Antichrist Stormed, Chapter 7

Antichrist Stormed · Chapter 7

p. 153CHAP. VII. Shewing the Judgment of divers Learned Me… upon the pouring out of the seven Vials, particularly Monsieur Jurieu a late French Writer; as also Dr. Goodwin, Mr. Canne, &c. Proving that none of the seven Vials are yet poured out, and Monsieur Jurieu's Arguments answered, &c. Together with an answer to what he says of the slaying of the Witnesses, and that by the Street is not meant the Kingdom of France.

THus I have given you a brief account of the Judgment and Opinion of divers Worthy and Learned Men concerning the ri…e and ruin of Antichrist and Mystery Babylon; together with the Death▪ Resurrection and Ascention of the two Witnesses, which is left to you to receive or reject according to your own conceptions and understandings, according p. 154to the Light and Knowledge God hath given you of these great Mysteries;—There is one thing more I shall speak to, and a little further open, which is a matter of great Importance to understand, in order to the finding out the final overthrow of the Papal Power and ruin of Antichrist, which is that of the seven Vials, and last Plagues spoken of Rev. 16. It seems not a little strange to me, to see how exceedingly the learned and most renowned Expositors, differ about the time of the pouring out of the Vials, some concluding they are all already poured forth, others that there are only the first three poured out, and some others affirm there is not one of them as yet poured forth, but do believe they shall all be poured out under the seventh Trumpet, which contains the third wo, and will effect the utter overthrow of the Beasts Kingdom, and the setting up the Kingdom of Jesus Christ, we shall therefore give you some brief hints of what most of our late Interpreters have said, in respect of this matter; & in order to the doing of this, it is not amiss to note unto you, the three several periods spoken of in the Book of the Revelations, which seems to me to be a Key to open most of those deep Mysteries contained in that wonderful Prophecy.

First, The Seven Seals. Second, The Seven Trumpets. The Third, The Seven Vials or seven last Plagues.

Expositors generally all agree that the six first Seals contained those Judgments of God, executed upon the Heathen or Pagan Emperours, which fell out and was wholly accomplished in the space of three hundred, or three hundred and ten years or thereabouts after Christ, and so (as some conceive) brought in the first Wo.

The seventh Seal (according to the late famous Peter Jurieu, a French Writer, and some others) produced p. 155or brought in the Seven Trumpets,Pet. Jurieu accom. Prophe. p. 37. and brings the events even to the last Judgments, the first Trumpet not being sounded until the seventh Seal was opened, so that these Seven Seals, as he observes, are like six Branches, that shoot forth from the Body of a Tree, with a seventh great Branch, which it self became a great Arm, and shoots forth into seven other Branches (which are the seven Trumpets).

Secondly, The six first Trumpets contain the Judgments of God upon the World under the Arian Apostate Persecuters, and the bringing in the Antichristian state, i. e. the Beast or man of Sin, and Mystery Babylon, with the Mahometan Monarchy, together with the death or slaying of the Witnesses of Christ, which lasteth for a long series of time, at least as some conceive 1300 and odd years and compleats the second Wo.

Thirdly, The seventh Trumpet, some wise and understanding men of late do conclude, produces the seven Vials and seven last plagues, which they do not think any of them as yet are poured forth, but will gradually effect the utter overthrow of the Papal Church containing the intire Judgments or wrath of God upon the Beast and Babylon, and therefore called the seven last Plagues, and so let in the Third Wo. Upon the Antichristian World, and brings in the glory of the latter day or Kingdom of Christ; if this may be admitted, we may very well say that the Seven Seals contained in them the whole events of things from the time that St. John received his Revelation to the end of all Gods Mysteries there spoken of; but then you must observe the rule we have noted, and this seems to me the clearest and best exposition, I can arrive to the knowledge of, who have laboured, according to that light and understanding p. 156God hath given me, to find out the Mysteries contained in this Book, for near 30 years last past, though I dare not be positive that none of the Vials are yet poured out knowing what has been said by our able expositers to the contrary; some of which I shall here mention, and their arguments upon which they build their conceptions; amongst those that say the three first Vials are poured forth, are these following.

First, Mr. Joseph Mede, Dr. More, Du Moulin, Mr. Durham, De Launay, Dr. Goodwin and many others; the first Vial, they say, was poured forth by the faithful Ministers of Christ, at the first reformation before Luthers time, and that grievous sore that fell upon the Antichristian state, was the discovery of the abominable Idolatry of the Romish Clergy; together with that hatred of them, for their odious & impure lives.

The Second Vial some of them affirm, was poured forth by the Preaching of Luther, and those worthy Witnesses of Christ in his days.

The Third Vial was poured forth, according to their Judgments, by other worthy Ministers signified by the third Angel, who rose up in the Church after Luthers time, who in some things had more light; and partly also by laws made against Popery in the days of Queen Elizabeth, &c. Mr. Mede and Dr. More seem to agree in this, as likewise do our late Annotators, read them on Rev. 16.

The Fourth Vial, they, as well as Dr. Goodwin, seem to hint we are under, which is said to be poured forth upon the Sun, which the Dr. concludes p. 99. to mean either the Emperor, or King of Spain, or both, they being of the same house of Austria, Mr. Parkins long before hinted that by the Sun, did mean some Protestant Prince in Germany who should have some of this Vial poured forth upon him by the Popish party, but being provoked thereby afterwards p. 157he should rise again, and like the Sun scorch them with his heat, but the Dr. rather inclines to Mr. Mede and Dr. More.

