The Little Horns Downfall, Treatise 2 · Discourse · Part 3 · Description 3 – Description 4
Of the Gentiles converſion.
ANd thus having diſcourſed of the converſion of the Jews, I now come to deſcribe alſo the converſion of the Gentiles; which about this time, are alſo abundantly to be brought in. For ſo I made it evident before, out of the fourteenth of the Revelations, that after the Lamb hath overcome the ten Kings, or part of them, before the fall of Babylon, that the everlaſting Goſpel is to be preached to all Nations, and Kinreds, and Tongues, and People. Now as the preaching of the Goſpel at that time, will be the more effectual upon the Jews, becauſe then the wickedneſſes of Babylon ſhall be declared againſt, and deteſted, and Jeſus Chriſt ſhall manifeſt himſelf againſt that wicked crew; ſo alſo will the preaching of the Goſpel be the more effectual upon the Gentiles, becauſe then the judgements of God will be ſo terribly manifeſted againſt the Idolatrous, ſinful, and prophane practices of wicked men. For mark, in that fourteenth of the Revelation, where it is ſaid, that the everlaſting Goſpel is to be preached to all Nations, which ſhall teach men to fear God, and to give him glory, and to turn from Idols, and to worſhip him that made the earth, and the ſea, and the fountains of waters; the motive that is given to prevail with men to receive the Goſpel; is this: (ver. 7.) Becauſe the houre of his judgement is come. And if we would know what is meant by the hour of his judgement, it follows in the eighth verſe, Babylon is fallen is fallen. Herein the judgement of God will be evidently manifeſted againſt prophane ungodly men, when he comes to ruine that great whore who corrupted all Nations: So that the light of the glorious Goſpel now ſhining forth, and the judgements of God being evidently manifeſted againſt wicked men, doubtleſs the Nations that are yet unconverted, ſhall then alſo be abundantly brought in to the obedience of Chriſt. And the Scripture everywhere plentifully ſpeaks of this abundant bringing in of all Nations; As Iſa. 2. 2. 3. And it ſhall come to paſs in the laſt days, that the mountain of the Lords houſe ſhall be eſtabliſhed in the top of the mountains: and what then? (not onelyonly the Jews, nor onelyonly ſome of the Nations, but) all nations ſhall flow unto it: and they ſhall not come in by drops, ſcatteringly, one now, and another then; but they ſhall come in by multitudes; they ſhall flow unto it. That which comes flowing in, comes in abundantly. Again, Iſa. 60. 1. It is ſaid to the Church, Ariſe, ſhine: for thy light is come, and the glory of the Lord is riſen upon thee. This Chapter all along deſcribes the riſing and ſhining glory of the Church: I have already quoted it; I ſhall here onelyonly mention thoſe paſſages in it that ſpeak to this preſent purpoſe. And verſ. 3. It is ſaid, And the Gentiles ſhall come to thy light, and kings to the brightneſs of thy riſing. And verſ. 5. The abundance of the ſea ſhall be converted unto thee, and the forces of the Gentiles ſhall come unto thee. And verſ. 9, 10 11. 14. 15, 16. It's ſaid that the Iſles ſhall wait upon the Lord. And again 'tis ſaid that the Kings of the Gentiles and the forces of the Gentiles ſhall come in to the Church, and be ready to ſerve and miniſter to it. Again, Iſa. 62. 2, 3. where the glory of the Church is alſo deſcribed, it is ſaid thus to Sion; The Gentiles ſhall ſee thy righteouſneſs, and all kings thy glory; and thou ſhalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the Lord ſhall name; and ſhalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord &c. And, Iſa. 49. 23. Kings ſhall be thy nurſing fathers, and their Queens thy nurſing mothers: and they ſhall bow down to thee with their face toward the earth. And Iſa. 66. 12. It's ſaid that the glory of the Gentiles like a flowing ſtream, ſhall come into the Church. And verſ. 18, 19, 20. I will gather all nations and tongues, and they ſhall come and ſee my glory; and I will ſet a ſigne among them, and I will ſend thoſe that eſcape unto the nations, to Tarſhiſh Pul, and Lud; to thoſe that draw the bow, to Tubal, and Javan; to the Iſles afar off, that have not heard my fame, neither have ſeen my glory; and they ſhall declare my glory among the Gentiles. And Zech. 9. 9, 10. Rejoyce, O daughter of Sion, behold thy King cometh unto thee: he is juſt and having ſalvation, and he ſhall ſpeak peace unto the heathen, and his dominion ſhall be even from ſea to ſea, and from the river even to the ends of the earth. And Zech. 8. 21, 22, 23. The inhabitants of one city ſhall go to another, ſaying, Let us go ſpeedily to pray before the Lord, and to ſeek the Lord of hoſts: I will go alſo. Yea many people, and ſtrong nations ſhall come to ſeek the Lord of hoſts in Jeruſalem, and pray before the Lord. And in thoſe days men ſhall take hold out of all languages in the nations, even ſhall take hold of the skirt of him that is a Jew, ſaying, We will go with you, for we have heard that God is with you. Thus the Spirit of God in Scripture hath cleerly ſet forth the converſion of the Gentiles, together with the Jews, in theſe ſeveral Scriptures that I have mentioned.
And as it is cleer in theſe Scriptures; ſo there are ſeveral other Scriptures, wherein it is as cleer; but I ſhall adde onelyonly one more, and it's a Scripture that ſpeaks of the converſion and turning to God of two particular Nations, which at this day are yet Idolaters, as well as many others, and in the ſtate of groſs darkneſs and unbelief; and they are the Egyptians and Aſſyrians, Iſa. 19. the Prophecy hereof begins at verſ. 18. In that day ſhall five cities in the land of Egypt ſpeak the language of Canaan, and ſwear to the Lord of hoſts: one ſhall be called the city of Heres, (or of the Sun, or of ſhining glory.) In that day there ſhall be an altar to the Lord in the midſt of the land of Egypt, and a pillar at the border thereof to the Lord; and it ſhall be for a ſigne, and for a witneſs unto the Lord of hoſts in the land of Egypt: for they ſhall cry unto the Lord, becauſe of the oppreſſors, and he ſhall ſend them a Saviour, and a great one, and he ſhall deliver them: and the Lord ſhall be known to Egypt, and the Egyptians ſhall know the Lord at that day. Yea they ſhall vow a vow unto the Lord and ſhall perform it: and the Lord ſhall ſmite Egypt, he ſhall ſmite and heal it: and they ſhall return unto the Lord, and he ſhall be entreated of them and ſhall heal them. In that day there ſhall be a high-way out of Egypt to Aſſyria: and the Aſſyrians ſhall come into Egypt, and the Egyptians into Aſſyria: and the Egyptians ſhall ſerve with the Aſſyrians. In that day ſhall Iſrael be the third with Egypt, and with Aſſyria, even a bleſſing in the midſt of the land, whom the Lord of hoſts ſhall bleſs, ſaying, Bleſſed be Egypt my people, and Aſſyria the work of mine hands, and Iſrael mine inheritance.
