The Resurrection of the Witnesses and Englands Fall from Rome, To the reader – Epigraph
TO THE READER.
OUr Lord Jeſus Chriſt, in the eighteenth Chapter of Luke, from the firſt to the eighth verſe, from the example of the importunate widdow, ſtirring up his Diſciples to importunate praier, he there aſſures them, That God will ſurely hear the praiers of his own elect that cry to him day and night, and avenge them of their adverſaries; and this he will doe for them, though he make them tarry long. And hereby Saints may be aſſured, That God will hear their frequent importunate praiers, which night and day they have put up againſt the man of ſinne, the Beaſt, and their Babylonian enemies, who have troden the Saints under feet, and made warre againſt them, and overcome them, and dealt cruelly with them above this twelve hundred years: and that he will at laſt avenge them on theſe their enemies. But ſaies our Saviour at the eighth verſe, Nevertheleſſe, when the Sonne of man cometh, ſhall he finde faith on earth? Whereby he implies, That when hee cometh, his people ſhall ſcarce have faith to beleeve that hee will thus avenge them on their enemies. But when he ſhall come to doe it, it will be beyond their faith. And even thus is it with Saints now, they have ſcarce faith to believe, that the Lord Jeſus hath now begun, and is going on to avenge his own elect on their adverſaries, the myſticall Babylonians. Now for the ſtrengthening of the faith of Saints concerning this thing, I doe preſent them with this enſuing Diſcourſe, wherein as the Lord hath diſcovered it to me (to the ſtrengthening of my faith concerning the proſperity of Sion henceforward, and giving me great joy and pleaſure therein.) I have made it to appeare from the Scriptures, That the Lord hath already lifted up his Saints from under the vaſſalage of their enemies, and hath begunne to put the cup of trembling, into the hands of them that afflicted them. Which I deſire that all that love, and honour the Lord Jeſus may diligently obſerve.
For the moſt high God, of whom, and through whom, and to whom are all things, and for whoſe pleaſure they are, and were created, both whoſe wiſdome and knowledge are unfathomable; tels his people of old by the Prophet Iſaiah, as wee have it in the fourty eighth Chapter of his Propheſie, at the third and the fifth verſes, That he declared from the beginning the things hee would bring to paſſe, and that he ſhewed it them before it came to paſſe: and he gives the reaſon why he did ſo, in the fourth and fifth verſes, Becauſe (ſaid hee) I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy necke is an iron ſinew, and thy brow braſſe: And, least thou ſhouldest ſay, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them. And therefore the Prophet Iſaiah in the fourty eighth Chapter, and fourteenth verſe, hee makes a challenge to the Nations, and to the People, to aſſemble themſelves, and to ſhew which among them hath declared thoſe things. But there is none to be found among the ſonnes of men that can declare any thing: for he maketh the diviners mad, &c. And Iſaiah the fourty third, and the thirteenth, he ſaith, Before the day was, I am hee, and there is none that can deliver out of mine hands: I will work, and who ſhall let it. And Iſaiah the fourtie ſix Chapter, and the ninth and tenth verſes, I am God, and there is none like mee, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times, the things that are not yet done, ſaying, My counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will doe all my pleaſure. And yet notwithſtanding all this, that people of Iſrael, who had ſeene and knowne, (or might have) all the glorious workes of the moſt high, and obſerved how he declared things before they came to paſſe, and had thereby a greater advantage then the Heathen, of being convinced of his eternall Power and God-head: Yet were they ſo vile, as to queſtion it, having in them an emnitie to the true God, and choſe rather to worſhip Idols, and denie the Eternall God: As appeares in the fourty ſixth Chapter of Iſaiah, and therefore at the eighth and ninth verſes, he ſaies, Remember this, and ſhew your ſelves men, and bring it againe to minde, O yee tranſgreſſours. Remember the former things of old, for I am GOD, and there is none elſe, I am GOD, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done; ſaying, My counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will doe all my pleaſure. Remember; as if hee had ſaid, and ſhew your ſelves men, ſhew your ſelves to be rationall creatures, and be not as the horſe and mule that hath no underſtanding; but ſeeing I have