THE main reason, why I undertook the task of this Prophesie, Is to try to satisfie that common question almost in every ones Mouth, What will become of us? What do you think of these times? To answer this from providences, seemed to me altogether impossible, they are dispensed toward us with so much variety: We fear to day, hope to morrow; so that from our present condition, there is no presaging what will be our future. But then I thought 2 Pet. 1. 19. could we finde out some more sure word of prophesie; such as might in a more speciall manner relate to our times, this might contribute much to our satisfaction, in the insufficiency of the other. And while I was thus casting, this prophesie of the two Witnesses, offers it self, of all those that I can imagine most likely to aym at our times, and so best to serve the purpose above men­tioned. This apprehension made me close with it, of which having given this short account; I now proceed to give an ac­count of the Prophesie it self.

And for coherence, that we may know where about we are, take this much; Some great Interpreters conceive the holy Ghost having finished the prophesie of the Seals, only somewhat remaining of the last Trumpet, because there was an other pro­phesie. viz. That which set forth the condition of the Church, (beginning and ending with that of the Seals) not as yet men­tioned; till such time as so much of the Churches [...]tate, as I may call it, was measured forth as of the former, he sets back the mention of the seventh Trumpet from its due place in the t [...]nth Chapter till this be done; which being done in the for­mer part of this Chapter, to the 15 verse; there the seventh Trumpet is brought in to be the common close and Catastro­phe of them both.

By this reckoning, the beginning of this eleventh Chapter, wherein you have a Temple, Altar, and worshippers measured, pre­sents Vers. 1. to us the Churches condition in the Apostles dayes, and those primative times neer about, and that which immediate­ly follows, the Churches state now gotten within the verge of those times wherein Antichrist was to prevail. This latter Vers 2. I readily embrace; but that by the former should be meant the condition of the Church in the Apostles times, to me seems al­together doubtfull.

I should rather with submission conceive, By the Temple, Altar, and Worshippers, are meant respectively, the pure wor­ships and worshippers, continuing all the time of Antichrist, the measuring of these denoting this much, That during this time of Antichrists pre [...]ing, God would own so much worship in so many worshippers, and no more. But for the outer-Court, [...] that is, false worship, and the Gentiles therein, which are false worshippers, who are cast forth unmeasured, neither of these would God own, either for worship, or for worshippers.

If this, the meaning of the former words, joyn this of the witnesses to them, and the dependance lies cleerly thus: Then when the Antichristian Gentiles begin to take possession of the outward Court, when Antichrist begins to sit in the Temples of 2 Thes. 2. 4. God; about this time came forth these two witnesses to pro­phesie in Sackcloth.

Having found out thus much for connection, we proceed now to take a view of the Prophesie it self, the bulk whereof [Page 4] seems thus much: About the time when Popery begins to spread, there shall be raised up by a divine hand, a generation of men, testi­fying against it, who continuing their witnesse in all its time, shall be slain at last by the Popish faction, but not long after rise again, their rising procuring the Popish factions downfall.

This in the generall: more particularly in this third Verse, where we begin, you have,

• 1 1. A title given to those who testifie against Antichrist; they are Witnesses.
• 2 2. Their number; they are two.
• 3 3. Their office; they Prophesie.
• 4 4. The manner according to which they execute their office; tis in Sackcloth.
• 5 5. The time how long they continue thus to Prophesie, and this is a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes: of these in this order:

1 1. The title, they are Witnesses, and so called, because they bear witnesse to truth, and holinesse, against all the errours, and unholy­nesse of Antichrist; so is Christ severall times called the faithfull witnesse, and this by way of emminence, and because bearing Revel. 15. and 3. 14. witnesse to all truth against all errours, and impieties whatsoever. You see why they are called witnesses.

2 2. Their number follows, they are two. And two they are (say some,) because few; Two making the least number; or two in regard of the two Testaments, which these avow the truth of; they bear witnesse to what is contained in both the Testaments: or else two, in regard of the types they are pre­sented by, which are set down by pairs, two and two, as we shall see hereafter, our two witnesses; especially, because in the Law, no accusation would passe, unlesse asserted by two or three wit­nesse; Deu. 17. 6. Matth. 18. 16. so that accordingly, if an accusation come against Anti­christ, there must not be lesse [...] then two witnesses to avow it. Thus you have their number also, they are two witnesses.

3 3. Their employment next follows, with the manner of per­formance (for I shall put both together), they prophesie in Sack­cloth. They prophesie, that is, they instruct the people in the good way, testifying by all means, Whether by preaching, writing, or otherwayes against Antichristian impieties; prophesying being Acts 2. 17. Rom. 12 6. not here strictly taken for a foretelling things to come; or else, for preach­ [...]

1. Did God raise up Witnesses, all the times of Antichrist? then in the darkest times of Popery God hath not left himself with­out a People; they have been few. I confesse, reduced to the least number sometimes, yet never hath that darknesse so wholly blinded all, nor their cruell persecutions so swept away all, but there have been some Witnesses in all the times of Anti­christ testifying against him.

If therefore they ask us Where was our Religion before Luther; a common question, and with which they think they have sped us: Why sure wheresoever these Witnesses were, it was both them; and if these were as old as Antichrist, as appears by the Text they are; if they will say their Antichrist is elder then Luther, they must say our Religion was before Luther also.

2. Forasmuch as God raised up some in all times to testifie a­gainst Popery, 'tis plain God did not leave himself without Wit­nesses Acts 14. 17. 2 Thes. 2. [...]1. among the Popish Idolaters, sent those among them who would have healed Babylon, though she refused to be healed; and if so, how justly are they given over to strong delusions to beleeve a lie, who when they had the truth, would not receive it in the love of it? yea, how just shall be the downfall of that Babylon, how for ever inexcusable when judged, to whom when the Lord hath sent a continued succession of Witnesses, rising up early and senaing them, yet would not hearken, hath still refused to be [...]er. 51. 9. healed.

3. From hence that they are called Witnesses, we learn to what a height and heynousnesse the errours and impieties of Po­pery were arriv'd: had they been weaknesses, infirmities, they had been born withall; love had covered them, had they been on­ly infirmities; and sure without a bearing with weaknesses in Church societies, it is not possible to hold fellowship together: but when these must be openly witnessed against, to joyn was damnable, and to dissemble was no better, when 'twas not suf­ficient to beleeve with the heart, but there must be profession made Rom. 10. 10. also; sure these abominations must be of a high strain, th [...]se could be reckoned for weaknesses no longer.

5 Forasmuch as the Witnesses are but two, the smallest num­ber, you hence see what the Synagogue of Rome gains by boast­ing the Catholique Church, glorying in her multitude; could they have given us a better Argument to prove them Antichrist, [Page 7] the Beast, the Whore, the Gentiles by, when these fill the world, the Holy City the outward Court, and but two Witnesses to op­pose all this multitude?

Go on therefore, glory in your multitudes, boast your uni­versality, we yeeld to you the whole world wonders after the Reve. 13. 3. beast, while but two Witnesses oppose him.

5. Do the witnesses Prophesie in Sackcloth, kept down, and at an under through the potency of the Antichristian faction? then judge who have been most like to be these witnesses; whe­ther these, who taking unwearied pains, preaching in season, and out of season, could scarce get wherewith to maintain a poor family; yea, many times through persecution, thrown out of all; or else th [...]se who seldom preaching, and when they did, not in Sackcloth, you may be sure, such who lived as lords in­deed, and kept their Courts like Princes; judge whether of these are likest to be the witnesses in Sackcloth; yea learn not to wonder, if you have known some godly and painfull Ministers could scarce by all their pains and industry, get them bread; when yet the Romish Prelaticall Clergy, have been lords of all, wonder not at it alas, 'twas their time to Prophesie in Sack­cloth.

HAving spoken already concerning the title, number, and office of these Witnesses, together with the manner and continuance of them in their office; next we should enquire who these Witnesses are, to which in this 4 verse, and those that next follow we have answer, these verses together offering a full draught, and description of them.

But before I come to open the words, I should first acquaint you what the thoughts of some are in this question, beginning with the Popish first; which I shall only mention, and leave it.

They, therefore following some of the Ancients, and they the Hebrew Doctors, tell us, these two Witnesses are Enoch Origen. La­ctan. Hilar. and Elias, who shall come somewhat before the end of the [Page 8] world, preaching Repentance to the Jews, at that time mista­king Antichrist (some strange Chymaera born of the Tribe of Bel. de Pa. Rom. l. 3. Dan) for the Messiah; which Antichrist shall after some space slay these two Witnesses, Enoch and Elias; but in the end, the Jews being converted, shall make an end of him. This the Po­pish conceipt.

Among our selves, I do not finde us perfectly agreed who these Witnesses are: Some for whom we owe much to God, Brightmans Na [...]ier. Beda. and to whose dis [...]overies we are greatly indebted (after some of the Ancients) conceive the two Testaments are the two Witnes­ses. The two Testaments (say they) together with the godly people, are these two Witnesses.

I should not dare to deny the Scriptures are the Testimony of these Witnesses, [...]ut that the Scriptures should be the Witnes­ses them [...]lves, when yet the Witnesses are described as persons, as men, are descri [...]ed by men, men that have lived in former ages brought in to personate these Witnesses, are described by actions that have been done by men before, and which men on­ly are capable to do again; that notwithstanding all this we should pronounce the Scriptures are these Witnesses; for my part, I speak it with submission, I cannot understand. The Scriptures are the Testimony of these Witnesses indeed, but seem not with congruity to be the Witnesses themselves.

But I shall detain you no longer from the Text, in mention­ing any more opinions, suffice it we have hitherto seen who are not these Witnesses; but now examine the Text, and from thence we may be told who they are: In which the holy Ghost comes so quick, after their number, office, manner of perform­ing, [...] touched upon in the verse before, that almost before a man could well ask but Who are these Witnesses, he is answer­ed in these words; These are the two Olive Trees, and the two Candl [...]sticks standing before the God of the earth.

Which first draught and description of these Witnesses, we finde almost word for word fetcht from the 4 Chapter of Zach. whitherto having recourse, if we can learn what, and who are meant by the two Olive trees there, it will much ready us to know whom we are to understand by the two Witnesses here, they being by that same representation set forth to us.

In that Chapter therefore (for I must send you thither) th [...] [Page 9] Prophet in a Vision seeing a Golden Candlestick, with seven Zach. 4. 2, 3, 4. Lamps, and seven Pipes; and on each side of the Candlestick two Olive trees emptying golden Oyl into the Pipes; which not knowing what to make of, and enquiring of the Angel that talked with him, receives this in answer:

The Candlestick thou sawest, with all its Lamps burning (be­ing Vers. 6, 7, 9, 10. one of the chief Utensiles about the Temple, and not to be brought thereinto, till the building thereof is finished) betokens the building and perfecting of the Temple. The Candlestick be­tokens the Church; and the Candlestick furnished compleat with Lamps, the restoring the Church and Worships from those maims and ruines which during the time of the Captivi­ty they had layn under.

The Prophet satisfied in the mystery of the Candlestick, yet Vers. 11, 12 further enquires; and What ure the two Olive trees standing on Vers. 14. either side the Candlestick? After this question twice asked, the Angel gives answer in the last Verse, almost the words of my Text; These are the two anoynted Ones; or as the Originall, [...] These are the two Sons of Oyl, standing before the Lord of the whole earth.

But now if any after all this remaining unsatisfied, shall yet Rabbi Da­vid, Kimchi. Rabbi Solo: Iarchi. further enquire who these anoynted Ones are: I answer, with consent of best Interpreters, They are Zerubbabel, and Joshua, and with them the Elders and Priests respectively; who because they spent themselves and their endeavours in building the Temple, and were Instruments of light and encouragement, in the conduct of the great Church-Affairs, typed out by the Can­dlestick, with much elegancy of resemblance, are presented as two Olive trees dropping golden Oyl into a golden Can­dlestick.

So then the two Olive trees emptying golden Oyl into the Candlestick, in Zachary, are two eminent ranks of men; Ze­rubbabel Ezra 6. 14. Zach. 3. 8. and the Elders one; for the Elders joyned themselves in the work with him, and Joshua, and the other Priests, the other; which Priests also were assisting to Joshua. In short, they are godly Magistrates and Priests who did bestow them­selves in building, restoring, finishing the Temple, Church, Worships, all having gone to wrack the while of the Babylon­ish Captivity.

Bring all this but home now, and by this account, the two Witnesses described, and typed out by two Olive trees, must be Zerubbabel and Joshua; for their quality, they must be godly Magistrates and Ministers: and then because Olive trees drop­ping Oyl into Candlesticks, (which we saw before betokened restoring, building, caring for the Temple, Church-Worships) these must bestow themselves in caring for Church, Ordinan­ces, and Worships also, which is their employment.

And truely what can we oppose? For if the two Olive trees dropping Oyl into the Candlesticks, were in their first use and intention peculiarly apted to denote Magistrates and Ministers, men of like quality as were Zerubb: and Je [...]hua; and then their employment in caring for Church, Worships, and the like: The holy Ghost transferring the same type from thence hither, whereby to describe these two Witnesses; who sees not they must needs be persons of like quality, godly Magistrates and Mini­sters, and of like employment; they must bestow themselves in caring for Church, and Worships also.

I do not deny there be some differences between the two types, both in the mention, as likewise in the meaning, yet not such as to overthrow the foundation of the resemblance. For Instance,

1. There in Zachary you have no Temple built, and therefore they to begin the world anew, to begin to build almost from the Foundation: but here in the beginning of this 11 Chapter, you sinde a Temple compleat and entire; so that the work of these Chap. 11 1 is not so much to build a Temple anew, as to preserve and keep that in measure, and from Antichristian encroachments which they had, and to re-gain so much of the outward Court as they could, which now Antichrist, with the Antichristian Gentiles, had wholly in possession. This the first difference, they seem to begin their Church-work from the beginning, these not so much to begin, as to preserve and recover what was lost by the usurpations of Antichrist: here they have a Temple, onely the outward Court taken from them; there they have as yet no Temple at all.

2 There you have but one Candlestick, here two; which whether because the Church about this time was to be divided into Eastern and Western, as some conceive; or else two, because the Churches were about this time of the Witnesses to be re­duced [Page 11] to the least number, even to two, as others; or whether two Candlesticks here, and but one there, because the Jewish Church was but one, the Christian Churches are many, as o­thers; or whether any other may be the reason, I not deter­mine. You have the differences: but that in the main they agree, take notice of these severalls for the purpose:

1. As there you have a Candlestick, signifying a Church; so here Candlesticks, signifying Churches also; so I would under­stand them: In no wise conceiving the two Witnesses to be the two Candlesticks, as they are said to be the two Olive trees before; and therefore I had rather reade as they do; These are the two Olive trees, with, or by the two Candlesticks, as is the manner of the Hebrews sometime to render their copulative: for 'tis evi­dent [...] loco [...] 1 Sam. 14. 18. & alibi. from the first Chapter of this Revel. and 20. That Candle­sticks are Churches; The seven Golden Candlesticks, sayes the holy Ghost, are seven Churches.