In this Prophecy it is very cleer, that there is a time to come, wherein the Jews ſhall again be the beloved people of God; for never yet was there a time, when Iſrael, Egypt, and Aſſyria: were all together at one time acknowledged to be the people of God: but the time is coming when it ſhall be ſo, when not onelyonly the Gentiles alone, but the Jews alſo; and not onelyonly the Jews alone, but the Gentiles alſo, ſhall be the people of God; and when in particular, the Egyptians, and the Aſſyrians, which are now ſo deeply involved in darkneſs, and blindneſs, and have no knowledge of God, ſhall be a people bleſſed of the Lord. For there are in theſe verſes ſuch expreſſions as do very plainly and cleerly ſpeak the converſion of theſe Nations. As, that the Lord ſhall be known to the Egyptians, and the Egyptians ſhall know the Lord, and that they ſhall engage themſelves to the Lord; which is expreſſed under the terms of ſwearing to the Lord, and vowing to the Lord; which do cleerly hold forth the engaging of their hearts to the Lord. And again, it is ſaid that the Egyptians being oppreſſed ſhall cry unto the Lord: but they ſhall not cry in vain; for in anſwer unto their crying, he ſhall ſend them a Saviour, and a great one; and he ſhall deliver them. And beſides, it is ſaid that the Egyptians being ſmitten of the Lord, ſhall return, even to the Lord; and he ſhall be intreated of them, and heal them; and that the Egyptians being thus converted, they ſhall then, and therein be in fellowſhip with the Aſſyrians, and the Aſſyrians with them, and they both with Iſrael.
And thus now is it cleer in theſe ſeveral Scriptures, (as well as in many others, which I forbear to mention, to avoid prolixity) that the Gentiles ſhall be plentifully and abundantly brought in to the obedience of Chriſt (whoſe dominion muſt be from ſea to ſea, from the rivers unto the ends of the earth) and that not onelyonly ſome Nations, but all Nations ſhall ſeek after the Lord; And that not onelyonly the mean, and inferiour ſort of the people of the Nations, but ſome of their Kings, and Queens, and the greateſt among them, ſhall come and ſee the glory of the Lord, and become his ſervants, and be ſupports under him to his people: Kings ſhall be their nurſing fathers, and Queens their nurſing mothers, and bring their forces to their ſupport: and they not weak ones, but many people, and ſtrong Nations (ſaith Zechariah in the place forementioned) ſhall come to ſeek the Lord of Hoſts.
And now having ſhown, that the preaching of the Goſpel to all Nations is to follow upon the Lamb his overcoming the ten Kings, and that this will probably be the time of the bringing in of Jews and Gentiles, becauſe, that by the Lord Jeſus his ſo gloriouſly appearing (for his own people, and againſt that ſcarlet whore, Rome, and the beaſt, and all that crew) way will be made for the coming in of Jews and Gentiles. But this by the way I deſire may be taken notice of, That as many of the Nations as the preaching of the Goſpel ſhall not prevail with, to bring them in to the obedience of Chriſt, (for multitudes, as I have made it evident, muſt come in that way) them ſhall the ſword of Juſtice ſubdue, both before, and at, and after the ruine of Rome. Thoſe whom the grace of the Goſpel, the tenders of love, and the offers of peace win not; them vengeance and wrath ſhall overtake. If they will not liſten to that voice of the Spirit, (that ſays to the Kings of the earth, Be wiſe now therefore, O ye Kings, and be inſtructed, ye Judges of the earth: kiſs the Son, leſt he be angry, and ye periſh, &c.) then ſhall he ſpeak unto them in wrath, and vex them in his ſore diſpleaſure; and he ſhall break them with a rod of Iron, and daſh them in pieces like a potters veſſel. Thus he will do with the ten kings, and thus he will afterwards do with the other Nations. But if any of theſe ten kings that yet ſtand out, ſhall be overcome by his love, and by receiving the cleer light of the Goſpel, (for there is no queſtion but thoſe his called, and choſen, and faithful ones, thoſe firſtfruits whom he hath now called forth, and engaged in his works, ſhall, having the Spirit of their Lord upon them do according to his enſample, firſt *What courſe the Armies of the Saints under J…ſus Chriſt, firſt will take with the Nations or ten Kingdoms.offer peace, and publiſh the cleer light of Goſpel to them, that if poſſible they might be that way won:) I ſay if any of the ten Kings ſhall this way be brought in they wil doubtleſs be very acceptable to Chriſt. (And who knows whether or no the Lamb may overcome ſome of them this way? Whether Spain and other kingdoms may not be ſo gained to Chriſt, and made to hate the whore?) But if not ſo, then will he deal with thoſe that are implacable of them, in the way of his juſtice, and overcome them (I mean thoſe of them that are implacable: for ſome of them ſhall hate the whore, when they are overcome) in his wrath, and ſore diſpleaſure, as he hath already done with thoſe that in maintenance of the beaſt, ſtood it out againſt him; making his people to execute upon them the judgement written: for overcome them he will.
Of Romes ruine.
And thus having ſhewn how that the Lamb will overcome the ten Kings; and that about that time, when ſome, or all the ten Kings or kingdoms are overcome, and made to hate the whore, the Goſpel ſhall be univerſally preached all the world over:
I now come to ſhew, that when the Lord Chriſt hath thus in larged his kingdom, and diminiſhed the kingdom of the beaſt: he ſhall then go on to cauſe his people (thoſe eſpecially of the ten kingdoms) to go on in their work of breaking down the ſtrength of the beaſt, and bringing it to nothing, that the Lord Chriſt may be all. And in order thereunto, they ſhall be the inſtruments of the utter ruining of Rome: which is that whore mentioned, Rev. 17. 1. As appears, verſ. 18. The woman (or the whore) which thou ſaweſt, is that great city which raigneth over the kings of the earth (which Rome then did) I ſay the Saints of the ten kingdoms, about this time when theſe things are done, ſhall then be inſtruments of ruining this whore. And this appears, Rev. 17. 10. And the ten horns which thou ſaweſt upon the beaſt, theſe ſhall hate the whore, and ſhall make her deſolate, and naked, and ſhall eat her fleſh and burn her with fire. Where it is very cleer, that the ten Kings being overcome by the Lamb, they ſhall have ſuch a cleer ſight of the light of the Goſpel, as ſhall not onelyonly cauſe them to forſake the principles of darkneſs that are imbraced by Rome but they ſhall hate thoſe principles, and hate Rome, for her filthineſs, and curſed lewdneſs; and ſhall manifeſt their hatred, in diſrobing her of her ſtrength, and glory, and pomp, with which the text ſays ſhe is decked, Rev. 17. 4. All which they ſhall take from her, and make her naked: And ſhall that be all they will do? No: for they will not onelyonly make her naked, but will eat her fleſh; will make her deſtitute, not onelyonly of her outward robes of pomp, and glory, but will eat her very fleſh; that is, they will devour and conſume that, without which ſhe can as little conſiſt, as a man can whoſe fleſh is conſumed. So that they ſhall ſo far manifeſt their hatred to Rome, as they ſhall reduce her to the greateſt ſtraights that can be imagined: And ſhall they leave there? No: but they ſhall burn her with fire. And that the Saints ſhall deal thus with her, is again expreſſed in chap. 18. verſ. 6, 7, 8. Where the people of God are bid to reward Babylon, (that is, Rome) even as ſhe hath rewarded them; and double unto her double according to her works: in the cup which ſhe hath filled fill to her double: how much ſhe hath glorified her ſelf, and lived deliciouſly ſo much torment, and ſorrow give her. For ſhe ſaith in her heart, I ſit a Queen, and am no widow, and ſhall ſee no ſorrow: therefore ſhall her plagues come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and ſhe ſhall be utterly burnt with fire: for ſtrong is the Lord God who judgeth her. Thus it's cleer, that the Saints in the ten kingdoms ſhall ſo hate Rome, as they ſhall plague her, make her deſolate, expoſe her to great miſery, and utterly burn her with fire. And when this City is thus burnt with fire, *Rev. 18. 6.becauſe ſhe hath made her ſelf drunk with the blood of the Saints, and the blood of the Martyrs of Jeſus; and becauſe ſhe hath made all Nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication, *verſ. 2.and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her; and becauſe that when ſhe comes to be deſtroyed, *verſ. 24.in her will be found the blood of Prophets, and of Saints, and of all that were ſlain upon the earth; therefore, when ſhe comes to be deſtroyed, ſhe ſhall be made a monument of vengeance, (as being the moſt curſed City in the world,) and therefore it is ſaid that when Babylon is fallen, ſhe is become the habitation of devils, and the hold of every foul ſpirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, Rev. 18. 2. And the voice of harpers, and muſicians, and trumpeters, ſhall be heard no more at all in thee; & no crafts men of whatſoever craft he be, ſhall be found any more in thee. And the ſound of a milſtone ſhall be heard no more at all in thee; and the light of a candle ſhall ſhine no more at all in thee; and the voice of the bridegroom and of the bride, ſhall be heard no more at all in thee: for thy merchants were all the great men of the earth; for by thy ſorceries were all Nations deceived.
