The Time of the End, Commentary 4

The Time of the End · Commentary 4

p. 209THE CHARACTERS OF THE Beaſt, Slaying the Witneſſes, OPENED.

THAT Generall Head which remaines, is, The Beaſt ſlaying the Witneſſes. In the opening and handling whereof, we ſhall propound four things.

1. What this Beaſt is?

2. Who are the Witneſſes, and how they are ſlaine by the Beaſt?

3. How it doth appeare, the Witneſſes (ſlaine by the Beaſt) lying three dayes and an halfe unburied, are the three years and an halfe contemporizing with the latter Apoſtacie and little horne?

p. 2104. Whether the Propheſie of the Beaſt, ſlaying the Witneſſes, be fulfild in our Time?

Firſt, I would have the Reader take notice, Howſoever I handle theſe things diſtinctly, and a part; yet I underſtand the Ap ſtacie and the little Horne, and the Beaſt that ſlayes the witneſſes, to make up but one Government, or State. The Apoſtacie part, is the Body & Relly out of which comes the other Two. The Beaſt is that Pert, by whom the witneſſes are kild▪ and it hath the Name of a Horn; for its Sovereignty and kinglineſſe. So that (as I ſaid in the beginning) it cannot be the three years and halfe, unleſſe there be all three to make the l…ſt Dominion.

And when they ſhall have finiſhed their Teſtimony, Rev. 11. 7.]

That is, Near or about the time of finiſhing their Teſtimony. And ſo the words are rendred by many Interpreters. It is true, ſome think, the three years and a halfe, are not to be reckoned with the 1260 years, but apart from that account. But (methinks) this cannot be: For the 42 months being expired, the Saints take the Kingdome; And ſo I underſtand Rev. 10. 6. p. 211There ſhall be time no longer. But when is that? When the 1260 years are ended, the myſterie of God is finiſhed, as to the reign of the little Horne, and Tyrannie of the Beaſt▪ not to ſcatter the Saints, and kill the Witneſſes any longer. But the Woman comes out of the Wilderneſſe, and the Witneſſes aſcend up into Heaven, and fire comes forth from the Lord to devour the Adverſary. But whether we take the three years and an halfe, in the number of the 1260 dayes, or a part, it is all one to the matter here. Howſoever I think it periods the firſt account.

The Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſſe Pit] rather depth or gulfe, for pit is not in the Text, nor in Cha. 17 8. but Chap. 9. 1. it is.

It is to be obſerved, the Beaſt here, cannot be that Beaſt, Rev. 13. 1. which is ſaid to riſe up out of the Sea; for he is to continue 43 months, that is, 1260 years, v. 5. But this riſeth not till that terme be near expired▪ onelyonly three years and halfe remaining. And ſo much the Text plainly holds forth. When they ſhall have finiſhed their Teſtimonie, a Beaſt aſcendeth out of the depth, &c. Not the Beaſt which was riſen p. 212before, but a Beaſt now comes forth. Intimating, that purpoſely and for no other end (as it were) he aſcendeth out of the gulf, then to ſlay the Witneſſes when they have finiſhed their Teſtimony. Hence I think this may be aſſerred for a Truth, Whoſoever this Beaſt is, it cannot be the Dominion of the Papal Beaſt, nor can the German Empire be meant, nor any of the ten Hornes or Kings; for theſe were riſen long before the Witneſſes had finiſhed their Teſtimony. The matter here is of weight, and being well conſidered, will give us ſome light to know who this Beaſt is, and where the Witneſſes ſhall be ſlaine: The Popes Juriſdiction it cannot be, nor the Emperours, Spaniard, French, &c. theſe roſe before the three years and an halfe, and have ſtood many hundred years.

It is a common received opinion; In the Lords bringing Iſrael out of Egypt, was ſhadowed out the deliverance of his Church and people, from all Tiranny and oppreſſion in the laſt dayes. Now of Pharoah (a Tipe of this Beaſt, and commanding all the male to be cast into the River a figure of killing the witneſſes) it is ſaid. And in very deed for this cauſe have I raiſed thee up; for to ſhew in thee my power, and p. 213that my name may be declared through out all the earth, Exod. 9. 16. As Pharoah at that time was raiſed up, that is aſcended out of the bottomleſſe pit, that in him the Lord might fulfill his Councel and purpoſe, concerning the inlargement of his people, and thereby glorifie himſelfe, in ſhewing his great Power▪ wiſedome, faithfulneſſe: So this Beaſt (as another Pharoah) is brought up out of the depth for the three years and an half, that in him, and by him, the Lord might accompliſh what in his eternall councell he had determined, conteyned in this Propheſie.

Secondly, There may be ſomething in the phraſe (aſcendeth) To ſignifie.

1. How ſuddenly and unexpectedly this Beaſt will appeare; altogether unlookt for; yea and to ſtrang the thing will be, (eſpecially among Saints) as they would never have believ'd it, though thouſands had told them ſo much before, had they not ſeen it with their own eyes.

2. Whereas it is ſaid, the Beaſt aſcendeth, it is to ſhew, that he comes up of himſelf, not ſent for, nor deſired by the people; but it is his own plotting and deſignings that he takes power and Rule to himſelfe. And this I take to be an eſſentiall character p. 214of this Beaſt (Aſcendeth) he will be a meat Intruder, and will ſlay the witneſſes by a power which he hath aſſumed, and uſurped, and not otherwiſe. Compare with this Dun. 7. 8. The little Horn comes up, that is, of it ſelf; he aroſe not by Election nor by Inheritance, Right, or ſuch kind of Succeſſion, but by his own craft and ſtrength. So the later Apoſtacie is ſaid to riſe or aſcend, 2 Tim. 3. 1. Not raiſed up by the Lord.

3. By the word, may be ſignified, the horrible pride of the Beaſt, for though his deſcent be from the Depth, that is, a moſt baſe beginning, yet aſcendeth, viz. In Titles, Pomp, State, Court, &c. As if he had not been illegitimate, but lawfully begotten. That which the Lord by the Prophet ſpeaks againſt the King of Babylon, I think is in part meant of this Beaſt. For thou haſt ſaid in thy heart I will aſcend into Heaven, I will exalt my throne above the ſtarrs of God, I will ſit alſo upon the Mount of the Congregation, in the ſides of the north. I will aſcend above the height of the Clouds. I will be like the moſt high▪ Iſa. 14. 13, 14. Is not this the boaſtine of a mighty man? Not only will he be above the Starrs, and …it upon the Mount of the Congregation; p. 215ſcatter the holy people, weary out the Saints, and kill the witneſſes. But like the moſt high, take to himſelf the Attributes of God, Iſa. 13. 3. That this Beaſt aſcendeth out of the depth, inmay be for theſe Reaſons.

1. Becauſe of the great ſecrecie, and cloſeneſſe which is uſed in the forming of him. All things here muſt be done in the deep, and under ground; None (except a few, ſix or eight perſons perhaps, which model the Beaſt) muſt know any thing of it, untill he come forth, to the publique view of the world; Doing herein like thoſe againſt whom the woe is pronounced in the Prophet, That ſeek deep to hide their counſel from the Lord, and their works are in the darke, and they ſay who ſeeth us, and who knoweth us? Iſa. 29. 18.

2. Of the deep pollicie uſed in the framing of him. All Civil Beaſts before him, roſe either out of the Earth or Sea; but this out of the depth: ſignifying, that there was not halfe that craft and ſubtletie about them, as about this Beaſt: For there ſhall be ſo much art and workmanſhip beſtowed about him, that when he comes forth, To warr againſt the witneſſes, and to overcome them, and ſlay them, very few will perceive any ſuch thing; Not one (I ſay) of many p. 216will take him for all this, to be the Beaſt. And why ſo? He aſcendeth out of the depth, from the depths of Satan; as being tranſformed (and no marveil, for at this time he will be Satans chiefe Miniſter) into an Angel of light. So that by the place may be ſignified, He will not be taken for the Beaſt, but a great Saint.

