A perfect description of Antichrist, and his false prophet.: Wherein is plainly shewed that Oliver Cromwell was Antichrist, and John Presbiter, or John Covenanter his false prophet. Written in the yeare, MDCLIV. By Abraham Nelson. And now published with an epistle to the Kings most excellent Majestie.

A DESCRIPTION OF ANTICHRIST.

REading in the holy Scripture of truth the Vision which the holy Prophet Daniell saw in the dayes of Balsha∣zar King of Babilon; I find in the 7. th Chap. the 7. verse, a description of a most dreadfull and terrible Beast. First, hee describes him by his Strength, to be exceeding strong. Secondly, by his Teeth, to be of Iron. Thirdly, by his Hornes to be in number Ten, and also in the 8. th verse, he speaks of a little Horne that came up before whom three fell. Fourthly, he describes this Beast to have Nailes of Brasse in the 9. verse.

This monstrous Beast being described by his Shape, he also tells us what he shall doe: But of that hereafter.

Also reading in the 13. Chapter of St. Johns Revelation, I find the same Beast described, and looke what Markes of the beast Daniell hath omitted St. John doth describe them more fully.

He saith, that he came out of the Sea, he saith he hath 7. Heads and 10. Hornes, and upon his heads the Names of Blasphemy. This ugly Monster he describes in the 2. Verse to be like a Leopard, his Feet as the feet of a Beare, and his Mouth as the mouth of a Lyon; his Power and his great Authority was given to him by the Dragon.

And the Dragon is described before in the 12. Chap. and 3. verse, to be Red and to have seven Heads and ten Hornes, and Crownes upon their heads. And J find in the 11. verse of the 13. chap. another Beast described, To come out of the Earth having hornes like a Lambe, but a terrible speech like a Dragon.

These two Beasts described by St. Joqn, doth exercise their Power to advance each other, vers. 1••. he saith, He exercised all the power of the first Beast, and caused all that was on the earth to worship the first beast.

These two beasts be so joyned together in the exercise of their Po∣wer; and having their power from the Dragon, that they are some∣times said to be one.

But Daniell sets forth this Second beast unto us, in the similitude of a horne that hath a Mouth and Eyes, chap. 7. verse 8.

Now before these terrible beasts appeare in the Earth and exercise their power; I find in the 12. chap. and 1. verse, A wonder seene in Heaven, a most glorious Woman, cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone under her feet, and Crowned with 12 Starres.

Shee is also described to be with Child and in paine to be delivered.

But being in danger to be devoured by the Dragon and his Instru∣ments, these ugly beasts, God Almighty provides a place for her and takes her Child unto himselfe, vers. 5. and 6.

Now by this most glorious Woman and her Son, is most certainly set forth unto us the Estate of the Church of Chr••st, and the Sonnes of the Church: When these monstrou•• Beasts shall appeare, for some of the Sonnes of the Church shall lay downe their Lives for the Truth, and so is taken unto God.

Also in the 11. th Chap from verse the 1 till verse the 7. th is most certainly set forth unto us the pure Preaching of God's Word for the Worship and Service of GOD, that shall be in the Church of Christ in that place, when and where these Monsters shall appeare.

John is there commanded to measure the Temple of God, and the Altar and them that worsh••p therein: But is prohibited to measure the Court and holy City, seeing it was to be troden under foot by the wicked and prophane, 42. Moneths (that is 1260. dayes xxx. dayes to the Moneth) the same time the vertuous and glorious Woman lyeth hid in the place God provided for Her, the 12. th Chap. and 6. verse.

But for his two Witnesses they should prophesie in Sackcloth 1260. dayes, these are the two Olive-trees and two Candlestick, standing be∣fore the God of the whole Earth: Spoken of by Zachary the Prophet, the 4. th Chap. and 3. verse, and the 11. th and 14. verses.

By these two Olive-trees two Candlest••cks and two Witnesses is set forth unto us the K••ngly and Priestly Officers: As also the bookes of the Prophets and Apostles, the Old Testament and the New, all which shall be in Power and had in Estimation, and the Word faithfully taught unto us by his Apostolicall Ministers: When and where these monstrous Beasts appeares.

And it is most certaine, that these Monstrous Beasts shall be Ene∣mies to God his Worship and those that feare his Name,

That is manifest in the 7. th of Daniell the 25. verse, for it is said there, he shall speake great words against the Most High.

And in the 13. th Chap. of Revelations the 6. verse, and he opened his Mouth with blasphemy, to blaspheme his Name, his Tabernacle and them that dwell in Heaven.

Now for the cruelty of this Beast, how this Beast shall prosper, and what he shall doe and how long he shall continue, that is necessary to be shown: But of that hereafter.

But first of all, what is meant by the Sea and great Waters from whence this Beast shall come, it is expressed Chap. 17. th and 15. verse, to be People and Multitudes, Tongues and Nations, it is also necessa∣ry to know where they shall appeare.

