A BRIEF SURVEY OF THE PROPHETICAL and EVANGELICAL EVENTS OF THE LAST TIMES: wherein that which principally is insisted on, is the Prophetical Little Horn, or Man of Sin, and Evangelical Beast, and his seven Heads and ten horns.  
Showing by the Scriptures what they be, when their Rise, what their Work, how long their Continuance, and their End and ruin.  
Much differing from former and common Interpretations hereupon.  
Wherein also those Prophecies are briefly touched which concern the persecution of the Saints, the falling away of the Churches, the night of darkness, the Virgins going forth to meet the Bridegroom, the Mystical Whore, the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom to all the World, and the gathering of the Jews into their own Land.  
Being a Portion of the pains in searching of the holy Scriptures by several of the Members of the Congregation of Orpington in Kent. And now published for the comfort of all those that have an interest in the Lord Jesus Christ, and walt, look for, and long after his coming, Tit. 2. 11, 12, 13.  
By Capt. JOHN Browne a Member of that CONGREGATION.  
LONDON, Printed by Gartrude Dawson, Anno Dom. 1655   

TO HIS highness OLIVER LORD PROTECTOR Of the commonwealth of ENGLAND, SCOTLAND & IRELAND.  
My LORD,  
THE Actings of the Almighty, in this last Age of the World, are visible to the eyes of all Persons in general in these Nations, (especially to those that Love and Obey him) over whom Providence hath placed you as the chief Magistrate, in whose hands you have been an eminent Instrument, to bring to pass those things which he had determined so to be, and foretold by his Prophets, the Lord Jesus and his Apostles; which having in some measure been discovered to some of His (despised in this world) they durst not hide their talon in a Napkin, but what was freely given in to them, of knowledge & understanding in things yet to be brought to pass, they do as freely communicate to all, there being duties to be performed by all, and especially by those who have power in their hands to make good use of it, and their time, in employing of it so, as that This Gospel of the kingdom may be Preached in all the World, and the Jews brought to their own Land, that so the Coming and Kingdom of the Lord Jesus to reign on the Earth with his Saints may be hastened; who knows but that the time of deliverance to his People is nigh; the Lord grant that there may be no cursed Murmurers, or wicked Transgressors among us, whereby that deliverance should yet be retarded a longer time, as it was with Israel for such Transgressions, who were deprived of the possession of the Land of Promise a long time, and wandered in the Wildernesses forty years.  
My Lord, the work is great that is to be done, and it will be done in a short time, if we put forth ourselves, Conquest and Liberty to preach the Gospel of the kingdom go together; our ears have heard you have some design on the Western parts of the World, where these glad Tidings were never as yet made known; if Your Highness have any desire that the same should be there, or in any other part of the World published, you need not fear the Attempt.  
At your spare time cast your Eye upon what this ushers to your view, and if the Lord have appointed you for the great work that is yet to be done, He will stir up your heart to a speedy acting therein; to whom our Prayers for your direction, and blessing therein, and protection over you (that under your Government we may live a quiet and peaceable life, in all Godliness and Honesty) shall not be wanting, in whom we desire to be found.  
My Lord, Your Highnesses in all faithful Obedience to your Commands, not disagreeing to the Command of our God and our Lord Jesus. Signed in the Name of several Believers in Christ, and especially of many of the Congregation at Orpington, JOHN BROWNE.   

To all Christian Readers by Profession in general, but especially to such who have made manifest their Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, by yielding Obedience to all his commandments.  
THis little Trratise comes forth to the public view of all naked (yet innotent) and that to an encounter with Eminent expositors (both ancient and Modern) on this Subject of the Beast, like a stripling David with the great 
a 1 Sam. 17. 4.  Goliath of Gath, one of the Sons of 
b 1 Chro. 20. 8.  Harephah, well and completely armed, when little David brings with him only a 
c 1 Sam. 17. 4.  staff or Sling, with a Scrip, wherein he puts a few smooth stones which he had taken out of the Brook, contemptible weapons in themselves for to encounter such a giant; such may this seem to be, which shall dare to oppose the volumes of the many famous Authors, for so many Ages past, who have so largely expressed themselves in their Writings on this Subject, all of them in general concluding, that this Beast is risen long since, yea many hundreds of years past (but with much difference of Opinion as to the time, as Mr. Tillinghast in his late Treatise of the Knowledge of the Times hath observed) when as this doth clearly prove, that he is not yet risen (if they mean the little Horn or vile Person in Daniels prophecy, or the Beast with seven Heads and ten horns in John's Visions) nor shall not arise till the seventh Head, King or Government be risen and fallen, which is but yet arising; the truth of this, with the event of the combat, will evidently appear to such as desire after true Knowledge (who are not prepossessed with the Opinion of other expositors, like a Vessel that is first seasoned with unsavoury liquour, which will hardly be c●eansed, and that not without some tang or relish of its first seasoning) there being nothing but plain Scripture proofs (weapons like a staff or Sling) and a few Observations out of History (like a few smooth stones out of the Brook) for what we do allege; as for our Opponents, who are many, how they build one upon another, and add strength to strength till they become a giant (invincible and unanswerable in their own and others Opinions) and armed with a staff (many Scriptures, but how rightly applied weigh and consider) but beyond that of a Sling, a Spear, whose shaft was like a weaver's beam, armed with an Iron head weighing six hundred shekels; that is, pretending many hundreds of years past for the original of that which they affirm; so that for poor contemptible ones to come with a new doctrine, a new interpretation of these prophecies and Visions, may seem very adventurous (possibly to some a rash and a distempered brain) yea and be cried down as dangerous and not to be tolerated; but we beg this favour of the Readers, as to be spectators a while, and if any will be Judges let them have patience also, and suspend their Judgements for a time (which will try the truth of all things) and they may possibly receive some better satisfaction, after a more serious consideration of the Scripture Arguments on both sides.  
This had come forth in public sooner, if the clerk to the Company of Stationers had not refused the Entrance of the copy in their Hall Book, for the poor (a widow) Printer, because it was not licenced by some of the old Licensers (there being no Law in force for it, and if there were, what a sad condition would it be, for poor enquiring Souls to be deprived of true light and knowledge, because the Licensers are of a contrary Judgement) or subscribed by one of the Wardens of that Company, the one refusing to put to his hand, the other her Adversary, from whom she could expect little good; so that Might and partiality are as opposite to Good, and as active to the hindrance of the poor widow and fatherless as ever.  
The Lord teach us all to see the evil of our ways, and the vanity of our doings, and repent thereof whilst we have time, lest our Master call us to an account before we are ready for it. Readers, if ye shall reap any profit by this little Treatise, render unto the Great God and our Lord Jesus Christ a Tribute of praise for the same, for from him have we received all the Light and Truth thereof; if any thing therein shall upon the Touchstone of the Word be found not to be the true mettle we bring it for, let that be imputed to us, who have our failings as well as others; be as wise as the Noble Bereans, to search the Scriptures that we have brought for what we affirm, and the Lord give you understanding therein, so prayeth he for you  
That have an interest in the Lord Jesus, J. B.   

ERRATA.  
PAge 2: line 1: record, read recorded: l, 30: stability, r: abillety: p: 4: l: 2: not, to be left out: l: 4: gratified, r: practised: l: 32: fall, r: fell: p: 5: l: 19: to others, r: to others not: p: 7: l: 22. Women, r: Woman: p: 9: l: 26: r: Monarchy: p: 17: l: 5: this, r: his: l: 6: Tysris, r: Tigris: p: 18: Berod●sh and Merodash, r: Berodach and Merodach: l: ult: r: Tir●aka: p: 29: l, 5, r: of Agustus Cesar.   

The PASSAGES of PROVIDENCE In Relation to the Actings of Men, and sufferings of the Saints (both Jews and Gentiles) from and after the death of our Lord Jesus Christ are many and full of variety, both as to the time past and to come, which we shall endeavour to lay down and clear, as they lie in Order (as near as we can) to succeed.  
THe first thing that was to befall the Saints after the death, resurrection and ascension of 
Persecuton.  the Lord Jesus (and after the gifts of the holy Spirit were given forth (according to his Promise, and command to his Disciples to wait for in Jerusalem, 24. Luk. 49, compared with the 2. Chapter of the Acts and 4. verse) is, Persecution; which is agreeable to what our Saviour had foretold, and recorded by the Apostle John 15. Chapter 20. verse; If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you: And the Evangelist L●ke declares as much 21. Chapter 12. They shall lay their hands on you (saith he, speaking the words of the Lord Jesus) and persecute you, delivering you up to the Synagogues, and into Prisons, being brought before Kings and Rulers for my Names sake. Yea the Lord Jesus tells us, before we become his Disciples that if we will be his Disciples, we must hate all our dear and near relations, in comparison of him, of loving them, and take up our cross and follow him, 14. Luk. 26, 27. And this not to be the portion of ordinary Disciples, but also of the most eminent among them, read the words of the Lord Jesus, record by the Evangelist Luke, in his 11. Chapter 49. ver. Therefore also, said the wisdom of God, I will send them Prophets and Apostles, and some of them they shall slay and persecute. And this persecution is not to extend only to the Saints who are believers in Christ, but also to the woman (the Church of the Jews) which is to bring forth the man child (which are believers in the Lord Jesus both Jews and Gentiles, of which we shall write more fully hereafter) 12. Revelations 13. and to the remnant of her seed, by the dragons making war with them, 12. Rev. 17. which as it had its beginning on Abel (the second person begotten after the Creation) so it will continue to be the portion of God's people, till their last enemy is destroyed, Gog and Magog, 20▪ Rev. 8, 9 but with some breathing time, as was in the days of the Judges; (viz.) 
a 3. Judges 11  Othniel, 
b 3 Judges 30  Ehud, 
c 5 Judges 30  Deborah, 
d 8 Judges 28  Gideon, and others) as also of Solomon, and a short time in the Apostles days, 9 Acts 31. and will be during the whole reign of Christ, for one thousand year upon the earth; for then that enemy of the Saints, who was (and will be) the chief cause of all the persecution (that they did, or shall go under) in any age of the world) will then be chained up, 20. Revel 1, 2, 3. But will be loosed afterwards for a little season, as in the latter part of that third verse before quoted, compared with the 7, 8, 9, verses of that Chapter. Therefore the people of God are to take notice of his wisdom and goodness to them, in that he knoweth how much better persecutions and afflictions are for them than rest and prosperity, and accordingly administers the same to them, in a proportion to the stability he hath given to every one of them.  
Now as we have proved that persecution is the portion of the Saints in this life, because they are not of the world 15. John 19 So the next thing that was to befall the 
2. Falingaway of the Churches.  Churches, was their falling away from the Truth of that Doctrine that was taught them by the Lord Jesus and his Apostles; and this the Apostle Paul foretells the Church at Thesalonica, that there should be a falling away before the man of sin would be revealed, 2 Thess. 2. 3. The occasion whereof is not so much the times of persecution as the Churches neglect of the Light (the Word) that is left them, by which they ought to walk in the times of darkness. The beginning of the falling away of the Churches; was before John's writing of the book of the Revelations, in which the Church of Ephesus is exhorted to Remember from whence she is fallen, and repent and do the first works, are else (saith Christ) I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place, except thou repent, 25. Chapter at the 5. verse.  
The said falling away ushers in the 3d subsequent thing that we are to treat on, that is the night of darkness, which was foretold▪ by our Lord Jesus, The night cometh, saith he, when no man can work. 9 John 4. Also the same Evangelist in his 12. Chapter 35, and 46. verses relateth 
3. The night of darkness.  more expressions of our said Lord, to the same effect; take the words as they are recorded by him, Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the Light with you, walk while you have the Light, lest darkness come upon you: For he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whether he goeth: I am come a Light into the world, that whosoever believeth in me should not abide in darkness. We do not say that this night of darkness was immediately to follow the death resurrection, or ascension of Christ; for although he be the Day, or great Light of the world (for by him all things were made that were made, 1 John 3.) according to John the Baptists expression, 1. John 8, 9 And the Sun of righteousness, according to the Prophet Malachy's prophecy, in his 4. Chapter 2. verse, compared with Zachary's prophecy 1. Luke 7. 8. Yet he himself saith, that his Disciples are also the Light of the world, 5. Matthew 14. which they are to hold forth to others, verse 16. Neither doth the said night of darkness presently follow the decease of the Apostles; for the Apostle Paul tells the Church of Philippi, that although they were in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, yet among them they shine as lights in the world, 2 Philippians 15. As also the same Apostle writing to the Church at Thesalonica declares to them, ye are not, (saith he) the children of light; and the children of the day; we are not of the night, nor of darkness, 1 Th●s. 5. 5. But when once the Churches (who believed and gratified the foundation Principles of the Doctrine of Christ) ceased to be, than came the night of darkness on.  
