The Person and Period of the Antichrist, Discourse · Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV.
393. I Come now to the 7th. and laſt Intimation, for guiding of us into this intricate point about the fall of Antichriſt; to wit, the Sackcloth Prophecy of the two Witneſſes, which to be Contemporary with the Dominion of the Beaſt, none ever denied, but that the Sixth Trumpet ends them both, is granted of all: ſo having one and the ſame term of time, it neceſſary follows, they muſt both begin together: the Witneſſes muſt begin their mourning Prophecy, when Popery and Antichriſtianiſm begins, unto both which the 7th. Trumpet puts a final Period: So that may we find out the Epocha of their Sackcloth Prophecy, it will give great light to the time of Antichriſts fall.
394. This Prophecy of the two Witneſſes may be truly call'd crux Interpretum, it hath put ſo many Learned and Holy Men to a kind of torture in the Interpretation of it: and we may ſay of this Scripture, (as Maldonate of another Scripture) Locus facilior, ſi nemo expoſuiſſet: It hath been ſo ruffled with variety of Interpretations, that they have made it ſeem darker by their Various and Heterogenal Conjectures. God hath left many places of Scripture dark to our underſtandings: nè illas Scripturas ſemel lectas faſtidiremus, that we ſhould not diſdain the plainneſs of it, Auſtin, yet may we not make bawds of our own wit, to beget our own ſences on Scripture, for that is to break the bones of the Lamb, and to do Violence to the Law of God, Zeph. 3.4. we ſhould carry no ſence to Scripture, but only fetch one from it.
395. That God had his Witneſſes all along the Reign of Antichriſt is manifeſt, by Johns meaſuring out a Church for God, under the Antichriſtian Perſecution; to wit, the Church in the Wilderneſs (as before) Ruled by the Reed of Gods Word, and fed by the two Prophets there, [Revel. 12.6,14. that they, to wit, thoſe two Prophets ſhould feed her] though not fully feaſt her, in her Wilderneſs-ſtate: and thoſe Witneſſes ſhould have the Temple given them in the Deſert, while Antichriſt exerciſes his Idolatrous Worſhip in the Outward Court and Holy City, wherein true Chriſtian profeſſion and Worſhip hath been before.
396. Thoſe witneſſes (which are (in general terms) call'd the holy People, Dan. 12.7. and muſt be ſcattered and ſlain before all theſe things of Antichriſt be fulfilled) are largely deſcribed in the 11th of Rev. with many particular and diſtinct Characters. An inſpection into which, may contribute ſome light in our enquiry after the Epocha or Beginning of this Sackcloth-prophecy, which doth ſo exactly commenſurate the times of the Beasts dominion, their ſlaughter being the laſt bite of the Beaſt, as Chriſts death ſlew death, the Diſtick is,
Mors mortis morti mortem niſi morte dediſſet,
Aeternae vitae janua clauſa foret.
So the death of Christs Witneſſes brings death on the Beast that ſlew them.
397. In this deſcription obſerve 1. their Names, 2. their Number, 3. their Condition, 4. their Actions, 5. their Death or end, and 6. their Reſurrection. 1ſt. Their Names, which are not proper but appellative being two, 1. Witneſſes, 2. Prophets: 1ſt. they are call'd Witneſſes, as being in all Ages to witneſs againſt Antichriſt, and to teſtifie to the Truth, but moſt eminently (tis probable) in the laſt Age, when they come to be ſlain for their Testimony. 2ly. They are call'd Prophets, v. 10. becauſe they not only taught People to worſhip God according to his Rule (ſo the Church in the Wilderneſs all along nouriſh'd with the ſincere Milk of the Word Rev. 12.6,14.) but alſo foretold the fall of Antichriſt out of the Word.