2. As two Olive trees there, shew two ranks of men, name­ly, godly Magistrates and Ministers, so by the two Olive trees here, we understand men of the like condition, godly Magistrates and Ministers also.

3. As those by dropping Oyl into a Candlestick, are so presented restoring the Jewish Church, so the Witnesses by dropping Oyl into these Candlestick as Instruments of light and grace (both which Oyl in Scripture doth aptly signifie) do keep alive and lighted the Churches all the times of Antichrist, and by this light restore, recover them, as also expell and win upon that darknesse, which had gained much upon the world before. 1 Sam. 16. 22. Psal. 102. 26. Ier. 52. 12. compared with 2 Ki. 25 8.

4. As those are said to stand by the God of the earth, which whether it means their stable and firm abiding (for so much the word not unfrequently signifieth) or whether by it be meant they minister before the Lord (for so also tis often used) these likewise stand before the God of the earth, these in dropping Oyl into the Candlesticks, spending themselves in caring for Church and Worships, they minister before the God of the earth also. Thus you have the Agreement.

Draw up now the sum of all this Verse together; and 'tis in short this:

In that the holy Ghost describes the two Witnesses by two O­live trees dropping Oyl into the candlesticks, a type formerly used [Page 12] to signifie Magistrates and Ministers bestowing themselves in caring f [...]r Temple, Church, Worships then decayed, it is as much as if he should tell us; These Witnesses are godly Magi­strates and Ministers, who during the times of Antichrist, shall bestow themselves in maintaining what of Church and Worships th [...]y have; reforming, repairing, restoring as there is need, and re­gaining what hath been lost by Antichristian en [...]roachm [...]nts.

And that all this hath come to passe accordingly; That there have been such persons, and they done all that we now mention, how obviously were we acquainted with the Ecclesiasticall Hi­sto [...]y would it appea? how cleerly should we see, not only the common sort of people, such as those poor men of Lyons, but Ministers, yea Nobles, yea Princes and Emperours have been of these Witnesses; who not only have dropt Oyl into the candle­sticks, but even their blood also, in preserving them pure, and en­deavouring to reform them from Antichristian impiety.

So you have the meaning of the words: the Observations now follow:

1. In that the Witnesses are typed out, and described by per­sons of quality, for such Zerubbabel and Jeshua were; how likely is it, these Witnesses must be persons of quality, as they were: And if they were Magistrates and Ministers, by whom they are set forth and presented, how warranta [...]ly may we pro­nounce these Witnesses are Magistrates and Ministers also. I do not deny but even the meanest, testifying against Antichrist, is in a sort a Witnesse: but to be a Witnesse by way of eminence, to be such by office (as I may say) and so authoritatively to bear witnesse, this seems restrained onely to men of quality: and when the event answers accordingly (as was in part hinted be­fore) me thinks there needs no further question in the businesse: when Histories will tell us, besides a succession of godly per­sons in the Ministry, there were also in the Magistracy, even in the highest places thereof, that did oppose themselves against the Idolatry and Tyranny of Antichrist (such as were Picus Mirandula, John Frederick Duke of Saxony, the Lantgrave, Ernestus Brunswick his son: Emperors also, Henric. 4. Henric. 5. L [...]wis. 4. with others; besides some of the Princes of this and other Kingdoms) And so it appears they have been Magistrates and Ministers in deed, and in event, even just such as were the [Page 13] types before, by which they are shewed forth: Judge whether from all we may not safely pronounce; The Magistrates and Mi­nisters opposing Antichrist, are the two Witnesses.

2. Are Candl [...]sticks Churches? this learns us whence alone (as from the ordinary means) Spirituall and saving light is to be expected; 'tis from the Churches, from the candl [...]sticks: and sure repair we to any other Societies of men whatsoever, and so far as they have nothing common with these, so farre there is no saving light at all in them: Here onely 'tis that the Scrip­tures appear as a flaming Beacon upon a hill, by which the Mi­nisters, Matth. 5. 15. as so many candles, being lighted, and set up in the candle­stick, give light to all them that are in the house; all that is with­out this Verge being nothing else but pitchy darknesse.

And if so, what a sad thing to be without a candlestick; or as Rev 2. 5. Christ once threatned Ephesus, to have the candlestick taken away. How sad was the condition of the Egyptians, when in regard Exo 10. 23 of that plague of darknesse then upon them, no man did rise from his place for the space of three dayes? How much more sad in Spirituall regards is their estate, who are without a Candle­stick, and so in Spirituall darknesse, knowing not whither they go? 1 Joh. 2. 11. Mat. 8. 12. Nay, Is not this that utter darknesse the Jews are threatned withall, whereby seems meant, if well considered, as well their unchurch'd condition in this life, as their state of condemnati­on in the life to come when: the Kingdom of heaven, the Can­dlestick, was taken away; from that time they have been cast forth into utter darkdesse.

3. Are there two candlesticks in all this time? then sure that can­not but be too hard a censure, that cries down all as Antichristi­an Churches, Antichristian Ministers, all this time; 'tis true, the Churches are now reduced to the smallest number, yet is there a number however, two Churches, two Candlesticks at least in all the time of the prevailings of Antichrist.

4. Are the Witnesses Olive trees, dropping Oyl into the candle­sticks? this tells you whereabout the proper work of these Wit­nesses lies; 'tis about the Candlesticks, 'tis Church-work theirs, their care, their businesse, is to have an eye to the Candlesticks: And if so, however then they look after Liberties, Properties, Safety, &c. yet their main care must be Church-work, preserv­ing, reforming, restoring in Church matters, matters of Wor­ship, [Page 14] this should be the chief care and endeavour of these Witnesses; which doth not a little reflect upon us in this King­dom, who have spent much time, much pains, in securing Li­berties, Properties, and providing for our safety; but little Oyl all this while dropt into the Candlesticks, little proportionably bestowed in Church-work; which possibly is not the least rea­s [...]n, Why after all this time, we are so far to seek; neither the work of Reformation, nor our own Safety to this day being advanced to any desired perfection.

HAving presented some few lines to ward a perfect draught of these Witnesses, and in them discovered what they are to the Church, namely, as Oyl unto the Candlestick; in our further description of them, we come now to shew what they are to those that do oppose them (for they meet with opposers) and how well appointed they are to give them as hot as they bring, that shall dare to attempt any wrong or violence upon them. This you have discovered in these words; And if any man will hurt them, &c.

In which, who so dim sighted, as not to perceive Moses and Elias as with the finger pointed at? both which, when enemies have risen up against them, have had the wrong by sire avenged upon those enemies. So you reade of Moses in the 16 of Numb. when Korah, and with him two hundred and fifty chief men of the Congregation, make there a tumult against him: at the 35 verse of that Chapter, Fire proceedeth from the Lord, and de­stroyes those two hundred and fifty. Of Elias also, you have it storied in the 2 of Kinos and 1. When that Idolatrous Ahaziah sends two Captains, with fifty men apiece, one after the other, to lay hold upon the Prophet; upon his word, fire comes down Ver. 11, 12. from heaven, and destroyes both the Captains, and both their fifties.

Both these you have here a reference to, and this not onely be­cause of the same thing done, but (which is my apprehension, which also I touched upon before) because there is a resemb­lance [Page 15] intended betwixt the doers also. I said before, the two Olive trees did not onely signifie the like common work happening to Zerubbabel and Jeshua, and to the Witnesses, but seemed to hold forth a likenesse or samenesse in the quality of the persons also. So likewise, when in a further description of these Witnesses; we have them rendered such, Out of whose mouthes sire procceding, destroyes their enemies (a plain allusi­on to Moses and Elias) I should conceive, 'tis not only to shew the same thing done by all of them, and no more, but to tell us the persons in resemblance are another Moses and Elias also.

And to make this yet seem more likely, observe we how just their work falls alike to all of them. Doth Moses lead Israel out of Egypt? and do not these Witnesses lead the Christian Israel out of the Romish Egypt, of which no question Moses his former leading was a type? And doth Elias stand zealous for God, in that grand Apostasie of Israel, no doubt a type of this grand Apostasie of Antichrist; and are not the Witnesses cloath­ed with the zealous Spirit of Elias; nay, is it not doubled upon 2 Kin. 2. 9. them, who dare contend with the Antichristian Apostates, even then when their Idolatries have so over overwhelmed the world, that they onely are left opposing?

And if this so, and there's no new thing in all this, the same Scene come about again; what strange thing to see the same actors? and if now in the last act of the world there is a bringing out of Egypt, such as was before; a contending with Apostates, as there was before; how every way elegant to make Moses and Elias the actors here also.

Having thus found out the Witnesses to be Moses and Elias now, as we saw them Zerubbabel and Jeshua (men of like qua­lity and employment) before, lest we mistake the speciall thing that's here mentioned done by them; we now proceed to a particular examination of it, If any man will harm them, fire proceeds, &c.

Which words we must in no wise understand in the letter. To think these Witnesses should indeed breath forih fire, and so destroy their enemies; what weaknesse, or else perversenesse at best, would any such thought argue? And if not in the letter, then must we borrow the word [...] hither, which we finde expresly adjoyned to Sodom and Egypt at the 8 Verse of [Page 16] th [...]s Chapter; and then we are to enquire what mysticall fire the Scripture mentions, and so what spiritually or mystically the phrase imports of fire proceeding out of their mouthes and de­ [...]ouring their enemies.

To answer this in short: The Word of God in Scripture is severall times compar'd to fire, Jer. 20 9. Jer. 23. 29. Is not my Word like as a fire, saith the Lord? But especially cast your eye upon the 5 of Jer. 14. where you finde the Lord thus bespeak­ing the Prophet: And I will make my Word in thy meuth fire, and this people as wood, and it shall devour them.

A place so parallel, so plain an interpretation of what we have in hand, that to me it seems altogether needlesse to enquire any further meaning. Observe it, there you have the Lord threatning that People by the Prophet, but his word is slighted, and the Prophet that delivers the message misused; for this cause, the Lords Word in the Prophets mouth shall be fire, and that People wood, and it shall devour them. So here, you have the Witnesses testifying against Antichrist, for his great impieties; this testimony of theirs is slighted, themselves opposed and misused; to avenge which indignitie, fire comes out of their mouthes, takes hold of their opposers, they threaten Judge­ments, God accordingly executes them; thus fire proceeds out of their mouth, and devours their enemies. All this but confirming that of the Apostle; The Gospel, and its Ministers, have in rea­dinesse [...] Cor. 10. 6. to avenge every disobedience.

Nor let any man stumble at the expression, They said to d [...]stroy their enemies, who y [...]t do but onely denounce destruction: [...]or 'tis an easie thing to shew, That what Gods Minist [...]rs denounce in his Name, that they themselves are said to do.

Ezekiel in denouncing Judgement against the City, Ezek. 43. 3. is there said to destroy the City. So when the Witnesses, in the Lords Name, and by his direction, denounce destruction to their enemies, they likewise are then said to destroy their enemies.

If now unto the former of denouncing Judgements, you adde also their praying Judgements upon incorrigible enemies (which seems not unlikely to be meant here also) you have then the sense thus much:

Then when the Witnesses pray Judgements,, and denounce Judg [...] ­ments [Page 17] upon their enemies, then does fire proceed out of their mouth, and d [...]stroyes their enemies.

And whereas you have it repeated, [And if any mon will hurt them] and again [If any man will hurt them] repetition betoken­ing certainty (so Joseph interprets the doubling of the Vision Gen. 41. 32 shewn to Pharaoh, to note the certainty thereof) it is as much, as if in other words the holy Ghost had said, If any man shall pre­sume to hurt these Witnesses, that man certainly shall be destroy'd.

The meaning given thus piece-meal, put all together, and the result is this: These two Witnesses, formerly Zerubbabel and Je­shuah, now because of like spirit, and employment, but expresly be­cause in like manner protected from enemies, are Moses and Elias, whom if any man shall attempt to harm, by denouncing and praying Judgements, they procure certain destruction upon them.

And now having opened the words, before I proceed to draw out any Observations, give me leave to satisfie for what I took on trust before; of which, till now, I could make no ready payment.

I formerly gave this one reason why the Witnesses are said to be two, viz. Because they are described by pairs, but then shew­ed no such thing. Now you have seen two pair already, Ze­rubbabel and Jeshuah, one; Moses and Elias another; and there is one other pair behinde, not yet come into mention.

I said before, The Scriptures, the two Testaments, were the Testimony of these Witnesses, but denyed them to be the Witnes­ses themselves, because they are described as men, and by men, but then gave proof of neither; but now I hope 'tis evident they are described as men, and men of former times, such as Zerub­babel and Jeshua, brought in to personate these Witnesses which, together with that which follows, gives abundant, and every was satisfying evidence in this matter.

The Observations now follow:

1. Does fire proceed out of th [...]se Witnesses mouthes, destroying their enemies? then must none think to harm these Witnesses impune: they must not hope to carry it scot-free, be they who they will be, that shall presume to offer violence to th [...]se Wit­nesses, either by praying, or d [...]nouncing Judgements, they do procure destruction and ruine upon their enemies.

2. Are the Judgements of God denounced [fire?] Then wonder [Page 18] not that waxie hearts are melted by them, as was the heart of Josiah; and on the contrary, the clayie hearts of others more 1 Chro. 34 29. hardned, and their chaffie hearts burnt up and devoured by them; marvell not at all, it is so, the Judgements of God de­nounced, they are fire.

3. In that it is repeated, If any man will harm these Witnesses, h [...] must be destroyed; take notice of the certain vengeance that doth a wait the persecutors of these Witnesses: Let them flatter themselves in their present impunity as they list, and because sentence is not speedily executed upon them for their violence done Eccles. 8. 11. unto these Witnesses, therefore please themselves in pursuing of them still; yet withall remember a certain and inevitable de­struction will at last seize upon them.

NOw forward with our description, in which having al­ready seen how well able these Witnesses are to repay the wrongs done to their own particular, wherein also we have received further light concerning their persons; proceed we now on, and we shall further understand in what manner they are furnished to avenge the Churches wrongs, almost deprived of beeing, if not wholly of appearance, through the spreading and prevalence of the Antichristian Apostacie.

This you have laid down in these words, These have power to shut heaven, &c.

In which you may observe a threefold power wherewith these Witnesses are invested:

• 1. A power to shut heaven that it rain not.
• 2. A power to turn waters into bloud.
• 3. A power to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will.

Before you heard they pursue their enemies with fire, here they shut heaven against them, turn their waters into bloud, and smite their earth with all plagues as often as they will. What a misera­ble plight are the enemies of these Witnesses in, who have the fire armed against them before, and now the benefits of heaven, earth, water, all taken from them?

But let us take them in order; first, These have power to shut heaven, that it rain not in the dayes of their prophecie: In which Jam. 5. 17. who sees not the forementioned Elias a new pointed at, of whom it is recorded, that praying he shut up heaven that it rained not, (the same thing here mentioned) and this for three yeers and a half; the just terme of these Witnesses prophesie in sackcloth.

