and Interpreters of the Revelation and thus I have freed this Booke from a three-fold slander first as if it were not Canonicall secondly obscure as not to be understood thirdly of neglect as if for this cause the worthiest Divines had hitherto shunned the interpretation thereof There remaine two other scandals to be taken away one of the order that this Booke is the last of the New Testament the other of errour that it containes somethings not agreeable to Apostollical Faith both these clouds will be dispersed by the consideration of the dignity of this Prophesie which like the Morning Starre above the rest shineth most clearely among the other Bookes of the New Testament What therefore respects the Order so farre is it from diminishing the worth of the Booke in any kind as it the more commendeth the same For it is in very deed a divine Seale by which the Holy Ghost was pleased not without-reason to close up both the Old and the New Canon of the divine Scriptures which manifestly appeareth from that propheticall Protestation at the end of the Booke by which such are pronounced blessed who observe the words of this Prophesie the falsifiers on the contrary that presume to adde or take ought there-from are threatned with curses for unto them that adde Rev. 22.18 God shall adde the plagues that are written in this Booke to them that take away The Canonicall authority of the Revelation confirmed from the order thereof God shall take away his part out of the Booke of Life and out of the HOLY CITY and from the things that are written in this Booke What could be expressed more honourable concerning this Prophesie for if it be unlawfull to adde ought therto then certainly in all respects it is absolute perfect divine and the word of God unto which nothing without impiety may bee added by men Againe if nothing may be taken away from the same then it is Sacred inviolable divine and the word of God which onely cannot bee broken Ioh. 10.35 Thus we see that the Canonicall dignity of this Booke is established by the order it selfe And hereby it is plainly made equall with the divine Bookes of Moses himself Deut. 4.2 12.32 the Prince of Prophets For as those because they are the first of the Sacred Canon are often confirmed with this Seale Ye shall not adde unto the word which I command you neither shall ye diminish ought from it c. So this Booke as it were closing the Holy Canon is confirmed with the like Seale that nothing may bee added to it nothing taken away from it As Moses therefore was the Chieftaine of the Prophets leading the first rankes So John was chiefe of the Prophets closing up or leading the last rankes and here I willingly assent to Bezas opinion most solidly and truely affirming that it seemed good to the Holy Ghost to gather into this pretious Booke In praefat Apoc. those things which remained to be fulfilled after Christs comming of the praedictions of the former Prophets and also to adde some things so farre as concerned us to know Praefat. in Daniel A like honourable Title that worthy Divine JOHN OECOLAMPADIUS giveth unto this Booke That it is the best Interpreter of all the Prophets Neither will I speake more touching the order save this one thing that in it appeareth also a manifest reason of time When the Revelation was written For it is the last Booke of the New Testament not because it is last in dignity but in time For Ierome writeth that Domitian raising after Nero the second persecution against the Christians Iohn wrote the Revelation in the 14. yeer of his reigne in the I le called Patmos In vita Iohannis With whom Irenaeus a most ancient Writer doth agree affirming that John saw the Revelation not long before his time but almost saith hee in our age towards the end of Domitian his Empire Lib. 3. c. 25 Wherefore the Apocalyps was written in the ninety sixth yeer of Christ after all the other Bookes of the New Testament were written For Iohn out-lived all the Apostles and Canonicall Writers and lived as Sophronius records untill the third yeere of Trajane which from Christs birth was Anno 102 and after his passion as Ierome recordeth 68. In vita Iohannis and from the destruction of Jerusalem 25. Now whereas some affirme that Iohn wrote his Gospell after the Revelation it is without any probabilitie But we come to speake of the utility of the Revelation This Booke doth excellently shine forth in point of doctrine for it truely teacheth the Propheticall and Apostolicall Faith and much illustrates many articles of the Gospell The profitablenes of the Revelation or common places In speciall it proveth the eternall Deity of Christ with such weighty arguments as scarcely more excellent are to be found in any other part of Scripture absolutely ascribing unto Christ many attributes which are onely proper unto Iehovah viz. that he is Alpha and Omega the first and the last the beginning and the end the Almighty that the Lambe standing in the Throne of the Deity equall in majesty with the Father is worshipped by all the Heavenly Inhabitants that he judgeth the adversaries rules the Nations with an iron rod that hee is the King of kings and Lord of lords c. It plainely also maintaineth the Doctrine of Christs Mediatorship and work of our Redemption through his blood calling him the faithfull Witnesse the First begotten from the dead Redemption of christ the Prince of the kings of the earth the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world who hath washed us in his blood from our sins and made us Priests and Kings to God and the Father c. It sets forth the afflicted state and condition of the Church in this life especially in the latter times by evident types viz. that the woman bringing forth a Man-Child the Ruler of the Nations shall be driven into the Wildernesse by the Dragon and the Beast where she shall remaine hid from the sight of men when the two Witnesses shall prophesie against the Dragon and the Beast and shall indeed be slaine but being againe raysed to life they shall bee taken up into Heaven c. By which verily it is manifest that nothing else is signified then that the Church in Antichrists reigne shall bee obscure and secret in the wildernesse being oppressed in Babylon it selfe the Seat of Antichrist The flight of the Church into the wildernesse untill at length Babylon decaying shee being commanded to come out of her shall againe come forth and be seen of men By which that cavill is easily answered Where the Church was before Luthers time if the Papacy were not The Papacy indeed was the Apostaticall Church it was Babylon having nothing but the bare Name of the Holy Citie But the true Church lye hid as captivated and oppressed in the same
events of the Church For it was written within and without as we heard Chap. 1.7 and Ezech. 2.10 This little booke Christ both opened and held open teaching us that as Iohn so all the teachers of the word must ask of Christ and receive out of his hand the doctrine of salvation which they are to propound unto the Church but not from the hand of Satan or Antichrist Now he exhibiteth a booke open because the holy scriptures doe open and manifestly set forth the mysteries of our salvation Thus we see the decrees of the Romish Antichrist the traditions of Popes and Councils the humane Philosophie and subtilties of Sophisters are to be quite banished out of the Church It is expressely added Of the Angel that stood upon the earth and sea that we might confidently rest on the power of Christ and acknowledge him alone to be the revealer of the heavenly truth and so desire nothing as necessarie to salvation but what we take out of his hand 9. Take it and eat it up This is the other commandement Bookes of paper or parchment are not to be eaten properly as not beeing fit food for man but they are said to be eaten up metaphorically when they are so carefully read and throughly taken notice of that we are able promptly to rehearse and discourse of the contents thereof So a man is said to have devoured Virgil Cicero who is fullie acquainted with them and hath them as it were by heart So Cicero called M. Cato a devourer of bookes because he was an insatiable reader Thus as the Prophet in Ezech. 3. so John here is commanded to eat up the booke he received of Christ that is well to understand and as it were hide the same in the bowels of his heart that so he might deliver no other doctrine unto the Church but what hee had received from Christ Now whether this booke were eaten up trulie or in a vision onely makes little to the purpose the latter is most probable For all these things were don by a vision Here the ministers of the word are taught earnestly to devoure or eat up the doctrine of salvation divinely written received from Christ that is diligently to read understand search meditate as it were to turne it even into their verie moisture blood For such onely can faithfully instruct the Church in the knowledge of the truth who after this manner meditate in the law of the Lord day night On the contrary their sluggishnesse is condemned who though they love to be called Bishops Archbishops Patriarchs of the Church yet in the mean while are little or nothing acquainted with the scriptures of God And it shall make thy belly bitter He preadmonisheth Iohn of a double effect of the booke sweet in the mouth bitter in the belly Sweet things are delightfull to the palate bitter things provoke to vomit Hereby signifying that one effect thereof should be sweet the other troublesome the nature whereof is expounded in the following verse He fore shewes it should be sweet to stir him up the more earnestly to eat up the booke he tels him also that it should be bitter that he might not afterward bee offended thereat but know that this bitternesse should bee recompensed with much sweetnesse Then I tooke the booke He shewes his readinesse in eating the book for neither the difficulty of the command nor the bitternesse of the book dishartens him shewing us that we are readily to submitt unto the command of God not to be dismayed at any hardships or difficulties whatsoever Now he ate the booke not really but in vision onely as I said before signifying that he most readily accepted the worke imposed upon him of which it followeth And it was sweet in my mouth Here the foresaid effects follow This booke being eaten was sweet in the mouth and bitter in the belly the first signifies the sweetnesse of the word as Psal 119.103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste yea sweeter then hony to my mouth Ierem. 15.16 Thy words were found I did eat them thy word was unto mee the joy rejoycing of myne heart This is the proper effect of the word it brings joy to the heart comfort to the conscience yea by how much faithfull teachers doe feel this sweetnesse by so much the more they preach the Gospell chearfully But the effect thereof is bitter by accident because the preaching of the word occasioneth most painefull grypings of the belly as the hatred of the world persecutions banishments martyrdomes This effect Christ foretold unto his disciples They shall put you out of their synagogues Ioh. 16.2 whosoever killeth you will thinke that he doth God service But what use was there to reveale this in a type unto John seeing it was long before plainely foretold in the written word It was altogether needfull considering that this bitternesse doth not properly denote the calamities already past under the four trumpets but to come in the end of the fift sixt under the kingdome of Antichrist the which we shall heare in the following Chapter namely the combats of the third Act of this Vision He foretold them therefore unto Iohn that he might not bee offended for he had already experience hereof beeing sent into exile by Domitian notwithstanding Christ doth not properly intend this here but praefigures in his person the future calamities of the witnesses of the truth 11. And hee said unto me To wit the former voyce from heaven Thou must againe prophesie This commandement is taken diversly Lyra thou must write downe more prophesies to wit those which follow in this booke But to write more things is not againe to prophesie c. Thomas Rupertus and some others understand it historically of Iohns beeing restored unto his Church as if he had said Thou must after the death of Domitian returne from Patmos the place of thy exile unto Ephesus and preach againe the Gospell or as if it were a promise of writing his Gospell after the Revelation The which Ribera refuteth This saith he I approve not of for to put prophesying in stead of preaching the Gospell is new which reason is not solid he adds another that seeing John was gifted with the fulnesse of the holy Ghost therefore he needed not to eat up the booke eyther for to preach or to write the Gospell wherefore he saith the sense is thus that although Iohn hitherto had prophesied many things concerning the last times notwithstanding there remained as yet many things of the same nature which he was to prophesie of against the gentiles c. The which is one with the opinion of Lyra which Alcasar also with his subtilties doth at last come unto But hee needed not to eat up the booke in this respect seeing before he had received a commandement to write the whole Revelation allthough I grant that Lyras opinion touching the promise of Iohns restitution is
