observe one speciall thing to wit that the Gospel which this Angel flyeth withall containeth the brief summ of all the doctrine which Luther Calvin Peter Martyr and the rest have taught out of Gods Word and agreeth in all points with it For what other thing did they all preach teach and write but that men should turn from idols to the living God from fearing glorifying and worshipping creatures to feare worship and glorifie God alone which hath made all things What other thing doe all the preachers of this age publish and proclaime in all their Sermons but this Feare God and give glory onely to him Is not this the Epitome and short sum of all the doctrine of the Preachers of England Scotland Germany France Denmarke and all the rest and therefore I conclude that this Angel must needs be understood of the Preachers of this last age which now these fourscore yeeres have sounded the trumpet of the Gospel against all the inventions of Popery And blessed be God wee see these things fall out in our dayes and are eye-witnesses of the fulfilling of them And there followed another Angel saying Verse 8. It is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great city for she gave to all nations to drink the wine of the wrath of her fornication Here is set down the blessed effect of the preaching of this everlasting Gospel which is the downfall of Babylon For as when the cleer Sun ariseth upon the earth the thick mists and clouds are dispersed even so when the bright beames of the Gospel doe shine forth unto the world Babylon that dark kingdom vanisheth away incontinently And as it is written in the eighteenth chapter so soon as the earth was lightened with the glory of this everlasting Gospel Babylon immediatly falleth Therefore now before I go any further my purpose through the assistance of God Five maine points is to prove these five points out of this verse and that which followeth unto the twentieth chapter to wit First that Babylon here signifieth Rome Secondly that Rome shall fall and how Thirdly that Rome shall fall finally and come to utter desolation in this life Fourthly by whom and when it shall be overthrown Lastly the causes of the utter ruine and overthrow thereof How Rome is to be taken But before I go about to prove that Babylon here is Rome I would have it carefully observed what is meant by Rome viz. not the topography of Rome that is so much ground only as is compassed within the wals of that city but the regiment government and prerogative that is claimed by vertue of that Monarchy whereof Rome is the head By Rome is meant the power and authority of Rome or to speak plainly by Rome is meant the Roman Monarchy Further we are here to observe the reason why the holy Ghost calleth Rome Babylon for Rome literally and properly taken is not Babylon in as much as they were two divers cities one in Italy the other in Chaldea but Rome is called Babylon mystically figuratively and as the holy Ghost speaketh spiritually and by a kind of allusion Chap. 11.8 A reason why Rome is called Babylon For as the old Eastern Babylon did a long time oppresse the Church of the Jewes so Rome this Western Babylon hath long oppressed the Church of the Christians As the Eastern Babylon did many yeers hold down the people of God in miserable bondage and servitude so the Western Babylon did a long time keep the Christian Church in spirituall thraldome and misery In which respects Rome is spiritually compared to Sodom and Egypt to Sodom for filthinesse and to Egypt for idolatry and keeping Gods Church in spirituall bondage and slavery And thus we see the reason why Rome is called Babylon which is not simply and properly but after a sort that is by a phrase of speech or Trope which they call a Metonymie or changing of names when that is given to one thing which is proper to another for the likenesse of quality that it hath with it or adjoyned unto it Now having shewed the reason why Rome is called Babylon and what is meant by Rome we are to proceed to the first point which is to prove that Babylon in this place signifieth Rome which although it be granted of all sound Divines and avouched in the writings of the best learned both new and old so as it shall need no great proof yet will I add three or foure reasons out of this book to make it more plain and apparant First therefore I do thus reason out of the seventeenth chapter and last verse Babylon is that great city which reigneth over the kings of the earth But there was no other city which did reigne over the kings of the earth when John wrote this book but onely Rome Therefore Rome is Babylon For as for Jerusalem it was at that time made an heap of stones The first proposition is avouched by the Angel of God expounding unto John what is meant by the great whore whose damnation hee had shewed him before and by the woman which sate upon a scarlet coloured beast The woman which thou sawest Chap. 17.18 saith the Angel to Saint John is that great city which raigneth over the kings of the earth that is to say Rome or the Romish synagogue and malignant Church For the Angel could not speak more plainely except he should have named Rome then to say thus The woman the great whore of Babylon is the great city which raigneth over the kings of the earth For if one should say The great citie of England every man knoweth that thereby is meant London if one should say The great citie of France every one knoweth that thereby is meant Paris so when the Angel saith The great citie which reigneth over the kings of the earth all that lived in those times knew that thereby was meant Rome Babylon is Rome for Rome was the chief citie of the Monarchy and is put in this book for the whole Monarchy and the religion thereof as hath been said before My second reason is this Chap. 17. Babylon is the mother of whoredomes and abominations of the earth Babylon is that great whore with whom have committed fornication the Kings of the earth and the inhabitants of the earth made drunk with the wine of her fornication But Rome and none but Rome is such a one Therefore Rome is Babylon My third argument is this Babylon is that city which hath had seven severall governments But only Rome hath had seven severall kinds of government Therefore Rome is Babylon The proposition is proved from the words of the Angel expounding unto John what is meant by the seven heads of the scarlet coloured beast whereupon the woman sate The seven heads saith hee are seven kings Chap. 17.9 that is seven orders or states of kingly government for seven kings in this place are not put for seven severall men which were kings
Booke heere are to be found very large and lively descriptions of the most glorious Person of Christ Chap. 1. Chap. 2. Chap. 3. and all his excellent offices both of King Priest and Prophet and also most notable descriptions of the Church and of the Ministers of it and of the persecutions and afflictions which it must of necessity passe through in the World Also of Gods mercifull providence for his Church and most vigilant care over it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very lively descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Satan himselfe and his three great instruments the Roman Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set down all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their utter overthrow in the end Here are described Hell Death the resurrection and the last judgement Here also the very Kingdome of Heaven is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicity which remaine for all the faithfull worshippers of God I conclude therefore that for as much as this Prophesie is of such excellent contents therefore the use and necessity of it must needes be very great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commanded by Alpha and Omega to write the things which he had seene the things that were and the things that shall come hereafter By the things which he had seene is meant that glorious vision mentioned in the first Chapter wherein Jesus Christ did appeare unto him in the middest of the seven golden Candlesticks â—erse 13. â—4 15.16 in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the Isle of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorized to this worke and therefore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had already seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seven Churches of Asia which were then the most flourishing Churches in the World as they are described in the second and third Chapters and in them the estate of all other Churches By the things that shall be he meaneth all the prophesie of this booke which were to be fulfilled in their time and all those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the severall ages of the Church even unto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn received a precise commandement from the Sonne of God to write things past present and to come that they might stand in record unto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the end and use of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authority of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is JESUS CHRIST and therefore it is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ which GOD gave unto him And againe it is written I Jesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches Here wee see plainly Chap. 22.16 that Jesus Christ the very Sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for he subscribes his name unto it and set his hand and seale unto it Needs therefore must the authority of it be very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignity and auâ—hority he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignity and authority is the book it selfe Another strong argument to confirme the authority of this book may be taken from the protestation of Jesus Christ in these words I protest unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Booke Cha 22.18 if any man shall adde unto those sayings God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this Booke And if any shall diminish of the words of the Booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the Booke of life Heere we see how Jesus Christ maketh the authority to this Booke equall to all other the Oracle of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract under paine of condemnation It maketh much also for the authority of this booke that S. John doth so often repeat reiterate and inculcate his owne name I John I John I John I John the Apostle I John the Evangelist I John the Divine shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was even one of the Lambs twelve Apostles and therefore to be void of all suspition and doubt concerning the authority of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any invention of man or feigned device sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreover the authority of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last Chapter The first is the affirmation of the Angell who saith The words are faithfull and true Chap. 22.6 7 8. The second is the authority of the most high GOD himselfe in these words The Lord GOD of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be fulfilled The third is the testimony of Jesus ver 6 7. who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly Blessed is he that keepeth the words of this Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnes of John in these words I am John which heard and saw these things Now it may bee demanded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped up for the confirmation of the authority of this Booke Surely we must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the Holy Ghost doth not use to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but upon great cause Wee may easily gather what the cause is The Booke painteth out the Whore of Babylon and the whole Kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and fleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authority of this Booke He by some meanes in old time prevailed thus farre that even among some Churches of true Christians the authority and truth of it was doubted of The Holy Ghost did well foresee the practice of Sathan and therefore bringeth the more reasons for the confirmation thereof If the credit and authority of this Booke should never have been impugned there needed not any such speciall confirmation But now God be thanked there is no question or controversie concerning the authority of this Prophesie It is received as authenticall by the common consent of all the Churches Almost all the ancient Fathers doe acknowledge it to be canonicall The new Writers doe with one voyce give their consent and approbation unto it The Papists themselves doe acknowledge it to be the sacred and undoubted Word of God though of all Scriptures they cannot endure it should be medled withall
fadeth not that God of his mercy would bring you my hearts desire and prayer is and shall be and in the meane season that the yeeres of your life being multiplied your life may be full of honour to God profit to his Church and comfort to your owne soule Your Honours most deeply bound Ezekiel Culverwell The Epistle to the Christian READER BEing often requested Gentle Reader and much importuned by sundry both learned and godly to publish that Doctrine of the Apocalyps which divers of them with lively voyce heard publickely delivered I did at last upon my most mature deliberation yeeld unto their reasonable request I meane the reasons of their request Indeed I doe ingeniously confesse that I am the unmeetest of many which this age God be thanked doth afford to deale in a matter of so great importance or any wise to be imployed in so great and honourable a service as this is But if I doe industriously use my small talent and be found faithfull in a little I hope it shall have both cheerefull and comfortable acceptation with the Church of God For this I presume will be granted of all that he which hath but a little strength and yet putteth it forth to the uttermost to do good withall is more to bee commended then hee which hath thrice his strength and useth it not to the helpe and benefit of others And true it is indeed that sundry worthy labours of divers excellent men upon the Apocalyps are already extant so as hee may seeme to powre water into the Sea or goe about to mend the Crowes eyes that will attempt to adde any thing to that which is already published But know this O Christian Reader that the Lords garden is so large and plentifull of all most sweet and pleasant flowers that where any one hath gathered a Nosegay most fragrant and delectable another may come after and gather another not to bee contemned For the wisdome of God is such an undraineable Fountaine and head-spring that where one hath drawne much before another may come happily and draw as much afterward yea though thousand doe succeede yet can this fountaine never be drawne dry Be it farre from me to arrogate any thing to my selfe above others for I am privy inough to mine owne meanes and doe freely confesse that in this worke I have received much light from others and therefore doe not as a Judge give sentence upon other mens workes but as one that would furnish the same feast bring in my dish among them Or as one that in the same cause would come in as a third or a fourth witnesse to testifie and confirme the same thing And verily through the gratious assistance of Gods Spirit my simple purpose and indeavour is to give a lift to the uttermost of my power to further that which is already happily begun and to provoke others of greater gifts to come after with their great lights and lanthornes in their hands to discry and discover whatsoever in this Prophesie is not yet fully seene into I am not ignorant that some would not have this booke meddled withall nor in any wise to be expounded among the common people because say they it is so darke and hard to understand But let all such leave their owne opinions and hearken what the Holy Ghost saith Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie c. What can be sayd more or more effectually to stirre us up to heare and reade and with all gladnes to imbrace this Booke then to tell us that in so doing wee shall bee blessed For the things contayned in this booke be no trifles they be not things only for a shew to moove wonderment or to delight the curious minde of men but such as indeede doe give true blessednesse unto all those that are well instructed in them What thing is greater then to be blessed for evermore If we be not exceeding dull yea even like stockes and stones it must needs move us and stirre us up For who will wittingly and willingly lose his owne blessednesse or suffer it to bee taken from him when as he may have it If any will object that a man may be blessed well inough without the knowledge of this booke and that there be Bookes inough in the Scripture to procure our blessednesse without this And that thousands are now in Heaven which never knew what this Booke meant I answer that all this doth not take away the necessary use of this Booke for the holy Ghost doth pronounce a blessing upon the heads of those that Reade and Study this Booke not because a man cannot be saved without it But because of the great comfort which it ministereth unto us of this age and hath ministred unto all the Churches since the Apostles times For it is the Prophesie of this age and the Prophesie of all the ages since Christ Wherein is fully shewed what shall be the estate and condition of the Church in the severall Ages thereof unto the end of the World For God according to his admirable wisdome and mercy hath never from the beginning left his Church without a Prophesie for the great comfort thereof For we know that immediately after the fall of our first parents God himselfe for the great comfort of his Church did foretell and fore-prophesie long before of that restauration which should be made by the Mâ—ssias his Sonne according as it came to passe in the fulnesse of time Afterward he did fore-tell his people of Isael Genesis 3 Gen. 15 of their great servitude and intollerable bondage in Aegypt and also of the end and full determination therefore after foure hundred and thirty yeeres After all this he foretold by his servants the Prophets of the Captivity in Babylon and the full expiration thereof at the end and tearme of seventy yeeres Ieremy 2â— And yet further for the comfort and consolation of his people he fore-told by Daniel Daniel 7 Ezech. 3 and Ezechiel of the great afflictions and troubles which his Church should endure by the Persecutions of the dâ—vided Greeke Empire I meane Alexanders Posterity especially the Kings of Aegypt and Syria which descended of Ptolomeus and Seleucus Daniel 8 Daniel 9 Daniel 1â— whom the Scripture calleth the Kings of the North and of the South by the space of 194. yeeres and of the precise determination thereof at the comming of the Mâ—ssias 〈◊〉 then what care God hath had of his Church in all ages before the comming of his sonne in the flesh so to foretell both of the affliction it selfe and also of the just period and determination thereof And shall we not thinke that God hath the like care now for his Church which then he had or hath he not as great and provident care for the good of his Church since the promised Messias was actually exhibited as before Yes assuredly and much more too for if his care and providence
