The Sounding of the Two Last Trumpets, Pages 50-93

The Sounding of the Two Last Trumpets · Pages 50-93

p. 50Here begins a battaile, wherein three circumſtances are obſervable: 1 The time when it begins: 2 The parties, or warriers: and 3 the iſſue of the battaile. Firſt, for the time, it is, when the two witneſses have finiſhed their teſtimony. Then, and not before. Till then, the Beaſt hath no power to ſet upon them. Thus it was with the Captain of our ſalvation, John 7.8. My time, ſaith he, is not yet come. And, Verſe 30. when his enemies ſought to take him, no man laid hands on him, becauſe his houre was not yet come. But when his houre was come, that hee muſt lay down his life (as John 13.1. and 17.1) and when hereupon his enemies came to take him, Chriſt ſaith unto them,kkLuke 22.53.Luke 22:53 This is your houre and power of darkneſſe. Till now, they had no power, till his houre was come. And when upon the Croſſe hee came to ſay, It is finiſhed, then, and not before, hee gave up the ghoſt. Thus he finiſhed his Teſtimony before his death. It is ſaid of David, thatllActs 13 36.Acts 13:36 after hee had ſerved his owne Generation by the will of GOD, hee fell aſleep. And Paul ſaith of himſelf,mm2 Tim. 4.6, 72 Tim 4:62 Tim 4:7 I am now ready to bee offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. And the reaſon is added in the next Verſe. I have fought a good fight, J have finiſhed my courſe. Thus when theſe two witneſſes have finiſhed their teſtimony, the Beaſt ſets upon them, and kils them. And here let me give you a moſt remarkable inſtance, wherein God is the more glorified. p. 51Which at that very time, when it was done, was obſerved by ſome neighbour Miniſters in London. Only this I deprecate, that none doe imput… unto me any vain humour of glorying, as if I made my ſelfe one of thoſe witneſſes here ſpoken of, ſuch an honour I aſſume not to my ſelfe. Only (I ſay) I crave leave to relate a truth. It is this. I having beennnSee a notable parallel hereof in Ezech. Chap 3.24, 25, 26. ſhut up in my owne houſe, by the Prelates Purſuivants daily and hourely watching for mee at my gates, the ſpace of almoſt two moneths, in which time, notwithſtanding their continuall rapping and ringing at my gates, I was a compiling my Book of two Sermons, which I had preached in my Church the fifth of November then laſt paſt; & fitting it for the Preſs, that ſo it might be a teſtimony to all the World of that truth, which I had therein delivered, and for which I was then queſtioned and troubled by the Prelates: the which teſtimony, as alſo my Apologie for my Appeale, being now finiſhed, and fully printed, and ſome Books for the King and Councell bound up and brought unto me, the ſame day at night (and not before) came from the Lord of London, then Lord Treaſurer, a Serjant at Arms, with a number of Purſuivants and Officers with ſwords and ſtaves, in the evening, and with great violence aſſaulted my doors, and brake them open, though very ſtrong, and ſo came and ſeized on my body, ſitting, with my family, in my gowne, and making no reſiſtance at all. This I thought here not unfit to be noted, as not altogether impertinent to this Prophecie, to which this example may ſeem to have ſome correſpondence. And ſo much of the time, when this warre begins; even when theſe two p. 52witneſſes have finiſhed their teſtimony, and not before. The Beaſt, for all his roaring, yet hath not the power to ſet his paw upon Chriſts witneſſes, untill they have finiſhed their teſtimony. And is it not lawfull for me to adde one truth more, that God may be glorified, and the hearts of his people raiſed up, and filled with rejoycing in him? This it is. Not all the Beaſts hundred eyes, not all his quick-ſented bloud-hounds, the Purſuivants, for all their vigilant and eagre hunting, could find out, or diſcover, where this teſtimony (to wit, For God and the King) was printed, though they left never a Printing houſe about London unſearched over and over, day by day, the Lord in his providence preſerving not only my perſon, but my teſtimony alſo, that it ſhould not be prevented, but come forth into the open light.

It followeth: When they had finiſhed their teſtimony, The Beaſt that aſcendeth out of the bottomleſſe pit begins to make warre againſt them, as I have told you before. Here then wee are to conſider the ſecond circumſtance of this warre, the two adverſe parties, the one, the Beaſt, &c. the other, the two witneſſes: the Beaſt is the Aſsailant, and the two Wittneſſes are the Defendants. For the Beaſt, hee is here deſcribed from the place whence he comes, the bottomleſse pit: and ſecondly, by the manner of his iſſuing thence, foreign, hee aſcendeth out of the bottomleſſe pit. His riſe is groundleſſe, bottomleſſe, out of the bottomleſſe deep, and his motion is Aſcendant, yea foreign, aſcending (being a participle of the preſent tenſe) ſtill aſpiring withooEſay 4.Isa 4 Lucifer, to place his throne above the ſtars, yea, above God himſelfe. Hee is ever p. 53aſcending, but ſtill out of the bottomleſse pit, as if hee could never get out of it. This bottomleſſe pit is hell, the Den, where this Beaſt is bred, and whence he is nouriſhed. And who this Beaſt is, yee may eaſily know, by his Picture lively pourtrayed, Chap. 13. and 17. compared together. He hath his ſeven heads and ten horns: Monſtrum horrendum, ingens: the like Beaſt again is not in all the World. And the Dragon, the Devil, gives him power, Chap. 13.2. and Verſe 5. Power is given him to make warre with the Saints, and to overcome them. The very ſame Beaſt here, which maketh warre with Chriſts witneſſes, and overcomes them. This is that Beaſt of Rome, plainly deſcribed, Chap. 17. And as this ſeven-headed, and ten-horned Beaſt, hath his aſcent, riſe, and originall out of the bottomleſſe pit: ſo alſo his brood and off-ſpring, as thoſe Locuſts, Chap. 9.3. who are this Beaſts Warriers. Thus wee ſee who this Beaſt is, from whence & whither he aſcendeth.

Now let us ſee what he doth. 1 he makes warre againſt the two witneſſes. 2 He overcomes them. 3 he killeth them. Firſt, hee makes warre againſt them. Alas poore witneſſes, for ſuch a great and monſtrous Beaſt, with his numerous brood, to make warre againſt them. Such a power to make warre againſt two? …ut by this time Chriſts witneſſes may be increaſed, and multiplied to a greater number, and that by the example of the two here ſpoken of, whoſe more eminent and mighty teſtimonies cannot ſo goe alone, but they will draw many others after them, to teſtifie the ſame truth. Though it pleaſed the Holy Ghoſt to point out but two witneſſes only, and in ſuch wiſe to ſet them forth, as thereby p. 54we might come to know the full intent and meaning of this Prophecie, as hath been ſhewed. Now the Beaſt having muſtered his forces together, makes warre againſt the two witneſſes; not only againſt Them, but againſt all other whom hee finds endued with the ſame ſpirit, namely, ſuch as propheſie againſt the Beaſt and his Throne, and all thoſe, that by their conſtant profeſſion of the Truth, and refuſing communion with the Beaſt, doe become thereby the witneſſes of Chriſt. For the Beaſt wars with the Saints. Chap. 13.7.

But what be thoſe weapons, and what thoſe forces, wherewith this Beaſt warreth againſt Chriſts witneſſes, and Gods Saints? Surely, hee uſeth all manner of weapons whereby to execute his beaſtly cruelty. And theſe may be reduced to two kindes: The Spirituall Sword: and the Temporall Sword. His Spirituall Sword is the brute Thunderbolt of his execrable Excommunication, direfull Curſes, and dreadfull Courts, as his Court of Inquiſition, and of High Commiſſion, and other his Prelaticall and Hierarchicall Courts, which are ſo many Dens, wherin this hideous Beaſt once incloſing the Saints, doth prey upon them, he and his Cubs. But if this his Sword prove not ſtrong enough as meeting with ſome mettle too tough for it to …rce, then he can command with a wet finger the helpe of the Temporall Sword, which is like Tamberlains black and bloudy Banner, which being diſplayed by the Beaſts power, and inſpired with his fiery-mettled ſpirit, breathes nothing, but either fire and faggot, or Pillory, with ſhedding of bloud, perpetuall cloſe impriſonment, baniſhment, and all other evils of p. 55this life, more bitter and cruell, by many degrees, than death it ſelfe. And this is his kinde of warre. But how comes he to do theſe things by the help of the Temporall Power, when commonly all his proceedings are without either law, or colour of juſtice, except according to the Beaſts owne lawleſſe Law? For this, hee wants not his devices: for hee will ſo contrive the matter, and lay his ſnares, as either the innocent (being brought into the Temporall Court, where alſo he himſelf wil ſit a Judge, and where his ſpirit is wondrouſly predominant) ſhall be forced to aſſent to the condemnation of his own cauſe before the hearing: or elſe, if hee refuſe ſo to doe, he ſhall be cenſured as guiltie of all thoſe hainous crimes laid to his charge, though never ſo falſe and maliciouſly deviſed; yea, hee can ſo handle the buſineſſe, as the cenſure ſhall be agreed upon, and concluded, before ever his day of hearing come, and when it is come, his Legall Defence ſhal never be heard. This needs no application. And this is the Beaſts manner of warring, right; nor ſhould it be properly the Beaſts warre, were it not altogether beſtiall, void of all Law, or conſcience, or honeſty, or humanitie. And ever his mayn forces and battery are bent againſt the two witneſſes, namely ſuch as doe conſtantly teſtifie and maintain the Prerogative of Chriſts Kingly Government over his Church againſt the Beaſts proud and tyrannicall uſurpations; and the truth of the Goſpel and Word of Chriſt, againſt all Antichriſts lyes: and the authoritie and ſufficiencie of the Holy Scripture againſt the Beaſts unwritten Traditions, and Eccleſiaſticall Canons, the authoritie whereof hee p. 56preferreth above, and oppoſeth againſt the Law of God. As for all wicked, prophane, and impious perſons, his Holines hath no quarrell againſt them; for either they are ſuch, as belong to the Beaſts Den, or at leaſt, though they be not of it, yet they are not much againſt it. Thus he warreth.

