A Discourse Concerning the Witnesses, Part 2

A Discourse Concerning the Witnesses · Part 2

p. 31VERSE 13. And the ſame hour there was a great Earthquake, and the tenth part of the City fell, and in the Earthquake were ſlain of men ſeven thouſand; and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of Heaven.

WE are now come to the Concluſion of the ſixth Trumpet, which endeth with an Earthquake; and … Earthquake is deſcribed,

1. By its Greatneſs, for it is ſaid to be a great Earthquake.

2. By the time when it happened, ….

3. By the effects or conſequents of it;

1. That the… …th, … of the City fell.

2. That therein were ſlain of men ſeven thouſand.

3. That the remnant were affrighted.

4. That they gave glory to … God of He….

I ſhall handle the words as I did the former verſe, by way of Paraphraſe, or E…ion.

A…d the ſame hour.] Not th…hour of their Reſurrection: the Earthquake here is reſerved for the W…ſſes. Aſce…on, after which it haſteth, coming in the ſam… …, not …tera…ly take…, but Metaphorically, i. e. Sp… … For it … ſ…den and anexpected ſucceſſion of th… … … of the Witneſſes. Let but theſe once …, and …re…e…y … falls a ſhaking; for (**Vindicta divina de teſti…m inimicis. Joh. Piſc. in h…verſum. as Piſcat. well …) this in the …e…ce of God upon the enemies of the Witneſſes; they were now gazing up to Heaven to ſee the Witneſſes p. 32aſcending, and, before they are aware, they are ſurprized with a grea Earthquake from under them. For this verſe is connected with the Aſcenſion of the Witneſſes by the Copulative And, ſhewing us, that it belongeth to the ſame ſtory, and followeth cloſe upon the Aſcenſion. The Enemies were ſtaring upon the Aſcenders, and upon a ſudden the Earth ſhaketh under them, and turns their eyes upon another object. God threatneth to throw them down to Hell, whileſt his Witneſſes are aſcending up to Heaven.

And the ſame hour there was an Earthquake.] There are two ſorts of Earthquakes in the Scriptures.

1. Such as are Natural, as when the earth ſhaketh through collection of Wind and Vapours in the bowels thereof, and which want vent. Such an Earthquake there was in the dayes of King Ʋzziah, Zach. 14.5.Zech 14:5and ſuch before the deſtruction of Jeruſalem, Luk. 21.11.

2. There are figurative and metaphorical Earthquakes in the Scripture, as when ſome notable diſpenſation of God reſembleth an Earthquake; and ſuch is this here in the Text.

And this, in Scripture, ſignifies ſome notable change,Hebr. 12.26, 27.Heb 12:26Heb 12:27 as when God ſaith, Yet once more I ſhake not the Earth only, but alſo Heaven; This (ſaith the Apoſtle) ſignifieth the removing of thoſe things that are ſhaken. And when God ſaith, He will ſhake the Heavens and the Earth, mark what a change followeth: And I will overthrow the throne of Kingdoms, and I will deſtroy the ſtrength of the Kingdoms of the Heathen, and I will overthrow the Chariots and thoſe that ride in them, and the horſes and their riders ſhall come down, every one by the ſword of his brother. Hag. 2.21, 22. See alſo Iſa. 13.13. And theſe Metaphorical and figurative Eathquakes are ſometimes accompanied with or preſaged by literal ones, as in that place of Luke forementioned. And that formidable Earthquake in the dayes of Ʋzziah happened about the time that Jehu's fourth Generation was expiring, after which followed frequent and fearful changes unto the very Captivity of the ten Tribes. Again; When God brought his people of Iſrael out of Egypt, this was a periodical time, and there was now a very great change coming upon the World, and the Church therein, not the like thereunto (excepting in the time of the Deluge) from the foundation of the World. Pharaoh and the Egyptians were now to be deſtroyed in the Red Sea, and the Church to paſs into Canaan, and there to ſettle; And God ſignified this great change by an Earthquake properly and literally ſo called. O God (ſaith the Pſalmiſt) when thou wenteſt forth before thy people, when thou didſt march thorow the wilderneſs, the earth ſhook, the Heavens alſo dropped at the preſince of God, even Sinai it ſelf was moved at the preſence of God, the God of Iſrael. Pſ. 68.7, 8. See alſo, Pſ. 77.15, 16. to the end. The Earthquake therefore in my text ſignifies ſome great and eminent change brought in with ſhaking and affrighting Judgments, commonly p. 33for the deſtruction of Gods enemies, and ſometimes for the deliverance of his People. Thus you ſee what kind of Earthquake is here meant, and what it ſignifieth.

But let us look a little further into it, and compare it with other Earthquakes in this book of the Revelations, which we may call Apocalyptical Earthquakes, of which we find five.

1. The firſt at the opening of the ſixth Seal, Rev. 6.12.

2. The ſecond at the opening of the ſeventh Seal, Rev. 8.5.

3. The third in my Text, near the concluſion of the ſixth Trumpet.

4. The fourth at the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet, Rev. 11. laſt.

5. The fifth at the pouring out of the ſeventh Vial, Rev. 16.18.

Among theſe, this in my Text is the middlemoſt; the two firſt (like the two laſt) fall in quickly, the one after the other, the firſt under the ſixth, the ſecond under the ſeventh Seal, a little before the ſounding of the firſt Trumpet; after which we meet with no more Earthquakes till the cloſe of the ſixth Trumpet in my Text, which long interval takes up above a thouſand years, during all which time the Earth ſeemeth to ſtand ſtill, not ſimply, but in compariſon with what is now like to be at the cloſe of the ſixth Trumpet, and the beginning of the ſeventh. The world is now drawing towards its end, that its ſhaking fits do come ſo faſt upon it; and ſome more than ordinary Change is haſting upon the World; for there have been great Changes in it during the long Interval aforeſaid, and yet none of them have been called Earthquakes, as this here in my Text, which though it falls only upon the tenth part of the City, yet it is a fair warning to all the other parts, and a ſure Pledge of their approaching ruine.

The far greater part of this Interval between the ſecond and third Earthquake, hath been taken up with the Reign of the Beaſt and of the Turk, who in all this time have met with no ſuch conſiderable Change, as now they are warned to look out for, and which ſhall ſhortly befall them under the ſeventh Trumpet; but as for the change ſignified by the Earthquake in my Text, it appertains eſpecially to the Beaſt who ſlew the Witneſſes.

