The Mystery of the Two Witnesses Unveiled, Verse 6
VERS. 6. Theſe have power to ſhut Heaven, that it raine not in the dayes of their Propheſie: and have power over the waters, to turne them into blood, and to ſmite the earth with all plagues as often as they will.
HERE we have a further deſcription of the power of the witneſſes to repay the injuries done unto them by their adverſaries. In the former Verſe their power in generall is inſerted: here we have the manner how they are enabled to deale with their Enemies.
In which words you may obſerve a three-fold power that theſe Witneſſes are inveſted withall.
1. A power to ſhut Heaven, that it raine not.
2. A power to turne waters into blood.
3. A power to ſsmite the Earth with all plagues.
Firſt, they have power to ſhut heaven that it raine not. In which phraſe wee have an alluſion to Elias, of whom we have the Apoſtle teſtifying, that hee prayed, and it rained not for the ſpace of three yeares, and ſixe moneths, Jam. 5. 17. which holds a juſt proportion of time with theſe Witneſſes Propheſie in ſackcloath: So that as Elias prevailed with God, that it rained not for three years and a halfe, ſo here theſe Witneſſes obtaine the ſame power from God, that it ſhould not rain all the days of their Propheſie. Now further conſider two things. 1. What is meant by raine.
2. What it is to ſhut Heaven.
Firſt, we are not to underſtand this of a naturall raine, but of that which is myſticall and ſpirituall, and thereby is denoted the heavenly influences of God, the ſweet refreſhing heavenly dewes that deſcend from him. Theſe divine droppings and heavenly diſtillings of gracious ſhowers of grace, communicated by the ſp…t, through the Goſpel of Chriſt are here meant by this ſpirituall raine. Suitable unto this is that phraſe of Moſes, when he ſaith, My doctrine ſhall drop as the rai…e, and my ſpeech a… the dew, Deutr. 32. 2. As if he had ſaid: My Doctrine ſhall drop upon your hearts, to mollifie them, to refreſh them, to make them fruitfull; even as the raine and dew of heaven doth fall upon the earth, to ſoften it, to refreſh it, and to make it fruitfull, to make graſſe and flowers to ſprowt and ſpring out of it. Then the Goſpel and word of Chriſt, with all the heavenly dews of divine graces, diſtilling and falling from God, are here ſignified by raine.
Secondly, To ſhut heaven that it raine not, is to exclude all the ways and practices, all the invented worſhips and ſervices of Antichriſt, from thoſe ſweet diſtillings and divine droppings of that heavenly rain and dew that cometh from the Lord. The Witneſſes by their Propheſie againſt all ſuperſtitious formes, upon all invented ordinances and practices of Antichriſt, do hinder the heavenly dew of divine grace from falling upon it, as it were ſhutting up heaven againſt them, by excluding of them from the wayes and Ordinances of Chriſt, or ſuch as the Lord doth make uſe of, to convey thoſe gracious influences of ſpirit and life unto his people. The Witneſſes exclude all the worſhips and forms of Antichriſt from having any of the light, life, or power of Chriſt in them, they caſt them out, and reject them; they propheſie againſt them, as falſe and empty things, as things of no value or worth, and ſo conſequently ſhut heaven againſt them, that is, raine not the ſhowers of divine grace and life, all the dayes of their Propheſie.
Thus the great power of the Witneſſes is ſet forth by a reſemblance to that of Elias, who prevailed with God, that it rained not for the ſpace of three years, and ſixe moneths: So theſe by their Propheſie againſt the wayes and practice, the worſhips and ſervices of Antichriſt, doe hinder the ſweet influence of Heaven, and the refreſhing ſhowers of divine grace and comfort from flowing down upon them, wherby they become as light and empty, as having no vertue or life at all in them; they have no more Rain from heaven; they wither as plants that God hath not planted, as branches that have no life or ſap in them.
In the ſecond place, theſe have power to turne waters into blood. Here wee have another reſemblance, and that is unto Moſes and Aaron, who turned the Aegyptian waters into blood, Exod. 7. 20. the ſame thing you have done by the hands of the Witneſſes. This is ſutable to the effects of the ſecond and third vials, where you have mention made of turning waters into blood alſo, Rev. 16. 3, 4. So that the propheſie of the Witneſſes hath the ſame effect, with the powring …orth of the Vials, even to turne waters into blood. Now as wee did underſtand their deſtroying their enemies with fire; and their ſhutting heaven, that it raine not. Myſtically and ſpiritually before, ſo here muſt we underſtand alſo of their turning waters into blood. Therefore conſider, 1. What is meant by waters. 2. What it is to turne them into blood.