He shall certainly appeare in that place where the most pure preach∣ing of the Gospell of GOD and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ is taught and upholden: Both in Doctrine and Discipline, by Christ's Re∣gall and Sacerdotall Officers: And he shall oppose himselfe against all lawfull Authority.

This great Beast is certainly the Man of Sinne, the Antichrist, the Son of Perdition spoken of by the holy Prophets and Apostles.

But now for the Description of this Man of Sinne, the Son of Per∣dition set forth by the similitude of these Monsters, it is necessary to shew; Therefore first of the body o•• this Beast, It is Multitudes of men in the World in Seven severall Nations, who will either volun∣tarily or by force comply to the Man of Sinne.

Secondly, the Heads of this Beast, is Princes and great men in those Nations, and sometimes it is taken for the head City where they meet to consult: Called the Royall City.

Thirdly, by the Hornes of this Beast is meant the Kings of those Na∣tions, whereof one of them hath foure Dominions belonging to him: So these foure and the other six maketh seven Heads and ten Hornes: Rev••lations the 13. th and 1. verse, Daniell 7. th and 7. verse.

Then Daniell expresseth, that he saw another little Horne come up after them: Before whom three fell; And that Horne is said to be the 8. th Dominion, and yet one of the Seven, Rev. 17 ch. and 11▪ verse, that l••ttle Horne is the Antichristian Horne, which by Daniel is said to have Eyes and a Mouth that shall speake high things.

Now it is to be understood, that when this Man of Sinne shall ap∣peare all the seven Nations shall be Christians: But he shall arise and make his Seat in one only Nation, and in that Nation where the most pure Preachings of the Gospel are both in Doctrine and Discipline, and in that Nation whose Head hath foure Hornes, that is foure Domini∣ons belonging to it, though he doe but exercise the power of Three.

But upon the appearance of the little Horne, the three Dominions which the former King had shall fall to him, and the former King shall be pluckt up, Dan. the 7. th and 8. verse, but of that hereafter.

Now that Antichrist is set out unto us by this little Horne in Dani∣ell, and the Beast out of the Earth in John: It shall be apparant by what he shall doe answerable to that which is written of him.

Also by the Description of his Name and Marke, and the first Beast by his Name and the number of his Name.

Therefore to make it plaine, I will shew it more clearly by setting forth and shewing the Dignities of Christ.

First, as the Son of GOD. Secondly, as a King. Thirdly, as a Priest, and as the Son of God had before his appearance a Fore-runner, a great Prophet, a Messenger to goe before his face to prepare his Way.

So the Son of Perdition shall have a great Prophet, a Fore-runner, a Messenger to goe before him to prepare his Way; And as the Son of God was sent from Heaven by his Father, endowed with Kingly and Priestly abilities to redeeme his people; So the Son of Perdition shall come out of the Earth from his Father the old Serpent the Devill; And shall usurpe to himselfe both the Kingly and Priestly Dominions, to seduce a people from the true Worship of God, to worship himself and the Dragon.

But first of all, I will compare together Christ's true Prophet, Fore∣runner, and Messenger that came before him.

And Antichrist's false Prophet that shall come before him.

Christ's Fore-runner his Name is John so named of the Angell, Luke the 1. and 13. verse: Hee is a Priest also: And in verse 72, and 73. hee is said to come to performe the Covenant, and the Oath which he sware to Abraham and his Seed.

Antichrist's Prophet and Fore-runner shall be called John Presbiter, but more properly his Name is John Covenanter.

For he shall come with a Covenant and an Oath in opposition to the Covenant and Oath of God, and shall pretend to doe the Offices

that Christ's Fore-runner came to doe, in Preaching Repentance and pretending to a Reformation.

The other Offices that Christ's Harbinger did performe was to make the Way straight, and to turne the hearts of the Fathers to their Chil∣dren, and the Disobedient to the wisdome of the Iust: And to make a people to be prepared for Christ the Lord, Luke the 1. and the 17.

But the Offices that Antichrist's Harbinger shall performe for all his pretences shall be to make the Way crooked, and to turne the hearts of the Children from their Fathers, and the obedient from the wisdome of the Iust: And to make ready a Rebellious People prepared for Antichrist.

And as the people which John Baptist did prepare, did accept of the Covenant and Oath of God, and was distinguished from others and became Christians.

So shall the people which Presbiter Iohn shall prepare, accept of a Covenant and Oath which was from his Father the Devill: And thereby be distinguished from others and be called Covenanters.

This is the first Beast which Iohn saw like a Leopard, which can∣not change his Spots.

And first for his Name it shall be Iohn Covenanter, and the number of the words in his Preamble and Covenant (that makes his Name) is the number of his Name, let him that hath Wisdome count them, for they are 666. mentioned, Revelations the 13. Chap. and the last verse.

☞ As it is to be seene in the originall Copie of the Kirk.

This Covenant shall combine all his Creatures in one, and unite them for Lives and Estates to serve him: The Enemy of God and all good Men.

And as John Baptist came with a mighty Power, so that all did muse whether he were the Christ.