But to proceed, our late French Author Peter Jurieu, positively affirms that six of the Vials are already poured forth, and that we are under the seventh, which will effect the final ruin of the Papistry or Church of Rome, (if I mistake him not) one reason why he doth thus believe, is because the Vials signifie seven periods of time, which ought to be distinguisht one from another, 2 part p. 68, 69. as the seven Seals and seven Trumpets did signify, seven periods, which succeeded one another; and he concludes that the periods described by every Vial, are each of them more than one age, so that, saith he, if there is but two or three of them yet to be poured out, we shall have four or five hundred years to come, before Antichrists Kingdom comes to an end, which I do not find him to give any convincing demonstration to make appear, tho' I cannot but say he seems to be a person of good understanding in many respects, touching these great Mysteries, contained in the Book of the Apocalypse moreover he distinguishes between the Vials and Plagues, viz. saying the Vial signifies the Period of time, the Plague signifying the Judgment of God, which falls out during the Period, which if it be granted, yet why must every Period contain a 100 years, or at least (as he intimates) 50 years, orSee his preface, advice to all Christians. 70? the first Plague of the 7. he fixes to the 10 Century, in respect of the dismal corruption of the Popedom in that age, p. 79. the first Vial was poured out, saith he, upon the Earth, i. e. upon the whole Globe, for Earth contains both dry and moist; the corruption of manners was spread over the Head and the Members, over the whole Papal seat, and p. 158all its subjects, but, saith he, the Second Vial is poured out only upon the Waters, the Sea and Rivers, i. e. upon the people of the Antichristian Empire, or upon the different Nations, Tribes and Languages,—the Waters of the Sea were turned into Blood, and every living Soul died. What more native and lively representation, saith he, could have been made of the rage of the Croisades? In all Languages and in all sorts of stile, a Sea of Blood, Rivers of Blood, streams of Blood, signify a very great slaughter. Now the proper character of the Croisades is slaughter, Murther, which falls not upon the head of the Antichristian Empire, but upon the people, all was turned into Blood. Never was there such a prodigious effusion of Blood in the Sea, i. e. among the peoples, in the first Croisade, there died more than 2 Millions of men in 3 or 4 years; 'tis evident that God did lead these wretched creatures as it were to the shambles, that they should find the punishment of their crimes: he took so great a quantity of Blood, that he might cure the Ulcers of Christendom, for that he might purge it of that vast rabble, he permitted the Devil to inspire them, either with such sottish superstition, or an extravagant ambition, that they must go and deliver the Holy-land, or go and conquer Kingdoms in the East, this Plague lighted only on the Sea, not at all on the dry land, upon the subjects of the Popedom, not at all upon the Popes. On the contrary, the Popes Improve that evasion to greaten their power, to plunder whole Countreys, to make Generals of Armies, to act as soveraign Monarchs, and to lay a heavyer yoke upon Kings, whom they ordered to march, and sent them as their slaves into the East, and during their absence plundered their Kingdoms.

We must not, saith he, imagine that all the Plagues laid down by St. John, must tend to the p. 159ruin of the See of Rome, or to the diminution of its power; for some are to light upon the head of that Empire, to crush it, others upon the people to punish them, because they worship the Beast, the Plague of Blood and Slaughter is for the people.

This Plague of Croisades, saith he, is divided into two Plagues, because of its long duration, for it lasted 200 years, from the end of the eleventh age, until the end of the thirteenth, this he Judges the time of the 2d. Vial and Plague.

The third Vial or Plague, fell upon the Rivers or lesser Waters, which he fixes upon some particular nations, as of France under the conduct of St. Lewis.

The fourth Vial poured out on the Sun, 'tis known and confessed saith he, of all who know any thing of Prophecies, Dreams and Visions, that the Heavens, the Sun, the Constellations, and the Stars, are Emblems of Dignity and Grandeur on Earth, &c. The Sun does always signify the Soveraign, the Stars inferiors Magistrates, and so by the Sun under the 6th Seal, 'tis always understood the fall of the Pagan Empire; that the Antichristian Kingdom is treated of here saith he, is generally agreed to: therefore it cannot be doubted that the Sun is the Soveraign of this Kingdom.

And he fixes upon the increase of Antichrists authority and power, in the thirteenth and fourteenth Centuries to be meant hereby, when the Sun by his excessive & scorching heat, i. e. the Pope by his usurpt authority tyrannized over Kings and Emperors, p. 89. deposing, and taking away their Crowns, &c.

The fifth Vial and Plague poured on the feat of the Beast, he affirms with other Writers to mean the City of Rome; and when was it that this Vial of Gods wrath fell upon the seat of the Beast, i. e. Rome? it p. 160was, saith he, when Rome lost its Sun (which is spoken of in the foregoing Plague) i. e. the Pope, the Papal Court, that like a Gulf or Whirl-pool, drew to it all the riches of the Kingdoms of Europe. In the year 1305. Clement the V. left Rome to go to Avignon, the City that was Mistress of the World then became desolate,—when its Masters kept their seat at Avignon, p. 94.

The sixth Vial and Plague he affirms are the Turks who pass over the Bosphorus and invade the Greek and Latin Empires; at this I can't a little wonder, because most expositors conclude, and I think with good reason, that the rise and increase of the Turkish Monarchy began under the sixth Trumpet, and not only so, but because 'tis said the Angel poured forth his Vial upon the great River Euphrates, and (mark) the Water thereof was dryed up, &c. which seems to intimate the decay and wasting of the Turkish power, and not the increase of it, but he would have us understand the Kings of the East, to mean the Turks, and not Euphrates, p. 200, 201. the time that this Vial was a pouring forth, he says, was about 125 or 130 years, viz. from 1390. until 1526. by this he must believe the Battel of Arma-geddon is long since past, which he runs into a mystery by shewing that Arma-geddon signifies a cutting off by a Curse or Excommunication, which he applys to the Orders, Laws and false Oracles of the Popedom and the Antichristian head,—there is, saith he, 'tis known, a Curse and a Arma-geddon at the end of every Canon. The seventh Vial and Plague he affirms was by the Preaching of Luther, and other reformers by which the Latin Church was divided into three parts, Papists, Lutherans and Reformed, I suppose he means the Calvinists; the Voices, and Thunders, and Lightnings, that are said to be under the seventh Vial, mean, he says, the Voices of Preachers, who labour'd in p. 161the reforming the Church, page 217.

The great City he affirms is the Antichristian Kingdom, and this City under the pouring forth of the seventh Vial, is said to be divided into three parts, this, he says, is exactly come to pass, i. e. one part remained with Antichrist, one part did separate from him, under the name of the Ausburge confession A third part did separate under the confession of those who are barely stiled the Reformed; Sweden, Denmark, and a great part of Germany, make the second part, England, and the united Provinces, the reformed part of France, and part of Germany, make the third part; these, saith he are the three grand parts, that divide the western Church which is the great City.

Let this be attentively minded, saith he, for I affirm that this passage does as it were speak with a Tongue, & is able alone to convince, that our Systeme of the seven Plagues is most undoubted truth; this division of the great City into three parts, so clearly points out the three communions of the Latin Church, that to deny it can proceed only from unreasonable passion, and opinionativeness. And if we have hit upon the truth in this point, we have done so in all; for if this character of the seventh Plague is true, and is already accomplisht, all other Plagues are also accomplisht; and if they are accomplished, I do boldly affirm they cannot be applied to any other effects than those to which we have applied them.

He further shews that England cannot make a fourth part, because in doctrine she agrees with other reformed communions, in which she differs from the Lutherans,—p. 220. who refuse such communion, &c.

Thus (saith he) in truth there are but three grand parts, into which the Latin Church is divided, i. e. Papists, Lutherans and Calvinists—and this division is not her utter ruin, but after p. 162she is thus divided, God will prepare to give her the last cup of his wrath which signifies, that the division of the Latin Church into three parts must continue until the compleat ruin of Popery.

This is the seventh and last Vial-glass, which, thanks be toHere I must n…te sith by the Church he speaks of thus divided▪ into three parts, is meant great Babylon or Church of Rome, it f…llows plainly from hence that all these three parts are Antichristian, and but as so many Limbs of the great Whore. God, will in a little time be run out, now we have that we seek, namely, an evidence that the Antichristian Kingdom is near at an end. We need not longer wait for the accomplishment, either of all the 7 Plagues (as some of our interpreters say) or of some of the 7 Plagues as others say—it is done, all is accomplisht, we are at the end of the seventh period.