Now this darkness was to fall upon the Jews first, for their rejecting of the Light; the Lord Jesus bemoans their sad condition for the same, saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! But now they are hid from thine eyes, 19 Luke 42. And the Apostle John relates the exhortation of the Lord Jesus to them (the words we have already repeated at large upon another occasion, 12. John 35. which compared with the expressions of the apostle Paul to the Jews, for their contradicting and blaspheming: Then Paul and Barnabas waxed h●ld and said, it was necessary that the Word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing you put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life; Lo, we turn to the Gentiles, 13 Acts 46. will clear our affirmation.  
As this Night of darkness came upon the Jews for their rejecting of the Light, so in the second place it came upon the Gentiles for their neglecting of it. The Apostle Paul writing to the Church at Rome, bids them have a care of boasting; take his expressions a little at large; Thou wilt say then, the Branches were broken off, that I 
Rom. 11. 19, 20, 21, 22.  might be grafted in. Well, because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by Faith. Be not high minded▪ but fear: For if God spare not the natural Branches, tak● heed lest he also spare not thee Behold there fore the goodness and Severity of God; on them which fall, Severity; but towards thee goodness, if thou continue in his goodness; otherwise thou also shalt be cut off. Compare this with the advice of the Lord Jesus to the Church at Ephesus, Remember from whence thou art fallen, Revel. 2. 5. And withal consider well of the words of the Author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, (who were believers in Christ, and had believed and practised the beginnings of the doctrine of Christ, Hebr. 6. 1, 2.) For (saith he) if the word spok●n by Angels was steadfast, and every transgression and disobedience received a just recompense of reward: How shall we escape, if we neglect so great salvation, which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him, Hebr. 2. 2, 3.  
This darkness, after the ascension of the Lord Jesus, decease of the Apostles, and falling away of the Churches, was a general darkness, and so brought on the night, in which the Virgins were to go forth, to meet the Bridegroom, 
The Virgins go forth.  the Lord Jesus, Math. 25. 1. But while he tarrieth they fall asleep, vers 5. and at midnight the cry was made, behold the Bridegroom cometh, vers. 6. which though a Parable (or dark saying) yet ●t holds forth something, which then, as to Persons and Time, should be. And to them which have believed and practised the principles of the doctrine of Christ, it is given to know the Mysteries of the kingdom to others, Math. 13. 11.  
Now for the Persons that do go forth to meet the Bridegroom, the Scripture (as we have already declared) styles them Virgins, that is, pure persons, and such as those who have laid the two first foundation Principles, viz. Repentance and Faith: that is, have repented that they have sinned, and do believe that God hath pardoned their sins by the blood of the Lord Jesus, and therefore such must needs be pure persons.  
But the Scripture makes a clear distinction between the Spouse of Christ and Virgins: Solomon (the wisest of Men) in his Song, speaking in the person of the Spouse to her Beloved, saith, Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth, for thy love is better than Wine. Because of the Savour of thy good Ointments, thy Name is as Ointment poured forth, therefore do the Virgins love th●e, Cant. 1. 2, 3. In which two verses there is a clear distinction I say, between the Spouse (Let him kiss me) and Virgins (the Virgins love thee.) Take one other expression of his in his said Song, chapter 6. 8, 9 There are threescore Queens, and fourscore Concubines, and Virgins without number. My Dove, my undifiled is but one: she is the only one of her Mother she is the choice one of her that bare her; the Daughters saw her and blessed her; yea the Queens and the Concubines, and they praised her. For a farther proof of our assertion, that there is such a clear distinction betwixt the Spouse and Virgins, take the words of a man after God's own heart, the Psalmist David in his 45. Psalm 13, and 14. verses; The King's Daughter (saith he) is all glorious within; her clothing is of wrought Gold: She shall be brought unto the King in raiment of needlework: The Virgins, her Companions, that follow her, shall be brought unto thee.  
Octject. Doth not the Apostle Paul, in his Epistle to the Church of Christ at Corinth, call her there a Virgin? 
2 Cor. 11. 2.  For I have Espoused you (saith he) to one Husband, that I may present you as a chaste Virgin to Christ.  
Answ. She is a chaste Virgin indeed, but is nowhere in Scripture called by the Name of Virgins, in the plural Number; for Solomon in his Cant. 6. 9 before quoted, saith, My Dove, my undefiled is but one, she is the only one of her Mother; and that expression of the Psalmist David, Psalm 45. 14. will farther clear this Objection.  
Object. If there be such a distinction between the Church of Christ and Virgins, then may not we fafely conclude, that the one hundred forty and four thousand, mentioned in the 14. Revelations 4. (who are there called Virgins) to be the Virgins that attend the Spouse in the 45. Psalm 14.  
Answ. No, for when the Spouse, or the King's Daughter, is presented unto the Lamb, she hath both Virgins and Companions attending on her; whereas the one hundred forty and four thousand are not sealed till after the Spouse of Christ (that is the believing Saints) are taken up; consider well of that part of the vision that the Apostle John saw in the 7 chapter of his Revelations 2, 3, and 4. verses, where after he hath given some account of the opening of the sixth Seal in the precedent chapter from the 12 verse to the end, in the first verse of his seventh chapter, saith, and after these things (which went before in the sixth chapter (not that all things mentioned in this book of the Revelations are to succeed in order) as they are laid down; but to question the things related in the opening of the seven seals, whether or, no they shall succeed in order as we find them writtenwere to question, whether it were day when the Sun shineth) I saw four Angels, &c. And in the 2 verse, I saw another Angel ascending from the East, having the Seal of the living God, and he cried with a loud voy●e to the four Angels, to whom it was given to hurt the Earth and the Sea, saying, hurt not the Earth, neither the Sea, nor the Trees, till we have sealed the Servants of God in their foreheads. And I heard the number of them which were s●aled, and there were sealed an hundred forty and four thousand, of all the Tribes of the Children of Israel. Now this doth clearly prove, that the hundred forty and four thousand, who are called Virgins, cannot be said to be the Virgins that attend the Spouse, the lamb's Wife, seeing they are upon the Earth after the said Spouse is taken up. And hereafter we shall (with the Lord's assistance) prove, that this a hundred forty and four thousand is the Women that flieth into the wilderness, mentioned in the 12. Rev. 6.  
Now as we have declared something what the Scripture doth hold forth to be the night of darkness, in which 
2.  the Virgins do go forth to me●t the Bridegroom; so in the next place we are to consider their actions, what they do.  
First, they take their Lamps and go forth to meet the bridegroom▪ Their Lamps is the Word of God, it's the Expression of the holy Spirit, in the mouth of a man after God's own heart, the Kingly Prophet David in the 119 Psalm 105. Thy W●rd (saith he) is a Lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.  
Secondly, The wise took oil n their vessels with their Lamps; So that there we have a distinguishing of them, for although all of them take their Lamps, yet five of them are said to be wise▪ & five of them to be foolish; that which gives them this tittle is, their taking, or not taking oil with them; For the foolish took their Lamps, yet took no oil with them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their Lamps. Their vessels, which all of them had, ●s their bodies, For proof thereof, take an expression of the Apostle Paul to the Church of Corinth, speaking of the glorious Light of the Gospel of Christ; But we (saith he) have this treasure in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power might be of God, and not of us; 2 Cor. 4. 7. Look also on that portion of Scripture written for our learning in 2 Tim. 2. 21. As also 9 Acts 15. By the oil is meant joy and gladness, as for joy take notice of the Prophet Esai's expression from the Lord to his people; To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, and the oil of j●y for mourning, 61 Esai 3. And for gladness see what the Spirit of God by the Prophet David, speaking concerning Christ, Thou lovest righteousness, (saith he) and hatest wickedn●sse, therefore God, thy God hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.  
Thirdly, They slumbered and slept; not a natural but a spiritual slumbering and sleeping, which they fall into by reason of the bridegrooms long tarrying, for had they not so done, they would have yielded obedience to all the Commands of Christ, and laid the foundation Principles complete, whereby they might have been admitted as the Spouse of Christ, which now by reason of their sleeping condition, they proceed no further than to repentance and Faith, and thereby are deprived of that happiness, yet holding fast what they had, they have this honour to be Virgins, to attend the Bride the lamb's Wife: And this sleeping condition seized not only upon the Saints who had laid these beginning doctrines of Christ, (Repentance and Faith) presently after the falling away of the Churches: but also upon the Saints for many ages since; and it would be much rejoicing to us if we could see the Saints by profession, in this age freed from it; that is, that would rouse up their Spirits, and no longer neglect the means afforded them, whereby they may attain unto the height of happiness, that is to be members of the Spouse, the Bride, the lamb's wife. Oh the abundance of corruption that is in all our hearts by nature, and which we are too much in love withal; which appears evidently in that we are so unwilling to hazard the loss of honour, friends, means, and reputation, for the gaining of so great an happiness and Honour as to be the Spouse of Christ; Truly they that will not forsake all for Christ, are not worthy of him, 10. Mat. 37. 38. But the Saints in this age ought to consider what they do; for they cannot deny but that they are awakened by the cry that is begun to be made, Behold the Bridegroom cometh, which is the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom: And if they do not proceed so far, as to attain the happiness of being the lamb's Wife, through their own neglect and corruption; yet they ought to be very careful, that they take and Trim their Lamps, and oil in their Vessels (Joy and gladness in what they h●ve b●gun) lest they act the part of the foolish Virgins, and so be shut out, with a verily I say to you I know you not.  
Again, let us consider of some other things that were to fall out in this Time of darkness, beside the Virgins sleeping; A the coming forth of the mystical Whore of Babylon; 
The mystical Whore of Babylon.  which will be in the sixth Head or Monarch, 17. Rev. 9, 10. and will continue till the coming forth of the ten horns▪ which will not be till after the rise and fall of the seventh head, verse 11, 12. Concerning this mystical whore, we are to consider these particulars.  
First, who she is, the description of her you will find in 17. Rev. 3, 4, 5. verses.  
2. The place of her abode, see the 18. verse of that 17. Chapter, where the holy Spirit unfolding unto John the mystery of those things mentioned in that Chapter, tells him, And the Woman which thou sawest (saith the Angel) is that great City, which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth. Which City, comparing Scripture and History together, we shall find to be (and it could be none other but) Rome, the chief Seat of the sixth Head, or Roman Monarchy, as we shall more fully clear hereafter, the Lord assisting us.  
3. What she would do; consider what the Apostle Paul did by the Spirit foretell what should fall out in the latter times, in his second Epistle to Timothy Chap. 4. 1, 2, 3. whose words are these. Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the Faith, giving heed to seducing Spirits, and Doctrines of Devils: speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their Consciences seared with a hot Iron. Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth. Which words spoken of some in the plural Number, cannot more properly be applied to any then to the Popes of Rome, typified by the Woman setting upon a scarlet coloured Beast, R●vel. 17. 3. And we may appeal to the hearts and consciences of all true Christian Readeis hereof, whether that which the Apostle wrote in those three verses to Timothy hath not been fulfilled by the papal Power of Rome. Again, let us see and consider one other prophecy concerning her acting, which the angel showed unto the Apostle John, and which he saw, Revel. 17. 6. And I saw the Woman drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus; and when I saw h●r I wondered with great admiration Now if we may give any credit to Mr. Fox his History of the Martyrs of Jesus (which we shall not question) that prophecy hath been fulfilled to the purpose, of which many of the poor Saints in this Island in the days of Henry the eighth, and Queen Mary's time, were witnesses thereof  
4. Her Judgement, with the Persons o● Powers that shall execute it; take one clear Scripture for it in the 17. Revel. 16. And the ten horns (saith the Angel unto John) which thou sawest upon the Beast, these shall hate the Whore, and shall make h●r desolate, and naked, and shall eat her flesh, and burn ●er with fire.  
Object. But some may say, how can this Scripture clear or prove that which you bring it for; it speaking concerning the hating of the Whore, not of the Woman; therefore this verse may rather seem to have relation to the first verse of that 17. Chapter, where the Angel tells John, He will show him the judgement of the great Whore, th●t sitteth upon many Waters: and in the 15. verse of that chapter, the Angel tells him, that the Waters whi●h thou sawest, where the Whore sitteth, are Peoples, and Multitud●s, and Nations, and Tongues.  
