A Complete and Compendious Church History, Chapter 34

A Complete and Compendious Church History · Chapter 34

p. 490The Scripture-Prophecy, Shewing how the Church ſhall be Preſerved to the End of the World. CHAP.

XXXIV.

HAving ſhown How it hath been with the Church from the Beginning of the World to this preſent time, let me now make a ſhort-Inſpection How it ſhall be with Her Until Time ſhall be no more, but turned p. 491into Eternity. A Narrative hereof cannot be Deduced out of any Chronicle or Hiſtory, (either Civil, or Sacred) but out of the Apocalypſe or Revelation, which Book is a Manifeſtation of many Myſteries by the Mediatour to John, who had the Mind of Chriſt ſhew'd to him, that he might ſhew it to the Church what things ſhould ſhortly come to paſs, Revel. 1. 1, 19, 20. and 4. 1. and 1 Cor. 2. 16. The Divine Project of John therein, is a Contiguous and Continued Prophecy of the Churches Progreſs through all Times after Chriſt to his 2d. Comming, as that of Daniel was before Christ to his 1ſt. Comming; both of them Divinely Declaring how God would preſerve his Church in the Worſt Times of Apoſtacy, both under Antiochus before Chriſt, and under Antichriſt after Him, (as is aforeſaid) and that in no Age, ſhall ever the Gates of Hell prevail againſt the Church, Matth. 16. 18. on which both their Books be a Conſpicuous Comment.