Secondly, as the Beaſt warreth againſt the witneſſes, ſo hee ſhall overcome them. How ſhall hee overcome them? Their faith and teſtimony hee ſhall not overcome, ſo as to force them to recant, or deſert their cauſe, or betray their conſcience. For (Chap. 12.11.) thoſe on Chriſts ſide overcame the Dragon, by the bloud of the Lamb, and by the word of their Teſtimonie, and they loved not their lives unto the death. Nor ſhal the Beaſt be able to overcome them by force of arguments and reaſoning: for he is a Beaſt, yea, the Beaſt of all Beaſts; his Arguments are fire and faggot, Pillory and bloud-ſhed (as before) down-right club-law, or a puſh with his tenqqRevel. 17.12.Rev 17:12 hornes, or a by-back-blow with his paw. So as thus hee comes to get the conqueſt over their bodies indeed, he can ſhut them cloſe up, hee can pillory them, hee can mangle and torture them, and a thouſand ways ſubduerrMatth. 10.28Matt 10:28 their bodies, but can doe no more. Luke 12.4.

Not only ſo, but (in the third place) hee ſhall kill them. Famous is the Beaſt for his infinite bloudy victories over Chriſts Witneſſes in this kinde, by putting them to death. But now there is a twofold kind of death, which he puts them to. The firſt is, by a violent ſeparation of their ſoule from their bodie; as in the flames of Martyrdome. This hath bin the Beaſts practice of old. But this ſubtile p. 57Dragon, finding by experience, that his kingdome rather ſuffered damage this way, then wonne any ground, and that it proved rather an advantage to his Adverſaries, and brought much hatred to his barbarous cruelty in ſo putting them to death: hee hath found out another kinde of death, and that, though not in ſhow, yet indeed farre more cruell than the other; and that is, by a violent and perpetuall ſeparation of a living man from all the delights, comforts and contentments in the World, from his wife and children, from his meanes and livelihood, friends and acquaintance, from the Communion of Saints, yea, from all ſocietie of men, and in a word, from all the means of comfort in this life, Spirituall, or Temporall. So as a man in this caſe may be ſaid to be killed, or deprived of life, when he is deprived of all thoſe things, without which life cannot well be called a life, but a death rather, or ſuch a life, as that in hell, where not one drop of comfort is allowed to thoſe tormented ſouls. And as dead men neither ſee, nor heare, nor ſpeake, nor write, nor have any commerce with the living: So theſe may neither ſee their living friends, nor heare from them by letters, nor ſpeake, nor write unto them, nor have any commerce with them. Thus far dead they be. And in this ſenſe we have ſeen ſome eminent Witneſſes of Chriſt (yet living in their cloſe Priſons in remote Lands) thus to bee killed in theſe our dayes. Which being ſo, may it not bee one evident ſigne, that we are now in the ſixt Trumpet, wherein wee have ſeene ſo many things to be come to paſſe and p. 58fulfilled, ſo particularly ſet forth in this Prophecie.

It followeth, Verſe 8.Verſe 8. And their dead bodies ſhall lie in the ſtreet of the great Citie, which ſpiritually is called Sodome and Egypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified. And they of the people, and kindreds, and tongues, and Nations, ſhall ſee their dead bodies three dayes and a halfe, and ſhall not ſuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves: And they that dwell upon the earth ſhall rejoyce over them, and make merry, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another, becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth.

Now theſe dead bodies (as we ſaid before) may be ſo called, in reſpect of a civill death, as dead to the whole World in a civill reſpect, having no communion nor commerce with the World. And the bodies are here named, not the perſons, becauſe perſecuting Tyrants (as we touched before) have no power over the ſoule, but only over the body; this they may torment, impriſon,ſſMatth. 10.28.Matt 10:28 kill: but thats all they can doe. Well, what of thoſe dead bodies, take them in any ſenſe? They ſhall lie in the ſtreet of the great Citie, which ſpiritually is called Sodome and Egypt, where alſo our Lord was crucified. What great City is this? Surely it can be no other, but the Citie of the Beaſt, together with the Suburbs. And the Suburbs are all thoſe Cities or States, which are either ſubject to, or confederate with the Head-Citie, which is Rome. We can not have a fitter expoſition hereof, then that which the Prelate of Canterbury gives us in his reprinted Conference with the Jeſuite Fiſher. For there he ſaith; That the Church p. 59of Rome and the Church of England (as alſo all other Prelaticall or Hierarchicall Churches) are all one and the ſame Church; no doubt of that, as he ſaith, and as is noted before. This is his Catholike Church. And ſo this is that great City, which ſtands in oppoſition to the Holy Citie, and treads it under feet, as Verſe 2. For as Chriſts Church is called a Holy Citie, though it be diſperſed over the World: So Antichriſts Synagogue is here called a Great Citie, as comprehending in it all thoſe Cities, and States, which make up one body of the Beaſt. This great City is ſpiritually called Sodome and Egypt: Sodome, for the wickedneſſe, voluptuouſneſſe, prophaneneſſe, pride, and other ſins of Sodome, raigning therein, and where they make open warre againſt all holineſſe, and all good Laws of GOD and Man. And ſecondly, it is called Egypt, for its tyranny in oppreſſing and afflicting of Gods people with their intolerable burthens. And for this, they have their Task-maſters, to wit, the Prelates and their multitude of officers, who force Gods people through their whole Egyptian Provinces to fill up their tale and task of bricks, in the ſtrict obſervation of all their Rites and Ceremonies, Conſtitutions, and Canons, the Spirituall burthens of their ſpirituall Egypt, and for default thereof in the leſt degree, or kind, the Taskmaſters beat and abuſe them, & if theyttExod. 5.15.Exod 5:15 complaine, 'tis to no purpoſe, they can have no remedy. Thus not without cauſe is this Citie called not only Great, but ſpiritually Sodome and Egypt. So as in what Country ſoever in the World, this Beaſt ſets his paw, that is, where ever hee hath his Taskmaſters, the Prelates and their Officers (as where almoſt p. 60are they not? there is the Kingdome of the Beaſt, there be the Suburbs of this Great Citie. And whatever Countrey or State doth incorporate it ſelf into an union or confederation with this Papall Hierarchie, becomes thereby ipſo facto a member of this great Citie, which is ſpiritually called Sodome and Egypt. And this being ſo, tell me, ô England, art thou not become a member of this great body, of this Great Citie, of this ſpirituall Sodome, of this ſpirituall Egypt? For wherein doſt thou differ from Rome it ſelfe? Doth not thy great Arch-prelate who is as thine Oracle, profeſſe in thy name, and in Print, with an unbluſhing forehead, that England is of theuuConference Reprinted Epiſt. Ded. pag. 16. And pag. 376. & 338. &c. ſame Church, ſame faith, ſame Religion with Rome? And doth he not ſhrowd this his Book under the name of the higheſt Authoritie in England, as commanded by the King to be publiſhed? And haſt thou not ſet forth Edicts diſpenſing with the open profanation of the Sabbath by heatheniſh Sports, and others, prohibiting Miniſters to preach in the after-noons on Lords Days: as preferring thy prophane Sports before the holy and divine Ordinance of Preaching, and ſo conſecrating at leaſt the one halfe of the Lords Day to Bacchus, or Belial? Art thou not then a part of that great Citie, which is ſpiritually called Sodome? Again, doſt thou not permit (if not command) thy Prelates, the Roman Pharoahs Taskmaſters to vex, afflict, and grievouſly oppreſſe the people of God, with the intolerable burthens of their and thine endleſſe Ceremonies? And notxxTheſe things were then in force when this Treatiſe was written. content with the old, thou addeſt new burthens, as the Egyptians did p. 61in denying ſtraw, and thoſe moſt abominable, as thy Superſtitious, yea, Idolatrous Heatheniſh Altars, with all their Idolatrous Altar-Service, wherein thou art utterly falne from being a member of the Holy Citie, which thou treadeſt under thy feet, and even profeſſeſt thy ſelfe to be of that Great Citie, which for its inthralling and oppreſſing of Gods people, is ſpiritually called Egypt? O England, England, Repent hereof, caſt out thy curſed and cruell Taskmaſters, like as thy Neighbour Scotland hath done, & ſo ſuffer thy people, Gods people, to ſerve their God as he hath commanded, and to enjoy their Chriſtian Libertie which Chriſt hath deerly purchaſed for them, and no longer to be under the Antichriſtian Babylonian yoake, and the Egyptian Taskmaſters.