3. Wheras the laſt Apoſtacy is here called the depth, it ſhews that there is no way to carry on a bad deſigne (for cloſeneſſe and craft) like to Apoſtacy and Hypocrifie in Religion. And by how much men riſe high in a ſhew and form of Godlineſſe (though hypocrites) the more they ſhall advantage themſelves by it. It is true, other Beaſts before him, carryed on their own Intereſt, partly by Religion, but they were ignorant and unskild of the great myſtery which this Beaſt hath learnt. For before him (note it Reader) no Civill State aſcended out of this depth of Satan, that is, from Apoſtacy in Religion; And therefore before him there was never a Government in the world raiſed up by hypocriſie in Religion, in that manner, as this will be. Hence Juſtin Martyr, calls the little Horne, foreign, The Man of Apoſtacy. In Dial. cum Trypl. pag. 336.

p. 2174. Whereas the**a ſine & byſſ… quod eſt genus lini c…n…idiſſimi: & ſic Abiſſ… d…ci…ur quaſ… ſine clarita…e, Alex. de Aleſ. word ſignifieth without light; it may be to denote, what ſhal be the practice and doing of this Beaſt, (notwithſtanding his ſecreſie, policy, hypocriſie) when he is aſcended. It is ſaid of the firſt Beaſt, His kingdome was full of darkneſſes, Rev. 16. 10. So the kingdome of this Beaſt (the head of the latter Apoſtacy, as the other was of the firſt) his kingdome will be full of darkneſſe; For he will deſtroy and put out the light of the Law, and leave nothing to the people but Abiſſus, his Own blind will, for them to walk by.

From what hath been ſaid, we may gather in ſhort, A true deſcription of the Beaſt, according to the Scripture, (for I deſire to follow that perfect word, without adding auy thing of mine own to it.) Thus then by the Scripture, I take the Beaſt to be.

A State or Government, ſet up by a few Apoſtates, three years and an halfe before the end of the 1260 years (neither ſooner nor later) and done with ſo much ſecreſie, policy, and craft; as no ſuch Beaſt or Government ſhall be expected, or thought of, till it be brought p. 218forth. And howſoever it hath a mean and low beginning, yet it will riſe to a monſtrous height of Pride, againſt God and man. This State or Kingdome of the Beaſt will be full of darkneſſe; great oppreſſion exerciſed by reaſon the people have their power, Laws and liberties, taken from them. And howſoever this be ſo (yea, and withall, the bleſſed Cauſe of Chriſt deſtroyed in his Witneſſes, by an uſurped power) yet this Beaſt or Goverment, ſhall have with it, ſuch a glorious out-ſide of Religion and Form of Godlineſſe, as among Gods own people, many of them ſhall not know this State or Government to be the Beaſt which ſlays the Witneſſes, till the three years and halfe are expired.

And thus much for the Beast, who he is, and what is ſignified by him.

We come now to the Witneſſes, and how they are kild.

1. By the Witneſſes, I underſtand not perſons, but the Truth or Teſtimony it ſelfe, which is held forth and aſſerted by them. I ſay, it is not the perſon, which the Beaſt is ſaid to kill; but the holy Cauſe and Intereſt of Chriſt, witneſſed too, and for, by the Saints of the moſt High. So that the p. 219perſon may live, though he be ſlaine in his Teſtimony.

2. For the Teſtimony or Witneſſe, it comprehends not all Truth; For the Beaſt ſhall allow much Truth, and countenance men in the practice of it. Therefore the Teſtimony which he ſhall ſlay, is to be taken reſtrictively; that is, ſome particular Truth, which he will not indure, as proper to that Generation and Time. In all the dayes of the Papall Beaſt, the Sack-cloth Witneſſes might ſafely and without danger, aſſert many Goſpel-Truths; That which they ſuffered for, was for aſſerting ſuch Truths, and ſpeaking againſt ſuch Errours, and lies, as that Time would not bear, it being to the diſadvantage of the Beaſts Kingdome, that ſuch abominable filthineſſe ſhould be diſcovered. So this Beaſt will not make war againſt every Truth, but ſeeks only to deſtroy that Teſtimony, which he thinks (if not kild) will be his utter ruine.

Queſt. What is that Truth, or Teſtimony, here ſlaine by the Beaſt.

Anſw. It is the laſt witneſſe which Saints ſhall hold forth, for, and in the behalfe of Jeſus Chriſt, againſt the Enemies of Gods people. And being the laſt of p. 220their Teſtimony, it can be no other then bearing witneſſe to Chriſts bleſſed and viſible Kingdome. That he (as heir of all things) will take all power, rule & dominion into his own hands, and that all the preſent Powers and Governments of the world, ſhall be broken to pieces. And more particularly, they ſhall now bear witneſſe againſt this Beaſt, as to be that Power and State, by whom the witneſſes are to be ſ…ain, and after three years and an half, his Dominion ſhall be taken from him.

The obſerving of this, will lead us to the knowledg both of the Beaſt and Time: for it cannot be this Beaſt; unleſſe he ſlay ſuch a Teſtimony in the Saints as is here ſet down; that is, A teſtimony for Chriſt againſt all preſent powers, and particularly againſt the Government of this Beaſt, as declaring openly who he is, where his ſeat is▪ and that the Lord after three years and an halfe will utterly conſume him. And here (I think) lies the difference, between the Teſtimony of the Sackcloth witneſſes, before the Beaſt aſcended out of the bottomleſſe pit, and afterwards. Their Teſtimony before, was mainly againſt the Idolatry of the whoriſh Church; bearing witneſſe, to the Propheticall and Prieſtly office of Chriſt; p. 221and ſuffered upon that account: But afterward (when the three years and half begin) their Teſtimony is (as I ſaid before) for his Reigne and Kingdome; And this witneſſe will the Beaſt ſeek to murder; allowing that Teſtimony which was born before to his Propheticall and Prieſtly office: by which meanes the ſlaughter and murder he commits, will not eaſily be obſerved.

3. That the witneſſes are ſaid to be two. I conceive it is for this reaſon. Becauſe their Teſtimony conſiſts of two parts, viz. 1. That Jeſus Chriſt ought to have his right, his honour, glory, ſervice, dominion. 2. That his enemies in not giving the ſame to him; But inſtead of exalting him, exalt themſelves, and their own intereſt▪ ſhall extreamlyſuffer for it; Or two, as witneſſing for righteous things, and againſt unrighteous things.

Now for the manner of their Slaying. He ſhall make war againſt them, and ſhall overcome them, and kill them,

Firſt, though the witneſſes in their Teſtimony are ſlaine, upon the riſe of the Beaſt, and there we are to begin the three days and an half, yet doth he continue his perſecution till the whole terme be ended.

p. 222Secondly, There may be ſomething in the words (make warre, overcome, and kill▪) more then hitherto hath been minded. In Chap. 12. 14. The woman… to ſhun the face of the Serpent ſlyes into the wildernes, where ſhe is nouriſhed for a time, and times, and halfe a time. The ſlaying of the witneſſes, and that ſlight of the woman is at one time. And I think the occaſion of that flight, is this war of the Beaſt. So that he ſlays not the whole Testimony or witneſſe, but the Lord preſerves a remnant (as he did the 7000 in Iſrael) up and down the Nation, which keep the Commandments of God, and have the Teſtimony of Jeſus, all the time that the witneſſesly ſlaine.

Thirdly, He ſhall make warre▪ againſt them, and ſhall overcome them. Theſe words are taken from Dan. 7. …2 and have been opened before. It is true in Daniel there is no mention of killing; The reaſon may be, becauſe he hath reſpect to what the Horn or Beast ſhou▪d doe, againſt the perſons of the witneſſes, but ſpeaks nothing of killing, becauſe the Lord will not ſuffer him to proceed unto blood. John names killing in regard he ſhould ſlay the Truth and Teſtimony in many perſons, though not the perſon for the truths ſake. p. 223This likewiſe is worth the Obſerving to know the Beaſt by.

