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their mouths, a more cruel ulage or lentence of death to iome, than to others fo that they had a three-fold way to put them to death. But all of them iffued out of their mouths only to fignify they had a commiffion to kill three feveral ways.

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CHA P. XXIX.

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O in verfe 19. For their power is in their mouth, and in their tails, for their tails were like unto ferpents, and had heads, and with them they do burt. So that the power of this great army, to kill with fire, and fmoke, and brimftone, it was in their mouths, and in their tails. That is, there iffued out of their mouths, fire, fmoke, and brimftone, that many men were killed of these three, as I have fhewed before.

But why is it faid, They had tails like ferpents, and had heads, and with them they did hurt? They may be faid to have tails like ferpents, because the most wife and moft moderate men in reafon, were the hindmoft part of the army, and the most lion-like men in the fore front; fo that the fore front of men were fo dreadful, their horfes being so numerous and fo pampered, that they seemed more like unto the heads of fo many lions rather than horfes, they were fo dreadful; and the hotfemen that fate upon them came with fuch fire, wrath, and vengeance, which iffued out of their mouths, which became like unto fire, fmoke, and brimftone; and these were in the fore front of the army, and did act as if they had been lions, and as if there had been nothing else in their mouths but fire, smoke, and brimftone. But the tail or hinder part of the army, did act more like fubtle ferpents; for the tail of the army had heads, and they had ftings in their heads. That is, they had a commiffion to act like ferpents, and to fting and hurt men as the fore front had which had breaft plates of fire. So that the fourth part, or head of this great army, were to act like lions, and the tail or hinder part of this great army, were to act like ferpents; they having commiffion fo to do from thefe four angles, which were loofed by the great river Euphrates and in this fenfe it may be faid that the power was in the mouth, and in their tails. For whofoever did escape the mouth or fore front of fire, smoke, and brimstone, they were fure to be stung with the tail; for the tails had heads and ftings in them. So that if the mouths of the lions did not kill them, the heads of the ferpents that were in the tails, would. So that what with the mouths and what with the tails, the third part of men were killed. For the fting of ferpents lieth in the head, but the fting of fcorpions lieth in the tail. Therefore it is that John doth fay, the tail of this army were like unto ferpents, and had heads, and with them they do hurt. For take a ferpent by the head and he can do no hurt, though his tail be at liberty. But the heads of these ferpents were at liberty, therefore it was they did hurt in killing of men.

This is to be minded, that this great army were heathen men, and those upon whom thefe great plagues fell were heathen men, wicked, idolatrous people, who worshipped wood and ftone guilded over with gold, even the works of their own hands.

They make a god with their own hands, and fall down and worship it, as

David faith, Pfal. cxv. 4, 5, 6, 7. Their idols are filver and gold, even the work of mens bands; they have mouths and speak not; eyes have they, and fee not; nofes have they, and fmell not; hands, and handle not; feet, but walk not, neither do they speak thorow the throat, as that which hath life doth. So Pfal. cxxxv. 15. The images of the heathen are filver and gold, &c.

So that these plagues which John faw in the vifion, it was upon the heathen Gentiles that had no faith in the gofpel of Jefus, neither did they repent eyer the more of their idolatry and worshiping of devils. That is, thofe men that were not killed by those plagues, did not leave off worshiping of devils, in that they did still worship idols of filver and of gold, and of brafs, and of stone, and of wood, which neither can hear, nor fee, nor walk.

So, in the laft verfe of this chapter, as they did not repent of their wicked idolatry, neither did they repent of their other wicked fins which nature is addicted to. That is to fay, their murders, nor of their forceries, nor of their fornication, nor of their thefts. But there needeth no further opening of the two last verses of this chapter, for they are eafy to be understood; therefore I shall fay no more as to the interpretation of the ninth chapter.

NOW

CHA P. XXX.

OW I have given the interpretation of all the chief things of concernment in all the nine chapters of the Revelation of St. John, and I have shewed in fome measure what plagues and judgments did proceed upon the founding of the trumpet of every one of the fix angels.

And as for the feventh angel founding, it founds in the eleventh chapter of the Revelation, which chapter I have interpreted already in that treatife called The Interpretation of the eleventh chapter of the Revelation.