Thus we have ſeen, as it were in a Map, the large Territories, and bound leſſe bounds of this great City here mentioned, ſpiritually called Sodome and Egypt; in the ſtreet whereof lie the dead bodies of Chriſts two witneſses: and where (as here is added) our Lord was crucified. Which is to be underſtood, not ſimply and perſonally of our Lords crucifying, but myſtically. For our Lord in Perſon was crucified at Jeruſalem, and yet not within the Citie, but without the Gate. And yet Chriſt in his Perſon was crucified by the firſt Roman Beaſt, the Emperour, whoſe Succeſſour both in his Seat, and in the Image of his Power and State, and in all his bloudy perſecutions of the Saints, the Papall Beaſt now is; as alſo of the Scribes and Phariſees and High Prieſts, who put Chriſt to death, and ſo hee with them is guilty of his bloud: as Matth. 23.35, 36. & p. 62Verſe 31. But he is crucified myſtically in his myſticall members, even in the open Streets of this Great Citie. Witneſſe all thoſe perſecutions and Martyrdomes, which the Beaſt in all Ages and Countries hath cauſed, wherein the Lord himſelfe hath been crucified, to wit, in his Saints and Witneſſes. And what thinke you of thoſe Witneſſes, of whoſe crucifying on the Pillory in the open ſtreet, or rather ſpacious Palace-yard in the Citie of Weſtminſter, we have been all eye-witneſſes, and ſpectators? Was our Lord there, then, in them, on thoſe Pillories, crucified, or not? If he were, and that upon ſuch an eminent Theatre, and in the view of that Court, where they were ſo cenſured, the High Prieſts themſelves, with others of high note, beholding and pleaſing themſelves with ſuch a Tragedie of the Beaſts cunning contriving, and cruell execution: was not this, trow you, a part of that Great Citie, where our Lord hath been thus crucified? O England, bluſh, and be abaſhed, yea, confounded in thy ſelf, at theſe things: return at length to a ſober minde, repent, and reforme thy ſelfe, leſt thou periſh with the Beaſt and his Kingdom, whoſe wofull ruine haſteneth on a pace; as Verſe 14.

But now what becomes of theſe thus dead bodies? Surely they lie in the Street of the great Citie unburied. How long? Three dayes and an half. How ſo? The people, kindreds, tongues, and nations ſeeing them, wil not ſuffer them to be put in graves. Juſt ſo did the barbarous heathen with the Martyrs, not permitting their bodies to be buried, foreign, asEuſeb. Eccl. H iſt. l. 5. c. 1. Euſebius reports. Thus our Antichriſtian heathen or Gentiles here, ſo called, Verſe 2. as before. p. 63Now for dead bodies to lie in the open ſtreet unburied, three dayes and a halfe, is enough to make their ſmell odious and abominable in the noſthrils of all men. So as this appeares to be the meaning, theſe Witneſſes being ſlaine, or ſo, as is before ſaid, they are kept above ground to become an object of abomination to all that behold them; and by their long keeping, they are made ſo to ſtink, as men paſs by them ſtopping their Noſes, and will not, or doe not, or dare not come neere them. And who doth, or dare viſit the dead bodies of thoſe Witneſſes aforeſaid? But they are not in the Street. True: they are dragged, or drawn out of the Street, they doe ſo ſtinke in the noſthrils of the Beaſt and his kindred, and people. But yet they are above ground, they are not yet buried under the earth, though they lie buried within ſtrong walled vaults, that none can come any more at them, then at the dead bodies of thoſe that lie in their graves. But not lying in the ſtreet, and having lyen now above three dayes and a halfe, yea, ſome of them three yeeres and a halfe, and the leaſt and laſt is now going upon the laſt halfe yeere: how come they to bee reckoned here in the account, and numbred with the dead bodies of theſe two witneſses, lying three dayes and a halfe in the ſtreet of the great Citie? For this, we muſt take the ſenſe, and not the ſtrict Letter. The lying of dead bodies three days and a halfe in the open ſtreet, where all paſſengers are to paſſe, is to note unto us, that (as is before noted) they lie ſo long, till none can endure their ſmell, but of force they muſt bee removed out of the way. And is it not ſo done with theſe? Their ſmell grew ſo ſtrong, p. 64that they were faine to remove them. Whither? Into their Graves? No, they are above ground ſtill. For it is added here, The people, and kindreds, and nations, and tongues, will not ſuffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. Who are theſe people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations? Surely all thoſe of this great Citie, which is ſpiritually called Sodome and Egypt, ſuch as are the members of the Beaſt. For though ſometimes, theſe termes, as people, kindreds, &c. are taken in the good part, for thoſe of Chriſts Kingdome, as Chap. 7.9. & 10.11. yet here they are taken, as Chap. 17.15. for thoſe of Antichriſts Kingdome. And for proofe hereof, they will not ſuffer the dead bodies of the two witneſses to be buried. As wee read of the Pope (as I remember Hildebrand) who after hee had by his Thunderbolt of Excommunication blaſted the Emperour, Henrie the Fourth, and driven him out of his Kingdome by his own Son, and he dying in that his exile, his Holineſſe would not ſuffer him to be buried, ſo as his dead body continued unburied for five yeers ſpace. So here, with the ſame ſpirit of Charity doe theſe his people, and kindreds, and tongues, and Nations, the whole body of that Beaſt, not ſuffer the dead bodies of theſe two witneſſes to enjoy the ordinary honour of Chriſtian buriall, which even the Law of Nature, and common humanity commands. The ſumme of it is, they will not allow them any benefit, nor any right, which by the Law of God, and the Law of Nature and Nations is due unto them in that caſe: So as being baniſhed in a remote Country in a cloſe impriſonment, living indeed, but as dead men (as before) they may there rot above ground, before p. 65either Wife, or children, or friend, or acquaintance ſhall be ſuffered to come at them to performe that laſt duty, which all are bound unto, the buriall of their dead. Thus if any ſhall deny this alſo, (concerning theſe foreign, or dead bodies) to be a true foreign, a Symptome of this Trumpets ſounding, which wee ought not to thinke gives an uncertain ſound: he may with as good reaſon deny the fulfilling of all Prophecies, even then, when their proper effects, being ſeene of all men, become to every mans reaſon and underſtanding, cleere demonſtrations thereof. Except wee are yet to looke for more monſtrous beaſtly cruelties under this Trumpet, which can hardly be imagined by any Creature.

It followeth: And they that dwell upon the earth, ſhall rejoyce over them, and make merry, and ſhall ſend gifts one to another, becauſe theſe two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth. Theſe Earth-dwellers are the ſame, with thoſe people, and kindreds, and tongues, and nations, thoſe of the Beaſts Kingdome, in the former Verſe. Theſe are ſaid to dwell on the earth, becauſe their Kingdome and happineſſe is altogether earthly. They minde earthly things, and place their felicitie in them: contrary to Gods children, who living on earth, yet have their converſation in heaven, and their treaſure in heaven, and their Country Heaven. So as to be ſaid to dwell on the earth, is oppoſed to thoſe, who areyyHeb. 11.13. 1 Pet. 2.11. Gen. 47 9. Exod. 6.4. Pſal. 119.54.Heb 11:131 Pet 2:11Gen 47:9Exod 6:4Ps 119:54 every where in Scripture called pilgrims and ſtrangers in the earth; and the earth it ſelfe called, not their habitation, but the land or houſe of their pilgrimage. Whereas on the contrary, to be ſaid to dwell on the earth, is uſually p. 66put in Scripture for all the wicked of the earth; as elſ-where in this Booke, Chap. 8.13. & 13.12, 14. & 17.8. Where we ſee, that theſe earth-dwellers are all thoſe people, over whom the Beaſt reigneth. And ſo, on theſe, all the plagues are powred: as Chap. 8.13. & 12.12. & 16.1. Luke 21.35. and in many other places. And in this Verſe it is twice repeated. Thus we ſee who they be. Now what doe they further? Firſt, Theſe earth-dwellers rejoyce over the dead bodies of the witneſſes: Secondly, they make merry: Thirdly, they ſend gifts one to another, by way of congratulation. And the cauſe is added, becauſe theſe two witneſses tormented them that dwelt upon the earth.

Firſt, they rejoice over their dead bodies; as the Philiſtins did over Sampſon, when they had put out his eyes, they made ſport with him, as with a Fool in a Play. Hee whom they durſt not looke upon, when he had his eyes, and liberty, now they inſult over him at their pleaſure. So theſe people of Antichriſt doe with the dead bodies of the two Witneſſes,Sir Phil. Sydneys Arcadia. as the cowardly Shepherd did in Arcadia with the dead body of the Lion, he came and trampled upon him, and beat him with his ſheephook, and ſpake big words unto him, and when hee had done, boaſted he had overcome the Lion. So theſe here do with theſe witneſſes: in the ſeventh Verſe the Beaſt overcomes them: and here his brood triumphs over them, who living were a terrour to the beaſt, and all his crew.