take ought from the Scriptures but with the hazard of their Salvation If any man shall adde The contestation consists of two heads The first is that this Prophesie may not be adulterated by any Addition To adde What it is to adde to this Prophesie is not soberly and according to the Analogy of Faith to interpret the meaning of the Prophesie but to mixe other things besides what the Lord Iesus hath revealed by his Angell He addeth saith THOMAS which adjoyneth a lye for whatsoever is patched to the Scriptures of mens inventions that it might be accounted as divinely revealed is a lie Such are the Popes Traditions which seeing hee will make of like authority with the written word of God he addeth unto the Scriptures Therefore they are lies The other branch of the contestation is What it is to take away from this Prophesie that none may deprave this Prophesie by taking away from the words thereof He not onely takes away that derogates from the divine authority of the Booke which as Christ foresaw many would do but he also that any wayes changeth or maliciously perverteth or contradicteth any thing here written Of which offence such are not altogether free who obstinately deny that the manifest events of the Types touching the fall of the great Starre from Heaven into the Earth of the Beasts ascending out of the Sea and of the worshipping of his Image and Character of the Romane Babylon of the whore committing fornication with the kings of the earth the like are not yet manifestly fulfilled in the Papacy The summe of the contestation is that the integrity sincerity and sacred Authority of this Prophesie bee faithfully preserved in the Churches and that the contemners falsifiers and corrupters thereof be no way suffered under paine of Anathema or curse unto which as it followeth that man is liable that presumes to adde or take away ought therefrom for he saith Vnto him God shall adde the plagues This is the reason of the contestation the horrible curse of them that falsifie this Scripture by adding or detracting For if Falsifiers of Coine are liable unto the civill curse of the Law much more shall the Anathema of eternall damnation be inflicted upon the Corrupters of the Scriptures which are the word of God To them that adde thereto God will adde all the plagues of this Booke to wit the Seven last plagues and cast them into the Lake of fire and brimstone with the Dragon the Beast and the False-Prophet Chap. 19. 19. And if any man shall take away That the righteousnesse of Gods judgements may appeare he will punish the Corrupters of his word according to the quality of the offence To Impostors he will adde plagues To them that take away God will take away their part out of the Booke of life c. Their judgement shall bee much alike For as the former are threatned with plagues so the latter shall be deprived of all good His part Not what he hath but what he seemes to have He speaketh of the part or portion of eternall life which such shall have as are written in the Book of Life that blessednesse I say and Heavenly joy which the Inhabitants of the Holy Citie shall be partakers of And from the things which are written To wit which in the Epistles of this Prophesie especially Chap. 2. 3. are promised to them that overcome and from the things which in this Book are spoken touching the glorious state of the Saints in Heaven Chap. 7.9.20.21.22 Now they that shall be deprived of Heavenly blessings must of necessity lie under eternall plagues and punishment For betwixt these there is no medium This place is remarkeable against the Popish depravers of the Scriptures For two things are evidently proved First that the Holy Scripture is Authentique in it selfe and that it giveth testimony of its owne divine authority For what is truely said of this Prophesie is rightly by Expositers extended unto the whole Scripture Hence ANDREAS A fearfull curse saith he shall light on them who are not afraid to adulterate divine Scripture SECONDLY That the Holy Sriptures are so perfect in themselves as that the Romanists are to bee held for most damned falsifiers who deny that all Doctrines of Faith and Salvation are contained therein unlesse the traditions of Rome bee added Lib. 4. de ver 80. dei c. 10. Against this Bellarmine objecteth that only the integrity of this Book is established but not the perfection of the whole Scripture ANSWER Yea both this Booke and all the rest of Holy Scripture This appears because this Booke is the last and last written Therefore this threatning annexed is as the Seale of the whole Cannon or of all Bookes of divine Scripture For as God put too this Seal to the Bookes of Moses being the first Cononicall Bookes Deut. 4.2 12.32 Ye shall not adde unto the word which I command you neither shall ye diminish ought from it So to this last Booke he puts the same Seale that nothing might be added made equall or taken away from this or any other part of Canonicall Scripture Bellarmine objecteth to the contrary that it is not said which I have written but which I have commanded But frivolously for Exod. 24.12 God saith expresly Which I have written that thou mayest teach them And Hose 8.12 I have written to him the great things of this Law Adde to this the former reason that all Interpreters do acknowledge this Anathema to be pronounced generally against all falsisiers of Scripture Why the oracles of the Revelation are most taken out of the old Canon and that most justly For the evident argument hereof is that the greatest part of this Prophesie is as it were taken word for word out of the Old Canon so as the Holy Ghost seemes purposely in every of the Visions to allude unto certaine Prophesies of the Old and New Testament Now the reason hereof without Question was First indeed really to demonstrate that there was nothing wanting in the Old Testament unto perfection Secondly that by this apparent imitation hee might shew that in the writings of the Old Testament is contained the state and condition of the Church of the New Testament Lastly he sheweth that the Revelation is as it were a recapitulation of both the Testaments and containeth the summe and agreement of all the Holy Scriptures By the which againe it is plaine that this present contestation or protestation belongeth unto the whole Body of Sacred Writ 20. He which testifieth these things saith Ribera will have these words to bee Johns because of the like sayings in his Gospell Iohn 21.24 But the words following shew that they are spoken by the Lord Iesus for he addeth Behold I come quickly Notwithstanding there is no great matter in it Hee calleth himselfe 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Testifier because he testified that is revealed this Revelation unto John by his Angell Hence
Touching the Canonicall authority of the Revelation NOw by these things the divine Authority of the Booke doth necessarily follow For if the Apostle Iohn be the Author the Divine and Canonicall Authority cannot justly bee questioned For the Apostles writings are Apostolicall Besides the Author doth againe and againe testifie that he received his Revelation from Christ and wrote the same by the Augels command This also the testimony of the Ancient Church confirmeth Concil Ancyran in appendice For the Revelation is alledged under the name of John and as Canonicall Scripture by the most ancient Councell of Ancyra which was before that of Nice also in the Councell of Carthage III. Can. 47. and some others following The Revelation also hath bin alwayes of Canonicall authority with the Greeke and Latine Fathers although certaine Graecians before Dionysius Alexandrinus did some what scruple the same as of old some of the Latine Church had their doubts touching the Epistle to the Hebrews because it did seeme to favour Novatus as Ierome writeth unto Dardanus But the scruple of one or a few of the Ancients can no more disanull the authority of any Canonicall Book of Scripture then the scruple of a few now can doe And howsoever Luther in his first Edition of the New Testament in the Germane tongue Published anno 1526. Sixtus Senensis Biblioth Ribera in Apoc. Prooem cap. 1. did not reckon the two latter Epistles of Iohn the Epistles also of Iames and Iude among the Apostolicall and Canonicall Scriptures Not indeed as some Papists write because he could not beare those words Chap. 14.13 Blessed are the dead c. because their workes follow them which verily doe notably overthrow their fiction of the Soules of the Saints going into Purgatory but rather because he thought that such obscure Visions and Figures were not so well agreeable unto the light of the New Testament notwithstanding in another Edition Anno 1535. hee speaketh more liberally in the Preface touching these Bookes neither do they who at this day are called Lutherans any longer question the Canonicall authority of the Revelation Alcas Vestig nota 2. Prcoem For our part we did not judge the Revelation was therefore to bee received that we might abuse the darke and obscure sayings of the Booke to vomit out the venom of our malice against the Pope of Rome as that upstart Interpreter before mentioned hath begun to calumniate us but because the reasons before laid down and many more do confirm our beliefe and because by the Revelation we are manifestly taught that that son of perdition lifting himselfe up against whatsoever is called God and sitting in the Temple of God as if he were God is no other but that Capitoline Iove even to this day treading down all powers under his feet But a man might justly wonder that Popish Writers do not tremble at the very sight of this Booke and how they are not afraid to explicate the Prophesie by their Commentaries Why Papists write Commentaries upon the Revelation but that the thing it selfe speaketh they chiefly doe it seeing they can neither wholly extinguish it nor keepe it any longer from the people at least to deprave the oracles thereof by their false Interpretations the which notwithstanding they labour for in vaine seeing it is as cleare as the Sun at Noon day that under the Image of the Beast and False-Prophet seducing the Inhabitants of the Earth and of the whorish woman committing fornication with the Kings of the Earth and of the great Citie on seven hils ruling over the Kings of the Earth is represented the Monarchicall and Papall Sea of Rome and under the Image of Locusts the innumerable vermine of the Clergy and Monkes under the Type of Merchandize which no man Antichrist beeing discovered shall buy any more are set forth Romish Indulgences and buying and selling of Soules c. CHAPTER III. Of the obscurity of the Booke What it is and whence with the remedies of the same AUGUSTINE writing of the darkenesse of the Revelation saith Lib. 20. de C. D. ca. 17 In this Booke which is named a Revelation are contained many darke things that the Readers mind might be exercised and in it are a few things by the clearnesse whereof the rest with labour may be sought out chiefly because it so repeateth the same things after a diverse manner that whereas it may seeme to speake of different matters by diligent search we shall find that they are the selfe same things diversly expressed And JEROM Tom. 3. ad paul Ep. 1. In the Revelation saith he is shewed a Booke sealed with seven Seales which though thou give it to a man that can rend to read it he will answer thee I cannot it is sealed And afterward The Revelation of Iohn hath as many Sacraments as words I have said but little in regard of the worth of the Booke It is beyond all praise In every of the words are hid manifold understandings So indeed it is for the sharpnesse of mans wit is blinder then beetles in the true understanding as of other divine Scripture so of this also unlesse it be enlightned by the beames of the Holy Ghost but the causes of this obscurity are plain First the whole Booke is Propheticall touching future things Write The causes of the darknesse of the Revelation saith the Angell the things thou hast seene which are and which shall be afterward But future things as future because they are not in any sense are either altogether unknowne or being foreknown are conceived not so much by the understanding as in hope Adde That these future things are not declared by plaine words The difference of Visions neither defined by notes or markes of times places and persons but are revealed unto Iohn and so written in darke and aenigmaticall Visions It is true many Visions in Scripture were plaine as set before the eyes of the mind or bodie Dan. 5.5 1. Kin. 6.17 Exod. 3.2 Act. 10.11 Act. 23.11 so King Belshazzar saw a hand writing upon the plaister of the wall Elisha saw fiery Charrets round about him and Moses the bush burning before him Peter a sheet with foure-footed Beasts let downe from Heaven unto the Earth Paul saw the Lord standing by him in the night c. In these there was no great difficultie But there are other Visions more intricate when the Images or Representations signifying some secret thing are exhibited unto the minds of men either sleeping or awake the mysteries of which except they be revealed are so obscure as that they cannot be found out by the understanding of mortall man Of this kinde were the dreames of Pharaoh Nebuchadnezzar the Visions also of Ezechiel Daniel and Zacharie unto which we worthily may compare the Visions of the Revelation The secrets indeed of the aforesaid dreames God not onely revealed unto the singular benefit of them which dreamt the same but also would have them
are our bookes consisting of diverse leaves and so folded together but it was one volume of parchment written within and without according to the custome of the ancients who wrote in rolles and hence volumen a volume comes from convolvendo rolling Like as the Iewes to this day at Wormes Franck ford c. have their Torah written out in one volume of parchment These parchments because they were rolled up were commonly writ on the inside onely Wheras this on the contrarie was written within on the backside also which manner of rols were called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is writings within and without of which see Plinie lib. 3. Epist 5. and Iuvenal Sat. 2. I therefore judge that this writing within and without signifies nothing els but the multitude of matters that is all such things as were exhibited unto John in this Revelation Origen saith that within were written the promises made to the Church and without or on the backside the punishments of the wicked But this to me seems frivolous A like booke written within and without was seen by Ezechiel Chap. 2.9 but it differs from the other both in matter and forme In that were written the lamentations because of the calamities to befal the people of Israel in their captivity wheras this booke containes the secret counsels of God concerning the last times That of Ezechiel was spread open before him but this was seen of Iohn rolled up Ierom understandeth that by both these bookes which were written within and without is signified the litterall mysticall sence of the scriptures But there is no solidity in it for neyther of these bookes doe signify the booke of holy writ neither doth every part of the scriptures admit a mysticall interpretation Sealed with seven seales This is the third circumstance touching the booke The number seven is not here put for many but is to be taken properly for after these there were no more seales opened We need not search what manner of seales they were it sufficeth to know that the booke was closely kept shut by them For there is a twofold use of seales first to keep things secret from the vew of others as letters doores cabinets chiests and the like and secondlie for the confirmation of writings as for example to authorise the edicts of princes sentences of magistrates and wills of the dead the seales of seven witnesses make these things altogether authentick Now this booke was not sealed in this latter respect but in the former as beeing shut or kept close from the understanding of men And therefore it could not be opened or read before the