(&7 SCRIPTURAL ENQUIRY INTO THE Time, Manner, and Confequences OF AntichriJFs Fall. Rev. xviii. 4. Come out of her, my Teo^Ie, that ye be not Partakers of her Sim j and that ye receive not of her ^ic.gues. W EDINBURGH, Printed ty thcm^X Lmnifden and John Rolertfin, and 'fold at their Printing-houfe in the Fija-mar- ket. MDGCXXVIII, sc4---- \L r 9 4 *> c r ) A SCRIPTURAL ENQUIRY INTO THE Time, Manner, and Conferences O F ^AntichrijPs Fall. IT hath been the Fate of Tome particular great Men, who have written upon this Subject, to live to fee the Error of their own Calculations; What hath befallen others, may no doubt be- fall me : The worn 1 , in Juftice, that can be made of it, is, that Hitmanfon eft err are. I only, in the Affair, pretend to rational Conjectures from the facred Scriptures. Whether there be any Solidity in thefe, as the judicious Reader may judge, fo a little Time will determine. 3 Tis fo far from being Prefumption, to make a ftrift Enquiry into rhis, which is fo much for the Glory of God, and the Comfort of his Church ; that it is the unquefhonable _Duty of fuch as are endued with Talents limed to fuch a Purpofe. And this will appear, if we con&der, i. When God, in his Word, had fixed a parti* cular Period for fuch Occurrences as have been much for the Confolation of his Inheritance ; Holy Men have made it their Bufinefs, accurately to enquire into it. When God, by tDaniel, Chap'. ?< had fixed a definite Time for the Incarnation arid Suffer- & ing C % X ing of the MeJJiah, Teter in his i EpifUe, Chap. r. 10, ii. tells us, They fe arched diligently into the "Time ; and as a Confequent of this, about the Time of Chrift's Birth, Luke 2. 38. we find they were looking for Redemption in Jerusalem ; and, when Ghrift was about to make his publick Appearance, Luke 3. 15. theTeople were in Expeclation. 2. God hath, in his Word, fixed a precife definite Time for the Deftru&ion ofRomiJb Antichri ft 3 which is no lefs than Five Times mentioned in the Revela- "' r^W,tho , in divers Expreffions. Twice it isex'prefs'd by 4.1 Months, Rev. 11. 2. Rev. 13. 5. Once by Time, "times , and Half a time, Rev. 12. 14. and Twice by n6o2)ays, Rev. 11. 3. Rev. 12. 6. All which plainly evinceth, that upon the Expiring of thefe 1 2 do Prophetical Days, or Years, the Church Jhall be delivered, and Antichrifi put from his Throne ; for all thefe different Denominations a- mount to the fame individual Length of Time- Since God hath been pleafed to exprefs it fo fre- quently, in the facred Records; we may rationally conclude, not only the Certainty of the Affair, but that it is our Duty diligently to enquire into it. That there be Difficulties in it, is beyond all Con- tradiction ; and certainly, for holy and wife Purpo- fes, God hath ordered it to be fo : Yet we are not to imagine, that thefe Difficulties are abfolutely un- furmountable ; for, no doubt, after Antichrifi** O- verthrow, the Affair will be fo plain to fucceeding Ages, that they'll probably wonder how we came to be fo much in the Dark about it. The Difficulty of determining in this Point, as well as in fome others, which depend upon an exaft Knowledge of Syncbro- nifm, arifes, # 1/?, From the Difference that is betwixt Hifiorians an fixing the Times of Matters of Faft ; fome afcri- fcing them to one Year, fome to another, and that in , ) . *>*> in the moft momentuous Matter of Fact, viz. Con- cerning the Time of our Lord's Birth. As for Ex- ample, SenediBus Amis fays, He was born A. M 3849 %) avid ^areus - - 3928 Jerom - 3941 Alftedins and Calvijius - - 3947 Scaliger and Hear?i - - 395° Cornelius a Lafide - - 3951 .2?^ - - - 3952. Scultetus and Luther - - 3960 MelanBon - - - 39<*3 Sullinger - - - 3969 'Petavius - ~A - - 3984. Capellus and ZT/Jbfr - - 4000 Laurence Codomamis - - 4142. ' Atrgufiine - *- - - 5355 Clemens Alexandrimis - - 5524 Laftantius - - - 58or If the Learned differ fo much as to the Time of our Lord's Nativity, no wonder they difagree in fixing Matters of Fact concerning Antichrift. Hence Authors, who determine of Events depending upon Matters of Fad, muft differ, conform to the Authors they follow. idly, The grand Difficulty in this Affair, arifeth from the Uncertainty we are at, from whence we ought to date the Beginning of thofe 126c Years. Tho' God, for our Trial and Exercife, hath left: us at fome Uncertainty in this, he hath not dealt with us otherwile than he was pleafed to do with his People in antient Times. I find this fometimes hath been the Method the infinitely wife God hath taken with his Church ; even when he had fixed a definite Time for his Church's Relief, he frill left her at fome Uncertainty, from what Date that definite Time was to be reckoned: Of which we have fome A a very' very remarkable Inftances in Scripture, particularly thefe following; The Firjiis, with Refpect to the Deliverance of the Children of Ifraelhom Egyptian Bondage, Gen. 35. 