The Late Great Revolution in this Nation

[Argument 1] I argue first, That this great change of Affairs is the Divine Prologue to the accomplishment of this Prophesy from Christ's Condemning both Teachers, and People, when they knew not the Signs of the Time. The Signs of the Times are not only Religious, or Moral Characters, as the Holiness of Christ's Doctrine, Life, great Zeal in doing good was such a sort of Signs of the M • ssiah that could not be absent; and Christ says in Relation to them. And why of yo •• selves judge you not, what is Right? viz. from the Laws of Reason, of Natural and Religious Conscience, instead of a S • gn f • om Heaven; but besides these, there are the Signs of the Times, the sure word of Prophesy gives, as Daniel's Seventy Weeks gave of Messi • h; With these His Miraculous Birth early Wisdom at Twelve Years old, great works concerted, and these compared could not deceive concerning Messiahs's times then on Earth.

I presume to say, I have found a Line of Time in Prophesy reaching to near as within about Eight Years of this great Prophesy fulfilled, I gave it out a Year ago. Here comes out a Providence before us so great, so stupendous, to the very purpose of this Prophesy, the equal of which is hardly to be found in Story, that was yet but an Embryo in the Womb of this Prophesy at that time, I made the Line Public; far off from all prospect, no Cloud as Big as a Mans Hand to Divine by.

If now one may not, if one cannot discern the Signs of the Times by such a Conjuncture of Prophesy, and Providence, I may humbly say, why should any one be condemned of Hypocrisy for not discerning those Signs, when on so great a Configuration one may be mistaken. Then may it be said, all Signs of the Times are Fugitive, Fallacious, and Incertain, but they are not so; therefore I am not mistaken; event will justify it at 97. as it hath so, beyond conjecture, already begun.

[Argument 2] There is but one great Phenomenon, one great appearance in Prophesy, that seems to forbid this Interpretation of the present glor • ous Providence; that is, that just before, viz. Three Years, and a half before the fall of the great City, Babylon in a Mystery, this Roman Infamous Woman; the Witnesses must be killed▪ and by the Beast on which she Sits.

I have Anticipated this Objection by showing, it is impossible the Beast should have Forty Two Moons of Years, and have that work to do at his Three last Years and a half, nor does the Analogy of so great an event agree with so Pusil, so small a time. But the Three Days and a half are equal to the Three Times and a half, and both to Twelve Hundred Sixty Days; They are in the Habit of Three Days, &c. only to show a deep time of the Sack-clothe Proph • sie in being killed, as there was a deep time of our Lord's Death, in his not whole, but part of Three Days as I am conscious I have abundantly made out.

But further, I argue from this Providence. This Church of England, Comprehending, as God does, all his Servants; holding the Testimony of Jesus, whether, what we style Establish'd by Law or Protestant D • ss • nters, is a Land of God's Witnesses, if there be any such under Heaven; if God hath then so rescued them from being in any sense killed by the Beast anymore, as he has; it is certain, that Prophesy of the Witnesses cannot be in the way of this Prophesy of the Ten Kings hating this Whore, that it should not come to pass in it's just season of 1697.

For God hath so Consolidated the Nation in this rescue, that this Kingdom of the First Three among the Ten Kingdoms must be destroyed in all Human speaking, e're it can be so subdued, as to bear a killing of the Witnesses in it, such as the Prophesy imports.

Indeed some resemblance there hath been of it in those severe Prosecutions of the Protestant Dissenters, the guilt of which the Church of England hath, (I pray) truly unloaded from itself upon Popish Cabals. Besides Anti-christ hath poiz'd the weight of his Hand very notoriously upon the Church of England itself, to try what it could do upon it. But I doubt not at all; the Bitterness of that Death of the Witnesses is past; the differences being always great in my esteem betwixt the Church of Thyatira Protestants, lying in the midst of Popish Laws, and Powers, and betwixt those Churches whose Laws, and Princes have given not only a Legality, but Sardian splendor and security to the Reformation, whose only danger is too Deep a repose therein, and slumber upon it.

Indeed I have been always much assured, and God hath verified it, Each Kingdom, that repriz'd itself from the Power of the Beast shall be a Protestant Kingdom to the very last; and that it could not have any Establish'd Prince, that was not Protestant also; for God will not give back what he hath rescued; so that among them the killing of the Witnesses can have no proper place anymore, I am assured according to Prophesy.

The Protestant Churches in Hungary, Savoy, France have too much made good some senses of killing the Witnesses but under another Symbol in Prophesy, then of the Witnesses slain, viz. the Thyatyrian Churches.

[Argument. 3] That exceeding Infatuation of Jesuitic Councils, which are the depths of Satan, and as the last sinking Pillar of a decaying Kingdom, argue it so near the end, as Prophesy hath made it; when Ahithophel's Wisdom is turned into foolishness, it argues a fatal ruin near. Their seeking to hide their Counsels deep from the Lord by the golden pretence of Liberty of Cons • ience, as if they would Cajole the Reformation; and God's so great Abomination of it, and ensnating them in it shows, the last remedies, or healing Medicines of Babylon have proved vain. God hath made their turning things upside down to be as the Potters Clay, that immediately received another shape, and mould, then they designed it.

