A perfect description of Antichrist, and his false prophet. Wherein is plainly shewed that Oliver Cromwell was Antichrist, and John Presbiter, or John Covenanter his false prophet. Written in the yeare, MDCLIV. By Abraham Nelson. And now published with an epistle to the Kings most excellent Majestie.

A DESCRIPTION OF ANTICHRIST.

REading in the holy Scripture of truth the Viſion which the holy Prophet Daniell ſaw in the dayes of Balſhazar King of Babilon; I find in the 7. th Chap. the 7. verſe, a deſcription of a moſt dreadfull and terrible Beaſt. Firſt, hee deſcribes him by his Strength, to be exceeding ſtrong. Secondly, by his Teeth, to be of Iron. Thirdly, by his Hornes to be in number Ten, and alſo in the 8. th verſe, he ſpeaks of a little Horne that came up before whom three fell. Fourthly, he deſcribes this Beaſt to have Nailes of Braſſe in the 9. verſe.

This monſtrous Beaſt being deſcribed by his Shape, he alſo tells us what he ſhall doe: But of that hereafter.

Alſo reading in the 13. Chapter of St. Johns Revelation, I find the ſame Beaſt deſcribed, and looke what Markes of the beaſt Daniell hath omitted St. John doth deſcribe them more fully.

He ſaith, that he came out of the Sea, he ſaith he hath 7. Heads and 10. Hornes, and upon his heads the Names of Blaſphemy. This ugly Monſter he deſcribes in the 2. Verſe to be like a Leopard, his Feet as the feet of a Beare, and his Mouth as the mouth of a Lyon; his Power and his great Authority was given to him by the Dragon.

And the Dragon is deſcribed before in the 12. Chap. and 3. verſe, to be Red and to have ſeven Heads and ten Hornes, and Crownes upon their heads. And J find in the 11. verſe of the 13. chap. another Beaſt deſcribed, To come out of the Earth having hornes like a Lambe, but a terrible ſpeech like a Dragon.

Theſe two Beaſts deſcribed by St. Joqn, doth exerciſe their Power to advance each other, verſ. 1 • . he ſaith, He exerciſed all the power of the firſt Beaſt, and cauſed all that was on the earth to worſhip the firſt beaſt.

Theſe two beaſts be ſo joyned together in the exerciſe of their Power; and having their power from the Dragon, that they are ſometimes ſaid to be one.

But Daniell ſets forth this Second beaſt unto us, in the ſimilitude of a horne that hath a Mouth and Eyes, chap. 7. verſe 8.

Now before theſe terrible beaſts appeare in the Earth and exerciſe their power; I find in the 12. chap. and 1. verſe, A wonder ſeene in Heaven, a moſt glorious Woman, cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone under her feet, and Crowned with 12 Starres.

Shee is alſo deſcribed to be with Child and in paine to be delivered.

But being in danger to be devoured by the Dragon and his Inſtruments, theſe ugly beaſts, God Almighty provides a place for her and takes her Child unto himſelfe, verſ. 5. and 6.

Now by this moſt glorious Woman and her Son, is moſt certainly ſet forth unto us the Eſtate of the Church of Chr • ſt, and the Sonnes of the Church: When theſe monſtrou • Beaſts ſhall appeare, for ſome of the Sonnes of the Church ſhall lay downe their Lives for the Truth, and ſo is taken unto God.

Alſo in the 11. th Chap from verſe the 1 till verſe the 7. th is moſt certainly ſet forth unto us the pure Preaching of God's Word for the Worſhip and Service of GOD, that ſhall be in the Church of Chriſt in that place, when and where theſe Monſters ſhall appeare.

John is there commanded to meaſure the Temple of God, and the Altar and them that worſh • p therein: But is prohibited to meaſure the Court and holy City, ſeeing it was to be troden under foot by the wicked and prophane, 42. Moneths (that is 1260. dayes xxx. dayes to the Moneth) the ſame time the vertuous and glorious Woman lyeth hid in the place God provided for Her, the 12. th Chap. and 6. verſe.

But for his two Witneſſes they ſhould propheſie in Sackcloth 1260. dayes, theſe are the two Olive-trees and two Candleſtick, ſtanding before the God of the whole Earth: Spoken of by Zachary the Prophet, the 4. th Chap. and 3. verſe, and the 11. th and 14. verſes.

By theſe two Olive-trees two Candleſt • cks and two Witneſſes is ſet forth unto us the K • ngly and Prieſtly Officers: As alſo the bookes of the Prophets and Apoſtles, the Old Teſtament and the New, all which ſhall be in Power and had in Eſtimation, and the Word faithfully taught unto us by his Apoſtolicall Miniſters: When and where theſe monſtrous Beaſts appeares.

And it is moſt certaine, that theſe Monſtrous Beaſts ſhall be Enemies to God his Worſhip and thoſe that feare his Name,

That is manifeſt in the 7. th of Daniell the 25. verſe, for it is ſaid there, he ſhall ſpeake great words againſt the Moſt High.

And in the 13. th Chap. of Revelations the 6. verſe, and he opened his Mouth with blaſphemy, to blaſpheme his Name, his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven.

Now for the cruelty of this Beaſt, how this Beaſt ſhall proſper, and what he ſhall doe and how long he ſhall continue, that is neceſſary to be ſhown: But of that hereafter.

But firſt of all, what is meant by the Sea and great Waters from whence this Beaſt ſhall come, it is expreſſed Chap. 17. th and 15. verſe, to be People and Multitudes, Tongues and Nations, it is alſo neceſſary to know where they ſhall appeare.