declared from ancient times, the things I would doe long before they came to paſſe: ſaying, My counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will doe all my pleaſure: And be ye thereby convinced, that I am GOD, and there is none like me. But as then, ſo now, are there many that are become Atheiſts, denying the true GOD, and JESUS CHRIST, whom he hath ſent, whoſe necke are an iron ſinew, and their brow braſſe, who had they not loſt the principles of reaſon, might by the things of the Creation, be convinced of his Eternall Power and God-head, Romans the firſt Chapter, and the twentieth verſe. As alſo by obſerving how hee declared, what it was his will to bring to paſſe long agoe, and how hee hath brought to paſſe what hee ſo declared. But they have loſt even the principles of reaſon which they once had, by which they might have then been convinced hereof; whereby they are left without excuſe, as the Apoſtle ſaies, Romans the firſt and the twentieth. But they having loſt reaſon, are now become vaine in their imaginations, and their fooliſh heart is darkened; and though they profeſſe themſelves to be wiſe, and are puft up with ſelfe-conceits of wiſdome, in their frothy and blaſphemous Diſcourſes: yet they are become fooles, changing the truth of GOD into a lie. And the Apoſtle gives the reaſon why GOD hath thus given them over, in the firſt Chapter to the Romans the one and twentieth, and the eight and twentieth verſes, Becauſe they did not like to retaine GOD in their knowledge, and becauſe that when they knew GOD, they glorified him not as GOD. The like reaſon hee giveth, why them that periſh are deceived by the man of ſinne, as in the ſecond Epiſtle to the Theſſalonians the ſecond Chapter, and the tenth verſe, Becauſe they received not the love of the truth.
But now, Though Atheiſts, and Papiſts, denie the Eternall GOD, and obſerve not his wonderfull workes, how he declares things long before they come to paſſe: ſaying, My counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will doe all my pleaſure; and accordingly brings it to paſſe, becauſe their fooliſh heart is darkned: yet all his Saints doe, and will obſerve this: For ſaith the Pſalmiſt, in the hundred and eleventh Pſalme, and the ſecond and third verſes, The workes of the LORD are great, ſought out of all them that have pleaſure therein. His worke is honourable, and glorious, and his righteouſneſſe endureth for ever: He hath made his wonderfull workes to be remembred, &c. The LORD hath made his wonderfull workes to be remembred among his Saints, though others remember them not, yet his Saints have pleaſure in them, and therefore ſearch them out, and they have a promiſe made to them, That in the obſerving the wonderfull things of the LORD, they ſhall underſtand his loving kindeneſſe, it runnes thus, Who ſo is wiſe, and will obſerve theſe things, even they ſhall underſtand the loving kindeneſſe of the LORD *The Pſalmiſt in the former part of that Pſalme, had been ſpeaking of ſeverall paſſages of the providence of GOD, which it concernes Saints to obſerve, amongſt the reſt theſe are ſome, He poureth contempt upon Princes, cauſeth them to wander in the wilderneſſe where there is no way; yet hee ſetteth the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flocke. The righteous ſhall ſee it and rejoyce, and all iniquity ſhall ſtop her mouth. Now this is that which is by Saints to be obſerved at this time alſo, even how GOD beginneth to pour contempt upon Babyloniſh Princes, viz. Biſhops and other Babylonian Factours, and to ſet the Saints that were lookt upon as poor deſpiſed creatures on high from afflictions and to make of them families like a flock, who not long ſince were ſmall in number, but now is this number greatly increaſed., as Pſalme the hundred and third and the fourty third verſe. Now it being ſo, let Saints diligently obſerve the enſuing Diſcourſe, wherin it doth appear, That GOD hath brought to paſſe the things he did fifteen hundred yeares agoe predeclare; which they obſerving it may tend much to the ſtrengthening of their faith in this, That JESUS CHRIST hath begun, and is going on to avenge them on their enemies. For in the enſuing Diſcourſe it will appear, That as JESUS CHRIST did long ſince reveale to John, how that after the myſticall Babylonians had perſecuted his Saints a long time, he would raiſe up his Saints out of their perſecuted condition, and bring down thoſe their Babylonian enemies: So hee hath alreadie begunne to doe this thing, even to raiſe up his Saints, and to bring downe their enemies, and that punctually, according to what hee did reveal to John.