So shall John Covenanter come with a mighty Power, trampling all under foot, Daniell the 7. th and the 7. And with such a false Zeal; So that all shall muse thinking him to be the Truth of Christ, though he shall be the Fore-runner of Antichrist: I have now described the Name of Christ's Messenger and his Power and Office, so that he is the greatest Prophet of God that ever was amongst the Sons of Men.

And the Name of Antichrist's Messenger, the number of his Name, his Power and Office, so that he shall be the greatest Prophet of all the false Prophets that ever shall be amongst the Sons of Men: For hee

and the Antichristian Beast with the Dragon shall worke wonders; They shall throw downe the Starres, Revelations the 12. th and the 4. verse, and they shall cause Fire to come downe from Heav••n in the sight and presence of men, the 13. th and the 13. verse▪ This is nothing else but the pulling downe of the King, the learned Clergy, B••shops and Church Officers, which is compared to Starres & Fires in Scripture.

And it must be a mighty wonder to see this done; Now it is ne∣cessary to shew unto you the Offi••es of CHRIST the Lord of Life, and his Power (his Way being prepared) his Name and his Marke: Also the Offices of Antichrist the Man of Death and Destruction, his Name and Marke, his way being prepared before him.

First for the Offices of Christ, he is a King, Mathew the 27. th and the 11. and Hebrewes the 1. and the 8. But unto the Son he saith, thy Throne O God is for ever and ever, the Scepter of thy Kingdome is a Scepter of Righteousnesse.

He is a Priest also being the Priest of the most high GOD, and of the Order of Melchisadec, Hebrewes the 5. th and 6. verse, and his Name is Jesus so named of the Angell: And his Marke or Ensigne is the Crosse which we take in Baptisme, and which Christ saith, all that will follow him must take up.

Now the Power of Christ in the exercise of Kingly Office is proved, Psalme 2. and 9. verse, Revelations the 19. th and 15. verse Out of his Mouth goeth a sharp Sword, and with it he shall smite the Nations, and he shall rule them with a Rod of Iron: And shall tread the Win••presse of the fiercenesse of the Wrath of God.

And of his Priestly Office, Hebrewes the 4 th and 14. Seeing ther∣fore we have a great high Priest, that is past into Heaven Jesus the Son of God: Let us hold our Profession.

Now I shall shew unto you the Offices of Antichrist, his power, his Name & Mark, in opposition to Christ his power his Name & Mark.

First, he shall take unto him Dominion: That is Kingly power, Daniell the 7. th and 25. verse, the middle of the verse. And he shall thinke to change Times and Lawes both Civill and Ecclesiasticall, and they shall be given into his hand.

He shall also take upon him Dominion over (Episcopall Authori∣ty which is Apostolicall, that is) Priestly power, to command Wor∣ship: As in the 13. th Chap. and 4. verse, it is said: They worshipped the Dragon which gave Power to the Beast, also Paul saith, He shall

set himselfe in God's Temple as God, and against him to depose and set up whom he will without Law or Example: Save only exemplifi∣ed by his Type, that is Antiochus the Type of Antichrist under the Gospell.

And for his Name it shall be equall with Christ's Name, that is Jesus a Saviour, a Protector to his people: And for his Marke it shall be a Crosse wherewith all his shall be marked and commissionated to doe his workes in the World, and that none shall be permitted to buy or sell, or to doe any thing of Concernment without his Name, his Marke or number of his Name afore spoken of, Revelations the 13. th Chapter, and the 17. th verse.

Now ye see what a Combination Antichrist (when he commeth) shall make: All that are for him must have his Name, others must have his M••rke; And some must have the Name and number of his Name, and some shall have all.

But before this Tragedy shall be acted, we shall find that our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ shall seal his obedient ones, least they should be deceived by the policy of the false Prophet, and the prosperous suc∣cesse of the Man of Sinne; For it is said, If it were possible they would deceive the very Elect.

In the 7. th Chap. and the 2. verse▪ I saw an Angell ascend out of the East having the Seal of the living God, and in the 4. verse it is said: There was sealed 144000.

I have made it appeare what Power the Man of Sin shall have, and Offices he shall usurpe.

Now I shall further shew you the Exercise of his power, what he shall doe: I have showne how he shall trample all under foot, and change Lawes both Civill and Ecclesiasticall, now I will shew you how he shall make Wars▪ and against whom.

In the 7. th of Daniell and the 21. it is said: I beheld and saw the same Horne make War with the Saints and prevaile against them.

And in the 13. th of Revelations and the 7. verse and it was given unto him to make War with the Saints and overcome Them: In over∣comming the Saints he shall first take away the chiefe Officers of the Church, that i•• the King, and Bishops and their lawfull Officers, and prohibit the true D••ctrine and Discipline Apostolicall to be used: and when he hath taken away the Church Officers, to suppresse the Profes∣sors is easie.

For the King that then shall be shall fall before him, which exerci∣seth the Power of the three Hornes, Daniel the 7. th and 8. verse, in the middle of the verse, I considered the little Horne saith hee, before three of the first were plucked up; and in the 24. th verse, he saith, He shall subdue three Kings or Kingdoms and there he shall plant himselfe.

