The Time of the End, Preface
AN Epiſtolary Perambulation:
OR A Word to every one round the World.
IT was a ſaying of one who read a Comment upon the Patience of Job, That poor Job was more miſerably tormented with his Comment, then with his Condition (of botches and boyls) and indeed I was the more doubtful of anſwering my friends deſire, in publiſhing my poor Epiſtolary thoughts upon ſo pregnant a piece, and profitable as this is, leſt he ſhould ſuffer more by ſo deficient and indigent a Comment (as mine) then by the whole matter or ſubject of this diſcourſe, ſo feelingly and faithfully (ſince his exile and ſuffrings) preſented to the publike judgement: Wherefore I fear to adde (to what with ſo much Evidence and Demonſtration he hath produced) leſt I ſhould diminiſh; and do rather wiſh that men would proportion Meditation to reading, that they may prove them ſtaple Truths, and Commodities in their own Souls and Conſciences. For they can beſt report them, who beſt reliſh them, and diſpirit them into their own Spirits or Breaſts. When I prepend how perplexable, and out of order, we are in theſe times, I the leſs wonder at thoſe high Diſtempers and burning Paroxyſms of Opinion, Pride, lust, and Paſſion among carnal Church-members and worldly profeſſors, who (like thirſty Travellers) are ready to drink of every puddle, let the water be wholeſom or hurtful; and in their heat will have it, though they ſurfeit for it: Such muſt be purged and better dieted, if ever they do well. Now I do think as to the venome of the times, contracted by taking in things untrue and obnoxious to the things and times of the end; theſe Streams which run from the Rock (Chriſt) and glide through the valley of this Book (or Brook) may be of ſingular uſe to expel, through the Savour, Sweetneſs, Sence, Simplicity, Evidence, and Wholeſomneſs of them to all Souls: They are ſlain and ſo perhaps not ſuch placentia to the Court-palates, that had rather drink poyſon out of their own Golden-cup, Rev. 17. 4. then wholeſom liquer, or ſound Doctrine out of an Earthen-cup (ſuch poor deſpoſed veſſels as we are: But we have this Treaſure in earthen veſſels, that the Excellency of the Power may be of God, and not of us, 2 Cor. 4. 7, 8. Whiles we are troubled on every ſide, &c.) yet indeed, I do think I may ſay as Eccleſ. 12. 10, 11. This Preacher ſought to finde out acceptable Words; and that which was written (by this Coheleth, or in Arab. Gamiyo gatheror) is upright, even words of truth; yea, as goads and nails fixed foreign. like Centres for other lines to run unto) after the maſters of Sentences, from one Paſtor (Meroyeh Echad) or Shepherd of Souls, even Chriſt.
The knowledge of the Times begins now to be a Language better underſtood in theſe days of the Kingdom Goſpel (lock'd up in former ages, becauſe ſealed up for this, or the time of the end, the laſt) but theſe that ſpend their time in getting the knowledge without the practice, will be but like the Limner of ſome fair thing (for he draws it out, but enjoys it not.) Knowledge is the Commencement, but Obedience the Act; the firſt prepares, but this perfects our skill in the times. So, many ſhall run to and fro (Jeſhottetu turn about) and knowledge ſhall increaſe, Dan. 12. 4. that is, an active ſtirring knowledge, rather more in Practice then Speculation; for the Grace and truth came (together) by Jeſus Chriſt, Joh. 1. 17. whereas the Law (or Letter) may come another way, as Daniel's firſt knowledge of the times, by Books, Dan. 9. 2. But his ſecond and ſpecial underſtanding into theſe times, by a better teaching, Dan. 9. 22, 23. The firſt prepared, the laſt perfected.
This Special Teaching (or more by inſpiration and practical judgement) I am perſwaded this aged Brother (and companion in tribulation) hath, not onelyonly by his conſiderations, to ballaſt us with in the firſt place; and his clearneſs in the time of the end, to fraught us with in the next place; but in his large ſails, good tackling, fair and conſtant gales, which attend him all the way, as he glides into the diſcovery of this (Terra incognita) the little Horn, whoſe Characters and Marks are made ſo plain, as he that runneth now may read them, and avoid them too, if God give grace: though mindleſs-men will never believe the plague i… ſo, till they ſee the Tokens, or elſe Lord have mercy upon us to be written upon their very doors.