I have already ſhewn how John's Seal-Prophecy, and his Trumpet-Prophecy, hath had their Exact Accompliſhment in our fore-going Ages, and how Time (the beſt Expounder of Dark Prophecies) hath turned thoſe abſtruſe Miſteries into plain and legible Hiſtories. Now I come unto the Book-Prophecy that Uſhers in the 7th. Trumpet, Revel. 10. 2, 7. and 11. 15. and the Seven Vials (having the Seven laſt Plagues) which are the ſeveral parts of that 7th. Trumpet, p. 492Chap. 15. 1, 7. Here (for brevity's ſake) take thoſe following Famous Remarks. The (1ſt.) is, The Church of God is always under ſome ſpecial Prophecy, Promiſe, and Providence, and therefore is her State ſo ſtedfaſt and Unmoveable, as the Mountains of Braſs, Zech. 6.1. neither Men nor Devils can remove her, Pſal. 125. 1, 2. The 2d. Remark, is, The Book (which made John Weep) is call'd, [foreign] a Book of ſome Bulk and bigneſs, while it had all the Seven Seals upon it, and the great Concerns of the Six Trumpets within it, Rev. 5. 2. But now, when the Seal-Prophecy was Accompliſh'd in its Events, as likewiſe Six parts of the Trumpet-Prophecy, 'tis call'd, [foreign,] the Word is a double Diminutive, ſignifying a little, little Book, or a very little Book, containing onelyonly the Seven laſt Plagues, whereby Gods laſt Wrath ſhould be filled up on the Antichriſtian-State, and Time ſhould be no longer for him, Rev. 10. 2, 6, 7. and 11. 15. and 15. 1. The 3d. Famous Remark, is, ſuch is Chriſts Compaſſion to his Church and Choſen, that in the worſt of times he leaves her not comfortleſs, Joh. 14. 18. but Secures her (from Swounding) with Soveraign Cordials, as (1ſt.) He gave the Comforts of the Fifth Seal, and the Interceſſion of Chriſt, (giving Acceptance to that Prayer, Rev. 6. 10.) Ch. 8. 3. under the Evils of the former and following Seals. (2ly.) While p. 493the Church lay under the Wo-Trumpets, Chriſt gave the comforting Viſion of Revel. the 10th, where the Churches Redeemer is Repreſented as ſupream Lord of Sea and Land, and that he ſets his Feet (as a Conquerour) upon the Neck of that Double-Beaſt, the Political (Riſing out of the Earth) and the Eccleſiaſtical (Riſing out of the Sea) Limiting the Time, and Finiſhing the Leaſe of that Myſtery of Iniquity, and in the mean time Chriſt keeps his Right foot upon Antichriſts Clergy, and his Left foot upon his Layity, ſo that all their Exploits are what Chriſt (not what Antichriſt) Willeth, 3ly. Under the 3d. Wo-Trumpet, (where there is a Recounting of the Churches Evils both by the Beaſt and by the Dragon, Chap. 11. and 12. and 13. yet ſome Allays of Comfort are Annexed. Chap. 11. 14. &c and Ch. 14 2, 3, 12, 13. and Ch. 15. 3. The 4th. Remark, is, The little, little Book in the Hand of Chriſt, ſheweth, tkat he hath but a little more Work to do in the World after the Seal and Trumpet-Prophecies be fulfilled: Chriſt hath then but a few Things more to Accompliſh, to wit, 1. The Calling and Converſion of the Jews. 2. A bringing in (at leaſt a few more, or) the Fulneſs of the Gentiles. 3. The Pulling down of the Kingdom of Antichriſt. 4. The Setting up his own Kingdom above all the Kingdoms of the World. Now the 3d. of theſe Works of Chriſt (the Deſtruction of the Beaſts-Kingdom) muſt be done by the 7 laſt Plagues, p. 494ſo called, onelyonly becauſe they are the laſt in this preſent Life (or periſhing World) to be Inflicted, though there be far Worſe Plagues reſerved for the Branded Bond-Slaves of the Beaſt in Hell, and in the World to come: The Seven Golden Vials lets fall (as it were) onelyonly the Leaves of the Wrath of God, yet ſo, as gradually to Deſtroy them as with ſo many Hail-ſtones ſhot at them; but the whole Trees thereof ſhall fall foul upon thoſe Reprobates afterward, yet are thoſe Vials call'd the laſt Plagues, becauſe to be poured out in the laſt Age of the World, being the Third Period of Events, as the Seal-Prophecy was the firſt, and the Trumpet-Prophecy was the 2d. Period, and had Plagues therein, Chap. 9. 20. And as the former Plagues Deſtroy'd the Dragon and Rome-Heathen, Rev. 12. ſo thoſe latter Plagues ſhall Deſtroy the Double Beaſt that riſes out of the Ruines of the Dragon, to wit, Rome Antichriſtian, Rev. 16. yet his fall ſhall be gradual, as his riſing, See for this at large, my Diſcovery of Antichriſt, Chap. 8 and 9. The 5th. Memorable Remark, is, The pulling down of the Beaſts Kingdom, which is the 3d. of thoſe four few Works, &c. Herein the Series and Order of the Vials, is very Obſervable, The first is powr'd out upon the Earth, that is, upon the Popes Foot-ſtool, his Stigmatiz'd Slaves, or Branded Vaſſals; This made them Sick of the Devils Diſeaſe, to wit, Malice and Rage at p. 495the Reformation: The 2d. upon the Sea, that is, on the Popiſh Councils, (eſpecially that of Trent) to which Prelats Ran as Rivers to the Sea, and Conſulted how to Retard the Begun Reformation with their Deadly Decrees there, which occaſion'd many to Dye to them, and to Caſt off the Roman Yoke. The 3d. upon the Rivers, their Brackiſh Clergy, (which Corrupt the Sea of Rome) eſpecially the Jeſuits, who have Blood given them to Drink (by the Law of Nations) for they are Worthy, Rev. 16. 2, 3, 4, 6. The 4th. upon the Sun, the Houſe of Auſtria, the Great Luminary of the Romiſh-Firmament, which being Incorporated with Spain, hath given Light and Suſtentation to the Tottering Kingdom of the Beaſt; and not onelyonly ſo, but hath by the Indies Treaſure aſpir'd after the 5th. or Abſolute Monarchy, (as France doth now,) but that Word of God, [There muſt be Ten Horns] Way-lays them, ſo that One Horn cannot lick up the Nine. And who cannot but Wonder to behold how much the Splendour of that Luminary is now Eclipſed by an Interpoſition, how the Legs, whereon the Image of Babel (or Babyloniſh Beaſt) ſtandeth, do now Claſh and Knock one againſt another; inſomuch that the Chriſtian (of France) hath got the Catholick (of Spain) under his Girdle, and at his Devotion; Yea, the Auſtrian Eagle begins to Truckle under him, ſo that the Kingdom of the Beaſt, [foreign] is Darkened p. 496with a Scottiſh miſt, Rev. 16. 8, 10. This makes them Gnaw their Tongues, Blaspheming, (as Faux did, when taken, ſaying, It was not God▪ but the Devil, that brought to light and to naught their Powder-Treaſon.) When the 5th. Vial is powred out [foreign] upon the Throne of the Beaſt, (which the Dragon had given him, Rev. 13. 2.) this can be no other than Rome, for here Chriſt Speaks without a Parable, that then it may be Conſpicuous to every common Eye, which of the Vials are paſt, and which to come, and what Vial we now Live under, is Doubtful; yet this is beyond Doubt, that as the 5th. Trumpet placed Antichriſt in his Uſurped Throne, Rev. 9. 1. (with the Key of the Bottomleſs-Pit at his Girdle) ſo the 5th. Vial Dethrones him, though not Deſtroys him, for the Beaſt is reſerved for a worſe Ruine after his Throne (Rome) be Ruined, Ch. 17, and 18. His Throne or Seat (Rome) ſhall firſt be Ruined: This is ſo plain, both from the Sibyls Prophecy,

[foreign. Tota eris in Cineres quaſi nunquam Roma (fuiſſes.]

