The Sounding of the Two Last Trumpets, Pages 1-50

The Sounding of the Two Last Trumpets · Pages 1-50

p. 1AS the whole Booke of the Revelation is a prophecie of the eſtate of Gods Church, and of the grand enemies therof, from Iohns time, till time ſhould bee no more: So the ſounding of the ſeven Trumpets is a ſpeciall prophecie of things to come to paſſe in the very laſt times, on which wee are now falne, and more eſpecially the ſixt Trumpet points to theſe very preſent times, and the ſeventh to the now approching time, in the end whereof time ſhall have an end, and ſo bee ſwallowed up of Eternitie. And for the greater both obſervation and p. 2confirmation of this laſt prophecie uttered by the Seven Trumpets, it is tribled in this book: firſt under the Seven Seals, Chap. 5.5. Secondly, here under the Seven Trumpets, Chap. 8.7, 8. And thirdly, under the Seven Vials, Chap. 15.16. The Seals are opened, that all may**Cap. 6.1.3.5. &c. ſee: the Trumpets are ſounded, that all may heare: and the vials are powred out to the deſtruction of the enemies of Chriſt, and to the conſolation of his Church. The whole Prophecie is ſet out in great State and magnificence: as by Chriſt the Lambe, and Lion of the Tribe of Juda, and from him by his holy Angels. All which ſhould draw our attention, as to matters and myſteries of higheſt excellencie. And we may note how theſe three Sevens doe foreign (asaaMr. Mede. ſome have well obſerved) that is, are coincident, and all fall within the ſame time, or like the wheels inbbEzech. 1.16.Ezek 1:16 Ezechiel, have their motion one within another. As (Chap. 8.1.) no ſooner is the ſeventh Seale opened, whereupon follows ſilence in heaven for halfe an houre: but John ſees the Seven Angels ſtanding before God, to whom were given the Seven Trumpets, Verſe 2. So as the iſſue of the Seven Seals falls upon the Seven Trumpets, as having their accompliſhment in them. But before they ſound, Another Angell ſtands at the Altar, the golden Altar before the throne, which is Chriſt, offering up much incenſe, with the prayers of all Saints, here below, which prayers, as incenſe, are accepted of God, Verſe 4. and out of the ſame Cenſer filled with fire from the Altar, the fire is caſt upon the Earth, whereupon the ſeven Angels with their ſeven Trumpets prepared to ſound. And who ſo compareth their ſeven ſeverall Soundings, and the ſeverall p. 3effects thereof, with the ſeverall pourings forth of the ſeven Vials, and the effects thereof, hee ſhall obſerve ſuch a ſimilitude between them, as will put him out of all doubt, that the ſeven Trumpets and the ſeven Vials, are all one and the ſame Prophecie. Take a brief view hereof. TheccChap. 8 7. Chap. 16.2. ſounding of the firſt Trumpet, and the pouring forth of the firſt Viall ſmites the Earth: theddChap. 8.8. Chap. 16.3. ſecond Trumpet and Viall, the Sea: the third Trumpet and Viall, the Rivers: the fourth Trumpet and Viall, the Sun: the fifth Trumpet and Viall, the Kingdome of the Beaſt, the throne whereof is chiefly in Rome; ſo as under this Trumpet and Viall, the Beaſts Kingdome is exceedinglyeeChap. 16.10. Chap. 9.1, 2, 3. darkned, as with ſmoke out of the bottomleſſe pit, and the limbes of the Beaſt, the vaſſ is of his Kingdom of darkneſſe, even all ſuch, as have ffChap 9 4. Chap. 7.3.not the Seale of God in their fore-heads, are tormented by ſundry plagues, as Chap. 9. and 16.10, 11. So as this fifth Trumpet and Viall ſeems to ſet forth (not excluding the former; for they have all a concurrence in ſome degree one with another from the very firſt to the laſt) more cleerly the State of the Kingdome of the Beaſt, upon, and ſince the Councell of Trent, whereby through ſmokes out of the bottomleſſe pit, his whole Kingdome and Throne grew more darke, then formerly they had been; of that ſmoke, never ſuch Locuſts bred, which for multitude, greatnes, and power, far exceed thoſe of Egypt, full of Martiall terrour (as Chap. 9.7, 8, 9, 10, 11.) whoſe King over them is the Angell of the bottomleſſe pit, Abaddon or Apollyon, a moſt cruell and mercileſſe deſtroyer. And that this is that Great Beaſt of Rome, with all his crew of Jeſuits and Friers, no queſtion is to be made. And p. 4here by the way, wee may cleerly ſee, that by the darkning of the throne of the Beaſt upon the powring out of the fifth Viall, is not to be underſtood the deſtruction of Rome it ſelfe (as ſome have imagined) but thereby is meant that univerſall darknes ariſing from the ſmoke out of the bottomleſſe pit, wherewith the Kingdome of the Beaſt is altogether covered, like that palpable Egyptian darkneſſe, the immediate fere-running plague of the deſtruction of their Firſt-borne, and ſo of Iſraels finall and full deliverance, in the deſtruction of the whole power, and flower of Egypt. That this is ſo, compare but the fifth Viall, with the fifth Trumpet: in neither of which you ſhall find any touch or footſtep of Romes Ruine, but in both a wonderfull darkneſſe over that whole Throne and Kingdome, ſo as unto them (by reaſon of the ſmoke out of the pit, namely groſſe, palpable, and damnable colours and pretences, as a blacke veile to cover their Myſtery of iniquitie, moſt cunningly woven up in the Councell of Trent, but firſt contrived in the Popes Conclave, the Beaſts Den, at Rome) the Sun and aire are altogether darkned, as with the black cloud towards the Egyptians, while the bright pillar of the Goſpell ſhines forth cleerly to Gods people. And that this is the ſenſe aforeſaid, is manifeſt, not only by comparing the fifth Viall, with the fifth Trumpet, but alſo by conſidering, and comparing the ſixth Viall, with the ſixth Trumpet. For if it ſhall appeare, that we are now come within the Sound of the ſixth Trumpet, and under the time of the powring out of the ſixth Viall: then certainly the fifth Vial, and the fifth Trumpet are alreadie paſt (ſaving only that all the Vials are ſtill p. 5powring out, and all the Trumpets ſtill a ſounding, til they all conclude in and with the laſt). And if (for the mayn) paſt, and yet Rome, the ſeat of the Beaſt, unruined, then certainly by the darkning of the Seat of the Beaſt in the fifth Viall, cannot be meant the deſtruction of the Citie of Rome. And thus having by way of preface premiſed theſe things, which alſo may ſerve as a key to introduce us now to take a view of our propoſed matter, namely the ſixth Trumpet: wee now come, by the ſame Grace of God, leading and guiding us, to ſuch Obſervations, as the Text all along preſents unto us, and wherin our eyes are infallible witneſſes of thoſe things which our eares doe heare from the ſound of this Trumpet.

Chap. 9.13. And the ſixt Angell ſounded, and I heard a voice from the foure hornes of the golden Altar, which is before God, ſaying to the ſixt Angell, which had the Trumpet, looſe the foure Angels, which are bound in the great River Euphrates: And the foure Angels were looſed, which were prepared for an houre, and a day, and a monethmonth, and a year, for to ſlay the third part of men, &c.

In the former verſe, after the ſounding of the fifth Angell, it is ſaid, One woe is paſt, and behold there comes two woes more hereafter. Whereupon it is added, And the ſixth Angell ſounded, &c. This ſhews us by the way, that the ſounding of theſe ſeven Angels brings with it ſo many woes; even as the ſeven Vialls are called the ſeven laſt plagues. And theſe woes are denounced and doe fall upon the Beaſt and his crew: as thoſe ſeven laſt plagues alſo do; as yee may ſee, Chap. 9.4.20. Chap. 16.5.6.10. &c.

Now by the voice from the foure hornes of the golden p. 6Altar, which is before God, is cleerely meant Chriſts own voice, who is that golden Altar, even that only true Altar, whereof that Levitical four-horned golden Altar was a type, and to which the Scripture here alludeth. For as on that Leviticall Altar all Sacrifices and offerings were preſented unto God, otherwiſe they were not accepted: So Chriſt is our onlyggHeb. 13.10.15. &Heb 13:10Heb 13:15 Altar, hh1 Pet. 2.5.1 Pet 2:5in whoſe Name we offer up all our Spirituall Sacrifices acceptable to God by Jeſus Chriſt. And as offendors under the law fled for refuge to the hornes of the Altar: So we being offendors againſt God, by our ſins, do fly foriiHeb. 6 18. 1 Iohn 2.1.2.Heb 6:181 John 2:11 John 2:2 refuge to Chriſt, ſo as the purſuer, man, or devill, maykkRom. 8.33, 34Rom 8:33Rom 8:34 not meddle with us.

Againe, Chriſts voice here ſhewes unto us that he is the great King, and Lord, that commands all things in heaven and earth, he it is, that ſendeth woes and plagues upon the enemies of his Church. He commandeth his Angels, and they execute his commands.

