ELEANOR AVDELEY
REVEALE O DANIEL,
TO THE GREAT PRINCE, the King of Great BRITAINE, FRANCE, and IRELAND, Defender of the Faith.
THE INTERPRETATION OF THE VISIONS OF THE PROPHET DANIEL, revealing the Man of Sinne; And the Morning Starre, before the comming of the Day.
IN the Visions of this Prophet are revealed the same things contained in the Revelatiō, which GOD gaue to Iesus Christ, to shew vnto his Servants things which must shortly come to passe; things that are not, to bring to nought things that are: And as he signified to his beloved Servant IOHN, [Page 2]the Contents of the secret Booke by his Angell; Even so the Lambe slaine by the eternall Decree purposed from the foundation of the world; Declared the same things to the man greatly beloved, his servant DANIEL, vnfolded in this present exposition; drawing the juice of many sorts wanting roome and leasure, to lay things in order, wherein the Scripture will repaire the want of methode. Being not willing for the lighting of a Match to make a fire, when the stroke of a Flint is of more facilitie; Speaking not to a People of a strange Speech and of a hard Language, but to the House of Israell; Avoyding mans enticing words; things without life, giue no life, that revealeth not the testimony of IESUS; at whose Name, a name aboue every name, Let every knee bowe. Heare all yee Children of my people, harken O Earth!
The first vision of this holy Prophet, was in the I. yeare of the raigne of BELSHAZZER, King of Babilon; from which spirituall Babilon takes the denomination. One and Twentie hundred yeares since.
Wherein he saw the foure Windes of Heaven, or the losed Angels bound in the great River Euphrates the auntient bounds of the great Roman Empire, that stroue vpon the great Sea, and the foure great Beasts, that came vp from the Sea diuers one from another. These blowing Windes had no power to hurt, till the servants of God were Sealed in the foreheads, at what time that Cōmonwealth became a Monarchy, persecuting the Church of God being then with Child, Trauailing in birth, crying and pained to be deliuered of the man Childe, roaring like a Lyon, the whole Forrest ringing, ruling all Nations with a Rod of Iron; that breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things: He is Alpha and Omega, so haue the servants of God a Two-fold sence. Besides man including some other of his Creatures, bearing the names of men, yet being neither Man nor Beast; Praise yee him Sun and Moone, &c.
I heard the number of them: And here ended the Sealing of the first Covenant, a yoake which our Fathers were not able to beare, to establish the second, which is Spirituall, [Page 4]to put his Lawes in their mindes, with the Pensell of his Grace to write them in their hard harts, a light Burthen, for the letter of the Law, graven in stone is the sentence of death; But the Spirit giveth life to stony harts, that were dead in trespasses and sinnes; yea, the whole valley of dead Bodies, turn'd into Stones and Earth, from ABELL the first Borne, to the last man taken vp in the Field, they are all holy vnto the Lord, their iniquitie is forgiven and forgotten, as a Father, hee remembreth their sinne no more.
Of these were Sealed to bee of the seed of ABRAHAM, one hundred forty and foure Thousand, twelue times twelue Thousand: Of which faithfull Number IESVS CHRIST the Saviour of the world, the only begotten Sonne of the living GOD, in the likenesse of sinfull Flesh without Sinne, the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah, was sealed on the Eight day of his Nativitie; The Lyonesse bringing but one, and but once in her life.
That with the sprinckling and shedding of his Blood, both Covenants might be sealed; These were the first Fruits vnto God, [Page 5]and to the Lambe, hauing the Token of the everlasting Covenant, of the great mysterie in those times, concerning CHRIST and his Church, put in the Flesh a Figure of the Heart.
Which first Covenant remaines to vs a Patterne of tendernes, not made with hands, the Heart by a mutuall respect being now the Closet or secret part, whereby wee Gentiles are made the tender Spouse, the habitation of God, fellow heires of the vnsearchable Riches, joyned to Christ the head, that in times past were the Children of disobedience and wrath, Aliens from the commonwealth of Israell, Strangers from the Covenants of promise, having no hope (without God) in the world, are now, who were somtimes farre off; of all Nations, Kindreds and Tongues; vncircumcised Philistines, not of his Brethren; not of the House of his Father, By the blood of IESUS CHRIST made nigh members, of his Body, of his Flesh, and of his Bones; greater loue and felicitie can none expresse.
Of which great mysterie, Hipocrites, next [Page 6]Harlots, whose counterfeit beautie deceiues not him, whose praise is of men, and not of God; false Gods, are no partakers; the outward Token, being common to both. To assure vs of which, receiving the earnest of his Spirit, that abideth, not crying Master; Carest thou not, that wee perish; but Abba, Father.
Thus our tackling lost without Anchor, to repayre the ruines and weaknesse of these decayed, sunke weather-tempest driven bottomes, such Treasures of Millions expended and bestowed, what burthen, what prizes, what things God hath prepared to bee the lading of these vessels of honour; Eye hath not seene, eare hath not heard, neither hath entred into the hart of man: To which, all the Transported affections felt or fained, injoyed without paines or feare, may seeme but light dotage, as Light and Darknesse compared, compared with the Crowne and weight of that Eternall blisse.
The Foure windes prepared for an houre, and a day, and a moneth, and a yeare; are the powers of these foure great Beasts; shewing [Page 7]their degrees of residence; also the finall Blast is included; The Sea are the Nations of the Earth.
The beginning and the ending, thus saith hee to the Sea: Waues drowning one another, swelling into Mountaines, for glory foaming out your owne shame. Saying, haile to the Wood awake, according to your owne vnderstanding, you haue made Idols and Images, not by my direction, but after the invention of the Craftsman, and haue exalted your hearts and forgotten mee, giving my Praise to graven Images, and my glory to another for your God, (not setting me before your eyes) you haue gotten a Divell, a false Prophet, whom I sent to proue you; that takes my lawes in his mouth, not of loue, but for strife and envie: Thinkes he to say; Lord, Lord, in thy Name wee haue cast out Divels, Preached, and Baptized; my answer is not vnknowne to you both, though you thinke to plead ignorance, persecuting and dispising the number of my little ones.
You onely haue I knowne, of all the Families [Page 8]of the Earth, whose transgressions doe hasten your Iudgement; Therefore I will punish you for your iniquities, you shall bee like the Morning Cloud, and the early dew that passeth away as the Chaffe that is driven with a scattering whirle-winde out of the Flower, as smoake out of a Chimney vanishing away; And I will bee like a Lyon, as a Leopard by the way I will wayte and obserue you, and as a Beare that is bereaued of her Whelpes, I will teare the Kall from your harts and devoure you; But to the faithfull I will bee a King, a Saviour; as an Eagle stirring vp her Nest, fluttering over her young, bearing them vpon the wing; So I will preserue mine inheritance, my Portion as the Apple of mine eye.
These are the words of the First, that was like a Lyon, his strength shall overcome the rest, and take their Dominion away, having no number or finite parts expressed; the time of whose vndeuided Kingdome is infinite and alwaies; As his yeares haue no end, his Crownes are many; This is the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah, having of Flesh a tender [Page 9]hart; a mans hart was giuen vnto it; The Prince of the Kings of the Earth, the first and the last; And because he is the roote, and made of the seed of DAVID; Hee is here accompted amongst these Beasts; This is hee that sate vpon the white Horse, the Circle of the Earth, to iudge and make War; beholding the Inhabitants like Grasshoppers; and a Bowe and a Crowne was giuen vnto him; Hee is the Lord of Lords, the King of Kings, and of his Kingdome there is no end.
The second Beast like a Beare, the Seauenth head, that had Three ribbes in the Mouth betweene the Teeth of it, signifying, Three hundred yeares; this is the deuouring Raigne of the Heathen Romaine Emperours, which lasted so long, licked by the Diuell; In the infancie of which Empire, the Sonne of God was Crucified, and the Citie of Ierusalem destroyed, wherein the yearely Sacrifice or feast of the Passouer was solemnized, that in her might be found the Blood of Prophets and Saints, and of all that were slaine vpon the Earth, in which [Page 10]first seuentie yeares, the Apostles and seuentie finished their testimony what they had seene and heard, after which followed the ouer-spreading of abomination spoken of by our Sauiour, making the Sanctuary desolate, defiled with Carkasses which can neither see, heare, nor walke, abominable carrion, the house of Prayer, made the Gallery of the Diuell, for his deuices to stand in.
And this is hee that sate vpon the Red Horse, Hauing a great Sword giuen vnto him, to make Warre with the Church of God, deuouring much Flesh, Burning, Scorching it with fire, Haile mingled with Blood, destroying Trees, and all greene grasse, smote euery Herbe, and brake euery Tree; and here ended the first Woe with this second Beast, all fire and horrible Cruelty, such as there was none like it in all the Land of spirituall Egypt since it became a Nation, and shortly after began the next Woe, where the fire is not mentioned, because the smoake is so great, thicke darkenesse or heresie, false doctrine extinguishing the Light of truth, which shall continue vntill the [Page 11]third Woe, Hell fire, and Brimstone or Blasphemy, issuing out of their Mouthes, a great crye from him that sits vpon the Throne, when Rednesse shall be turn'd into Palenesse to the Maide behinde the Mill, the Captaine in the Dongeon, free and bond, because of the last Plague the second Death.
The third Beast that was like a Leopard, or halfe a Lyon, an Ape betweene Man and beast, whose feete or first footing, were as the feete of a Beare, that had vpon the back of it foure Wings, like a Fowle or painted Bird: Two of the Eagle, and two of the Dragon; signifying his time, Foure hundred yeares before the comming in of Antichrist, then came the King of Babylon to Ierusalem, and besieged it, taking the advantage of the Night, what Linkes or Torches brought him thither I reade not, but Moonlight there was little, though hee were on his way or Wing, but letted Two hundred yeares before.
Bearing also foure heads, foure standing vp for it, shewing the deuision of the Empire into so many parts, being then too [Page 12]large and great for the gouernment of one man. This is the Dragon of Egipt; that Monarchy that began with the Christian Emperours, whose deadly wound (Death to the Soule) was washed in the Blood, and healed by the Stripes of the heauenly Samaritan; There is now no healing of the Bruise, it is putrified, the Wound is grieuous; the Leopard cannot change his spots; binde thy Tyre vpon thy head, forbeare to cry: O Virgin daughter of Egipt, in vaine shalt thou goe vp into Gillead and take Balme, or vse Medicines, thou dost runne in vaine. And this is hee that sate vpon the blacke Horse; the Ethiopian cannot change his skinne, lesse man then the Minataure; more Monster then a Centaure, ingendred of black Cloudes, carried about of every Winde, to whom is reserued the Blacknesse of Darknesse for ever: Blacke will take no other hew; hauing a payre of Ballances given into his hand, without respect of persons, to measure to all men, rich and poore, free and bond, a measure of Wheate for a penny, and three measures of Barley for a [Page 13]penny; Hoe! every one that thirsteth, and hee that hath no money, Come buy and eate, giue not your money for stones in stead of Bread, say not Ignorance is better then Knowledge, Neither hurt the Oyle and the Wine; Touch not a Lords annointed, and doe his Prophets no harme, that Nourish you with truth and vnderstanding.
