Antichrist Stormed, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI. Shewing the Judgments of divers Eminent Men concerning the Death, Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses, and final downfal of Mystery Babylon; and that in all probability it will be in this present Age: Together with an account of divers strange Prophesies relating thereto, some very Ancient, &c.
HAving clearly demonstrated that the Church of Rome is that great Whore Mystery Babylon, It may not be amiss before we conclude this … Treatise, to give you some account concerning her full and final overthrow, which hath been for … long time the expectation of Gods people, and multitudes of Prayers have and still do go up to Heaven, for the accomplishment thereof; and reason there is for it, considering what a Plague she hath been to the World and Church of God for so many hundred of years, and certainly God will at la… hear that mighty cry of Prayer, and of innocen… Blood that continually is in his Ears, and since the Death, Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses (if rightly understood) gives such clear light as touching the fall of Babylon, we shall give you some brief hints concerning this important and weighty point. The Beast is to continue for the space of forty two Months, and the Witnesses are to Prophesie in Sackcloth for the space of 1260 days, which most Writers conclude to be one and the same term of time, and that by days is meant yea… all generally conclude; and the long continuance of the Beast and Papal power clearly shew, that to be the mind of Gods Spirit in those Mystical numbers Yet a late Worthy and Learned Writer hath said a great-deal to prove the forty two Months are to be reckoned by the Moon, and not by the Sun; and if so, then as he shews the time of the Witnesses wearing Sackcloth is thirty eight years longer than the forty two months, but yet are to terminate together, he concluding the Witnesses put on their Sackcloth so many years before the beginning or Epoch of the forty two Months. See his Book intituled, The command of God to his people to come out if Babylon. Moreover he saith, the time, Epoch or beginning of the forty two Months must be fixed at the cessation of the seventh sort of Government, or Christian Emperors Reign, which, saith he, was in the year 475. and the whole time of the Beasts Reign and Tyranny being but forty two Months, which by the Moon he accounts to be just 1222 years, the period of which will be, saith he, in 1697. And this we will say, he hath doubtless fixed the Epoch or beginning of the Beasts Kingdom more fairly than many Writers before him have done, because all along where the Reign of one Head or Government ended the other begun, as 'tis said, (you know) the King never dies. Take his own words, p. 25.
Thus far the matter is determined according to the Prophesie; i. e. Whenever the 7th King, asserted to be the Christian Emperors Government expir'd, viz. by a civil death, or the cessation of the Imperial Name and Power, immediately the eighth King according to the Prophesie must succeed, and bear up the Roman City in gratideur, and whoever hath born up that City in Supremacy, since that time, must be according to Prophesie that eighth King, i. e. the Beast. Now I appeal to all the World what year that was when the Western Imperial Name fell, and it is known in all History to be the year of our Lord 475.
— For in the wonderful disposes of God, no one hath claim'd a Title of Empire from that City since that year, but the Pope.
I do commend the ingenious Reader to the Book it self.
Now if this be true or can be granted we are very near the final ruin of the Papistry, nay, and from divers other authors, most or all that I have met with, agree it will be in this very age; Peter du Moulin a wise and renowned French Authour, in his book intituled the accomplishment of the Prophecy, saith, from the year 1689. Popery shall fall and go down, but all conclude that the tenth part of this great City falls first, and I doubt not but the providence of God hath brought us forth in the time of the accomplishment of that part of the Prophecy, for that great Brittain is that part of the great City, I see no cause to doubt, and that also the witnesses are risen, or arising, and will soon be upon their feet, is the thoughts of several worthy men, but I being limited to the number of Sheets cannot inlarge as I would do, therefore we shall
1. Briefly give you our understanding, who the t… witnesses are, in which we agree and accord with s…v…i… learned men.
2. What is meant by the slaying of the witnesses.
3. Also some probable conjectures concerning the ti… when slain, as also of their Resurrection, standing … their feet and ascention.
1. 'Tis not unknown to the Judicious Reader what different sentiments there have been about who or what the two witnesses are, some thinking they are the Old and New Testament, others Magistracy and Ministry, others two sorts of Godly Churches, some have thought them to be Moses and Elias, who tho, along time since are glorified in Heaven, yet shall come again and be killed on Earth (which is the most improbable of any of the other… yet the Papist writers and some others of late time… have asserted this.