seales were taken away which was not don until the seventh seale was removed Let this suffice for the present that the contents of this booke so fast sealed were most obscure hid untill the seales beeing opened they were revealed unto Iohn by Christ The second part of the Chapter The difficulty about the opening of the Booke and of the seales 2 And I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voyce Who is worthy to open the booke and to loose the seales thereof 3 And no man in heaven nor in earth neither under the earth was able to open the Booke neither to looke thereon 4 And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and to read the book neither to looke thereon 5 And one of the Elders saith unto mee Weepe not behold the Lyon of the tribe of Iuda the root of David hath prevailed to open the booke and to loose the seven seales thereof 6 And I beheld and loe in the middest of the Throne and of the foure beasts and in the middest of the Elders stood a Lambe as it had beene slaine having seven hornes and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of God sent foorth into all the earth 7 And he came tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate upon the Throne THE COMMENTARIE 2. ANd I saw a strong Angel The difficulty in opening of the sealed Booke now followeth The circumstances thereof are five First an Angel proclaimeth with a loud voyce if any one be worthy to open the booke and to loose the seales by which this Angel both stirs up a desire in Iohn and others of the heavenly inhabitants after the knowledge of these secrets as also gives them to understand as hereupon it presently appeared that no creature could find out the hidden and secret counsels and judgements of God concerning things to come but it was in the power of the Lamb onely to reveale the same Lyra affirmes that this was the Angel Gabriel who is called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong from the Hebrew geber hence God is called Elâ—gibbor Isal 9. But this to Ribera is ridiculous seeing the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 strong is put without an article but how then would he have wondred at Alcasars opinion had he seen it who makes him to bee Hosea In Chap. 10.1 a mighty Angel stands upon the sea and upon the earth sweareth by him that liveth for ever ever And Chap. 18.21 a mighty Angel casts a milstone into the sea Which some understand to be Christ others a created Angel and indeed it appeareth he was not Christ seeing he was not worthy to open the Booke Besides all the Angels of God are called Gibborei choach mighty in strength Psal 103.20 This therefore was a created Angel called mighty because he cryed mightily so as he was heard throwout the heaven Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 preaching with a great voyce because with a mighty courage he proclaimed the questioÌ„ about the opening of the booke before the whole company in heaven Who is worthy he saith not who can but who is worthy signifying that not skill or strength onely but worthines is also required For men out of curiositie may violently howbeit unrightly break open that which is sealed What is meant by opening the booke But this booke could not be opened eyther by violence or for curiosity sake but onely by worthinesse or merit He that opens it must bee 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 worthy that is indued with authority and divine power Now to open the booke is to make knowen the secret counsell of God about things to come 3. And no man Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 none in heaven c. This is the second circumstance Vpon the proclaiming of the Angel there is a deep silence in heaven For all creatures are dumbe as unable and unworthy to open this booke In heaven that is Angels and glorifyed saintes In earth men and beasts Vnder the earth Fishes or sea monsters Some also foolishly imagine that the divels in hell the soules in purgatory are here called upon But the scriptures by things under the earth meane that which is in the sea according to the second commandement or that is in the water under the earth c. Thus all created things are altogether
saying that they are so in the middle betwixt both as that they seem to be necessarie for man before God in this he doth not separate their worship from the religion of the high Gods And deriding this vanity he speaketh further it is to foolish to beleeve that such Gods as are made by men should more prevaile with the Gods whom God hath made Ibid. cap. 24. then men themselves whom God himselfe hath also created Let us therefore cast of Poperie as a heathenish worship derived from Apuleius and Plato The third Act of vision II. The opening of the sixt seale A great earthquake darkening the lights c. 12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixt seale and loe there vvas a great earthquake the Sunne became blacke as sackcloth of haire and the Moone became as blood 13 And the starres of heaven fell unto the earth even as a figtree casteth her untimely figges when shee is shaken of a mighty winde 14 And the heaven departed as a scrowle when he is rolled together and every mountaine and Iland were mooved out of their places THE COMMENTARIE ANd I beheld Horrible wonders appeare at the opening of this sixt seale as earthquakes shaking of the heavens convulsion of the starres subversion of mountaines and Islands the explication whereof is difficult Arethas understands it of the darknesse over all the earth of the earthquake and rending of rocks at Christs suffering Matt. 27.51 Ambrose by a trope applies this horrible concussion to the destruction of Ierusalem But what use was there to reveale that unto Iohn by obscure types which was already past and fresh in memorie and by historie formerlie made known unto all Lyra understands it figuratively of the Diocletian persecution more cruel then the former But the most cruelst of all was the persecution yet to come namely under Antichrist Andreas therfore more probablie refers it unto the time before the comming of Antichrist wherein the miseries and persecutions here spoken of should come to passe But most interpreters understand it of the verie last persecution under Antichrist of whose mind I also am notwithstanding they erre from the scope of the history in their application For they following the common opinion that som one particular Antichrist shal oppresse the Church about the last foure yeeres of the world referre these earthquakes and darknings of the sun c. unto the foresaid time Neverthelesse herein they agree not For Ribera and others interpret it properly of the signes going before Christs last comming spoken of Matt. 24. Luk. 21. But most applie it to the horrible confusions and calamities which by Antichrist shal be brought upon the whole earth But for my own part I understand this third Act of the vision to shadow out the manie and sore trials wherewith for a thousand yeeres and more as histories testifie the Church of Christ hath been excercised under Antichrist Now this Act consisteth of two parts The third Act of the second vision hath two parts The first treats of the greater more horrible confusion of the Christian world under Antichrist contained in the 12.13.14 following verses which are to be separated from the last three verses of the Chapt the reason whereof I will shew by and by The other part of the Act is more comfortable as beeing opposed to the former troubles in which is propounded unto the godlie for their great consolation the sealing of the elect in their foreheads in the first eight verses of the following Chapter Now unlesse this be observed howbeit manie things I confesse in a general way may be truely learnedly piously treated of touching this earthquake darkening of the Sun other prodigious things as miseries to befall the world yet in deed these Generals tend but to the darkening of the matter And therfore for the right understanding of the sixt seale we must of necessity have recourse to the histories of the east and westerne kingdoms both from the time that Popery was first established in the West and Mahumetisme in the East as also diligently consider the state and experience of the present times touching all which a word or two in Generall About the yeere of our Lord six hundred after that the Church had obtained some rest was freed frō the persecution of open enemies she immediately began to be rent asunder by divisions corrupted with diverse heresies yea at length Pagan worship under the cloake of Christianitie and humane traditions so prevailed as that shee became pale and sick even unto the death For then arose the hot contention between the Bishops of Rome Bizantium about the monarchical primatie over all other Bishops and Churches Hereupon the Emperour Mauritius much favouring Iovinian his metropolitan made way for him to obtaine the primacie under a pretence that where the principall seat of the Empire was there ought also to be the chiefe chaire of the Church Now on the other hand Gregorie Bishop of Rome invying this honour of universalitie and power in his corrival Lib. 6. Epist 10. Lib. 4. Epist 34.36.37.39 affirmed that this title was wicked perverse proud prophane foolish and frivolous neyther ought there to be any such scandal raised among the Bishops at last he thus concludeth I saith he doe confidentlie affirm that whosoever either calleth himself or desireth to be called the universall priest seeing herein out of the pride of his heart he lifts himself up above his fellow brethren is the fore runner of Antichrist Thus we see that Gregorie makes the title of universall to be the true badge of Antichrist And indeed he so much prevailed with the Emperour as at that time the pride of Jovinian his corrival was repressed But Mauritius a while after beeing wickedlie murdered by Phocas and Gregorie dying about the yeere 604. Pope Sabinian his successour thirsting after the foresaid tyrannie burnt the writings of Gregorie and made void his decrees however he attained not what he aymed at beeing prevēted the yeere after by an infamous death After him succeeded Boniface the third who by Phocas the usurper was proclaimed universal Bishop Prince of Priests notwithstanding the clergie most of the Italian Bishops opposed the same Thus he declared himself unto the whole world to be that Antichrist and the first as Platina and other writers affirme that established his tyrannie by these insolent expressions as thus we will and command we appoint and charge we will and require c. From that time the Christian world began to be shaken with a horrible motion For now Christ the Sun of righteousnes was obscured The Moon of the Church turned into blood The starres fall from heaven Bishops become secular princes heaven or the opened booke of holy scriptures rolled up The mountaines kings princes stand in jeopardy of their power to be short the Islands are remooved out of there place by beeing brought under the yoke of Romish tyrannie Then saith
becomming earthly princes imitating the pompe of courtiers and wholie giving themselves to worldlie affaires as to wars hauking huntings all other vanities pleasures in princes courts yea far exceeding them in pride pompe and luxurie This fall of the stars is amplifyed by the similitude of a strong wind blowing untimelie figs from the tree By these figs are meant carnal bishops and by the mightie wind the Papal authority unto which all of them eyther for fear of excommunication or for promotion sake readilie submitted 14. And the heaven departed as a scroll The sift wonder is taken out of Isai 34.4 Heaven Hebr. rakiagh is that outspread firmament which God created on the second day and adorned with lights on the fourth day This heaven the lights failing and falling downe departed But after what manner as a scroll rolled together In old time they bound not up their bookes as we doe now but rolled them up as upon a rolling instrument The heaven rolled up is the Church falling away from Christ so beeing shut they could not be read But what heaven is here meant to be thus rolled up Interpreters understand hereby the Church spread over all the face of the earth which to Iohn did seem to depart like a scrol not as ceasing to bee but as ceasing to bee seen The which indeed is true of the Church of the Elect. For however Antichrist shall cover his kingdome with the title of the Church take those things that are proper unto her causing the word Sacraments though horribly depraved to be administred by his clergie neverthelesse they shall not be Christs Church but a synagogue of Satan The true Church of Christ shall depart beeing hid not seen to the world to whom belonged all the martyrs and professors witnessing against Antichrist But thou wilt say these were not hid It is true indeed they were seen as they were men could not be hid as they were martyrs but hid as a Church or the members thereof for they were condemned accounted by Antichrist not as Christs faithful ones but as wicked hereticks This heaven or out spread firmament The heaven departing is the closing of scriptures in popery may also be rightly understood of the opened booke of holy scriptures which by Antichrist his instrumēts was shut or rolled up yea cast under foot using in the mean time with great reverēce the Fathers Scolasticks Sentenciaries Canonists Legends c. Moreover since this booke of God began againe to be opened how have the Iesuits laboured to rolle it up questioning the authority thereof not accounting the same to be divine but as it is confirmed by the judgment of the Church Andrad defens concil Staplet contr Witak that is of the Pope For thus they expresly write That in it there is so much of the deity as the Popes Church attributes unto it neyther ought God to bee beleeved but because of the Church And all the mountaines were moved This is the sixt wonder which Andreas doth rightly understand of those who excell others in wordlie power For in Rev. 17.10 by mountains kings are understood in which sence I judge it is here also taken neither doth it any way crosse this exposition that kings are expresly nominated in the following verse seeing that place concernes the following Act is to be understood of their punishment But how have kings been moved by Antichrist The histories of the Popes declare this diverse wayes First by their ecclesiastical authoritie fraud threatnings constraining Emperours and kings not onely to maintain by fire and sword their ordinances and decrees but even to cast themselves downe kisse the feet of their holinesse The Popes tyrannie against Emperours and kings And secondlie civily for Antichrist spared neither King nor Keisar