Answ. The Book of the Revelations is full of Mysteries and Prophecies, and not easily to be understood, not only upon the first, but also not upon many readings thereof; for if it had, how comes it to pass, that those Interpreters thereof (whose writings are extant) are so dark in those things that they undertook to open and clear; as in this Age we find some that have contradicted others that went before them, in the unfolding of these Mysteries; and we question not, but the Lord will give a clearer light to others, to make more clear those things, which in this short Treatise we have in some measure (though darkly) unfolded. But as to the Objection we say, that by comparing one place in this chapter with another, and by clearing some improbabilities (if not impossibilities) in it, that which we have affirmed concerning the Judgement of the Woman or Whore, will evidently appear to be truth.  
First, consider whether the Title Whore be not proper to this Woman, in the 4. verse of that 17. chapter she is said to have a golden Cup in her hand, full of the abominations and filthiness of her fornication. Now judge, whether she that hath committed Fornication, doth not justly deserve the Title of Whore to be given her.  
Secondly, for the improbability of it; consider whether its likely that the beast, unto whom these ten horns give their kingdom, would be acceptable unto him, when as they had destroyed the Seat of his Empire, Babylon; if so be that the word Whore in the sixteenth verse had relation to the word great Whore in the first verse, or Whore in the fifteenth verse.  
5. The fifth thing to be considered of, and that will fall out before the taking up of the Saints, is, the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom, Math. 24▪ 14. The Lord Jesus speaking to his Disciples, in answer to the three questions 
The preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom.  propounded by them to him in the third verse, begins with the first, telling them what should fall out in after times, and amongst other things tells them, That this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world, for a witn●sse unto all Nations, and then shall the end come.  
This Gospel of the kingdom was begun to be preached by the Lord Jesus himself, as the said Evangelist Mathew●ath recorded in the 4. chapter 23. And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their Synag●gues, and preaching the Gospel of the kingdom: also in Matthew 9 35. you have it there recorded again of his so doing. And this he doth not only make a part of his own work, but also when he sends forth his twelve Apostles, he commands them, saying, As ye g●e preach saying, the kingdom of Heaven is at hand, Matthew 10. 7. Which also Philip one of the seven Deacons preacheth up, as appears in Acts 8. 12. And that chosen vessel of the Lord, the Apostle Paul, he declares and preacheth the same, And now behold, I know that ye all, among wh●m I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Act. 20. 25. Yea the last words and actions that are recorded of him, in the 28. Acts 30, and 31, verses, doth declare as much; the words are these, And Paul dwelled two wh●le years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him.  
Now this Gospel of the kingdom ceased to be preached after the falling away of the Churches, and hath continued so for many Ages; but the time drawing nigh of the coming of that kingdom, it is begun to be held forth again, and must be preached in all Nations before that time come (which was not done in the primitive times, by reason a great part of the now known world was not then discovered) according to what we have already declared from the mouth of the Lord Jesus, Math. 24▪ 14.  
Sixthly, When the Gospel (or glad tidings) of the kingdom is begun to be preached in the last Age of the world, 
The gathering of the two Tribes to Jerusalem.  (which is a sign of the near approach of that kingdom) then will follow the calling of the two Tribes of Judah and Benjamin to Jerusalem; See what the Lord declares by the Prophet Jeremy concerning this; Thus saith the Lord, behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacob's Tents, and have mercy 
Jer. 30. 18  on his dwelling Places: And the City shall be builded upon her own heaps, and the palace shall remain after the manner 〈◊〉 So that comparing the latter part of the verse with the former part, it will plainly appear, that by Jacobs' Tents cannot be meant the whole twelve Tribes, or the ten Tribes, but the two Tribes only (not but that there may be some of every Tribe amongst the two Tribes, as there was some did cleave to the house of David, when it's said the ten Tribes fell away) for these here that shall be brought back, are said to be first brought back, and then the City is built, which bringing back of the ten Tr●bes w●●l not be completed till a●ter the Saints are taken up, when as before that time both Jerusalem and the Temple will be built, and Sacrifices offered; of which we shall have ●ccasion to enlarge upon hereafter. Consider of ●nother prophecy concerning this in the 12 Zach●r● 6 7▪ In that day I will make the governors of Jud●h lik● a ha●th o● fi●e among the w●od, and like a torch of 〈…〉 shall devour all the people round about▪ on the 〈…〉 and on the left: And Jerusalem shall be inhabited 〈…〉 own place, even in Jerusalem. The Lord also shall save the T●n●s of Judah first.  
Seventhly, After the calling of the two Tribes for to build and inhabit Jerusalem, the next remarkable thing that will in those days fall out to be, is the rising or manifesting of the Beast, and ten horns, or Kings, mentioned by the Apostle John in his 17. Chapter of the Revelations. In which these 
The rise of the Beast with the ten Kings.  following particulars will be worthy of our consideration, in the opening of them.  

1. Who the Beast is, and secondly, Who the ten Kings are.  
2. The place from whence they and he will arise.  
3. What they and he are to do when risen, viz. First, before the Saints are taken up, and secondly after they are taken up.  
4. His reign, viz. how long time.  
5. His ruin, and how far they suffer in it.   
For the first, the Beast, who he is. He is that Beast that was shown to the Apostle John, which he describes in his 17. 
The Beast who he is.  Chapter of the Revelations and 3. verse, having seven heads and ten horns, which compared with other Scriptures, we shall find him to have several titles or denominations, 〈◊〉 which he is discovered, viz. he is called the little Horn, Dan. 7, 8. The vile Person, Dan. 11. 21. The Man of Sin, 2 Thes. 2. 3.  
In John's description befo●e quoted, he hath seven Heads as well as ten horns. Now that ●e may know, who or ●hat these seven heads are; if we co●sider well of the angel's interpretation to John, Chap. 17 10. and upon search of other Scriptures, we shall find, that they are seven Governments, that should be supreme in the several Ages of the world, from the days of Noah after the flood▪ till the rise of the ten horns▪ Five of which Heads or Governments had been before John saw this Vision, the sixth was then in being (and is now towards its period) and the seventh was not then come, but is now arising.  
The first Head (or Government) was the Assyrian and Babylonian Monarchy joined under one head, viz. Nimrod, 
First Head.  compare the Writings of Moses concerning this Person, Government and Country, with that of the Prophet Esay, and consider how they prove our assertion Moses giving us some account of Noah's Posterity, and speaking of that of his Son Ham, saith, Ham begat Cush, and Cush begat Nimrod: He began to be a mighty one in the Earth. He was a 
Gen. 10. 8, &, 10, 11.  mighty Hunter before the Lord. Wherefore it is said, even as Nimrod the mighty Hunter before the Lord. And the beginning of his kingdom was Babel, and Eresh, and Achad, and Ca●neh, in the Land of Shinar. Out of that Land went forth Ashur, and builded Niniveh, and the City Reho both and Calah. Also the same Moses speaketh farther concerning Noah's Posterity, And the whole earth was of one language and of one speech. 
Gen. 11. 1, 2.  And it came to pass as they journeyed from the East, that they found a Plain in the Land of Shinar, and they dwelled there. Now take what Esay writeth concerning this; B●hold the Land of the Chaldeans, this People was not, till the Assyrian founded it, 
Esay 23. 13  for them that dwell in the Wilderness: They set up the Towers thereof, th●y raised up the palaces thereof, and he brought it to ruin. So that Moses gives us to understand thus much, that Nimrod was the first mighty One upon the earth, whose ●●●gdome was Babel: and Ashur went out from thence and built Niniveh; which Ashur could be no other than this Nimrod; for when he came or journeyed out of the East, he came into the Land of Shinar, and dwelled there, which Land of Shinar must needs be Caldea, Babel being built in it, as we have now related out of Moses, which the Prophet Esay calls C●ldea, as you have his words also. In brief thus much, Nimrod an Assyrian by birth or habitation (or both) comes into Shinar or Caldea, sets up his kingdom, builds Babel his chief Seat, and other Cities; afterwards goeth out thence into Assyria again, and builds Niniveh and other Cities; which is the ground of our styling him by the title of the Assy●ian and Babylonian Monarch: And he is the first (after the flood) that the Scripture mentioneth; but of his continuance, or length of his reign, it is silent. Some Historians do give some account thereof, but with diversity of Opinions concerning it, therefore leave the curious therein to search them.  
The second Head, is the Assyrian alone, under another Family, the Line of Nimrod being extinct in Sardanapulus, 
2d. Head.  (as Sir Walter Raleigh in his History of the World (the first Impression) the first part, folio 482. doth at large relate) whose first King, that the Scripture mentioneth, was Pull (or Phull) by whom, and Tiglath Pilessar (his Successor, if not Son) the two Tribes and half were first carried away captive: See a proof for this out of the Scripture in the 1 Chron. 5. 26. And the God of Israel stirred up the Spirit of Pull King of Assyria, and the Spirit of Tiglath-Pilnesar King of Assyria, and he carried them away (even the Reubenites, and the Gadites, and the half Tribe of Manassah) and brought them unto Halath, and Habor, and Hara, and to the River Gos●n unto this day. By whom also the Syrians (the great oppressors of Israel in several Ages) were subdued, 2 Kings 16 9 Also by Shalmaness●r, (his Successor, if not Son, the rest of the ten ●ribes, in the days of Hoshea King of Israel, are carried captive 2 Kings 17. 3, and 6. These are carried captive into the ●and of Assyria (it is not said Cal●ea) not but that Caldea and Babylon were under the Assyrian Mona●chy▪) 2 Kings 8▪ 11. Then 〈◊〉 the ●uccessor (if not Son) of Shalm●ness●r in the fourteenth year of King H●zekiah, comes up with a great Army against 
2 Ki●gs. 18 13, 15, 16.  the fenced Cities of Judah, and takes them, to whom Hezekiah is willing to submit, and therefore sends him great presents, and for want of his own borrows from the Temple: But the King of Assyria is not content therewith, and therefore sends an Army under the Command of his captains, Tartan, Rabsaris, Rabshakeh, to Jerusalem to take it, either by words or deeds, 2 Kings 18. 17. to the end. But these not being able to prevail, return to their Master, the King of Assyria, who was warring against Libnah, from whence he sends Messengers with a blasphemous Letter to King Hezekiah, with 
2 Kings 19 8, v. 9 and 14. v. 15. v. 36.  which he goeth up to the House of the Lord and prayeth; the efficacy whereof was such, that that night the Angel of the Lord destroys 185000. men in the Assyrian Host; who returning with the remaining number to his own Land, and City Nineveh, is there slain ●y two of his own Sons, as he is worshipping in the Temple of Nisroch his God; and Ezrahaddon his Son reigneth in his stead, verse 36, 37.  
Now that the Assyrian alone was the next great Monarch (or chief Government of Note in the world) to the Assyrian and Babylonian together; we do prove, not only by what hath been related, as to what four of those Kings did, but also for these ensuing reasons, grounded upon History and Scripture.  
First from History; Pull (whom the Scripture mentions, 1 Chron. 5. 26.) who was but Sardanapulus Lieutenant in Babylon, and conspiring with Arbaces, another of his Lieutenants in Media, (who was incited thereunto, partly by the Prediction of this Pull, and partly by his own (in that having had a sight of the Person of his King, found him disguised in woman's apparel, striving to counterfeit an Harlot) these two after several battles overthrew him, and 
Sir W. Rawle●gh first part, f. 476.  beseiging him in this great City Niniveh; by the overflowing of the River Tysris, whereby twenty furlongs of that great wall was overthrown, they take the City, but not their Master; for he finding himself in a lost condition, shuts up him●●lf in his palace, with his Wives, eunuchs, and all his Treasures, and sets fire thereunto, whereby both he and they were all consumed. After which, the Median is content with his own Government of Media, but Pull and his Posterity are not with theirs, till they get possession of that great City Nineveh, which they make the Seat of their Monarchy, and 
Sir W. R. f. 482, 483.  therefore is called the Assyrian alone, to distinguish it from the First, whose chief City in Nimrod's time was Babylon.  
Second Reason: Because the Scripture mentions a larger extent of dominion to this second Monarchy, then unto the first. For we do not find, that Nimrod's dominion did extend Westward from the River Euphrates, that is into Syria; (if it did it was but of short continuance) but this of Pulls doth, and that very far, even to the Land of Israel and Judah, whose Lot was bounded by the Mediterranean Sea, Joshua 15. 12. called the great Sea. And we find, that Media that was under Nimrod's posterity (and after usurped by Arbac●s) is a great part (if not all) brought under by the Assyrian: For Shalmanessar, who carries the remaining part of the ten Tribes captive, placeth some of them in the Cities of the Medes, 2 Kings 17. 6, And the Prophet Ezekiel, speaking unto Pharaoh in the Name of the Lord, maketh mention of the greatness of the Assyrian, Ezek. 31. 2. to the 10, verse, as also of his fall and ruin by the Caldean, chap. 32. 11, 12. which makes way for the third Head or Monarchy.  