The ſame hour there was a great Earthquake.] Great; Let us conſider that a little, and compare it with the other four Earthquakes; For they are all great, and as it ſeemeth, greater than this here in hand.

The firſt, mentioned, Rev. 6.12. is expreſly called a great Earthquake, and ſurely greater than this in my Text; For that was ſo great, that it ſhook the whole Pagan Empire, and overthrew it funditùs, with an utter deſtruction, as in the Verſes there following. It overthrew the Pagan Emperial world, the Heavens thereof, the Sun, Moon, and Stars thereof, and every Mountain and Iſland belonging thereunto,Rev. 6.12.—to the end.Rev 6:12 and all the perſons therein, from the King to the Bond-ſlave. This then was a dreadful Earthquake, which ſhook and overthrew the whole fabrick of the Heatheniſh Empire, and introduced a bleſſed Change as to the Chriſtian p. 34world,**Rev. 8.2.Rev 8:2 at leaſt for a ſeaſon. But now, as for the Earthquake in my Text, though it is great, yet nothing near ſo great, as ſhaking only and overthrowing a tenth part of the great City. Only know thus much, that it will deſtroy the Heavens, the Sun, and Moon, and Stars of this tenth part, and overturn the little world therein. For all the Apocalyptick Earthquakes overthrow Worlds; the firſt the Roman Pagan world, the ſecond the Roman Chriſtian World, the third, fourth and fifth the Romiſh Antichriſtian World; after which ſucceedeth the Millenary World, which the Apoſtle calls, The World to come, H. br. 2.5.

2. As for the ſecond Earthquake at the opening of the ſeventh Seal, and immediately foregoing the ſounding of the firſt Trumpet,Rev. 8.5.Rev 8:5 this alſo was a great Earthquake, though it is not expreſly ſo called. For,

1. A great Change followeth it, as appeareth in the eighth and ninth Chapters.

2. Whereas there are ſeveral expreſſions of Terrour when it comes, as, Voices, and Thunderings, and Lightnings, and an Earthquake, there ſeemeth to be a gradation in the words, and the ſoreſt diſpenſation brings up the rear, and that is an Earthquake. So that this alſo looks greater than that in the Text in hand.

3. Compare the Earthquake in my Text with the next to it, under the ſeventh Trumpet, and though this here is great, yet that is greater, ſo as it is not in my Text.

1. Becauſe accompanyed with Lightnings, and Voices, and Thunderings, and great Hail.

2. Becauſe it is the immediate fore-runner of thoſe Vials which ſhall utterly deſtroy the Beaſt. Whereas the Earthquake in my Text ſhakes only a tenth part of the City, and makes way for the ſeventh Trumpet.

4. Compare it next with the Earthquake at the pouring out of the ſeventh Vial, Rev. 16.18. And though this in my Text is called great, yet that is greater, and indeed the greateſt that ever was. For mark what the Text ſaith of it: There were Voices, and Thunderings, and Lightnings, and there was a great Earthquake, ſuch as was not ſince men were upon the Earth, ſo mighty an Earthquake, and ſo great; and the great City was divided into three parts. This Commotion and concuſſion made the great City to fall aſunder; And great Babylon came into remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fierceneſs of his wrath; and every Iſland ſted away, and the mountains were not found, and there fell upon men a great hail out of Heaven, every ſtone about the weight of Talent, &c. Well therefore may it be ſaid, There was not ſo great an Earthquake ſince men were upon the earth. For now alſo the Romiſh Antichriſtian world is wholly deſtroyed, and the Millenary introduced. For in theſe three laſt Earthquakes, it is obſervable, that there is a gradation, that in my Text is exceeded by that, verſe laſt, and this exceeded abundantly by that under the ſeventh Vial, which is the ſweeping and concluding Earthquake.

p. 35And in theſe two laſt, it is obſervable again, that they are accompanied with Hail, the firſt of them with great hail, but the laſt with ſo great, that every Stone is about the weight of a Talent, big enough to brain an Oxe or an Elephant; for God now knocks down not only the great Beaſt, but the Turk and Devil alſo. And now, not only the Earth ſhakes under the Beaſt, but the Heavens alſo from above diſcharge (as I may ſay) their Cannon-ſhot, ſuch maſſy Hail-ſtones as God hath reſerved againſt this day of battel and war, and now is fulfilled what is written, The windows from on high are open, and the foundations of the earth do ſhake, Iſa. 24.18. It will be now in the end of this Antichriſtian World, a… in the end of the Old World, when the deep from beneath, and the Windows of Heaven from above, met together and conſpired to deſtroy that world of the ungodly. Thus I have opened to you theſe five Revelation Earthquakes, comparing that in my Text with the other four, as the leaſt of them all, yet called a great Earthquake, conſidered ſimply in it ſelf, as alſo effecting a great work, in throwing down the tenth part of the great City.

Let us come now to the effect of this Earthquake in the following words.

And the tenth part of the City fell.] By City here we underſtand the great City ſpoken of, ver. 8. For this verſe referrs to that, though that is called the great City, this only The City, without the Epithete Great, yet not without an Article or two, foreign, which amounts to as much as Great, for it is, That tenth part of that City; ſo that both the City it ſelf and its tenth part, have a ſingular remark here upon them. But what is that City, that great City? It is not a material City properly ſo called, compaſſed about with walls, but the City here being the ſame with that ver. 8. is the whole Juriſdiction and Government of Rome. And whereas it is ſaid, The tenth part thereof fell, viz. with the foreſaid Earthquake, this cannot be meant of the City of Rome it ſelf, which is reſerved for the fifth Vial, which I conceive will not be poured out till after the ſounding of the ſeventh Trumpet. And though a Learned Interpreter of the Revelations expoundeth this of the City of Rome, which he ſaith, is now but the tenth part of what Rome was in former times, I ſuppoſe that will not eaſily be proved. Nor is this tenth part (as I humbly apprehend) to be underſtood Geographically, for a tenth proportion of the Romiſh Dominion; but I rather conceive, that it is to be underſtood Myſtically, for one of the ten Horns; among which Great Brittanny is reckoned one, and by ſome, the firſt.

But why doth there fall no more of the City than the tenth part?Queſt.

1. Not but that it were juſt with God to deſtroy the whole City,Anſw. which hath fully deſerved it long ſince; but God begins only with a tenth part to give the remainder of the City fair warning, leſt all be ruined (as it will) after ſome time longer. You know, this City is ſpiritually p. 36called Sodem, ver. 8. Now God gave Sodom a timely Admonition by the Conqueſt which the four Kings had over it, and the ſpoil which they got therein, and the captivating its Inhabitants; and when this prevailed not to amend them, after a while it was utterly deſtroyed: Even thus it is with this Spiritual Sodom in my Text.

