Truth with Time, Answers · Answer 1
Anſwer to the 1. Reaſon.
For 1. I ſee no ground for that opinion which makes the beginning of the pouring out of the Vials to be at the ſame time with the Witneſſes riſing, and the 144000 muſtering upon Mount Sion: And although ſome godly men ſay ſo, that the 144000 and Vials begin together, yet it is no more Argument to me, then that the 1000 years, Rev. 20. are begun (and were begun with Conſtantine) becauſe ſome godly men ſay ſo. 2. Nor doth the order of the matter (in my eye) manage it. For the holy Ghoſt tells us, in Chap. 15.1. of another ſigne, viz. ſeven Angels: ſo that it was another diſtinct from that in Chap. 14, &c.
Reply to the 1. Anſw.
Rep. 1. The ſtrength of the Reaſon lies not in what godly men do ſay, but in the ground and proof they have for what they ſay: And here I finde nothing in the Anſwer why it ſhould not be ſo.
2. Becauſe two ſignes, therefore diſtinct as not to be applied to one time: This will not follow; for in Rev. 12.1. the Primitive Church is repreſented unto John by a wonder or ſigne in heaven; and in ver. 3. there appeared another ſigne, behold, a great red Dragon, &c. the which later, is taken for the Roman-heathen Emperors, perſecuting the ſaid Church at the ſame time. So Pharaoh in his dreams had two ſignes, yet not another diſtinct, for both ſignified one thing, Gen. 41.22, 32. But 2. it is called another ſigne, becauſe that in Chap. 14. reſpecteth perſons more then things; the latter, things more then perſons: In the former we have the inſtruments by whom the Beaſts dominion ſhall be deſtroyed, in the latter the work it ſelf; that is, how, and in what manner the Judgement written ſhall be executed. But 3. why ſhould theſe words (viz. another ſigne) be underſtood diſtinct from that in Chap. 14. ſeeing in that Chapter there is no mention made of any ſigne: More probably therefore they ſhould be carried back to Rev. 12.1. as another, or diſtinct from that ſigne; there being no other that I know.
Anſw. And as ſome ſay, I do think he brings there exegetically, with what Chap. 11, & 12, & 13, & 14. mention but darkly and cloſely, of the plagues which ſhall come upon the Beaſts dominion gradually by the two Witneſſes: and ſo the order and place of Chap. 15 & 16 is at Rev. 11.6. where the two Witneſſes ſmite the earth with plagues, according to Chap. 16. 1, 2. Pour out your Vials on the earth: and ſo Rev. 11.6. they turn waters into bloud; according to Chap. 16.3, 4. the rivers and fountains of waters become bloud; and this was before the Reſurrection or Slaughter. So that both our Grounds and Order ſeem good: for what can theſe plagues wherewith the two Witneſſes ſmite the Antichriſtian earth and waters, be, but Vials, and the laſt plagues which are to fall upon the Beaſts dominion?
Repl. Firſt, I think the Prophecies of this Book are the more dark to us, through our miſ-placing of things, and carrying them diſorderly forward and backward, whereas the holy Ghoſt keeps a better Method. For thus in brief I take it: The Witneſſes being treated of, Chap. 11. and the wilderneſs-ſtate of the woman, Chap. 12. he proceeds to the Tyranny and Idolatry of the Beaſt, Chap. 13. and ſo ends the whole Hiſtory, or Acts, of the two Witneſſes, Woman, and Beaſt, viz. as to the 42 months or 1260 days. What follows from the beginning of Chap. 14. they are things afterwards to come to paſs: that is, The Witneſſes being riſen, and the Woman out of the wilderneſs, in the 144000 ſtanding with the Lamb on mount Sion, Chap. 14. the Lord now will ſend forth the Rod of his ſtrength out of Sion, Chap. 15 & 16. But becauſe the carrying on of this great work cannot be without underſtanding the Prophecies of the laſt time; hence, Chap. 17. one of the ſeven Angels which had the Vials, ſhews unto John (repreſenting the Church near the time of the end) the judgement of the great Whore: ſignifying, that theſe mighty ones whom the Lord hath called for his anger, ſhall have it not onelyonly in their hearts to fulfil his will; but what they do, ſhall be knowingly in order thereunto: ſee Rev. 21.9, 10. & 22.8. Then follows, Chap. 18. the total and final deſolation of the Beaſts dominion, fuller and clearer than before: for which, Chap. 19. there is Hallelujah, ſalvation, and glory, and honour, and power, given unto the Lord our God. Thus it is a continued Hiſtory, without breach of order: onelyonly ſomething concerning the laſt Vial, Chap. 14.19, 20. and the Armageddon-battel, Chap. 16. is the ſame with Chap. 19.11, 12, 13, &c.
