The time of the end shewing first, until the three years and an half are come (which are the last of the 1260 dayes) the prophecies of the Scripture will not be understood, concerning the duration and period of the fourth monarchy and kingdom of the beast : then secondly, when that time shall come ... the knowledge of the end ... will be revealed, by the rise of a little horn, the last apostacy, and the beast slaying the witnesses ... / by John Canne.

To the Reader.

THat enmity which from the be∣ginning Jehovah Elohim (the Lord God) did put between the Serpent and the Woman, and be∣tween their seed, as always, so now, doth work with marveilous earnestness in all those who in every age from their proper spirit are engaged by their prin∣cipals, to maintain the combate to the time of the end.

The Righteous is an abomination to the wicked, and the wicked is an abo∣mination to the Righteous, from the beginning to the end of this present evil world.

For as then (even in Abrahams time) he that was born after the flesh, perse∣cuted him who was born after the spi∣rit; even so it is now in these last days, and will be so till the old serpent the Divel and Sathan, be cast into the bottomless pit;

and then according to the scope of the Scriptures of Truth, the bond-woman and her son will be cast out, and the children of the free-woman shall be the heirs.

And when I say, So it is now in these last dayes. I desire it may be well weigh∣ed, for assuredly the Serpent and his brood will muster all their forces, will improve all their policies, will come forth with utmost, inraged malice, to do the most mischief they can against the true spiritnal ••eed.

The fresh Auxiliaries which are used in this service of the Dragon, that old Serpent, are the Apostates of the last times; who are such Christians in a form of Godliness, as the Devil is an Angel of Light, when he is so trans∣formed, retaining his cursed proper∣ties and designs under the pretence of such a glorious transformation.

Therefore (saith the Apostle) it is no great thing, if also his Ministers be trans∣formed as the Ministers of Righteousness.

Which words are, or may be, to the more cautelous Christians, a great pre∣servative against the poysonous infecti∣on of the present Apostacy; for multi∣tudes of careless ones have been be∣guiled

by these deceitful (or cheating) workers, into a compliance with the interest of the Kingdom of the Beast.

But Blessed be the name of our Lord Protector, the Patron of Innocency, Truth, and Righteousness: that these deceitful workers, resisters of the Truth, Patrons of the carnal worldly Church, shall not proceed much farther; for their folly in its appointed season shall be made manifest to all men, as the folly and madness of other of their brethren before them, have been made manifest in like manner.

And (which is matter of great rejoy∣cing to the Lords suffering servants) the Prince of the Apostates himself hath bin compel'd by the over-ruling Power of our Lord Jesus, to defile his own nest, to throw dirt in the face of his own Brat, to trample upon his own Go∣vernment, with notable contempt, in the presence of his cowardly men of war. Oh! what joy of heart is it to us to live to see, how in that very thing wherein they dealt so proudly, so im∣periously, the Lord is above them, and leaves them to such a degree of folly, as to set at nought, in such notable lan∣guage

in set Speeches, the works of their own heads and hands; and that in so short a space of time: verily it can∣not be treason any longer (no not in the sence of the Court it self) to ima∣gine, speak or write against the Instru∣ment, or instruments which brought forth that monstrous Government. Ye may all speak treason by authority, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 ye Inhabitants of these three Isles of the Sea; for your Lord Protector himself hath lately set you a Pattern to pour contempt upon the whole Fabrick, both Foundation and Superstruction.

It is to be ascribed to the prevent∣ing Grace of God himself, and to no other cause, that some few of us have been preserved from that dangerous communion and conformity, where∣with many professors, well meaning souls, (like the followers of Absalom of old) have been unawares surprised and intangled.

That Scripture in 2 Tim. 3. the first five ver∣ses (which by the servant of Christ, the Author of the insuing Treatise, is opened and compa∣red with two other famous Prophesies concern∣ing the little Horn, and the Bottomless-pit-Beast) was made effectual to my spirit and con∣science, to deliver me from those snares where∣in

the feet of others, not a few, have been taken: faith the Apostle in the forementioned place (after he had made a catalogue of Characters, whereby to describe the Apostates and Hypo∣crites of the last time) from such turn away. And the first and last of those Characters lay with most weight upon my spirit: Men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, proud, lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God, having a form of Godli∣ness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

And what I spake publikely in a great Assem∣bly, concerning the little Horn, in two general Observations, and nine special Characters, whereby to discern it from the other Horns, a∣mongst whom it came up, is remembred by many then present; since which, others have likewise given their judgements. But this Au∣thor (by what conduct of providence, time will shew) hath found cause to make those two Prophesies concerning Daniels little Horn, and Johns Bottomless-pit-Beast, to synchronise, and to bring in the Apostacy of these last times, to accompany them in their accomplishments.

It is remarkable what is told Daniel, Chap. 12. v. 10. Mary shall be purified and made white and ••••yed, but the wicked shall do wickedly, and none of the wicked shall understand; but the wise shall understand.