The last Beast the fourth, that is the Eight, and was Seven heads and is not, and is of the Seven, and goeth into perdition, that had great Iron Teeth, that devoured and brake in peeces, and stamped the residue with the feete thereof, and was divers from all the Beasts that were before it; having a Miter of Tenne hornes, signifying also, though the Crownes be not here expressed, so many hundred yeares his Limitted time, the Tenne dayes of tribulation in the Apocalips, wherein the Divell shall haue power to cast the faithfull into Prison; (After the Tribulation imediately of those dayes; Two shall be in the field, &c.) Nine of which number are expired, and some part of the last hundred, but how many are [Page 14]to come; by these hornes precisely cannot be aymed at without the Art or Science of Chronologie; This is Iudas the Divell, the King of Babilon and Egypt, the raigne of Antichrist Pope of Rome, count the Letters of his name for it is the nomber of his time, whose name is Death; hated mortally of his time, whose name is Death; hated mortally the King of Rome and Italie: This is hee that sate vpon the Pale Horse, the sonne of Perdition, of all Complexions the darkest, neerest to corruption, threatning alone, a hart charged with so much wickednesse and malice as the Red Horse, all the sanguines in the Rayne-bow, and the Sword cannot set out more of Bruitish crueltie; had he winges to his will, and of time length to the height and bignesse of his insatiable minde; NERO, TITVS, DOMITIANVS, these beasts of the Earth, their hearts and policies parraleld would seeme but a Curre coupled or compared with this greedy Woolfe. A Bull as bloudy as the Beare.
Whose land is covered with Locusts and Darknes; even darknes that may bee felt rising out of the depth of the bottomlesse pit [Page 15]of Sathans malice very grievous; yet had all the faithfull light in their dwellings that they might not loose the way; for it was Commanded these Armies of Scorpions besieging the holy City, hauing pernitious stings, both wayes voluptuous and malitious, The power of the Enemy that they should not hurt the grasse of the Earth, neither any greene thing, by any meanes nothing should hurt them, but only drye Trees or boughs, bearing no fruite of repentance, those men that haue not the Seale of God in their gracelesse foreheads, that they should not kill these wretched blinde miserable People, but that they should bee tormented fiue Moneths, as in those dayes the most part, most Lamentable in the siege of Ierusalem by Famine were tormented so long compassed with a Trench, kept in on every side, Seeking death, and desiring to dye, &c.
This did the Lord because the Princes of Egipt, harkened not to milde MOSES; but hardened their harts, and did evill in the sight of the Lord, after the Abominations of the Heathen; Therefore saith the Lord, [Page 16]I am against thee ô Dragon, which lyest in the Hart (the middest of the Rivers) which said my Riuers are mine owne, I haue made it for my selfe; I will put hookes in thy Clawes, and leaue the Throne into the Wildernesse, where there is no water; and all the Inhabitants shall know that I am the Lord, because they haue beene a staffe of Reede to the house of Israel, when they tooke hold of thee by the hand, thou didst breake and Rent all their shoulder, and when they learned on thee, thou brakest, and made all their loynes to be at a stand, with the Burthens of Bricke and Rubbish thy Officers did lay vpon them.
Thou hast giuen them Stubble for Straw, vapor of smoake for Victuall; thou hast made their liues bitter vnto them; Therefore the Lord is against thee whose healed Wound is festred, turned wilde againe, become Antichristian and incureable, thou that haddest the Ballances in thine owne hand; Thou that art like a Leopard or a young Lyon of the Nations, as a Dragon; or a Whale in the Seas, with thy Diadem [Page 17]of Ten hornes, crowned with Ten Crowns, so many Antichristian hundred yeares, Nine of which accompt are cast, past, and expired.
Troubling the waters with thy feete, and fowlest their Rivers; the whole Sea of Rome, the third part of the maine Sea is become Blood; Behold the Lord is against thee and against thy Rivers, which are turned into Wormwood (woe due O Rome) and Hemlocke; Even the Third part of the waters, the streames of Iustice and Mercy are become poyson and Bitternesse; I hate and despise your Images, Feast dayes, Processions, Solemne assemblies, saith the Lord; who required those things: I cōmanded, Iudgement should runne downe free as water, and Righteousnesse as a mighty streame; Woe the Bloody Citie.
You are impudent and disobedient Children, as the day of your Visitation, so are your sinnes hidden from you, when you shall say for shame to the Mountaines Cover vs, and to the Rocks and Hills fall vpon vs; you will know your transgression, the [Page 18]long Wings of the morning, the Caues of MAKADAH shall not preserue you, Lightening, Thundring Cannons, the whole Globe at a shot, shiuering your Bodyes, sinking your Soules, and making your harts to hop: Eare never heard, neither hath entred into the hart of man such horror, forsaken of all, but the Divell and his Angells, burned and buried aliue, of all the Creatures not a drop of water remaining, of Light not a sparke, Rebells these terrors as Shot or Hailestones from Heaven Pell-mell, shall driue you into a Bottomlesse gulfe headlong; the great day of his wrath is come, saying to the fiery Lake; Hide vs from the face of him that sits vpon the Throne.
When the faithfull scattered People shod with the everlasting Ghospell of Peace, after all their labours and travaile in this Wildernesse, shall enter into the Land of Rest: Here is the Body of the Beast destroyed; PHAROAH and all his Multitude of vnbeleeving Lowzie orders; even all his Host of furious Horsemen as Locusts, eating every herbe, and all the fruite of the Trees [Page 19]the haile had left, drowned in Hell Fyre the bottomlesse red Sea, that may boast rather of their Blaines and Boyles, then Vermin, which their owne Magitians denie not to be the manifest finger of God; vaunting they winne by their Cosening game term'd Chastitie, the Ioyes of heaven, and Secret bosome Almes in breeding Lice: Such vncleane Ragges past mending, I did meane to cast away, but since you will not heare MOSES and the Prophets, I will bestowe some labour to ayre them for you, and your patch'd Coates waxen olde and bad to make bags for heavenly Treasure, well may they stoppe Bottles when your Reward is weeping and gnashing of Teech; in those dayes, all the Water I finde the Saints will supply you with, to coole your blistered Tongues.
Masters though to simple Peoples you seeme to make straite steps, it is no newes to say you incline too much on the left hand. Thinke yee the Crownes like Gold can deceiue vs; or hayre as the hayre of Women; The vayle of shamefastnesse, shewing [Page 20]sobriety and subiection: Thinke yee those long locks like separited Nazarites, can cover your notted crownes from the Raizer, or hide your pined Bodyes pinch'd of Provender like neighing Horses prepared to the Battaile, It is not vnknowne to vs, the golden Cup, and these gilden counterfeit Crownes like false Haire to cover Baldnesse; Both came out of one Furnace: they are yet vnpaid for.
Though ESAU should lend you Teares, yet shall yee come and worship before the feet of them, you now dispise and persecute; There is no blessing reserved, the Mourning day is at hand, the Armour you beare shines with the Brotherly affection you beare vs, wee feare not your furie; Go yee Cursed, heere is your farewell, receiue the Portion of Hipocrites, and eate the fruit of Lyes reioycing and trusting in your owne counterfeit Righteousnesse, painted flames, such false Coine will not passe. Eternall life is free guift purchased by Grace; receiue the wages of Sinne; venemous Armies, the power of the Enemie led by the Starre called Wormewood, [Page 21]To those that haue not drunke or smoak'd out their eyes, as visible as Lightning of a Lampe fallen from Heaven, threatning Warre, Famine, with Pestilent Mortalitie; the fourth part, the whole Christian world infected by that strumpet Hagge Rome and Italie. Lastly, the name of his Palenesse was Death, because hee is the last, and Hell followed with them with deadly malice, Raigning till the day of Iudgement, after which hee shall swimme with his fellowes, and bathe in the Lake that burnes with Fire and Brimstone.
These three Beast signified by the great Citie devided into Three parts, so many severall persecutions of the Church vnder great Babylon, With a bold stroake, the last is not drawne in cullours least to the life; the fourth Beast (the false Prophet, their Popes falleth,) the bitter Starre turning Iudgement into Gaule of Aspes falne from Heaven, Signifying the losing of his Keyes, (pride will haue a fall) for which hee was cast out of the presence of God: God and Mammon cannot be served together; here [Page 22]hath hee the command of the bottomlesse Pit, smoaking with Heresie and ignorance; The Keys of the Kingdome of Hell, which trust so much hee boasteth of, given him by the Dragon the Divell, to deceiue them that dwell vpon the Earth; saying in the sight and opinion of men; Let it be knowne this day, that I haue done all these things at thy word; that these are thy Keyes; I am thy Apostle; and if I be the man of God, let fire come downe from Heaven and consume all those, that obey not my orders, and Lawes; and at what time yee heare the sound of my Instruments; fall downe and worship the Image, that I NABVCHANDNEZAR haue set vp, whose breath is in my hand, and whole are all my wayes to glorisie mee; and who so falleth not down, &c,
This Baals Prophet the last Beast, having devoured and broken in peeces the Roman Empire, exercising all the power of him whose Rome he vsurpeth; the Lord saying, I that forme the Light, and create Darknesse; I that make Peace, and create evill, I will strengthen the Armies of the King of [Page 23] Babilon, and put my Sword into his hand. But I will breake PHAROAHS Arme, and and he shall groane before him, with the groaning of a deadly wounded man; Moreover, thus saith the Lord of Hosts that keepes backe no mans pay.
The King of Babilon caused his Army to serue a great seruice against CHILDRIC King of Tirus, euery head was made Bald of his Race, and euery shoulder peel'd, yet had hee no wages for his Armie; Therefore the Land of Egypt shall bee his for his labour, because they wrought for mee saith the Lord; for there shall be no more a Prince in Egypt whose brightnesse was Excellent, and the forme thereof terrible to all the world; But rather a painted Image, a Vassoll, that the working of the poysoned Potion in the golden Cup, the mysterie of iniquitie bee not hindred, A base Kingdome the basest of all Kingdomes, neither shall it exalt it selfe any more aboue the Nations; for I will diminish them, it shall be no more the confidence of the house Israell.
Having now the spoyle of the Land for [Page 24]his Armie and the Sword and Ballances in his owne hand to make a prey of mercy and truth, with his Hornes and heeles as weapons to warre and weare out the Saints given into his hand vntill a time and times; and the deviding of times, Three dayes and a halfe Two and fortie Moneths Three yeares and a halfe, halfe the mysticall weeke, vntill the Day of sudgement; to make Merchandize of euery thing, that no man may buy or sell without his Marke, marked with his fiends foote; which is his Seale, the signet of the Fisherman that beareth the name of the Beast.
The nomber of his name is then the nomber of a man, which is the nomber of his Age or Dayes, but this is the nomber of his Moneths; Naturall Beasts not living so long, the yeares being not so many as the dayes are to few. As one saith, the nomber of his Moneths are with the Lord; Also halfe the mysticall Weeke is delivered by the same measure. The latter Six Moneths added to the former Six hundred, making as compleat Fiftie, as Threescore make Fiue [Page 25]yeares; Here is Wisdome the counsell of times and seasons revealed, according to the eternall purpose, which the wisedome of the Father put in his owne power, God hath numbred thy Kingdome and finished it, thou art weighed in the ballances, thou tyrant, that boastest of thy wit, and art found wanting graines innumberable, thy Kingdome is divided, and given to the people of the Saints of the most Highest, whose Kingdome is an everlasting kingdome &c. Therfore let him that readeth count this number well, and well marke, the marke of the Beast, is the Signet of the Fisherman, which men take in their right hand, wherewith his Band are branded in the foreheads, and this is the Caractor and colours that distinguisheth his Traine-Souldiers from the followers of the Truth.