The third Head of the Beast, is the Caldean Monarchy, whose foundation was laid in the days of Berodach Baladan 
3d 〈◊〉  the Son of Balladan, who sent unto Hezekiah King of Judah, both Letters and a Present, 2 King. 20. 12. which was in or about the fifteenth year of Hezekiah's reign; for in his fourteen year Sennacherib (the King of Assyria) invades Judea, 2 Kings 18. 13. And after the great loss of 185000. he returns into his own Land. In those days Hezekiah falls sick, 2 Kings 20▪ 1. upon whose earnest prayer (and the Promise of God to David; for Hezekiah had no Son as yet, that the Scripture mentions, and Manasseh his Successor was not born in three years after, for he was but twelve years old when he began to reign, 2 Kings 21. 1.) the Lord ●nds him a Message by the Prophet Esay, that he would add fifteen years to his days: and a sign for his recovery is, that the Sun should go ten degrees backward, by which it had gone down in the dial of Ahaz, 2 Kings 20. 6, 11. and the whole reign of Hezekiah was but twenty nine years, 2 Kings 18. 2.  
Now though the Scripture be silent, as to inform us, how Berodash Baladan came to be King of Babylon; yet we find, that both he and the Chaldeans take notice of Hezekiah's sickness and recovery, with that great sign in the Heaven of the Suns going backward, (the Chaldeans being famous in astronomy, and natural astrology, as well as infamous for their devilish astrology) which was in or about the fifteenth year of his reign: which as it was the last of Sennacheribs', so it was the first of Berodash: for we read in the Scripture of no King of Babylon, since Nimrod, to this time; not but that Babylon was a famous City all along. And if we may give credit to Sir Walter Raleigh (of whose extraordinary travel in searching of Histories, of all Ages past, to the finishing of that excellent piece of his, called, the history of the World) that this Berodash (or as he calls him (as also the Geneva Translation) Merodash) took time by the foretop, and laid hold on the present opportunity that offered itself, which was this: Merodash was Lieutenant in Babylon under Sennacherib (whose head City was Niniveh) 
Sir W. R. ●irst part, f. ●07.  who having wars in Syria and Egypt, had levied a very great Army, and having been forced to raise his siege from before Pelusium in Egypt, and that not without some loss, and more disgrace, through the coming of Tirhaba King of Ethiopia (or Arabia) to the aid of the Egyptian; he was the more desirous to have had possession of Jerusalem, to have retreated unto with his Army; but failing of his purpose, sends a great part thereof to beseige it, with the rest he beseigeth Lachish, and afterwards Lib●ah▪ 2 Kings 19 8. of which Army, presently after, the angel of the Lord destroys in one night 185000. verse 35 upon which he returns with the remaining part thereof to Niniveh (and not to Babylon, though much the nearer, not daring to trust to M●rodash, as having had some inkling of his Ambition, if not of his Treason, than a hatching, as is supposed) and within a short time after (Tobit saith, five and fifty days chap. 1. 21.) is slain by two of his Sons, (the reason supposed is, that they being the Eldest, were disinherited by their Father, and the younger Brother appointed to be his Successor, which they could not prevent with their parricide) and As●rhaddon being but weak in himself (though strong in Friends and soldiers, for he held Merod●sh hard to it all his days, which was eleven years) he supposeth it no difficulter a piece of work, to gain the kingdom of Babylon unto himself, then Pull found (who joined) with Arbac●s the Median, to unthrone Sardanapulus, (the last of Nimrod's Race) whose Posterity became eminent afterwards, especially Sennacherib, who is called, the great King of Assyria, 2 Kings 18. 19 And therefore upon Sennacheribs' death, breaks out into open Rebellion, and styles himself King of Babylon, and is so called in Scripture, 2 Kings 20. 12. Whose Posterity is not spoken of in Sacred Writ, till Nebuchadnessar. But our afore quoted Author faith, his Son Ben▪ Merodach reigned after him, and then Nebulassar his Son, the last 
Sir W. R. First part, f 541. and 551.  year of whose reign was the third year of Jehoiakim King of Judah, Dan. 1. 1. For the Prophet Jeremy in his 25. chap. 1. saith, that the first year of Nebuchadnessar's reign was the fourth year of Jehoiakim's reign; which may seem to be some contradiction in the Prophets, but both Scripture and History will help us to clear this; for it was the usual custom of those Eastern Kings, to appoint their Successors in their life time, and to admit them to have a share in the managing of the affairs of the kingdom, as David doth Solomon, Vz●iah (or Azariah) doth Jotham, and Jehoiakim doth his Son; which latter seems something difficult to be apprehended at the first view, and therefore shall clear it before we pass any farther; Jehoiakim the Son of Josiah being made King in the room of Jehoahaz (by Phara●h Necho) reigneth eleven years (and is bound to be carried captive to Babylon, but is slain, and had the burial of an ass, according to Jeremy's prophecy, chap. 22▪ 18, 19) and his Son Jehoiakim reigneth in his stead, who was eight years old when he began to reign, and reigned three months in Jerusalem, 2 Chron 36. 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 And in the 2 Kings 24. 8. it is said, that Jehoiakim was eighteen years old when he began to reign, and reigned three months in Jerusalem; so that to reconcile these two places, it doth appear, that I●hoiakim the Son was but eight years old when he began to reign with his Father, and reigned with him ten years, and he was eighteen years old when he began to reign alone, and reigned three months. So that although the Scripture doth not so fully clear it to us, that Nebuchadnessar was the great grandchild of Merodash Baladan King of Babylon, yet the two Prophets, Daniel and Jeremy cannot be reconciled, without admitting Nebuchadnessar to reign some time with his Predecessor, one year at the least; besides the Scriptures do mention some distance of time between the first year of Merodash, and the first year of Nebuchadnessar; for Hezekiah reigned about fifteen years after the death of Sennacherib, Manasseh reigned fifty five years, Ammon two years, Josiah thirty one years, and in the fourth year of Jehoiakim doth Nebuchadnessar begin to reign, Jeremy 25 1. So that there i● about 107. years, which must ●●eds admit of some Successors to Merodash before Nebuchadnessar.  
Object. But how comes it to pass, that we have no more concerning the Kings of Babylon from Merodash's time till Nebuchadnessar, or the last year of his Predecessor.  
Answ. Merodash had but laid the foundation of his kingdom in the fifteenth year of Hezekiah; and Sir Walter Raleigh saith, that he had eleven years' contention with Asarhaddon, even till his death, which gave Merodash a little better assurance of what he then had, and some hopes to enlarge his Dominion, especially towards Assyria: As for Syria he had no fear from thence, having (as may be apprehended) made a League with Hezekiah, and therefore did choose rather to enlarge his Dominion Eastward and Northward, agreeable to what the Prophet Ezekiel had prophesied (though not upon that account) where the Prophet speaks concerning the destruction of Ashur and other Nations, by the Babylonians, Ezek. 32. 22. to the 31, verse. And for what the other two Successors of Merodash did, seeing the Scripture is silent, and Historians speak but little; (Only their taking the great City Niniveh, and bringing the whole Dominion of Assyria under the called an or Babylonian yoke, which was not accomplished in or near 100 years' time) we shall treat concerning him, whom the Scripture doth mention, that is Nebuchadnessar (or as he is called in some places of the Scriptures, Nebuchadressar.) The first year of whose reign was the fourth year of Jehoiakim King of Judah, as we have formerly mentioned, in which year he smiteth the Army of Pharaoh Necho King of Egypt, by the River Perah (or Euphrates) in Carchemish, Ierem. 46 2. In the second year of his reign he hath a dream, which he forgets, and Daniel declares to him, with the interpretation thereof, Daniel 2. the whole chapter. About his seventh year he takes Jehoiakim, and binds him to carry him to Babel, (at which time, or a little before, he began the famous siege of Tyrus, which lasted thirteen years) but causeth him to be slain, and gives him the burial of an ass, according to the Prophet Jeremy's prophecy, for his burning of the Roll, Ierem. 22 18, 19 compared with the 36. chapter 29, 30. And for his Son Jehoiakim he reigned but three months alone, and was carried captive to Babylon with his Mother, as the same Prophet prophesied, chap. 22, 24, 25, 26. compared with 2 Kings 24. 15, which was done in the eighth year of Nebuchadnessar's reign, verse 12. Who set up Zedekias▪ (his Uncle) King in his room; who about the nineteenth year of his reign (which was the eleventh year of Zedekias▪ reign) takes Jerusalem and the King, and destroys the City, and the Temple, and carries the remnant of them that escaped the sword captive to Babylon, 2 Kings 25.  
About which time the famous City o●Tyrus was taken also by him; after which he destroyed Edem and the Zydonians, and several other Nations, according to Ez●kiels prophecy, chap. 32. 17. to the end.  
In the three and twentieth year of his reign, Nebusaradon, the Captain of his Guard, comes up to Jerusalem again, and carries away 745. Jews captive, Ierem. 52. 30. After which, when be hath subdued all the Nations about him, he sets up his golden Image, for all People, Nations and Languages to fall down and worship it, Daniel 3. 7. Which when Shadrech, Meshach and Abednego refuse so to do, they are cast into the hot fiery Furnace, verse 21. and delivered from the danger thereof, verse 25. 27. After which he destroys Egypt, as Sir Walter Raleigh saith; but the Scripture is silent as to the time of the destruction of that rich Country, only Ezekiel in his 29 chapter 17. saith, in the twenty seven year the Word of the Lord came to him; but whether it were the twenty seven year of his Captivity, or of Jehoiakim's, Captivity, or of Nebuchadnezzar's reign, is questionable, however so it was, that Egypt was destroyed, according to the prophecies of Ezekiel and Jeremy, chap. 44 30. and chap. 43. 8. to the end.  
Afterwards Daniel tells him the interpretation of his dream concerning the Tree, Dan. 4 19, to the 28. and about a year after the same is fulfilled, for his not bearkening to the counsel of the Prophet, and is cast out for seven years, which is towards the end of his reign; for neither Scripture nor History maketh any mention of any Acts of his after his Restauration. The length of whose reign was about 43. or 44. years: for the fourth year of Jehoiakin was the first year of his reign, and the thirty seventh year of Jehoiakim's Captivity, is the first year of Evilmerodach King of Babylon, Successor (if not Son) to Nebuchadnessar, 2 Kings 25. 17. Evilmerodach in the first year of his reign, lifteth up the head of Jehoiachin King of Judah, and brought him out of Prison, the 52. Jeremy 31. to the end. What other thing of note he did, or how long he reigned, the Scripture is altogether silent. History saith, he lost some part of his Dominions, and lost his Successor embroiled in a dangerous war against the meads; but whether Balthazar was his immediate 
Sir W. R.  Successor, or no, we cannot positively conclude from the Scriptures, only we find him the next to Evilmerodach that the Scriptures do mention; and cannot but conclude him to be of Nebuchadnessars Race, because of Jeremy's prophecy, chap▪ 27. 7. where it is said, All Nations shall serve him, and his Son, and his son's Son, until the very time of his Land come, and then many Nations and great King's shall serve themselves of him. In the first year of this Balthazar Daniel sees the Vision of four Beasts, chap. 7. 1. In his third year Daniel sees the Vision of the Ram, and of the he-goat, chap. 8. 1. And in his last year, the last day thereof, Daniel read the hand writing on the wall, and tells him the interpretation thereof, chap. 5. 25, 26, 27, 28. and verse 30. in that night was Balthazar the King of the Chaldeans slain, and Darius the Median took the Kingdom, verse 31.  