Now for the continuance of the time he shall have to stand in his Po∣wer; It is requisite I should speake of it: That after he appeares in his splendor we may hope for his end, lest we should faint in the length of our sufferings.

In the Exercise of this wofull Tragedy against the Saints of GOD, we find he shall speake great Words against the Most High, and wea∣ry out his Saints, the 7. th of Daniell and 25. And in the latter part of the verse it is said, he shall continue a Time, Times, and the deviding of time: John saith the 13. th Chap. and 5. verse. He hath Power to continue 42. Moneths, which is three yeares and an halfe, that is to measure and account his Time by.

And I find that upon the increase of his Power, he shall be so pre∣valent in (opposition of God's word) persecuting the Regall and Apo∣stolicall Officers of CHRIST, as that the Bookes of the Prophets and Apostles, together with the two Candlesticks of the Church of Christ; his two Officers is said to be slaine and lye dead in the streets (and in the sight of all men) for three dayes and an halfe, Revelations the 11. and the 7. th: And by reason of the Toleration that the Man of Sinne shall grant upon the suppressing of the true Worship and Worshippers of GOD, and taking away the publique Liturgie of the Church, there shall be a very great joy: So that they shall give and send Guifts one unto another and make merry, Chap. 11. th and 10. verse.

Because thereby they were hindred of their Liberty, that they could not exercise their severall Idolatrous, Fantasticall, and Hereticall Opinions.

And during the time that these two Prophets, and two Witnesses lies slaine and dead in the streets in open shame and contempt: The true Professors of the Gospell shall be clothed in Sack-cloth 1260. Chap. 11. th and 3. verse.

According to the number of the Dayes the vertuous Woman (that is the Church) is hid by God in the place which he hath provided for Her, the 12. th Chap. and 6. verse.

And then after the time limited be over shall their Sackcloth be put off, and the Woman come out of her place, to help forward the Iudge∣ment of the Man of Sin.

But during the Time of the hiding of this Chast Woman and the Persecution of her Children; There appeareth another Woman, Chap. the 17. th and the 3. verse: A Great Whore, a Jezabel wonderfully D••cked: By whose Glory Thousands are bewitched.

By this Whore is set forth unto us Antichrist's superstitious Whore, and the City where he shall keepe, and the Idolatrous Brood he shall beget.

Now all men know or will confesse, that Men are naturally sub∣ject to Idolatry, and therefore is fitly compared to a Whore, and An∣tichrist when he commeth will tolerate men thereunto; Now if an arrant Whore be tolerated by Law, what Wickednesse is it that she will not commit with a Brasen face? And also abuse the most Godly Vertuous and Chast Woman that can be found.

Now I will but speake a very little of his Power more, least I di∣gresse too farre.

Jn the 13. th Chap. and 4. verse (it is said) And they worshipped the Dragon which gave Power to the Beast, and they worshipped the Beast and said, Who is like to the Beast, Who is able to make warre with him.

Also hee shall extend his power a great deale farther then his owne proper Dominion which he hath usurped; For his Name and his Marke shall goe through the earth, Revelation the 13. th and the 8. th verse. For it is said, All that dwell on the Earth shall worship him; For he shall extend all power into the Channels of the Sea, and great waters. So that Nations shall maintaine their Traffique by him and shall doe it by his Name and Marke, wherewith his Patents shall be sealed and Articles of Peace or Warre marked and sealed.

He shall be like that Leviathan (spoken of by Job) that walloweth in the great deepe.

Now I thinke it necessary to the making of this great Tragedy plaine, to speake of the matter of Worship a little as it commeth in order.

Kings and Princes, and chiefe Priests, in holy Scriptures are called Gods, being sanctified by divine Power; and also the same Scrip∣ture doth command worship and honour to be given them.

Now we may read in the 13. chap. Revelation the 3. verse, That one of the beasts Heads was wounded to death, and his wound was healed.

You may remember that I said before, That the heads of the beasts were Nobles and great Men, or such as is of the Kings Councell; and the hornes are Kings; now when the Hornes by force falls off (afore∣mentioned) the Head on which it doth stand will receive a wound.

But when the little Horne growes great, hee shall cause the beasts head to be healed, by electing another Nobility of his owne Tribe; which is set forth unto us by the word Image: And well may be called an Image, in comparison of the other that was before it; But however it must be Worshipped; For in the 13. chap. the 15. verse. He had power to give life to the Image of the Beast, that the Image of the beast, should both speake and cause, that so many as would not Worship the Image of the beast, should be killed.

And I will shew you more things that this Man of sinne shall doe expressed by Paul his 2. Epistle to the Thessalonians, 2. chap. 4. verse, it is said there, That he shall oppose himselfe above all that is called Gods and are worshipped.

Now his fore-runner shall be a man of Worship (as John Baptist was) when he commeth.

But the Man of sinne, shall be a meane Man and no man of Wor∣ship; neither shall any be proper for him.