Now I know there hath been obſerved by many Saints, many things that GOD revealed to John, which he hath brought to paſſe. Many of which Obſervations are already in print: but that which I chiefly aim at in this Diſcourſe, is that which is not yet printed by any other, and whether any other have yet obſerved it, I know not; but they are paſſages ſo eminently worthy to be obſerved, in this preſent time, becauſe they give the Saints ſuch ground of encouragement and conſolation, in reſpect of the happy ſucceſſe that ſhall be of the very preſent affairs of this Kingdome (how knotty and difficult ſo ever for the preſent, or for ſometime, yet they may appear to be) as that in love to all Saints I could not but communicate them to them in this way.
But there are two things, which it may be may cauſe ſome to retain ſome unbeleeving and doubtfull thoughts concerning the happy ſucceſſe of preſent things, although it be made clear in the following Diſcourſe, That the time of Saints being cloathed in ſackcloth is expired.
Firſt, It may be ſome cannot receive it, becauſe they look for farther judgements to come upon this Kingdome, (wherein outwardly the Saints may ſuffer alſo) becauſe of the great provoking ſins of this Kingdom, as drunkenneſſe, and adulteries, and oaths, and their entering into ſo many Covenants concerning religious things, for which they have no ſufficient warrant, now in the times of the Goſpel, and the oppreſſions of the poor, and meaner ſort of people, and the great neglect of doing juſtice generally, &c. Now to theſe I ſay, That it is true, that if God ſhould deal with this Nation, according to its demerits; then indeed no other could be expected, but an utter deſolation of it, that it might either ſwim in bloud, or burn with fire untill it were conſumed. But
Firſt, I deſire you to conſider, That God hath a very great number of his dear Saints in this Kingdom, in whom he delights, and for whoſe ſake he may, and I had almoſt ſaid, will ſpare this Kingdome, and ſpare the Cities and Towns, and Counties where they are for if God would have ſpared Sodome for ten righteous perſons, we have a great ground of hope, that he will ſpare London, yea all England from a generall devaſtation and deſolation, having thouſands of righteous perſons in London, and in all England a very great number. And how many plots of wicked men, wherein they endeavoured the ruine of this Kingdome, hath God blaſted? Having ſuch a great number of his precious jewels in it.
And ſecondly, What though h…ere be in this Kingdome, many that are great enemies to Jeſus Chriſt, yet God can by his Covenant of Grace, bring many of them in to the obedience of Chriſt, and make them of perſecutors to become eminent Saints, and call thoſe his people that were not his people: And why ſhould we doubt whether he would do ſo, ſince theſe are the times wherein he hath promiſed to do ſo, and hath already begun to doe it? But
Thirdly, If it be ſo, that ſome are hardned to deſtruction, and they are never quiet, but ſtill are plotting againſt the juſt, to ruine them: yet know they ſhall not prevail over the Saints, but in oppoſing them ſhall ruine themſelves, Zech. 12. 3. as appears in the following Diſcourſe.