Now as when Haman began to fall before Mordecai, he fell apace; so this great defeat God hath begun to give them declares their final zuin approaching.

And indeed the Kingdom of the Beast hath more Years upon it. then most Kingdoms or Monarchies in the World have had, except the Ancient Babylon, as deriving it from Nimrod, the beginning of whose Kingdom was Babel. Had not God decreed so long a State; In the course of Human Powers, it had fallen long ago, but Rome Eternal is one of it's Blasphemies, and though it says, it shall Sit a Lady forever, yet it's Idols have deceived it; For it's Menet • kel is even at the Doors. The dephth of it's so old Kingdom shall now become Dotage, therefore God hath begun the Pattern among us, and it shall go through the whole breadth of the gre •• City.

[Argument 4] This sudden and speedy change with so little noise, with so little confusion, with so little, or no blood is a Landschaph or Mirror of an extraordinary intention or design of Providence, God seems to have wrought everything by an Immediate Presence, by a coming down, he appears to have Bowed the Heavens, and to have come down; so, though mountains of contrary appearances, have flowed down at his presence, he hath answered us by amazing things in righteousness; he hath done things, that we looked not for, that Eye hath very scarcely seen, or ear heard, or the heart of Man conceived of. All hath been, as when a Melting Fire Burneth, and things of themselves have run into the Form, God would have them, as the Clay or Wax turns to the Scale.

Certainly, when God does such things in so great a manner, it Portends more, than the late terrible Earthquakes in Popish Territories; God is more in this still voice: Every Battle of the Warriour is with confused noise, and Garments rolled in Blood; this hath been as with Fewe • , and burning of Fire; and it is a Presage, that to us a Child is born, a Son is given, who shall within few spaces, take the Government on his Shoulders, and appear the Father of the World to come, his Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace is near.

It is not to be presumed, that all shall go on just thus, God hath done this, that he might give notice what he is about to do; and this concerted with the Prophetical Line is a great Sign of the T • me, and declares his Kingdom is near to be Proclaim'd; for when Papacy falls, as the last part of the last, viz. the Roman Monarchy, to which Christ's Succeeds, his Kingdom shall be Proclaim'd; and he invites all to take notice of it, his Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace, I say is near. For the Feet of Clay Crumble, and the Iron parts from them.

[Argument 5] Things seem so to be laid by God, as if the very Merits of the Cause betwixt the Romans, and the Protestant Christianity were to be tried, and very natural Reason, if it were to be Umpire, would easily tell us, what the determination from Heaven would be.

In the beginning of the Reformation, there was a Dispute, whether Protestancy should have any place or Being in the World, in that which is called the Smalcaldic War. And God determined in favor of Protestancy; it hath not been possible yet to make it lose one Nation, or Kingdom Establish'd on Protestant Laws.

The time is near, when the Question shall be put, whether Anti-christianism shall have a longer State in this World, and it is very dangerous, a Critical Time for such a Question to be put so near the end of the Beasts Moons. Every public Watch man then should be skilled in the Time of Babylon's falling, in the burden of that Dumah, that Edomitish Christianity, or Anti christianism; we should know what of the Night, what of the Night, what the Age of the Roman Moon, of that Governess of the Night is; what the hour of it's Night is; for the Morning cometh to the True Churches of Christ, and the Night the blackness of the Night on that Lady of the Night.

God hath stirred up the Spirit of Protestant Princes; and it is most likely he will so Embroyl things, betwixt them and the Princes, who are yet with the Beast, as shall be serviceable to make an universal change, and all contrary Ass • ciations shall be broken in pieces.

God hath given therefore, as in the beginning, a Sentence from Heaven in this Nation, and out of his great goodness hath herein exalted it above the other Protestant Nations to give a Pattern here first. And it cannot but be remarkable, that a Descendent of that great Prince of Orange, whose Assassination at his Death, gave him the Name of Martyr, as his great Conduct in his Life, the Honor of one of the great Captains, who were at that time with the Lamb, and with his Called and Chosen and Faithful.

[Argument 6] I doubt not at all we may say, Providence hath sent that Fire upon Earth; concerning which it says, what will I, if it be already kindled? That is, it insists no longer upon a seeming velleity, or as we speak a willing, and woulding to have the Fire kindled, It is already kindled; It is in Act, and in Motion. It hath shed or Insensibly distributed itself into all the veins of our Nation, and will do so through all the Christian World, till as a Refiners Fire, it Purifie it from that Ant-ichristian Apostasy, that shall not be able to abide the Day of Christ's coming; for which this Fire is to prepare: By this I understand the great Zeal against that Impure Anti-christianism. And there is to be found upon this Zeal as it were the very Image, Seal and Impress of this Prophesy. It here spread itself upon all sorts, and degrees of this Nation from the highest to the lowest; what is it then but to say? This is one of the Ten Kingdoms, that should hate the Whore, and Execute the Judgment of God upon it, that is Written, in it's due Times.