but whoever would not doe all things according to his pleasure those he oppressed deposed and thrust out of their places Gregorie II. having excommunicated Leo the Emperour deprived him of his revenues Pope Zacharie deposed Childerick king of France Leo III deprived the Graecian Emperours of the Western Empire Alexander III. first proudlie trampled with his feet upon Frederick I. before he would receive him into favour Gregorie VII displaced Henrie IV. Innocent III. thrust out Otho IV. Innocent IV. took the Empire from Frederick II. Clement VI. excommunicated Ludowick IV. Iulius II. deprived the great grandfather of Henry IV king of France of his kingdome of Navarre Sixtus V. sought to depose Charles IX king of France Elizabeth queene of England c. To be short Antichrist powerfully moved the mountaines against Emperours kings Christian princes through his Sophisters councils usurping to himself authority over whole councils boasting that by him kings doe reigne that it is in his power to cast them downe when he pleaseth lastly that no councils are authentick without his approbation This is a true plain interpretation And the Ilands were moved out of their places This is the seventh wonder Ilands are invironed with waters The waters signifie peoples Chap. 17.15 and therefore by the Ilands here are meant nations or the subjects of princes these also are moved for all are necessitated upon pain of salvation to subject themselves unto the Romish Bishop neither can any buy nor sel nor make any bargaine but according to his pleasure as appeares by the extravagant of Boniface VIII We define we say we pronounce we appoint that it is of necessitie unto salvation for every humane creature to beleeve that he is subject unto the chiefe priest of Rome Thus the Ilands peoples communaltie beeing deprived of their Christian libertie which they enjoyed under the Apostles were brought under Antichrists yoke under which they serve and groan even unto this day The fourth Act of the second vision concerning the final punishment of the wicked 15 And the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chiefe captaines the mighty men every bond-man and every free-man hid themselves in the dens and in the rockes of the mountaines 16 And said to the mountaines and rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lambe 17 For the great day of his wrath is come who shall be able to stand THE COMMENTARIE 15 ANd the kings of the earth Many with Lyra referre these things unto the times of Diocletian Maximianus whose cruelty against the Christians Eusebius treateth of Histor lib. 8. 9. because in those dayes men of all conditions estates both great and small not beeing able to endure the extremitie of tyrants sought to hide themselves in caves mountaines and woodes But they erre from the scope in my opinion offer violence to the text for undoubtedly by kings c. are not meant the vulgar but men in place and authority Now in those times there were no Christian
royall Priesthood to God and Christ c. 5. And in their mouth was found no guile The sixt title is their integrity they are without hypocrisie both in faith Their integrity word and manners This indeed is truely said of Christ alone Isay 53.9 But attributed to the sealed by participation with Christ their head August hom 11 in Apoc. and by imputed righteousnesse He saith not saith Austine there hath not been but there is no guile found c. for such as the Lord findes a man when he cals him hence such also he judgeth him to be c. For they are without fault before the throne of God These words 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Kings bible hath not Innocency yet the old Latine and the other Greeke copies have them The last commendation is their innocency and full perfection before God The cause both of this and the former commendation is shewed before viz. because they have washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb Therefore they all are without guile and spot The which if it be referred to the state of this life we must againe understand it that they are such by imputation and and inchoation And then the words before the throne of God signifie not the place but their esteem in Gods judgement as if he should say They are without fault not in themselves and before men but in the eyes judgement of God freely absolving the faithful from all pollution and accounting them as without fault because of the blood of the Lamb If unto the state of the life to come then before the throne not onely signifies the place but also the cause of the blessednes of the sealed ones in heaven for being without fault they shal enjoy the perpetual sight of God which shall be their persect blessednesse And this is that which he said Chap. 7.15 Therefore they are before the throne of God and serve them day and night The second Part of the Chapter Of the three Angels publishing the everlasting Cospell against Antichrist 6 And I saw another Angell flee in the midst of heaven having the everlasting Gospell to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people 7 Saying with a loud voice Feare God and give glory to him for the houre of his judgement is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters 8 And there followed another Angell saying Babylon is fallen is fallen that great citie because she made all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication 9 And the third Angell followed them saying with a loud voice if any man worship the Beast and his image and receive his marke in his forehead or in his hand 10 The same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God which is powred out without mixture in the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence of the Lamb. 11 And the smoake of their torment ascendeth up for ever and ever And they have no rest day nor night who worship the beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the marke of his name 12 Here is the patience of the Saints Here are they which keep the Commandements of God and the faith of Iesus 13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me Write Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth yea saith the Spirit that they may rest from their labours and their workes doe follow them THE COMMENTARY ANd I saw another Angel Here followes the second part touching the Angels preaching against Antichrists kingdome Who these are and to what times the prophesie appertaines is much questioned All agree in this that these Angels represent the Preachers of the Gospell in the times of Antichrist But Popish expositours referre the same to the last foure years of the world in which time they absurdly imagine that Antichrist shall beare the sway For how should all those things which are treated of touching the Beast and the Whore from the 13. Chap. unto the end almost of the whole Book be accomplished in so short a space Ribera supposeth they are three renowned Preachers of the Gospell in the time of Antichrist But Alcasar by his consequence is forced to reject this interpretation of the Papists And therefore he feineth that these are the three principall writers of holy Scripture Peter Paul and John The which foolish fiction is refuted by the very naming of it Our interpreters doe generally acknowledge that these things appertain to the times of the reformation of the Church but by what occasion this vision is here againe demonstrated seeing it was before foretold in Chap. 11. touching the measuring of the temple they expound not By our Method it is plaine seeing here we handle the Third Act of this vision that these things are to be compared with the Third Act of the foregoing vision In the second vision indeed there was nothing answering to this because there onely the preservation of the sealed or elect under Antichrist was manifested to Iohn the which is here also treated of in the first part of this Chapter But in the third vision we have the measuring of the temple and the prophesie of the two witnesses Chapter 11. representing unto us the reformation of the Church that should be in the last times unto which therefore we are to returne for the two that is a few prophesying witnesses there mentioned are here said to be three preaching Angels that is they are more then before And this very thing Anselmus as Ribera reports acknowledgeth taking the first Angell to be Elias the second another Prophet and companion of him rightly indeed according to the scope but he erres in the persons But as before we shewed that the measuring of the temple began about the time of the Councell of Constance or a little before so without doubt these three Angels began to preach from that time forward whose ministery no sooner shall be ended but the Beast shall be thrust into utter destruction I saw another Angell flying No Angell had gone before Therefore he was not one of the Harpers or of the multitude of sealed ones Which signifies that from this time another state of the Church was to be looked for An Angell that is a Preacher of the Gospell as before in Vision first the singular number by an enallage being put for the plurall for there should not be one onely but more although at the first but few should zealously set themselves upon the worke of reformation The first Angell is Wickleffe One therefore is named because one should excell and with an heroicall spirit begin the worke This Angell is John Wickleffe Professour of the Vniversity of Oxford a man noted throughout the whole world For when the whole West admired and followed
they cause troublesome vapours and smoake neither doe they give light any great distance Therefore we stand in need of the Sunne or Day-light But the servants of God shall not then want any of these things For there shall be no night and therefore no use of lights no not of the light of the Sunne it selfe because the Lord God shall enlighten them with the brightnesse of his majesty as before he said Ch. 21.23 The glory of God did lighten it and the Lambe is the light thereof and the Nations which are saved shall walke in the light of it And they shall reigne for ever and ever This shall be the very height of our glory in Heaven that wee shall reigne with God and the Lambe for ever more Now indeed Christ hath made us Kings and Priests to God and the Father but our Kingdome is yet hid in Christ But then the Kingdome of God shall be manifested in our selves Now is the Kingdome of grace then it shal be of glory Before in Chap. 20. ver 4. they that were beheaded reigned with Christ a thousand yeeres Then we shall all of us reigne with Christ for ever and ever and this is that which he there added in ver 6. touching the rest having part in the first Resurrection They shall reigne with him a thousand yeeres See the exposition there Now we shall so reigne as that God and the Lambe shal be the head of the Kingdome But shall not the Son then deliver up the Kingdome to the Father 1. Cor. 15.28 and be subject to him Yea verily but this he shall not do by laying downe the Kingdome and so cease to reigne For how should the King of kings and Lord of lords of whose Kingdome there is no end Luk. 1.33 ever cease to reigne but by changing the present and mediate forme of the Kingdome into an immediate and by abolishing all the adversaries of the Kingdom as we have elsewhere declared The Second Part of the CHAPTER The Conclusion asserting the profitablenesse and Authority of the whole Prophesie 6. And he said unto mee These sayings are faithfull and true And the Lord God of the Holy Prophets sent his Angell to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly bee done 7. Behold I come quickly blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophesie of this Booke 8. And I Iohn saw these things and heard them And when I had heard and seene I fell downe to worship before the feet of the Angell which shewed me these things 9. Then saith he to mee See thou doe it not for I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of them which keepe the sayings of this Booke worship God 10. And hee saith unto mee Seale not the sayings of the Prophesie of this Booke for the time is at hand 11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still and he which is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still 12. And behold I come quickly and my reward is with mee to give every man according as his worke shal be 13. I am Alpha and Omega the beginning the end the first the last 14. Blessed are are they that do his commandements that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the Citie 15. For without are dogs and sorcerers and whoremongers and murderers and idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh a lye 16. I Iesus have sent mine Angell to testifie unto you these things in the Churches I am the root and the off-spring of David and the bright and morning Starre 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say Come And let him that heareth say Come And let him that is athirst come And whosoever will let him take the water of life freely 18. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Booke if any man shall adde unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke 19. And if any man shall take away from the words of the booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of Life and out of the holy Citie and from the things that are written in this booke 20. Hee which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so Come Lord Iesus 21. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all Amen THE COMMENTARY AND he said unto mee Thus farre of two Parts of the Booke the Preface and the Visions The third or Conclusion remaineth in which somethings respecting the Authority of the Booke are taken out of the Preface and some other things added by which the great utilitie and sacred Authority thereof is further commended as we shewed in the Analysis After the concluding of this Revelation an Angell saith unto John to wit one of the Seven pouring out the Vials who before shewed him the judgement of the whore and the Beast and afterward the magnificence of the Heavenly Ierusalem These words are faithfull and true That is not only what was last spoken but the whole Prophesie as Chap. 19.9 This is the Proposition unto the confirmation whereof the whole Conclusion respecteth that wee might beleeve the Prophesie to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Divine true profitable and saving unto the Church and so bee stirred up unto the continuall meditation thereof The Holy Ghost was not ignorant that many would call into Question the divine authority of this Booke for it was a long while rejected as being composed by the hereticke Cerinthus which errour we have before confuted in the Prologue But they ought to have beleeved the Angell saying These words are faithfull and true Faithfull to which we may safely give credit True which shall certainly be accomplished And indeed so it is for we who are now more then fifteen hundred yeers after the Revelation do if not see with our eyes yet certainly feel as it were with our hands the manifest accomplishment almost of all the Visions Here therefore wee have an evident note of divine authoritie and truth imprinted on this Prophesie against the most impudent assertion of BELLARMINE Lib. 4 de verb. cap. 1. which is that it can no way be gathered from the Scripture it selfe that some Scripture is divine What I pray is this but to give the Angell the lie who saith These words are faithfull and true But the liar condemneth himselfe in saying elsewhere that besides other arguments Lib. 1. cap. 2. de verbo the divine authority of Canonicall Bookes of Scripture may be proved from the scripture it selfe The Sophisters and adversaries of Scripture object that this Argument is not sufficient to Faith unlesse it be before proved and beleeved that the Angell or Writer uttering these things spake truth ANSWER First principles are not proved but laid