Queſt. But how doth he ſlay the Teſtimony of Jeſus?

I anſwer, many wayes.

Firſt, In ſome he ſlays their Teſtimony, by preferment, and beſtowing great Offices and places upon them▪ Here I may ſay (changing a few words) what is ſaid, Rev. 12. Woe to the Inhabiters of heaven▪ Churches, and Church-Officers, and Profeſſours of Religion, for the Devill is come down unto you, having great wrath, becauſe he knoweth that the hath but a ſhort time. This Beaſt ſcornes to be ſerv'd for nought, ſpecially if they are religious, and men ſearing God; theſe rather then others, ſhall be prefer'd in his Councel, Army, Navy, Ʋniverſities, Pariſh-Tithes, ſo they will fall down and worſhip HIM and his Image. And in this deſigne he hath a double advantage. 1. He is ſure to ſlay in them, the laſt Teſtimony of Jeſus; for, Noman can ſerve two Masters, He that acknowledgeth the Government and Power of the Beaſt to be Lawfull, cannot bear a faithfull Teſtimony to the preſent Cauſe and Intereſt of Chriſt. For to have now the Teſtimony of Jeſus, is to bear a witnes againſt the Beaſt. 2. That p. 224he ſlayes the Teſtimony of Jeſus, by preferment, in many great Profeſſours, ſuch as formerly aſſerted what they now either deny or are ſilent in; By this means, the common people (ignorant of the myſtery of iniquity, working in the laſt dayes) following the others example, have their Teſtimony kil'd likewiſe, Gal. 2. 13.

Secondly, Another way is by his hypocriſie and diſſimulation in religion. As David ſaid of Goliahs ſword, there is none to that, give it me. So I think there is no weapon or crafty courſe which this Beaſt will uſe, like to his hypocriſie in the things of God; as his faſting, weeping, praying, honouring Miniſters, Sermons, &c, The report and noiſe of this will ring far and neer, and by the ſimple (who believe every thing) ſo believ'd, and he taken for ſuch a Saint, that now he may do what he will. For though he have all the Characters of the little Horn, and do whatſoever is foretold of the Beaſt, yet his hypocriſie will cover all, and hence ſlaves the Generation Teſtimony.

Thirdly, When Chriſt was put to death by the Jewes, though they could prove nothing againſt him, neither indeed had any thing to lay juſtly to his charge, yet they pretended great matters, and would have p. 225men believe what they did in the killing of him, they had cauſe and reaſon enough for it. So will this Beaſt ſlay Jeſus Chriſt in his Teſtimony. (Hence it is ſaid, Where our Lord alſo was crucified.) Howſoever he hath nothing againſt the preſent Generation Truth, born Witneſſe to: For what can he have? Seeing nothing is Aſſerted by them, but what the Scriptures plainly declare; nor is he able to reſiſt the Wiſdome and the Spirit by which they ſpeak, yet will he pretend high things againſt them. As Nero when his Maſtives would not deſtroy the Chriſtians, clad them in Bearskins. So will this Beaſt doe, that his Dogs may rent and tear the Teſtimonie of Jeſus; He will cloth it, with reproachfull names, as Blaſphemy, Errour, Madneſſe, Faction, Treaſon, Sedition, &c. And by this trick the ſooner effect his purpoſe. So that howſoever it be the Teſtimonie of Jeſus that he kills, yet he will kill it, under pretence, that it is the doctrine of Devills, blaſphemie, the deluſion of Satan, &c.

Fourthly, This Teſtimony is to be ſlain by War. He ſhall make war againſt them. Howſoever I have ſhewed my opinion already, yet the matter being conſiderable; I would have the Reader obſerve.

p. 2231. This Beaſt (whoſoever he be) ſhall truſt in the arme of ſleſh; by this he will ſeek to ſtrengthen his Government and Greatneſſe, and to reach his ends and deſignes every way.

2. His Army will be ſo corrupt, that whatſoever he ſhall bid them doe, againſt the Teſtimonie of Jeſus, they will doe it, right or wrong; For they will be men not having principles of honesty or conſcience. And by this meanes likewiſe, he will prevaile very far over the Witneſſes, viz. by his Soldiers: For thoſe men (if he command them) will baniſh and impriſon any of the Lords faithfull Servants, that they may not Witneſſe for Chriſt, againſt the Beaſt.

Fifthly, No ſooner is this Beaſt aſcended out of the bottomleſſe pit, but doubtleſſe he will enact ſome Law againſt the Teſtimonie of Jeſus. As for Example, That it ſhall be Treaſon for men to ſpeak or act any thing againſt his Perſon; promiſe to live quietly under his Government, not call him the little Horn and Beaſt. And what is the meaning of all this? But to require all men upon pain of death, to deny Chriſt before men: For if it be the Government of the little Horne and Beaſt, in the three years p. 227and halfe; Not to Witneſſe then againſt it (much more to promiſe not to Act any thing againſt it) is no other then to deny Chriſt, ſo far as concernes a Generation-Teſtimonie. But howſoever this be ſo, yet the dread and terrour of ſuch an Edict▪ will ſo ſeaze upon people of low and poor ſpirits, as they will chuſe rather to have the Witneſſe of Chriſt kild in them, then be perſecuted by the Beaſt for bearing any publick Witneſſe againſt him.

Thus I have ſhewed, Who the Beaſt is, and the Witneſſes, and how they are kild.

Our Third Point is, How it doth appear, their lying three dayes and an halfe unburied, contemporizes with the laſt Apoſtacie and the little Horn.

And after three dayes and an halfe.]

I ſhall ſpeak the leſſe of theſe three dayes and an halfe, becauſe it is not queſtioned ſcarce by any one (neither indeed rationally can it) But here is meant either the laſt three years and an halfe, which cloſe the number 1260. Or ſo much time following immediately upon it.

Indeed there are ſome few, whoſe opinion is; the terme here, is the ſame with p. 228the 1260 years. But,

1. This is plainly againſt the Text. For the Witneſſes are not ſlaine, till about the finiſhing of their Teſtimony; that is, when the 1260 years are almoſt expired.

2. To take dayes for years, and then againe to reckon ſo many years by dayes, I ſee no ground for this in Scripture, to caſt up Prophetical numbers. This Point needs no further enlargement.

3. The Apoſtacy is to be in the laſt days; Now if we conſider Times and ſeaſons by their appointments and periods. No Days can be ſaid to be laſt, but the diſtinct time cloſing the 1260 years; in which Time is the little Horne and Beaſt. And therefore neceſſarily they muſt contemporize.

But there are ſome other things which need Explanation.

Firſt, What the Street is, in which ly the dead bodies of the Witneſſes?

Anſw. Where they were ſlaine, there doubtleſſe they ly. The Greek foreign as it is well obſerved by many (ſignifying a broad and ſpacious place) cannot be taken for any ſtreet within the walls of the great City. For,

1. Our Lord was ſlaine in no ſtreet of Rome or Jeruſalem, but without the gate in Golgotha.

p. 2292. Men ſeldome make war within the City walls, but in open fields.

3. In Cities are many Streets, but this is expreſſed in the ſingular number, neither is the word properly a ſtreet.

4. That their dead bodies lie viſible and obvious to all Nations, kindreds, peoples, &c. it muſt be without the City, and not within the walls.

By the great City, I underſtand here (and ſo alwayes in this Book) the Dominion and Jurisdiction of the Papal Beaſt, not onelyonly the Eccleſiaſticall kingdome, but all Civill States and Governments under the Sea of Rome, acknowledging the Pope head of the Church. This is the Great City often mentioned in the Revelation; It is ſaid, And the ſame houre was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the City fell, v. 13. Here it is not the great City, but City; which I take to be foreign the place without the walls of the great City, where the ſlaine Witneſſes lie; that is, the power and Government of the Beaſt, by which they were kild.

