The Little Horns Downfall, Treatise 2 · Discourse · Part 3 · Description 1
The deſcription of the new JERUSALEM.
THat I may ſet out the more cleerly what the condition of the Church ſhall be in theſe glorious times; it will bee requiſite, that I briefly take notice of the condition the Church before this time hath been in, as the Holy Ghoſt hath declared it in Scripture: of which having already ſpoken in my diſcourſe, on the former part of the eleventh Chapter of the Revelation, (and alſo hinted at it in the beginning of this Book;) I ſhall therefore here but nominate ſome particulars, to which I will referre the Reader, that ſo I may avoid unneceſſary prolixity: OnelyOnly neceſſity compels me for the cleere and orderly proceeding in this preſent diſcourſe, to recapitulate ſome particular heads of that, of which I have already more largely diſcourſt: as thus,
I have ſhewed that the beloved people of God, (ſtiled by the Holy Ghoſt, The Holy City, The two witneſſes, The Olive trees, and The two Candleſticks: who witneſſe too and propheſie the truths of Chriſt,) have for above 1200 yeares by divine appointment and decree been kept in a low condition, in a deſpicable, ſackcloath, mourning, wilderneſſe-condition: and that ſo long they have been warred againſt, and overcome by the Beaſt the Pope, and his crew, I have ſhewne; and that the ten Kings under the Popes Juriſdiction have been of one mind with him in this, trampling upon, and perſecuting the Saints, and that for this end have the ten Kings given their power to the Beaſt.
I have alſo ſhewed that the King of England was one of thoſe that was of one mind with the Beaſt: and that having one mind with the Beaſt he perſecuted the ſaints, and made war againſt them, and overcame them for a ſeaſon as the Beaſt did.
I have ſhewed alſo that the time of this prevalency of the Beaſt, and the Kings under him over the Saints, and making war againſt them, and overcomming them, was a limited, prefixed time: and that beyond it they could not go, nor have power to overcome the Saints after that time was expired.
I have alſo ſhewed how long time it was that the Scripture declares that the Beaſt and his Aſſociates ſhould have power to perſecute the Saints, and prevaile over them, and that was 1260. years, after which terme was expired they were to prevaile no more.
I have alſo ſhewed when that time expired, and that was in the yeare 1645.
And now I proceed from this yeare to deſcribe the ſtate of the Church.
In this yeare, as I have ſaid did the time of prevalency of the Beaſt and his Aſſociates over the ſaints ceaſe: and though thoſe enemies of the Saints do not ceaſe to be after this yeare; but they do and ſhall remaine yet longer, yet they ceaſe to overcome the Saints, and inſtead of prevailing they ſhall be prevailed againſt; and inſtead of overcomming they ſhall be overcome by the ſaints. I ſay not that they ſhall never any more make war againſt the Saints in theſe three Nations, nor in France, nor Spaine, or Portugall, or Germany, or any of the other Kingdomes, or any part of the world; but this I ſay, they ſhal never any more overcome them in war. They ſhall no more tread them under feet; for it was but *Rev. 13. 5, 7.1260. years that the Beaſt was to make war againſt the Saints, ſo as to overcome them, and that time is expired, and in this ye are 1645. did it come to a period, at the expiration whereof the Lord appeared in his glory, and raiſed up his Saints out of their low condition, and gave them to overcome their enemies, and to go on by Jeſus Chriſt their great Lord Generall, conquering, and to conquer: cauſing them to tread downe ſtrength, to overcome the little Horne, giving him into their hands, cauſing them to do juſtice upon him and his Aſſociates, and to overcome all that riſe up againſt them: (This hath already been done, and now to deſcribe what is to ſucceed as the Scripture declares it, thus) and now muſt they go on hence-forward to get victory over the Beaſt.
Of the overcomming of the ten Kings.
And as the Lord Jeſus hath by his Saints already begun with that little Horne, who came up in the room of three of the ten Kings: ſo he will go on to overcome all the ten Kings, as appeares, Rev. 17. where at the 14. ver. it is ſaid, that the ten kings while they were under the Beaſt ſhould make war with the Lambe, and this we know they did; for as the Beaſt made war with the Lambe, and with his ſaints, ſo did the ten Kings alſo, they gave up their power and ſtrength unto him; but what followes? They ſhall make war with the Lambe, and the Lambe ſhall overcome them.