He ſhall certainly appeare in that place where the moſt pure preaching of the Goſpell of GOD and our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Chriſt is taught and upholden: Both in Doctrine and Diſcipline, by Chriſt's Regall and Sacerdotall Officers: And he ſhall oppoſe himſelfe againſt all lawfull Authority.

This great Beaſt is certainly the Man of Sinne, the Antichriſt, the Son of Perdition ſpoken of by the holy Prophets and Apoſtles.

But now for the Deſcription of this Man of Sinne, the Son of Perdition ſet forth by the ſimilitude of theſe Monſters, it is neceſſary to ſhew; Therefore firſt of the body o • this Beaſt, It is Multitudes of men in the World in Seven ſeverall Nations, who will either voluntarily or by force comply to the Man of Sinne.

Secondly, the Heads of this Beaſt, is Princes and great men in thoſe Nations, and ſometimes it is taken for the head City where they meet to conſult: Called the Royall City.

Thirdly, by the Hornes of this Beaſt is meant the Kings of thoſe Nations, whereof one of them hath foure Dominions belonging to him: So theſe foure and the other ſix maketh ſeven Heads and ten Hornes: Rev • lations the 13. th and 1. verſe, Daniell 7. th and 7. verſe.

Then Daniell expreſſeth, that he ſaw another little Horne come up after them: Before whom three fell; And that Horne is ſaid to be the 8. th Dominion, and yet one of the Seven, Rev. 17 ch. and 11▪ verſe, that l • ttle Horne is the Antichriſtian Horne, which by Daniel is ſaid to have Eyes and a Mouth that ſhall ſpeake high things.

Now it is to be underſtood, that when this Man of Sinne ſhall appeare all the ſeven Nations ſhall be Chriſtians: But he ſhall ariſe and make his Seat in one only Nation, and in that Nation where the moſt pure Preachings of the Goſpel are both in Doctrine and Diſcipline, and in that Nation whoſe Head hath foure Hornes, that is foure Dominions belonging to it, though he doe but exerciſe the power of Three.

But upon the appearance of the little Horne, the three Dominions which the former King had ſhall fall to him, and the former King ſhall be pluckt up, Dan. the 7. th and 8. verſe, but of that hereafter.

Now that Antichriſt is ſet out unto us by this little Horne in Daniell, and the Beaſt out of the Earth in John: It ſhall be apparant by what he ſhall doe anſwerable to that which is written of him.

Alſo by the Deſcription of his Name and Marke, and the firſt Beaſt by his Name and the number of his Name.

Therefore to make it plaine, I will ſhew it more clearly by ſetting forth and ſhewing the Dignities of Chriſt.

Firſt, as the Son of GOD. Secondly, as a King. Thirdly, as a Prieſt, and as the Son of God had before his appearance a Fore-runner, a great Prophet, a Meſſenger to goe before his face to prepare his Way.

So the Son of Perdition ſhall have a great Prophet, a Fore-runner, a Meſſenger to goe before him to prepare his Way; And as the Son of God was ſent from Heaven by his Father, endowed with Kingly and Prieſtly abilities to redeeme his people; So the Son of Perdition ſhall come out of the Earth from his Father the old Serpent the Devill; And ſhall uſurpe to himſelfe both the Kingly and Prieſtly Dominions, to ſeduce a people from the true Worſhip of God, to worſhip himſelf and the Dragon.

But firſt of all, I will compare together Chriſt's true Prophet, Forerunner, and Meſſenger that came before him.

And Antichriſt's falſe Prophet that ſhall come before him.

Chriſt's Fore-runner his Name is John ſo named of the Angell, Luke the 1. and 13. verſe: Hee is a Prieſt alſo: And in verſe 72, and 73. hee is ſaid to come to performe the Covenant, and the Oath which he ſware to Abraham and his Seed.

Antichriſt's Prophet and Fore-runner ſhall be called John Preſbiter, but more properly his Name is John Covenanter.

For he ſhall come with a Covenant and an Oath in oppoſition to the Covenant and Oath of God, and ſhall pretend to doe the Offices that Chriſt's Fore-runner came to doe, in Preaching Repentance and pretending to a Reformation.

The other Offices that Chriſt's Harbinger did performe was to make the Way ſtraight, and to turne the hearts of the Fathers to their Children, and the Diſobedient to the wiſdome of the Iuſt: And to make a people to be prepared for Chriſt the Lord, Luke the 1. and the 17.

But the Offices that Antichriſt's Harbinger ſhall performe for all his pretences ſhall be to make the Way crooked, and to turne the hearts of the Children from their Fathers, and the obedient from the wiſdome of the Iuſt: And to make ready a Rebellious People prepared for Antichriſt.

And as the people which John Baptist did prepare, did accept of the Covenant and Oath of God, and was diſtinguiſhed from others and became Chriſtians.

So ſhall the people which Preſbiter Iohn ſhall prepare, accept of a Covenant and Oath which was from his Father the Devill: And thereby be diſtinguiſhed from others and be called Covenanters.

This is the firſt Beaſt which Iohn ſaw like a Leopard, which cannot change his Spots.

And firſt for his Name it ſhall be Iohn Covenanter, and the number of the words in his Preamble and Covenant (that makes his Name) is the number of his Name, let him that hath Wiſdome count them, for they are 666. mentioned, Revelations the 13. Chap. and the laſt verſe.

☞ As it is to be ſeene in the originall Copie of the Kirk.

This Covenant ſhall combine all his Creatures in one, and unite them for Lives and Eſtates to ſerve him: The Enemy of God and all good Men.

And as John Baptist came with a mighty Power, ſo that all did muſe whether he were the Chriſt.