Looſe the foure Angells (ſaith hee, to his Angell) which are bound in the great river Euphrates. Before we can come to know whats meant by theſe four Angells, it behoves us firſt to enquire whats meant by the great river Euphrates. Of this great river Euphrates mention is made alſo in thellChap. 16.11. ſixth viall, anſwering to this ſixt Trumpet. Now this great river Euphrates is that,Herodotus. which invironing Babylon, made it invincible, untill Cyrus, King of Perſia, did by his million of men cauſe the waters thereof neere about Babylon ſo to be drayned, into many deepe and vaſt ſluces or by-channels, as the maine river for a time becomming fordable, his men waded through it, and p. 7ſo Babylon was ſurpriſed. And to this alludeth that which is written**Chap. 16.12. in the ſixt Viall, of the drying up of that great river, that the way of the Kings of the Eaſt might be prepared. Now the Kingdome of the beaſt, or his throne, againſt which the woes of the ſeven trumpets are ſounded, and the laſt plagues of the ſeven vialls powred out, is that Great Babylon, the mother of whordoms and abominations, and the great captiver of Gods people, as ſhe is at large, and cleerely ſet forth, Chap. 17. and. 18. And the Great river Euphrates, is that main ſtrength and power of men, whereby Babylon is defended againſt invaſion. This main ſtrength of this Babylon is at this day the King of Spain, or the houſe of Auſtria, including the Emperour in Germanie, and the reſt of that houſe, yea & all thoſe of that faction and confederacie, as the Hierarchie, or Prelacie, where ever it is, together with the wicked of the World that are made drunk with the Whores golden cup. It follows then, that thoſe foure Angells bound in the river Euphrates, whom Chriſt commands to be looſed, are thoſe chriſtian Kings, Princes, and States, which for a time, either ſtanding Neuters, or being for Babylon, Chriſt raiſeth and rouſeth up to take up armes, for the diminiſhing and draining of this great River Euphrates by their numerous Armies, and potent preparations, v. 16. 17. &c. Nor is it uncouth, to call Kings and Princes Angels; for they are often calledmmPſal 82 16.Ps 82:16 Elohim, Gods, as alſo the holy angells are. And Kings and Princes beingnnRom. 13.4.Rom 13:4 Gods Miniſters, and being eſpecially ſent by him upon any great buſineſſe, as here, they may therefore properly be called Angells, which ſignifies, ſuch as are p. 8ſent. This is cleere enough. As Chap. 1.20. The Miniſters of the ſeven Churches are called Angels. And Chap. 12.17. Michael, and his Angels, do fight with the Dragon, and his Angels. And Chap. 17. Thoſe Kings which once warred for the Beaſt againſt Chriſt, even they ſhall one day hate the whore, and ſhall make her deſolate and naked. And the reaſon is there given (Verſe 17.) For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their Kingdome unto the Beaſt, untill the words of God ſhall be fulfilled. And then he will call and ſend them, as his Angels or Meſſengers, to execute his will againſt the Whore. Even ſo here, the looſing of the foure Angels, which were bound in the great River Euphrates, is the raiſing up of certain Kings and Princes, which ſhall remove out of the way the maine ſtrength, whereby Babylon is guarded. And although this her ſtrength be very great, and as hard to remove out of the way, as to remove the Great River Euphrates out of her vaſt Chanell: yet theſe foure Angels thus looſed, ſhall ſo diminiſh Babylons ſtrong Fortreſſes, as a way ſhall be made for her ſurpriſall, and utter deſolation.

This then being ſo cleere and plain, it points us as by the finger, to theſe very times, wherein God hath ſtirred up ſundry Kings and Princes, with their mighty armies to make war upon the Emperour, the King of Spaine, and the houſe of Auſtria, the maine pillars of the Popedome. As the King of Sweden, whoſe continued armie ſtill keepes the field againſt all the Emperours power, alſo the King of France, and the Princes of Germany, with the States Generall (and I may ſay Generous) of the Low p. 9Countries. Theſe may wel be thoſe four Angels here looſed, which now make war againſt the ſtrength of Babylon. Theſe were readie at an houre, &c. to obey Chriſts Command, and wil, (verſ. 15.) for to ſlay the third part of men. Look but upon the deſolations of Germany, & look alſo upon the late admirable victory, which the Lord of Hoſts, of Sea, & Land, gave to the States General againſt the K. of Spains great Navy in the narrow Seas, wherein a third part at leaſt of the men periſhed; And the war is ſtill continued on all ſides againſt Babylons Euphrates, to abate the pride of her ſwelling ſtreams, wherwith Babylon is guarded.

Again, theooVerſe 16. number of the Armies of theſe foure Angels, is ſaid to be, 200000 thouſand: ſuch an armie for number, as never was in the World. Cyrus (as is before noted) had 1000 thouſand to invade Babylon, which was the greateſt army that Hiſtory makes mention of. But loe here an armie, of 200 times ſo many, even 200000 thouſand, to make war againſt ſpirituall Babylon, & her temporal power. Now by this number ſo great, numbred by God himſelfe in this place, is eſpecially meant ſuch an armie, as ſhall be invincible againſt Babylon, ſuch an armie, I ſay, as never was in the world. For Gods numbring is his valuing, or as he eſteems, & accounts a thing. As when he was about to deſtroy that potent & proud King of Babylon, Belſhazzar, then Emperour of the World, with his Princes and powers about him, he ſaid unto him,ppDan. 5.26.Dan 5:26 God hath numbred thy Kingdome, which is expounded by the next words, Thou art weighed in the ballance, and art found wanting. So as on the contrary, here, where God numbers ſuch an hoſt, as here, to be two hundred thouſand thouſand, the meaning is, that theſe foure Angells with their armie, ſhall bee p. 10ſo potent and formidable, and ſo victorious againſt Babylon, and all her forces, as if they conſiſted of ſuch a wonderfull number. For otherwiſe, God ſtands not upon numbers, it isqq1 Sam. 14.61 Sam 14:6 all one with him to ſave by many or by few. And his few ſhall be, as many thouſand thouſands, when hee will get the victory by them. The King of Swedens army, which hee firſt brought into Germany, that got the victory over the Emperours mighty forces at Lipſich, was far ſhort in number of the Emperors thouſands.

In the next place is deſcribed the manner of the horſemen, and of the horſes, verſ. 17. to ſet forth their power, and terrour: Then the manner of their fight: out of their mouthes iſsued fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone, wherewith the third part of men were killed. Here we ſee the manner of weapons and fight of theſe very times of ours, as by powder and ſhot, ſignified by fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone, comming out of their mouthes, as out of the mouth of the Cannon, thoſe murthering weapons. With theſe are ſlaine the third part of men. This, deſolate Germany can witneſſe, now turned almoſt into a Wilderneſſe. And in that the horſes are ſaid to hurt with their mouthes, and with their tayls: thereby is meant, that there is no ſecuritie from being hurt of them every way, both before and behind. And in that their tayls are ſaid to have heads like Serpents, it doth argue, that this army againſt Babylon is not only potent, but prudent and politicke in managing of the warre.

And where it is ſaid, Verſe 20. That the reſt of the men, which were not killed by theſe plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they ſhould not worſhip p. 11Devils, and Idols of gold, and ſilver, and braſse, and ſtone, and of wood, which neither can ſea, nor heare, nor walke: Neither repented they of their murthers, nor of their ſorceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts: hence we note, theſe particulars: 1Firſt, that all this warre, all theſe plagues (as is touched before) are againſt ſpirituall Babylon, againſt the Kingdome of the Beaſt, and the head and body of Popery. Secondly, (for confirmation hereof) 2this Spirituall Babylon, notwithſtanding all her ſmooth evaſions, and ſhifts to put it off (as therrProv. 30.20.Prov 30:20 whore in the Proverbs, wipes her lips and ſaith, I have done no wickedneſse) is found to be a notorious and egregious Idolatreſſe, in as much, as all her Images of gold, ſilver, braſſe, ſtone, wood, are here in plain termes called Idols, as which can neither ſee, nor heare, nor walke. Yet Papiſts doe give that worſhip and honour unto them, as if they did both ſee, and heare, and walke, yea, as if they had a very Deity in them. And this is that Spirituall fornication of that great Whore, (Chap. 17.3.) with whom the Kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth have beene made drunke with the nine of her fornication; as being no leſſe mad upon her Images and Idols, and other ſervice deviſed by men, then Drunkards are upon new Wine. Therefore is this Babylon the Great called the Mother of whordoms, and abominations of the earth, Ver. 5. But yet for al this you muſt not cal her ſo, She wil be called no other, but the Holy Catholike Church, the chaſt Spouſe of Chriſt. Thirdly, I note here, that all her idolatrous 3Service in her Image-worſhip is the worſhip of Devils: & cōſequently all Papiſts are the Devils vaſſals p. 12and ſervants. A hard doome (you will ſay) but it is as true, as Gods Word here is true. Fourthly, Notwithſtanding all this, and that God plagues the Beaſt and his brood, and wars againſt Babylon, with his terrible armies, and doth and will prevaile againſt her, yet ſhe is altogether incorrigible, incurable, though they ſee the third part of them ſlain, yet the reſt will not repent of their Idolatry, and other Babylonian ſins, as murthering of Gods Saints and Martyrs, uſing Witchcraft and Sorcery, authorizing of publike Stews, and that for money, and robbing and cheating the ſimple people of their money by their Mountebanke Maſſes, Diſpenſations and Pardons, and a thouſand ſuch like trumpery, being thoſe ſins that are proper to Babylon, to this Kingdome of 5the Beaſt. Fiftly, I note, here, that God rayſeth armies againſt Babylon, & cuts her ſhort, and powres many and grievous plagues upon her, thereby to bring her to repentance, or otherwiſe to leave her unexcuſable. And ſo much of the ninth Chapter.

Now follows the tenth Chapter, wherein are ſome things obſervable, that fall under this Sixt Trumpet. And ſo what wee find written in this and the next Chapter, till we come to the Seventh, belongs all to this Trumpet. This tenth Chapter is very myſticall. For here are voices of ſeven thunders uttered, but ſealed up, and unwritten. Yet becauſe the very ſound of thunder leaves ſome impreſſion behind it, and though mans underſtanding cannot interpret it, yet the Conſcience, being ſtrucke with terrour, will pick ſome meaning out of it: therefore taking the Scripture ſtill for our guide, we will aſſay to ſpeak ſomething of this Chap. by the way. In the p. 13firſt Verſe an Angel is ſent out with great Majeſty. This requires attention to what followeth: He hath a Little Book in his hand, Verſe 2.Verſe 2, 3, 4. Of which more is ſpoken from the eighth Verſe to the end of the Chapter. The next thing of marke is the ſeven Thunders uttering their voices, but ſealed up; and this followeth immediatly upon the Angels ſetting his right foot upon the Sea, and his left foot on the Earth, crying with a loud voice, as when a Lion roareth. This is very myſticall. But this Angell, by his deſcription, ſhould bee Chriſt: the ſame that is deſcribed, Chapter. 1.13, 14, 15, 16. His ſtanding with one foot on the Sea, and another on the Land, ſeemes to allude toſſExod. 14.15.16.Exod 14:15Exod 14:16 Moſes, ſtanding on the Sea ſide, and ſtretching his Rod over the Sea, and crying with a ſtrong voice of Prayer to God. Or it alludeth to thettIoſh. 3.14, 15, 16.Josh 3:14Josh 3:15Josh 3:16 dipping of the Prieſts feet in the brim of Iordan, ſo ſoon as the one foot touched the water, the Streame recoyled, and gave way. Both theſe were Types of Chriſt, and of his Church. And this which is here written, falling under this Sixt Trumpet, is a prophecie of the deſtruction of Babylon, and of the deliverance of Gods people. Upon this cry follows the voice of the ſeven thunders, but ſealed up. The voice of Thunder is theuuPſal. 29.Ps 29 voice of God. So the Heathen called their GodxxIupiter Altitonans foreign. Hom. Iupiter, the thundring God. But this voice uttered, is ſealed up. But theſe thunders will ſpeak plain enough in the next Trumpet, as alſo under the ſeventh Viall, when they ſhall take their effect in blaſting and conſuming the Kingdome of the Beaſt. For the voice of the Thunders is a Prophecie to be fulfilled in the Next Trumpet. As p. 14alſo (Verſe 5, 6, 7.) the Angell ſpeaketh what ſhall be under the voice of the Seventh Angell. And there is a ſecret meaning in the voice of the thunder, which is expreſſed, not in words, but in the effects. As the Lord ſaith,yyPſal 81.7.Ps 81:7 Thou calledſt in trouble, and I delivered thee, I anſwered thee in the ſecret of thunder. This is ſpoken of Iſraels deliverance from Egypt, where they cried to the Lord; and he plagued the Egyptians by his thunder; and of their paſſage thorow the Sea, when Moſes cried to the Lord, and he anſwered his cry in giving paſſage for his people, and in the ſecret of his thunder in deſtroying the Egyptians. Even as David ſaith alſo in another Pſalme, where elegantly deſcribing that miraculous deliverance through the Sea: The waters ſaw thee, O God, the waters ſaw thee, they were afraid, the depths alſo were troubled, the clouds powred out water, the Skies ſent out a ſound, thine arrows alſo went abroad: he addeth The voice of thy thunder was in the Heaven, the Lightnings lightned the World, the earth trembled and ſhooke.