But to open the matter more fully. The place where the Witneſſes lie dead, is not any Kingdome, Common-wealth, Province, or Country, under the Authority p. 230and Juriſdiction of the Pope. Neither are they ſlaine (in their Teſtimony) by any State or Government, that holds the Great Antichriſt of Rome head of the Church: For all this is within the wall, and part of the great City. So that the Witneſſes are not to be ſlain under the power of the Germane▪ Emperour, nor the Kings of France, Spaine, Poland, or any Catholick King, Prince, Duke, &c. ſo called. But by a power, and State that is off from ſubjection and Obedience to the Romiſh Beaſt.

There are two things (one I hinted before) which will give us much light to underſtand where the Witneſſes lie, and by whom they are ſlaine.

1. By a Beaſt that ſhall not aſcend out of the Bottomleſſe Pit, till the 1260 yeares are neer expir'd. Neither, ſhall his power and dominion (being riſen) continue above three yeares and an halfe. Hence then none of the preſent States, and Governments of the world which have ſtood many three yeares ſhall kill them.

2. Their dead bodies lie not in any Popiſh Country: Nor are they ſlaine in their Witneſſe, by any State ſubject to the Sea of Rome. So that whoſoever the Beaſt is, it cannot be the Emperour, nor the Duke of p. 231Savoy, or ſuch like, nor in any ſuch Countries; For it is but one State or Goverment that ſlayes them, neither ſhall they ly dead under more States then one. And this one not under the obedience of the Church of Rome. Reader, Conſider what I ſay, and the Lord give thee underſtanding in all things.

Object. Though foreign be without the walls, yet it is of the great City.

Anſw. It is ſo indeed, and the thing is very much to be heeded. For howſoever the State and Government, by which the witneſſes are ſlaine, is not under the Juriſdiction of the Romane Beaſt; yet it is FOR IT. That is, it doth more ſtrengthen and ſupport Babylon at this time, then any State or Government properly the Beaſts. For obſerve who are ſlaine, the laſt Witneſſes; that is, the Testimony of Jeſus never till now ſo high, eminent, and full of light, and life againſt the Antichriſtian Kingdome. The Witneſſes before pluckt off but leaves and branches, theſe laid the ax to the Root, and would have the very Foundation of Babylon razed down. And now aſcendeth the Beaſt out of the bottomleſſe pit, and ſlayes ſuch A WITNES as the like was never before held forth againſt p. 232the Great Whore. So that in doing ſuch a thing, he hath done more in the behalfe of the Great City, then any State under the Beaſts dominion ever did before. For in this regard, he would not ſuffer, her abominations to be ript up, her baſterdly Brats to be daſh't againſt the ſtones▪ nor the blood of the martyrs found in her to be reveng'd: But ſought to cure her deadly wound. And therefore not without cauſe doth the holy Ghoſt tell us, though the place be without the great City, yet FOR IT; a friend and brother to it, and one that doth her more ſervice, then any formall member and part of it.

One thing further may be meant here; Whereas the Spirit of God, tells us, that the place where the Witneſſes lie ſlaine, is without the great City, yet of it. The hypocriſie of the Beaſt (the GREAT CHARACTER of him) is here againe notably laid open. As if he ſhould make war with one part of Babylon, (For Example, The Spaniard) pretending therein to be without the great City, and againſt the Whore; and yet at the at the ſame time to be of it, and for it, in making Leagues and Covenants, Offenſive and Defenſive, with others of the ſame Antichriſtian kingdome (ſuppoſe p. 233Portugall and France) and as Idolatrous, and as great Enemies to Jeſus Chriſt, as that part of Babylon againſt whom he Wars.

Secondly, That the ſlaine Teſtimony of Chriſt, is ſet forth under dead bodies. This may be to ſignifie.

1. As a thing dead is ſoon forgotten, yea men will endeavour to put away the remembrance and thoughts of it; So Apoſtates having forſaken the Truth. It is no other now then Dead, and that their conſciences may not ſmite them for it. They fall upon new matters, not intending to bear witneſſe any more to the good old cauſe, IT'S DEAD.

2. Perſons dead looſe their beauty; No fairneſſe, or comelineſſe appeares in them. Though living ſweet and lovely to behold: So the Principles of Juſtice, honeſty, Conſcience, &c. When once ſlaine, what excellency can the Beaſt ſee in them: Hypocriſie, deceit, pride, oppreſſion, look better in his eye a thouſand fold.

3. To ſhew the cruell deſign of the Beaſt, that nothing would ſatisfie his turn but the HEART BLOOD OF GODS CAUSE, the utter extirpation of it, that the name of Iſrael might be no more.

p. 2344. Dead men are not fear'd: Neither doth the Beaſt now fear, the Teſtimony of theſe men; for he hath by craft and cruelty taken ſuch a courſe: As he thinks himſelf, very ſecure, and the dead Intereſt of the holy Child Jeſus will never▪ riſe to trouble him more.

5. When they put Chriſt to death, ſome mockt at him, Let him come down from the Croſſe, and we will believe him. As if he could not be the Son of God, becauſe they ſlew him. So here is meant, How the Enemies of our Lord, paſſing by the dead bodies, will ſcoff, wagging their heads, Had it been (ſay they) the Teſtimony of Jeſus, it would have ſav'd it ſelf and not been kild; but it appears now, it was onelyonly their own Teſtimony, when they were ſo hot against Tythes, Tryers, Prieſts, Lawyers. Ha, ha! And this is one Reaſon, why the wrath of God will be ſo terrible upon the Beaſt, and the Apoſtates of his Time; becauſe none before them, cauſed the holy name of God and his Truth to be ſo much blaſphemed: For in the whole Time of his Reigne, men will not ceaſe to curſe and revile the Teſtimony of Jeſus; yea, the very Apoſtates themſelves, will turne Scoffers. Specially, near the Time of the Witneſſes Riſing: p. 235Then Apoſtate-Profeſſours, will begin to jeere and taunt indeed; when they ſee Chriſt in his Teſtimony, not onelyonly naild on the Croſſe, but (to their thinking) gives up the Ghoſt. Now hearken, Where is your fiſt Kingdome (ſay they?) The little Horne! Your three years and a half? Neither will they ſpare the ſlaine Teſtimonie, in their Pulpits; But there they will break their Jeſts againſt it, to have the people laugh.

But, Thirdly; It is worth enquiring, Why not onelyonly the great City is nam'd, which ſhould be preſerved and defended by the Beaſt ſlaying the Witneſſes? But added, which ſpiritually, is called Sodome and Aegypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified?

Anſw. There is great Reaſon for it.

1. To diſcover the groſſe hypocriſie of the Beaſt, pretending to be againſt Babilon in all her lies and beaſtly vanities.

2. To aggravate his wickedneſſe the more. There is little ſaid of the Beaſt, as to the Characterizing of Him; beſides ſlaying the Witneſſes. The Reaſon may be, becauſe this was done before in the little Horne and laſt Apoſtacy.

That which the Holy Ghoſt ſeems here chiefly to intend, is to unmask HIM, and p. 236to ſet HIM forth to the life.

For Example. Should he be askt (being aſcended out of the bottomleſſe Pit) What he comes for? What he means to doe, having taken ſo arbitrary a power to himſelfe? His anſwer will be, He is for Chriſt (I really) againſt Antichriſt: For Zion againſt Babylon; as one of the ſeven Angel, I am com out (ſaith he) of the (Temple note it, not the Bottomleſs Pit) to poure out a Viall full of wrath upon the great Whore: and as one called, choſen and faithfull, to be with the Lamb againſt the ten Kings, to overcome them. And ask (ſaith he) my Chaplaines, and new made Doctors, if this be not ſo?