So ſhall John Covenanter come with a mighty Power, trampling all under foot, Daniell the 7. th and the 7. And with ſuch a falſe Zeal; So that all ſhall muſe thinking him to be the Truth of Chriſt, though he ſhall be the Fore-runner of Antichriſt: I have now deſcribed the Name of Chriſt's Meſſenger and his Power and Office, ſo that he is the greateſt Prophet of God that ever was amongſt the Sons of Men.

And the Name of Antichriſt's Meſſenger, the number of his Name, his Power and Office, ſo that he ſhall be the greateſt Prophet of all the falſe Prophets that ever ſhall be amongſt the Sons of Men: For hee and the Antichriſtian Beaſt with the Dragon ſhall worke wonders; They ſhall throw downe the Starres, Revelations the 12. th and the 4. verſe, and they ſhall cauſe Fire to come downe from Heav • n in the ſight and preſence of men, the 13. th and the 13. verſe▪ This is nothing elſe but the pulling downe of the King, the learned Clergy, B • ſhops and Church Officers, which is compared to Starres & Fires in Scripture.

And it muſt be a mighty wonder to ſee this done; Now it is neceſſary to ſhew unto you the Offi • es of CHRIST the Lord of Life, and his Power (his Way being prepared) his Name and his Marke: Alſo the Offices of Antichriſt the Man of Death and Deſtruction, his Name and Marke, his way being prepared before him.

Firſt for the Offices of Chriſt, he is a King, Mathew the 27. th and the 11. and Hebrewes the 1. and the 8. But unto the Son he ſaith, thy Throne O God is for ever and ever, the Scepter of thy Kingdome is a Scepter of Righteouſneſſe.

He is a Prieſt alſo being the Prieſt of the moſt high GOD, and of the Order of Melchiſadec, Hebrewes the 5. th and 6. verſe, and his Name is Jeſus ſo named of the Angell: And his Marke or Enſigne is the Croſſe which we take in Baptiſme, and which Chriſt ſaith, all that will follow him muſt take up.

Now the Power of Chriſt in the exerciſe of Kingly Office is proved, Pſalme 2. and 9. verſe, Revelations the 19. th and 15. verſe Out of his Mouth goeth a ſharp Sword, and with it he ſhall ſmite the Nations, and he ſhall rule them with a Rod of Iron: And ſhall tread the Win • preſſe of the fierceneſſe of the Wrath of God.

And of his Prieſtly Office, Hebrewes the 4 th and 14. Seeing therfore we have a great high Prieſt, that is paſt into Heaven Jeſus the Son of God: Let us hold our Profeſſion.

Now I ſhall ſhew unto you the Offices of Antichriſt, his power, his Name & Mark, in oppoſition to Chriſt his power his Name & Mark.

Firſt, he ſhall take unto him Dominion: That is Kingly power, Daniell the 7. th and 25. verſe, the middle of the verſe. And he ſhall thinke to change Times and Lawes both Civill and Eccleſiaſticall, and they ſhall be given into his hand.

He ſhall alſo take upon him Dominion over (Epiſcopall Authority which is Apoſtolicall, that is) Prieſtly power, to command Worſhip: As in the 13. th Chap. and 4. verſe, it is ſaid: They worſhipped the Dragon which gave Power to the Beaſt, alſo Paul ſaith, He ſhall ſet himſelfe in God's Temple as God, and againſt him to depoſe and ſet up whom he will without Law or Example: Save only exemplified by his Type, that is Antiochus the Type of Antichriſt under the Goſpell.

And for his Name it ſhall be equall with Chriſt's Name, that is Jeſus a Saviour, a Protector to his people: And for his Marke it ſhall be a Croſſe wherewith all his ſhall be marked and commiſſionated to doe his workes in the World, and that none ſhall be permitted to buy or ſell, or to doe any thing of Concernment without his Name, his Marke or number of his Name afore ſpoken of, Revelations the 13. th Chapter, and the 17. th verſe.

Now ye ſee what a Combination Antichriſt (when he commeth) ſhall make: All that are for him muſt have his Name, others muſt have his M • rke; And ſome muſt have the Name and number of his Name, and ſome ſhall have all.

But before this Tragedy ſhall be acted, we ſhall find that our Lord and Saviour Jeſus Christ ſhall ſeal his obedient ones, leaſt they ſhould be deceived by the policy of the falſe Prophet, and the proſperous ſucceſſe of the Man of Sinne; For it is ſaid, If it were poſſible they would deceive the very Elect.

In the 7. th Chap. and the 2. verſe▪ I ſaw an Angell aſcend out of the Eaſt having the Seal of the living God, and in the 4. verſe it is ſaid: There was ſealed 144000.

I have made it appeare what Power the Man of Sin ſhall have, and Offices he ſhall uſurpe.

Now I ſhall further ſhew you the Exerciſe of his power, what he ſhall doe: I have ſhowne how he ſhall trample all under foot, and change Lawes both Civill and Eccleſiaſticall, now I will ſhew you how he ſhall make Wars▪ and againſt whom.

In the 7. th of Daniell and the 21. it is ſaid: I beheld and ſaw the ſame Horne make War with the Saints and prevaile againſt them.

And in the 13. th of Revelations and the 7. verſe and it was given unto him to make War with the Saints and overcome Them: In overcomming the Saints he ſhall firſt take away the chiefe Officers of the Church, that i • the King, and Biſhops and their lawfull Officers, and prohibit the true D • ctrine and Diſcipline Apoſtolicall to be uſed: and when he hath taken away the Church Officers, to ſuppreſſe the Profeſſors is eaſie.