But we Judge by them are meant Gods faithf… people, called two witnesses, because of the sma… ness of their number, who have born witness to the truths of Christ, all the time of Antichri… reign, or else called two as comprehending both Ministers, (who are more directly intended) and people; also they may be called two, (as so… think) in respect of their twofold Testimony to … true Gospel Ministry and Magistracy; and this th… conclude because called also two Candlesticks, & … alluding to those two Sons of Oyl, i. e. … and Zerubbabel; 'tis evident God calls his people especially his faithful Ministers his witnesses, Ye are … witnesses, saith the Lord, Isa. 44. 8. and saith Christ, … shall be witnesses unto me, Act. …. 8. and Act. 5. 32. We are his witnesses, &c. also called two, because two … the number which God ordained, as sufficient to establish a Truth by; as much as to say God hath …ad sufficient witnesses to bear a testimony to his Word and Gospel, in every age against Antichrist, his abominable lies, usurpation and cursed Idolatry.
2. As touching the slaying of them, it must either intend a natural Death, or external slaying, or else … civil death; now I see no ground to conclude the former, because they were so killed all along whilst they Prophecied in sack-cloath, besides, friends nor enemies would not suffer their Dead Bodies, to lie …buried in the Street for the space of three years and half, for the best of expositors conclude generally, that is the time meant by three days and a half, therefore it must be a civil Death or slaying.
This then I conclude to be intended, viz. near the end of the two and forty months, or 1260. years of their Prophecy the Beast who rose out of the bottomless Pit, shall make a new rally or attempt upon Gods faithful people, quite to extinguish or put …n end to their testimony, and so far prevail as they shall be lookt upon as dead in Law, or be accounted as dead and lost people, in the eye of the Enemy, and in their own sight also, both in respect of the Ministry and Magistracy too. To this effect also Dr. Tho. Goodwin speaks, p. 154, 155. This killing them considered as witnesses, not as men, that is, a taking away of all power from them, of prophecying as they were wont, a general silencing of Ministers, and deposing Magistrates and men of worth, that profess and uphold Religion, &c. putting them out from all places, &c. That the Popish party should again arrive to such … in some one or more Kingdoms, that were formerly a Horn, or Horns of the Beast, or one … the Streets of the great City; nay, and prevail … far, as to have great hopes to work the utter … of Gods faithful people and witnesses, as to rejoy… and conclude the day will, nay is their own, … that to such a degree that she viz. Mystery Babyl… shall say in her Heart, I sit a Queen, and shall see … sorrow, nor know less of Children any more. This … ing dead, saith the Dr. here of the witnesses, … needs be taken metaphorically, and underst… of a civil death, and of a suppression of them, … their cause, And as they are witnesses to be put do… and extinguished that they for a time remain… men dead laid forth by the Walls for dead, and … men in whose Testimony, there is in appear… no likelyhood of a revival, their Enemies has … now got such power over them; this certai… made the great matter of their Enemies rejoyc… that as the Pharisees thought they had Christ … enough, when they got him condemned and cr… cified, and had him in the grave: so these Enemies shall think they have the witnesses do… sure enough for ever; so great, desperate, … helpless in all view, will the suppression of … witnesses be by their Enemies. And this is principally intended in their being said to lie … And oppositely, the revival of them, and the cause, is set forth by a resurrection from the de… this great man hath given such an account of … slaying and lying dead of the Witnesses that cann… I think, be gainsayed, and speaks (tho' so ma… years ago) as if he had lived to see what our E… have beheld actually accomplished in this Kingdom in a few years last past; time is the only opener … interpreter of these Mysteries; was there ever s… …n hour upon the Lords people since the beginning of the Reformation, as hath been in these five or six years last past, both here and in France; if he is right, certainly we have seen the death of Gods witnesses; …nd with this doth a worthy, pious and learned friend …gree in a late manuscript which is come to my …and, and also in his said Papers he speaks of that …treet in which they are said to lye as dead, and al…o of the Resurrection of them as already, tho' but …ately come to pass, yet with that care and caution, that 'tis left to the consideration of the wise and thinking Christian, for too great confidence in matters of this nature is not necessary.
But because some are ready to object, saith he, that if the witnesses are already slain, and are rose in these nations, they think there would then be a far greater appearance of divine Glory, in order to the rescue and deliverance of Gods people in other parts of the World, as well as here, whereas we know that the generality of Christs witnesses elsewhere do yet remain under great Persecution, &c.