Nor am I without a Witneſs now from man to the ſame Truths ſealed to me in my Pathmos-Iſles and Palmony-Priſons, and prepared (about two years ſince) for the publike view (could they have paſt the preſſes) upon theſe very Points, Principles of Truths, and Characters of the time, with the previous ſigns of the End at hand; but to my great affliction they lay defunct and dead, till now the Lord hath raiſ'd up another in a more burning and ſhining Light, much more grave, able, and acceptable upon this ſubject; ſo that I am ſatisfied for preſent, as if I were fully paid both in the Principal and Arrears, becauſe as Joh. 5. (if I may uſe my Lords Words, as to what I have received from him through grace in theſe things) I have a Greater Witnes then that of John; but if I bear witneſs of my ſelf, my witneſs is not true.
Therefore I have more reaſon then another to think the enſuing matter taught of God, and to joyn with this Brother (this old Sufferer and Standard againſt the Prelates and Tyrants, old and new) in Wing and Word; ſeeing without ſo much as conference, or any occaſional way of communicating our light (in theſe matters) each to other; ye, when wholly ignorant (for my p…rt) of his Light herein. I ſhould hear in publike from him (what I received onelyonly from the Lord, and him that hath the ſeven Spirits) in my priſons, and accordingly had prepared them for the preſs) the very ſame things, Florid Truths, Diaphanous and open Aſſertions and Marks of the Times, the little Horn, the ſecond Beaſt, and the laſt Apeſtacy, eſpecially threaded together into one (with ſo ſweet and eaſie, clear, and compact an harmony both of time and place, after the Daniclian and the Apocalyptick accounts conjunct, as I was carried by the ſpirit into it before) through the Eye of a Needle, which a Shivell▪d thread could never get through; and wherein I knew not of one man of my Light, Faith, and Judgement before: So that as I am (by experience) perſwaded▪ he was awakened of God unto this Work (as the Prophet ſaith) morning by morning, Iſai. 50. 4 So I cannot but bleſs the L rd for this concurrence of light, that out of (or in) the mouths of two or three witneſſes every word may be eſtabliſhed, Mat. 8. and that the nearer the lines are to the Center, the nearer they may and muſt be one to another, particularly upon the little Horn; in my Chronography of the little time (Dan. 7.) I did trace the Truth with the ſame foot, and faith▪ and firſt traverſ▪d the trajections and enervate the objections of them that would have it Mahomet, Caeſar, the fourth Monarchy or Antichriſt, by ſtrenuous Arguments, ab ortu, tempore, modo, fine, Ratione▪ & equilibrio, from the Riſe of it ſo long after the Hydra-headed fourth Beaſt, from the time of it, as the laſt limb of this fourth Beaſt, and that a loco too, it being but in one dominion (though conſiſting and in the place) of three (Horns) Provinces (ſaith Calvin upon the place, and gives this reaſon for it, quia Romani mi…tere ſolebant in ſingulas Provincias, quaſi Reges, becauſe the Roman Empiredom was wont to ſend men like Kings (but not Kings) into their Provinces, and ſo they did Conſtans hither into England for one Province, when they conquered it) From his manner of coming up to, and continuing in it …ſque ad conſummationem i…ae, till the judgement ſit; and ſaith Calvin upon the Analytical, Cha. 11. 21. he ſhall come in peaceably and obtain the kingdom by flatteries (or Beſhulovah in a quiet way) that is (applying it to Antiochus Epipha.) ſaith he obtendet fallaci…er Nomen Tutoris, he fallaciouſly aſſume (or draw over to himſelf) the name of a Protector or Preſerver (ſo ſaith Mayo on Nehemiah, he did at the firſt take the Title of Protector, and afterward of King) and he muſt ſpeak great ſwolling words (Seſquipedalia or decemp…d…li… verba) againſt the moſt High, or for the moſt High, as our friend here obſerves: only with this further note, …at it is Letzad, which is properly in breath, whereby he will ſeem large to take in all that is for God and Chriſt, and not to limit; but it is Letzelang (not Tzad) which ſignifies in length, or far enough. So that for all that he ſhall ſpeak large for God, yet he ſhall fall ſhort in doing what he ſaith. And it further is proved from the end of his riſe to fill up the meaſure, Dan. 8. 17, 19, 23. wear out the S…ints, and think to change Laws and the Times. Now this muſt be in Noviſſimis Diebus, in the laſt time of the Times, or at the three years and half, and not at the Riſe of the fourth Monarchy or Antichriſt in the firſt Apoſtacy, but of the Man of ſin and myſtery of iniquity that muſt be revealed by the laſt Apoſtacy and Defection. 2 Thef. 2. 8. Rev. 17. 5.