Firſt, by waters, we may underſtand all the ſweet refreſhing ſtreams of comfort, ſtrength, ſupply and life that Antichriſt did live upon, as all worſhip and Religion, all order and govrnment, all peace and uniformity, all doctrine and practice: all theſe are as ſo many ſtreams of water, by which Antichriſt is comforted and refreſhed, they being his very ſupport and life. The waters that the Egyptians were to drinke, to live upon, and be refreſhed by, were turned into blood, ſo that they were like to dye with thirſt, both they and their Cattell: So this water is the very life, ſweetneſſe, and peace that the world doth enjoy, and exceedingly deſire.
Secondly, To turn theſe waters into blood, is no other, then to imbitter all that ſweet peace and reſt the world would enjoy all thoſe pleaſant ſtreams of union, peace, and delight, are turned into contention and bitterneſſe, ſo that the world cannot drinke them downe at pleaſure, they are diſturbed and troubled; their ſweet ſtreames are turn…d into blood and contention; their quiet waters are diſturbed by the propheſie of the Witneſſes.
Thus we ſee what is meant by waters, and how they are turned into blood. It followeth.
Thirdly, and laſtly, They ſmite the earth with all plagues as often as they will.
Here is one word to comprehend all evills that ſhould befall Antichriſt, by the propheſie of the Witneſſes: There needeth no more particulars be named to expreſſe thoſe calamities that ſhould befal the world. This doth relate to the powring forth of the vials, mentioned in Revel. 16. where it is ſaid, that the ſeven Angels ſhould powre out the vials of of the wrath of God upon the earth, verſ. 1. So here, theſe ſhall ſmite the earth with all plagues; that is, theſe by their Propheſie, and teſtimony of the truth, ſhal pour out the vials of Gods wrath and indignation upon Antichriſt and his adherents. Here then take notice of the plagues that light upon the world, by the powring forth of the Vials, and of them conſider;
Firſt, that there is a full agreement between the ſeven Seals, ſeven Trumpets, and ſeven Vials, each one dot… correſpond and anſwr to the other. The opening of the firſt Seale, the ſounding of the firſt Trumpet, the pouring forth of the firſt Viall, are at one and the ſame time; and ſo of them all▪ they have neer affinity and relation each unto the other: the opening of the Seals, do occaſion the ſounding of the Trumpets; and the ſounding of the Trumpets doe cauſe the Vialls to be poured forth. The opening of the Seals by degrees, and in a graduall way, are thoſe ſeveral degrees of light & knowledg that the Lord doth diſcover to his Saints in their ſeverall ages, of the ſecret and hidden myſteries of truth, which contains in it ſelfe a perfection of myſterie, as being ſealed up with ſeven ſeals: now gradually in every age the Lord comes forth, in the diſcoveries and revelations of theſe myſteries unto his Saints. The ſounding of the Trumpets follow hereupon, which is the outward declaration and profeſſion of truth by the witneſſes; whereby they give forth a viſible teſtimony of the truths of GOD thus revealed to them, by preaching, praying, profeſſing, they do as it were, ſound forth the Trumpet of divine truth. The pouring forth of the Vials, are thoſe judgments and evils that fall upon the man of ſin, by reaſon of the trumpets ſounding. But know, that every Seal, every Trumpet, and every Viall wil agree together in their opening, ſounding, and pouring forth: every Seal hath its Trumpet, and every Trumpet hath its Vial that doth follow. So that we may not conceive that the opening of the Seals preſents us with one age, the ſounding of the Trumpet with another, and the pouring forth of the Vials with a third; but that the firſt Seal, firſt Trumpet, and firſt Viall are opened, ſounded, and poured forth in one age, and the ſecond Seal, ſecond Trumpet, and ſecond Vial in another, and ſo they agree and goe together untill they are finiſhed.