of the same thing asserting to us the certainty of the Prophesie by the testimonie of his senses because he heard and saw al things to be so Now an Eye-witnesse is worthy of credit especially he being a good man yea an Apostle whom the Character also here doth not obscurely shew to be the Writer for thus also he confirmeth the truth of his Gospell by professing himselfe to be an Eye-witnesse and Faithfull Disciple of Iesus Christ And he that saw it Ioh. 19.35 21.24 bare record and his record is true And afterward This is that Disciple which testifieth of these things and wrote these things and we know because his testimony is true And when I had heard and seene Againe hee recordeth his failing about worshipping of the Angell and that the Angell reproved him for the same commanding him to worship God onely The same thing fell out Chapter 19.10 see the Exposition there Some may wonder how an Holy Apostle should so suddenly twice stumble at the same stone For a little before he heard that the Angell was his fellow servant unto whom to ascribe the honour of adoration due unto God alone was sacriledge notwithstanding forgetting both his failing and reproofe he againe falleth into the same errour of vitious worship Now what should this teach us but that such is the infirmitie and inconsideratenesse of the Saints oftentimes in this life that except they bee sustained by God they fall not once but many times even into the same error In speciall it sheweth the pronenesse of our nature unto Idolatry For if it happened unto the Apostle Iohn that he could not as it were abstaine from unlawfull worshipping of the creature what wonder though the Christian world be wholly fallen to worship Angels and Saints yet least the world should abuse Johns example to maintaine their Idolatry he not onely ingenuously confesseth his failing but also sets downe the Angels reproofe attributing adoration to God onely that such as fall into the same sin might likewise repent 9. Worship God By this thunder-bolt the whole Idol-worship of Papists is dash't who not content after Iohns evill example to worship Angels fall down also before dumbe Idols Religious adoration is simply demed unto creatures and religiously adore the creature As for the frivolous cavil of Idolaters that the Angell refused not the worship of Duleia but only of Latreia it is altogether false for absolutely without any distinction hee removeth religious adoration from himself saying 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Adore God Brightman thinkes that John did not fall downe againe to worship the Angell but telleth what happened before Chap. 19. ver 10. But the order of the narration argues the contrary For John seemeth as it were to bid the Angell now farewell and so in a way of thankfullnes would againe thus reverence him The words also of the Angell ver 9. somewhat differing from his former do argue that Iohn would have worshipped him the second time For before hee said I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Iesus But here I am thy fellow servant and of thy brethren the Prophets and of them which keep the sayings of this Booke However it be it is observeable that he saith I fell downe to worship him therefore he did not yet worship him but composed his bodie to do it wherefore also his unseemly gesture is by the Angell reproved Whence it appears that Idolaters falling down before Idols sin grievously not onely in adoration but also in their idolatrous gesture it selfe 10. And he saith unto me Seale not Before Chap. 10.4 he was commanded to Seale the voyces of the thunders here hee is forbid by the Angell for the word SAITH belongs to the Angell to seale the words of this Prophesie which commands seeme to be repugnant but are not because they respect divers times and objects He was commanded to Seale the voyces of the thunders and not to write them to signifie that the Gospell should bee despised in Antichrists Kingdome as there we expounded Here he is forbid to Seale that is conceale this Prophesie but to publish the same that it might be read and known of all least any man under pretence of ignorance should not beware of Antichrist Now it is a metaphor taken from Notaries who seale Letters that every one may not read them Or from Book-sellers who keepe such Bookes shut with claspes as they will not have read as above wee said touching the Booke that was shut and sealed For Letters and Books that are sealed and shut cannot bee read and understood Now God used to command the Prophets to Seale their Prophesies when the accomplishment of them should be a long while after so as it was not so needfull for the present to be read Thus Isaias is commanded to Seale the Testimony Isa 8.16 Dan. 8.26 Dan. 12.4 And Daniel to shut up the Vision but thou saith he shut up the Vision because it shall bee for many dayes And afterward But thou Daniel shut up the words and seale the Booke even to the time of the end signifying that the Iewish people should not see those things which were a long while after to come to passe under Antichrist Iohn on the contrary is forbid to shut up his Prophesie because the time is at hand to wit in which the Prophesie shall begin to be fullfilled touching the persecutions of the Christian Church and the remedies thereof as wee observed ver 6. and therefore this Prophesie was to be spread abroad that all men might know the same If then the Angell commandeth that this Book be published and made known to all it followeth that it ought to be read understood and observed by us and that we in the diligent reading and meditating on the same doe obey the Angels praecept But Antichrist on the contrary commandeth that this Prophesie The reading of holy Scripture ought not to be prohited and all the rest of Holy Scriptures remaine sealed and shut up saying that they cannot be understood and forbids all excepting a few of his Clergy the reading thereof that hee may the more securely impose his vile impostures upon the common people 11. He that is unjust let him be unjust still Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He that doth injury c. He alludes unto the words of the Angell Dan. 12.10 Many shall be purified but the wicked shall do wickedly c. some take the words as a free permission unto every one to doe and live according to his liking as if he should say Let every one do what pleaseth him best I will force the will of no man Andreas Ribera In the meane while let every one expect an issue according to his deeds the latter indeed of which is agreeable to the scope but the former brought in to establish free will is altogether contrary to the scope and to the nature of God who doth not freely permit but
he bee deprived of understanding deny that these things are couched in the Text. And if credit be given unto their fiction Ribera in Apoc. c. 12. Num. 11. c. 13. Num. 10. there shall at Antichrists comming be no more then ten Kings in the whole world signified by the hornes of the Beast and of these three being slaine seven shal fight for Antichrist Therfore either these shal be Christian Kings or else there shall then be no Christian Kings under the Sun the falsitie whereof the Revelation doth shew Chap. 21.24 Now tel me what harshnesse or dishonour is there in it that as Paul confesseth he was sometime a blasphemer a persecutor and injurious but ignorantly and so obtained mercy the ten Kings have given their power unto the Beast against the Lamb but of ignorance and being overcome by the Lambe have repented God putting it into their hearts to hate the whore Tell me I say should this be to the dishonour of Kings which is to their great glory to have sinned indeed through ignorance but repented through the mercy of God Or is not rather the fiction of these Prophets very reproachfull scandalous and fatall who say that toward Antichrists rising there shal be no where any Emperor or Romane Empire that there shal be no King in any place save those seven that remaine of the ten fighting for Antichrist And seeing they every hour expect their Antichrist to arise as they say out of the tribe of Dan what do they but threaten an utter destruction both to the Emperor Romane Empire and all Christian Kings For according unto these mens doctrine as then there shal bee no Emperor no Empire so neither King of France Spain England Poland Hungary c. or if there be any they shall be Antichrists Life-gard and vassals Now tell me who they are that cast reproaches upon Christian Kings set their Crownes awry and menace them with eternall damnation Wherefore blessed shall ye be if ye hear and keep the Commandements of this Prophesie that ye may have right to the tree of life and may enter through the gates into the City But he that wil hurt let him hurt still and he that is filthy let him be filthy still and he that is righteous let him be righteous still and he that is holy let him be holy still Amen Even so come Lord Iesus and sanctifie us in trueth Thy word is trueth Amen PROVERB 27.6 Better are the wounds of a friend then the deceitfull kisses of an enemy The Authours PREFACE UPON THE REVELATION OF THE APOSTLE AND EVAGELIST IOHN HAPPILY BEGVN AND PROPOVNDED VNTO HIS AVDITORY IN THE VNIVERSITY Ann. 1608. IF any of you my Hearers admire wherefore after the Exposition of Pauls Epistle unto the Hebrews I should passe by so many excellent Bookes of the New Testament and take in hand the Interpretation of the last viz. the Revelation the Authour and Canonicall authority whereof hath long since variously bin disputed of and which being replenished with great secrets types and darke sentences is scarcely intelligible unto any The Objections against the Revelation and though it be entitled a Revelation yet seemeth not in the least to be a Booke revealed but rather shut up and sealed which seemeth also to bee the reason that it is placed at the end of the New Testament from the interpretation whereof because of its obscurity not a few of the ablest Divines have hitherto abstained and lastly seeing it hath long since bin held that it doth contain some things contrary to Apostolicall Faith and favour the heresie of the Chiliasts If I say any man wondreth at this my purpose such a one I would have with me to acknowledge that these very objections besides other causes which now are not requisite to be related with which this most Heavenly Book is injuriously charged offereth occasion unto me to interpret the same that ye might understand that the Revelation of John is so farre from the guilt of these accusations which do not a little weaken the Canon of our Faith that we rather may say of it what Jerome most truly said of the Prophesie of Isaias Whatsoever is in Holy Writ whatsoever can bee uttered by the tongue or received by the senses of mortall man is contained in this Booke which least it might seeme to be spoken by me without ground Prooem in Isa I thought good to praemise a few things in way of Preface in which I will handle somethings more briefly by other Interpreters more largely handled and somethings properly belonging to our purpose I shall more diligently explicate CHAPTER I. Of the Authour of the Revelation WHo was the Authour of this Booke Lib. 7. hist c. 25. Haer. 51. would never in our times have beene questioned unlesse Eusebius and Epiphanius had left in writing that some of old time did scruple the thing For Eusebius recordeth that in his time it was diversly on both parts disputed touching the Revelation Afterward he saith there were some who supposed from the Bookes called De Repromissionibus of one DIONYSIUS an Alexandrine Bishop and also from one Caius an old Writer that the Revelation was not written by John the Apostle but forged by the Hereticke Cerinthus who feined an earthly Kingdome to Christ in which the Saints should have their fill of corporall pleasures a thousand yeeres into which sense some whom they called Chiliasts men in other respects of note in the Church drew the twentieth Chapter of the Revelation But other Divines and worthy Fathers have alwayes demonstrated that there is no such thing in that Chapter and we also will shew it on the place But so farre is it from trueth The Revelation not written by Cerinthus that the blasphemous Heretick Cerinthus could be the Author of this Booke as nothing is lesse credible or more unlikely For Cerinthus blasphemously maintained that Christ was not before Mary But the Revelation throughout teacheth and proveth the Eternall Deity of Christ by such evident Arguments against Cerinthus Ebion Photinus and such like enemies of Christ as almost no Scripture affirmeth the same more clearly However therefore it is no marveile Lib. 4. adversus Mar. that the Marcionites as Tertulian recordeth as also the Alogian and Tatian Heretickes as Epiphanius Augustine and Philastrius testifie did reject the Revelation as being contrary to their heresie Yet the Grecians of old had no reason neither to this day hath any man a just or probable cause Iohn the Apostle author of the Revelation to call into question the Authour or Canonicall Authority of this most Sacred Booke That John the Apostle whose Gospell and three Canonicall Epistles are extant is the Author may be proved by solid and undoubted reasons First the Title it selfe sheweth that he is the Author 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Revelation of John the Divine But thou wilt say it is not said John the Apostle or Evangelist Lib. 3. hist cap. 13.