And from the Ʋniverſal conſent of all Chronicles, that, though Rome while Heathen was never taken but by the Gauls, but ſince it became Antichriſtian, it hath been made a Prey to all barbarous Nations, and never was Beſieged by any, who took it not; and aſſuredly it ſhall be p. 497taken again ſhortly to purpoſe. This is Confeſſed by ſome of the very Jeſuits, (Bellarmin, Ribera, Alcaſar, &c.) who begin to Prophecy, [De Romae Excidio, & de Papae Exilio.] of Romes Ruine, and the Popes Baniſhment from Rome. Ribera ſaith, that Rome [Non ſolum ob priſtinam Impietatem, &c.] not onelyonly for her old Impiety, but alſo for her late Iniquity, ſhall be Deſtroyed with an Horrible Fire: this is ſo plain and evident, (ſaith He) that he muſt needs be a Fool that goes but about to deny it. Oh that God would put it into the Hearts of ſome of thoſe Ten Kings, to Loath her and Burn her for an Old Stinking Bawd, as is Prophecy'd of her, Rev. 17. 16. Tota eſt jam Roma Lupanar; 'tis now become a great Brothel-Houſe, having this Brand.

Roma Vale, Vidi, ſatis eſt Vidiſſe, Revertar, Cum Leno, aut Meretrix, ſcurra Cinaedus …ro.

Vile Rome Adieu, I did thee View,

But Hence no more will ſee;

Till Pimp or Punk, or Jade or Spade,

I do Reſolve to be.