398. 2ly. Their Number, two, which is the loweſt number (for one is but the Root of numbers) to ſhew the paucity of them that witneſs to the Truth under Antichrists Reign, and that is intimated in Rev. 11.1,2,3. where the inner Court is only reſerved for the Holy People that keepeth the Truth, when the outward Court (a large ſpacious place) is given up to Antichriſt: for the Witneſſes ſhould be as few as the Prieſts and Levites that worſhipped in the Inner Court, in compariſon of Antichriſtian Idolaters that worſhipped in the Outward, Luk. 12.32. Rev. 1.6. Prieſts to God.
399. And yet they ſhould not be ſo few, as to be below a full Confirmation of the Truth, for two witneſſes are ſufficient to confirm any truth, Deut. 17.6. Mat. 18.16. 2 Cor. 13.1. God orders it ſo by his over-ruling Providence, that his truth ſhall not be ſtarved; (no, not in the worſt of times) by want of Witneſſes, or a ſufficient Confirmation: or this number two is an Alluſion to thoſe 3 famous Pairs, the firſt to Moſes and Aaron (the Churches Prophets in Egypt and the Wilderneſs) 2ly. to Elijah and Eliſha (Prophets to Iſrael under the Idolatry of Baal, when the Church was not viſible, and only 7000. left that was hid in Corners) 3ly. to Zerubbabel and Joſhua (Prophets in Babylon, and in Rebuilding the Temple.
400. That there is ſuch an Alluſion in this Number to thoſe 3 famous Couples it is probable, becauſe in the following deſcription [the turning of waters into blood, and ſmiting the earth with Plagues often, v. 5.] hath relation to the firſt of them, Moſes and Aaron: and [ſhutting up heaven, and deſtroying Men by fire, v. 5, 6. to Elijah and Eliſha, and the Olive-trees and Candleſticks] to Joſhua and Zerubbabel. v. 4. Zech. 4.3,11,14. The 3d thing in the deſcription of their Condition, 'twas ſad and mournfull, Sackcloth is the covering that is worn in bad times, Amos 8.9,10. 2 Kin. 6.30. they mourn in Sackcloth (while Antichriſt triumphs in his Silken Copes and coſtly Garments) and all, becauſe Idolatry hath ſpread it ſelf ſo faſt and ſo far, and becauſe of the troubles of the true Church.
401. 4ly. Their Actions which they perform'd (with that power which the Lord gave them) were eminent Exploits, and that of two ſorts: one againſt Antichriſt, and the other for the Church: 1ſt. againſt Antichriſt, they have power to do very great things, which carrying ſuch a fair correſpondency with the 4 firſt Vials in Rev. 16. hath made a late learned Critick take thoſe exploits of the Witneſſes to be the powring forth of the 4 firſt Vials, as 1. Plagues on the Earth, v. 6. ch. 11. (as in the firſt Vial, Rev. 16.2.) 2ly. Water into blood, v. 6. (as in the 2d Vial, ch. 16.3. and in the 3d Vial, v. 4.) and 3ly. A tormenting of Men with fire, as in the 4th Vial, chap. 11.15. with chap. 16.8.
402. Which Interpretation, though very ingenious, yet ſeems it to me a little doubtfull, not only becauſe (1ſt.) the Order of the Vials is inverted by it, [as the plagues on the earth, the firſt of the Vials, is the laſt in this deſcription of the exploits of the Witneſſes, and tormenting by fire, the firſt of thoſe Exploits, is the laſt of the 4. Vials.] But 2ly. it ſeems ſomewhere too narrow, in leaving out that eminent action of ſhutting Heaven up from rain, which none of the 4 firſt Vials correſpond with. And 3ly. ſomewhere too wide, in making one of thoſe exploits to comprehend two diſtinct Vials, to wit, the 2d and 3d. to ſay nothing of the time of fixing them.