In answer whereunto he saith it ought to be duely considered, that the death, and resurrection of the witnesses spoken of Rev. 11. must have of necessity a peculiar reference unto one of the Streets only of the great City, for so the Text expresly tells us, their dead bodies shall lye in the Street, (or in that Street of the great City,) v. 8. which …eems plainly to point unto some one principal Street or part of the Roman Jurisdiction which must needs denote such a Street as where there shall be the greatest number of the most eminent and faithful witnesses of Christ, even are such who have born the clearest testimony against the suppersti…ions, and abominations of the Mystery of iniqui…y, and that have born the clearest testimony, concerning Christ and the Gospel, in the due exercise, and administration of the Kingly, Priestly, and Prophetical offices of the Lord Jesus, for a… reference hereunto it is that Christ values natio… and Kingdoms not in respect of their opulency, … greatness, or vastness of dominions, but where there are the greatest numbers of his chosen Jewels▪ this may serve to Answer clavis Apoc. in asserti… Germany to be this Street; also our French Autho… concerning the Kingdom of France; some one Street we see by the plain words of the text is designed … the scene where this glorious Prophesie was to b… accomplished; (for the work must begin some where; And what that Street should be, but th… Kingdom of Great Brittain we see no cause to doubt which all acknowledge to have been once, one … the ten Horns of the Beast, and where also I thi… we may modestly affirm, there are the greatest number of Christs most enlightned & faithful Witnesses I will not determine, but I suppose there are f… of Ingenuity, but have read and considered t… several convincing arguments, of Dr. Goodwin … Rev. 11. wherein he doth assert, and I think … clearly prove, that that prediction concerning t… death of the Witnesses and their Resurrection mu… of necessity be limited to one of the Streets of the great City, and cannot fairly be expounded as having any immediate reference unto any of the rest, so … doth as clearly demonstrate that the English Juridiction, must of necessity be that street, which … doth by comparing the arguments that are brough… by others to prove that France, Germany, or any other countrey under the Papal power should … there intended with those that may justly be alledged to prove England is the spot where that prediction was to be accomplished.
And now, saith he, if the witnesses are upon th… feet, as I am strongly inclined to believe they are; and am more and more confirmed in my notion in that respect, and that so as they shall never more be flung upon their backs, then I may confidently affirm that it will not be long ere they shall hear a great voice from Heaven, saying unto them, Come up hither; And accordingly they shall ascend up into Heaven in a Cloud, their Enemies beholding them, in which ascent of theirs, they must be conformable to the resurrection and ascention of Christ himself.
But whereas it is objected that if the witnesses are risen indeed, so as to be on their feet, in pursuance of that sacred prediction, Rev. 11. there must needs have been some more than ordinary appearance, of the presence of God in the midst of his people, or at the least in a greater degree thereof than as yet we see.
Ans. I say no, it doth not therefore follow that it must be so: nor indeed it cann't rationally be expected till the time comes of their ascention, for this is an established rule with me, that there must and will be a signal proportion or resemblance, betwixt the Death, Resurrection and Ascention of Christs witnesses, and that of Christ himself. Now as to what concerneth the resurrection of our Saviour himself in his own person, thus we are told, that he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of his Disciples forty days, and speaking to them of the things pertaining to the Kingdom of God; yet for ought as appears to us, he appeared unto them in all that time, but as he did before, there was no discovery of any signal Majesty, or visible glory, upon him, more than they had seen upon him before his Death and Suffering; neither indeed was the Spirit come down upon them. And the reason is expresly rendred, because that Jesus was not yet glorified, neither could the glorification of Christ be expected till his … cention; and consequently they could not look … the effusion of the Spirit till then—Wherefore, tho' it is true there is as yet no appearance of any signal glory upon Gods people, nor any considerable measure of the Holy Spirit th… there was before, yet for as much as it is highly rational to conceive that there must be, and will be as clear resemblance or proportion (as I said before) betwixt what passed at the Resurrection of Christ and his Ascention, and that of the Witnesses▪ from hence it plainly sollows, that we have … just ground to expect that abundant effusion of the Spirit which God hath promised (and we have been a waiting for) till we see the Witnesses upon th… Ascention-work. For as it is evident, that th… will be a time of great confusion and desolation upon the Enemies of God, so it is as evident, and we may no less groundedly expect, but that it will be a time of great glory and refreshment unto God… people by the