First, That in the whole explication of this 16th. chapter, there is not the least forced application; the Emblems which the Prophet makes use, do exactly resemble the events set down in History.

Second, that in the Application of these seven Plagues unto the events, every thing does hang together, no part of this System contradicts another; this being supposed, I do intreat them to consider, if chance may hit right in some points, but never does so in all, I say again, that we are at the end of the seventh period; for it ought to be well observed, that there is not one Vial, which is distinct and separated from others, lasted 200 years,—this hath already lasted 170 years, it cannot last much longer, 'tis true, the Papal authority whose beams so scorched men under the fourth Vial, lasted above 200 years, but this was because it was inlayed or jointed in those that preceded, and those that followed. And its particular strict period must be p. 163reckon'd to be only 108 years, which begun at the year 1270, when the Croisades ended, and continued until the grand Schism, which happened in the year 1378. for then began the diminishing of the Papal Authority, and the darkning of the Kingdom of the Beast.

The seventh Vial hath lasted already longer than any of the rest, and 'tis probable, that it must last about 200 years, which none of the others hath done, but we shall see the reason of this, when we shew that this seventh Period, is it self divided into three Periods, i. e. the Harvest, the Vintage, and the time that is betwixt the Harvest and the Vintage, the Harvest is already past, the time betwixt is almost expired, and we are approaching to the Vintage,—p. 223, 224.

He then preceeds to explain what he understands by Harvest and Vintage; which the ingenious reader may guess at, I thought good to cite thus much of this Author for their sakes, who have not his book, it being grown scarce, and also because he is so much cryed up; and lastly because, what he speaks concerning the Vials seems new, nor shall I passover this mans sentiments about the Vials, without some modest reflections, tho' he seems to write with great confidence, in which he differs from most worthy men before him.—

1. It may be doubted whether he is in the right or no, in my Judgment, about the 7 Vials, because it appears to me very clear, that the Angels that are said to pour them out, are brought forth under the seventh Trumpet, to which I find some worthy men agree; which if this be granted, he is mistaken.

2. Because the Angels that pour them forth, are said to come out of the Temple, clothed in Pure and White Linen, and have their Breasts girded with Golden Girdles, Rev. 15. 6. which signifies doubtless a more Perfect and Pure State of the Church p. 164than was in any of those centurys he mentioneth, when divers of those Vials, he says, were poured cut, for till near the time of the coming forth of the seventh Trumpet, the Saints and People of God are called Witnesses clothed in Sack-cloth, mourning as it were for the loss of the visibility, and glory of the Gospel Church state, according to the Apostolical constitution; and are represented as a few or small number of scattered Christians, but under the latter part of the 6. Trumpet, the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven was opened, Rev. 15. 4. signifying (as I conceive) the restoration of the Church to its former glory and purity in a great measure, and that the Witnesses had put off their Sack-cloth, being gloriously and differently clothed, which will not be perfected till the ascention of the Witnesses which will be about the beginning of the seventh Trumpet, for the text says, when that begins to be sounded the Kingdoms of this World become the Kingdom of our Lord and his Christ, Rev. 11. 15.

3. It should seem strange that all the Vials, (that contain in them the whole of the seven last Plagues to the utter overthrow of the Beasts Kingdom,) should be already poured out (save the remaining part of the seventh) and yet so little be done comparatively to the ruin of the Whore or Papistry, or that the 6. first Vials should be so long a time a pouring forth, and so little effected for the ruin of Antichrists Kingdom, and so much should be expected to be done in so short a time (as this French Writer says) by the remaining part of the seventh.

4. And why he should suppose if 2 or 3 of the Vials should not be yet poured out, that the Whore and Beasts Kingdom, must continue still at least 200 years, I know not, for if we should conclude with some worthy men, that none of the Vials should be poured forth to this day, yet why may not the ruin p. 165of the Papal Power, or end of the Beasts Kingdom be near, for tho' it be granted they may have their distinct Periods, yet they may be very short, since God positively intimates his Judgments, for the ruin and downfal of Babylon shall be swift and on a sudden, and as it were in one hour, which certainly signifies but a very short time; besides, he strangely confounds and mixeth the Vials with some of the Trumpets which I can't see any ground to believe, considering the method God uses in this Book.—Moreover at the resurrection or at the ascention of the Witnesses, which finishes the second Wo, & brings the period of the 6. Trumpet, then the tenth part of the City falls & this is all of the fall and ruin of the great Whore or great City, we read of, till the seventh Trumpet begins' to sound. And to conclude with this, I shallPools Annot on Rev. 11. 15.Rev 11:15 say with what our late Annotators intimate on Rev. 11. 15. it seems that the seven Seals, the seven Trumpets, and the seven Vials, are all mentioned, in the same form of Speech, and therefore the seven Vials are not to be divided, some to one Trumpet▪ some to another.

2. Because the seventh Trumpet, & 7 Vials are one & the same thing, nothing being revealed under the seven Vials, which doth not belong to the seventh Trumpet; they agree in their titles of Woes, in the nature of the Revelations, in their objects, both the one & in the other, declaring the ruin of Antichrist; both of them are mentioned as the last Plagues to come upon the World before the last day.

3. All the Vials are of the same nature, declaring but the Judgments by which God setting up the Kingdom of Jesus Christ would ruin Antichrist, they differ in the degrees.

4. The seventh Trumpet cannot declare the ruin of Antichrist unless the seven Vials be poured out p. 166under it, for they shew the means by which he must be destroyed; and so bring in the third Wo.

5. The seventh Trumpet sounded immediately upon the Slaying and Resurrection of the Witnesses, and contemporizeth with the whole course of their renewed liberty, and therefore the period by it must be before the fall of the Antichristian Kingdom, declared by the sixth Vial.

6. The seventh Trumpet sounded immediately after the expiration of the 1260 days, before the end of which, I see no ground to conclude any of the 7 Vials were to be poured out.