13. God f aid to Abraham, M&$'m, Optatus, md fome others, " * I ( 6 ) r fay, the Prevailing of thefe Hcrefles, paved much the Way for AntichrifVs mounting the Throne, ■who was ftill nfhing in troubled Waters ; for Rome, by its Authority, and outward Greatnefs at this Time, had too much Influence in thefe Debates, as an Umpire amongft Diflenters. Thus, iometimes we find, the orthodox Party, when in Diftrefs, ad- dreffed to Rome ; fo did Athanafim. And frequent- ly it was the Practice of Hereticks, when condem- ned ; So did Eutychei, Donatio, and feveral others : In which Appeals they wera much encouraged by the Roman Bifhops. When Apiarim. Bifhop of Sic A, had been jult- ly ceniured by a Council at Qarthage, and had appealed to the Bifhop of Rome ; not only did Zoji- mus, Anno 41 7, but his two Succeffors, Boniface and Cekftine, fo far countenance the Appeal, as not only to admit him to their Communion ; but fent Fauftim/s, and other EmbafTadors, to the 6th. Coun- cil of Carthage, to order them to repeal the Sen- tence ; which with Courage indeed they refufed to do. Yea, not only did particular Perfons appeal to Rome ; but fome Synods and Councils enacted, that it was juft, in Cafe of Oppreflion, to do fo. Parti- cularly the Council of Sardica, Anno 347, the De- ign of which Act, as propofed. by Wjfms, was to protect fome good Mea from the unjuit Oppreflion of Arian Bifhops ; for Arianifm, at that Time, greatly prevailed in the Eaft. Having thus glanced a little at 'what paved the Way for AntichrifVs Government ; I come now to enquire into the Commencement of the 1^.60 pro- phetical Days, or Years ; which is what only can determine us, as to the precife Time of his Ruihe, I mean, as to the Time of h ; s Expulfion from Rome ; for as to his final Destruction, by the Battle at Armageddon, I know nothing in Scripture to'guide out ' 7 ^ pur Steps in our Enquiry after the Time of it, un- lefs it be pointed at by ^Daniel, Chap. 12. where it is obfervable, that after ^Daniel was informed that the holy People fhould be fcattered, for the Space of a Time, "Times, and Half a Time, v. 7. which i§ the Time of the Church's Sufferings under Antichrist, and the Time of his Reign ; There is a condefcen- ding upon Two Periods, of a longer Continuance; the firit is, 2) an. 12. 11. From the Time, that the Abomination that maketh defelate is fet up, jball be 1290 2)ays ; which if we take for fo many Years, it contains 30 more than is allowed for the Time of Antichriit's Tyranny ; which feems to point at fome remarkable Event, that fhall happen 30 Years after the Pope's Expulfion from Rome, which, in all Probability, will be the Battle at Armageddon ; for we may in Reafon believe, that, as foon as poflible, 1 Antichrift will ufe his utmoff, Efforts, to gather his united Forces, to regain his Dominion. As to the other Period of Time, mentioned a 12. I fhall not venture to give my private Opinion concerning it. As to the Time of AntichriiVs Rife, I conceive the Apoftle plainly determines it, in his 2 Epiflle to the Thef. Chap. ii. 6, 7,8. Now ye know, what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his Time : ■For the My fiery of Iniquity doth already work ; \only he who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the Way ; and then fa all that wicked One be re- \veakd. That this isfpokenof Antichrifi, is owned .upon all Hands; from which 'tis plain, 1. That the Myltery of Iniquity, or the Spirit of Antichrift, was working in -the Days of the Apoftle ; Yet we have no Ground to think, that he iixe:h u- pon that Time as the Commencement of his Go- vernment; Bat I conceive, 'tis not out of the W ay, * to obferve; that if we reckon from the 43d Year of Chrift, about which Time, the- Apoftle faid, the Spirit f 8 )■• Spirit of Antichrift was working ; and add to it 1260, it brings us to to the Year of Chrift 1303 ; at ■which Time no fmall Difturbance was given to Ro- man Antichrift, by the faithful and zealous #Vppea- cance of Walter Lollard and his Followers, who after him were called Lollards-. He with many of his Fol- lowers were burnt in Aaftria, Anno 1 3 1 5. 2. 