Judgment or Prophecies
The source for this document is https://quod.lib.umich.edu/e/eebo/A29508.0001.001
Project Note
This is licensed under Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND. This license allows reusers to copy and distribute the material in any medium or format in unadapted form only, for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator.
The source of this document is the Early English Books Online (EEBO-TCP) website. Those books were transcribed in a character for character manner and can be very cumbersome to read since there was no standard spelling during that time. Many spelling variations such as "unlesse", "vnlesse", and "vnles" regularly appear.
This project was conceived to clean up those books as much as possible and make them more accessible to the interested reader, leading to the creation of a massive list of variant spellings and their corrections. This was used to clean up the text, but is of course only as complete as the list itself. Because of the nature of the original transcription, some words have missing characters or places where the original language (e.g., Greek) was not transcribed. This effort does not change that. Be aware that the original transcription can also be faulty and in some cases entire sentences may be missing.
Although this is no substitute for a properly compared, proofed, and scholarly edition, I believe that the result is a document which is far more accessible, particularly for searching for terms using standard spelling. The document has been cleaned and presented in what I hope is a pleasing and useful format for the vast majority of Christian brothers and sisters who just want access to read these spiritually nourishing works.
However, a word of warning: The Puritans were a very diverse group of people and their age was characterized with godliness, but also much upheaval, disputation and strife. They disagreed on many doctrines and some of these works contain less orthodox or Scriptural views than others. The reader is strongly advised to read with discernment, particularly if it is unknown whether author is trustworthy.
This project took a huge amount of time and skill to bring to fruition. I would particularly like to thank David Jonescue for the initial list of Puritans he found on EEBO and the concept behind this project as well as the continuous, unceasing efforts toward seeing this complete. Without his labor, this would not be available. Alex Sarrouf was invaluable in providing the initial list of over 7,000 spelling variations he had identified and corrected, as well as continuing to review more than 16,000 additions to that list for any typos.
Logan West
(with David Jonescue and Alex Sarrouf)
www.puritansearch.org
Reverend M r. Brightmans Judgment, or Prophesies what shall befall Germany, Scotland, Holland, and the Churches adhering to them.
Likewise what shall befall England, and the Hierarchy therein.
Collected out of his exposition on the Revelations, Printed above forty years since. Wonderful to see how they are fulfilled, and in fulfilling, foreseeing and foretelling what our eyes have seen, and may see, both in the past, present and future State of our times.
Declaring that the Reformation began in Queen Elizabeth's days, is not sufficient for us under greater light.
Finishing the work if we now withstand as heretofore, we are to expect, God hath a sad Controversy with the Land.
This faithful Watchman or our English Prophet (as he is called) was persecuted and banished by the Bishops, and this Commentary condemned by them to the fire; which they could not effect in Queen Elizabeth's reign, till King James.
Collected for the good of those who want time or coin, to purchase so large a volume.
LONDON, Printed for R. H. in Queens-head Alley.
M r. Brightman's Judgment or Prophesies, what shall besall Germany, Scotland Holland and the Churches adhering to them.
M r. Brightman in his Book of the exposition on the Revelations, seriously considering and resolving himself, that the 7 Epistles S. John wrote to the 7 Churches in Asia, were also written and directed to the 7 succeeding Churches among the Gentiles, of which those 7 were a type or counterpane (omitting for brevity what he saith, concerning the other 4 Churches) we present you with a brief of what he more immediately applies to ourselves.
In general (he saith) That there was a terrible storm to be expected, and it would be such an horrible tempest, that it would terribly shake the Christian Churches.
Frist, for Germany, there was the bitterest scourge for it that ever had fallen upon it, that it was to come shortly; Germany should be like a house that is robbed by furious, mad & cruel spoilers, that would have no mercy of neither Sex, nor Age; and the coming thereof should be sudden and unexpected, like a thief in the night. Which we may see he truly foretold, it being fulfilled in our cares, and the inhabitants thereof having found it by sad experience; let England take warning, considering what (he said) was the cause that would bring all this misery: Because (saith he) they took no care for a full and through Reformation; therefore by the just judgment of God, they should loose their Citizens and Inhabitants; and they, with other Churches, should come to nothing, and shortly it would appear: he calls Germany by the name of Sardis.