2. As I ſee no order in taking the ſackcloth-Witneſſes, Rev. 11. to be any of the ſeven Angels, Chap. 15. ſo likewiſe, what you ſay for it, to me ſeems no Ground at all; as, ſmiting the earth, turning waters into blood, &c. For the Witneſſes before their riſing poured out no plagues upon the Earth, Sea, Fountains, &c. what they did, was no other then did the Prophets of old, who pronounced, indeed, ſeveral judgements againſt the Nations: The burden of the Lord upon Babylon, Egypt, Damaſcus, Nineveh, &c. and in this ſence were ſet over the Nations, and over the Kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to deſtroy, and to throw down, &c. Jer. 1.10. ſo, to take the wine-cup of fury from the hand of the Lord, and to cauſe all Nations to drink it, Jer. 25. but in this they were no Vial-Angels, as to the execution of any temporal and real plagues. So the ſack-cloth-Witneſſes, in ſmiting the earth, what did they? they propheſied againſt many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings: Rev. 10.9, 10, 11. In this way I confeſs they poured out Vials, ſmote the earth, turned waters into bloud, &c. but not otherwiſe.
I might adde, how Jeruſalem (her Walls, Temple, Sacrifices, People, &c.) was ſmitten, and turned into bloud as by Nebuchad-nezzar, ſo by the Prophets too. Now we all know, this was not done neither at one time, nor alike: what the later did, was by mouth, prophetically; what the other did, was by hand, as making good the word of the Lord in the mouth of his Prophets. So Joaſh King of Iſrael, at the Prophet's bidding, took arrows and ſmote on the ground, 2 Kings 13.17, 18. here was a ſmiting of the Syrians, and victory over them: yet ſo, as differing far, from the Plagues and Vials afterwards poured out. For Application, thus: The Sackcloth-Witneſſes ſmite the earth, and have power over waters to turn them into blood: but obſerve the place; this is done in the days of their prophecie, Rev. 11.6. evidently ſhewing, that what they did was by prophecie, expreſſed a little before, Chap. 10.11. that is, they foretold the fall of Babylon, Popes, Cardinals, Biſhops, Prieſts, Tythes, Maſs, and the reſt of her, Fornications: but here was no execution of the laſt plagues; that was left for others to do afterward; viz. ſeven Angels come out of the Temple, &c. Rev. 15.
But again, ſhould I grant (which I do not) that the ſmiting of the earth, and turning waters into bloud, Rev. 11. is for the matter and manner alike with Rev. 16.2, 3, 4. yet this would not prove the ſame to be all one, in reference either of the Inſtruments or Time. They were Plagues and Vials which were poured out upon the old world, Sodom, Egypt, &c. yet we all know, they are things diſtinct and apart. But to come nearer, in Rev. 8.8. it is ſaid, The third part of the ſea became bloud: are the ſackcloth-Witneſſes here the inſtruments? Howſoever I do not think there lies much weight meerly in words and phraſes, yet it is much better (in my underſtanding) to refer the Acts of the ſackcloth-Witneſſes, viz. turning … into blood, &c. as the effects of the Trumpets, rather then of the Vials.