was so great for his Church being in her ward-shippe and minority then much more now being come to her ripenesse and full age If then it was lesse glorious then much more now being farre more glorious Therefore now unto us he foretelleth by his servant John what shall be the estate of the Church unto the end of the world and therefore Blessed is he that heareth and readeth this booke sith it foretelleth of the Churches affliction in this age by the whoore of Babylon and of the full end and determination thereof It sheweth justly and precisely what the Church hath suffered since the Apostles time in severall ages and what it shall suffer and also how all the enemies thereof shall shortly bee troden under foote What can be more joyfull or comfortable to all the people of God then to know afore-hand that Babylon shall fall Rome shall downe Antichrist the great persecutor of the Church shall bee utterly confounded and consumed in this world notwithstanding all plots and policies crafts and devices to the contraâ—y notwithstanding all forces and armâ—es cunningly contrived and raised up against the Chuâ—ch by Seminary Priests Jesuites Pope Cardiâ—all and King of Spaine For all these in this age do very busily bestirre them and ransacke all corners of their wits to repaire the ruines of Rome and to make up the breaches which are made in the walles of Babylon their great City But alas all in vaine for it shall fall It shall fall it shall as Dagon before the presence of the Arke doe what they can spite of their hearts maugre their beards it shall without all hope of recovery For hath the Lord spoken it and shall it not come to passe or any word of his ever fall to the ground Sith therefore the Jesuites and Secular Priâ—sts do so fiske about and croake in every corner as greatly fearing the fall of their Babylon and the drying up of their Euphrates it stands us all in hand to bee of resolute for Christ as they are for Antichrist and as studious to uphold the Kingdome of God as they are to uphold the kingdome of the divell And for this purpose it is very requisite and necessary that all the Lords people should bee acquainted with this Booke and armed against them with the things revealed in this Prophesie For this booke is a most precious Jewell which God hath bestowed upon his Church in this last age and it is great pitty that all the servants of God are not better acquainted with it especially in these times for now in this age is and shall bee the very heat of the warre and brunt of the battle betwixt Papists and Protestants betwixt God and Belial betwixt the armies of Christ and the armies of Antichrist Now this Prophesie layeth all open and plainly telleth us what shall be the issue and successe in the day of battell which side shall have the victory and which side shall goo downe And therefore very needfull it is that it should be expounded againe and againe and all the Lords people made throughly acquainted with it For in this age wherein we live this Prophesie can never be enough opened and beaten upon that all good Protestants may bee armed with it against future times even as it were with an armour of proofe Saint John plainely telleth the people of his time even the Churches of Asia that they should be blessed by reading and studying this Booke because they should thereby bee fore-warned and fore-armed against many eminent troubles and future dangers For saith he The time is at hand that is to say some things were even then to bee fulfilled For some matters foretold in this booke did begin to bee fulfilled even presently after they were shewed unto John for the Mystery of iniquity did even then begin to worke The Church in the Apostles time had her conflictes The Tenne great persecutions began even then to bee raised up Heresies shortly after began to spring and sprout Afterwards by degrees the great Antichrist did aproach toward his cursed seat And after all this Saint John foretelleth how hee should take possession of his abhominable and most execrable seat and sea of Rome How hee should raigne and rule for a time as the Monarchy of the world How hee should prevaile against the Church and make warre against the Saints How he should raigne but a short time and afterward come tumbling downe as fast as ever he rose up and decrease as fast as ever he increased Therefore Blessed is he saith S. John that diligently readeth and peruseth this booke that thereby he may foresee all these things and be armed against them For as the heathen man saith Levius laedit quicquid previderis ante Foreseeing dangers doe least hurt Now to apply all this to our times I say they are twice happy that are studious and painefull in searching out the true sense and meaning of this Prophesie that thereby they may be strengthned against all the assaults of the Papists our professed enemies and the enemies of Gods Church and sticke fast to the everlasting truth of God knowing for a certainty that the sonnes of Belial shall not long prevaile Apo. 9.11 The date of their raigne is almost out and the time draweth on apace wherein both they and their King Abbadon shall bee laid in the dust But I will now proceed to a new reason to prove that this Booke of the Revelation ought not to be concealed but openly preached and published to the whole Church of God in this age My reason is taken out of the 22. Chapter of this Booke verse 10. in these words Seale not the words of the Prophesie of this Booke for the time is at hand Here is a flat commandement from God that this Booke and Doctrine of it may not bee sealed up that is to say kept close from the knowledge of Gods people but it must lie alwaies unsealed that all men may open it reade it and see what is in it for it is a borrowed speech taken from sealing of Letters For we all know that wooing Letters are sealed none may open them or reade them but onely those whom it doth concerne but if they bee of purpose left unsealed then any man may reade them without danger So the Lord willeth and commandeth that this Booke of the Revelation should of purpose bee left unsealed that all the people of God might reade it study it and know it If any man doubt whether the Metaphor of sealing be thus taken in the Scripture let him reade the places quoted in the Margent and in all those places hee shall finde it taken in this sense Whereby it doth evidently appeare that the mind and meaning of God is that this Booke should bee proclaimed and published in all the Churches And upon this ground Esa 29.11 Dan. 1â— 9 Apoc 4 1. Apo. 10.4 I hold that every Minister of the Gospell standeth bound as much as in him lyeth to
preach the Doctrine of the Apocalyps to his particular charge and congregation for every Minister of the Gospell must shew unto his people all the counsâ—ll of God and keepe backe nothing as Paul testifieth that he did to the great comfort of his conscience But the doctrine of the Revelation is a part and parcell of the Counsell and Will of God therefore it must not be concealed or kept backe from the knowledge of the people of God And in these daies I thinke it not onely meete and convenient that it should be so but in truth absolutely necessary But now me thinketh I heare some men say What must this booke of the Apocalyps bee preached and made knowne to the common people alas what should they doe with it It is not for them to meddle with all It is not for their diet I answer and yet not I but the holy Ghost that this booke must be made knowne to all the servants of God For Saint John calleth it the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to shew unto all his servants It is plaine therefore that all the servants of God both men and women young and old rich and poore must be made acquainted with this Booke Moreover John is commanded by the God of Heaven to set downe all the visions which the Angell shewed him and to write them all in a booke and send them to the seven Churches of Asia that is to people of all sorts and conditions And therefore this Booke doth not onely concerne Preachers and deepe Divines but even all the Lords people whatsoever for it doth minister great comfort and strength of faith to all the people of God that live in this age But here the Papists object that this booke is full of darkenesse and obscurity and therefore not for the common people to meddle withall nay say they there are as many mysteries as words in it and therefore what should men trouble their heads about it But no marvaile though the Papists say so much for it is the wound of their Kingdome and the battery of their Babylon As for others both learned and Godly which in this point are almost of the same mind that they will not meddle with this Booke of the Revelation I cannot but marvell at it The modesty and humility of some very rare and reverend men for learning and great variety of gifts which notwithstanding scotch much at this Booke is greatly to be commended But if I were worthy to give them advice I would wish them in this behalfe to change their minde and to bee of another resolution for I dare avouch it that there is nothâ—ng in this Prophesie which study and diligence with prayer and humility may not overcome True it is indeed that the shell is thick and hard to break but being broken the kirnell is most sweet and pleasant If any be discouraged with the darkenes and obscurity of it let him harken to these reasons following First it is called a Revelation which is as much to say as an uncovering of things which did lie hid if it be an uncovering and revealing of things no doubt it may be knowne and seene into For revealed things are for us and our children If it be a Revelation how say some that it cannot be understood For it is contrary to the nature of a Revelation to be so darke that none can understand it But shall we say that the holy Ghost which is the spirit of truth hath given a wrong name unto it God forbid For if it hide matters or set them forth that it cannot be understood then it is not rightly called a Revelation If this Booke be so mysticall that it cannot be understood If the interpretation of it be uncertaine If the common people cannot bee taught to understand it How then should the holy Ghost Apoc. 1.3 Apo. 12.7 Blessed is he â—hat readeth the words of this Prophesie c. Let any man judge that hath common sense Can any man be blessed by hearing and reading those things which hee understandâ—th not I trow no. Then it followeth that this Booke may be understood and no doubt is understood of many and might be better understood of many moe if they would bend their wits and studies unto it Apoc. 22.10 The hâ—ly Ghost as is said before willeth and commandeth that the words of this Prophesie should not bee sealed up Whereby it is evident that hee would have them reade and made knowne to all Then I reason thus that which is open and unsealed may bee read and knowne But this booke is open and unsealed Therefore it may be read and knowne If men say the matters of this Prophesie are sealed and hid and God say they bee unsealed and open whether shall we beleeve men or God If any will reply and say wee feele and finde by experâ—ence that the words of this booke are hard to bee understood I answer that the fault is in our selves because we are so negligent in the search and study thereof For if we did wâ—th that humility and reverend care that ought to be in us search after the things revealed in this booke wee should finde that they bee not sealed up but lie open to be read and knowne True it is indeed that if any man light upon some peâ—ce and take it by it selfe hee shall finde it very darke But if he looke upon the whole course of matters through the booke and marke and observe diligently how things be iterated hee shall finde no such darkenesse as he feareth for there is a notable coherence of matters and course of times observed in this booke even from the first Chapter unto the last as God willing shall more fully and plainely appeare in the particular opening and interpretation thereof One great objection against this Prophesie is that the Fathers profesie it is full of mysteries and that they could not understand it If they could not understand it say some how shall wee understand it Is it not great arrogancy for for us to say wee understand it better then they did I answer noe For a man of meane learning in comparison may now in these daies more easily understand and expound this booke than the learned doctor and Fathers in ancient time The reason is this wee live in an age wherein the most of the things Prophesied in this booke are fulfilled Now the fulfilling of a Prophesie is the best exposition of it But as for the fathers they lived in a time wherein many of these things were not come to passe nor fulfilled and therefore more hard for them to interpret and understand for these things in this prophesie which are not yet fulfilled are hardest for us of this age to understand and resolve of But when a Prophesie is fulfilled it is an easie matter to say this was the meaning of the Prophet Some things in this booke were fulfilled before the dayes of the Fathers and some things in
this booke Secondly the time when he writ it Thirdly the place where he received it Fourthly the person to whom he writ it Fiftly the end and use of his writing this Prophesie Lastly the authority of it As touching the first it is agreed upon amongst the soundest Divines that John the Apostle or Evangelist John the Disciple whom Jesus loved was the Author and Instrument of penning this Prophesie as hee himselfe testifieth Apo. 22.8 Apo. 1.19 saying I am John which saw these things and heard them And hee received a commandement from Jesus Christ which hath the keyes of hell and death that hee should write the things which hee had seene and heard and set them all down together in a booke Now we all know that the testimony of John is of great weight Apo. 1.11 though he be but a man for he is such a man as is firmely to be beleeved in all that he speaketh He is an Apostle an Instrument of the holy Ghost and so guided by the Spirit of God that he speaketh and uttreth nothing that is his owne He was well known and approved For we must consider that what an Apostle did utter he did utter it as the instrument of the Spirit which cannot erre For the Prophets and Apostles did not write the holy Scriptures as they were men onely but as they were the immediate and certaine instruments of the holy Ghost of purpose chosen and set apart to pen and publish the holy bookes of God This Saint Peter confirmeth saying 2 Peâ— 1 Verse 21. Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they mere moued by the holy Ghost The Apostle Paul also affirmeth the same touching his Gospell which saith Gal. 1.12 Hee was not after man neither received hee it of man but by the revelation of Iesus Christ Therefore when his our Apostle saith I am Iohn which saw these things and heard them he gives us to understand that he was both an eye and an care-witnesse He bringeth not matters which he hath heard by uncertain report hee delivereth this Booke to the Churches they which received it at his hands did know him to bee a most faithfull servant of the Lord even a great Apostle which delivereth not any thing but that which hee had received of the Lord and therefore he testifieth â—hat he saw and heard all the things which â—e hath written in this booke Moreover he â—estifieth of himselfe that he was called and authority by Iesus Christ to write this Prophesie and did nothing herein of his owne braine For saith hee I John heard behind me a great voice as it had been of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it unto the Churches Heere we see how Iohn is called by Alpha and Omega that is Jesus Christ to write this doctrine of the Apocalyps But may some man say was not John cald before was he not one of the Lambs 12. Apostles had he not many years executed the office of the Apostleship must he now have a new calling and a second calling what needs he being an Apostle to bee called and authorised againe To this I answere that this matter now in hand was a new worke and therefore requires a new and speciall calling It is a strange revelation and therefore requires a new authority to meddle in it For in this Prophesie God dealeth with John as hee did with the old Prophets For when he would foreshew unto any of them especiall matters he called them by glorious visions as wee may reade what a goodly vision Esay had what a vision full of glory Ezechiel and Daniel had even in majesty like unto this of John Thus then it is to bee considered Iohn now is as one of the old Prophets to foreshew things to come therefore the Lord appeareth unto him in a vision and calleth him thereunto as he appeared unto them and called them Let this then suffice for a reason of Johns now calling to his new Worke and office And thus much touching the first circumstance Now followeth the second circumstance which is the time when Iohn received this Prophesie which is noted to bee upon the Lords day It is the day which S. Paul to the Corinthians calleth the first day of the weeke in which the Churches did meete for the holy exercises in Religion which is also evident because he sayth they came together to breake bread Now the observation of a seventh day is of divine institution Acts 20.7 even from the beginning It is naturall morall and perpetuall for God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it We are therefore to thinke that although Iohn now in his exile was absent in body from the Church assemblies yet he was present with them in spirit commending them most earnestly unto God in his holy prayers and meditations and therefore it is sayd that he was ravished in the Spirit upon the Lords day So we read that the like befell unto Daniel when he was prisoner in Babylon the like befell unto Ezechiel who was taken by the Spirit in the visions of God Act. 10.10 and carried to Ierusalem the like to Peter the like to Paul But the speciall reason of Iohns ravishment in the spirit at this time was that thereby he might be made more fit and capable to receive and understand all those great mysteries and heavenly visions which now should be shewed unto him And withall let us observe that all men are alwaies most capable of heavenly things when they are most in the Spirit For God doth evermore most reveale himselfe to such as are most in prayer reading and meditation and to such as make greatest conscience to spend his Sabaoths Christianly and religiously according to his great commandement And let us alwayes be sure of this that the more fervent and zealous we are in religious duties the more familier acquaintaince wee shall find with God and he will at all times be the more open-harted unto us and will hide nothing from us that may be for his glory and our good For such as are much in heavenly contemplation he doth reckon not amongst his servants Ioh. 15.15 but amongst his dearest friends to whom he will make known all things that he hath heard of his Father But now let us proceed to the third circumstance The third circumstance is the place where Iohn received this Prophesie and that is set downe to bee the Isle of Pathmos which as the Geographers write is a little desart Island lying in the Aegean Sea wherein it is reported that Iohn the Apostle was banished by the Emperour Domitian about the yeare of our Lord 96. and there received and writ this Booke of the Apocalyps where note by the way that there is no place so obscure or vast wherein a Godly minde may not aspire up vnto heaven
and receive a greater largnesse of supernaturall things for Daniel in prison Peter in a Tanners house Paul in a broken ship received a superabundant measure of grace more to bee esteemed then all the Gold of India Some write that this Isle of Pathmos is accounted amongst the Islands called Sporados which lie over against Asia and the City of Ephesus and was in the sight both of Europe and Affrica so that it sâ—emed to bee as it were a middle seat or Holy chaire out of the which CHRIST preached by John from heaven to the whole world And indeed the counsels of God are wonderfull and his goodnesse unspeakeable which revealeth so great mysteries to his faithfull as it were out of the Romish prison and Babylonicall captivity Moreover John declareth the cause of his comming into the same Iland for he sayth he was there for the word of God and the Testimony of Jesus Christ that is for the preaching and constant profession of the Gospell of Christ Histories do report that John was apprehended in Asia and by Souldiers led to Rome that he might pleade his cause before the Emperour Domitian who most savagely and cruelly condemned the innocent and caused him to be put into a cauldron of hot boyling Oyle out of the which when he by miraculous providence escaped without harme he was carried and conveied into the Isle of Pathmos But immediatly after Johns banishment God met well enough with this persecuting Emperor Domitian For in the fifteenth yeare of his raigne he was cruelly and most shamefully murdered by his owne Servants And thus much for the third circumstance Now it followeth to speake of the fourth circumstance which is the persons to whom this prophesie is written and that is set down in the first Chapter and first verse to be all the servants of God As many therefore as be the servants of God must attend unto this booke heare it reade it and remember it for to all such it is dedicated by the holy Ghost to all such it belongeth for all such it is written and recorded Some do falsely and foolishly imagine that it was given onely to John and that it might likewise bee given to some speciall men as to some great Scholers or deepe Divines which could tell how to use it and how to weild it But wee see how grossely they erre for the holy Ghost saith it belongeth to all the Servants of God And moreover John is willed and commanded to write all the things which hee saw in sundry visions in a booke together Cha. 1.11 and to send it to the seven Churches which is in Asia be-because the Lord would have it remaine in perfect record unto the use of the whole Church both that the Church might have the custody of this booke and allso that it might be a faithfull witnesse unto the end of the world that this booke was written and penned by Iohn the Apostle of whose truth sincerity the church had sufficient experience True it is indeed that there are but seven Churches named but under these 7. Churches all others are comprehended It had bin an infinite matter to reckon up all the particular Churches which were then in the world to have opened their severall estates therefore under these seven Churches of Asia and their particular severall estates the state of the universall Church militant is layd open I conclude therefore that the whole doctrine of Saint Iohns Revelation appertaineth to the Universall Church of Christ throughout all the World and in all times and ages since it was written and recorded And that as all Scripture is written for our instruction and comfort Rom. 15.4 2 Ti. 3.16 and as all Scripture given by divine inspiration is profitable to teach and convince c. so this booke of the Apocalyps is written for the speciall comfort and instruction of the Church in these last dayes And so I doe conclude this fourth point The fift circumstantiall point is the end and use of this prophesie Chap. 1.1 which is to publish and blaze abroad the things which must shortly come to passe that is all things prophesied in this booke and to be fulfilled even to the end of the World and whereas hee saith that these things must come to passe he doth us to understand how great the stablenesse and assurednesse of Gods determination is For looke what things are fore-appointed by Gods determinate purpose they are altogether unchangeable for the Lord is God and hee is not changed And he saith My determination shall stand Mal. 3.6 Esay 45 1â— Ma. 24.35 And Christ sayth Heaven and earth shall passe away c. It is therefore most certaine that every particular thing contained in this prophesie shall be fulfilled in Gods appointed time For GOD hath disclosed these things to hâ—s Sonne CHRIST not to the end he should shut then up againe in himselfe but that he should shew them forth to the Godly that the whole Church might fare the better by them It doth then stand us all upon to enquire and search into these things which must so shortly come to passe that thereby we may be strengthned and comforted against all future dangers And Christ saith Behold I come shortly Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the Prophesie c. Apo. 22.7 But how shall wee keepe them except wee know them And how shall we know them except we reade them and studdy them If therefore wee meane bee partakers of this blessednesse we must not onely esteeme this booke to bee very profitable but absolutely necessary for all the servants of God to be exercised in And if ever there were any time wherein it behoved to set forth to urge and to beare in this Doctrine to all the people of God then it is chiefly necessary to be done in this our time For this age of ours hath in the Popes Kingdome many sharpe and quicke wits which commend with marvellous praises both the Pope and the popish Church and buzze into the eares of the common people and unlearned sort many things cleane contrary to the Doctrine of the Scriptures The Jesuites and Priests are growne exceeding crafty and cunning The Papists are rich wealthy and full of armour and munition Popery seemeth to make a head againe and the Papists looke for a day It stands us then upon which love Christ and his Gospell that we should be well appointed and thorowly armed against them And for this purpose the Revelation of Saint John is of great use and necessity As I said before so I say againe that it is the Prophesie of our time written to this speciall end that by it wee might be both fore-warned and fore-armed If wee doe consider the whole matter of this booke we shall easily finde out the use and end of it For the excellent matter of it doth argue the excellent end and use of it Now then as concerning the generall matter of this