Thus Rome, when it is deſtroyed, ſhall be no more inhabited by the ſons of men, it is ſuch a curſed City; but on the contrary, it ſhall become the hold of every foul ſpirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful bird, and the wild beaſts of the deſart ſhall lie therein, and it ſhall be full of doleful creatures Owles, and Satyrs▪ and Dragons; as it is at large expreſt, Iſa. 34. 9, 10, 11, &c. And Iſa. 13. 19, 20, &c.
Thus Rome ſhall be ruined; and over it's ruines ſhall the Saints rejoyce, as Rev. 18. 20. Rejoyce over her, thou heaven, and ye holy Apoſtles and Prophets: for God hath avenged you on her. But her confederates will greatly lament and bewail her; As verſ. 9, 10, &c. Thus much for Romes ruine.
Of what is to follow Romes ruine.
But the enemies of Jeſus Chriſt and his Saints, are not wholly ruined, when Rome is thus deſtroyed; but many will be left to bewail it: and amongſt the reſt, it appears that the Beaſt, viz. the Pope ſtill remains undeſtroyed; for he is one of the laſt that ſhall be deſtroyed: and the manner how it ſhall be is this: When theſe things we have ſpoken of ſhall be thus done, viz. When the ten Kings are overcome and do yield obedience to the Lamb, and the Goſpel is univerſally preached, and Jews and Gentiles are abundantly converted to Chriſt, and Rome is ruined; the Pope being then turned out of Rome, and he with his Cardinals, Biſhops, and Jeſuits, being lurking in ſome other places, up and down in the world, ſhall ſtill act like himſelf, and ſhew himſelf to be the Beaſt; ſtill retaining his curſed nature, continuing in enmity againſt Chriſt and his Saints, and being ſo, ſhall reſolve not to give all for loſt yet, though he be thus far prevailed againſt, but ſhall reſolve to make one deſperate attempt more againſt the Saints; and to this end, ſhall ſend abroad his Emiſſaries unto all the unconverted Kings, and great men of the earth, whom neither the Goſpel of peace, nor ſword of war hath overcome, and ſhall gather them all together; which ſhall make a very great Army with which they ſhall think to deſtroy all the Saints, who at this time will be increaſed to a very great number, the Jews, and multitudes of the Gentiles, being brought in before this laſt battel; but when they are brought in, they will meet with oppoſition from this man of ſin, and from the reſt of the wicked of the world, who will not have Chriſt to raign over them. And this Beaſt, I ſay, will gather together all the unconverted Kings of the earth, and all their Armies, thinking to deſtroy the Saints, Jews and Gentiles; but they ſhall not, neither firſt nor laſt, prevail upon them: but they ſhall be overcome and foiled ſtill; ſo that now at laſt they ſhall grow deſperate, and ſay (as ſome now do) they will now fight for it, and they will either win all, or loſe all; for the Beaſt and the Kings of the earth are gathered together, with their Armies of prophane wicked men (for none elſe are with them) to make war againſt Jeſus Chriſt, and his Armies of Saints. In which laſt battel, (wherein the utmoſt ſtrength of all the enemies of Chriſt and his Saints ſhall be united together) ſhall the controverſie between the one and the other be decided; and the fleſh of theſe Kings, and Captains and mighty men of the earth, and of all their Armies, ſhall be given to the fowles of the aire; and all this more largely appears, Rev. 19. 11. 12, &c. And I ſaw heaven opened, and behold, a white horſe, and he that ſat upon him, was called faithful and true; and in righteouſneſs he doth judge and make war; his eys were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many Crowns, and he had a name written that no man knew but he himſelf. And he was clothed with a veſture dipt in blood, and his name is called the word of God; and the Armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horſes, clothed in fine linen white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a ſharp ſword, that with it he ſhould ſmite the Nations: and he ſhall rule them with a rod of Iron and he treadeth the winepreſs of the fierceneſs and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his veſture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I ſaw an Angel ſtanding in the Sun, and he cryed with a lowd voice, ſaying to all the fowls that flie in the midſt of heaven, Come, and gather your ſelves together unto the ſupper of the great God: that ye may eat the fleſh of Kings, and the fleſh of Captains, and the fleſh of mighty men, and the fleſh of horſes, and of them that ſit on them, and the fleſh of all men, both of free and bond, both ſmall and great. And I ſaw the Beaſt, and the Kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make war againſt him that ſat on the horſe, and againſt his army. And the beaſt was taken, and with him the falſe Prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beaſt, and them that worſhipped his image. Theſe both were caſt alive into a lake of fire burning with brimſtone. And the remnant were ſlain with the ſword of him that ſate upon the horſe, which ſword proceeded out of his mouth: and all the fowls were filled with their fleſh.
In theſe words we ſee is a plain deſcription of two Generals, and their Armies; and of a battel fought between them, and of the ſucceſs of the battel.
The deſcription of the great Lord General of the Army of Saints.
The firſt General is deſcribed; by his Name, by his Frame, and by his Aym.
Firſt, by his Nanme. And he is called, faithful and true, and his name is called the Word of God, and he hath a Name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And this is the Name, and Title, of the Lord Jeſus Chriſt alone.