But what ſaith the Spirit of God? O thou diſſembling H… pocrite! Does thou War againſt my Witneſſes, overcome them and ſlay them, and yet pretend Ex parte altiſſimi letzad, On the part of the Almighty. For me, and againſt the great Whore; What an impudent face haſt thou? what a Whores forehead! Thou thoughteſt I was altogether ſuch a one as thy ſelfe: but I will reprove thee. Thy falſhood ſhall not ſerve the turn. For I have a way to make thee known what an hypocrite thou art, in ſpight of all thy inchantments; p. 237and the wiſe ſhall underſtand, though the Prophets will not▪ viz. In ſlaying ſo glorious a Teſtimony, to rouſe up thy ſelf out of the bottomles pit, In this the Saints of the moſt high ſhall clearly ſee, that thou art of the great City (not in words but actions) a main ſupporter and prop of it: Nay more, thou haſt kept her up, as ſhe is Sodom and Egypt, in the vileſt of her filthineſſes, and abominations, and the greateſt of her cruelties, and oppreſſions: yea and more, as ſhe hath murdered me (I ſay my ſelf) in my truth, and ſervants: thus thou haſt wrapt thy ſelf in all the guilt and blood that hath been ſhed there, and which ſhall be found in her; the blood of the Prophets, and of Saints, and of all that were ſlaine upon the earth.

Thus the place gives us more light to know the Beaſt by; The Government and ſtate by which the witneſſes ſhall be ſlaine, is without the great City, not under the authority of the Church of Rome, in profeſſion and words an enemy to Babylon. But in practice and works not only a bare defender, but a ſupporter of her, in the worſt and greateſt of her ſins, as in her whoredomes, oppreſſions, blood of martyrs, &c. p. 238Namely, by ſlaying the higheſt Teſtimony that ever was upon earth againſt the whole dominion of the Beaſt.

I have done with the Beaſt and Wineſſes as to the killing-part.

It remains that ſomething be ſpoken of the effects of it.

And they of the people, and kindreds, and Tongues and Nations, ſhall ſee their dead bodies three days and an half, and ſhall not ſuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

Here we will conſider.

1. Who theſe People are?

2. What is meant by putting in graves?

3. Why they will not ſuffer the dead bodies to be put in graves?

4. How they keep them out?

Firſt, It is ſaid that Satan ſhewd Chriſt (being upon an exceeding high mountaine) all the Kingdomes of the World, Mat. 4. 8. I doe not take it imaginary, as deceiving the ſence: but a reall ſight: Not that he ſaw all Kingdomes abſolutely, but whatſoever were diſcernable in reſpect of the place where he ſtood: that is, all the adjacent Countryes. So here by people, Kindreds, tongues, and Nations: all are not meant under the whole Heaven; but ſuch p. 239as are within the ſight of the dead bodyes, and have knowledge of their ſlaying.

Againe, Neither doe all the people and kindreds, &c. which ſee the dead bodies, oppoſe their buriall, but a part of them; They of the people and kindreds, &c. That is, among the people and kindreds, &c. there are ſome will not ſuffer, &c. Now howſoever we are to underſtand the place, no further then of ſuch as know what the Beaſt hath done, (for ſo much is clearly in the Text, They ſhall ſee their dead bodies) yet the Holy Ghoſt mentions Peoples, kindreds, tongues and nations; Becauſe this party which will not ſuffer the dead bodies to be put in graves, are not all one People. As for Example, Some may be Engliſh, others Welch, ſome Scots, others French, or Dutch, &c. So likewiſe of divers Provinces, Countries, Shires, &c.

As for this Party, I take it not to be cruelty done in deſpight and diſgrace by Enemies, to deny them Buriall; But courteſie of Friends and Favorers, to provide for their riſing againe. And my opinion is, here are meant.

1. The Woman who was occaſioned by the war of this Beaſt, to fly into the Wilderneſſe.

p. 2402. The Remnant of her ſeed.

3. Thoſe whom we named before, Common-wealths men: For howſoever theſe doe not fully cloſe with the Witneſſes in the Principles of the fift Kingdom, yet they are clearly convinc'd, that the Power and Goverment of this Beaſt is unlawfull, and that they ſuffer unjuſtly under him. And this Party I take to be The earth which helped the Woman, by opening her mouth, and ſwallowing up the flood, which the Dragon caſt out of his mouth, Rev. 12. 16. For howſoever that thing they contend for, be but an earthly Interereſt; as Lawes, Liberties, Power of the People, Priviledges of Parliament, &c. yet in ſtanding for ſuch things, they give the Beaſt ſuch a Check, as Mauger all his venome and wrath, he cannot devour the woman ſtanding for the dead witneſſes.

Secondly, For the ſecond Point. By putting in graves; I underſtand an extirpation of the Testimony of Jeſus. That is, Chriſts viſible Kingdome, to be no more aſſerted: the corrupt powers of the world left alone, ſo the Apoſtates and hypocrites in the laſt dayes, not ſo much as nam'd: briefly for the little Horn and Beaſt, no more to be ſpoken againſt, But all for conſcience p. 241ſake be ſubject to his Luſt and Will. Thus indeed the Beaſt would have the Witneſſes buried, but he is not ſuffered: They remaine above ground in ſpight of him; that is, kept up for a glorious reſurrection.

Thirdly, Knowing the Parties, we may the more eaſily gueſſe at the Cauſes.

1. As the Woman and her ſeed are deeply concern'd in the Teſtimony, ſo they endeavour what they can to maintaine it; And the rather, becauſe they know whatſoever deſigne the Enemie hath againſt it, to bury it, he ſhall not, let him doe his worſt. As when Michael the Arch-Angel, contending with the Devil about the body of Moſes, the Angel prevailed. So in this Controverſie about the dead Witneſſes, the Woman and her ſeed will certainly overcome; which is comfort and encouragement enough.

2. They will not ſuffer it, becauſe of their zeal and affection to the Testimony of Jeſus. Though David a long time was numbred among the Dead, by reaſon of Sauls bloody perſecution, yet alwaye; he had ſome friend▪ which ſtu…k faſt to his Int…reſt. It is true, there may ſeem to be a death upon the Cauſe of Chriſt during the Beaſts p. 242reigne, but it ſhall not want friends to keep it from the Grave; The love of God will conſtraine them.

3. The Beaſt in ſlaying the Witneſſes, will ſhew ſo much hypocriſie, falſhood, lying, Tyranny, &c. As will occaſion People, and Tongues, and Nations, &c. continually (ſometimes in one place, otherwhile in another) to appear againſt him, and plead the Cauſe of the poor and needy; In ſo much, as he will not know what to doe. Nor how to proceed any further; to wit, (having ſlaine them) to put them in Graves.

4. The Teſtimony of Jeſus being ſlaine; that is, comparatively now dead, to what ſpirit and life it had. (For it ſtood upon its feet before, and had Power and Authority with it, till the Beaſt came up.) Notwithſtanding all this, (I ſay) though Dead, in reſpect of Spirit, Life, Power, Authority; yet ſhall not the Beaſt be ſuffered to extinguiſh it altogether, in the Nation, where he hath ſlaine it.

1. Becauſe if he ſhould ſo far prevaile, it would not onelyonly ſtrengthen the preſent Atheiſts, but open a gap of Athieſm to many others: For as the Beaſt in ſlaying the laſt Witneſſe makes many Hypocrites, p. 243ſo ſhould he bury it, he would make as many Atheiſts.

2. Should he be ſuffered, he would doe more wickedly then he doth; For in that he cannot bury Chriſts Teſtimony, he is reſtrained from acting the miſchiefes, which otherwiſe he would.

3. He is not ſuffered. Becauſe this Witneſſe (though comparatively dead to what life it had) ſhall be his ruine, when the three years and halfe are expir'd.

Fourthly, For the laſt point, How they keep them out? To open this it muſt be remembred; It is the Witneſſe of Chriſt I take to be ſlaine. Not ſuffered to be put in Graves; becauſe ſome ſhall plead for it, defend it, and hold it forth, all the time of the Beaſts rage and Tyranny. So that in one reſpect it is kild, in another alive; For ſome ſhall ſtill appear for that Teſtimony, which in others the Beaſt hath ſlaine. In the days of Elias, when they had thrown down the Lords Altars, and ſlaine his Prophets with the ſword, yea and the Prophet himſelfe forc't to fly for his life: here it might well be ſaid, that the Lords witneſſe was ſlaine, yet not put in grave. For at the ſame time. The Lord had 7000 which had not bowed the knee unto Baal.

p. 244And this I take to be the meaning here. The prevailing power of the Beaſt ſhall be ſuch▪ as he will ſlay the viſible Teſtimony of Jeſus, held forth in ſome publick manner before his riſing; yet he ſhall not be ſuffered to put it in grave: For God will have ſome thouſands ſtill, which ſhall not bowe the knee to the Beaſt; but own and honour the truth n urdered by him, all his Reigne.