And that the Sovereign of the Nation, because he cannot at the present understand the Reason of complying with so great a Prophesy, should voluntarily retire from the Government; till he shall see, and consider what he hath not yet duly seen, and considered. It being indeed Impossible according to this Prophesy, but this Protestant Nation must have a Protestant Head, no other can rest upon it.

Certainly this is a very Memorable fulfilling of this Prophesy, and I am most assured, it is for a Sign to the Lord, that shall not be Cut off, till the whole be fulfilled, and it ought to be set up for a Memorial before the Lord, as in the Temple of the Protestant Churches.

I know, something like it fell out in our Neighbor Kingdom, concerning Henry the Fourth, and the Great of France, Grand-father of our King, and Great Grand-father of our Prince of Orange, There was at that time in that Nation an universal Zeal against the Reformation, which they called Heresy, so that they would by no means receive a Prince, how great soever his Character was, as it was indeed, as great as any Princes of his time, though there was at that time a Complex of great Princes in the World; they could not receive him how undoubted soever his Right according to their Salique Law: But he was under a necessity to forfeit his Right, to live in a perpetual War, or to change his Communion, upon what he did, Draw a Curtain in Honor to the Memory of so Heroic a Name.

But was not this also a great fulfilling of this very Prophesy according to that season? For at that time, when several Princes had withdrawn themselves and their Kingdoms from the Anti-Christian Usurpation, if all had done so, how had the words of God been fulfilled, giving the Beast Forty Two Months of such a Decem-Principality or Ten Horned Power when above an Hundred Years at that time were unexpir'd? It pleased God to take the advantage to Revulse some of them from him, to give public notice thereby, It was the Morning of the half Time, and we are even now to be admonished by it; on the other side some great Kings were to continue united to him, to show the half Time was not run out, but the end of it to be expected for the making Desolate, and Naked, and Judging her, that hath so violated the Wedlock of True Christianity.

In another regard also Prophesy was hereby fulfilled; for by that Great Henry the Fourth of France, that Famous Edict of Nants was Granted, and Confirm'd in favor of the Reformation, of which he had been so great a Confessor and Champion; that thereby, in France, as in Germany, and Poland and some other Countries, Churches of Thyatira might be settled, lying among the Nations, where the Counsels of the Ignatian, or Jesuits Order, superadded to other Orders, justly esteemed, and called by Protestants (or as They, viz. Protestants speak) the depths of Satan would yet take place, according to which, springing up in a just Season for it, viz. 1528. advantages have been taken to Persecute Christ in his Servants of those Churches, and to cause his Feet to Burn, as in a Furnace, as they have done most dreadfully some time past in that Nation, in violation of that Edict; and as more constantly, where the Hellish Inquisition hath been always, as an Oven, or Furnace kept hot, and burning, in Countries wholly given up to the Beast still.

And thus wonderfully hath God Counterpoiz'd the State of the Beasts Kingdom, and the Reformation, during this half Time according to Prophesy, giving yet the inclining, and heavier Scale to the Beast, that his words may be fulfilled, until the Beasts Measure be heaped up, and running over.

[Argument. 6] That which greatly further persuades me, the present Providence over these Nations shall be in order to the fulfilling of Prophesy, is, that it so wonderfully Synchronizes, or keeps time with the State of the Turk • sh Empire.

I have given Eighteen Months ago public Testimony from Prophesy, that the Tenth part of this great City shall fall before the Mahometan Sultany is Dis-mounted from the Constantine-politan Heighths, and De-ported from the Confluence of People, as of Rivers; since that, two Champagnes have passed full of such Action, as hath exceedingly humbled the O • toman Mountain; and yet it stands, though shaking, and as in a trembling expectation of the fall of that Anti-christianism, that gave the demeritorious provocation to the Wrath, and Justice of God, that swelled it to such a loftiness.

As Rome, and Constantinople were such Sisters in the Apostasy, as Aholah, and Aholibah in an Idolatrous defection from God, so God prepared for them so sore a scourge as the Mahometan Imposture, that should both deride their Superstition, and miserably Affl • ct them together; It came abroad soon after the contest of those Two Bishops, both fallen Stars, for Supremacy, and Universality; wherein Rome had the fatal pre-eminence to obtain the Key of the bottomless Pit. Immediately broke out those Judgments of that Mahometan Imposture, which this Sacred Prophesy calls Two woes, which have lain upon them Both, from that very time, more, or less: Judgments prepared on purpose for the Anti Christian Apostasy, in which the Eastern Churches shar'd deep, and which is to this day too closely Incorporated with the remains of the Christianity, that is found among them, that are indeed rather dark Mentions of, than that Excellent Doctrine itself and Holy Religion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

As therefore this Armed and violent Imposture seized above Two Hundred Years ago on that Imperial City, Constantinople, that so unhappily affected to be called New Rome, and therefore hath Dru • k so deep of it's Cup, both of Sin, and Judgment, so it shall continue under that Tyranny, as a Witness of the more dreadful vengeance, that is to fall upon that fouler Prostitute, Old Rome, and stands as a Pillar of Salt to warn it hereof.