Therefore it is truly said, When hee commeth and playeth his Pa∣gents above Kings and great Men on the earth, that he exalteth him∣selfe above all that is called Gods unto whom Worship belongeth.

And in the first of Paul to Timothy, the 4. th and the 3. verse, hee saith, He shall forbid to Marry (that is) He shall alter the ordinary practise of the Church of GOD in marriage, which was solemnly performed by the Ministers of CHRIST, according to Gods word; commanding it to be done by those that are no Priests: which are Commissionated by his Marke, and also upon a penalty of Disinhe∣ritance, as Bastardizing their posterity.

Hee shall also command Fasting-dayes, and prohibite Festivall∣times, which the Church had celibrated; as the time of CHRIST'S Nativity, his Resurrection and Ascention (and the like) farre worse then any Pagan.

But it is more proper to Antichrist's fore-runner which shall come like John Baptist; Neither eating nor drinking, but with a great deale

of temporance and Purity to deceive, though it be proper to him what the People said of Iohn, That he hath a Devill.

Now I will speake of Antichrist and his false Prophet joyntly, be∣ing united to advance each other; therefore first of their beginning and so of their growth.

And that I may make it plaine, I will compare the Lord of life and this Messenger of Death together.

In the 2. of Luke, the 46. th 47. and the 48. verses. Christ was found of his Parents disputing amongst the Doctors in Gods Temple (it seemes to me to be the Puritanicall Pharisees with which hee dis∣puted, and) which hee calleth so often (afterwards to his Disciples) Hypocrites: giving them command to take heed to them.

This was the time of CHRIST's beginning and increase to doe his Fathers businesse, till he was Baptized in Iordain of John. Then being in the full Exercise of his power after his Baptisme, hee continueth therein till his Ascention, 42. Moneths or thereabouts, in all, one and twenty yeares.

And a little before his Suffering Mathew the 21. chap. the 12. verse, Enters into the Temple, and overthrew the tables of the Money chan∣gers, and those that polluted his Fathers house, hee drave out; saying, that they had made his Fathers house a denne of Thieves.

The same time shall Antichrist have till he come to the height of his power, that CHRIST had, till he was Baptized; after which time hee shall thinke himselfe lawfully Installed to his Jesus ship to him and his for ever.

And as Christ first began his most Gracious worke in the Temple, and so continued till he whipt the Prophainers out as aforesaid.

So shall Antichrist and his false Prophets begin, they worke to doe their Fathers businesse in disputing against the true Doctors, Profes∣sors and worshippers of God in his Churches and Temples, till they drive out of Christ's Churches his faithfull Officers and Professors, and make them Stables, Courts of guard, and consequently a denne of Thieves.

Now it is requisite (hee being so perfectly marked out) that it should be made knowne, what shall become of the Man of sinne, and what shall be his judgment.

It is said in Daniel the 7. th and 11. I beheld then because of the voyce of the great words which the Horne spake, I beheld even till the

Beast was slaine and his body destroyed and given to the burning Flame; And in the 26. th verse, The judgment shall sit, and they shall take away his Dominion to consume it, and destroy it to the end: And in the 19. th of the Revelation the 20. th verse, John saith; That the Beast was taken and with him the false Prophet that wrought Mira∣cles. with which he designed them that had the Marke of the beast and worshipped his Image; these both were cast into the Lake of Fire burning with Brimston.

But seeing in the same Chapter, there is mention made of a whorish Woman, which I have a little spoke of before, J will touch it a little as it lyeth in the way.

In the 3▪ verse, John was carried into the Wildernesse and there hee saw the whorish Woman riding, in the same Place and upon the same Beast which persecuted the most Glorious woman the Church.

John seeth a Cup of abomination in her hand; and in the 5. verse, We saw her Name written in her Forehead, Mysterie Babilon the great, the mother of Harlots the abomination of the Earth.

This Woman was drunke with the blood of the Saints and Mar∣tyrs of JESVS which made John wonder.

This Woman shall be the Royall City where the Man of Sinne shall make his Seat; and in which the Antichristian Representative body of the Beast, and Head of the beast, doth Consult, and giveth Anti∣christ, that is the Horne his power.

In the last verse of that Chapter, it is said; The Woman which thou sawest, is the great City which raigneth over the Kings of the Earth; sor by their prevalent Power (during their Antichristian compliance) both by Sea and Land, they are said to Raigne over the Kings of the earth.

And in the 7. verse of the 17. th chap. The Angell saith, He will tell Iohn the mistery of the Woman, and the Beast that carrieth her.

And in the 8. verse, hee saith, The Beast on which the Woman sate was and is n c, and shall descend into the Bottomlesse pit and goe in∣to Perdition, and they that dwell on the Earth shall wonder, whose lives are not written in the Booke of Life from the foundation of the World: When they behold the Beast that was and Is not▪ and yet is.