This is that thunder, in the ſecret whereof the Lord heard the cry of his people, in delivering them, and in diſcomfiting and deſtroying their enemies. And thus here, the voice of theſe ſeven thunders is ſealed up, and reſerved to be interpreted by the voice of the ſeventh Angell, when theſe thunders ſhall have their effect upon the Beaſt in his deſtruction. For thus alſo that which followeth (as before is touched) of the Angels Swearing, that time ſhould be no more, is to be fulfilled under the Seventh Trumpet, when alſo the Myſtery of God ſhall be finiſhed, when all Prophecies ſhall be accompliſhed, and in the end of the World, all p. 15time ſhall be ſwallowed up of Eternity, as before. Which by the way noteth unto us, that the Seventh Trumpet ſhall continue ſounding, and the ſeventh Viall powring forth, untill the end of time.

Shall time then have an end? certainly. Here then a queſtion may bee moved, what ſhall become of the Sun and Moone, and Starrs, whoſe motion is meaſured out by time, and which diſtinguiſheth theyyGen. 1.14.Gen 1:14 times and ſeaſons, days, months and yeeres of this inferiour world? For anſwere whereunto in brief, becauſe the queſtion is full of curioſitie, whether thoſe glorious creatures ſhall ceaſe to be, or their motion ſhall ceaſe, as whereof there ſeemes to be no more uſe, I find not clearly revealed: but this I find; There ſhall be a new zz2 Pet. 3.10, 12.2 Pet 3:102 Pet 3:12heaven, and a new earth, when the heavens being on fire ſhall bee diſſolved, and the elements ſhall melt with fervent heate, and the earth alſo, and the workes that are therein ſhall be burnt up. But how this ſhall be, or in what particular State or forme, it is not revealed. Only this reſolution is the beſt, which Peter gives:**Verſe 17. Seeing (ſaith he) all theſe things ſhal be diſſolved, what manner of perſons ought yee to be in all holy converſation, and godlineſse, looking for, and haſtning unto, the comming of the day of God, &c.aaVerſe 13. Nevertheleſse (ſaith he) we, according to his promiſe, looke for new heavens, and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſse.

It followeth, Verſe 8, &c. Here John is commanded to take the little Book, which was open in the Angels hand, who takes it, and eats it up, which becomes ſweet in his mouth, but bitter in his belly: and thereupon he is bid to prophecie before many people, and Nations, and Tongues, and Kings. And this is the p. 16ſumme of the foure laſt Verſes of this Chapter. It is cleer, that this little Book ſignifieth, or containeth thoſe prophecies, which John, and in him Chriſts Miniſters under this Trumpet (called his witneſſes in the eleventh Chapter) were to publiſh to the World. For upon the receiving of the Book, hee is bid to prophecie. This place alludes to that in Ezechiel, Chap. 2.9, 10. and Chap. 3.1, 2, 3. where the Prophet beholds an hand ſent unto him, and a rowle of a book therein, which was ſpread before him within and without, and there was written therein Lamentations, and mourning, and wo: and hee was bid to eate this rowle, and to go and ſpeake unto the houſe of Iſrael: which hee eating, found it in his mouth ſweet as honey. A juſt parallell to this little booke here, all circumſtances compared together. So as this little booke containeth for the matter of it, thoſe judgements of God, which Iohn was to denounce in his propheſying to fall upon the Beaſt, and his Kingdome. The ſweetneſſe of it in his mouth, argues thebbEſay 39.8.Isa 39:8 goodneſſe of Gods Word, even when it denounceth judgements for ſinne; whereupon if men bee brought to repent, it is ſweet as honey in the mouth: but if they heare, and doe not repent, it goes downe into the belly, and the effects thereof prove bitterneſse in the end. The Apoſtle ſaith that Gods Word is thecc2 Cor. 2.15.2 Cor 2:15 ſweet ſavour of God in them that are ſaved, and in them that periſh. Againe, this ſweetneſſe in the mouth of John, and bitterneſſe in his belly, ſhewes, that Gods meſſage ſhould be ſweete to his Mininiſters, in receiving it, and delivering it with their mouth, although in the iſſue it prove bitter unto p. 17them, as being the cauſe and occaſion of much trouble and perſecution, which they ſuffer of the World; ſuch as befell the Prophets and Apoſtles, and Miniſters of Chriſt in all ſucceding ages; and as we ſhall ſee more particularly in the next Chapter, to which we now come.

Chap. 11.1. &c. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod, and the Angel ſtood, Saying, Riſe and meaſure the Temple of God, and the Altar, and them that worſhip therein: But the Court which is without the Temple, leave out, and meaſure it not: for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy Citie ſhall they tread underfoot fortie and two moneths. And I will give power unto my two witneſses, and they ſhall propheſie a thowſand, two hundred, and threeſcore days, clothed in Sackcloth, &c.

Still we are to rememb r (as before is noted) that wee are yet within the compaſſe of the ſixt Trumpet. So as what is here laid downe, untill we come to the Seventh Trumpet, Verſe 15. muſt bee interpreted, as appertaining to the ſixt Trumpet. Within this Sixt Trumpet then all this is done. John here repreſents (as I ſaid thoſe faithfull Miniſters, or witneſſes of Chriſt, here mentioned, who living under this ſixt Trumpet, muſt riſe, and take the reed, and meaſure the Temple and the Altar, but muſt not meaſure the Court without the Temple, but leave it out. Firſt, they m…ſt riſe, that is, begin to beſtir themſelves in their Miniſtery. And wherein muſt they exerciſe themſelves? In meaſuring the Temple, and the Altar, with the reed in the Angells hand. This alludes to that meaſuring Reede which Ezechiell ſaw in a viſion, wherewith he meaſured the Temple &c. as Chapter 40. and 41. &c. p. 18Now by the Temple here is meant the true Church of Chriſt, as is cleer by many places, as 1 Cor. 3.16.17. 2. Cor. 6.16. Eph. 2.21. And in many places of this booke of the Revelation, Temple is taken for the Church of Chriſt: as Chap. 15.5.6. and in the 19 verſe of this Chapter, and elſewhere. And by the reede in the Angells hand to meaſure withall, is meant the ſtraight rule of Gods word, by which alone the true Church of Chriſt being meaſured, is thereby known and diſtinguiſhed from all falſe and pretended Churches. And that John, Chriſts Miniſter is bid to riſe, and thus to meaſure Gods Temple, his Church, doth plainly argue, that in the time of this Trumpet the Miniſters of Antichriſt ſhall ariſe, and make a loud claim to the title of the Temple, as pertaining properly to them, and to none other. Among many other, take one famous inſtance. What a notorious booke is publiſhed of late by the Prelate of Canterbury? wherein he ſweats and labours to prove, that the only true Catholike Church of Chriſt over the world is made up of the many Prelaticall Churches, as the proper members of the body; ſo as he makes the Church of England and of Rome to be all one Church; and finally ſhuts out all reformed Proteſtant Churches, that have no Prelates, as no true Churches of Chriſt. And becauſe his ſingle word (which is his beſt and only argument) may the better paſſe without controule, hee goes about tooth and naile to cry downe the ſufficiencie of the Scriptures, as being an imperfect rule of it ſelfe to meaſure the Church by. And this his Booke he hath beene ſo bold, as to dedicate to the King, p. 19and makes it the faith of his Church of England, as profeſſing one Faith and Religion with Rome. Is it not high time then for ſome John, or other faithful Miniſters of Chriſt, to riſe, and take the meaſuring Reed in his hand, Gods Word, and therewith exactly meaſure the Temple of God, Chriſts Church, that it may be diſtinguiſhed and differenced from all falſe pretended Churches, and in eſpeciall from the Antichriſtian Hierarchie, the prelaticall Catholike Church (as theddIn his laſt reprinted Conference Epiſt. Dedic. p. 16. and elſewhere in his Book. Prelate cals his Church) in which Catholike, his Church of England, and of Rome are both one and the ſame Church; No doubt of that? They be the Prelats owne words. So as when the Prelate was ſo Zealous to bring Scotland to a conformitie with England, and when the Scots read in his Book Englands conformitie with Rome, as to be one Church, and to profeſſe one Faith and Religion with Rome: might not this (trow you) ſtartle and move the Scots to expell and repell, to thruſt out and keepe out at the Speares point this Conformity? And ſo might not the Prelates falſe Hierarchicall Catholike Church, (excluding all Proteſtant Reformed Churches from being any true Churches of Chriſt) juſtly incenſe the Zealous hearts of Scotland, ſeeing Chriſt thus to be diſhonoured, and thruſt out of his Throne, and Antichriſts Prelates to be ſo mounted aloft, to caſt out ſuch uſurping Lords, that ſo none but Chriſt, according to his Word, and the Lords Anointed, according to his juſt Laws, might rule over them? Thus we ſee how neceſſary this meaſuring of the Temple is under this ſixt Trumpet, and what a cleere note it is of the time, wherein this ſixt Trumpet is ſounded. So as we may boldly ſay, p. 20upon ſuch cleere evidence, that now is the time of the ſixt Trumpet, when there is ſuch need of meaſuring the Temple with the Reed, thereby to know and vindicate, and ſeparate Chriſts true Church, from all counterfeit and Antichriſtian Churches, that at this time doe ſo boaſt themſelves for the only true Catholike Church of Chriſt. As (in Chryſoſtome) the uncertaine Authour upon Matthew, Chap. 24. hath obſerved. Let them which are in Iudea, flee to the Mountains: that is, ſaith hee, let all true Chriſtians flie to the Scriptures: for in the time of Antichriſt, it will bee impoſsible to know the true Church from the falſe, but only by the Scriptures. So hee. But the ſaid Prelate of Canterburie rejects the Scripture from being a ſufficient and perfect meaſuring Reed of the Temple: and good reaſon, becauſe on the one ſide, the Prelate makes the Hierarchie to be of the very eſſence of the Catholike Church: and on the other ſide, the Scripture no where approveth of Prelacie, or of Dioceſan Lord Biſhops, it knows none ſuch: yea, and botheeMatth. 20. 1 Pet. 5. 3 Iohn 9.10.Matt 201 Pet 5 Chriſt forbade it to his Apoſtles, and they afterwards never practiſed it themſelves, but expreſly condemned it in all; as in the Reply to the Prelates Relation, the Author hath cleerly proved.