because it cutteth them so neere the bone Moreover it may not be omited that God is called the Lord God of the holy Prophets which proveth that this Prophesie is of equall authority with the Prophesies which were of old in as much as the same God is the Author of it And this Book is to be held in the same account with the Books of Moses and of the Prophets for all things contained in it shall as certainly be fulfilled in their times as theirs were In Esay in Jeremy in Ezechiel in Daniel and in the rest we finde many things which the Lord shewed by them long before they came to passe Even so there bee many things fore-shewed and fore-prophesied in this Booke which in their time shall be assuredly fulfilled Nay we see and know that many things here fore-told are already fulfilled and some things are come to passe even in these our dayes He that shall look into the times that are past since this Prophesie was given shall finde that all things have fallen out agreeable to the Prophesie of this Booke And surely if there were none other thing to perswade us touching the authority thereof this might suffice that every thing hath fallen out just and jumpe as the Prophesie did fore-shew It is our great negligence that wee doe not cleerly see so much And I doe humbly entreat all the people of God to looke more diligently and narrowly into it in all time to come And thus much as concerning the circumstances Now as concerning the Booke it self it may very fitly be divided into three visions as it were into three generall parts The first vision is contained in the three first Chapters The second vision is contained in the next eight Chapters following from the fourth to the twelfth Chapter And the last vision is contained in all the Chapters following from the twelfth to the end As concerning the first vision my purpose is not to stand much upon it because it is plain and easie to understand and because it containeth no Prophesies of things to come but only openeth the present state of the Church at that time and also because I have already touched the summe of it in handling the circumstantiall points I will therefore content my self with a very briefe opening and resolution of it beginning at the first Chapter CHAP. I. The summe of the first Chapter THe first Chapter containeth foure principall things The Title of the Book The salutation of the Churches The manner of Johns calling to receive this Prophesie The description of Christ the person that called him The Title of the Book is set downe in these words The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him It containeth three things First the Author of the Booke which is Jesus Christ receiving it from God the Father Secondly the end and use of this Booke Ver. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. which is to shew unto all the Servants of God the things which must shortly bee done Thirdly the singular fruit and benefit which the Church shall receive by it in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie c. The salutation is in these words John to the seven Churches which are in Asia Grace be with you and peace c. It containeth a description of the Trinity or three Persons in the Godhead The Father is described of his eternity namely to be Hee which is which was and which is to come The Holy Ghost is described of his divers gifts and operations and therefore is called the seven Spirits which are before the Throne or which proceed from the Throne but S. John speaketh here of the holy Ghost according to the vision shewed him in the fifth Chapter where Christ is said to have seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the world Of the which afterward Jesus Christ is described of his three great offices of King Priest and Prophet and also of his glorious power and eternity First touching his Kingly office he is called the Prince of the Kings of the earth that is King of Kings for he is King of Sion He is a King to rule and governe his Church He must reigne over the house of Judah for ever Hee must reigne over all his enemies and in the middest of his enemies even till hee have trode them all under his feet And this benefit wee have by it that we are made Kings in him in this life to reigne over our corrupt affections and after this life to reigne as crowned Kings for ever with him in infinite glory and endlesse felicity Secondly touching his Priest-hood Ver. 5. he is said to love us and wash us from our sinnes in his bloud For he is our only high Priest which by his owne blood hath once entred into the holy place and obtained eternall redemption for us Hee onely it is Heb. 9.12 which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God to purge our consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 So then by vertue of his Priesthood and sacrifice we are reconciled unto God have free accesse unto the Throne of Grace and are made Priests in him to offer us spirituall sacrifices acceptable to GOD through him Verse 6. For he hath made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father Thirdly Veâ—se 5. concerning his Propheticall Office he is called that faithfull witnesse For He is said to Pilate John 18.37 For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the World that I might beare witnesse unto the Truth And the Apostle saith Hee witnesseth under Pontius Pilate a good confession Tim. 9.13 So then Jesus Christ is one of those three great witnesses which beare record in Heaven Jesus Christ is the Prince of Prophets even that great Prophet that should come into the world through whom all the counsells of God are revealed to us He is that only begotten Sonne which is come downe from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne unto us whatsoever he hath received of his Father Hee both by his Doctrine Life and Miracles hath borne witnesse unto the truth and by the vertue of his Propheticall Office the whole will of God is made knowne unto us For GOD hath sent him as the great Prophet to instruct the world in Righteousnesse and hath revealed himselfe to us in him and therefore he is called the Image of GOD the brightnesse of his Glory Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 and the ingraven forme of His Person And therefore Hee said to Philip Hee that hath seene Mee hath seene my Father also John 14.7 And if you had knowne Mee you should have knowne my Father also Mat. 11. â—7 And againe No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and hee to whom the Son will reveale him Thus we see that Jesus Christ is that faithfull witnes and Prince
hand lest they smart for it The world is very busie this way they thinke to wring them out of his hands but alas poore souls they are not able he holdeth too fast who can pull them out of his right hand If they continue bold and busie this way they may hap at last take a Beare by the tooth and peradventure pull an old house over their heads Another reason why CHRIST is said to hold the seven Starres in his right hand is because he worketh by them and their ministery as an artificer with his toole in his right hand The things which Christ hath done by these instruments are glorious and admirable For by the Ministery of the Gospell he hath converted many sinners and saved many souls then the which nothing can be more honourable and wonderfull and therefore the Word of GOD which is the Ministers weapon is compared to a sharpe two edged sword which came out of CHRISTS mouth Now unto all this may be added that Christ saith He was dead but now alive because he dyed and rose again And also that he saith He had the keyes of Hell and Death that is authority and power over Hell and damnation For he hath absolute power over Hell and damnation For he hath absolute power to open and shut bind and loose and therefore it is written Hee hath the key of David which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth All this setteth forth the great power and glory of Christs Person and all aymeth at this marke and end to commend unto us the authority of this Booke because it commeth from a person of so great dignity and excellency Last of all it remaineth to shew how John was affected with this vision wherein Christ did so gloriously appeare unto him for he saith When I saw him I fell at his feet as dead Wherein he sheweth how greatly he was amazed and daunted with the sight of Christs most glorious personage He was stricken with such an astonishment and feare that there was almost no life or spirit left in him and all this was to humble him and to strike him downe even to the ground in as much as by it he findeth his owne weaknesse and imperfection not capable of such a sight so farre as to endure it It was no doubt profitable or rather necessary that this holy Servant of God should thus be humbled and made fit to receive this Revelation with the greater reverence from his great Lord and Master And also it maketh much for our profit as appeareth in that every part of this vision is rehearsed in the Epistles to the Churches But to conclude John being thus humbled and cast downe in himselfe is comforted and raised up by Christ who laid his right hand on him and willed him to fear nothing For saith Hee I am the first and the last and am alive but I was dead behold I am alive for evermore In which words Hee doth greatly cheare up Johns heart and telleth him plainly that this might and terrour of his person is bent onely against the wicked enemies of His Church nothing at all against the friends thereof but contrariwise that all this power and glory might and Majesty is wholy and altogether for the good of his Church Wherein we may all cleerely see and know to our great comfort that the same Arme of God which casteth downe the wicked raiseth up the Godly the same power which woundeth them healeth us the same hand which destroyeth them saveth us the same might and Majesty which hurteth them helpeth us For whatsoever is in GOD is wholy for his and wholy against those that are none of His. And thus much concerning the first Chapter shall suffice Chapter 2. and 3. I Have thought good to handle these two Chapters together and in a generall and compendious manner to set downe the most speciall matters contained in them both not meaning to insist upon every particular both because these two Chapters are plaine and easie to understand and also because they have been sufficiently beaten upon by many These two Chapters doe generally containe seven Epistles written to the seven Churches of Asia wherein the present estate of the Churches of Asia is very lively described and in them the estate of all other Churches then militant upon the face of the earth Every one of these seven Epistles containeth foure things First an Exordium or entrance into the matters Secondly a generall proposition Thirdly a narration Lastly a conclusion The Exordium or entrance of every Epistle containeth two things namely the person to whom the Epistle is written and the Person from whom the Epistle is written The proposition is one and the same in all these Epistles contained in these words I know thy works The narration containeth the matter of each Epistle and consisteth of commendations and discommendations of admonitions reprehensions threats and promises The conclusion of every Epistle is one and the same in these words Let him that hath an ear hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches First concerning the person to whom these Epistles are sent he is named in the beginning of every Epistle To be the Angel of such and such a Church By this word Angel he meanes not the invisible spirits which we call the Angels of heaven for the things attributed to these Angels can in no wise agree to the invisible Spirits as to the Angels of several Churches to be neither hot nor cold to leave their first love to repent and amend sundry such like attributes through all these Epistles But by the word Angel he meaneth the Minister or Pastor of every Church which therefore is called an Angel because he is the Minister of GOD as the word signifieth As also because every faithfull Minister ought to be received and regarded as an Angell of God as the Apostle witnesseth of the Galathians that they received him as an Angell of God yea as Christ Jesus And he giveth many admonitions in his Epistles to this effect for he would have all faithfull and painfull Ministers to bee greatly reverenced and had in double honor to be acknowledged and had in singular love for their works sake to be cared for to be made much of and to want nothing For indeed a good Minister is a Jewell of price A good Minister is a friend in Court which we say is better then penny in purse A good Minister is like a candle which spendeth it selfe to give light to others A good Minister is like a Cocke which by the clapping of his wings awaketh himself and by his crowing awaketh others For a good Minister by his private studies prayers and meditations awaketh himselfe by his publick preaching awaketh others The Scriptures affirmeth a good Minister to be the very glory of Christ And again that a good Minister is a singular blessing of God 2 Cor. 8.23 Jer. 3.14 For the Lord himselfe faith I will take you
other place but not destroyed For God doth remove but not destroy his Candlesticks Pergamus is threatned that unlesse they did speedily repent Jesus Christ should come shortly and fight against them with the sword of his mouth Thyatyra is threatned that except they repent them of their workes they should be cast into a bed of affliction and all their favorites should be slain with death Sardis is threatned that if they did not watch and awake CHRIST would come suddenly upon them as a Thiefe and they should not know what houre hee would come Concerning promises they be very great and large for everlasting joy and the very fulnesse of glory is promised to all that fight the good fight of faith and overcome in the spirituall battle against the flesh the world and the Divell Ephesus is promised that if they fight it out couragiously and constantly to the end they should eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the paradise of God Smyrna is promised in like case that they should not be hurt of the second death Pergamus likewise is promised to eate of the Manna that is hid to have the white stone of victory given them Thyatira is promised to have power given them to rule over Nations and to be lightned with heavenly brightnes like the morning Star Sardis is promised to be cloathed with white array that is with heavenly glory and to have their name continued in the booke of life Philadelphia is promised to have a piller made in the Temple of God that is a firme and unmoveable place of eternall glory Laodicea is promised to sup with Christ and to sit with him upon his throne for evermore Thus we see what great and precious promises are made to all Churches that fight and overcome in this their spirituall battell and conflict Concerning the conclusion it is one and the same to all these seven Churches Wherein they are exhorted that such as have eares to heare should heare ponder and consider all the aforesaid praises and dispraises admonitions reprehensions threats and promises And it is therefore said such as have eares because they are very few to be found that have circumcised and sanctified eares to heare and understand heavenly things This is proper to the elect this is but to whom it is given And thus briefly and generally we see what was the present state of every one of the Churches of Asia unto which this Prophecie was to be sent so that by them we may see in what estate the universall Church militant was at that time For as some of these seven as yet stood firme and others had much declined so was it with all other Churches Hitherto concerning the first vision containing generally the inscription of this booke Johns salutation to the Churches Johns new calling The excellency of Christ which called him And the present estate of the Church Now we are to proceed to the second vision contained in the next eight Chapters to the twelve wherein is shewed what should be the future estate of the Church in all ages even unto the end of the world CHAP. 4. THe principall thing contained in this fourth Chapter is a description of the person of God the author of this booke who is most gloriously described of that excellent glory that is in himselfe and of his royall throne which hee sitteth upon and of his goodly retinue and troopes of Saints and Angels attending about his most glorious throne Whereunto is added the diverse qualities both of Angels and Saints both in themselves and their owne natures as also in their manner of praising and worshipping of God This is the generall summe and sense of this Chapter But for the better clearing and more full opening of I will come to the words of the text and open them as they lie in order After this I looked and behold a doore was open in Heaven and the first voice I heard Verse 1. was as it were of a Trumpet talking with mee saying Come up hither and I will shew thee the things which must bee done hereafter These words After this have relation to the first vision spoken of before as if he should say after I had received the former vision concerning the present estate of the Church now I had another vision concerning the future estate therof and therfore he saith a doore was opened in Heaven that he might come in and see all these things which should be revealed to him For the opening of the doore in Heaven doth here signifie the unlocking of heavenly things unto Iohn or his entrance into them for so the word doore is taken 2. Cor. 3.12 Apoc. 3.8 After the opening of the doore he is called up with a loud voice like a Trumpet saying Come up hither for although the doore was opened yet durst he not enter in till he was called and commanded to come in For in these cases he doth not presume in any thing as of himselfe without speciall warrant and direction As the Scripture saith No man taketh this honour unto himselfe Heb. 5.4 but he that is called of God as Aaron was The voice that calleth him is like a Trumpet that is loud and shrill that he might be stirred up more diligently to attend unto the contemplation of these great secrets which should be revealed unto him This voice commandeth him to come up hither which sheweth that Iohn was rapt up in the Spirit unto the Heavens to see this vision This voice promiseth to shew him things which must be done hereafter that is that he should be made acquainted with the future estate of the Church as already he was with the present estate thereof And immediately I was ravished in the Spirit Verse 2. and behold a Throne was set in Heaven and one sate upon the Throne Upon this suddaine and extraordinary calling by so heavenly and loud a voice Iohn was forthwith ravished in Spirit For as the Prophet Ezechiel was by the spirit in the visions of God carried from Caldea to Ierusalem So this holy Apostle is carried by the Spirit in the visions of God into Heaven and by the same Spirit is made fit and capable of all these heavenly visions which should be shewed him So that in all this we do plainely and cleerely see that Iohn hath as it were a further calling and admittance from Heaven to to behold and see these wonderfull secrets which now are to be imparted unto him Behold a Throne c. Here beginneth the description of the most high and glorious majesty of God who is described after the manner of earthly Kings and Judges sitting upon their thrones and judgement seats For he is King of Zion and Judge of all the world And he that sate was to look upon like unto a Jasper stone Verse 3. and a Sardine and there was a Rainebow round about the Throne like an Emeraud God for his admirable glory and beauty is