But here it may be queſtioned, how the Lambe ſhall overcome them? And in what way? And by what meanes?
To which I anſwer, *The meanes by which the Lambe will overcome the ten Kings.That as they are making war with the Lambe, (for in making war with his ſaints, they do make war with the Lambe,) the Lambe ſhall overcome them; we know how the late King made war with the Lambe, and how the Lambe overcame him; we ſee now how the King of Scots is making war with the Lamb, and how the Lambe is overcoming him; and ſo when the reſt of the Kings ſhall make war with the Lambe, ſhall the Lamb overcome them; that is plainly thus, the Lamb ſhall overcome the ten Kings that make war with him in his Saints, by being in, and among, and with the Armies of his Saints, ſubduing their enemies before them; and as this is cleere by what he hath already done, ſo alſo is it cleare in this very Scripture that ſpeakes of the Lambe his overcomming of them: thus, And they ſhall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb ſhall overcome them: for he is King of Kings, and Lord of Lords; and they that are with him are called, and choſen, and faithfull; where it is clear, that when the ten Kings make war with the Lambe, and that he being Lord of Lords, and King of Kings overcomes them, that his ſervants that are called, and choſen, and faithfull, attend him, and are his inſtruments in this buſineſſe; elſe why are they ſaid to be with him when he doth that worke? But it cleerly implies, that by the Armies of his ſaints he doth it: as in the 19. of the Revelation it is ſaid (that when he commeth to deſtroy the Beaſt, and) that in righteouſneſſe he doth judge and make war; that in that war alſo the armies in heaven (or of his ſaints) followed him, ſo that the Lord Jeſus is the great Lord Generall that goeth forth to overcome the ten Kings, and his ſaints, his choice, called, and faithfull ones, are the Armies that follow him.
The lawfulneſs of fighting againſt the enemies of Chriſt with the materiall ſword cleared.
But ſome may here object or ſay, is it lawfull or warrantable for ſaints under the Goſpell to fight upon ſuch an account? Doth not the Goſpell require them to live peaceably? and not to avenge their own quarrell, but to ſuffer patiently the wrongs done unto them, and whoſoever ſmites them on the one cheeke to turne to him the other alſo, and to bleſſe them that curſe them, and to do good to them that diſpitefully uſe them, and perſecute them; and are not ſaints appointed to a ſuffering condition in this world, now under the Goſpell eſpecially? and ſaith not the Apoſtle that he who would live godly in Chriſt Jeſus muſt ſuffer perſecution? and ſeeing theſe things are ſo, how can it be lawfull for ſaints to fight to maintaine their own peace, and to preſerve themſelves from ſuffering at the hands of thoſe that would perſecute them, and do them wrong?
To which I anſwer, firſt that it is indeed true that ſaints ſhould be meek, and peaceable, and ſuffer wrongs, and do good for evill in their own private caſes, they are not to avenge themſelves: and I beleeve they will not, but rather than render evill for evill, will do good for evill; but yet withall we are to conſider, that this is as true, that thoſe ſaints that are Magiſtrates are indiſpenſibly bound to do juſtice upon evill doers, *Rom. 13. 4, 5.and that thoſe ſaints which are ſubjects are to be ſubject to thoſe Magiſtrates in all juſt commands; and this being not denied (as it cannot be denied) then it follows, that if a Godly Magiſtrate hath ſome that are evill doers under him, as that are the eves, or robbers, or murtherers, or the like, it is his duty to do juſtice upon them: for he is appointed of God for that end, to be an encouragement to them that do well, and for the puniſhment of evill doers, that juſtice may take place, and that he ſuffer none of his people under him to be injured or wronged that would live peaceably and Godly; and if ſuch a Magiſtrate ſhould neglect to do his duty in this caſe it would be his ſin: and he would not anſwer the end for which he is ordained of God. This being ſo, then if the caſe be ſo, as that an Army of injurious men ſhould riſe up, either within the territories of good Magiſtrates, or without, thus to rob, and ſpoile, and kill their ſubjects; they are to command ſuch of their ſubjects as they think fit, to ſuppreſſe thoſe evill doers, and if poſſibly they can to prevent them from injuring, and wronging, and ſpoyling thoſe people whom they are to protect: and their ſubjects ought to obey them in theſe their juſt commands: for it is the duty of godly people to obey their ſuperiours in all lawfull things; and now theſe things may be done by Magiſtrates, and people now under the Goſpell; and yet they may inviolably obſerve thoſe rules, in reſpect to their own private caſes; of ſuffering patiently the wrongs that are done unto them, and loving their enemies, and doing good to them that hate them: Theſe things may they do, and yet ought they not to leave the other undone.