But that we mistake not by understanding all this in the let­ter, I mean either the thing it self, or the time, we must again borrow the the word [...], enquiring out a mysticall understanding of them both.

For the time I have touched upon it before, and hereafter may have occasion further to shew 'tis to be reckoned according to the propheticall account, every day in this three yeers and a half, being put for a yeer, as is the manner of prophesies some­time to reckon, and then for their shutting up heaven that it rain not; we shall now trie to finde out some mysticall meaning of it.

For this purpose therefore, in that Matt. 16. 19. you have men­tion of Keyes shutting heaven: heaven is then shut, according to the minde of that place, when such as live in ignorance, pro­phanenesse, idolatry, or any the like grosse wickednesse, are by the Ministery of the Word, declared a people to who no com­fort, no forgivenesse, no heaven doth belong.

However I doubt not but the same thing is meant in both places, yet in regard it is there, heaven shut that people cannot enter, here heaven shut that it do not rain, and so, though in sub­stance they come both to one, yet the allusion seems not so clear; we shall therefore trie further.

The glad tydings of the Gospell are severall times in Scrip­ture compared to rain, (this me thinks will nick the allusion:) I say again, the tydings of forgivenesse, mercie, &c. are often­times in Scripture compared to rain; so Deut. 32. 2. Isa. 45. 8, &c. and sure could we stay to shew it, we should finde the re­semblance patt, and every way answeing. Doth rain refresh the weary and thirsty earth? doth it soften? doth it make frutfull? and do not the glad tydings of the Gospell, the tydings of peace, forgivenesse, refresh, soften, make fruitfull also?

This so, shall we say accordingly, then do these Witnesses shut [Page 20] heaven that it rain not, when they with hold all tydings of for­givenesse, mercy, peace, from the Antichristian Gentiles, while they continue such, (the Church the mean while being refreshed with these showers every day) and further declare, as that third Angell does, Chap. 14. vers. 9, 10, 11. (who no doubt is of these witnesses) that such as those who worship the Beast, and receive his marke, shall drink of the wrath of God; no mercy, no forgive­nesse at all appertains to them And thus the former shutting heaven in Matth. and the withholding of the rain of heaven here, do now appear to be the same; of which the summe in short is this much.

As Elias shut heaven that it rained not upon those apostate Is­raelites whil [...] they clave to Baal, which plainly is h [...]re alluded to; so while these Antichristian Gentiles continue such, these two Witnes­ses hold back all tydings of mercy and forgivenesse, (that blessed rain so chearing and refreshing weary souls) declaring them while in that condition, a people to whom no forgivenesse, no heaven, but rather wrath, hell, and everlasting vengeance appertains.

We have seen the Witnesses power to shut heaven that it rain not, laid open; their turning waters into bloud, and smiting the earth with all plagues, as often as the will, next follows; which in regard they both concern the same thing, as may appear by and by; in the handling of them therefore we shall joyn both together.

And here me thinks we meet with some thing like the vials, those seven vials (I mean) emptying out upon Antichrist the se­ven Rev. 15. 1. last plagues of the wrath of God. And because this seems not unlikely, and the cleering of this will help us to understand the words; as also not a little cond [...]ce to satisfie in that great question, Whether the time of these witnesses be past, yea or no, (as we shall see hereafter:) our satisfaction in which is the great designe we drive in all this undertaking: we shall therefore first enquire, whether at all we have any thing here relating to the vials, yea, or no; and when this is done, then proceed to take a view of the words more particularly.

The grounds perswading to beleeve the Vials are here meant, are such as these.

1. Those plagues of the Vials, and these here, do fall together into the same time, the space of the sixth Trumpet receives both [Page 21] of them. The Vials (so many wastes and graduall destructions of the beast) must needs be pouring forth the time of the sixth Trumpet: for at the beginning of the seventh, with which the last Vials falls in, the beast his time is no more: [the beast, Anti­christ] is then destroyed by an utter & irrecoverable destruction. The tenth Chapter of this Prophesie, and sixth verse, compared with the sixteenth Chapter, 17, and 19 Verses, cleers this same to any, that shall with care and observation examine them.

And that the plagues here mentioned bear the same date, fall in with the time of the sixth Trumpet also, hence appears; for these plagues being chiefly drawn forth by these witnesses to­ward the end of their Prophesie, and that ending with the sixth Trumpet [the second Wo] as is plain from the 13 and 14 vers. of this Chapter; who sees not that these fall in with the time of the sixth Trumpet also? And so because those plagues, and these here, are both wrapt up in the sixth Trumpet, and so fall into the same time, this is one inducement perswading they are the same plagues also.

2. Those who pour forth the Vialls, and the Witnesses who inflict the plagues here mentioned, seem all the same persons. The Angels who pour out the Vialls described coming forth of the Temple, clothed with pure and white linnen, and their brests Cha. 15. 6. girded with golden girdles, who are they but godly ones, whether Magistrates or Ministers; who appertaining to, or coming forth of Reformed Churches, do pour forth the Vialls. And are not the Witnesses who execute these plagues godly Magistrates and Ministers, who pertrining to the Temple mentioned at the first Verse of this Chapter; that is, The Churches reformed, come forth thence, and inflict these plagues upon the Antichri­stian Gentiles? And indeed how can we imagine that any should come forth of Reformed Churches, and pour out a Viall a plague, upon the Antichristian party, and not be of these Witnesses? when such is the nature of the plagues con­tained in the Vialls, as we may see by and by, that in nothing can any more openly and effectually witnesse against Antichrist, and the Antichristian brood, then by pouring out any of these Vialls upon them. They are the same persons then, the godly Magistrates and Ministers of Reformed Churches, that pour forth the Vials, and that execute the plagues the Text here menti­ons.

3. As they fall out at the same time, are inflicted by the same hands, so upon enquire you will finde them the same plagues also. To cleer this same: Have you here [a turning waters into blood?] upon the pouring out of the second and third Vials you have the waters then turned to blood also. Chap. 16. 3, 4.

Do you reade here [of plaguing the earth, with all plagues] mark it [plaguing the earth] what can hereby be meant, but the other Vialls? all whereof at the first verse of the 16 Chapter, are to be poured upon the earth, the Ang [...]ls there are commanded to pour all their Vialls upon the earth also? Adde this now to the for­mer; These plagues are inflicted at the same time, by the same hands, yea, are the very same plagues; and now who sees not the Vialls are here pointed at (which was the thing in question) and when the holy Ghost tellsus▪ The W [...]itesse [...] turn waters in­to blood, smite the earth with all plagues (as in the Text) who sees not 'tis as much as if in other words we had been told, These witnesses are they who pour forth the Vialls?

I must not dissemble what dissent I finde in this matter, some conceiving, these plagues here mentioned, do rather relate to some of the foremost Trumpets, which sounding, you finde the like plaguing the earth, and turning of waters into blood, even Chap. 8. Vers. 7. 8. such like plagues as you have here mentioned.

With submission I cannot conceive those plagues to be the same with those of the first and second Trumpet, for these Reasons:

1. Not to mention those, which prove these the same with the Vialls, first, because these fall within the time of the sixth Trum­pet, as (we shewed before) and therefore cannot be the plagues of the first and second Trumpet; the consequence is cleer, be­cause the plagues comprized in the time of the sixth Trumpet, must needs be a long space after the plagues comprized in the time of the first and second Trumpet; the sixth Trumpet being a good space after the first and secnod Trumpet.

2. Those plagues of the former Trumpets, and these of the Witnesses, fall not upon the same subject: those of the former Trumpets, as is evident to any observant Reader, falling upon Rome Christian; these of the Witnesses falling upon Rome Anti­christian: to cleer this latter (the former being without questi­on) And is it not so, when because of these plagues, you have Vers. 7. [Page 23] Antichrist in the very next words, waging War witt these Wit­nesses, and slaying them? Is it not plain these plagues fall upon Vers. 20. the Antichristian Party, when they are brought in at the tenth Verse, rejoycing for their slaughter, and this expresly the reason, Because they were now got shut of those, who while they lived, tormented them with all these plagues? The subject then of these is Rome Aniichristian; of the other, Rome Christian; and if so, they neither fall within the same time, nor upon the same subject, 'tis evident they cannot be the same plagues (the thing contend­ed for) and if these be not the same, there being none other in all this Prophesie that do resemble them, save onely the Vialls, it remains an unshaken truth, the plagues here mentioned are no other then the Vialls.

This much gained, we now proceed particularly to examine the words; These have power over waters, to turn them into blood, &c. In which who beholds not another pair, even Moses and Aa­ron, now coming forth to personate these Witnesses: of whom we reade in sacred Story. That bringing Israel out of Egypt, they turned the Egyptian waters into blood, plagued the earth, &c. Exod. 7. Exod. 8. the very same you have here done by the hands of these Witnes­ses. And now you have the last pair, where by these Witnes­ses are described: Formerly they were Zerubqabell and Jeshua, after that Moses and Elias, now in the close of this representa­tion they are Moses and Aaron: There now wants nothing to make the description of these Witnesses compleat, but that we see what 'tis these Witnesses do, that makes them appear another Moses and Aaron; which done, we have then at once a full de­scription and view of these Witnesses.

To this therefore I hasten, in entrance where upon, let me warn you as I did before, you are not to understand this same in the letter, namely, That indeed, and in the letter, the Witnesses should turn waters into blood; but as we understood their de­stroying their enemies with fire, their shutting heaven that it rain not, mystically before, so must we understand their turning wa­ters into blood also.

But because I have already shewn these plagues are no other then those of the Vials, the better to compasse the meaning, it will not be amisse for us to turn over to the 16 Chapter of this Prophesie, where the Vialls are by the holy Ghost professedly [Page 24] mentioned, where if we finde what's meant by [turning waters into blood, and smiting the earth with plagues there] we shal cleer­ly see what to understand by them here also, they being all one, onely here but glanced at, there by the holy Ghost professedly and at large discovered.

In that 16 Chapter therefore (for I turn over thither) we finde that upon the pouring forth of the second and third Vials, the waters are turned into blood, hoth these I conceive are here pointed at. For the holy Ghost, seeming in this place to give a touch upon the Vials, summing them up briefly under two Heads, viz. either plagues on the waters, or plagues on the eatrh, and so to be apprehended, thrusting as many as would fall under an head together, there being two Vials that will come under this head of [turning waters into blood] who doth not rea­dily conceive both these Vials must hereby be hereby signified? So that it will be needfull we enquire the meaning of them both.

To begin therefore with the second Vial, the first of those that turn waters into blood, which in that 3 Verse of the 16 Chapter we finde is poured out upon the Sea, and the effect, it become as the blood of a d [...]ad man. This Vial (say some of our best Cha. 16. 3. Interpreters, whom I must trust at present, it requiring no small time professedly and to purpose to speak to these Vials) was then poured forth, when all the Popish Doctrines being ga­thered into one by the Councell of Trent, afterward by Bellar­mine, and others: the godly Ministers of the Reformed Churches, by their writings, discovered all that Sea of of Popish Doctrine to be but as the blood of a dead man, no living blood of Jesus Christ discoverable in it all; and those that live no other life then what they draw from those corrupt Doctrines, to be in a dead, damnable, and undone condition.

This the second Vial.

The third is poured forth upon the rivers, and fountains at the 4 Verse, and the effect is, these become blood also.

And then was this Vial poured forth (say Interpreters, whom I again refer to) when in the times of Queen Eliza­beth this State made a Law against Priests and Jesuites, enacting it Treason for any to seduce this People to the Romish Religi­on; upon which severall of them, as Campian, Ducket, Sherwin, [Page 25] and afterwards others were executed: and when at this day according to that Law we execute a Priest, or Jesuite; then do we poure forth this Viall upon the Antichristian Waters, and they become bloud.

By this reckoning (and so to bring all home to the Text) then are the witnesses said to turn the Antichristian Waters into bloud; when by their cleer writings, and other wayes they discover all that Sea of Popish doctrine to be but as the bloud of a dead man; and further do execute their Priests, and Jesuites, who as Rivers▪ do derive and carry from place to place, the Waters of this noy­some Sea, thereby to poyson, and destroy the souls of seduced people.

And by the way, who is not now fully satisfied, the Witnesses poure forth the Vials (the thing we so industriously proved be­fore) when having but mentioned two Vials, we find the godly Magistrates and Ministers of the reformed Churches (whom all along we have shewn to be these two Witnesses) have already poured forth both of them? The former, the godly Ministers, such as Chemnitius, Chamier, Junius, Reignolds, &c. The latter, the godly Magistrates, as certain of the number of these Wit­nesses also. Thus these Witnesses turn Waters into bloud. The next thing that follows, And they smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will; this falls now in order to be enquired con­cerning.

And to be short, what can this mean, but (which we touched upon before) the pouring forth the other Vialls, all which at the first Verse of that 16 Chapter, are commanded there to be poured forth upon the earth? And if this be so, you have then the summe of the former, and of this same, in one word this much, In that the Holy Ghost tells us, these Witnesses turn Waters into bloud, and smite the earth with all plagues, as often as they will, 'tis all one, as if he had said. These Witnesses do pour forth all the Vials.

And now by this time you have had the Witnesses at full shewed forth, you have seen who they are. They are Zerubbabel and Jeshua; Moses and Elias; Moses and Aaron: you have seen what they do. They spend themselves into the Candlesticks; to the Churches they are as Oyl is to the Lamps; nourishing, and keeping them alive all the time of Antichrists prevailing; if any [Page 26] attempt to wrong them, fire proceeds out of their mouths, and destroyes such as do attempt it. And for the wrongs the Anti­christian Gentiles offer the Church, these Witnesses shut heaven upon them, that it rain not, nay pour forth all the Vials of the wrath of God upon them.

Thus you have all the active part of these Witnesses already drawn forth. That which follows, is their passive, which when I have touched upon one or two observations from these last words, I shall without any other interruption fall upon. The Observations are these:

1. Is heaven shut by these Witnesses, so that no rain falls upon the Antichristian party, all the glad tydings of forgivenesse, and reconciliation withheld from them? How sad must needs be the condition of such a people? What have they to soften them, to make them fruitfull, when no rain at all falls upon them.

2. How fruitfull on the contrary should we be, who live un­der the droppings of heaven, and are refreshed with the former, and latter rain alwayes in their seasons? Poor Papists have no rain: Yea, how much the rather should we endeavour fruit­fulnesse, Isa. 5. 5, 6. lest for default, that same be made good upon us, which once the Lord threatned, his Vineyard withall, he would tak­away the hedge, and would command the clouds, that they should rain no rain upon it.

3. Do the Witnesses pour forth all the Vials? No marvell then, they are said to torment them thot dwell upon the earth; No Vers. 10. marvell, those same Inhabitants of the earth rejoyce, they are got rid of them, as they do, when by the hands of these Witnesses, is emptied forth so much wrath upon them.

WE have ere while seen who these Witnesses are, what they do, how grievously they torment Antichrist, with his party: which because these Witnesses do not carry impune, An­tichrist not sitting down unrevenged, it now follows, we see [Page 27] what is done to them, and how they are repaid for all the plagues wherewith Antichrist, and his party have by them been tormented: This is laid down in the words above mentioned, as also them that follow; And when they have finished their testi­mony, the beast, &c.