Come wee now to the meaſuring of the Altar. As the Temple, and Tabernacle under the Law, had their juſt meaſures and Dimenſions preſcribed of God: ſo alſo the Leviticall Altar. Now under the Law there was but one Altar, one for burnt offerings, and one for incenſe: both theſe, as one, were types and figures of Chriſt, the true and only Altar under the Goſpell. For as the Altar under the Law did Sanctifie every guift and offering upon it (as p. 21Exod. 29.37. and Mat. 23.19.) ſo Chriſt is to us that only Altar, on which wee offering our ſelves and our Spiritual Sacrifices, both are Sanctified and accepted of God. This is that Altar (Heb. 13.10.) of which the Apoſtle ſaith, We have an Altar, whereof they have no right to eate, which ſerve the Tabernacle. That this Altar is Chriſt, and only Chriſt, is cleer, becauſe He being come, who is the true Altar, the typicall altar muſt altogether ceaſe. Otherwiſe thoſe who ſtill ſerved the Tabernacle, might have had right to eate of our Altar, could the Type and the Truth have conſiſted together. And the Apoſtle expreſly applyes this Altar, which wee Chriſtians have, to Chriſt, as Verſe 11, 12, 13, 15. where he ſhowes the proper uſe of this Altar in ſanctifying our offerings, concluding and ſaying, By him therefore let us offer the Sacrifice of praiſe to God, continually, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to his name. By him, that is, by Chriſt, our Altar, in his Name, we muſt offer up all our Sacrifices, that ſo they may be Sanctified, and accepted of God. This is ſo cleere, that no ſober Divine, that underſtands any thing at all, can deny. So as the meaſuring of the Altar here, is (as the meaſuring of the Temple, whereof wee have ſpoken before) the vindicating of Chriſt to be the true and only Altar of true Chriſtians. And this is a dutie enjoyned all faithfull Miniſters, and eſpecially under this Sixt Trumpet, in theſe our very times, wherein we have ſeen ſuch furious Romiſh Zeale in hoyſing up of Altars every where, and boldly maintaining both inffDoct. Pock in his Altare l. Chriſtianum. Rather Dam… ſcenum. Books and Sermons, the neceſſary uſe of ſuch their deviſed Altars of wood and ſtone, as without which God p. 22cannot be ſerved, nor their Sacrifices ſanctified: wheras theſe their Altars, with al their Altar-ſervice & worſhip of mās deviſing, are not only derogatory from Chriſt the only true Altar, but alſo a flat deniall of Chriſt, and a very Maſſe of all Heatheniſh impietie, and atheiſticall infidelitie, and Antichriſtian apoſtacie. For that multitude of wooden and ſtone altars, which our Prelates do erect in all their Churches, are taken rather from the Heathen, as Kinggg2 Kings 16.2 Kgs 16 Ahaz and his Prieſt framed their Altar according to the pattern of that at Damaſcus, or from Rome, which took them from the Heathen, or from the Iews, but if they ſay they take them from the Jewes, (as they doe many other of their Rites) then they very much forget themſelves, and that in two mayne points: firſt, becauſe the Church of the Iewes had buthh2 Chro. 32.122 Chr 32:12 one altar for Incenſe, and Sacrifice, and that was at Ieruſalem, they might not ſet up Altars in any other place, ſo as in their ſeventy yeeres captivitie in Babylon they had no altar there: and at this day, the Temple and Altar at Ieruſalem being demoliſhed, they have no Altar, as no Sacrifice, or Incenſe. So as no Jeruſalem, and no Temple there, no Altar now of wood, or ſtone, or any other matter or mettle is to be ſet up in the worſhip of God. But the Romaniſts, with all their Prelats, and Prieſts, doe ſet up in their Temples, not only one, but infinite numbers of Altars; according to that which the Prophet ſaith, of revolted Iſraell, iiHoſ. 8.11.Hos 8:11Becauſe Iſraell hath made many Altars to ſin, Altars ſhall be unto him to ſin. And According to the multitude of his fruit, he hath increaſed the Altars. And if they object, and ſay, Iſraell p. 23built Altars to other Gods: I anſwere, ſo they did, & to the true God too, as they pretēded, as at Bethel and Dan. But all theſe their Altars were alike abominable to God, and for which he utterly caſt them out. And indeed all falſe Altars, with their ſervice (what ever men pretend to the contrary) are ſet up, and done to thekk2 Chron. 11.15.2 Chr 11:15 Devill, who in Ierobohams calves, and on thoſe Altars was worſhiped. And ſuch Altars, ſuch ſervice as men have deviſed, are not done to God, he utterly abhors them. Such are all Popiſh Altars, and Altar-Service.

Secondly, as theſe Altar-worſhipers tranſgreſſe in the multitude of their Altars: ſo alſo in the meaſure of them, they doe not obſerve that due proportion preſcribed in Gods Law, but ſome are bigger, ſome leſſer, ſome longer, ſome ſhorter, ſome higher, ſome lower, as pleaſeth mans fancie. And therefore theſe their Altars are in no reſpect conformable to Gods law, but they are meere heatheniſh Damaſcen Altars, either of mans, or of the Devills deviſing, chuſe which they will.

Now ſuch Altars, with all their pompous ſervice, being in theſe our dayes, ſo outragiouſly cryed up in all prelaticall Churches, not only in diſhonour, but deſperate defiance of Chriſt, the only true Altar of all true Chriſtians: and whereas under this Sixt Trumpet Chriſt gives ſuch a charge to his ſervant John, and ſo to all his faithfull Miniſters of the Goſpell, to take the Reed that is in his hand, his holy word, and therewith to take a juſt meaſure, as of the Temple, his Church, that all may know and diſtinguiſh it from Antichriſts falſe Church; ſo of the Altar, which is himſelfe, p. 24that all may know wee Chriſtians have no other Altar, whereon to offer our Spirituall Sacrifices acceptable to God, but only Chriſt, all other altars, being falſe and counterfeit, heatheniſh and Idolatrous, and a ſervice done to the Devill, and not to God, as being altogether and directly contrary to his Word, and a flat deniall of Chriſt the true and only Altar: hence we may ſafely conclude, that this is the very time of the ſixt Trumpet, wherein wee now live. How ought the true Miniſters of Chriſt then in theſe our dayes to beſtir themſelves, and fall a meaſuring the true Temple and Altar, and that with no other Reed, but that in Chriſts hand, and with no other Rule, but his owne word, that ſo his people (being truly and thorowly informed which is the true Church of Chriſt, and which the falſe and Antichriſtian Church, which the Prelats place in their Hierarchie; and which is the true and only Altar, whereon to offer all their Sacrifices, that they may be ſanctified and accepted of God, namely Jeſus Chriſt, and that therefore all other Altars, and Altar-Service deviſed by man, are abominable in Gods ſight) may have no more communion with ſuch Altars, and ſuch Altar-Service, then with Antichriſt, whoſe Altars and Service they be? Otherwiſe, ſuch as communicate with them cannot be called the people of God, but are indeed the members of Antichriſt. For, as the Apoſtle ſaith,ll2 Cor 6 14, 15, 16.2 Cor 6:142 Cor 6:152 Cor 6:16 What fellowſhip hath righteouſneſſe with unrighteouſneſſe? And what communion hath light with darkneſſe? And what concord hath Chriſt with Belial? Or what part hath hee that believeth with an infidell? And what agreement hath the Temple of God with Idols? p. 25For yee are the Temple of the living God, as God hath ſaid, I will dwell in them, and walk in them, and I will be their God, and they ſhall be my people.

And ſo we come to the third thing here to be meaſured, and that is, Them that worſhip therein; that is, thoſe that are true members of Chriſts true Church, that aremm1 Pet. 2.5. Epheſ. 2.21, 22.1 Pet 2:5Eph 2:21Eph 2:22 living ſtones of that living Temple, that are thennIoh. 4.23, 24.John 4:23John 4:24 true worſhipers, which worſhip God in Spirit and Truth, that worſhip at no other Altar, but Jeſus Chriſt, praying and praiſing God in his name. Theſe be they, here, whom, with the Temple, and the Altar, John, and the Miniſters of Chriſt, and more eſpecially under this Sixt Trumpet, are to meaſure with the ſame Reede, So as the true people of God may be known and diſtinguiſhed from thoſe that be falſe and counterfeit profeſſors, falſe and counterfeit Chriſtians. For under this Trumpet, how many thouſands (I ſpeak not of thoſe in the profeſt Popiſh Churches, but) even in the Church of England, where the Goſpel hath been a long time imbraced, preached, and profeſſed, doooThough now ſince this Treatiſe was written, we ſee (bleſſed be God) by a late Order from the honourable Houſe of Commons, the Altars to be diſmounted. communicate with Altars, and with the Superſtitious and Idolatrous worſhip and ſervice thereunto appertaining according to humane Ordinances and Inventions: and yet would paſſe in the ranke of good Chriſtians and Proteſtants, who if they knew what it were to worſhip at Altars, they would abhorre all ſuch Service? How ought Miniſters therefore in theſe times to take the juſt meaſure of thoſe that be true Chriſtians, by teaching the people out of Gods Word what a true Chriſtian is, and wherein hee muſt differ from all ſuch falſe Chriſtians, as communicate with Antichriſt p. 26in altar-Service and Worſhip, which is ſo rife, and ruffleth ſo pompouſly in this our time, whereby it appeareth plainly, that now the ſixt Trumpet is a ſounding? But perhaps Miniſters will plead for themſelves, that if they ſhall ſo doe, they muſt neceſſarily undergoe great perſecutions, and ſuffer at leaſt the loſſe of their Livings, and perhaps of their liberty too, and of their bloud, and members of their bodie, and of all they have, as ſome others have lately done. If this they ſtand upon, and ſo for feare forbeare to doe their dutie: they may then ſit them downe, confeſsing they are no faithfull Miniſters of Chriſt, as Iohn here was for obeying the command of Jeſus Chriſt. Much leſſe will ſuch ever prove ſuch witneſſes, as by and by are mentioned in this Chapter, who, forbearing teſtimony to the truth, are willing to lay downe their precious lives. But of this in its proper place.