Secondly, they make merry. The Father in the Goſpel when he had received his loſt Son, is ſaid foreign, to make merry; the ſame word is uſed p. 67here, upon the ſlaying of theſe witneſſes, as a fat Calfe, to feaſt withall. And ſuch a kind of mirth is here implyed, as is uſed at feaſting. As in Amos (Chap. 2.8.) They drinke the wine of the condemned in the houſe of their God; to wit, of thoſe whom themſelves have unjuſtly condemned. So theſe. Perhaps they have their Minſtrels too, as Fidlers and Pipers, & dance about the May-pole, & that on the Sabbath day, in deſpight of theſe Witneſſes, who while they lived ſpake and wrote againſt theſe inhabitants of the ſpirituall Sodome. But let their mirth be what it will: in the third place, they ſend gifts one to another. They doe not ſend gifts to the poore, of whom they can receive none again: but one to another, by way of retaliation or congratulation: this is their charitie, as if they would now celebrate the funerall of theſe dead witneſſes, would they but ſuffer their dead bodies to be buried.

But what's the matter they are ſo jocund and frolick? Even this, becauſe theſe two Prophets had tormented them that dwell on the earth. It ſeemes they were ſuch tormenters of theſe Earth-dwellers, as the ProphetzzKings 22.8. Michaiah was of Ahab; who therefore hated him, and could not indure him, becauſe (ſaith he) be never prophecieth good to me but evil. So theſe two Prophets, they tormented all thoſe of the Beaſts Kingdome by prophecying of judgements and puniſhments that ſhould fall upon them from God for all their idolatries, ſuperſtitions, humane inventions in the Service they pretend to God, for all their abominable infidelitie in their Altars, and Altar-worſhip, for their open and avowed prophanation of the Sabbath, for their ſtopping of the mouthes p. 68of Gods painfull Miniſters, for oppreſſing and ſilencing the Doctrines of the Goſpel, and of the Grace of God, for overturning all true Religion, for perſecuting of all true godlineſſe in Miniſters and people, for their favouring of drunkards, adulterers, ſwearers, Sabbath-breakers, and all manner of prophaneſſe in their Courts, with other the like things, as tedious to rehearſe, as to them to heare. Thus theſe Prophets tormented them. Now I pray you what torments ſhall ſuch finde in Hell for their living in all kinde of ſin, when they find Gods Word it ſelf to be a tormentor of them, in reproving their ſins, and moving them to repentance? Is it a marvaile then, that all the woes in this Book fall upon theſe dwellers on the earth? They doe ſo dwell on the earth, that they are glued unto it, ſo as they will not upon any termes, no not to get Heaven, and ſo eſcape Hell, part with the love of it, and with the luſts of it. And therefore they hold none their greater enemies, then Gods Prophets, that tell them their own. And of other prophane Worldlings, none hate Gods Prophets more, than the Beaſt, and his Hierarchie. For their Kingdome being altogether earthly, and ſenſuall, (I might adde alſo the Apoſtles third word, which he applyes to the wiſdome that is from beneath, from the bottomleſſe pit, and that is,aaIam. 3.15.Jas 3:15 Devilliſh) they cannot endure Chriſts Kingdome, which is altogether Spirituall, nor the Heralds thereof, who proclame war againſt the Beaſt, and his Armies, for his notorious hypocriſie, who under the titles of Holineſſe, and Spirituall, and the like, advance their earthly Kingdome both above and againſt Chriſts Kingdome.

p. 69It followeth: Verſe 11. And after three dayes and a halfe, the ſpirit of life from God entred into them, and they ſtood upon their feet, and great feare fell upon them which ſaw them. Wee ſhewed before what is meant by the three days and a halfe, namely, the time, in which the Beaſt and his people doe expoſe theſe witneſſes to deriſion, denying them even that common humanity, which the very Heathen freely afford to all, as buriall of the dead. And although the time of their ſuffering may bee much longer then three days and a halfe, yea, three yeeres and a halfe, yet it is reckoned here but three dayes and a halfe, both becauſe the Beaſts crueltie is ſo great, that he takes no more compaſsion or conſideration of the time of their ſuffering, though long and tedious, then as if it were but three dayes and a half: and ſecondly, becauſe ſuch is the patience and alacritie of theſe Witneſſes in ſuffering for the Name of Chriſt, and for the love of the Truth, that the time, though long, and the afflictions they indure, though very grievous, yet it ſeemes to them butbb2 Cor. 4 17.2 Cor 4:17 light, and momentany, and as it were but of three dayes and a halfes continuance, in compariſon: and Thirdly, it is expreſſed here by three dayes and a halfe, becauſe the Lord himſelfe will ſhorten the time, and haſten the deliverance in due time, in due time, I ſay, becauſe it is a certaine time, determined and prefixed of God; as three dayes and a halfe; and becauſe but as three dayes and a halfe, therefore it is a very ſhort time, as will appeare more fully, when the deliverance commeth. But laſtly, by three dayes and a halfe, wee may underſtand three yeeres and a half, as in Daniel 7.25. by a time, times, p. 70and part or halfe a time, three yeeres and part of another. As Revel. 12.14. And why ſhould I here conceale that ſpeech which I uſed to ſome Miniſters at Coventry in my paſſage to Lancaſter Caſtle, who being ſad at my departure, I ſaid unto them, Come, be not ſad, for three yeers and a half hence wee ſhall meet again, and be merry. And truly (abſit invidia verbo) reckoning from the fourteenth of June 1637, whereon we were cenſured in the Star-Chamber to perpetuall impriſonment, it was juſt three yeeres and a halfe when wee returned from exile, even in the laſt monethmonth of the three yeers and a halfe, my ſelfe being ſent for the very firſt day of that monethmonth.