I have been the larger in this Point, becauſe the main Ground which the Anſwerer and others have, in holding the Sackcloth-Witneſſes and Vial-Angel all one; it is, for that in Rev. 11.6. mention is made of turning waters into blood, and ſmiting the earth; and ſomething like it (for it is but ſomething, and very little, as I ſhall ſhew afterward) expreſſed, Chap. 16.2, 3, 4. Now truly, in my apprehenſion, the Foundation is too weak to lay ſo much weight upon it.
Laſtly, that the earth is ſmitten, and waters turned into bloud, by Waldo, Groſted, Armachan, Wickliff, Huſs, Luther, &c. preaching the Word of Truth, and ſo pouring out a Vial; and other Vials are poured out by Civil Powers, in their Armies, Navies, &c. this is more, I think, then is in the text. For if the Vials are fill'd with the Goſpel of the Kingdom, then I ſay there is no War in them; if War, then no Goſpel: to take them both ways, that cannot be.
Anſw. 3. Beſides, if ſo be (as you ſay) that Chap. 15. & 16. begin with the full harveſt and vintage mentioned Chap. 14. verſ. 15, &c. then methinks you do not make the Vials and the 144000 in verſ. 1, 2. to contemporize (which is your judgement) becauſe the 144000 in the former part of the Chapter, are up before the full harveſt or vintage of the whole earth, mentioned in this later part of the Chapter: and the firſt, ſecond, and third Angels have work to do, between the riſe of the 144000 and the harveſt of the earth ripe. But the Vials are begun before the harveſt of the whole earth: ſo that this Expoſition cannot be the order of the holy Ghoſt, in my judgement.
Repl. I confeſs, the Truth brings forth no Abſurdity or Contradiction; neither do I ſee how any ſuch thing can be fairly concluded from the Reaſon.
For 1. I finde not in the Reaſon, where it is ſaid that the 144000 do contemporize with the Harveſt and Vintage. But 2. Let it be ſo; yet here will follow no Contradiction: for though, in a ſenſe, a man may be ſaid to be before his work, as making himſelf fit and ready for it; yet may he and his work be together. That the 144000 may be riſen before the harveſt of the earth is ripe; I ſay, ſuppoſe this, (though I hold it not) yet may the 144000 contemporize with the harveſt, as being the Reapers thereof.
2. That three Angels have work to do between the riſe of the 144000 and the harveſt; to this I ſay, 1. The Angels are of the number of the 144000; for that is a Type of the Lords whole hoſt muſtered againſt Babylon. 2. For the work there, of the three Angels, it belongs to the Harveſt (as part of it) now ready to be reap'd. Compare Rev. 18.4. Deut. 20.10, 11, 12.
3. The Scripture will warrant us to ſay, that the Harveſt of the earth was ripe at the riſing of the Witneſſes. When the four hundred yeers were expired, which the Lord ſpeaks of unto Abraham, Gen. 15.13. the iniquity of the Amorites was then full: ſo the fourty and two months being out, the Beaſts dominion is ripe. As a field of Corn is not cut down aſſoon as it is ripe, neither is it cut down all together, but by degrees: ſo Babylon, though ripe at the riſing of the Witneſſes, (the fourty and two months of her reign being ended) nevertheleſs, as the Beaſts dominion ſhall not be deſtroyed all at one time, ſo there will be ſome preparation to the work, (as Rev. 14.6, 7, 8, 9. and 18.1, 2, 3, 4.) as well as the execution of it. True it is, if we conſider the times of Waldo, Wickliff, Groſtead, Armachan, &c. the harveſt then was not ripe, and therefore they could not be any of the ſeven Angels, Rev. 15. for the whole dominion of the Beaſt muſt be ripe, before any of the ſeven laſt plagues will be poured out.
Anſw. 4. Moreover, if this your interpretation were the genuine ſenſe, I ſuppoſe every Vial would be an univerſal Vial, as on the whole earth: but it is very apparent, that every Vial is not an univerſal Vial, nor any, until the Armageddon-day. And therefore ſome think, (upon good grounds) this in Rev. 14.14. of the harveſt of the whole earth, and that of the Armageddon, Rev. 19. contemporize.