written for the understanding of all But the my steries of the Visions although he revealed them to his servants and Prophets yet hee kept them secret from all other men namely that indeed prophane men might alwayes set light by things so obscure but the godly even by the obscurity thereof be the more stirred up to the searching out of divine mysteries The obscurity ought not to keepe us from searthing And although we can scarcely and with much difficultie come unto the understanding of all the secrets of this Booke notwithstanding the difficultie ought not to affright or to keep us from searching but rather stir up a more diligent enquiry into the same Many things in the Booke are without any shadowes of darke Types as speaking plainely of the punishments of the ungodly of the blessednesse and reward of the Saints c. in which lies no obscurity In many Types also the signification is plaine and the Analogie with the things signified not obscure as the Analogie of the seven Candlestickes with the seven Churches of the Lamb with Christ of the woman with the Church of the Dragon with Satan of the Beast and False-Prophet with Antichrist of the Locusts with the devouring Monkes of Babylon and the Great Whore with Rome of the seven heads of the Beast with the seven hils of Rome In the other more obscure Visions we have three helps by whch in some measure wee may dive into the understanding of them viz. the Propheticall Scripture Historie and experience For first after we have compared the Types of the Revelation with the Visions and Phrases of the ancient Prophets Remedies of the darknes in speciall with Ezechiel Daniel and Zacharie we shall find a great likenesse in them and thence receive much light for example In Chap. 4.5 it is said there were seven Lamps of fire burning before the throne which plainly appeareth to be taken out of Zach. 4.10 where the seven Lampes are said to be the seven eyes of Iehovah running too and fro through the whole Earth By which undoubtedly is signified the ubiquitie of Gods power and providence Out of the same Chapter is taken that in Chap. 11.4 two witnesses are said to be two Olive trees and two Candlesticks standing before the face of the Lord of the Earth Examples of which kinde we shall observe many more in the course of our Interpretation If from Johns time we diligently run over the History of the Empire and Romane Church and precisely compare the principall events with the Types of the Revelation certainly we shall see much light to come unto these Visions The Romane and Ecclesiasticall Historie testifies that diverse storms of persecutions were raised against the Christians by Romane Tyrants Eusebius recordeth out of EGESIPPUS Lib. 3. hist cap. 32. that the Church did not long after the Apostles time remain an undefiled Virgine but by little and little through the ambition and contention of Priests declined from Apostolicall sincerity But after CONSTANTINES time In vita Malchi saith JEROM shee became greater indeed in wealth but lesse in vertues After-Histories also testifie that the Romane Bishops by pride and subtiltie namely under a pretence of the primacy left by the Apostle Peter as also of Christs Vicar-ship bequeathed unto them they through the connivency or neglect of the Emperours not onely usurped power over the City of Rome but also took into their owne hands the very spoile of the Empire and at last established this Sacred Empire of the West the direct or indirect power whereof should wholly be in the Popes Holinesse All which things do not obscurely teach us what is meant by the opening of the Seales The arrogance and subtilty of Romish Bishops by the stars falling from heaven to the earth by the Beast speaking great and blasphemous things what is intended by the Beast False-Prophet and Image of the Beast what lastly by the whorish woman sitting on the Beast and ruling over the Kings of the Earth in the great Citie upon seven Mountaines Lastly if we rightly consider the experience of the present times two nuts are not more alike then is the Beast and Purpled Whore to the Papacy then the Locusts unto the Popish Clergy then the impure Frogs proceeding out of the mouth of the Dragon Beast and False-Prophet unto the Popes Messengers being hooded like to Frogs viz the Iesuites cracking miracles and running too and fro by Sea and Land unto the Kings of the Earth Rev. 16 13 14 to gather them unto the Battell of that great Day of God Almighty These things I say will in some measure bee remedies against the darkenesse of the Booke Vnto which in the last place wee must adde diligent meditation and ardent prayer that the Spirit of God who revealed these mysteries to Iohn do enlighten the eyes of our mindes with heavenly knowledge to finde out the wisedome of this Booke For blessed is hee that readeth Rev. 1.3 22.7.14 and blessed are they that heare the words of this Prophesie and keepe them that is which diligently meditate and labour exactly to weigh these oracles in an equall ballance with the events past present and to come CHAPTFR IV. Touching Ancient and Moderne Interpreters of the Revelation and of the manner of Interpreting observed by them I Have spoken of the Authour and Canonicall Authority and obscurity of the Revelation and shewed that in these things is nothing to hinder us from the interpretation thereof The objection about the Interpreters is of no weight I confesse that not a few Divines of great account as Luther Melanchthon Bucer Martyr Calvin Beza and others have abstained from the Interpretation of the Revelation But this neither doth lessen the authority of the Booke neither doth it prejudice other Interpreters for who knowes whither the darkenesse of the Book or their other waighty labours or want of time did occasion the same certaine it is they no way questioned the authority of the Booke In the meane while in all Ages there have beene excellent Teachers of the Church who have laboured to illustrate the secrets of this Booke by their Commentaries The Ancientest that have written upon the Revelation are Iustine Martyr In vita Iohannu and Irenaeus Bishop of Lyons and Melito of Sardis as Ierome and Eusebius record But their Commentaries have not been preserved untill our times Eus lib. 5. hist. ca. 25. save onely that some few fragments of this nature touching the ten hornes of the Beast the two horned Beast of the image Character Number and Name of the Beast arising out of the Sea are found in IRENAEUS Lib. 5. Cap. 21.23.25 Among Augustins workes wee finde a few Homilies upon the Revelation which notwithstanding are ascribed to Ticonius by Bede who himselfe also hath commented some things upon the Apocalyps But Austine in that divine Commentary de Civitate Dei endeavours to search not a few mysteries of this Booke touching
fire and on the contrary the Churches Victory and Eternall Glory The particular Visions are finished with the two latter Acts The two Acts of the particular Visions because they onely represent Antichrists tragedie rage declining and destruction the which notwithstanding the former touching the seven Vials doth more briefly the later touching the whore riding on the Beast more largely and clearly therefore this also is to be distinguished into foure Acts yet answering to the two latter Acts of the universall Visions Now although the Parallell-Acts both former and latter are not alwayes divided by whole Chapters like as Tragedie-writers use to doe but sometimes are joyned together and as it were mingled in the same Chapters because they shadow out Histories or things by the same periods and walking as the saying is with equall steps yet every where if thou well observe the Method they have traces evident enough as wee have diligently shewed in every of the Visions where also wee have noted the Markes and Periods of every of them CHAPTER XI The manner of interpreting observed by PAREUS FVrthermore by the things hitherto spoken touching the Argument and Method the manner of interpreting observed by us will not be obscure To every vision wee have praefixed its proper dispensation or order with as much brevity and light as could be the Chapters we have illustrated with Arguments Parts and Analysis The Doctrines which in this Prophesie are many and excellent we have so laboured to expound and applie unto the Scope of divine Scriptures shewed by the Apostle Rom. 15.4 2. Tim. 3.16 being profitable for reproofe for correction for instruction in righteousnesse and lastly for the patience comfort and hope of the Saints that this Booke may with no great labour profitablie be propounded unto the Churches by the Ministers of Gods word Now seeing in the beginning I said that the eternall Deity of Christ is thorowout in this Prophesie proved with such evident Arguments against Heretickes as scarcely any other Scripture doth it more clearely I thought it worth the labour to note above XL. Arguments of that nature in their severall places vindicating them from the depravings of Eniedinus the Transsilvanian Hereticke which he cals Explications that it might so much the more appeare that those Ancients who as Eusebius recordeth denyed the Canonicall Authority of this Book as not written by the Apostle John but the Hereticke Cerinthus Lib. 7. hist cap. 25. did either not looke into the Booke and so sinned through grosse ignorance or else were carried away with more then humane affection What Method I have taken in explicating Propheticall things hath already been said and the Praefaces of the Visions shall shew in which I have not onely laboured to declare the Argument Scope Coherence Order and Period of every one but in speciall clearly to shew the Harmonie and consent of the foregoing and following Types and of the darker and more clear each with other and with the Types and Phrases of the ancient Prophets that so I might illustrate the Revelation by the Revelation It is most safe to expound the Revelation by the Revelation which manner of interpreting cannot bee but most safe and certaine For seeing it is evident that the darker Types go before and the clearer follow after and are notwithstanding Analogicall or agreeing with each other undoubtedly the more darke must bee sought out by the clearer Now the more cleare have no extraordinary difficult application unto the things signified by them And therefore wee may thence with some labour draw the understanding of the darker which also I have laboured to doe In summe following Austines advice I have shewed these two things that the same things are so many wayes repeated in this Booke as it may seeme to speake of different things whereas we shall finde that the same things are diversly related And that a few yea not a few but many things are in the Booke Aug. lib. 20. de C. D. cap. 17. by the manifestation whereof the rest might with labour be found out which again I say not as if I thought that all the mysteries of the Revelation were by me unfolded Far be it I come short in many things Throughout where I sticke and where bounds seeme to be set Eph. 4.7 there I ingenuously professe a man must stand and goe no further For here is wisedome 2. Cor. 12.8 To them that earnestly call upon God the Spirit is given according to the measure of the gift of Christ. It befell even the Apostle Paul that he obtained not the thing hee petioned of God How much more may the same befall us and me the least of all especially in these things of which the Lord hath as yet reserved much in his owne power Wherefore to interpret the Revelation What it is to interpret the Revelation is not to untie all the knots of Aenigmaes to leave unsifted or be ignorant of nothing at all in the same or by precisely interpreting the meaning of the Image Character number of the Beasts name the Beast himselfe the woman on the Beast the eating of her flesh the seven the ten Kings that shall burne her Gog and Magog to make all gain-sayers to bee silent For who hath ever attained unto this by interpretation or commenting on any part of Holy Writ They therefore that require the same are wiser then Christ the Apostles and God himselfe And on the contrary such are wise against God who make a mocke of the Oracles they understand not because of their obscurity or because of the diversity of Interpreters Many types of future things remaine secret and are known to God onely untill they be fulfilled The whole fourth Act with its accomplishment is secret because the seventh Trumpet hath not yet sounded neither is the seventh Viall yet poured forth into the Ayre A great part also of the third Act is reserved unto posteritie which in time shall see the full gathering together of the Kings of the Earth into Harmageddon the devouring and burning of the whorish woman the desolation of Babylon and the event of the Goggish Warre c. The beginning we see and further shall see In the two former Acts and the better part of the third the accomplishment whereof hitherto Histories and dayly experience do so plainly shew that if we held our peace the very stones would cry out it is the part of a Faithfull Interpreter not to draw the Readers from the scope neither to send them from those things which are done at home before their eyes to seek for Chymeras in the Hyperborean Mountaines which thing almost all the Iesuiticall brethren at this day do in their Commentaries least happily Antichrist should bee found in the Mountaines of Rome for the discovery of whom the greater part of the Apocalyps was of old revealed and circumscribed with such apparent oracles that after the Historie and experience of so many Ages we may