In which who so observes, shall finde as cleer an allusion to our Saviour, as set forth in the story of his death, resurrection, and ascending up to heaven, as before to any of the types, whereby these witnesses were formerly represented.

Our Saviour when he had preached neer three yeers and half; about the number of the dayes of the Prophesie of these Wit­nesses, was by Pilate, and so by Rome then Heathen, as the Wit­nesses by Rome now Antichristian, put to death. After three dayes, there being a great earthquake rises again, and not long after, is received up to heaven in a cloud. To all which who sees not a plain allusion intended; when in the description of these witnesses suffrings, and after restauration, you have mention of the like death, earth-quake, resurrection, and ascending up to heaven in a cloud also? So that if before in what they did, they were like Zerubbabel and Jeshua; Moses and Elias; Moses and Aron, here for what they suffer, and the sequell, they are cleerly resembled to that faithfull and true witnesse Jesus Cha. 5. 14. Christ.

This much in the grosse, but look more particularly, and you shall finde in what is mentioned of these Witnesses suffe­rings, such specialls observable as these;

1. There is warre waged with these witnesses, and the conse­quent the Witnesses overcome, and killed.

2. The enemy that wages this warre, The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit.

3. The time when this warre is waged, and these witnesses overcome, and killed by this beast, and this is (sayes the Text) when they have finished their testimony. I shall addresse my self to speak of these in this order: First, the warre waged and the consequents, then that which follows in the order above men­tioned.

And for this warre waged with these Witnesses, we must not think this is the first, which hath ever been raised against them: as though the Witnesses, had met with no opposings, all the [Page 28] time of their prophesie (continuing so many hundred yeers) till just toward the end, and close of it, we must not so con­ceive at any hand: For if you consult, the thirteenth Chapter, and seventh verse, you finde the beast (these Witnesses enemy, and as old, as are these Witnesses) so soon almost as he receives being, receives power to make warre with the Saints, and to over­come, Cha. 13. 2. and kill them. And in the twelfth Chapter and last verse, the Dragon who substitutes this beast, and on whom he estates his power, throne, and great authority (himself being now no longer able to hold them in his own name) as soon as ever the Woman was scaped into the wildernesse, which is now severall hundred yeers agone, he goes forth under covert of this beast, To make warre with the remnant of her seed, which kept the Chapl 12. Vers. ult. Commandments of God, and had the testimony of JESƲS CHRIST.

And sure the event shews as much, when above four hundred yeers agone, in that one Kingdom of Gaule (now called France) if Perionius may be beleeved, at least ten hundred thousand of those godly Waldenses and Albigenses were butchered by this beast. And can we imagine so many Saints slain, and none of these Witnesses among all these numbers?

This warre then here mentioned, supposes not the Wit­nesses untouched all the time of their prophesie before, but rather seemes to hold forth some eminent warre, now at last to be raised against them; which perhaps, because it shall differ from all the former in the quality of it, or specially in the successe, striking of all the Witnesses there, where 'tis done, which no other warre had perhaps done before, is therefore by the Holy Ghost thought fit onely to be mentioned.

Nor yet therefore can we say this warre shall be more grievous and bloudy then all the former, possibly it is not men­tioned for any eminent bloudshed accompanying it, but rather (as some conceive) for a signe of the instant, and neer ap­proaching ruine of Antichrist, which but a little after follows it however; I dare not say this last warre, shall be eminent for bloudshed beyond all the former, for this reason I now offer. If this same killing of these Witnesses can not be [Page 29] understood in the Letter, viz. That indeed, and in the Letter these Witnesses should be slain, but a mysticall killing is only here understood; then sure this cannot be a killing so very bloudy: But that this must be understood not of a reall killing, but a mysticall hence appeares: Such as is the resurrection of these Witnesses mentioned at the eleventh Verse, such must needs be the killing, here mentioned, for of opposites there is the same reason. But their resur­rection Oppositorum eademratio. we must needs understand mystically, for of no resurrection properly so called, do we read before the twentieth Chapter of this prophesie, which must necessarily Cha. 20. 5. follow some space the rising again of these Witnesses here men­tioned.

This then is a mysticall killing, a throwing them from place, out of office, some civill death: As when a man in place formerly, now thrown out, may be said to be killed in his office, is dead in law: So these, ceasing from place in Church, and Commonwealth, which as Magistrates and Mini­sters, they sometimes enjoyed, and this accompanied perhaps with the killing of some of them indeed; this seems the killing of the Witnesses, we are to understand here.

I say again the killing of these Witnesses by this reckoning, seems no other, then the throwing them from that station, which once they held in the Reformed Churches, being taken off from executing that Magistracie, that Ministry they once had; and this possibly attended with the reall slaughter of some of them, Though the other, the killing of them in their office, seem the main, and more generall slaughter here in­tended.

Having seen whats done to these Witnesses, [They are slain] we next enquire who slayes them, and to this the Text makes answer, The beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit: this now next in order comes to be handled.

For this therefore you may take notice, there is a severall Chap. 4. Vers. 6, 7, 8, 9. Chap. 13. Vers. 1. & 11. mention made of beasts in this prophesie; in the fourth Chapter you have four beasts spoken of, in the thirteenth Chapter theres mention made of two; one with two horns, another with tenne: But no where doe we finde a beast ascending out of the [Page 30] bottomlesse pit, this character being expresly affixed, save onely in the 17 Chapter of this Prophesie, whitherto having recourse Cha. 17. 8. (where the holy Ghost seems not more to prophesie, then inter­pret) we shall best finde what's meant by the beasts ascending out of the bottoml [...]sse pit here mentioned, and so in conclusion who it is that doth slay these Witnesses.

In that 17 Chapter therefore you have a woman presented sitting upon a Scarlet-coloured beast, having seven heads and ten Vers. 3. horns. In the opening whereof, the woman is expresly by the holy Ghost called, The great City which ruleth over the Kings of Vers. 11. the earth; that is, Rome; for at that time Rome onely of all the Cities of the world, was capable of any such description; and if so, the Woman be Rome, it must needs follow the Beast she sits upon must be the Roman Empire, this follows so cleer from the former, none needs to make question of it.

But because the Roman Empire in its Bulk considered, and according to its materiale, doth no more ascend out of the bot­tomlesse pit then other Empires and Kingdomes do; to loose this knot, hear a little further: The holy Ghost shewing the mystery of the seven heads, and ten horns, tells us, The seven Vers. 10. heads are seven Kings, or seven kindes of Government, five where­of, namely, That of Kings, Consuls, Tribunes, Decemviri, and Dictators, were expired already; one, namely, That of Cae­sars, was, it was when John saw this Vision; and the seventh, that of Popes, was to come; and when it comes, this kinde of Go­vernment Vers 8. was to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit. So that by this account, not so much the Empire, the body of the Beast, as the seventh head of this Beast, comes out of the bottomlesse pit; or else thus, The Empire, as ruled by the Popes, and thus cast into an Antichristian Form, this is the Beast ascending out of the bottom­lesse pit; The Roman Empire Antichristianized, is the Beast as­cending out of the bottomlesse pit slaying these Witnesses.

But why is this kinde of Government said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit? I was once thinking the same thing meant by this expression, as by the same Beast's ascending out of the Sea, at the 13 Chapter and 1 Verse; which Sea is frequently in Scripture called the Abysse, or bottomlesse pit; and there, as in other places, signifies no more then a multitude of people, which because subjecting themselves to the Government of this Beast, [Page 31] thence is this Beast said to rise out of the Sea. But when I finde that none of all the former heads but might in this sense be said to ascend out of the bottomlesse pit; namely, Because arising from the multitude of people subjecting themselves to them, and yet finde none of them said to rise out of the bottomlesse pit, save this last, this of Popes onely, it cleerly to me holds forth thus much. The other kindes of Government, shadowed out by the former heads, had somewhat of God in them. at worst were but the Ordinances of men; but this seventh head, this Government of Popes, this hath its originall from hell, its coming, as the A­postle speaks, is after the working of Sathan, 'tis his divising, 2 Thess. 2. 9. comes from the bottomlesse pit, and shall in due time be sent thither back again.

So that adde this to the former, and the Romane Empire un­der the seventh head, namely, that of Popes (a Government de­vised, [...]. and established by the contrivance of hell, the work­man-ship of Sathan) this is the Beast ascending out of the bot­tomlesse pit, slaying these Witnesses.

You have seen then the enemy that wages War with these Witnesses, and slayes them; the next thing we are to enquire, is the time when these Witnesses are slain, and this is then when they have finished their testimony; this now follows to be enquired concerning.

I finde this [ [...]] severall wayes translared; some render it as here, [when they have finished;] others, and those very accurate Interpreters, translate the Aorist by the future, and so render it [when they are about to finish;] which latter if so, the meaning must fall thus, then when the Witnesses draw toward end of their mourning testimony, the Church by this time being in some good measure reformed, and having now gained much ground upon Antichrist, are ready to throw off their Sackcloth, then the Beast ascending out of the bottomlesse pit, makes War with them, and slayes them.

So that putting all together, viz. Their killing, The beast that kills them, and The time when they are killed; and you have the meaning of all at one view thus much:

Then when the Witnesses are about to close up their testimony, and having done much in reforming the Church, having regained much of the utter Court, which Antichrist had gained whole pos­session [Page 32] of before, are now about to put off their Sackcloth, the An­tichristian power, at this time collecting it self, possibly by mur­thering some, but chiefly by putting them from their places, disina­bling, suspending, and silencing, shall thus overcome, kill, and make an end of these Witnesses.

And now perhaps it will be expected, especially having so fair a hint given by the Text; we should come to some determination Whether the killing of these Witnesses be past yea or no; but in regard we shall be furnished with most light then when we have heard the Prophesie speak out, we shall therefore adjourn the decision till the last, still continuing to proceed forward in opening the Prophesie; onely before we do proceed any further from this last verse, we now opened, take these observations:

1. Are the Witnesses slain when they have done their testi­mony? Hence take notice, Best men, and best Offices, are some­time of all other the worst rewarded: here are Witnesses, cal­ling sinners home from dangerous and perishing wayes, be­seeching them to turn from dumb Idols, to serve the living God, then which none can do a better Office, yet after all their pains bestowed, they are killed for a recompence.

2. Are these slain then when their mouths are stopped, when they cease to witnesse? By this account men live no longer then they work; and whoso hath left off to do the Lords work, as the Apostle speaks in another case, is dead while he lives; he that 1 Tim. 5. 6. Rev. 14. 13 hath rested from his labour, by this reckoning is no other then dead.

3. Doth the Beast slay these Witnesses? Oh the plague this Beast, this Antichrist is to the world! but two lights leading a blinde world from perdition, and the Antichristian power puts them both out, slayes both the Witnesses.

4. Doth the Beast ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, the Antichristian kinde of Government, ascend out of hell? sure then they much mistake themselves that tell us 'tis jure divino: they much mistake its originall, that tell us it is from heaven: 'tis from hell, from the bottomlesse pit, if we believe the Scrip­tures; there it had its conception, and shall in due time be re­turned thither back again.

OUr last work concerned the killing of the Witnesses; It follows now we look what becomes of their dead bodies, in these words; And their dead bodies shall lie in the street, &c.

The slaughter of these Witnesses being for the most part an unbloody slaughter, the killing of them in their Office, as we saw before, by the like proportion; their lying d [...]ad, what can it mean but their continuing in that state of civill death, which their former slaughter brought them into. They remaining suspended from the execution of that Office which as Magi­strates and Ministers they held before, remaining silent, not prophesying, not witnessing any thing authoritatively as they did formerly; this seems meant by the Witnesses lying dead. I say again, Their mouthes were stopt at what time they were slain, and since then they continue silent, dead to all that life which as the Lords Prophets and Witnesses they lived before; thus they lie for some space as dead corpses after their slaughter.

But passing from this, let's take a view of the place where these Witnesses lie dead, this follows, and 'tis [In the street of the great City, spiritually called Sodom, and Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified.]

A place so at large set forth, and by such apt resemblances, as indeed it seems even next door to naming it; in the description whereof, the holy Ghost bestows so many words, that when he wo [...]ld not name it, yet would seem to make such sure work, that any who had but half an eye, should not misse the under­standing of it.

This place, because it will afford much variety of matter not unprofitable, we shall therefore take a more exact view of it, enquiring, first, What this great City is? Then, what the street? Why this great City is called Sodom? Why Egypt? Why the place where our Lord was crucified?

For the first of these; Whereas it is said the dead bodies of [Page 34] these Witnesses do lie in the street of the great City; by the great City, it seems we must necessarily understand Rome. So much is understood by this same expression, the holy Ghost himself in­erpreting at the 17 Chapter of this Prophesie, and last Verse: And when further you have mention of [the great Whore] [Great Babylon] and the like, still Rome is meant by all those ex­pressions: Cha. 17. 1. Ch. 16 19. Ch. 20. 10. Only once in this book the new Jerusalem (extant af­ter the fall of Babylon) is called the great City; but that the new Jerusalem should be meant by the great City here, none can be so far lost to all understanding as once to imagine it.

And sure not without cause is Rome called great Babylon, the Ch 16. 19. great City; for whether you take greatnesse to signifie an ampli­tude of power, (for so sometimes 'tis used to signifie) hence the great King is as much as King of kings: or take greatnesse for Psal. 48. 2. spa [...]iousnesse: What City can compare with Rome in either of these?

In the former; What City can, when you have Rome by the holy Ghost himself described [the great City that ruleth over the Kings of the earth:] Nineveh, Babylon, no Citie ever extend­ing Chap. 17. ult. its power so far as Rome.

And for spaciousnesse which can, at this day, when but a part of it remains; 'tis 15 or 16 miles in compasse within the Walls (if Lipsius may be believed) but when this Prophesie Admirand. lib. 3. was written, it was then in compasse 42 miles: And is not this then with good reason called the great City?

I know Bellarmine, with some other Popish Writers, as also Bell lib. 3. de Pa. some late ones of our own, contend Jerusalem must be here meant the great City; but how likely, let others judge: For first, for extent of power, none will say it ever came neer Rome, 'twas utterly inconsiderable to Rome, which was indeed urbs Hicronim. caput orbis, the City, the Empresse of the World; yea, which at once did swallow up Jerusalem with all its Territory, and little lesse then an hundred times as much as all that came to: And for spaciousnesse, take this record concerning Jerusalem; Wilhelmus Tyrius, l [...]b. 8 de bello sacro urbs min [...]r m [...]imis mediocribus mai [...]r. It was a City lesse then the greatest, greater then the least, a mid­ling City (as we say) this is all that can be said for the compasse of it: which if so, Jerusalem then cannot be the great City here meant; and if not Jerusalem, then must Rome be it; for be­sides Jerusalem, there is none else that stands in competition. [Page 35] Rome then is the great City; but now the street of the great Ci­ty follows, that must be our next enquire.