Repl. 1. If any ſuch thing may be infer'd from the Reaſon, it is otherwiſe then I hold; for I hold the contrary. Indeed, this I have ſaid, and am ſtill of the opinion: 1. Though no Vial be univerſal, yet whereſoever any falls, (whether firſt, ſecond, third, &c.) the effects thereof ſhall be ſuch, on the ſubject where it is poured, that whatſoever Idolatry and Tyranny is thereby ſuppreſs'd and put down, the ſame ſhall be there no more.
2. Though I think no Vial univerſal, yet this I think, that by earth, Rev. 16.2. is not meant the groſſer parts of Popery, viz. Maſſes, Pilgrimages, Indulgences, Tranſubſtantiation, praying to Saints, &c. the word earth is often uſed in this Book, and elſewhere; but never, to my knowledge, is it taken in ſuch a ſenſe, viz. for half, or part of the whole. And therefore, as I ſaid, though no Vial be univerſal, (as extending everywhere and in all places) yet in ſome ſort univerſal, that is, whereſoever any Vial falls, not onelyonly there ſhall the groſſer and greater parts of Idolatry be deſtroyed, but the finer and leſſer, (as ſome call it) that is, all the fornications of the Whore, root and branch. As for the preſent, I ſee nothing yet, that looks like a Vial. We may take up our complaint in the Prophet's words: Like as a woman with childe, that draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and cryeth out in her pangs: ſo have we been in thy ſight, O Lord: we have been with childe, we have been in pain; we have as it were brought forth winde: we have not wrought any deliverance in the earth, neither have the inhabitants of the world fallen. Iſai. 26.17, 18.
3. That ſome think the harveſt of the whole earth, Rev. 14.14. and that of Armageddon, Rev. 19. contemporize; it is true: but that it is (as you ſay) upon good ground, this I queſtion: For the holy Ghoſt there, makes a plain diſtinction between the harveſt and the vintage; and the former to be meant of the Beaſts dominion, which ſhall periſh under the five firſt Vials; the later, which begins at verſ. 17. belongs to the Armageddon-battel, Rev. 19. and falls under the ſeventh Vial, and part of the ſixth.
Anſw. 5. And laſtly, I think there is a miſtake in what you ſay in the margin, that the 144000 are the Angels of the Vials, ſeeing the holy Ghoſt ſpeaks of them beſides, as the remnant of the womans ſeed, Rev. 12. ult. and the called, faithful, and choſen, Rev. 17.15. (who I know ſhall go along with the execution, and ſerve in it) but he ſpeaks in the ſingular number of Angel to every Vial, and never above two, as in the third Vial. So that I neither incline to the two Witneſſes, as I ſaid before, with whom the remnant go along, and to whom the power of the plagues is given as oft as they will, Rev. 11.6.
Repl. Firſt, (as I ſaid even now) I take the 144000 to be an Univerſal Type, repreſenting the perſons of all the Saints, who after the riſing of the Witneſſes ſhall follow the Lamb in executing the vengeance of the Lord, and the vengeance of his Temple upon Babylon, the people whom he ſhall create for his praiſe, Pſal. 102.18. that is, the Angels, Chap. 14, & 15, & 16. So the called, choſen and faithful, Chap. 17. 14. and the Angel, Chap. 18. 1, 2, &c. it is the ſame number that were ſealed, Chap. 6.4. and why not the like ſignificant Type?
2. If I do not miſtake you, the remnant of the womans ſeed, and the one hundred fourty and four thouſand, you make to be all one: But to this I agree not: for, 1. The War in Rev. 12. ult. is the Dragon's; this, the Lamb's. 2. There, he firſt fights; but here, others begin with him. 3. That War ſeems to be before the riſing of the Witneſſes: The Dragon not prevailing againſt the woman in the wilderneſs, falls upon her ſeed, nearer home; a remnant, which did not at all flie into the wilderneſs; the woman being weak, (and therefore call'd the weaker veſſel, 1 Pet. 3.7.) and unable to make reſiſtance againſt the Dragons wrath in the Beaſt, ſeeks by flight to ſave her ſelf: But the remnant of her ſeed, that is, a generation after, through providence have oportunity and advantage to withſtand him, without eſcaping in ſuch a way. And this war of the Dragon with the remnant of the womans ſeed, Rev. 12. ult. may probably have ſome reference to the Swethen wars in Germany; ſo unto ours, and to the Civil wars in France, the Netherlands, &c.
