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

But with Regard to the first Thing that I have supposed to be signified by the Effect of this Vial, viz. The drying up the Fountains and Streams of the Wealth and temporal Incomes and Supplies of the antichristian Church and Territories, I would propose it to Consideration, whether or no many Things that have come to pass within these twenty Years past, may not be looked upon as probable Beginnings of a Fulfilment of this Prophecy. Particularly what the Kings of Spain and Portugal did some Years since, when displeased with the Pope, forbidding any thenceforward going to Rome for Investitures, &c. thereby cutting off two great Streams of the Pope's Wealth, from so great and rich a Part of the popish World; and it's becoming so frequent a Thing of late for popish Princes, in their Wars, to make bold with the Treasure of the Church, and to tax the Clergy within their Dominions, as well as Laity; or, which is equivalent, to oblige 'em to contribute ⟨p. 168⟩great Sums, under the Name of a free Gift; and also the late peeling and impoverishing the Pope's temporal Dominions in Italy, by the Armies of the Austrians, Neapolitans and Spaniards, passing and repassing through them, and living so much at Discretion in them, of which the Pope has so loudly complained, and in vain; receiving nothing but Menaces, when he has objected against giving Liberty for the like Passage, for the future. These Things make it hopeful that the Time is coming when the Princes of Europe, the ten Horns, shall hate the Whore, and make her desolate and naked, and eat her Flesh; as Rev. xvii.16. which will prepare the Way for what next follows, her being burnt with Fire; even as the sixth Vial poured out, to consume the Supplies of Antichrist, and strip him naked of his Wealth, and as it were to pick his Flesh off from his Bones, will make Way for what next follows, the seventh Vial, that will consume Antichrist by the Fierceness of God's Wrath.

But with Regard to the first Thing that I have supposed to be signified by the Effect of this Vial, viz. The drying up the Fountains and Streams of the Wealth and temporal Incomes and Supplies of the antichristian Church and Territories, I would propose it to Consideration, whether or no many Things that have come to pass within these twenty Years past, may not be looked upon as probable Beginnings of a Fulfilment of this Prophecy. Particularly what the Kings of Spain and Portugal did some Years since, when displeased with the Pope, forbidding any thenceforward going to Rome for Investitures, &c. thereby cutting off two great Streams of the Pope's Wealth, from so great and rich a Part of the popish World; and it's becoming so frequent a Thing of late for popish Princes, in their Wars, to make bold with the Treasure of the Church, and to tax the Clergy within their Dominions, as well as Laity; or, which is equivalent, to oblige 'em to contribute