Charles the 5th. took it, and would have Burnt it, had not his Souldiers been reſtrain'd by an Over-ruling Hand (becauſe Gods time was not then come) in the 15th. Century, Her Iniquity was not then full: And Lewis the 12th, p. 498of France (being Excommunicated by Pope Julius the 2d.) bid Defiance to his Holineſs, and Coyned Money with this Inſcription, [Perdam Babylonem,] I will Deſtroy Babylon. How far further this preſent French-King. (Lewis the 14th.) God may put into his Heart to go, We yet know not, eſpecially (1) If the concern of Caſal (which is the Key into Italy, as Corinth is into Greece) do Revive and Succeed. (2) If France were the 1ſt of the Ten Horns, for which ſee my Diſcovery of Antichriſt, pag. 158. (3) If Rev. 17. 16. be meant one of the Ten, Synecdochically, as Judg. 12. 7. 2. Chro. 35. 24. Matth. 27. 44. the Thieves Mocked, that is, One of Thieves, Luk. 23. 39. So Cities and Sepulchres, for one of the Cities and Sepulchres; then this Martial French-King ſtands faireſt of all the Ten Horns in our Day to do to Rome what Attilas (that Scourge of the World) did, tho (according to the Politicks of France) he be now Rough to the Hugonots, as Joſeph ſeem'd to be to the Patriarks, Gen. 42. 7. His Severity againſt them may be onelyonly to Avoid Suſpition of Hereſie. Hereupon the 5th. Vial is reaſſumed, and further and fullier explained in Revel. Chap. 17. and Ch. 18. in both which the Great Damnation of the Damnable Whore is Angelically and Evangelically Deſcribed; ſhewing with much perſpicuity (for the Earth was Lightned with that Angels Glory, Revel. 18. 2.) how Chriſt will cruſh p. 499the Crown of that Proud Prelat of Rome with a Woe, as Iſa. 28. 1. So that Ribera (the Jeſuit) Confeſſeth Romes Ruine ſhall be Manifeſt to all Men; whereof there was a fair Omen in Y. 1619. when Peter's Image (in Peter's Church at Rome) had a Maſſy Stone fell down upon it, and not onelyonly knock'd the Keys out of the Image's Hands, but ſo Shatter'd the Image and its Inſcription, that not a Letter (of that Sentence, whereon Rome Grounds her Claim) was left Legible, ſave onelyonly, [Aediſicabo Eccleſiam,] I will Build my Church, which might teach thoſe Popelings, it ſhall be done on the Ruines of their Rotten Title. How much more ſhall the Romiſh Religion (which is but an Image, a meer Shaddow and Ceremony) be Broken all to pieces, when the little Stone (cut out of the Mountain (of Heaven) without Hands) doth fall foul upon it, Dan. 2. 35. 44, 45. If Chriſt once fall upon Rome with his whole Weight, he will Cruſh it to pieces, yea, Grind it to Powder, Matth. 21. 44. The Elder Rome is, the baſer, as one of her own Sons (Theodoric Ʋrias) ſaid Y. 1414. ſadly of her, That of Gold ſhe was become Silver, of Silver Iron, of Iron Earth, [Supereſſe, ut in Stercus abiret,] She would turn next into Dung, to be caſt out to the Dunghill; She is now come to her Toes of Clay, which while part of Iron did no leſs than Stagger. When Phillip the Fair K. of France, (not many Ages ſince) broke ope the Gates p. 500of Rome, Demoliſh'd the Walls, Diſpers'd the Cardinals and Citizens, yea, and Doomed the Pope to a Dark Dungeon, and Loading him there with many Scoffs and Curſes: This was Boniface the 8th. in the 12th. Century: And the Realm of France not many Years ſince, was ready to Shake off the Papal Yoke, and to erect the Arch-Biſhop of Burges (as their proper Patriark,) becauſe Gregory the 14th. would not be Reconciled to Henry the 4th. of France, no, not when he turn'd to the Romiſh Religion; And had not the Pope haſten'd his Benediction, the Parliament of Paris (which Burnt the Popes Bull by the Hands of the Hangman) had utterly withdrawn from the Vaſſalage of Rome: Yea, our King Henry the 8th. and the French-King, (a little before their Deaths) were at a point to change the Maſs into a Communion, and to have Rooted out the Prelat of Rome out of both their Realms; and they were ſo throughly reſolv'd herein, that they meant to require the Emperors Concurrence, or otherwiſe to break off from his Alliance. Act. and Monum. Fol. 11 35. If Rome Stagger'd thus at that time, ſurely a cold Sweat ſtands upon all the Limbs of the Beaſt at this time, when his Toes of Clay cannot long Support him; and how far God may Honour this Realm toward Romes Ruine, we know not, ſeeing it was the firſt that Shook off the Romiſh Yoke. However, as ſure as Rome Heathen is Deſtroyed, ſo p. 501ſhall Rome Antichriſtian ſurely be, Chriſt (the true Jehoiada) will caſt this Whore (Athaliah) out of the Temple, and Burn her for an Old Bawd, becauſe ſhe hath burnt the Seed-Royal, put down Kings at her pleaſure, Uſurp'd the Government of the Church, ſet up Altars and Images to Baalim and Aſhtaroth, to He- and She-Saints, and call'd them Traitors who would ſet the Crown on Chriſts Head, then all Saints will rejoyce, 2 Chron. 23. 21. Revel. 18. 20. The 6th. Notable Remark, is, The 6th. Vial brings in Converſion to the Jews, as ſoon as the 5th. Vial doth bring on Confuſion to the Popelings. The firſt of thoſe Four few Works aforeſaid, to wit, The Call of the Jews, which cannot be till Antichriſts Seat be Deſtroyed; for nothing doth Stumble that poor People at Chriſtianity, more than the Idolatry of thoſe Mock-Chriſtians the Romaniſts, (whom the very Turks, for their Image-Worſhip, call Idolaters, and therefore Abhorrs them for their Breach of the 2d. Commandment.) Hereupon Antichriſt muſt be removed from his Throne, before the People of the God of Abraham be Converted. No ſooner is the Euphrates of Myſtical Babylon Dryed up, (the Markets of Romiſh Merchandize muſt Fall, Kings will not be ſuch Babies (as H. 8. ſaid) as to let about Nine Tun of Gold go Yearly hence to Rome by Peter-Pence, &c. and to looſe their Points to be Laſhed by the Pope as they had been, Revel. p. 50218. 11. No Doubt but the 5th. Vial Drys up, and Diverts the Euphrates of Rome, (Tyber, Romes River, being ſo named, as Rome is Babylon, both Myſtically) in throwing down not onelyonly Rome (it ſelf,) but alſo its Riches and Revenues. ☞ Hence may we Comfortably Hope, that the 5th. Vial is begun, inaſmuch as the Heat of that Plague hath already Dryed up many Golden Streams that ran to Rome out of all Popiſh Kingdoms, the Ten Horns of the Beaſt; but now (praiſed be the Lord) none of thoſe Ten Kingdoms, (except Spain and Italy) but they have all (more or leſs) Diverted the Euphrates of Rome, and turned the Vaſt Riches and Revenues (that ran Yearly thither) towards the Maintenance of Godly Schools and Goſpel-preaching; when Literal Babylon had a Drought upon her Waters, Jerem. 50. 38. and her Paſſages were ſtop'd, Jerem. 51. 32. She was taken ſoon after, accordingly Rome (that Myſtical Babylon) ſhall ſhortly be Sack'd and Ranſack'd, this being a fore-runner of it.

