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was given unto him, to continue forty two months,

as in verse 5.

;

These forty two months have relation to the ten persecutions, which did last a matter of three hundred years,. For the spirit and power of this beast, did run through the loins of all them seven heads they all being partakers of the dragon's power, seat and authority. For it runs through the loins of all wicked beasts, or wicked head magistrates. For they have all the spirit of reason, even the spirit of the dragon, though not in such a measure as the dragon hath. So that the power of this beast should continue in himself, and in others forty two months; that was all the days of the ten persecutions, which time was the same, as the two prophets did prophesy, which is said to be forty two months; which time was as long as the apostles commision did last, about three hundred years, as aforesaid, and as I have shewed in the Interpretation of the eleventh of the Revelation.

CHAP. XXXVI.

BUT in verse 6, the beast that was healed of his deadly wound, he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God, to blaspheme his name, and his tabernacle, and them that dwelt in heaven.

So that you may see now this beast was healed of his wound, he was worse, and blasphemed more against the living God, and against his tabernacle ; which tabernacle was the body of Christ. And those that dwelt in heaven are the saints, who worshiped

by

by faith in the tabernacle of God, which is in heaven; therefore said to dwell in heaven; and in verse 7, It is given him, that is the beast aforesaid, to make war with the saints, and to overcome them, and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues, and nations.

Now the beast being recovered of that wound the saints did give him, he comes on afresh and makes war against them; not only in blaspheming against the living God, or living Jesus, whom the saints did worship and serve, and would not worship, and serve him. Therefore he makes war with the saints, and overcomes them. That is, causeth all those he could light of, to deny their faith in Jesus, and worship as he would have them, or else they must be put to death; so that he did overcome many of the saints, and put them to death; for power was given him over all kindreds, tongues, and nations. That is he had power over all other people, but those that worshiped Jesus, to command them to worship him, and that worship he did set up, and all people but the saints did obey; some for fear, and some for love, but all did obey to worship the beast, only those that had faith in Jesus; therefore they were overcome and killed by the beast. But the others, the kindreds, tongues, and nations, saved their lives for the world wandered after the beast, his power was so great. So that all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the lamb slain from the foundation of the world, as in verse 8. The meaning is this, that the spirit of reason in this beast, and in all other beasts, or head magistrates that are of the seed of the serpent, should have such power

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power over the dark reason of man, to worship him, and the image he doth set up. And the whole world lying in ignorance and darkness, they are through ignorance ready and willing to worship any thing, that the spirit of reason in the head magistrate shall command them.

And the ignorance and darkness of men, in point of worship, is so numerous, that hardly any can be seen in the world but idolaters. So that it may be said, that all that dwell on the earth do worship the beast, none excepted but those whose names are written in the book of life, which are but few in comparison. For the worshipers of the true God are but few in comparison of those that worship the devil. For the spirit of reason is the devil, and what image or form of worship is set up by the spirit of reason in the head magistrate, having no commission from God, it is but of the devil's setting up. And whoever doth bow down to worship in that manner and form, they do but worship the beast and his image, and so worship devils.

And is not the whole world at this day, as well as at that time, as well those that profess themselves Christians, as well as Heathens, Turks, and Pagans under that darkness of mind as to worship false gods, idols, and devils? So that the whole world may be said to worship the beast and his image, though not all one kind of image; for every opinionof religion in the world hath one image or other to worship, instead of God. And it must needs be so, because the world doth not know the true God in his form and nature, therefore they worship devils instead of God, though in divers forms and manner.

But

But I would have the seed of faith to mind, that when I say all the world the elect seed are excepted. For the seed of faith are not counted the world though they be in the world; as Christ said, I pray not for the world, but for them thou hast given me out of the world, and that thou wouldest keep them from the evil of the world. So that the scriptures do never count the saints the world, though they be in the world; so that the scriptures may say that all the world wandered after the beast, for all the world doth wander after one false worship or other, but those that have their names written in the book of life.. Now how shall a man know that his name is written in the book of life, but in that he knoweth the true God, and how to worship the true God withoutany idolatry? Can he know things of this nature but by a commission from God? Surely no.

And here lieth the comfort that the seed of faithhave in this life by a commission from God; by faith they know their names were written in the book of life, from the foundation of the world. That is, they are to look no father than the beginning of the world, that is, to the first Adam; they being of his seed are not counted by the revelation of faith, to be the world; it is the seed of the serpent that is called by the spirit the world, and not the seed of Adam. So that the seed of faith are those that died in the first Adam, yet their names were written in his seed; and Christ the second Adam, he being the quickening spirit of that seed.

And as the seed of faith was dead in the first Adam, so likewise the same seed is quickened again by the second

second Adam, and so made alive again, and may be said to be written in the book of life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world.

It is said from the foundation of the world, with relation to righteous Abel being slain. So that whoever is of Adam's seed, is of Abel's seed; and whoever is of Abel's seed, he may be said to have his name written in the book of life of the Lamb, slain from the foundation of the world; for the seed of faith doth go no further to find his name written in the book of life, than to righteous Abel. For whoever goeth further to find his eternal life, he will come short of it, and never find it.

I give this hint to the seed of faith, only to let them see where the book of life is, and where they' may find their names written, and not to go as rovers beyond the foundation of the world; but go to the first Adam as Moses speaketh of, and not as the imagination of reason doth. For whoever goeth beyond Adam to find his name written in the book of life, he will never find it. So much for the interpretation of the eighth verse.

Shall

CHAP. XXXVII.

I pass by the two following verses, there being nothing in them but what is commonly known; therefore in the next place I shall come to verse 11, where it is said, And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and he had two horns like a lamb, and he spake as a dragon.

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