abundant pouring out of the Spir… upon them, whereby Conversion work will swiftly go on and prosper, and the Gospel run and … glorified; to which let me add, why may we no… then expect such great light to break forth, or th… Spirit in such a manner to be given as to convict … Gods Children who they are that are in the true… order of the Gospel; so that all the Saints and Protestant Churches may be United into one Body an… Communion, according to that holy Primitive an… Apostolical pattern and purity. Then saith he, … may justly conclude, that as it was promised of … in the Type, it shall be much more in the Antityp… viz. That the glory of the latter House should exceed the glory of the former, which in the Ty… was fulfilled by Christ's Personal presence ther… according to that promise, The desire of all N…ti… …; and I will fill this House with glory, saith … of Hosts, Hag. 2. 7. Now if the Personal … of Christ in that day and state of his Humi… filled that latter House or material Temple … glory, so that it exceeded the glory of the forther, we may after the same rule as justly conclude, that tho' the Spiritual or Gospel Temple in the first Edition of it in the Apostle's days was glorious through the abundant effusion of the Holy Spirit; that the same Spiritual House in the second Edition thereof in the latter days, to be sure will not come short, but rather exceed in glory, &c. To which let us add the glorious Deliverance promised from outward Oppression and Persecution, which never quite ceased in the Primitive days, together with that glorious Union, they shall have that pure Language, and shall serve the Lord with one consent; together with the great increase of the Church, bringing in both Jews and Gentiles into one Sheep-fold, but till the Ascention of the Witnesses comes to pass, these things cannot groundedly be expected. He also gives some hints concerning the time of the slaying of the Witnesses, as also of their Resurrection, which things he doth not presume positively to determine, but rather conjecturally expresseth himself; the exact time he mentions I shall not relate, but you may conclude he fixes the slaying of them between the year 1680 and 1688. For since the …ime that the pretended Protestant Plot was talk'd …f, and as they said discovered, and several worthy Christians Executed, as the ever Renowned William Lord Russel, Sheriff Cornish, the Noble Earl … Essex, Col. Sidney, and that godly Woman and Martyr Mrs. Ga…nt, &c. What a Flood of contempt, reproach, and what not, hath been (as he …serves) cast upon the whole of the true interest … Christ in this Kingdom, with the barbarous slaughter of those worthy Christians and Witness… in the West, together with that Storm of Persec… tion, which we have no ground to doubt was … ried on by the Popish Enemy, and Emissaries of R…, together with the turning out of places of tru… many good Protestants, and the taking away of Charters of Cities and Corporations, silencing worthy Ministers, &c. nay, striking at the root and whole constitution of the English Government, … thing being designed but the utter subversion of the Protestant Religion, things growing every day worse and worse, nothing appearing but the blackness of darkness, and that which was worst of all many of Gods witnesses seemed to be strangely despirited, whilest others truckl'd to the Enemi… yoak, suffering Chapels to be erected for Popery and Cursed Mass Priests, and Jesuites; and that to… in many of the chief of our Cities, nay, in famo… London it self, and that in the very Heart of it. O… state seeming desperate and hopeless in the view … all at home and abroad, many good men basely misled, joining in with them unawares, in carry… on the design of this Whore, in this her great … last attempt, wherein she doubted not but to … all the Hereticks under her Foot, and utterly to extirpate the Protestant Religion, such a death … face of things never sure appeared, before this ho… and power of darkness, and it was strangely pr… ged, as many feared, by that lightening before … in 1678. upon the discovery of the Popish … when our hopes were raised by that great zeal … our brave English Parliaments, against the Pa… and Popish Religion, most thinking at that … our morning light appeared to break forth, & the … terness of death was over, but lo what a sudden ch… did we see? how was our light turned into dark… and our joy to sorrow and lamentation, and … …oy and triumph attended our Popish Enemies? what …ingings of Te deum at Rome, and in all Popish Countreys, and sending gifts one to another, for joy that these witnesses of Christ were overcome, and …aid by the walls, and their testimony and spirits gone in this Kingdom, which was always a terror to the Popish Church, together with that wonderful success they had about the same time over the Protestants, & Turks in Hungary, that Kingdom being restored to her too? these things made her doubtless to say …n her Heart, I sit a Queen, &c. But as God foretold, the …eople of the Nations, (viz.) the neighbouring Nations would not see nor indure to see the dead bodies …f Gods witnesses, and people put into Graves, … for their eyes were upon us, before they appeared) for our help, and the fear of them doubtless …id prevent under God our Enemies, from attempting that which we may conclude they longed to be ….