But ſtill Chriſt hath the Eaſtern Antichriſt (the Turk) to Tread down Under the 6th. Vial, which produceth Three Grand Effects: (1.) The Drying up of Euphrates. 2. The Warlike Preparation by the Influence of the Jeſuits, thoſe Frogs, comming out of the Mouths of the Dragon, Beaſt, and Falſe Prophet, Revel. 16. 12, 13. (3.) The Deſtruction of the Churches Enemies by Chriſt, v. 16. 'Tis True, all the Vials p. 503do Concern the Beaſts Kingdom, yet not onelyonly ſo; ſome think that the Weſtern Antichriſt (upon the Ruine of Rome by the 5th. Vial) ſhall run to the Eaſtern Antichriſt (the Turk) for Succour, and Gog (the Pope) or Covert Enemy of Chriſt, ſhall joyn with Magog (the Turk,) or the Overt and open Enemy, as the Two Names do ſignifie; Therefore the 6th. Vial is powred out upon Euphrates, or Turkiſh Empire, to Dry it up ſo far, that another Army of New Chriſtians (the Converted Jews) may make War againſt the Beaſt alſo; Their Converſion is Hindred by a Double Barr. 1. The Popes Idolatry. 2. The Turks Inſolency: Now as the 5th. Trumpet brought on the former bar, ſo the 5th. Vial takes it off: and as the 6th. Trumpet ſet on the latter bar, (by looſing the Turk from Euphrates, Revel. 9. 14.) ſo the 6th. Vial carries it off, by drying up his Euphrates or Empire, that the way of the Jews may be open to Chriſtianity, to Canaan, and to the Battel at Armageddon. Here ☞ Note (1) the Jews are call'd Kings of the Eaſt: 1. Chriſt maketh all Chriſtians to be Kings in general, Rev. 1.6. but 2. Thoſe Converted Jews in ſpecial, Iſa. 24. 21, 22, 23. Where (upon their Converſion) they are called Kings. 3. Then ſhall the Kingdom of Chriſt be moſt Gloriouſly Erected among them, Zech. 12. 8. and they Reign with Chriſt, Zech. 14.6, 7. Iſa. 60.20. and 62. 1, 2, 3. [of the Eaſt,] becauſe they p. 504(moſt) live there, in Turky, Tartary, (the Ten Tribes eſpecially,) and China, which is call'd the Land of Sinim, Iſa. 49. 12. or Shinar, Zech. 5 11. (2) That the Jews ſhall be Converted in the latter Age, both Old and New Teſtam. foretell it; this muſt be under the 6th. Vial, for under the 7th. Vial, [All is Done, Rev, 16. 17. both the Myſtery of Iniquity is Aboliſhed, and the Myſtery of Godlineſs is then Accompliſhed. 2. Their Converſion is Deſcrib'd with the ſame Phraſe of Drying up the River, Iſa. 11. 15, 16. (3) The Hebrew Phraſes, (uſed here and no where elſe) as Armageddon, Rev. 16. 16. and Allelujah, Rev. 19. 1, 3, 4, 6. (where the 6th. Vial is reaſſumed and further explained) doth ſhow, that the Jews are come in and joyns with the Chriſtian Gentiles in praiſing God for the Ruine of Rome, Chriſt Commands to praiſe God for it, Ch. 18. 20. the Gentile-Churches do readily Obey, and cry with a great Voice, [Hallelujah,] Chap. 19. 1. This Awakens the Dull Daughters of Jeruſalem, (eſpecially the Voice of the Lamb, ver. 5.) to ſeek their Beloved with them, Cant. 5. 9. and 6. 1. Then comes the Jewiſh Church out of her opened Grave, Ezek. 37. 12. As the Morning, (out of the Eaſt, and after a long Night) Cant. 6. 10. out of Her Wilderneſs: She is ſomewhat Moved and Mollified by the Two firſt Hallelujahs, v. 1. 3. but more by the 3d. wherein the 4 living Wights, and the 24 Elders joyntly and publickly ſounded p. 505their Hallelujah, v. 4. yet moſt of all by the Lambs Voice was ſhe rouſed and raiſed from the Dead; 'twas Chriſt that did powerfully pull the Vail from off her Heart, v. 5. ſo that now ſhe joyns with the Gentile-Churches in the 4th. Hallelujah, to Concelebrate that great Mercy of Romes Ruine, (whoſe Idolatry had long been her Stumbling-block.) Now all the Saints (Jew and Gentile) joyn with one Conſent to Praiſe the Lord, v. 6. Hence 'tis call'd the Voice of a great Multitude of many Waters, and of mighty Thunders. Thus the Believing Gentiles do all they are able to bring Chriſt into their Mothers Houſe, (the Jewiſh Church,) Cant. 3. 4. The Gentile Church was Conceived in the Chambers of the Jewiſh, Joh. 4. 