Secondly, for Scotland, and Holland, and the other Churches adhering to them; (typified by godly Philadelphia) He saith, that they shall shut and none shall open, and they shall open and none shall shut: A Virgin Church, chaste, not so defiled with Rome's superstition as others; And speaks of a Covenant and Society they should he joined in, and bids them, not to be perplexed nor discouraged, at what the world spitefully prateth of them, as if he had heard men in our times call them Traitors, Rebels, Seditious, and bids them not to regard the scoffs of the wicked, who will despise them, because they are godly, little, lowly and weak in visible power, in comparison of their enemies; For (saith he) no enemy shall shall be able to prevail against them, and they shall set up a token of victory shortly; and everyone shall be compelled to say, That they are dearly beloved of God: they shall be seen to prosper so exceedingly; and so marvelously promoted and advanced, beyond all men's expectation: And when that storm and horrible tempest shall come upon the Christian Churches; these Churches shall stand fast like a pillar, and be preserved from wasting; when the other Churches which did not take care for a full Reformation (as they did) shall by the just judgment of God, come (as it were) to nothing: There shall be (saith he) such a miserable hutly burly of all things, that there should scarce be the form of a Church perceived; but only with holy Philadephia.
Thirdly, for England, whose counterpane he takes to be Laodicea, terming it, Lukewarme, vainglorious Laodicea; concerning it, he saith: He that gathereth the tears of his children into his bottle knoweth right well; That I could never with dry eyes take a survey of this Laodiceas lamentable condition, but I poured out tears and sighs from the bottom of my heart, when I beheld Christ's loathing of us, and were it not that out of duty, as a watchman, I dare not betray the salvation of this Church, by not giving warning, I would have held my peace; but my hope is that those which love the truth will hearken and accept, and think (as the truth is) I envy no man's person, honor or greatness; Yet when I perceived, that these seven Churches were propounded for a tipe of all the Churches among the Gentiles; and with all, saw the order, time, & marvelous agreeing of all things together, I durst not perfidiously bury the truth in silence.
In that Christ saith of this Church, I know thy works, that thou art neither hot nor cold; he observeth, that Christ maketh mention of no one good thing that it hath, the worst of all the seven (although there were many faithful in it) yet not any so past hope in regard of the outward form and government; which comes to pass, not so much through its own default, as by means of the faulty government of the Angels, who have so ordered and governed it, that it was tempered and blended together of strange contraries. A Hoch-potch, not so cold that we would be, all Romish, and cleaving to superstision altogether; nor yet so hot that we pursue and admit a full Reformation: And therefore the disease of this Church was more difficult and desperate.
Therefore from these words; I would thou wert either cold or bot, saith he, I would thou wert either all Romish, or admit of a through Reformation: blaming those Angels only, and those that cleave to them, Priests and Laity; who being bewitched with ambition and covetousness, do scornfully reject this holy Reformation, not enduring the remedy, but accounting that worse than the disease.
Therefore he saith in plain terms, That the Bishops, which he calls no better than Lord-Beggar, because their riches and honors (for the most part) they get by fawning, flattering, bribing; being ambitious to get under great men, and so creep into the Court for preferment. But (saith he) both they and their whole lukewarm Hierarchy, shall quite be overthrown, and never recover their dignity again: And at their overthrow, they shall endanger the people, by reason of their consenting to them: Yet the people shall escape overthrowing, but it is to be feared the people shall feel some adversity; But God will not suffer the Hierarchy to escape; for they seeking honors and riches, and not those things which are Christ's, shall have reproachful Judgments; few or none shall sigh or sob for them, but they and their Priests shall be vile before the people, and men shall read the reports concerning them, with delight: And they shall be cast out and spewed up as vomit out of a corrupted stomach, that no man will be willing to take up again; from these words, Therefore because thou art lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold: It shall come to pass that I will spew thee out of my mouth. For thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing, and knowest not how thou artwretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked.
The whole State of this Church of Laodicea is worthy of serious consideration, as M. Brightman applies it to England, in this and divers other Chapters, for he speaks of our times as if he were now living.
And further he saith in his Epistle and elsewhere in his Commentary, that many are the miseries the Christian Churches must suffer, for there will be a long and doleful Tragedy, which will overthrow with scourges, slaughters, death and ruin; and that the sword of the Lord shall be made drunk in their blood, except they receive warning and amend.