2. I further anſwer, foreign, God hath a revenging eye; The eye of divine Vengeance is not ſo much at time this of the Earthquake upon the whole City or Power of Rome, as upon that part thereof where the Witneſſes were ſlain.

But the whole City is guilty of this Internetion and Witneſs-ſlaughter:Ob. For though the hands of multitudes, and of the the far greater part by much of all the Citizens of the Romiſh Polity, were not in this ſlaughter, yet their hearts do fully conſent unto it; like as in the French Maſſacre, Aug. 24. in the year 1572. though the blood was ſhed in France, yet Rome did even triumph when they heard thereof.

This is granted,Sol. according to that of Chriſt, Matth. 23.35. as alſo Rev. 18.20. But divine Vengeance falls here upon the Principals, and Patience forbears the Acceſſaries for a ſeaſon longer, giving them ſpace, as yet, to repent. For in all the ſtrokes and plagues that God inflicteth upon the Beaſt, God ſtill expecteth Repentance, as we plainly ſee, Rev. 9. laſt; and, Rev. 16.9, 11. This fall or ruine then lighteth onelyonly upon the place or Countrey where the ſlaughter of the Witneſſes is committed, to give warning to the remainder of the City, which yet ſuffereth alſo in the fall of this tenth part.

But how and in what manner doth this tenth part of the City fall,Queſt. it may be ſaid?

1. By dreadful Concuſſions;Anſw. as if God ſhould ſay, I will overturn, overturn, overturn it. God will throw down the Props and Pillars thereof with notable ſubverſions.

2. There will alſo be (as I am apt to think) a falling, by falling off; in the end, or falling away of this tenth part from the remaining nine, by them that ſhall ſurvive the overthrow; for I do not think that the tenth part ſhall be utterly deſtroyed. The ſurvivers ſhall deſert the Beaſt and his Worſhip and Government. So that the whole City ſhall be mulcted and fined a tenth part, paying the tithe of it ſelf to divine Vengeance for the ſlaughter of the Witneſſes; for the Hierarchical Power ſhall from thence forward ceaſe in that Countrey, which but now was the tenth part of the great City, and the Countrey ſhall be forfeited, for its bloodſhed, into the hands of our Lord Jeſus. My apprehenſions are, that it will be ſuch a fall as this, i. e. which will end in a falling off, and that ſuch a Change will be introduced by this Earthquake, as will prove to be a great Judgment upon the great Whore. The Hierarchy exerciſed in that tenth part ſhall fall and ſink, and never p. 37riſe again, like as what is ſunk by an Earthquake never riſeth more, but is for ever buryed in its own ruines. A City or Town may be ſhaken by a little Earthquake, and yet not fall, though it may ſtand tottering and hang a-to-ſide, and be propt up for a time, but this here is ſaid to be a great Earthquake, which will quite ſwallow up that which before was only ſhaken and ſhivered, that now it ſhall never riſe again.

It may be ſaid, perhaps, That what the Sea loſeth in one place,Ob. it gaineth in another:

But it is not ſo with the Sea of Rome, Sol.which now falls into that irrecoverable Conſumption propheſied of, 2 Theſ. 2.8. The Lord ſhall conſume that wicked one with the breath of his mouth; i. e. with the Goſpel, which ſhall now begin to flouriſh, when the tenth part of this City is fallen. When the City begins to fall, the Goſpel ſhall begin to riſe in equal proportion, and never fall again. There will be no Balm for this bruiſe, no Cordial for this Conſumption; the great Whore ſhall now begin to abate of her fleſh, by that time that this Earthquake hath done reckoning with her; her Arm ſhall be ſo broken, that there ſhall be no Roller to bind it that it may be healed and ſtrengthned. And thus you have heard the firſt Effect of this Earthquake opened; the next followeth.

2. And in the Earthquake were ſlain of men ſeven thouſand.] The New Tranſlation rendreth it, Capita hominum, heads of men: The Old, Nomina hominum, Names of men, and ſo the Original hath it; the meaning whereof is, by an Hypallage, Men of Names, i. e. famous men. The Grecians (I ſuppoſe) borrow the expreſſion from the Hebrews, who call eminent and renowned men, Men of names, as you may ſee, 1 Chron, 5.24. and 12.30. The Text there compared with the Margine in your Bibles, where Men of names in the Hebrew are called famous men in the Text. And hence, men of no name in the Hebrew, are called, baſe men by the Tranſlators, Job 30.8. By this then you ſee the meaning of the expreſſion in my Text; for theſe ſeven thouſand men of Names, are Viri nominati, as Junius and Tremelius render the ſame word, named, or famous men. They are therefore men of eminency and fame, as if one ſhould ſay, Dukes, and Earls, and Lords, and Knights, and Eſquires, and Gentlemen, and Prelates, and Judges, and Counſellours, and Doctors, and Collonels, and Captains, and Magiſtrates, Officers, &c.

Now of theſe men of Names, there are ſlain in this Earthquake ſeven thouſand, i. e. very many, Seven being a number of perfection, and often uſed in this Book of the Revelations; as ſeven Spirits, ſeven golden Candleſticks, ſeven Seals, ſeven Trumpets, ſeven Angels, ſeven Vials; ſo here, ſeven Thouſand, i. e. a great number. And of theſe it is ſaid, That they were ſlain in the Earthquake, the Spirit of God (perhaps) alluding to ſuch an effect of natural Earthquakes, as when they throw down Towns or Cities, and bury many of the Inhabitants in the ruines.

