Argument 1 I argue first, That this great change of Affairs is the Divine Prologue to the accomplishment of this Prophesie from Christs Condemning both Teachers, and People, when they knew not the Signs of the Time. The Signs of the Times are not only Religious, or Moral Characters, as the Holiness of Christs Doct­rine, Life, great Zeal in doing good was such a sort of Signs of the M [...]ssiah that could not be absent; and Christ says in Relation to them. And why of yo [...]selves judge you not, what is Right? viz. from the Laws of Reason, of Natural and Religious Conscience, instead of a S [...]gn f [...]om Heaven; but besides these, there are the Signs of the Times, the sure word of Prophesie gives, as Daniels Seventy Weeks gave of Messi [...]h; With these His Miraculous Birth early Wis­dom at Twelve Years old, great works concerted, and these compar'd [Page 4] could not deceive concerning Messiahs's times then on Earth.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

And indeed the Kingdom of the Beast hath more Years upon it. then most Kingdoms or Monarchies in the World have had, ex­cept the Ancient Babylon, as deriving it from Nimrod, the beginning of whose Kingdom was Babel. Had not God decreed so long aGen. 10. 10. State; In the course of Human Powers, it had fallen long ago, but Rome Eternal is one of it's Blasphemies, and though it says, it shall Sit a Lady for ever, yet it's Idols have deceiv'd it; For it's Mene­t [...]kel is e'en at the Doors. The dephth of it's so old Kingdom shall now become Dotage, therefore God hath begun the Pattern a­mong us, and it shall go through the whole breadth of the gre [...] City.

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

Certainly, when God does such things in so great a manner, it Portends more, than the late terrible Earthquakes in Popish Territo­ries; God is more in this still voice: Every Battel of the Warriour is with confus'd noise, and Garments rolled in Blood; this hath been as with Fewe [...], and burning of Fire; and it is a Presage, that to us a Child is born, a Son is given, who shall within few spaces, take the Go­vernment Es [...]y. 9. on his Shoulders, and appear the Father of the World to come, his Kingdom of Righteousness and Peace is near.

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

Argument 5 Things seem so to be layd by God, as if the very Merits of the Cause betwixt the Romans, and the Protestant Christi­anity [Page 7] were to be tryed, and very natural Reason, if it were to be Umpire, would easily tell us, what the determination from Hea­ven would be.

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

The time is near, when the Question shall be put, whether An­ti-christianism shall have a longer State in this World, and it is very dangerous, a Critical Time for such a Question to be put so near the end of the Beasts Moons. Every publick Watch man then should be skill'd in the Time of Babylons falling, in the burden of that Dumah, that Edomitish Christianity, or Anti christianism; we should know what of the Night, what of the Night, what the Age ofIsa. 21. 9. 10. 11. the Roman Moon, of that Governess of the Night is; what the hour of it's Night is; for the Morning cometh to the True Churches of Christ, and the Night the blackness of the Night on that Lady of the Night.

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

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

Argument 6 I doubt not at all we may say, Providence hath sent that Fire upon Earth; concerning which it says, what will I, if it be already kindled? That is, it insists no longer upon a seeming velleity, or as we speak a willing, and woulding to have the Fire kindled, It is already kindled; It is in Act, and in Motion. It hath shed or Insensibly distributed it self into all the veins of our Nation, and will do so through all the Christian World, till as a Refiners Fire, it Purifie it from that Ant-ichristian Apostacy, that shall not be able to abide the Day of Christs coming; for which this Fire is to prepare: By this I understand the great Zeal against that Impure Anti-christianism. And there is to be found upon [Page 8] this Zeal as it were the very Image, Seal and Impress of this Pro­phesie. It here spread it self upon all sorts, and degrees of this Nation from the highest to the lowest; what is it then but to say? This is one of the Ten Kingdoms, that should hate the Whore, and Execute the Judgment of God upon it, that is Written, in it's due Times.