Well, when this time, appointed of God, is expired, what then? Then, after three dayes and a half, the ſpirit of life from God ſhall enter into them: and they ſhall ſtand upon their feet, and great feare ſhall fall upon the beholders. All this ſheweth unto us thus much, that God ſhall miraculouſly reſtore and deliver his witneſſes, even as the reſtoring of the dead to life again, to the aſtoniſhment and terrour of all their enemies, who ſhall behold them. But now a little more, particularly to cleere the words: we ſhewed before how the Lord's witneſſes may be ſlain two wayes, either corporally, in ſeparating their ſouls from their bodies, or myſtically, and in a ſimilitude or parable, in a ſeparation of their life from the world, that is from all cōmerce & cōmunion with the world, ſo as their life is made no better, but rather worſe then death. Now for them that are ſlain after the firſt manner, we are not to expect, that God wil according to the Letter rayſe them up from the p. 71dead, as here, after three days and a halfe. And for them that are ſlain after the ſecond manner here ſpecified, though God ſhould not deliver and reſtore them from that their civill death, (though he be able to do it, and will doe it, if he have ſo determined) unto their libertie, and communion with humane ſocietie, as formerly: Yet this we are ſure of, as Gods Word here muſt needs be true, that of the very duſt and aſhes of his dead witneſſes under this Trumpet (in what manner ſo ever dead) hee will raiſe up again to life, and that in the time of this Trumpet, either thoſe very witneſſes in their own perſons, or elſe in the Spirit of theſe hee will raiſe up other witneſſes, and ſuch, as if they were thoſe very witneſſes formerly ſlain. Thus wee read of Elias, ccMal. 4.5, 6.Mal 4:5Mal 4:6Behold (ſaith the Lord) I will ſend you Elias the Prophet, before the comming of the great and dreadfull day of the Lord, and he ſhall turn the heart of the Fathers to the children, &c. Now this Elias was meant of John the Baptiſt, that morning Star, that uſhered in theddMal. 4.2.Mal 4:2 Sun of Righteouſneſse, that was to prepare the way before him.eeLuke 1.17.Luke 1:17 He (ſaith the Angell to Zachariah) ſhall goe before him in the Spirit and power of Elias, to turn the heart of the Fathers to the Children, &c. Whence it is plaine and cleere, that John the Baptiſt was that Elias there prophecied of; and he is called Elias, becauſe hee came in the ſpirit and power of Elias. And therefore Chriſt faith to his Diſciples, when they objected, that Elias muſt firſt come:ffMath. 17.11Matt 17:11 I tell you (ſaith he) that Elias is come already, &c. whereupon they underſtood, that hee ſpake unto them of John the Baptiſt. And Matth. 11.14. Speaking of John Baptiſt, he ſaith, This is Elias, which was to come. p. 72Thus wee ſee, how the Prophet Elias, being dead and buried many hundred yeers before, yet was as it were raiſed up from the dead, to be Chriſts harbinger. But how? Not in his perſon, but in his ſpirit and power. So as John Baptiſt, comming in the ſpirit and power of Elias, is called Elias, and in him the Prophecie is fulfilled, that Elias ſhould come, and now in Iohn he was already come. Now according to this ſenſe, wee may ſafely interpret this Prophecie alſo in this place: After three dayes and a halfe, the ſpirit of life from God, ſhall enter into them (to wit, into the two ſlain witneſſes) and they ſhall ſtand upon their feet, &c: that is, after a ſhort, but ſet time with God, the ſpirit of life from God ſhall rayſe up his former witneſſes, that were ſlain, though not in their owne perſons, yet in other witneſſes that ſhall ſucceed them, who ſhall be indued with the ſame ſpirit and power, which they had beene indued with all. And this is that ſpirit of life from God, which entring into his ſervants, raiſeth them up to be lively witneſſes of his truth, full of vigour, ſtrength, courage, zeale, conſtancie,ggRevel. 12.11.Rev 12:11 not loving their lives unto the death, but as it is ſaid of Paul and Barnabas, ſuch as hadhhActs 15.26.Acts 15:26 foreign, abandoned, or given up for loſt their lives for the Name of Chriſt. So that, as the ſame ſpirit of life from God entring into Iohn the Baptiſt, made him to be called that Elias, who had been indued with the ſame ſpirit, and was foretold to come againe, which was fulfilled in the Baptiſt: So here, the ſame ſpirit of life from God (nor is it ſaid to bee their own ſpirit) which the ſlain witneſſes had, now entring into other witneſſes ſucceeding them, they by the ſame reaſon may be called thoſe very witneſſes p. 73as being now by the Almighty power of GOD raiſed from the dead, as Iohn the Baptiſt was called that Elias, becauſe hee came in the ſpirit and power of Elias. And in this reſpect, ſeeing the raiſing and reſtoring of theſe two witneſſes, is perhaps not perſonall, but ſpiritual, it is not neceſſary, that we tie or reſtrain the ſucceeding witneſſes ſtrictly to the number of two only. For as it was ſaid of old, Sanguis Martyrum ſemen Eccleſiae, The bloud of the Martyrs is the ſeed of the Church: and as one ſeed or grain ſowne, and dying, brings forth much fruit (asiiIohn 12.24.John 12:24 Chriſt ſaith) ſo as one corne brings forth the increaſe of a hundred, and ſome of a thouſand, as in ſome Countries, as of Virginia: So theſe two witneſſes may in the multiplication of their ſpirit and power, and of that ſpirit of life from God, bring forth an abundant harveſt, even great plenty of more witneſſes, that ſh…ll ſtand up for that Truth, for the which theſe two were ſlaine. What ſhall wee ſay of thoſe many witneſſes, whom the Lord lately raiſed up in Scotland, ſtanding up upon their feet to mayntain their Chriſtian Liberty againſt Antichriſtian bondage, and to vindicate Chriſts Scepter and Government over his Church there out of the tyrannicall hands of that proud uſurping Beaſt out of the bottomleſſe pit, who by his Egyptian Taskmaſters the Prelates ſo oppreſſed Gods people, as they were made weary of their lives? And when were theſe witneſſes raiſed up? Surely, not much after three dayes and a halfe, that the two witneſſes were ſlaine, thoſe (I meane) who ſuffered worſe then p. 74death, for bearing witneſſe againſt the Tyranny of the Romiſh Beaſt, and his cruell Taskmaſters. And what other ſpirit, but that ſpirit of life from God, could raiſe up ſo many witneſſes, ſo unanimouſly, and with ſuch a wonderfull wiſdome, diſcretion, judgement, zeal, and courage, to ſtand up in defence of Chriſts Kingdome againſt Antichriſts Tyranny? Yea, and what other ſpirit and power, but that of God, could move the heart of his anointed Vicegerent, to aſſent to his peoples juſt and religious plea, to have Chriſt alone to raigne over his peoples ſoules and conſciences, which is his peculiar and incommunicable Prerogative. Nor could the King either have advanced higher his own Royall honour, or more ſurely have eſtabliſhed his owne Throne in the uniting and faſtening of his Subjects hearts and affections in all love and loyalty unto him, then by giving Chriſt his due honour, who hath ſaid,kk1 Sam. 2.30.1 Sam 2:30 Thoſe that honour me, I will honour: and they that deſpiſe mee, ſhall be lightly eſteemed. Now bleſſed bee our God for evermore for this his great and glorious worke: and hee ever bleſſe his King, that as hee hath made him a mighty inſtrument thereof; ſo hee would ſtrengthen him to the finiſhing of that work, which yet remaynes to be done in the purgation and reformation of his other Kingdomes, that ſo hee may prove the moſt glorious Prince that ever raigned in the Chriſtian World.

And it is ſaid here, And great feare fell upon them which ſaw them. That is, when they on the Beaſts ſide ſaw thoſe witneſſes (whom the Beaſt had cruelly ſlaine, and whoſe dead bodies they had barbarouſly uſed, not ſuffering them to have common p. 75buriall, but inſulted, and triumphed over them) now to be as it were revived and raiſed from the dead againe, when they behold ſuch a wonderfull increaſe to come of their bloud ſo cruelly ſhed, ſuch a ſpirit of life from God ſo to poſſeſſe many other witneſſes, as thoſe ſlain ſeem

Here let the Reader ſtill remember, that this Treatiſe was written before his returne from baniſhment, and ſo towards London, on that Saturday, the ſolemnitie whereof was ſo conſpicuous and glorious, as it doth, without any other application, even naturally apply it ſelf, as if it were the moſt proper fulfilling of this Prophecie, if either wee conſider the manner of that return, or the effect it wrought in the adverſaries thereof, which cauſed in them extreame indignation and rage, even unto gnawing of their tongues, and gnaſhing of their teeth. And yet feare ſo poſſeſſed them, that all …heir power and policie could not help.

now to live againe in them: they are ſtruck with terrour, they are ſurprized with feare. For whereas they fondly imagined, that the ſlaying, or cruell handling of two or three prime witneſſes, making them ſure, as dead men, would ſo have queld all the reſt, that not one durſt ever after peepe: contrary to their expectation they ſee a generation of witneſſes to riſe up after them, and ſo to affright their enemies, as if they ſaw an apparition of the Ghoſts of the former witneſſes returned from the dead. And if a man did now but feele the pulſe of thoſe Prelates in England, who have ſeene their brethren Prelates, late of Scotland, to b… caſt out of Church and Countrey, and utterly caſhiered, without all hope of reſtitution: ſhould he not (trow you) find the ſpirit of trepidation leaping and panting as it were for life, as if their owne turne ſhould be next? But it followeth:

Verſe 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven, ſaying unto them, Come up hither. And they aſcended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them.

They (that is, the two witneſſes thus raiſed and reſtored to life, as before) heard a great voice from p. 76heaven. Here Chriſt, either by an extraordinary voice inwardly calling, or by the ordinary voice of his word outwardly, cals his ſervants to take Sanctuary, as in heaven. Now heaven, here may bee taken for the Church of God hereupon earth. So it … often taken in this Booke. As in this Chapter, Verſe 19. So Chap. 12.1. the woman there in heaven is the Church Militant here on earth, as appeareth plainly in the whole Chapter, as Verſe 3. & 7. & 8. & Chap. 13.6. and in other places. Now the Church of God here on earth is compared unto, and called Heaven, as in many other reſpects, ſo ſpecially in this, becauſe it is holy and pure, being purged, both for Doctrine, and Diſcipline, from all damnable Hereſies and errours in faith, and from the vain Inventions and Traditions of men in the worſhip of God,mmRevel. 14.4.Rev 14:4 following the Lambe whitherſoever he goeth, that is, in all things obeying Chriſt, and obſerving his Ordinances, and ſubjecting their ſouls and conſciences to none other King, but only Chriſt.

They from this Heaven, heare a great voice: this is Chriſts voice in his word, calling his witneſſes from having any more to doe with the Beaſt, and his brood, having ſealed this their teſtimony with their bloud, which the Beaſt hath ſucked and drunk up. So as hee now being found to be incorrigible, and incurable, ſo as hee grows worſe and worſe, is to be utterly abandoned. As the Lord ſaith in Jeremy, nnIer. 51.6.45Jer 51:6Jer 51:45Flee out of the midſt of Babylon, and deliver every man his ſoule: be not cut off in her iniquitie: for this is the time of the Lords vengeance, he will render unto her a recompence. And the reaſon of Gods peoples thus p. 77abandoning of Babylon, is rendred, Verſe 9.Verſe 9. We would have healed Babylon, but ſhee is not healed: forſake her, and let us goe every one into his owne Countrey: for her judgement reacheth up to heaven, and is lifted up even to the skies. And the like warning God gives to his people (Revel. 18.4.) concerning the ſpirituall Babylon, where Iohn ſaith, I heard another voice from heaven, ſaying, Come out of her my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſins, and that ye receive not of her plagues: for her ſins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembred her iniquities. So here, the witneſſes heare a great voice from heaven, ſaying, Come up hither; as much to ſay, as, Have no more to doe with Babylon, nor with the Beaſt and his members, who will heare no reaſon, but have now filled up the meaſure of their cruelty, not only to you, but to all my witneſſes that went before you, ſo as now there is no more hope of them, oo2 Kings 17. See alſo 2 Chron 36.16.2 Kgs 172 Chr 36:16no remedie for them, being like thoſe incorrigible and obſtinate revolted Tribes of Iſrael, or like the Jews, that perſecuted my Apoſtles, and ppActs 13.46.Acts 13:46drove them away to the Gentiles: therefore come out from among them, admoniſh them no more, but come up hither, keepe you cloſe to my Church, which I have altogether purged and purified from the dregs of Babylon, and there only hold your communion. Come up hither.