Secondly conſider, that the plagues that are the effects that follow upon theſe Seals opened, Trumpets ſounded, and Vials poured forth, are not only, or ſo much meant of outward or temporall plagues, but rather of myſticall, of ſuch ſpiritual judgements that ſhould be poured out upon the head of the man of ſin, to deſtroy him, not only in body: but in ſpirit and worſhip, whereby the very intereſt and cauſe of Antichriſt ſhall be overthrown. And now I ſay, that theſe plagues, and evill effects that follow the firſt ſeal, are the ſame that doth follow the firſt Trumpet, and firſt Viall, ſo of the ſecond, and in like manner to the end. Wee ſhall only ſpeak of thoſe plagues that follow the powring out of the Vials; and ſo conſequently, wee include thoſe alſo that follow the Seales and the Trumpets.
The firſt Viall was poured upon the 1 Viall.earth; that is, upon the Antichriſtian Church and State, which conſiſteth of of earthly worſhip, and is made up of worldly Chriſtians: and the effects of this Vial poured out, was, that there fell a grievous ſore upon the men that had the marke of the Beaſt upon them, and worſhipped his Image. This ſoare is like to be incurable, agreeing with that which followed the ſound of the firſt Trumpet, Chap. 8. 7. And there followed hail mingled with hlood, and they were caſt upon the earth, and the third part of the trees were burnt up, and all greene graſſe was burnt up. This haile and fire agrees with the Thunder, which hapned at the opening of the firſt Seale, Chap. 6. 1. All which ſhewes, that by this Thunder, this Fire and Haile, together with this great ſore, that the life and peace, the worſhip and forme of the third part of thoſe that ſerved the Beaſt, were burnt up, and ſ…rched: they that were like green trees in ſhew of holineſſe and zeale, became as dry and withered, without bloſſome, without any fruit at all.
The ſecond Viall was poured out upon 2 Viall.the Sea, and it became as the blood of a dead man, and every living ſoul dyed in the Sea, Ch. 16. 3. This is the ſame with the effect of the Witneſſes propheſie, when they turn waters into blood. Sutably at the opening of the ſecond Seal, Ch. 6. 3, 4. there appeared a red horſe, ſignifying blood, preparing for War and death. The ſame effect follows the ſecond Trumper, Chap. 8, 9. A great mountaine buring with fire was caſt into the ſea, and the third part of the ſea became blood, &c. This effect preſents us with the death of all the ſweet comforts, ſweet enjoyments, that the Antichriſtian Church did feed on; all thoſe formes of worſhip and ſervice they took much delight in, and were refreſhed by, now they are turned into blood, yea like the blood of a dead man, which was moſt deadly and corrupt in its own nature, that none may drink of it, but the ſhall dye: every ſoule that was at reſt and peace before, and thought it ſelfe moſt ſafe and in a good condition, now it languiſheth, gives up the ghoſt, and dieth.
The third Viall was poured upon the rivers 3 Viall.and fountaines of waters, and they became blood, &c. This differs from the former, where the ſea, or water of comfort was turned into blood, thoſe comforts they enjoyed were taken away; but this third Viall is poured out upon the very ſpring and fountaine of all their ſupplies: as they loſt what they enjoyed, ſo they cannot receive any more, their ſpring and fountaine is ſtopped up. The ſame judgment will be ſeen, if we looke back to the third Seale, Chap. 6. 5, 6. And when he had opened the third ſeale, I beheld a black horſe, and he that ſate on him had a pair of ballances in his hand: and a meaſure of wheat for a penny, and three meaſures of barley for a penny, &c. The black Horſe, and he that …ate thereon, with a p…re of ballances, ſignifie ſcarcity, …amin…, a great dearth and want, which is all one with the Viall poured out upon the fountaine of wa…. Agreeable hereunto is the effect of the third trumpet, Chap. 8. 10, 11. At the ſound of the third Trumpet, a great ſtarre fell from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountaines of waters: and the name of the ſtar is called worm-wood, and the third part of the waters became wormewood, & many dyed of the waters, becauſe they were made bitter. The ſtarr falling from heaven, burning like a Lampe, ſhewes forth ſome glorious diſcovery made of the myſterie of truth, by the Angell that ſounded this third Trumpet: and this becomes worm-wood, making all the fountaines of water to be bitter: ſo that all the fountaines and ſprings of the water of conſolation and comfort, all the ſtreams of light and life that the men of the earth (or of the Antichriſtian Church) did draw forth, and were refreſhed by, theſe were all become bitter as worme-wood. So that as by the former viall poured out, the Sea and the waters became blood: now by this third Viall being poured forth, the Rivers and Fountains became as blood, and as wormewood, bitter and unſavory; for the the Fountain is corrupted, the ſtreams are defiled, they cannot drinke or be refreſhed by them. The wiſdome and policie of the Beaſt, all the invented ordinances and worſhips, all the power and rule of Antichriſt, theſe fountaines, theſe ſtreames are all become unſavoury, all that feed upon them, feed on the curſe, they feed on bitter waters and dye therewith.