Therefore thus saith the Lord to the King of Babilon, Antichrist thy dayes be few, The great day of my wrath is at hand, even for the Elects sake, and the Soules that rest vnder the Altar, crying for Execution and Vengeance vpon thee, whose Bodyes thou hast [Page 26]beheaded, burned and buryed aliue, slaine for the Testimony they held, the time is shortned, thy Bishoppricke shall bee voyde, and become a habitation for Divells; and because thou remembrest not to shew mercy, by swift destruction thy memorie shall be cut off from the Earth, thy Damnation slumbreth not, as a theefe in the night, and as a snare it shall come shortly vpon thee; Thou hast loved cursing, in blessing thou hast not delighted, but as a cloake for Covetousnesse, selling to thy Marchants for money, those foule oyntments to fill thy Bagge, calling and crying from thy Exchange and darke shoppe; if any man Thirst to commit Whoredom, spirituall or carnall, Treason, or Murther, let him come to mee and drinke of my Golden Cuppe, Incest or Parricide; Hoc misterium firmiter profitemur; what doe yee lacke; wee can sell you for Gold, Silver, and pretious stones, thin Wood, Brasse, Iron, and Marble, all manner of Vessells, in Nunneries or Stewes, what will yee giue; These execrable odors, and thy Brazen browed Bulls, casting flakes of Fire and [Page 27]fulminations in the sight of men from their noysome Nostrills and Thundring throates, as with a Garment thou hast cloathed thy selfe, thou hast robbed mee even of this whole Nation, therefore prepare thy selfe thou cursed for everlasting fire, prepared for the Divell and his Angells, which shall enter into thy Bowells like water, and soake with thine oyntments, as oyle into thy Bones, and mingle with thy marrow; thus let the Enemies of the Lord bee rewarded, yea, in the meane time let them be their own executioners; let one IVDAS with Poyson burst out the Bowells of another; let their hope be as the giuing vp of the Ghost, and their righteousnesse wherein they trust, in thy remembrance as water that passeth away; Let them curse, but Blesse thou ô Lord to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thy selfe, lift vp thy selfe thou Iudge of the Earth, and to this proude man of Sinne render a reward; let him not haue the vpper hand, sitting vpon the Throne of Iniquitie in thy Temple, shewing himselfe that hee is God, Consume him ô Lord with the Breath of [Page 28]thy mouth, and destroy him quickly with the Brightnesse of thy comming.
Lastly, this Beast his habitation is compared to a woman for Sorceries, shamelesnesse and gorgious trimming, arrayed in Purple and Scarlet, the Virgin daughter of the King of Egipt, is become the Whore of the King of Babilon, the faithfull Citie is become a Harlot, hauing in her hand a Cuppe full of abominations, Witchraft and Blasphemy, viz. worshipping Idols of Gold and and Silver, Brasse, Wood, and Stone, mixing holy things with filthy excrements, remission, the forgiuenesse of sinnes, and calling the foule Sinagogue of Sathan, the Church of God, and these are the spices and spirits wherewith her Cup is brewed; and this is the Golden Cuppe wherewith the Kings of the Earth haue been made so drunken with, a Cup of Sodome, Wine mixed with the Blood of Dragons, and stirred with the stings of Aspes; Is this meate indeed, and drinke indeed, the sawce commeth after; Is this the true Mother; is this the Woman shee is taken for, with Eagles wings; her [Page 29]childe caught vp vnto God and to his Throne, and having a crowne of Twelue Starres; in no wise in her there is no Bowells of a Mother, though they striue to the end of the world.
Her Iudgement followeth; And a name was written vpon her forehead BABILON, The Mother of Harlots, and Abominations of the Earth, the Print is not small, yet not so large as the mysterie is deepe; It was written, and therefore to bee read: Thus, the hidden mystery of this Enigmaticall writing is here, the secret of numbers to teach vs to number her dayes; The numbers are these, and I heard the number of them, Two hundred thousand thousand horsemen, hauing breast plates of fire and Gunpowder or hiacinth, force and furie in stead of faith and loue, alluding to the double number of NINVS Horsemen, wherewith he subdued so many Nations in Seventeene years: The double confirmation of this mysterie seventeene hundred yeares also, being the limited time fixed to finish her warre, which began with the Lambe, [Page 28] [...] [Page 29] [...] [Page 30]and ended in subduing his Saints and Servants; And as the fiery Army needing no fuell, were to the Army of NINVS, consisting of Twenty hundred Thousand, amounting a hundred to one, so is the accompt of the time, when the spreading Vine of the Earth, the clusters of her Grapes being ripe, she shall be cast into the great winepresse of the wrath of God. These Tyrants, (here is wisdome to looke into these accompts) shall make her desolate and naked, and eate her flesh, and burne her with fire; for God hath put it in their hearts to fulfill his will, when Babylon the glory of Kingdomes, shall be as Sodome and Gomorah, the time is neere, the dayes shall not bee prolonged.
The Father of this goodly Baby, (yet auncient, no novice in her whoredome) for so hee nameth himselfe, there is no need to name him (at whose entrance the Fourth Angell or Winde was loosed) as hee is sufficiently notorious, so is he mistaken Sathan that old Serpent, begetting the Impe of Fornication, before ever the Beast and his false [Page 31]spouse came together, deceivers as seldome wanting cloakes of craft to hide their shame, as their of-spring faile in Lyneaments and likenesse too their Parents, seven heads no lesse markes then Mountaines, seeing as incredible as superfluous and monstrous, were it not the Evidence and demonstration of that Sinagogue to proue her title and visibilitie, drunken with the Blood of Saints and Martyrs, In steed of her Mothers milke and breast shee sucks her hart-Blood, whose Father was a Lyer and a Murtherer from the beginning.
To Administer the rites of their vnrighteous mistery; This City Bab, hath Citie Gossips, NINEVY is not invited; she repented at the Preaching of the poore Prophet, shee is none of them; But Babylon for her Pride and impudency at this Antichristian solemnity or shew of Christianitie; The Mother of Harlots; for her stiffe neck is preferred before her, whose name this shamelesse place, never to be outworne or blotten out, beares in her fatall brazen forehead.
Besides, this Lady sitting vpon her Beast, seventeene Kings to beare vp her Traine, decked with Gold and pretious Stones, and Pearle, whose name is also Semiramis or Iesabell, for magnificence millions of men, viz. a hundred times Twenty hundred Thousand; Her Altars, Images, Sorceries, and Blood of Prophets and Saints, Saying in her hart, I sit a Queene and am no Widow; a Lady for ever, I am, and none else besides mee; there are Seven Kingdomes.
Fiue are fallen downe dead drunke, vpon whom the Lord hath poured out the spirit of deepe sleepe, and closed their eyes, they shall revert nor rise no more; After slumbering the other Two, (though they haue falne from the truth,) shall stagger and come to themselues againe; and that Must now growne sower and stale, their lust shall be little to taste thereof againe; The first Kingdome or ONE IS, are the Brittish Islands, the right Inheritance of King IAMES the first of that Name of Great Britaine and Ireland; for the Iles feared the Iudgement of the Lord and saw it; Even [Page 33]the ends of the Earth were afraid and drew neere. The other is not yet come, and when it commeth, it can continue no long space, the end of the world is so neere.
O sencelesse poore Beasts who hath bewitched you; why lye yee still, who hath bitten you; arise, choose not Death rather then life; how are yee swolne, why should your Carcasses be dung, and meate for the fowles of Heaven? Why will yee dye, stand vp; why goe yee backward; what astonishment is this that hath taken you; be recovered, vnderstand, halt not, yet heare the word of the Lord; curst cattell, backsliding Heifers hee delighteth in Mercy; provoke not him with your strange vanities and Bruitish abominations; The day of the Lord is at hand.
Therefore awake yee Drunkards, weepe and howle all yee drinkers of Wine, because of the new Wine the Deepe Cup, the day of the wrath of the Lord is at hand; yee Kings of the Earth and Rulers of Sodome, who haue commited fornication, and lived delitiously with this indulgent Witch, the [Page 34]mother of Harlots; when yee see her brought to the stake and vtterly burnt with fire; how will yee stand, for strong is the Lord who Iudgeth her; what will yee say; yee shall stand a farre off, or wish in vaine the Mountaines to cover you, howling and gnashing your Teethes for feare of her Torment, whoso sinnes as the smoake of her Burning haue reached vp vnto Heaven; saying alasse, alasse, Sodome, alasse, Babylon, Rome the great Citie, the head of the Monarchy; for in the twinckling of an eye, an houre vnlookt for, thy Iudgement is come, is that a time to cast dust on your heads?
Never more shall we heare in thee the voyce of Harpers and Pipers, awaking and calling for rewards to Saints and our Lady; and Trumpeters when wee doe our Almes; Never more shall wee see in thee Idolls or Images so auntient, the curious device of the Crafts-man, nor the sound of the grinding Milstone; our Altars decked as a shop, shining with the light of so many Tapers and Candles. Nor the voyce of the Bridegroome, called the head, and the Bride by [Page 35]Prelates and so many Kings our holy Mother; The Net is spread, shee is taken in the Snare, in grinding the face of the Poore, shee that so much glorified her selfe, in a day and an houre her Plague is come.
The Thrones of these Earthly Kingdomes cast downe the auncient of dayes shall appeare; his long Traine, and the great white Throne whereon he sate, from whose Face the Earth and the Heavens vncleane in his sight fled away, in whose presence ministred Thousand thousands, and Ten thousand times Tenne Thousands; also the Two Witnesses are brought forth, the Books of the Law and the Prophets, to Iudge every man by his workes, or according to his faith, for if they beleeue not the writings of MOSES; how can they beleeue his words of whom MOSES wrote, These Bookes shall accuse them, the witnesses which God the Father beareth of his Sonne; The other Booke is the Booke of Life, written with the names of Saints that shall liue for ever; To whom the iust Iudge shall deliver the possession of that Kingdome that shall never [Page 36]passe away to be destroyed, but remaineth for ever, even for ever and ever.
The foule Beast, some of his purtenances will be wanting, if his hornes be not farther Considered; foure came vp out of the North part of his head, the French Emperours; of the South side sixe Spanish; before whom, there were Three of the first, their Race pluckt vp by the Rootes; amongst these came vp an other little Horne about the midst of the time: in this Horne were eyes, like the eyes of a man, in workmanship striuing to set Nature a patterne; curious in all Arts, and doing honour to vertue, but wanting the gift of grace, opened a fearefull Mouth; the King of the East, whose looke is more stout then the highest of his fellow Hornes.
Hitherto is the end of the matter of these earthly Monarchies, and the day of Iudgement hath beene also declared the matter of the end: The Story is yet but chalked out, Therefore in these following Visions is contained more at large, the occurrence of theose dayes before mentioned, even to the [Page 37]end of the world; Wherein my desire is, not as hee that rowleth a stone to returne vpon himselfe, but to make it a twisted Threefold Cord, to draw vp the weight that presseth so hard of infidelitie.
The Prophet beheld till the auncient of dayes did sit to Iudge the quicke and the dead, and the Beast cast aliue into the Lake Fire, his Body destroyed and given to the Burning flame, to be tormented day and night, for ever and ever.
DANIEL. CHAP. VIII.
