard of the Seve…ty of the Pe…ſe…tion they lye Dead in other …rts of that Nation. And in Regard, it is a …toration of the Kingdoms of Protestancy, … …he … before the Peace, had e… of the Kingdom of France; It bears the face of a Reſurrection; and the Return of their Four Fastors thither in ſo ſolemn a manner, out of their Impriſonment at Lyons, as is related in their Letter*Mont… Accou… the Mont… led Fe… ary. to the Pastor of the Walloon Congregation at Rotterdam, (I hope moſt Authentick) carries the very Type of a Spirit of Life from God, entring into them, ſetting them on their Feet, and A Voice from Heaven, ſaying, Come up hither, Their Enemies beholding them; and many Papiſts ſo moved, as to give Glory to the God of Heaven by Converſion to Protestancy. All which, is both an Earneſt, and pledge, and Aſſurance of the Reſurrection of the Witneſſes in general, ſpeedily to go on; And one may even ſay, They have begun to Riſe; and I cannot but hope, hereby God hath made the King, whom the Enemies have called in contempt, Prince of Orange, The Prince of Orange le Grand! and on this very Account, as on others, A Signet in God's own Right Hand.
But it ought not to be omitted, that God hath been pleaſed by a Spirit from himſelf, now in the Cloſe of the Year, to ſet a further mark of Honour upon it; the Unanimous Addreſs of the Honourable Houſe of Commons for the Honour of Jehovah, in a Reformed Nation and accepted with ſuch a Zealous Chearfulneſs by the King in ſo great a Proclamation: This is, I hope, laid up, as Scripture expreſſes it, as a Memorial before the Lord in his Temple, for the Glory of the King, and Parliament, in his approaching Kingdom; It being a Teſtimony for God unparallel'd, ſince what is ſtiled, The Reſtoration; and looks as if thoſe earneſt Motions for Reformation, that have been at any time before, ſince the Reformation from Popery, were Reviving by joint Supreme Authority, near to The Reſtitution of all things.
Now, by way of Reflection upon all theſe Imp…, of Divine Providence, upon this Year … which being ſo many, and all clear Matter of Fact, cannot be ſuppoſed to be by chance. I cannot but Remonſtrate; That tho' Thing are not Aſcended to the H…h…hs I had hoped and expected, yet, it …not be denied, God hath not left this Year …ſtitute, Naked, or without Witneſs from Himſelf, and that He hath, in an Eminency, Graced thoſe very particular Times in this Year, I had ſingled out, as deſigned, by Prophecy, for Engravings upon with Effects of Divine Power, and Goodneſe.
Now, whatever hath come to paſs this Year, of ſo great Remark, and ſo ag…able to Prophecy, deſerves ſome of that Ast…ri…k upon and Reſurrection, and of the Miſſion of the Holy Spirit, Remarking it That Year, and That ſame Year, on occaſion of that ſo Memorable Prophecy of Caiaphas, their High-Prieſt that Year, as Productive of it, and Impelling it: In like manner theſe things have come to paſs, this Great Prophetick Year 97. b…cauſe This ſame Year.
And as In a Wonderful Reſemblance of Caiaphas, and his Prophecy, I cannot but look upon that Oracular Acknowledgment of the French King, as what he was Impell'd to, on the Account of his being permitted, and ſo far upheld by Providence, to take upon himſelf, as an Ʋniverſal Monarch in the Peace, This ſame Year. He Writing to the Arch-Biſhop of Paris, in deſire of the Popiſh le Deum, as a Thankſgiving for the Peace with the Emperor: Thus begins: COƲSIN, THE TIME, WHICH HEAVEN HAD ORDAIN'D, FOR THE RECONCILIATION OF THE NATIONS IS COME. I hope This is Prophetical of the Reconciliation of all Nations by the Kingdo… of the Prince of Peace.