'Tis obvious, that the Apoftle'fTxeth the Rife of the Bead's Government, at tfae taking of the Re- man Emperors out of the Way : He who now letteth, will let, until he be taken out of the Way, and then pall that wicked One he revealed ; whenever the Ro- man Emperors fhall be taken out of the Way, then fhall that wicked Antichrift appear. I think nothing can be more plainly exprefFed, to determine the pre- cife Time of the Beginning of his Government. Now, there was a twofold Removing of the Ro- man Emperors ; and our Bufinefs muft be, to fearch, which of tho r e the'Apoftle had his Eye to. The nrft Remove of the Roman Emperors, was by Conflantine the Great, when he built Conftamti- nople, and made it the' Seat of the Empire, Anno 312. For Saronins faiths That then, he gave the Im- perial Palace at Rome, to the Bifhop thereof; which certainly he would not do till his Removal. Now, if we.add 1260 to 312, it brings us to the Year o( Chrift 157c; at which Time the Papal Throne was much fhaken by the Advancement of Reformation • Tor then Zurich, "Bern, £aftl, and Schaffhavzen, thofe Swift Cantons, had received the Reformation : The Pope's Authority was rejected by Scotland, England and Sweden, and the States of Holland. A vaft Number of Proteilants were then in France, all which fo exafperated the Romijh Clef-* gv, that by their Influence, in that very Year, no lefs than 30CC0 Proteftants, in fome few E>ays, were maflacred in that Kingdom. Which ihaws,that at that Time ( 9 ) Time a vaft Number had received the reformed Re- ligion. But that Removal of the Roman Emperors, Cannot be it which the Apofl'e had in his View/as the Timtfof Antichrifl's mounting his Throne; other- wife he had been, before now, absolutely deprived of his Dominion. We find only one either remarkable Time in Hi- ftory, in which it migi^t be faid that the Roman Em- perors were taken out of the Way ; which indeed was effectually done, when the Empire ended ia Glicerius, Anno 474 ; for Augvflnlus did Reign but fome few Months after him : Then came in the ■Zo?/ihards> under Odoacer King of the HerulL and took PoiTeflion of. Italy ; whofe Pofterity, with fome of the Kings of Lombard?, kept PoifefHon of it., till the Year 775; at which Time they were expelled by Charles the Great, King of France, who, Anno 798, was made Emperor of Germany* This then feems to be the only Time the Apoitle had in his View, as theDate of Antichrilt's Rife; and if fo, the Reign of the Beaft being added to it, his ExpuiHon from Rome, muft be Anno 1794. For my Part, I know no other Part of Scripture, but this, that can direct us as to the precife Time of his Rife. If he did not mount the Throne that- very Year, probably he would do it within fome few Years after; for Thrones ufe not to be long Vacant; Confequently, {{Rome be not Deftroyed Anno 1 7 in all Probability we may expect it, within fome very few Years after. I find another deflnte Time expreft in Scripture, for the Purification of the Sanct Mary, which brin^\ us. to the fame Year ; 'tis Daniel 8. 13, 14: HowJ&tg foallbe the Vifwn concerning t£e daily Sacrifice^ -he T'ra&fgrefjiou . of Deflation, • to give tor:. Sanclnary and tjbe t 2To(r to he\ trbXen ' midef Ahi hsfaid hmo ?#e\ fJnto.^Qo 2)ays$ t$enpc$ ( io ) the Sancftiary be cleanfed. In the preceeding Part of the Chap, from tf. 9. JJntkchus JBpifhanes was reprefented by the link Horn; and the Mifc.hief he fhould do to the Church oi the Jeix*s 3 was plainly declared. Yet I think the Queftion,. v. if. and the Anfwer, v. 14. hath no Refpect to Antiochns at all: For, 1. The Time ofAntiochtis's Tyranny, was expref- ly declared. Chap. 7. 25. that it was to continue/or a time, 'times, and the Dividing of time, which is three Years and a Half ; confeouently, there was no Occafion for enquiring into it again, upon the mentioning ofAntiochus. 2. The definite Time mentioned, fDan. 7. is far from agreeing with the Time condescended upon, fDan. 8. There Antiochus's Tyranny was to con- tinue but a Time, Times, and Half a Time, i. e> 1260 natural Days; or 3 Years and a Half: Whereas., ?Dan. 8. before the Sanduary was to be cleanfed, 2300 Days were to pafs, which amounts to Six Yeai 3 'Months and 18 Days, which is almoft double th< Time of the Jews Oppreflion by Antiochns ; ♦rather then choofe^to be of Opinion (for I think it is mod probable) that thefe Angels - f there called Saints) who had been im ployed by God, to reveal thofe Things unto 7)aniel, knowing by Divine Re- velation, that Antischvs Epiphanes was an eminent Type of Antichrifl, and being informed how long he was to opprefs the yews, had a ftrong Inclinati- on to know, how long it w^ould be till the Church fhould be delivered from the Tyranny of the Anti- type: And, upon this, they propofed to Chrift. the CJueftion ; . for that it was Chrift the QuefHon was propofed to, appears from the Name given him in the Hebrew, PALMONI ; which fignifles, the Num- ber er of Secrets, o'r, the wonderful N?i#$erer : Upon which, PALMQNI, for their Satisfaction, and 2)aniel's tDanieFs Information, tells them, v. 14. that it fhall be 2300 Days, viz. Prophetical Days, or Years, and then the Sanctuary fhall be cleanfed. Now, this Viiion, as we fee from Chap. 8. 