And concerning this same, it is not to be conceived (I sup­pose) a street properly so called, such as every great City hath many of; for besides, That Armies do not use to make the City, and so no one street of a City their place of fight, which yet they must say who shall here be peremptory for the letter: besides this (I say) neither was our Saviour crucified in any street of the City, but without the Gat [...], who yet is said there to be crucified Heb 13. 1 [...] where these Witnesses lay dead, even in the street of the great Ci­ty; from all which it appears not to be a street properly so cal­led, and therefore some other must be enquired after.

Shall we therefore say the street of the great City means the Romish Territority, the space wherein the Romish Govern­ment is exercised. This seems not unlikely; and if the word [ [...]] signifying [a street] be well examined, [...] often by the Lxx, translated [...] signi­fies, Quicquid est extra, regio &c. Job. 5. 10. Likewise [...] rendred also by the Lxx [...], will not gainsay, but a whole coun­trey may be called [...]. Vid. Mede Com. Apoca. it will be found not altogether to abhor from such a meaning. In regard therefore this cannot be a street properly so taken, and then further 'tis but one street, such as the greatest Cities seem to have but one of; though of streets properly so taken, there is no City but hath many, as also because the word [ [...]] will bear it; be the Roman Terri­tory, that space wherewith the Roman Jurisdiction is co [...]xten­ded [The street of this great City.]

But now why is this great city Spiritually called Sodom? this next follows to be enquired concerning.

This word [ [...], Spiritually] bars us out from any thought that this City here mentioned should be Sodom indeed; No, this City is spiritually Sodom; and yet not [spiritually] as often the word is taken, viz. when [earthly and carnally] are opposed, for so both the one City and the other have little to do with any thing spirituall in this meaning: But [spiritually] it is Sodom, that is, this great city Rome is Metaphorically Sodom, 'tis Sodom by way of resemblance; this is meant, when you have Rome called [spiritually Sodom.]

And that this is so, and there is a cleer resemblance betwixt them, who so shall compare them each to other, will no longer make question. For instance, Sodom, to which Rome is here resembled (not to name other things) was the most silthy place [Page 36] then in being in the world: we read the story of that notorious wickednesse of theirs in that nineteenth of Genesis. From which Gen. 19. the sinne of Sodomy taking its name, retains it to this day. And for the great City of Rome here mentioned; sure for unclean­nesse 'tis nothing at all behinde Sodome: For look upon her spirituall uncleannesses, and because of these you have her called the great Whor [...], the mother of Harlots and abominations of the R [...]v. l. 17. and 5. earth: she being the parent of all abominable Idolatries what­soever. And for carnall uncleannesse, let him speak, who thus upon his knowledge reports her.

Who also taking his leave of Rome, thus be speaks her. Vid. Fran: Petrat. E­pist. 20.

But then for the sinne of Sodomy it self (the foundation of this resemblance) is there any thing more common in this City then this most infamous wickednesse, that of the Epi­gramatist speaks a great deal both of wit, and truth toge­ther.

Can this sinne be a stranger in that City, when Jerome, Zeged, Bright­man. Mutius does dare to write in the defence of this sinne of So­domy, and these writings of his, allowed by the Bull of Pope Julius the third? When also the Archbishop of Beneventum, becomes so lost to all shame, as to make a Panegyrie in com­mendation of this most detestable wickednesse. But no more of this, least I wrong modest spirits. In short the uncleannesses of this place are not to be mentioned; of which (I say no more) if any be ignorant, l [...]t him be ignorant still; for my part I had rather he should be so, then by my inveighing against them, so to come to learn them. Sufficient I am sure hath been discovered, to shew that Rome is Sodome, which was our pur­pose. Next we proceed to enquire, why tis called [Egypt.]

And doubtlesse, the resemblance holds as well in this, as in [Page 37] the former; as if we but take a view thereof, we shall easily discover. Observe therefore: Egypt was a place for Idolatry, none like it; none had more gods then they; and then their Herodat. Juve: Sa­ty: 15. gods some of them, were Cats, Crocodiles, Serpents, Oynions, (as the Satyrist scoffs at them) even the vilest, and most abject creatures. And doth not the resemblance every way answer. Have any people more gods then are to be found in the Romish Egypt? Can you come into any place of theirs, any Temple, any Oratory, where you do not finde every Wall, every Win­dow, every corner thronged with them. And then to give divine honour to a pair of shooes, a shirt, a pair of breeches, with Carthus: Alexand: Hal: Tho­mas Caje­tan Bona­vent. Bellar. infinite such kinde of Reliques (then which both their opini­on, and practise speaks nothing more common) is not this eve­ry way as bad as to worship a Cat, a Crocodile, or any other such vile creature.

But this is not all; As Egypt was an Idolatrous place, so was it to the people of God, a place of cruelties, it was to them the house of Iron bondage. However it was friendly at first, yet Deu 4. 20. Exod 1. 8. when an other King arose that knew not Joseph: then did Egypt begin to shew it self; then, lest Israel should overmuch encrease, they must be had to the firy furnace, if so be the toyl, and an­guish Vers 11. and 14. hereof might lessen, and consume them; When this suc­ceeds not, then all the mal [...]-children must be destroyed as soon as born; that thus stopping the spring, the stream, within a while might wither, and be cut off also.

And hath not all this been done in the Romish Egypt? What ever fair quarter the Church at fi [...]st found among them, it was not long before the Dragon, (a title formerly given to Pharaoh, Isai. 51. 9. Chap. 12▪ Vers 1, 2, 3, 4. but now entailed upon the Heathen Roman Emperours:) doth stand before the woman new in travell, ready to destroy the Male­child so soon as ever it was born. When this takes not, then are they brought unto the furnace, and however the people of God Vers. 13. and 17. Sanguis martyrum semen Eccle­siae. did multiply in their persecutions, and their numbers encreased by those very courses they took to lessen them, in like manner as did Israel before; yet was not the furnace of the Romish Egypt, lesse scorching then of the other; nay rather, the furnace in this Egypt, is heated seven times hotter then ever that of the former. It could be no lesse, when besides all those who were put to death in the tenne Primative persecutions, [Page 38] at least ten hundred thousand of the Waldenses and Albigenses (as was hinted before) are after made away by the Antichristian Power. And since those bloody times to our dayes, no fewer destroyed by this Egyptian fiery furnace also. In the first thirty yeers after the Order of the Jesuites was brought forth, were Baldwin de A [...]tich cap 6. Fra: Iunius & Tilmus ad Bell. slain of godly Christians neer ninety thousand: And the Inqui­sition it self, in the space of scarce thirty yeers, made away with no lesse then a hundred and fifty thousand: whereto if we should adde all the blood of Martyrs spilt in Germany, France, and England, together with that Protestant blood now shed in Ireland, what would all this amount unto? but the former is sufficient for our purpose; and what hath been said abundantly shewing that Rome is to the people of God the house of Bond­age: for which, together with its notorious Idolatry, 'tis not unelegantly by the holy Ghost stiled another Egypt.

Rome then for its Idolatry, and Cruelty apparently is Egypt; now next we enquire (which in the Text follows) why 'tis re­sembled to the place where our Lord was crucified.

The Jesuites, to the end they might deliver their beloved Rome from the foul and odious stains here asperst upon her, will needs turn Ribera A­poc 11. num. 12. Bellar: lib 3. de Pap: Ro. all this over to Jerusalem, telling us Jerusalem is the place here described; for where (say they) was our Lord crucified, but onely at Jerusalem?

Of our own there are that carry it thus; As Rome before was for its filthinesse Sodom, as also Egypt for Idolatry, and cru­elty; so now in her blasphemous Masse, for crucifying Christ Petra Epist. 19. afresh every day, and killing these Witnesse, as once indeed she did Christ himself, is therefore here call'd Spiritually Jerusalem: But if this please not, you may refer this clause to that which went before, I mean those words [the street of the great city] as if the Verse ran thus; And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, where also our Lord was crucified. Ac­cording whereunto the meaning must be this; Our Saviour was crucified in the street of the great city, where also lie dead the bodies of these Witnesses.

Object. But some may say; Our Saviour was crucified in Jerusalem, how then in any street of Rome?

Resol. I answer in both; He was crucified at Jerusalem, That was the certain, literall place (as I may call it) where he was cru­cified: [Page 39] yet in regard he was not put to death by any power the Joh. 18. 31 Jews had, (for they acknowledge, It was not lawfull for them, to put any man to death) but by the Roman power, in regard Pilate a Roman Judge passes sentence: And further, because ad­judged to dye a Roman death: And this in a place, at that time under the Roman Jurisdiction, within the Roman Territory; therefore with good congruitie, he is here said to be crucified in the street of Rome also. In brief, our Saviour was crucified within the Roman jurisdiction: This (as we saw before) is [The street of the great City.]

Gather up now the sum of all the former into one, and the result of all, is clearly thus much. These Witnesses formerly slain in their office; and now continuing in that state of civill death their slaughter brought them into, thus lie dead within the Dominion, and Territory of Rome; which Rome is for her filthynesse [Sodome] for her Idolatry, and cruell persecuting of the people of God [Egypt;] which when heathen puts our Saviour to death, now Antichristian puts to death his Wit­nesses. The words thus opened, the observations now follow.

1. Is the street of the great City the [Roman Territory:] then if the salying of the Witnesses should be yet to come; as also to be accomplished in all the Roman territory; then only out of the Roman territory, can be exemption expected from this slaughter; onely in the further parts of the world, or some more priviledged place neerer home (if there be any such) can any Witnesses hope this killing shall not befall them?

2. Is Rome [Sodome]? Take notice then of that strange blindnesse, or rather perversenesse of the Romish Crew: Rome is in their apprehension, and in their mouthes also [Sancta Roma,] holy Rome;] notwithstanding (there being no place so unholy) tis by the holy Ghost deservedly called Sodome.

3. Is Rome become [Sodome?] Observe from hence, the sad, yet proper punishment of Idolatry: Rome through her Idola­try, is by a just judgement, transformed into Sodome. These by their Idolatrous imaginations depose the Lord into the likenesse Rom 1. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27. of themselves. God by a just punishment deposes them into worse then very beasts. For this cause God gives them over to vilo [Page 40] affections. They entertain unbecoming thoughts of God, and God gives them to do things altogether unbecoming themselves.

4. What a mercy was it to be delivered from Rome? What a mercy was it for Lot to be delivered out of Sodom? from so much filthinesse, and from such an unclean Generation, the be­holding whereof could be no other to a gracious heart, then a 1 Pet. 2. 7. continuall vexation?

5. If Rome from her Idolatry and cruelty is become another Egypt, How thankfull then should we bear our selves for our deliverance from it? an Idolatrous place, as also a cruell; such as would by the former destroy the soul; or if it could not that, then by the latter the body: should not the deliverance from such a place, be alwayes had in remembrance?

6. If Rome be Egypt; Ah cruell they that have formerly, and dayly do contend to bring a poor escaped people into Egypt back again. Israel had a Law, That none should bring again a Deut. 23. 15. servant, who because of the harsh usage of his Master, had got away from him: This was, and yet continues to be our case, and is among us the great quarrell at this day: Poor we, are scaped from Egypt, from Rome, being able to bear her harsh usage no longer; and cruell hard-hearted they, by all endeavours possible will trie to bring us thither again.

7. Is Rome the place [where our Lord was crucified?] Oh the destruction and vengence that doth await Rome! when God shall recompence upon her the blood of Proph [...]ts, the blood of Saints, yea, the blood of all that are slain upon the earth, and after all this shall come to reckon with her for shedding the blood of Cha 18. 24 his onely beloved Son, for crucifying the Lord of glory also, What a vengeance must all this be recompensed withall!

WE have formerly seen these Witnesses slain, by whom, as also where they lie dead; but now, when we should attend them to their graves, we cannot, there's this hinders [Page 41] (sayes the Text) Their dead bodies are not suffered to be put in graves.

The enquiry of the meaning of this, is our present businesse: In the endeavour whereof, for better order sake, we shall ob­serve:

1. What it is that's further done to these Witnesses after they are slain; In these words [They are looked upon, and not suf­fered to be put in graves.]

2. The persons that look upon them, and will not suffer them them to be put in graves, pointed at in these words, [They of the People, and Kinreds, and Tongues, and Nations] these look upon the dead Witnesses, and will not suffer them to be put in graves.

3. How long this gaze of theirs lasts, and the Witnesses thereupon kept unburied; which these words also give us knowledge of, 'Tis [three dayes and an half.] They of the People- and Kinreds, and Tongues, and Nations, shall see their dead bodies three dayes and a half, and shall not suffer them to be put in graves.

In the foremost of these (which will perhaps take in the se­cond in the scanning) I must needs acknowledge there is a knot; which because it seems to lay it self open to two, dif­ferent, and opposite meanings, and both very plausible, renders the matter difficult whether to take of them.

The question is, Whether this [looking upon these dead Wit­nesses, and the not suffering them to be put in graves,] be done in favour, or dis-favour of them; and accordingly as you incline in this question either to the one side, or to the other, so will there a sutable meaning offer it self to you. To instance therefore; here's one interpretation the words seem to like of. The Beast, the Romish Antichrist with his complices, having stopped the mouthes of all the Witnesses, thus slaying them, and now fur­ther devising some way, that being thus slain, they may never rise again, never witnesse more against him, thus trying to throw them into the Grave, to shut and seal the graves-mouth upon them; in attempting hereof, is by the Reformed people (through the Ministry of the Witnesses, by this time grown into great mul­titudes, and already provoked for the slaughter of these Wit­ness [...]s) resolutely opposed; which Antichrist perceiving, and fearing lest upon further attempts they might become desperate, [Page 42] fits down content onely to have thrust these Witnesses from their places, and stopt their mouths for present, not daring to make any further attempt at all against them. Thus they of the Kinreds, and Tongues, and People, and Nations, do hinder, that Antichrist (who hath slain these Witnesses) should yet pro­ceed so far as to throw them into graves; And to this interpre­tation these Considerations seem to give countenance:

1. It is not the Inhabitants of the earth (by which name the Popish faction are commonly known in this Revelation) who keep the Witnesses from being buried; for then the matter had been put besides all question; but on the contrary, tis [They of the Kinreds, and Tongues, and People, and Nations] these will not suffer the Witnesses to be put in graves; by which, who can be meant but the Reform [...]d p [...]opl [...]? Those you have in­deed brought in rejoycing, at the following Verse, for the slaugh­ter Vers. 10. of the Witnesses; who, had they been here meant also, pro­bably not this so different, but the same expression had serv'd to point at them in both places.

2. The Originall Text seems to contribute something toward this Interpretation; where you reade, [ [...]] being all put partitively; As if the holy Ghost should say; [And some of them of the Kinreds, and People, and Tongues, &c. some of finer mettle, choyce [...] spirits] these shall not suffer the Witnesses to be put in graves.