p. 38For this here is called a great Earthquake, and therefore whenever and wherever it comes, there will be a terrible ſhake both of Perſons and Things, viz, Houſes, Inhabitants, Lands, Goods, Moneys, Inheritances, Callings, Trade, Liberty, Health, Relations, Life, and many other Comforts; Mens hearts will ſhake, fear and tremble, and ſome perhaps will cry to Rocks and Mountains. It maketh me to think of the caſe of the Philiſtines, 1 Sam. 14.15, 16.1 Sam 14:151 Sam 14:16when God committed them among themſelves, and when they ſheathed their Swords in one anothers bowels; there was a trembling (ſaith the Text) in the hoſt, in the field, and among all the People, inſomuch that the Garriſon and the ſpoilers alſo trembled, and the Earth quaked, ſo that it was a very great trembling, (or, a trembling of God) and the multitude melted away, and they went on beating down one another. Such a kind of Earthquake peradventure it may be, when the Mighty man, and man of Name, ſhall ſtumble againſt the mighty, and both fall down together. Briefly; It will be ſuch a ſhake as will make a man to eat his bread with quaking, and to drink his water with trembling and with carefulneſs, as ſometimes the Prophet did, Ez…k. 12.18. At what time, the Sword ſhall devour fleſh, and be drunk with the blood of the ſlain from the beginning of revenges upon the Enemy. And when ſhall this be? Upon the back of the Witneſſes Aſcenſion, when once a Reformation (on their part) riſeth upon their riſing; for then, and not till then, will this Earthquake be; which yieldeth ſome matter of Comfort to the People of God, that they are ſo well prepared againſt ſuch a ſhaking time; for now that they are drawing nearer to God, he will be their ſtrong Tower to which they ſhall run and be ſet aloft. Wherefore, though the Heavens and the Earth ſhall ſhake, the Lord will be the hope of his People, and the ſtrength of the Children of Iſrael. So much for this Effect of the Earthquake.

And the remnant were affrighted.] This is the third Effect of it. The Remnant; Here is Mercy in the midſt of Judgment, that all in this tenth part of the City are not ſlain, a remnant liveth and eſcapeth. God is ſo far here from deſtroying the whole City, that he deſtroyes not all the Street. But yet the Remnant are affrighted, flying, like as the People fled from the Earthquake in the daies of Ʋzziah, Zach. 14.5. Or as the Iſraelites, that were round about the Tents of Korah and his Company fled when the Earthquake ſwallowed up the Rebels, ſaying, Leſt the Earth ſwallow us up alſo, Numb. 16.34.

This is the caſe of this Remnant, who are not ſimply afraid, but affrighted, and e'en at their wits end; they are not ſlain with the Earthquake, but almoſt kill'd with fear, yet ſpared and have their lives given them for a prey. God might juſtly have deſtroyed the whole Street where his Witneſſes were ſlain, and lay dead, but he is ſatisfied with the Sacrifice of the lives of Seven thouſand men of Names, and it is ſomewhat p. 39what a conſiderable price; for if ſo many men of Names fall, how many thouſands of little or no name are ſlain together with them? As Ahaſuerus ſaid to Eſter; The Jews have ſlain five hundred men in Shuſan the Pallace, and the ten ſons of Haman; what have they done in the reſt of the Kings Provinces? But God's Eye is eſpecially upon the Fatlings and the beſt of the Flock, that they may be offered up in ſacrifice to him, and it is ſomewhat like his ſacrifice in Bozrah, and his ſlaughter in the Land of Idumea, where his ſword is filled with blood, and made fat with fatneſs, with the blood of Lambs and Goats, and with the fat of the kidneys of Rams, when the Unicorns come down with them, and the Bullocks with the Bulls, in the day of the Lord's Vengeance, and the Year of Recompences for the controverſies of Zion, Iſa. 34.6, 7, 8. And it is alſo conſiderable, that what is wanting in the Number of the ſlain, is made up in the fall of the Tenth of the City; a part only are ſlain, but the whole City falleth in a degree.

4. And they gave Glory to the God of Heaven.] This is the laſt Effect of the Earthquake. But how do they give God glory?

1. By confeſſing their Sins, eſpecially in ought that they did relating to the ſlaying of the Witneſſes. My Son (ſaith Joſhua to Achan) give glory to the Lord God of Iſrael, and make confeſſion unto him, Joſh. 7.19.

2. They repent alſo of the ſins which they confeſs; for therein alſo is God glorified, Rev. 10.9.

3. They give God the glory of his Patience and tender mercy in ſparing them, and plucking them as a brand out of the burning, Lam. 3.22.

4. They glorifie his Juſtice and righteous dealings with the bloody Street, ſaying, Thou art righteous, O Lord, becauſe thou haſt judged thus, for they have ſhed the blood of Saints and Prophets, and of thy Witneſſes, and thou haſt given them blood to drink, for they are worthy; Even ſo, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgments.

And this glory is given to the God of Heaven, as in my Text, i. e. to the true God; for as Cyrus ſaith in his Proclamation of liberty to the Jews, The God of Heaven, he is the God, Ezra 1.2, 3. The Remnant is now convinced of their former Atheiſms, Superſtitions and Idolatries, and give glory to the God of Heaven.

But is this Acknowledgment extorted from them,Queſt. or is it freely given by them, as by ſuch whoſe hearts are now unfeignedly turned to the Lord?

It is apprehended by ſome,Anſw. that it is done by the power only of a ſtrong Conviction in the time of this great Judgment and Vengeance of God upon his Adverſaries, but not done by ſuch whoſe hearts are now truly turned to the Lord: For the Judgments of God do ſometimes wring ſuch acknowledgments from wicked men, as when Pharaoh could ſay after the plague of the Hail, I have ſinned this time, the Lord is righteous, Exod. 9.27.Exod 9:27and I and my people are wicked. And as Joſhua ſaid to Achan, My ſon, Joſh. 7.19, 20.Josh 7:19Josh 7:20give I pray thee glory to the Lord God of Iſrael, and make confeſſion unto p. 40him; And Achan ſaid, Indeed I have ſinned againſt the Lord God of Iſrael, and thus and thus have I done. See alſo Judg. 1.7. and 2 Chron. 12.6. and 1 Sam. 6.5. But others do apprehend that this Remnant here were effectually wrought upon by this terrible hand of God, and gave glory to him in ſincerity. But I find no reaſons given for either opinion, yet I incline to this ſecond. If indeed this Remnant were ſuch as had been totally immerſt and drenched in Popery, I ſhould have been of the firſt opinion; for the Jurats and ſworn Creatures of the Man of ſin, cannot repent to give glory to God whatever judgments are inflicted on them, as you may clearly ſee, Rev. 9.20, 21. and 16.9, 10, 11, 21. The Spirit of Popery is a Spirit of dedolence and impenitency, becauſe the complete Worſhippers of the Beaſt are noted as obſtinate Reprobates, Rev. 13.8. and, 14.9, 10.

This Remnant therefore were only ſprinkled and dipt a little into Popery, and ſuch may and often do repent of their Idolatries and Superſtitions. And by this you ſee that there is a poſſibility that this remnant may truly repent and give Glory to the God of Heaven. Yea, and it is probable that they do effectually repent in giving Glory unto God.