Now those who think that divers of the Vials were poured out (as he observes) or shall be poured out before the sounding of the seventh Trumpet say,

That the Beasts Kingdom beginning to fall under the sixth Trumpet, several of the Vials, declaring the degrees of his falling must belong to that; in answer to which we say, it appeareth by all we have in this chap. Rev. 11. 15. that Antichrists Kingdom was in a great measure weakned under the sixth Trumpet, particularly from v. 11. to 13. And tho this we grant, yet they are but some previous preparations to the final ruin of Antichrist, during the period of the sixth Trumpet; but the seven Vials signify the surther progress and perfection of his ruin, which falls under the seventh Trumpet; this being premised we proceed with the Text; It is, saith he, doubted whether these words, are become the Kingdom of the Lord and his Christ, v. 15 be to be understood as being actually so, or now beginning so to be; those who make the sense that they now actually were so, must understand the time to be the last days, or near the coming of Christ,—but I rather take the words thus, i. e. are beginning to become the Kingdom of our Lord, or shall shortly be so; and if none of the seven p. 167Vials are yet poured out, but do all belong to the seventh Trumpet, then when that begins to sound, the little Stone cut out of the Mountain without hands, spoken of by Daniel, shall begin to smite the Image upon its Feet, and Antichrist from that time shall reign no more, but gradually fall and be broken to pieces, and the Lords people take the Kingdom, and bear the only rule in the Earth but the beginning of this glorious Kingdom state will be small, and hardly discerned, as it is signified by the little Stone, and by other passages and places of Scripture.

Just as I had writ this, I met with a book that Mr. Canne had wrote some years ago, in which he gives very great arguments to prove none of the Vials are as yet poured out, notwithstanding what our French Author has with much confidence asserted; some of the reasons Mr. Canne gives to prove that none of the Vials are as yet poured out, I shall give you, being sorry I saw not the Book sooner, and that I am limited to a number of Sheets, else you should have had more of him; his first reason is taken from what Mr. Tilling hast and divers other learned men affirm concerning Rev. 14. 1. viz. that they are Gentile Saints, who stand upon Mount Sion with the Lamb, and is to come to pass after the rising of Witnesses, this being so saith he, (and that is indeed so, he further saith he could give many reasons) then there is little reason to carry the beginning of the seven Vials any higher, for tho' it be the opinion of learned and godly men, that some of the Vials are poured out, yet so that they hold likewise that the 14440 have already stood with the Lamb on Mount Sion, and there is reason and weight in it, that where we …gin the time of the 14440. &c. that there we also take the beginning of the Vials. And the order of the matter seems to make this clear; the Holy Ghost having chap. 14. spoken of the p. 168Harvest and Vintage, that is, what Sore Plagues the Lord brings (first and last) upon Babylon and the followers of the Beast, comes presently in ch. 15, and 16. to shew how and by what means, the Earth shall be Reaped, and the Clusters gathered, and cast into the great Wine-Press of Gods wrath, namely, seven Angels shall come out of the Temple, having the seven last Plagues.—So then, to take the 14440. to be after the Witnesses are risen, and to begin the pouring forth of the Vials before they are risen, in my understanding, is very improper to the scope and drift of the Prophesy, and crosseth that excellent order which the Spirit seems to observe.

2. I do not conceive how the pouring out of the Plagues, and Vials full of divine wrath in any good sense, and according to Scripture use, may be applyed to, and understood of the Preaching of the glad tidings of the Gospel; truly I think, that the publishing of the sweet and most precious Soulsaving truths of Jesus, all the time of the Beasts reign, even 42 months or 1260 years, is in another way, and by other words expressed, and not by the Vials full of wrath; see Rev. 10. 9, 10, 11. and therefore by the Seven last Plagues filled up with the wrath of God, Rev. 15. 1. I understand real and proper Plagues, and not the preaching of the Gospel, either by Grosthead, Wickliff, Luther, Calvin, &c. but rather such temporal Plagues as shall be poured out upon wicked men for despising and persecuting the truth; In her was found the Blood of the Prophets and Saints, Rev. 18. 24. It is not said that the effects of the Vials shall be wrath, or turn to wrath, for in the it is filled up the wrath of God.

3. Suppose it be granted there is a Vial of wrath poured out (which to me sounds harshly) and that Wickliff, Huss, Jeremy, Luther, &c. were the Angels, the question then is, who before them poured p. 169out their Vials upon the Earth; for it is said these seven Angels had the 7 last Plagues, signifying, that there were Plagues before, altho for time, persons, matter, and manner of proceeding, and other circumstances, unlike.

4. I have (saith he) not seen any reason why so much time is allowed between the first and second Vials: Some allow 100 years, others 200, and some more, namely, from the pouring out of the first Vial, to the beginning of the second, and to all the rest not half the time.

If those Vials and last Plagues have an allusion to the Plagues of Egypt, (as it is generally held) then it is probable, when there is once a beginning, they will suddenly all be poured out. Some have observed from History in Exodus, that within the space of 30 days the ten Plagues fell upon the Egyptians; now if (in the Antitype) we reckon a day for a year (as it is often in Prophetical Types) then the seven last Plagues will be finished in thirty years when begun; neither is it to be doubted, but a short work will the Lord make upon the Earth, Rom. 9. 28. when those Vials begin to be poured out upon the Earth, wherefore is Babylon's fall set forth under the sign of a great Milstone cast into the Sea by a mighty Angel, not only to denote her irrecoverable desolation, but also what speedy and quick dispatch the Lord will make, when he calls his Angels out of the Temple, therefore shall her Plagues come upon her in one day, Rev. 18. 8. in one hour, v. 10, 17, 19. i… a moment, suddenly, Isa. 47. 11. why … ought not to conclude her Plagues to intend …ose 7 last Plagues all of them as well as some of them, I know not, I desire this may be considered, hinted it before when I had not seen this worthy writer, for this French Author makes Babylon a …elling many hundred years, which must doubtless p. 170be a grand mistake, these Scriptures considered.

He further confirms this reason and answers Objections, which I have not room to insert.

5. I cannot conceive, saith he how any of those Persons to whom the first, second and third Angels are ordinarily applied, do fairly or fitly parallel and agree with what the Scriptures hold forth; certain it is, none of the Angels came out of the Temple, till John saw as it were a Sea of Glass mingled with Fire, and them that had gotten the Victory over the Beast, and over his Image, and over his Mark, and over the number of his Name, standing on the Sea of Glass, having the Harps of God; and they sing the Song of Moses the Servant of God, and the Song of the Lamb, Rev. 15. 1, 2. All this well agrees with the description of the 14440. Rev. 14. 1, 2. But to carry these things to Grostead, Armachan, Wickliff, Luther, &c. if need were, I could shew by many reasons of the improbability of it; for tho' many of Gods people formerly received not the Mark of the Beast, nor his Name, yet to say any of them during the 42 Months got the Victory over the Beast, or over his Image, and number of his Name, I cannot assent unto, neither do I think their Opinion is well bottomed who hold this Victory over the Beast, and singing the Song of Moses, and the Song of the Lamb to be before the rising of the Witnesses, which is the time of their prophesying in Sackcloth, and whilst the woman is in the wilderness.—'Tis strange indeed to think the witnesses wearing Sackcloth, or in a mourning condition, can be said to sing the Song of Moses, as having got Victory over their Enemies, and yet overcome by their Enemies for the Song of Moses, 'tis well known to be that i… Exodus 15. Thou hast overcome the Horse and his R… der, &c.