How, therefore, God will pleaſe to promote theſe Beginnings, thro' this following Year 1698. (Being very poſitive the 1260 Years of the Delay of the Kingdom of Chriſt there expired) viz. Beginning at the Apocalyptick Epoch, the time of our Lord's Reſurrection, Aſcenſion, and Miſſion of his Spirit; Down to the time of the Ceſſation of the Roman Empire; Month the 6th; Then on the Feast of Trumpets, Jubilee, and Feast of Tabernacles in the 7th Month; I will not Pronounce, but Humbly Wait with greateſt Hope, and Expectation from Him, who Magniſies his Word a…ove All his Name.
For I am humbly Conſcious to my ſelf, whatever Thoughts Any may have, I have not Raſhly, or Rudely, ſeiz'd on the Time of the Laſt, and of this Year, as the Time of the Great Revolution I expect for the Kingdom of Christ; but I have, through the Grace of the Wonderful Numberer, and through His Redemption, extending it ſelf to every Th… of His Kingdom, that is the Kingdom of Redemption; drawn a Line of Time. according to the Scriptures, made Illuſtrious with the greateſt Events that have been known in the World; coming down to this very Time from Solo…. Death, the very Time where Prophetical …e begins, and goes in a ſtrait Line foreign or expreſly, for the ſpace of ſeven 390's, or 2730. Years, viz. the Changes made upon the Ancient People of God, the Ten Tribes of … and the Kingdom of Judah, in their ſo … Deſolation; the Babylonian, Perſian and Gre… Monarchies; the Roman Empire, and the Gre… Changes, and Revolution of it; which in regard of the coming of the Meſſiah, His De… Reſurection, and Aſcenſion the Miſſion of the Spirit, and the Preaching of the Goſpel to the Gentiles falling within it; is of all other the moſt Remarkable (next to that of Iſrael) Subject of Prophecy in the Old, and New Teſtament; and hath dependent upon it be Great Revolution of ſo great a part of the World coming under the Name of Jeſus Chriſt But imediately attended with the Black and Dark Eclips of Antichriſtianiſm, Styled very juſtly Romaniſm; The time of which Prophecy is ſo Intent upon, as to have given ten times the exact meaſure of, and in all kinds of Characters: On which Follow the Dreadful Judgments of God in Revenge of ſuch a Traterous Undermine of his Kingdom; In letting out the Barbarous Nations to Ravage upon Rome, and to Break in peices … Empire into Ten (or a variety of) Kingdoms, Intoxicated into Papal Subjection; Then came Mahometariſm with it Two W…e… the Saracens and the Turkiſh Ottoman Power, which hath ſeated it ſelf in the Room of the Grecian Empire, and in it's very Atr… lis, or at Conſtantinople; All which is become a very great part of the History of the L… ter Times; And ſince that, The Reform… by Luther which hath made ſo great a Change in the Papal State, and the Kingdomes of E… rope in General. Now all theſe, I have ſo Adjuſted to their moſt Lively Types in Prophecy, and to their moſt exact Scituation, in what I look upon to be the Expreſs Prophetic Line of Time, or Prophetic Chronology; And with ſuch Atteſtation; of General Hiſtory, and Chronology, (eſpecially in ſome moſt Eminent Joynts of Time) ſo undoubted as thereby to aſſure in what may ſeem more Dark and Doubtful; and all to this day, That I am ſure, The moſt Learned and Sagatious cannot draw ſuch another Line, ſo Juſtly ſ…ved, and ſo ſupported.
But however, or whenever Theſe things ſhall appear, I will not Fail Inceſſantly to Cry out with the Spirit and the Bride, and to provoke him that heareth to ſay, Come Lord Jeſus, Come quickly in thy Kingdom.
T. BEVERLY.
LONDON: Printed for, and Sold by William Marſhall, at the Bible in Ne…g…te-ſtreet. And by John Marſhall, at the Bible in Gra…-Church-ſtreet, 1608. … …eaſe to do …
End of the text · Thomas Beverley, Erecting a Pillar of Praise (1698)