The fourth Viall was powred out4 Viall. upon the Sun. And this ſcorched men with fire, they blaſpheme God becauſe of their plagues, and repented not, &c. Revel. 16. 8, 9. Agreeable hereunto is the effect of opening the fourth ſeale, Revel. 6. 8. When the fourth ſeale was opened, (or a fourth diſcovery of truth revealed) there appeared a pale horſe, upon whom ſate death, and hell followed him: and power was given him over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with ſword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beaſts of the earth. Under the former ſeale, we had famine: now here we have death and hell following: this is meant of the ſpirituall death, that the men of the earth, who worſhip Antichriſt ſhall be ſlaine withall, as in their parts, profeſſions and power. The ſame conſequent followeth the fourth Trumpet, Chap. 8. 12. The fourth Angel ſounded, and the third part of the Sun was ſmitten, and the third part of the Moone, and the third part of the Stars, ſo as the third part of them was darkned: and the day ſhone not for the third part of it, and the night likewiſe. The whole ſtate and kingdome, all the ordinances and worſhips, with their offices & miniſtry, were all darkned, confounded, and deſtroyed, by the ſound of this Trumpet. So the Viall powred out upon the Sun, darkens all the Churches and Ordinances, all the powers and governments, all the doctrines and worſhips of Antichriſts; their Sun looſeth his light, and their Moone her ſhining, and their Starres their glory: and darkneſſe and confuſion come in their roome.
The fiſt viall was powred out upon the 5 Viall.ſeat of the beaſt, and his kingdome was full of darkneſſe, and they knawed their tongues for paine, and blaſphemed the God of heaven, becauſe of their paines, &c. Revel. 16. 10. The ſeat of the beaſt is that earthly power, that upholds Antichriſt, as kingdomes, States, powers, dignities, rules and dominions; theſe powers upholding the power of the beaſt ſhall be ſhaken and torne in pieces. Suitable hereunto is the effect of the fift ſeal, Chap. 6. 9, 10. And when he had opened the fift ſeal, I ſaw the ſoules under the Altar of them that were ſlaine for the word of God, and for the teſtimony which they held, and they cryed how long Lord? &c. Theſe cry out for vengeance and wrath to be powred out upon the head of the powers of the earth, that perſecuted and tormented them. Compare with this, the fiſt Angel ſounding in Chap. 9. 1. whereat there was a Star that fell from heaven unto the earth, and to him was given the key of the bottomleſſe pit, &c. This Star doth repreſent us with ſuch as before diſowned the power and ſeat of the beaſt: but now fall to the earth, or would ſet up ſome new forme of worſhip, and ground it upon an earthly power: and ſo fall from that ſeeming heaven they lived in to ſtrengthen themſelves from the earth: and ſo cauſe a great ſmoake and confuſion to ariſe, that ſo truth can hardly be diſcerned from error, light from darkneſſe: the bottomleſſe pit is now open: and the Temple is full of ſmoke: whereby the Sun and ayre are both darkned, ſo that Church and State are brought into confuſion. So that when the Viall of Gods wrath is powred out upon the ſeat of the beaſt, or power and ſtrength of Kings and States, that the Goſpel muſt onelyonly be ſupported by the power of Chriſt alone, then the ſtate and kingdome ſhall be full of darkneſs and confuſion: they ſhall gnaw their tongues, and blaſpheme God, becauſe of thoſe ſores and breaches, that be made upon them.