22. And now the Jewiſh Church (after a long Divorce) hath the Robes of a Bride beſtowed on her, Chap. 19.8. that in Conjunction with the Gentile Church, both may be Marry'd to the Lamb; and becauſe Chriſt will not Marry this New Bride, but as a Conquerour, therefore is his Conqueſt Related after the Conquerour is Deſcribed, v. 11, 20. Chriſt Drew his Sword, when he began his War againſt the Curſed Canaanites, Joſh. 5. 13, 14. and he will never put up his Drawn Sword till he hath made all his Foes his Footſtool. The Dragon cannot prevail againſt Michael our Prince, Rev. 12. 8. Here the Beaſt (that bears the Whore) is Taken, (notwithſtanding all his Fraud and Force) and with him the Falſe Prophet, p. 506and both caſt Alive into the Lake of Fire that burneth with Brimſtone, (which is the moſt exquiſite and moſt unquenchable burning) Rev. 19. 19, 20. The Beaſt (in reſpect of his Civil or Temporal power) and the Falſe Prophet, (in reſpect of his Spiritual or Eccleſiaſtick power) makes up one Antichrist, whom Chriſt, as ſoon as he comes into the Field, Conquers, [Venit, Vidit, Vicit.] Catches, Caſts him away with Indignation, yea, comes upon him as out of an Engine, while he is moſt Secure and Inſulting, (when he ſaith, I ſit as a God, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow, Ch. 18. 7.) and hurls him Headlong into Hell, where he ſhall have Burning for Burning; as he hath burnt Alive many of Gods Martyrs with a Temporal fire, ſo he ſhall be burnt alive (himſelf) with Eternal fire. And the Kings (that are Antichriſt's Auxiliaries with their Armys) ſhall be ſlain with the Sword, v. 21. at Armageddon, (which ſignifies a Treacherous Army, or an Ʋnfortunate Troop, or rather, a Mountain of Men cut in pieces, as Siſera's Army was at the Waters of Megiddo, Judg. 5.19.) Revel. 16.16. Theſe are not ſo Deeply Damned as the Beaſt, &c. yet are they made a Prey to the Infernal Vulturs. The 7th. Memorable Remark, is, the 7th. Vial, which is powred out upon the Ayr, that is, on the Kingdom of Satan that Prince of the Ayr, who had hitherto Upheld the Beaſts Kingdom. Now, It is Done, Ch. 16, 17. to wit, the Dragon's or Devils Deputy (Antichriſt, Chap. p. 50713.2.) is Ʋndone and utterly Deſtroyed; Note (1.) the Inſtruments of this Deſtruction, Heaven and Earth Conspire together for that Work, v. 18. (2) The Object of this Deſtruction is the whole Antichriſtian Church and State, ver. 19. the 10th. part whereof is ſaid to fall at the Riſe of the Witneſſes, Ch. 11.13. here the Nine parts remaining do fall in a Tripartite Ruine, This Earth-quake pulls it all into Three pieces, and all Confederate Places and People are either Converted or Confounded, whether Continent Countreys or Iſlands, See Ezek. 5. 11, 12. Zech. 14.4, 5. ſome may Flee away, v. 20. and Chap. 18.4. by true Penitency; but ſuch as remain in their Stubborn Impenitency, Chriſt will Brain them (with bigger Hailſtones than thoſe Joſh. 10. each of them being an 100 Weight, v. 21.) or thoſe that knock'd down the Jeſuits Church at Blois in France, yet marvelouſly paſſed over the Proteſtant Church there without the leaſt Harm, as Exod. 9. 25. or bigger than thoſe which fell here this 18th. of May, which knock'd ſo many Rooks on the Head, &c.) That the Prophecy of the 7th. Vial (poured out on the Ayr) is Reaſſumed in Revel. 20. (as the 5th. and 6th. Vials are, Ch. 17.18, 19.) hath the common conſent of the Learned, though many of them do conceive 'tis no more than an Hiſtorical Repetition of things formerly done; yet we may (with many others) as probably Conclude that it is a Prophetick Relation of things to come; Conſidering p. 508(1) the Connexion of this Viſion, Chap. 20. with the former, Ch. 19. 19, 20, 21. John ſaith [And (or Afterwards) I ſaw, &c. Ch. 20. 1. to wit, After I had ſeen the Beaſt and the Falſe Prophet caſt into the Lake, then had I this following Viſion. (2) 'Tis rational to expect the Doom of the Dragon or Devil, after the Doom of the Beaſt, who was but the Devil's Deputy, Rome (both Imperial and Papal) Acting all by and under the Dragon, Revel. 13. 