IN the third yeare of BELSHAZZER a Vision appeared vnto DANIEL alone, even to himselfe, and hee heard a mans voyce that called, saying; GABRIEL, make the man vnderstand the Vision; so he came neere vnto him, and said; O Sonne of man, the time of this Vision extends to the end of all things; behold therefore I will make thee know what shall come to passe, euen to the last day, the great day of Wrath [Page 38]and Indignation, for at the time appointed the end shall be.
- MEDES AND PERSIANS
- THE ROVGHE GOATE.
- SEND MEE SPANIARDS
- THE GOTHE ROAGVE.
The first matter giuen him to vanderstand, is the breaking in peeces of the Roman Empire, which spiritually is called Sodome and Egipt; where also the members of our Lords Body are Crucified, signified by the Ram, the Hee Goate is the Turke; The Roman Emperours the Two hornes in the East and West, are also signified by the Kings of Media and Persia. The foure Kingdomes standing vp out of that Nation, are the Isles of Great Britaine, France, Spaine, and Turky.
Lastly, the Goate himselfe shall be hunted by a King of a fierce Countenance, not regarding the person of the old, nor shewing fauour to the young, casting downe some of the hoast of PHAROAH, and of the Starres to the ground: For the transgression against the daily Sacrifice was the Hoast given over: A King vnderstanding darke sentences which are some part of the [Page 39]holy Scriptures, through policie and supposed wisdome, he shall cause the craft of the Divell to prosper, for by Peace and affected pittie, and satisfying the ambitious mindes of some Christians, he shall not only draw them to denie the faith, but many others following their example: Not by his owne power, but by the Divells policie he shall be mighty, whose looke is more stout then his fellowes, But by the great day of the Lord, he shall be broken without hand.
Now in those dayes, when the Goate was come close vnto the Ramme, and had cast him downe and stamped vpon him; The Prophet that beheld as by a perspectiue these remote things, heard also one Saint speaking, and an other Saint said vnto that certaine Saint that spoke, how long is the time for this Vision to the end of the world, that the holy Citie of God, and his chosen People be no longer trodden vnder foote; And hee said vnto mee vnto Two Thousand Three hundred dayes; Then shall the Sanctuarie bee cleansed, and the holy People Iustified.
The dayes bee so many yeares to the end of the world, beginning at the Vision, which was about the yeare of the world, 342.5.
Of the certaine Saints speaking, or the nomber of wonderfull secrets, I omit to speake, that to the most part might appeare (being in this Land, and these late dayes) but some tale of a Phenix, though to bee testified of more then fiue hundred men and women besides my selfe.
DANIEL. CHAP. IX.
AFter these Visions in the first yeare of DARIVS the Son of AHASHVERVS, the Prophet vnderstood by Bookes and Computations, the nomber of yeares whereof the world of the Lord came to IEREMIAH the Prophet, concerning the desolation of Ierusalem, that seventie yeares should be accomplished; And whilst hee was speaking in Prayer, and presenting his supplication before the Lord for the holy [Page 41]Mountaine the People of God, euen for the holy Citie the Church, that to the end of the world must be trodden vnder foote, whereof that ruinons place the Citie of Ierusalem, is a figure trodden downe at this day. Yet was this Hebron built seaven yeares before Zoan in Egipt.
The man GABRIEL which was caused to flie swiftly, touched him and said (alluding to the former matter of his studie and meditations, as of troublous, appetites, and Cogitations somtimes Dreames are deriued) O DANIEL I am come vnto thee againe to giue thee more skill and vnderstanding; Seuentie weekes are determined vpon the holy Citie, signifying the time, not onely when the Sonne of God by his suffering should make reconciliation for sinne, but a time and times and part of time, three dayes and a halfe, halfe the mysticall Weeke, to make an end of Sinnes to finish transgression, and to make a new Heaven and a new Earth, wherein dwelleth everlasting righteousnesse to seale vp the Visions and Prophecies with the Seale of assurance, that all these things [Page 42]are past and true, and to annoint the most holy King and Kings, and Lord and Lords, the first and the last.
And here againe the Angell GABRIEL willeth him to know and vnderstand the things of which he shall informe him; The first is this, that from the going forth of the Commandement, which is the beginning of the Creation to the building of the new Ierusalem, the second comming of Messiah the Prince the Sonne of God, it shall be Seaven Weekes or Seaven Moneths, as it is spoken by EZEKIEL the Prophet; Then the desolate Citie the Sanctuary shall be walled in, in a troublous time, to make a seperation betweene the Sanctuary and the Prophane place.
And in the middest of this Propheticall weeke, after Threescore and Two weekes, Messiah shalbe cut off, the Son of God salbe Crucified and be deliuered vnto the Gentiles, & they shal scourge him & put him to death, the People of the Prince (for it was not lawfull for the Iewes to put any man to Death) these People the Roman Nation shall destroy [Page 43]the Citie of Ierusalem and the Sanctuary; at the end of which Warre there shall begin a floud of Fyre (kindled in our Saviours dayes) during the Raigne of those Ethnick Beares; and the abomination of desolation standing where it ought not; then let him that is in Iudea flye to the wilde Mountaines for safety; for in those times Iudgement did begin at the house of God; and if first Iustice did begin at his Children and Servants in this life, what shall the end bee of his Enemies, whom hee hates in the world to come, that haue not obeyed the Gospell of God.
These Flouds the Serpent will cast out of his Mouth, a time and times & halfe a Time, to trie them of the holy Covenant, their boldnesse, what confidence they haue concerning the Lords oath, and whether they will perseuer in this holinesse and righteousnesse all their dayes to their liues end, and not rather feare his power, who is Sathan the Prince of this world, or at least the furious cruell hands of his torturing Instruments.
Whose liues cannot satisfie their malice; for had not the senselesse earth shewed more pitty then they, opening her Mouth to helpe these poore outcasts, their torments had beene endlesse; Sooner they may swim, and sinke in their Blood, then daunt or foyle their courage, not abashed for their Boasts, threats, nor fiery Bands they feare them not at all; their Triumphs are graven vpon the Palmes of the Lords hands, hee forgets them no more, then a Mother forgets her new-borne Sonne, her sucking childe, when the Tongue cleaues to the roofe of the Mouth for Thirst, to haue compassion on him; be of good cheere, you haue peace in Christ, though tribulation in this world; persecutions are but like the Trauell of a Woman, who hath sorrow because her houre is come, but as soone as shee is delivered of the Childe, shee remembreth no more the anguish, for ioy a man-childe is borne into the world.
The Lambe, the Bread of life shall feede them, they shall hunger nor thirst no more; hee shall wipe all Teares from the eyes of his [Page 45]Children; these vilde Bodyes, subiect to all infirmities, shall then be made like his owne glorified Body, of more perfection then our first Parents, a living Soule that shall not dye to Sinne; neither shall the heate of the Sunne smite them; for hee shall haue mercy vpon them, and leade them to liuing Fountaines of truth, cleere as Christall; these that come to him, or overcome the world, hunger no more, they haue rest and peace for paine, and by their white Robes and Palmes in their hands, the Ensignes of peace and victorie; they shall be knowne, neither to be Heretiques or Schismatiques, but his servants that haue fought for his Kingdome that it should not be delivered vp vnto Antichrist.
The followers of him, who shall shortly tread these Traitors in the great Wine-presse of the wrath of God, who haue turned away their Eares from the wholsome Scriptures, the Leaues of which are for the healing of the Nations, that they might be rubbed with the Prophane fables of Drunken doting old wiues.
But with all the faithfull the Lord shall confirme his truth and Covenant for a Weeke from the beginning of the world vntill the last end thereof; This week is Seven thousand yeares, consisting of yeares, Moneths and weekes; finished when the Kingdomes of this world, are become the Kingdomes of our Lord, and of his Christ, and hee shall Raigne for ever and ever: When the Tenth part of the Citie fell, the Tenne dayes of Tribulation are ended; Seven thousand names of men slaine in the great Earthquake, Dies Solis, Dies Lunae, Dies Martis, Dies Mercurij, Dies Iovis, Dies Veneris, Dies Saturni; the remnant were affrighted, and gaue glory vnto the God of Heaven.
For wee must not be ignorant of this one thing, that one day with the Lord is as a Thousand yeare, and a Thousand yeare as one day; In the middest of which Weeke, the Lord shall cause the oblation and Sacrifice to cease, saying, Sacrifice and Offering thou wouldest not, but a Body hast thou prepared mee without spot, for the redemption of the transgressions that were vnder [Page 47]the first Testament. The Blood of which first Testament of Beasts, God enioyned to purifie the patternes of heavenly things, the Vessels of the Ministrie, but the heavenly things themselues with better Sacrifices (which are the Consciences to purge them from dead workes, that they may be cleane vessels to serue the living God.)
Thus hee once suffered, the vncreated in likenesse of a Creature like feeble sinfull flesh, sowne in weakenesse and dishonour in the Dust, but raised in Power & the Brightnesse of his Fathers. Glory, the expresse Image of his person, over whose excellent Nature, voyd of violence and deceit, the Graue could get no victory, no more then the wombe can keepe backe a sonne at the time of perfection, redeemed from the Bowels of the Earth, and ransomed by the riches of his owne vnsearchable Treasure and quickning Spirit.
This seeming vgly Serpent, rather some shadow or his skin, at whose approach men turne pale and quake more terrified then hurt; But rocking Babes the faithfull a [Page 48]sleepe, others run raving with staring frenzie for feare, as if this once appointed so were fits to be chased away, not calling to minde the Resurrection of IESVS CHRIST, hath opened his Iawes, his Sting cut out and nayled to the Crosse, that bold Champion scorning to be his executioner, setting his victorious foot vpon the Traytors head, by spirituall alliance kinne to the Divell, proud of advantage, bites the Heele of our Saviour with his rotten Teeth, for want of his Poysoned sting.
But heare ô Death vnstop thine Adders eares from whose Mole-sighted eyes, the light of Repentance is hid, behold thy time and Plague is at hand; thy pined crying Prisoners, thou shall restraine their libertie no longer, that say our Bones are dryed and our hope is lost, when shall we dwell in the Land of the living; behold, thy Caues and Castles shall be destroyed & broken downe, and the Earth that opened her Mouth and swallowed vp the Flood shall cast it vp againe in the twinkling of an Eye, thou shalt giue vp thy accompts, for of the Sonnes and [Page 49]Daughters of the Lord, thou shalt not keepe backe so much as the least, whose names are written in the Booke of life.
And lastly, Viper, seed of the olde Serpent, thy sentence is for that bold attempt; Fuller of malice then hurt, thy house shall be burned with vnquenchable Fire, the Place sowne with vnsauory poysoned Salt, and thy Carrion-carkasse swallowed vp of thine owne Brood the second Death.
All which mysticall Weeke or Seaven Moneths formerly mentioned, as it is spoken by the Prophet EZECHIEL; The Land of Israell shalbe burying of Gog that Sathan, that the Land may be cleansed.
Hitherto are the matters talked of between the man GABRIEL and the Prophet.
DANIEL. CHAP. X.
IN the third yeare of CYRVS King of Persia, a thing was revealed to DANIEL (whose name was called BELTESHAZZER) and the thing was true but the time [Page 50]appointed was long. These are the things not only come to passe, in this latter age of the world, but at this time and in this day; signified by the Son of God to the Prophet.
PRINCE OF PERSIA. — I CAN POPE FRIERS.