1. was in the 3d Year of the Reign of Belfiazzar, which, according to fome Cbronologers, was Anno Mundi 3433 ; to which if we add the 2300 prophe- tical Days or Years, it brings us to 5733, which is the Year of Chrift 1733, Tuppofing Chrift to be born, according to. Capellus and Ufoer, Anno 4000. Thefe 2300 muft pafs; and the next, being 1734, feems to be the Time for the Purification of the Sanctuary., by Antichrift/s Ruine.^ Bur, to conclude this Arlair, tis the Opinion of a great many, that Antichrift fhall fall, as he rofe, viz. by Degrees ; and I think we have Reafon to judge to : For every intelligent Reader may obierve, that in the Order of the Pouring forth of the Vials, there is a fpecial Likenefs and Reference to that iame Method and Order which was followed in the Trum- pets, Rev. 8. Whether there fhall be an exact Pro- portion of Time, betv\ ixt his Riling and Falling, I fhall be far fronv determining: Only I obferve, that betwixt 474, when the Roman Emperors were taken out of the Way ; and 666, which is the Name and Number of the Bead ; in which Year 'Pope > Vitelline ordered the Service of the Church to be performed inthe'Zatine Tongue ; I fay, the Diftance of Time betwixt thefe is 192. Now, Tope Taul III. found the Roman Hierarchy in fuch a tottering Condition, that he gave Orders for the Meeting of a General Council, which met at "Trent Anno 1 540, to which if we add 192, it brings us to 1 7 3 2, which is but Two Years fhort of the former Calculation. - If the Beginning of AntichriiVs Government take not its Pate from 474, as the Scripture feems plainly to inilnuate; I know not what Time we. can fix* B 1 uppn \upon for the Rife of it, uniefs we bring it up to 606 i iox then the Emperor 'Phccas, who had murdered the Emperor Mauritius, and all his Children ; that he might ingratiate himfelf into the Favour of his Sub- jects in the Weft, by Means of the Bifhop of Rome ; palfed an Edict, declaring Rome to be the fupy earn See > and the Biihop thereof Univerfal Sifiop : Which Boniface III. accepted of, and got the lame ratified by a Later an Cmncil of 72 Biihops. Betwixt the Year 474, and 6q6, I know nothing remarkable befel t&e Reman Bifhops. If this fhould be the Time from whence we fhould date the Beginning of Artti- chrilVs Kingdom, he would not fall till \%66. But we can fcarce imagine that fo long a Time as 1 3 2 Years would interveen betwixt the Removing of the Roman 'Emperors, and AntichrilVs Government ; efpecially conlidering the Apoflle had (aid, That the My fiery ©f Iniquity was working in his Day ; That nothing then hundred his Appearing, but the Roman- Em- perors ; That whenever they were taken out of the Way, the wicked One fhould be revealed, 2 T'bef. H. 6, 7, 8. Before I ccme to enquire into the Way and Manner of his Deftru&ion, I mud, acquaint you, that we have all Reafon to believe, tha,t, before that Time," 1. God will fend a Reviving to his Churches; that Practical Religion, which at prefentis at lo low an Ebb, will recover its Strength • and that God will put an uncommon Edge upon the Zeal of Pro- teftant Powers, When God hath great Things to do in the World by I-nflru.ments, he puts Life and Spirit in them, for the Management of the Work he calls them to. When God, by the Reformation, : was about to break fomething of the Dominion of li.o?nan Antichrift • 'tis well known, what flaming Zeal polled the generous Souls of thoie who then dif- difcoyered the vile Abominations of the Whore of Rente 3 and were the Blefled Inftruments to advance the glorious Work God had put in their Hands. If fuch fplen did Zeal wa5 to be found with thofe who only were to wound the Beaft, we may in Reafort I hope fuppofe, tiikt as much will be found with fuch as fhall be the happy Inftruments to put him from his Seat. . 2. God will certainly take his own Method, to cauie fome of his own Children locally to remove from Popifh Countries, that they may not fuffer by thefe ftupendious Judgments which then fhall fall upon PopiCi Countries. Rev- 18. 4- Come out of her, my People, that ye be not 'Tar takers of her Sins ? and that ye receive not of her Plagues. 