Secondly, Doubtfull thoughts may be in others, that yet the Saints may be overcome, becauſe they ſee they have ſo many enemies abroad, and at home, and they are ſpeaking great words, and are ſtill plotting againſt them. To ſuch, I ſay, Let them ſuppoſe that there were none that did dare to make any oppoſisition at all in this Kingdome, but that all things went ſmoothly on, in the hands of thoſe that are carrying it on: and if they could then beleeve, that indeed God would not have his Saints in this Kingdome to be troden under foot by the Beaſt any more. Then let them have the ſame faith to beleeve it now, as knowing it is as eaſie with God, to carry on this work over the mountains as over the plains, and he will make the great mountain to become a plain before Zerubbabel, before his people, Zech. 4. 7. He can command thoſe that are preparing warre againſt them to ſit ſtill, and proceed no farther, and put a fear upon them; or if they doe goe on, yet he can make it to come to nothing, and to be the moſt effectual way to lay them lower, and to raiſe his people higher.
Now if any particular man would be as ſure of ſafety, as all the Witneſſes in generall are; then if he be a man in any publike imploiment, let him according to his place oppoſe the Beaſt, and act for the welfare of all that wiſh well to Sion, and doe juſtice unto all, from the higheſt unto the loweſt, and be more forward to act for the meaneſt, then for the higheſt. Let him ſuppoſe the condition of the meaneſt man*I ſay, that ſeek for juſt things, not thoſe that ſeek for unjuſt things, as for protection in evil waies, or for places of profit or honour, when they neither deſerve them, nor are fit for them, or elſe have too many already, &c. that ſeeks to him for juſt things to be his own condition, and act for him, as hee would be dealt with himſelf were he in that condition: for thus relieving of the poor and diſtreſſed ones, is moſt acceptable to the Lord of Sabbath, and in ſo doing, I am confident it will go well with him, however it go with others.
Again, If he be a private man; let him alſo in his place, wiſh well to Sion, and oppoſe the Beaſt; ſo ſhall he alſo proſper in the proſperity of Sion.
And now Reader, who ever thou art, if thou doſt receive any benefit of any kinde, by reading the enſuing Diſcourſe, whether of encouragement, conſolation, information, or quickning, I beſeech thee to return all the glory of it to the moſt High, to whom alone it is due, who for that end made uſe of ſo weak an inſtrument: in whom if thou be a friend to the Lord Jeſus Chriſt, I am
Thy friend … ſerve thee M. Cary.
Revel. Chap. 11. from Verſ. 1. to 14. Verſe 1.
AND there was given me a reed like a rod, and the Angel ſtood, ſaying, Riſe, and meaſure the Temple of God, and the Altar, and them that worſhip therein.
2. But the Court which is without the Temple, leave out, and meaſure it not: for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy City ſhall they tread under foot fourty and two months.
3. And I will give power unto my two Witneſſes, and they ſhall propheſie a thouſand two hundred and threeſcore days clothed in ſackcloth.
4. Theſe are the two Olive-trees, and the two candlesticks, ſtanding before the God of the earth.
5. And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man wil hurt them, he muſt in this manner be killed.
6. Theſe have power to ſhut heaven, that it rain not in the daies of their prophecy: and have power over waters to turn them to bloud, and to ſmite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
7. And when they ſhal have finiſhed their teſtimony, the beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſſe pit, ſhall make war againſt them, and ſhall overcome them, and kill them.
8. And their dead bodies ſhall lie in the ſtreet of the great city, which ſpiritually is called Sodom and Aegypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified.
9. And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations, ſhall ſee their dead bodies three daies and an half, and ſhall not ſuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
10. And they that dwell upon the earth, ſhall rejoyce over them, and make merry, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another: becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.
11. And after three daies and an half, the Spirit of life from God entered into them: and they ſtood upon their feet, and great fear fell upon them which ſaw them.
12. And they heard a great voice from heaven, ſaying unto them, Come up hither. And they aſcended up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies beheld them.
13. And the ſame hour was there a great earth-quake, and the tenth part of the City fell, and in the earth-quake were ſlain of men ſeven thouſand; and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14. The ſecond woe is past, and behold, the third woe cometh quickly.