For the King that then ſhall be ſhall fall before him, which exerciſeth the Power of the three Hornes, Daniel the 7. th and 8. verſe, in the middle of the verſe, I conſidered the little Horne ſaith hee, before three of the firſt were plucked up; and in the 24. th verſe, he ſaith, He ſhall ſubdue three Kings or Kingdoms and there he ſhall plant himſelfe.

Now for the continuance of the time he ſhall have to ſtand in his Power; It is requiſite I ſhould ſpeake of it: That after he appeares in his ſplendor we may hope for his end, leſt we ſhould faint in the length of our ſufferings.

In the Exerciſe of this wofull Tragedy againſt the Saints of GOD, we find he ſhall ſpeake great Words againſt the Moſt High, and weary out his Saints, the 7. th of Daniell and 25. And in the latter part of the verſe it is ſaid, he ſhall continue a Time, Times, and the deviding of time: John ſaith the 13. th Chap. and 5. verſe. He hath Power to continue 42. Moneths, which is three yeares and an halfe, that is to meaſure and account his Time by.

And I find that upon the increaſe of his Power, he ſhall be ſo prevalent in (oppoſition of God's word) perſecuting the Regall and Apoſtolicall Officers of CHRIST, as that the Bookes of the Prophets and Apoſtles, together with the two Candleſticks of the Church of Chriſt; his two Officers is ſaid to be ſlaine and lye dead in the ſtreets (and in the ſight of all men) for three dayes and an halfe, Revelations the 11. and the 7. th: And by reaſon of the Toleration that the Man of Sinne ſhall grant upon the ſuppreſſing of the true Worſhip and Worſhippers of GOD, and taking away the publique Liturgie of the Church, there ſhall be a very great joy: So that they ſhall give and ſend Guifts one unto another and make merry, Chap. 11. th and 10. verſe.

Becauſe thereby they were hindred of their Liberty, that they could not exerciſe their ſeverall Idolatrous, Fantaſticall, and Hereticall Opinions.

And during the time that theſe two Prophets, and two Witneſſes lies ſlaine and dead in the ſtreets in open ſhame and contempt: The true Profeſſors of the Goſpell ſhall be clothed in Sack-cloth 1260. Chap. 11. th and 3. verſe.

According to the number of the Dayes the vertuous Woman (that is the Church) is hid by God in the place which he hath provided for Her, the 12. th Chap. and 6. verſe.

And then after the time limited be over ſhall their Sackcloth be put off, and the Woman come out of her place, to help forward the Iudgement of the Man of Sin.

But during the Time of the hiding of this Chaſt Woman and the Perſecution of her Children; There appeareth another Woman, Chap. the 17. th and the 3. verſe: A Great Whore, a Jezabel wonderfully D • cked: By whoſe Glory Thouſands are bewitched.

By this Whore is ſet forth unto us Antichriſt's ſuperſtitious Whore, and the City where he ſhall keepe, and the Idolatrous Brood he ſhall beget.

Now all men know or will confeſſe, that Men are naturally ſubject to Idolatry, and therefore is fitly compared to a Whore, and Antichriſt when he commeth will tolerate men thereunto; Now if an arrant Whore be tolerated by Law, what Wickedneſſe is it that ſhe will not commit with a Braſen face? And alſo abuſe the moſt Godly Vertuous and Chaſt Woman that can be found.

Now I will but ſpeake a very little of his Power more, leaſt I digreſſe too farre.

Jn the 13. th Chap. and 4. verſe (it is ſaid) And they worſhipped the Dragon which gave Power to the Beaſt, and they worſhipped the Beaſt and ſaid, Who is like to the Beaſt, Who is able to make warre with him.

Alſo hee ſhall extend his power a great deale farther then his owne proper Dominion which he hath uſurped; For his Name and his Marke ſhall goe through the earth, Revelation the 13. th and the 8. th verſe. For it is ſaid, All that dwell on the Earth ſhall worſhip him; For he ſhall extend all power into the Channels of the Sea, and great waters. So that Nations ſhall maintaine their Traffique by him and ſhall doe it by his Name and Marke, wherewith his Patents ſhall be ſealed and Articles of Peace or Warre marked and ſealed.

He ſhall be like that Leviathan (ſpoken of by Job) that walloweth in the great deepe.

Now I thinke it neceſſary to the making of this great Tragedy plaine, to ſpeake of the matter of Worſhip a little as it commeth in order.

Kings and Princes, and chiefe Prieſts, in holy Scriptures are called Gods, being ſanctified by divine Power; and alſo the ſame Scripture doth command worſhip and honour to be given them.

Now we may read in the 13. chap. Revelation the 3. verſe, That one of the beaſts Heads was wounded to death, and his wound was healed.

You may remember that I ſaid before, That the heads of the beaſts were Nobles and great Men, or ſuch as is of the Kings Councell; and the hornes are Kings; now when the Hornes by force falls off (aforementioned) the Head on which it doth ſtand will receive a wound.

But when the little Horne growes great, hee ſhall cauſe the beaſts head to be healed, by electing another Nobility of his owne Tribe; which is ſet forth unto us by the word Image: And well may be called an Image, in compariſon of the other that was before it; But however it muſt be Worſhipped; For in the 13. chap. the 15. verſe. He had power to give life to the Image of the Beaſt, that the Image of the beaſt, ſhould both ſpeake and cauſe, that ſo many as would not Worſhip the Image of the beaſt, ſhould be killed.

And I will ſhew you more things that this Man of ſinne ſhall doe expreſſed by Paul his 2. Epiſtle to the Theſſalonians, 2. chap. 4. verſe, it is ſaid there, That he ſhall oppoſe himſelfe above all that is called Gods and are worſhipped.

Now his fore-runner ſhall be a man of Worſhip (as John Baptist was) when he commeth.