403. The ſervice (2ly) which they do for the Church is, 1ſt. a power of Prophecying, whereby they both inſtructed the Church in the knowledge of the Truth, and comforted her by predicting the ruine of Rome, which, notwithſtanding all her rage againſt the Church, could not yet deprive her of the help of thoſe Witneſſes, for God gave them power to Propheſie all Antichriſts Reign: 2ly. to ſupply the Church with Oil ſufficiently, that is, with Grace enough for this hard time of Perſecution, that they might not be like the fooliſh Virgins, whoſe lamps went out for want of Oil.
404. The two Olive-trees [and] the two Candleſticks, ſome reads The two Olive-trees [with] the two Candleſticks [with for [and] juſtifying that Reading from that in 1 Sam. 14.18. where [and] is read [with] the Children of Iſrael: becauſe Candleſticks in Rev. 1. 20. is meant Churches, and though the Churches were 7. then in Johns time yet Antichriſt reduced them to two, and yet thoſe two ſhould be ſupply'd with grace to hold out all the wills of God, Acts 13.22. thoſe two Sons of Oil (the Witneſſes) are not branches but Trees to nouriſh their Graces in that evil day, and to pour in Oil into their Lamps continually, which was Aarons work, Exod. 27.20.
405. The fifth particular in the deſcription of the Witneſſes, is their ſlaughter and death, wherein conſider 1ſt. the time when, 2ly. the place where, and 3ly. the manner how. 1. Of the time when; the Holy Ghoſt tells us, when they ſhall have finiſhed their Teſtimony, Rev. 11.7. when their Prophecying-work is done, for if God had given them power to Propheſie longer, as v. 3. they ſhould have continued in their Prophecying work longer, Maugre the malice of all their enemies: God permits them to be ſlain becauſe their Prophecying-work was done, thus their Lord and Maſter could not be ſlain till his hour was come, John 8.20. and in that hour of darkneſs he was put to death, Luk. 22.53.
406. Mr. Mede reads [foreign] when they ſhall be about to finiſh their Teſtimony, becauſe the Greek Verb is not of the Praeter-perfect, but of the Future Aoriſt Tenſe (which is incertae ſignificationis, of an uncertain time) making the time of this Slaughter to be, when part of the Holy City, or Chriſtian World repent of their Idolatry, caſts off the yoke of Antichriſt, and reforms the Temple within themſelves, the Witneſſes getting heart by all this, begins to put off the Sackcloth, and to lay aſide their Mourning Prophecy (which they have done ever ſince the Reformation) then comes the Beaſt (as it were, aſcending afreſh into the Throne) enraged with the ſucceſs of their Mourning Prophecy, he overcomes and kills them.
407. Mr. Brightmans opinion was, that the ſlaughter of the Witneſſes were paſt, and fulfilled in the Smalcaldian War, in that great Overthrow of the Proteſtant Party by Charles the fift, Anno 1547. and in condemning the Scriptures of the Old and New Teſtament (which he makes the Witneſſes) about that time in the Councel of Trent, which is now above an hundred and twenty Years ago: other later Writers apply this Slaughter to thoſe ruined Churches in Germany, in Bohemia Anno Dom. 1618. and in the Palatinate, 1621. and later in Piedmont at Lucerne about 1655. as Mr. Tillinghaſt.
408. Dr. Twiſs Judgeth that this ſlaughter of the Witneſſes hath been on foot many years ago, not by Judicial proceedings only in the Martyrdom of Gods Saints, but by the Sword of War alſo; 1. In the Low-Countreys by Duke d' Alva, then in France by the Guiſſes in that bloody Maſſacre of Admiral Coligni, and many Thouſand Proteſtants, then in Germany as above: after that in Ireland, where ſome Hundred-thouſands were butcher'd by the Iriſh Rebels, and ſince that in England by the Antichriſtian brood, with ſo manifeſt oppoſition unto Truth and Holineſs, under a Proteſtant Prince, as (he thinks) the like was never known ſince the beginning of the World.