make manifest for Iohn being banished in the â—le of Patmos began alreadie to feel the fury of Domitian And here the dream of such is refuted who binde the fulfilling of this prophesie to the last three years before the end of the world 4 Iohn to the seven Churches Those things being forespoken of which served to gain autority attention to this booke John dedicates the revelation to the seveÌ„ Churches of Asia wishing Grace and peace unto them By seven Andreas understandeth all the Churches Because in scripture the number seven is a number of perfection but because the seven Churches in Asia are as it were nominated by a marke to be knowen therefore I understand that it was purposely dedicated unto them not that the revelation belongeth not to others but because the first vision doth directly concerne them the rest generally belongs to the whole Church Of Asia He speaketh of Asia the lesser or that part of Asia Ptolo. lib. 5 geogra cap. 2. which is invironed from the East with both countries of Armenia from the west with the Aegean sea from the North with the Euxine sea from the south with the Mediteranian sea Here Iohn had planted seven Churches of note whereof that of Ephesus was the greatest but after he was banished the teachers carelesly performing their office he is commanded in the first vision to reprove admonish them of their duty Grace to you and peace be or be multiplied as in 1 Pet. 1 2 by a familiar salutation he seekes to gaine the good will of those whom he was afterwards more sharply to admonish The Apostolical salutation hath beene opened in the Epistle to the Romans and Corinthians Grace is that free favor of God from which doth flow all the mercies of God and every good thing which we enjoy The Glosse doth wel understand it of the free forgivenes of sins Peace the effect of Grace is the tranquillity and joy of the conscience Rom. 1.2 of which the Apostle speaketh being justified by faith we have peace with God The Hebrews by the word peace understand all maner of prosperitie and hence the Apostles in the beginning all most of all their Epistles doe not with out cause wish the same unto the faithful Which is and which was and which is to come It is manifest that this is a paraphrase of the name of God who alone is the author and giver of Grace peace But others do interpret it otherwise Some of the father alone from whom the Apostles generally desire grace to the Churches Rom. 1.7 Grace and peace be to you from God our father he is called which IS because he is from none but the beginning of the deity is from him And which was because he was before all time in eternitie And which is to come Iohn 5.12 because he wil come to judge the world by the son that the father is said to judge no man is to be referred to the immediate judgement For the father hath not so given over the judgement to the son as not to keepe the power of judging stil in his owne hand Others refer all to the person of the son For he is he which is because Christ is the same God with the father which was because the word was in the beginning and which is to come because he will come in the clouds to judgement vers 7. Others will have the three persons to be noted by three differences of time attributing the severall times to the severall persons that is which is to the father which was to the son and that which is to come to the holy Ghost his coming in to the Church by proceeding from the father the son so Andreas grace be to you peace from the Godhead which subsisteth in three persons To be short others thinke that God is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 essentially described and doe apply all the words to every one of the persons for the father is he which is which was and which is to come so is the son and so is the holy Ghost What then all these expositions were right and godly if Iohn in these words had ended his prayer but he addeth and from the seven spirits and from Iesus Christ by which hee declareth that he directeth his prayer in the behalfe of the Churches to the holy Trinitie But not indeed in words commonly used yet such as are convenient to his purpose for the stile of this prophesie hath many things proper and excellent fitted to the argument of visions which not being observed by some interpreters they vainly wearie themselves and go astray For seldom the name of God or of the father or of the son or of the holy Ghost is found in the revelation in expresse words But John speaking of God useth for the most part propheticall descriptions Therefore this prayer is set downe in words agreeing to the excellent proprieties of this prophesie and in stead of the ordinarie forme of salutations used of the Apostles Rom. 1.7 as grace and peace to you from God our father and from the Lord Iesus Christ or the grace of the Lord Iesus Christ and the love of God and the communion of the holy Ghost be with you all Iohn useth this kind as more proper and secret Grace and peace from him which is and which was and which is to come and from the seven spirits and from Iesus Christ c. in which words the true God three in persons one in essence is described as the divine attribute and prayer of the Apostle doe plainly manifest Now I come to the particulars From him which is Thus he describeth the person of the father by attributes proper to the divine essence yet common to every one of the persons Hereupon Christ assumes the same to himself vers 7. which is a most evident argument of his divinity And it is a description of eternity including and exceeding the three differences of the time present past and to come that is from him which is was and shall bee the words which is to come being put for shall be as in that of John 16 13. He will shew you things to come Act. 18 21. that is things that shall be so I must keepe the feast that cometh in Jerusalem And it seemeth that he altogether intended here to expresse that name of God in Exodus Exod. 3.14 EHIEH I wil be from which cometh the name Jehovah in which word as Vatablus wel observeth the Hebrewes take notice of those three differences of time It serveth for the great comfort of the Church in that he prayeth for grace peace not simply from God the father but from him which is which was and which is to come who alwayes remaineth the same and with whom is no variablenes Iam. 1 17. nor shadow of turning Indeed in the world the Church hath experience of diverse changes but in God alone she findeth constant
Because in order of justice al evil workes whatsoever deserve punishment for the soule that sinneth shall dy But good workes how great-soever beeing debts duties can-not merit at the hands of God 5. He that overcommeth the same shall be cloathed Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 he but the old translator reads it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so shall he be cloathed The conclusion containes a promise with an Epiphonema as formerly The promise is extended not onely to those few in Sardis spoken of but to all who overcome the world Satan c. se chap. 2. v. 7.11.12.26 Thus by a threefold promise all are stirred up to hope for victorie the two former are metaphorically propounded the third properlie yet all seem to signifie one thing for what can be given to them that overcome more then the crowne of life eternal however in the reward promised we may note a certain gradation First He shall be cloathed with white raiments This by a metaphor signifies the heavenly glorie with which we shall be cloathed as with a royal garment What more I wil not blot out his name out of the booke of life This further notes the eternitie of glorie for not to have our names blotted out of the booke of life is to have them allwayes remaine therein that is to enioy eternal glorie What more I wil confesse his name A further degree promising to make knowen the constancie and faith of every one by name even before the throne of the blessed trinitie and in the presence of the holy Angels A glorie indeed surpassing mans opprehension For what is more honourable then when a general doth by name before the whole armie declare the valiant exploites of this or that souldiour But this Christ promiseth here to doe and in Mat. 10.32 Whosoever therfore shall confesse me before men him will I confesse also before my father which is in heaven but whosoever shall denie me before men him will I also denie before my father which is in heaven And before his Angels As beeing the most holie ministers of God and witnesses of our glorie Hence we note first that the saintes are said to have a two fould cloathing for as we heard before some in Sardis were commended for not defiling of their garments and yet promised besides to have other white garments given unto them the former are said to be ours not as proceeding from our selves but because we are enioyned to have them meaning both morall endowments of bodie and mind as also the grace of faith and love and other spiritual gifts which we must have and preserve cleane and undefiled 2. Cor. 5.3 that so we may be cloathed hereafter in white According to that of the Apostle If so be that being cloathed we shall not be found naked For no man shall be cloathed in white in the heavens who hath not been indued with faith and true repentance in this life Secondlie we are to take notice that in scripture God is said metaphorically to have a threefold booke The first is the booke of his providence which is the knowledge and counsel of God concerning the actions and events of all things first and last of this the prophet speaketh Psa 139.6.16 c. all things are written in thy booke The other is the booke of Gods universal judgment which is his knowledge concerning all those things which everie one hath don whither it be good or evil and to be judged accordingly in the last day as in cha 20.12 and the bookes were opened The third is the booke of life that is Gods praedestinating both of the elect and reprobates Ps 69.29 Isai 4.5 Dan. 12.2 Phili. 4.3 Reve. 18.8 17.8 22.19 the first are said to be written in this booke the other not but blotted out of this the scripture speakes in many places yet that in Rev. 20.12 then the bookes were opened may be understood of them all for in the same verse the booke of life is expresly mentioned Thus God is said to have bookes metaphoricallie Not as if eyther he hath or stood in need thereof for so it cannot bee but by an Anthropopatheia he speaketh to our capasitie For God doth all things without such help or meanes even by his eternal foreknowledge counsel government and judgment But thus men cannot doe for whatsoever is don in their counsels cities families contracts c. for memory sake is set down in writing that so as there is occasion they may looke it over and call to mind such things as they desire Now concerning the elect Luk. 10.20 two things here are spoken of them First that their names are written in the booke of life Phil. 4.3 or in heaven as Luk. 10.20 by which manner of speech we are taught that true beleevers doe not obtaine salvation by chance but were elected of God to life in Christ before the foundations of the world and known from them that perish Secondly their names are never blotted out of this booke as it is here testified J will not blot out his name out of the booke of life By which phrase is signifyed that the salvation of the Elect is certaine and sure and that they shall never perish according to the promise no man shall plucke my sheep of my hand It is impossible the elect should be seduced All which serves not for curiositie but for our comfort that we being certaine of our salvation might joyfullie persevere in weldoeing unto the end Of infidels and reprobates two things are also spoken First that their names are not written in the booke of life as appeares Rev. 13.8 Rev. 13.8 17.8 20.15 Secondly they are blotted out of the booke of life Ps 69.28 and cast into the lake of fire Let them be blotted out of the booke of the living and not be written with the righteous And whosoever was not found written in the booke of life was cast into the lake of fire by which is signified that they who are not predestinated shall certainlie perish But this seems to imply a contradiction as not to be written yet to be blotted out I answer that this is taken in a double sence 1 Eyther of such who in the Eternal counsell of God are thus written and so are never blotted out Or 2 according to the appearance and boasting of hypocrites For thus they are said to be blotted out that is declared never to have been written therein we see there are many hypocrites in the Church who are taken for a while to be the elect of God whereas in truth they are not Therfore when their hypocrisie is discovered and they justlie cast out of the church then they are said to be blotted out As Ambrose Augustine have wel observed Matt. 24.24 Io. 10.28 Not withstanding it followeth not that any of the Elect shal be blotted out For this is contrarie to that promise of God It is impossible the Elect should perish none
sung unto the Lamb 1. By both companies representing the Church triumphant who celebrate the benefit of their redemption glorification obtained by the blood of the Lamb. v. 8.9.10 2. By a third apparition or companie of Angels celebrating the worthinesse power and divine glorie of the Lambe v. 11.12 3 By a fourth apparition of all creatures rendring prayses and blessings unto God on the throne and unto the Lambe v. 13. And last of all the two first apparitions of the 24 Elders foure beasts closing up the thanksgiving by a divine adoration v. 14. The first part of the Chapter A description of the booke sealed 1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sate on the throne a booke written within and on the backside sealed with seven seales THE COMMENTARIE ANd or then I saw I will not here repeat all the diverse opinions of interpreters concerning this book who rather obscure then unfold the obscurity thereof but onely will cite some of the most probable The common opinion about the booke Most interpret it either of the booke of the old Testament or els the whole volume of Gods booke both old and new which is in the right hand of God because it is inspired by the holy Ghost and the contents thereof are in the hands of God alone This booke is written within that is obscurely in the old Testament without that is openly in the new or within as respecting the mystical sence without the litterall It is sealed with seven seales because the mysteries thereof are hid from humane reason 1 Cor. 2.14 It cannot be opened by any creature because the naturall man receiveth not the things which are of God The Lambe alone is worthy to open it because he onely hath fulfilled the scriptures and he onely doth reveal unto us outwarly by his word and inwardly by his spirit the hid things thereof These things in themselves are true and according to godlines but I judge they serve little to the purpose in hand because here he treats not about the obscurity or manifestation of legal types neyther are the mysteries thereof revealed in this booke but things of another nature and which concerne the condition of the Church under the Gospel Neither can it be said that the old and new Testament was as a sealed booke unto all creatures untill the time of Iohn seeing it would then follow that both the Prophets and Apostles were ignorant of the writings of Moses and the Prophets Besides all the bookes of the new Testament were then already written and so not shut but knowen unto all such as had their sences exercised in the scriptures of God even as the preaching of the Apostles opened a doore unto the faith of the Gospell unto every creature And therefore this interpretation seems to be repugnant to the holy scriptures and injurious to the Apostolicall Churches They seem to come neerer the marke Another opinion of the booke who understand it of the booke of Gods providence For the scriptures attribute three sorts of bookes to God 1. Of his providence 2. of life and 3. of universall judgement of which we have treated Chap. 3.5 But these also differ in opinion Some take it in a generall way for the booke of Gods decree concerning the governement of the world which interpretation is to large seeing not all Gods secret judgements but onely such which concerne the state of the Church are here intended Therefore I rather assent to them The booke is the Revelation it self who understand it litterally of the booke in which all these things were contained which Christ was pleased to reveale unto Iohn concerning the last times the which he afterward penned and left the same