The Prince of the Kingdome of Persia, (that Lord by whom the Lord of Lords was withstood,) is Sathan the Divell, MICHAEL one of the first Princes that came then to helpe him; This is IAMES King of Great Britaine, and the man who is raised on high: The one and Twenty dayes; the Lord making no forfeiture, are so many Hundred yeares, beginning at the Vision, and ending this present, 1600. And so long the words of this Vision haue been closed & sealed vp; Even till now the time of the end.
This most Blessed person the Saviour of the world, remained with the Kings of Persia, the Roman Emperors (signified so vnto [Page 51]DANIEL being the present Monarchy) till there arose vp a new King in Egipt which knew not IOSEPH, and said vnto his People; Behold, the People of the Children of Israell are more, and mightier then wee; Therfore set over thē Taskmasters to afflict them with Burthens, but the more they did afflict them, the more they multiplied and grew. These Kings placed in the highest Thrones, to walke in his Statutes to execute his Iudgements, but because they gaue more Eare, and harkened rather to false Prophets then to ELIAS and MOSES, for severitie and meeknesse; Representing the Law and the Gospell, suffering their Bodies to lye dead in the streets in an vnknowne Tongue, even hee the Lord departed from them; and with the sword of his Mouth will fight with their Prince Sathan, renewing alwayes his old quarrell against the Church of God.
And here these Kings forsaken of IESVS CHRIST, for one secret friend which is the Divell, they haue two open Enemies, the Turke and the Pope, making their Crownes his footstoole, this did not CAESAR, by [Page 52]these Three the Empire being devided, what can remaine but the bare Image; or the Image of the Picture of him, whose deadly wound was healed: Bearing at this day, as Thunder goes before Lightning, for their fatall device, the sad Fowle blazoned with the ominous Colours of the blacke Horse; for feare, but halfe displaying her wings, in stead of her beake shee casts her heads, the Eagle hath Mued her Feathers; Though thou exalt thy selfe as the Eagle, and though thou set thy neast amongst the Starres, thence will I bring thee downe saith the Lord.
These things hitherto mentioned concerning the last Vision is the preamble for this that followeth, for here the Sonne of God whose eyes were like a flame of fire; and his feet like fine brasse, saith he will shew vnto the man greatly beloued, that which is noted in the Scripture of truth, which is the Reuelation, the sayings of which are faithfull and true, that there is none, or but one, that holdeth with him in these things, which is the true Interpretation of the Scripture, [Page 53]but MICHAEL our Prince of Great Britaine and Ireland, that fights and contends with the Enemies of the Lord, about his Body, disputing with them, haue transubstantiated & changed the truth of God into a lye, worshipping and serving the Creature more then the Creator, for which cause God gaue them vp, &c.
Now followeth that that is noted in the Scripture of that Prince. After the Temple of God was opened in Heaven, wherein was seene the Arke of his Testament, overlaid round about with gold, wherein was the golden Pot that had Manna, and ARONS Rodde that budded, and the Tables of the Covenant, And over it the Cherubins of glory, covering the Mercy-Seate, and Lightnings and voyces, and Thunders, &c. This is the Millitant Church that brought foorth the Man-childe, the word of God, caught vp vnto God, and to his Throne, after which the Woman fled into the Wildernesse, where shee was fed A thousand two hundred and threescore dayes, which are so many yeares.
The first accompt beginneth from the destruction of Ierusalem, when the abomination of desolation, did stand in the Holy place, the yeares being the same spoken in the last Vision of the Prophet DANIEL, though thirty yeares be taken away, because the Court without the Temple was left out, given vnto the Gentiles, for the Raigne of the first Christian Emperour.
These yeares doe reach to the dayes of those blessed Men, when the light of the Gospell did first begin to shine, after the great Mist, lasting a Thousand two hundred and ninetie yeares, dayes of darknesse and gloominesse of Cloudes, and thicke Mists, when the third part of the Sunne was smitten, and the third part of the Moone, and the third part of the Starres, which are innumerable; After these dayes were past, there was warre in Heaven, MICHAEL and his Angells, fought against the Dragon, and the Dragon fought, and his Angells the Iesuites, and prevailed not, neither was their place found any more in Heaven.
Heaven is here taken in this place for the [Page 55]Church of God, the fray is fought by seconds, by MICHAEL is meant King IAMES; The Dragon needs little exposition, It is the Pope, for MICHAEL overcame by the blood of the Lambe, and by the testimony of so many Bishops, and other faithfull, crowned with the Glory of Martyrdome; Therefore reioyce yee Church of God, yee Congregations of the faithfull, and ye Professors that dwell amongst them, and woe to the Earth and to the Sea, the Congregation of that Sinagogue the Sea of Rome, Sathans seate, where Sathan dwelleth, for the Pope, the Dragon, the Divell is amongst you, having great wrath, because he knoweth he hath but a short time, two woes are past, and behold the third woe commeth shortly.
Blessed are the Dead that dye in the Lord, for they rest from their labours, and their works follow them, and this is the truth noted in the Scripture of Truth, of MICHAEL, And God make the name and Throne, of the King his Sonne, better, and greater then his.
Though I owe no defence for the name of an Angell given to a Mortall man (in this Prophesie) yet to satisfie as well the Envious as the Ignorant, they shall finde the Sonne of God sometimes called by the name of the first ADAM, DAVID who shall feede his Flocke like a Shepheard, and gather his Lambes with his arme, and carry them in his bosome, stiled a man after Gods owne Hart; and in another place from his owne Mouth, holding it no derogation to his Divine Nature, to apply to himselfe by Parables the properties of an austere Master, a Cruell vsurer, or the vniust Iudge, May by the same Authoritie giue the name of MICHAEL, or like vnto God in some respects vnto this Prince who fought the battell of the Lord, more like an Angell then a Mortall Man; as to the other the name of Dragon, because he spake as a Dragon.
As this young Dragon hath acted his part, his Syer or Damme the old Dragon, his markes may not be forgotten, whose Hornes haue beene formerly mentioned in a Miter and Diadem, his seaven Heads are so many [Page 57]Rulers, as it were Husbands or severall sorts of Magistracy, governing that Commonwealth, and the seaven Crownes are seaven Hundreth yeares, beeing the time from Romes foundation to the first Emperour. Equaeua polo, Eterna, Antiqua, Caput Mundi, Celsa. Deum locus. Coelestis. Names of Blasphemie.
DANIEL. CHAP. XI. DARIVS THE MED. — I DREAMED THVS.
BEsides this Prince of victorious and blessed memory, who came to helpe the King of Kings, that sate vpon the white Horse, whose name is the word of God, to fight the Battell in Heaven against the Prince of the Kingdome of Persia, here is an other of like happy memory, that hath the Honour to haue his name Recorded in this holy antient Prophecie, CONSTANTINE the Great, named, DARIVS the Mede, raigning thirtie yeares. In the first times of which renowmed Monarchy the Lord [Page 58]stood to confirme and strengthen him After whose time three Kings stood vp together in Persia, dividing the Empire, which breach, made way for the fourth, the fourth Beast, corrupted with Riches and libertie; Farre richer then they all, By whose strength through his riches, Christian Princes were stirred vp against MAHOMET, growing not a little great by their ruines.
And a mighty King shall stand vp, the great King of Tyre, the absolute Monarch thereof, and all the dependences Northward, that shall rule with great dominion, and doe according to his owne will, and when hee shall stand vp the fundamentall Lawes of his Kingdome shall bee broken and infringed; And the Kingdome shall be divided towards the foure windes of Heaven, and not to his posterity, nor according to his Dominion which hee ruled, for this Kingdome shall be pluckt vp, even for others, besides those that were planted therein; his naturall subiects by a dispensation being freed from their oath of obedience.
Caroli Magni Christianissimi Romanorum Imperatoris Corpus hoc conditum est sepulchro.
After this the King of the South was strong, and he was strong aboue the King of the North, and he had dominion, and his Dominion is a great dominion.
These two Kings, the King of the North, and the King of the South parting the ten Hornes, the Princes of Tyre and Ethiopia; In the end of yeares they shall ioyne themselues together, for the Kings Daughter of the South shall come to the King of the North to make an agreement, but shee shall not retaine the power of the Arme, neither shall he stand nor his Arme, or they shall be Childlesse, and she shall be given vp, And they that brought her sent away destitute of a Father, and for saken of her Brother.
But out of a branch of her rootes, which are her Father and her Mother, signifying their Incestuous Mariages, One shall stand vp in his Estate very hardy, and shall come with an Armie, and shall enter into the [Page 60]fortresse of the King of the North, or the King of Tyre, and deale against them and prevaile; And shall carry Captiues into Egipt, their Gods and their Prnices, and with their Pretious Vessells of Silver and Gold, and hee shall continue more yeares then the King of the North in the Monarchy; So the King of the South, or the King of Ethiopia shall returne into his owne Land, the Land of Dust and Ashes, where his worst Enemies doe not envie his quiet possession: But his Sonnes who succeeded each other in the Monarchy, shall be stirred vp against the King of the North, and shall assemble a great multitude of Forces, and one of them shall certainly come and overflow with a floud of Fury, and shall passe through, and prevaile against them of the Holy Covenant; but after that hee shall returne and be stirred vp, even to his Fortresse or best Fenced place by them.
And the King of the South, or one of these Brothers shall be provoked with Choller, and shall come forth and fight with the King of the North, who shall set forth a [Page 61]great multitude, but the multitude shall bee given into the hands of his Enemies, and himselfe shall be his Prisoner carried a Captiue into Ethiopia.
And when the King of the South, or this Persian King hath taken away the multitude, his heart shall be lifted vp against God; and he shall cast downe many of his servants Tenne Thousands; but neither hee nor those that come after shall bee strengthened thereby.
(For at the end of Yeares, which are now expired, there shall certainely come a King of the North, and hee shall set forth a multitude greater then the former, a great Army and with much riches, and hee shall doe according to his owne will, &c.)
And in those former dayes there shall many stand vp against the King of the South; also the Robbers of the Christians, these Extortioners shall exalt themselues, to establish the Vision of the Prophets, and the Figures of the Law, which Prophecied vntill IOHN; for the first things that are but shadowes, are now vanished away, to [Page 62]establish the second, but they shall fall, So the King of the North shall come and cast vp a Mount, and take the most fenced Cities; and the Armes of the South shall not withstand, neither his chosen People, neither shall there bee any strength to withstand, But hee that commeth against him, shall doe according to his owne will, and none shall stand before him; and hee shall stand in the glorious Land which by him shall be consumed; Hee shall also set his face to enter with the strength of his whole Kingdome, and vpright ones with him; thus shall hee doe.
And hee shall giue him the Daughter of Women, or a Queene by decent, whose Royall blood was corrupted, and stayned by the vsurping authority of a Tyranous Husband, but she shall not stand on his side, neither before him, for hee dying shee was brought home, and shortly after Married to another,
After which agreement dissolued, and the League broken, his Successor shall turne his face vnto the Brittish Iles, and shall take [Page 63]many Prisoners, but a Prince for his owne behalfe, rather then the honour of God of a happy daring shall cause the reproach offered to cease without his owne reproach, hee caused the shame to turne vpon him that opposeth and exalteth himselfe aboue all that is called God. The Lord sometimes providing the remedy before the sore, as carefull Physitians haue Drugs in store for all diseases, preparing the disobedience of VASTHI, and the vnlawfull divorce, for the preservation of the Iewes, to hang proud HAMMON and all his wicked Sonnes, so this Prince throwing vnder foote his Cappe of Maintenance (whose visage was vnmask'd, by a Munke not long before) those Babel Monasteries, vnmeete Cages for such Craignes, Ostriges, and chanting Owles, digesting not only all the thorney. Choaking Heresie of false Prophets, but the rusty Purgatory fictions of Heathen Poets, The doings of these vncleane and hatefull birds, Though as the eating of doung I loathe them in my Mouth, yet since our Saviour and Lord himselfe vouchsafed to cast his [Page 64]Eye towards those secret privie places, bidding vs take heed of their Deserts, I may not stop my Nose or Mouth for nicenesse, but rather thinke it my part to empty such houses of office, it weakenesse did not prevent and hinder my willingnesse.