409. Though it be very Conſentaneous to our minds to think this Slaughter over, yet ſeems it not to be ſo, to the Truth: who would not (ſaith Mr. Mede) much rather hope that ſo lamentable an accident to the Church were paſt, than fear it, to be yet to come; but a miſtake on that hand is more dangerous then on this: for the expectation of a future Calamity conduceth more to Piety, then an over-credulous Security thereof, as if it were already paſt. We are prone by nature to put the evil Day far from us, Amos 6.3. to keep on our watch-tower in expectation of this Diſpenſation, doth moſt promote the power of Godlineſs.
410. There be ſeveral Arguments that Captivates my Judgment in this point, that the Witneſſes are not yet ſlain, the 1ſt. Reaſon, 1. Before the Witneſſes be ſlain, I conceive, their Teſtimony muſt be full, before it be finiſhed. But in thoſe Slaughters foremention'd, and in thoſe by Queen Mary in our Land, the Teſtimony that was given them, was to the Doctrine of Chriſt, but never (that I know of) to the Diſcipline of the word, which hath been the Controverſy of our preſent Generation.
411. As the firſt Reaſon is taken from the want (in thoſe former Slaughters) of a plenary Teſtimony; ſo the 2d. Reaſon is drawn from a Concomitancy of it▪ Various are the Concomitants that attend this Diſpenſation; as 1ſt. The pouring out of the 5th. Vial upon the Seat of the Beaſt, to darken Antichriſts Kingdom, and to extinguiſh the glory of it; for this Slaughter is his laſt ſcattering of the holy People, with which he ſhould accompliſh his Time, Dan. 12.7. This ſhall be the laſt bite of the Beaſt, then his power to do (miſchief) for 42. Months ſhall End, at the ſame hour is a great Earthquake, Revel. 11.13. ſaith Mr. Mede, 2ly. It muſt be about the end of their Sackcloth-Prophecy, which evidently continues ſtill, for God hath not ſaid yet to his Witneſſes, as he ſaid to Joſhuah, (coming out of Babylon) Take away thoſe mournful Garments and give change of Raiment, Zech. 3.4.
412. And 3ly. upon the accompliſhing of 3. Years and half, attends it alſo a glorious Reſurrection, (which the Spirit of Life from God cauſeth, Setting them upon their Feet to Preach againſt Popery again, to the great confuſion of their Enemies, Revel. 11.11.) yea, and a more glorious Aſcention, into a more Excellent Church-ſtate than before v. 12. thoſe I call Concomitants, (not becauſe they are ſo ſtrictly taken) but becauſe they fall withi… the Verge of that Diſpenſation, ſo as to evinc… thoſe foreſaid Slaughters in Germany, France, &c. not to be [the Slaughter] becauſe no… thus attended: it being above an 100. Years ſince the Eldeſt, and far above 3. Years and half ſince the lateſt of them: and likewiſe becauſe I would diſtinguiſh them from Remoter Providences.
413. The 3d. Reaſon is taken from the Conſequences of it; as 1ſt. The paſſing away of the ſecond woe, v. 14. which is the 6th. Trumpet, to wit, the Turkiſh Power and Tyranny, that ſtands in its full ſtrength and height at this day, notwithſtanding all thoſe late Stones of the Jews Embodying themſelves againſt it: 2ly. The blowing of the 7th. Trumpet, which comes quickly after the former, v. 14 and brings in the Kingdom of Chriſt, v. 15. now ſince the Smalcaldian War is 120. Y. yet Antichriſt Reigns, (not Chriſt) Rome is in her Ruff, the Witneſſes in their Sackcloth, and no foundation of any of the Praemiſſes apparently laid.
414. It is therefore ſafeſt for us not to flatter our ſelves, as if this evil day were paſt and gone: for ſo long as the 5th. Vial is not powr'd out on the Seat of the Beaſt, Rev. 16.10. we may daily expect that the Beaſt will be powring out ſome of the Vials of his Wrath on us, and it is not determined in Scripture what time this laſt War of the Beaſt ſhall take … before he hath fully Conquer'd and Slaugh…d them; which may be a Salvo to the …eſaid opinions, that thoſe Slaughters were …innings and parts of this laſt War.