And thus much for the firſt Party. The other ſort followes.

And they that dwell upon the Earth▪: ſhall rejoyce over them, and make merry, and ſhall ſend guiſts one to another, becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the Earth.

To theſe is given a ſpeciall Character, Dwell on the Earth. The ſubject of the firſt Vial is Earth, Rev. 16. 2. and the ſame mentioned here▪ the latter Apoſtacy, whoſe deſcription we had before from 2 Tim. 3. The Cauſe of their joy, is the great advantage which they have by the death of the Teſtimony. For no ſort of men ſhall outwardly thrive and proſper under the Beaſt, like Apoſtates; It being a Government or State erected by them, and for p. 245their owne Intereſt alone.

Another good Note to know the reigne of the Beaſt by, viz. WHEN APOSTATES FLOURISH. It cannot be his time, if it be not Apoſtates time; if carnall Profeſſors doe not hold up their heads, look big, and domineere: and he that will like Judas, get the bag, muſt get himſelfe into ſome Church. For as in Chriſts time buying and ſelling was in the Temple, and there were the Money changers. So under this Beaſt, places, offices, and preferment, will be crept into the Church: In ſo much as no conſiderable preferment will be gotten, unleſſe the perſon be a Church-member, or can procure ſome Church-mans hand for it. Thus we ſee who they are, that will rejoyce at this time, and make merry, and ſend guifts one to another. None like Apoſtates, who are fallen from Heaven to dwell upon the Earth. As for others who are faithfull and conſtant to the Intereſt and Cauſe of Chriſt, they ſigh and cry for all the abominations that are done under the Beaſt.

It is ſaid, Becauſe the two Prophets tormented them. But wherein? Becauſe they ſpake againſt all unrighteouſneſſe of men; Preſſed men to keep their Promiſes and Engagements: p. 246Declared openly againſt diſſembling, lying, and hypocriſie; would have Babylon down, with all her will-worſhip and inventions; People to have their power, freedome, and liberty, according to Reaſon and Conſcience, and none to have any Arbitrary Government fore't upon them. But ſuch a Teſtimony as this could not be borne, it was worſe then an Egyptian boile; Inſomuch, as they had no peace, or reſt, till they had ſlaine that which ſo tormented them.

This place puts me in mind of what hapned upon the Diſſolution of the little Parliament: The Joy then among the Prieſts and formall Profeſſours, was much like that of the Philiſtines, when they had Sampſon in their hands. Then the Lords of the Philiſtims gathered them together, for to Offer a great Sacrifice unto Dagon their God, and to rejoyce; for they ſaid, Our God hath delivered Sampſon our Enemy, into our hand. And when the People ſaw him, they praiſed their God; for they ſaid, Our God hath delivered into our hands, our Enemy, and the deſtroyer of our Country, which ſlew many of us. And it came to paſſe when their hearts were merry, that they ſaid, call for Sampſon, that he may make us ſport, Judg. 16. 23, 24, 25.

p. 247Some of them, more Religious (ſeemingly at leaſt) were for Sacrifice. Hence Dayes were kept of Thankſgiving (as they call it.) And now the Trumpets ſound aloud, Oh what the Lord hath done for the Sons of Levi, the holy Miniſtery, and Maintenance; The Enemy and Deſtroyer of their Country, had likely to have put out all the lights of the Tabernacle. One of them I remember told the people, The National Clergy, was like good Iſaac, bound and ready to have been Sacrificed. And that God by a wonderfull deliverance had preſerv'd them, when the Parliament-Knife was at the throat of their ſacred Calling, Tythes, and the like.

For the other ſort, what they did, I need not mention: But when their hearts were merry, Then Sampſon is cal'd for. And what is now the Subject of all their ſcurrilous Talk and Jeſts, but the ſhort liv'd Parliament: Oh this cruell Sampſon▪ that had it in his heart, not onelyonly to have brought their Craft in danger to be ſet at nought, but the Temple of the great Goddeſſe Diana. And to ſay the truth, the Prieſts were not much miſtaken in it: For probable it is, had not that glorious Teſtimony of Jeſus been kild, They would have ſe…t p. 248the Tayle of the Beaſt, after the Head; Swept away that other part of Popiſh dung and traſh, which the former Parliament had left in the Nation. Now if the Holy Ghoſt meant not theſe men, and their making merry; yet I am ſure, it was fulfilled in them, according to the letter of the Text.

One part of the Propheſie yet remaines, and it is the better part; Namely, The riſing of the Witneſſes. And here we have the Time, the Means, and the Manner, with the Enemies amazement at it, and the like.

And after three dayes and an halfe, the ſpirit of life from God, …ntred into them, and they ſt…od upon their feet, and great fear ſell upon them that ſaw them. And they heard a great voyce from Heaves, ſaying unto them, come up hither. And they aſcended up to Heaven in a cloud. And their Enemies bsheld them.

Firſt, Of the Time I have ſpoken: Aſſoon as the Beaſt aſcendeth out of the bottomleſſe pit, he kills the Witneſſes; Three years and an halfe they lie unburied: The which time being expir'd, they immediately Riſe, and then begins the ruine and fall of the Beaſt. So that I conceive, it is not the Lords meaning that any ſhould go forth to p. 249take his Dominion from him, untill it evidently appear, that the Witneſſes are Riſen, the Spirit poured forth, the Beaſt certainly known; and the Lord appearing in ſome viſible providence, making the way plaine for the Angel of the firſt …i…ll.

Secondly, By the Spirit of life from God, &c. I underſtand and the ſending of the Comforter, that great promiſe of the Father to be endued with power from on high, Lak 24. 49. As herbes, flowers, and graſſe, ſeem dead and hang the head, by reaſon of drought; but riſe againe flouriſh, and grow green, when raine falls thereon. So the Teſtimony of Jeſus, which ſeemed withered, and ſcorch't, hath now from the Lord life and Spirit put into it, and ſo that Death is taken off which lay formerly on it.

And this I take to be the Time in which Saints may expect the returne of their prayers, concerning the pouring out of the Spirit, and the fullfilling of ſuch Promiſes. In the wilderneſſe ſhall waters break out, and ſtreames in the deſert, Iſa. 35. 6. I will pour waters upon him that is thirſty, and …louds upon the dry ground. I will poure my Spirit upon thy ſeed, and my bleſſing upon thine Of-ſpring: And they ſhall ſpring up as among the groſſe, as willows by the watercourſes, p. 250Iſa. 44. 3, 4. I will put my Spirit in you and ye ſhall live Eze. 37. 14. After two days he will revive us, in the third day, he will raiſe us up and we ſhall live in his ſight, Hoſea 6. 2. And it ſhall come to paſſe afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit upon all fleſh, and your Sons and your daughters ſhall Propheſie, your old men ſhall dream dreames, your young men ſhall ſee viſions: And alſo upon the ſervants, and upon the hand-maids in thoſe dayes will I pour out my Spirit, Joel 2. 28, 29.

Howſoever before the riſing of the witneſſes, there will be ſome ſprinkling of the Spirit, here and there. For the underſtanding of the Time: As a man knows by the dawning that the night is paſt: yet I think till the witneſſes are riſen: the Saints ſhall not be endued with power from on high, neither Generally, nor largely. For now is The Tabernacle of the Teſtimony of heaven opened, and not till now, Rev. 15. 6. I mean in reſpect of a beginning.