For it is here ſaid, that a tenth part of the City fell by this Earth-quake; now, How did it fall? Two wayes, as hath been ſaid;

1. A part therereof fell by being Slain, as a juſt recompence for Slaying the Witneſſes, upon whoſe aſcenſion it immediately followeth.

2. The remnant alſo of the tenth part fell, but how? By falling away from the Power and Dominion of the Beaſt.

For if they had ſtill perſiſted in their former courſes and adhered to the Beſtian Intereſt, the tenth part of the City had not fallen by falling away, becauſe a remnant had ſtill ſtood their ground. And this kind of falling, by falling off, was alſo a Righteous Judgment of God upon the Beaſt, whoſe Power is hereby diminiſhed; for the Remnant throws off the Papal Hierarchy, never to be reaſſumed more by them; and God is pleaſed to preſerve them (as with ſubmiſſion I conceive) to make uſe of them for future againſt the Beaſt and his Intereſt; Perhaps it is the firſt of the ten horns which ſhall hate the Whore, and make her Deſolate and Naked, &c. Surely this remnant is reſerved for for ſome ſingular purpoſe, ſeeing they are ſnatcht thus out of this dreadfull ruine; for they related unto them that were Slain, in that they are called their Remnant; It ſeemeth therefore as if God intended to turn them into an Horn wherewith to goar and wound the Beaſt.

This Street then is, from the time of this Earthquake, and ſo forward, for ever cut off from the great City, and being now purged, partly by Divine Vengeance on the bloody men of Names, and partly by the repentance of the Remnant, it is thenceforth conſecrated unto the Government of Jeſus Chriſt.

This Remnant then is reſerved,

1. As a Trophy of Victory and Triumph.

p. 412. For ſome ſignal Service to be performed afterward by them under the ſeventh Trumpet, which followeth quickly upon the back of this Earthquake, as you may ſee, v. 14.

And thus I have opened (as God hath holpen this paſſage of the Earthquake and the ſeveral effects of it.

But now it may be inquired,Queſt. what may be the cauſe of this great Earthquake? As the Pſalmiſt ſaith, What ailed ye, O Mountains, that ye skiped like Rams, and ye little Hills like Lambs?

You know what follows in anſwer hereunto;Anſw. Tremble thou Earth at the Preſence of the Lord, at the Preſence of the God of Jacob. It comes to paſs therefore from the Preſence of God among his People, coming down to viſit the Street where his Witneſſes were Slain.Deut. 21.15.—Deut 21:15 When under the Law a man was found ſlain in the Field, and it was not known who ſlew him, the City that lay next unto the ſlain Man was to purge it ſelf from that blood, and the Elders thereof were to come and waſh their hands over a ſlain Heifer, and to ſay, Our hands have not ſhed this blood, neither have our eyes ſeen it, &c. God is tender of the Lives of men, eſpecially of the lives and blood of his Saints which is precious in his ſight, and he will certainly make inquiſition for it in due time, Pſ. 9.12. And when he goes about this act of Juſtice, what will he do to that City, or to that Street, where his Witneſſes are found ſlain; not ſlain (I ſay) in a Field by unknown hands, but in the open Street, yea, and by them that dwell therein, and who cannot thus waſh their hands? He will call them to a ſevere account, For there is a cry in the Ears of God for Vengeance.

1. In the general, There is a cry of many and great ſins in the Streets, for where ſuch a ſin is committed as Witneſs-ſlaughter, ſurely there are many other crying ſins. Now the ſins of a land may lye ſo heavy upon it, that they may make it to ſhake and even to reel and rent again, like as a Cart may be ſo heavy loaden, that it may make the very Axle-tree to crack, and quite overturn all.Iſa. 24.19, 20.Isa 24:19Isa 24:20 The Earth (ſaith the Prophet) is utterly broken down, the earth is clean diſſolved, the earth is moved exceedingly, the earth ſhall reel to and fro like a drunken man, and ſhall be removed like a Cottage. Why, what is that which preſſeth it down ſo greatly? It followeth; And the tranſgreſſion thereof ſhall be heavy upon it, and it ſhall fall, and not riſe again. It muſt needs be a marvellous weight that makes the Earth thus to move, yet ſuch is the weight of ſin.

2. More particularly, there is the cry of blood in the Street, as I have ſaid; and it is the cry of the blood of the Witneſſes. For though they are not literally ſlain, i. e. not as men, but as Witneſſes, yet the Lord calls it, and accounts it a ſlaughter, yea, and their very enemies account them as naturally dead; and they are greatly Oppreſſed, Vexed, and Silenced, Impriſoned, Impoveriſhed, and cruelly handled, and ſo, that it haſteneth alſo the Death of ſome of them,Jer. 2.34.Jer 2:34 and reacheth alſo to the blood (as I may ſay) of many thouſands of Souls who depended upon p. 42their Miniſtry; and ſuch blood hath a loud cry in the ears of God, and ſuch a cry will ſhake the Earth wherever the ſin is committed, and remains unpurged. You know how the Martyrs under the fifth Seal cryed with a loud voice,Rev. 6.10, 12.Rev 6:10Rev 6:12 ſaying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doſt thou not Judge and Avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth? What then followeth? And I beheld when he had opened the ſixth Seal, and lo, there was a great Earthquake, &c. You have heard before of the greatneſs of that Earthquake, and how it ſhook and quite overthrew the whole Roman Pagan Empire.2 King. 24.4.2 Kgs 24:4 You know alſo that the blood ſhed by Menaſseh could not be expiated by the greateſt reformation that was ever wrought, but the whole Land of Judah was at laſt ſhaken to pieces for it. That land is extreamly deplored that lyeth under the guilt of blood, eſpecially of ſlaying Chriſt's Witneſſes. See 2 Chro. 36.15, 16. It layed Jeruſalems houſe, i. e. the Temple, deſolate, Matth. 23.37, 38.

And when the Jews killed the Lord Jeſus,1 Theſſ. 2.15, 16.1 Thess 2:151 Thess 2:16 and the Prophets, and perſecuted the Apoſtles, forbiding them to Preach to the Gentiles that they might be ſaved, they filled up their ſins, and the Wrath of God came upon them to the uttermoſt. This is a filling and a finiſhing ſin; even Reformation it ſelf (were it equal to Joſiah's) cannot ſave that land from a great Earthquake, and from ſuch Vengeance as will make the ears of them who hear it to tingle. What ſaith the Prophet? The City ſheddeth blood in the midſt of it, that her time may come; thou art become guilty in thy blood, and haſt cauſed thy dayes to draw near, and art come even to thine years. Ezek. 22.3, 4.

