idolatry; and they shall tread under foot the holy city, they fhall trample upon, and tyrannize over the church of Chrift, for the fpace of forty and two months.

At the fame time God fhould raise up fome true and faithful witnesses (ver. 3.) to preach and proteft against these innovations and corruptions of religion; for there were protestants long before ever the name came into ufe, Of thefe witneffes there fhould be, tho' but a fmall, yet a competent number; and it was a fufficient reafon for making them two witnesses, because that is the number required by the law, and approved by the gofpel, (Deut. XIX. 15. Matt. XVIII. 16.) In the mouth of two witneffes fhall every word be established: and upon former occafions two have often been joined in commiffion, as Mofes and Aaron in Egypt, Elijah and Elisha in the apoftafy of the ten tribes, and Zerubbabel and Jeshua after the Babylonish captivity, to whom these witneffes are particularly compared. Our Saviour himfelf fent forth his difciples (Luke X. 1.) two and two: and it hath been obferved alfo, that the principal reformers have ufually appeared as it were in pairs, as the Waldenfes and Albigenfes, John Hufs and Jerome of Prague, Luther and Calvin, Cranmer and Ridley, and their followers. Not that I conceive, that any two particular men, or two particular churches, were intended by this prophecy; but only it was meant in the general, that there thould be fome in every age, tho' but a few in number, who should bear witnefs to the truth, and declare against the iniquity and idolatry of their times, They fhould not be difcouraged even by perfecution and appreffion, but tho' cloathed in fuckcloth, and living in a mourning and afflicted ftate, fhould yet prophefy, fhould yet preach the fincere word of God, and denounce the divine judgments against the reigning idolatry and wickednefs: and this they thould continue to do, as long as the grand corruption itself lafted, for the fpace of a thousand two hundred and threefcore days. It is the fame fpace of time with the forty and two months before mentioned. For forty and two months, confifting each of thirty days, are equal to a thousand two hundred and threefcore days, or years, in the prophetic ftile: and a thousand

Q4

a thousand two hundred and threefcore years, as we have feen before in Daniel, and shall fee hereafter in the Revelation, is the period affigned for the tyranny and idolatry of the church of Rome. The witneffes therefore cannot be any two men, or any two churches, but must be a fucceffion of men, and a fucceffion of churches.

A character is then given of thefe witneffes, and of the power and effect of their preaching. Thefe are the two olive-trees, and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth (ver. 4.) that is, they are like Zerubbabel and Jefhua, (Zech. IV.) the great inftructers: and inlightners of the church. Fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies, (ver. 5.) that is, they are like unto Mofes and Elijah, (Num. XVI, 2 Kings I.) who called for fire upon their adverfaries. But their fire was real, this is fymbolical, and proceedeth out of the mouth of the witneffes, denouncing the divine vengeance on the corrupters and oppofers of true religion; much in the fame manner, as it was faid to Jeremiah (V. 14.) I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it fhall devour them. These have power to fhut heaven, that it rain not in the days of their prophecy, (ver. 6.) that is, they are like Elijah, who foretold a want of rain in the days of Ahab, (1 Kings XVII. 1. Jam. V. 17.) and it rained not on the earth for the space of three years and fix months, which, myftically underftood, is the fame fpace of time as the forty and two months, and the thousand two hundred and threefcore days, which are allotted for the prophefying of the witneffes. Daring this time the divine grace, and protection, and blefling thall be withheld from thofe men, who neglect and defpife their preaching and doctrin. They have alfo power over the waters to turn them to blood, and to fmite the earth with all plagues. as often as they will, that is, they are like Mofes and Aaron, who inflicted thefe plagues on Egypt: and they may be faid to fmite the earth with the plagues which they denounce, for in fcripture-language the prophets are often faid to do thofe things, which they declare and foretel. But it is moft highly probable, that these particulars will receive a more litteral accomplishment,

when

when the plagues of God and the vials of his wrath (Chap. XVI.) fhall be poured out upon men, in confequence of their having fo long refifted the teftimony of the witneffes. Their caufe and the caufe of truth, will finally be avenged on all their enemies.

Next after this defcription of the power and office of the witneffes, follows a prediction of those things, which fhall befall them at the latter end of their miniftry: and their paffion, and death, and refurrection, and afcenfion' are copied from our Saviour's, who is emphatically ftiled. (III.14.) the faithful and true witnefs; but with this difference, that his were real, theirs are figurative and myftical. And when they shall have finished, irav TEXEOWOI, when they shall be about finishing their teftimony, (ver. 7.) the beaft that afcendeth out of the abyss, the tyrannical power of Rome, of which we fhall hear more hereafter," fhall make war against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them. The beast indeed fhall make war against them all the time that they are performing their ministry; but when they shall be near finishing it, he shall fo make war against them, as to overcome them, and kill them. They fhall be fubdued and fuppreffed, be degraded from all power and authority, be deprived of all offices and functions, and be politically dead, if not naturally fo., In this low and abject ftate they fhall lie fome time (ver. 8.) in the street of the great city, in fome confpicuous place within the jurifdiction of (7) Rome, which Spiritually

(7) Mr. Mann, the late learned Mafter of the Charter-house, in fome manufcript notes upon Vitringa's book on the Revelation,, communieated to me by my friend Dr. Jortin, hath the following to prove that not Jerufalem but Rome was intended in this place. Rev. XI. 8. The great city which fpiritually is called Sodom and Egypt, where their Lord was crucified." Jerufalem in ver. 2. of this very chapter, is called the holy city: can it be in fo few periods intended under the names of "Sodom and Egypt?

2.