Ʋerſe 2.It followeth: But the Court, which is without the Temple, leave out, and meaſure it not: for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy Citie ſhall they tread under foot forty and two moneths. This Court without the Temple alludes to that utmoſt large court, which was without the Temple in Jeruſalem, where all the common Jews aſſembled, as alſo thoſe of other Nations. And this court without the Temple here, by a Metonymie, taking the continent for the thing contained, may ſignifie the company of thoſe in generall, that profeſſe to be Chriſtians, but yet are indeed and in truth no true members of the true Church, they are not of and in the Temple, but they are out of the Temple. And therefore that which is tranſlated in our Engliſh, Leave out, is in the p. 27Originall foreign, Caſt out, as alſo theppE…jce forat. Latine, and the**jette hors. French rightly render it. This is, as the Lord ſaith to Ieremie, qqIer. 15.19.Jer 15:19If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou ſhalt be as my mouth. So here, Iohn having meaſured the true people of God, ſuch as worſhip him according to his Word: is bid here to caſt out the refuſe, ſuch as do not worſhip God in purity and verity, ſuch as worſhip not in his Temple, and at his Altar, to wit, in Chriſts only Name; who though they beare the common name of Chriſtians, yet they are not within the Temple, but without, in the common-outer court, which here is caſt out, and not to be reckoned to bee of the Temple. And this court Iohn muſt not meaſure: it ſufficeth, that having meaſured the true worſhippers, by deſcribing their true properties out of Gods Word: it followeth conſequently, that all thoſe, which are falſ worſhippers, are thoſe of the court without the Temple, & ſo to be caſt out, (asrrGen. 21.10. Gal. 4.30.Gen 21:10Gal 4:30 the bond woman and her ſonne were caſt out of Abrahams houſe) and not to be meaſured, nor nūbred with Gods people.

And it is added here, For it is given unto the Gentiles: that is, they of this court are to be reckoned among the Gentiles, and to bee accounted as Heathen, and Infidels. For the purpoſe: what are all Papiſts, and all other altar-worſhippers, and bringers in, and ſetters up, and Conformiſts to ſtrange Service invented by men, but Heathen and Infidels? For as we ſaid before, the very ſetting up of an Altar, and Altar-Service, is a flat deniall of Chriſt the only true Altar, and ſo is meere Heatheniſme and Infidelitie. Or elſe by the Gentiles here is underſtood the antichriſtian Kingdome, or p. 28the ſpirituall Babylon, under which the formall Proteſtants and cold profeſſours of this age, under the ſixt Trumpet, ſhall be brought in bondage, as back-ſliding Iſrael of old was given into the hands of the King of Babylon. For theſe back-ſliders and Formaliſts, are thoſe of the outer court, that is caſt out, and the Spirituall Babylon is properly ſo called, for her Heatheniſh and Babyloniſh manners, (as Pſal. 59.5.8. David calls Saul and his bloudy perſecutors, Heathen: and Eſay 1.10. the Prophet calls the degenerate Princes and people of Iſrael, Princes of Sodome, and people of Gomorrha, as being in manners like unto them) eſpecially her manifold Idolatries, wherein ſhe reſembleth old Babylon, as ſhee is ſet out, Chap. 17. And how truly is this verified of our cold, or rather luke-warme Laodiceans in England at this day? Is not all England in generall, and for the greateſt part, brought under the Babyloniſh yoke in her univerſall conformitie to Popery in ſetting up of Altars and Altar-ſervice, after the manner of Rome? Are not all the Miniſters and People therein (I ſay for the moſt part) made the Prelates vaſſals, who have of late, more then formerly, ſet up the Image of the Beaſt, and his Throne, almoſt in all the Churches, and over all the Congregations of England? What Miniſter almoſt is there at this day, dare ſtand againſt the Antichriſtian Tyranny, now ſo highly exalted over all mens conſciences? Are they not then brought under the Babyloniſh Captivitie? Are they not given to the Gentiles, into the power of the Spirituall Babylon, a farre worſe and more intolerable bondage, then that of the ancient people of God, either in Egypt, or Babylon? For p. 29that was a bondage of the body: but this of the Soule and Conſcience. And thus this very phraſe, [It is given to the Gentiles] alludes to the like ſpeeches in the Prophets, concerning revolted and degenerate Jeruſalem, whereof it is ſaid very frequently inſſIer. 32.24, 25 28.Jer 32:24Jer 32:25 Jeremy, that the Citie is given into the hands of the Caldaeans, or Babylonians. So here the Court without the Temple is caſt out, and given to the Gentiles, that is (as is ſaid before) to the Kingdome and power of the Babylonian Beaſt, which ſucceeds old Babylon in all her Idolatries, and beſtiall crueltie, in captiving of Gods people.

And it is added here, And the holie Citie ſhall they tread under foot two and forty months. This holy City here alludes to the old City Hieruſalem, as the Gentiles here allude to old Babylon, which did tread under feete that holy City 70. yeeres. But what is meant here by this holy City? This holy City is the true church of God, called thettPſal. 46.4.Ps 46:4 city of God, and theuu1 Kin. 11.32.1 Kgs 11:32 elect City, and thexxRev. 20.9.Rev 20:9 beloved city, and againe (Revell. 22.19.) the holy city, and theyyHeb. 12.22.Heb 12:22 City of the living God, the heavenly Jeruſalem. This holy City, this Church of God ſhal the Gentiles, to wit, the Spirituall Babylon, (called the Beaſt out of the bottomleſſe pit, Verſe 7.) tread under foote, that is, ſhall exceedingly oppreſſe and afflict, making havock of the Saints of God, the citizens of this holy city, making no more account of them, then of dirt and mire in the Streets; yea they ſhall defile and deſtroy the holy aſſemblies of the Saints, by corrupting the pure worſhip and ſervice of God, and crying downe all holineſſe, both of life and converſation, and Sanctification of the Sabbath or p. 30Lords day, in the publike aſſemblies, and private families, forbidding preaching of the doctrine of Grace, and reſtraining Sermons on the Lords day in the Afternoone, and perſecuting all Godly, powerfull, and painfull Miniſters, and giving publike diſpenſation to youth and others for following of profane ſports on the Lords holy-day, to wit, his own day, & many ſuch like outrages they do. Thus they trample upon the holy city, as labouring to deſtroy, and bring into contempt, as it were by ſetting their foule foot upon all holineſſe. Like thoſe wicked and falſe Shepherds in Ezechiel, zzEzech. 34.18, 19.Ezek 34:18Ezek 34:19that devoure the good paſture, and tread the reſidue under their feet; that drinke of the deepe waters, and foule the reſidue with their feete, ſo as the flock of God muſt eate and drink that, which their filthy feete have trodden upon, and fouled.aaNote here good Reader, that the Author writ this before this time of Reformation happily in part begun and hopefully expected unto a perfection. Now when was ever the holy City, the true Church of God, in all theſe reſpects, more trodden upon with the feete of falſe ſhepherds? when was all holineſſe ever more hated & deſpiſed, & railed upon & reviled, & perſecuted, & oppreſſed, & trampled upon, then now in our time? that we neede not doubt, but that this is the time of the Sixt Trumpet, under which wee now live. How are the godly and painfull Miniſters of God in England miſuſed, their mouths ſtopped, their wives, children, and families diſpoſſeſſed, and caſt out of their habitations, all holy and true profeſſors among the People, vexed, wearied, and even worried by the Purſivants, and courts of Prelates? ſo as they are forced many of them to forſake their houſes, and ſweete native country, to go ſeeke for refuge among wild beaſts, and wilde Salvages, and p. 31wilde deſerts,bbHeb. 11.37, 38.Heb 11:37Heb 11:38 wandring up and down (as the Apoſtle ſpeakes) in deſerts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth, of whome the world is not worthy, &c. Thus is not the holy City trodden under foote of theſe Gentiles, yea, worſe then the old Gentiles, the Babylonian Beaſt, and his broode, having loſt all humanity, and all the properties of reaſonable men, likeccDan. 4.Dan 4 Nabuchadnezzar, when he grazed among the beaſts of the field: when nothing will ſatisfie them, but the utter deſolation and extirpation of the Saints of God, and of all holineſſe? What neede then have Gods people to cry, and pray with David, ddPſal. 83.1, 2, 3, 4.Ps 83:1Ps 83:2Ps 83:3Ps 83:4Keepe not thou ſilence, o God, hold not thy peace, and be not ſtill, O God. For loe, thine enemies make a tumult, and they that hate thee have lift up the head. They have taken crafty counſell againſt thy people, and conſulted againſt thy hidden ones. They have ſaid, come, let us cut them off from being a Nation, that the name of Iſraell may bee no more in remembrance. For they have conſulted together with one conſent, they are confederate againſt Thee. But do thou unto them as unto the Madianites, as to Siſera, &c. as it followeth to the end of the Pſalme. Let them be confounded, and troubled for ever: let them be put to ſhame and periſh: that men may know, that thou, whoſe name alone it Jehovah, art the moſt high over al the earth.