'Tis true, 'tis an Exhortation ; but as true it is, that God will have Obedience given to it. The Exhortation, im- ports, that there muft not only be a real and total Separation from her, as to Communion ; but a local Removal from the Place : As is plain from the feconi Reafon given for it, vzz. % That ye receive not of her Plagues. Wherefore, as God preffeth a local S*- etffiou, with a Certification of the utmoft Hazard ; we have no Doubt, but fome will take Warning, and that God will prevail with fome to ccme out of the Place, as he did with Lot from Sodom. Vfis obfervable, the Exhortation is given immediatly be- fore Babylon's Ruine ; which mews us, the nearer the Ruine be, the more dangerous it is to be within his Dominions ; As to the Manner of his Ruine, I mean his Expul- fion from Rome. lft, This is not to be effectuate bv the Preaching of theGofpei: The Apoftle indeed flys, z Thef z. 8. "The Lord foall consume him, with the Spirit of his Moicb, and dejlroy him with the Brightnefi of his Com* ( 14 ) Coming; where the Apoftle fhews a double Method God will take, in bringing down of AntichriftVs Kingdom. ' i He is to be Confumed, Walled, and his Power and Authority much broken, by the Spirit of his tutb, i. e. by the powerful Preaching of the Gok This., God hath already done ; for, by Means thereof, feverai Kingdoms have thrown off his Au- thority already ; and, ever fince the Reformation, God hath been giving his Subjeds Space to repent: But, as 'tis faid, Rev. \6. 9. They resetted not, to 'give him Glcry. Therefore, 2. lie is to be X' eft r eyed with the Srightnefs of his Coming. By the Tirightnsfs of his Coming, can- not be underftood, his bright Appearing as a Judge, at the Confummation of ail Things; for the Beaft is abiolutely to be Deftroyed, at the Battel of Arma- feddon : And at the Appearing of Gog and Magog, ie is found in the Lake of Fire and Brimflone ; fo that, by the Brightnefs of his Coming, mull: be un- derftood his fplendid Apeafing to execute his Judg- ments upon the Seat of the Bead:. zdly, This , Deltrucnon is to be brought upon the Seat of the Beaft, by fuch Church-members, as feave thrown off his Authority ; therefore we find, Rev. 14. 17. The Angel, who was to thrufi in his Sickle , to gather thefe Clufters, and to cafi them int9 the great Wine-prefs of the Wrath of God, is^ (aid to come oiit of the Temple ; to (hew, that thofe In- ftruments fhall be Church-members : And, Rev, 17. 1$. Thefe very Horns , or Kingdoms, which once gave their Tower unto the Beaft, fa all now make her defolate, eat her Flefi, and hum her with Fire. What Method God will take to ftir up Proteftant Princes to this, we leave to abfolute Sovereignty, whether it fhalj be done by the powerful Preaching of the Gofpel, pointing out tfiis to them as their in- 1 indifpenfible Duty ; whether God fhall awaken their Zeal, by fharp and furprifing Trials ; or whether- Affronts put on them, or Defolation threatned by 'JPopiJb Powers, fhall make them fetr.bout this Work; whether any or all of thefe, fhall concur, we fhall not determine. Yet, fure we are, however backward now they be, God will put it in their Hearts to hate the Whore, and to make her defolate : In doing of which, God will not furfer them to want a due Reward. If God gave Nebuchadnezzer the Land of Egypt, as his Wage, for deftroying Tyrns built upon an Iile in the Sea, Ezek. 29. 18, 19. we may afTure.our (elves. He will fufficiently reward thofe happy Inftruments, who fhall be active in deftroying the Whore, who fits upon many Waters. $djy, As God fhall undoubtedly raife up Inftru- rrents for this End, fo will he remarkably counte- nance them in it : His Divine Power fhall be fo confpicuous in giving them fuch amazing Succefs, that tho* Men and Angels be imployed, God's Hand fhall be moft obferved ; therefore,- 2 Thef 2. 8. The Lord fi all deftroy him. Rev. 17. 14. The Lamb Jhall overcome them. Rev. 18. 20. Rejoice over her, for God harh avenged you on her. Rev. xix. 13, 14, 15. The Word of God, He 'who treads the Wine-prefs of the Fiercenefs and Wrath of Al- mighty Gcd 3 gees before them ; and the Armies are faid to follow him on Hofc-back, as if they had nothing to do, but only to puffue the Victory. 4thly, Their Spirits fhall he filled with the ut- molt holy Detefcation agaiuft Rome, and her idola- trous Practice. R*v. 17. 16. They'd hate the Whore y and make her defolate ; they Jhatl eat her Flefi, and bum her with Fire : The leaft Degree of Pity fhall not be exercifed toward her. Rev. 18. 