Yet with mine owne hand according to my might (God willing) I will throw one stone at this Thracian Witch, the wicked Prophet; If I cannot breake his head, I will breake his Harpe if I can, before hee passe headlong downe to Hell the streame: Neither will omit her Holinesse (though her natiue Soile and Sex may challenge some fauour) how they shall walke then, Inseparably hand in hand togither; And as certaine of their owne Poets mention, her vntimely Death, stung by the false Scorpion, that lurk'd so close in the grasse, of his gamesome villany.
This Beast (or rather Divell) for so hee seemes by his description, by the stamping of his Oxe feete. Long teeth of Iron, nayles of Brasse, and ten Hornes, or at least some horrible Monster in his likenesse, takes vpon [Page 65]him to giue, by his Marke to all the world most cursed Dispensations: To please HEROD it shall be lawfull to Marry his Daughter to her Husbands owne Brother, the Vncle to his Neece: Thus vnnaturall he is not satisfied in most prodigious manner to abuse himselfe, but others must doe Incestuously by his Example. These vomited things, are now savory meate, neither can Sathan, cast out Sathan: Then it is granted they can Erre, which Cunning lesson had he not learned of his lying Father, his Kingdome long since, had beene divided and broken in pieces. Bee it never so vnlawfull, like the Law of the Medes and Persians, the Decree may not be changed.
Thus out of the sentences of the holy Scripture, this Spider sucks somtimes his poyson, saying in his Hart, All the Kingdoms of the ‘Earth are mine, My Father the Divell hath given them vnto me, and rather of my Estate then abate a button; I will teach men as many lyes to damne them, as wee can both inuent, that with the breath of my Mouth I blow in and out the fire of Purgatory, [Page 66]where People beleeue some Soules are blood-raw, others rosted to death, that I make the Creator, sacrifice and sell their Saviour, which puts me in minde of Iudas my Brother, whose hanging I could heartily lament, had hee not like a passionate foole, so ill playd his last part.’
‘Admit of his weaknesse he did repent, is a wise man the Trumpet of his owne shame? to say he had Err'd to be his owne accuser, what did he gaine by this; some say forsooth, This Confession of friends and foes, might be, to leaue the subtill Elders, and their generation the Iewes, without excuse, though wee eate both of one Sop, I like not the Example, I meane the manner; It is olde and weake, and lame Arguments will follow fast enough; Idle Confessions, are no secrets to me, I like not his tragicall speech, it was timorous, had it beene by boasting, scoffing, or to advance his service, as it proued carnest, more might bee said in his defence. I doe the same my selfe: but let it passe, my plot was no pen to blot his name, and had it prevailed, [Page 67]the fire is witnesse, his frailtie had never flowne so farre.’
‘When I call to minde my predecessors, no small puffe can blow my pride downe, shall I degenerate, or not follow their steps, IUDAS the Apostle, and IULIANUS the Emperour, no Ring-leaders of that Nazaren poore Sect, that leaue the certaine Blisse of this world, to beleeue 0253 200 Scripture promises made to the Fathers had I beene in their dayes, though they were couragious, both faithlesse, and false enough, I can lift my heele as high as theirs, I had gone before them in their owne craft.’
‘Yet since it was not remorce of Conscience, but the vngratefull answer of the chiefe Priests, and all his hopes frustrate, this cast the Man away, my Pardon as beneficiall to him as to others, shall cost him nothing, this accident vpon that ill advised answer: WHAT IS THAT TO us LOOKE THOU TO THAT, was the first motiue that made me coine Absolution, which passeth now for currant Silver, [Page 68]being all the Fees the desperate Traitors get of mee towards their hanging, this ditch-water I giue the poore soules for Aqua-vitae, when they goe to the Gallowes.’
If some will say this stone is cast too far, I say but a Dreame of like, or lesse horror, would haue started, or as throughly awakened themselues to behold so great a Tyrant, a Prince so gratious & good, his Kingdome with so much pride, and spitefully invaded; All his naturall Subiects become disobedient Rebells, except a Remnant of some few, forsaking their liues, that lou'd not their liues to the Second Death, suffering for their loyalty & loue vnexpressable, fiery exquisite bloody torments, his Cittizens amongst whom hee Inhabited, with one voyce Crying out all at once. Away with this Man, saying, we will not haue this Man to raigne over vs, himselfe (ô gentle Doue) dumbe as a Sheepe before the sheerer, hanged by the hands as an off-scouring, set vp like a Marke for an Arrow, reviled, made a derision, as their Musicke, to his People, sweating drops of blood downe to the ground, the barres [Page 69]of sorrow preventing the passage of Teares, (all in vaine) in so strong and Agony, more for griefe and anguish of them and their Children? then his owne feare, of those vnspeakable paines and torments, Crying with a lowde voice, vnable to conceale that passion, MY GOD, MY GOD, VVHY HAST THOU FORSAKEN MEE, my tongue cleaveth to my jawes, thou hast brought me into the dust of death through his tender Mercy, shedding from his pierced side, blood from the wound, for a sensible Testimony of a true Sacrifice, and water to Baptise and wash them, whose hard hearts could not weepe for themselues. He wiste the Spirit of the Lord, was departed from him.
Stones rent, the Earth quaking, not Ghosts walking, but Graues opening, and dead Bodyes amazed, and awaking, The whole Globe Mourning in Sable blacknesse, except Man, at the dreadfull Funerall of this most mighty Prince; The Sonne as Chiefe, covering and hiding his astonished face, with hideous Cloudes, as blacke as Sackcloth of haire, to vtter the height and depth of silent [Page 70]speaking sorrow, by whose darke vaile and traine the shadow of Death, turning the Day to Night, wherein all Creatures are a Corps, and the world but a Tombe, detesting and abhorring his Beames of light should beare witnesse, the true light of Men, by mankinde was so vngratefully and vnkindely extinguished, the expresse Pure Image of the Maker, the Prince of life, The Person of God, (not made) turn'd to a lumpe of Clay, by a shamelesse accusation, an vnjust sentence, and a cursed Executoner. To Slay these Lords that haue dominion over vs, hee pulled the house downe vpon his owne head, the mightie deliverer of Israel.
His God head and death being Incompatible, choosing rather to forgoe, and forsake the one, then forget his promise, leaue the will of his Father vndone, or his worke vnfinished; His sufferings being by a vacancy of Power, as sometimes cold, may abate and abolish the sense of feeling, yet retayned by the vitall parts, the losse is not irrecoverable.
Whose Hart would not melt, Haire stare, [Page 71]and Hands become faint, to write or heare such a story.
Yet here is not an end, what shall he doe, now chased as a Bird betweene Heaven and Earth since his resurrection, pull'd by Bitts to peeces, throwne to hungry Hell hounds, the Divells Dogs, Caniballs; did not his power to deliver his Darling, surmount the greedy arrogant policie of these Barbarians; spoken without aggravation both one Spaune, acting (in their Copes, I might say, party coloured fooles Coates) like painted Peacocks, the part of HECUBA, the franticke Troyan Wiues and POLLIXINA; Such pompe and gaudinesse of Masking garments, being fitter for the Theator then the Temple, the state thereof requiring rather Mourners with all their BACCUS Savage Ceremonies, apish and affected Fashions, No Vice on a Stage, with senselesse jests to moue the vulgars laughter, good folkes ashamed; So rediculous, without vnderstanding babling like Parrots or Children, a Tongue they know not; yet no Babes or Children in Mallice, Pyping without distinction; Pricketh [Page 72]not this the hearts of the hearers, twanging vpon a Harpe, Instead of an Egge, asking a Scorpion; and saying Amen to any Pater-Noster.
Is there any sorrow like this, whose Mirth is so great; whose heart so hard, as not to be greeved for this affliction; can wee forbeare to bow our selues, and not to Travell for these paines; To heare the Arke not only is taken, but helpe Lord alas, to see the Heire apparant of the living God so dishonoured and mangled amongst his Enemies! O the wonder of wonders, a lying Wonder, to see creatures endued with sense and reason, beleeue a senslesse Miracle; here is the Doctrine or spirits of Divells, three uncleane spirits, Three Frogs forg'd one like another, or a false lye spit vp by the Divell, the Beast, and the false Prophet from their vncleane slimy Mouthes, Into the Ovens and kneading Troughs of the Kings of the Earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the Battell of the great Day of God Almighty; Also to decide the question) with full consent) when this doctrine working [Page 73]miracles was coniured vp. When Transgressors are come to the full; the water dried vp, that the way of the Kings of the East might bee prepared; The Tartars whose looke is more stout then his fellowes. Righteous art thou ô Lord, which art, which wast, and shall be, because thou hast iudged thus; for they haue shed the Blood of Saints and Prophets; and thou hast given them vp to blaspheme the God of Heaven, to beleeue a lye, false teachers that teach, thou hast given them Blood to drinke; the Blood of the living God, as it were the Blood of a Dead man; here is a sore lye, a grievous Soare, well may such mad Dogs gnaw their Blistered Tongues.
Then shall stand vp in his estate, a raiser of Taxes in the glory of the Kingdome; but in few dayes hee shall bee destroyed in the strength of his Age, neither in anger, nor in Battaile, but in a sport of Tilting by a splinter in his Eye.
And in his estate shall stand vp a vilde person, or a Luxurious, to whom they shall not giue the honour of the Kingdome, but [Page 74]he shall come in peaceably and obtayne the Kingdome by Flatterie; and with the Armes of a Flood, or as the sodaine inundation of Nilus; so shall the Faithfull people be overflowne from before him, they shall bee broken by a cruell Massacre, yea, also the Prince of the Covenant, and after the league made with him, even the Great King of the North, hee shall worke deceitfully with the holy people; for hee shall come vp and shall become strong with a small people, he shall enter peaceably even vpon the fattest places of the Province, for he shall doe that which his Fathers haue not done, nor his Fathers Fathers, he shall scatter among them the prey, spoyle and riches of the wicked; yea, and he shall fore-cast his devices against the strong Holds of Sathan for a time, not to the End; And he shall stir vp his Power and his great Courage against the King of the South with a great Army, & the King of the South shall be stirred vp to Battell with a very great and mightie Army, but hee shall not stand for they shall fore-cast devices against him; yea, his owne Dogs (stiled Gods) that feed of [Page 75]the Portion of his meate shall destroy him.
After whose decease his Army shall overflow, and many of the righteous shall fall downe slaine, and both these Kings hearts shalbe to doe mischiefe, and they shall speake lies against the knowne truth, both at one Table, but it shall not prosper; for yet the end of all things shall be at the time appointed, Then shall hee returne into his owne Land with great riches, and little profit; and his hart shall be against the holy Covenant; therefore the next blow was at the hart. And he shall doe exploits, and returne to his own Land.