Yet, so that, that Grecian Acropolis is subjected in Hope, and waits, as the groaning Creation for the Liberty of the Sons of God, so for that happy Day of the fall of the Tenth of that great City, the coming of the Witnesses out of their Sach-cloth, and their Ascent to Glory, as it were to Heaven in a Bright Cloud: For then that Second w • e of the Turkish Usurpation upon that City, and those Churches shall pass off from them, and so must be near.

And now that God hath so suddenly shaken the Foundations of that Ott • man Empire and made it to Totter, gave me expectations; the Anti • hrist • an should observe Time, that the Provocation, and the scourge might pass off together, and it is to me most undoubted, this R • v • lution is in Motion thereunto; nor can I slight the notices from Nature, as in Convulsive Fits, in the last Summers Earthq • aches, giving the Alarm to both these Tyrannies, as together, and at Times near one to another to be overturned by other kind of Earthquakes.

I add, the speediness of the Motion in the two wonderful changes in our Nation, and in Turkey show; Providence is moving on those Wheels, and on those Wings, that it uses in the fulfilling Proph • sie, as was in Ezekiel's Vision drawn to the Life; so that upon th • se two Revolutions may be Written that Prophetic Motto; I the Lord have hasten'd them in their own Time.

[Argument 7] The dreadfulness of the Persecution in France▪ of so black, and Inhuman a Barbarity, and even Hellish Cruelty, speaks some great Judgment near upon that Beastianism, that hath the Horns of a Lamb, but the Mouth of a Dragon, viz. under the Name of a Christian Hierarchy, the likeness of a Lyon, a Bear, and a Leopard, and on that Imperious Whorish Woman, that is, under the Mystery on it's Fore head of Mother-Church, the Mother of the Abominations of the Earth, and in whom the Blood of the Saints, Martyrs, and Prophets is to be found, whose Adulterous Religion is Arm'd with a Salvageness most contrary to the Natural tenderness of Manly Nature, and most especially to the Laws of Christianity, and yet whatever is done for the propagating it's Golden Cup of Fornication, though by the most Feral force, is called doing God Service. Now before the Judgment Executed upon Babylon, she is to fill her Ephah, that she may be Rewarded double for all, that she is to do; who then can but think, that her Day is near, and that God will be a swift Witness against her, not for Three Transgressions or Four, but for her Seventy Times Seven Abominations?

God does not use to bear long with Atrocious wickednesses, nor give up to such un-naturalness, but when he is ready to take vengeance, He allows not the wonted Truce of patience in such outrages of Blood, but rises, now, to the Prey.

I confess, this Persecution would incline one to think, were there not deep Reasons in Proph • sie to the contrary, with that so Zealous Confess • ur, and in great degrees Martyr Monsieur Jurien, that the Witnesses are Slaying, as in a Three last Days and half, of the 1260. and lying dead in France, as in that Street of the great City, and that when this Last is Scene perfectly Represented, the Witnesses shall rise, and that great City, viz. it's Tenth, or Hierarchy shall fall from it's Tenfolded Dominion fully, and finally, and undoubtedly All this is an Epitome, or short review of that Slaughter of the Witness • s, and the happy Resurrection shall be in fewer Years, then that Excellent Person hath warily taken in, as the largest compass of time for the doing it.

And I am very desirous to believe, this French Persecution is that last effort of Anti-christianism, revealed to our great and Holy Arch bishop Usher, the forest, but shortest Ravage of the Beast upon the Protest • nt World, wherein by Sympathy every Nation should bear a deep share, and we particularly, seeing it hath pleased our Good and Gracious God to pull us as Brands out of the burning, and who knows but we are Deliver'd for such a time as this? Even for their Deliverance also; and that if we altogether h • ld our peace, and think to be quiet in our own Nation, Light & Deliverance shall arise to those Slain Witnesses of France from some other place; But our S • n will find us out, If we forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto Death, and those that are ready to be Slain; If we say, behold we know it not, we are not concerned, doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? He that keepeth our Nation doth not he know it? And w • ll he not remember it in the Day, when he maketh Inquisition for Blood?

[Argument 8] There is great hope, this Revolution will be the Buoying up substantial Christianity, and Protestancy, (which is Christianity returned to it's own Dignity, and Excellency) and that Form and Ceremony are dropping off from us, at least so far, as it hath been matter of distinction, and most of all of difference, and division, or breach of Love, and Charity.

Now such a S • ate Borders near upon the State of the Philadelphian Church, the Church Temper'd, Cemented, United by Brotherly Love, when the Envy and Vexation one of another, on such accounts shall depart, and we shall exercise them no more; when this shall indeed be, the time of the Philadelphian Church shall be; Every glimpse of one is the glimpse of the other, and when the Time of that Church is, the Time of the Apostasy is expired: Hence therefore I hope the Time of all is near.

Two things most express that State; Essence of Christianity, and Universality.

The Principles, and Constitutions of some Protestant Churches are too full of Ceremony, Ritu • lism, and Formality, these especially, when rigorously pressed to an Uniformity are nearer to Anti-christianism then to true Christianity, Protestantism, or to the Kingdom of Christ.