The ſixt viall was powred out upon the 6 Viall.great river Euphrates, & the waters thereof were dryed up, that the way of the Kings of the Eaſt might be prepared, Chap. 16. 12. The drying up of the river Euphrates ſeemes to be ſpoken by an alluſion to the taking of old Babylon, Jer. 50. 38. And to the drying up of the Red Sea, Exod. 14. 21, 22. and alſo of Jordan, Joſh. 3. 16. By this is ſignified, that by the powring out of the ſixt Viall, all the ſtrength and power of the beaſt ſhould be dryed up: then the Kings of the Eaſt, both Jew and Gentiles ſhall come to embrace the Goſpel, upon the glorious manifeſtation of the glory and power thereof. The great effect of this Vialls powering out is, That three uncleane ſpirits like frogs comes forth of the mouth of the Dragon, the beaſt, and the falſe Prophet; for they are the ſpirits of Devils working miracles which goe forth to the Kings of the earth, and to the whole world, to gather them to the battell of the great day of God Almightie: and he gathereth together into a place, called in the Hebrew tongue, Armageddon, Verſ. 13, 14. 16. By the Dragon, the beaſt, and falſe Prophet, are meant all the powers of Antichriſt; Civill and Eccleſiaſticall; theſe ſend forth uncleane ſpirits like frogs; who ſend forth their Legats and incendiaries, to draw together all their ſtrengths and powers, to uphold the power of the beaſt, which now is like to be broken and conſumed: Theſe are the ſpirits of Devills, being full of uncleanneſſe; working miracles, by ſome counterfeit ſpirituall actings, or ſetting up ſome new invented formes of worſhip: thus they gather the Kings of the earth to the great battell of God Almighty; where God ſhall ſhew the greatneſs of his power in deſtroying of them; for they are brought to Armageddon, which ſignifies, devoted for deſtruction, that they are ſeduced, and by …uo…i…ie brought together to be deſtroyed. Baraks victory over Siſera, was by the waters of Megiddo, Judg. 4. 15. So all that give up their power to uphold the beaſt, ſhall come to the great battell of God Almighty; even to Armageddon, where they ſhall aſſuredly be enſnared and broken in pieces. Hitherto agrees the effect of the ſixt ſeal, Chap. 6. 12. &c. And I beheld when he had opened the ſixt ſeal, and there was a great earth-quake: a grea… feare and terr…ur fell upon all men, great concuſſions and commotions ſhould be on the earth. And the Sun became blacke: the glory of the ſtate and Church of Antichriſt turned into blackneſs & mourning; into great confuſion and aſtoniſhment: And the Moone became bloud: all the invented ordinances of the man of ſin were darkned and obſcured. And the Stars fell …rom heaven, as a figtree caſteth her untimely figs: Such as ſeemed to be Miniſters and prof…ſſors of Chriſt, now appeare to be fleſhly and carnall; and fall from that appearance of heavenly light, unto the earth; cleaving now to an earthly power; even like untimely figs, that never come to maturity, or ripeneſſe. Then their State and Church, which ſeemed to be as high as heaven, departed as a ſcroll; and all their mountaines of ſtrength and confidence were removed out of their places. And the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chiefe Captaiues, and mighty men, and every bond-man, and every free man, hid them ſelves in dens, and in the rockes of the mountaines, &c. All ſorts, ranks and degrees of men, from the higheſt to the loweſt, they now fly to the rocks and mountaines of their truſt and confidence, every one will fly unto his God, unto that he truſts in; the States and powers of the world will fly to the Church, and hide themſelves under religious formes of worſhip; and the Church will fly to the earthly powers for ſhelter and protection; and the people will run to thoſe that ſeduced them, for ſuccour and reliefe; but ſhall not be able to ſecure themſelves from the wrathful countenance of the Lamb, …e being exalted upon the throne of his power, in the great …ay of his venge n…e; when he ſhall reckon with the Antichriſtian powers, that have ſhed the bloud of the Martyrs, and rejected the teſtimony of his witneſſes: This at the riſing of the witneſſes; Add hereunto the effect of the ſixt Trumpet; And the ſixt Angel ſounded, and I heard a voyce from the four hornes of the golden Altar, which is before God, Chap. 9. 13. The voice and power of Chriſt, prefigured by the golden Altar, Exod. 30. 1. having hornes, verſ. 10. ſignifying the power & ſtrength of Chriſt, whereby the foure Angels that were heald in the river Euphrates were looſed: The great multitude of Saints, that were bound up by the ſtrength and power of Antichriſt, are now ſet at liberty; now they goe forth with great authority, and hold forth the truth, making glorious diſcoveries of the ſame; Theſe ſlay the third part of men: for fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone comes forth of their mouths; the light and truth they hold forth, as fire doth devour, and as ſmoke doth darken all the light and glory of Antichriſt. And in their tailes or converſation they hurt, by condemning the men of the world, and of thoſe that repented not of their deeds. And in Chap. 10. Chriſt comes forth as a mighty Angel, clothed with a cloud of darkneſſe & obſcurity, that the world could not ſee him: having a rain-bow or Covenant of grace on his head; and the booke of the Goſpel unſealed in his hand: he ſet his right foot upon the ſea, of the common people, and his left upon the earth, or worldly powers: And crying with a loud voice, the ſeven thunders uttered: a perfection of feare and amaſement, of dread and terrour falls upon the ſea: and upon the earth; upon all the people and powers of Antichriſt.