3. Chriſt (indeed) fought with the Dragon and Foil'd him, Ch. 12. whereupon he Reſigns his Throne and Power to the Beaſt, (which did his Maſters work throughly) Ch. 13. till the Lamb conquer'd and caſt him into the Lake, Chap. 19. Till then the Dragon was not onelyonly a Spectator, but alſo an Inſtigator, Hiſſing on the Beaſt to his Beaſtly Work, till he got his Beaſtly Wages, Slaughter at laſt. Now after the Judgement of the Beaſt, comes that of the Dragon, the Maſter of his Miſrule. (3) As the 5th. Vial is Reaſſumed to declare the Ruine of Rome more fully after, Ch. 17. 18. and the 6th. Vial, that of the Beaſt, after that, Ch. 19. So this 7th. that of the Dragon, (who ſet them on work) Ch. 20. for it would be Improper to relate ſo largely the Ruine of the Inſtruments, and to ſay nothing of the Principal Agent: Our Michael hath ſomething to ſay to and do with the Devil, (as well as to and with Antichrist) to wit, (1) Something before the 1000 Y. when a gradual Doom is Executed p. 509upon him: as 1ſt. Chriſt in fury Arreſts the ſame Dragon whom he had caſt into the Earth before, Rev. 12. 9. 2ly. He Chains him up, as Men do mad Maſtives, for a long time. 3ly. He claps him cloſe Priſoner in the Abyſs, which before he feared, Luk. 8. 31. and 4ly. He ſet a Seal upon him, as Dan. 6. 17. and Matth. 27. laſt. that his Range abroad might not Moleſt Chriſts Reign for a 1000 Y. Rev. 20. 1, 2, 3. ☞ Where the Church hath as good Security for a long-laſting Tranquillity, as Chriſt (who keeps the Enſureing Office) can poſſibly give her. (2) Something after the 1000 Y. when he was looſed for a little ſeaſon, v. 3.7. to Engage Gog and Magog (or all covert and overt Enemies) in a War againſt the Church, v. 8, 9. then Fire from Heaven falls upon the Devils Army, and conſumes them in the very Attempt, and the Devil (himſelf) is Arreſted the 2d time, and then caſt into the Lake of Fire and Brimſtone, (whither the Beaſt and Falſe Prophet were caſt before) there to be Tormented for ever, whence he ſhall never any more be looſed to Torment the Church after this: Thus as the Plots againſt the Church did begin in the Devil, Ch. the 1ſt. of this Church-Hiſtory, ſo they all End in and with the Devil in this: The Gates of Hell cannot prevail againſt Her; When Pope, Turk and Devil, are all gone and in Torments, The Church (that New Jeruſalem, conſiſting of the Converted Jews, and Fullneſs of the Gentiles) remains after All in a Flouriſhing p. 510State, and is Marry'd as a Bride to the Lamb, Rev. 21.7, 22. where the Triumphant Eſtate of the Church (after her Militant Eſtate, at the Deſtruction of all her Enemies, is ended) is moſt Graphically Deſcribed, 1ſt. Generally, 1. by things ſeen, as a New (1) Heaven, (2) New Earth, Ch. 21. 1. (3) New Jeruſalem, Deſcending from Heaven, v. 2. and 10. 2. By things Heard, as (1) of Gods Preſence with Men, v. 3. (2d.) of removing all fears and tears, v. 4. (3d.) of making all things new, v. 5. 2ly. More particularly, the Tranſcendent Glory of the Church hath a moſt Exact and Special Delineation, as (1ſt.) her Advancement above all Hills, ver. 9. 10, 11. Iſa. 2. 2, (2ly.) her Dimenſions of Longitude and Latitude, &c. v. 12, to 17. (3ly.) her rich Materials of Gold and Jewels, v. 9, to 22. (4ly.) The Confluence of the Gentiles to this New Jeruſalem, v. 24, 26. Iſa. 60. 3, &c. (5ly.) The Affluence and plenty of all things that may make the Church-State Happy, Typify'd (1) by the River of living Water, Ch. 22. 1. (2) by the Tree of Life, (a Type of Chriſt) that beareth Fruit every Month, v. 2. (6ly.) The Perpetuity of this Happy Eſtate, which is Illuſtrated 1ſt. by a freedom from all Evil, not only from Sorrow, Death, &c. Ch. 21.4. but alſo 1. from Danger, v. 25. 2. from Sin, v. 27. and 3. from the Curſe, Ch. 22. 3. and 2ly. by a Fruition of all Good; as 1. an Immediate Communion with God and Chriſt, who will be 1. a Temple. 2. a Light, (Ch. 21.22, 23.) p. 5113. A Throne (Ch. 22. 1, 3.) to this Holy City; 2. A Beatifical Viſion of both, They ſhall ſee the face, &c. v. 4. As the former Evils had diſturb'd, ſo thoſe Good Priviledges will Preſerve the Churches peace to perpetuity. 3. yea, Reign for Ever, ver. 5. Finally, Thoſe few Remarks ſhall ſhut up the Whole.