be writâ—en in a booke This booke is sayd to be written within and without for the multitude and variety of matters contained in it For there were both many and great things which should fall out in the World from the time that John received the Prophesie unto the end of the World This booke is sealed with seven seales that is to say perfectly sealed because the things contained herein are counsels and secrets only known to God till it pleased hiâ— to reveale them to his Church by his Son The elect Angels knew nothing of the things written in this booke before the seales were opened Verse 2. And I saw a strong Angell which proclaimed with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the booke and to loose the seales thereof Heere is Proclamation made to all creatures that if there were any manner of persons in Heaven or earth among men or Angels that would take upon them to open and expound this booke that they should comâ— forth and shew themselves and be very willingly and gladly heard Verse 3. But alas the next verse doth shew that none in heaven oâ— earth was able to open the booke and expounâ— it whereupon John wept very much becausâ— no man was found worthy to open and interpret this booke The cause of Johns weeping and lamenting was for feare the Church should be deprived of such profitable and excellent things as he knew were contayned in this booke Such was his love to the Church such was his zeale and care for the people of God An example worthy of all imitation to mourne and weepe for the concâ—â—ling of the book of God and to rejoyce in the opening of it But Papists and Atheists are of a contrary minde for they rejoyce in the concealing and keeping close of the Scriptures and are much grieved with the opening and revealing thereof because thereby their hypocrisie and villany is detected and discarded Vpon this one of the Elders sayd unto John Verse 5. Weepe not Behold the Lion which is of the Tribe of Judah the roote of David hath obtained to open the book and to loose the seals thereof Heere we see how Iohn is comforted and cheered up by one of the Elders being now very pensive and sad and is willed to plucke up a good heart and to be of good cheere for he could tell him good newes to wit of one that could open and expound this booke and all the secrets in it and that is Jesus Christ the great revealer of secrets and onely expounder of all riddles and hidden mysteries as before hath been spoken Jesus Christ is here said to be of the Tribe of Judah because he is lineally descended of that Tribe according to the flesh and his humane nature He is compared unto a Lyon by allusion unto Jacobs words in his last will and testament concerning Judah namely that he should couch as a Lyon and as a Lyonesse and none should stirre him He is fitly compared to a Lyon for his great and admirable power and strength for he raigneth and must raigne over all his enemies and in the middest of all his enemies till he hath troade all his enemies under his feete He is called the roote of David both here and also in the 22. Chapter of this Booke verse 16. because he sprung out of David the Sonne of Ishai as a branch out of his roote as the Prophet did fore-tell that A rod should come forth of the stock of Ishai and a graft should grow out of his rootes And the Apostle sayth that Christ was made of the seede of David according to the flesh Then sayth John I beheld and loe Verse 6. in the middest of the throne and of the foure beasts and of the Elders stood a Lambe as though he had beene killed which had seven hornes and seven eies which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the world Here John taketh a view and sight of Jesus Christ from the very middest of the throne and of the foure beasts and the Elders Christ doth not appeare about the throne as do the Saints and Angels which are but ministers and ministring Spirits but in the very middest of the Throne and the foure beasts c. because he is God everlasting coequall and coeternall with the Father in whom as the Apostle saith dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily or essentially And here afterwards the same worship and honour is ascribed unto him both by the Saints and Angels which before is ascribed unto God the Father Christ is heere compared to a Lambe for his innocency for the Scripture sayth He was a sheepe dumbe before his shearer Hee is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Hee is the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world He is compared to a Lyon for his great and incomparable strength in conquering Hell Death and damnation and all infernall power And to a Lambe because he hath dispatched all this upon the Crosse by the sacrifice of himselfe once offered for he did never more lively shew forth his Lyon-like power then when he was as a Lambe slaine and sacrificed upon the Crosse This Lambe Christ is here sayd to have seven hornes which signifie his manifold power or fulnes of power or perfect power according as this metaphor or borrowed speech of horne is usually so taken in all the Scriptures This Lambe also is sayd to have seven eies which are interpreted to be the seven spirits of God that is the manifold graces and gifts of the Spirit which he giveth unto his Church Now then to conclude this point for asmuch as the number of seven in this booke is a number of perfection and alwaies noteth perfection therefore by Christs seven hornes and seven eyes we may and that soundly understand his perfect power and his perfect sight and knowledge in all things For his seven eyes are so taken in the third Chapter of the Prophesie of Zachary where it is said a Vpon one stone shall be seven eyes Meaning that Jesus Christ the corner stone of the Church should be full of eyes to looke out for the good of his Church and to give light to all others for he is the life and light of the World And he came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate upon the throne Ver. 7. Here Jesus Christ takes the booke out of his Fathers hand purposing both to open it and expound it For he is the only expounder of the law and the best interpreter of his Fathers will Hereupon it is sayd that the foure beasts Verse 8. and 24. Elders fell downe before the Lambe to testifie their thankefulnesse and inward joy and rejoycing that the Sonne of God would take upon him this office which none other would or could performe Moreover by their falling downe and worshiping him they doe plainely testifie that he is God over all to be
matters John did very intentively fixe his eies upon the Lambe being now about to open and unclaspe the first Seale of the booke and all on the sudden he was admonished and stirred up by one of â—he Cherubins that he should draw neere and come up and take knowledge of these great â—nd important matters which were now to be revealed unto him And to the end that he might be throughly awaked and stirred up to attention in so waighty matters it is sayd that the voice of the Angell which spake unto him was like the voice of a thunder So that thereby Iohn was throughly rouzed fitted and prepared to receive these heavenly visions verse 2. Therefore I beheld and loe there was a white horse and hee that sate on him had a bowe and a Crowne was given unto him and he went forth conquering that he might overcome Iohn keeping his eye steady upon the Lambe having now opened the first seale doth in a vision see a white horse c. By this white Horse is meant the Ministery of the Word of God and the first preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles and the successors in the Primitive Church The white horse is taken in this sense in the nineteenth Chapter of this Prophesie where our Lord Jesus being upon this white Horse beateth downe all his enemies before him For who is able to resist his word and the ministery of it In the first Chapter of the Prophesie of Zachary our Lord Jesus purposing to build up his Church being in a very ruinous estate after the captivity is brought in by the Prophet on horse-backe both for the reedifying of his Church and also for the punishment of the Babilonians his enemies and the enemies of his people In the 45. Psalme the Church the Spouse saith thus to her beloved Husband Christ Gird thy sword upon thy thigh Psal 45. O thou mighty one the sword of thy glory and comely beauty and with thy comely beauty ride on prosperously for the businesse of truth and of meek righteousnesse c. Now in all these places of the Scripture we do plainely see that when Christ goeth about either to preach his Gospell or build up his Church or to be revenged on the enemies thereof he is brought in on horsebacke And this doth strongly confirme and warrant this exposition seeing it is not any imagined sense or new device of mans braine but such a sense as other places of Scripture will very fully beare out Moreover if we do seriously consider and deepely weigh the purpose and intendment of the holy Ghost in all this it will not a little helpe and further this exposition For the chiefe scope and drift of all is to describe the state of the Church from the Apostles time to the end of the World For this Prophesie serveth to shew unto John the things that must shortly come to passe Now we all know by blessed experience that the first estate of the Church did consist in the preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles and therefore this must needs be understood of that time and estate of the Church For Jesus Christ is he that sitteth upon this white horse that is by the Ministery of his Gospell he conquereth and subdueth the Nations under him There may be three reasons alledged why this Horse is sayd to be of a white colour First because the Doctrine of the Gospell which was preached by Christ and his Apostles was pure and sincere being without all spots and blots of errour and heresie For the white colour in the Scripture doth signifie purity sincerity innocency joy glory and beauty Secondly because the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles was full of joy and comfort As it is sayd of Samaria after Philip had set the Gospell abroach there that there was great joy in that City Thirdly because the Ministery of Christ and his Apostles was very glorious and beautifull as it written How beautifull are the feet of them which bring the glad tydings of peace c. And againe with thy comely beauty ride on prosperously Psal 45. for the businesse of truth c. If any man demand a reason of Christs sitting on horse-backe and riding forth on horse-backe I answer that it doth fitly represent that marvellous swiftnesse wherewith the light of the Gospell should be carried and spred not only throughout all Judea Samaria and Galile but also throughout all the Kingdomes of the world For it is not a wonder to consider how swiftly and as it were on horse-backe and also how far over the heathen nations within a few yeares after Christs ascension the doctrine of the Gospell was preached and of multitudes imbraced He rode forth indeed prosperously and swiftly upon this white Horse even the Ministery of the Gospell for the businesse of truth and of meeke righteousnesse and his right hand wrought fearfull things as saith the Psalmist Moreover it is here said that Jesus Christ hath a bow in his hand And in the 25. Psal from whence it seemeth all these phrases and speeches are borrowed he is said to have sharpe arrowes in his hand whereby he pierceth the heart of his enemies Now his bowe and arrowes do signifie the piercing power of the Gospell whereby the World hath been subdued unto Christ For all the arrowes of the Gospell which Christ shooteth out of his bowe which is even the tongue of his Ministers do stick in the hearts of men yea they pierce into all the secret places of the soule For the Ministery of the Gospell is lively and mighty in operation sharper then any two-edged sword and entreth through Heb. 4. even unto the dividing asunder of the soule and the spirit of the joynts and the marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart Heere is yet further mention made of a Crowne which was given unto Christ and that he went forth conquering that hee might overcome This Crowne signifieth the victory which he getteth over the World with his bow and arrowes For the Psalmist saith By thy sharp arrowes in the hearts of the Kings enemies thâ— people shall fall vnder thee We reade in the second of the Acts of the Apostles that 3000. of the Kings enemies were at once shot thorow with this bowe and these arrowes and did fall under him We read of many other at other times and in other places For the Apostle saith plainly 2. Cor. 10. that the weapons of our warrefare are not carnall but spirituall mighty through God to cast downe holds casting downe the imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Thus we see how Christ and his Apostles and all their true successors riding upon this white Horse which is the Ministry of the Gospell have gon over all the world conquering and overcomming I am not ignorant that some do
all the former judgements For now after the cry of the Martyrs for vengeance God the avenger of the bloud of the Righteous doth shew himselfe from Heaven and declare his wrath in more fearefull manner then before even to the great astonishment of all the creatures in Heaven and Earth So horrible a thing is the shedding of the blood of the Christians For now we see plainely that God heareth the cryes of his Martyrs and commeth as a Gyant or an armed man to take vengeance of all their enemies For Psal 116.15 Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of his Saints and he is much mooved with the cry of their blood as here we see And therefore now threatneth to hold a generall Assize wherein he will make inquisition after blood and arraigne and condemne all such as are found guilty thereof according as the persecuting Emperours and many others did finde and feele by wofull experience For if God be angry but a little who may endure it Now although the Stories do report that in those dayes which was above 300. yeares after Christ there were many great and fearfull Earth-quakes in divers nations and Cities of the World yet it is apparant that the Earth-quake here spoken of cannot bee taken litterally nor any of the rest here mentioned For there was never any time neither is it mentioned in any Chronicle that ever the Sunne was as blacke as sack cloth of haire or the Moone turned into bloud or the Starres fell from Heaven or the Heavens rolled together like a scrole or that Mountaines and Ilands were moved out of their places Therefore of necessity all this must be understood metaphorically that is that God did in so strange and fearfull a manner manifest his wrath from Heaven by tumults commotions seditions and alterations of Kingdomes as if these things of the Sunne Moone and Starres had been visibly represented to the eye An earth-quake in this booke and other bookes also of the Scriptures doth by a borrowed speech signifie commotions of Common-wealths troubles tumults uprores and great alterations of States and Kingdomes The darkning of the Sunne Moone and Starres and rolling together of the Heavens do by a metaphor in the Scripture signifie the wrath of God which they being not able to endure are said here to blush at to cover themselves to hide themselves to be ashamed of themselves to remove out of their places no more to do their office c. For as birds do hide themselves and thrust their heads into bushes when the Eagle commeth abroade And as all Beasts of the Forrest doe tremble and couch in their dennes when the Lyon roareth And as the subject doth hide himselfe and dare not shew his head with whom the King is displeased So here it is said that the whole earth doth tremble and all the celestiall creatures are amazed and confounded with beholding the angry face of God against the world in so much that they do as it were draw a canopy over them hide themselves under a cloud and surcease to do their offices The darkning of the Sunne and Moone is taken in this sense in the second or Joel and also in the second Chapter of the Acts of the Apostles For there God promising and foretelling that in the last dayes he would abundantly powre forth of his Spirit upon all flesh which is to be understood of the plentifull preaching of the Gospell in the Apostles time and the abundance of grace that was given with the same addeth that for the contempt of so great grace and mercy he would shew wonders in Heaven above and tokens in the earth beneath Blood and fire and the vapour of smoke the Sunne shall be turned into darknesse and the Moone into blood before that great and notable day of the Lord come The meaning of the Prophet is as Peter also doth expound it Acts 2. that God from Heaven will shew such apparant signes of his wrath against the World that men should be no lesse amazed then if the whole order of nature were inverted And this was performed when as the Jewes for the contempt of Christ and his Gospell were most miserably destroyed by the Romanes Even so here under the opening of the sixt seale God doth threaten That for the murdering of his Sonne Christ and his Apostles and innumerable Christians he would bring strange judgements and extraordinary calamities upon the world according as all stories do shew that those times were full of bloodsheds commotions famine pestilence and miseries of all sorts I am not ignorant that the darkning of the Sunne and Moone and the falling of the Stars from Heaven are sometimes in this booke put for the obscurity and corruption of pure doctrine and the falling away of the Pastors of the Church from their sincerity and zeale But in this place the circumstances will not beare that sense First because here the darkning of the Sun and Moone c. is joyned with an Earth-quake the rolling together of the Heavens and the moving of Mountaines and Islands out of their places which argueth a most horrible confusion of all things Secondly because afterward in the eight chap. he doth of purpose speake of the corrupting of pure doctrine and the falling away of the Ministers referring it to that Chapter as his proper place Thirdly because the Kings and Captaines of the earth here immediately mentioned would never have been cast into any such perplexities and horrors upon any corruption of doctrine and the ministery as here we reade of For commonly men are not any whit touched or moved with that or such like things Last of all because the scope and drift of the holy Ghost under the opening of this sixt Seale is to describe corporall not spirituall visible not invisible judgements For he doth orderly and of purpose handle them in the next Chapter Now whereas it is sayd in the last three verses that the Kings of the earth and the chiefe Captaines Ver. 15.16.17 and the mighty men and every bond-man and every free-man hid themselves in dennes and amongst the rockes of the mountaines and said to the rockes and mountaines Fall on us c. the sense and meaning of all is this that these visible judgements should be so horrible and extraordinary that all sorts of men then living upon the face of the earth should even wish themselves buried quicke or that they might run into a mouse-hole or awger hole to hide themselves from the wrath of the Lambe For being both outwardly terrified with the sensible judgements and inwardly griped and tormented with the fury of their owne consciences they are at no hand able to endure it CHAP. VII THis Chapter doth wholly appertaine unto the opening of the sixt Seale It sheweth generally how God in the middest of all the broyles which hapned under the opening of the sixt seale yet did preserve his owne Church and mercifully provide for his owne people This