2. This is one Interpretation, and indeed in the generall plausible, though (I must confesse) looking a little neerer, to see how particulars will hold, there seems some difficulty: For in­stance; stating the Reformed people k [...]p the Witnesses from bury­ing; but what can be meant by their looking on their dead bodies? (so sayes the Text) They look upon their dead bodies three dayes and an holy; Is it any pleasure for them to have their eyes so long upon their dead Witnesses? Abraham, when his beloved Sarah Gen. 23. 4. was dead, then buyes a place to bury his dead out of his sight: were it never so great delight to look on them while alive, sure it can be none to look on them when dead. And then again, what can we understand by those graves, which according to this Interpretation, the Reformed people are said not to suffer these Witnesses to be put into? shall we say this they mean, [they keep them from being killed indeed] but where finde we [Page 43] that [not suffering to be buried] should mean, not [suffering to be killed] what analogie between these? And indeed 'tis a hard matter to assign any condition which holds resemblance, or analogie with those graves, which the Reformed people (ac­cording to this Interpretation) are said to keep the dead Wit­nesses from.

So you have the first meaning the words seem to allow of; The other is this:

The Romish Antichrist with his party, having stopped the mouthes of these Witnesses, thus slaying them, after this shall with scorn, and insultation look upon their dead bodies: And if any should come as Joseph of Arimathea, to beg the body of Joh. 13. 39 one of these dead Witnesses, or should trie to hide or shelter these Witnesses, as Obadiah did the Prophets in the Cave; no, they 1 Kin. 18. 4 and 13. must not; such is the savagenesse of this Beast, with his compli­ces, they forbid any to harbour, entertain or countenance these silenc'd Witnesses, thus not suffering their dead bodies to be put in graves.

And if this sense shall passe, then have we a fair and obvious understanding of both those particulars, which in the former we scarce knew what at all to make of. The former [They look upon them] according to this Interpretation, the mean­ing must be, [They look upon them in derision.] So they did upon our Saviour, when he was upon the Crosse; The people, with the Priests, beholding of him, derided him, Luk. 23. 25. And is it not an usuall thing, in this manner for them to be looked upon, who having been formidable before, are now brought down, and become at an under? Cast your eye upon that 14 of Isa. and 16, and you will thence easily know, what it is for any Isa. 14. 10. and 16. to be looked upon in the case above mentioned; Observe the words a little, [They that see thee, shall narrowly look upon thee] Mark you, Here's a looking upon the Babylonian Mo­narchs now fallen; well, and what say they? Is this the man that made the earth to tremble, that did shake Kingdoms? Art thou also become weak as one of us? See how they insult over that fallen Monarchy.

And then for their [not suffering them to be put in graves] which was the other expression, we knew not what to make of in the former Interpretation (still retaining the analogie) [Page 44] it hath this meaning, [They shall deny them shelter, hiding place, and the like] So that if any had a desire to entertain them into their houses, so to bury them within their private Walls, it must not be: The Beast will not allow so much honour done to these Witnesses, as to suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.

In both which, there seems an allusion to our Saviours case, just after he was crucified; whose dead body was indeed be­stowed upon Joseph of Arimathea, when he came to beg it, but had it not been because the next day was a high day with the Joh. 19 31. Jews, it had hung a longer space upon the Crosse, to be the ob­ject of the gaze, and scorn of all that should passe by. But these more cruell then the Jews, at least not fearing their Festi­vall. Vers. 10. (mentioned in the Verse following) should be prophaned by the bodies of the Witnesses lying unburied in the street, will not at any hand suffer them to be put in graves; but there they must lie to be looked upon, the scorn and derision of all; as our Saviours had been also, had not the solemnity of the day follow­ing prevented.

And now to render this Interpretation more likely, take these Considerations:

1. To deny the dead buriall, sounds alwayes a dis-favour; a great dis-favour from him that doth deny it; a great indignity to him to whom it is denyed: was it no indignity to Jehoiakim, that he is threatned to be buried with the buriall of an Asse? He Jer 22. 19. should have no buriall at all, or none worth having? As also to the Babylonian Monarchs, That they should be cast out of their graves, as an abominable branch? Would this be no indignity, no Isa. 14. 19. dis-favour to them?

2. That which appears the main support of the other Inter­pretation (namely, because 'tis not the inhabitants of the earth are said to keep them from their graves, but The Kinreds, and Peo­ple, and Tongues, and Nations; implying thereby, That not the Po­pish Party do it, but some other) will not hold; both (notwith­standing the different expression) seeming indeed to mean the same persons. They do so at the 13 Chap. of this Prophesie, the 7 & 8 V. In the former whereof, I mean the 7. you find the Beast hath power given him, over all Kinreds, and Tongues, & People, and Nations: In the latter, All that dwell upon the earth worship him. Here they are all one: But now if any man should question whe­ther [Page 45] that power over Kinreds, and Tongues, and People, and Na­tions, do not mean a power by persecuting, to over-master, and so implying no voluntary subjection of these, as of the other: the 17 Chap. and 15 verse puts this out of question, where you find, The waters which the woman sits upon, that is, which sub­ject Chap. 17. 15. themselves to her, are people, & kinreds, & tongues, & nations.

3. These same who look upon the dead Witnesses in this ver. ap­pear the same with those, on whom great fear falls, when they see them stand upon their feet, and so rise again at the 11 vers. They do so; for who could they be in likelihood, that see them after the three daies and a halfstanding upon their feet, but those who during the space of three dayes and an half look'd upon them? And by the same argument, are they not the same with those who at the 12 verse (beholding these Witnesses ascension) are there expressely called their enemies? for who in likelyhood sees these Witnesses after three dayes and an half ascending, but those who all the while before look'd upon them? yea I should offer it, Whether the Nations that look upon these Witnesses here, and those which at 2 ver. tread under foot the holy City, be not all one: The same original word [ [...]] expresses both; and if these Nati­ons Verse 2. here be but the same with those who tread under foot the holy City, we need no further question whether friends or foes keep them unburied, or whether this be done in favour, or dis-favour of the Witnesses: To all which this seems to adde some confir­mation, That therefore it appears they will not suffer them to be put in graves, that they might glut their eyes with looking upon them; So the Text, They look upon them, and will not suf­fer them to be put in graves, as though they could never have their fill of such a pleasing spectacle as is the dead Witnesses.

You have now both the Interpretations. The one under­standing this [looking upon the Witnesses, and not suffering them to be put in graves] done in favour to them, the other dis­favour: neither of them unlikely, and therefore I shall leave every one, after the reasons on both sides well weighed, to take which himself best pleases; though for my own part I must confesse I rather encline to this latter, 'Tis done in dis-favour.

And now you see this large handling of the first thing menti­oned; namely, [the looking upon the Witnesses, and not suffer­ing them to be put in graves] hath (according to our former [Page 46] intimation) prevented a large enquiry in the second: I mean [the persons looking upon the Witnesses, and not suffering them to be buried] and so will not hold us long off from that [space of time wherein these Witnesses being looked at, are not suffered to be buried] which was the last thing in these words to be enquired concerning.

For if so be these Witnesses are kept out of their gaves in sa­vour to them, according as the former meaning would have it, then [they of the Kinreds, and Tongues, and Nations] must needs be the Reformed people; but if this be done in dis-favour, as the second Interpretation carries it, then must [they of the Kinreds and People, and Tongues and Nations] without all controversie mean the Popish Party.

Unlesse we say some kinde of middle people may possibly be understood (somewhat differing from the Inhabitants of the earth, the through Papists) who formerly having shewed them­selves friends, and yeelding some shelter to these Witnesses from the storms that had before droven them from their own places; yet now seeing the great power of Antichrist, fall in with him as the stronger, now no longer affording any shelter, any hiding place to these Witnesses. Which of these [the Kin­reds, and People, and Nations] mean, I shall no further de­termine, but from it, passe on to enquire, how long the Wit­nesses are lookt upon, and kept unburied, by the People, and Tongues, and Nations, which (sayes the Text) is Three dayes and an half; the last thing we were to enquire after, and comes now to be handled.

Concerning which three dayes and an half, I shall not say as some do, it signifies some very short time, yet not at all limited, Paraeus Com [...] Apo. or determinate; I shall not say so: for, being that it is a broken number [three dayes and an half] as broken numbers use to do, it must needs signifie a time determinate.

Nor further can this signifie the same space with the Witnes­ses Prophesie (which yet some imagine) for that of the Witnes­ses Deut. Exp. Prophesie, is three yeers and an half; this, of their lying un­buried, but three dayes and an half: Besides, this space of the three dayes and an half, doth then begin, when the term of the three yeers [...]n [...] an hal [...] is about to determine. For when the Witnes­ses have continued their prophesie almost three yeers and an half, [Page 47] and are now drawing toward an end, then are they slain; and after slain, they lic unb [...]ried three dayes and an half; so that this cannot be the same space with the term of the Witnesses Pro­phesie.

Once more; Nor seems it to be understood in the letter, viz. Ribera. for three dayes and an half properly, and in strictnesse so taken, it being hard to conceive, that all that which is mentioned to be done, during this space, should in so short a time as three dayes and an half be possibly accomplished. Is it possible that tydings of the slaughter of these Witnesses should be carryed from one people to an other, in the space of three dayes and an half; so that in that space also, they might congratulate with one another for this so happy turn of the Witnesses slaughter? Or is the space of half a day perceiveable, in a time of such publike and universall solemnity, as that is, when the Wit­nesses are killed? Which if so, If this three dayes and an half be not on indet [...]r [...]inate time (as we saw before;) nor yet the same with the 1260 dayes, the terme of the Witnesses Prophesie: nor yet three dayes and an half in the letter (as we saw just now) what can it mean, but three dayes and an half propheticall, that is, three yeers and an half? Thus long is the space while the Witnesses lie unburied. So we understood the three yeers and an half of the Witnesses Prophesie before; which resolving into one thousand two hundred and threescore dayes, and then ac­counting a day, for a yeer (as is the manner of the Prophets sometime to reckon) the whole came to one thousand two hundred and threescore yeers; So these [three dayes and an half] take them (is sometimes the Prophets do, and as we reckoned the former) and they make three yeers and an half al [...]o.

The meaning of this Verse, and all the severalls thereof, be­ing thus at large opened; I shall not for this once, draw up the summe of all offering it to one view, so (as hath been my former manner) but studious of brevity, shall forthwith pro­ceed to the observations, which are these.

1. From the former Interpretation; Do the reformed peo­ple keep the Witnesses from being thrown in to graves? Then if this should not be past, here is a lesson for the reformed peo­ple, here's this hint for them: Though they may suffer Anti­christ [Page 48] to slay their Witnesses; yet when he goes about to throw them into the grave, to the end they might never rise again, then does it behove the reformed people, with all their united strength, resolvedly to oppose it.

Let the reformed people remember this, now they are told of it, if such a thing were yet to be accomplished▪ That they do their parts, and not suffer Antichrist, after he hath slain their Witnesses, to the end they might never rise again, to throw them into the grave also.

2. From the latter. 1. Do the Popish party look upon the dead Witnesses, and will not suffer them to be buried, that they might still delight themselves in the beholding of them? Oh the insinite spleen the Popish party do bear against the Lords Wit­nesses! Is it not sufficient, they have slain them, but they must have their dead bodies lye before them, to scorn and mock at? Is it not sufficient, the Philistimes have put out Sampsons cyes, Jud. 16. 21▪ and 25. but they must send for him in this condition, to make them sport also? Take notice of the immortall hate these bear against Gods Witnesses, which doth not determine with their death; For after this, they must have their dead bodies to make may­games of.

3. Observe the salvagenesse of Antichrist and his crew, who will not suffer the dead Witnesses to have the honour of buriall: When they have stopped the Witnesses mouths, and so slain them, they cannot bear it, that any shall take a silenced Wit­nesse into house, give him shelter, entertainment: Hence such search, such enquiry made after these proscribed Witnesses here­tofore, and should this not be accomplished, it will be greater yet then ever, the Antichristian party will not suffer the dead Witnesses to be put in graves.

4. Does this unburied state of these Witnesses last but three dayes and an half, three yeers and an half, here's some comfort, Om [...]ia ad­vers [...], qu [...]n­tu [...]s magn [...], [...]. Though this time when ever it is, may be troublesome; yet 'tis not like to last long. How long soever they be a slaying, when once slain, they lie dead but three yeers an half, no longer are they left to be the scorn of the Popish brood; no longer are the people of God deprived of them.

IT now follows we see what is done the while these Wit­nesses lye dead, gazed upon, and uninterred in the street of the great City. In these words, And they that dwell upon the earth, shall rejoyce and make merry, and send presents one to another, because these two Prophets tormented, &c.

In opining whereof, we shall observe such like method as in the former enquiring.

1. What it is that's done, the while the Witnesses lye slain, and unburied, laid down in these words, [They rejoyce, and make merry, and send presents.]

2. The persons thus rejoycing, and making merry, And they are stiled [The Inhabitants of the earth, They that dwell upon the earth.]

3. The ground why they that dwell upon the earth are thus over joyed; In these words, [Tis over these two Prophets, be­cause they tormented them that dwell upon the earth.] Of these briefly in this order.

In opening the former, whereof I mean [The rejoycing, and making merry, &c.] here mentioned, I shall for this purpose referre to two, or three Scriptures; which taken notice of, will contribute abundant light in this matter.

The first of these I referre to, is that ninth of Hester: where, the Jews having got the day of their enemies, and procured Haman hanged, who in chief contrived, and endeavoured their ruine, for so great a deliverance, they set apart dayes of solemn feasting, and in them, They rejoyce, and make merry, and send Hest. 9. 19, 18 portions one to another.

So likewise in that fifteenth of Luke, When the Prodigall [...]mes home, so glad is the tender father, he hath received his sonne safe again, that for joy, he sends, and kills the fatted Calf, and they rejoyce, and make merry also. Luk. 15. 24.

And in the eight of N [...]h [...]miah, and the twelfth verse. The manner of keeping a solemne feastivall, is thus described, The people went home every one to eat the fat, and to drink the sweet, and to send portions on [...] to another, and to make great mirth.

From all which we gather, this much seems meant by the r [...]joy [...]ing, and making m [...]rry, here mentioned: The Inhabitants of the earth shall so resent there killing of, and conquest over these Witnesses, that they shall as greatly, and solemnly rejoyce, as those, who for some great deliverance, or else some eminent good thing befalling, were wont to set a part, and celebrate a [...]eastivall, wherein their menner was (as we heard before.) To Neh. 8. 12. eat, and drink▪ and make m [...]rry, and send presents one to another.

This is the meaning. And here observe it, I stick not for the exact performance of all this in the Letter: Namely that in­deed, And in the letter they should here send presents one to another (a custome among them of Elder times in their solemn rejoycings, now antiquated,) out this they shall do; They shall as greatly rejoyce, now they are rid of these Witnesses, as they in their solemn feastivals did, whose way of expressing their joy, was by making merry, and sending presents one to another.