But ſecondly, He is deſcribed alſo by his Frame, and poſture in which he is: thus, He ſat upon a white horſe. Which manifeſts his purity. And his eys were as a flame of fire: Which ſhews the piercing, diſcerning nature of them, being the ſearcher of hearts, and trier of the reins. And on his head are many Crowns: Which ſhews that all the Crowns of all Kingdomes muſt be put upon his head, who is KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And this is the Frame and poſture in which he is.
But thirdly, He is deſcribed alſo by his Aym; thus, that in righteouſneſs he doth judge and make war. He ayms at doing juſtice, making war againſt the Beaſt, and judging that other Army according to righteouſneſs: and that he may ſo do, his Aym is to give them blood to drink, and that in righteouſneſs; for they are worthy: and therefore he is ſaid to be clothed in a veſture dipt in blood, and that out of his mouth goeth a ſharp ſword, that with it he ſhould ſmite the Nations. Out of his mouth it goeth, that is, he commandeth with the word of his mouth, a ſharp ſword to ſmite the Nations: and this juſtly. And his Aym is to rule the nations with a rod of Iron: And this in righteouſneſs; and to tread the winepreſs of the fierceneſs of the wrath of Almighty God. And in all this may it be ſaid unto him, Righteous art thou, O Lord, who haſt judged thus.
The Deſcription of his Army.
But in the next place we have his Army deſcribed, thus: And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horſes, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. Where firſt we may obſerve, the place where they were; and that is, heaven; which ſhews that they are armies of the Church, that they are Saints; for the Church of God is all along the Prophecy of the Book of the Revelation, called Heaven. Now theſe Armies that follow this General, are the Armies in Heaven, the Armies in the Churches of Chriſt, and out of heaven alſo is their General ſaid to come, ver. 11. But it is no wonder, for he always walks in the midſt of his golden Candleſticks, his Witneſſes, his Saints, his Churches. Rev. 1. 13. But again, theſe Armies in Heaven are ſaid to follow their General upon white horſes: As he is upon a white horſe, which ſhews his purity; ſo alſo are they upon white horſes, which ſhews their purity: For he hath put his own Frame and Spirit upon them; which further appears in that they are alſo ſaid to be clothed in fine linen, white and clean; which alſo imports purity, and undefiledneſs.
And thus we have the Deſcription of the Lord General, and his Army on the one ſide.
On the other ſide, The chief among them is called the Beaſt: which ſhews his unworthy, filthy, beaſtly nature: and with him are the Kings of the earth; they are not of heaven, but of the earth: and of the earth they may be ſaid to be, in oppoſition to the heavenly nature of thoſe whom they oppoſe. And for the Armies that are under them, they are ſaid to be Their Armies, implying that they were earthly, corrupt Armies; becauſe they did belong to thoſe that were of the earth. And this is all the deſcription that we have in this place of the other General and his Army.
Now theſe being thus deſcribed. It is ſaid that the Beaſt, and the Kings of the earth, and their Armies, were gathered together, to make war againſt him that ſat upon the horſe, and againſt his Army. It ſeems they have hopes to overcome him, and his Army; becauſe they gather together againſt them.
The event of the Battel.
But what is the event of the battel? The Beaſt and his Army are overcome, and the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet is that with him, are taken. What this falſe Prophet is, is doutful; for there is no mention made of him before this at leaſt not under this Title*The falſe Prophet., not in all the book of the Revelation: but it may be it is ſome new ſort of deceiver, which he will make uſe of to deceive the Nations by falſe miracles, when he draws them to ingage in this battel. But whether ſo or no, whatever he be, when this battel is ſought the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, that wrought miracles before him, are both taken; and of them is it ſaid, That they particularly were caſt alive into a lake of fire burning with brimſton, and the remnant are ſlain with the ſword, and their fleſh is given to the fowls of the aire; even the fleſh of Kings, and Captains, and mighty men, &c.
And this is the ſucceſs of this battel, or the event of it, as far forth as it is in this place ſpoken of.
But becauſe the day of the battel is to be ſuch a great and terrible day to wicked men, being that great and terrible day of the Lord, ſo much ſpoken of by all the holy Prophets, and Apoſtles, and Saints of God; which day is repreſented unto us in ſuch a dreadful, terrible, and glorious manner, as if it were the General day of judgement, (but that it is cleered not to be that day, by the declarations of the things that muſt follow it; which are laid down in the ſeveral Scriptures which ſpeak of this day.) I ſay, ſeeing it is repreſented unto us in a dreadful, and wonderful manner; and ſince ſo many wonders ſhall be ſhewn at that that time, and ſo much of the glory and majeſty of God ſhall then be ſeen; and ſuch ſtrange changes ſhall then be made in the world: I ſay, theſe things being ſo wonderful, and ſo glorious, I ſhall be the larger in giving the deſcription of this day from ſeveral other Scriptures. Thus:
Of the great day of the Lord.
This day is that great day, which is called the day of the Lords vengeance, and the year of recompences for the controverſies of Sion; Mentioned, Iſa. 34. 8. That day of which he ſpeaks, when he ſays, The day of vengeance is in my heart, and the yeer of my redeemed is come, Iſa. 63. 4. For though it be true, that he hath already begun to take vengeance upon his, and his peoples enemies; and to plead the cauſe of his people: and though he hath begun to recompence his wrath upon theſe enemies, for the controverſies his Sion hath againſt them; yet the compleatment hereof is reſerved unto that day, which of all days ſhall be the moſt terrible to wicked men, becauſe it ſhall utterly overthrow them, and they ſhall not eſcape, nor avoid it; for then he will tread them in his anger, and trample them in his fury; yea they ſhall be troden in the wine-preſs of the fierceneſs of the wrath of Almighty God. And their blood ſhall be ſprinkled upon his Garments, and he will ſtain all his rayment, As Iſa. 63. 3. But who ſhall live when God doth this? (was Balaams expreſſion, when he ſpake of the ruine of ſeveral Nations Numb. 24. 23.) for let all wicked men look to it, when this day comes; for to them it will be very terrible. For this is the day which is ſpoken of Iſa. 66. 15. For behold the Lord will come with fire, and with Chariots like a whirl-wind, to render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire: for by fire, and by his ſword, will the Lord plead with all fleſh and the ſlain of the Lord ſhall be many. How terrible will this day be, when the Lord ſhall thus plead with all fleſh by fire and ſword, and render his anger with fury, and his rebukes with flames of fire! Who ſhall live when God doth this? It is anſwered by the Prophet in the ſame Chapter, that at the ſame time, The hand of the Lord ſhall be known toward his ſervants, and his indignation toward his enemies; and their hearts ſhall rejoyce, and their bones, ſhall flouriſh like an herb: They ſhall be ſo far from being quailed, or diſcouraged, or amated, or terrified, when this terrible day comes, as they ſhall then flouriſh moſt, and be moſt joyful at heart.