or their Authority Moreover they have Crownes of gold upon their heads which sheweth and signifieth that they were the Conquerours of the Earth and Lords of the World and who but they for in those dayes no man nay no Lord or King durst quitch against a Monke a Frier or a pild Priest for if any did they were sure to smart for it They had also faces like the faces of men that is they set faire faces upon matters and pretended great devotion in Religion flattering the people and making them beleeve that they could give them pardon of all their sinnes and bring them to Heaven when as in very truth for their bellies and for their gaine they did cunningly smooth with the Nobles the rich and the mighty setting faire faces upon their proceedings and as Saint Peter saith Through covetousnesse with fained words 2 Pet. 2.3 they made merchandize of mens soules and did closely winde themselves into the hearts of the simple people by their fawning insinuations being in very deed nost notable flatterers and hypocrites They had haire as the haire of women that is they were altogether effeminate being given to delicacy lust and wantonnesse they were drowned in whoredome and all kinde of beastlinesse being a shole of most filthy villaines Their teeth were as the teeth of Lions to catch and snatch at all they could come by They devoured all the fat morsels every where they got the Church-livings into their hands they first made impropriations they incroached upon temporall mens lands they swallowed up all every where If we looke upon the Abbeyes Priories and Nunneries we may easily judge what teeth they had Moreover it is sayd they had Habbergions like to the Habbergions of Iron that is they were so strongly armed with the defence and countenance of the Pope that no Secular power durst once quitch against them Their wings were like the sound of Chariots when many Horses runne unto battell that is with flattering noise and terrible threatnings they strove to uphold their Kingdome Also in Churches and Pulpits they make a roring noise and take on terribly to maintaine their abhominable Idolatry They had tailes like unto Scorpions and there were stings in their tailes For with their poysoned Doctrine and stinging authority like Adders and Snakes they stung many to death Moreover power was given them to hurt men five moneths that is all the time of Antichrists reigne as before hath been shewed ver 10.11 They have a King over them which is the Angell of the bottomelesse pit whose name in Hebrew is Abbadon and in Greeke he is named Apollyon that is destroying As the Fowles have a King over them which is the Eagle and the Beasts the Lion and mortall Men some Chiefe Governour under whose protection and subjection they live so heere these hellish Locusts are sayd to have a King over them which is the Angell of the bottomlesse pit that is the Divell or the Pope which you will under whose Ensigne they fight and under whose defence they live Their Kings name in Hebrew is called Abbadon and in Greek Apollyon The words are both of one signification that is destroying for both the Divell himselfe and his Vicar the Pope are destroyers and wasters of the Church of God One woe is past and behold yet two woes come after this We have heard at large what this first Woe is namely the plage of the world by the Pope and his Clergie Now we are to heare of the second woe which is the most huge and murthering army of the Turkes wherein the third part of men were slaine Some do expound this second woe of the kingdome of Antichrist and his armies but that it is not so may appeare by these reasons following First the Angell denouncing woe woe woe denounceth three severall woes and therefore it is said One woe is past and behold yet two woes come after this It followeth then that this is a distinct and severall woe from the former and therefore cannot be the same Secondly this woe containeth specially a bodily slaughter of the third part of the world and of the wicked reprobates but the first woe was specially a plague of mens soules as we have heard and therefore this cannot be the same with the first Thirdly we are to understand that this booke describeth all the greatest calamities and plagues thaâ— should come upon the world in any age after Christ and therefore we may justly thinke that the kingdome of the Tuâ—ks is not left out seeing it was one of the greatest plagues that ever came upon the world But the kingdome of the Turks is described in no other part of this Revelation and therefore must of necessity be here described ver 13.14 Then the sixt Angell blew the Trumpet and I heard a voice from the foure corners of the golden Altar which is before God Saying to the sixt Angell which had the Trumpet loose the foure Angells which are bound in the great river Euphrates Now we are come to the description of the Second woe which followeth upon the blowing of the sixt Trumpet by the sixt Trumpet by the sixth Angell And first of all he sayth He heard a voyce from the foure corners of the golden Altar By the golden Altar is meant Christ as before hath been shewed with the reasons thereof From this Altar the voyce commeth to the Angell which blew the sixth Trumpet Chap. 8.3 that we might know it is the voyce of the mighty God and the commandement of our Lord Jesus The voyce commandeth the sixth Angell to loose the foure Angells which are bound in the great River Euphrates By these foure Angels which are thus bound at Euphrates is meant many Divels or Angels of darkenesse as we have heard before Chapter 7 Verse 1. Their binding signifieth their restraint by which they were held backe from doing that mischiefe which they desired to do Their loosing signifieth that power was given them to performe that which they wished They are sayd to be foure in number because they should raise an horrible plague in the foure corners of the Earth both East West North and South The sense is that the Divells have yet farther and greater scope given them to plague and destroy the inhabitants of the Earth These Divells had exceeding great power in the Kingdome of Antichrist but they are unsatiable in mischiefe and so after a sort lye still bound till they have their desire The place where they lye bound is Euphrates wherein is a mystery for Euphrates literally taken is a great River which ran so night the City Babylon in Chaldea that it was a mighty defence unto it so that the City could not be taken untill they that laid siedge unto it cut out trenches and derived the waters another way Now for the mystery it is this Rome in this book is called Babylon by a metaphor and after the same manner the great River Euphrates as we shall
might is Christ as appeareth by the description of him and by all the consequents following Mat. 24. for he is said to be cloathed with a Cloud which signifieth his great glory and Majesty For he shall come in the clouds of heaven to judge the world that is with great pomp and glory The Raine-bow was upon his head which signifieth the covenant of peace with his Church as before Chap. 4. verse 3. His face was as the Sunne which signifieth comfort and deliverance to his Church and the dispelling of all the smoake of the bottomlesse Pit as the Sunne Scattereth and driveth away the thick mists His feete are pillers of brasse which signifieth that he should tread downe all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 19. both Pope and Turke For he must raigne till he have destroyed them all The Pope along time kept all the Kings of Europe in awe The Locusts were of great power The Turkes prevailed exceedingly But what are they all to this mightie and glorious Angell Christ What is their power to withstand him What can Abaddon the King of the Locusts do against this mighty King of Sion What can the Turkes most terrible Horses and Horse-men doe against this Angell which sitteth upon the white Horse Alas alas they are able to do nothing They must all be trodden down under his feet of brasse ver 2. And he had in his hand a little book open and He put his right foot upon the Sea and his left upon the earth This little Booke signifieth the Bible It is called little in respect of the great and huge volumes of Popish bookes though in it selfe it be large It is sayd to be open that all men might looke into it because it had been shut a long time before even during all the time of the darkning of the Sunne and Aire by the smoke which came out of the bottomlesse pit But although it was long shut up in the time of Popery and lay buried in a strange tongue yet now it is opened and publikely preached unto all the servants of God And all this no doubt is to be understood of Luthers time and all the times ever since the Gospell was spread abroad after the great darkenesse For some hundred yeares agoe it was hard to finde an English Bible but now God be thanked there are thousands to be found in the hands of Gods people And therefore the things here Prophesied of are fulfilled in our daies for we live under the opening of the seaventh Seale and the blowing of the sixth Trumpet and the powring foorth of the sixth Viall as here doth partly appeare and shall God willing bee made more manifest when we come to the sixteenth Chapter Now we are diligently to obserue that as the opening of this Booke and the preaching of the Gospell by Luther and his successors hath dispersed the former darknesse and beaten down Popery so also hath it driven backe the Turke and taken from us all feare of him which in former ages was the terrour of the World for since men have looked into this book repented of their Idolatry and turned unto God with all their hearts the Turke and his power hath not been feared especially in these parts where the Gospell is preached For God in his mercifull providence towards his Church hath diverted his power another way and set him a worke else where So that if men cannot be brought to beleeve that God raised him up as a scourge for Idolaters and a plague for Idolatrie and other soule sinnes according to the words in the former Chap. where it is said They repented not of the workes of their hands c. yet when they see that at the opening of the Booke of God and forsaking Idolatry the feare of him is removed let them beleeve it What can be more plaine than that this open Booke in the hand of the Angell hath delivered us from the Pope and from the Turke A most happy opening of this blessed booke More it is said that he put his right foot upon the Sea and his left on the Earth The setting of Christs right foot upon the Sea signifieth that he is ruler of the Sea and standeth as firmely upon the Sea as upon the Land The setting of his left foot upon the Earth doth signifie that he is Lord of the Earth and true heire to all things in it And cryed with a loud voice verse 3. as when a Lion roareth and when he had cryed seven thunders utterd their voyces This crying with a loud voice like the roaring of a Lion doth signifie the manifestation of the wrath of Christ against all his enemies for now he beginneth to roare against them as a Lion when he is hungry roareth for his prey Therefore now both the Scorpion Locusts and the fierce Horses and horsmen are like to goe to the pot By the seven thunders which uttered their voyces is meant those perfect and exquisite judgements which now were to be inflicted both upon the Kingdome of the Pope and the Turke We have heard before that seven is a perfect number in this book and that thunder is put for the thundring of Gods wrath and all such broiles and plagues as follow thereupon and this is the reason of this interpretation verse 4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voyces I was about to write but I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me Seale up these things which the seven thunders have spoken and write them not It should seeme these seven thunders did so speake as they might be understood for John was about to write the things which they spake thinking that they were uttered for that end and purpose that he should deliver them in writing to the Churches But he receiveth a commandement to the contrary for he is willed not to write them but to conceale them untill the appointed time But some man may say Why were they uttered seeing they must be concealed and kepâ— close I answer it was not in vaine for first though the particulars be not expressed what the thunders speake yet here we are taught that there remaine most fearfull Judgements against all the oppressors of the Church which Christ hath thundred out with terrour against them And when the time determined is come they shall be seene and understood but in the meane time they be sealed up and kept close according to that of Job Why should not the times be hid of the Almighty so as they which know him should not perceive the times appointed of him and that of Daniel These things are Sealed up untill the time determined And the Angell which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven verse 5. And sware by him that liveth for evermore ver 6. which created heaven and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that therein are and the sea and the things that
therein are that time should be no more But in the daies of the voice of the seventh Angell ver 7. when he shall begin to blow the trumpet even the ministery of God shall be finished as he hath declared unto his servants the Prophets The summe of these three verses is that Christ giveth warning of the last judgement that men might awake and looke out in time Amo. 6 1. And because men for the most part are carelesse and secure putting the evill day far from them as the Prophet speaketh therefore here Christ bindeth it with a solemne oath and solemne gestures thereunto annexed as was the lifting up of the hand in antient time Genesis 14.22 The thing that our Lord Jesus disposeth is that time shall be no more that is Time as it is now or the state of things as they be now but he telleth us flatly that as six Angels have already blowne their Trumpets so when the seventh Angell should blow the Mystery of God shall be finished that is the time of punishing the wicked and rewarding the godly should come which is therefore called a Mystery because the world understandeth it not They thinke there is no such matter Mal. 3.14 They imagine there is no reward for the just or punishment for the wicked as the Prophet saith But the holy Ghost saith Verily there is a reward for the righteous Psa 58.18 doubtlesse there is a God which judgeth the Earth And here it is said that God hath declared it to his servants the Prophets And the voice which I heard from Heaven spake unto me agine verse 8. and said goe and take the little booke which is open in the hand of the Angell which standeth upon the Sea and upon the Earth So I went unto the Angell and said unto him give me the little booke vâ—rse 9. And he said unto me take it and eat it up and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shall be in thy mouth as sweet as hony Then I tooke the little booke out of the Angels hand and eat it up ver 10. and it was in my mouth as sweet as hony but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter And he said unto me verse 11. Thou must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and to many Kings The briefe sence of these foure verses is that the Preachers of the Gospell being called allowed and authorized by Christ unto their ministery should study the Scriptures with great diligence even untill they had eaten up the booke of God and they should preach and publish unto all nations and Kingdomes that truth of God and doctrine of the Gospell which now a long time had lien hid in the raigne of Antichrist It is to be observed that John in this place representeth the person of all the ministers of the Gospell which should be raised up in these last daies for the overthrow of Antichrist and the restauration of true Religion for John himselfe did not live to these times Further it is to be noted that all godly Students and zealous Ministers do eate up the booke of God by reading study prayer and meditation and they find it sweet in their mouth that is they find and feele great joy and comfort in the study and meditation thereof especially when God revealeth therby great and hid secrets unto them and giveth them to understand the mysteries of the Gospell and counsels of his will which are locked up from the wise and prudent of this world This I say is sweeter unto their mouth than hony and the hony combe Concerning their phrase of eating up the Booke looke Ezek. 2.9 for here the holy Ghost alludeth thereunto This booke being so sweet in the mouth yet being eaten and digested is better in the belly There may be three reasons yeelded of this bitternesse First because it being once taken downe into our soule by godly meditation doth mortifie our corrupt nature and bring under our lust and therefore seemeth bitter to flesh and blood Secondly because afflictions and trialls do alwaies necessarily follow the sound digestion of the Gospell Thirdly because the doctrine of the Gospel being swallowed by the ministers therof must not be kept to themselves as it were closed up in their stomacks but they must out with it againe as if it were some loathsome and bitter thing which must needs be cast up againe And for this cause it is sayd in the last verse that they must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and many Kings Now blessed be the name of the Lord our God who hath given us to live in this age wherein we do with our eies behold and see the fulfilling of all these things let us therefore praise God for this great worke which we see wrought in our daies and let us still more and more magnifie this little Booke which will utterly destroy Popery and bring downe the proud Antichrist do all that fight for him what they can CHAP. XI VVE have heard that the little Booke should be opened and the Gospel preached and published to many nations and Kingdomes after the great darknesse of Popery and that this was done by Luther Melancthon Calvin Peter Virit Peter Martyr Bullinger Bucer and all their faithfull successors unto this day Now in this Chapter we are to understand the effect and good successe of their preaching and publishing the Gospell which was that the Church should be restored reformed and built up thereby which a long time had been wasted and oppressed by the tyranny of Antichrist and that many should embrace this Gospell forsake their Idolatries and turne unto God with all their hearts yea whole Nations and Kingdomes in Europe should be converted to the faith as we see this day God be praised So then the principall drift of this Chapter is to shew those things which yet remaine to be fulfilled under the blowing of the sixth Trumpet which is the preaching and prevailing of the Gospel even unto the worlds end and also the things which follow upon the blowing of the seventh trumpet which is the resurrection and last judgement This Chapter containeth six principall things as it were six parts thereof First it sheweth how the true Church should be gathered together ver 1.2 and built up by the preaching of the Gospell and all the wicked refused and cast out ver 3.4.5.6 Secondly it describeth the builders that is all the faithfull Ministers which had and should resist Antichrist Thirdly ver 7.8 it sheweth how Antichrist should persecute the Preachers and Professors of the Gospell unto death and murther them by heapes Fourthly it sheweth that Papists Atheists and wicked worldlings ver 9.10 should rejoyce in the death of Gods people and not vouchsafe them so much as the honour of buriall but sends gifts one to another for joy that they were rid out of the Earth Fifthly it sheweth that