Hence Iuſtin Martyr in Dial▪cum Tryph. p. 336. called the little Horn, foreign the Man of the Apoſtacy. Further from Reaſon, and proportion of things therein, I proved how unavoidably they are hu…ricanoed into abſurdities that aſſert the little-horn Government to be the fourth Monarchy, or Pope, or Turk, or the like: and though it be abundance more arduous to determine in the Poſitive (who he is) then in the Negative (who he is not) yet between both, and in the Argumentative, I may ſay, many marks to know him by, are now brought to light, (which before have been hid) as will ſuddenly purſue the diſcovery of him into a hew and cry after him where ere he lurks. But thus I ſay, the Author doth help us much, and like ſome excellent Muſioian, hath a grace above others to the car by ſtops! So that according to the Arabick Adage, Gamalon bimaudi…i Gamalin jarkabo. A Camelin the place of a Camel may bend his knee, and ſo do…; to yield all that I could have ſaid upon this Subiect to what he hath ſaid (and ſo energetically cleared) in this book, leaving them to apply that finde the little Horn out by theſe deſcriptions.
But a little more particularly, and 1. To the men of theſe Times, (that ſerve the Times and men); it may be they muſt (of courſe) be offended with this Treatiſe, and think it too plain; but poor Wretches! are they ſo unſound that they muſt not be touched? no! nor at ſuch a diſtance neither? how then would they have endured the primitive Spirit? and plain-dealing Saints in thoſe dayes then? Muſt we counterfeit with you? and come to you with Pythanology? muſt we either ſpeak in Tropes and Figures? or elſe in Ropes and Faggots? or impriſonment at leaſt? (durante bene-placito?) Do you take us by the Throat, ſaying, Pay me what you owe me! (yea what we do not owe you) and can you think to have compaſſion ſhewn you or yours when the judgement ſits? See but Mat. 24. 49. with Mat. 18. 33, 35. Shouldſt not thou alſo have had Compaſſion? And his Lord was wroth, and delivered him to the Tormentors! &c. Can you be called a Chriſtian Government, that ſo far exceed the very Heathens in this matter? Why Titus Veſpaſian when (one ſpake ſcurrilouſly of him) ſaid, Ego, cum nihil faciam dignum propter quod contumelia afficiar, nihil cu…o, &c. Well! if I have done nothing worthy of theſe Reports! (or to be thus ſpoken ill of,) I care not! but if I have! O then! I have more reaſon to be angry w th my ſelf the Tranſgreſſor, then with him the Relater, for he hath told nothing but the truth then! He ſent not out his Purſuivants preſently (or Sword men to apprehend ſuch a Man. Nor did we ever read among the Heathen, that T…c… was ever blamed or puniſh d for perſonating and publiſhing Tiberius's diſsimulation. Nero's Cruelty, Sej…nus's pride, M…ſ…alina s Adultery, or Domitian's Tyranny and bruitiſh…eſ…, though he was his very Creature, and advanced by him: And good Lord! are we worſe then Heathen? yea then the Heathen at this day? (as in China where the Zaul… and Choli have their liberty to ſay any th ng againſt the evils of their Emperor and his Government & then the Dragon Government of the Heathen at that day? and yet theſe men that make us offenders for words, Iſa. 29. 21. yea Words of truth and ſobriety too! impriſoning and perſecuting year after year! contrary to the Rule of Reaſon, N uure and Religion, would be accounted fain the farreſt and beſt Government of any before it! but alas for th m! let men ſay what they will, we ſee it and feel it every day to be of the Beaſt, and more bruit…ſh then thoſe that have gone before; bloody Mary her ſelf abhorring to make it Treaſon for words as they have done. Yet for this we bleſs our (over-ruling) God, that as to Beaſts of the greateſt power is given the leaſt immanity, ſo to theſe of the greatest ferocity the leaſt force, for the curſt Cow hath but ſhort horns.
