The Prophetical History of the Reformation, Preface
The Preface to the Hearers of Prophecy.
I Have so presented the Following Prophetic History of the Reformation, that I Foresee, I shall please none of the Reformed, that are Hot, and Intemperate in their Zeal for a Party; But I hope, I shall be Recommended to the Consciences of All; and to the Acceptation of Those, who are of a Largness of Spirit, Commensurate to the Love, and Regard of Christ to all the Churches of the Reformation.
For I have closely followed the Guidance of the Prophetic Symbols, and started neither to the Right Hand, nor to the Left from them, for either Fear, Favour, or Affection; I can truly say in the presence of God, I did not design before Hand, what to say; but as I receiv'd from the Prophecy in its whole Analogy, what to Speak; I have in All Things endeavour'd so to Speak even according to those Characters compar'd together, that Prophecy had so long ago engraven; And I cannot but be perswaded whoever considers, will see it by my care to weigh every the smallest Notice of such a Character, and to be led along by it, neither bowing it contrary to it self, nor Balking its proper Tendencies: But so far as I could obtain Light from the Word, and Assistance from the Spirit of Prophecy, whither that was to go, I have gone; and gone straight forward, and have neither Diverted, nor Returned.
I Would not presume to say, if any one be offended, let Him be offended; But I must say to All so offended, whether it be Right to please God, or to please Men, judge ye.
And surely the Observation of Prophetical Types above 1600 Years old, and Matters of Fact following them, as it were on the King's High way, without any Turning; must be as great an Argument, that the Interpretation is of God; as it was to the Philistines of old, an Argument of the Hand of God upon them, for detaining the Ark; when the Kine, that drew the Cart, loaden with the Ark took the straight way to Bethshemesh or into the Land of Israel, as to its own proper place. 1 Sam. 6. 9. &c.
It is certain Prophecy is like a writing in Cyphar, or generally unknown Characters; and not only so, but in Mystical, and Hieroglyphical Figures for persons, and Things; Now what Greater Assurance can there be? And it is an Assurance that satisfies; that any one hath found a Key, when He De-cyphars so, as to make a Coherent sense to arise from the Agreement of those Characters among themselves; and in Agreement with the Counsels, and Design, and Action of the Persons, between whom the Correspondence is; and adjusted to every Person, and Action, that can be suppos'd, such a writing should referr to; first, by the Characters leading to them; and then by the Knowledge, that the persons are, or may be so concern'd, as those Characters guide to Apprehend of them, and of their Actions.
Now if any should say, we have always had other Apprehensions, as suppose, of the Reformation, then according to these Prophetic Symbols offer'd concerning it; It is then to be consider'd, when those Characters standing in the midst of such Characters, as we bave great Assurance of; as of the Time, when it began, the measures which it Attain'd, and the continuing state of it; such Former Sentiments must be over-ruled by them, even as such a writing in Cyphar, leading us to any other Thought of Persons, then we have heretofore had, would change those former Thoughts; when All the Concurrences of those Mystical Letters, and the Coherencies of sence according to them, urge us to it.
Besides we are always to consider, the Thoughts of God concerning Things are not as our Thoughts; and we should have had other Thoughts of many persons, and Things, if Humane History had drawn their Portraictures, then we now must needs have, as the Divine Hand hath given Them; And so it must be concerning the Reformation; The Prophetic History must needs give us clearer Light, then Humane can; and yet when we have Read it in Divine, we may find Humane History much more agreeiag in the Reasons of the Divine, then we could have imagin'd, had not Divine Light given us Ʋnderstanding in both.
That the method therefore in which I have proceeded may be better understood, I shall here present a Brief Table of it.
1. After a Brief Introduction p. 1. p. 2. I undertake the proofs, that the Tenth Chapter of the Apocalyptical Prophecy is a most solemn Vision of the Reformation; this I argue from p. 3. to p. 13.