Again, (saith he by way of question, p. 16. Why should the Song of Moses, Rev. 15 &c b… p. 171carried up to the times before the rising of the Witnesses and the new Song Rev. 14. 3. brought down many hundred years after this, seems to be against the order of the Prophesie. (2.) The matter of the Song, if rightly understood, is not suitable to any time in which the Beasts reigned; neither, Lastly, Can it be shewed—that ever the Church of the Saints, have had any occasion through any Deliverance or Victory to sing the Song of Moses, &c. I am of the same Opinion, unless it be in these and the approaching days.

6. That none of the seven last Plagues or Vials are yet poured out, nor will be till after the rising of the Witnesses, (does appear) for this reason, viz. because none of the seven Angels come forth with their Golden Vials, until the Tabernacle of the Testimony is opened in Heaven, Rev. 15. 5. but that part of the Tabernacle of the Testimony is to be shut all the time of the Witnesses prophesying in Sackcloth may be gathered from Rev. 11. 1. with v. 19. Hence this Argument might be framed, viz.

No Angel is to come forth with his Golden Vial, till the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven is opened.

But the Tabernacle of the Testimony is not to be opened till after the rising of the Witnesses.

Therefore no Angel with his Golden Vial is come forth till after the rising of the Witnesses.

The proof of this Argument are the Scriptures before, viz. Rev. 15. 5. cap. 11. v. 1, 19. Now if any do think that the four last Angels shall come forth from the Temple opened in Heaven, and not the first three such an Opinion is against the Text expresly, … saith the seven Angels come out of the Temple, verse 6. Neither do I know any ground they have, who think that the Angels pouring out the four last Vials shall have more p. 172Light, Zeal, Faith, Holiness, &c. than the former three had—but certainly there is a vast difference between the state of the Church now, and that when they say the first Vial was poured out, nay, and the second or third too, and none can doubt but the opening of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven points to some greater Church glory that shall be then, or a different state of the Church than ever was before under the Beasts reign.

7. Neither do I (saith he) think, that the effects of any of the Vials (which some suppose are poured out) make good what is said, Rev. 15. 4. For thy Judgments are made manifest, which holds forth to me much more than what followed the preaching of Grostead, Wickliff, Huss, Luther, Melancthon, &c. or the Switzers Wars, or of that of the Parliament in England, for Gods Judgments, notwithstanding what hath been yet done, remain still more dark, doubtful and disputable, especially to the World, than shall be under the effects of the Vials.

For the followers of the Beast, as the Egyptians under their Plagues, tho' they are hardened and repent not, but blaspheme the God of Heaven, not giving glory to him, shall notwithstanding see the hand of God lifted up, and be ashamed for their envy at his people, Isa. 26. 11. So manifest at that time shall his Judgments be, but hitherto no such things have appeared, notwithstanding all the Judgments of God upon them, so dark and hidden, not manifested, have the actings of God been to his Enemies, nay, and not clear or plainly manifested to his own people neither, as it appears by their different apprehensions and opinions about what hath been past, until these very days.

And hence it is also that Mystery Babylon ever, un…il of late (if not still) said in her Heart, I sit a p. 173Queen, and am no Widdow, and shall see no sorrow, Rev. 18. 7. Nay, and also 'tis from hence that the Antichristian party in their Writings and ordinary discourse do stifly maintain, that Gods Judgments have been and still are as much manifested upon the Witnesses, i. e. the Hereticks, as she calls Protestants, and all such who oppose them, as those of their Church, viz. the Papists, however let the Judgments of God be hid or made manifest to them, certainly the vengeances shall clearly be seen and known to the godly, when the Vials of his wrath come upon the great Whore, or when the hour of her Judgments shall come, they shall see it, rejoyce, and all iniquity shall stop her mouth, Psal. 107. 42.

8. 'Tis evident the Witnesses do not put off their Sack-cloth till they have finished their testimony which will not be until the end of the 42 months of the Beasts Reign and Tyranny; but saith he, these Angels which pour out the seven last Plagues or Vials of Gods wrath, have put off their Sack-cloth, and are clothed in pure white linnen, and are said to have Golden Girdles; from hence it must needs follow, as he observes, that none of the Saints of God, in the time of the Sack-cloth state, during the 42 months can be meant by any of these seven Angels, neither Waldo, Wickliff, Luther, &c. for what is meant, saith he, by being clothed in White Linnen? the Scriptures shew it was an Ensign of honour, which great Persons used to wear, their condition and state being changed, Gen. 41. 42. Est. 8. 15. Pro. 31. 22. Ezek. 16. 10. Psal. 30. 11.

The truth is, if we take not heed to distinguish between the Sack-cloth time of Mourning Saints, and the time in which they are clothed with White Linnen, & having Golden Girdles that is, raised out of the dust and set with Princes, even with the Princes of his people, Psal. 113. 7, 8. but confound these times, which p. 174ought to be kept distinct and apart, we shall want that excellent light to bring things to their proper places. I would to God our French-man and others would consider this; for I find those that affirm Luther, Mclancton, &c. to be one or more of those Angels, that poured out one or two of the Vials, do hold that the Witnesses had put off their Sack-cloth, the time of the 1260 days being expired, &c.

But Jurieu denies this with many others, and yet says all the seven Angels have already come and poured out their Vials, and yet in their Sack cloth state; but I can see no reason to believe he speaks right.

9. (Saith Mr. Canne) If what is spoken, Rev. 18. 21. of the mighty Angels taking up a great Milstone, and casting it into the Sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great City Babylon be thrown down, and shall be found no more at all, belongs to the Vials (as it seems most evident) then what is attributed to Grostead, Wickliff, Luther. &c. is far from the works of the Angels, which shall pour forth the 7 last Plagues; Thus shall Babylon be thrown drown, &c. A Milstone rises no more, &c. thus, that is, when any of the 7 Angels pour out their Vials, the work shall prosper in their hands, and not be hindered nor retarded by any power whatsoever. But hither by whatsoever hath been done us, yet upon Babylon she hath not so fallen,—but one while she seems to sink, and then rises again, many Judgments have been poured out upon Babylon, no doubt of that, nay, and some too soon after she got up, but doubtless none of the seven last Judgments hath she felt to this day, every Vial shall effectually do its work, where, or on whom it is poured out, it being full of the divine wrath of God.

10. According to this notion that some of the Vials are poured out, he observes all the Vials may p. 175be poured out, and but a little may be done, for … three or four have been poured out, and no more …ffected; for the tyranny and Idolatry supprest by …hem, did soon rise and spread it self again in the …ame places.

And if so, why may not after all the Vials are …oured out, the enemy rally or rise again, or the …nterest of Christ be suppressed, after the pouring …orth of the last Vials, as it has been after the pour…ng out of the former.