6. Reward her> even as fie rewarded you ; and double nnto her ( 1* ) tier double, according to her Works ; in the Cup, 'which foe hath filled, fill to her double. We are riot to fuppofe, that God, by thefe Expreffions, patroriizeth Cruelty, or .that thefe Inftruments fhall take any Pleafure in it ; the Intendment of them be- ing to fhew, that however terrible the Judgments be, which fhe fhall be vifited with, they fhall be far from being above her Deferving ; and that they lhall be more than ever fhe was able to'- efre&uate u- pon the Saints. As to the Inflruments > whatever Cruelty they fhall exercife, I doubt not but: the vvo- ful Obftinacy of the Roman Party will absolutely oblige them to it. phly, An immenfe Quantity of the Blood of To- fifo .Subjects, at this Time, fhall be filed, Rev. 18. 6. ^Double unto her double , 'according to her Woris ; in the Cup fhe hath filled, fill to her double. c J?e- ronius fays, A Million of Proteflants have been flain even in France. What Devastations were made, under the Lord of Trinity, upon the poor People of 'Piedmont, Calabria, Angrongue, and other traces ; The Deftruction of Mcrindoll, by the Arch- Bifhop of Aix; and the barbarous Cruelties, in Hol- land, Germany, and other Places, are fufrjciently known to fuch, as are acquainted with the Sufferings of the Church of Chrift. But now, when God comes to enquire after Blood, he will render unto her double ; they have fhec! the Blood of the Saints, and God will give them Blood to drink, and that in an aftonifhing Quantity, Rev. 14. 20. And the Wine- frefs was troden without the City, and Blood came out of the W'me-prefs, even unto )he Horfe-Sr idles, by the Space of iCco. Furlongs. Reckoning eight Furlongs to a Mi:e, the Blood is reprefented as run- ning, and that deep, even to 200 Miles. Yet 'tis obfervable, in all the Account' of Rome's Overthrow, there is not one Word ipoken of the Stat-' ( it ) Sheddine oCthe Blood of thefe Inftrumentsywniefr God (hall make Ufe of: Not that we are to fuppole,- that none of thern fhall be (lain ; but probably^ God will fo cover their Heads in the Day of Battle^ that it fhall be but a very fmall and inconfiderable Number of them, that fhall fall. ftfoly, Rome's Deftruction fhall not take up much Time ; tRerefore 'tis faid, Rev. 18. 10. For in one Flour is thy Judgment come. v. 17. for in one Hour jo great Riches is come to nought, v. 19. hi me Jticur fee is made dejofote. If this Hour beafcaf proportion to a Prophetical Day, or Year, its De- flruction would be accomplifhed within the Space of Fifceen Days and Five Hours ; however^ I think theExpreflion points out the Suddennnefs of it* -\thly } She fhall not, in that Day, be able to make Refiftence to any Purpofe, having too flrcng a Party to deal with, Rev. 18.8. therefore ft all her Plagues, come in one fDay, 2)eath, and Mourning, and Fa- mine y and fee ftall be utterly burnt with Fire ; for firong is the Lord God who judgeth her.- What can an Arm of Flefh do, when omnipotent juftice acts againft it ? She'll no more be able to refift the avenging Strokes of Juflice, than the li- quid Billows of the Sea would be able to refill: the .Force of a heavy Mijftohe, when thrown into it, Thus the Irrefiftablenefs of this Overthrow is held. iorth, Rev. 18, 21. A mighty Angel took tip a Stone 9 like a great Milpne, and caft it into the Sea, fay- ingjThus with Violence fhall that great City Baby- lon be thrown down. %thly. Neither herfecret nor open Welwifhtrs fhall in that Day be able to give her Relief, or the leaft Ground of Confolation ; *nd therefore, {landing a-* far off, for Fear of her Torment, they fhall onl} fee- wail her, and lament for her, faying,, Aids? Al*s 9 that great City Bajbylon, Rev. x\iii.^, 10. $tbtyj Her Destruction will be molt lxxpt&n%, Q 1, Upon C 18 J 1. Upon the Account of the Unexpe&ednefs there- of " She was mod arrogantly Toothing ker felf, with the Hopes of uninterrupted' Felicity, Rev. 18. 7. 1 fit a ^tieen, and am no IVtdo-w, a?id Jball fee no -Sorrow, But all on a Sudden (he's brought to Defo- lation, Rev. 18. 17. In one Hour fo great Riches is come to nought.- 2. Upon the Account of the Manner, and Ter- riblenefs of her Deftruction. There will no Doubt be founds in her Overthrow, a Concatination and Chain of molt lamentable Miferies. Blood probably in greater Quantity than ever was at once fried. Rev. 14. 20. Famine mid Fire, Rev. 18.8. Whether this Fire (hall be 'kindled in an ordinary Way ; whe- ther it fhal) be by Fire from Heaven, as Sodom was overthrown ; or by the Eruption of fome terrible Vulcano, we fhaji not determine : And all this fhall probably be attended with a fearful Earthquake, Rev. 16. 