The worthy Gentleman I mentioned before, …ells us that he was so much the more strengthned in …is opinion in respect of the death and resurrection of the witnesses from a threefold testimony.
The first is that of Socrates, who in his Ecclesiastical History, affirmed that such things did appear in …ch a year (which he mentioned) that gave him …use to conclude there to begin the Epoch or beginning of the 1260 years of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth, viz in the year 426 which brings …wn the said time of the slaying of the witnesses, …ft to the same year he speaks of, which if he was …ght, the witnesses must now be risen and upon …eir feet.
The second was, Mr. William Alleine whose …count brings the great things down to the very …ne year.
Third, Mr. Bright-man, he says, also affirms that about the self same year Antichrists Kingdom should expire.
And our Author looking for these great revolutions just at that time, and now perceiving them (to appearance) come to pass, as he says, it may be easily supposed, could not but be filled with joy, besides intimates, he still continues in a hopefulness of expectation, that the present work will go on, & sol hope it is with us all, for that God who hath begun to work such a miraculous and blessed work w… perfect it, he that hath shewed us such things, w… yet shew us greater, and certainly the present work of God in this Nation, is the admiration of all the Nations round about, and strikes terror into the Hearts of all the Lords Enemies; And in particular makes the French King to have other thoughts, th… he had a few months ago, and we hope his time … at hand to drink of the cup of divine vengeance.
Dr. Goodwin speaking, p. 172. of the resurrecti… of the witnesses, saith, that whereas through a forced consent and yielding, the Popes power … again been entertained by that tenth part of … City for the killing the witnesses; they now … cast off that power, with a mighty commotion … insurrection, and so proceed to ruin the oppo… party unto the witnesses, who were the instruments of that former slaughter, of which p… the remnant unslain do, as men affrighted, g… glory to God, and turn back again to embrace th… truth, and acknowledge God to be in these witnesses and in their cause.
So that although this may and shall end in … ruin of Rome, (which is the highest effect of … fifth Vial) (for this Resurrection and Ascen… of the witnesses, are truly the preparation unto … yet this other passage of the Earth quake, &c. … here is said to be the same hour with their rising, is rather to be understood of the means, or thing making way unto that their Resurrection, so that this Insurrection, or rising of the people in the tenth part of the City, (which is meant by the Earth quake) is the preparation unto their resurrection, which ends in the ruin of Rome, the scope of the holy Ghost here, being to shew, what did properly and peculiarly concern the rising of the witnesses, as the means to it; yet so as still this Earth-quake here, and fall of the tenth part of the City, are reducible unto that fifth Vial, as a degree unto it; and so that fifth Vial may also be ultimately intended in this passage, recorded of the witnesses rising, as the preparation unto it; thus in the interpretation of the Vials, I shewed that there may be many sprinklings of the same Vial, both long before it come to its foreign & vigour, & also after; all which are, notwithstanding, to be reduced unto that Vial of the kind whereof they are, or unto which they are either preparations or appendixes.
1. By the tenth part of the City, I understand as Mr. Brightman before me, some one tenth part of Europe, which as it all once belonged to the Jurisdiction of the City of Rome, (and is in this book called ten Kingdoms) so now again, upon the Gentiles, or Idolatrous Papists, their recovering the outward court shall now at last, more or less come under the Jurisdiction of that City, but especially, or at least this tenth part of it here intended, where most faithful witnesses shall be …ound, and where most of them shall be triumphed over and slain, shall during these three years and a half, become a part of the City again; and so is …lled a tenth part of the City; City being put …ere (as it often is in this book) for the extent of the jurisdiction of the City of Rome, which had these ten European Kingdoms by Charter allotted unto it, Chap. 17. and unto which these Kingdoms are a second time to agree, to give up their power in one of which ten, or in the tenth part of the whole, the witnesses shall first begin to rise; and therein shall this Earth quake accompany their resurrection; this tenth part of the City may perhaps be all one with that Street of the City, mentioned v. 8.
