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, dissenting 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

And as the Revelation of John hath involved the three records in earth to agree in one; that is to say, the water, blood, and spirit; or the commission of the law, and commission of the gospel, and commission of the spirit. These 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; so is it with the Revelation of John in his vision, he hath joined the sounding of the seven trumpets of the seven angels, as if they did relate to no other but to the seven churches of Asia. When as the same spirit did sound in the time of the law, and so it doth now in these last days in the commission of the spirit. For some of those plagues that were upon the earth at the sounding of those four angels, they were acted in the time of the record of the law, which signifies the water, yet seen in the vision by John, as if they were all acted and performed by the seven churches of Asia.

So likewise the seven churches of Europe were included in the vision also, for there is a remnant of the seed of the woman, in all the seven churches of Europe that will be saved, through the ministry of them be anti; they being non-commissionated angels, yet called angels who sound their trumpets.

And at the sounding of these anti-angels, great plagues hath followed, as I have shewed before.

Now the Quakers being the seventh and last antiangel that will sound, in resemblance of the angel of Laodicea; there will fall great plagues upon the earth at the sounding, and in the sounding of this seventh and last anti-angel.

For