2. To the Academies, Heathen ſchools, and Secular Clergy of England, eſpecially, the Heads of Houſes and Colledges, Doctors and Learned men, have we much to ſay if we might be heard, or admitted to ſpeak our minds freely, 1. For that they have been ſuch implacable enemies to the purest Truths, and preſent testimony in every age, how fierce againſt the Martyrs in Queen Maries dayes? yea againſt the Browniſts and Puritans in Queen Elizabeth's, and King Iames's dayes? accuſing them to the Powers, and calling them (as they do us) abſurd, ridiculous, frezzy fools, illiterate fellows, mad, ſeditious, and ſuch as would bring all to ruine in Church and State? ſitter to be chaſtized by the Magiſtrate then refuted? (Vid. Defence of the Browniſts in King James's da…es, p. 114, 115, &c.) this hath ever been their language againſt the Saints; as they called Paul a Babl…r, contradicting and blaſpheming the Truth. Act. 17. & 19. Now it is our mercy to be of them that the Stoicks, Peripateticks, Academicks, and Pythagoreans rage at and revile.
2. Becauſe we are perſwaded in our very ſouls (and know it) that we have the Truth, the Goſpel, the cauſe of Chriſt, and the Teſtimony of Jeſus on our ſide, (who ſuffer ſo by perſecutions, impriſonments, & oppreſſions over our conſciences and faith in theſe matters)! Now me thinks it is eaſie for ſo many Learned, wiſe and able Doctors, Triers and Chaplains to handle us if we be in Error, or out of the Way, and to make it appear by the Word of God, and convince us of it (in charity!) therefore if they have received the Truth in the Love thereof, we require it of them, and adjure them to it in the name of him who ſhall ſhortly judge the quick and dead! for the weaker we are, the eaſier will their work be to anſwer us.
3. For that ſome of your chiefeſt Heads were once of the ſame minde with us in theſe matters, as appears by their Sermons and former practices, untill they came to leave the Churches and their Paſtor-ſhips for Colledge-places, and Corner-caps, and ſo became Vice-Chancellors, Doctors, Proctors, Preſidents, Tryers and ſuch as are in deep Traffick with the Whores merchandiſe. Did we ever think the Dragons tail could drag down ſuch Stars as theſe to the Earth? to ſuch earthly, yea, Antichriſtian titles? Orders? Cuſtoms, Laws? and Degrees as they have taken? (the Lord have mercy upon us! with what fear and trembling do I think of theſe things?) to forſake the the Churches for Heathens Schools? the Bride for the Whore? & the Whore harneſſed too, in her old, filthy, adulterous robes too? the very ſame Popiſh Statutes up, and unrepealed at thi… day that were in Q▪ Maries dayes? and in the thick of Popery? (however they refine them a little outwardly!) yet the ſame idola ocu…orum or feminine Idols, and Trumperies, Hoods, Caps, Robes, Rings, Holy-dayes, Muſicks, Commencements, and Divinity-Acts are yet u…; Conradus Pellican upon his deathbed deſired he might not be buried a Doctor, for he ſaid, he must riſe a Diſciple and poor Creature! O Peter! Peter! Peter! (ſayes Mr. Tyndal) thou waſt too long a Fiſher-man then if this be lawful▪ for thou wert never brought up at the Arches! nor wert thou ever maſter of the Rolls, Chancellor of England, nor Vice-Chancellor of Oxford, &c.