Besides, how can we think the Harvest of the Earth, can be said to be ripe before the set time is come that God hath appointed for its cutting down, which is 42 months or 1260. years? The sin of the Amorite was not fully ripe; or that Harvest fit for cutting down till the 400 years were expired, Gen. 15. 13. and yet shall Babylon be ripe, and the Harvest of wrath come so long before the set or appointed time of Harvest? this is a paradox. Jurieu saith p. 79. the first Vial and Plague, where (sa… I) begins the Harvest, was in the tenth Century which is 600 years ago, and above so many years before the set time of Harvest; for that was before or about the time the Beast was in the height of his glory he seems to assert the Harvest came soon after the seed time; (tho' 'tis true he fixes it on the last Age) this cannot be thought, we must sure make the first Vials the time of the Harvest, and the latter the time of the Vintage; let this be considered, certainly none of of the former Judgments on Babylon belongs to the seven last Plagues, for the dominion of the Beast was not then ripe, nor the Harvest come, but now 'tis near, wo unto the Earth and Earthly Men, the gross body of the Antichristian professors, for they must have the dregs of this first Vial, 'tis poured out upon the Earth, those that partake with her in her sins must receive of her Plagues; many will p. 176be found in her, who little think of it. But again if the Vials be poured forth by the Witnesses Preaching the Gospel in the time of the Beasts reign and tyranny, why do they begin the Vials, no sooner? for there were faithful preachers who bore their testimony against the Beast from his first rise, and so downward all along, and it had much like effects with Waldo's, Luthers, preachings, &c. to conclude with what Mr. Canne hath said upon This account, it doth appear to me that he is right in respect of the seven Vials, not being yet poured out, because the Temple is said to be filled with smoak from the glory of God, and no man could enter in, until the seven Plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled, Rev. 15. 8. If by the Temple being filled with smoak from the glory of God, &c. the Spirit alludes to the History of the Tabernacle, and History of the dedication of the Temple, which was filled with the Cloud of the glory of God (as most agree to,) then here is signified a most glorious pouring forth of the holy Spirit upon the Angels, who pour out the Vials,—and that they must tarry in the Temple (as the Disciples were to do at Jerusalem) until endued with power from on high, Luk. 24. 59. and this may be expected at the Ascention of the Witnesses and not before, for as yet, we see not such a spirit given from the glory of God, and from his power, nor may we expect it until then, that the Church cometh out of the Wilderness as clear as the Sun, and as terrible as an Army with Banrers. Cant. 6. 4. and like Pillars of smoak perfumed with Myrrh and Frankincese, Cart. 3. 6. 7. the Judgment of the 7 last Plagues for the ruin of the Enemy, will be the time of Glory and Salvation of the Church, and by the 14440 on Mount Sion with Harps, &c. Singing the Song of Moses, &c. are held forth (I am perswaded) the ministrations of the Saints under the seven Angels, with the seven Vials or seven p. 177last Plagues, which days we hope are now even upon us, or very near; and that we might let in what light worthy men of different opinions have helpt us to, about the Slaying and Resurrection of the Witnesses, we shall give you a brief account of what Jurieu our French Author saith of them; see p. 241. &c. these words, when they shall have finisht their testimony, must (saith he) not be understood as if the holy Ghost would say, when the 1260 years shall be finisht, for after the 1260 years are run out there can be no Persecution, seeing the Beast shall have lost his power; so that this Persecution must begin and end within the 1260 years, but yet at the end of them, 'tis the ordinary custom, not only of Scripture, but of all men to say, that something comes to pass when this or that is finisht, because it happens when that thing is finished, and very near its end, this is therefore the last Persecution of Antichrist against the Church; this Persecution hath its Characters.—1. 'Tis compared to a War; The Beast that comes up out of the Bottomless Pit, shall make War against them. 2. This War of Persecution must end in a victory over the two Witnesses, and shall overcome them; mark, God does not reckon the Death and Martyrdom, which the faithful suffered for the truth, as a victory that the Devil gains over them, (a very good note) for 'tis said, they, i. e. the Saints and Martyrs of Jesus overcome them, i. e. the Beast and his Emissaries, and they loved not their lives unto the death, Rev. 12. 11. He speaks of martyrs, when he saith, He that overcometh I will make to sit down on my Throne, &c. So that when 'tis said, that the Beast shall overcome the Witnesses, this signifies that he shall make them saint under their Tryals, which thing ought to be well observed, that we discern the singular Character of this present p. 178Persecution that hath conquered and overcome above a Million of Souls, (he means the late and present Persecution in France.) 3. This victory of the Beast must prevail even to a total extinction of profession: there shall remain no more signs of outward life in the faithful, who shall stand for truth, **In this he agrees much with Dr. Goodwin and many other English Writers that the slaying of the Witnesses is not a temporal slaying but only a…i…il death, and it much comports, as we before have noted, with the late dismal days in England.they shall lye on the ground as dead bodies. 4. This murther and effects of this Persecution shall be done in the Street of the great City. 5. The death of these Witnesses must be 3 years and a half, denoting these 3 years and a half 6. During those 3 years and a half, the truth shall remain as it were dead, but notwithstanding, not buried: men shall not dare to make profession of it, notwithstanding it shall be visible the people who are neighbours of them, who shall have slain it, shall hinder it from perishing and putrefaction,—7. At the end of 3 years and a half, the faithful who are oppressed and whose profession shall have been violently suppressed, shall rise again; after that shall ascend to Heaven, and shall be exalted,—8. At the same time, and after the exaltation of the faithful, there shall be an Earth quake, i. e. a great emotion and trouble in the World, and in Antichrists Kingdom. 9. In this emotion, a tenth part of the City shall fall, i. e. a tenth part of the Antichristian Kingdom, shall be taken away from it, and seven thousand men shall perish in this Earth-quake, and be buried under the ruin of this City; that this shall be brought about with some Blood she…, tho' not considerable.—Now when I search after the time, in which this Persecution must happen, I cannot doubt but p. 179this is that in which we now are; after this Persecution shall be over, God will begin to strike those sore blows to destroy the Antichristian Kingdom which must be destroyed with in 25 or 30 years.

That none may wonder, (saith he) that I speak so positively about a thing which seems to be as yet hid in futurity, I intreat all equitable minds to consider, that I have (as I think) with great evidence proved, 1. That the Reign of the Popedom must last 1260 years. 2. That these 1260 years began about 450. or 455. and consequently they must end about 1710. or 1715. This being so, we are but 25 or 30 years from the end of the Popish Kingdom. And if this be so, the present persecution must needs be the last, since there is no probability, that this present persecution being ended, the calm restored to the Church should leave room for another.—For we must allow the space of at least 20 or 25 years, in which Popery shall be attacqued and not be the Aggressor and the Persecutor. And certainly a shorter time cannot serve for the utter destruction of so vast a Kingdom, for it shall not be destroyed in a way of violence, but in a way of perswasion.—Yet he says (it shall not be done without blood and slaughter) I have, saith he, further proved that the fall of this Popish Babylonian Monarchy is divided into two parts, viz. The Harvest and the Vintage; that the Harvest is the reformation of the last age, and the Vintage is the reformation that must be made in this present age, &c.