The ſeventh Viall was powred into the 7 Viall.aire, and there came great voyces out of the Temple of heaven; ſaying, it is done, Chap. 16. 17. The very ayre that Antichriſt lives and breaths in, is now deſtroyed; there is no longer breath, ſpirit, or life in any thing that Antichriſt would live in, or receive comfort from; ſo that the whole worke is done; the beaſt is quite deſtroyed; and there were voyces, and thunders, and lightnings, and great earthquakes, ſuch grievous concuſſions and earth-quakes, as if heaven and earth were conſpired together, to deſtroy Babylon, the work is done, or Bah lo… undone; though once it had a being, now it hath none; now it is divided into three parts, as being torne to picces by the earth-quake; and every Mountaine and Iſland fled away; as things that could yeeld no protection: And there fell great haile out of heaven upon men, about the waight of a talent, and men blaſphemed God, becauſe of the plagues of haile, for the plague thereof was exceeding great. Here is an alluſion to the great plague of haile, that fell upon Aegypt, Exod. 9. 22. This haile falls from heaven; from the light and truth held forth by Saints, in the middeſt of heavenly enjoyments; theſe raine downe great and weighty haile-ſtones upon the ſtate, order, and worſhip of Antichriſt. Compare hereunto the effect of the ſeventh ſeale. And when he had opened the ſeventh ſeale, there was ſilence in heaven, about the ſpace of halfe an houre. Upon the opening of this laſt ſeale, there is ſome reſpite or intermiſſion, and as it were for a time, ſome reſt and ceſſation of the Saints from perſecu…ion and trouble. Now is the full revelation of truth, now is the kingdome of God come; and now the Goſpel goes forth, without let or moleſtation; now the ſervants of God have peace without, and alſo a ſweet tranquillity and quietneſſe in their owne ſpirit…. Add hereunto the ſeventh Trumper, Chapt. 11. 15. And the ſeventh Angel ſounded, and there were great voyces in heaven, ſaying; The kingdomes of the world, are become the kingdomes of the Lord, and of his Chriſt, &c. Now the kingdomes and nations caſt downe their crownes at the feet of Chriſt, who will take his great power unto himſelfe, and raigne.
Thus we ſee how the Saints ſmite the earth with all plagues, by powring out all the vialls of Gods wrath upon the State and Church of Antichriſt: Aiſo you perceive, that there is an agreement between the ſeals, Trumpets, and vialls; the opening of each ſea'e, cauſeth a Trumpet to ſound, and each Trumpet, cauſeth a viall of wrath to fall upon the head of the beaſt. Chriſt openeth the ſeals, by diſcovering of light and truth to his Saints: The Saints ſound the Trumpets, by their holding forth and profeſſing of the truth; and every Trumpet ſounded, bringeth a viall of indignation and deſtruction to be powred forth upon the earth. And thus the witneſſes, ſmite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will.