This Beast shall be Presviter John, and the first great Assembly of Republiques that aydes him; (which was)—

That is, hee shall be in great Power when the Man of sinne ap∣peares

with his Toleration. Hee shall lose his Power and Dominion when the Man of sinne is apparently come; (and therefore it is said, He was and Is not. (And it is said, hee yet is:) Seeing he shall give himselfe and his Power to uphold the Man of Sinne, after which he shall recover his Power and being, and therefore is said (he yet Is.)

And then it shall be accounted a wonder of all, whose Names are not written in the Booke of Life from the foundation of the World; when they behold the Beast that Was and Is not, and yet Is.

In the 10. th verse, he saith; There are 7. Kings whereof five are fallen, one Is and another is Not yet come, and when hee commeth he shall Continue a short space.

That is, five of those Kings shall submit themselves to certaine Con∣ditions, and to the Iurisdiction of the Man of Sin▪ and City where the Man of sinne sitteth, intimated by the word fallen.

It is said one is, that is himselfe and his City, as it is said, by the old Babell he onely Is and No other.

And it is said another is Not yet come, hee stands out a little longer then the Rest, and it is said, When hee commeth he shall continue a short space.

This great City and her Antichrist, is said to sit on seven Heads, which is seven Mountaines, that is 7. distinct Dominions, verse 9. One which hee shall particulerly Command and makes his Seat, and Six which he shall bring under Conditions.

So this is No more in effect then hath been said before, only confir∣med by more Testimonies.

And in the 11. th verse it is said, The Beast that was and is not, is the 8. th, and yet of the Seven, and shall goe into Perdition.

This Beast that was and Is not, is the same was spoke of before, but here is said to be the 8. and is of the 7. th in the 11. verse.

It is certaine hee is of the Seven; but how he is said to be the Eight J conceive it thus:—

That when he is come neare the time of his Destruction, and to the end of his accompt for his Antichristian Dominion; The right Heire shall appeare to come into his Kingdome, and shall come with the aid of the other Six (which formerly Antichrist had brought to his Condi∣tions) those Six with his owne Nobility makes up 7. Heads; Then Antichrist and his Nobility makes up the 8. Head: And in the 16. th verse it is said, These shall hate the whore and burne her with Fire.

And verse 17. th it is said, God hath put it into their hearts to fulfill his Will and agree together: And give their Kingdomes to the Beast untill the Word of God be fulfilled.

Then commeth those Kings to act right things, when they promise and give Ayd to the lawfull Heire, which before they could not, du∣ring the height of Antichrist's reigne.

Now J have shown unto you the Destruction of the Man of Sin, his Prophet and their Whorish brood.

Now it shall be apparant that GOD shall take away Antichrist's Dominion by Daniell, the 7. th and 19. verse; And in the 13. and 14. verses, He giveth it to his Son: it is said, there was given unto Him Dominion, Glory, and a Kingdome, that all People and Nations should serve Him: His Dominion is an everlasting Dominion which shall not passe away and his Kingdome, that which shall not be de∣stroyed.

Then Christ when the Kingdome is given to him, he giveth it to his Saints to be possessed by them▪ as it was before when Antichrist and his Adherents began their Warres against them.

That you may read in the 22 verse: The Ancient of Dayes came, Judgement was given to the Saints of the Most High: And the Time came that the Saints possessed the Kingdome.

And in the 27. verse, and the Kingdome, and the Dominion, and the Greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole Heaven shall be gi∣ven to the People of the Saints of the Most High whose Kingdom is an everlasting Kingdome: And all Dominions shall serve and obey Him.

Then shall the Dayes come, spoken of by Zachary the Prophet 14. th and the 9. verse: And the Lord shall be King over all the Earth, in that Dayshall there be one Lord and his Name one.

Now it is requisite to show unto you the Joy that the Saints shall have for Antichrist's Destruction and for the Destruction of his Who∣rish brood: Seeing GOD workes so great an Alteration, Revelati∣ons the 14. th and the first (there he saith) he saw a Lamb standing on Mount Sion having with him 144000. Having their Father's Name written in their Foreheads

And in the 2. verse he saith: He heard out of Heaven the voyce of Thunder, the Voyce of Waters, Harpes harping, and in the 3. verse: They sung a new Song before the Throne, the bookes of the Apostles and Prophets, the foure Beasts, and Elders which were redeemed from the Earth.

And in the 6. verse, the Messengers of God goeth forth with free∣dome to preach the everlasting Gospell, to them that dwell on the Earth, to People, Tongues, and Nations.

And in the 15. the 3. verse: That those that got Victory over the Beast, over his Image▪ and over his Marke and the number of his Name Sing the Song of Moses the Servant of the Lord▪ and the Song of the Lamb? Great and Marvellous are thy Workes▪ Lord GOD Almigh∣ty: Iust and true are thy Workes, Thou King of Saints!

And in the 4. verse, Who shall not feare thee, O Lord, and glorifie thy Name, for thou only art Holy? For all Nations shall come and worship before thee; For thy Judgement is made manifest: And verse the 5. th, after that Song the Temple of the Testimony of the Taber∣nacle was open.

