The Mystery of the Two Witnesses Unveiled, Title page – To the reader
The Myſtery of the two WITNESSES UNVAILED.
Wherein wee have a Deſcription
of their
perſons
time
acts
death
and
office.
manner of prophecie.
ſufferings.
reſurrection.
With the Conſequences that follow.
TOGETHER With the ſeaventh Trumpet, and the Kingdome of Chriſt explained.
by JOHN ROBOTHAM, Preacher of the Goſpel in Dover.
LONDON; Printed by M. S. for G. and H. Everſden, at the Greyhound in St Pauls Church-yard.
1654.
TO HIS EXCELLENCY, the Lord Generall CROMWELL &c.
MY LORD;
IT is not for any worth, performed on my part, that I have taken the foreign or boldneſs here to prefix your name; but rather from the ſubject matter of this enſuing Diſcourſe, it being an Expoſition of the myſtery of the two Witneſſes: wherein we have a deſcription of their perſons and propheſie, their time and actions, their death and reſurrection, together with the conſequences that follow thereupon: all which I humbly conceive, may be very ſuitable for you, As well for the greatneſſe of your place and imployment, as it's neceſſary to be retained in your knowledge and judgment. Therefore in the firſt place, I preſent this to your Excellency, as unto a choiſe & faithfull witneſs of the Lord; and after, to all thoſe that give forth their teſtimony for the truth and authority of Chriſt; againſt the falſhood and uſurpation of Antichriſt.
It's moſt certain, as the Apoſtle doth affirme, that Antichriſt ſhall be deſtroyed by the brightneſſe of Chriſt's coming: which is no other, then his coming forth in the bright beames, and glorious rayes of divine light, ſhining forth in his people. The Saints of the moſt High, by the teſtimony they give forth, are the rod of his mouth, and the breath of his lips; Whereby he will bruiſe his enemies, and breake them in pieces. Thus the true Spirit of Chriſt in the Saints, ſhall darken and dry up that counterſeit and corrupt Spirit of Antichriſt, that is abroad in the world. But not withſtanding, the power and authority of the Beaſt ſhall be diſſipated and broken, (as it were) vi & armis. And hence it is, that in theſe times, the Lord hath appeared among us, as a mighty man of warre, clothed with his zeale, as with a garment: and hath indued his people, with ſuch maſculine vertue & ſtrength, that their hornes have been as iron, and their hoofs as braſſe, whereby they have threſhed the Mountaines, and the hills as Chaffe. And this they have not done by power or might, but by the Spirit of the Lord. It was the glorious appearance of GOD in the midſt of his people, that hath ſubdued theſe three Nations. Now though Dutch, Dane, and French ſhould combine againſt us, yet ſhall the arme of the LORD awake for his people, and ſhall as in former dayes, cut Rachah, and wound the Dragon; he ſhall dry up the ſea, and the waters of the great deep. It's not an arme of fleſh can doe this, but a divine preſence with an Army, with whom are the hearts, affections, prayers, and ſpirits of the Saints, with a ſweet complyance gathered up into, and going along with them. This cauſes the ſhout of king to be in the midſt of us: though the king in his perſon be taken away, yet the everlaſting King lives, and ſhall take to himſelf his great power, and raigne.
It's a moſt undeniable truth, that the ſword hath been the originall of all kinds & forms of government in the world: it's the mother of all power, protection, and preſervation. When any diſturbance doth ariſe in a kingdome or Common-wealth, whither do they run? but unto a military power for ſuccour and defence, as not being able to ſubſiſt, untill they do, as it were, reſolve into their firſt principles, And though the ſword in it's ſelfe be a dark and ſad diſpenſation, eating fleſh, and drinking bloud, it's proper worke being to waſt and deſtroy; yet when tis accompanied with wiſdom, righteouſneſs, goodneſs, and juſtice; it becom good and deſireable.
My Lord, I have but three words more to ſpeake. The firſt is of you. The ſecond to you. The third for you.
That of you is, That the Lord hath ſo far honor'd you, as to make you an inſtrument of glorious atchievements: and hath made you head of your brethren, and hath given you a name with the great ones of the earth: but above all, he hath beſtowed on you the ſpirit of his Son, which makes you moſt acceptable to himſelfe, and precious in the eyes of his people. It's a true ſaying, Honor eſt in poteſtate honopage missing heart, and make it ſuitable to your worke, & that your will may be drawn forth to the extent of the divine will, that your ſoule may have a true ſympathy with God, that your heart may be fortified againſt all ſtormes without, & feares within; and that you may caſt down your wiſdome, valour, honour & ſucceſte at the feet of Chriſt; ſo ſhall you take all up againe with unſpeakeable advantage. What ever you expend ſor Chriſt, in Chriſt you ſhall finde it againe. Now that you may enjoy all in Chriſt, & ſpend all for him, is the deſire of him, who ſhall indeavor to be in all faithfulneſſe,
Your Excellency's humble ſervant, JOHN ROBOTHAM.
To the Reader.
THe importunity of diverſe Friends, cauſed me to ſuffer theſe notes, to paſſe abroad into the world: they were taken by writing from my mouth; my time and occaſions would not permit, to caſt them into ſuch a forme, as would have beſt becomed the preſſe: therefore thou ſhalt meet with truth, coming forth in it's owne nakedneſſe, without the clothing of humane Eloquence. As for the matter, it's myſterious, and therefore if in any thing, wherein I may poſſibly be miſtaken, thy candour and ingenuity is deſired, to paſſe it by. If thou art Criticall, and thy aime be onelyonly to eſpie out the faults, either of the Writer, Printer, or Preacher; I ſuppoſe thy time would be more advantagiouſly ſpent, to ſearch out the defects of thy own heart. If thou wilt accept of it, as it's preſented to thee, with the right hand, it's all that's deſired by him, that ſhall remaine thine in any office of love.
JOHN ROBOTHAM.