At the time appointed, hee shall returne even the King of the North spoken of before, that should certainly come after certaine yeares with a great Army, and a multitude greater then the former with much riches, and shall come towards the South, but it shal not be as the former, or as the latter; for hee shall wound as it were his owne sides. The Ships of Shittim shall come against him; therefore he shall be grieved and returne against his owne strength, and haue indignation [Page 76]against the holy Covenants; So he shall doe; he shall returne, and haue intelligence with them that forsake the holy Covenant; these Ships built with pretious Wood, whose Anchor is the Lord, tossed too and fro with flouds of vngodly men in the Sea of Babilon, and compassed with the Waues of death; but when they cry vnto the Lord, and are at their wits end. Hee who walketh vpon the Sea, draweth nigh vnto them, and bringeth them out of their distresse; hee maketh the storme a calme, as a Childe, even so suddenly he stilleth the roaring Waues of this Tempestious Sea, lifted vp with the stormy windes of Sathans malice.
Therefore thus saith the Lord vnto Tyrus, O thou that art Scituate at the entry of the Sea; which art a Merchant for the People for many Isles. Thus saith the Lord God; O Tyrus thou hast said, I am a perfect beautie. Thy Borders are in the midst of the Seas, thy buildings haue perfected thy beautie; they haue made all thy Ship Boords all of Firre Trees of Senir; they haue taken Cedars from Libanan, to make Masts for thee; of the Okes [Page 77]of Bashan haue they made thine Oares; the Company of the Ashurites haue made thy Benches of Ivorie, brought out of the Isles of Chittim; Fyne Linnen with broydered worke from Egipt, was that which thou spreadest forth to bee thy Sayle, Blew and Purple from the Isles of ELISHAH, was that which covered thee, &c.
And Armies of the vngodly shall stand on his part; they shall pollute the Sanctuary of strength, and shall take away the daily Sacrifice, and shall place therein the abomination, that maketh the house of God desolate, turning it into a Den of Theeues (the daily Sacrifice, or the Lords Supper shall be taken away to place the Divells Idoll, the Supper of the Lord, instituted in remembrance of our Redemption; as the Passeover was a Commemoration that the Lord passed over the houses of the Children of Israel in Egipt, when hee smote the Egiptians and delivered them. DAVID a man after Gods own heart, poured out vnto the Lord, the Water of Bethelem, that he so sore longed to drinke, the blood of Mortall men, that [Page 78]went in jeopardy of their liues, yet damned people are told they drinke of God our Lord IESUS CHRIST his heart-blood. Shewing themselues more thirsty after it, then the greedy Iewes, these blood-suckers will haue it before his side be pierced.
And such as doe wickedly against the Covenant, to breake the Commandements of God, the vow, vowed in their Baptisme, by which they forsake the Divell; with all the Covetous and Carnall desires of the flesh; these vncleane vilde persons shall be corrupted by flatteries, and easily drawne from the truth, to beleeue a lye, that they may bee damned, that hath pleasure in vnrighteousnesse, but the People that know God and feare him, shall be strong, he shall cover their heads in the day of Battaile, and they shall doe exploits, yet they that vnderstand among the People, and their Teachers that instruct them; these shall fall by the sword, and by flame and imprisonment, and by spoyle of their goods many dayes; yet feare none of these things, for hee that neither slumbers nor sleepes, will arise and take his [Page 79]owne quarrell into his hand, and you shall be holpen with a little helpe; Therfore trust not in multitude of Forces, neither them that will cleaue to you with flatteries, for they will worke deceitfully, as they haue done in former times, nor expect a finall end of these persecutions, Sathan will sift, the tayle corne is his owne. If they call the Master of the house BELZEBUB, what respect can yee looke for that are of the houshold. And in the King shall do according to his will, and hee shall exalt himselfe and magnifie himselfe aboue every God, and shall speake marvellous things against the God of Gods, great words against the most High, and shall weare out the Saints of the Most high, and thinke to change times and Lawes, and shall prosper till the indignation bee accomplished, for that, that is determined shall bee done, Neither shall he regard the God of his Fathers, nor desire of Women, neither shall she retaine the power of the Arme, being a branch of vngrafted Roots; nor regard any God, but shall magnifie himselfe aboue all; In his estate hee shall honour the God of [Page 80]Forces and Battell, being terrible to the servants of God and his Enemies; a God that his fore fathers knew not; or an Altar shall he honour with Gold and Silver, and with Pretious stones, and pleasant things; thus shall hee doe in the most strong holds with this God, a stranger for many yeares to the Apostles and their followers, whom he shall acknowledge and increase with glory; and hee shall cause in stead of Shepheards, Dogs and Wolues, in sheep-skins, to rule over many, as Lords over Gods heritage, and they shall not onely devide the Land for filthy lucre, but make Merchandizes of mens Consciences. But if GOD spared not the Angels, what shall become of these cursed Children, that haue not onely lost the Flocke, but gone astray and runne away themselues, following the way of BALAM the Son of BOZER, who loved the wages of vnrighteousnesse, having eyes full of Adultery; even when they speake their great swelling words of Vanitie and Absolution; at that time they allure to the Lusts of the Flesh, and much Wantonnesse, leading simple women into [Page 81]Captivitie, promising libertie, that are themselues the servants of Corruption, wallowing in the Myre like filthy Swine to cleanse themselues by wresting the Scriptures to their owne destruction, licking vp againe the vnsavorie meate themselues could ill disgest not long agoe, and running downe headlong into the deepe Lake of Fyre and Brimstone, whose latter end is worse then their beginning; it had beene better for these men to haue continued Heathens as they were at first in the pollutions of the world, then after they haue knowne the way of righteousnesse, to turne from it, crucifying the Sonne of God afresh, and putting him to open shame.
And at the time of the End shall the King of the South push at him, with all his Spanish Pikes, and the King of the North shall come against him like a whirlewinde, with Chariots and with Horsemen, and with many Ships, The Lord of Hosts send them Victorie; and he shall enter into the Countries, and shall overflow and passe over; hee shall enter also into the glorious Land Domina [Page 82]gentium, and many Countries shall be overthrowne; but these shall escape out of his hand, even Edom and Moab, and the chiefe of the Children of AMMON his Confederates, he shall stretch forth his hand also vpon the Countries, and the Land of Egipt shall not escape; But hee shall haue powers over the Treasures of Gold and of Silver, and over all the Precious things of Egipt, and the Libians and the Ethiopians shall bee at his steps. But tidings out of the East and out of the North shall trouble him, therfore he shall goe forth with a great furie to destroy and vtterly to make away many; And hee shall plant the Tabernacles of his Cedars Pallace betweene the Seas in the glorious holy Mountaine; yet he shall come to his end, and none shall helpe him.
Therefore take vp a lamentation for the King of Tyrus, whose Cedars are for the building of both Houses; and say thou hast beene in EDEN the Garden of GOD; every pretious Stone to garnish the foundation was thy Covering, the Ruby, the Topaz, and the Diamond, the Berill, the Onix, the [Page 83]Iasper and the Saphire, these things were prepared for thee. Thou art annointed the Cherube that Covereth, thou wast vpon the holy Mountaine of GOD, and thou hast walked vp and downe in the middest of the Stones of Fyre: but because thou hast lifted vp thy heart, and said; I am GOD, I haue subdued three Kings. I sit in the middest of the Seas, and hast defiled thy sacred Houses, I will bring thee to Ashes, and none shall help thee. As I liue, saith the Lord, I will even doe according to thine anger, and according to thine Envie, which thou hast vsed out of thy hatred against them, and I will make my selfe knowne amongst them, when I haue judged thee, and thou shalt know that I am the Lord, and that I haue heard all thy Blasphemy, which thou hast spoken against the Mountaine of Israell, Saying, they are layd desolate by Massacre, they are given vs to consume by the sword; thus with thy mouth thou hast Boasted against Mee, therefore shortly when the whole Land of Israell reioyceth, I will make thee desolate, then thou shalt know that I the LORD doe Sanctifie [Page 84] Israell, when my Sanctuary shall bee in the middest of them for ever.
Therefore, ô King of the North, arise from thy Throne, lay thy Royall Robe aside, and cause a Decree through Tyrus to be published; saying, Let them turne every one from his evill way, and from the violence or vnnaturall shedding of Blood, that is in their hands, &c. Who can tell if GOD will turne and repent, and turne away from his fierce anger, that wee goe not into Perdition.
DANIEL. CHAP. XII. IAMES, CHARLES — ARE MICHAELSS.
AND at that time shall MICHAEL stand vp, the great Prince that defends the Faith, CHARLES King of Great Britaine, France, and Ireland, which standeth for the faithfull Children of our Nation, the Saints of the most Highest. As the Angell of God, so is my Lord the King, to discerne good and bad; therefore the Lord thy God will be with thee for ever.
And there shall be a time of trouble, such as never was since there was a Nation, even to that same time, blessings and great felicities, being for the most part accompanied with Corrections, and extraordinary Calamities; Devotion and Religion of happinesse, in this life the Highest, not exempt from superstition and heresie; And at that time thy People shall bee delivered; Every one whose name is found written in the Booke, &c.
AL TRVTHS CESAR.
Behold the Lord is at the Dore, as a man come from a farre journey; All that sleepe in the Dust of the Earth, shall heare his voyce and awake, and come forth, those that haue done good to the Resurrection of life; These haue their part in the first Resurrection, and those that haue done evill vnto the Resurrection of Damnation. Then the Angell came downe from Heaven, hauing taken from the false Prophet the Key of the [Page 86]Bottomlesse pit, having in his hand a great Chaine, hee shall next lay hold on the Dragon the Devill; and hee shall bee bound a Thousand yeares, or one day, which is all one with the Lord; he shall shut him vp, and set a Seale vpon him, for the wrath of the Lord that day, shall bee a sufficient marke that the Nations be deceived no more.
This Thousand yeares is the great day of the Lord, to poure out his wrath and just indignation vpon his Enemies; But the wise Virgins with Palmes in their hands, that haue not beene deceived by the subtilty or force of flatterers, shall shine in their Robes, as the brightnesse of the Firmament; Kings Daughters attended by honourable Matrons, as Starres for ever and ever, prepared for the Bridegroomes Marriage, whose Wife the Bride and Queene, hath made her selfe ready clothed in fine Linnen cleane and white, arrayed in a Garment of Needleworke wrought with Gold of Ophier, the Daughter of Tyre shall bee there with a Gift; she shall be brought to the King, with gladnesse and reioycing, they shall enter into his [Page 87]Pallace, saying, O King, thy Throne is for ever and ever, thou lovest righteousnesse and hatest wickednesse; therefore God thy God annoynt thee with gladnesse aboue thy fellowes.
After this Thousand yeares the great Day of the solemnitie finished, the Bride being safe in her closset and Marriage chamber, Sathan the olde Serpent shall be loosed a little season, as Prisoners are set at libertie when they goe to the place of Execution to receiue his finall sentence of everlasting Damnation; yet hoping in his vaine imagination and hart that cannot repent to deceiue the Nations that are at rest, to take a prey, to goe vp to the Citie that is in safetie that needs no Wall, neither the light of the Sunne or the Moone, &c.