above all things in this world but also did reach even to heaven and hell For they imagined that the Pope might carry to heaven whom hee would and whom he would he might cast down to hell And therefore who could warre with the beast And thus we see the reason of their wonderment and of their speech All stories and experience it self do shew that there was never any power in the world so wondred at as the usurped power and majestie of the Pope after hee came to bee the head of the Roman Monarchy For then the world supposed that hee had power even as God and that he might depose and set up Kings and Emperors at his pleasure Then it is clear that under the dominion of the Popes Rome hath been in her highest exaltation and glory For the Papacy was the seventh head of the beast whereby the Whore of Babylon was supported in her most magnificall pomp and pride Verse 5. And there was given unto him a mouth that spake great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him to doe fourty two moneths And hee opened his mouth unto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his Name Verse 6. and his Tabernacle and them that dwell in heaven Here are set down the proud and blasphemous speeches both of the old and new Roman Empire and of the old and new Roman Emperors For this beast as I said before comprehendeth all the Roman Empire both under the heathen Emperors and the Popes Touching the great things and blasphemies which the old persecuting Emperors have belched out against the God of heaven it would require a volume to set them down in particulars I will therefore onely mention two or three for examples sake As first that of Caius Caligula which would have his image set up in Temples to be worshipped as God and that the people should swear by his name Nero also did openly blaspheme the Name of Christ required divine honour to be given unto him Domitian commanded that hee should be called God and Lord. Many others required the like things and so all the world wondred and worshipped this blasphemous beast Now as the sixth head which was the old Empire of Rome was full of the names of blasphemy so the seventh head which is the new Empire under the dominion of the Popes which he here chiefly speaketh of did most of all blaspheme For the Pope did challenge to himself all power both in heaven and earth hee would be worshipped as God hee usurped authority over the Word of God hee did take upon him to forgive sins hee did most blasphemously incroach upon all the offices of Christ as King Priest and Prophet he hath commanded the Angels hee hath erected blasphemous images and caused pictures to be made of the Godhead he boasteth and cracketh great things of his papall power of Peters keyes of Peters chair of Peters succession of his miracles of his two swords and of his manifold prerogatives royall One of the Popes poysoned his god another cast his god into the fire another would eat his peacock in despite of God Some of them counted the religion of Christ a tale or fable some drank to the Divell some said they could do as much as God It were infinite to set down all their blasphemies for it is said of the whore of Babylon that she was full of the names of blasphemy Let this suffice for the understanding of this text that as the old heathenish Emperors did blaspheme so the Popes being heads of the Empire did most of all blaspheme And as it is here said they did not only blaspheme the Name of God but also did open their black and blasphemous mouthes against his tabernacle that is his Church calling it a company of hereticks schismaticks apostates and such like and also against them that dwell in heaven that is the spirits of just and perfect men which are in heaven as Luther Calvin Melancthon and such like Moreover it is to be noted that this mouth was given unto this monstrous beast thus to blaspheme and speak great things But this is to be understood that it was given in the wrath and just judgment of God upon the world to plague them withall because they regarded not the knowledge of the truth But it is added that this power of the beast thus to work his actions was limited to 42 moneths so that although he rule and rage for a time yet shall he not long continue And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them Verse 7. and power was given unto him over every kindred and tongue and nation Verse 8. Therefore all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb which was slain from the beginning of the world These two verses doe set forth the great power which was given to this beast both in fighting agaiâ—st Gods people and also overcoming of them and murthering of them by heaps As we read of thousands murthered in the first ten persecutions and ten thousands by the Popes since they came to exercise the civill authority and jurisdiction of the Roman Empire and that in all countries and kingdoms of Europe as it is here said that power was given unto him over every kindred and tongue and nation And it is added that all that dwell upon the earth that is all the subjects of the Roman Monarchy shall worship the beast and make a God of him as we read they have done And the chiefe motive thereof was his blasphemous mouth boasting and threatning great things if any did withstand him and also his mighty power and authoritie whereby hee bare down all before him For if any did mutine against him hee was sure to smart for it And thus through his tyrannicall power hee subdued all nations under him and made them stoup and fall downe and worship him But it followeth that for all this none of Gods elect did worship him or submit themselves to his religion and authority but only those that dwell upon the earth that is earthly men as Papists Atheists and Reprobates and all such whose names are not written in the book of life Christ is called the Lamb slain from the beginning of the world because the saving power of his death was from the beginning of all beleevers although he was not actually exhibited untill the fulnesse of time If any man have an ear let him hear Vers 9 10. If any lead into captivity hee shall goe into captivity if any kill with a sword hee must be killed by a sword Here is the patience and the faith of the Saints Here is shewed that the things spoken of this great beast are very secret and mysticall and can be understood of none but those only whose eares and eyes God openeth to hear and see and understand that is the very elect of God as for all papists and
men and bought from the earth as it is said before that is they are redeemed and bought with a price from the currupt lump of mankind and cursed race of Adam that they might be the first fruits unto God and to the Lamb that is wholly consecrated to his worship and to serve him in righteousnesse and true holinesse all the daies of their life In their mouthes was found no guile that is they do declare their innocency and uprightnesse both in their words and works as those which Christ hath chosen out of this world and bought with a price through his bloud in whom they are without spot or speck before God Verse 6. Then I saw another Angel flye in the middest of heaven having an everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people Saying with a loud voyce Fear God Verse 7. and give glory to him for the hour of his judgement is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters Hitherto the holy Ghost hath taught us how the Church was preserved under the tyranny of Antichrist and greatest waves of persecutions and that even then they did purely and faithfully worship the true God Now he proceedeth to foreshew the ruine and downefall of Antichrist and plainly to prophesie the utter decay of the kingdome of Babel This doctrine therefore wee are to hearken unto with great attention and cheerfulnesse because it doth so much concerne our good and the good of the whole Church also because wee live in the dayes wherein we see it is in part fulfilled First therefore wee are to understand what is meant by this Angel here mentioned to wit not any celestiall Angel or invisible spirit as it is sundry times taken before but by this Angel and the two Angels following are meant all the faithfull ministers of the Gospel which should be raised up in these last dayes for the overthrow of Rome and the delivering of the Church from under the captivity of Antichrist which may plainly appeare by this that is said this Angel preacheth the everlasting Gospel unto them that dwell on the earth which cannot properly agree to the celestiall spirits We have heard out of the tenth chapter that Jesus Christ did open the little book which is the Bible and did give authority to his faithfull ministers to goe preach and publish the doctrine thereof to many nations Chap. 10.11 countries and kingdomes now unto that agreeth this which is here spoken of and is a further opening and declaring of that which is there set downe For as there Jesus Christ cometh downe from heaven and openeth the little book which had been long shut up under the darknesse of Popery and the smoak which came out of the bottomlesse pit so here Christ Jesus raised up his faithfull ministers and preachers to publish and proclaime the doctrine of the Gospel which had long lain hidden under outragious persecutions of the two monstrous and most hideous beasts To this also agreeth that which is written in the eighteenth chapter of this book where Saint John seeth an Angel come down from heaven having great power so that the earth was lightened with his glory By which Angel is meant all the preachers of this age And the Angel is said to have great power for what is more powerfull then the ministery of the word And moreover it is said that the earth was lightened with his glory that is with the brightness of the preaching of the Gospel whereby the darknesse of Popery was dispersed and driven away and Babylon falleth upon it as there you may read and as here wee shall see the like effect by and by Moreover it is here said that this Angel flyeth in the middest of heaven that is very swiftly carryeth this everlasting Gospel through all the Church For when Gods appointed time was come wherein hee would goe about the overthrow of Popery hee caused his everlasting Gospel to be set abroach and to spread over many kingdomes and nations as we see this day Now because those kingdoms where God would have the knowledge of his Gospel divulged were many and great therefore here is expedition required and this Angel doth carry it not standing but flying And all this we see perfectly fulfilled with our eys when God raised up Luther Zuinglius Melancthon Peter Viret Calvin Bucer Bullinger Peter Martyr and all their worthy successors unto this day which have spread the everlasting Gospel very far and carried it very swiftly over England Scotland Germany Denmark Polonia Swevia Russia and many parts of France and Flanders Another reason why this Angell is said to flie in the middest of heaven is because no power of man shall ever be able to stay the course of this everlasting Gospel which this Angel carrieth abroad no more then men are able to stop the course of the Sun in the heavens or a cloud in the skie For this Angel flyeth in the midst of heaven far above the reach of the beast and all kings and potentates that stand for the kingdome of the beast Therefore let them doe all what they can they shall never be able to stop the course of the Gospel for it is called the arm of God and his very arm holdeth it forth to the world and who is able to bend it in or to turne it backward There be three reasons why the Gospel is called everlasting First because it is in his own nature everlasting as it is written 1 Pet. 1.25 The word of the Lord endureth for ever Secondly because it putteth us in possession of everlasting things as it is written Thy word O Lord Psal 119. endureth for ever in heaven Thirdly and principally because as it was long before Antichrist was hatched so it shall continue when he and his kingdome is dead and rotten Saying with a loud voice Fear God Verse 7. and give glory unto him c. Here is set down the doctrine which this Angel preacheth with a loud voice that is with great zeale The sum whereof is this Fear God and give glory unto him and worship him that made heaven and earth c. The sence is that the true and everliving God should onely be feared and worshipped and all glory should be given unto him alone through Christ and none to Antichrist none to Cardinals and Legats none to Angels none to Saints none to images roodes crosses and crucifixes Here then is set downe an abridgement of the doctrine of this everlasting Gospel namely that men should onely feare God and worship him and give all glory to him alone and not to any creature And the reason is yeelded because the houre of his judgement is come that is the time of the manifestation of the Gospel or lawes of the most high God for so the word Judgement is often taken in the Scriptures Here are wee to
as some doe take it but for seven severall governments Dan. 7.17 as it is taken in Daniel The foure great beasts saith the Angel there are four Kings that is four kingdomes governments or monarchies as all men know So here by seven kings is meant the seven severall regiments of Rome that is to say by Kings Consuls Decemviri Dictators Triumviri Emperors and Popes whereof the first five were then fallen when John wrote one was that is the Empire and one was to come that is the Papacy My last argument is this Babylon is that city which is situate upon seven hils but onely Rome of all cities in the world is situated upon seven hils therefore Rome is Babylon The proposition is avouched by the Angel which saith in the seventeenth chapter that the seven heads of the scarlet coloured beast are seven mountains whereon the woman sitteth that is seven hils whereon the city of Rome is situated whose names are these Capitolinus Palatinus Aventinus Exquilinus Celius Viminalis and Quirinalis as all Poets and Historiographers do testifie One saith thus of Rome Virg. Geor. Septem quae una sibi muro circumdedit arces Another thus Septem urbs alta jugis toti quae praesidet orbi Propert. Another called Rome 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the citie with seven heads that is seven hils It is cleer then by these reasons that Babylon in this place signifieth Rome As for the exposition of the Papists which affirmeth that Babylon here signifieth the universall society of the wicked it is fond and ridiculous For the holy Ghost saith Chap. 18.7 Babylon is that citie which reigneth over the kings of the earth But to say that the universall society of all the wicked reigneth over the kings of the earth is absurd and ridiculous Therefore to say that Babylon is the universall society of the wicked is absurd and ridiculous The distinction of the Jesuits here is also as frivolous as their expositions for they say If Babylon be Rome then it must be understood of Rome under the heathen Emperors but not under the Popes But the Angel saith The woman that is the whore of Babylon or Antichrist sitteth upon seven mountains Ergo she sitteth at Rome and Rome is the seat of Antichrist and consequently Rome under the Popes is Babylon Moreover we may reason thus against the Popish dictinction That which was Babylon under the heathen Emperors is the same which is here prophesied to be the chiefe citie and seat of Antichrist But Rome was then Babylon Ergo Rome is now Babylon for Rome is that citie which the Angel saith should be the seat of Antichrist And this book doth shew that the great Antichrist should reign in the same citie where the heathen Emperors had reigned and therefore it standeth firme That Rome under the Popes is Babylon This being then granted that Babylon here is Rome it followeth that Rome shall fall for the holy Ghost saith Babylon is fallen speaking in the present tense as the manner of the Scripture is in prophesying of things to come For whatsoever God hath determined to come to passe is as it were already done because of the certainty of it and for this cause also the word is doubled It is fallen Rome shall fall it is fallen Wee see then most cleerly that almost 1500 yeers before Rome began to fall the certain fall thereof was fore-told This place it self is cleer enough to prove my second point which is That Rome shall fall But my purpose is to reduce and gather all the five chapters following to certain heads to prove the main points which I have propounded first then I reason thus to prove the second point that Rome shall fall That citie and kingdome which hath the seven vials of Gods wrath emptied and powred downe upon it cannot stand but must needs fall But Rome is that citie which hath the seven vials of Gods wrath powred downe upon it Therefore Rome cannot stand long but must needs fall The proposition is manifest and not to be denied The assumption is proved throughout all the sixteenth chapter and especially in the tenth and second verses in the tenth verse the vials of Gods wrath are expressely said to be powred down upon the throne of the beast and in the second verse of that chapter it is avouched that the second viall was powred downe upon the men which had the marke of the beast and upon them which worshipped her image How then can the throne of the beast hold out or how can they which have received the beasts mark stand up long For there is a great emphasis or vehemency in the manner of speech For hee doth not simply say the wrath of God Chap. 15.17 but the fulnesse of Gods wrath he doth not say should be a little sprinkled but powred down as it were by pail-fuls upon the kingdom of the beast How then can the kingdome of the beast stand which hath so many great Ordnance and so many double Canons discharged and shot off against it Surely it must needs fall Chap. 17.8 My second reason is this The beast that was and is not and yet is shall goe into perdition But Rome is the beast that was and is not and yet is Therefore Rome shall go into perdition The assumption is set down chap. 17. ver 8. For the Roman Monarchy was great in the dayes of Julius Caesar Augustus Claudius Tiberius and therefore it is said that it was But in the reign of Nero Otho Galba and Vitellius it was greatly decayed and therefore it is said It is not meaning so great as it had been and yet in some sort it was and therefore it is said And yet is Now this beast shall goe into perdition Therefore the Roman Monarchy shall be destroyed and consequently the Papacy for the Roman Empire holdeth up the Papacy as it is written that the woman or whore of Babylon sitteth upon the scarlet coloured beast which had seven heads and ten horns that is the Roman Monarchy which beareth up the whore and beareth up the Papacy but the holy Ghost saith this beast that is the Roman Empire shall goe into perdition Then it followeth that the Papacy shall follow after for if the beast that she sitteth upon and which beareth her fall under her then she must needs fall together with him But we see God be thanked that the Roman Monarchy is in a manner quite fallen therefore the Papacy cannot stand long My third argument is this Verse 11. The beast that was and is not being even the eighth and is one of the seven shall goe into destruction But Rome is the beast that was and is not being the eighth and one of the seven Therefore Rome shall goe into destruction The assumption is set down chap. 17. ver 11. For the Papacy or dominion of the Popes is the seventh head of the beast in respect of their civill power and yet