And (as it followeth) they aſcended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them. Wee read, that Elias was carried up to heaven in a fiery Chariot. And Chriſt aſcended up to Heaven in a cloud. Here theſe witneſſes aſcend up to heaven in a cloud. But to Heaven (as before is ſhewed) namely, from their enemies to take Sanctuary as in the Church of God here on earth; it being compared to a high and holy Mountain, to which we muſt aſcend. So as this p. 78aſcending in a cloud, and that in the enemies view, ſets forth the admirable providence of God, who will miraculouſly make his Church a ſure and ſafe Sanctuary (as Heaven) to his perſecuted ones under this Trumpet, from the power and fury of their enemies; who may behold them afarre off, but are not able any more to touch them, for they are now out of their reach, as being in Heaven. For in this Trumpet, God is preparing a way to the ſeventh, and laſt Trumpet, wherein hee will take full vengeance upon Babylon. And therefore before the ſtorme come, God hath a hiding place, to ſecure his. As hee ſaith in Eſay, qqEſay 4.5, 6.Isa 4:5Isa 4:6The Lord will create upon every dwelling place of Mount Sion, and upon her aſsemblies, a Cloud and Smoake by day, and the ſhining of a flaming fire by night; for upon all the glory ſhall be a defence. And there ſhall be a Tabernacle for a ſhadow in the day time from the heat, and for a place of refuge, and for a covert from ſtorme, and from rain. rrExod. 12.Exod 12Thus the Lord did, when he was about to deſtroy the firſt-born of Egypt; he ſhut up his people in their houſes, ſprinkling them with the bloud of the Paſchall Lambe,Exod. 13. & 14.Exod 13 that the Avenger ſhould not touch them. And when the Egyptian hoſt purſued them as farre as the Red Sea, the Lord ſeparated them by the pillar of a Cloud by day, and of fire by night, untill hee had overwhelmed the Hoaſt in the Sea. And when he was about to deſtroy Sodome, he firſt ſeparates Lot from among them. So before hee deſtroy Babylon, heeſſRevel. 18.4. &c.Rev 18:4 cals his people out of her, and then quickly after in the ſame Chapter follows her ruine, and deſolation. So here, the Lord calling his witneſſes away, and they aſcending up to their Sanctuary in a cloud p. 79in the fight of their enemies, it is a ſure and certain ſigne, and immediate forerunner of the deſtruction of this Babylon, that great Citie, which is ſpiritually called Sodome and Egypt. And it is very remarkable, that before the deſtruction of all theſe three, Sodome, Egypt, and Babylon, the Lord doth immediatly before ſeparate his people, and provide a Sanctuary for them. Yea, not long before the utter and finalluuIoſephus, Of the wars of the Iews. deſtruction of Ieruſalem, (which was once Gods true Church, but now was become the Synagogue of Murtherers, and Perſecutors of Chriſt, and his Saints) there was a voice heard in the Temple, as from Heaven, Migremus hinc, Let us depart hence: whereby Gods ſmall remnant yet there, being warned, preſently fled to Pella, a Coaſt-Citie in Iudea, and not long after followed the ſacking and burning of the Citie and Temple, with the inhabitants therein. Thus by theſe many famous examples we may cleerly ſee what God is now about in this Trumpet to doe, when he cals away his Servants out of Babylon, and Egypt, and Sodome, and the Synagogue of Antichriſt, and puts them in a ſafe Sanctuary, even becauſe he will ſpeedily bring deſtruction upon thoſe his enemies.

It followeth, Verſe 13.Verſe 13. And the ſame houre was there a great Earthquake, and the tenth part of the Citie fell, and in the Earthquake were ſlaine of men ſeven thouſand, and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of Heaven. See here, no ſooner have the witneſſes taken Sanctuary, but by and by, even the ſame houre, there is a great Earthquake. Now though there have been in the World (and ſtill fall out) ſundry great Earthquakes in diverſe Countries, p. 80as in Aſia, and other places: yet in this place, under this Trumpet, this great Earthquake here is not to be taken literally, no more then heaven in the former Verſe, for the place of the higheſt heaven. But the great Earthquake here is to be underſtood of the great and terrible ſhaking of the Kingdomes of the earth under the ſound of this Trumpet, as namely by great Commotions, Wars, and the like, eſpecially in Chriſtendome, throughout the Kingdome of the Beaſt. And when was Chriſtendome ever more embroyled in wars, then at this day? But here it is ſaid, that the tenth part of the Citie fell. This is joyned to the former, as an effect of this great Earthquake. Firſt, what is meant by the Citie here? Surely that great City, mentioned, V. 8. Which we have before deſcribed; even the Kingdom of the Beaſt. And ſtill all the plagues and woes, which both the Trumpets ſound forth, and the ſeven Vialls powre out, fall upon the Beaſt, and his Kingdome. So as there is no queſti…n, but this Citie here is that great Citie, Antichriſts large Kingdome. And what is meant by the tenth part of the Citie? For reſolution hereof, wee read, that theuuChap. 17.7. Beaſt with ſeven heads hath ten hornes. And theſexxVerſe 12. ten hornes are ſaid to be ten Kings. Theſe ten Kings are ſaid to be the ten hornes, becauſe they are the ſtrength of the Beaſt. And the ten Kings have their ten Kingdomes, which make up the Beaſts Kingdome, or his great Citie. Now what Kingdoms are thoſe, which are ſaid to be of this great body of this great Citie? Surely thoſe, which doe admit, and maintaine the Papall power. The Papall power is maintained by Civill States or Kingdomes two p. 81ways. Either when they directly and profeſſedly ſubject their Thrones and Crowns to the Pope, as to the Head of the Church, by vertue of which title he arrogates to himſelfe a Supreame power over Kings and Princes (which is toyy2 Theſſ. 2.4.2 Thess 2:4 exalt himſelfe above all that is called God) to depoſe, and diſpoſe at his pleaſure: or when they doe it only implicitly, or by ſome privy compact or league, or otherwiſe, by admitting in their Kingdomes the Popes Hierarchie (for the Hierarchie is meerly Papall, where ever it be erected) which Hierarchie conſiſting in the Prelates, as it is in it ſelfe a proper and principall member and prop of his Kingdome: So it is a mighty and maine inſtrument of bringing into Subjection to the Pope thoſe Kingdomes and people, wherein, and over whom they are exalted in their Epiſcopall Thrones, as they call them. And although in a Civill Kingdome or State, where the Goſpel is profeſſed, & the Popes Supremacy diſ…lamed, and the juriſdiction of Prelates by Law limited, as being of humane inſtitution meerly, and not by divine authoritie, Prelats, when they are pinched, and held cloſe to it, may perhaps pull in their hornes, and arrogate no more unto themſelves, then the Laws of the Land, or pleaſure of the Prince do allow unto them: yet when their inbred pride and ambition (an inſeparable accident, or rather eſſentiall qualitie of a Prelate) findes opportunitie, meeting with a debonaire and benigne Prince, into whoſe gentle breſt they can eaſily inſinuate themſelves, and by their dexteritie in the art of flattery, and nimbleneſſe of tongue and wit, perſwade and p. 82work upon his ſweet nature ſo, as to draw it to conceive a reverend opinion of their counterfeit ſanctitie, which they ſet out in a goodly garbe of their ſuperſtitious guiſes in their wil-worſhip, and by this means to a credulitie in believing all to be Goſpel, which they ſay: as for the purpoſe, that they are the true Church; that they have a power to ordain Ceremonies in the Church: that Chriſt ordained them to be hisxxReprinted Conference, p. 200. 210. 211 Vice-roys: that they are the only Judges in controverſies of faith: that Princes muſt leave all government of the Church to them, as the ſole Fathers thereof: and ſuch like Prelaticall Principles, which are not to be found in rerum natura, as they beg: when once they have obtained credit to theſe things, how doe they then beſtir themſelves, eſpecially where a pragmaticall pate, and the Metropolitan Chaire meet together? Then, what Laws of the Kingdom ſhal bind them? Who ſhall dare to controule them? If Parliaments (whoſe Laws they break as ſtraws) offer to meddle with them, preſently they muſt be diſſolved, and with their good will there ſhall never be Parliament more. And in fine, they grow to that heighth of inſolencie, that their meere luſt muſt be a Law, as all their practices proclame.Reprinted Conference, p. 338. 376. &c. Nor doe their practices only overthrow all true religion, but they come to make open profeſſion, that the religion and faith of Prelaticall Proteſtant Churches, and by name of that of England, is one and the ſame with that of Rome, and the Church of England one and the ſame with that of Rome, with many ſuch like bold aſſertions, all which tend to make a reconciliation p. 83and a re-union with Rome, to whom al Prelaticall Churches in the World (and they allow no other Churches for true, but only the Prelaticall) doe make up one intire Catholike Church. Now all theſe being ſummed up together, what doe they amount unto, but this, that all Prelaticall Churches hold with Rome, as members of the ſame Catholike body, and the Pope being the Head of this body, at leaſtaaPag. 183. 184. ordine primus, which the Prelate ſaith is neceſſary: Ergo, all Prelaticall Churches are members of that Church, whereof the Pope is the Head, or at leaſt ordine primus, and conſequently all Civill Kingdomes and States, where the Prelacie or Hierarchie hath got any footing, and much more where it hath gotten head, muſt bee a member thereof. Now this being ſo (as ſo it is) the way is now made plaine, to come to know what is meant by the fall of the tenth part of the Citie. What is it, but the fall of one of the ten Kingdomes from the Pope, which are the ten horns of his Hierarchie, in the time of this ſixt Trumpet? But where ſhall we find ſuch a Kingdome, as was one of the ten horns of the Beaſt, and now broken off and falne from that great head? Where? What ſay you to the Church of Scotland? Had not the Prelates there throwne down to the ground Chriſts throne, and conſequently with it, the Kings Throne, his Vicegerent, and in ſtead thereof mounted aloft the Throne and Kingdome of the Beaſt, with their Tyrannicall and lawleſſe Government? But now we ſee the Beaſts Throne in that Kingdome diſmounted. For now the Prelats with their Hierarchie are there caſhiered. And thus the tenth part of the Citie p. 84is falne. But what was the occaſion of this great fall? Surely, Pride will have a fall. The Prelats intolerable inſolencie and unſufferable Tyrannie did cauſe it. Which makes mee remember a notable ſaying, or I may call it rather a prophecie, of abbMr. Throgmorton. godly Miniſter late of London. As (ſaid he) nothing cures the biting of the Scorpion, but the oile of the Scorpion: So nothing will cure Popery, but Popery. And this was here verified. What cured the Popery, which the Prelacie had brought and ſet up in Scotland, but their extream haſte, and mad zeale to finiſh the building up of Rome in one day? To this purpoſe I remember an other uſuall ſaying of another Miniſter alſo late of London, who when any ſpake of a bad, or mad Prelate, hee would ſtill ſay, The worſe, the better, and the better the worſe. His meaning was, that the worſe the Biſhops grew, and the more inſolent, and tyrannicall, the more they did haſten the fall of their proud Hierarchie. As Chriſt ſaid to the Phariſees, Fill yee up the meaſure of your Fathers. As the people of God could not come to their promiſed inheritance, till theddGen. 15 16.Gen 15:16 ſins of the Amonites were growne to their full. And theeeRevel. 14.18, 19.Rev 14:18Rev 14:19 Angell thruſt not his ſickle into the earth, to gather the Vine thereof, to caſt it into the great Winepreſse of the wrath of God, till the cluſters were ripe. And now in Scotland the cluſters of theffDeut. 32.Deut 32 Vine of Sodome were growne ripe, and ſo they are cut down. And thus the tenth part of the Citie is falne, thus the Beaſt hath loſt one of his ten horns. And to conclude this, The immediate inſtrumentall cauſe of this fall, was the Earthquake. And an Earthquake (wee know) is the immediate worke of God alone. So as this ſheweth unto us, p. 85that it was Gods owne hand and work principally, that did overthrow this tenth part of the Citie, and Kingdome of the Beaſt. For it was a building too deep-founded in the earth, for mans either power to overturn it, or policie to undermine it. And therefore let all the glory be given to God alone.

