An humble attempt to promote explicit agreement and visible union of God's people in…

What was fulfilled in the Reformation, well answers the Representation made concerning the Witnesses, Rev. xi.11, 12. Of the Spirit of Life from God entering into them, and their standing on their Feet, and ascending up to Heaven, in the Sight of their Enemies. A little before the Reformation, the State of the Church of God, and of true Religion was lowest of all, and nearest to utter Extinction. Antichrist had, after great and long ⟨p. 120⟩Struggles, prevailed against the Waldenses, Albigenses and Bohemians. The War with the Albigenses seems especially to be intended by the War of the Beast with the Witnesses spoken of Ver. 7. These were Witnesses to the Truth, that were the most numerous and considerable, and those that most tormented the Church of Rome. And the War that was maintained against them, was by far the greatest that ever Antichrist had against any of the Professors of the Truth, before the Reformation; and was properly the War of the Beast; It was the Pope that proclaimed the War, and that raised the Soldiers by his Emissaries and Priests, preaching the Cross, gathering innumerable Multitudes of Pilgrims from all Parts of Christendom, and raising one Crusade after another, which were conducted and managed by the Pope's Legates; and it was the Pope that paid the Soldiers with Pardo•• ▪ Indulgences, Promises of Paradise, and such-like Trumpery. When Antichrist had gradually prevailed against these Witnesses, with much Difficulty, and long-continued violent Struggling, and after innumerable vexatious Disasters and Disappointments; The Church of God, in the Time of Luther and other Reformers, on a Sudden, in a wonderful Manner revives, when such an Event was least expected, (to the Surprise and Amazement of their antichristian Enemies) and appears in such Strength, that the Reformed are able to stand on their own Legs, and to withstand all the Power and Rage of the Church of Rome. Presently after this Revival, the People of God are set on high, having the Civil Magistrate in many Countries on their Side, and henceforward have the Power of many potent Princes engaged for their Protection: And this, in Sight of their Enemies, and greatly to their ⟨p. 121⟩Grief and Vexation; who, tho' they from Time to Time exert their utmost, never are able to prevail against them, to bring them under any more, as they had done in former Wars.