Thirdly, No ſooner doth a Spirit of life from God enter into them. But they ſtand upon their feet: By which manner of ſpeaking (according to the Scripture) is ſignified.

1. An open confeſſion and publiſhing, p. 251of the Lords wonderfull mercy, remembring his truth and Teſtimony in its low eſtate, 1 Chron. 28. 1. Acts 3. 7, 8. and 14, 14. As the Sons of Zion are to have a two-edged-ſword in their hands, ſo the high praiſes of God in their mouth. It is true, they are to execute vengeance upon the heathen, and puniſhments upon the people. To bind their Kings with chains, and their Nobles with fetters of Iron. But what goes before. Allelujah ſing unto the Lord a new ſong, and his praiſe in the Congregation of Saints. Let Iſrael rejoyce in him that made him, let the Children of Zion be glad in their King, &c. Pſal. 14. 9. So then by this ſtanding upon their feet, is meant that New ſ… Rev. 14 3. An high exalting and …ung up the holy Name of God every where among the faithfull Remnant; For that life and Spirit which is now given them. The Teſtimony of Jeſus it was before flame, and born down by the Enemy. But now it goes forth conquering and to conquer, prevailes and gets victory in every place over them. And the Ranſomed of the Lord, ſhall come to Zion with ſongs, and everlaſting joy upon their heads: they ſhall obtaine joy and gladneſſe, and ſorrow and ſighing ſhall be no more. Iſa. 35. 10. compare p. 252Rev. 15. 3, 4.

2. The ſtanding upon their feet, ſignifies, not only The Testimony raiſed up to greater boldneſſe againſt the Beaſt, ſpeaking more freely and plainly againſt his hypocriſie, Apoſtacie, Blaſphemy, Tiranny, &c. then before, Ezek. 2. 1, 2, and 3, 24. But likewiſe the hundred forty and four thouſand, are preparing to ſtand with the Lamb on mount Zion, Rev, 14. 1. Now I think open war begins to be proclaim'd againſt the Beaſt, and Babilon, according to the Prophets, Iſa. 13. 2. Je…. 50. 2.

Againe, It ſhews with what aſſurance of victory the warr is undertaken. For by faith they ſee all ready: their feet upon the necks of their Enemies, and that they ſhall take the Beaſts dominion from him, and give his body to the burning flame, Joſh. 10. 24. Zech. 14. 4.

Some underſtand this, and their aſcending up to heaven, of the witneſſes not only reſtored to their places, but promoted to more eminent preferment, howſoever I take the witneſſes (as hath been ſaid) for the Truth witneſſed by them: yet no doubt ſuch as ſuffer under the Beaſt for their Teſtimony (continuing faithfull) the Lord will greatly honour. For out of Priſon he p. 253cometh to Reign, Eccleſ. 4. 14.

Fourthly, For the perſons upon whom this great feare fell. I take to be they that dwell upon the earth, the Apoſtates and followers of the Beaſt: It ſeemes to allude to the State and time of Gods people coming out of Egypt, when the Lord ſent before them a dread and feare of them among their Enemies. It is ſaid, their hearts melted, neither was their ſpirit in them any more, becauſe of the children of Jſrael, Joſh. 5. 1. This was upon the expiring of the 430 years: So the three years and an halfe being out, The preſence of God will be ſuch among his faithfull ones, in raiſing them up to ſuch high Reſolutions, and filling them with ſo much Spirit, life, and power from on high, as it will ſtrike a terrour and amazement every where among Revolters, None of the men of might have found their hands, the ſtout hearted are ſpoiled. The King of Babylon hath heard the report of them, and his hands waxed feeble, anguiſh took hold of him, and pangs as a woman in travell, Jer. 50. 43. It will be their caſe now, as if a man ſhould appear, who was thought to be dead and rotten many years before. He needs not fight, his Enemies they will fly faſt enough p. 254before him. My opinion is, God will ſend ſuch a faintneſſe into the hearts of his Enemies, and ſtrike them with ſuch a horrour and dread, that the ſound of a leafe ſhall chaſe them▪ they ſhall fly and none purſue them. And as they are Apoſtates, and ſo have ſinned againſt knowledge and conſcience, by ſo much their fear and terrour will be the more. Now will that Text be fulfilled; The ſinners in Zion are afraid, fearfulneſſe hath ſurprized the Hypocrites; who among us ſhall dwell with the devouring fire? Who amongſt us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burning?

Fifthly, Whereas it it is ſaid, They heard a great voyce. This voyce I take to be Chriſts; the ſame which afterwards ſpeaks out of the Temple to the ſeven Angels, Goe your wayes, and poure out your Vials, Rev. 16. 1. Iſa. 66. 6. Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2. It is ſaid to be great.

1. Becauſe it is the voyce of the Lyon of the Tribe of Judah (roaring out of Zion againſt his Enemies) which is powerfull and full of Majeſty, Joel 3. 16. Amos 1. 2.

2. The matter ſpoken of, is of great concernment.

3. It muſt be heard by all the faithfull riſen Witneſſes, every where.

p. 2554. To ſignifie that it is operative and prevalent, ſee Pſal. 29. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9.

Sixthly, That the voyce is ſaid to be from Heaven. This Denotes,

1. Notwithſtanding the great Apoſtacy at this time in Churches (eſpecially**In Rev. 11. 16. the 24 Elders are mentioned, but not the 4 living cretures. To denote, That near or about the time when Chriſt is to take his great power to him, and to reigne: there will be few Miniſters of Churches to praiſe him: But theſe have in the three years and halfe, like Demas, forſaken him; having loved this preſent world.Rev 11:16 the Officers) the Lord will have a remnant ſtill abiding in the faith and fellowſhip of the Goſpell, which ſhall keep themſelves pure and unſpotted from the world.

2. The fall of the Beaſt will be by a power from Heaven. There brake he the arrowes of the bow, the ſhield and the ſword, and the battel, Pſal. 76. 3. O God thou art terrible, out of thy holy places, Pſ. 68. 35. Zech. 4. 6.

Seventhly, Come up hither. Theſe words I think have this meaning. Chriſt himſelfe ſpeaks now for Union and one-nes amongſt Brethren, and will heal all the breaches and diviſions which have long been unhappily between them. Come up hither. As if he ſhould ſay, Howſoever you have born p. 256forth a good Teſtimony for me againſt the laſt Apoſtacy, the little Horn and Beaſt; yet▪ye could not agree among your ſelves, but did bite and devour one another. But this enmity ſhall ceaſe and be no more. Ephraim ſhall not envy Judah, and Judah ſhall not vex Ephraim. For I will have you now all here with me in heaven together: not divided and ſepe…ated as ye have been. And as there is but one Lord, and his name one, Z…ch. 14. 9, So ye ſhall ſerve him with one conſent Z…ph. 3. 9. Thus is the primitive Spirit, reſtord and given againe to the Saints, viz. to be of one accord, and of one mind, Act. 1. 14. & 2. 1, 46. & 15. 25.

Eightly, It follows; And they aſcended up to Heaven in a Cloud. Alluding to Chriſts aſcenſion, Act. 1. 9. The Saints of the moſt High, being … together, and having the unity of the Spirit, in the bond of peace, are now formed, the Armies of Heaven, to fight the Battles of the Lord of Hoſts, to deſtroy the little Horne, the Image, Babylon, &c. that Chriſt alone may Rule in the midſt of his Enemies. Who is ſhe that looketh forth as the morning, cleare as the Sun, and terrible as an Army with banners, Song. 6. 10.

p. 257The noiſe of a multitude in the Mountaine like as of a great people, a tumultuous noiſe of the Kingdomes of Nations gathered together. The Lord of Hoſtes muſtereth the Hoſt of the battle. They come from a farr Country, from the end of Heaven, even the Lord and the weapons of his Indi▪ nation to deſtroy tha whole Land, Iſa. 13. 4. 5.