But this may by the way bee conſidered, that there hath been times when there was never a good Magiſtrate in the world; and then was it the duty of Saints to bee wholy paſſive, and obſerve the forementioned rules of patient ſuffering.
But when providence ſo orders it, as to place in authority godly men; then wee ſee it cleer, that they ſhould neglect their duty, if they ſhould not protect thoſe that do well, from the wicked cruelties of evill doers: and thus the objection is anſwered, and it is cleer, that it is lawfull in Goſpel times for Saints to fight againſt ſuch as would murther, and deſtroy them (as the Aſſociates of the Beaſt would.) Nay, it is not onelyonly lawfull to do it, but it would bee their ſinne if they ſhould not doe it. Godly Magiſtrates would ſin if they did bear the ſword in vain, and did not puniſh evill doers: and godly ſubjects would ſinne, if they ſhould not obey the Magiſtrate when hee requires them to do this lawfull thing; which is to bee aſſiſtant to him in puniſhing of evill doers: and thus have I anſwered this ſufficiently, if I ſhould not adde any thing elſe in anſwer.
But ſecondly, in anſwer to ſuch as make this objection; that though it be true that the Apoſtle ſaies, that thoſe that will live godly in Chriſt Jeſus muſt ſuffer perſecution; and it was a truth in the Apoſtles time, and hath been ſo for almoſt this ſixteen hundred yeeres, ſince that the Saints have ſuffered perſecution, either from the Roman Beaſts the Emperours, or the Roman Beaſts the Popes, or thoſe that have acted by authority from them: yet it doth not follow, that this will alwaies hold a truth, that the ſaints ſhall be alwaies ſufferers: but the contrary is cleer, and I know none that deny it; but that as the Saints have had a ſuffering time, ſo they ſhall have a time of deliverance, and freedome from ſuffering; and the rod of the wicked ſhall not alway reſt upon the lot of the righteous; but God will (though he have borne *Luke 18. 7.long) at laſt avenge the quarrell of his people upon their enemies: and though for this 1500 or 1600 yeers, God (having appointed his people thus long to a ſuffering condition,) he never called his people to do juſtice upon their enemies, as hee did his people of old oftentimes under the Law, (as in the time of Joſhua, and of the Judges, and David, &c.) Yet it followes not out that hee may do it now: For it is no where ſaid that now in the latter daies, when the time of the Saints deliverance commeth, that they ſhall not by the ſword (as Iſrael of old did,) ſubdue the enemies of God, which are alſo their enemies.