2. I then observe the Types, and Figures of the Reformation, according to the Vision, to be of Two sorts, 1. Types of the Appearance of the Kingdom of Christ, 2. Types of that Kingdom Estopp'd; and that according to what we know in matter of Fact concerning the Reformation, the Vision ought to consist of both: These Two sorts of Types are discours'd from p. 13. to p. 19.
3. I come then to consider that singular Type; viz. the Time of this Vision, which is Inlay'd with that Oath in it; Time shall be no more; the precise Time of which I endeavour to demonstrate by a compare of the Oath in the Vision with that Oath of Time, Times, and Half a Time, Dan. 12. and from thence to shew, the Time of the Reformation was the proper Time of this Vision; For the very Reformation assures by matter of Fact in it, it might then and not till then be sworn, Time shall be no more; And if it could not have been so sworn then, the Reformation it self could not have been then according to Prophecy; And because this is of so Mighty concern to the Visions being the Vision of the Reformation, I discourse it so largely, as from p. 19. to p. 39.
4. I proceed to shew, that the Reformation did Actually bear Types of the Appearance of the Kingdom; This is with its due Limitations discours'd from p. 39. to p. 43.
5. I am then under a necessity to shew, we even of the Reformed Churches are oblig'd to humble our selves, to behold the Types of the Estoppage of the Kingdom of Christ amongst us.
6. And because I know this is an exceeding Tender point, and requires Great Exactness; I first lay together the Types of Estoppage, and then take in the Vision of the Churches to our Assistance; and Argue, it ought to be so done; and therein pitch upon the Three Churches, Thyatyra, Sardis, Philadelphia, Symbols of Reformed Churches from p. 43. to p. 47.
7. Having done this, I consider the Kingdom of Christ is to succeed the Feet of Iron, and the Feet of Clay, as in Nebuchadnezzars Image; and then I observe, how it is Estopp'd in its succeeding the Feet of Iron, both with Relation to the Reformed Churches under the Princes, yet continuing Popish; and even under Princes of the Reformation; And this is done with due Modesty from p. 47. to p. 50.
8. I observe further in the Type of the Church of Thyatyra, the Estoppage of the Kingdom of Christ, as it is to succeed the Feet of Clay, or the Spiritual (Falsly so call'd) or Ecclesiastical Tyranny within the Kingdoms, and States still Remaining to the Beast; and how it is Estopp'd there, in very s…ort, because easie to Apprehend, p. 50.
9. I come then upon the Tenderest point of the discourse, to consider the Kingdom of Christ, as it is to succeed the Feet of Clay, or that Ecclesiastical Tyranny under Reformed Princes, and how it is there Estopp'd: And that I may mannage so nice a point of Discourse with all care.
1. I lay down 12 preparatory Remarks upon all the Prophetical Types both in the Visions and in the Churches from p. 51. to p. 54.
2. I find it Requis…te to consider the Types of the Seven Thunders in the great Truths, they are charg'd with; and that the Kingdom of Christ even in the Churches of the Reformation must needs be Estopp'd by their Sealing from p. 54. to p. 56.
3. I find it further necessary to make a more distinct Judgment upon the Book, that was Open and then Enclos'd in the Prophets Bowels; and that the Kingdom of Christ must needs be Estopp'd by that Enclosure of the Book; even in the Churches of the Reformation from p. 56. to p 60.
4. Ʋpon this Preparation I proceed to that Great point of Beholding the Kingdom of Christ in the Types of the Two Churches of the Reformation, and both under Reformed Princes; viz. Sardis and Philadelphia; and first to Argue, that the Kingdom of Christ consists in Purity, and Power together; but that in these Two Churches Prophecy hath cross'd its Hands; Sardis, wherein it hatb most Power hath least Purity; and Philadelphia (and Sardis also in its Undefiled Names) hath least Power, but Greatest Purity; so the Kingdom of Christ, while Things are thus must needs be Estopp'd, as appears by the opposite Parallels of these Two Churches, which I therefore give from p. 60. to p. 64.