Again, this day is ſpoken of, Joel 3. 9, 10. where the Lord ſummons all the Gentiles to gather together and make themſelves as ſtrong as they can for war: and ſays, that when they are gathered together round about, in ver. 11. that thither he will cauſe his mighty ones to come down: & at v. 12. That there he will ſit to judge all the heathen round about; & then declares that the Sickle ſhal be put in to cut down this harveſt of wicked men, for the wickedneſs is great, and that multitudes ſhall be cut down, when the Lord ſhall thus judge theſe men, and decide the controverſies of his people: for which cauſe it ſhall be called, The valley of deciſion. And then, verſ. 16. The Lord ſhall roar out of Sion, and utter his voice from Jeruſalem: and the heavens and the earth ſhall ſhake. This is that once more, wherein he will ſhake not the earth onelyonly, but the heavens alſo: of which Paul ſpeaks, Heb. 12. 26. And therefore this is called, Joel 2. 31. The great and terrible day of the Lord. But who ſhall live when God doth this? When the Heavens and Earth ſhall ſhake? &c. Why it's anſwered in the ſame 16. verſ. But the Lord ſhall be the hope of his people, and the ſtrength of the children of Iſrael.
Of this day alſo Paul ſpeaks, 2 Theſ. 1. 7, 8, 9. Where he ſays, that the day is coming when the Lord Jeſus ſhall be revealed from heaven, with his mighty Angels, in flaming fire, taking vengeance on them that know not God and that obey not the Goſpel of our Lord Jeſus Chriſt; who ſhall be puniſhed with everlaſting deſtruction, from the preſence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power. Thus doth Paul render this as a moſt terrible day: and as the Prophet Iſaiah in the forementioned place, ſays the Lord will then render his anger, and his rebukes with flames of fire: So Paul here ſays, that the Lord Jeſus ſhall in flaming fire take vengeance, on them that know not God, &c. puniſhing them with everlaſting deſtruction from his preſence. But who ſhall live when God doth this? The Apoſtle tells us, that then the Lord Jeſus ſhall come to be glorified in his, Saints & to be admired in all them that believe in that day, v. 10 The Saints ſhall then live, and glorifie him, and admire him.
Of this day alſo ſpeaks th Prophet Malachi, Chap. 4. 1. For behold, the day cometh that ſhall burn as an oven: and all the proud, yea all that do wickedly ſhall be ſtubble: and the day that cometh ſhall burn them up, ſaith the Lord of hoſts, that it ſhall leave them neither root nor branch. But who ſhall live when God doth this? It follows in verſ. 2. 3. But unto you that fear my Name, ſhall the Sun of righteouſneſs ariſe, with healing in his wings: and ye ſhall go forth, and grow up as calves of the ſtall. And ye ſhall tread down the wicked; for they ſhall be aſhes under the ſoles of your feet, in the day that I ſhall do this ſaith the Lord of hoſts.
Thus in a terrible manner is this day here alſo repreſented: being a day that ſhall burn as an Oven.
Of this day alſo ſpeaks the Apoſtle Peter, and repreſents it in the ſame terrible manner, 2 Pet. 3. 7. But the Heavens and the Earth which are now, (ſaith he) by the ſame word are kept in ſtore, reſerved unto fire againſt the day of judgement, and perdition of ungodly men: or as, Iſaiah ſays, the day in which the Lord will plead with all fleſh, rendering his rebukes with flames of fire. But ſays Peter, verſ. 10. This day will come ſuddenly upon men, as a thief in the night. And indeed, this numerous Army that ſhall be gathered together againſt the Saints, ſhall little dream of ſuch an overflowing ſcourge, as ſhall overtake them: but rather, promiſe themſelves a victorious overcoming of the Saints; but alas! Miſerable creatures, this day of their deſtruction and perdition, ſays Peter, ſhall come, as a thief in the night: in which the Heavens ſhall paſs away with a noiſe, and the Elements ſhall melt with fervent heat. (The whole world ſhall be on fire about their ears on a ſudden, and there ſhall be an utter deſtruction of them; and their corrupt and filthy courſes ſhall periſh with them.) The earth alſo, and the works that are therein, ſhall be burnt up. And verſ. 12. The Heavens being on fire, ſhall be diſſolved. But what might ſome ſay, ſhall the Elements melt with fervent heat, and the Heavens being on fire be diſſolved, and the Earth with the works that are therein be burnt up? Who ſhall live when God doth this? Peter, in the very next words, ſeems to prevent this queſtion, and ſays, Nevertheleſs we according to his promiſe, look for new Heavens, and a new Earth wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs. As if he had ſaid, it is the perdition and deſtruction of ungodly men onelyonly that I ſpeak of: take notice of that. And this day that ſhall burn as an Oven, ſhall burn up onelyonly ſuch as do wickedly: but it ſhall not in the leaſt manner touch nor trouble the Saints. But we, when theſe wicked men are burnt up, ſhall have new Heavens, and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs: It ſhall be a new time to us, when theſe corrupt men ſhall be burnt up. And this we have a promiſe for. And this promiſe they had in Iſa. 65. 17. where this day is ſpoken of: the promiſe runs thus. For behold I create new Heavens, and a new Earth, and the former ſhall not be remembred, nor come into minde: but be you glad and rejoyce for ever, in that which I create; for I create Jeruſalem a rejoycing, and her people a joy, &c. And ſo he goeth on to declare the happy eſtate that Saints ſhall live in, in theſe new Heavens, and new a rth.
But this terrible day to wicked men is again mentioned, Iſa. 33. 14. Who among us ſhall dwell with the devouring fire? Who amongſt us ſhall dwell with everlaſting burnings? Here are the ſame expreſſions, or expreſſions to the ſame purpoſe with thoſe we have already mentioned; where Malachi ſays, The day that cometh ſhall burn as an oven; and Paul and Peter ſpeak of the Lords taking vengeance in flaming fire, on wicked and ungodly men. The Prophet having this in his eye, cries out, Who ſhall dwell with devouring fire! who ſhal dwell with everlaſting burnings! When the Lord comes to render his rebukes with flames of fire, who ſhall dwell in thoſe flames? But leſt the Saints ſhould be diſcouraged, he preſently addes, That though the ſinners in Zion are afraid, and fearfulneſs hath ſurpriſed the hypocrites; yet (verſes 15, 16, &c.) he that walketh righteouſly, and ſpeaketh uprightly; he that deſpiſeth the gain of oppreſſions, that ſhaketh his hands from holding of bribes, that ſtoppeth his ears from hearing of bloods, and ſhutteth his eyes from ſeeing evil: he ſhall dwell on high, his place of defence ſhall be the munitions of rocks; bread ſhall be given him, his waters ſhall be ſure. Thine eyes ſhall ſee the King in his beauty; they ſhall behold the land afar off, &c. Thus the righteous upright man, that is free from diſſimulations, is no hypocrite, that will not oppreſs though he may gain much thereby, is ſo far from ſo doing, as he diſdains, he deſpiſes ſuch gain: and he that not onelyonly refuſes a bribe when it is offered to him, but when it's put into his hand will not keep it, ſhakes his hand from holding of it: and he to whom the cruel and corrupt courſes of men are irkſome, even to hear of it, or ſee it, and therefore he ſtops his ears, and ſhuts his eyes from it: This man ſhall hold proof in theſe times, and he ſhall dwell on high; he ſhall have as ſure a defence in theſe times, as the munitions of rocks: for he is fixed in the Rock Chriſt Jeſus, that cannot be moved; and ſure proviſion ſhall be made for him. And he ſhall ſee the King in his beauty. The Lord Jeſus, who ſhall then appear in his glory, and his excellent beauty (as I ſhall ſhew by and by) ſhall this mans eyes behold: and theſe new heavens and new earth that ſhall then come, which in the Prophets days was very far off, ſhall this mans eyes ſee: which land is deſcribed, verſ. 20, &c. Thine eyes ſhall ſee Jeruſalem a quiet habitation, a tabernacle that ſhall not be taken down; not one of the ſtakes thereof ſhall ever be removed, neither ſhall any of the cords thereof be broken: and the inhabitant ſhall not ſay, I am ſick; and the people that dwell therein ſhall be forgiven their iniquity. But to proceed.