of Genermah Gidnon which signifieth the subtilty of destruction because the blind Kings and Nobles of the earth shall by the subtilty and crafty perswasions of the Jesuits and seminary priests be intised to fight against the Protestants in a place where they shall have a famous foyl Some derive Armageddon of Har which in Hebrew signifieth a Mountain and Megiddo which is the place where the godly king Josias was slaine and so this place should be called Armageddon the Mountain of Megiddo for the slaughter of kings that shall be there To the which the Prophet Zecharie alludeth Zech. 12.11 saying In that day there shall be a great mourning in Jerusalem as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddo Well we do see that all these significations and derivations of Armageddon come to one thing in effect which is that the great armies which assemble themselves in battell against the Lord shall be destroyed and therefore it is not much materiall to dispute which is the more likely signification of the word But this let us observe for our comfort that whensoever wee shall see the Kings and Captains Nobles and Potentates of the earth being solicited by the Jesuites Priests and the false Prophet to levie great armies and make great powers to fight against the Gospel and the true professors therof for the maintenance of great Babylon they shall not prevaile but be utterly overthrowne and destroyed as in part wee see fulfilled in the yeer of our Lord 1588 when the great and invincible Armado of the Spaniards as they thought which was long in preparing against us and at last by the instigation of the Jesuites brought upon us came to Armageddon as we know GOD be praised And in all time to come in the like case let them look for the like successe Well now to grow to some conclusions of this point we do plainly see that Rome falleth their kingdome waxeth dark their Euphrates dryeth up and they espy it The Dragon the Beast and the false Prophet send out their frogs into all countries and kingdomes hoping to prevent it by the help of the kings of the earth and especially the king of Spaine but alas all in vain for they must come to Armageddon when they have done all that they can For God fighteth from heaven against them God bringeth them down and no power of man is able to uphold them But now let us proceed to prove the third maine point which is that Rome shall fall finally and come to utter desolation For all sound Divines are perswaded of the fall of Babylon and doe grant that it falleth and is in falling but all are not so throughly perswaded of the finall fall thereof in this life Therefore now I will prove by manifest Scripture that Rome shall fall finally Rome shall fall finally First if the things be deeply considered and narrowly looked into which S. John saith shall fall out upon the powring forth of the seventh viall of Gods wrath by the seventh Angel they do fully portend a deadly downfall and utter overthrow of Rome For the seventh viall is not powred upon the earth or sea or fountains of waters or on the Sun Chap. 16.17 as the first foure vials were which signified some particular judgment but it was powred forth into the very air which signifieth the universality of it and containeth the most generall and most grievous judgment and vengeance of Almighty God upon the whole body of the kingdome of Antichrist a little before the last day The text saith that upon the powring forth of this viall Verse 17. there was a loud voyce heard out of the Temple of heaven from the throne that is from the very presence of God saying It is done it is dispatched the utter overthrow of Rome is fully concluded of and all things finished which belong to the powring forth of the seven vials which containe the seven last plagues wherein the whole wrath of God is fulfilled as appeareth chap. 15. As before it is said Babylon is fallen Chap. 15.1 because it should certainly fall so here God himselfe saith It is done because it shall certainly be done For whatsoever God hath determined to be done is as it were already done because it shall most certainly be effected Sith then the Lord hath pronounced this of Rome there remaineth nothing but a daily accomplishment of it and let all the Papists know for a certainty that they must goe to their geere they must come to their payment there is no way of evasion For hath the Lord spoken it and shall it not come to passe Now upon this that God saith It is done followeth presently that there were voyces and thundrings Chap. 15.18 and lightnings and there was a great earth-quake such as was not since men were upon the earth even so mighty an earth-quake Chap. 6.12 What is meant by thundrings lightnings and earth-quakes in this book I have before shewed to wit commotions seditions tumults uprores and alterations of states kingdomes and common-wealths and then the meaning of this place is that there shall be horrible shakings concussions tumults and great alteration of state in all the kingdomes which are subject to Antichrist none of them shall escape For this seventh viall of Gods wrath upon the kingdom of the beast is compared to a most horrible and blustring tempest raised up in the whole aire that is in all places of Antichrists dominions And it is specially to be noted as a thing of great moment that the holy Ghost saith there was never such an earth-quake as this since the world began and since men were upon the earth For assuredly so soon as the seventh Angel powreth forth his viall the kingdom of Popery shall goe down amaine which shall not be long before the end of the world as all circumstances here doe shew After all this Saint John telleth us the effect of this thundring lightning and extraordinary earth-quake which is Chapt. 16.19 that the great city was divided into three parts that is there shall be a most horrible rent and division in the city of Rome and throughout all the Popes dominions What this rent and division is and how it shall be I cannot determine being a thing to come as all the rest comprehended under the powring forth of the seventh viall But this I am sure of that Rome shall goe down and there shall be such tumults uprores rents divisions disputations and concussions in Rome and throughout all the Romish jurisdiction as never were heard of nor read of since the world began For Saint John addeth Verse 59. that Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath that is God doth now at length call to mind all the wrongs done to his people and all the righteous bloud shed for the space of seven or eight hundred yeers by the whore of
this their cheer and their dainties are reckoned up to be the flesh of Kings and Captains c. Now out of this may be strongly concluded that hereafter in all time to come when the armies of the Pope which is the beast the armies of the king of Spain who hath given his power and authority unto the beast and is his great upholder when the armies of the Cardinall his great confederate when the armies of the Leaguers his great adherents yea when all these and all other Popish armies shall joyne and band themselves together against the Christian kings and defenders of the Gospel they shall have a notable overthrow insomuch that their dead carcasses shall even cover the earth and the fowles of the air shall come to their great supper which the Lord of hosts will make ready for them For assuredly and out of doubt they that live shall see the fulfilling of all this and shall see the Popish armies goe down by heaps in all countries and kingdomes and be made meat for the fowles of the air The Popish armies shall go down by heaps Chap. 16.6 Chap. 13.10 For the holy Ghost saith They shall come to Armageddon that is the place where their armies shall be destroyed And again If any lead into captivity hee shall go into captivity If any kill with a sword he must be killed with a sword For as the Popish forces have in former times taken captive the people of God and cruelly murthered them so now the time draweth on apace wherein themselves shall be taken and put to the sword And therefore now at last I conclude that Rome shall fall finally and come to utter destruction in this life For as Rome did rise up by degrees in this life so Rome shall fall by degrees in this life as Rome grew up to her full height and highest pitch in this life so it shall come to her lowest ebb and greatest declination in this life I meane before the coming of Christ unto judgement For the falling down of haile like talents upon the kingdome of the beast shall be in this life The extraordinary earth-quake upon the dominions of Antichrist shall be in this life Rome shall be utterly destroyed in this life The coming of the Popish armies to Armageddon shall be in this life The mourning of the kings merchants and mariners for the overthrow of Babylon shall be in this life The great battell betwixt the beast and him that sitteth upon the white horse shall be in this life before the day of judgment The powring forth of all the seven vials of Gods wrath upon the kingdome of the beast shall be even in this life For it were an absurd thing to say any of these things shall be after this life or to say that these things shall not be till the very coming of Christ for they are all things to be effected here in this earth and the holy Ghost doth describe them as things to be done upon the face of the earth for otherwise we could have small comfort in any of these things if they should not be done here in earth or if they should all be deferred till the very coming of Christ and in the meane time Antichrist shall prevaile But it will be objected that S. Paul saith The Lord shall consume Antichrist with the spirit of his mouth and abolish him with the brightnesse of his coming 2 Thes 2. Therefore before his coming he shall not be utterly abolished True it is indeed An objection answered he shall not utterly be cut off in all his members till the very coming of Christ For there will be some Papists remaining in all countries even unto the end there be some nay many that will carry the beasts mark even untill the last day But the holy Ghost in this Prophecie speaketh of the revolting and falling away of kingdomes and countries from the See of Rome whereby it shall come to passe that it shall be exceedingly weakned and brought so low that the kings of the earth shall easily take it or as the holy Ghost speaketh Chap. 16.26 shall easily passe over their Euphrates being dryed up and enter their Babylon But then will some man say Shall there be no Pope at all a little before the coming of Christ I answer and not I but the holy Ghost for me hee shall be a poor Pope a naked Pope Chap. 17.16 The Pope shall bee brought very low 2 Sam. 3. a desolate Pope a Pope whose flesh shall be torn whose flesh shall wither as we shall hear anon Hee shall be such a Pope as Ishbosheth was a King when Abner and all Israel fell away from him He shall be such a Pope as the king of Portugal is a king But it will be objected How know you this are you a prophet can you fore-tell of things to come I answer Saint John was a Prophet and indued with a Propheticall spirit in this matter of his visions and revelations and I speak no more then Saint John hath set down And therefore I hope I speak within my compasse for I doe but relate Saint Johns words and explain them in such measure as I am able This Prophecie doth plainly declare that Babylon shall fall Rome shall come down the Pope shall never be esteemed again and I do beleeve it to be so I beleeve God I beleeve his word I beleeve all that is spoken in Scripture and I do indeavour to perswade others also For sith the holy Ghost hath so plainly and so fully fore-told it why should we not beleeve it why are wee so slow to beleeve all that is written in the Scriptures Hath God spoken it and shall it not come to passe shall any jot of his word fail shall we think he jesteth with us when he doth so often and so seriously tell us of the downe fall of Rome Surely surely the cause why men are not fully perswaded of the finall fall of Rome is because they do not diligently peruse this book of the Apocalypse But let them be studious and diligent in this book and they shall be out of all doubt that Rome is the great whore of Babylon that the Pope is Antichrist and the Papacy the beast But now me thinketh I hear some men say How is it like that Popery shall fall down more and more here among us sith it hath so many friends backers and upholders and seemeth to gather strength and make an head again I answer that all is but a lightning before death I answer that all is but the stopping of a water-brook or making a dam overthwart it which will cause it to swell more and to break over with great violence I answer that all is no more then is fore-told that the Jesuits shall come forth like frogs out of their puddles and marish grounds and keep a croaking for a time till they have croaked their own destruction and many others For they shall
never set Popery here in England to stand and continue do what they can I must needs confesse that our sins being so horrible and outragious as they are and being grown to such an height and ripenesse doe deserve some fearfull vengeance and that God hath a just controversie against us as sometimes hee had against Israel Hos 4. because there was no mercy nor truth nor knowledge of God in the land but swearing lying killing stealing and whoring and bloud toucheth bloud and therefore saith God The land shall mourn c. But yet I hope for his covenant sake for his great mercies sake for his names sake for his glory sake and for his Churches sake he will be gracious and favourable unto us and not bring upon us that vengeance which our sins have deserved or at least wise though he correct us as indeed he hath just cause and we may justly fear it yet hee will doe it in mercy for our amendment and not in wrath to our destruction as hee saith by his Prophet I will not utterly destroy thee Jer. 30.11 46.28 10.24 but I will correct thee by judgment and not utterly cut thee off But howsoever it shall please the most wise God to deale with us yet this I say and am perswaded of that Popery shall never be established again in this kingdom my reason is because the everlasting Gospel carried abroad by the Angel that flyeth in the middest of heaven shall spread still more and more throughout all the kingdomes of Europe as appeareth chap. 14. v. 6. for otherwise how shall Rome fall how shall the Jewes ever be converted Rom. 11.24 how shall fire come down from heaven and devoure both Gog and Magog Chap. 19. as the holy Ghost fore-telleth shall come to passe and as we shall hear more anon Moreover S. John telleth us plainly Chap. 10.1 that in these last dayes the Gospel shall be preached to many people and nations and tongues and to many kings And further hee saith that in this age wherein we live many shall renounce idolatry repent and give glory to the God of heaven But some man may say How prove you that this kingdome is one of them which Saint John speaketh of and which hee meaneth wherein the Gospel shall be preached unto the end of the world I answer that it is proved out of the seventeenth chapter of this Prophecie where the holy Ghost telleth us flatly that those ten kingdomes of Europe which had a long time been the ten horns and strength of the beast Chap. 19.13 and being of one mind had given their power and authority unto the beast should now in these last dayes rise up against the whore of Babylon Verse 16. make war against her hate her and make her desolate But this kingdome is one of those ten hornes and one of those ten kingdomes which a long time had given her power and authority to the beast Therefore as this kingdome hath happily begun to hate the whore and to make her desolate and naked so undoubtedly she shall continue unto the end of the world * England other kingdoms which have forsaken the beast shal so continue unto the end of the world For if this kingdome and other kingdomes which now hate the whore doe not continue how shall she be made desolate and naked c. Then it should seem the beast shall revive and recover himselfe again and so St. John shall be found a false Prophet But God is true and all men are lyers and St. John shall be found a true Prophet and therefore these kingdoms of Europe which have begun to hate the whore shall continue and never give her over till as the holy Ghost saith they have eaten her flesh and burnt her with fire that is till they have utterly devoured her But here it will be objected that in the latter dayes iniquity shall have the upper hand I answer first that I find no such place of Scripture But this I find that our Lord Jesus fore-telleth his disciples that very shortly after his death and resurrection many seducers and false teachers should arise which should deceive many and draw them away from the love of the Gospel and saith he Mat. 24.12 because iniquity shall be increased the love of many shall be cold But this speech of our Saviour doth not properly concern our times but yet it must needs be granted that the wicked shall wax worse and worse and the world shall not amend but still be worse and worse and grow to a greater height and ripenesse of sin as appeareth in this Prophecie Yet for all this we must note withall that the number of true beleevers in those last daies shall be very many Ch. 11.1 11 13. as this book doth also teach But it may be objected How can this geare stand together that in the last dayes there shall be multitudes and millions of reprobates and most wicked and abominable persons and yet withall a great increase of true beleevers I answer that the world will be alwaies like it selfe impious and unbeleeving But the Church shall purely worship God and that with daily increasing even unto the end But now me thinketh I heare some man say What likelyhood is there of all this which you write touching the overthrow of Rome Doe wee not see that Rome is yet strong Doth not Italy Spaine the greatest part of France and Netherland and Germany stand for her defence Hath not the whore still many and great bearers and upholders What likelyhood is there then that ever she shall be brought so low as you speak of I answer that in this case wee must not ask the question We may not say What likelihood is there of this What likelyhood Wee must not consult with flesh and bloud wee must not take counsell of humane reason For God is marvellous in his devices and when he hath once decreed and determined of any future event hee will compasse it by means far surpassing all humane reach and capacity yea by such plots and devices as mans wit could never have once dreamed of For hee hath all means in heaven and earth in his hands and is admirable in all his proceedings and therefore wee may not ask this question What likelyhood or how can it be or how can it possibly come to passe What likelyhood was there an hundred yeeres past when Rome was in her delight and all the kingdomes of Europe stood for her that ever she should have been forsaken of so many of her old friends as at this day she is What likelyhood was there that when the Pope could command the Emperor and all the Kings of Europe and their kingdomes that ever hee should have been brought so low as at this day he is God be thanked What likelyhood was there that ever poor Martin Luther should stand out with the everlasting Gospel in his mouth against the
Acts 1.7 It is not for you to know the times or the seasons which the Father hath put into his owne power Yet even in this point I will by Gods assistance set downe so much as is revealed and so much as God hath given me to see First I doe confesse that God in his word hath set downe a just period and precise determination of all the greatest afflictions and persecutions that ever came to his Church before the coming of his Sonne in the flesh for the comfort thereof as that of Egypt after the expiration of four hundred and thirty yeers that of Babylon after the date of seventy yeers Dan. 8. that of the Medes and Persians after the determination of an hundred and thirty yeers that of Alexanders state Dan. 11. after six yeers that of Magog and Egypt after 249 yeers So likewise that of Christs death and resurrection after seventy sevens or seventy weekes which make 490. yeers Dan. 9.42 as the Angel Gabriel foretold unto the Prophet Daniel But concerning the just period and precise determinations of the persecutions of the Church since Christ by the Roman Empire and the Papacy we find not the like set down and hereof there may be two reasons yeelded First because the Church of the Jewes was not under so cleer and precious promises as wee are therefore it was needfull for the better strengthening of their hope and comfort in afflictions that they should know the very time determined but because the Church of the Christians liveth under most cleer and comfortable promises of deliverance therefore God according to his deep wisdome would have our faith exercised in an assured expectation of the accomplishment thereof though the precise time be concealed Another reason may be this the utter overthrow of Rome falleth out to be but a little before the coming of Christ to judgement as appeareth in this Prophecie Now then if we knew the day or yeer certainly when Rome should fall finally it would give us too much light unto the knowledge of the last day which God in great wisdome hath of purpose hid from the knowledge of all men yea and of Angels I know right well that a certain learned Writer doth precisely determine the utter destruction of Rome to fall out in the yeer of our Lord 1639. Napier in Apoc. 14. pag. 183. But by the favour of so excellent a man be it spoken I see no sufficient ground thereof But touching this matter of the time of Romes finall fall I will deliver mine opinion and my reasons submitting my selfe to the judgement of the learned for I would be loth in this or any other thing to goe beyond my compasse or passe the bounds of modesty and humility and therefore do refer all to be tried by the shekel of the sanctuary I doe therefore thus judge that the utter overthrow of Rome shall be in this age I mean within the age of man my reason is this Wee in this age live under the opening of the seventh seale the blowing of the sixth trumpet and the powring forth of the sixth viall For the first it is manifest because the opening of the seventh seale containeth all things that shall fall out to the end of the world as hath been proved and shewed before For the blowing of the sixth trumpet that is also plaine because under the blowing thereof the little Book was opened Chap. â—â— and the Gospel preached as wee see in this age Chap. 10.2 10 11. For the powring downe of the sixth viall of Gods wrath that also is most cleer because thereupon the great river Euphrates dryeth up and the Jesuites are sent out to solicite the kings of the earth to battell against the Church as wee see fulfilled in these our dayes Then I reason thus Chap. 14 6 8. Rome must fall downe finally in that age wherein the little Book is opened and the everlasting Gospel preached But in this age the little Book is opened and the everlasting Gospel preached Therefore in this age Rome must fall downe finally And again I reason thus Chap. 16.16 Rome must fall down finally in that age wherein the river Euphrates that is the fortification of Rome dryeth up and the Jesuites are sent forth to stop the leak thereof But all this falleth our in this age as wee see with our eyes Therefore in this age Rome shall fall downe finally It is very probable that Rome shall fall finally in this age The reason of the proposition is for in this age the Popish armies shall come to Armageddon Moreover this I say and not I but the Lord when the seventh Angel bloweth the seventh trumpet then cometh the end of the world But the sixth Angel hath sounded the sixth trumpet long agoe as appeareth by the effects Therefore it cannot be long ere the seventh Angel blow But Rome must fall downe finally before the seventh Angel blow as hath been shewed before Therefore the utter fall of Rome cannot be long deferred I do not determine either of day moneth or yeer because it is not revealed But I ghess at an age because the holy Ghost pointeth us unto an agent If any man see further I will easily yeeld unto him thank God for light But all these things I set downe for the comfort of Gods Church not desiring to understand above that which is meet to understand but to understand according to sobriety Now it resteth to speake of the last main point which is the causes of Romes utter ruine and overthrow which first of all are set down foure severall times for failing Chap. 14.8 Chap. 18.3 Chap. 19.3 Chap. 17.2 to be because she made all nations drunk with the wine of the wrath of her fornication They which outwardly make others drunk or commit fornication with others are worthy to be severely punished How much sorer punishment are they worthy of which doe the same spiritually and therefore wo be to Rome Another cause of the destruction of Rome Chap. 16.6 Chap. 18.24 The causes of Romes utter downfall is for that she hath shed the bloud of all the Prophets Martyrs and Saints as it is written In thee was found the bloud of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slaine upon the earth What is hee worthy to have that is a most cruel bloud-sucker nay what is hee worthy to have that shall murther a kings children yea that shall murther his eldest son and heir apparant to the crown But Rome hath murthered thousands of the King of heavens children yea Rome hath murthered the great heire of heaven and earth I meane the very Son of God Chap. 11.8 for Christ was put to death by the Roman power and authority and by a Roman Judge as before hath been shewed Therfore let all men judge what Rome is worthy to have Moreover Saint John telleth us Chap. 18.23 that Rome with her inchantments