He then proceeds to shew his apprehensions that France must be that Street of the great City in which the two witnesses should be slain and lye as dead, &c. p. 24…. The bodies of the two witnesses, saith he, shall lye in the Street of the great City. 'Tis to be observed, that in the Text 'tis not in the Streets, p. 180in the Plural, but 'tis in the Street in the Singular. And I cannot hinder my self from believing, that this hath a particular regard to France which at this day is certainly the most eminent Countrey which belongs to the Popish Kingdom, her King is called the Eldest Son of the Church the most Christian King, i. e. The most Popish according to the dialect of Rome; the Kings of France have by their liberalities made the Popes great at this day; it is the most flourishing State of Europe, it is in the middle of the Popish Empire, between Spain, Germany, England, exactly as a Street or place of Concourse is in the middle of a City; 'tis also foursquare, as such a Place or Street of a great City, i. e. almost as long as broad, and I believe, saith he, that 'tis particularly in France, that the witnesses must remain dead, i. e. That the profession of the true Religion must be utterly abolisht, this is already done by the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, and by the enormous Cruelties of the Souldiers,—Pag. 254. saith he we are in my opinion certainly in this Persecution which must extinguish the true Religion for three years and a half; if we will reckon those 3 years & a half from the abrogating of the Edict of Nantes, in the month of October, 1685. The deliverance of the Church will fall out in the year, 1689. And this is absolutely the conjecture of Monsieur du Moulin in his accomplishment of the Prophesies, he hopes that the Persecution of the Church by the Antichristian party shall cease in the year 1689, But in p. 255. He seems to intimate he is not confident it will happen then; one main reason I cite this French Writer thus far, is to give you all his reasons why he Judges France to be the Street of the great City where the two witnesses shall be slain, &c.

p. 181And to gratifie my Reader, I shall also here add something out of Clavis Apocalyptica written many years ago by a famous German Doctor who indeavours to make it appear that Germany is meant by the Street of the great City in which the two witnesses shall lye as dead; but by the way 'tis observable what he says, p. 46. Concerning the 7 Trumpets in the Second period, saith he, from the three hundred ninety fifth, until the one thousand six hundred fifty fifth year of our Lord, where the seventh seal is opened, and seven Angels with seven Trumpets declare to the Roman Empire by seven Judgments its ruine, c. 8. which Plagues have been fulfilled.—(See he calls the Trumpets Plagues.) The first by the invasions of barbarous nations, Anno 395. v. 7.

The Second by the destruction of the City of Rome which first happened by Alaricus, Anno 410. v. 8.

The Third by taking away Imperial dignity in Augustulus, Anno 476. v. 10.

The Fourth by the Abolition of all eminent publick charges at Rome, Anno 552. v. 12.

The fifth by Saracens as the first wo, c. 9.

The Sixth by the Turks, Chap. 9. v. 13. as the second wo.

In the Third Period when the 1655. year doth begin the seventh Angel doth sound, and withal the seventh Judgment is executed upon the enemies of the Church, with the third woe, whereby the Mysteries of God are fulfilled—Rev. 10. 7. Now tho this great Author was mistaken as all have been hitherto who have prefixt upon an exact time, and yet he may be right as to the seventh Trumpet which, he says, brings in the last Plagues, and the third and last woe. But to proceed, p. 69. The two witnesses shall be overcome and killed, saith he, that p. 182is, they shall be removed and thrust out of all Ecclesiastical and Political Offices and Imployments; it appears he understood the death of the witnesses to be taken as we have hinted before, i. e. Only a Civil death, and so too do all Expositors affirm that I can meet with, but now observe what Street it is in his Judgment they must lye as dead in, and that is, he saies, Germany, p. 74. The tenth horn yet remains; Germany, or the German Empire,—cannot be accounted, saith he, but one of the Horns,—(which we do not deny) and a Kingdom, saith he, by it self in the whole body of the fourth Monarchy, this is the Principal Street in the great City, the Principal Horn of the Beast, the Principal Kingdom in the fourth Monarchy, whose head is represented by the City of Rome, this German Empire is called the Street per excellentiam,—because it is the Principal Street in the Empire—because,

1. 'Tis called the Roman Empire.

2. By reason it is as it were a Figure and Image of the old Roman Empire having seven Heads, in regard of the seven Princes Electors, and ten Provinces, in respect of the ten Circles into which it is distributed.

3. It hath the pre-eminency above all other Kings adhering to the Papal State; now, saith he, in this Street we must seek the War, &c. he seems to say more for Germany being the Street, in my Judgment, than Jurieu for France to be it—

But they that read our great Writer Dr. Goodwin, will soon, I am persuaded, see more ground to believe that Great Britain is that very Street of the great City in which the Witnesses of Christ were to be slain and lye dead, than any other, for, as my worthy Friend before cited intimates, God values not nor accounts of People and Nations from their p. 183Greatness or external Grandeur, but from their Light, Glory & Excellency of their Spirits, & Purity; now what Nation or Kingdom is so famous, or has been since the beginning of the Reformation, or hath obtained so great Light as this of Great Britain. It must be in one Street of the great City doubtless, where the Witnesses have finished their Testimony, in which they were to be slain, and lye as dead; and I question whether in any one Kingdom of Europe the faithful Witnesses of Christ may be said to have finished their Testimony as here in this Nation, for by finishing their Testimony may be meant (as some observe) bearing Witness to Christ, not only in respect of every one of his Offices, but also in all his Ordinances. And that according to the Primitive purity of them, which many think there has not been the like Testimony upon this respect born any where else; as also in respect of true Church Constitution and Discipline, and to true Magistracy and Ministry, and to Christ's absolute Authority as King of Saints, and King of Nations, and born in such a publick manner as it has been here formerly and of late; take the Doctors words, p. 165.

And if in this last Combate the Witnesses be singled out as one party, and by Witnesses be meant only such faithful Christians and Professors as do, in respect of their Godliness and Sincerity, hold forth an Eminent Testimony and Witness, above that which others of the croud of the common Professors do, and so not men of Learning, but of Holiness and Zeal, are they who are here said to be the real tormentors of these Enemies: Then surely in that part of the Reformed Churches, where such Witnesses are chiefly found, who do continue eminently to hold forth such a kind of powerful Testimony as holy men (for this is a p. 184Testimony of Holiness, not of Learning.)—surely there especially will be the Seat of this War, and the field where this Combate is to be fought.