I ſay it is no where ſaid they ſhall not ſo do, but in ſeverall places it is ſaid that they ſhall ſo doe, as in that knowne place in the 149 Pſalme, (which never was yet ſo eminently fulfilled as it ſhall be in theſe latter daies,) Where the Pſalmiſt in expreſſe termes ſaies, that the Saints ſhall execute vengeance upon the heathen, and puniſhment upon the people; and bind their Kings in chaines, and their Nobles in fetters of iron; and execute upon them the judgement written. And doubtleſſe the time is comming, wherein the Saints in a moſt glorious manner ſhall have the honour to doe theſe things: And this is cleer likewiſe in the 110 Pſalme, where the Pſalmiſt ſpeakes expreſſely of the time, when the enemies of Chriſt ſhall bee made his footſtoole, as appeares in the firſt verſe; The Lord ſaid unto my Lord, ſit at my right hand untill I make thine enemies thy footſtoole. Now Jeſus Chriſt when he aſcended up to Heaven, is ſaid there to ſit at the right hand of God, Mark 16. 19. and there he ſitteth, and there hee muſt ſit, untill the time come that all his enemies be made his footſtoole (ſaies the Pſalmiſt.) And in the fifth verſe, ſpeaking of that time, when they ſhall be made his footſtoole, he ſpeakes thus, The Lord at thy right hand, (that is, the Lord Chriſt at the right hand of God▪ ſhall ſtrike through Kings in the day of his wrath, and he ſhall judge among the heathen, and fill the places with dead bodies, and wound the heads over many Countries. This is a great work that he will doe, wound the heads over many Countries, ſtrike through Kings in his wrath; but what inſtruments ſhall the Lord Ieſus uſe in doing theſe things, he being at the right hand of God? that is anſwered in the ſecond and third verſes, The Lord ſhall ſend the rod of thy ſtrength out of Sion, — and thy people ſhal be willing in the day of thy power. Here it is cleer that the ſons of Sion, are & ſhal be the Lords inſtruments, the rod of his ſtrength, and they ſhall be willing in this day of Chriſts power.
Another very cleer place to this purpoſe, wee have, Eſa. 54. 15, 16, 17. The whole Chapter is a Propheſie of the happy eſtate of the Church in theſe latter daies: But that which is obſervable to this purpoſe, is in theſe words; In righteouſneſſe thou ſhalt bee eſtabliſhed, thou ſhalt bee far from oppreſſion, for thou ſhalt not feare, and from terror for it ſhall not come neer thee. But how ſhall this be? ſhall they have no enemies at all to oppreſſe them, nor terrifie them? yes, they ſhall have enemies, but they ſhall have no power to oppreſſe them: nay, they ſhall not ſo much as be any feare, or terror at all unto them; ſuch confidence ſhall they have that they ſhall overcome them; for ſo it follows in the next verſe. Behold they ſhall gather together, but not by me; whoſoever ſhall gather together againſt thee, ſhall fall for thy ſake— and no weapon that is formed againſt thee ſhall proſper; and every tongue that ſhall riſe againſt thee in judgement, thou ſhalt condemn. This is the heritage of the ſervants of the Lord, and their righteouſneſſe is of me, ſaith the Lord. Thus its cleer, that though the Church in theſe times have enemies, and though theſe enemies doe gather together, and riſe up againſt them, yet Saints ſhall not feare them, nor at all bee terrified by them. Why? The Lord hath promiſed, that all their enemies ſhall fall before them, and though they make weapons and fight againſt the Saints, yet they ſhall not proſper; But the Saints ſhall overcome them in all the battels they fight.
Againe, that the Saints ſhall in theſe latter daies, be the inſtruments of Chriſt in ſubduing his enemies, is cleere, as in the fourteenth and ſixteenth verſes of the ſeventeenth of the Revelation, and in the nineteenth Chapter; ſo alſo in the ſixth verſe of the 18 Chapter, where the Lord gives an expreſſe commiſſion and command to his people, to execute his juſt vengeance upon his and their enemies, in theſe words; Come out of her my people, — and reward her, even as ſhe hath rewarded you, and double unto her double according to her workes: in the cup which ſhee hath filled, fill to her double; how much ſhe hath glorified her ſelfe and lived deliciouſly, ſo much torment and ſorrow give her: And thus much in anſwer to this objection.
Thus have I ſhewne that the Lambe having raiſed his Saints, hath in part overcome, and is going on to overcome the ten Kings; in which he will make uſe of his ſaints as his inſtruments.