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

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

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

But was not this also a great fulfilling of this very Prophesie ac­cording to that season? For at that time, when several Princes had withdrawn themselves and their Kingdoms from the Anti-christian Usurpation, if all had done so, how had the words of God been fulfill'd, giving the Beast Forty Two Months of such a Decem-Princi­pality or Ten Horned Power when above an Hundred Years at that time were unexpir'd? It pleased God to take the advan­tage to Revulse some of them from him, to give public notice there­by, It was the Morning of the half Time, and we are even now to be admonish'd by it; on the other side some great Kings were to continue united to him, to show the half Time was not run [Page 9] out, but the end of it to be expected for the making Desolate, and Naked, and Judging her, that hath so violated the Wedlock of True Christianity.

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

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

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

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

As Rome, and Constantinople were such Sisters in the Apostacy, as Aholah, and Aholibah in an Idolatrous defection from God, so God prepar'd for them so sore a scourge as the Mahometan Impo­sture, [Page 10] that should both deride their Superstition, and miserably Affl [...]ct them together; It came abroad soon after the contest of those Two Bishops, both fallen Stars, for Supremacy, and Ʋniversality; wherein Rome had the fatal pre-eminence to obtain the Key of the bottomless Pit. Immediately broke out those Judgments of that Mahometan Imposture, which this Sacred Prophesie calls Two woes, which have layn upon them Both, from that very time, more, or less: Judgments prepar'd on purpose for the Anti christian Apostacy, in which the Eastern Churches shar'd deep, and which is to this day too closely Incorporated with the remains of the Christianity, that is found among them, that are indeed rather dark Mentions of, than that Excellent Doctrine it self and Holy Religion of our Lord Jesus Christ.

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

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

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

I add, the speediness of the Motion in the two wonderful chan­ges in our Nation, and in Turky shew; Providence is moving on those Wheels, and on those Wings, that it uses in the fulfilling Pro­ph [...]sie, Ezek. 1. as was in Ezekiels Vision drawn to the Life; so that upon th [...]se two Revolutions may be Written that Prophetic Motto; I the E [...]y. [...]1. [...]. Lord have hasten'd them in their own Time.

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

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

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

And I am very desirous to believe, this French Persecution is that last effort of Anti-christianism, revealed to our great and Holy Arch bishop Ʋsher, the forest, but shortest Ravage of the Beast up­on the Protest [...]nt World, wherein by Sympathy every Nation should bear a deep share, and we particularly, seeing it hath pleased our Good and Gracious God to pull us as Brands out of the burning, and who knows but we are Deliver'd for such a time as this? Even for their Deliverance also; and that if we altogether h [...]ld our peace, [Page 12] and think to be quiet in our own Nation, Light & Deliverance shall arise to those Slain Witnesses of France from some other place; But our S [...]n will find us out, If we forbear to deliver them that are drawn unto Death, and those that are ready to be Slain; If we say, behold we know it not, we are not concern'd, doth not he that pondereth the heart consider it? He that keepeth our Nation doth not he know it? And w [...]ll he not remember it in the Day, when he maketh Inquisition for Blood?