Vnto whom the just Iudge frō his Throne of Glory with a terrible looke, for furie, jealousie shall come vp into his face, shall say vnto him; Art thou he whom I haue spoken of in olde time by my servants the Prophets to giue the Nations warning of thee, how thou diddest not onely like a foole deceiue [Page 88]thy selfe, when thou saidst, I will ascend vp and be like the most highest, but like a cursed creature didst deceiue their innocent Parents, be prepared therefore, and prepare thy selfe and all thy Company, and see whether thou canst be a guard vnto them; or what defence they can make for themselues who could not be ignorant, and ought not to be carelesse, because by mine owne Mouth I gaue them warning, that after many dayes thou shouldst be visited and brought a Prisoner into the Land which is now brought backe from the Sword and cleansed, though it lay waste a time, and the Villages thereof vnwalled. For these I commanded them straightly to watch both concerning the things I fore-told them should come to passe; as also of this houre, lest like a Theefe, or as the Flood came vpon their fore-fathers the Vngodly, they should be surprised vnawares, because I told you of these things before depart, I know yee not, nor that Captaine your false Prophet, are yee those that eate my flesh and drinke my blood, whence are yee, I never knew you more, then you [Page 89]knew mine, or Me; cursed and deformed crew, with stiffe neckes, double crooked hearts, deafe Adders, and blinde People with eyes, goe yee cursed into everlasting fire.
Wee haue eaten and Drunke in thy presence, all the world was taxed by the Prince of our Nation; and thou hast taught in our streets; Their iniquitie is the greater, thrust them out. Lord, Lord, come out Dogs and Swine, Apes and Satiers, hence here all Lyers, Scoffers at the truth, vncleane persons, for here shall enter in no wise any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh Abomination, or maketh a Lye, but they which are written in the Lambes Booke of Life.
But thou ô DANIEL, shut vp the words, and seale vp this Booke to the time of the end; Now that the whole world might take notice, and discerne when this Sealed Prophesie shall be opened, the time is more then once repeated, even at the time is more then once repeated, even at the time of the end, when the King of the South shall push at the King of the North, and the King of the North shall come against him like a Whirle-winde, for till then, though many shall run [Page 90]too and fro by the Art of Navigation, discovering an other Hemisphere, Sayling by the Compasse and the Needle, found out by expert men, and knowledge increased, furnishing Magnificent Libraries with printed Bookes, By which two Arts, chiefly the Gospell shall bee published to all Nations; yet the Character of this Booke shall not bee read, till the time of the end; which time is easie to be knowne, even without the Notice of the yeares closed vp in this Booke; where Eagles are gathered together, you suppose some Carcasse to be there: The Figtree, when her Branch is yet tender, and putteth forth her leaues, ye know that Summer is neere; Ierusalem when it was compassed with Armies, the Desolation was nigh. In like manner, when yee see these things come to passe fore-told you, know the end is nie, even at the dore; But of the day and houre knoweth no man, no not the Angells that are in Heaven; neither the Sonne but the Father; the accompt in this Booke of note, being by Centuries of yeares.
Then I DANIEL looked, and behold [Page 91]there stood other Two; the two Oliue Trees, the Tree of Life, either of them bearing Twelue manner of Fruites, the Two Witnesses into whom, after Three dayes and a halfe, the Spirit of Life from God entred; and they stood vpon their feet. The one on this side of the banke of the River; and the other on that side of the bank of the River; The foūdations of the wall of the City, Iesus Christ himself being the chiefe corner stone.
And one said to the man clothed in Linnen, that was vpon the waters of the Rivers, that cryed with a loude voyce, as when a Lyon Roareth; Lord wilt thou at this time restore againe the Kingdome of Israell, how long shall it be to the end of these wonders, or tell vs when these things shall bee, and what shall bee the signe of thy comming, and of the end of the world.
And he held vp his right hand and his left hand to Heaven, shewing his Resurrection and Ascention, and sware by him that Liveth for ever and ever, Heaven and Earth shall passe away, but my Word shall not passe, neither this froward generation; this [Page 92]Nation till all these things bee done spoken of by my Mouth and the Prophets; there be some standing here, which shall not taste of Death, till they see the Sonne of Man comming in his Kingdome, his servants will fight for him. So shall even all my words be fulfilled.
It is not for you to know the times and seasons which the Father hath put in his owne power; But goe thou thy way and rest, and stand in the Lot. Seale vp those things which the Seven thunders vttered, and write them not, it shall be for a time and times and halfe, then all these things shall be finished, as a Henne gathereth her Chickens, or as a scattered Army in that day the Holy People shall be gathered together, in the meane time many shall bee purified and made white by the fiery Tryall; The wicked shall doe wickedly, and shall not vnderstand, but the wise, it is given vnto them to vnderstand the misteries of the Kingdome of Heaven.
And from the time that the daily Sacrifice shall bee taken away, or the yearely [Page 93]Passeover by the destruction of Ierusalem, to place the Abomination that maketh desolate; there shall be a Thousand Two hundred and Ninetie dayes; Heere is the Measure of the Temple, and the Altar, and them that worship therein; And here is also the breach of the first Commandements, spoken of by our Lord; the abomination that maketh desolate not only the Sanctuary but the Citie; the first ripe Apples that hang so high against the Sunne; The Divell thought if hee could reach these, the rest were his owne; therefore to plucke them downe in the primitiue times, he began to reare his Ladder in the holy Places to set vp his plurality, adding the Images of living Mortall men to be worshipped with Divine honour, and vaine supplications, as if themselues were present, making no doubt, hauing no egresse and regresse in time to bring his owne amongst them into the nomber, in which expectation hee fayled not much; for who is this here, that sits in the Temple of God, as if there were Two Gods, besides his PIGMALION-like Image; the parts of which [Page 94]are seldome colde, if there bee heate in the Kisses of such holy People.
The swiftnesse of time is such, I cannot gather all the Spices and dropping Myrrhe of this Tree, I can fixe no longer speaking what manner God will sit alone in his holy Temple, abhorring not only the people but the place where a Coleague is joyned with him in office; therefore of the next branch.
Suppose a man after his Marriage to a young Virgin, should say, my experience is more then yours. I cannot alwayes walke hand in hand with you, neither may I keepe you in a Cloister that will not be for your health or my profit, neither must you forget your Covenant to bee subiect to my desires not tending to the harme of either of vs; I loue you as mine owne Body, if I should not loue you, I should not loue my selfe; you are tender and faire without blemish or blot, so I would haue your minde also without spot or wrinckle like your face, many strangers will striue to bee your Servants; not all for your beautie but some for malice and enuie to me: Though your intent [Page 95]be good in all things, yet because I am very jealous of mine honor, entertaine none in that manner; though they be silent for a time, and conceale themselues, in the end they will draw your affection from me; Besides, much resort though shee be never so chaste, is dalliance the marke of a knowne Harlot, which sort of women I would haue you differ from, and no marke I know more fit to put a difference betweene you then this; For much entertainment will not only waste our substance, better imployed vpon more necessary occasions, but consume time in vnprofitable idlenesse.
Is there no consequent, yes doubtlesse, I am the Lord thy God, thou shalt haue no other Gods but me; thou shalt not make Images of any likenesse to bowe or humble thy selfe before them; for of my honor I am a jealous God, you are mine, I bought you to enioy the libertie of my service; I brought yee out of the house of bondage, which no other God could doe; thou shalt loue the Lord thy God, and keepe his charge and his Statutes.
When yee goe forth to shew the way of truth to other Nations, this spirituall dalliance, which in the end turnes to whoredome, beware of it for it shall bee a marke betweene them that hate mee and you that keepe my Comandements; and though I will not at any time bee farre from you, yet you shall fall by Captivitie and persecution to spread my name, or for the Triall of your Faith, when you see their Idolatrie pull downe their high Places, Preach against them; say, Little Children, ignorant people that vnderstand not the slights of Sathan; Beware of Idols, tender natures encounter strongest motions; Top-sayles are first assaulted; No man so well knowes his owne frailtie, as the Lord your God knowes how prone Devotion is to Superstition.
Also when yee goe in and out amongst the Heathen folke, or if the Lord giue them into your hands, as the Amalikites were given into the hand of the Children of Israell, when the Prophet said; what meaneth this bleating in mine eares; SAULS excuse shall not availe you; to say, we set them vp for Saints [Page 97]before the Lord, the Images of IUPITER for Iesus Christ; the Statue of HERCULES for CHRISTOPHER; VENUS and the little Lad, for the blessed Virgin, as holy as Scarcrowes in a Garden of Cowcumbers.
You that cannot make one haire white or blacke, will yee goe a Whoring after your owne inventions, to humble your selues before Pageants, Pictures, Images with eyes that see not, Eares without hearing, &c. More senslesse then a Beast; yet these rare Mamets, the light of the Sunne is too darke for them without Candles; when the Members of Christ goe naked, these must bee cloathed, not for warmnesse but for wantonnesse; and these are the Babyes made and dressed by the Divell, and decked to please his Children, abhorred, and abominable in the sight of the Lord.
Lastly, with these lines the Temple of God is Measured, and them that worship therein. Measuring is for Numbering; place is put for time, and sometimes space a thousand sixe hundred furlongs; Signifying the persecution of the Church so many yeares, [Page 98]reward her even as she rewarded you. To rise therefore and Measure the time, begin from the taking away of the daily Sacrifice or the Destruction of Ierusalem, and count a thousand two hundred and threescore yeares, wherein for the absence of the Church in the Wildernesse, the two Witnesses did Prophesie clothed in Sackcloth, so many yeares of Mists and darknesse, to these must be added some dayes of faire weather, a hundred forty and foure thousand, amounting to foure hundred yeares and odde, having their fathers name written in their foreheads, these sing as it were a new song; These are Virgins not (defiled with women) Chaste conversation, not commanding laciviousnesse, by forbidding Marriage, waxing worse and worse.
The Temple was not built in a day, it is three Stories; the foure hundred yeares are to be devided into three severall parts, Seventy yeares and odde, vntill the destruction of Ierusalem, when the Apostles finished their testimony, thirty yeares are restored for the raigne of CONSTANTINE the great, the remaines [Page 99]remaine for these last times, being the same eighteene thousand Measures spoken by EZEKIEL the Prophet, the Measure of the Temple within are not summed vp, I presume not to looke into the account, the Measure of it round about without, I heard the number of them cast vp, Eighteen thousand Measures, every Measure sixe Cubits, according to the Measure of a man. That is, of the Angell, three hundred yeares & odde; and the name of the City from that day shal bee God is there, that said Son of Man, the place of my Throne, and the place of the soles of my feet, where I will dwell in the middest of the Children of Israell for ever, and my holy Name shall the house of Israell no more defile, &c.
Blessed is he that waiteth and commeth to the thousand three hundred and fiue and thirty yeares, these are the blessed times of IOHN WICKLIFFE & IOHH Hus, both famous Martyrs, and burning Lights, set vp to shew forth the state and beauty of the truth, one burnt aliue, the other after hee was dead, being hard to judge in which of these, [Page 100]the Devill the Father of lyes, Antichrist his crucifying Sonne, and the Dragon, expressed most malice; from which cursed triplicitie, three Monsters of the bottomlesse Pit, God deliver vs, who will giue vs a Crowne of life; Come Lord IESUS, the grace of our Lord IESUS CHRIST bee with you all.
Amen.
Last of all, the whole world is numbred and those that worke abomination therein, and the delights thereof, weighed in the balances, are found lighter then vanitie it selfe. There is nineteene yeares and a halfe to the day of Iudgement, Iuly the 28. M.DC.XXV. Sixe hundred and threescore Moneths are excluded, from this last Age of seventeene hundred yeares. And I thinke that I haue also the Spirit of God.