These when Luxuriant, and over spreading, when Zealously insisted upon, when Persecutorily urged are then called the Synagogue of Satan; viz. in the Church of Smyrna at the Entrance of the Ap • stacy, and in the Church of Pbiladelphia, when the Apostasy shall expire; The first Entrances, the Avenues of Anti-christianism were un-written observances; over affection to Places, Days, Forms, Rites, Titles, swelling beyond the Apostolic Simplicity, hence it came to Superstition, Idolatry, Supremacy, this State the Holy Spirit Brands, first the Synagogue of Satan, because some were Authoritative, Jurisdictive, Excommunicative upon them; although not to be vouched from the word of Christ; & though they were before the very Apostasy, or Church itself in the Wilderness, before the Throne of Satan: Again, such a State of things falls under the same Brand towards the end of the Apostasy, near and at the very Philidelphian State, when some are sticking in these, as if the Reformation were not to move them, but that they ought to continue for the sake of Reverence to Antiquity, this seems to me a mistake like that, but in a much greater concern, with which some Learned Mathematicians charge Pope Gregory the Thirteenth, his Reformation of the Calendar, He Reform'd down to the Nicene Council, but not to the Days of Julius Caesar, by whom the Calendar was first Formed, on which Account even new Style is, not perfect, as to Time; so some Protestants would Reform down to the Four first General Councils; but they ought to Reform down to Christ, and his Apostles, by whom as the Author and Infallible Ministers Christianity was Originally Planted; they forget the Mystery of Iniquity Began to work even in the Apostles Days, and was Counter wrought by their Infallible Writings, in which all things are to be tried, to Insist upon anything not Written there, is a Redivival of that Synagogue, when over Zealously affected, much more, Impos'd under the Awe of Penalties, and Excommunications, which is the Form of a Synagogue of Satan. But with this difference; the Apostasy was in the Church of Smyrna in the Ascendency, so it went on to a Throne of Satan. It is now towards it's lowest Declination, so the last Synagogue shall come to Worship at Philadelphiaes Feet, and to acknowledge, Christ Loves that Church. And I hope that Day is now Springing; and no sure • Sign of the Apostasy expiring. This very Synagogue Seal'd the Thunders, that had uttered their voices at the first Reformation; It hath near this Hundred and Eighty Years retarded the Ki • gdom of Christ, and Shut up the Book as hid in the Bowels of Prophesy then opened, and ready to have come into Act, but when that Synagogue begins to acknowledge it's Error, that Kingdom is near: But on the other side Universality is another principle of the Philadelphian Church; some Protestant Churches are too narrow, and Circumscrib'd within their own Congr • gations; and will not own, nor receive those as the Church of Christ, whom Christ hath received, although they even as themselves, are among the undefiled Names of Sardis how few soever: They should go and Learn what that meaneth, Christ pleased not himself: For it is Written, the reproaches of them that reproached thee, fell upon me, that is, our very Sins, not by way of compliance, but by way of Compassion, union to the persons notwithstanding their Sins, or Infirmities; Christ is the Head of a Church under many remaining evils, we should own ourselves the Members of such a Church; An Universal Spirit is most of the Spirit of Christ's Kingdom opening to receive the fullness of the Gentiles, and Jews, how much more real Christians and Protestants; Not enclosing Austerely ourselves in pend up Congregations; so as not to unite in Spirit with all true Christianity and Protestancy though not of our Model.

[Argument 9] It is in the place of a great Argument, that the greatest Objection against the hope of so great a Mercy, so happy a Revolution as we are Discoursing of near us, is removed by this present Revolution, that our Eyes have seen, our Ears heard, and our Hands handled; that is, that all our Senses are fully assured of; the sins, the unworthiness, the unpreparedness of the Age for so happy a Revolution is the great Argument against it.

But it that could have interposed, we of this Nation had not received so great a wonder of Providence in favor of us; I delight not to insist on so ungrateful a part, but leave it to everyone in their own serious Reflexions to Calculate the greatness of this work in mercy to us, by Ballancing all the unworthiness, that might have opposed it; but when God is pleased thus to work; As his work is before him in his own determination to do it; so his reward is with him, he expects it only from himself; He secures all, that his own Wisdom and Holiness requires, and prevails over the remainder of unworthiness by his own Names sake.

And of this I take the more earnest notice, that we may know Pr • phetical events are like the Rain, that waits not for the Sons of Men, but having such a Generation of the Just, of the Children of God in the World, whom Fatherly Providence hath a peculiar Eye upon, it falls on the unjust also.

Yet this is to be understood with three Limitations.

1. There are yet Eight Years for a variety of disposes to show themselves in, either of Mercy, or Judgment; In this Time the Carcases of many of the mixed Multitude may fall, as in a Wilder •• ss: There may be Wars, noises of War, Commotions, distress of Nations, and great p •• plexity with many evils, that may consume profane, and un ref • rm'd Persons, we ought not therefore to be s • cure, or presuming because of so great a Mercy, nor on the other side be discouraged at contrary appearances; For whatever waving of things may be in this Interval, the end shall yet be certain, as Prophesy hath declared.