Of this terrible day that ſhall come upon wicked men, there is a large deſcription, in the whole 24 Chapter of Iſaiah: but I ſhall mention but ſome of the paſſages of it, as verſ. 1. Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and maketh it waſte, and turneth it upſide down, and ſcattereth abroad the inhabitants thereof. Here the Prophet ſhews how the Lord will depopulate the earth, making it as it were empty; ſo great will be the ſlaughter of wicked men: and then he ſhews what changes and mutations he will make in the earth; in that he will turn it upſide down, make it appear no more as it was before; but make it a new, make new heavens and a new earth. But how ſhall this be done? That the world ſhall be made new, and emptied of wicked men? Doth the Prophet declare, as Peter doth, that it ſhall be done by fire? Yes: At verſ. 6. The earth is defiled, therefore hath the curſe devoured the earth, and they that dwell therein are deſolate: therefore the inhabitants of the earth are burned, and few men left. Thus the Prophet ſpeaks of the deſtruction of the wicked of the earth by fire. There are ſeveral other expreſſions in this Chapter, that ſhew the dreadfulneſs of this day; as verſ. 19. The earth is utterly broken down, the earth is clean diſſolved, the earth is moved exceedingly. As Peter expreſſes himſelf, (Seeing that all theſe things ſhall be diſſolved, what manner of perſons, &c.) ſo doth the Prophet here ſay, The earth is clean diſſolved, &c.
But if any ſhould ask the Prophet, Why, what is the meaning of all theſe expreſſions, in the declaration of what ſhall come upon the earth? What is to be done? Wherefore will the Lord do all theſe things? The Prophet, at the firſt verſe, tells ye, and ſays, That in that day the Lord ſhall puniſh the hoſt of the high ones, that are on high; and the kings of the earth upon the earth. So that this is the time when he ſhall wound the Heads over many Countries, when he ſhall ſtrike thorow kings in the day of his wrath, when he ſhall rule them with a rod of iron, that will not ſtoop to the golden ſcepter of his grace. Thus terrible and dreadful will this day be to wicked men. And if it ſhould be ſaid to the Prophet, Who ſhall live when God doth this? He tells ye in the midſt of this declaration of the deſolations that are to come upon the inhabitants of the earth, verſ. 16. We have heard ſongs, even glory to the righteous; implying, that this great day, which is the day of wicked mens greateſt diſtreſs, ſhall be the time of the Saints greateſt glory, joy, and exaltation. Now is the time of their ſinging for joy of heart come.
But again, there is another deſcription of the terribleneſs of this day, in the 50 Pſalm, which Pſalm is a clear Propheſie of this day, (wherein God will call that wicked crue that have nothing to do to take his Word into their mouthes to an account) where the Prophet ſpeaks in the ſame language with the Prophets and Apoſtles already mentioned; and ſays (verſ. 4.) Our God ſhall come, and ſhall not keep ſilence: a fire ſhall devour before him, and it ſhall be very tempeſtous round about. Here alſo is this day repreſented to the terrour of wicked men: But at the ſame time the Pſalmiſt ſays, that to him that ordereth his converſation aright, he (that is, the Lord) will ſhew the ſalvation of God. Such a man ſhall be ſaved, when the wicked ſhall be devoured.
Again, the terribleneſs of this day is ſet out in ſeveral other Scriptures: But having produced ſo many already, I ſhall onelyonly mention one more, (and proceed to what I have further to ſay) and that is Iſai. 30. 30. The Lord ſhall cauſe his glorious voice to be heard, and ſhall ſhew the lighting down of his arm, with the indignation of his anger, and with the flame of a devouring fire; with ſcattering, and tempeſt and hail-ſtones. Thus the Prophet here ſets out the terrour of that day when the Lord ſhall at laſt be fully avenged on his enemies: he ſhall then ſhew the lighting down of his arm; it ſhall then appear to be his arm indeed, by which his enemies ſhall be overcome. And he ſhall cauſe his glorious voice to be heard, and manifeſt his indignation and anger againſt the enemies of his people, with a flame of a devouring fire, with ſcattering, and tempeſt, and hail-ſtones. But who ſhall live when God doth this? The Prophet (verſ. 26, 27.) tells us, that this day ſhall be the day when the Lord bindeth up the breach of his people, and healeth the ſtroke of their wound; and that in it unto them the light of the moon ſhall be as the light of the ſun, and the light of the ſun ſhall be ſevenfold, as the light of ſeven days. So that though it ſhall be terrible to their enemies, yet it ſhall be the moſt glorious and happie day to his people that ever was ſince the beginning of the world: and becauſe it ſhall be ſo, it's ſaid, (Iſai. 24. forementioned) that they ſhall lift up their voice, they ſhall ſing for the majeſty of the Lord; they ſhall glorifie the Lord in the fires, even the Name of the Lord God of Iſrael, in the Iſles of the Sea.
And thus I have laid down that deſcription which is given in ſeveral Scriptures, of this great day of the Lord; wherein he will by fire, and by his ſword, and by tempeſt, and hail-ſtones, manifeſt his indignation and wrath againſt the enemies of his people, ſo as multitudes, multitudes ſhall be ſlain: So as the earth ſhall be emptied of them. So many ſhall be ſlain, as there ſhall be few men left. And that when it's thus, the earth ſhal be turned upſide down, and there ſhall be new Heavens, and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth righteouſneſs. For the wicked, and the wickedneſs of the Earth, ſhall be ſo burnt up, as in that reſpect i… ſhall become a new earth and new heavens, wherein righteouſneſs ſhal remain and flouriſh.
And now having thus done, I ſhould now proceed to ſhew, that immediately upon this day, when all the enemies of Chriſt are made his footſtool, that at this very time, ſhall Jeſus Chriſt appear with his Saints, to raign on earth
Of the time when the full deliverance of the Jews and Gentiles ſhall be compleated.
But firſt a word or two about the time when it ſhall be, that Jeſus Chriſt will work this full deliverance for his Saints, from their enemies, when this great day of his appearing ſhall be.
Now in general, the time (when this laſt great overthrow of wicked men, and this wonderful glorious and compleat deliverance of the Saints) ſhall be after the Lamb hath overcome the ten Kings. And after the Goſpel hath been preached to all Nations, for the bringing in of Jews and Gentiles, and after Rome is burnt, as we have already ſaid.