3. There is yet another cry, and that is from the Prayers of God's people, eſpecially from under their Affliction. No doubt but the cries, and ſighs, and groans of the Children of Iſrael in Egypt were accompanied with many Prayers, and it brought ſuch vengeance upon Egypt, as you have ſcarce read the like. God never forgets the cry of the humble. Pſ. 9.12.Exod. 22.23.Exod 22:23 If but a poor Widdow or Fatherleſs child be afflicted, and they cry at all unto me, I will ſurely hear their cry, ſaith the Lord. And know thus much, that the Prayers of one diſtreſſed Child of God may be ſuch, that they may ſhake the very Earth it ſelf. What ſaith David? In my diſtreſs I called upon the Lord, Pſal. 18.6, 7.Ps 18:6Ps 18:7and cryed unto my God; He heard my voice out of his Temple, and my cry came before him, even into his ears; Then the Earth ſhook and trembled, the Foundations alſo of the Hills moved and were ſhaken, becauſe he was wroth, &c. The Prayers of David in his diſtreſs ſhook Heaven, Earth, and Sea. And wherefore is it that God ſaith, I will ſhake the Heavens, and the Earth, and the Sea, and the dry land, and I will ſhake all Nations, and the deſire of all Nations ſhall come? I ſay, wherefore is this, and whence proceedeth this great concuſſion? Even from the deſire of all the Saints that live among the Nations in the world. They are oppreſſed and perſecuted in the world, and p. 43they cannot be quiet; upon this they cry out, and utter their deſires, O that Jeſus Chriſt would come and deliver us, and plead our cauſe, and relieve us in our diſtreſſes, and call the world to a reckoning! Even ſo come Lord Jeſus, come quickly. I tell you, This will coſt the world a ſound ſhaking. Little do people imagine what the force of God's peoples prayers is, they have an Earth-ſhaking power in them. The praying Saints are a thundering Legion. Samuel no ſooner cryeth to the Lord,1 Sam. 7.10.1 Sam 7:10 but he heareth him and anſwereth him with a dreadful diſcomfiting thunder upon the Philiſtines. And when the Saints fall to prayer at the cloſe of the ſeventh Seal,Rev. 8.3.5.Rev 8:3Rev 8:5 preſently follow Voices, and Thunderings, and Lightnings, and an Earthquake. Act. 4.31.Acts 4:31When Peter and John were returned from their perſecutors to their own company,Act. 15.25.Acts 15:25 they betake themſelves to prayer, which was no ſooner ended but the place was ſhaken, where they were aſſembled together. And when Paul and Silas prayed and ſung praiſes to God in the priſon, and in the ſtocks, ſuddenly (ſaith the Text) there was a great Earthquake, and the foundations of the priſon were ſhaken, and immediately all the doors were opened, and every ones bonds were looſed, and the Keeper of the priſon drew his Sword and would have killed himſelf. And do we think now, that all the prayers that have been made within theſe few years by the Saints in the world, will not end in a dreadful Earthquake? God hath already anſwered his people, and will again anſwer them, by terrible things in righteouſneſs. Thus you have ſeen the procuring cauſes of this Earthquake. I ſhall conclude with ſome Conſectaries, Informations and Exhortations flowing from what hath been opened to us.

1. By what we have heard in the Explication of this thirteenth verſe, we have a further proof of what ſometime I ſaid, That the Witneſſes are ſlain not in all parts of the great City, but in ſome one eminent Street thereof that hath not quitted and caſt off the power of the Beaſt; wherefore I thus argue:

Where the revenge of God is inflicted for the ſlaying of the Witneſſes, there, and there only, are the Witneſſes ſlain:

But the revenge of God is not inflicted upon the whole City for the ſlaying of the Witneſſes, but only on a tenth part thereof:

Therefore in that tenth part thereof, and there only, are the Witneſſes ſlain.

For God proportioneth his Revenge unto the place of the ſlaughter, making it commenſurate and adequate thereunto, and doth not exceed the bounds thereof.

2. In this diſpenſation we may ſee the ſingular patience of God towards the Enemies of his Witneſſes, in that he doth not preſently bring this great Earthquake upon them; they may meet with many a ſore concuſſion, during the time of the ſlaughter, and preſently after it is over; but yet God deferrs the terrible Earthquake till the aſcenſion of the Witneſſes, and p. 44till that great Voice from Heaven hath ſaid unto them, Come up hither, and that they have aſcended in a Cloud in the very ſight of their Enemies. Which (by the way) ſheweth us plainly, as I touched it before, that this loud voice and call unto them to aſcend, doth not proceed from the Powers and Rulers of this World, as ſome have thought, for theſe are Enemies, and the men of names, who are to be ſlain in the Earthquake preſently upon the Aſcenſion of the Witneſſes. They continue Enemies unto the very time of their deſtruction.

But that which I am ſpeaking to, is the Patience of God towards that Street where the Witneſſes are ſlain; for God doth not deſtroy the men of names ſo ſoon as they have ſlain the Witneſſes, no, nor ſo ſoon as the Witneſſes are riſen and ſtanding upon their feet; He tarrieth till they are aſcended, and gives his Enemies warning enough; but when once the Aſcenſion time is over, and Reformation of Churches, Families, and Saints on foot, the Earth will forbear ſhaking no longer; there is then but an hour (i.e. a very ſhort time) between the Aſcenſion and the Earthquake.

3. We are ſhewed the juſt Revenge of God upon theſe Enemies, in that he ſlayeth them, a meet recompence for their ſlaying of the Witneſſes. Thus,**Rev. 13.10.Rev 13:10 he that leadeth into Captivity, ſhall go into Captivity, and, he that killeth with the Sword, ſhall be killed with the Sword. So here, They that ſlay, ſhall be ſlain; as it is written,††Gen 9.6.Gen 9:6 He that ſheddeth blood, by man ſhall his blood be ſhed. **Jer. 51.56.Jer 51:56The Lord God of Recompences ſhall ſurely requite; he is as punctual in his Juſtice, as powerfull in his Patience.