Now how long these two last Successors of Nebuchadnessar reigned, the Scripture doth not mention in particular; only between them two is spent, either thirty and three years, or forty and four years. The ground of our apprehension, as to this is, the seventy years of the Jews Captivity, which began either in the first year of Jehoiachin's Captivity, or the last year of Zedekiah, when the City was taken, and the Temple was bu●nt; if it began at the first, than the Scripture tells us, that Evilmerodach King of Babylon lifted up the head of Jehoiachin, and brought him out of Prison in the seven and thirtieth year of his Captivity, and first year of his reign, Ierem. 52. 31. so that adding thirty and three years to thirty and seven, and then the seventy years is fulfilled: but if the Captivity began not till Zedekiah's death, than there must be added eleven years more (for he reigned eleven years after Jehoiachin was carried Captive) to thirty and three years, which is forty and four, and then Jehoiachin was carried Captive to Babylon, eleven years before the seventy years began, which were to be fulfilled before they were to return out of Captivity. And that the seventy years were fulfilled at the death of Belshazar, Daniel tells us, that in the first year of Darius the Mede, which was made King over the Realm of the Chaldeans. Dan. 9 1, 2, 3. that after he had fasted and prayed, that the Man Gabriel (or Angel of the Lord) revealed the same to him; take his words at large. And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and conf●ssing my sin, and the sin of my People Israel, and presenting my supplication before the Lord my God for the holy Mountain of my God; yea, whiles I was speaking in Prayer, even the Man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the Vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening Oblation. And he informed me, and talked with me, and said, O Daniel, I am now come forth to give thee skill and understanding. At the beginning of thy supplication, the commandment came forth, and I am come to show thee: for thou art greatly beloved; therefore understand the matter, and consider the Vision. Seventy weeks are determined upon thy People, and upon thy holy City, to finish the transgression, and make an end of sins, and to make reconciliation for iniquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the Vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most Holy; verse 20, 21, 22, 23, 24.  
Whichleads us to the fourth Head, the meads and Persians. The Caldean ending in Belshazar, as we said before, Darius 
4th Head.  the Mede being made King over the Realm of Caldea, Dan. 9 1. In the first year of whose reign (who reigned about two years, saith Sir Walter Raleigh) Daniel by the 
Third Book chap. 2.  searching of Books, and by the Man Gabriel, attains to the knowledge of knowing the seventy weeks are expired, that the Jews were to be in Captivity.  
In the first year of Cyrus the Persian the Jews are permitted to return to their own Land, and that openly, by way of Proclamation, 2 Chron. 36. 22, 23. and Ezra 1. 1, 2, 3, 4. Who also delivers the Vessels of the House of the Lord to Sheshbazzer the Prince of Judah, verse 7, 8.  
And this was according to what was foretold by the Prophets, concerning their seventy years' Captivity, Ier. 25. 12. and chap. 29. 10. And Cyrus to be the Man to deliver God's People, Esay 44. last, and chap. 45. 1, 2, 3, 4, 13.  
In the third year of Cyrus, Daniel sees a Vision, chap. 10. 1. and talketh with one, like the similitude of the Son of Man, whom he calls my Lord, verse 16▪ 17. And is made acquainted by revelation, what Governments should succeed in the world, till the coming of the Lord Jesus to reign on the earth, chap. 11. 2. to the beginning of the 12. chapter.  
Concerning the remainder of the years of Cyrus' reign, how long, or what he did, the Scriptures are silent. Only the apocrypha mentions some obstruction in the building of the Temple, during the reign of Cyrus, by his Son Cambyse●, whom he made his Lieutenant in all his Dominions, while himself followeth the Wars; and this was not only done by him, during his father's reign, but also during his own, and that out of natural and politic ends.  
The first, in that he was a cruel Tyrant, whose will was a law, and his Flatterers told him, that all things were lawful 
Sir W. R. 3. book 3. chap. 7. P●ragraph.  for the Kings of Persia, upon which he married two of his Sisters, against the laws of his kingdom.  
And for the second, he had an intention to invade Egypt, and feared lest the Jews should prove such as his Provintiall governors had written to him (under the name of Artaxerxes) of, Ezra 4. 7. to the 23. that the Jews. and Inhabitants of Jerusalem, were a rebellious people; and tha● it was a common Opinion, that the Jews descended of those Nations, because they issued thence under Moses, when they conquered Judea; and that if their City were repaired and fortified, they might give some disturbance to his intended Conquest of that Country, as they had done in H●zekiah's days to Sennacherib, when he went to invade Egypt. Wherefore he commanded them to be hindered in that work of the building of the Temple and City. Which hindrance continued till the second year of Darius King of Persia, Ezra 4. 24. (the Successor of Cambyses, or as the Scripture calls him Artaxerxes) how he came to the kingdom, read Sir Walt. Raleigh 3. book 4 chapter 4. paragraph; who in that year gave order for the building of the Temple of Jerusalem at his own charge, Ezra 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11▪ The Jews being encouraged unto this by the Prophets, Haggai, and Zacheriah, Ezra 5. 1. which work was finished in the sixth year of the reign of Darius, Ezra 6. 15. though not ful●y, because in the fourteenth verse he saith, they builded and finished it, according to the commandment of Cyrus, Darius and Artaxerxes, Kings of Persia.  
In the days of Artaxerxes, the Successor (if not Son) of Darius, in the seventh year of his reign, Ezra and his Company go from Babylon to Jerusalem, Ezra 7. 7, 8, 9 In the twentieth year Nehemiah obtains leave, to go and build the walls of Jerusalem, Nehem. 2. 1. who sets the King a time for his return, verse 6. And in the two and thirtieth year he obtains leave the second time, to go to Jerusalem again, chap. 13. 6,  
Concerning what is spoken about Esther, in the days of Ahashueresh, who he was whether this King Artaxerxes, or any other, the Scripture is silent: much might be said, that he was, or was not the same Person; but it would be found a very difficult thing to make an agreement in several Scriptures concerning the same▪  
Who were the succeeding Kings of Persia, till the coming of Alexander the Macedonian, the Scripture mentioneth not, only Daniel is showed in a vision, in the third year of Cyrus, chap. 10. 1. what Kings there should be after him in Persia, whose words are these; And now I will show thee the Truth; Behold there shall stand up yet three Kings in Persia, and the fourth shall be far richer than they all: and by his strength, through his riches, he shall stir up all against the Realm of Grecia, Dan. 11. 2. Now if we may give credit to Historians, concerning whom this last rich King was, they say, he was Darius, the Son of Arsames, who was subdued by Alexander the Grecian (or Macedonian) which brings us to the fifth Head or Monarchy.  
The fifth Head was the Grecian, revealed to Daniel in a Vision 
5th Head.  of a He Goat, or Rough Goat, chap. 8. 5▪ 21. (as the meads and Persians was a Ram with two horns, Dan. 8, 3. 20.) What this Grecian did, we must be beholding to Historians▪ for our knowledge; the Scriptures canonical not mentioning 
Vide, Sit W. R. 4. book. chap. 2. from the beginnlng of Alexander's reign to his end.  any; the apocrypha but a little, that which is may be found in the first book of the Maccabees chap. 1. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, verses: which as he did much in regard he came to be a third of Daniels Beasts or Monarchies, therefore it is said, he carried his Victories with wings, who from a small kingdom, extended it to a very great distance, Eastward, and Southward, and Northward, but withal, it was but of short continuance (as all violent things and motions are) but twelve years, being poisoned by the conspiracy of his Servants, who stood in fear of his cruelty.  
Upon whose death his large Dominions was divided (though not presently) among four of his great captains, according to Daniels Vision, chap. 8. 8: and interpretation, verse 22. Josephus' names five, viz. Antigonus was Lord of 
Josephus 12. book first chapter. Sir W. R. 5 book f: 338.  Asia (whose Dominion being lost there, his Posterity enjoyed Macedon:) Seleucus Nicator of Babylon and the bordering Nations; Lysymachus had Hellespont; Cassander had Macedon (whose Dominion ended with him, his Sons being slain, not long after his death;) And Ptolemy the Son of Lagus had Egypt: All which took the Titles of Kings on them in a short time, only Cassander, whose Successor did take the same also, though with ill success. 
Sir W. R. 4. book f. 232.   
Seleucus Nicator was the first that took the Title of King of Babylon and the bordering Nations; his Son Antiochus Soter succeeds him, and reigns nineteen years; after him his Son Antiochus Theos reigns fifteen years; his Son Seleuchus Callinicus twenty years, and left two Sons, viz. Seleucus Ceraunus who reigned three years, and Antiochus the Great thirty six years; who left Seleucus Philopater who reigned twelve years saith Eusebius, seven years saith Josephus; and Antiochus Epiphanes, which was he that commanded swine's flesh to be offered on several altars in the Temple at Jerusalem, which caused much affliction and misery to the Jews, being a Type of that which Daniel Prophesied in his eighth chapter, but cannot be the same, as is apprehended by some; because the Lord Jesus would not have told his Disciples by way of prophecy what had been past, but rather, he told them what should be hereafter, Matthew 24. 15.  
What the Successors of Alexander's captains did (who had divided his large Dominions among themselves) History doth declare. This may be noted concerning them (which is Sir Walter Rawleigs observation of them f. 555.) that the Successors of Ptolemey were the first that made a League with the Romans, and the last that were subdued by them.  
Which brings us to the sixth Head, Government or Monarchy, viz. the Romans, whose chief City was Rome, which 
6th Head, The Romans.  was built in or about the year of the world 3280. and after the building of the Temple of Solomon 287. and before the birth of our Lord Christ 684. whose greatness began to appear out of its infancy, in the time of Pyrrus King of Epirus, Successor to Cassander in half the kingdom of Macedon, taken from Cassander's Children, by him and Lysimachus King of Thracia: (he being a powerful Prince, viz. Pyrrhus) and they (viz. the Romans) but few years before freed themselves from the Gauls, who had taken all from them, yea, Rome itself, the Capitol excepted, and drove him out of Italy, in or about 487. years after Rome was built; and about 107. years after they take the whole kingdom of Macedon, with Perseus the last King thereof, and make a Province of it.  
In the days of Antiochus Epiphanes, who began to reign about the year 579▪ after Rome was built (who was he that commanded swine's flesh to be offered on several Altars in the Temple at Jerusalem) the Romans have increased their Dominions so largely, as that they take upon them, as to command him to depart out of Egypt (who had almost subdued 
Sir W. R. f. 665.  that Country) and he obeys.  
In the days of Demetrius the Son of Seleucus Philopater (elder Brother to Antiochus Epiphanes) Judas Macabeus sends ambassadors to Rome, who make a League with the Jews, Macabeus 8. who at that time, saith Josephus f. 315. had conquered Gaul (or France) Spain, Carthage and Greece; whose power and dominion from that time groweth up mightily; for in the days of Pompey all Syria was subdued, and he himself gone up into Armenia, in pursuit of the war betwixt the Romans and Tygranes, Josephus lib. 14. ch▪ 4. And in the days of Augustus Cesar there came forth a decree, that all the world should be taxed, Luke 2. 1. which the Author of the Notes in the Bible of the Geneva Translation saith, that it was so far as the Empire of the Romans did extend, which was of a far greater extent than all the precedent Monarchies did contain, especially towards the South, and the North West from Babylon and Jerusalem.  
And this was agreeable to Daniels prophecy, chap. 2. 4. who saith, that the fourth kingdom from Nebuchadnesser should be strong as Iron, for as Iron breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things, and as Iron bruisetb all those things, so shall it break in pieces and bruise it.  