Now then look generally over (almost) all the Reformed Churches, and how few of such Witnesses, with difference from the common croud, do appear amongst them; the fire, the heat of those godly men, their first Reformers (which is the thing that should torment these Enemies at last) being gone, and the light only remaining, which gives but a faint, cold and dull Testimony, and which these Enemies do therefore despise. Only in the Witnesses of Great Britain, both the light and heat of Religion have been kept up and increased; and among them only hath the profession of the power of godliness been continued, with difference from the croud of common Professors. (And according to what appears in view) more of such true Witnesses now in these last days (wherein this slaughter is to fall out) are to be found in it, and belonging to it, than in all the Reformed Churches besides; and that, according to the Testimony which they of those Churches (who in these times of scattering have come hither for refuge) have and do give; and surely the place of this killing the Witnesses, must be where most Witnesses are. And so that, that Kingdom may be designed more than any other; as in which also more Eminent are found of those last sorts of Champions, for the Beast who receive only the number of his name, who yet shall be the chief ExecutionersOur times in respect of the late King and his Confederates have sufficiently made this good which the Dr. so long ago hinted.— of this last slaughter.—Add unto this, this conjecture upon Daniel 11. ult. which Chapter from v. 36. hath Graserus, and Mr. Mede in his Discourse p. 185of Daemons upon 1 Tim. 4. 1. 2. applied unto the Pope who is that King there mentioned.—

Now when he shall go forth in this last War in such fury and rage with a purpose utterly to destroy; the main event and issue of that expedition of his is made to be this; viz. That he shall plant the Tabernacle of his Palace between the Seas in the glorious holy Mountain: yet he shall come to his end, and none shall help him, Dan. 11. ult. which the Dr. says he fears that these British Islands are here intended, in that they so eminently above all other places of the Churches Reformed, and with difference also from all others do stand between the Seas, even wholly among Seas (penitus toto divisos Orbe Britannos,) which Islands likewise God hath made the Eminent Seat of the Church in these latter days, and which he hath loved above all the Inhabitants of Jacob.

And in that the Angel there calls this Mountain, in an high and transcendent phrase, yet of further difference, [the Mountain of delight of holiness] or as Junius turns it—[the Mountain of holy comeliness] it seems in some way of peculiarity from others, even in that respect also, to note out a place, which for holiness should more eminently be Gods delight, and comely in his Eyes, where he should have a most holy people, and which he should make a Land of uprightness, where his Majesty and Glory should more eminently shine; which place notwithstanding, for the tryal of the Witnesses in it, God shall again give up unto the power of Antichrist, there to plant the Tabernacle of his Palace or Throne, (or his Clergy, as Graserus reads it) even as a sign Nebuchadhezzar did his Throne at Taph-hannes, when he had Conquered Egypt, as a sign of that his Victory; by the Conquest of which Kingdoms, and regaining them unto him, he shall seem so rooted in his ancient power, that p. 186in hope of all the rest, the Whore shall fing, I am no Widow; and that just before her fall: Yet this prevailing is but a preparation to Antichrist's ruin: for is follows there in Daniel Yet he shall come to his end, and no…e shall help him; which notes out as that this is to be done just before his end; so also that that regaining his power should seem so to strengthen him, that he should be, as it were, out of the danger of ruin, and as for ever secure.

But this his sudden Victory is but as the planting of a Tent or Tabernacle in a Field, not to stand past three years and a half, tho▪ that Party, and their Abettors, do in their hopes think they build for Eternity; but it being of mans, not Gods planting, it shall come to nothing.

I cannot but conclude what this great man hath said, that Great Britain is more like to be that Street of the great City in which the Witnesses should be slain, rather than France or Germany, or any other Kingdom, and also am much persuaded the late times have accomplished what he so long ago foretold. Methinks three years and a half sometimes since expired, looked just like the times he mentioneth; had not the Pope placed his Tents here again, and hoped to have had a setled Throne? and hath not also here been a dreadful slaughter of the true Witnesses of Christ, as we before have hinted? and doth there seem any ground to expect the like again? So that either the time is past, or I hope the Dr. was mistaken, if it be to come it will be the amazingest providence and revolution that ever was in the World; I must conclude we are in a most happy hour, or else there is the most dismal hour near that ever the Godly knew or saw since the Reformation; a little time will shew us more. I can't but expect the ascention of the Witnesses to draw on apace, in which will first fall out that great Earthquake wherein p. 1877000 men of name will be slain, who were the chief instruments in bringing that death and dismal hour upon the Witnesses of Christ, which the Dr. hath most excellently opened; moreover there is one thing more he hath shewed his thoughts upon, that I am affected with, viz. concerning Daniel's 1290 days and 1335 days or years, the first he says begun from Julian's time, which he concluded ended at 1650 or 1656, and that the other 45 years will bring in the Kingdom of Christ, which makes 1335, and that will expire about 1695 or 1701, between which time he prefixeth the Death, Resurrection and Ascention of the Witnesses and the Earthquake, &c. We are no doubt coming towards the end of the wonders, and the Vials of Gods wrath will suddenly be poured forth upon the Enemies of the Church, neither can I think that Jurieu is in the right, who thinks the Papal power, &c. will fall without or with little Blood, for although when the Harvest is ripe there may not fall so many as at the time of the Vintage, yet 'tis said of men of name shall be slain seven thousand; how many of other sorts who can tell? Besides, that is a certain number put for an uncertain; but when the Vintage time comes, the Blood shall come out of the Wine-press, even to the Horse Bridle, by which our Expositors generally say is intended a wonderful slaughter, and under the second Vial, which may take in the Harvest Hour. God gives them Blood to drink, they being worthy of it, because they have shed the Blood of the Saints. Babylon is to be rewarded as she hath rewarded the Lord's people, and must drink double of the same Cup she measured to them, and then what must she look for but Blood, Blood, Blood with a witness, Rev. 16. 5, 6. Rev. 18. 6. For what Rivers of Blood hath she caused to run down in every Street or Kingdom of this reat City.—

p. 188There are two things more had I room I would speak to.

1. To shew how all our Writers do agree that the rise of the Beast was between the year 410 and 455, but most fix upon 450, or near that time, for then the ten Horns appeared with Crowns upon them, who are said to receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast, Rev. 17. Dr. Goodwin saith, p. 63. that by the year 456 all the ten Kings were up. Brightman begins the Beasts Reign sooner by above 20 years; Jurieu saith, he began about the year 450, and will end totally about 1710.

The second thing is to have shewed the nature & glory of Christs Kingdom, which I judge will begin at the Ascention of the Witnesses, for then, as I conclude, the seventh Trumpet begins to sound, and the first Angel pours out his Vial, 'tis certain with the seventh Trumpet, the glory of the latter days begin, and the little Stone then will begin to smite, & will never cease till all the Image power is broken in pieces, and the little Stone becomes a great Mountain, and fills the whole Earth; the Saints must and shall take the Kingdom, and the knowledge of the glory of the Lord shall cover the Earth as the waters cover the Seas.—I am persuaded His present Majesty is raised up to do great things for Christ; and tho' some may strive to obstruct the work of God, and uphold an interest for the Beast, yet they shall be blasted in their designs, and come to shame and ruin in the end; for God is risen up, and his Enemies shall be scattered.