But the Man of ſinne, ſhall be a meane Man and no man of Worſhip; neither ſhall any be proper for him.

Therefore it is truly ſaid, When hee commeth and playeth his Pagents above Kings and great Men on the earth, that he exalteth himſelfe above all that is called Gods unto whom Worſhip belongeth.

And in the firſt of Paul to Timothy, the 4. th and the 3. verſe, hee ſaith, He ſhall forbid to Marry (that is) He ſhall alter the ordinary practiſe of the Church of GOD in marriage, which was ſolemnly performed by the Miniſters of CHRIST, according to Gods word; commanding it to be done by thoſe that are no Prieſts: which are Commiſſionated by his Marke, and alſo upon a penalty of Diſinheritance, as Baſtardizing their poſterity.

Hee ſhall alſo command Faſting-dayes, and prohibite Feſtivalltimes, which the Church had celibrated; as the time of CHRIST'S Nativity, his Reſurrection and Aſcention (and the like) farre worſe then any Pagan.

But it is more proper to Antichriſt's fore-runner which ſhall come like John Baptist; Neither eating nor drinking, but with a great deale of temporance and Purity to deceive, though it be proper to him what the People ſaid of Iohn, That he hath a Devill.

Now I will ſpeake of Antichriſt and his falſe Prophet joyntly, being united to advance each other; therefore firſt of their beginning and ſo of their growth.

And that I may make it plaine, I will compare the Lord of life and this Meſſenger of Death together.

In the 2. of Luke, the 46. th 47. and the 48. verſes. Chriſt was found of his Parents diſputing amongſt the Doctors in Gods Temple (it ſeemes to me to be the Puritanicall Phariſees with which hee diſputed, and) which hee calleth ſo often (afterwards to his Diſciples) Hypocrites: giving them command to take heed to them.

This was the time of CHRIST's beginning and increaſe to doe his Fathers buſineſſe, till he was Baptized in Iordain of John. Then being in the full Exerciſe of his power after his Baptiſme, hee continueth therein till his Aſcention, 42. Moneths or thereabouts, in all, one and twenty yeares.

And a little before his Suffering Mathew the 21. chap. the 12. verſe, Enters into the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the Money changers, and thoſe that polluted his Fathers houſe, hee drave out; ſaying, that they had made his Fathers houſe a denne of Thieves.

The ſame time ſhall Antichriſt have till he come to the height of his power, that CHRIST had, till he was Baptized; after which time hee ſhall thinke himſelfe lawfully Inſtalled to his Jeſus ſhip to him and his for ever.

And as Chriſt firſt began his moſt Gracious worke in the Temple, and ſo continued till he whipt the Prophainers out as aforeſaid.

So ſhall Antichriſt and his falſe Prophets begin, they worke to doe their Fathers buſineſſe in diſputing againſt the true Doctors, Profeſſors and worſhippers of God in his Churches and Temples, till they drive out of Chriſt's Churches his faithfull Officers and Profeſſors, and make them Stables, Courts of guard, and conſequently a denne of Thieves.

Now it is requiſite (hee being ſo perfectly marked out) that it ſhould be made knowne, what ſhall become of the Man of ſinne, and what ſhall be his judgment.

It is ſaid in Daniel the 7. th and 11. I beheld then becauſe of the voyce of the great words which the Horne ſpake, I beheld even till the Beaſt was ſlaine and his body deſtroyed and given to the burning Flame; And in the 26. th verſe, The judgment ſhall ſit, and they ſhall take away his Dominion to conſume it, and deſtroy it to the end: And in the 19. th of the Revelation the 20. th verſe, John ſaith; That the Beaſt was taken and with him the falſe Prophet that wrought Miracles. with which he deſigned them that had the Marke of the beaſt and worſhipped his Image; theſe both were caſt into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimſton.

But ſeeing in the ſame Chapter, there is mention made of a whoriſh Woman, which I have a little ſpoke of before, J will touch it a little as it lyeth in the way.

In the 3▪ verſe, John was carried into the Wilderneſſe and there hee ſaw the whoriſh Woman riding, in the ſame Place and upon the ſame Beaſt which perſecuted the moſt Glorious woman the Church.

John ſeeth a Cup of abomination in her hand; and in the 5. verſe, We ſaw her Name written in her Forehead, Myſterie Babilon the great, the mother of Harlots the abomination of the Earth.

This Woman was drunke with the blood of the Saints and Martyrs of JESVS which made John wonder.

This Woman ſhall be the Royall City where the Man of Sinne ſhall make his Seat; and in which the Antichriſtian Repreſentative body of the Beaſt, and Head of the beaſt, doth Conſult, and giveth Antichriſt, that is the Horne his power.

In the laſt verſe of that Chapter, it is ſaid; The Woman which thou ſaweſt, is the great City which raigneth over the Kings of the Earth; ſor by their prevalent Power (during their Antichriſtian compliance) both by Sea and Land, they are ſaid to Raigne over the Kings of the earth.

And in the 7. verſe of the 17. th chap. The Angell ſaith, He will tell Iohn the miſtery of the Woman, and the Beaſt that carrieth her.

And in the 8. verſe, hee ſaith, The Beaſt on which the Woman ſate was and is n c, and ſhall deſcend into the Bottomleſſe pit and goe into Perdition, and they that dwell on the Earth ſhall wonder, whoſe lives are not written in the Booke of Life from the foundation of the World: When they behold the Beaſt that was and Is not▪ and yet is.