But 3. I do not well know what you mean, by ſaying The holy Ghoſt ſpeaks in the ſingular number, of Angel, to every Vial, &c. Do you mean, that the 144000 cannot be the Angels, Chap. 16. becauſe the number is too great? If you underſtand (as I think you do) by the firſt Angel, all the Witneſſes from Waldo to Luther, it will exceed by far the number here. Beſides, though I hold the ſeven Angels to be a part of that company; yet I do not ſay the ſeven Angels are the whole number, much leſs that every Angel takes in the one hundred fourty and four thouſand.
Laſtly, whereas you ſay, I rather incline to the two Witneſſes, &c. for my part, I think, if their perſons, work, and time, be duely weighed by you, your inclination will be ſome other way.
Anſw. 1. The preaching of the Goſpel is (as you ſay) very ſweet; and yet, for all that, very bitter, and full of plague, in the effects thereof, to the enemies of Chriſt: for ſo was Chriſts own preaching a great plague to the Phariſees, Rulers, and Jews. Now we ſay, The effects thereof were plagues to the Popiſh earthlings, in Groſted's, Wickliff's, Waldo's, Huſs and Luther's time, and made them rage, fret, ſtorm, burn, and break out into filthy ulcers, diſeaſes and diſtempers; and ſo there fell upon them a real and proper plague under this Vial: and God's wrath upon them, was ſo eminently ſeen, that Bellarmine himſelf ſayes, That ever ſince Luther, and thoſe Men preached the Pope to be Antichriſt, their Church decreaſed, and many fell from it.
Repl. 1. It gives cauſe of ſuſpition, That a Text is wreſted, when it is alone, and hath not another to help it: as I ſaid before, by Earth, Rev. 16.2. to underſtand the groſſer part of Popery; I queſtion, whether ſuch an Expoſition can be confirmed by the mouth of two or three Witneſſes. So here, if this Text by Conſequences and Effects prove the Cauſe, it ſtands alone, (by it ſelf) for ought I know. The Text ſaith, And I ſaw another ſign in heaven, great and marvellous, ſeven Angels having the ſeven laſt plagues: for in them is filled up the wrath of God, Rev. 15.1. Not one word here of Effects, but what is in the Vials, to be wrath; full of the wrath of God. No Goſpel ſo much as named.
2. Howſoever I grant, (as being moſt true) it is poſſible for men in the hearing of the Word, to be thereby more wicked and vile, than they were before; yet the Word is no Vial of wrath, neither are the Publiſhers, Angels of Vials of wrath: the Cauſe is not in the Word, nor in the Angels; but by accident: as when purblinde people come forth into the Sun, their ſight is hereby darker, and more obſcure, not that the Sun is the cauſe, but the cauſe and fault is in themſelves.
That the Phariſees, Rulers and Jews; ſo the Popiſh Earthlings in hearing the Word, by accident, were blinded; it's true: but to conclude therefore, (as it muſt be ſo, or it's nothing to the matter) That either Chriſt, Groſted, Wickliff, Waldo, Luther, &c. were Angels of wrath, and it was the wrath of God which they poured out of their Vials; Here I hope, men will be rather ſober than raſh. True it is, Mr. Tilling. ſaith, The matter of each Vial is pure wrath; yea, full wrath, as Chap. 15. 1, 7. Chap. 16.1. Then I ſay, No Vial is poured out in preaching the Doctrines of Chriſt: for the …tter of the Goſpel is not pure and full wrath.