We have now the meaning of the first thing, viz. The re­joycing, and making m [...]rry, here mentioned; next follows, the persons that rejoyce, and they are [The Inhabitants of the earth, Th [...]y that dwell upon the earth.] These are they, that rejoyce, and make m [...]rry. And whom can we understand by these, but the Popish Antichristian party? So we find them expressed, and pointed at, in the thi [...]teenth Chapter of this Prophesie, and the eight verse. Likewise at the seventeenth Chapter, and the fifth vers, besides many more places: yea so commonly doth the earth signifie the Antichristian Church, and the Inhabitants of the earth, the Popish Antichristian faction, that all this pro­phesie over, they are almost termes convertible. The Inhabi­tants of the earth, are the Antichristian faction; and the Anti­christian faction, are the Inhabitants of the earth. And when the members of the true Church are usually in this Revelation Rev. 13. 6. Revel. 18. 20. stiled [Those that dwell in Heaven] which they are, how ap­positely are the members of the Antichristian Church, their opposites stiled [Those that dwell upon the earth.]

And indeed, who else can be imagined to rejoyce at the sup­pressing, and killing of these Witnesses, but such as these? Who were tormented by the Witnesses, but they? So the Text, The two Prophets torm [...]nted them, who dwelt upon the earth. And then who can these possible be, but the Popish faction; who because tormented by these Witnesses, help the beast to slay them, and now having slain them, do out of measure rejoyce, they are thus got rid of them?

It is evident then the Inhabitants of the earth, are the Popish party: So we have dispatched the second thing, [The persons that do rejoyce, and make merry;] Now follows the third, [The reason why the Popish party do re [...]oyce:] thus expressed, They rejoyce over the Witnesses, because they tormented them that dwell upon the earth.

And here we must not mistake, as though the reason lay thus, They rejoyce, because the two Witnesses tormented them; as the words at the first face, seem to carry it: for doubtlesse, 'tis small joy to them to be tormented. But thus rather, They rejoyce over them, because these two Witnesses tormented them, meaning, That because these two Witnesses tormented them, when alive; therefore do they thus insult and triumph over them now, they are dead: or else thus; They rejoyce, because avenged, as also got rid of these Witnesses, and the reason why they rejoyce for this (as they conceive) so happy riddance, is, because these two Witnesses, while they were alive, grievously tormented them. This is then in short the meaning, The Popish faction rejoyce, because got shut of these Witnesses, fearing now no more to be tormented by them.

Quest. But befo [...]e we passe hence, some may perhaps move such [...]r question as this? How are these two Witnesses said to torment them that dwell upon the earth?

Reas. To which I answer, Were it nothing else but the Ministry of these Witnesses, this is torment greater then the Popish party possi [...]ly can endure; and should we conclude upon it, and say, this is that rack that doth torment them, the word [ [...]] expressing here the torment, would not at all oppose: For in other Scriptures 'tis used to signifie inward torment, torment of Chap. 14. 10, 11. conscience, and would as well signifie the same here also.

But we saw the Witnesses at the sixth verse of this Chapter, [Page 52] Turning [...]ers into bloud, and smiting the earth with all plagues, by which is meant [The powring out of the Vials] as was then shewed. This indeed is the [Tormenting the Inhabitants of the earth] here mentioned. And sure if it be either considered, what [...]s in those Vials, which is powred forth, or their behaviour, on whom they are powred; with all, remembring what hath been discovered in this matter before. It will be undoubtedly con­cluded, The pouring forth of the Vials, is, The tormenting of the Inhabit [...]nts of the earth, here intended. For example. Observe, What it is these Vials are full of, and at the 16 Chapter and se­venth Cha 16. 1. verse, you finde them brim full with the wrath of God. All which being poured forth upon the eart [...], (verse first, of that 16 Chap.) can it be, but this should torment th [...]m that dwell upon the earth. Again, Look upon the behaviour of them that dwell upon the earth, now there Vials are a pouring forth: and severall times in that 16 Cha you find, that when a Viall is pouring out, Chap. 16. ver. 9. and 11. they gnaw th [...]ir tongues for pain, and blaspheme the God of heaven.

The Witnesses pouring forth the Vials] is then the [tormen­ting of the Inhabitants of the earth] here mentioned.

But before I wholly leave this same, give me leave by the wa [...], to observe something from the word here used. It is not [ [...] to wrong,] but tis [ [...] to inflict a just torment:] when the Popish party medles with the Witnesse, then [ [...]] expresses it, as at the fifth verse, they do the Witnesses wrong; but when the Witnesses plague them, then tis [ [...]] they inflict upon them a just torment; and accordingly when they come to destroy Babylon (for these very Witnesses do destroy her) there you have the same word also. How much she hath glori­fied Cha. 18. 7. [...]. her self, so much just torment give her: Shewing, that what they do to these Witnesses, is wrong; what the Witnesses do to them, even when they come to destroy them, is but just punishment.

But to let this passe, all the parts of this verse being now opened, put all together, and it comes to thus much. The Popish party being grievously tormented by the Witnesses pouring forth the Vials upon them, in revenge hereof, they slay the Wit­nesses, and having slain them, do out of measure rejoyce, they are thus got rid of them. Thus you have at once the sum of the verse; from which, next follow these few observations.

1. Are the dwellers on the earth the Popish crue? From [Page 53] hence then learn the Character of the Popish Antichristian par­ty, They are a generation that dwell upon the earth, an earthly ge­neration: So sometime the Prelaticall faction their neer kinred have been described: viz. A generation of the earth, earthly, and Baines Dio. Try. Fr [...]f: that savour not the things of God. And certainly not without cause are the Popish party thus decifered, Their Religion is of the earth, their Ordinances are earthly Ordinances, thence all came; and when they have all holpen those poor Papists that use them, what they can, will not carry them above that earth, from whence they came.

2. Do the Antichristian brood rejoyce at the slaughter of the Witn [...]sses? Oh the desperate height of wickednesse these un­happy wretches arive to. The Lord doth send his Witnesses, choice Instruments, to convince these of their Idolatry, unclean­nesse, prophanenesse, and if it might be to bring them to repen­tance: but they, are so farre from being convinced, so farre from being wonne unto repentance, that insteed hereof they slay the Witnesses; and when they have this done (wonder of impiety) as if they had done some most praise-worthy thing, they rejoyce at it. Oh the desperate hardnesse thats come upon the Anti­christian faction!

3. Do the Witnesses torment the Popish party? You see then they do not so carry their hard usuage of these Witnesses, that they themselves scape u [...]et withall: If they make the Wit­nesses prophesie in Sackcloth, the Witnesses torment them as much by pouring upon them the Vials. And sure by that time all casts are plaid, The Popish party will have no great cause to boast of their winnings: by that time these Witnesses have re­warded Rev. 18. 6. Babylon, as she hath rewarded them, and in the cup wherein she hath filled, have filled to her double, (which is their Commissi­on) which also I could earnestly desire, were more looked up­on, and considered, (for who knows but some of us, that now live may be called forth to execute this Commission) I say a­gain, by that time the Reformed Churches have slain her Priests, as she hath slain their Witnesses, and dash'd her bratts against the Psal 137. 8, 9. Rev. 18. 6. stones, as she hath done their little ones: yea, and rewarded her double for all the wrongs, and violence done unto them, then will the Antichristian faction be enforced to acknowledge they were sufficiently matcht, when they medled with these Witnesses.

IN the words last handled, we saw how joy'd the Popish crew were at the slaughter of the Witnesses, thinking they had made such a hand of them, as that they should never hear of them any more: But now (which quashes all their mirth, and makes them every whit as sad as did the slaying of these Witnesses rejoyce them before) Behold, After three dayes and an half, the Spirit of Life enters into the Witnesses, and they stand upon their feet.

In which words, you have observable;

• 1. The witnesses Resurrection: [The Spirit of life from God ent [...]rs into them, and they stand upon their feet.]
• 2. The time of their Resurrection; 'Tis [after three dayes and an half.
• 3. The Consequent hereof; [Great fear fell on them that saw them.

Of these I shall speak in this order, and thereof briefly also, as of the former, beginning with their Resurrection first, in these words [The Spirit of life from God entred into them, and they stood upon their feet.

The Spirit of life] that which the Hebrews call [breath of [...] Heb. [...] Arab. [...] life] this enters into them.

And they stand upon their feet:] After this Spirit of life, or Breath of life, or as the Arabique renders it [Spirit from God] enters into them, they stand upon their feet; that is, They rise up again into their former employment: A posture quite different from what we ere while saw them in, when they lay dead in the street, not able to move hand or foot, for the space of three ye [...]rs and a half together. But now after that God hath by some extraordinary hand of his, restored them from their suspensi­ons and silencings, and so life put into them, then they stand upon their feet, as ready now anew to witnesse against Anti­christ, as [...]ver they were before. So those dry bones▪ Ez [...]ch. 37, [...]. 37. 1 [...]. (which also seem plainly here alluded to) after thet sinews and [Page 55] flesh had covered them, (at the tenth verse,) Breath enters into them, and they stand upon their feet.

And this perhaps will tell us what kinde of Resurrection is this of these Witnesses: For mark it, then is all this fulfilled; I mean, the dry bones have sinews and flesh, and after breathed upon, do live, and stand upon their feet.] When Israel in cap­tivity, without hope, or likelyhood of ever being delivered (in which condition they are the dry bones) are yet by the hand of God brought out of that hopelesse Captivity; This is the living and rising again of the dry bones there mentioned. According whereunto, when these Witnesses, formerly slain their office, thrown out thence, are by the speciall hand of God restored thereto again; what hinders but we say, This is the Spirit of life from God entring into the Witnesses, and their stand­ing upon their feet.

A Resurrection properly so called it cannot be; for of none such do we reade, till the 20 Chapter of this Prophesie (as was Cha. 20. 5. intimated before) and if not a Resurrection reall, and proper, what can it be, but some speciall hand of God, in restoring these Witnesses to place, opening their mouthes which were stopped by their former slaughter? This appears the Resurrecti­on of the Witnesses here intended.

Which if so, we need not then that shift which some make use of, telling us these Witnesses rise again in their successors, making this [the Resurrection of the Witness [...]s] here mention­ed: For if their rising again, mean their restoring to their place of Witnesses, as we saw before, then nothing hinders but the same that were slain may also rise again: nothing hinders, but the same which had their mouthes shut (which was their slaying) may have their mouthes again open, which is their Re­surrection, I am sure the space wherein they lie dead hinders not: Had that indeed been long, threescore or fourscore yeers, then perhaps I should have sought it in their successors; but when betwixt the last Witnesse that is slain, and the first that rises again, there intervenes but the space of three yeers and an half, 'tis no very hard thing to believe, That some who three yeers and an half since were silenced, and suspended, after that space, have now their mouthes open.

And doubtlesse it must be so, for mark it, The dead bodies of [Page 56] those that were slain, those same dead bodies that lay in the street, were looked upon three dayes and an half, and not suffer­ [...] to be put in graves, into these same (sayes the Tex [...]) the Spi­ [...]it of lite from God enters, and they stand upon their feet.

And I would fain know, what successors could be nourished to rise up in the room of these Witnesses after this time; for either they are Witnesses themselves, at what time these are slain, and then they are slain also (for then are all the bold opposers of, and Witnesses against Antichrist, slain) or else then they were not Witnesses, and then think what a time this three yeers and a half was to hatch up a brood of young Witnesses in, when now all the other being slain, they are hereby deprived of all means of publike instruction.

But sufficient of this first thing, I mean the rising again of the Witnesses; now follows the second, the time when they rise again; [After three dayes and an half, that is, after three yeers and an half] which because it hath already in the foregoing words been handled, I shall passe from it to the third thing, viz. [The consequent of this Resurrection] in these words; Great fear fell upon them which saw them.

They that behold these Witnesses rising again, are afraid: Some like thing is mentioned of them that were present at our Savi­ours Matth. 28. Resurrection. And indeed it is a common thing, when some eminent thing is done, for the lookers on to be stricken with fear at the beholding. When Anani [...]s and Saphira fall Act 5. 3. & 11. dead at the Apostles feet, then do [...]s great fear fall upon the people, the witnesses of it. And when the Exoreists Jews ta­king Act. 19. 16, 17. upon them to adjure the evill Spirit to come forth, are by the man that had the evill spirit overcome, escaping from him naked and wounded, then great fear falls upon the people also.

But you will not blame the beholders here to be afraid at the rising again of these Witnesses: For if these be the Popish par­ty as was conceived they well might be; did they ever dream they should see the Witnesses rise again; did not they think they had made such sure work, as that they should never have been troubled with them any more; but now after they had slain them, that besides all expectation they should rise again, and this perhaps to torment them worse then ever they did before, can you blame them they are afraid at it?

We have now examined all the severalls of this verse, all which drawn together, are thus much in the result; The Wit­nesses being silenced, thrust from their places, thus slain, after three yeers and an half are by a speciall hand of God restored to liberty and office again; at which the Antichristian faction be­come greatly afraid, not having the least thought, after they had once slain the Witnesses, they should ever have been troubled, or tormented with them any more.

Having thus opened the words, there are but two Collecti­ons I shall make from them, and then passe on to what fol­lowes.

1. Do the Witnesses; after three dayes and an half rise again? sure then this businesse of the slaying of the Witnesses cannote b a matter of so much discouragement, as we usually conceive so it; as also, neither should we take on for the slaying of the Wit­nesses, as men without hope; for but a little while, and the Wit­nesses 1 Thess. 4. 14. rise again. Nay, neither should this slaughter so much afflict the Witnesses themselves, who even then, when it is a doing, may bid the Popish faction hold their countenance, for­bear rejoycing, for though they fall, they shall yet within a little Mich. 7. 8. time assuredly rise again: These lights may be by Antichrist sup­pressed for a time, but afterward they break forth in greater lustre and brightnes then ever they did before.

2. Do the Popish faction become greatly afraid, upon the Resurrection of the Witnesses? then observe it, the rising of the Witnesses, is the fall of the Spirits, of the Popish party: When the Witnesses fell before, then they rejoyce, and make merry, cannot contain themselves; but now they rise, their hearts fall every whit as fast within them, just like the Scales of the Ballance, if one rise, the other falls, so inconsistent is the prosperous condition of the one, with the content and sa­tisfaction of the other.

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 onely; 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 [Page 59] 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: [...] [...]. 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. [Page 60] 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 [Page 62] 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 [...] heaven, (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 [Page 63] 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.

NOw follows the other Concomitant of the Witnesses Resurrection, and ascending up to heaven, together with the severall Consequents thereon depending, in the words last mentioned; The same hour there was a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the City fell, &c.

In the handling whereof, we shall observe;

• 1. The time of the Earthquake here mentioned, in these words; The same hour there was a great earthquake.
• 2. The Earthquake it self.
• 3. The severall consequents of this earthquake, being in all three; all whereof we shall handle as they fall in their own order.

But first of the time; [The same hour there was a great earth­quake.]

The same hour.] Some copies reade, [The same day.] But whether day or hour, both seem to come to one; neither to be understood of either day or hour properly so taken.

If you reade, [The same hour] it is not to be taken proper­ly, for the 24 part of a naturall day; no more then 'tis in the 14 Chapter of this Prophesie, and 7 verse; The hour of his Judgement is come: Or at the 17 Chapter, and 12 verse; These receive power one hour with the Beast; besides many such like in­stances, which might be fetcht from other places.