And as for the chief chings in the tenth chapter, I have spoken of them in that book also; only the feven thunders, what they did utter, I have not written concerning it; becaufe John would have written what the feven thunders did utter, but the angel forbad him to write, faying, Seal up thofe things which the Seven thunders uttered, and write them not. So if he that heard them must not write what they uttered, how fhould I that never heard them? So that I shall pass by the tenth, eleventh and twelfth chapters, for I have fpoken of the chief heads of the twelfth chapter in the aforefaid treatise, and in The Divine LookingGlafs, fo that I fhall pass on to the thirteenth chapter.

But before I come to interpet the thirteenth chapter, I fhall speak fomething concerning the feven anti-angels founding their trumpets, as the feven true churches of Afia did; and how that there hath plagues and judgments been upon the earth at the founding of the anti-angels, as there was at the founding of thofe angels of Afia.

Now you may remember that I have fhewed before, that the ministers and paftors of every church are called angels. And the preaching of those minifters and paftors, is the founding of the trumpet; fo that when the trumpet of every angel did found, there was fome great judgment did follow. Í 2

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the trumpet of the ROI

ck miniltry, when they did put Christ and the apoftles into worship, the Pope being made the first bifhop or minifter, to fucceed and fit in Peter's chair, and fo other minifters were ordained under him: Was there not great troubles upon the earth at the first founding of the Popish ministry after the ten perfecutions? The hiftories of England do make mention what strange things were acted upon the earth in those parts at that time: But I fhall leave that to thofe that have been accustomed to read hiftories, who have those books to read. But in the time of its founding, hath there not been many plagues and troubles upon the earth, upon people whofe confciences have been tender, and could not bow down to their idolatrous worship? Hath not the Popish miniftry invented strange plagues and punishments for them, as they did in the ten perfecutions? The Book of Martyrs doth relate many strange torments, befides what other hiftories do relate; which the Papifts did use to torment men and women that could not bow down to the fuperftition which the miniftry of the Pope did fet up. So that it would be too tedious to relate what plagues have been upon the earth, what with the temporal and with the fpiritual plagues at, and in the founding of the trumpet of the Popifh miniftry, it being the first anti-angel of Europe, in resemblance of the angel of the church of Ephesus in Afia.

Secondly, Were there not great plagues upon the earth about religion, and turning the temporal affairs of the earth, when the Epifcopal and Proteftant ministry did found, when Luther, Calvin, and others did blow the trumpet of their ministry, diffenting and differing fomething about matters of religion? This I fuppose most men have the hiftory to fhew of that.

And what wonderful things have been acted by Proteftant kings, and Proteftant ministers, so that great plagues in the temporal, and perfecution for concience for differing in religion, hath been acted in the time of the Proteftant miniftry? it being the fecond anti-angel that did found, in refemblance and likeness of the angel of the church of Smyrna.

Thirdly, Were there not great plagues at the founding of the Prefbytery and Independent miniftry? I put them together, because they founded their trumpets both together, though there is a diftinct difference between them in fome particulars, in point of worship and church difcipline; but they were both of them that which is called Puritans, and their ministry did found a long time before they got power to perfecute; for they could not do that until they had put down the Epifcopacy; neither could the Proteftant miniftry perfecute until they had turned out the Papift; fo that the founding of one angel did put down the other.

And were there not plagues in the temporal, and perfecution in reilgion, when the Presbyterian and Independent founded their miniftry? Were not the bishops put down, and the Prefbyterian and Independent put in their room, or places? And did not the Prefbytery perfecute for confcience fake, in matters of religion? witness the Synod!

And after that was down, the Prefbyterian did perfecute upon the account of religion, as many can witnefs at this day. Likewife was not the king driven from Whitehall by the Prefbyterians and Independents? Were not great armies

raised against him? Were there not many men flain by both armies? Were there not many thousands of people undone and destroyed by these plagues and troubles at the founding of these two anti-angels, namely, Prefbytery and Independency? when I fay Prefbytery the Scots are included.

So that plagues did follow upon the founding of the trumpets of these antiangels, as there did at the founding of the trumpets of the angels of Afia. And the angel of the Prefbyterian fignifies and resembles the angel of the church of Pergamos. And the angel of the Independent doth fignify and resemble the angel of the church of Thyatira.

Fifthly, Were there not great plagues, at the founding of the Baptists, and the angel of the Ranters? these two founded together alfo; that is, their ministry founded forth together, as the Prefbytery and Independent did; and they held together in war as the other two. Did not great plagues follow upon the founding of these two anti-angels?