But ſome may ſay, But how many yeers may it be, before theſe things ſhall be done? If it might be, we would know the direct time; for it may be long before all theſe things may be done, before the ten Kings are overcome and before the Jews may be converted, and the Gentiles fulneſs come in and before Rome is deſtroyed; and long before that great day come: and according to reaſon it will be a very long time, if we ſhould judge according to ſenſe, but that we know that beyond ſenſe and reaſon, the Lord can make a ſhort work of it, and cut it ſhort in righteouſneſs. But if the Scripture do give any hint of the time, we deſire to know it.
To this I anſwer, firſt, that I believe this is enough to ſatisfie a Saint, and to make his heart joyful, to know that the time of the prevailing power of the Saints enemies over them is come to an end, and that they ſhall never overcome them any more; but the Lamb is already ſeen to be come upon mount Sion, where he hath called out his called, choſen, and faithful ones, with which he will go on conquering and to conquer, and by whom he will ruine Rome and execute upon his enemies the judgement written. I ſay, this is matter of joy to a Saint, to know that Chriſt is a doing theſe things, though they do not know when he will finiſh this or that particuler work.
But ſecondly, and more particularly. For the yeer in which, or neer to which this great day ſhall be, wherein the enemies of the Saints both Jews and Gentiles that ſhall be converted ſhall be. I ſhall here propoſe my apprehenſions, and leave them to the judicious wiſe and intelligent Chriſtian to judge of them.*Dan. 12. 10.
And for this, I muſt have recourſe to Dan 12. a chapter which ſpeaks plainly and particularly of this great day of the final deliverance of the Saints in general (though particularly it mention but the Jews; for the one cannot be without the other) as in v. 1. At that time ſhall Michael ſtand up, the great Prince, which ſtandeth for the children of thy people: and there ſhall be a time of trouble, ſuch as never was ſince there was a Nation. This is that great day we have ſpoken of, wherein there ſhall be ſuch a diſmal, terrible time to wicked men in general, as never was ſince the world began. But it ſhall be, as I ſaid, to wicked men, but not to the converted Jews, nor Gentiles; not to the Saints. And therefore it follows in this verſe, And at that time thy people ſhall be delivered, every one that ſhall be found written in the book. When Michael the Prince, i. e. Jeſus Chriſt the great Prince of Iſrael; even of all the Iſrael of God, ſhall ſtand up for them in this great day, then will he vex their enemies, put them to ſuch trouble as there never was the like. But all his own people who have given up their names to him, who are liſted in his book, ſhall be delivered. This ſhall be the work of that great day, and that which ſhall follow immediately upon it, follows in v. 2, 3. of the chap. whereby it is evident that this chapter ſpeaks of this great day of the deliverance both of Jews and Gentiles. (Though to Daniel being a Jew there is no mention made of the Gentiles, but of his people onelyonly.) Well, this being a prophecy of this great day, let us now ſee what in this chapter is ſpoken of the time.
Now I finde that this Chapter ſpeaks of three diſtinct periods of time, in which three diſtinct remarkable things ſhall come to paſs, in order to the deliverance of the Saints.
And the firſt time mentioned, the 6 and 7 verſes ſpeak to: and in the 6 verſe this queſtion is made, How long ſhall it be to the end of theſe wonders? To which in the 7 verſe a double anſwer is given (which is confirmed with a very ſolemn Oath) firſt, that it ſhould be for a time, times, and a half: and ſecondly, that when he ſhall have accompliſhed to ſcatter the power of the holy people, all theſe things ſhall be finiſhed.
Now for the firſt of theſe anſwers, becauſe I have had occaſion already to open the meaning of it, *In my book intituled, The Reſurrection of the witneſſes.and have ſhewed that the ſame expreſſions in the Revelation, and this here, agree in one, and point at one and the ſame thing; namely, the flouriſhing time of the Beaſt, the prevailing time of the Beaſt, wherein he ſhall have power to overcome the Saints, and to trample them under foot; even fourty two months, or a time, times, and half a time. And having cleared this, and ſhewed when that time did expire; and that after that time, neither the Beaſt, nor the little Horn, prevailed any more: I ſay, having ſpoken of theſe things already, I ſhall refer the Reader thereunto; where they ſhall finde, that in 1645 the Beaſt ceaſed to prevail againſt the Saints; and the time wherein he ſhould tread the holy Citie under foot, then came to an end: and neither he, nor his aſſociates, ſhall ever prevail more.
And then this is the effect of the firſt anſwer to the queſtion, That there ſhould be a time, times, and an half; and then an end ſhould come; in which time, times, and half, the Saints ſhould be kept under by enemies; but then an end ſhould come, and deliverance come.
And the ſecond branch of the anſwer makes this clearly to be the meaning of the former, which is in theſe words: And when he ſhall have accompliſhed to have ſcattered the power of the holy people, all theſe things ſhall be finiſhed. In which, firſt, is clear, that there ſhould be a time, when the power of the holy people ſhould be ſcattered; the Saints ſhould be deſtitute of power to oppoſe an enemy, and conſequently ſhould be kept under by an enemy. Secondly, This is clear in theſe words, that there ſhould be a time, when this ſhould be accompliſhed or compleated, (I mean, their power being ſcattered;) there ſhould be a time when it ſhould be fully done: for then a thing is accompliſhed, when it is fully done as much as can be done, or ſhall be done. And thirdly, this is clear, being plainly aſſerted, that when this ſcattering is accompliſhed, then theſe things ſhould be finiſhed; that is, then deliverance ſhould come.
So then, this firſt period of time ſpoken of, points at the great thing that ſhould be done, in order to the deliverance of the Saints: The taking away of the power of the enemy, which he hath ſo long had to tread them under feet: ſo that now he ſhall do ſo no more; which indeed is a great deliverance to the Saints: but yet there remains other things to be done; they muſt be delivered, and ſhall in due time, not onelyonly from his prevailing power, but from his oppoſing power.
But now, for the time when that ſhall be, I muſt proceed to what follows in the Chapter; and in verſ. 8. Daniel ſays, that for the former anſwer, he heard it, but underſtood it not; and therefore being very deſirous to know, he again puts the queſtion, O my Lord, ſays he, what ſhall be the end of theſe things? It having been told him, that Michael ſhould ſtand up, and his people be delivered, he is deſirous to know when it ſhould be: but in the 9 verſe it is ſaid, Go thy way, Daniel; for the words are cloſed up, and ſealed till the time of the end. Herein is implied, that though Daniel were told theſe things, yet they were as a ſealed book to him; and they muſt be ſo, untill the time of the end. They are ſo darkly and myſteriouſly declared, becauſe they muſt not be underſtood till the time of the end. The words are cloſed up, and ſealed, till the time of the end: But then, the wiſe ſhall underſtand, but none of the wicked, as it is in the 10 verſ. And then in the 11 and 12 verſes, this anſwer is given to Daniel's queſtion about the time when his people ſhall be delivered: And from the time that the daily ſacrifices ſhall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh deſolate ſet up, there ſhall be a thouſand two hundred and ninety days. Bleſſed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thouſand three hundred and five and thirty days.
And here are two other Periods of times, wherein the great deliverances that are yet to be wrought for (the holy people) the Saints, are to come to paſs.
But what theſe two Periods of time are, and how we may underſtand theſe two verſes, is the great queſtion.