This Beaſt ſhall be Preſviter John, and the firſt great Aſſembly of Republiques that aydes him; (which was)—

That is, hee ſhall be in great Power when the Man of ſinne appeares with his Toleration. Hee ſhall loſe his Power and Dominion when the Man of ſinne is apparently come; (and therefore it is ſaid, He was and Is not. (And it is ſaid, hee yet is:) Seeing he ſhall give himſelfe and his Power to uphold the Man of Sinne, after which he ſhall recover his Power and being, and therefore is ſaid (he yet Is.)

And then it ſhall be accounted a wonder of all, whoſe Names are not written in the Booke of Life from the foundation of the World; when they behold the Beaſt that Was and Is not, and yet Is.

In the 10. th verſe, he ſaith; There are 7. Kings whereof five are fallen, one Is and another is Not yet come, and when hee commeth he ſhall Continue a ſhort ſpace.

That is, five of thoſe Kings ſhall ſubmit themſelves to certaine Conditions, and to the Iuriſdiction of the Man of Sin▪ and City where the Man of ſinne ſitteth, intimated by the word fallen.

It is ſaid one is, that is himſelfe and his City, as it is ſaid, by the old Babell he onely Is and No other.

And it is ſaid another is Not yet come, hee ſtands out a little longer then the Reſt, and it is ſaid, When hee commeth he ſhall continue a ſhort ſpace.

This great City and her Antichriſt, is ſaid to ſit on ſeven Heads, which is ſeven Mountaines, that is 7. diſtinct Dominions, verſe 9. One which hee ſhall particulerly Command and makes his Seat, and Six which he ſhall bring under Conditions.

So this is No more in effect then hath been ſaid before, only confirmed by more Teſtimonies.

And in the 11. th verſe it is ſaid, The Beaſt that was and is not, is the 8. th, and yet of the Seven, and ſhall goe into Perdition.

This Beaſt that was and Is not, is the ſame was ſpoke of before, but here is ſaid to be the 8. and is of the 7. th in the 11. verſe.

It is certaine hee is of the Seven; but how he is ſaid to be the Eight J conceive it thus:—

That when he is come neare the time of his Deſtruction, and to the end of his accompt for his Antichriſtian Dominion; The right Heire ſhall appeare to come into his Kingdome, and ſhall come with the aid of the other Six (which formerly Antichriſt had brought to his Conditions) thoſe Six with his owne Nobility makes up 7. Heads; Then Antichriſt and his Nobility makes up the 8. Head: And in the 16. th verſe it is ſaid, Theſe ſhall hate the whore and burne her with Fire.

And verſe 17. th it is ſaid, God hath put it into their hearts to fulfill his Will and agree together: And give their Kingdomes to the Beaſt untill the Word of God be fulfilled.

Then commeth thoſe Kings to act right things, when they promiſe and give Ayd to the lawfull Heire, which before they could not, during the height of Antichriſt's reigne.

Now J have ſhown unto you the Deſtruction of the Man of Sin, his Prophet and their Whoriſh brood.

Now it ſhall be apparant that GOD ſhall take away Antichriſt's Dominion by Daniell, the 7. th and 19. verſe; And in the 13. and 14. verſes, He giveth it to his Son: it is ſaid, there was given unto Him Dominion, Glory, and a Kingdome, that all People and Nations ſhould ſerve Him: His Dominion is an everlaſting Dominion which ſhall not paſſe away and his Kingdome, that which ſhall not be deſtroyed.

Then Chriſt when the Kingdome is given to him, he giveth it to his Saints to be poſſeſſed by them▪ as it was before when Antichriſt and his Adherents began their Warres againſt them.

That you may read in the 22 verſe: The Ancient of Dayes came, Judgement was given to the Saints of the Most High: And the Time came that the Saints poſſeſſed the Kingdome.

And in the 27. verſe, and the Kingdome, and the Dominion, and the Greatneſſe of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven ſhall be given to the People of the Saints of the Moſt High whoſe Kingdom is an everlaſting Kingdome: And all Dominions ſhall ſerve and obey Him.

Then ſhall the Dayes come, ſpoken of by Zachary the Prophet 14. th and the 9. verſe: And the Lord ſhall be King over all the Earth, in that Dayſhall there be one Lord and his Name one.

Now it is requiſite to ſhow unto you the Joy that the Saints ſhall have for Antichriſt's Deſtruction and for the Deſtruction of his Whoriſh brood: Seeing GOD workes ſo great an Alteration, Revelations the 14. th and the firſt (there he ſaith) he ſaw a Lamb ſtanding on Mount Sion having with him 144000. Having their Father's Name written in their Foreheads

And in the 2. verſe he ſaith: He heard out of Heaven the voyce of Thunder, the Voyce of Waters, Harpes harping, and in the 3. verſe: They ſung a new Song before the Throne, the bookes of the Apoſtles and Prophets, the foure Beaſts, and Elders which were redeemed from the Earth.

And in the 6. verſe, the Meſſengers of God goeth forth with freedome to preach the everlaſting Goſpell, to them that dwell on the Earth, to People, Tongues, and Nations.

And in the 15. the 3. verſe: That thoſe that got Victory over the Beaſt, over his Image▪ and over his Marke and the number of his Name Sing the Song of Moſes the Servant of the Lord▪ and the Song of the Lamb? Great and Marvellous are thy Workes▪ Lord GOD Almighty: Iust and true are thy Workes, Thou King of Saints!

And in the 4. verſe, Who ſhall not feare thee, O Lord, and glorifie thy Name, for thou only art Holy? For all Nations ſhall come and worſhip before thee; For thy Judgement is made manifeſt: And verſe the 5. th, after that Song the Temple of the Teſtimony of the Tabernacle was open.