And in his Vision in the first year of Belshazar, he seeth these four kingdoms under several Types of Beasts, but 
Daniel 7.  the fourth was different from, or unlike to, all the rest, verse 7. And in the interpretation it is said, it shall be unlike to all the kingdoms, and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, and break it in pieces, verse 23. And out of this must arise ten horns, which are ten Kings; and another shall arise after them, and he shall be unlike to the first, and subdue three Kings, and shall speak words against the most High, verse 24, 25. So that we find Daniels prophesy, concerning this fourth kingdom (or sixth King in the Apostle John's Revelations, chap. 17. 10.) to have been fulfilled in the time of Christ and his Apostles, it then being in its height. For Master Edward Grimstone, in his imperial history in the life of Augustus, folio 37. saith, that the Subjects of the Empire were very obedient unto him; and all others sent him ambassadors, seeking his favour and friendship, offering him their service: yea the Indians (a people of the remotest parts of the East) and also the Scythians which inhabit in the North, and the Parthians (a people most fierce and untamed) sent their Embassodors to him, giving security to keep the peace, and delivered the standards and Eagles taken ●n battle when Marcus Crassus was slain. There came also Kings, Friends and Subjects to the Empire, to Rome, to do him honour as his familiar Friends▪ laying aside their ensigns and royal Robes▪ and many of them built Cities to his Name ●or h●s ●onour, calling them Caesarea's in remembrance of▪ him▪ 〈◊〉 whose time the Temple of Janus 
●●●mstone ●. 35.  was thrice shut up; which never wa● but twice before from Rome's foundation. So that his Dominion must needs be of a large extent; Rome still being the apitall City (or imperial Seat▪) and continued so▪ till Constantine removed it, who made Byzantium in Thracia (Situated between the two Seas▪ viz. the Euxine and the Mediterranean) his imperial City; which was afterward by him, and to his Honour, called, Constantine the Noble (and by contraction, Constantinople;) this being done about the year o our Lord Christ 332. Now though Constantine, by reason of his removing of his imperial Seat, from Rome out of the West, to Constantinople in the East, did much weaken the imperial Power; yet the Empire was not fully divided in many years after; but some partings there were before, as in the reign of the Emperor Jovinianus, (the Successor of Julian the Apostate) about the year of Christ 366. (who reigned but seven months) he was compelled to make peace with Sapores the King of Persia for thirty years, leaving unto the said Persian King, all the Provinces belonging unto the Roman Empire, lying beyond the River Tigris, as also some Cities in Armenia; and he was not to aid or assist Arsaces' King of Armenia. And about the year of our Lord, 420. the Gauls, or French, in the West (in the days of the Emperors Honorius and Arcadius, Sons of Theodosius the Great) fell off from the Empire, and set up Pharamont, the Son of Marcomir, for their King. About which time did the Goths, who possessed a great part of Spain (and some part 
general History of Spain. f. 132.  of that Country which is now under the Dominion of the Fr●nch) set up Vallia, their first King, whose royal Seats were Narbon● and Tholouse. Also in the year 440. Hermerick, King of the Sueves, a little before his death, had so 
Grimstone ●▪ 280.  pacified the people of Galicia, as he reigned over them. And about the year 447. in the reign of Theodosius the second, and Valentinianus, Emperors, the Britons in this 
Howes Chronicle f. 50.  Island (being sorsaken of the Roman aid which they expected against the Picts) chose Vor●iger for their King. About which time Alaricus, King of the Gothe●, came into Italy, and took and destroyed the City of Rome, 1160 
Grimstone f. 266.  years after it was built; Honorius the Emperor (with his Brother Arcadius) living at Ravenna, which in those days was a great and principal City. But the great division of the Empire was in the days of Constanstine the sixth, and his Mother Irene; L●o the third being Pope of Rome, who at a solemn M●sse (being assisted by his Cardinals) Crowned 
Grimstone f. 381.  Charles the Great King of France (born in Germany) Emperor of Rome, on the 25. of December, in the year of our Lord 800, about 468. years after Constantine the Great removed his imperial Seat out of the West into the East. Which division some do apprehend to be the time that Daniel's Vision of the Image, which Nebuchadnezar saw, did hold forth, as consisting of two legs that were of Iron, which implieth strength. But how could that be? for this division of the Empire, instead of strengthening of it, made it weaker daily, as the that will take a little pains to search in Grimstones imperial history, from and after this time, shall find; for the Western Empire is afterwards divided into several kingdoms and Governments, and the Eastern is quite devoured by the Turks in the year of our Lord 1453. Constantine Paleologus being the last Emperor, and slain in the City of Constantinople, when it was taken by that famous Turk, Mahomet the Great, the first of that name; and with it the whole Grecian or Eastern Empi●e about 1121▪ years' after it had been the head City of that Empire.  
So that the decay of one of these Iron legs of the Image, (viz. the Roman Empire) makes way for the other Iron leg, 
7th Head.  upon which the whole Body is supported, which is the seventh Head, or King, in John's Revelation, chap 17. 10. And there are seven Kings, (and they are seven Kings, saith the Geneva Translation) five are fallen, one is, and the other is not yet come, and when he cometh, he must continue a short space; which compared with the 11. Daniel 20. and you shall find him there styled, a Raiser of Taxes; Then shall stand up in his Estate a Raiser of Taxes, in the Glory of the kingdom, but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger, nor in battle.  
Object. In the 2. Daniel 33. verse, the two Iron legs in the Vision are called but one kingdom in the interpretation, verse 40.  
Answ. That many times the Lord is pleased in the Visions of the Prophets, to wrap up many things in one. As for instance, in the 8. Daniel, in the Vision of the Rough Goat, upon whose fall four horns or kingdoms arise, and out of them came forth a little Horn, which waxed exceeding great, &c. verse 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. which compared with the interpretation thereof, verse 22, 23, 24, 25. it will evidently appear, that this little Horn must be the same with the vile Person, Man of Sin, and Beast, that John speaks of in the 17. Revelations, because his power is mighty, but not by his own power, he getting the Dominion by flattery, Dan. 11. 21 And he shall stand up against the Prince of Princes (which Antiochus never did, as some say, who imagine him to be this little Horn) and be broken without hands, which cannot have relation to his Person only, but to his Power also, which Antiochus power was not, though he himself were consumed by worms.  
But this vile Person, little Horn, Man of Sin, or Beast, his Army is destroyed, and himself taken alive, and cast into a Lake of fire, Revel. 19, 19, 20, 21. Which if so, then is not only the fourth kingdom left out, in the 2. Dan. 40. but also that Raiser of Taxes, Daniel 11. 20. Another instance in the 11. Daniel, in that Vision, he having spoken of the Persian and Grecian Dominion, and the ruin of the last, and rise of the four kingdoms out of it; there is declared, what shall fall out between the two Dominions of the North and the South (viz. the Seleucides and Ptolemies) but nothing at all of the fourth Beast or Kingdom, and sixth Head or kingdom in John's Revelation.  
And then comes to mention the Successor of the King of the North, whom he calls a Raiser of Taxes, verse 20. where it is said, Then shall stand up in his Estate a Raiser of Taxes, in the glory of the kingdom, but within few days he shall be destroyed, neither in anger or in battle, and verse the 21. And in his Estate shall stand up a vile Person, &c.  
One instance more, in the 7. Daniel, where the Prophet sees the Vision of four Monarchies typified by four Beasts, and the fourth Beast to have ten horns, verse 7. where is left out the Raiser of Taxes, that is to arise before the ten horns, as will plainly appear in the 17: chapter of John's Revelations.  
The seventh Head must arise before the Beast, and the ten horns are to have power one hour with the Beast, verse 12. So that these three instances do make it evidently appear, that the Lord in His Visions to his Prophet doth not at one time show all things that should be, or fall out, but in some more, in some less, as we see here in these instances; in the first is left out the fourth kingdom or sixth Head, and the Raiser of Taxes or seventh Head. In the second is left out the fourth Kingdom or sixth Head only: And in the last is left out the Raiser of Taxes or seventh Head only.  
Now concerning this seventh Head in John's Revelations chapter 17. according to the Geneva Translation it is rendered thus; Here is the mind that hath wisdom, the seven Heads are seven mountains, whereon the Woman sitteth, they are also seven Kings, verse 10. Five are fallen, and one is, and another is not yet come, and when he cometh he must continue a short space, and verse 11. And the Beast that was, and is not, is even the eighth, and is one of the seven, and shall go into destruction; which compared with the 11. Daniel 20, 21. we shall find, that the Raiser of Taxes (which, by what we have already proved, ●ust needs be this seventh Head) doth arise the next, before the vile Person, Then shall stand up in his place, in the Glory of the kingdom, &c. yet he (viz. the vile Person) shall come to his end, and none shall help him, verse 45.  
Object. But may we not question the Geneva Translation as to this particular seeing all our common Translations render it in another sense; as thus, And there are seven Kings; not, They are seven Kings.  
Answ. We do not only find it in our English Bibles, of the Geneva Translation, and that of Tindal's Translation, but also the Italian, and ancient French Bibles, printed near one hundred years since at Ly●ns; however the current of the Scriptures will clear it to be so; as that mountains do imply Persons and Powers, or Persons in power; look upon and consider well of that expression of the Prophet Jeremy, in his 51. chapter 25. Behold I am against thee, O destroying Mountain, saith the Lord (speaking of Babylon in the foregoing verse) which destroyeth all the Earth, and I will stretch out mine hand upon thee, and roll the down from the Rocks, and will make thee a burnt Mountain. Also that of the Prophet Zachery in his 4. chapter 7. Who art thou O great Mountain? (speaking of the Persian Monarch) before Zerubbabell thou shalt become a Plain.  
And if that we should say, that this seventh Head is now arising (for we have already showed, that the sixth Head is so far decayed, that there is little of it now appears, in comparison of what it was) I hope we should not be found to be in an error. And we shall lay down some grounds for what we hope, or in this thing should seem to maintain.  
1. First we are to observe, that the rise of one Head was the ruin of that which was before it; or the decay of the one made way for the rise of the other, as we have already proved.  
2. That this seventh Head or Government, according to Daniels prophecy chap. 11. 20. is styled a Raiser of Taxes, that is a Government which is upheld by Taxes; not a Government that hath a vast Treasure hoarded up, as was in the capital at Rome; nor that hath a great Revenue of Lands or Tribute, as Kingly and monarchical Governments in these Ages have; and in particular, this Nation had, when under such a Government; but it is a Government that is wholly supported and upheld by Taxes, as this Nation wherein we live is; and this Nation (in respect of Government) would not be able to subsist, were it not for this supportation; for now here is no Treasure to be found, nor Revenue left to defray the ordinary Charges incident thereunto, much less for the maintenance of an Army in the three (quondam) kingdoms, and a Navy near ten times as great as was ordinarily maintained under the royal Government.  
Object. But was not Augustus Cesar this Person or Government, which did subsist in this way; for the Evangelist Luke in his 2. chapter 1. saith, And it came to pass in those days, that there came a Decree from Augustus Cesar, that all the world should be taxed.  
Answ. It could not be, for these Reasons: First, that Government by Taxes must immediately precede the vile Person; and that Government of Augustus was that which John calls the sixth Head, five are fallen, one is, which is this under which John lived, and was banished by into the Isle of Patmos, and the other is not yet come, which then was not, and is that we now write of, that of Taxes.  
Secondly, that Government of Augustus continued some hundred of years in its height, and was many ages in declining, this Government by Taxes shall continue a short space, comparatively with the other.  
So that we may safely conclude, that this Government, which is to be supported by Taxes, cannot properly be said to have been in any Nation, that was under any of the other six Heads or Governments, if not in this commonwealth of England, Scotland and Ireland.  
3. Ground of our apprehending that the seventh Head is arising (and that among us) which is to be maintained by Taxes, is the Liberty of Conscience (or freedom to exercise that knowledge, which is communicated to any, in spiritual things, agreeable to the Word of God, or not repugnant to it) that is granted here, whereby the Gospel of the kingdom (or personal reign of Christ on Earth) may be freely preached among us (and so shall pass into all the world afterwards, the Sword making way for this Liberty) which freedom or Liberty is granted in no Nation, especially upon that account as here; In France there is some toleration, but of necessity (those that they call Protestants there being a considerable powerful party, and so not easily to be suppressed:) In the United Provinces the Liberty granted, proves very advantaglous to them, by drawing others (that cannot have that liberty in their own Country) thither, who bring with them Estates; but whether poor or rich, they do contribute little or much towards the charge of maintaining them in their civil Liberties.  
But in England it is otherwise, the Liberty that is granted and enjoyed is merely upon the account, that light is broke forth; and since this Liberty hath been granted (and upon this account) all eyes (that are not wilfully shut from beholding the same) have seen, that no Nation hath prospered, or hath had the like success that we have had against all our Enemies; in so much that the neighbour Nations stand in admiration at it, if not tremble, (to God only be all the Glory) as they have good cause, if at any time they shall combine against us; for the seventh Head must have as large Dominions as any (if not as all) the precedent had.  
Now concerning the Lord's work, which he will do under this seventh Head, we shall find it to be twofold, and that in a way of Mercy, as he permitted a twofold work to be done under the sixth Head, in a way of affliction or persecution.  
The first of which (under the sixth Head) was the ten persecutions of the Saints (which could not be the ten horns, as some have imagined, and the Whore of Rome to be the Beast) in the first three hundred years after Christ, who then suffered under the literal Babylonish Whore, in respect of Worship, because they would not sacrifice to Idols; whose judgement (viz. the literal Babylonish Whore) in respect of Worship, was shown to John in his 17. Revelations 1, 2. And that by the rise of another Whore (or whorish or false Worship) in the 3. verse, John being carried by the Spirit into the wilderness, where he saw a Woman that sat upon a scarlet coloured Beast, full of names of blasphemy, having seven Heads and ten horns. Whose rise of Worship (viz. the spiritual Babylonish or Romish) is and hath been the ruin of the first; and her practice is, by her Emissaries, in respect of doctrine, to cry down all literal Sacrifices (as killing of Beasts and fowls, &c.) on●ly a spiritual Sacrifice that they bring instead there of, by offering up their Wafer God (so called) in the hands of their Priests; by whom also that absurd doctrine (and bloody to those poor Saints in the Marian days, that would not believe a lie.) of Transubstantiation was brought in: In opposing of her spiritual whorish Worship, how many Saints (since her rise) hath she made the Martyrs of Jesus, being drunken with their blood; at which the Apostle John wondered with great admiration, verse 6. And this was the second work that should be brought to pass under the sixth Head, in respect of affliction or persecution; which power of hers, in respect of Worship, will continue in the time of the seventh Head; for she is to sit upon the Beast with seven Heads and ten horns; so that she is to have a being after the rise of the ten horns, who arise not till the seventh Head hath reigned; and she shall afterwards be destroyed by them in respect of place, or Seat, (viz. Rome itself) if not of worship also, verse 16, 17, 18.  