If you reade, [The same day,] it seems not to be understood [Page 64] either of a naturall or artificiall day properly so called, no more then in many other places. But whether one, or other, day, or hour, this appears the plain meaning of the holy Ghost; About the time of the Resurrection and Ascension of the Witnesses, about that time, there is a great earthquake.

The earthquake it self now follows, There was a great earthquake.

There is a naturall carthquake, as I may call it, when some windy matter being inclosed in the caverns of the earth, impa­t [...]ent of being imprisoned there long, breaks forth at last, cau­sing Aristo. 2. Me [...]co. 7. great and violent concussions and motions of the earth. Such as this you reade of, the 1. of Amos 1: such a kinde of earthquake as this was at our Saviours Resurrection; but this Mat. 28. 2. kinde of earthquake we are not to understand here.

Besides this there is a mysticall earthquake, when there are great stirs and commotions in Kingdoms and States, and by these the Forms of Government changed. Such earthquakes are those mentioned at the 8 Chapter of this prophesie and 5 verse; and 16 Chapter, and 18 verse. And (if I mistake not) where we finde mention of an earthquake in all this book, we are to con­ceive it to be a mysticall earthquake. such is the great earthquake here mentioned, a mysticall earthquake, a State-quake, a King­dom-quake; this seems the great earthquake here intended: When therefore the holy Ghost tells us, The same hour there was a great earthquake, 'tis this in effect; About the time of the rising again, and Ascension of these Witnesses, there are great State and Kingdom-shakings.

The Consequents of this earthquake next follow, in these words; The tenth part of the City fell, and in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand; And the remnant were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

Which Consequents if you take them asunder, are three, as was before hinted. 1. The tenth part of the City falls. 2. Se­ven thousand men slain. 3. The remnant are terrified, and give glory to the God of heaven. Of these in this order; 1. The fall of the tenth part of the City, then of the other as they follow.

The tenth part of the City fell; [...]] I finde nothing in this Prophesie of the Witnesses, with more variety [Page 65] and difference interpreted then this same; and doubtlesse could we hit right here, it would contribute no little to our satisfa­ction in the greatest intricacie of this businesse. Give me leave to offer a taste of these different Interpretations, especially of them which seem to carry most likelyhood; which when I have done, I shall propound, and submit my own thoughts in the businesse.

The great question is, What we should understand by the The Arabi (que) without consent of any, either Copy or Translati­on that I have met withall, reads, The third part of, the City fell. [Tenth part of the great City, [...].] In answ [...]r whereto, you have some will tell you 'tis the Tenths of the Ci­ty, meaning, That whereas the Popes have Tenths paid them, which was the manner of the Romans formerly, as also of other Princes of elder times, now upon the rising again of the Witnesses, and the great earthquake thereupon attending, this Tribute of Tythes or Tenths, whereby he was in great part maintained before, shall now at last be utterly with-held from him. This is [...], that which we translate, [The tenth part of the City] falling. But (as some well observe) to make this good, it must have been [...]; but it is [...], and therefore this cannot be the meaning.

Another therefore by this [ [...]] which we translate [The tenth part of the City] would understand, Those ten Kingdoms, which at the 17 Chapter of this Prophesie, and 13 verse, give up all th [...]ir strength and power to the Beast [...]; And when those at last draw off from Antichrist, which they do, for these shall hate the Whore, cat her flesh, and burn her with fire, Chap. 17. ver. 16. This is the fall of the Decharchy of the City. Those ten King­doms that had formerly supported Antichrist, now drawing off, and preparing for her destruction, this is the fall of the tenth part of the great City. And sure if these ten Kingdoms with­drawing themselves, hating the Whore, eating her flesh, and burning her with fire, should not fall in with the time of the seventh Trumpet, and last Vial, and be not that destruction which at that time is to be executed upon her, I mean the Ro­mish Babylon, I should think this interpretation did carry much appearance of truth with it.

But then another by [the tenth part of the City] would un­derstand, the City it self, Rome it self falls, making this same all one with the fifth Vial, which poured out upon the Throne of Chap. 16. 10. [Page 66] the Beast, that is, upon Rome (sayes this Interpreter) Rome hereby comes to be destroyed. And if any object, The holy Ghost doth not say the whol [...] City falls, onely the truth part of th [...] City; to this it is answered, That when Rome comes to be destroyed, it is but the Tenth part of what it was formerly. I [...] was in compasse in former times neer 42 miles within the walls, now about 15: And if we measure, it will appear, That that whch is in compasse 15 miles, will make up but the tenth part of that which is in compasse 42 miles. And so accord­ingly, when the tenth part of the City falls, as is here said, the whole City is meant; for now the whole, is but the tenth part of what it was formerly.

This, I confesse, is a pretty Notion, but yet such as I durst in no wise conclude is the meaning of the holy Ghost in this place: It carries with it too much acutenesse to be the mean­ing of the Spirit; and indeed it seems too much forced also; That the tenth part of the City, should mean the whole City, the words seem not in any reasonable congruity to admit of it.

Give me leave now in the last place, to adde what hath most taken upon me, in all the variety of thoughts in this matter: and it is this;

The Antichristian Kingdom, as made up of those ten horns, ten Kingdoms, into which the Roman Empire upon its fall was resolved, these ten at the same time with one consent gi­ving their power thereunto, seem here, as also in other places, compared to a great City: Which City, answerably to the ten part of the Antichristian Kingdom, hath ten parts also; every one of those ten Kingdoms, by submitting it self to the Go­vernment of this mysticall City, I mean this mysticall Baby­lon▪ hereby making it self a part of it.

This stated, we say accordingly [the tenth part of the City] must mean, O [...]e of those ten Kingdoms, which having su [...] ­mitted it self to the Government of this mysticall B [...]bylon, hereby became to a part of it: and then answerably is this t [...]nth Kingdom, the tenth part of the great City said to fall, when th [...]t [...]inde of Government, which submitted to made this one part of that City, I mean of Romish babylon, is now ut­ter [...]ly dissolved and abolished in that Kingdom.

So then all this tog [...]ther is thus much. About the [...] [Page 67] Witnesses rise again, and ascend up to heaven, there are great stirs and commotions, this is the earthquake; and among these, that Antichristianism which in one of the ten Kingdoms sub­mitted to, made it one of the parts of the Romish Babylon, is utterly quash'd and dissolved in that Kingdom. This seems to be the fall of the tenth part of the great City.

And here observe it, 'tis [ [...]] with an Arti­ticle, which (I confesse) I had once let passe, but should by no means passe without notice; [That tenth part of the great City] so we might render it, where the holy Ghost seems to tell us which tenth part of the City, which of the ten Kingdoms he means, why [that tenth part] that which seems easily discernable from all the rest, that tenth part falls. But which this is▪ I shall hereafter speak my conjecture; let this suffice at present, that in That tenth Kingdom, which seems easily differenced from all the rest, Antichristianism is abolished, this is the fall of that tenth part of the great City. This seems the meaning, and (I must confesse) I have nothing readily to object against it, but from this first consequent of the earthquake, viz. The fall of the tenth part of the City, we may proceed to the second, in these words; And in the earthquake were slain of men seven thousand.

This follows, and this is not without its difficulties neither: Some reade, the heads of men that were slain were seven thou­sand; but if we reckon by the pole, seven thousand men num­bred by the pole were slain, and no more, it will readily be ob­jected; How can it be imagined the tenth part of the Anti­christian Kingdom should fall, and yet but seven thousand heads, or seven thousand men reckoned by the Pole, slain and overwhelmed in so great a ruine? Seven thousand, thus reckon­ed, seem not a number any whit proportionable. To which it may be answered; This number of seven thousand, is a perfect number, and is here put, as in other places, not to signifie just so many, and no more, but rather a certain number, for an un­certain, and may very well signifie a great many more then pre­cisely that number.

But if this should not passe, there is another Interpretation [...], for [...]. besides, and this seems without all exception.

This therefore instead of reading [the names of men that were slain] which is the Originall, reads [the men of name that were [Page 68] slain were seven thousand.] And this not rashly, this kinde of speaking being not infrequent in the Scripture: hence you reade Silver of Talents, for Talents of Silver, and the like; so here, names of men, for men of names: And if you would know what's meant by this expression [men of name,] and what [name] imports in this construction [men of name] consult that 6 of Gen. and 4 verse, and you finde, those Giant-like men whom the Originall calls, men of name; our Translation calls, men of r [...]nown; And so both the Originalls signifying [name] [...] Orae. O [...] [...] Beza Anno. often translated; so here, There were slain seven thousand men of name, that is, men of note, of quality: So many were slain, in th [...] fall of the tenth part of the City.

And if this should be so, it cleerly takes off the former ob­jection, viz. That the number of bare seven thousand, were not proportionall; for granting that so many of quality, of name, are slain, besides these numbers of the common sort that may be overwhelmed in those ruines, and sure seven thousand men of note with those other, are a number answerable to the fall of the tenth part of the City.

But before I passe further, I must tell you, this slaughter of these seven thousand, seems not to mean a reall and proper slaugh­ter, no more then did the slaughter of the Witnesses before men­tioned: for if the earthquake were not such properly so called, onely signifying stirs and commotions in the tenth part of the great City, and so a mysticall earthquake, as we saw before; in like manner, neither can this slaughter which is done by a mysticall earthquake, be any other then a mysticall slaughter.

And if a mysticall slaughter, what can it be, but the Antichri­stian faction, the abettors and maintainers of Antichristian­isme, in that tenth part of the great City, have their place, their power, their maintenance taken from them, they cease to be in office as before, they lose their Livings, this is to them the losing of their lives, this seems the slaughter of the seven thou­sand eminent men here intended.

I do not deny but in these stirs some of them may be slain indeed; somewhat like whereto was formerly spoken con­cerning the slaying of the Witnesses, but this is not the slaugh­ter is here chiefly aymed at, it is especially a mysticall slaughter.

We have seen now the second Consequent, viz. Seven thou­sand men slain; the third follows, in these words; The rem­nant were terrified, and gave glory to the God of heaven.

And who is this remnant, but some of that party, I mean the Antichristian faction; who seeing the just and apparent hand of God upon them, are stricken with it, acknowledging their errour, and thus give glory to the God of heaven. Jos. 7. 19.

Or else the remnant were terrified, that is, the other sort of people, who scaping the slaughter wherein the professed Anti­christian faction were especially concerned, they, seeing the hand of God upon them, are terrified, and by confessing their former mistake in cleaving to them, do thus give glory to the God of heaven.

Sum up all this verse now, and 'tis thus much: About the time these Witnesses rise again, and ascend up to heaven, about this time there are great stirs and commotions, in some of those ten Kingdoms, into which the Roman Empire, upon its fall, became divided. By means whereof, Antichristianisme becomes utterly abolished in one of those ten Kingdoms: upon the abo­lishing whereof, many of note, and professedly of the Antichri­stian faction, are thrown from all Authority and Place, as also that large maintenance which they had before; which the other people, cleaving fast to them before, now beholding, and taking notice of the finger of God in it, confesse their former errour, strike off from them, never to cleave to them any more.

The Observations now follow:

1. Is one Kingdom but the tenth part of the great City? hence observe the extent of the mysticall Babylon. The Popish facti­on may well cry up Visibilty, Universality, the Catholique Church, and the like, why one Kingdom is but the tenth part Bell. de Not. Eccl. of it.

2. Hence we have the reason, why that Call of God, viz. [Come out of her my people] is not to be restrained to the City of Rev. 18. [...]. Rome properly, and in the letter so taken, but takes place in all the ten Kingdoms, and in all the parts thereof, though never so far remote from Rome, in regard of distance of space. The Go­vernment of this great Balylon takes in severall Kingdoms, and so far as her Government, and Worships are retained in any of them, so far doth God call such a people out of Babylon.

3. If any of the ten Kingdoms have withdrawn themselves utterly from Antichrist, then is the tenth part of the City fallen. I need not trouble you with the rehearfall of the ten King­domes, they are commonly known to be these; 1. There was the Alanes, the Almains, the Britains, the Burgundians, the Frankes, the Greeks, the Ostrogoths, the Saxons, the Vandals, the Wisigoths: If any of these have utterly withdrawn themselves from Antichrist, then is the tenth part of the City fallen; If not, th [...]n is not the tenth part of the City fallen. But if any be utterly withdrawing, then is the tenth part of the City falling.

4. There is a time when the Antichristian faction shall be paid in their own coyn: Have they slain the Witnesses? why when the tenth part of the City falls, they become slain also: Have they silenc'd and suspended the Witnesses? even so shall it be measured to them also: And perhaps of this there hath been a taste given already. We have seen those brought to the Bar, who have used to sit in Judgement, passing hard and unjust sen­tence upon others. Those suspended, and their livings sequest [...]ed, who formerly have been active to do as much for others. And no marvell; As Babylon falls, so the Popish faction also.

5. Do a remnant repent upon the fall of part of Babylon, and the slaughter accompanying it? Observe then, there is some good to be expected from the fall of Babylon: when the tenth part falls, then do the remnant repent, and give glory to the God of heaven. How earnestly therefore should we pray for the de­struction of Babylon: It did no good standing, but unspeakable mischief; it will do good fallen, for then will people hereby be brought unto Repentance.

NOw follows the Close of this Prophesie of the Witnesses, which also as a sure direction, tells us where we are, espe­cially while in hand with the latter part of this Prophesie; In these words; The second Wo is past, and behold, the third Wo com­eth quickly.

The meaning whereof (that I make not many words about it) seems in short this; The second Wo] that is, The sixth Trum­p [...]t; For the three last Trumpets being three Wo-Trumpets, as appears Chap. 8. verse 13, the second Wo must needs mean the sixth Trumpet.

Is past] that is, Is past in mention. The third Wo] that is, The last Trumpet, [Cometh quickly] that is, cometh speedily to be mentioned: As if the holy Ghost should say; Now after this Prophesie of the Witnesses is related, you have been told all the [...], even all the businesse of the sixth Trumpet; after which, I proceed speedily to acquaint you with the busi­nesse of the seventh Trumpet.

Or else this may be the meaning, Then when all that which app [...]rtains to this Prophesie of the Witnesses is come to passe, and the earthquake attending the Resurrection and Ascension of these Witnesses is perfectly ended, then is the strength of the Wo of the sixth Trumpet gone also. Which the seventh Trum­pet, and the Wo it brings along with it, speedily follow; which seventh Trumpet is to close and shut up all this Mystery.

And now we have gone over this whole Prophesie of the Witnesses, having carefully enquired the meaning of all the parts thereto appertaining. But before we proceed to speak any thing in that great Question, Whether the Witnesses are slain yea or no, reserved to be discussed, till we had gone over with the Interpretation of the Prophesie, give me leave to draw to­gether under one view, the brief meaning of all the severalls already handled; which being set so neer, and as a Preface to the Work yet behind, will be as a To [...]ch held at the entrie, shewing us where we should tread, in all that obscure way we are yet to go; as also be a rule neer at hand, whereby to examine what may be propounded in the great disquisition following.