3. That the Popiſh Earthlings through the preaching of Groſted, Wickliff, Waldo, Luther, &c. did rage, fret, ſtorm; broke out into filthy ulcers, &c. it being nothing to the matter, I leave it. Howbeit, I could ſay much againſt it, as it is applied: but let the effects of their preaching be as you ſay, yet this proves no Vial; For 1. there was preaching and writing againſt the Popiſh Earthlings, long before any of them, even from the firſt riſe of the Beaſt, with the like effects. Conſequently then, the Vials muſt take their beginning from the firſt riſing of the Beaſt. 2. Such effects of preaching belongs not to the Vials. If we bring Waldo, Groſted, Wickliff, Luther, &c. to the Trumpets, here we ſhall finde ſome ſutableneſs and accord, as to the Time, Perſons, Work and Effects.
4. It was no wrath of a Vial, that Bellarmine either ſaw or ſpoke of: for when the time comes, that theſe Vials ſhall be poured out, the Prieſts (whether in Rome or England) will have little leaſure or heart to write Books againſt the Intereſt and Cauſe of Chriſt, (or ought elſe in that kinde) but ſtudy rather how to eſcape the conſuming fire every way about them, Rev. 18.15, 16. Iſa. 13.7, 8. Jer. 50.46.
Anſw. 2. Secondly, we aſſent to you alſo, that thoſe good men before mentioned, did eat up the Book, and propheſie, as Rev. 10.8, 9, 10, 11. before or againſt many Peoples, Kings and Nations. Now the eating of the Book and propheſying, was the preparing of it; but when it was opened, then the Vials come out, and ſo executed God's wrath upon that Generation; ſo that both theſe will ſtand together, viz. the propheſying, and the plaguing them, as the effects of their propheſying: for all the Angels of the Vials muſt eat the Book.
Rep. What is meant by their propheſying, I have ſhewed before: Now there is ſomething here, which I do not well underſtand.
1. How eating the Book and propheſying, ſhould be before the Book is open. I think rather, the Book muſt be opened firſt, and propheſying follows after, Act. 8.30, 31. Epheſ. 4.10, 11.
Neither 2. do I know the diſtinction between propheſying as preparing, then opening the Book for the Vials to come out. As for Waldo, Wickliff, Luther, &c. they had no Vials of wrath, nor did they prepare any ſuch thing for the Nations: they neither intended nor deſired mens deſtruction, but rather their peace, health, life and ſalvation in Jeſus Chriſt. It is true, the Angels of the 7 last plagues, will come out to execute God's wrath: this I ſay will be their work, for to make way for the everlaſting Goſpel to be preached, unto every Nation, and Kindred, and Tongue, and People; a work altogether different from the Witneſſes propheſying in ſackcloth.
3. If all the Angels of the Vials must eat the Book, it will hardly be proved, whether ſome who are held to be the Angels, did ever eat that Book: for if the Tree be known by the Fruit, they were ſo far from eating it, as that they were viſible and profeſt perſecutors of ſuch as in truth did eat the ſame.
Laſtly, Howſoever I believe that all the Angels of the Vials ſhall be wonderfully enlightned with the knowledge of the times, as to ſee their works and movings plainly before them, far beyond what either Waldo, Wickliff, Armachan, Huſs, Luther, &c. had; yet that eating of the Book, Rev. 10.9, 10. is another thing, then properly to be applied to any Angels of the Vials.
Anſw. It is not preaching alone, or the miniſterial witneſs onelyonly, that plagued them; but the magiſtratical alſo; who joyned with the miniſterial in every Generation: ſo that the 2 witneſſes were together in their effects or plagues that fell upon them. And therefore your ſecond Reaſon in my Opinion is ſomewhat uncertain, and upon a miſtaken Ground or Principal.
Repl. 1. There is nothing in this Anſwer, (ſhould it be all granted) to the matter. For though Miniſters and Magiſtrates joyn together againſt the power of the Beast, it doth not follow, therefore together they pour out any one of the last plagues.