4. In that the holy Ghoſt here ſeemeth to allude to the manner of great. Earthquakes, which is to ſwallow up houſes and their Inhabitants, ſo as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram were ſwallowed up, though that was rather by the Earth renting, than quaking, yet ſwallowed up they were,**Numb. 16.32.Num 16:32 they and their houſes and all the men that appertained to them, and their goods; I ſay God ſeemeth to deal with theſe men of names, as with thoſe Rebels and their companions; As if God ſhould ſay, they ſhall periſh in the gain-ſaying of Kore, and as ſo many Dathans and Abirams, and Rebels againſt the God of Heaven; for ſuch God accounteth theſe, whatſoever theſe accounted the Witneſſes.**Numb. 16.2.Num 16:2 And of theſe three men it is ſaid, They roſe up before Moſes, with certain of the Children of Iſrael, two hundred and fifty Princes of the aſſembly, famous in the Congregation, men of renown. They were, juſt like theſe in my Text, viri nominatiſſimi, men of great note and name; and ſo Mr. Aynſworth tranſlateth the word famous, in that place, Men of names, and he reckoneth them no leſs than States-men, as you may ſee in his Expoſition. And the like title alſo is given to the oppreſſing Gyants of the old World, whoſe foundation was overflowed with a Flood;**Gen. 6.4.Gen 6:4 They are called Mighty men, and men of Renown.

You ſee then the account of God concerning theſe famous ones in my p. 45Text; They ſlay the Witneſſes as Rebels, and ere long themſelves are ſlain of God, as ſuch.

5. Whereas theſe many thouſands were men of Names, it may denote (as Mr. Brightman obſerveth from the expreſſion) that God doth not fall blindfold with his judgments upon men; he doth not ſtrike Andabatarum more, ſed certo, nominatimque, even ſo certainly and knowingly, as if he named theſe great men; There's for you, ſuch a one, ſaith he, and there's your reward, ſaith he to another, naming him, &c. God ſhall ſhoot at them with an arrow, ſuddenly ſhall they be wounded, Pſal. 64.7. He doth not ſhoot like that Syrian who hit Ahab at adventure, but he aimeth alwayes when he ſhooteth, and never miſſeth the mark.

6. God then is no reſpecter of perſons;**Job 34.19.Job 34:19 He accepteth not the Perſons of Princes, nor regardeth the Rich more than the Poor.. Nay, he hath a ſpecial eye upon the men of Names, for you muſt know that this Earthquake here doth ſlay many a man, hundreds and thouſands no doubt nullius nominis, of no name or fame at all, but theſe you ſee are not here mentioned, but only the viri Nominum, the men of great renown. And God will do this dreadfull Execution upon them by a remarkable hand from Heaven; for Earthquakes are in a ſpecial manner from God, there is no hand of man in them. The mighty ſhall be taken away without hand, Job 34.20. That is, without the hand of any man; God will do it by an out-ſtretched hand from Heaven.

7. It is very obſervable, That in Gods execution of Judgment here, he falls moſt eminently upon the principal Ring-leaders, the men of Names, whoſe hands eſpecially were employed in ſlaying the Witneſſes. Many others of little or no name were ingaged alſo in the ſlaughter, but the men of Names ſtirred them up and ſet them on work, and led them the way alſo by their Examples and Authority. Wherefore God takes notice of them eſpecially, and the ſtroke falls moſt remarkably upon them as the great Oppreſſors of the Witneſſes, and hinderers of Reformation. He takes off theſe therefore, and removes them out of the way, as intending now to bring in Reformation contra gentes viroſque nominum, againſt all oppoſition whatſoever. For great men, if not alſo good, are great oppoſers of that which is good; as God ſometimes ſaid to Ezekiel, ſhewing him five and twenty of his great Enemies, and among them Jaazaniah and Pelatiah Princes of the people; Son of man, ſaith God, Theſe are the men that deviſe Miſchief and give wicked Counſel in this City; Therefore propheſy againſt them, Ye have multiplied your ſlain in this City, and ye have filled the Streets thereof with the ſlain, &c. I will execute judgments upon you, and ye ſhall fall by the Sword, &c. And ſaith Ezekiel, It came to paſs when I propheſied, that Pelatiah dyed, Ezek. 11.1. — See alſo Numb. 25.4.

Thus when the ſixth Seal was opened, and that the Judgments of God p. 46fell moſt formidably upon the Roman Pagan Empire for the moſt horrid bloody Perſecutions uſed againſt the Chriſtians, the moſt righteous God began with the ring-leaders, the viri nominum are ſet in the front of the Sufferers, viz. The Kings of the Earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief Captains, and the mighty men; and after them come in the men of ſmall names, every bondman, and every freeman, Rev. 6.15. The Earthquake there mentioned ſhook all the Empire from the higheſt to the loweſt, but it began with, and fell heavieſt on, the men of Names, Kings, great men, rich men, chief Captains, and Mighty men. For as for the Bondmen and Freemen, they were ſet on by their Kings, and great men, and rich men, and chief Captains, and mighty men; That is, the Informers, and Catch-poles, and Jaylors, and poor Souldiers, were but as a company of boudmen to the Kings, great men, and men of Names; and they muſt do what the Powers will command them, but (you ſee) that will not excuſe them when the Earthquake cometh; but yet the Grandees are the men in the Van that are moſt eminently ſhaken and thrown down thereby; they ſhall pay for it to the purpoſe.

8. We may here behold the riches of God's grace, that he not only ſpareth a Remnant of his, and his Witneſſes Enemies, that they are not ſlain with the reſt in the Earthquake, but he giveth to them alſo the grace of repentance. They might have drunk of the ſame Cup with thoſe men of renown, as being a Remnant of them, eſpecially as to their enmity, but God lets them live to repent and give him glory. I ſuppoſe theſe to be ſuch as were perſecutors as well as thoſe others, but they did it ignorantly in unbelief, and therefore they obtain this mercy; peradventure the other (at leaſt many of them) are ſuch as tranſgreſs of malicious wickedneſs, and rebell againſt the light, which is a very high provocation. They are nothing like ſo ignorant as malicious and deſpighthful, being deſperate ſworn enemies to Jeſus Chriſt, his People, Cauſe and Intereſt. Yet even the ſpared Remnant are bad enough, as known and profeſſed enemies to the God of Heaven, to whom now they give glory, whoſe glory and honour they never cared for before. O the riches of the glorious grace of God, that he ſhould ſave ſuch as theſe, not only from the deſtruction of the Earthquake, but of Hell it ſelf! Let us exalt this ineſtimable grace, and believe, love, and praiſe, and give glory to the God of Heaven for their ſo doing; and in the mean while, let none deſpair, when ſuch men as theſe repent.