It followeth: And in the Earthquake were ſlain of men ſeven thouſand. We ſhewed before, that an Earthquake may be taken tropically for ſome civil Commotion in a State, as of late in the ſtate of Scotland, when all ſtood up as one intire body to vindicate their liberty from the Beaſts Tyranny, which the Prelates did exerciſe upon the people; ſo as the iſſue hereof proved to be the fall of the tenth part of the Citie, or Kingdome of the Beaſt, in Scotlands falling quite off from the Papall Hierarchie. Now theſe words [And in the Earthquake were ſlaine of men ſeven thouſand] have reference to the ſame EarthquakehhObjection.. But no men were ſlaine in that Scotland Earthquake: and here ſeven thouſand men are ſaid to be ſlaine. 'Tis true. But as the Earthquake is taken tropically, ſo alſo the ſlaying here; as we ſpake before of a ſlaying of the two witneſses, in a civill reſpect, or in a figure: So here, by ſlaying, we underſtand a ceaſing of a thing to be that, which it was before. As a man is ſaid to beiiRom. 6.2.Rom 6:2 dead to ſin, becauſe hee no longer lives the life of ſin. Now for the ſeven thouſand here ſlain in the Earthquake, ſeven, we know, is a perfect number, and often comprehends a whole ſociety, or all of ſuch a Profeſsion, or qualitie, in the ſame place, or Countrey. As thekkChap. 1. & 2. ſeven Churches, the ſeven Stars, the ſeven Candleſticks, comprehending all the Churches and Miniſters in Aſia the leſſe. So p. 86ll1 King. 19.18.1 Kgs 19:18ſeven thouſand men were reſerved of God in Iſrael, even all thoſe who did not bow to Baal. And ſo here ſeven thouſand may comprehend all thoſe, who in the ſaid Earthquake in Scotland were ſlaine, that is, were caſt out of their places, and ſo ceaſed to bee that, which they were before, and thoſe were the Prelates, with all their Officers, and train, even the whole Hierarchie. And the word foreign in the text, is not altogether to be ſlighted; for it ſignifieth not only names, but men of fame andmmGen. 6 4.Gen 6:4 renowne, ſuch as were the Giants and Tyrants of old, and thoſennGen. 11.4.Gen 11:4 Babel-builders, who would get them a Name by building that Towre. And ſuch are thoſe men we ſpeak of, theſe Giants, Tyrants, Babel-builders, they are foreign, or, foreign, men of Renown, terrible men, yea, not only the Lord-prelates themſelves, but their whole retinue, for not a Purſuivant and Apparitor, and the leaſt Boy in their Kitchin, but he is a mickle man. Well, all theſe foreign, even ſeven thouſand, the whole generation of them in Scotland is ſlaine in that Earthquake, that is, utterly caſt out as dead men. For ſtill (I ſay) theſe plagues fall only on them that have the Beaſts marke, or the number of his Name, as the Prelats, and their followers. And if any here ſtand ſtrictly upon the juſt Number of ſeven thouſand, I anſwer, whether there were more of them, or whether fewer, the Number of ſeven thouſand being a perfect and compleat number, is ſufficient to comprehend all of that ranke in that Countrey. This number here being like that, Chap. 9.16. an Army of Horſmen of two hundred thouſand thouſand. Which number comprehends p. 87all thoſe in the Armies, though they were by many degrees ſhort of that huge number, as before. And ſo here.

It followeth hereupon: That the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of Heaven. The remnant, whether the whole people in that tenth part (as aforeſaid) or whether thoſe that were a kind of Retainers, or favourers, or parties ſiding with the Prelates faction, or altogether, they were ſtruck with feare, as beholding the Almightie power of God in the effecting of that great and admirable work, and thereupon gave glory to the God of Heaven. I will conclude this with that of David: nnPſal. 64.7, 8, 9, 10.Ps 64:7Ps 64:8Ps 64:9Ps 64:10But God ſhall ſhoot at them with an arrow, ſuddainly ſhall they be wounded. So they ſhall make their own tongue to fall upon themſelves: all that ſee them, ſhall flee away. And all men ſhall feare, and ſhall declare the work of God: for they ſhall …iſely conſider of his doing. The righteous ſhal be glad in the Lord, and ſhall truſt in him: and all the upright in heart ſhall glory. Even ſo, Amen.

Now a word of the next Trumpet, the ſeventh, or laſt. But by the way we find theſe words;ooVerſe 14. The ſecond woe is paſt: and behold the third woe commeth quickly. Chap. 18.13. Wee finde three woes, woe, woe, woe. The firſt woe belongeth to the fift Trumpet: as Chapter 9.12. the ſecond woe to the ſixt: and the third woe to the ſeventh. So as the ſixt Trumpet being ended, it is ſaid here, The ſecond …oe is paſt: and the ſeventh Trumpet now following, is it added; And behold the third woe commeth quickly. That is, the ſeventh Trumpet commeth quickly, bringing its woe with it to the Beaſt and his Kingdome.

p. 88The ſeventh and laſt Trumpet.

Verſe 15.And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great voices in heaven, ſaying, The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhall reigne for ever and ever, &c.