And in the 19. c••p. He heard a Multitude of People which song Ha∣leluja, Salvation, Glory, and Honour, and Power unto thë Lord GOD. read Revelations the whole Chapter.

I have showne unto you the great joy that shall be upon the sup∣pressing of Antichrist.

I shall also show unto you a little, the sorrow of those that favour Him, and such as hath his Name, his Marke, or the Number of his Name.

All those that have committed Fornication with Her shall bewaile Her, and lament for Her, and cry and cast dust on your Heads: the 18. cap. 9. verse, 11. verse, 18 verse.

Now I have shown in briefe the great Mysterie of Antichrist, and his Fore-runner, his great Prophet, their Rising and Power, what they shall doe and how long he shall continue, I have also showne unto you their Subversion and Overthrow.

And I have shown un••o you the Ioy that shall ensue to the Peo∣ple of GOD: And the sorrow of those that adhere unto the Man of Sinne, and his Idolatrous brood.

And I have showne unto you the most Glorious Preaching of the Gospell that shall be after their Subversion: So that one Title of Gods Word shall not faile of what is inserted in the Booke of God.

That which I have written is in briefe, for if I had the Tongue of Men and Angels, and were the best Scribe in the World, it were impossible for me either to speake or write, or you to heare or read the most unnaturall bloody and damnable acts of the Beast, his

Prophet and their Lives, even their very Clawes and Nailes on their feet being of Brasle: to Plunder and Scrape the very Flesh of the bones of Gods people, Daniel the 7. th chap. and 19. verse.

But when men seeth these things come to passe▪ which is Collected out of the word of GOD, let them lift up their hands which hang downe, and their feeble knees, and make streight steps upon their feet, as Paul saith, Lest that which is halting be turned out of the way.

It shall informe weake Consciences, and confirme them in the truth.

It shall be a Caviat for many to take Salomons counsell, (that is) If thou hast stricken hands and been snared with the words of thy mouth make hast, deliver thy selfe.

But more especially to doe as our Lord Saviour CHRIST cōmands (that is) Agree with thy adversary quickly whilest hee is in the way with thee, least he deliver thee to the Iudge, and the Iudge deliver thee to the Iaylor.

It shall be a meanes to Convert the Jewes, when they see Antichrist play his Pagents on the earth, and God fulfill his judgment upon him, Being so perfectly Marked out by his Prophets and Apostles, and fore∣told so many hundred of yeares before he come.

It shall also Reconcile the great differences amongst the Christians: But especially betwixt the Papists and Protestants, which hath so long time contended about this thing unto Blood.

It shall Increase the torments and anguish of those, that are still ob∣stinate Enemies of GOD and doth not Repent.

And finally, It shall cause all both great and small, things in Heaven and things on Earth, and under the Earth, to bow the Knee at the Name of JESƲS, even so AMEN.

This sad Tragedy being past and gone, the Saints shall live at peace and ease at home:

Till Gog shall make them to be sore dismay'd, his wicked Pagents then that he hath play'd.

But Consolation great to th' Saints will come, after he hath had his dreadfull Doome:

For finall Sentence shall not long be driven, till th' Saints shall all for ever be in Heaven.

J will further adde this:

That the false Prophet when he shall first appeare shall be by Pro∣fession in his Religion, a false Dependant, (Puritanicall) who by his rigid Curiositie and Scrupulous non-Conformity: Shall make way for a Toleration of Antichristian Independancy.

Further you may observe in 1639: That from their Covenanting and first Entrance into the Field in open force and publique Hostility against their lawfull King and Priests (the Lords Deputies) till the time of their Subversion shall be (that is in 1660.) One and twenty yeares: Answerable to the time that Christ our Lord disputed in the Temple with the Puritanicall, hypochriticall Pharisees, till he ascended into Heaven as afore-mentioned.

But more for particuler Distinction of Time: As neare as may be (it may be observed) that for the first Ten yeares and six Moneths▪ which is three times 42. Moneths, the Antichristian false Prophet shall most popularly carry on his wicked designes, deceiving the People by Lies, pretending to be for the King and Priests, till they may utterly destroy Both: And consequently Gods holy Worship and so out them, as Antichristian by Lies and Scandals.

But for the later ten yeares and six Moneths, the Antichrist himselfe by the assistance of his bloody Crew shall advance his Dominion.

For the first 42. Moneths of the later Ten yeares and an halfe, the Antichrist shall be made Generall, and give a Toleration to all his Antichristian Impes.

And for the second 42. Moneths, Antichrist shall take upon him to be the peoples Saviour and Protector: And his false Prophet shall comply with him, and be protected by Him.

And for the last 42. Moneths, he shall actually be confirmed in his Jesus-ship: And his false Prophet, with all their deluded Spirits, shall give Honour unto him as lawfully installed in his Jesus-ship for ever, both for Him and His.

Yet before the 42. Moneths be expired a great darknesse of Confu∣sion shall be in his Kingdome, that they shall knaw their Tongues for paine, Revelations the 16. th and 10. verse.

And also before the last 42. Moneths be out: The right Heire shall come to possesse his Kingdome, as is afore-mentioned.

