The Two Witnesses, Tract · Sermon 10
VERS. 12. And they heard a great voyce from heaven, ſaying unto them, Come up hither, and they aſcended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them.
WE have done with the Reſurrection of the Witneſſes, in the words laſt handled; now follows their Aſcenſion to heaven, in theſe words; And they heard a great voyce from …eaven, ſaying, Come up hither, &c.
In which for method ſake I ſhall obſerve;
1. A voyce calling Witneſſes up to heaven; in theſe words; They heard a voyce from heaven, ſaying to them, Come up hither.
2. Their Aſcenſion thereupon; They aſcended.
3. The manner of this Aſcenſion; It is in a cloud.
4. The Adjuncts, or Concomitants of this Aſcenſion, firſt, [Their enemies behold them] mentioned in this Verſe. 2. [A great Earthquake at the ſame time] mentioned in the words next following.
Of theſe ſeverally in this order: But before I come to ſpeak to every of them in particular, give me leave to premiſe this much in the generall concerning all of them, (and it is nothing elſe, but what hath ſeverall times, for the ſubſtance, been already inculcated) viz.
This Aſcenſion, and ſo the ſeveralls thereto appertaining, are not to be underſtood in the letter, as though the Witneſſes after their Reſurrection, ſhould now indeed, and in the letter aſcend up to heaven; by no means, it ſeems at no hand to be imagined.
But (as we ſhewed) their death was a myſticall death, their Reſurrection a myſticall Reſurrection; ſo now in like manner we ſay their Aſcenſion muſt be a myſticall Aſcenſion alſo. How can we conceive their death a myſticall death, a killing in office onelyonly; their Reſurrection, a riſing again into office; and now conceive their aſcending up to heaven, a reall and proper Aſcenſion? Not but that theſe Witneſſes are at laſt glorified in heaven, but ſo much is not expreſſed by their aſcending up to heaven here mentioned. This here is a myſticall Aſcenſion, and ſo accordingly of the ſeverall above mentioned, [The great voyce, the heaven, the cloud,] we are to enquire a myſticall Interpretation.
This premiſed, We now proceed to take the ſeveralls in their order: Firſt, [The voyce from heaven calling them up thither.] And they heard a voyce from heaven, ſaying to them, come up hither.
Some read theſe words thus. [And I heard a voyce from Arab: foreign ….heaven,] ſo the Arabique among others, but better me thinks as we read it, [And they heard a voyce,] the Witneſſes now after they were riſen from the dead, they heard a voyce from heaven.
But what voice is it then theſe Witneſſes hear, calling them up to heaven. I anſwer, If it muſt be a myſticall voyce (as we ſaid before) what more likely thing can it be, then ſome Act, ſome Decree of them in high place, calling theſe Witneſſes into ſome more free, and honourable condition, oppoſite to that of Sackcloth, wherein the Antichriſtian faction made them propheſie before.
I ſay again, Some Act or Decree, this ſeems to be the voyce.] And then ſuch as are in authority, appertaining to the Reformed Churches, which are often ſo expreſſed, ſeem to be the [Heaven,] from whence this great voyce comes. And that this voyce bidding them aſcend up thither, may very well betoken an invitation to ſome more ample and honourable condition, let but this be conſidered, viz. That when theſe Witneſſes roſe up again, they roſe up into their propheticall office, by vertue of their reſurrection, they had a liberty to Propheſie again: and then after this, To be called up to Heaven, what can it be, but ſome more liberall condition offered to them, then that wherein they witneſſed againſt Antichriſt before? So that by this reckoning, by their Reſurrection they gain their mouths open to Propheſie again, by their Aſcenſion they gain it be not in Sackcloth.
Their Aſcenſion it ſelf, next follows, [They aſcended up to Heaven.] And what can this mean, anſwerable to the former, but this, viz. They had that honour put upon them, which by the voyce from Heaven they were called to? They have now their Sackcloth taken from them, neither themſelves, nor their Miniſtry, either to be ſo contemned, or perſecuted as before. I heir maintenance poſſibly advanced to ſome honeſt, and competent allowance; which becauſe ſo exceeding ſmall before, might be one reaſon, why 'tis ſaid they Propheſied in Sackcloth. In ſumme, what you can conceive, is properly oppoſite to Sackcloth, as cleering them in the eye of the world, maintenance, eſteem, and the like, This is the Witneſſes aſcending up to heaven.
And ſo ſometime [Aſcending up to heaven] ſignifies: I mean a greater acceſſion of honour, and dignity. As when Nebucadnezzar is brought in thus vaunting, I will aſcend up to heaven, I will exalt my ſelf above the clouds, Tis all one, as if he had ſaid; Iſ. 14 13. 14.I will yet be greater, I will yet make my ſelf a greater name then I have ever gained hitherto.
Thus we have ſeen their aſcention, the manner of their aſcention next follows, and tis [In a cloud] they aſcend up to heaven in a cloud (ſayes the Text) this comes next to be enquired concerning.
In a cloub] This ſeems of neceſſity to be a myſticall cloud, for ſuch as their aſcention is, ſuch muſt needs be the cloud, wherein they do aſcend. Shall we ſay therefore, it is a multitude of people? we read He…r…w. 12. 1. A multitude of beleevers are called, A cloud of Witneſſes. And is there not ſome al…uſion think you here intended? Theſe Witneſſes aſcend up to Heaven in a cloud, they are accompanied with a cloud of Witneſſes, rejoycing, and congratulating with them for this their ſo unexpected, and happy freedom, every one now helping, and lifting them up what they can, to that honour which by the voice from heaven they are called unto.