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

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

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

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

These when Luxuriant, and over spreading, when Zealously insisted upon, when Persecutorily urg'd are then call'd the Syna­gogue of Sathan; viz. in the Church of Smyrna at the Entrance of the Ap [...]stacy, and in the Church of Pbiladelphia, when the Apostacy shall expire; The first Entrances, the Avenues of Anti-christianism were un-written observances; over affection to Places, Days, Forms, Rites, Titles, swelling beyond the Apostolic Simplicity, hence it came to Superstition, Idolatry, Supremacy, this State the Holy Spirit Brands, first the Synagogue of Sathan, because some were Authoritative, Jurisdictive, Excommunicative upon them; al­though not to be vouched from the word of Christ; & though they were before the very Apostacy, or Church it self in the Wilderness, before the Throne of Sathan: Again, such a State of things falls [Page 13] under the same Brand towards the end of the Apostacy, near and at the very Philidelphian State, when some are sticking in these, as if the Reformation were not to move them, but that they ought to continue for the sake of Reverence to Antiquity, this seems to me a mistake like that, but in a much greater concern, with which some Learned Mathematicians charge Pope Gregory the Thirteenth, his Reformation of the Calendar, He Reform'd down to the Nicene Council, but not to the Days of Julius Cesar, by whom the Calendar was first Formed, on which Account even new Style is, not perfect, as to Time; so some Protestants would Reform down to the Four first General Councils; but they ought to Reform down to Christ, and his Apostles, by whom as the Author and Infallible Ministers Christianity was Originally Planted; they forget the My­stery of Iniquity Began to work even in the Apostles Days, and was Counter wrought by their Infallible Writings, in which all things are to be tryed, to Insist upon any thing not Written there, is a Redivival of that Synagogue, when over Zealously affected, much more, Impos'd under the Awe of Penalties, and Excommunications, which is the Form of a Synagogue of Sathan. But with this differ­ence; the Apostacy was in the Church of Smyrna in the Ascen­dency, so it went on to a Throne of Sathan. It is now towards it's lowest Declination, so the last Synagogue shall come to Worship at Philadelphiaes Feet, and to acknowledge, Christ Loves that Church. And I hope that Day is now Springing; and no sure [...] Sign of the Apostacy expiring. This very Synagogue Seal'd the Thunders, that had utter'd their voices at the first Reformation; It hath near this Hundred and Eighty Years retarded the Ki [...]gdom of Christ, and Shut up the Book as hid in the Bowels of Prophesie then opened, and ready to have come into Act, but when that Syna­gogue begins to acknowledge it's Error, that Kingdom is near: But on the other side Ʋniversality is another principle of the Philadel­phian Church; some Protestant Churches are too narrow, and Cir­cumscrib'd within their own Congr [...]gations; and will not own, nor receive those as the Church of Christ, whom Christ hath re­ceiv'd, although they even as themselves, are among the undefiled Names of Sardis how few soever: They should go and Learn what that meaneth, Christ pleased not himself: For it is Written, the re­proaches of them that reproached thee, fell upon me, that is, our very Sins, not by way of complyance, but by way of Compassion, union to the persons notwithstanding their Sins, or Infirmities; Christ is the Head of a Church under many remaining evils, we should own our selves the Members of such a Church; An Univer­sal [Page 14] Spirit is most of the Spirit of Christs Kingdom opening to receive the fulness of the Gentiles, and Jews, how much more real Christi­ans and Protestants; Not enclosing Austerely our selves in pend up Congregations; so as not to unite in Spirit with all true Christianity and Protestancy though not of our Model.

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

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

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

Yet this is to be understood with three Limitations.

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

2. There will be nothing, there can be nothing more dreadful to the un-holy, to the sleepy, and secure, to the Ignorant, and A­bominable, then that approach, then those loud voices from Hea­ven of the Kingdom of Christ, when these things come to pass; [Page 15] Christ expresses it in brief to all those in defiled Garments in Sard [...] ▪ except thou watch, I will come upon thee as a Thief, and thou shalt not know, at what hour I will come upon thee, bless [...]d are they then, or even at this Time, (though it shall have a greater fulfilling just at the Seventh Vial) who watch, and keep their Garments, viz. from defilements, because Christ comes now also as a Thief, and on such a surprizal, the unprepar'd, [...]hrowing off their defiled Garments in haste walk naked, and Men see their shame. The greatest Zeal of Protestancy, if un-reform'd in heart and Life will be affrighted even to endless distraction, and confusion, at this approach of Christ, if Men do not before watch, that is, resolve what manner of Persons they ought to be in all Holiness and Godliness of Conversation not sur-charg'd with Drunkenness, Gluttony, the cares of this Life, &c.

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

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

Argument 10 There is one Note in this Prophesie, that gives a further glance upon the near approach of the Time, and that this Revolution looks to the very just Complement of the words of God [Page 16] to be fulfilled; And that is, that whereas the Prophesie had said; The Ten Kings should agree to give their Kingdom to the Beast, till the Words of God should be fulfilled; It without any notice of their withdrawing their Kingdom from the Beast tells us, they shall hate the Wh [...]re.

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

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

1. That the Roman Catholick Church, as call'd, whatever hands [Page 17] the Administration of it be in, will shew it self to be the Whore, the Mother of the Abominations of the Earth, of Superstitions and Idola­tries, and that drinks it self drunk with the Blood of the Saints, and of the Martyrs of Jesus; and that whoever serves it shall be intox­icated with the [...], the Sting, the High Rage, and Fury of its Fornication, and shall enforce the same Cup with utmost Barbarity into the Hands, and Mouths of those, who refuse it.

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

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