Now the Lord's work that is to be done under this seventh Head is, as we said, twofold:  
First, the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom, Math. 24. 14.  
Secondly, the calling home of the Jews into their own Land (viz. the two Tribes, Judah and Benjami●) to build the City of Jerusalem and the Temple.  
Object. Concerning the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom, some it may be will say, it hath been preached already, in the days of the Apostles, who went about into all parts of the world, according to their Master's Commission in Math. 28. go ye into all the world, preach the Gospel to every Creature, &c. and the Apostle Paul in the 10. Romans 18. saith, Their sound went into all the Earth; which say some, is the Gospel spoken of in the 16. verse of that chapter, but they have not all obeyed the Gospel,  
Answ. To which we answer, That the Gospel of the kingdom could not possibly have been preached in all the earth in the Apostles time; for if it had so been, the end of it had been presently, that is, it would not have been any more preached.  
2. It could not have been so preached then, because a large part of the now known world was not then known or discovered, nor in many hundred years after them; and it may well be questioned, whether it hath at all been preached (yea hardly known or believed by any there) in the English Plantations in America, much less in the Plantations of other Nations (in that now known part of the world) who cannot endure to have the least light of spiritual things to break forth in their Dominions; witness that damnable doctrine of theirs, so highly cried up by the Popish Party, that Ignorance is the Mother of Devotion, joined with another of the same stamp, that Images are laymen's books: but chiefly their cruel tyrannising over the Consciences of their people, by setting up their Hell upon Earth, their cruel Inquisition, which so long as that is maintained in a Nation, there is little hopes of this Gospel to be preached there. And as concerning that Scripture of the Apostle Paul in his 10. chapter of his Epistle to the Church at Rome, verse 18. if the coherence of the words be well weighed, the Gospel there spoken of, cannot be the Gospel of Christ, which the Apostles had in Commission from him to preach: But it was the Gospel or glad tidings, spoken of in the Writings of the Prophets (viz. in Isaiah and Nahum) for the Apostle in the 15. verse of that 10. chapter saith, as it is written, how beautiful are the feet, &c. Therefore we suppose we may conclude safely, that this Gospel of the kingdom or reign of Christ upon Earth) hath not been published or made known in all the world.  
Object. But why must it now be preached in these days, in the time of the seventh Head or Government, or what necessity is there for it.  
Answ. First, because it hath in some measure been proved (if not fully) that it hath not been preached in all the world as yet, therefore it must be continued to be preached till it hath so been.  
Secondly, because the time of the seventh Heads power or reign is but short, therefore to be hastened in that time, for there is little hopes of Peace or Liberty for the Saints in the time of the ten horns or Kings and the Beast.  
Thirdly, it cannot be published in any place, but where there is Liberty and Peace, as there is among us, and it is hoped, the Sword that is in the now Magistrates hand of this Nation, will procure the same in other Nations, that there it may be preached also.  
Fourthly, because the Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ draweth nigh, (especially in relation to the taking up of the Saints) for if it be so, that the seventh Head be arising and shall continue but a short space, then immediately (upon his decay or setting) the ten horns and the Beast will arise, before whose power is at the height (viz▪ the Beasts) the Saints will be taken up (as we shall clear it more fully hereafter, especially when we open the 12. chapter of the book of the Revelation●) therefore the more reason to set upon this most necessary work of the preaching of the Gospel of the kingdom, lest we be found retarders of our own happiness.  
And as concerning the calling of the I●ws in thi● time o● Government, we say, that is that other work the Lord will 
Calling of the Jews▪  now have brought to pass; for as yet they are not so called, nor permitted by the Turks (who have the possession of their Country) to make any habitation there, nor to come thither but as Pilgrims, or to bury the bones of their deceased Friends, which they bring thither from all parts where they inhabit.  
Secondly, the Scriptures of the Prophets do declare, that Jerusalem must be built in its own place (which now it is not, if we may give any belief to Historians and Travellers) so what the Prophet Jeremy foretells concerning this particular in his 30. chapter 18. whose words are these; Thus saith the Lord, behold I will bring again the Captivity of Jacob's Tents, and have mercy on his dwelling places: and the City shall be builded upon her own heap, and the palace shall remain after the manner thereof. Also consider of the Prophet Zachery's prophecy as to this particular, in his 12. chapter 6. In that day will I make the governors of Judah like a hearth of fire among the wood, and like a Torch of fire in a sheaf, and they shall devour all the People round about, on the right hand and on the left, and Jerusalem shall be inhabited again in her own place, even in Jerusalem, And the other Prophets do declare, that the City must be besieged, and the daily sacrifice taken away, and great tribulation upon that people, and all this before the Beast is at his height, in regard of his power, who doth immediately arise upon the fall of the seventh Head.  
So that now having fully made manifest the Beast, in respect of his seven Heads; the next thing to be declared and opened is the ten horns or Kings; viz. who they are, concerning which the Scripture is silent, only that they are the 
The ten horns.  ten toes of Nebuchadnessar's Image, Daniel 2. as to their Persons and Dominion, in respect of Countries, where they shall particularly reign, we find not, and that as yet, they are not risen; for the Apostle John in his 17. Revelations 12. saith, They are ten Kings, who have received no kingdom as yet, but receive power one hour with the Beast. But thus much we may take notice of by the way, that the ten horns and the Beast, when they arise, will make Nebuchadnezar's Image complete, Daniel 2. 33. whose feet were part of Iron, and part of Clay; of whose Iron legs we have already given some account) which in the interpretation he saith, Whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potter's Clay, and part of Iron; the kingdom shall be divided, but there shall be in it of the strength of Iron, for as much as thou sawest the Iron mixed 
Feet and Toes.▪  with the miry Clay: and as the toes of the feet were part of Iron and part of Clay; so the kingdom shall be partly strong, and partly broken. And whereas thou sawest the Iron mixed with the miry Clay, they shall mingle themselves with the seed of men, but they shall not cleave one to another, even as Iron is not mixed with Clay. And in the daye● of those Kings shall the God of Heaven set up a kingdom, which shall never be destroyed, and the kingdom shall not be left to other People, but it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand for ever, verse 41, 42, 43, 44. So that as they are partly strong and partly weak (they being but a mixed power, that are united for the perfecting of some great design, but will not long hold together, for before the little Horn will three of the ten horns be plucked away, Daniel 7. ●. which in the interpretation verse 24. its said, he shall subdue three Kings) it intimates, that they will be divided, and he shall have those that will oppose him, yea, and destroy his royal Seats, of which more hereafter.  
Secondly, concerning the place from whence the Beast and ten Kings are to arise, it will evidently appear to be, out of 
The place where.  the Dominion that the seventh Head is to have, though Daniel seemeth to say, that they shall arise out of the sixth Head or fourth Beast in his 7. chapter 23, 24 yet compared with other Scriptures, it will plainly appear, that they will arise out of the seventh Head; see the 17. Revelations 11, 12. and Daniel 11. 21. but they must arise out of that part of the Dominion that was under the sixth Head, or Roman Monarchy, in John's time, for the Dominion of the seventh Head will be of a far larger extent than ever the sixth was in John's days, in regard of that large part of the world, that was unknown, and undiscovered in those days, but now is, and shall be brought under the power and government of the seventh Head.  
And in particular, the Beast that was and is not (which is the Beast complete with seven Heads and ten horns) and which yet shall be, he is the eight, and is of the seven; his rise will be in that part of the world that it was at the first, viz. in Assyria, and in that part thereof which was called Caldea; whose chief City shall be Babylon, as it was at the first; for John saith, The Beast that thou sawest, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless Pit, chap. 17. 8. Not that it was then so made manifest or known; for John saw not things as they then were apparent to the world, but what should be in its time; nor that it should be made manifest when the Beast did arise, but what it should be afterwards: So that his rise is out of that part of the world, that should in its time be made manifest to be the bottomless Pit; out of which Pit the Locusts shall arise, that shall plague or sting the Inhabitants of the Earth, which have not the Seal of God in their foreheads, Revel. 9 3, 4. and in which place the devil shall be chained up for a thousand years, Revel. 20. 1, 2, 3. Now that the bottomless Pit shall be in Caldea; see what the same Apostle John heard, as concerning Babylon, what it should be; viz The habitation of Devils, and the hold of every foul Spirit, and a cage of every unclean and hateful Bird, Revel. 18. 2. which compared with the 13. Isaiah 19, 20. 21, 22. and chap. 14. 22, 23. you will find how they agree in their prophecies and Visions concerning the desolation and destruction of that place▪ I shall (to conclude as concerning the bottomless Pit, which shall be in Caldea, and chiefly in Babylon) relate a little at large what the Prophet Jeremy hath foretold concerning it, whose words are these, Therefore 
Jer. 50. 39, 40.  the wild Beasts of the Desert, with the wild Beasts of the Islands shall dwell there, and the owls shall dwell therein; and it shall be no more inhabited for ever; neither shall it be dwelled in from Generation to Generation. As God overthrew Sodom and Gomorrha, and the neighbour Cities thereof, saith the Lord; so shall no man abide there, neither shall any son of man dwell therein. 
What they will do.   
The third thing to be considered of, is what the ten Horns and Beast will do before and after the taking up of the Saints.  
First, before the taking up of the Saints, the ten horns will arise, and hate the Whore, and make her desolate, &c. Revel. 17. 16. and this Whore or Woman, is that great City, which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth, verse 18. (viz. in that time that John saw the Vision and wrote this Book) and God hath put into their hearts to fulfil his will, and to agree with one consent to give their kingdom unto the Beast, until the words of God be fulfilled, verse 17. So that they must first hate the Whore, and destroy her, before they give up their power unto the Beast.  
Secondly, As to the Beast, what he will do.  
First, Before the Saints are taken up, we find much in the 21. chapter of Daniels prophecy after his rise. As that arms shall be overthrown with a flood before him, and shall be broken, and also the Prince of the Covenant (or chief of those who had joined in a League to oppose him;) and after the League made with him (he having obtained his power and dominion at the first by flatteries) he shall work deceitfully, for he shall come up and overcome with a small people (in regard the Nations had no thoughts of a war, a League being lately made before between them) and he shall enter into the quiet and plentiful Province (that is, into the Land of Canaan, whose barrenness shall then be healed, as several of the Prophets have foretold; Esay 32. 15. and in his 51. chapter 3. he faith, For the Lord shall comfort Zion; he will comfort all her wast places, and he will make her wilderness like Eden, and her Desert like the Garden of the Lord: joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving and the voice of melody: Also the 30. Jeremiah 17. and chap. 33. 6. to the 14. verse. Ezekiel 38. 12. and Joell 2. 19, 22, 23, 24.) and he shall do that which his Fathers have not done, nor his father's Fathers; he shall divide among them the prey, and the spoil, and the substance (a thing which his Fathers, nor none of his Predecessors ever did, for they took all from the people of the Jews, never divided any among them, which he shall do) yea; he shall forecast his devices against the strong holds, even for a time, verse 24. although at that time he doth do much for them, only to put them into a secure condition. In the 25. and 26. verses it is said, he shall make war with the King of the South (the Aegyptdan Prince) and he shall be betrayed to the vile Person, by those that feed of the Portion of his meat, but afterwards they shall be reconciled seemingly, for they shall talk of deceit (or speak lies) at one Table, verse 27. and both set their hearts to do mischief, but it shall not avail, for yet the end shall be at the time appointed: and verse 28. He shall return into his own Land, with great substance (or Riches) and his heart shall be against the holy Covenant (or people of the jowes, with whom he had before made a League, and divided his spoil among them) so shall he do, and return to his own Land; that is, his evil thoughts will then begin to work against them, according to Ez●kiels prophecy in his 38. chapter 10, 11, 13. for this Gog or Prince of Meshech and Tubal will evidently appear to be be this vile Person or John's Beast, if we compare Ezok. 38. 18. to the 23. and 39 chapter 17, 18, 19, 20 with the 19 Revel. 17, 18.) And at the time appointed he shall return and come toward the South; (at which return of his, his evil thoughts do then begin to show themselves in actions, by his causing them (viz. the Jews) to be besieged, as he passeth through their Country towards the King of the South. For than it is, that Sheba, and Dedan, and the Merchants of Tarshish shall say, (to Gog or this vile Person) art thou come to take the Prey and the spoil, Ezek. 38. 13. So that now will begin to be fulfilled another part of Daniels prophecy, who saith in his 8. chapter 13, 14. that the time that the daily Sacrifice shall be taken away, and the transgression of desolation, to give both the Sanctuary and the Host, to be trodden under feet, shall be two thousand three hundred days, and then the Sanctuary shall be cleansed. So that the taking away of the daily Sacrifice (by reason of his beseiging Jerusalem) shall be near three years, or about a thousand days, before the abomination that makes desolate be set up (which cannot be till after the City is taken by the vile Person: And from that time, that the abomination is set up, it shall be one thousand two hundred and ninety days before the end of the vile Persons reign be; and blessed is he that wait●th and cometh to the one thousand three hundred and five and thirty days, Daniel 12. 11, 12.) But the last (expedition) shall not be as the first; For the Ships of Chittim shall come against him, &c. verse 30. Who they are the Scripture is silent; only we find another prophecy of Balaam to this effect in the 24. Numbers 24. where it is said, And Skips shall come from the Coast of Chittim, and shall afflict Ashur, and shall afflict Eber, and he (Ashur) also shall perish for ever.  