ButeePſal. 94.3, 4, 5, 6, 7.Ps 94:3Ps 94:4Ps 94:5Ps 94:6Ps 94:7 how long ſhall theſe wicked thus triumph? How long ſhall they utter, and ſpeak hard things? and all the workers of iniquitie boaſt themſelves? How long ſhall they breake in pieces thy people, O Lord: and affl…ct thine heritage? How long ſhall they ſlay the Widow and the ſtranger, and murther the fatherleſſe? How long ſhall theſe Atheiſts ſay, The Lord ſhal not ſee, neither ſhal the God of Jacob regard it? How long ſhall p. 32theſe Gentiles thus tread under foot the holy Citie of our God? It is ſaid here, Two and forty moneths. Surely, as the words doe ſound, no very long time. Two and forty moneths make up three yeers and a halfe, and not much more then thoſe thouſand, two hundred, and threeſcore days, in the next Verſe. Now whether theſe forty two moneths be taken literally and ſtrictly, or whether they ſignifie ſome longer or ſhorter time is uncertain to us: this we may certainly build upon, that the time of Antichriſts afflicting of Gods Church, under this Trumpet, ſhall not be long. But this number of forty and two moneths being ſo preciſely laid downe, as containing three yeeres and a halfe, we may be the bolder to take it literally for this ſpace of time. Nor is it unuſuall in Scripture ſo to number, according to the ſtrict letter thereof; as of Iſraels affliction in Egypt, from Abrahams calling, juſt foure hundred and thirtie yeeres: and the Jews Captivitie in Babylon juſt ſeventy yeeres. And in Daniel, ffDan. 7.25.Dan 7:25A time, times, and halfe, or part of a time, is taken for three yeers, and part of the fourth, wherein that proud King Antiochus (who was a type of Antichriſt) ſhould and did afflict the people of God. A time, or times, being interpreted by Daniel himſelfe, to bee ſo manyggDan. 4.16. & 11.13.Dan 4:16Dan 11:13 yeers. The like phraſe whereunto wee have Revel. 12.14. that the Church ſhould be perſecuted of the Dragon a time, times, and halfe a time. Which is to bee interpreted, according to thoſe times in Daniel, three yeers and a halfe. And hereupon it is, that the Jeſuits, as Bellarmine, and others, ſtand ſo ſtiffe, that Antichriſts Reigne ſhall continue but three yeeres and a halfe, by which they p. 33think to excuſe the Pope from being Antichriſt. But it will not ſerve their turn. For we eaſily grant, that three yeers and a halfe, being the ſumme of fortie and two moneths, is that ſpace of time, wherein the Beaſt out of the bottomleſſe pit, that Antichriſt, ſhall afflict Gods Church under this ſixt Trumpet. And ſo likewiſe this ſpace of time doth anſwer that time, times, and part of time, wherein Antiochus the type of Antichriſt, afflicted the ancient people of God, which was a good part of three yeeres and a halfe, as Tremelius well ſheweth in his notes upon Daniel. And if we conſider the practices of Antiochus in that time, and compare them with Antichriſts practices in this ſixt Trumpet, we ſhall find a marvellous correſpondence between them. Now of Antiochus, Daniel ſaith,hhDan 7.25.Dan 7:25 He ſhall ſpeak great words againſt the moſt High, and ſhal weare out the Saints of the moſt High, and think to change times and Laws: and they ſhall be given into his hand, untill a time, and times, and the dividing of time. Whereupon Tremellius notes, that this Antiochus was moſt blaſphemous againſt God, and a moſt cruell Tyrant over Gods people; in ſo much as he took upon him, and did arrogate unto himſelfe divine authoritie in aboliſhing the Sabbaths, and other Laws of God, and did inſtitute and impoſe new Laws and Ceremonies according to his owne humour and pleaſure. Now what doth Antichriſt, and his Limbes the Prelates, in theſe our days? Doe they not moſt proudlyiiSee the Prelate of Canterbury his laſt Book throughout, toge…her wi…h all his practices. arrogate to themſelves divine authoritie, and impiouſly blaſpheme God and Chriſt, in ſaying, Chriſt thought it fitteſt to appoint them as his Viceroys in governing his Church? Doe they not hereupon p. 34beare themſelves as ſo many gods, ſitting in Chriſts throne, impoſing their owne devices, Ceremonies, Canons, upon the conſciences of Gods people? Doe they not vilifie the holy Scripture, as an inſufficient and imperfect Rule of Faith, and preferre the Tradition of their prelaticall Church before it? Doe they not abrogate the moralitie of the fourth Commandement, as not binding us Chriſtians to keep the Lords day for our Sabbath day? Do they not diſpenſe with the profanation of it by moſt licentious and laſcivious Sports and Paſtimes to all youth and others, thereby alſo diſpenſing with the fifth Commandement, when Maſters may not reſtrain their own Servants, nor Parents their Children from their laudable Sports (as they call them) that day? Doe they not forbid Miniſters to preach twice on that day? Doe they not altogether forbid ſound preaching of the doctrines of Grace? And do they notiiDan. 7.25.Dan 7:25 weare out (and to uſe their own Phraſe) worme out godly Miniſters, and good people, and make havock of all holineſſe (as is noted before) and commit all manner of out-rage and crueltie upon the Servants of God? And this their extream out-rage and crueltie hath continued now very neer three yeers and a halfe, or fortie and two moneths, I ſay the extremitie of it,kkHeb. 12.4.Heb 12:4 as when they fall to ſhed bloud, &c. though they have been playing their pranks, and laying their plots a long time, but more covertly and inſenſibly, till of later days, the flame of their Antichriſtian outrage hath broke out, ready to ſet all in a combuſtion. But I truſt to ſee the expiration of theſe two and forty moneths to run out very ſhortly. And were there not ſuch a p. 35time here limited, yet ſuch hath beene the fury of theſe men, like a hideous ſtorme, or impetuous torrent, that it cannot be conceived it ſhould laſt any long time, but quickly run it ſelfe dry, or out of breath. And God being ſo deſperatly and Giantlike provoked, it cannot ſtand with his patience, nor with his honour, to ſuffer long ſuch affronts. And he hath promiſed tollLuke 18.8.Luke 18:8 avenge the cauſe of his Elect quickly. And therefore certainly it will not bee long, before hemmEſay 59.1….Isa 59:1 repay fury to his adverſaries; and the rather at this time, when the Lord ſees things ſo deſperate, that there is no man to ſtand in the gap, no interceſſor; but that truth faileth, and he that departeth from evill, maketh himſelfe a prey; and there is no judgement (as the Prophet there ſpeaks) therefore his own arme ſhall bring ſalvation, when hee ſhall put on righteouſneſſe as a breſt-plate, and an helmet of ſalvation upon his head, and the garments of vengeance for clothing, and Zeale as a Cloake. ThusnnHeb. 10.37, 38.Heb 10:37Heb 10:38 he that ſhall come, will come, and will not tarry. Now the juſt ſhall live by faith.

It followeth, Verſe 3.Verſe 3. And I will give power unto my two witneſſes, and they ſhall propheſie a thouſand, two hundred, and threeſcore dayes, clothed in ſackcloth. Here it is to be noted, that during all the hardſhip of Gods people under this ſixt Trumpet, wherein the holy Citie, Chriſts true Church, is trodden under foot by the Spirituall Babylon, or by the Beaſt out of the bottomleſſe pit, yet God will not want his witneſſes to propheſie, and teſtifie his truth even againſt the moſt cruell and bloudy perſecutors therof. And hee will have at the leaſt two witneſses, by whoſe teſtimonynnMath. 18.16.Matt 18:16 every word ſhall be eſtabliſhed. Nor can it be expected, that in ſuch a terrible time,ooAmos 5.13.Amos 5:13 an p. 36evill time, wherein the prudent do keep ſilence, there ſhould be many witneſses to be found. But that there ſhould be ſome, at the leaſt two, God will raiſe them up, Chriſt will give them power. I will give (ſaith he) power, to my two witneſſes. To doe what? To prophecie, that is, to preach the truth, to witneſſe it againſt all oppoſition, to denounce judgements againſt the Adverſaries, and to comfort Gods people with his promiſes. As the Prophet Micah, ſaith,ppMic. 3.8, 9. &c.Mic 3:8Mic 3:9 Truly I am ful of power by the Spirit of the Lord, and of judgement, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his tranſgreſsion, and to Iſrael his ſinne. Heare this, I pray you, yee Heads of the houſe of Jacob, and Princes of the houſe of Iſrael, that abhorre judgement, and pervert all equitie. They build up Sion with bloud, and Jeruſalem with iniquitie. The Heads thereof judge for reward, and the Prieſts thereof teach for hire, and the Prophets therof divine for mony: yet wil they lean upon the Lord, and ſay, Is not the Lord among us? None evil can come upon us. Therefore ſhal Sion for your ſake be ploughed as a field, and Jeruſalem ſhal become heaps, and the Mountaine of the houſe, as the high places of the foreſt. Thus the Prophet. Now who is hee that would ſtand up for a witneſſe againſt wicked Prelates, Prieſts, and Prophets, againſt wicked Princes and Rulers, againſt wicked Heads and Judges in a forlorne time, as here the Prophet did, except the Lord had firſt filled him with power, judgement, and might by the Spirit of God? Therefore ſaith the Lord to Jeremie, when he complained, ſaying,qqIer. 15 10.Jer 15:10 Woe is mee, my mother, that thou haſt borne me a man of ſtrife, and a man of contention to the whole earth, &c.rrVerſe 18. Why is my paine perpetuall, and my wound incurable, &c? ſſVerſe 19.20.Therefore, ſaith the p. 37Lord, If thou take forth the precious from the vile, thou ſhalt be as my mouth: Let them returne unto thee, but returne thou not unto them. And I will make thee unto this people a fenced brazen wal, and they ſhall fight againſt thee, but they ſhal not prevaile againſt thee: for I am with thee to ſave thee, and to deliver thee, ſaith the Lord. And I wil deliver thee out of the hand of the wicked, and I wil redeeme thee out of the hand of the terrible. And Eſay ſaith, The Lord ſpake thus to me, with a ſtrong hand, and inſtructed me, that I ſhould not walk in the way of this people, nor to make a confederacie with them. Thus there. And thus here the Lord gives power to his two witneſses to propheſie, and beare teſtimony againſt the wicked and terrible enemies of his Church here under the Sixt Trumpet.