Surely the Apostates and Hypocrites of the last times are some of these wic∣ked ones: these will do wickedly, but they cannot understand. Understand∣ing dwelleth not, taketh not up her rest in the Assemblies, in the Counsels, of

the last and worst sort of wicked ones. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him; the wise shall understand: who is a wise man? he that fears the Lord, for the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. He that is become a fool for Christs sake, that he may be wise. He who from a principle of saith and love, which is in Christ Jesus, can deny himself, can take up his Cross daily and follow his prince and his Saviour through the fire and through the water, if need be, and the cause of Christ call for it.

The wicked, instead of understanding these Prophecies, shall do wickedly a∣gainst those who watch and pray for the accomplishment of them; shall secretly wish that the Lord would delay his coming; cannot eccho to the voice of the Spirit and of the B••ide, saying, Come Lord Jesus; shall be found smiting their fellow servants, conforming themselves to this old evil world, eating and drinking with the gluttons, and with the drun∣ken; the Kings and the Inhabitants of the earth, who are made drunk with the wine of the fornication of the mo∣ther of Harlots, &c.

They cannot brook the hand-wri∣ting

of God in the Scriptures concer∣ning the numbring, weighing and finish∣ing of their Kingdoms and Govern∣ments, so well as that Baby lonish Prince Belshazzar did bear the interpretation of the hand-writing upon the plaster of the wall. But in stead of doing them honour who forewarn them of their approaching destruction, cannot behold them with a cheerful aspect from the moment of such their faithful admoni∣tions and reproofs: but the will of the Lord be done.

I desire moreover it may be under∣stood and remembred by friends and enemies, that we have not by our Testi∣mony ingaged our liberties and lives a∣gainst the Gen. & the Apostatizing part of the Army, meerly, or indeed princi∣pally, upon the account of the expiration of the time allotted to the litle Horn, & the Beast (as it may be some have done) but upon the account of that good, righ∣teous, and blessed Cause which He and his Officers seemed formerly to have lo∣ved better then their own lives, though since they have most unworthily prefer∣red Barabbas before Christ, and so gra∣tified the humours and the lusts of the

children of Belial throughout the Nati∣ons, whilst the Lords remnant have been weeping and mourning in this day of trouble, rebuke, and blasphemy, for that abominable back-sliding, whereof they are guilty before the Lord▪ Let that counsel of Solomon and Paul rake place among those who have not yet fallen before him, because there hath been no opportunity of conversing with him; but yet through the power of credulity and simplicity▪ are obnoxious to entan∣glements: When he speaketh fair, believe him not; for there are seven abominations in his heart. Avoid those who serve not the Lord Jesus Christ, but their own bel∣lies, and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.

All such upright Christians as are not (nor shall be) softned by his tears, nor intrapped by his spies, have cause to rec∣kon those two deliverances in the cata∣logue of their choice mercies from the Lord: the best preservative is, to keep out of the sight of the one, and out of the reach of the other: far enough, and safe enough.

What is written in the few following sheets, may be through the Lords bles∣sing,

of great use to caution many preti∣ous souls for the time to come, who (having little experience and acquain∣tance with the spirits and designs of the worldly Powers in their managing the mystery of iniquity & the deceivablenes of unrighteousness) are very apt to plead their cause, and make Apologies on their behalf, of whom they will find cause to be ashamed, when the hidden things of darkness and of dishonesty shall be brought into the open light.

The truth is, we erre, not knowing the Scriptures; We erre, not being well in∣structed in the mystery of godliness, and in the mystery of iniquity. Godliness and ungodliness, righteousness and unrigh∣teousness, are both of them mysteries; they lie very deep, they are remote from common understanding. We need the candle of the Lord to find out the depths of God, and the depths of Satan: for each have their deeps, as Paul and John have written; but those who are light in the Lord, are inabled to descend into the depths of God, and into the bottomless pit or depth from whence the Beast, who slayeth the Witnesses ascendeth, and into which the Dragon

that old Serpent the Devil and Satan shall be cast, and deceive the Nations no more. Amen.

Although we in our preachings and writings may to the present age seem audacious men, thus to meddle with these dark prophecies; yet the succeeding generations shall bless the Lord for raising up some before their times, to fore∣warn them to flee from the w••ath that is to come.

The Lord give forth such a measure of the holy unction to his people in reading these things, that being inabled to distinguish be∣twixt probabilities and certainties, they may re∣ceive the Truth, and inquire further into that which is but probable, and so come to make a judgement of things according to the mind of Jesus Christ. I shall not add any more at this time, save only, that through the rich admini∣strations of Free-grace, I am still, and hope to continue to the end,

The servant of Jesus Christ, and of all the Saints for Jesus sake, according to the measure re∣ceived, CHR. FEA••E.

Notes

• 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 1 Co••. 2. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 2. 24.