☞ The (1ſt.) is, The marvelous Manifeſtation of Chriſts love to his Church, in Revealing to her [the Fata Eceleſiae] all that ſhould befall her in all Ages to the end of the World, this he doth as her Prophet and Mediator, Ch. 22. 16.

2ly. That what Chriſt Revealed herein ſhould be Written [Litera Scripta Manet,] for the Churches Comfort at Chriſts command, Chap. 21. 5. and 14. 13. and 19.9. The Spouſe hath the Heart-love of Chriſt with her, better then Dalilah had Samſons, Judg. 16. 15. and therefore ſhe ſhall know (even out of his Fathers Boſom, Joh. 1. 18.) all that is in his Heart, and have it alſo Under his Hand upon Record, as Her Cordial alway.

3ly. That this Writing muſt not be Shut up, or Sealed, (as Daniels was, Dan. 8. 26. and 12. 4, 9. till 300 Y. after) for Sealing is concealing, but here John is bid, Not to Seal this Prophecy, (as he had the Seven Thunders, Revel. 10. 4.) Chap 22. 10. becauſe the Time was at Hand, and All this he muſt not Monopolize to himſelf, but Shew them to Chriſt's Servants, Rev. 1. 1.

p. 5124ly. This Prophecy is Faithful and True in all its parts, Ch. 22. 6. as much as the Hiſtory (from Geneſis to this Revelation) is, and as ſure as the former part of this Prophecy (in the Seals and Trumpets) is performed already, ſo ſure ſhall the latter part (of the Vials, and of the Brides Marriage) be Accompliſh'd alſo; The Scripture-Teſtimony of it ſelf is true.

5ly. This Prophecy Symbolizeth with that of Ezekiel, who (in his latter End) hath a Reſurrection, Ezek. 37. a Gog and Magog, Chap. 38, and 39. and a New Jeruſalem, Ch. 40, and forward: So in the latter end of the Revelation, There is a Reſurrection, Ch. 20. 5. a Gog and Magog, v. 8. and a New Ieruſalem, Ch. 21, and 22. And as ſure as that was fulfill'd (in part) by Ezra, &c. ſo ſhall this be.

6ly. This Book, as it was laſt Writ, ſo it contains a Revelation of the whole will of God, concerning the Riches of the Church, as well as the Ruine of all her Enemies: as 'tis ſaid of the latter, [It is Done,] Rev. 16.17. All the Churches Foes are Ʋndone by the 7th. Vial; So, of the former, [It is Done,] Ch. 21.6. As to the Riches and Reward of the Righteous, Chriſt Swore, that Time ſhould be no longer, Ch. 10.6, 7. to wit, of Delaying (beyond the 7th. Trumpet) the Execution of thoſe Divine Myſteries, (1) the Call of the Iews, Rom. 11.25. (2) the Fullneſs of the Gentiles, Eph. 3.3, 4, 6. (3) the Kingdom of the Saints, Dan. 7.18. Rev. 20.4. & 22.5. (4) All Kingdoms of the World become Chriſts, Ch. 11.15.

7ly. As we are not to expect any New Revelation, (no more than any New Goſpel) ſo we ought onelyonly to believe and pray for the Accompliſhment of all that is revealed, being aſſured (from Truth it ſelf, Rev. 1.5.) that (1) …he who was the Alpha to confound the 1ſt. Plot, Gen. 3. will be the Omega to conquer the laſt, Rev. 22.13. (2) the Kings of the Earth, that gave their power to the Beaſt, ſhall bring their Glory to the Church. Rev. 17.13. and 21.24. (3) The Brides Feaſt and Felicity ſhall be, either in Heaven as Piſcator, or on Earth, as Alſted, or in both, as Perkins ſay: 'tis good in either place, Refer that to God, making a Common and Conſtant Cry, Come Lord Jeſus, come quickly, to Accompliſh all that is Ʋnaccompliſhed, 1 Theſ. 1.10. Rev. 22.20, 21.

FINIS.

BOOKS Publiſhed BY THE AƲTHOR.

1. THe Crown and Glory of a Chriſtian.

2. A Chriſtian's Walk and Work on Earth, till he come to Heaven.

3. A Proteſtant-Antidote againſt the Poyſon of Popery.

4. A Chryſtal Mirrour, or Chriſtian-Looking-Glaſs; diſcovering the Treaſon and Treachery of the Heart.

5. A Diſtinct Diſcourſe and Diſcovery of the Perſon and Period of Antichriſt.

6. This Compleat and Compendious Church-History.

End of the text · Christopher Ness, A Complete and Compendious Church History (1680)