415. And alſo a Salvo to a latter Opinion …en any of the aforeſaid, to wit, that the late …ſſion of Parliament which put forth the Godly Miniſtry out of place (as well as Ma…racy) at one time, was the time of killing … Witneſſes, (which I ſhall ſpeak more to … the place of killing them) This alſo may … look'd on as ſome skirt (at leaſt of the laſt …wer) of Antichriſts Rage: but however, … laſt War muſt end about 3. years and half before the downfall of Antichriſt, (how long ſoever it continue) for otherwiſe it would …ake an Inequality in the Synchroniſm betwixt …e 42. Months, and 1260. days, ſhould it be … litte before, or a little after.
416. Thus of the time of Slaying them: now 2ly. Of the place where the Witneſſes be Slain, there they lie dead: now much controverſy hath been about this Street, what it ſhould be: Mr. Mede makes it the whole Territory of Romes Dominion, taking foreign in the largeſt ſence as Synonymical with the Hebrew word foreign Chuts, which it oft Anſwereth in the Septuagint-tranſlation, as he ſaith, Diſcourſing of it very Critically and Learnedly.
417. Graſerus (a Judicious Divine) conceives this place of the Slaughter to be, (no… the whole Territory of Romes Dominion) bu… the Univerſal States and Kingdoms of th… Proteſtant Religion: ſaying, [quod hacten… per partes Impleri nunquam deſiit, jam plenari… & Univerſaliter perficietur] this Slaughter, that in ſome place or other never Ceaſed, but hath been in fulfilling by parts in every Kingdom where the Witneſſes have been; but at laſt (he ſaith) there ſhall be a General totall Ecclipſe of the Churches at once, for 3. years and half.
418. Mr. Tillinghaſt goes ſtill narrower: looking upon this ſtreet to be Germany: as it is one of the ten Kingdoms, that belongs to the Beaſt: as if the great City conſiſted of 10. Streets and this to be one, as the 10th. part of that Dominion, this makes the Opinion probable that it ſhall be one of the ten Kingdoms, (as one of the ten Streets of the great City) eſpecially conſidering how the great Earthquake ſtrikes off a 10th. part from the great City, Revel. 11.13. which may well be one of thoſe 10. Kingdoms, though not likely Germany, according to his Opinion, for the Slaughter he fixes on Germany, hath not been ſo attended as before, &c.
419. Another gives better Evidences, that this Street is Britain; 1. Becauſe there be more for the purity of Diſcipline, diſtinct from the World in it, then in all other Kingdoms; …d where there be moſt Witneſses, there (in … likelihood) muſt be the Slaying of them: …y. As Antiochus, ſo Antichriſt ſhall plant … Tabernacle of his Palace between the Seas, Dan. 11.45. and none of the 10. Kingdoms …ays ſo [Inter maria] between the Seas, as Brittain does.
420. And to make it more probable, this late diſpenſation of ſlaying the Godly Magiſtracy and Miniſtry; as to their Office) might be further improved, praeſuppoſing two things; 1ſt. that the Magistracy and Miniſtry be the two Witneſſes, and 2ly. that their ſlaughter is but a Civil ſlaughter, but the firſt of thoſe is doubtfull, not only becauſe the Witneſſes are called Prophets (which is a title rarely given to Magiſtrates, neither is it their peculiar work to Prophecy, as of thoſe) but alſo becauſe we cannot find a Series of Magiſtracy, all-along teſtifying againſt Antichriſt in every Century, as may be of the Miniſtry.