And in the 19. c • p. He heard a Multitude of People which ſong Haleluja, Salvation, Glory, and Honour, and Power unto thë Lord GOD. read Revelations the whole Chapter.

I have ſhowne unto you the great joy that ſhall be upon the ſuppreſſing of Antichriſt.

I ſhall alſo ſhow unto you a little, the ſorrow of thoſe that favour Him, and ſuch as hath his Name, his Marke, or the Number of his Name.

All thoſe that have committed Fornication with Her ſhall bewaile Her, and lament for Her, and cry and caſt duſt on your Heads: the 18. cap. 9. verſe, 11. verſe, 18 verſe.

Now I have ſhown in briefe the great Myſterie of Antichriſt, and his Fore-runner, his great Prophet, their Riſing and Power, what they ſhall doe and how long he ſhall continue, I have alſo ſhowne unto you their Subverſion and Overthrow.

And I have ſhown un • o you the Ioy that ſhall enſue to the People of GOD: And the ſorrow of thoſe that adhere unto the Man of Sinne, and his Idolatrous brood.

And I have ſhowne unto you the moſt Glorious Preaching of the Goſpell that ſhall be after their Subverſion: So that one Title of Gods Word ſhall not faile of what is inſerted in the Booke of God.

That which I have written is in briefe, for if I had the Tongue of Men and Angels, and were the beſt Scribe in the World, it were impoſſible for me either to ſpeake or write, or you to heare or read the moſt unnaturall bloody and damnable acts of the Beaſt, his Prophet and their Lives, even their very Clawes and Nailes on their feet being of Braſle: to Plunder and Scrape the very Fleſh of the bones of Gods people, Daniel the 7. th chap. and 19. verſe.

But when men ſeeth theſe things come to paſſe▪ which is Collected out of the word of GOD, let them lift up their hands which hang downe, and their feeble knees, and make ſtreight ſteps upon their feet, as Paul ſaith, Leſt that which is halting be turned out of the way.

It ſhall informe weake Conſciences, and confirme them in the truth.

It ſhall be a Caviat for many to take Salomons counſell, (that is) If thou haſt ſtricken hands and been ſnared with the words of thy mouth make haſt, deliver thy ſelfe.

But more eſpecially to doe as our Lord Saviour CHRIST cōmands (that is) Agree with thy adverſary quickly whileſt hee is in the way with thee, leaſt he deliver thee to the Iudge, and the Iudge deliver thee to the Iaylor.

It ſhall be a meanes to Convert the Jewes, when they ſee Antichriſt play his Pagents on the earth, and God fulfill his judgment upon him, Being ſo perfectly Marked out by his Prophets and Apoſtles, and foretold ſo many hundred of yeares before he come.

It ſhall alſo Reconcile the great differences amongſt the Chriſtians: But eſpecially betwixt the Papiſts and Proteſtants, which hath ſo long time contended about this thing unto Blood.

It ſhall Increaſe the torments and anguiſh of thoſe, that are ſtill obſtinate Enemies of GOD and doth not Repent.

And finally, It ſhall cauſe all both great and ſmall, things in Heaven and things on Earth, and under the Earth, to bow the Knee at the Name of JESƲS, even ſo AMEN.

This ſad Tragedy being paſt and gone, the Saints ſhall live at peace and eaſe at home: Till Gog ſhall make them to be ſore diſmay'd, his wicked Pagents then that he hath play'd. But Conſolation great to th' Saints will come, after he hath had his dreadfull Doome: For finall Sentence ſhall not long be driven, till th' Saints ſhall all for ever be in Heaven.

J will further adde this:

That the falſe Prophet when he ſhall firſt appeare ſhall be by Profeſſion in his Religion, a falſe Dependant, (Puritanicall) who by his rigid Curioſitie and Scrupulous non-Conformity: Shall make way for a Toleration of Antichriſtian Independancy.

Further you may obſerve in 1639: That from their Covenanting and firſt Entrance into the Field in open force and publique Hoſtility againſt their lawfull King and Prieſts (the Lords Deputies) till the time of their Subverſion ſhall be (that is in 1660.) One and twenty yeares: Anſwerable to the time that Chriſt our Lord diſputed in the Temple with the Puritanicall, hypochriticall Phariſees, till he aſcended into Heaven as afore-mentioned.

But more for particuler Diſtinction of Time: As neare as may be (it may be obſerved) that for the firſt Ten yeares and ſix Moneths▪ which is three times 42. Moneths, the Antichriſtian falſe Prophet ſhall moſt popularly carry on his wicked deſignes, deceiving the People by Lies, pretending to be for the King and Prieſts, till they may utterly deſtroy Both: And conſequently Gods holy Worſhip and ſo out them, as Antichriſtian by Lies and Scandals.

But for the later ten yeares and ſix Moneths, the Antichriſt himſelfe by the aſſiſtance of his bloody Crew ſhall advance his Dominion.

For the firſt 42. Moneths of the later Ten yeares and an halfe, the Antichriſt ſhall be made Generall, and give a Toleration to all his Antichriſtian Impes.

And for the ſecond 42. Moneths, Antichriſt ſhall take upon him to be the peoples Saviour and Protector: And his falſe Prophet ſhall comply with him, and be protected by Him.

And for the laſt 42. Moneths, he ſhall actually be confirmed in his Jeſus-ſhip: And his falſe Prophet, with all their deluded Spirits, ſhall give Honour unto him as lawfully inſtalled in his Jeſus-ſhip for ever, both for Him and His.

Yet before the 42. Moneths be expired a great darkneſſe of Confuſion ſhall be in his Kingdome, that they ſhall knaw their Tongues for paine, Revelations the 16. th and 10. verſe.