So then the witneſſes being aſcended up to Heaven. Now is fullſild that viſion which John ſaw; A ſigne in Heaven great and marvellous, ſeven Angells, haveing the ſeven laſt plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God, Rev. 15. 1. This is the ſtone cut out without hands which muſt ſmite the Image upon his feet, Dan. 2. 34. To this time of the witneſſes in heaven belongs, that in the Prophet. Behold I will make thee a new ſharp threſhing inſtrument having teeth: thou ſhalt threſh the Mountains and beat them ſmall, and ſhalt make the hills as chaſſe: Thou ſh…lt fanne them, and the wind ſhall carry them away, and the whirlwind ſhall ſcatter them: And thou ſhall rejoyce in the Lord and glory in the holy one of Iſrael, Iſa. 44 15, Againe, The Lord ſhall ſend the Rod of his ſtrength out of Zion▪ Pſal. 110. 2, ſee alſo Jer. 51. 19. 20, 21, …2, 2…, 24.

p. 262Ninthly, But what followes? And their Enemies beheld them. They ſaw them before when they ſtood upon their feet, and were aſtoniſhed at it. But much more now, being aſcended, and gotten above them, to pour out a vial full of the wrath of God upon their heads. There is nothing ſaid what the Enemies of the Witneſſes doe, more then Behold them, that is, ſaw them as Balaam did Iſrael abiding in his Tents, according to their Tribes. The Lord his God is with him, and the ſhalt of a King is among them. Behold the People ſhall riſe up as a great Lyon, and lift up himſelfe as a young Lyon, he ſhall not lie down untill he eat of the prey, and drink the blood of the ſlaine. God brought him out of Egypt; he hath as it n ere, the ſtrength of a Ʋnicorn, he ſhall eat up the Nations his Enemies, and ſhall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrowes, Num. 23. 21, 24. & 24. 8. In this manner and no otherwiſe, ſhall the Enemy now behold them. Neither doe I find any thing that they ſhall doe, or be able to doe for their own ſafety. Is it not ſaid, All hands ſhall be faint, and every mans heart ſhall melt, and they ſhall be afraid, pangs and ſorrowes ſhall take hold of them, they ſhall be in paine, as a Woman that travelleth, and they ſhall p. 263be amazed one at another, their faces ſhall be as flames, Iſa. 13. 7, 8. But when ſhall this be? At this time, I ſay now, the Lord having called his Mighty ones, and his ſanctified ones, and muſtered the hoſt of the battell agaixſt Babylon, v. 1, 2, 3, 4. And this is one Reaſon why I doe conceive, For material weapons the Saints have no need to make much proviſion before hand. Though Joſhua took All the People of war with him, and all the mighty men of valour; Yet there died more with hailſtones, then they whom the children of Iſrael ſlew with the ſword, Joſh. 107, 11. So at this time, howſoever there ſhall be the Sword of the Lord, and the Sword of Gideon: yet Gideon but a thouſand, and David his ten thouſand.

And here I deſire the diſcreet Reader to obſerve the Method and order which the Lord (as it ſeemes to me) will follow in making Chriſts enemies his footſtool. When the three yeares and an halfe are expir'd (for till then the appointed time will not come for him to ariſe and have mercy upon Zion) there will be a pouring out of the Spirit in abundance, whereby the hearts of the faithfull every where will be raiſed up to high and great reſolutions againſt the later Apoſtacie, the little Horn p. 260and Beaſt: Even publickly to declare the war of the Lamb againſt that Government and State, and the whole dominion of Antichriſt. This will ſtrike a dreadfull terrour through the hearts of the Enemies (eſpecially HYPOCRITES AND SINNERS IN ZION) They will be driven to their wits end, not knowing what to doe, ſeeing judgment muſt begin at them. And that the Lords work may the more effectually goe forward and proſper, now the Lamb himſelfe will ſpeak to the hearts of his ſincere ones, touching the great Commandment of love, and for peace and union. By whoſe Spirit (working effectually in them) his Commandment ſhall be obeyed: …o that all breaches and differences will be ſpeedily and perfectly done away, and they all of one accord and of one mind: And what then? As the Armies of Heaven, and Angels of the laſt plagues, goe out of the Temple to pour out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the Earth. And as the Saints are thus raiſed up in faith, life, light, love, wiſedome, courage, &c. So on the contrary the Enemies now fall and are caſt down under unbelief, death, darkneſſe, diviſion, folly, fear, &c.

Reader, I pray thee mark it. The three p. 261yeares and halfe being expird, This will follow. As the followers of the Lamb, ſhall have faith, love, light, courage, and underſtanding▪ riſe and increaſe among them: So among the followers of the Horn and Beaſt, quite otherwiſe, viz. Fear, unbeliefe, contention, blindneſſe, and confuſion, will break out and abound. And by this many will be convinc't and ſatisfied, that the ſet time is come.

That which is next is Action; And it follows in the Text.

And the ſame houre was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the City fell, and in the earthquake were ſlaine of men ſeven thouſand; And the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of Heaven.

Here I think the Vials begin: this ſhaking Earth, is the Earth Rev. 16. 2. the ſubject of the firſt Viall. That State-Apoſtacy (of which we have ſpoken) out of Entituled which, as the Bottomleſſe Pit,

Truth aſcended the Beaſt, headed with with Time. a little Horne. But of this I have elſewhere written, and ſhall refer the Reader to it.

p. 258I come now to our laſt point, and ſo will Conclude.

Whether the Propheſie of ſlaying the Witneſſes be fulfild in our time, or no?

Anſw. By what hath been ſaid let the READER Judge.

I ſhall add nothing of mine own. But draw up ſome particular Heads, from the the Propheſie opened. If it be fulfild in whole or part; Theſe things muſt be, as I ſoberly think.

I. A Government, or State, ſet up by Apoſtates.

II. No ſooner is it erected, but there will be a glorious Teſtimony of Jeſus, formerly held forth, imediately kild.

III. If it be this Beaſt, his dominion and Government muſt ſuddenly and ſtrangely come forth, neither expected nor deſired of the people, nor hath it their conſent. Yet,

IV. For craft and policie there will be more uſed about raiſing this Beaſt, then hath been known before.

V. Hypocriſie in religion will be the great thing, whereby the Beaſt being aſcended out of the bottomleſſe pit ſhall ſeek to eſtabliſh his Government.

p. 259VI. They are not Perſons he ſhall ſlay; but the Truth witneſſed by them: yet not all truth: But that Teſtimony which is now held forth for the Reign and Kingdome of Chriſt againſt worldly powers.

VII. This Teſtimony he will kill in many great Profeſſours: by corrupting them with preferment, Job 34▪ 30. Again he himſelf will pretend much piety: perſwading people it is not the Teſtimony of Jeſus he kills, but errour and falſhood. Beſides if he be the Beaſt he will have ſuch Souldiers about him, as will act any wickedneſſe he bids them. Laſtly, he will make Lawes againſt the witneſſes.

VIII. This Beaſt ſhall not be under the authority of the Church of Rome, neither ſhall the place or Country where the witneſſes are ſlain (in their Teſtimony) belong to the Juriſdiction of the Papal Beaſt.

IX. Nevertheleſſe this Beaſt ſhall be a main pillar and ſupporter of Babylon in her greateſt Idolatry, and Tyranny.

X. Though this Beaſt ſhall indeavour to deſtroy utterly the preſent Generation Teſtimony; yet he ſhall not be able: For the Lord will have a Remnant in p. 264whom the witneſſe ſhall live; Though he have kild it in others.

XI. Where this is, their hypoctites doe reigne, It will be a time in which Apoſtates ſhall floriſh.

XII. Now the Carnall and corrupt profeſſour will rejoyce and make merry. And Prieſts ſay (as Agag) ſurely the bitterneſſe of death is paſt▪ call for Samſon that he may make us ſport.

Who is wiſe, and he ſhall understand theſe things? Frudent, and he ſhall know them? For the wayes of the Lord are right, and the juſt ſhall▪ walk in them: But the tranſgreſſors ſhall fall therein, Hoſ 14. 9.

FINIS.