The holy city or Jerufalem ver. 2. was to be wafted and trod

"under foot by the Gentiles for 42 "months: the two witnesses were to "prophely the fame pace of time; "how then fhould their carkaffes lie "in the streets of Jerufalem fo wast❝ed?

3. "Jerufalem in this book is four "times called the Holy City, never "the Great (unless it be here meant). "The Great City is twelve times "repeated only of Babylon. i. e. "Rome; is it probable it fhould be "here ufed of Jerufalem?

fpiritually is called Sodom for corruption of manners, and Egypt, for tyranny and oppreffion of the people of God, where alfo our Lord was crucified fpiritually, being crucified afresh in the fufferings of his faithful martyrs. Nay to show the greater indignity and cruelty to the martyrs, their dead bodies fhall not only be publicly expofed, (ver. 9.) but they shall be denied even the common privilege of burial, which is the cafe of many proteftants in popish countries; and their enemies shall rejoice and infult over them, (ver. 10.) and fhall Jend mutual prefents and congratulations one to another, for their deliverance from thefe tormenters, whofe life and doctrin were a continual reproach to them. But after three days and a half, (ver. 11.) that is in the prophetic ftile after three years and a half, for no lefs time is requifite for all thefe tranfactions, they shall be raised again by the fpirit of God, and (ver. 12.) fhall ascend up to hea wen; they shall not only be restored to their priftin state,

and

Jerufalem is already wafted, and not fuppofed to be rebuilt i "therefore incapable of being fo da. «maged.

5. And were Jerufalem rebuilt, the enemies of Chrift out of all peo"ple, tongues, and nations (ver. 9.) "would not affemble there, nor the "beaft expofe the flain witneffes but in his own capital.

1. "Object. There are two cha"racteristics affigned, which fit Jeru"falem only, That it is fpiritually "or figuratively called Sodom and "Egypt; as Jerufalem is compared "to Sodom, Ifa. I. 1o. and III. 9. "(of Egypt no inftance.)

"teriftic, where alfo our Lord was "crucified, determines the place to "Jerufalem beyond all poffibility of doubting.

2.

"Anf. Mills fays, The Text «fiould be read, Ὁπε ὁ Κύριος αἰτῶν " iraupwon, where their Lord was crucified, or had been crucified; yet ❝ indeed without making any great "difference to the litteral fenfe. But "why may not this expreffion be "ufed figuratively as well as the pre

ceding? why may not the Lord of "the two witneffes be spiritually cru"cified, where they are fpiritually "flain? St. Paul to the Galatians "ufes this expreffion figuratively s "or 4 times: The Ep. to the Hebr. "VI. 6. ufes it figuratively, and per"haps in the very sense it may bear "here. Tho' it is capable too of "another, which is authorized by "Chrift himself, for Matt. X. and "XXV. and A&ts IX. 4, 5, he de "clares himself to fuffer what is done "to his followers. In that Great "City therefore, which was drunk "with the blood of the faints, and

I. "Aniw. That Capernaum "(Mat. XI. 23, 24.) is likewife "compared to Sodom by Chrift; "and fo is any city that shall reject the Gofpel. Matt. X. 15. Whence "Tertullian (adv. Jud. c. 9.) obferves of this very name, Nec hoc novum Scripturis divinis, figurate "uti tranflatione nominum, ex com"paratione criminum. So Rome "might be called Sodom for lewdnels, and Egypt for the oppreffion" "of God's people.

2. “Object. The second charac

the martyrs of Jefus, Chap. XVII, 6. Jefus himself might be faid to "be crucified,"

but

but fhall be farther promoted to dignity and honor; and that by a great voice from heaven, by the voice of public authority. At the fame hour there jhall be a great earthquake, there fhall be great commotions in the world; and the tenth part of the city hall fall, as an omen and earneft of a still greater fall; and feven thousand names of men, or feven thoufand men of name, fhall be flain; and the remainder in their fright and fear thall acknowledge the great power of God.

Some interpreters are of opinion, that this prophecy of the death and refurrection of the witneffes received its completion (8) in the cafe of John Hufs and Jerome of Prague, who were two faithful witnesses and martyrs of the bleffed Jefus. It is very well known, that they were condemned to death, and afterwards burnt for herefy by the council of Conftance. Which council fitting about three years and a half, from November 1414 to April 1418, their bodies may that time be faid to have lain unburied in the street of the great city, in Conftance where was the greatest affembly not only of bifhops and cardinals, but likewife of embaffadors, barons, counts, dukes, princes, and the emperor himfelf. But after the council was diffolved, thefe two preachers were reftored as it were to life in their difciples and followers, who propagated the fame doctrins, maintained them by force of arms as well as by preaching, and even vanquished the Imperialifts in feveral battles. It was truly faid to them Come up hither, when they were invited to the council of Bafil with a promise of redrefs of grievances: but the council having dealt fraudulently with them, they broke out again into open rebellion, and the tenth part of the city fell, the kingdom of Bohemia revolted, and fell alike from its obedience to the pope and emperor.

Others refer this prophecy to (9) the proteftants of the league of Smalcald, who were entirely routed by the emperor Charles V. in the battle of Mulburg on the 24th

(8) Fox et Vitring. p. 487, &c. Vide etiam Fred. Spanhemii Hift. Chrift. Saec. XV. Cap. 6, 7. Hiftoire du Concile de Conftance par Jaques Lenfant. Voltaire's General History and State of Europe. Part 2, and

Annals of the Empire. Vol. 2.

(9) Brightman and Vitring. p. 493. &c. See alfo Sleidan's Hift. of the Reformation, B. 19, &c. Voltaire's Annals of the Empire. Vol. 2.

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