And now I am to go on to declare, *How the ten Kings ſhall ſo imbrace Chriſt, as they ſhall hate the whore.that as the ten Kings or Kingdomes, (for it is not the Kings alone but the Kingdomes alſo that hee will overcome) ſhall be ſubdued by the Lambe and his ſaints: So will he ſo poure out his ſpirit upon the people of thoſe Kingdomes, as they ſhall not unwillingly, (I meane many of them, or at leaſt ſuch a part as ſhall rule the reſt in thoſe Kingdomes) but willingly yeeld obedience to him that hath ſubdued them: and that in love to him. And this appeares in the ſixteenth verſe; *Rev. 17.And the ten hornes which thou ſaweſt upon the Beaſt, theſe ſhall hate the whore, and make her deſolate, and naked, and ſhall eat her fleſh, and ſhall burne her with fire. Thus, thoſe that were once one with the Beaſt, when they are overcome by the Lambe, ſhall have ſuch cleer light given to them to diſcover truth; and ſhall be ſo freed from the ſmoake of the bottomleſſe pit, which is in the Beaſts Kingdome: and ſhall have ſuch cleere light given to them, as they ſo cleerly ſee the deluſions, and the abominable filthy practiſes of the Babyloniſh crew, as their hearts ſhall riſe againſt them, and they ſhall loath and hate them; and then ſhall willingly, and freely yeeld obedience to the Lamb that overcame them, and ruine that curſed City Rome, which is ſtil'd the Whore, the Mother of Harlots and abominations of the Earth. Of this deſtruction of Rome I ſhall ſpeake more fully in its place: But firſt I muſt declare what things muſt precede it; for about theſe daies, when the Kings (or Kingdomes) are thus overcome, and alſo converted and enlightned, and before the ruine of Rome, the Goſpel ſhall be preached univerſally unto all Nations, and Kindreds, and Tongues, and People, which doubtleſſe will bee effectuall to the bringing in of multitudes, both Jews and Gentiles, the manner of which I ſhould here proceed, cleerly and particularly to deſcribe; but before I proceed any further therein, I ſhall make a little neceſſary digreſſion.
For firſt, I muſt make it to appear, *Jeſus Chriſt in the yeare 1645. began to take his Kingdome.that Jeſus Chriſt in the yeare 1645. began to take his Kingdome, and this I ſhall cleare, to the end we may the more orderly proceed in deſcribing what is to follow.
Now that it is ſo, appeares Rev. 11. where it is ſaid, that when the witneſſes are raiſed, that then the ſeventh Trumpet was ſounded, and then it is expreſly ſaid, that the kingdomes of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chriſt: and he ſhall reign for ever and ever. Thus expreſly is it ſaid to be done upon the reſurrection of the witneſſes, and before all his judgements are powred out upon his enemies, ſome of which are mentioned in the following verſes, And ſo in this 27. verſe of this ſeventh Chapter of Daniel it is ſaid, that when the time, times, and halfe a time are come to an end, and the little Horn is overcome by the Saints, that immediately upon this, the Kingdome, and Dominion, and the greatneſs of the Kingdome under the whole heaven ſhall be given to the people of the Saints of the moſt High; whoſe Kingdome is an everlaſting Kingdome: and all Rulers ſhall ſerve and obey him.
But it may be objected, how can this be ſaid to be ſo, ſeeing that we ſee the great Monarchs of the world, or the toes of the 4 Monarchs (mentioned Dan. 2.) among whom the world is divided, do yet poſſeſſe moſt of the ſeverall Dominions under the whole heaven: theſe only of England and Ireland excepted; and they do not any of them ſtoope to the Scepter of Chriſt, nor to his Government, but they do exclude it wholly, and rule according to their own tyranicall wils and pleaſures?