2. There will be nothing, there can be nothing more dreadful to the un-holy, to the sleepy, and secure, to the Ignorant, and Abominable, then that approach, then those loud voices from Heaven of the Kingdom of Christ, when these things come to pass; Christ expresses it in brief to all those in defiled Garments in Sard … ▪ except thou watch, I will come upon thee as a Thief, and thou shalt not know, at what hour I will come upon thee, bless • d are they then, or even at this Time, (though it shall have a greater fulfilling just at the Seventh Vial) who watch, and keep their Garments, viz. from defilements, because Christ comes now also as a Thief, and on such a surprisal, the unprepar'd, • hrowing off their defiled Garments in haste walk naked, and Men see their shame. The greatest Zeal of Protestancy, if un-reformed in heart and Life will be affrighted even to endless distraction, and confusion, at this approach of Christ, if Men do not before watch, that is, resolve what manner of Persons they ought to be in all Holiness and Godliness of Conversation not sur-charged with Drunkenness, Gluttony, the cares of this Life, &c.

3. With Relation to the Grand Appearance of Christ, there are between the Loud Voices in Heaven, that the Kingdoms of this World are become the Kingdoms of the Lord, and of his Christ, between the end of Time, Times, and half a Time, which are the 1260. D. and the Kingdom itself, Thirty Days for Years, making 1290. wherein the Seven Thunders so long sealed shall be opened in Seven Successive Voices for the Reforming, the purifying, the Converting the World, the World of all sorts of Men, that whatever remains filthy may be filthy still, even forever; because it would not be cleansed, when God would have cleansed it, which Voices we may find in their due order Revel. 14. compare the Time of Thirty Years, Dan. 12. And these shall be, before Christ comes to Smite the Earth with a Curse; For immediately upon those Voices come Forty Five Years of the V • als, making up 1335. in Daniel▪ these are the Execution of the Holy and pure Wrath of Almighty God without mixture of any Human Passions, or Ends. Then at the end of them is the Glorious Kingdom of Christ, the New Jerusalem, wherein all his Saints, and Servants from first to last stand in their Lots, and whereinto nothing, that is defiled shall Enter: Thus God hath secured his Mercies, though vouchsaf▪d to an Impure World now.

All which considerations exceedingly strengthen the Arguments, and remove the Objections arising from so Impure, and indispos'd a State of the World in General, and of this Nation in particular, for so Gracious Manifestations of God, as this Prophesy Predicts.

[Argument 10] There is one Note in this Prophesy, that gives a further glance upon the near approach of the Time, and that this Revolution looks to the very just Complement of the words of God to be fulfilled; And that is, that whereas the Prophesy had said; The Ten Kings should agree to give their Kingdom to the Beast, till the Words of God should be fulfilled; It without any notice of their withdrawing their Kingdom from the Beast tells us, they shall hate the Wh • re.

Now it is True, Their being Drunk with the Wine of the Whores Fornication is the Reason of their gi • ing their Kingdom to the Beast that carries her, as hath been before observed, and therefore when e're they hate the Whore, they will certainly withdraw their Power from the Beast; But because it is said, they shall hate the Whore without any mention, how they shall behave themselves to the Beast, and that it seems to be the peculiar note of the Prophesy fulfi • led, that they hate the Whore, it moved my enquiry, whether either in the first Reformation, or at the Time of this Revolution, there be any shade of any King, dividing the Beast, and the Whore, that is, of a Retrenchment of their Power from the Beast, and yet continuing their kindness to the Whore, that the distinct particular Hatred might, as I may say, Perpendicularly fall on the Whore, the minds of any Princes Jealous of their Power, and the Honor of their Kingdom having any ways been moved with an Indignation at the Curtalling their Power, and Kingdom by giving it to the Beast, and so have re-called it: For if such can be found, it seemed to me a great note of the fulfilling this Prophesy, viz. If the Whore was first so distinctly loved, that then by herself she might be exposed to Universal hatred afterward.

And I find, that there have been some Specimens of it all along, and in the beginning of the Reformation by out King Henry the Eighth, who retained his kindness to the Roman Catholic Church in it's Doctrine▪ and Worship▪ and veneration of it, and Monstrous Zeal for it in all these, and yet removed the Power of the Beast from his Regalia in all Points; But never was there so Ample, and Illustrious a Representation of it, as in the present French King, who hath so with his Clergy Lower'd, and even Annul'd the Power of the Beast, or the Pope in their Gallicane Church, and yet so closely espous'd the Apostasy of the Whore, and under the very Name of the Roman Catholic Church, and so In-humanly Persecuted the Reformed, as H • retics, as if that King would himself take upon him to be the Beast bearing that Church, and to Relieve the Pope from so ungentile, as well as A • ti Christian Office: By which he, and his Clergy have offered these great Instructions to the World.

1. That the Roman Catholic Church, as called, whatever hands the Administration of it be in, will show itself to be the Whore, the Mother of the Abominations of the Earth, of Superstitions and Idolatries, and that drinks itself drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and of the Martyrs of Jesus; and that whoever serves it shall be intoxicated with the 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 , the Sting, the High Rage, and Fury of its Fornication, and shall enforce the same Cup with utmost Barbarity into the Hands, and Mouths of those, who refuse it.