9. They that are the People of God and dwell in that bloody Street, may have hopes, that God will not utterly deſtroy it, ſeeing there is a Remnant that will be ſpared, which ſhall be as the ſhaking of an Olivetree and the gleaning of Grapes after the vintage; is ended. You know what devaſtation God maketh by his four ſore Judgments, Ezek. 14.22. And yet ſaith the Lord, A remnant ſhall be left, and they ſhall come forth p. 47unto you, and ye ſhall ſee their way and their doings, and ye ſhall be comforted concerning the evil that I have brought upon you. Iſa. 6. ult.Isa 6God will not u utterly forſake that Street, but yet in it ſhall be a tenth, and it ſhall return, and ſhall be eaten as a Teyl-tree, and as an Oak, whoſe ſubſtance is in them when they caſt their leaves; for ſo the holy ſeed ſhall be the ſubſtance thereof. God will as it were tithe this tenth part, and conſecrate it and the land unto himſelf for ſome ſignal and ſingular ſervice to his Name. And as God will deſtroy the Microcoſm and little world in that land by this Earthquake, viz. the Sun, Moon, Stars, and Heavens and Earth thereof; ſo he will create new Heavens (as I may ſay) and a new Earth therein, and the former ſhall be remembred no more.

Laſtly, We ſee what a ſhaking world we live in; Let our hearts therefore hang looſe to the things of this world, to which they are ſo apt to adhere. How ſoon God may ſhake us, we know not, and ſhaking (eſpecially of the earth) is in order to the removing of the things that are ſhaken, Hebr. 12.26, 27. And when men are ſorely ſhaken, they had not need to take hold on things that ſhake, and which are ready to remove away from under them; they have need to lay hold on ſtable and abiding things that will ſtand faſt and not forſake them. If any ſhould ſay, This ſhaking may be far enough off from us; Let no man think ſo; For admit that this be not the time nor place ſpoken of, in Rev. 11.7, 8. Yet where there is any thing like it, there will be that alſo which is as like unto this Earthquake.Ezek. …3.10, 13.Ezek 3:10Ezek 3:13 What ſaith the Lord to Ezekiel? If a righteous man beget a ſon that is a robber, a ſhedder of blood, and that doth the like to any one of theſe things, viz. there ſpoken of, he ſhall not live, he ſhall ſurely dye, his blood ſhall be upon him. That doth the like, &c. He doth not ſay, That doth the very ſame. If an Hue and Cry purſue after a ſhedder of blood, and find a man that is very like him, and apprehend him upon ſuſpition, and it falleth out upon examination that the perſon apprehended hath alſo ſhed blood in like manner, though he is not the perſon that ſhed the blood inquired after, yet he ſhall not live, he ſhall ſurely dye, his blood ſhall be upon him: Even ſo, &c. God will never put up the ſlaying of his Witneſſes, though (perhaps) it may not be that ſlaying here ſpoken of, but only the like unto it. There is no ſatisfaction to be taken for the life of a murtherer, nor is there any City of Refuge appointed in the law for him,Numb. 35.31.—Deut. 21.1.-10.Num 35:31Deut 21:1–10 he muſt be taken away from God's altar, or ſlain at it, as Joab was, otherwiſe, the whole land lyeth under the guilt of blood.

You know what Hanun did to David's Embaſſadors, who were ſent to him in meer love and good will. He did not ſlay them, but ſhamefully abuſed them.2 Sam. 12.30, 31.2 Sam 12:302 Sam 12:31 O how was the land of the children of Ammon ſhaken for this abuſe! The Kings crown was taken from his head and ſet on David's, the Ammonites ſlain, Rabbah ſacked and plundered, and the p. 48people of the Land put under ſawes, and harrows, and axes of iron, and made to paſs thorow the brick-kiln. And yet, what is this abuſe of David's Embaſſadors, to that of Chriſt's, which we have lived to ſee? And what will the Lord then do, how dreadfully will he avenge the high and horrible contempt of his Meſſengers? Prepare therefore for times of great concuſſions; perhaps they may prevent ſome of your deaths, if not prove alſo the cauſe of them. Hang looſe (I ſay) to the world, and be in the number of the aſcenders, get up above the Earth, and approach nearer unto Chriſt in Reformation and Holineſs, and then, if the worſt ſhould come, you may ſing Luther's Pſalm, Pſ. 46. And be not ſo ſollicitous about the Earthquake, as about the Aſcenſion that immediately precedeth it; for the Earthquake muſt come, but wo be to them when it comes who are not got above the Earth. It is the great mercy of God to defer the Earthquake till after the Aſcenſion, for the greater ſafety to his people; which I conceive to be a ſpecial reaſon why it is deferred till then; though another may be, That a foundation may be layd for the carrying on the work of Reformation the better, when the Earthquake is at an end.

And it promiſeth well to the Street, that God will not utterly deſtroy it, nor take away his Goſpel from it;

1. In that he ſtill continueth his Witneſſes in it.

2. Becauſe Reformation and Holineſs are aſcending when the Earthquake cometh.

Now therefore let it be the care and endeavour of the People of God,

1. To riſe.

2. To aſcend.

1. To riſe; what is that? To hold forth the Spirit of Life from God; They muſt walk in oppoſition to their ſlain condition; now, they were ſlain by the loſs of ſpiritual life, courage, and activity; therefore they muſt riſe by a contrary Spirit.

2. Let it be their endeavour alſo to aſcend, i. e. to reform, viz, Churches, Families, Hearts and Lives.

And if we muſt thus aſcend, then it will follow, that we muſt not ſtay at that pitch of Reformation to which we have already attained, but muſt yet get up higher; there is a great deal more yet to be done. For perhaps ſome may ſay, Are we not aſcended already? No; we are not yet come to the utmoſt of our Reſurrection, which (as we have heard) is gradual. True; there hath been a kind of riſing and aſcending of late years; for wherefore are the Witneſſes ſlain, but for their climbing up ſo high in their Seperations and Profeſſions? And yet (you ſee) they muſt aſcend up higher; For we are not riſen up ſo high above former times, as we muſt yet riſe up higher above our preſent ſelves; God will not be ſatisfied with our Reſurrection when it is come to its utmoſt degree, but then he requireth alſo an Aſcenſion, which will be gradual likewiſe, unto the time of the pouring out of the ſeventh Vial.

FINIS.

End of the text · William Hooke, A Discourse Concerning the Witnesses (1681)