book feek the fenfe that is, and not the fenfe which is not, as hath been faid before. But I will give power unto my two witneffes, and they fhall prophefy one thoufand two hundred and fixty days clothed in fackcloth.' Rev. xi. 3. Having fet down how Antichrift and his company, being those Gentiles which poffefs the outward court, fhould tread down the holy city, that is, the true church of God for a fhort time, now he cometh to fhew, that even in the height and pride of the Pope's power and government, yet the church was not utterly extinct, God did never utterly forfake it, but in all ages, and at all times, God raised up one or other to withstand all Popish proceedings, which is here meant by the two witneffes. For affuredly these two witneffes do not fignify Enoch and Elias, as the Papifts and fome others do dream; but they fignify all the faithful preachers and profeffors of the truth, which in all ages both former and latter have oppofed themfelves against the Pope, his clergy, his doctrine, his religion, and all his abominable proceedings. They are called witneffes, because they fhould bear witnefs unto the truth. They are faid to be two in number, for three reafons: First, Because they were very few in thofe days when Popery did fo generally prevail; for two is the fmalleft number. Secondly, Becaufe the law of God doth admit of no lefs number in witnefs bearing, as it is written in the mouth of two or 'three witneffes fhall every word stand.' Thirdly, It is an allufion to Zorobabel, and Jehofhua, which were the two restor. ers and builders of the temple after the captivity: Chrift faith here, that he will give power to his two witnesses:' for no man hath any power in heavenly things, except it be given him from above: and efpecially to ftand faft to the truth in the heat of perfecutions and troubles. It is faid, that thefe two witnesses fhall 'prophecy: that is, preach, declare, and fpeak. For fo prophefy is taken in the former chapter and laft verfe: fo also in other places of the fcripture. The time of their prophefying, being 1260 days, hath been expounded before. Thefe two witneffes are cloathed in 'fackcloth,' which fignifieth that they fhould lead a forrowful life here in this world. For in old times when men did faft and mourn, they did ufe to put on fackcloth. It followeth then that thefe faithful proachers and witrofes of the truth, did not spend their days in mirth, jollity, and worldly pomp and brevity, as did the Pope's clergy, and pompous prelates of Antichrift. Now if any man will demand how this may appear, that there have been always fome raifed up of God, to write, preach, declare, and fpeak against the whore of Babylon, even when the was aloft and reigned as the queen and lady of the world: I anfwer, that hiftories are very plentiful in this point; which at large do fhew, that in all countries and kingdoms of Europe, there were ever fome ftirred up to impugne and refift the whore of Babylon: viz. In England, Robert Grofted, bishop of Lincoln, 1293. John Wickliff, fupported by Edward the III. and divers of the nobility in England, in 1400. In Germany, Taulerus a preacher, Anno, 1354- In Bohemia, John Huffe, 1414. Mathias Parifienfis, 1317. Arnoldus de Nova Villa, 1250. Jerome Savanarola, a monk, 1500. In France, Waldas, of whom came the Wal- Guilielmus de fancto amore, 1252. Laurentius, 1290. In Ireland, Armachanus, an archbishop, 1362. Many preachers at once, 1240. All the churches of Greece renounced the church of Rome for her abominable idolary, 1230. It were too tedious to recite all, whichthe hiftorians report to have withstood both Pope and Popery, even when it did moft of all bear the fway: thefe may fuffice for the understanding of the text. As for thofe which have been raised up fince the decay and fall of Popery, I mean fince Luther's time, they are fo many, and fo well known, that I need fay nothing. Thefe are the two olive trees, and two • candlesticks standing before the God of the earth,' Rev. xi. 4. Here the two witneffes are compared to two olive trees, becaufe that as the olive tree doth drop down his oil and fatnefs, fo the faithful minifters do drop down upon the church the fweet oil of the Spirit, which is all heavenly and spiritual graces, as the metaphor of oil is often fo taken in the fcriptures. They are also compared to two candlefticks, because that as the candlestick beareth up the candle fet upon it, fo the minifters of the gofpel bear up and hold forth the light of God's word, even in the greateft darkness. Thefe candlesticks are faid to ftand be'fore the God of the earth:' because God beareth rule, not only in heaven, but in earth alfo, even then when all things in the earth feem to be most troubled, and the church militant under greateft perfecutions, as now it wás. And if any man will hurt them, fire 'proceedeth out of their mouths, and fhall devour their enemies: for if any will hurt them, fo muft he be killed. Thefe have power to fhut heaven that it rain not in the days of their prophefying, and have power over the waters to turn them into blood, and to fmite the earth with all man a |