2. That the distinction betwixt the Court of Rome, and the Church of Rome is a vain and frivolous shift, an Apron of Fig▪leaves to hide the impurity and filthiness of the Whore; for at this day in France are found, however palliated, the Sorceries, Idolatries, and Murthers of the Church of Rome, where the Court of Rome is so much defied. This is, as it were, on purpose ordered by Providence to expose the Whore, by herself alone.

3. That there shall be as great an Instance, as can be, of Hating the Whore, or Church of Rome by itself; and as distinct, as can be supposed in that close Conjunction it hath with the Beast, and the Beast with it: The very abstracted Religion of the Roman Communion shall be detested for its own sake, without Relation to Politics, or to the Usurpation of the Beast or Papacy over National Rights. And whenever this is, It is the watch word of this Prophecy, that It is near fulfilling. And because things are so much prepared in France hereunto, It is a very great ground of Expectation, that there this great Prophecy shall begin to be fulfilled, above any of the Kingdoms devoted to the Beast and Whore as united; and that the Time is as near, as I have from this Prophecy declared, and that by some wonderful Hand of God, parallel to what hath been in our Nation, the Action shall go on there, to which there are many other Prognostics leading, not fit to be here recounted, where we insist wholly on Prophecy and Providence compared.

I now conclude this Argumentative part with these brief Inferences.

[Infer. 1] These Considerations of Prophecy designing so great Ends, show the Vanity of such Reasonings; What is Prophecy to us, or the Ten Kings hating the Whore? If we have the Laws, and Liberties of our own Government, of which Protestant Religion is become so Essential a part, that we cannot have the one without the other; we have what we desire, we meddle not with dark Prophesies beyond our Line; we consider the Natural and Political Causes of these Things, which lie so plain before us, and meddle not beyond them.

But, be not deceived, God is not mocked, nor can be justled out of his Purposes by such low Designments of ours; He hath a Wheel within every Wheel of ours, which being acted by his Supreme Spirit, shall move on to its Ends, and carry all our Wheeles thither with itself; His Pleasure must go on, however our private Interests are disordered by it: In a common Flame particular Houses must suffer blowing up, and lesser Buildings give way, and make room for public princely Structures: sometimes our Desires, and Conveniencies are taken in, as of late; sometimes left out; but the Mystery of God in the Kingdom of Christ by the Oath of the Angel, must be finished; there is but a short Time, in comparison now, till the Seventh Trumpet begin to finish it, and Time of the present date, of the present Style shall be no more; as He hath spoken by his Servants the Prophets. That Kingdom of Christ is, and shall suddenly appear to be the Grand Public, not only of our Nation but of the World.

And the Destruction of the Papacy, and the Hatred of the Whore by the Ten Kings must be to us, even to us, whoever we are, whether we will or no; both as to our National Interests, and as to our Eternal Concernments. Our National Interests shall be carried that way, if we are moved with that Spirit of God now about to show itself in the World, according to our desires; if not beyond all our Desires and Intendments. And as to Our Everlasting Concernments, It is much to us, for It brings on that Day, that shall be either the day of our Redemption, or that shall burn as an Oven, and All the Wicked shall be consumed in it.

[Infer. 2] Let us earnestly pray, and wait for that Philadelphian State of the Church, that is so near us, and that shall far exceed all our present Church states, how excellent soever they may be; Then shall the Great Truths of Gospel-Redemption, and particularly the Prophesies be Sung, as a New Song, as by a Choir of Angels, the Music of the Spheres, and all the Servants of Christ under the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, with his Fathers Name on their Fore-heads, shall learn it. And then, as by a new Mission, speedy, and Universal, like the First Apostolical Preaching, and as from the Mid-Heaven shall the Everlasting Gospel be preached to All; The disbelieved Hour of Christ's Judgment. viz. Of his Kingdom or Government, that begins with a Judiciary Process, shall be Thunder'd out, as nigh, to All Nations.

The Fall of Babylon, and the Judgment on the Beasts Worshippers shall be declared with a New Majesty and Power. The First Resurrection (Blessed are the Dead, &c.) shall be promulg'd; Prayers for the Conversion of the Fulness of the Gentiles, and so of the Jews shall be answered by Christ with the Crown on his Head, and the sharp Sickle in his Hand, reaping the Harvest of the Earth, as Ripe for the Salvation of all Israel; and then is the Vine of the Earth gathered, especially the Clusters of Spiritual Sodom, and thrown into the Wine-press of the Wrath of God, and from • hence the Vials are filled and poured out in Judgment.

Then the Opened Temple shall show the Tabernacle of Testimony, and the Ark of the Testament, and be filled with Smoke, because the Divine Glory is coming to dwell there; that is, Ezekiel's Temple, and City, and the New Jerusalem of the Apostle John shall be spiritual • z'd into one Divine Presence of God, and of the Lamb, which is the Sanctuary cleansed at the End of Daniel's 2300 Ev. Morn.

These Things God will be Enquir'd of for, by the Prayers of his Servants awakened thereunto. But they are by the demand of the Watchers, and by the Word of the Holy, however light they are made of; and therefore shall certainly be in their Season.