This ſeventh Trumpet, as it bringeth woe, even the laſt woe, that is utter ruine and deſtruction to the Beaſt and his Kingdome, to Antichriſt, the Whore of Babylon, that greatppVer. 8. & Chap. 17.18. Citie, and to the whole Hierarchie, where ever it be in any part, or Kingdome of the World: ſo it brings great joy and triumph to all the people of God under the Sun. This is that great voice from Heaven, yea great voices, that is, generall acclamations of the whole Church of Chriſt in all places (which is here called Heaven, asqqVerſe 12. before) Saying, The Kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, even of God the Father, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhal reigne for ever and ever. That is, when this Trumpet ſhall ſound (which ſhall be quickly, as V. 14.) all the Kingdoms of the World ſhall conſent to the rooting out of Antichriſt and his kingdome, they ſhall caſt downe his Throne which is exalted in and by the Hierarchie, and his whole Hierarchie ſhall they caſt out, and ſhall ſet up Chriſts throne over them; & ſhall ſubject the Kingdoms to Chriſts Government, in ſubmitting and conforming to his Doctrine, & Diſcipline, according to his Word. For till they doe this, ſo long as they uphold and take part with the Beaſt, in admitting and mayntaining his Hierarchie in their Dominions, theyrrChap. 17.13. give their ſtrength and power unto the Beaſt, and ſubject their Kingdomes unto him, making warre p. 89againſt the Lambe Jeſus Chriſt, and ſo their Kingdomes the while, are not Chriſts Kingdomes, but Antichriſts rather. A thing well to be conſidered of Chriſtian Kings and Princes, and States. But when this ſeventh Trumpet ſhall ſound (which will bee ſhortly, if not rather already begunne) then is that time fulfilled, which was forelimited of GOD, when they, even the ten Kings, to wit, all Chriſtian Kings and States, which before took part with the Beaſt, againſt the Lambe, evenſſChap. 17.16, 17. theſe ſhall hate the Whore, and ſhal make her deſolate and naked, and ſhal eat her fleſh, and burn her with fire. For God hath put in their hearts to fulfil his wil, and to agree, and give their Kingdome unto the Beaſt, until the words of God ſhal be fulfilled. And although this may ſeem ſtrange and almoſt incredible to mans reaſon and apprehenſion: yet God ſhall as certainly bring it to paſſe, as his Word hath ſaid it. And that we might not be diffident herein, God hath given us a famous and remarkable inſtance, and as it were a ſenſible taſte hereof, in that late glorious worke of his in the Kingdome of Scotland (which we noted before) in throwing down that proud Antichriſtian throne of the Beaſt, which the Prelates thought impoſſible to be done, and which ſeemed at firſt but as attPſal. 126.1.Ps 126:1 dreame, even to Gods people, when the Lord brought againe the captivity of his Sion in that Land in ſo good a meaſure begun: whereas now that out-caſt Hierarchie hath as little hope ever to be reſtored, as in their proſperitie they had feare or doubt ever to bee ſo caſt out. Yet wee ſee it with our eyes, that God hath brought to paſſe this great thing. And ſhall we p. 90doubt of the reſt, when he hath given us ſuch a ſure earneſt of his never fayling word, and of his invincible power? Hee that hath puld off one of the the Beaſts hornes, ſhall ſhortly breake off all his hornes; as the Lord ſaith,uuPſal. 75.10.Ps 75:10 All the hornes of the wicked alſo will I cut off: but the hornes of the righteous ſhall be exalted. And then, then (I ſay) when the Kingdome of the Beaſt, that Whore (which yet deſperatly triumpheth in the confidence of her ſtately Babylon, xxChap. 18.7.ſitting in her throne, and ſaying in her heart, I ſit a Queen, and am no widow, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow) ſhall bee deſtroyedyyVerſe 8. whoſe plagues ſhal come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine, when ſhe ſhal be utterly burnt with fire; for ſtrong is the Lord who judgeth her: and ſo, when all the Kingdomes aforeſaid ſhall reſume their power and ſtrength from the Beaſt, Eſop and Horace.and leave him naked, (as the Birds did the Crow, when each bird tooke his owne feather, wherewith the Crow had pranked himſelfe, exalting himſelf above his fellows;) and when they ſhall ſubmit their Scepters unto Jeſus Chriſt, by receiving his government over them, as aforeſaid: then their Kingdomes become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Chriſt, and he ſhal reigne for ever and ever.

But we finde, Chap. 18.9. how the Kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, and lived deliciouſly with the Whore of Babylon, ſeeing her ruine, ſhall bewaile her, and lament for her, &c. and yet Chap. 17. that the ten hornes, the ten Kings, that gave their power and Kingdomes to the Beaſt, ſhal hate the Whore, and make her deſolate and naked, and ſhall eat her fleſh, and burn her with fire. Theſe two places ſeeme to contradict p. 91one another. But being rightly underſtood, there is no contradiction. For firſt, moſt ſure it is, that the ten Kings aforeſaid ſhal hate the Whore, and be the inſtruments of her deſolation. God will ſurely bring his word to paſſe. But yet ſome of thoſe Kings may at firſt bee brought to it againſt their wils, or with an ill will, having beene formerly ſo much enamoured on the gay painted Whore, and made drunke with the wine of her fornication. We ſee, thoſe two milch-kine of the Philiſtins by a ſtrange inſtinct carried Gods Arke to his place, yet lowed all the way after their Calves (1 Sam. 6.) So the Lord will have his work done upon the whore, though ſome of the chiefe inſtruments may have ſtill a yearning of affection after the Whore, for old acquaintance ſake. Yet, though ſome, for their own perſons may doe this for a time, and becauſe the Whore fals with her goodly Babylon notwithſtanding, becauſe the Kings alone ſhall not make Babylon deſolate, but their Kingdomes, to wit, their people taken altogether: therefore the particular pitie of ſome for a time ſhall not hinder the generall hatred of the Whore, and ſo the Kingdomes of this World mainly and univerſally ſhal become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of his Chriſt. And this making deſolate of the Whore by the Kings and their people, ſhall be with ſuch violence of paſsion, and zeale, which God ſhall kindle in their hearts and breſts, as when it is done, they ſhal ſtand amazed to behold the ſmoke of her burning, and ſpend ſome human compaſſion and pitie upon thoſe terrible and ſuddaine deſolations. Even as Titus, that noble Roman Generall, when through the obdurate obſtinacie p. 92of the Jews in their extreame miſery, his ſouldiers were ſo enraged, that not only the Citie Jeruſalem, but the moſt beautifull Temple it ſelfe were ſet on fire, hee beholding it, wept over it, to ſee ſuch a goodly and glorious building ſo miſerably deſtroyed: the like compaſsion may even thoſe Kings have, in weeping over Babylon, when they ſhall behold the ruines thereof, wherein themſelves notwithſtanding, with their people, were the chief Actors. Thus the ſame Kings, whom the Lord ſhall employ in the making deſolate of Babylon, may bee moved with humane compaſsion, when they behold even thoſe ruines, which themſelves by divine inſtigation have made. And as the ſame Titus, though hee cryed to his Souldiers to ſave that glorious Monument, the Temple, and not to burn it, and ſeeing it notwithſtanding all on a flame, cryed out the more vehemently to quench it, but could not prevail to reſcue it: So the Kings of the earth, when they ſhall ſee the ſmoke of Babylons burning, and ſhall thereupon be moved to lament her, ſaying, Alas, Alas, that great Citiy Babylon, that mighty Citie: yet ſuch is the Lords fury kindled againſt her, that they ſhall not be able with all their power, though they would never ſo fain, to reſcue her out of the flames. For the Lord will have it ſo; and therefore as he hath put in their minds to fulfil his wil in giving their ſtrength and Kingdome to the Beaſt, until the words of God be fulfilled: So, when the words of God ſhal be fulfilled, he wil alſo put in their minds, to fulfil his wil, in the utter deſtruction of Babylon. And from this time Chriſt ſhal reigne for evermore over his people, when the uſurping Beaſt, p. 93with all his power ſhall be put downe, and ſo when all Kings, Princes and States ſhal ſubmit their Scepters to Chriſts authority, as before is ſhewed.

Then ſhall be great joy, and thankſgiving in the Church, as Verſe 16.17: and in the end of this laſt Trumpet (which how long it ſhall ſound, and the ſounding thereof laſt, he only knows,Acts 1.7. Matth. 24 36.Acts 1:7Matt 24:36 who hath reſerved it in his owne breſt) ſhall come the generall judgement of quick and dead, wherein God ſhall powre wrath upon his wrathfull enemies, and ſhall reward all his faithful ſervants, as Verſe 18. Now there be ſundry other things very myſticall and darke, which ſeeme to come under the time of this laſt Trumpet, as (beſides the remainder of this Chapter, Verſe 19. which gives ſome light of the generall converſion of the Jewes) the whole twentieth Chapter of this Booke: but becauſe they be very obſcure, and will require longer time and ſtronger Prayers for aſsiſting and illuminating grace in the opening of them: therefore I will here put an end for the preſent, till it ſhall pleaſe God to give a further opportunitie. In the mean time,aaChap. 11.17. We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art and waſt, and art to come, becauſe thou haſt taken to thee thy great power, and haſt reigned. Even ſo, AMEN.

End of the text · Henry Burton, The Sounding of the Two Last Trumpets (1641)