18. God hath not been wanting, before now, . to (hake, in a terrible Manner, fome Places under Rome's Jurisdiction, 'Anno 1688, June 5th anjl tfth, there was fuch a dreadful Earthquake in the City of Naples, as overturned Abundance of Churches, and religious Houfes ; it deftroyed the third Part of the City ; The Earth opened in feveral Places, and vomited out Smoke and Flames, Wk&Vefuvius. Ja- nuary 3d 1703, an Earthquake in the Ecclefiaftical State, deftroyed the Towns of Norcia, Cafjia, Ci- yita Vecchia, and ether 'Places ; no lels than 1 5000 pcrfons were deltroyed thereby. Such dreadful Earth- quakes have ordinarily been looked upon, as Pre- fages of fome remarkable Change. Such a Mul- titude of Judgments concurring, muft needs befur- priling. tcthly, I have ho Dfcubt, but, with Antichrift, . God will bring down the whole Roman Hierarchy : beyond aM Peradventure, God hates the Steps By which he mounted the Throne* J , 7(7 ' I come how to fpeak of the Eftects and Confe- quences of Rome's Deftru&ion. 17?, It feems, after this it fhall never more be in- habited, Rev. 18: 21, 22. The Voice of Harpers and Muficians Jballbe no mort heard at all in thee ; no Crajtfman, no Sound of a Milftone, no Light of a dandle, no Voice of a Bridegroom , Jhall ever any more be found in thee at all. It (hall be fo far from being the Habitation of great Men, with mighty Pomp ; that it (hall be haunted by none but Ghofts, and ravenous Creatures, Rev. 18. 2. It is become the Habitation of fDevi/s, and the Hold of every foul Spirit , and a Cage of every unclean and hate- ful Bird. Thefe Expreffions feem to be borrowed from the TKreatning againft Babylon, Jer. 50. 30. which indeed now is literally accomplished ; for Hi* ftoriansgive us an Account, that Travellers dare not apprpach the Place, for Fear of Serpents and Scorpi- ons. zdly, Antichrift, as his laft Effort, after Rome is destroyed, (hall gather together a vait Multitude, with a Defign to recover his Dominion, and bring them together to the great Battle at Armageddon. ■ Tho', upon the Destruction of Rome> by the Pou- ring out of the fifth Vial upon the Seat of' the Beaft, many of AntichrihVs Favourites flood afar off, for Fear of her. Torment, and durft, not adventure to J give her A fliftance ; yet probably, 'gainft that Time, they may refume fome Courage : But their Number not being confiderable, c!o ; s Application fh^ll be made unto others, and certainly unto the 'Turks as their neareft Neighbours. No hellilh Methoc} fhall be wanting, to engage Men to his Intereft, R"v. xvl 12, 14, 1 5. And I ftrv three uncle in . Spirits, like Frogs, came out of the Mouth of the <£)ragon, and out of the Mouth of .the Beafi, and wt of the Mmtb 0} the^falfe. Vroftet ; for they are C z tfje C M ) the Spirits of tDevih, working Mracks, w&hb go out imto the Kings of the Berth y and of the whole World, to gather them to the "Battel of that great 2) ay of Ged Almighty • qnd he gathered* them together , Unt$ a amafcus y and Anti'och, which Were the places whereby thele Governours were de- defigned. They are faid to be Loofed, becaufe now they were to extend their Dominion. And now, by the Sixth Vial, this great .River is to be dryed up, the Dominion thereof is to be broken. And, as ap- pears, by the Sixth Vial this is to be done by the JBattre at Armageddon. A-thly, The Conversion of the Jews ihalJ follow tipoil Antichrift's being put from his Seat. But whe- ther this fhall be, before or after the Battle at hrma- feddon, (which absolutely deftroys Anticfyrift, and re.aks the power of the y'urhp Empire ) Scripture feem$ not fo clearly & determine. If we take tte (prepth Preparing of the Way ef the Kings, of the Hafl$ Rev. rtf. i z. for the Paving of the Way far their Con-' verflon to the Chriftian Fairh ; then indeed the Battle at Armageddon muft be over. But I rather think that by Paving of their Way., is to be underftobd the removing of whatever Impediments ftand in the Way^l; their being put n Poffeffion of their own Land. That the Tltrkife Empire is a great ImpedK ment to* this, is plain ; for the River Euphram muft be dried up, for the ^Preparing of the Way cf the Kings of the Eaft ; the Dominion of" which Em- pire is to be broken by the Battle at Armageddon, where the Jems probably (hall be a Sifting. For, i. As the y^; ufe to name Phces by Events ; fe the Place, of the Battle in the Hebrew Tongue, is cal* led Armageddon. 2. The Praife is In Hebrew, ALLEL UJA> Rev.icri.'Tis not mentioned in any otherSong in the Revelation : Pointing at the fpecial Ha id, the Jews fnall have in praifing God, for this Victory. We have good Reafbn to fuppofe, that when the Jews fhall difcover the Pope to be Antichrift, when they fhall fee Rome deftroyed according to Prediction, and $he Beaftappling to the T'urhs for Afliiiance ,* that they'll be ready to contribute to their Power, etpeeially confidering that the bringing down of the Tiirkijfy Empire will prepare their Way, for being put in PofTeflion of their antknt Inheritance. That, after the Battle at Armageddon, the Jews fhall be put in Poflefion of their own Land, is molt probable, i. If we confider Scripture-Promifes, relating not only to Judah, but to ifr^jReturning to theji own Land. Exek. %6. 