2. Should I follow you, and begin at Waldo, and ſo downward to our times, I could ſhew you (if need were) not in every Generation did the magistratical and ministerial witneſſes joyn together. For in ſeveral Ages the faithful Servants of Chriſt had no aid or ſuccour from the civil Powers at all, much leſs helped them to plague the Whore.
3. For ſome of thoſe Vials (which you apply) as poured out by the ministerial and magistratical witneſſes joyned together, I think they were rather the actions of the Antichriſtians themſelves, one plaguing another, for worldly and baſe reſpects.
Laſtly, It is a great miſtake (I think) to make worldly imployment (as wars and fighting the Enemy) a work of the ſackcloth-witneſſes; for their work is propheſying, neither do they ſmite the Beast's Dominion any other way than ſpiritually, though it do concern civil things. There are many wayes to hold forth a witneſs and Testimony for Jeſus Chriſt: but for that place in Rev. 11.3, 6. it takes in no magistratical witneſs, if the thing be meerly civil: And this is plain in the very Text, They ſhall propheſie 1260 dayes. Again, In the dayes of their propheſie, &c.
And here it will not be amiſs to declare briefly my Opinion concerning the 2 witneſſes, Rev. 11. The witneſſes I take to be a Generation-Confeſsion or Testimony in the behalf of Christ, againſt the Idolatries and Blaſphemies of the Beaſt, and all his Helpers, during the time of the 42 months. I call it firſt a Confeſsion, to diſtinguiſh a Teſtimony from a Truth. A man may profeſs and practiſe many excellent and eminent Truths, and yet not have the Teſtimony of Jeſus, Rev. 12.17. for this conſiſteth in declaring againſt the evils of perſons and things. Secondly, I call it a Generation-witneſs, becauſe it muſt be proper to a man's own time, viz. as to own what is of God, then oppoſed and perſecuted; and what is of the Dragon and Beaſt, countenanced, commanded, authorized, then to teſtifie againſt it: and if we do not this, we are no Generation-Confeſſors, or Witneſſes. I ſay, whatſoever Truth, otherwiſe, we acknowledge, it is not to the matter, Rev. 11. Joh. 1.7, 8. Act. 1.8. & 4.19, 20. & 13.31. & 8.25. & 18.5. & 23.11. 1 Tim. 6.3. Rev. 1.2, 9. & 6.9. As a Souldier, if he ſee the Enemy dead at his foot, will not ſtand cutting and hacking of him; but leaving him, follows and fights the ſtanding Enemy: ſo to declare againſt Idolatry and Tyranny which is already put down (and nothing elſe;) this is not Souldier-like, and as becomes a brave Champion of Chriſt: it muſt be (to be a Witneſs indeed) the living and ſtanding abominations of our preſent time, which we muſt boldly and openly teſtifie againſt.
Again, they are ſaid to be two Witneſſes, not in reference to Magiſtracy and Miniſtery; but two, as to the things either witneſſed for or againſt; that is, as being compriſed in two heads, (neither more nor leſs:) 1. Eccleſiaſtical, or Spiritual: 2. Civil, or Secular.
Now whereas neer or toward the end of the 1260 days, this two-fold Witneſs ſhall riſe and ſpeak out with more clearneſs, and in the Demonſtration of the Spirit, and of power, then before; ſuddenly and ſtrangely it ſhall be ſlain: which ſlaying I take to be no other way, then in the Teſtimony; that is, Chriſt's witneſs, ſo high and eminent before, is knock'd in the head. In ſome, it is ſlain through Preferment, Honour, great Places: In others, through a Baſe ſpirit, and Fear of ſufferings: In others, through Bonds and Impriſonment: In ſome, through Hypocriſie, Apoſtacie, and a fearful Departing from God. So that the Witneſſes relate not to the perſons of men, (for the perſon may live, though his Witneſs be ſlain) neither to any Office or Calling, (whether Magiſtracie or Miniſtry) but meant of a Generation-teſtimony for Truth and Righteouſneſs, againſt all Ungodlineſs and Unrighteouſneſs of men.