4. For that ye are (though untruly) called the Schools of the Prophets (whereas in truth ye are the Schools of the profane, Atheiſts, and Heathens, infuſing Heatheniſh principles (by heatheniſh Authors) into proud, bold, fantaſtical, graceleſs youths) and for this reaſon have the Saints all along ingaged againſt them, Wi…kliffe, Huſs, Luther, Zuinglius, Tyndal and a 100 more; yea the Browniſts at large to King Iames petition'd that they might no longer continue Heathen but Chriſtian Schools, and instead of Ariſtotle and Plato they might ſtudy the Scriptures, Prophets and Apoſtles, for thoſe that ſo do will receive the Truth gladly which we communicate! as 1 Theſ. 1. 6. in much affliction.
5. Beſides, you are accounted the Fountain and Nurſery of the Miniſtry that is (not of the Church but) Secular Clergy; not of Chriſt's but Ariſtotle's and the States Miniſtry, that buy what they ſell, and then ſell what they ſo have bought (as Simon Magus) be they ever ſuch ſtories, traſh, Anti-chriſtian Errors, or dreams of Predicaments, Univerſals, ſecond Intentions, Quiddities, Hecſi…ies and Correlatives, &c. and what not, to amuſe the Countryignoramus's? Now for as much as all theſe (with a 1000. more) appertain to the Beaſt and falſe Prophet, it is time to warn them (that are of them) to get from amongſt them as faſt as they can, for the time is neer when this Beaſt and his whole Body (whereof you are a Part) muſt be given to the Burning Flame, Dan. 7. 11.
3. To the Cities and Corporations that do yet ſtand by the Beaſt's Charter, it is the Time of the End too, and particularly this, where every man is (as we ſay Faber ſuae fortunae) ſeeking himſelf, and hammering out his own honour, (but not at God's Anvil!) buying, ſelling, building, planting, &c. as in the dayes of Noah, but doth not regard the Day of the Lord! O London! London! thou City! and Seat of the ſecond Beaſt! next to Rome mayſt thou look for the Wrath upon thee! for thy bowing down unto the Beaſt! perſecuting the Saints! and height of all manner of Sins ſound in thee at this day! Doſt thou think that Latimers, Ridleys, Hoopers and the Martyrs blood wilt not be called for? yea wer't not thou as Gideons Fleece, dry when the floor round thee for many years was wet with the blood of the late Wars? and ſhalt not thou be wet when the floor is dry? beſides (retentio exc…emen…orum eſt parens… morborum!) thou retaineſt what will ruine thee, and ſtandeſt upon thoſe Popiſh Charters and Injurctions that muſt be rent up by the very Roots, nor will the dead Saints (the Patrons of your Companies) be able to protect you from that Day when the (living Saints or) judgement begins to ſit.
4. To ſuch as are in Doubts, and Suſpence, or Darkneſs! (either for want of light, or through too much light upon weak Orga…s) which occaſions too much wavering, unſtedfaſtneſs, miſtakes, and diſſimulations at this day! were Paul alive that reproved his brother Peter ſo openly, Gal. 2. what a terrible thundering Oracle would he be at this Day then! which will burn up doubledealing and deceit like an Oven! and nothing but true faith in the ſimplicity of the Goſpel will abide by it. Surely Pauls care would be to put every man upon the proof of's own work and ſpirit, that he might have a rejoicing in himſelf, and not in another, Gal. 6. 4. knowing the ſubtlety of the Serpent in this laſt Apostacy, is to ſet up Truth against Truth! grace againſt grace! ordinances againſt ordinances! Saints againſt Saints! Spirit againſt Spirit! (and not …o prophane againſt Profeſſors!) to fight! rend! ſhake! tear! diſtract and divide them with! that are to break his head, and to catch his kingdom! Wherefore ſee to your ſtanding! that it be not upon Bogs or quagmires! or with ſtaggering!