In the next place is ſet down the time how long theſe two witneſſes ſhall propheſie, and that is, a thouſand, two hundred, and threeſcore days. And this anſweres to the forty and two moneths of Antichriſts oppreſsing of gods people, which is three yeeres and a halfe. For a thouſand, two hundred, and threeſcore dayes, make up (within one weeke) juſt three yeers and a halfe. So as their prophecy continueth during the great affliction of Gods People under this Sixt Trumpet. Whence we may note, here, God never leaves his people in affliction without comfort, nor his truth without teſtimony, nor his adverſaries without conviction, but he ſends his witneſſes to propheſie evē in moſt forlorn times.

Then follows here the eſtate and condition of theſe two witneſſes, expreſſed by their outward habit, they are cloathed in ſackcloth; ſutable to Elias, and Iohn Baptiſt. And ſutable to their habit was p. 38their prophecying, preaching repentance, and remiſſion of ſins to the penitent, and believers, and denouncing judgments to the obſtinate. And as was their habit, ſuch were their affections, men crucified to the World, forſaking all, and accounting all things to be loſſe, and betaking themſelves to their Sackcloth. It was no time now, as the Lord ſaith to Ieremie, ttJer. 4.5.5.Jer 4:5to ſeeke great things to themſelves.

It followeth, Verſe 4.Verſe 4. Theſe are the two Olive-trees, and the two Candleſticks, ſtanding before the God of the Earth. In theſe words is couched a great myſtery, and a great worke ſignified, which the Lord is about to doe in the time of this Sixt Trumpet. For the finding out whereof, we are to compare theſe words with that prophecie which we finde written in the fourth Chapter of Zechariah, where (Ver. 1.) the prophet is by the angell awaked as out of ſleep. Which noteth a ſtirring up of the Prophet to great attention to what was now in a viſion ſhewed unto him, as being a matter of great moment, and diligently to bee marked. In the viſion the prophet Saw a golden Candelſtick with Seven Lamps, and on each ſide thereof two Olive trees. This viſion came in the time when the Temple at Hieruſalem was a reparing by Zerubbabell, and it was by the word of the Lord to ſignify unto him (as V. 6.) Saying, This is the word of the Lord unto Zerubbabel, ſaying, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. This was to comfort and incourage Zerubbabel in the work (as alſo Verſe 9.) which the enemies of Gods people did ſo much deride and mock at, as a worke which could never be finiſhed; as we read, Nehem. 4.2, 3. Where Sanballat ſpake to p. 39his brethren, and the army of Samaria, having great indignation, and mocking the Jews, ſaid, What do theſe feeble Iews? Wil they fortifie themſelves? Wil they ſacrifiſe? Wil they make an end in a day? Wil they revive the ſtones out of the heaps of the rubbiſh which are burnt? And Tobiah the Ammonite ſaid, Even that which they build, if a Fox go up, he ſhal evē break down their ſtone wal. Now againſt all this the Lord incourageth Zerubbabel and his people by this Viſion of the Candleſticks, and two Olive-trees ſhewed to the Prophet, whereof the Lord himſelfe is the Authour, and not man. Therefore, he ſaith, Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. That like as the Spirit of the Lord ſhewed this Viſion to his Prophet, wherein is ſhadowed out the indeficient and never fayling Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt, who is the fountain of grace, and the gooduuRo. 11.17, 24Rom 11:17Rom 11:24 Olive-tree, which runneth and floweth forth with Oile continually to ſupply hisxxRevel. 1.Rev 1 golden Candleſticks, his Miniſters and Prophets, by the light of whoſe Prophecie (as the Temple was founded and finiſhed by the Prophecie of haggai and Zechariah the Prophets of the Lord at that time: ſo) the Church of Chriſt, in all ages ſhall be built up, repaired, and in fine fully finiſhed. But in ſpeciall this worke, this great worke of repayring the Temple, and reſtoring true Religion unto its primitive purity, is to be accompliſhed under this ſixt Trumpet, wherein the Lord hath his two witneſſes (anſwerable to thoſe two Prophets, Haggai, and Zechariah, by whoſe Prophecie the ancient Temple, the figure of the Church under the Goſpel, was repaired) by the power of whoſe prophecie, through the Grace and Spirit of Chriſt, p. 40his true Church and Religion ſhall bee repaired, maugre all the malice of Sanballat, and Tobiah, with their Samaritan Army, to withſtand the building, and notwithſtanding all the ſcorne and mockerie, power and policie of Antichriſt, and his nimble Foxes, that thinke by their treading upon the wall to overthrow it. This work (I ſay) is to be performed, and is now already begun to be acted under this Sixt Trumpet. And therefore, hath the Spirit of Chriſt in this place compared his two witneſſes, and their prophecie, unto two golden Candleſticks, and two Olive-trees that ſtand beforeyyZech. 4.14.Zech 4:14 the Lord of the whole Earth, as it is ſaid in Zechariah: as it were pointing us with the finger to that whole viſion of the Prophet, ſetting forth the perfect reparation of that Temple; to the end wee might be out of all doubt that the Lord, under this Trumpet, is about the like great work of reparation, and reſtauration of his Church and Religion, which ſhall proſper and be accompliſhed not by might, nor by power of men, but by the Spirit of the Lord in the mouth of his two witneſſes, and by the word of their prophecie, crying (as in Zechariah)zzZech. 4 7.Zech 4:7 Grace, grace unto it. And for our further confirmation in the truth hereof, have wee not a cleere and evident demonſtration of it in that admirable worke of Reformation of the Kirke of Scotland at this day, whereof we are all eye-witneſſes? And was this done by might and power of man? No. They indeed (asaaNeh. 4 17, 18Neh 4:17Neh 4:18 thoſe Jewiſh builders and repayrers, as aforeſaid) began to build, working with the one hand, & with the other holding a weapon, or having their ſword at their ſide, to defend themſelves againſt the Antichriſtian p. 41yoke of the Herarchie, as againſt Sanballets and Tobiahs; and chiefly to vindicate the honour, crown, throne, Scepter, and Kingdome of Jeſus Chriſt over his people from Antichriſts proud and impious uſurpations, which all Chriſtian Princes and people are bound to doe: as alſo they had their Prophets, with publike faſting & prayer (ſuch as the Jews alſo uſed at the repairing of the Tēple) whereby they ſo proſpered, and God gave them ſuch favour in the eies of their Sovereign, that they altogether laid aſide their weapons, and ſo not by might, nor by power, but by the Grace of God, that great work (notwithſtanding all their adverſaries plotting and labouring againſt it) was in ſome good meaſure accompliſhed, to the everlaſting honour and prayſe of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt, the King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and to the renowne of that King, the Lords Anointed, whoſe heart was moved to become the Lords great Inſtrument in permitting, and aſſenting unto ſo glorious a worke; whereby as Chriſts Kingdome and Temple is now in a faire way reſtored and eſtabliſhed in that Nation, and freed from Antichriſts yoake: So the Kings throne alſo is eſtabliſhed in that Kingdome, and ſhal be unto the comming of Jeſus Chriſt, by whom alonebbProv. 8.15.Prov 8:15 Kings do reigne, and Princes decree juſtice. And as the Lord hath thus begun his great & glorious work of repayring his Temple, and reſtoring Religion, ſo evidently repreſented before our eyes, as in a moſt cleere Viſion, in this ſixt Trumpet, as hath beene ſhewed by comparing this Prophecie with that in Zechariah aforeſaid: ſo certainly the Lord will finiſh his own worke in other Kingdoms alſo where both Princes and people are deluded, and brought p. 42into (at leaſt) Spirituall bondage under the Antichriſtian yoake, which though it be curiouſly painted and guilded over, and as it were faced and lined with Phariſaicall broad Phylacteries, woven with goodly words, As, The Church, moſt Reverend Fathers, holy Hierarchie, Chriſts Vice roys, and the like pompous and pretended titles, yet theſe be but golden chains, and ſilken cords, purple coloured, wherein to lead captive even Kingdoms and States, to make up the traine of Antichriſts triumph.

