The Wonders of the Invisible World, Conjecture 2
The Second Conjecture.
That which is, perhaps, the greatest Effect of the Divels Wrath, seems to be in a manner at an end: and this would make one hope that the Divels Time cannot be far from its end. It is in PERSECUTION, that the wrath of the Divel uses to break forth, with its greatest Fury. Now there want not Probabilities, that the Last Persecution intended for the Church of God, before the Advent of Our Lord, has been upon it. When we see the, Second We Passing away, we have a fair signal given unto us, That the Last Slaughter of our Lords Witnesses is over: and then what QUICKLY followes? (The Next thing is, The Kingdomes of this World, are become the Kingdomes of Our Lord) and of His Christ: and then Down goes the Kingdome of the Divel, so that he cannot any more come down upon us. Now, the Irrecoverable & Irretrievable Humiliations that have Lately befallen the Turkish Power, are but so many Declarations of the, Second Wo Passing away. And the dealings of God with the European parts of the world, at this day, do further strengthen this our Expectation. We do see, At this Hour a great Earth-Quake all Europe over: and we shall see, that this Great Earth-quake, and these great Commotions, will but Contribute unto the Advancement of Our Lords Hitherto Depressed Interests. Tis also to be Remark'd that, A Disposition to Recognize the Empire of God over the Conscience of man, does now prevail more in the world than formerly; & God from on High more touches the Hearts of Princes & Rulers with an Averseness to Persecution. Tis Particularly the unspeakable Happiness of the English Nation, to be under the Influences of that Excellent Queen, who could say, Inasmuch as a man cannot make himself Believe what he will, why should we Persecute men for not Believing as we do! I wish I could see all good men of one mind; but in the mean time I pray, let them … Love one another. Words Worthy to be written in Letters of Gold! and by us the more to be considered, because to one of Ours did that Royal Person Express Her Self so Excellently, so Obligingly. When the late King Iames published his Declaration for, Liberty of Conscience, a Worthy Divine in the Church of England, then st…dying the Revelation, saw cause upon Revelational Grounds, to Declare himself in such words as these, Whatsoever others may intend or design by this Liberty of Conscience, I cannot believe, that it will … be recalled in England, as long as the World stands. And you know how Miraculously the Earth Quake which then immediately came upon the Kingdom, …a's established that Liberty! But that which exceeds all the tendencies this way, is, The Dispensation of God at this Day, towards the blessed Vaud…. Those Renowned Waldenses, which … sort of … … all the Protestant Churches, were never dissipated, by all the Persecutions of many Ages, till within these few years, the French King and the Duke of Savoy Leagued for their Disspation. But just Three years and half after the scattering of that Holy people, to the Surprise of all the world, a Spirit of life from God is come into them; and having with a Thousand Miracles Repossessed themselves of their antient Seats, their Hot Persecutor is become their great Protector. Whereupon the Reflection of the Worthy person, that writes the story is, The Churches of Piemont, being the Root of the Protestant Churches, They have been the first Established; the Churches of other places, being but the Branches, shall be Established in due time, God will deliver them speedily, He has already delivered the Mother, and He will not long leave the Daughter behind: He will Finish what he has Gloriously begun!