But yet (saith he) Be of good comfort Germany, France and Brittany, and all you Christian Churches; This is the last Act; for after this Theater and long Tragedy is past, there will succeed in the room thereof happy days, with abundance of peace and all good things. And it is his Judgment, (if I may not say his Prophesy) comparing one Scripture with another, and times with times: That before the year 1650, that the Jews shall be called; the whore of Rome's nose shall be slit, and she stripped of all her glorious garments and attire, her power and sinews cut, and the Pope himself shall run out of Rome into Avignon, or into Bonia, or thereabout, one of his own Cities; and the City of Rome shall be burnt with fire.
And that the King of Spain and the King of Ptolony, and some other Kings shall bewail her, and would fain help her, but dare not, because they shall be afraid of their own safety, least they be devoured, or scorched with the same fire.
And further he saith; that the Emperor of Germany shall destroy Rome, if he set to the work, it being most proper for him; but if he doth it not, some other shortly will have the prize of that victory: Therefore (saith he) you godly Princes take the matter in hand, and set to this work; it shall not be a thing of so great trouble as you think for; fear not the huge Armies will come to help her; if you think the Spaniard, or the French-man, or any other King, will raise mighty forces against you to defend her, as being Rome's friends; these are altogether vain fears, scare-Crows, Goblins, Bugbeares for simple people, for her friends shall stand affarre off with waiting (testifying their love) sighing and sobbing, but taking no pains, nor striking a stroke to deliver their Whore, being now an old withered Harlot, but crying, Alas Alas that great City. And again he further saith; and you the rest of the Christian Princes, you need do nothing, only be valiant and of good courage in dispatching your work for the Lord, and matters shall prosper as happily as you desire; and understand at length by what way you may procure, as to yourselves honor and tranquility, so quietness and joy to the whole Christian world; Therefore draw your Swords against Rome, for you shall prevail.
And saith he, within 45 years after Rome is destroyed; The Pope once more gathering all his friends together to try his last chance, shall then be utterly overthrown being about the year 1686, which will be the longest time he can continue. But Rome being destroyed, and the Jews called, there will be then to the end, a most happy tranquility, and things very great indeed, and to be admired; the Joy will be so much that it will be strange and unexpected; for in the place of former troubles, there will be perpetual peace, and then Kings and Queens will be nursing fathers, and nursing mothers unto the Christian Churches.
Then the great Turk shall be 40 years on the decaying hand, and loose many Countries; but in the year 1696, He also shall be utterly overthrown: And then Christ shall reign with his Ordinances chief in the world.
They that please to examine these quotations in the margent, by Master Brightmans Book on the Revelations, which he wrote above forty years ago, they shall find every noat either in the same words, or to the same purpose.
Yet not to forget that he saith further of England and Ireland. Although Christ be angry with us, by reason we are so far from a perfect reformation; and they which labor to bring in the Popish Ceremonies hated of God, do endanger the overthrow of our Kingdom; yet he saith Christ hath begun his Kingdom (at that time he wrote) which was in the days of blessed Queen Elizabeth, who happily begun and proceeded in the work of Reformation, according to the time and those days she lived in; the finishing whereof will be required of this Generation; otherwise expect God hath a sad controversy with this Land, but Christ hath begun his Kingdom both in England, and Ireland, to reign evermore; and the enemies which shall endeavor many enterprises, yet they shall vanish like smoke, and they shall never prevail to overthrow Christ his Kingdom begun here; for there will never want Christian Princes to maintain His Truth begun; which he saith began from the year 1558. for the Seventh Angel blew his trumpet for this time, and saith he would reign evermore,
And lastly, he saith (for the better understanding of what he means) That the City of Rome is not limited to that City, but extends as far as the Pope hath any dominion; So that the City of Rome is in destroying, if any of her Dominions be in destroying; as he interprets the holy Ghosts meaning: but the Pope is to be quite and fully overthrown at the year 1686. Therefore by computation Rome must be in destroying at 1641, in some of his Dominions, So I conclude this brief Relation (of what Master Brightman largely iusists upon, showing his grounds in his Book why he affirms these things) with Christ's Counsel to this Church of Laodicea.