5. To ſuch as are impatient, ho… and raſh; tarry till the Time of the End! it will be ſoon enough! and get your ſpirits well prepared, ſea…oned and ſweetened with G…ce for it will be bitter enough! a …o…e ſliding will break thy …o…e, though a back-ſliding would break thy neck! and if thou …ſt to the Kingdom-work before the Time and Seaſon, thou will be drawn out! or if thou g…eſt out with a wilde field ſpirit, or common anointing! and not with the …arden flowry ſpirit, or double anointing of the Kingdom (which is the bleſſing of the Firſtborn!) thou art more capable of being out down with the graſs, then o… cutting▪ down the graſs; though all fleſh be graſs, Ilay 40. & as a field-flower riſing up in its own, ſingle, wilde, natural ſpirit! It is another ſtra…agem of Sathan to depoſite (too) the like for the thing (and ſo to cheat thee with a counterfeit!) compounding an anointing like to Gods anointing; a perſume like to his perſume! which is death by the Law, Exod. 30. 33. or elſe to put that upon the Stranger which belongs to none but the Lord, v. 38. or elſe to take the Lord's perſume to ſmell upon, or to pleaſe their own ſenſes and deſires with, and ſo to raiſe up their own ſpirit (which then is hard to get down again, or not to call the Spirit of the Lord)! and with that Chriſtian name to run out into diſoorders and without rule, or elſe to conclude us in unbelief as to implicite commands under preſence of a per…m…o…y obedience to explicite, and like Nadab and Abil… fall in the fire of our own kindling, or elſe inſtead of the Angels Reed, would meaſure and model us by another Rule, and not with the Kings Cubit which was three ſingers longer then the common, nor weighed with the Sanctuary ſhekels (whereon at firſt was ſtamped the print of the Lamb) which were twice as much as the common! But as Noab's A…k was built with the largeſt Cubit; So is this Work to be, that will now go forward.
Laſtly, if it be the end, then woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the Earth! for the time of the third woe is within reach! woe! to the Lawyers! Souldiers! Citizens! Merchants! Meſſengers! Goalers! and all that are involved with the Beaſt at this day! from Court to Country! from their Protector to the Beggar! Rev. 14 10. woe! unto you rich who have laid up treaſures for the laſt days! for you have your conſolation, Jam. 5. 1. yea, woe! unto you Souldier! that fighteſt under the Beaſts Banner! becauſe the want of a good conſcience will eat out thy valou…! Jer. 50. …3. woe unto you that ſeek great things for your ſelves! Jer. 45. and make not God the Patron of your preferment; you might as in the Jewiſh fields, have pluckt and eat what you would, but not have pocketted up (as ye have done) the Kings, Deans and Chap…e…s lands, or the accurſed thing, &c. yea, woe to you▪ that have deceived others! for that ye ſhall find by your long diſſembling, ye have moſt deceived your ſelves at laſt! Iſai. 33. 1. and not to you that have been both the Archer and Ma…k in all your actions (ſhooting at your own Praiſe and Profit) becauſe an Arrow ſhall come from the Kings hands, Pſal. 45. which muſt ſhoot you thorow the very heart▪ Iſai. 1. 31. Woe! woe! to you Lyers, Diſſemblers, and Falſe witneſſes, who believe your own lyes to be true, whiles ye turn the truth into a lye, for the time will come when few will believe you though you ſpeak true, ſeeing, you have ſet your wits to work (on tenter-hooks) for artificial Evaſions from natural Obligations (beſides Army-declarations) and God will fruſtrate the tokens of the lyars! Iſai. 44. 45. yea, woe! to thoſe Foxes who with fire brands at their …ayles have ſet us into a flame! for they ſhall burn up themſelves in their own miſchief! and he that teacheth lyes is the tayl, ſaith the Prophet! Iſai. 9. 15. woe to them that are ſerving themſelves o… the times for their own ends! becauſe yet a little while and they will ſee the Times to be ſerved upon them for Gods ends! And woe! woe to the Statiſts! who are now the Centre! wherein all the lines of Intelligence meet from forrein parts, becauſe the time will come quickly wherein all the lines of moſt notable intelligence ſhall run from you and be reported of you into forrein parts! woe to you Tyrants and Nimrods of the earth, that do now rule over the Saints and make them to howl, Iſai. 52. 5. becauſe the time of the end doth come wherein you ſhall howl, and the Saints ſhall rejoyce and rule over you! Iſai. 14. 2. and there was written therein lamentation, mourning and wo, Ezek… to even ſo Amen, Dan. 7. 18. but the Saints of the moſt High ſhall take (Vikabb…lun undertak…) the Kingdom.
JOHN ROGERS.