Now, as I promiſed, I ſhall lay down what my apprehenſions of them are, and leave it to the Wiſe to judge. And thus: I apprehend that by the time here mentioned, in which the daily ſacrifice ſhall be taken away, and the abomination that maketh deſolate ſet up, is meant that time when the Emperour Julian the Apoſtata reigned: which Emperour, although he had been a great profeſſor of Chriſtianity during the reign of Conſtantius the preceding Emperour; yet when he came to be Emperour, he moſt wretchedly turned Pagan: and then the abominations of the Heathens were ſet up, and their Temples and Idol-groves were ſet wide open, in every City, which former Emperours had cauſed to be ſhut up: and Julian himſelf ſacrificed to the Idols. And thus the abomination of deſolation was ſet up. And then alſo Julian, to vex the Chriſtians, and to ſhew how little regard he had to the truth of the Goſpel, (which aboliſhed Jewiſh Worſhip) he commanded the Jews to ſacrifice again. And when they replied, that they ought not to ſacrifice but in the Temple in Jeruſalem; he then commanded that the Temple ſhould be built again, (and allowed that it ſhould be done at his own coſt and charge, allowing it out of the Publike Treaſury:) which the Jews (expecting a time to come wherein the Temple ſhould be built) very readily went about, ſuppoſing that to be the time. And when they had begun the work, there was a great Earth-quake, which ſhook the old Foundation of the Temple, and turned all down to the ground, together with the houſes adjoyning thereunto: and not onelyonly ſo, but a fire came from heaven, which burnt all the Tools and the Inſtruments which had been brought thither to build the Temple. And then, and not till then, was that Prophecie of our Saviour fulfilled, that not a ſtone was left upon a ſtone. And the Jews being aſtoniſhed hereat, never durſt any more attempt to build the Temple to offer ſacrifice: And then, from that time hitherto hath the daily ſacrifice ceaſed: for then it was taken away with a witneſs, in a moſt remarkable and miraculous manner. And this I am perſwaded is the time here ſpoken of in the Prophet Daniel; and this is the judgement of M. Archer, and others alſo. And this being granted, then we muſt begin the One thouſand two hundred and ninety Prophetical days (which are yeers) that Daniel here ſpeaks of, at the yeer when theſe things were done, which was about the ſecond yeer of Julian, (for he reigned not full three yeers) which was the yeer three hundred ſixty ſix.
| And then to this yeer | 0366 |
| if the yeers which the Prophet ſpeaks of, be added which are | 1290 |
| it makes up juſt | 1656 |
So that in the yeer one thouſand ſix hundred fifty and ſix, by this account will be the ſecond period of time which the Prophet here ſpeaks of, in which there will be ſome glorious thing done in order to the deliverance of the Jews: which we may hope will be their converſion; for what will ſo much tend to their deliverance as their converſion? But their converſion, or ſomething that will tend to their converſion, and deliverance, it will certainly be. Which is cleer, becauſe this is given as an anſwer to the queſtion that Daniel made, When ſhall the end of theſe things (that had been to him before declared) be? Or when ſhall Michael ſtand up, and the children of my people be delivered? Now this time being pointed at in the anſwer, it is certain that ſome glorious thing ſhall then come to paſs, in order to their deliverance: and though what it will be, be not certainly diſcovered, yet we may hope it will be no leſs then their converſion. But this again is cleer, that though much may be then done in order to their deliverance, that yet it will not be the compleat deliverance, which they and all the Churches of Chriſt ſhall have, at that great day of their deliverance, already mentioned; for that is reſerved for that third period of time, mentioned in ver. 12. in theſe words, Bleſſed is he that waiteth, and cometh to the thouſand three hundred and five and thirty days.
Much may be done, and much will be done, at the period of the one thouſand two hundred and ninety days: but how happy will he be that ſhall live five and forty years beyond that! for that is the utmoſt period of time that is ſet for the compleat deliverance of the holy people, the Church, from all enemies whatſoever. And bleſſed is the man that cometh to, not onelyonly the one thouſand two hundred and ninety; but to the one thouſand three hundred and five and thirty days. So then, the full and compleat deliverance of the Church, when this great day will come, when all the enemies of the Church will be ſubdued, will be at the period of the thouſand three hundred and five and thirty days.
| Now if to the yeer | 0366 |
| there be added | 1335 |
| it makes up juſt | 1701 |
And in this year, or neer this yeer, one thouſand ſeven hundred and one, I am perſwaded that day will be: having my ground of this perſwaſion from this Scripture, as I have laid it down, which I leave to the conſideration of prudent Chriſtians. I ſhall now proceed.
And now I come to ſpeak of thoſe things which are to follow immediately upon this great day, of which firſt a word in general, and then I ſhall deſcend unto particulars.
But in general thus:
Immediately upon the ruining of the enemies of Chriſt and his Saints in the manner we have ſpoken of, and upon the paſſing away of the old Heavens and the old earth; ſhall be fulfilled that which is ſpoken in Rev. 21. 1, 2, 3. And I ſaw a new Heaven, and a new Earth, and the firſt heaven, and the firſt earth were paſſed away: and there was no more ſea. And I John ſaw the holy city new Jeruſalem, come down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice from heaven, ſaying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them and they ſhall be his people, and God himſelf ſhall be with them, and be their God, &c.
That which I take notice of in theſe verſes, of which to ſpeak a word in general before I deſcend to particulars, is this:
That the new Jeruſalem here is ſaid to come dome down from God out of Heaven. This glorious ſtate and condition in which the Saints ſhall be put after this great day, is to be here on Earth; and therefore it is ſaid to come come down from God out of Heaven.
Firſt, in that it is ſaid to come down, it argues that it is not above, but below; for it is to come down from above.
And ſecondly, In that it is ſaid to be from God out of Heaven, it ſpeaks plainly that it is not to be taken for that Glory which the Saints ſhall have in the *By the Heavens above, I mean that place which is far above all Heavens, to which the Apostle ſaies Jeſus Chriſt aſcended, Eph. 4. 10. Of which Heaven, the Lord ſays it is his Throne, and the earth his footſtool, Iſa. 66. 1. The height and glory of which place, the thoughts of men are (alas) too ſhallow to apprehend. But the Heaven above it is called, in reſpect of the height and tranſcendency of the glory of it above the earth that now is, or above the new Heaven and the new Earth that ſhall be in the time we are ſpeaking of; which ſhall come down from God out of Heaven, from that inacceſſible glory, and that unapproachable ſplendor, that none eye hath ſeen, or can ſee; in the beholding of which, the Angels do veil and cover their faces, 1 Tim. 6. 16. Iſa. 6. 1.Heavens above to all eternity with God, but a glorious eſtate which comes down from God out of Heaven unto them, which they are to injoy for a thouſand yeers here below; in which time the Tabernacle of God ſhal be with men, and they ſhall be viſibly ſeen to be his people, and God himſelf ſhall be among them, and be their God, and the effects therof ſhal be glorious, as appears by what follows. But this onelyonly is that in general which I here take notice of, that this new-Jeruſalem-glory is to be on earth, when there ſhall be a new molding, and a new making of the Heaven and of the earth: and of the particular mutations and changes that there ſhall then be, I ſhall now ſpeak.