421. As to the 2d, concerning the civil Slaughter, I ſhall ſpeak to in the next place [in the manner of it] adding only here, that the time of commencing that Act (by which the Magiſtracy and Miniſtry were excluded) to that great year of Expectation, 1666. (making up compleatly and exactly 3 Years and half) and Nations all that time warring againſt thoſe Slaughterers, to hinder them from burying the ſlain Witneſſes, as Dutch, French, Dane, &c. made it more probable that this was the Place where, and that was the Time when the Witneſſes were to be ſlain: but that thoſe following Conſiderations doth (at leaſt) counter-ballance that Probability, and now, Event makes it ſeem improbable.
422. As 1ſt. That great year of Expectation is now fully expired, the Year 66. is gone, and the Witneſſes are not only in their Sackcloth ſtill, but lays ſlain in the ſtreet after that term without any Reſurrection from that ſtate, or Aſcenſion into a better. Yea, and Rome alſo, after that Year, ſays ſtill, I ſit like a Queen, and am no Widdow, and doth ſee no ſorrow: No powring out of the Vial on the Seat of the Beaſt is heard of, but that Year brings forth the Burning of London, where the Myſtery of Godlineſs hath long flouriſhed, and not the Burning of Rome, that Myſtery of Iniquity.
423. 2ly. Conſider whether a limiting of their ſlaughter to England be not over narrow and private an Interpretation, it being but a Shovel-full of Earth (as the K. of Spain once called it in his Haughtineſs) a very ſmall Iſland, in reſpect of the whole World: and we find Mr. Brightman blam'd for his overmuch reſtrictiveneſs of Interpretation, in calling Lord Cecil, Lord Cromwell, and Biſhop Cranmer thoſe Angels in the Revelation, Fullers Chur. Hiſt, 17. Cent. b. 10. pag. 50. which ſeems (he ſaith) to be unſuitable with the large concernment of Scripture, as if England (half an Iſland) were more conſiderable than all the World beſides.
424. And 3ly. conſider, the Witneſſes muſt be ſlain (expreſly) by the Beaſt that aſcends out of the bottomleſs pit, Rev. 11.7. Now the Witneſſes that have been accounted ſlain in England, were not ſlain by the Beaſt, but only by the Image of the Beaſt (for ſo is Prelacy eſteemed) it was a Prelaticall not a Popiſh power that ſlew them. 4ly. It may alſo be doubted, whether the Witneſſes ſhall be ſlain by a Proteſtant Power, as well as in a Proteſtant State; becauſe tis ſaid Rev. 18.24. In Rome muſt be found the blood of thoſe Prophets, and of all private Chriſtians that are ſlain for Religion: what was ſaid of Jeruſalem [a Prophet cannot periſh out of it,] ſo nor can thoſe two Prophets periſh out of Rome, they muſt be ſlain by a Popiſh (not a Proteſtant) Power; and ſo long as any State profeſſes the Proteſtant Religion, they cannot be deem'd the Beaſt that ſlaughters the Witneſſes.
425. I confeſs, one hath an excellent Notion to qualifie this, ſaying, there is a Generation of Men ſet forth as the Beaſts laſt Champions, Rev. 15.2. who yet ſhall not (at leaſt at the firſt) ſo openly allow the Beaſts name and character, though they receive the number of his Name, and are therefore reckoned his, as truly as the other; and as the Phariſees (acknowledging again the foreign Power of Rome, Joh. 19.15.) ſlew Chriſt, that faithfull Witneſs. So the Prelates advancing the Popiſh intereſt by Superſtition, and Arminianiſm and by Canon Law and Diſcipline, as Mr. Cotton ſhews in Rev. 13. p. 260.) ſhall alſo ſlay Chriſt myſtical in thoſe Witneſles: yet the Event of (66) confirms not this Notion.