This they shall see: All those that lives in the Dayes of Antichrist, the 42. Moneths of Antichrist's Dominion; And his false Prophet

spoken of (by the Ange••l) to John: And the Time, Times, and the dividing of Time spoken of (by the Angell) to Daniell: Really ful∣filled to the Sight and perfect Knowledge of all the Observers thereof: If they will but count.

And if Pharoah's Dreame was doubled twise, much more shall An∣tichrist's 42. Moneths be doubled thrice, for the Ratification thereof before all the World.

But courteous Reader, looke what thou hast here read is none of Mine, only collected by me out of holy Scripture, (therefore give God the Glory.) But it is so briefe, that it is far short of what may be obser∣ved by the judicious Reader out of holy Writ: Though it be promis∣cuously laid downe therein, as we may observe in all Prophesies: (that Men as naturall may see and not perceive, and heare and not under∣stand; for if it were by way of History then it were no Prophesie) as we may observe in the 24. th of Mathew, and such like Propheticall places they be Mysteriously laid downe.

But I would have you to observe, that every Spirit that pretends to stand for Christ, and doth oppose his Dominion here upon Earth by his Deputies, Kings, and Episcopall Priests, doth therewith deny the true Doctrine and Discipline of Christ's Church: The same must undoubt∣edly be the Antichrist.

Antichristian Spirits there was from the beginning, by the Enemy of Mankind in opposition to the promised Seed Christ.

But they never prevailed to set up a Dominion as aforesaid, to fill up the whole Latitude of his Description.

Read for your Sat••sfaction the 26. of Numbers, what became of Core and his accomplice••: And read the Epistle of Jude his Prophe∣sie of Antichrist, whereof Cores Rebellion against Moses their King, and Aaron their Priest was a Type of Antichrist's Rebellion under the Gospell.

Read also the 10. th of Leviticus: The History of Nadab and A∣bihu offering st••ange Fire to the Lord: A Type of the abominable Worship and Sectaries (tollerated by Antichrist) in the time of the Gospell.

But though these did not prevaile to set up a Dominion, yet Anti∣christ the Typified shall prosper, prevaile and set up his Dominion as a∣foresaid: And all his evill Spirits shall prosper with him, all that ever were or shall be, and shall doe what is written of Him.

But the antichristian Spirits that shall assay to set up a Dominion before the Time of the Antichrist, the Son of Perdition, cannot.

For Paul saith to the Thessalonians, 2. Epistle and 2 Chapter, only he who letteth shall let till he be taken out of the Way; and in the 8. verse, Then shall the Wicked be revealed.

And it is to be understood, that He who hath let and doth let is the Angell of the Church: And the King Christ's Deputy, where this Man of Sinne shall arise, who is appointed by GOD to protect his Church from such Malignant Spirits, according to his Promise made to his People, as to the Patriarchs and to Moses to aid them: That for their and the Churches safety, his Angell should goe before them.

The like assistance doth attend Christian Kings under the Gospell, but when Gods Angell is restrained from ayding the King in protect∣ing of Christ's Church, then shall Antichrist appear and prevaile, * 1.1 and the two great Witnesses of GOD shall be murthered in the Street, and lye* 1.2 slaine in that City which is spiritually called So∣dom and Aegypt, Revel. the 11. chap. and 8, and 9.* 1.3 verses.

For be assured Christian Reader, he shall be a∣gainst Christ when he commeth, and against Christ's annointed Ones: Such as are commissionated, consecrated, and set apart for his most especiall Service under the Gospell.

And will presume to be above Christ▪ as he is a Saviour admini∣string his Power here upon Earth (till his second Comming) by his lawfull JESVSES, his Deputies here: And so he will set himselfe in Christ's Dominion or above Him.

Absolutely to take away the Regall and Sacerdotall Officers of CHRIST: And to suppresse the true Professors.

Till the Antient of Dayes sit, and Judgment be given to the Saints of the Most High as aforesaid.

All which for the Glory of our God, and of his Son our Lord and Saviour, (in the right understanding hereof for our availes) I referre un∣to God: And for the Performance of his most Sacred Word, wee ought not to doubt.

Therefore as I said before, let us all both great and small, bow the Knee at the Name of JESƲS: Even so AMEN.

Now I doubt not, but I shall have the favorable Construction of all the Sons of the Church of England herein.

But for such as hath not knowne it through want of yeares, and those that through weaknesse have been seduced from it: My Desire is that they should returne, and professe the Catholick Faith established in England, and professed in the Dayes of Charles the first, the Great Martyr of JESVS.

This shall be the Prayers of him, that wisheth Grace and Peace till the finishing of his Dayes.

Your Servant, ABRAHAM NELSON, of Garsdale in Yorkshire.

FINIS.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The King and Bishop.
• * 1.2

  A Bishop may be Antichristian, being against Monarchy.
• * 1.3

  A Monarch may be Antichristian be∣ing against Episco¦pacy; But he that is the Antichrist must be above and against both.