hath deceived all nations Then let the matter be referred to the judgment of any indifferent man to determine and set downe what punishment sorcerers and inchanters are worthy of especially spirituall sorcerers and inchanters Besides all this the holy Ghost saith Chap. 18. â— that Rome is the habitation of Divels and the hold of all foule spirits and a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird What thinke you is like to come of an habitation of Divels What trow yee will be the end of a shoale of foule fiends and a company of most ugly monstrous hel-cats What is like to become of a cage of howlets ravens and vultures yea a nest of vipers toads snakes adders cockatrices and all the most stinging serpents and venemous vermine in the world What will be the end of pild Priests filthy Friers mangy Monks rogning Jesuites Are not these a cage of unclean birds What do they study what do they plot what doe they practise every day but seditions perjuries murthers conspiracies treacheries and all manner of villanies If I had no other reasons to perswade me that Rome shall fall and come to a miserable end yet this onely would make mee so to think that these villanous Jesuites do teach and conclude in their cursed conventicles that it is not only lawfull but also meritorious to murther any Christian Prince that is not of their catholick religion Oh monstrous villains O most hideous hel-hounds have not these monsters suborned divers desperate caitifs to embrue their hands in the bloud of Christian Princes How many have been their plots How desperate have been their practices to murther and poyson our late Queen Elisabeth the French King and our most gracious and late Soveraigne King James and other Christian Princes But can such proceedings prosper can such courses be blessed can a man be established by iniquity No no let them know for a certainty that God will crosse and curse all such divelish proceedings as hitherto hee hath done his most holy name be praised But if any man list to know more of the practices and proceedings of Jesuits let him read M. Doctor Sutcliffe his answer to Parsons Ward-word a book worthy to be read and known of all men But now to grow to a conclusion of this point and to wind up together all the reasons and causes of Romes ruine thus I do determine that forasmuch as Rome is the great whore Chapt. 1.17.2 with whom have committed fornication the kings of the earth forasmuch as Rome hath made all nations drunk with the wine of her fornication forasmuch as Rome hath deceived all nations with her inchantments forasmuch as Rome is a den of divels and a cage of unclean birds forasmuch as Rome hath shed the bloud of the Apostles Num. 14.24 Martyrs and Saints forasmuch as Rome hath murthered the Son of God therefore it shall at last come to most miserable destruction being that Chittim which in the end must needs perish for what punishment what paine what torture what torment can be enough for this damnable whore which hath committed such execrable and most outragious villanies Be it therefore known unto all men by these presents that Rome for all her monstrous and prodigious sins shall fall still more and more and come to a fearfull destruction even in this life But some man may say What shall become of Rome and of all her friends after this life Ch. 14.9 10 11. Saint John answereth that if any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or on his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God and hee shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment shall ascend and they shall have no rest day nor night which worship the beast c. Here is sentence of eternall damnation passed upon all the friends of Rome O that all Papists would consider this in time and think with themselves what a wofull thing it is to be a Papist for they and their kingdome must goe down in this life and in the life to come they must be tormented in hell-fire for ever For Saint John saith flatly that all Papists shall be cast into the great wine-presse of the wrath of God Chap. 14.20 where they shall be strained and tryed till bloud come out of the wine-presse unto the horses bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs And again hee saith Chap. 19.20 that the beast and the false prophet were taken alive and cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Let all men therefore take heed how they joyn with the Papists for wee see what shall be their end both in this life and the life to come Therefore let all Gods people come out of Babylon and hasten out of Sodom lest they be wound up in their judgements Let all wise men practise the policie of the Gibeonites who when they saw that Joshua did so mightily prevaile against the Canaanites and beate downe all before him did very politickly provide for their owne safety and by subtill means enter into league with Joshua and the Israel of God So let all that have any care of their owne salvation speedily forsake Babylon which otherwise will fall upon their heads and flye to Zion which shall stand fast for evermore And thus having reduced all the five following Chapters to prove these foresaid points I will proceed unto the twentieth Chapter for there is almost nothing of any moment or difficulty in the 15 16 17 18 and 19 Chapters but it hath been already opened and expounded CHAP. XX. SAint John having in the former Chapters plainly and plentifully set down the utter overthrow both of the beast and false prophet that is the Roman Empire and the Papacy doth now in this Chapter set forth the condemnation of the Dragon their grand Captain which set them all on work For there hath as yet been no motion of him which hath been the beginner and raiser up of the rest and the great worker of all mischiefe therefore now cometh his judgment and condemnation Now because he hath been a more generall worker and his mischiefe hath extended larger then the kingdome of Antichrist therefore in this twentieth chapter there is an history of him set forth by it self First how he seduced the nations before the coming of Christ afterward how Christ at his coming bindeth him by the light of his Gospel from seducing the nations and so holdeth him shut up for the space of a thousand yeeres in which the Church did greatly flourish and many were raised up unto the spirituall life But when the thousand yeers were expired Satan was let loose and went forth again to seduce and by the great Antichrist and the Turk gathered innumerable multitudes into his armies to fight against the Church which armies are called Gog and Magog
Prophet saith In thy presence is the fulnesse of joy and at thy right hand there is pleasure for evermore Verse 6. And hee said unto mee These words are faithfull and true and the Lord God of the holy Prophets sent his Angel to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be fulfilled Verse 7. Behold I come shortly Blessed is he that keepeth the words of the Prophecie of this book Verse 8. And I am John which saw and heard these things and when I had heard and seen I fell downe to worship before the feet of the Angel which shewed me these things Verse 9. But he said unto me See thou do it not for I am thy fellow-servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the words of this book worship God In these foure verses are four principall reasons brought to confirme and ratifie the authority of this book The first of them is the affirmation of the Angel The second is the authority of the most high God The third is the testimony of Jesus pronouncing them blessed which keep this Prophecie The fourth is the testimony of Saint John who heard and saw these things But because in the Epistle to the Reader I have more at large handled this Argument and these same verses therefore here I doe of purpose relinquish them and that also of Johns adoration and the Angels refusall being things most manifest and easie to understand And hee said unto mee Verse 10. Seale not the words of the Prophecie of this booke for the time is at hand Hee that is unjust let him be unjust still Verse 11. and he which is filthy let him be filthy still and hee that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still And behold I come shortly Verse 12. and my reward is with me to give every man according as his work shall be I am Alpha and Omega Verse 13. the beginning and the end the first and the last Blessed are they that do his commandements Verse 14. that their right may be in the tree of life and may enter in thorow the gates into the city For without shall be dogs and enchanters Verse 15. and whoremongers and murtherers and idolaters and whosoever loveth or maketh lies Here is first an exhortation to publish and proclaime the knowledge of this book to all people and in no wise to conceale it or keep it close as formerly hath been shewed in the Epistle Here is a further admonition that they which are unrighteous should be unrighteous still c. Which is no allowance or encouragement granted unto wicked men to continue in their evill wayes but is rather a terrible threat if wee take all the words together in this and the next verse as if hee should say If men will needs continue in their filthinesse yet certainly Christ will come shortly and reward them according to their works Or else it may be a phrase of speech which they call an ironicall concession as in another place the holy Ghost saith to the yong man Eccles 11. 1 Kin. 22.15 Matth. 6.45 Walk in the wayes of thine own heart and in the sight of thine eyes but know that for all these things God will bring thee unto judgment So likewise in other places After this here is blessednesse pronounced upon all such as keep the commandements of God as it is said that their right is in the tree of life not meaning thereby that their keeping of the commandements is the cause of their right in Christ but onely an effect or consequence For our good works do not go before as causes of our justification but follow after as declarations of the same For by doing we are not made just in the sight of God but only declared to be just in the sight of men And as for the keeping the commandements wee do it not in such perfection as Gods justice requireth but in such measure as his mercy accepteth through Christ And here the holy Ghost saith that all they which have a right in Christ which is the Tree of life and endeavour to keepe the commandements shall enter in thorow the gates into the new Jerusalem But on the contrary all the rout of reprobates whom hee calleth dogs enchanters whoremongers c. shall be utterly shut out as having nothing to do in the everlasting citie their portion being allotted in the infernall lake I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie unto you these things Verse 16. I am the root and generation of David and the bright morning Star And the Spirit and the Bride say Come Verse 17. And let him that heareth say Come And let him that is athirst come And let whosoever will take of the water of life freely For I protest unto every man that heareth the Verse 18. words of the Prophecie of this booke If any man shall add unto these things God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book Verse 19. And if any man shall diminish of the words of the book of this Prophecie God shall take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from those things which are written in the book of life Verse 20. He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus Verse 21. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all Amen The authority of this book is here again ratified from the person of him who is the Authour of it that is Jesus Christ who is here called The root and generation of David both because hee is descended of the house of David according to the flesh and also because the eternall kingdome which all the Prophets did fore-tell should spring out of the house of David was indeed and in truth established in Christ who is our true David and our righteous branch and as it is here said the bright morning Star which hath most gloriously risen upon the world to dispell all darknesse and to bring the great and everlasting light Moreover here is great protestation made in the 18 and 19 verses of great plagues to be inflicted upon all such as shall add any thing unto this booke or take away any thing from it Which also maketh greatly for the confirmation of the authority of this book For that to the which nothing may be added and from the which nothing may be taken away must needs be absolute and perfect But this book is such a one Therefore this book is absolute and perfect being a part of Gods everlasting truth Last of all here is set down the fervent desire of the Bride after the Bridegroome for she being inflamed with the Spirit desireth him to come and make up the match betwixt them that shee may be joyned to him in marriage celebrate the solemnization and live together
the dayes wherein they lived and both those they did cleerely understand Some things were fulfilled after their dayes as the rising and raigning of the great Antichrist which they did not so cleerely see into Hereupon it commeth to passe that many things which unto them were very obscure are unto us most cleere and manifest 〈◊〉 beeing already fulfilled insomuch that all which are not wilfully blinded may see and understand them yea the most unlearned Bee not therefore discouraged gentle Reader at the darknesse and difficulty of this booke Doe not prejudicially resolve and set downe with thy selfe that the naturall sense of this booke cannot be given nor the tute meaning found out but that we must be faine when we have done all that we can to rest in uncertaine conjectures some following one sense and some another as seemeth most like and profitable But no man can say confidently and precisely this is the meaning of the holy Ghost Oh be not of that minde good Christian brother for if we have not an undoubted certainety for the sense and meaning of this Prophesie we are never the neerer and that is it which the Papists would drive us unto But know for a certainty that the naturall sense of this booke is to be found out as well as of other bookes of the Scripture And that wee might not be left to our selves in the darke and to our uncertaine conjectures and doubtfull interpretations Behold the mercifull goodnesse of God to his Church who himselfe doth expound the darkest and most mysticall things in this Prophesie or at least so many of them and so far as the rest are thereby layd open and made manifest The Lord himselfe expoundeth some things in chap. 1. which give cleare light to the first vision The Angell expoundeth divers other things In the 17. Chapter which is the key of this Prophesie the Angell doth of purpose open and interpret all the greatest doubts of this booke as who is the whore of Babylon who is the Beast what be his seven heads what be his ten Hornes what be the waters which the woman that is the Whoore of Rome sitteth upon Moreover for the better understanding of this Prophesie we must note that the writings of Moses and the Prophets unto which there bee sundry allusions and from the which sundry things are drawne doe cleere divers things in this Revelation The knowledge of antiquities ministreth much aide to the understanding of this Prophesie The knowledge of the Histories of the Church and the particular state thereof in divers ages bringeth great light The observation of the phrases and manner of speech used by the old Prophets doth helpe also not a little The serious and deepe weighing of all the circumstances of the Text and conferring one thing with another the consequents with the antecedents and the antecedents with the consequents furthereth greatly for the bolting out of the true and naturall sense And furthermore as the spirit of God is the Author of the Prophesie so the same spirit is the best interpreter of it and doth open and reveale it to all such as using all other good meanes are earnest and humble suiters unto God for the illumination thereof whereby they may all understand both this and other the mysteries of his will which the Apostle saith God hath revealed unto us by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God To all this may be added the knowledge of Arts Tongues and the learned writings and interpretations of sundry excellent men which all doe bring great furtherance to the understanding of this Prophesie Sith then there bee so many helpes for the opening and expounding of this Revelation why should any bee discouraged from the reading and study thereof But if any man demand a reason why Saint John writeth this Revelation in such mysticall and allegoricall manner I answere that there may be divers reasons yeelded hereof First that the world being blinded might fulfill the things herein specâ—fied Secondly because John was to publish this Revelation in such manner and forme as he had received it from Jesus Christ which was figurative and allegoricall Thirdly because it was much more wisedome to foretell the destruction of the Romane Empire which all that time bare the sway almost over all the world under covert and figurative speeches then in plaine tearmes lest the Romane Princes should rage more against the Christians even in that respect The like also may bee sayd for Daniels darke manner of delivering his Prophesie For if hee had uttered those things in plaine tearmes which hee spake darkely and allegorically it might have cost him his life For the Heathen enemies would never have endured to heare that all their Empyres glory and renowne should fall one after another and one by another and that the Jewes were the only holy people whom God did defend and to whom in the end God would not onely give a quiet possession of their owne Land and Kingdome but also a Kingdome everlasting and that through their Messias and great deliverer But to grow to a conclusion gentle Reader thou shalt find in this poore travell First an Exposition of the first thirteene Chapters unto the twentieth reduced all to one head which is to prove the five points propounded and last of all the three Chapters following briefely and plainely expounded If any through lazinesse will not or through want of leasure cannot reade over this short travell yet for his comfort let him read chose things onely which are written upon the fourteenth Chapter And thus Christian Reader hoping that thou wilt not neglect that which may be for thine owne good I commend theee to God and to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to give thee an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Thine in the Lord Arthur Dent. Vpon the 14. Chapter of this Booke These five points are handled FIrst that Babylon in this Booke of the Revelation is called Rome Secondly that Rome shall fall and how Thirdly that Rome shall fall finally and come to utter desolation in this life before the last Judgement Fourthly by whom and when it shall be overthrowne Fiftly the causes of the utter ruine and overthrow thereof APOC. 18. verse 4. I heard a voice from Heaven say Goe out of heâ— my People that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receive not of her Plagues THE RVINE of Rome or an Exposition upon the Revelation Wherein is plainely shewed and proved that the Popish Religion together with all the power and authority of Rome shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe and come to an utter overthrow even in this life BEfore I enter into the exposition of this Prophesie I thinke it not amisse to handle sixe circumstantiall points which may give some light to the whole matter following and they be these First the instrument that writ