426. Then 5ly. it may be alſo conſider'd, whether this civil ſlaying of the Witneſſes in our Land be comprehenſive enough to hold out the laſt Slaughter, which may be more than a civil Slaughter. And this brings me to the 3d thing, to wit, the manner how they muſt be ſlain: there be two manner of ways, how the Witneſſes may be ſlain, 1. Civil, 2. Natural. 1. There be grounds of Hope, that it ſhall only be a civil Slaying: for 1. they muſt be ſlain as Witneſſes (not as Men) and when thoſe Prophets of Chriſt are ſilenced, and ſo put out of the way of witneſſing, then are they ſlain as Witneſſes.
427. A 2d ground of this Hope is, this accompliſheth Antichriſts end, which is twofold, 1ſt. a rendring the Witneſſes contemptible, this is obtained by putting them out of their Prophecying-work, for thereby they lay (as dead men in the ſtreet, Rev. 11.8.) like deſpiſed broken Idols, in whom there is no pleaſure: and ſo is his 2d end too obtain'd by a civil Death, to wit, a freeing himſelf from their tormenting him, Rev. 10.11. which they did as Prophets (in their Prophecying-work) and not as Men. A 3d ground of this Hope is, their Slaughter ſhall be like their Reſurrection, now as their reſurrection is myſtical and metaphorical, and not real (for no Reſurrection (properly ſo call'd) can be before the Coming of Chriſt, under the 7th Trumpet) but this comes to paſs while the 6th Trumpet is in being (as Mr. Mede ſhews) therefore their Slaughter then ſhall be civil.
428. A 4th ground is taken from the Beaſts policy, who dare not martyr the Saints, as formerly, becauſe he found that [ſanguis Martirum was ſemen Eccleſiae.] Therefore it may be like that Perſecution of Julian, who put none to death as Chriſtians, but uſed other means to oppoſe Chriſt, not only by Fines and Ejections, but alſo by Flatteries and Preferments: and this is the more probable, becauſe it was the method and manner of promoting Heatheniſm, juſt at its laſt extirpation in Julian: ſo may it be of promoting Antichriſtianiſm, juſt at its laſt and final extirpation.
129. A 5. Ground is that expreſſion in Dan. 12.7. he ſhall accompliſh to ſcatter the power of the holy People. It is call'd but a Scattering, the Hebr. word is foreign Naphets, diſpergere; The ſame word is uſed 1 Sam. 13.11. The People were ſcattered from me, they were not ſlain as men, but ſcattered as an Army; ſo this word denotes, it ſhall rather be a diſſolving of their employment as Witneſſes, then a ſlaughtering them as men. A 6. Ground is from their laying unburied, if thoſe 3 days and half be underſtood of Prophetical days, for ſo many years (as all generally take them) then could it not be a Natural death (for they could not lay unburied 3 Y. and half) but a Civil one, that they might be a Teſtimony above ground all that time.
430. But the 7th ground of this Hope ſeems very pregnant, to wit, from the four living Wights, and 24 Elders, and a great multitude that are found, ſounding out Romes funeral, and praiſing God ſolemnly and publickly at the burning of that great City under the 5. Vial, Rev. 19.1,2,3,4. The voice was as the ſound of many waters, v. 6. all which could not well be, if the ſlaughter were natural and univerſal (as before) how could thoſe 4 living Wights and 24 Elders, and ſo great a Multitude ſurvive ſuch a diſpenſation, and as Dr. Goodw. obſerves, thoſe could not be a meer ſucceſſion of new Converts, but the ſame Perſons outriding this laſt Storm, to poſſeſs that glorious State of the Church (after thoſe 3 years and half ended) which is deſcribed Rev. 19. from v. 1. to 10.
431. As there be grounds of hope, that it may be a civil death only; ſo their wants not grounds of fear, that it may prove a natural or real ſlaughter: as 1ſt. It ſhall be the laſt bite of the Beaſt, and therefore the more deadly. Rome Antichriſtian may be to the Church, what Carthage was to Rome Heathen: [plus negotii fuit cum ſemirutâ Carthagine, quàm cum integrâ] ſaith Florus (in the third Punick War) of dying Carthage; and further, [quàm maximè mortiferi morientium beſtiarum morſus eſſe ſolent] the bitings of dying Beaſts are moſt deadly, for then they are moſt malignant: and may it not be ſaid of dying Rome, the laſt bite of the Beast (I am afraid) will be more then an Analogical or Metaphorical death, her malignity then expiring.
