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ten what the seven thunders did utter, but the angel forbad him to write, saying, Seal up those things which the seven thunders uttered, and write them not. So if he that heard them must not write what they uttered, how should I that never heard them? So that I shall pass by the tenth, eleventh and twelfth chapters, for I have spoken of the chief heads of the twelfth chapter in the aforesaid treatise, and in The Divine Looking Glass, so that I shall pass on to the thirteenth chapter.

But before I come to interpret the thirteenth chapter, I shall speak something concerning the seven anti-angels sounding their trumpets, as the seven true churches of Asia did; and how that there hath plagues and judgments been upon the earth at the sounding of the anti-angels, as there was at the sounding of those angels of Asia.

Now you may remember that I have shewed before, that the ministers and pastors of every church are called angels. And the preaching of those ministers and pastors, is the sounding of the trumpet; so that when the trumpet of every angel did sound, there was some great judgement did follow.

As at the sounding of the trumpet of the Roman Catholick ministry, when they did put Christ and the apostles into worship, the Pope being made the first bishop or minister, to succeed and sit in Peter's chair, and so other ministers were ordained under him: Was there not great troubles upon the earth at the first sounding of the Popish ministry after the ten persecution? The histories of England do make

mention

mention what strange things were acted upon the earth in those parts at that time: But I shall leave that to those that have being accustomed to read histories, who have those books to read. But in the time of its sounding, hath there not been many plagues and troubles upon the earth, upon people whose consciences have been tender, and could not bow down to their idolatrous worship? Hath not the Popish ministry invented strang plagues and punishments for them, as they did in the ten persecutions? The Book of Martyrs doth relate many strange torments, besides what other histories do relate; which the Papists did use to torment men and women that could not bow down to the superstition which the ministry of the Pope did set up. So that it would be too tedious to relate what plagues have been upon the earth, what with the temporal and with the spritual plagues at, and in the sounding of the trumpet of the Popish ministry, it being the first antiangel of Europe, in resemblance of the angel of the church of Ephesus in Asia.

Secondly, Were there not great plagues upon the earth about religion, and turning the temporal affairs of the earth, when the Episcopal and Protestant ministry did sound; when Luther, Calvin, and others did blow the trumpet of their ministry, dis senting and differing something about matters of religion? This I suppose most men have the history to shew of that.

And what wonderful things have been acted by Protestant kings, and Protestant ministers, so that great plagues in the temporal, and persecution for

conscience

conscience for differing in religion, hath been acted the time of the Protestant ministry? it being the second anti-angel that did sound, in resemblance and likeness of the angel of the church of Smyrna.

Thirdly, Were there not great plagues at the sounding of the Presbytery and Independent ministry? I put them together, because they sounded their trumpets both together, though there is a distinct difference between them in some particulars, in point of worship and church discipline; but they were both of them that which is called Puritans, and their ministry did sound a long time before they got power to persecute; for they could not do that until they had put down the Episcopacy; neither could the Protestant ministry persecute until they had turned out the Papist; so that the sounding of one angel did put down the other.

And were there not plagues in the temporal, and persecution in religion, when the Presbyterian and Independent sounded their ministry? Were not the bishops put down, and the Presbyterian and Independent put in their room, or places? And did not the Presbytery persecute for conscience sake, in matters of religion? witness the Synod!

And after that was down, the Presbyterian did persecute upon the account of religion, as many can witness at this day. Likewise was not the king driven from Whitehall by the Presbyterians and Independents? Were not great armies raised against him? Were there not many men slain by both armies? Were there not many thousands of people undone and destroyed by these plagues and troubles

at

at the sounding of these two anti-angels, namely, Presbytery and Independency? when I say Presbytery the Scots are included.

So that plagues did follow upon the sounding of the trumpets of these anti-angels, as there did at the sounding of the trumpets of the angels of Asia. And the angel of the Presbyterian signifies and resembles the angel of the church of Pergamos. And the angel of the Independent doth signify and resemble the angel of the church of Thyatira.

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

Was not Oliver Cromwell upon the Baptists score at the first? Was not he made general? Were not many Baptists and Ranters made great officers of the army? for the Levellers were of the Ranters, and the Fifth-monarchy men were of the Baptists. So that the Levellers were a branch that sprouted forth of the Ranters; and the Fifth-monarchy men were a branch that sprouted forth of the Baptists.

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 cause 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

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

And the ministry of the Ranters being the sixth angel, in relation to the angel of the church of Philadelphia; so that great plagues have been upon the earth at the sounding of every one of these six anti-angels, far more than I can relate.

Only this may give the seed of faith a hint whereby they may see what a suitableness there is in the sounding of the trumpets of the anti-angels of the churches of Europe, to the angels of the churches of Asia, and what plagues did follow.

CHAP. XXXI.

NOW when the seventh angel of Asia did sound, it is said, That there should be time no longer, as

in Revel. x. 6.

And in Revel. xi. 15, it is said, And the seventh angel sounded, and there were great voices in heaven, saying, The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdom of our Lord, and of his Christ, and he shall reign for ever and ever; intimating the end of all time at the sounding of the seventh angel. T

And

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