Ʋpon the Parallels of the Two Churches of the Reformation under Reformed Princes, I argue, seeing there is nothing betwixt the Apostasie having place, and the Kingdom of Christ succeeding; There must be some Remainder of the Apostasie upon that one of these Churches, that is least perfect in the Reformation; and that withstands that Church, that is Highest in the Reformation: And that such a Remainder of the Apostasie is Symboll▪d by the Synagogue of Sathan; I make therefore close Research into the nature of the Synagogue of Sathan, p. 64. 65. 66.
1. In the general sense, and Representation of such a Synagogue, p. 66. 67:
2. In the place, such a Synagogue could have in the Time of the Church of Smyrna, as a Symbolical Church about the Time of Heathenism desolated, and the Christian Empire succeeding from p. 67. to p. 70.
3. In Some of the Reformation, standing up in defence of that Synagogue, so far as to oppose Philadelphia, or the Higher Church of the Reformation by it, from p. 70. to p. 72.
Hereupon I set the Ballance Even, betwixt the Reformation and the Remainder of the Apostasie upon it, by Reason of the Synagogue of Sathan, from p. 72. to p. 80.
I conclude the Discourse with Inferential Corollaries from p. 80. to the End.
Having now presented the whole Model of the ensuing discourse, I must most Humbly Appeal to the Judicious Reader, whether the Method be not natural, and Argumentative; as also in reading the Treatise of it self, whether Matters of Fact do not Rise up and Acknowledge the Prophesies, that went of them before.
And especially in the Churches of the Reformation, is it not out of all Controversie; That there are some of these Churches, that are still under the Tyranny of Antichristianism; and that they have stood, and do stand to this day against all the violence of their Enemies? and seeing that is so, I Humbly desire the Thoughtful Reader to consider, whether the Types of the Church of Thyatyra, and their state do not exactly answer one another, as the Treatise Resembles them?
Is it not out of measure evident, that the Churches of the Reformation, that are patroniz'd by the Greatest Princes, and Nations, and their Laws, are nearest to the State, of what may be justly called the Synagogue in the days of the Christian Empire; and yet high Enemies, and so Truly call'd a Bulwark against the Throne and Depths of Antichrist by reason of the Favour of those Mighty Princes, and States.
Is it not very well known to us, that those Churches, that are most Reform'd from the Synagogue, as well, as from the Throne, and Depths are under the Smallest Names?
Is it not evident to us, that some Churches of the Reformation have not been under the Favour, and patronage of Reformed Princes, Nations, and their Laws; and that They of the Synagogue have thereupon been severe upon them?
And is it not Apparent within our own particular Knowledge, that when They of the Synagogue have Grown too High, and Severe; and have been endeavouring to the utmost, being incited by Those, whose the Synagogue most properly is, to shut the Door of those Churches, un-established by Law; call'd by Prophecy, Philadelphian; as being only gather'd by mutual Assent; That there hath Appear'd a Providence from Heaven, bringing down Those of the Synagogue, so that They have been in Extream danger themselves? Let but our own Recollection of Things within these last Fifty Years Give the Answer herein.
The Continuance then of Things so much according to the first effect of the Thunders speaking, and then Seal'd; and most Eminently; That no Reformed state, or Prince, that hath establish'd the Reformation could ever be perswaded to Relinquish it, or to Receive back the Papal domination are to be duely weigh'd. From all which considerations, how great are the Assurances? There is so much a Greater, and more perfect Reformation at the end of Half Time, Ready to appear, when All Things that are Written shall be Fulfill'd.
For God will fill up and perfect his own works (which are Imperfect yet) seeing He so earnestly calls upon Sardis to fill up its works; and on Thyatyra, and Philadelphia to Hold fast what They have, but till He comes; which coming, he assures, whenever the Time is, shall not Tarry, but be quickly, and now the Time is very near.
Let us therefore with Faith, Patience, Hope, and Prayer, and by particular self-Reformation, wait for that Great Re-Reformation, of which Prophecy gives so great Assurances.