Now give me leave to give you thoſe obſervations, that the words afford us
Firſt, Obſerve, That the teſtimony of 1 Obſerv:the witneſſes, againſt the wayes and practiſes of Antichriſt doth exclude them from the heavenly influences and ſweet ſhowers of divine grace There are not any of the wayes and practices, or of the formes of worſhip that Antichriſt doth uphold and exerciſe; but at the propheſie of theſe witneſſes, they wither and are dried up, as a dead branch that is ſevered from the root. Theſe have effectuall power to exclude all carnall and fleſhly formes and worſhips of Antichriſt from all refreſhing ſhowers and dews divine grace: If theſe ſay, this, or that way is not of God, 'tis not the appointment of Chriſt, 'tis of man, 'tis his invention, 'tis fleſhly and carnall: I ſay, preſently upon the witneſſe and teſtimony of the faithfull witneſſes, the heavenly dews and ſweet diſtilling ſhowers of divine grace have been ſhut up, and they have had no raine, but they have been blaſted, ſcattered, and broken. Suitable unto this is that in Revel. 7. 1. And after theſe things, I ſaw foure Angels ſtanding in the foure corners of the earth, holding the foure winds of the earth, that it ſhould not blow on the earth, nor on the ſea, nor on any tree. Theſe winds import the ſweet gentle winds of the word and Spirit of God, as appeares, Cant. 4. 16. The foure Angels preſent us with the ſervants of Chriſt, who by their witneſſe and diſcovery of truth, doe hinder and reſtraine thoſe refreſhing and fructifying gales of winde, from blowing upon the earthly, carnal, and invented formes of worſhip, that the earthly church doth hold forth; by the power and prevalency of truth, there is a ſtoppage made upon the errours and falſe wayes of Antichriſt. Such was the judgement the Lord threatned to the houſe of Iſrael for their unfruitfullneſſe, ſaving, I will command the clouds that they raine no raine upon it, Eſa. 5. 6. The Lord would ſo ſhut up the clouds, that they ſhould not raine upon his Vineyard, that it might wither away with drought. So in Jere. 3. 3. God did withhold the ſhowers and the raine from the houſe of Iſrael. This power is given to the witneſſes, that they ſhut heaven, that it raine not all the dayes of their propheſie.
Secondly, Obſerv, That all the ſweet 2 Obſerv:and refreſhing ſtreames of comfort and ſupply, that Antichriſt lives upon, are turned bitterneſſe and contention, at the propheſie of the Witneſſes. Hence it is, they have alwayes been accounted the troublers of the peace and quietneſſe of the world; were it not for the teſtimony of theſe witneſſes, the world would never be diſturbed nor diſquieted; they could be at reſt and peace, and all their ſtreames would be ſweet, their waters would never be diſturbed, they could d. Inke them downe merrily; but that the witneſſes propheſie againſt them, ſaying theſe ordinances, theſe formes of worſhips, theſe gifts are humane, carnall and fleſhly; preſently their waters are turned into blo…d and contention, into ſtrife and debate, into bi terneſſe and confuſion. Suitable unto this is the eff…ct of the third Trumpet, Chap. 8. 11. The ſtarre called wormewood fell into the third part of the waters, and they became wormewood, and men dyed of the waters, becauſe they were made bitter. The ſtar was called wormewood, from the effect of it, becauſe it made the waters bitter: the beſt of Antichriſts doctrines, ordinances, and formes of worſhip, which are as ſo many fountaines and ſtreames of water, they are now become as wormwood, bitter and unſavoury. And thus all the wayes of Antichriſt are turned into blood and contention, into wormwood and bitterneſſe, bythe propheſie of theſe witneſſes.
Thirdly, Obſerv, That the propheſie 3 Obſerv:of the witneſſe, though in a meane, low, and ſackcloth condition, is of mightly force and power unto their adverſaries. All the evill that befalls Antichriſt, proceeds from the propheſie of the witneſſes; they by their declaration and profeſſion of truth, ſound ſorth the Trumpets; and every Trumpet ſounding, doth cauſe a viall of wrath to be powred out upon the head of Antichriſt. Then needs muſt the force and power of their propheſie be great: Theſe ſmite the earth with all plagues: and that as often as they will: as often as they propheſie, as often as they give forth their teſtimony of the truth of Chriſt, they ſmite all earthly things; all things that are carnall and fleſhly, are killed and ſlaine. Then all the plagues, famines, warres, in the world are occaſioned by theſe witneſſes; all ſpiritual ſickneſſes, weakneſſes, and conſumptions, iſſue forth of the mouths of theſe Prophets, which torment the world. In a word, theſe powre out all the vialls of Gods indignation upon the beaſt, that man of ſin, by the word of their teſtimony. Here then take notice of all plagues, with which theſe ſmite the earth, by powring forth all the vialls.