432. A 2d ground is taken from the conformity of thoſe Witneſſes to Christ (that faithfull Witneſs, Rev. 3.14.) in his ſufferings: that there is an alluſion to Christ in this deſcription of the Witneſſes, is plain enough, both in his Preaching, Death and Reſurrection: as he preach'd about 3. Y. and half, then was put to death, and about 3 days after roſe again with an Earthquake, and aſcended into heaven in a Cloud: thus there be many Parallels and Congruities betwixt them; hence I infer. If thoſe Witneſſes muſt be conformable to Christ, then they muſt ſuffer more then a metaphorical death, they muſt die a natural death, as he did, otherwiſe the Portraiture will not reſemble the Pattern.
433. A 3d ground of fear is taken from thoſe 3. Expreſſions, in Rev. 11.7. [make war, overcome, and kill] the Beast 1ſt. makes war which muſt differ in malignity and ſucceſs from all his foregoing wars, whereof his whole Reign of 42 Months (in a manner) conſiſts. 2ly. He overcomes, getting all power into his hands, to be Lord-paramount (and Dominus fac-totum.) Then 3ly. he kills, were their ſuppreſſion as Prophets only intended, the word (overcome) would ſufficiently import it: yea, and as Dr. G. excellently noteth, there is but 2 Expreſſions in Rev. 13.7. which yet implies all thoſe bloody Butcheries of the Beasts reign (make war and overcome) now here (kill) is added, to hold out ſome further cruelty then a bare ſuppreſſion (as publick Perſons) upon thoſe, that this blood-thirsty Beast hath got into his clutches.
434. A 4th is from the nature of affliction, which uſually is ſorest at last, as in the bondage of Egypt their bricks were doubled upon them, at laſt, according to that ſaying (Duplicantur lateres, & venit Moſes) the laſt Perſecution under Diocleſian was of all the ten first, the ſharpest. Thus moſt Chriſtians have their ſoreſt Conflicts upon their dying bed, yea, and Chriſt himſelf under the deepeſt Deſertions (crying Eli, Eli, lama Sabachthani) at his giving up the Ghoſt: this renders it probable enough, that the last brunt of Affliction, before the Church's Moſes come will be the ſharpest.
435. The 5. ground of fear is taken from the rage of the Beaſt, at the ſucceſs of their Prophecy, Many Kindreds and Nations ſhall fall off from Antichriſt, through the influence of their Testimony, ſo the Beast comes (in this laſt War) like a bear robbed of her whelps, beſides as D. G. notes, Antichriſt will be further chaſed with ſo many Vials poured out upon him, ſo that when he gets Power into his hand, he will come forth in that curſed rage, and in that fierce cruelty (of the brethren in Iniquity, Gen. 49.7.) This brings in the 6. ground, then gets Rome a freſh draught of blood (after ſome reſpite of years) wherewith ſhe is deſcribed to be drunk, juſt at its destruction, Rev. 17.6.
436. In which deſcription is an elegant Climax of admiration, 1. A Woman drunk, this is more ſhamefull than for a Man to be ſo; 2ly. No liquour would ſerve her to be drunk withall but blood: And 3ly. no blood but that of Saints. This made John wonder with great admiration, and the rather 4ly. becauſe he ſaw her Dead drunk with her last Cups of blood, and now ſtaggering and falling, never to ariſe any more: thus have we grounds of fear as well as of hope, and whether it ſhall prove, Event will beſt diſcover, however it fall out, whether the one or the other, or mix'd of both; it is beſt for us, to prepare for the worſt, a miſtake in hope is more dangerous than one in fear, that makes us ſecure, but this watchfull.