(2.) Another thing that comforts my heart is this, — it is no less glorious to suffer under the beast and the false prophet than it was
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to suffer under the dragon. The book of the Revelation is chiefly made up of these two things, — of the persecutions of the church ; one by the dragon, and he is conquered; the other by the beast and false prophet, and they shall be conquered. The dragon was the heathen power of the Roman empire ; and it was a glorious thing to suffer under that power. They that did so are described, Rev. vii. 14, 15, "These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. There- fore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them." And of those that suffered under the beast and the false prophet it is said, Rev. xii. 11, "They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony." We account them great and glorious persons who won the liberty of the gospel and the Christian religion by suffering against the pagan power, and who destroyed all idolatry by their blood, starving and " famishing all the gods of the earth," Zeph. ii. 11. Never were men more glorious than they. These made up the " Turba palmifera;" that is, the company who, with palms in their hands, and a new song in their mouths, give glory unto God, Rev. vii. 9-12. I say, it is not less glorious to suffer under the beast and false prophet, the second persecuting power, — that is, the papal, antichristian power, — than it was before under the pagan. This the church hath for many ages conflicted withal, and must continue to do so, until the time is come when they shall have a perfect and complete conquest over this also. It is a glorious thing, and I would have you reckon upon it as such. If a time of going into Smithfield should again come, — if God shall call us to that fiery trial or any other, whatever it may be, — remember that to suffer against Antichrist is as great and glorious as to suffer against Paganism.
(3.) Though our persons fall, our cause shall be as truly, certainly, and infallibly victorious, as that Christ sits at the right hand of God. Among the heathens, men of courage did not value their own lives, so their cause was carried on. Now, however your persons or my person may fall in this trial, yet the cause in which we are engaged shall as surely conquer as Christ is alive and shall prevail at last. Upon the first rise of the beast, it is said, Rev. xiii. 7, " He made war with the saints, and overcame them." The poor Waldenses looked upon themselves to be the people there prophesied of; and said, when they were under the butcheries of the papal power, " We are the conquered people of God ; but there shall come forth conquerors." When going to die, they knew and believed their cause would con- quer. And so, after Antichrist hath conquered and prevailed over persons for a season, at length it will come to a final issue. " They
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shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them ; for they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful," Rev. xvii. 14. The gospel shall be victorious. This is the third thing that greatly comforts and refreshes me, — that if God should give me the honour, the strength, and grace to die in this cause, my cause shall be victorious, as sure as if I had the crown in my hand.
(4.) The judgments of God shall come upon the antichristian world ivhen they look not for them; when the kings of the earth do not look for them ; yea, when believers themselves do not look for them; — they shall come so suddenly. The Holy Ghost saith so ex- pressly, Rev. xviii. 8, " Her plagues shall come in one day, death, and mourning, and famine; and she shall be utterly burned with fire." How is it possible that one that is in the state and condition where- in she is, should have her plagues come upon her in one day ? The reason is added, '•' For strong is the Lord God who judgeth her." Almighty strength shall be put forth for the accomplishing of it. And if this be not enough, the 17th verse tells you that it shall come in " one hour." And I do verily believe that the destruction of this cursed antichristian state (of the head of it) will be brought about by none of those means we see or know of; but that the strong Lord God shall break in upon her and destroy her by ways unknown to us. It may be to-morrow ; it may be not these hundred years. She herself, when it is done, shall look for no such thing. Verses 7, 8, "She hath glorified herself, and lived deliciously; for she saith in her heart, I sit a queen, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow. There- fore shall her plagues come in one day." When she is boasting her- self, destruction shall come ; — when the kings of the earth shall have no expectation of it; for they shall cry, verse 16, " Alas, alas! that great city, Babylon, that mighty city ; for in one hour so great riches is come to nought." And believers themselves will be such as the children of Israel in Egypt. When Moses came they could not be- lieve, because of the cruel bondage they were under: it is like the day wherein God's judgments will come upon Antichrist, the old enemies of Jesus Christ.