And here, for a cloſe of this excellent Prophecy in this fourth Verſe, give mee leave to relate a true ſtory. My ſelfe having certaine yeers agone publiſhed in print, and that alſo by Authority, an Anſwer (entitled, The Bayting of the Popes Bull) to a Bull of Pope Vrban the eighth, which paſſed up and down in England, inciting his Roman Catholikes to ſtand for the Catholike Cauſe: and having ſet in the Frontiſpiece of the Book, a Picture, repreſenting King Charles, with a ſword in his hand, the point whereof was directed ſo, as it put off the Popes triple Crowne in the other picture over againſt it repreſenting the Pope, with Verſes interpreting the ſame: and having a young daughter then of three or foure yeeres old at moſt, to whom I (my wife holding the child in her armes) ſhewed this picture, interpreting the ſame unto her: the childe preſently thereupon replyed, O Father, Our King ſhall cut off the Popes head: Jt muſt be ſo, Jt muſt be ſo. And this ſo redoubled, ſhe ſpake with ſuch an extraordinary vigor and vivacitie or quickneſſe of ſpirit, and utterance, as both my ſelfe and wife were ſtruck with great admiration. Now if a man ſhould have ſaid then, when this was p. 43uttered, that ſuch a ſpeech, proceeding ſo ſtrangely from a child was ſure ſome Prophecie inſpired into her by Gods Spirit, of what ſhould after come to paſſe, would have found but a few to give credit thereunto, but rather would have beene laughed to ſcorn. Although I preſently thereupon ſaid to my wife, ſurely this in time may prove to be a true Prophecie; God is able to bring it to paſſe, though never ſo unlikely. But now that wee ſee the Hierarchie utterly raced and rooted out of the Kingdom of Scotland, and that by King Charles his Royall aſſent, ratifying the ſame in Parliament: tell mee, what think yee? Was not here a cutting off of the Popes head by the King, as touching his Kingdome of Scotland? For is not the Popes headſhip upheld in chiefe in the Prelates, and Hierarchie? Might not then the childes ſpeech be a Prophecie, being thus far verified in ſo great and unexpected a work as this? And if ſo, why may it not reach to be a like verified in cutting off the Popes head alſo in England, as it is now in Scotland? Is any thing hard to theccPro. 21.1.Prov 21:1 Lord, who hath the Kings heart in his hand, as the rivers of waters, turning it whitherſoever hee will? But for this we muſt patiently wait, and inceſſantly pray, that the Lord will bring to paſſe his owne counſell, and finiſh his worke thus begun, and that Antichriſts Throne and Kingdome being throwne downe and deſtroyed, Chriſt alone may reigne in the hearts and conſciences of his people, and the Kings Crowne may ever flouriſh and ſhine forth in the beauty of abundance of peace and proſperitie, till time ſhall be no more. Nay, whither the child propheſied, or no: here we have a moſt ſure word p. 44of Prophecie, which tels us what Chriſt is now a working, namely, the great Reformation of his Church, and Reſtauration of Religion, which as he hath ſo gloriouſly begun to doe in Scotland, ſo I truſt hee will ſhew the like merciemercy to England, (though a ſinfull Nation) in rooting out thoſe wicked limbes of the Beaſt, by whom Religion, and the whole Land is ſo of late, more than ever before ſince Queene Elizabeths dayes, defiled. Yea, wee may be as ſure hereof, as wee are ſure this is Gods Word, that the Lord will, and that very ſpeedily, ſo finiſh this worke now begun, within the compaſſe of this ſixt Trumpet, as not all the power and policie of Antichriſt and his Confederates ſhall be able either to prevent it, or ever to overthrow it. For Chriſts Word here muſt needs bee fulfilled, which ſaith, Theſe are the two Olive-trees, and the two Candleſticks, which ſtand before the GOD of the earth: As if hee had ſaid, Even as the viſion of the golden Candleſtick, and of the two Olive-trees on each ſide thereof, ſtanding before the Lord of the whole earth, was ſhewed unto the Prophet Zechariah; to be a word of the Lord to incourage Zerubbabel the Prince, and the people of God in repayring and finiſhing of the Temple in Jeruſalem, then in hand, which the enemies of Judah reſiſted and withſtood with all their might and malice, but were not able to fruſtrate the worke: So I have here purpoſely named my two witneſſes the two Olive-trees, and the two Candleſticks ſtanding before the God of the earth, that it may be the like viſion (as it were) to my people living under the ſixt Trumpet to encourage them not only to begin, but to proceed to the finiſhing and perfecting of the worke of Reformation of Religion, and reſtauration p. 45of my ſpirituall Temple, the Church; and though the adverſaries be potent, and labour tooth and naile to hinder the worke, and my people are weake: yet know, that it is ddZechar 4.7.not by might, or by power, but by my Spirit, ſaith the Lord of hoſts. For eeEſay 46 10.Isa 46:10my Counſell ſhall ſtand, and I will do all my pleaſure. And as for thine enemies, O my people, feare them not, but ſay unto them, ffEſay 8.10.Isa 8:10Take counſell together, and it ſhall come to naught: Speake the word, and it ſhall not ſtand: for God is with us. And I ſay to thee, O my people, Behold, ggEſay 54.16, 17.Isa 54:16Isa 54:17I have created the Smith, that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an Inſtrument for his worke, and I have created the waſter to deſtroy. No weapon that is formed againſt thee, ſhall proſper, and every tongue that ſhal riſe againſt thee in judgment, thou ſhalt condemn. This is the heritage of the ſervants of the Lord, and their righteouſneſse is of me, ſaith the Lord. And thus much of this Verſe.

Now follows Verſe 5.6.Verſe 5.6. And if any man ſhal hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man wil hurt them, he muſt in this manner be killed. Theſe have power to ſhut heaven, that it rain not in the dayes of their prophecie: and have power over waters, to turn them into bloud, and to ſmite the earth with all plagues, as often as they wil.

In theſe two Verſes is ſet forth the efficacie of that power, which Chriſt giveth to his two witneſſes in their prophecying. And this power is ſuch, as that of Elias, and that of Moſes was. For firſt, here is an alluſion to the power and ſpirit of Elias, in the fifth Verſe, wherein this ſpeech is redoubled: thus, If any man ſhal hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: and if any man wil hurt them, he muſt in this manner be killed. p. 46How is that?hh2 King. 1.2 Kgs 1 Elias we know, when the firſt Captain with his 50 men were ſent to fetch him by force to King Ahaziah, ſaying unto him, Thou man of God, the King hath ſaid, come downe: anſwered, If I be a man of God, then let fire come downe from heaven and conſume thee, and thy fifty. And there came down fire from heaven, and conſumed him, and his fifty. And the like befell the ſecond Captain, and his fifty. Thus fire came out of Elias his mouth, and it conſumed or devoured his enemies. And this was done twice. Accordingly, here it is twice repeated, If any man hurt them, &c. Now by fire comming out of their mouth, is not meant literally, that fire proceedeth out of their mouth: but that, as Elias by his word brought fire down from Heaven, wherin his Word took effect: ſo the judgments, which theſe two witneſſes ſhall denounce againſt their injurious adverſaries, the implacable & furious enemies of Gods Church, that will not be brought by the word of their prophecie to repentance, ſhall as certainly come to paſſe, and fall upon them to their deſtruction, as that fire did fall from Heaven upon thoſe men, according to Elias his word. I ſay, if they repent not. For the third Captaine with his fiftie, we ſee humbled himſelfe, and intreated Elias, ſo as Elias went with him to the King; but being come, what judgement hee denounced againſt that wicked idolatrous King, fell upon him alſo, that hee died of his ſickneſſe. And in this reſpect Gods Word in the mouth of his Prophets is compared to a fire; ſo as he that reſiſts this word, is as the fooliſh fly, that flappeth againſt the flaming of the Candle, and ſo is conſumed in the flame. And the like manner of ſpeech the Scripture p. 47uſeth elſwhere. As Revel. 2.16. Repent, or elſe I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight againſt thee with the ſword of my mouth. And Chap. 19.21. And the remnant were ſlaine with the ſword of him that ſate upon the horſe, which ſword proceeded out of his mouth. Which is all one with that ſpeech, 2 Theſs. 2.8. And then ſhall that wicked one be revealed, whom the Lord ſhall conſume with the ſpirit of his mouth. So wee ſee what is here meant by the fire, whith proceedeth out of the mouth of theſe two witneſſes; And this word, If any man hurt them, in the originall it is, foreign, that is. If any man will doe them injury, or offer them violence againſt all law and equitie: fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies: that is, the word of their prophecie ſhall bring as certaine deſtruction upon their injurious enemies, as Elias his word brought fire from Heaven upon thoſe that were ſent to take him. And therefore the word is here doubled (as before is noted) for the certainty of it, as wasiiGen. 41.Gen 41 Pharaohs dream.

Againe, it is ſaid here, Theſe have power to ſhut heaven, that it raine not in the dayes of their prophecie. This alſo alludes to Elias, whoſe word of prophecie did ſhut up the heavens, that it rained not for the ſpace of three yeers and a halfe, in the time of Ahabs Reigne. So as here again is ſet forth the power of theſe two witneſſes prophecie, in bringing judgements upon the Land, where Gods Word is not received and entertained in that love and reſpect as it ought to bee, but that the witneſſes, even for no other cauſe, but the words ſake, which they propheſie, are injuriouſly and violently handled againſt all Law and juſtice, yea, and all humanity, p. 48in all beſt iall crueltie. And therefore no marvail, if in the time of their prophecie being thus evill intreated, manifold judgments in ſundry kindes doe fall upon a Land, as the Sword, Famine, Peſtilence, or the like. Yea, and if God ſend extraordinary foule weather in an extreame abundance of a long continued raine, and that againſt harveſt, as we have ſeen lately this very laſt Summer in England, ſo as the harveſt ſuffered much damage thereby: it were good, that they ſhould enquire, and conſider what is the cauſe, that hath ſo of late provoked God to ſend forth from Heaven ſo many tokens of his wrath and indignation, threatning even deſolation to the whole Land, if they repent not. Are there no witneſſes abroad at this time? Or hath not England defiled it ſelf with the violent and lawleſſe cruelty of ſhedding the innocent bloud of ſome at leaſt of Chriſts witneſſes? If it be ſo, as England can neither waſh her hands from the guilt, nor ſtop the eares of Heaven from the hideous cry of that innocent bloud: no marvail, I ſay, if England be many wayes plagued. For theſe witneſſes have power to ſhut Heaven, that it raine not in the dayes of their prophecie, as Elias did.

Not only ſo, But they have alſo power over waters to turne them to bloud, and to ſmite the earth with all plagues, as often as they wil. Theſe words have an alluſion to Moſes, as we ſaid before; Who in Egypt had power given him of God with his Rod to turn their waters into bloud, and ſo ſmite the Land with manifold plagues. And here ſeemes to be more couched, then ſo, in this parallell of theſe two witneſſes power, to that of Moſes and Aaron. For the p. 49words here imply thus much, that as thoſe many Plagues, w^ch Moſes brought upon Egypt by his Rod & word of prophecy, were ſo many forerunners of the utter deſolation of hard-hearted Pharaoh, & his obſtinate Egyptians, who would not ſuffer Gods people to go ſacrifice to the Lord their God: So thoſe many tokens of Gods wrath, w^ch have bin powred upon England of late days, for their ſore afflicting & oppreſſing of Gods people by the Prelats and their officers, thoſe Egyptian Taskmaſters, & not ſuffering them to enjoy that freedom & liberty of conſcience, which Chriſt hath by his precious bloud purchaſed for them, but holding their noſes to the Grind-ſtone (as wee ſay) and enſlaving them to the Egyptian tasks in the obſervation of thoſe many Popiſh Ceremonies ſo tyrannically impoſed and preſſed upon them; as alſo for that moſt impious crying downe of the Sanctification of the Sabbath, and ſtopping Miniſters mouthes for preaching the ſincere Word of God, throwing them out of their Miniſtery, and many ſuch like, worſe then Egyptian out-rages, and ſuch as were never done in any Chriſtian State ſince the Apoſtles times to this preſent: thoſe tokens (I ſay) doe plainly ſhew, that without ſpeedy repentance, and a thorow reformation of theſe intolerable iniquities, God will certainly bring the Taskmaſters to deſolation, and in the ſame ſea of deſtruction to the Egyptians will make a way for his peoples libertie from that Egyptian bondage, wherein they have been ſo long, ſo miſerably captived. Nor let it ſeeme ſtrange, that I match Englands Taskmaſters with thoſe of Egypt; for by and by wee ſhall find a ſpirituall Egypt, wherof that in England will hardly acquit it ſelfe from being apart, or party at leaſt, if p. 50all circumſtances be but well weighed. And ſo we paſſe to the Verſes following.

Verſe 7.Verſe 7. And when they ſhall have finiſhed their teſtimonie, the beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſſe pit, ſhall make war againſt them, and ſhall overcome them, and kill them, &c.