[Infer. 3] We are hereby made to understand, how to pray for the Powers, that are set over us by God, as in Relation to the most Supreme part of their Administration. As now for the King, the only Prayer, that can be made for him in Faith, with respect to the Regal Power, is, that He may be one of those, that may hate the Whore; else in a Protestant Nation, rescued from the Beast, and the Whore, Prophecy will not allow him at this Time, I do not say, of the Day, but of the Beasts last Moon, though it be indeed also the Half day, since the Reformation; had it not been for this Prophecy, there had not been such an easy Retirement of Him from Government. An Atheist may see, and the greatest Infidel in Sacred Prophecy be convinced.

The Great Prayer for the Protestant Prince, whom God hath stirred up to be a Deliverer, is, That He may be a polished Shaft in God's Quiver, and that God would fill his Bow with Him, and make Him as the Sword of a mighty man, that he may ride out prosperously and achieve High in this Great work, that is to be done, that after the overthrow of the Throne of Kingdoms, and of the Rider, &c. He would make him a Signet, as having chosen Him; And for the assembled Councils of the Nation, that they may be with the Lamb, who is appearing King of Kings, and Lord of Lord's, as His Called, Faithful, and chosen, now his Victory over the Ten Kings, who have, and who yet make War with Him, is so near.

For the Witnesses of Christ in this Nation of all Kinds, our Prayer should be, that they may so finish their Sack cloth Prophecy, that they may hear that Voice, Come up hither.

[Infer. 4] Let us review this so fresh, wonderful doing of God in this Nation, with a Wisdom and Consideration guided and conducted by Prophecy; let us behold it in All the Circumstances of it, especially in this, that God hath frustrated the Tokens of the Babylonian Liars, and made the Divinors at Loretto, and the Infallible Chair, Mad; but hath begun to perform the Counsel of his Messengers, saying to Babylon, It shall Fall, and to his New Jerusalem, It shall be built; and to those of the Ten Kings, who are now of the Reformation, You are my Shepherds, and shall perform my Pleasure, till All the other of the Ten Kings also unite in Hating the Whore, when the words of God are fulfilled to the utmost.

As a Pattern hereof, He hath bowed the Hearts of the People of the Nation, as one Man; He hath brought the Notions of Loyalty, Non-Resistance, and Passive Obedience, into Subjection to Prophecy.

[Infer. 5] Let us seriously consider, All who love the Kingdom of Christ, and sincerely pray, Thy Kingdom Come, according to the Prayer of the Kingdom, whether we would choose, and desire, that this late Revolution should be (though set at the highest Elevation) a Mercy to the Nation, and to his Servants in it upon their very Prayers, but not in order to any further great End according to that admirable Prophecy of the New Testament, the Revelation; or whether we would choose and desire; It should be for the removal of that Great Remo • a and Estopple of the Kingdom of Christ, the Papacy, a Beginning of the Train of Things, that shall pass according to Prophecy in this order. viz. Begin at this Prophecy of the Text, Chap. 17. v. 16, 17. and set it before c. 11. 11. to the End, and so pass to c: 14. and carry a line through it, to c. 15. c. 16. c. 18. c. 19. c. 20. c. 21. c. 22. to v. For so I am assured, God hath begun in our Nation, so, as He will extend this Prophetical Line through the World, reaching to that Glorious Jerusalem.

According to our desire herein, let us search that Prophecy, and set our Faces to the Lord our God by Prayer and Supplication, with Fasting, Sack cloth, and Ashes:

[Infer. 6] The Philadelphian State of the Church, that shall be at the End of the Apostasy, is the Exemplar or Pattern, at which All the Protestant Churches should aim, as being indeed the Rest, or Remainders that are to fill up the Reformation, upon which the New Jerusalem shall come down, in which the Sanctuary cleansed appears. This we should aim at in Brotherly Love, imported in its very Name, which is the Bands and the Beauty of that Church; In Holding fast the Name of Christ in his Supreme Pastoral and Episcopal Office, receiving nothing, but from his Voice, entering by the Door of his sole Authority, and flying from the Voice of Strangers; in keeping the Word of his Patience, or staying for the Unfading Crown until his Glorious Kingdom; in looking for, and hasting to it. For in too great an Ignorance, and unbelief of it, the very wise Virgins of the Protestant Churches are slumbering and sleeping at this Day.

In laying aside all Austere Ceremonialness out of over-Reverence to Antiquity; and rather humbling ourselves and acknowledging an Error in too near Approaches to that Synagogue of Satan, that showed itself before the last of those Four first General Councils: Lastly, in a Great Moderation of Censure towards those Churches, and Protestants, who were so greatly mistaken in that last point; not Reproaching them as Antichristian, or having so much as the number of that unhappy Name; however too near approaching the Ritual and High Jurisdictive Synagogue, that led to it at first. But now such shall see their Fault by the Instruction of Christ Himself, who Receives, and owns them: and thus should we All join in seeking the Beloved of the Church together, till He appear on the Mountain of Spices. Cantic. 6. 1. c. 8. last.