The Resurrection of the Witnesses and Englands Fall from Rome, Postscript
The Poſtſcript.
IT being ſo, that (ſince my finiſhing of this Diſcourſe) there are ſome further mutations in theſe Kingdomes, which may ſeem to give to ſome ſome ground to queſtion that which I have here aſſerted, viz. That the Witneſſes are ſlain by the Beaſt, and that (according to this Propheſie) after they had lain dead three years and an half, they are riſen and doe ſtand upon their feet: If this be ſo, may ſome one ſay, then how cometh it to paſſe, that there is ſuch a probability that the enemies of the Saints ſhall again get ground of them, and bring them again into a low condition? For Inchiquin in Ireland, and Poyer in Wales, and a great party in Scotland doe ſeem to act afreſh for the Beaſt, and doe expreſly declare againſt the Witneſſes under the titles of Independents and Sectaries, &c. but if the Witneſſes were indeed ſlain and raiſed, then undoubtedly they ſhould indeed go on conquering and overcoming the Beaſt, and the Beaſt ſhould no more recover power over them, to put them into a diſtreſſed condition; for then the daies of their propheſying in ſack-cloth, in ſad and ſable garments is expired: But how can it be ſaid to be ſo, ſince the Beaſt ſeems in a probable way of recovering power over them again?
Now that this ſeeming ground of fear may be removed, I ſhall lay down theſe three conſiderations.
Firſt, That though the Beaſt ſhall no more prevail over the Witneſſes to bring them down, yet he may and muſt endeavour to oppoſe the Witneſſes, and again to make war againſt them that they may bring him downe: for now that the time of his prevalencie over the Saints is expired, he muſt not long continue in his preſent ſtation; but as he ſhall not goe higher, ſo he ſhall go lower, yea he ſhall come down wonderfully, and how ſhall that be but by his oppoſing the Saints, who ſhall be as a burden ſome ſtone, and all that burden themſelves with it ſhall be cut in peeces? And therefore the more we ſee that that the accomplices of the Beaſt do endeavour to oppoſe the Saints, the nearer we may conclude that hee and they are to their ruine; and therefore their riſings and ſtirrings ſhould be rather encouragements then diſcouragements unto the Saints. But
Secondly, That the Witneſſes are indeed ſlain and riſen, and do ſtand upon their feet, is altogether unqueſtionable, becauſe (as appeares by the fore-going Diſcourſe) this propheſie of the ſlaying of the Witneſſes, and of their riſing, &c. is in every particular iota and tittle of it moſt exactly accompliſhed, I will not here recapitulate any of the particulars, but refer the Reader to the fore-going Diſcourſe, but ſhall here only deſire the Reader to conſider of this one in a more eſpeciall manner, viz. That the holy Ghoſt expreſly declares, that the falling of a tenth part of the City ſhould immediately follow the Witneſſes, ſtanding upon their feet, and be in the ſame hour with it as an effect of it. Now that a tenth part of the City (particularly the Kingdom of England) is fallen from the myſtical Babylon, that is to ſay, from being a place of bondage to the Saints is moſt evident, and therefore it is undeniable, That the Witneſſes are ſlain and riſen.
Thirdly, It is no wonder that the Witneſſes being raiſed, and having a ſpirit of life from God put upon them, that the Beaſt doth endeavour to oppoſe them; for that ſpirit of vigour and courage that is put upon them, is to be exerciſed and actuated, and they muſt goe on in it to give that ſcarlet Whore bloud to drink, and to reward her, as ſhe hath rewarded them, and of the cup which ſhe hath filled to them to fill to her double: for the Saints are thoſe Armies in heaven, which are ſaid to follow him that is faithfull and true, and in righteouſnes doth judge, and make war, who is cloathed with a veſture dipt in bloud, and whoſe name is called the Word of God, when he cometh to make a final end of the Beaſt, and the falſe prophet, and them that worſhip his image, and to caſt them a live into a lake of fire burning with brimſtone. Now that the Saints may be actuall inſtruments, not only of beginning to ruine the Beaſt, but of the totall ruining of the Beaſt: it is no wonder that he endeavours again to recover ſtrength againſt them; and therefore when the Dragon and his Angels (the Beaſt and his imps) do fight againſt Michael and his Angels (Jeſus Chriſt and his Saints) it is ſaid that they prevailed not (that is after the Witneſſes were riſen to oppoſe the Saints) but were caſt out, and that was the ſhorteſt way they could take to be overcome, and to be caſt out, even their oppoſing Jeſus Chriſt, and his Saints, which have a ſpirit of life from God put upon them. Thus much for the removing of that doubt.
Now that I may not be miſtaken, I ſhall here adde a caution, and ſo conclude: It is this,
I deſire it may be obſerved, That though I have particularly (in this Diſcourſe) mentioned the Parliament and the Army (having good ground ſo to do from what they have done, and have beene inſtruments of already) encouraging them to go on in oppoſing the Beaſt, and his adherents, and defending the Witneſſes of Jeſus Chriſt, aſſuring them of ſucceſſe in their undertakings, yet it is upon no other grounds, then as they ſhall ſo go on; but if they ſhall turn aſide, and aim more at corrupt and ſelf ends then at the promoting of juſtice and righteouſneſſe, then at the publike good of the Kingdom, then enlargements ſhall come for the Saints, and they being delivered from the rage of the Beaſt, ſhall be preſerved wholly from his fury ſome other way, and by ſome other means, when corrupt perſons may periſh in carrying on of corrupt deſigns, but I hope (and have perſwaſions of) better things of thoſe Worthies, even that as God hath begun, ſo he will go on to grant them the honour, and the happineſſe ſtill to remaine glorious inſtruments in his hand, of ſetting up his King upon his holy hill of Sion, and ſubjecting theſe Nations unto his royall Scepter, that judgement may run down among us as water, and righteouſneſſe as a mighty ſtream.
FINIS.
End of the text · Mary Cary, The Resurrection of the Witnesses and Englands Fall from Rome (1648)