Was not Oliver Cromwel upon the Baptifts fcore at the firft? Was not he made general? Were not many Baptifts and Ranters made great officers of the army? for the Levellers were of the Ranters, and the Fifth-monarchy men were of the Baptifts. So that the Levellers were a branch that fprouted forth of the Ranters; and the Fifth-monarchy men were a branch that sprouted forth of the Baptifts.

And were not these the men that overthrew the king's army, and the Scotch army? Did not these beat down all those that stood against them? Did not these caufe judgment to be given upon the king when they had overcome him? Did not these make France, Spain, and Holland to bow, and fear before them?

Was not Oliver's name dreadful to neighbour nations? Was not he a terror to the cavaliers? Was there not great deftruction in England, and elsewhere, at the founding of these two anti-angles? These things many that are now living, can witness. So that there were plagues upon the earth at the founding of every angel; for the angel of the Baptist being the fifth, in refembling the angel of the church in Sardis.

And the ministry of the Ranters being the fixth angel, in relation to the angel of the church of Philadelphia; so that great plagues have been upon the earth at the founding of every one of these fix anti-angels, far more than I can relate. Only this may give the feed of faith a hint whereby they may fee what a fuitableness there is in the founding of the trumpets of the anti-angles of the churches of Europe, to the angles of the churches of Afia, and what plagues did follow.

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CHA P. XXXI.

W when the seventh angel of Afia did found, it is faid, That there fhould be time no longer, as in Revel. x. 6.

And in Revel. xi. 15. it is faid, And the feventh angel founded, and there were great voices in heaven, faying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Chrift, and he shall reign for ever and ever; intimating the end of all time at the founding of the seventh angel.

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agree in one; that is to fay, the water, blood, and fpirit; or the commiffion of the law, and commiffion of the gofpel, and commiffion of the fpirit. Thefe three being several, and a great distance of time between every one of them, as they were acted upon this earth; yet all but one record; fo is it with the Revelation of John in his vifion, he hath joined the founding of the feven trumpets of the feven angels, as if they did relate to no other but to the feven churches of Afia. When as the fame spirit did found in the time of the law, and fo it doth now in these last days in the commiffion of the spirit. For fome of those plagues that were upon the earth at the founding of thofe four angels, they were acted in the time of the record of the law, which fignifies the water, yet seen in the vifion by John, as if they were all acted and performed by the feven churches of Asia. So likewife the feven churches of Europe were included in the vifion alfo, for there is a remnant of the feed of the woman, in all the feven churches of Europe that will be faved, though the miniftry of them be anti; they being non-commiffionated angels, yet called angels who found their trumpets. And at the founding of these anti-angels, great plagues hath followed, as I have fhewed before.

Now the Quakers being the feventh and laft anti-angel that will found, in refemblance of the angel of Laodicea; there will fall great plagues upon the earth at the founding, and in the founding of this feventh and laft anti-angel.

For there are no more angels to found after the Quakers ministry; for this. miniftry will last to the end of the world. For there will never come no better nor higher miniftry while the world doth laft; for the Quakers miniftry is the feventh and laft anti-angel that will found, and as the mystery of God was finished in the days of the voice of the feventh angel when it did begin to found, as in Revel. x. and as I have declared in The Interpretation of the eleventh of the Revelation.

So likewife when this angel hath founded out-right, the world will be at an end, and the kingdoms of this world will become our Lord Chrift's, and he fhall reign for ever and ever, Revel. xi. 15. And this plague will be the greatest plague of all the other fix plagues unto the feed of reafon, who have perfecuted the innocent, and killed the juft. But how long time it will be when these things fhall come, it is not revealed to me, nor no man elfe. Only this by revelation I know, that the laft or third commiffion of the fpirit is now extant upon the earth. And that the Quakers miniftry, is the feventh and laft angel that will found; but how long time it will found, is not yet revealed to me.

But this I know, that they are the laft, and being the laft, they may last a pretty while. Neither would I have the reader to think, that the miniftry of the other fix angels will be extinguished, for they will last to the end of the world alfo. Only this I would have the reader to understand, that all fects and opinions in matter of religion, are comprised in these feven churches of Europe. So that these seven churches are the root and body; and the other opinions in religion, though feemingly they differ from them, yet I fay they are but branches that are fprouted forth from fome of these feven churches of Europe. Though

they

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