24. And 1 will take you from a- mottg the Heathen, and I will gather you out of all Countries, and I will bring you into your own Land* *$. And yejhall dwell in the Lmi tk*t Igavs unto unto your Fathers, and ye pall be my Teople, and 1 'will be your God. Ezek. 37. %l, 22. Behold, I will take the Children of Ifrael, from among the Heathen, whither they begone ; And Iwill%ather them oh every Side, and 'bring them into theirfywn Zand ; and I will make them one Nation, in ike Land, upon the Mountains of Ifrael ; and one I0ng pall be King to them all; and they pall be yo mo^e two Nations, neither pall they be divided into two Kingdoms any more at all. This Promife certainly never hitherto hath had its Accomplifhent ; for, finee the Days of Solomon, they never were united . into one Kingdom. * That its Accompiifhment is to be under the Golpel, is plain from v. 24... where 'tis [did, And David my Servant pr 11 be King over ■ them* and they pall have one Shepherd. Jer. 3. 18. Ezek. 39. 28. Amosix. 1%, 12, 14, 15. 2. The Providence of God, in preferving them fiill as a diftinc~r. People from all others, gives Ground to expect this ; The yews themfelves are full in Ex- pectation of it : Therefore', tho', generally (peak- ing, they be very rich ; yet 'tis obfervable they have no Inclination to purchafe Lands, left that fhould tend tlM retard them from returning into their own Land, when a proper Occafion fhajl ofter. 3. Conlidering (as hath been already (aid) that the Jews, in all Probability, will have an active Hand at the Battle of Armageddon, by which the Turks will be expelled, and that Land made void ; Can we in Reafori fuppofe, that any, at that Time, will difpute the Right of the Jews ? Efpecially ieeing, that then there ihall be fuch a flaming Zeal for the Propagation of thelntereft of Chrift. 5thly, The Kingdoms of the World pall become the Kingdoms of our Lord and of his Chrift, Rev. j 1. 15. 'Tis true, this is faidto be upon the Sounding if the 7th 'frumpfit, which but brings in Anti- chrift^ chrift's begun Ruin. We find, -that, even then, * upon the Breaking out of the Reformation, federal Kingdoms did become the Kingdoms of our Lord, by withdrawing their former Dependence upon the Ikaft: Such as Scotland, England, ^Denmark, Sweden, and a great Part of Germany, France, Helvetia, 'Poland, and the Low-Countries. If Chtift made fuch a glorious and fudden Conqueft ; ifthefe Nations were then ready to (ay, as, Ifa. z6. 13. O Lord our God, other Lords befides thee hate had Dominion over tis, but by thee only will we make Mention of thy Name ; Have w« not good Rea- fon to believe, that when thefe grand Adverfaries of Chriit, the Tiirk and Antichrift, fhall be deftroyed, at Armageddon ; that then Multitudes of Nations, if not all, fhall become trip Kingdoms of our Lord and of "his Chrift ? And fo we find, Rev. 19. 6. after this Battle, there is the Voice lofagreat Multi- tude, and the Voice of many Waters, faying AL- LELUJA. 6thly, An univerfal Joy fhall fill the Souls of the Saints of God ; and, under great Raptures, Multi- ■ tudes fhall be imployed in finging Alleluja's to the mod: high God. Rev. 19. 1. I heard a great Voice of much (People, faying, ALL EL UJ A ; Salvation, and Glory, and Honour, and 'Power tmto the Lord our God. v. 6. And t heard as it were the Voice of a great Multitude, md as the Voice of many Watery, atid as the Voice of mighty "Thimderings, faying, ALLEL UJ A ; for the Lord God Omnipotent reigneth. v. 7. Let m be glad and rejoice, and give Ho7iour'unto him. This univerfal Joy, in praf^g God, fhall not be in a paf- . ling Fit,- v. & Again, theyfaid, 4LLELUJA, but fhall certainly continue as long as a Senfe of the Obligation continues, which no Doubt fhall be fup- ported with more tfcan ordinary Heavenly Influen- ces 72 £ • ccs ; efpecially confidering that than in an eminent Mannerpt fhall be faid,as v. 6.For the LordGod Om- nipotent reigneth. How long the Church of God {hall continue in this Heaven-like State, we know not; Only, her outward Peace at Length fhall be interrupted,, by the Appearing of Gog and Mcgog, whom our Lord will confume w th 1 ire frbm Jrta- ven. Rev. xx. -},%, 9. And when the thousand Tears Ce expired, Satan fhall be 'kofed out of his Trijcn, id Jball go out to deceive the Isations-, which are in tj?e Jour ghiarters of the Earth , Gog