To this I anſwer, That although we ſee not yet thoſe many Kingdomes and Dominions of the world ſubjected unto Chriſt; yet this may be true notwithſtanding, and will appeare, if we conſider that the Kingdome of Chriſt in the beginning of it (in the ſecond of Daniel) is ſaid to be a ſtone cut out of the Mountaine without hands, that ſhould ſmite the Image upon his feet, and breake them to peeces: which ſtone was to become a glorious Kingdome, and fill the whole earth; by which it appeares, that the beginning of this Kingdome ſhould be ſo ſmall as it ſhould not appeare whence it came, it ſhould be a ſtone cut out of the Mountaine, it ſhould not appeare to be any Mountaine, but to be a ſtone at firſt, but afterwards to become a great Mountain, and fill the whole earth; Againe, at firſt it ſhould appeare as a ſtone cut out of the Mountaine without hands, it ſhould ſo miraculouſly appeare at firſt as it ſhould ſeeme to be done without hands, without the power, or ſtrength, or help of the Kings, Princes, or Monarchs of the world; and when the witneſſes were firſt raiſed, what help of the ſtrength, and power of the Kings and Monarchs of the world had they? What hands aſſiſted them? Were they not a company of poore weake deſpiſed people in the eyes of the world, that were indeed but as a little ſtone cut out of the Mountaine of the whole world without hands? and yet this little ſtone cut out of the Mountaine without hands muſt, and undoubtedly ſhall ſmite the Image upon his feet, and break in peeces the Iron, and the Clay, and the Braſs, and the ſilver, and the Gold together, and not ceaſe untill its ſelfe become a Mountaine, filling the whole earth. Jeſus Chriſt having begun to take to him his great power, and to reigne, will not ceaſe untill he have ſubjected every Dominion to his Royall Scepter, and made them to ſerve and obey him: which he is going on apace to do; and will doubtleſſe go on ſwifter yet; and the neerer he is to the end of his worke, the ſwifter is his motion like to be.
Thus have I digreſt from what was in hand (being to deſcribe the manner of bringing in of multitudes to the obedience of Chriſt) to this end, that notice might be taken of this along as I go, that what Chriſt doth herein, is in order to the becomming a great mountaine: according to the phraſe of the Prophet; but now to return.
I was ſhewing, *When the Goſpell muſt be preached to all nations.how that when the Lambe had overcome the ten Kings, that then before the ruine of Rome, the Goſpell ſhould be univerſally Preached unto all Nations; and this is cleer Rev. 14. In the five firſt verſes of that Chapter we have a declaration of Jeſus Chriſt his ſtanding upon mount Sion, his appearing for to own his people, and of his peoples being gathered unto him, which are deſcribed to be pure, and undefiled, and redeemed ones to God, and to the Lord Jeſus: and they are ſaid to be the firſt fruits, and to follow the Lambe whereſoever he goeth; implying, that they are the firſt of thoſe that were called to waite upon the Lambe in the ſervices that he hath to do for them in order to the ſetting up of his Kingdome. They were brought in to him before the everlaſting Goſpel was generally preached, and before the fall of Babylon. They were the firſt fruits. Now who are theſe firſt fruits that now ſtand upon mount Sion with the Lamb, and follow him whitherſoever he goeth? Doubtleſſe, thoſe whom he hath now called forth to follow him, and thoſe that he will call out of the reſt of the ten Kingdomes. Well what follows? In the 6, 7, and 8. verſes. And I ſaw an Angell flye in the midſt of heaven, having the everlaſting Goſpell to preach unto them that dwell on the earth; and to every nation, and kindred, and tongue, and people: ſaying with a loud voice, feare God and give glory to him; for the houre of his judgement is come, and worſhip him that made heaven, and earth, and the ſea, and the fountaines of waters: and there followed another Angell, ſaying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great City, &c. Here we ſee that before the fall of Babylon, and yet after the firſt fruits are come in to the Lambe, the Goſpell muſt be preached to all Nations: and doubtleſſe, glorious and wonderfull will be the proceedings of Jeſus Chriſt in the world, now that he hath begun to take the Kingdomes and Dominions thereof into his poſſeſſion; he hath done great things in ſome Kingdomes already, and he will do the like in others ſhortly; and will powre out his ſpirit withall upon them, and ſo cauſe the light to appeare unto them, as ſhall effectually diſcover unto them the baſeneſſe, the viciouſneſſe, the filthineſſe, and the abominableneſſe, of the curſed Doctrines of the Beaſt, and the whore: and cauſe them to loath them, and to publiſh and manifeſt their diſlike and hatred of them to all the world: and with much zeale and fervency of ſpirit will all ſuch as ſhall bee enlightened, and thereunto qualified, preach and publiſh the cleare truths of the Goſpell, in oppoſition to the falſe Doctrines of Antichriſt, in all parts of the world, and unto all nations: diſcovering alſo unto them the glad tidings of the Goſpell, to the ſaving of their ſoules, and the turning of them from Idols and vanities to ſerve the true and living God.