2. By the Earth-quake here which is said to be a great one, is meant, as still in this book it is, a great concussion or shaking, of States, Poli…ique, … Ecclesiastical, for of either, or of both, it is used thus under the sixth seal, the great alteration wrought in the Roman Empire, when it turned from Heathenism to Christianity, brought abo… by the power of Constantine, with the depo… those Heathenish Emperors, Captains, and altering the face of the Empires Religion, is called … Earth-quake, Chap. 6. so that the like mighty commotion, with an alteration of the face of things (either civil or ecclesiastick) shall fall out in a tenth part of the City, and shall accompany or usher … this rising of the witnesses.
3. Now by, and through this Earth quakes falling thus out, in a tenth part of the City, this tenth part of it is so shaken that it falls; that is, ceased to be a part of the City, or to belong unto its Jurisdiction any longer; or, which is all one, falls of (as we say) from being of the number of those th… give their power to the Beast, which if it prove … be any of the Protestant States, that should yet again (as was said) embrace the Beasts power, and come under his Jurisdiction, or in order to … bringing in again of the Popes power, should … these witnesses, and so thereby become a part … that City, and be reckoned pertaining unto its Jurisdiction; yet now revolting from under the power of this City, and recoiling again through this Earth-quake, it may truly be said to fall; namely, quâ Urbis pars est, as it is a part of the City which it before was, but now ceaseth to be, it now utterly renouncing either to belong to its Jurisdiction, or to be of its party any longer, and as Earthquakes are from inward motions in the bowels of the Earth, so this here may seem to rise from within that Kingdom it self, whether thro' the supream Magistrates beginning to hate the Whore, as the promise is, Chap. 17. or the peoples abominating the cruelty and contempt put upon the Witnesses and their cause; their Consciences having been enlightned in the truth, while themselves were troden under as the outward Court, by these Gentiles, and so they come to shake off that Yoke, and the Witnesses having a Spirit of life now come into them, these take heart, and join with them and their cause: whether (I say) through the working of either, or both of these, I cannot determine, but I think through both; for the ruin of the City (unto which this is at least the preparation) is to be effected, through Gods changing one of the ten Kings Hearts so to hate the Whore, as to eat her flesh, and burn her with fire. Chap. 17. And this voice speaking unto the witnesses out of Heaven, Mr. Mede conjectures to be that supream authority, with which the people also shall joyn: for an Earth-quake certainly notes out a commotion in the people and nations. Thus far the Doctor.
Now that which is said to be previous to the slaying of the Witnesses, is the War which the Beast would make against them when they were about finishing their Testimony in Sackcloath or in the end of the 1260. days or years, which plainly implys two things.
First, That about that time (as the Doctor intimates) the Beast that rose out of the Bottomless Pi…, viz. the Papal power, would recover strength again in this Nation or that tenth part of the City called also a Street where the Witnesses should be …ain and lie dead.
Secondly, Make War against them with all imaginable power, craft and policy that Hell could afford, endeavouring utterly to root out Gods faithful Witnesses or Protestant Interest; now have not we seen these things which the Dr. hath upon this account writ? is it not evident that things in England, have for many years last past been carryed on by the Papal Power, not only in the late Kings reign, but also before? have not we seen a strange Spiritual War managed by Popish councils, Priests and Jesuits, and had they not very far prevailed? Yea so far, as to the killing of Gods Witnesses, (according to what the Dr. saith is meant thereby) how much different hath the late times of trouble been to former days? What a base compliance with the Antichristian party have we seen? What a strange dispiriting of godly people, nay, and Ministers too? Never sure such a civil death in every respect, hath been seen nor known before this hour.
Now as to the witnesses standing on their Fee…, saith the Dr. p. 170. First, As men erect, and taking Heart, their cause being just, tho' before condemned. Secondly, As ready to defend it, and as men able and resolved now to confront their Enemies, which strikes a mighty dread into their guilty Consciences; great fear fell upon them that saw them, their Hearts begin to sink and die, at the Witnesses first beginning to live, and have not we seen somewhat much like this? what a strange Spirit do we see now, in all sorts of Protestants against the Whore or Antichristian party, both here and in Scotland also? More especially, as touching the Ascention of the Witnesses, they shall hear a voice, Come up hither, it certainly signifies some more glorious Church State, and restoration of the Primitive Purity, that shall attend the Saints and Church of God, and when that comes to pass, may be such a measure of the spirit may be given, as to unite all Faithful and Godly Protestants into one Body and Communion, and then the Spouse or Church of God will come forth out of the Wilderness, as terrible as an Army with banners, Cant. 6. 4.