And alſo before the laſt 42. Moneths be out: The right Heire ſhall come to poſſeſſe his Kingdome, as is afore-mentioned.

This they ſhall ſee: All thoſe that lives in the Dayes of Antichriſt, the 42. Moneths of Antichriſt's Dominion; And his falſe Prophet ſpoken of (by the Ange • l) to John: And the Time, Times, and the dividing of Time ſpoken of (by the Angell) to Daniell: Really fulfilled to the Sight and perfect Knowledge of all the Obſervers thereof: If they will but count.

And if Pharoah's Dreame was doubled twiſe, much more ſhall Antichriſt's 42. Moneths be doubled thrice, for the Ratification thereof before all the World.

But courteous Reader, looke what thou haſt here read is none of Mine, only collected by me out of holy Scripture, (therefore give God the Glory.) But it is ſo briefe, that it is far ſhort of what may be obſerved by the judicious Reader out of holy Writ: Though it be promiſcuouſly laid downe therein, as we may obſerve in all Propheſies: (that Men as naturall may ſee and not perceive, and heare and not underſtand; for if it were by way of Hiſtory then it were no Propheſie) as we may obſerve in the 24. th of Mathew, and ſuch like Propheticall places they be Myſteriouſly laid downe.

But I would have you to obſerve, that every Spirit that pretends to ſtand for Chriſt, and doth oppoſe his Dominion here upon Earth by his Deputies, Kings, and Epiſcopall Prieſts, doth therewith deny the true Doctrine and Diſcipline of Chriſt's Church: The ſame muſt undoubtedly be the Antichriſt.

Antichriſtian Spirits there was from the beginning, by the Enemy of Mankind in oppoſition to the promiſed Seed Chriſt.

But they never prevailed to ſet up a Dominion as aforeſaid, to fill up the whole Latitude of his Deſcription.

Read for your Sat • sfaction the 26. of Numbers, what became of Core and his accomplice • : And read the Epiſtle of Jude his Propheſie of Antichriſt, whereof Cores Rebellion againſt Moſes their King, and Aaron their Prieſt was a Type of Antichriſt's Rebellion under the Goſpell.

Read alſo the 10. th of Leviticus: The Hiſtory of Nadab and Abihu offering ſt • ange Fire to the Lord: A Type of the abominable Worſhip and Sectaries (tollerated by Antichriſt) in the time of the Goſpell.

But though theſe did not prevaile to ſet up a Dominion, yet Antichriſt the Typified ſhall proſper, prevaile and ſet up his Dominion as aforeſaid: And all his evill Spirits ſhall proſper with him, all that ever were or ſhall be, and ſhall doe what is written of Him.

But the antichriſtian Spirits that ſhall aſſay to ſet up a Dominion before the Time of the Antichriſt, the Son of Perdition, cannot.

For Paul ſaith to the Theſſalonians, 2. Epiſtle and 2 Chapter, only he who letteth ſhall let till he be taken out of the Way; and in the 8. verſe, Then ſhall the Wicked be revealed.

And it is to be underſtood, that He who hath let and doth let is the Angell of the Church: And the King Chriſt's Deputy, where this Man of Sinne ſhall ariſe, who is appointed by GOD to protect his Church from ſuch Malignant Spirits, according to his Promiſe made to his People, as to the Patriarchs and to Moſes to aid them: That for their and the Churches ſafety, his Angell ſhould goe before them.

The like aſſiſtance doth attend Chriſtian Kings under the Goſpell, but when Gods Angell is reſtrained from ayding the King in protecting of Chriſt's Church, then ſhall Antichriſt appear and prevaile, The King and Biſhop. and the two great Witneſſes of GOD ſhall be murthered in the Street, and lyeA Biſhop may be Antichriſtian, being againſt Monarchy. ſlaine in that City which is ſpiritually called Sodom and Aegypt, Revel. the 11. chap. and 8, and 9.A Monarch may be Antichriſtian being againſt Epiſcopacy; But he that is the Antichriſt muſt be above and againſt both. verſes.

For be aſſured Chriſtian Reader, he ſhall be againſt Chriſt when he commeth, and againſt Chriſt's annointed Ones: Such as are commiſſionated, conſecrated, and ſet apart for his moſt eſpeciall Service under the Goſpell.

And will preſume to be above Chriſt▪ as he is a Saviour adminiſtring his Power here upon Earth (till his ſecond Comming) by his lawfull JESVSES, his Deputies here: And ſo he will ſet himſelfe in Chriſt's Dominion or above Him.

Abſolutely to take away the Regall and Sacerdotall Officers of CHRIST: And to ſuppreſſe the true Profeſſors.

Till the Antient of Dayes ſit, and Judgment be given to the Saints of the Moſt High as aforeſaid.

All which for the Glory of our God, and of his Son our Lord and Saviour, (in the right underſtanding hereof for our availes) I referre unto God: And for the Performance of his moſt Sacred Word, wee ought not to doubt.

Therefore as I ſaid before, let us all both great and ſmall, bow the Knee at the Name of JESƲS: Even ſo AMEN.

Now I doubt not, but I ſhall have the favorable Conſtruction of all the Sons of the Church of England herein.

But for ſuch as hath not knowne it through want of yeares, and thoſe that through weakneſſe have been ſeduced from it: My Deſire is that they ſhould returne, and profeſſe the Catholick Faith eſtabliſhed in England, and profeſſed in the Dayes of Charles the firſt, the Great Martyr of JESVS.

This ſhall be the Prayers of him, that wiſheth Grace and Peace till the finiſhing of his Dayes.

Your Servant, ABRAHAM NELSON, of Garſdale in Yorkſhire. FINIS.