Now we shall give in something of our own thoughts concerning this verse (and yet not our own, but what is given in unto us; which its likely will be slighted by those that are prepossessed with former and ancient Expositions on this Subject, but we shall leave it to after time, which will manifest whether we are in the truth or no;) the Ships of Chittim we do apprehend to be the power or forces of the ten horns or Kings, who had lately destroyed Rome, and now are invited by the King of the South (or Egypt). (whom we do apprehend to be one or those ten Kings, a part of whose Forces hath been with the rest in destroying the Whore or Woman viz Rome) to help him against the vile Person, who he hears is preparing for a second invasion on him, which they hearken unto (in regard they have done their great work in destroying the Whore, Rome;) and the vile person finding it (by his Intelligences) to be true: He considers with himself, that this must needs be a very great power that is coming against him, (that had destroyed so great and famous a City as Rome) which makes him sorry that he must leave his Southern design, and therefore now frets himself against the holy Covenant, and returns against the people of the Jews, whom he will then beseige with his whole force; and in the height of his power thinking to take it, is he and his Army so terrified with that dreadful sight of the Graves opening, and the believing Saints being taken up to meet the Lord Jesus in the air (at which time the devil shall be cast into the earth, and shall give his power unto the Beast) that they shall fly and call to the Rocks to fall upon them, &c. Rev. 6. And during the time of that terror will the Church of the Jews (viz. the one hundred forty and four thousand) fly out of Jerusalem into the wilderness.  
And now we come to declare what he (id ●st, the v●le Person or Beast) will do after the Saints are taken up; that is, he and his Army, after a short space, will recover their Spirits again, and being empowered by the devil (according to what John saw in a vision that would be in his 13. Rev. 7.) he takes Jerusalem, and half the City is carried into captivity, the other half remaining therein, Za●h. 14. 2. And then will he set himself in the Temple of God, and exalt himself above all that is called God, 2 Thess. 2. 4. and Dan. 11. 36. Presently after this will another part of Daniels prophecies be fulfilled, verse 31. And arms shall stand on his part, &c. for the forces of the ten horns or Kings, who came to assist the King of the South (by reason of Satan's malioe, increasing against the Woman, or Church of the Jews, fled into the wilderness) are now persuaded, by the Dragon and the vile Person, to join with him, in utterly rooting out this people of the Jews out of that plentiful Country; and to cause them the sooner to comply with him, he will tell them how great his power is, as that that great terror that fell upon all the Inhabitants of the world, was not in any favour or assistance to the Jews (whom he then besieged) but to him; the God of this world (the devil) having now communicated his power to him, as the Apostle John declares the Dragon will do, Rev. 13. 2. and his lies prevail with them, according to the prophecy of the Apostle Paul, 2 Thess. 2. 11. which he having effected, he than is that Beast complete with seven Heads and ten horns, having them all under his power and command.  
And now we apprehend will be the time, when all the world will wonder after the Beast, whose deadly wound by a Sword was healed and did live, Rev. 13. 3, 14. which deadly wound had relation to the time that Phull and Arbaces did divide the Assyrian and Babylonian Monarchy between them, in the days of Sardanapulus the last of Nimrod's posterity; which Beast the Apostle John saith in the 17. Rev. 8. Was and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomless Pit, and shall go into perdition, and they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder (whose names are not written in the Book of Life from the foundation of the world) when they behold the Beast that was, and is not, and yet is. As if it had been a thing impossible, that ever any Monarch should arise out of that place again.) And so they come and join with him, who immediately (after this conjunction) pursueth the Woman (the Church of the Jews) that is fled into the wilderness; and they staying behind to keep possession of Jerusalem, by the persuasion of the false Prophet (who arose among them) set up the abomination that makes desolate, as is prophesied of by Daniel in his 11. chapter 31. verse: Which prophecy could not be fulfilled in the days of Antiochus Epiphanes (though that might be a type of this) as the marginal Notes in the Geneva Translation seem to hold forth, for they say, the said Antiochus did then set up the Image of Jupiter Olympus in the Temple of Jerusalem: Now if that prophecy had then been fulfilled, the Lord Jesus (by two of his Evangelists, Matthew and Mark) would not have left it upon Record, (Math. 24. 15. Mark 13. 14.) for the jowes to take notice of, that then would be the time that they had most need to fly, in regard of the great tribulation that would immediately follow, such as was not from the beginning of the world to that time, nor shall be, Math. 24. 21. therefore this could not be fulfilled before. Besides this Abomination that is then to be set up, is the Image of the vile Person or Beast (who is not yet risen as to be made manifest) according to the Apostle John's R●velation, chap. 13. 14, 15. and not any other Image, or offering of swine's flesh, as some other Expositors on that place do hold forth.  
Now having declared something of the actings of this Beast, both before and after the Saints are taken up, we shall in the next place mention something of the time of hi● reign, how 
The time of his reign, how long after the Saints are taken up.  long it will be, with some passages of things during that time, which we have not already declared.  
As to the time, the Apostle John in his 11. chapter of his Revelations 2. saith But the Court that is without the Temple, cast out and meet it not, for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy City shall they trea● under foot two and forty months. Which compared with the 9 Daniel 27. And he shall confirm the Covenant with many for one week, and in the midst of the week he shall cause the Sacrifice and the Oblation to cease, &c. And he shall speak great words against the most High, and shall wear out the Saints of the most High, and think to change Times and laws: and they shall be given into his hands until a time, and times, and the dividing of time, Daniel 7. 25. also other Scriptures for the farther clearing of this may be found in the 12 Daniel 7, 11, 12. verses. So that from the time of the Saints being taken up, and the Dragon or devil being cast down (who gives his power to the Beast) to the time that the Beast and false Prophet will be taken alive and cast into the lake ●f fire, and the said devil or Dragon bound up with a chain, will be but a short time; for the v●yce in heaven, Revelation 12. 10. and the beginning, and the 12. verse, the latter end, declares a Wo● to the Inhabitants of the Earth, and of the Sea, for the devil is come down unto you, which hath great wrath, knowing that he hath but a sh●rt time, So that taking the longest time of the Prophecies concerning him, from the said time of the Saints being taken up, to his end, will not be four years. A short time in respect of eternity, but a long time in respect of the miseries and plagues that will fall upon the Inhabitants of the Earth. In that time this little Horn (as Daniel calls him in his 7. chapter 24.) shall subdue three Kings, which in the 8. verse of that chapter the calls horns; who these three are, probably they may be found, to be Egypt, Lybia, and Aeth●opia, Daniel 11. 43. but if these be not those, then as yet we cannot discern from the Scriptures who they are. Also in that time the Witnesses prophesy, who have pow●r to smite the Earth with all manner of plagues as often as they will; and then will the seven Trumpets sound, and the seven Vi●ls be poured forth; of which we shall hereafter, as time and opportunity shall serve, and the Lord assisting of us, declare further what is given In unto us concerning them.  
Fifthly, For his ruin, it will be after he hath raised a very great Army, and that by the Spirits of devils working Miracles, that go out of his mouth, and the Dragons, and the false Prophets, who go unto the Kings of 
His ruin.  the Earth, and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle of the great day of God Almighty, Revelations 16. 13, 14. For in the 19 Revelations 19, 20. John saith, And I saw the Beast, and the Kings of the Earth, and their Hosts gathered together to make battle against him that sat on the Horse, and against his Army; but the Beast was taken, and with him that false Prophet that wrought miracles before him, whereby he dcceived them that received: the Beasts mark, and them that worshipped his Image; these both were alive cast into a lake of fire, burning with brimstone. Now if we compar● this Scripture of his ruin with o her Scriptures, we shall find, that the Beast, the Man of sin, the vile Person, the little Horn, and Gog the Prince of Meshech and Tubal, to be all one Person, under several Names and Titles, i● we consider their Actings and Ends.  
1. First for the Man of fin, the Apostle Paul gives the Church at Thessalonica a description of him, by his Actings and End, 2 Thess. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8▪ 9  
2. For the vile Person, though we have not so clear a Scripture how he shall come to his ●nd, yet his Actings will demonstrate him to be the same, Daniel 11. 3●. and so forward but in the 36. verse you have the substance of all; And the King shall do what him list, he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself ahove every God, and shall speak marvellous things against the God of Gods▪ and shall prosper till the indignation be accomplished, for that that is determined shall be done. And in the last vers●, He shall come to his end.  
3. For the little Horn, Daniel in his 7. chap●●● 11. tells us, that then he beh●ld, because of 〈◊〉 voice of the presumptuous words which the little H●rn spoke, I beh●ld even till the Beast was 〈◊〉, and his body destroyed a●d given to the burning flame.  
4. For Gog the Prince of Meshech and Tubal, the Prophet Ezekiel who saw his Rise and ruin, gives an account of him in his 38. and 39 chapters, whose end is suitable to the other description of the Prophets (both before and after Ezekiel's prophecy) and Apostles of that Person, whose power shall be so great in the latter days; consider well of the 17. verse of Ezekiel's 38. chapter, and in the 22: verse of that chapter is the ruin of his Army declared; and the fowls of the Heaven are invited to this great Slaughter or Sacrifice of the Lord, chap: 39: 17, 18: compared with the 19: Rev. 17, 18.  
Now though the ruin of the Beast or vile Person, &c. be on this manner, yet it may very well be questioned, whether the ten horns or Kings (or rather seven of the ten, the Beast having already rcoted up three of them) are destroyed with him; for if we consider well of th●t portion of Daniels prophecy, chap: 7: 12: where it is said, as concerning the other Beasts, they had their Dominion taken away yet their lives were prolonged for a certain time and season: we may rather conclude, that they were not destroyed with the Beast.  
The next particular that we shall (with the Lord's Assistance) treat upon, will be the opening of the 12: chapter of the Apostle John's Visions and Revelations, which as we shall not declare rash and sudden thoughts thereon, so we desire it may not be suddenly expected from us, but rather to wait a while, for light is breaking forth daily, and that which may be apprehended for a truth to day; to morrow may easily be discerned to be a mistake; It is with us as with Military Persons upon duty in the Field, especially those that are upon the Guard, who looking about them continually (but chiefly upon break of the day) discover variety of Objects as they apprehend, & as there are, quot homines tot Sententioe, so many men so many minds or opinions, for one saith, that such a black thing that is at a pretty distance, is a Man, another saith a Tree, another a Horse, another this or that, when as possibly within a short time after (the day dawning more and more) they plainly perceive that they were all in an error, though then when they gave their opinions, they all might be confident, that what they said it was, it was, and then (as we apprehend) no evil in them, because they knew not the contrary, though not possible, that one Object upon the near approach, or by day light, could be the same thing that men of several judgements said it was: So it is with us, in respect of what we have already written, or shall; for many before us, in times of darkness, have given their interpretation, on these Subjects, In a contrary sense; and saying, that these prophecies have all (or the most part) been fulfilled long since; but we who are come near to the dawning of the day of the Lord Jesus, do clearly discern, that th●se that went before us, and writ on these Subjects, were much mistaken; and those that come after us will have a clearer and fuller discovery of these things then as yet we have; which than we hope will appear evidently to the eyes of all those, whose eyes of their understandings are enlightened by the Word and Spirit of God, to be such. Now to God only wise, and our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour, who hath not left us comfortless, but hath sent us His holy Spirit into our hearts, to guide and direct us in the way of Truth, be Glory, Praise and Dominion for ever: Amen.  
FINIS.