I do not finde Interpreters go thus particularly to work, thinking perhaps (as the ſaying is, Gold is not under every ſtone.) I mean, That every word ſhall have ſomething of moment in it; but perhaps it would not have given ſatisfaction, had I paſſed this ſame without this particular examination: but how likely this is the cloud wherein theſe Witneſſes aſcend up to heaven, I ſhall leave every one to judge, and from it paſſe on to the Concomitants of this aſcention, the former whereof is laid down in theſe words. And their enemies beheld them.
Their enemies.] Who can theſe be, but the Antichriſtian faction? Whom can we imagine enemies to theſe Witneſſes, but they?
Theſe behold them.] And with how much terrour, with how much inward torment, and vexation? When they roſe again in the former verſe, you ſee what impreſſions of fear it then made upon them, The Witneſſes ſtand upon their feet (ſay thoſe words,) and great fedr fell on them which ſaw them: Even juſt ſo it was with Herod, when he thought John the Baptist, Matth. 13.(whom he beheaded) was riſen from the dead: And no marvell they are put into this fright, upon the riſing again of theſe Witneſſes: For the Popiſh faction to ſee them riſe again whom they had ſlain once, they then conceiving they had made ſuch a hand with theſe Witneſſes, as they ſhould never be troubled with them any more; can you blame them they are afraid at it?
But further, That after their riſing again, they ſhould now aſcend up to heaven alſo; what fear, what indignation, will this impreſſe upon them? What fear? Had they, but only riſen again, they might have hoped again to have ſlain them; but now to aſcend up to heaven alſo, ſo as they could not reach them, ſo as they could not ſlay them any more: where they ſhould ſit ſecure, and out of their danger, they thence a new tormenting them, as for their former wrongs, ſo for their late killing of them; and this with much more grievous torment, their little finger being now made heavier, then their whole loynes were before; Can we thinke, but this ſhould much encreaſe the terrour formerly falling on them upon the riſing again of theſe Witneſſes.
And as adde to their fear, ſo beget in them much bitter indignation. To ſee thoſe whom they accounted not worthy to breath in the air while alive, nor worthy the honour of a grave when dead; not only to riſe again, but to aſcend up to heaven alſo, to be followed with ſhoutings, and acclamations, have their Sackcloth taken off, and the Germent of gladneſſe, and honour inſtead thereof put upon them: How think we, is not this enough to make the Antichriſtian party, even eat their hearts for ſpight and indignation, and wiſh their eye-balls ſunk in their heads, rather then to behold it. The Witneſſes aſcend up to heaven, and their enemies behold them.
Put all together now, and the ſumme of all theſe ſeveralls is this much, After that the Witneſſes are by a ſpeciall hand of God reſtored to office again, have their mouths open, which is their Reſurrection: Such as are then in authority, in the Reformed Churches, do call them to ſome more ample condition, more free, more honourable, the multitude with joynt endeanour helping, while the Antichriſtian faction are ſtrucken with fear, and great indignation at the beholding. This ſeems the meaning of the words, the obſervations now follow.
1. Are the Reformed Churches heaven.] And the Act of ſome in power there [A voyce from heaven.] See then the vaſt diff…rence betwixt theſe Churches, and the Synagogue of Satan. This is earth, and the members thereof, The Inhabitants of the earth (as we ſaw before;) but on the contrary, the Reformed Churches are heaven, and thoſe that appertain thereunto, are ſuch who dwell in heaven. And not without cauſe ſo called, for certainly if the preſence of God, of Chriſt, of the Spirit, will make heaven; Sure then the Churches of Chriſt are not undeſervedly ſo called. The policy theſe walk by, is a heavenly policy; Our converſation, or as the originall, our policy is in foreignheaven, (ſayes the Apoſtle, Eph. 3. 20.) their graces are from heaven, the Ordinances they attend upon, come from thence, and will in due time, as a means, carry up the comers thereunto Heb. 10. 1.alſo.
2. Doth a voyce from heaven call the Witneſſes up thither? Why then however the riſing again of the Witneſſes be by the ſpeciall hand of God; yet their aſcenſion is, by the means and intervention of men. A voice from heaven calls them up thither. Take notice of it, the hand of God raiſes up the Witneſſes from the lead, the hand of men does help them up to heaven; God will take order the Witneſſes once ſlain, ſhall again Propheſie▪ We muſt take order it be no more in Sackcloth.
3. Do the Witneſſes aſcend up to heaven? Tis plain then, there is a time (a time here I mean) when theſe Witneſſes ſhall have their mourning Weeds their Sackcloth, taken from them: There is a time, when they ſhall have honour, eſteem, and recompence for all the ſcorn, and injuries have been put upon them. Yea, a time alſo, when they ſhall be above the enemies …ch, and danger: Vex and ſtorm at them, they may, But when they once aſcend up to heaven, they get ſo farre above them, a they ſhall be a…le to ſlay them no more.
4. Do the enemies of the Witneſſes behold their aſcending up to heaven? Oh what indignation, what gnaſhing of teeth will this cauſe in ſuch beholders! To ſee theſe have their Sackcloth taken from them, ride in the ſecond Chariot, honour have and eſteem put upon them; certainly Haman could not be more Eſtl…. ….ſad at the preferment of Mordecai, then will theſe be grieved and vexed at the Aſcenſion of the Witneſſes.