unto the Churches This booke I say is the revelation it self not as if he saw a materiall booke but a visionall booke so to speak wherin was written Gods secret decree touching the future event of the Church and her enemies Thus also Andreas Ribera expound it For first this is the same booke which Iohn after it was opened is commanded to eat up that is fully and clearly to take knowledge thereof And which was sweet in his mouth like hony that is he was much delighted with the knowledge of so high mysteries but by and by it became bitter in his belly as gall that is he was much greeved in foreseeing the great calamities of the Church as we shall see Chap. 10. for the booke there mentioned is the Revelation given unto Iohn Furthermore the contents of the whole Revelation is taken out of this booke For at the opening of the seventh seale seven Angels are said to come forth sounding with trumpets signifying thereby the diverse changes of the Church in the third vision At the sounding of the seventh trumpet the Dragon and two beasts are raised up against the Church in vision the fourth Presently here upon follow seven Angels powring forth the vials of the last plagues upon the earth in vision the fift Afterward one of these seven Angels pronounceth with a mighty voyce the judgement of the great whore and ruin of Babylon in vision the sixt At length the new Ierusalem with the marriage of the Lamb is represented unto John in the last vision whence we see that the whole matter of the Revelation was comprehended in this booke not included in a few Chapters viz. from 6. to 11. as Alcasar supposeth To be short the circumstances of this booke doe altogether agree with the former preface For as Christ is there said to receive the Revelation of God and by an Angel to deliver it unto Iohn so this booke was in the right hand of him that sate on the throne taken out of his hād by the Lamb opened delivered unto the Angel who gave it to Iohn commanding him to eat it Chap. 10. Forasmuch therefore as all things thus agree together there is no question but this booke here spoken of is the revelation it self delivered unto the Apostle These things observed the three following circumstances will bee the lesse obscure 1. The booke is held in the right hand of him that sits on the throne because God is the author of the revelation in Gr. it is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 at the right hand and is put for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the hand as appeares v. 7. where the Lambe takes the booke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 out of his right hand therefore it was In and not at his right hand as some will have it Now he is said to have it in his right hand to the end to give it unto Christ to open As men reach out with their right hands what they give unto others And I suppose we need not seek for any other mysterie in this expression 2. It is written within and without that is there was no place emptie in it For we are to understand this litterally This booke was not made as
4. 3. From the efficacie and authority of their office v. 5. 6. II. Their warre with the beast where 1. we have the description of the beast his hostile invasion and victorie ver 7. 2. The martyrdome of the prophets and place of reproach v. 7. 8. 9. 3. The joyes of the wicked for the slaughter of the prophets with the cause of this their great rejoycing vers 10. III. The avengement of the prophets where 1. we have their restoring to life vers 11. 2. The astonishment feare of the wicked ibid. 3. Their glorious ascending up into heaven v. 12. 4. The shaking and ruin of Antichrists kingdome IV. An acclamatory conclusion of the end of the Churches calamities of judgement at hand v. 14. The latter part the seventh trumpet sounding declares the change of the Churches warfare in three particulars 1. An heavenly triumph because the kingdomes of the world were become Gods and Christs ver 15. 2. A triumphant song of the first companie viz. of the four and twenty Elders whose reverend cariage gratulatorie hymne is recited in which 1. they give thankes to Christ for freeing his Church and kingdom from the tyrannie of the adversaries v. 17. 2. They declare the vain fretting wrath of the wicked hereat v. 18. 3. They proclaime the resurrection of the dead with the last judgement ibid. 4. They denounce rewards unto the godly and punishment unto the wicked ibid. The excecution of judgement on the godly ungodly To the godly heaven is opened that they might see Iesus Christ the Ark upon the wicked are sent lightnings thunders eternal haile The first part of the Chapter Of the reformation of the Church by the two witnesses under the Westerne Antichrist 1. And there was given me a reed like unto a rod and the Angel stood saying Rife and measure the Temple of God the Altar them that worship therein 2. But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles the holy City shall they tread under foot fourtie and two moneths 3. And I will give power unto my two witnesses they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes clothed in sakcloth 4. These are the two Olive trees and the two candlestickes standing before the God of the earth 5. And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies if any man will hurt them he must in this manner be killed 6. These have power to shut heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their prophecie and have power over waters to turne them to blood and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will 7. And when they shall have finished their testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shal make warre against them shall overcome them and kill them 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodome and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified 9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes and an halfe shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth 11. And after three dayes and an halfe the Spirit of life from God entred into them they stood upon their feete great feare fell upon them which saw them THE COMMENTARIE ANd there was given mee a reed This is a generall prophesie touching the restoring of the Church beeing declyned under Antichrist Before Iohn was commanded againe to prophesie But now to measure the temple of God with a measuring reed that is to prophesie of the measuring of the temple of God which should be afterwards in the times of Antichrist The measuring of the temple is the reformation of the Church The measuring of the temple signifies the building repairing thereof as appeares if this prophesie bee compared with that in Ezech. 40.41 c. unto which this place doth allude The Temple of God signifies the Church as almost all interpreters both ancient moderne understand it and indeed the words here 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 temple of God are so taken 1 Cor. 3.16 2 Cor. 6.16 2 Thess 2.4 They who apply this to the temple of Jerusalem are refuted by the time it self for when these things were spoken unto John that temple with the city beeing utterly destroyed was never any more to be restored Lyra Lyras frivolous interpretation doting as his manner is applies it to the festivitie of the dedication of temples instituted by Pope Felix about the yeere 525. at which time the Bishop holding in his hand a sprinckling reed goes about the outward walles of the temple as if he were to measure the same and within on the floore from one corner thereof unto another he thwartwise writes downe the letters of the Greek alphabet and so measures the space within The words therefore Rise and measure he will have to be meant of Pope Felix speaking to every Bishop about the dedication of temples the court leave out or cast forth because masse may not be celebrated except the place be consecrated But I passe by these fopperies For Ribera and Alcasar themselves acknowledge that the Temple here signifies the Church of God Now let us see what instrument hee is to use what to doe with it wherefore and when First hee shewes the instrument A reed like unto a rod was given mee to wit by the Angel who before commanded him to eat up the booke and againe prophesie that is by Christ Ribera wel observeth that it was not a writing pen but a measuring reed because it is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 like to a rod that is a great measuring staffe with which Architects use to mete plats of ground and buildings a measure of six cubites and a handbreth Ezech. 40.5 The Rod wherewith the Church is measured What is meant by the measuring rod of the Church is nothing else but the word of God the most perfect rule of faith and Church discipline Rupertus acknowledgeth it to be the authoritie of the Evangelical scripture So that this reed is indeed the same little booke which Christ gave unto John to eat it up the which is here againe delivered to him under the type of a reed or rule in regard of the measuring worke here enjoyned Thus also my Anonymus above 260 yeeres agoe The rod saith he is the sense of the scripture because as a rod of diverse colours it chastiseth sinners Rise and measure the Temple of God First he must measure the Temple Altar Worshippers therein Secondly leave or cast forth the inward court The reading of both is somewhat
by this place or any other This we must leave to God and to time The same was said before in the last Act of the Fift Vision Rev. 16.20 Rev. 6.14 Every Iland fled and the Mountaines were not found Also in the last Act of the Second Vision And the Heaven departed as a Scrowle rolled together and every Mountaine and Iland were mooved out of their places Which place notwithstanding we interpreted somewhat otherwise because of the circumstances But I see not by what shew of reason this change of Heaven and Earth here can be darkened by an Allegory Now it shall not be till towards the last Iudgement and therefore it remains firme that the same is here described The dead corporally are here understood 12. And I saw the dead small and great He had seen the Iudge girded about with Iudgement Now he seeth the guilty standing before the Iudgement Seat whom hee describeth First from their former state by calling them The dead after the common Law of nature but then raised from death to life by the power of God he speaks not of men dead in sins as in ver 5. but of such as dyed corporally and now were raised up to Iudgement But shall not the living also then be judged Yea verily 2. Cor. 5.10 Rom. 14.9 10. for we must all appeare before the Iudgement Seat of Christ That he may be Iudge of the quicke and the dead and be Lord both of the dead and the living By the dead therefore are understood the living also by an Argument from the lesser If the dead shall appeare before the Iudgement Seat how much more the living But the dead alone are named either because the number of the dead from Adam till the last day 1 Cor. 15.52 shall be far greater then such as live on Earth when that day commeth Or because those that remain living shal be accounted as dead because they shall be changed in the twinkling of an eye Secondly he describes them from their age and condition for the words may be understood of both Great and Small That is as well the powerfull Tyrants of the world Emperours Kings Princes and Great men as Subjects and men of low condition Or properly Great in Age and stature that is growne men and women Small also that is dying in their child-hood by this partition he sheweth that all and every one without any exception are to be judged for the Iudgement shall be universall no man shall bee so Great as to escape the same none so small as to be excluded 2 Cor. 5.10 but every one shall have right without respect of persons as the Apostle witnesseth We must all appeare before the Iudgement Seat of Christ that every one may receive the things done in his body according to that he hath done whether it be good or bad Lumb lib. dist 44. SCHOOL-MEN suppose that in the Resurrection all shal be as if they were about 33. yeers old which was Christs age but we leave it as uncertain What they speake of the stature that every one shall receive his owne measure of body is more agreeable to this place Thirdly he describes them from their future state Standing in the sight of God or before God to wit to bee judged as guiltie To stand before God signifies sometimes in this Booke as above the Heavenly Ministery of the Saints and Angels Here it signifies to be brought to Iudgement as appeares by what followeth By the dead standing he meaneth them that were raised from death to life XLI Argument of Christs deitie Before God The Iudge hee absolutely calleth God but CHRIST is the Iudge Therefore Christ is God absolutely And the Bookes were opened The judiciall processe is noted by imitation of humane Courts in which the whole processe is wont to be drawn into Protocols from whence the Iudge at length determineth and pronounceth sentence according to the Acts and Proofes not that it shall bee so really for God from whose eyes nothing is hid will not make use of long examination but the equity of the Iudge is noted by a Metaphor taken from humane Courts where the Iudge pronounceth sentence according to the written Law and the Acts and Proofes agreeing thereunto It is an Allusion unto the words of Daniel speaking thus of this IVDGEMENT Dan. 7.10 The Iudgement was set and the Bookes were opened Origene understands it of the books of conscience Comm. ad Rom. 14. which now are hid not to God but to men For the hidden things of the heart are not now known But then they shall be Opened that is manifested to the consciences of all and every one so as there shall be no place left of excuse or withdrawing Thus no man shall be injured because every one shall either be accused or discharged by his own conscience Augustine takes it a little otherwise Lib. 20. de C. D. c. 14 of the bookes of the Old and New Testament in which God hath prescribed unto all what is to bee done or Omitted in this life which shall then be opened because according to them the Iudge will pronounce sentence Rom. 2.16 When God shall judge the secrets of men Marke 16.16 Io. 12.48 Lib. 20. de C. D. c. 14 by Iesus Christ according to my Gospel He that beleeveth and is baptised shall be saved but he that beleeveth not shall be damned The word that I have spoken the same shall judge him in the last day And another Booke was opened This Austine understands of every mans Booke of Life what he hath done or not done according to those former Books But the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of every one is not in the Text but simply which is the Booke of Life to wit in which God hath written from all eternitie the names of them that shall be saved through Christ of which often mention is made in this Revelation Chap. 3.5 13.8 17.8 c. Not that God hath neede of a Booke but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or by humane affection is noted the certainty of Praedestination viz. that God knowes all and every of the Elect even as men know a thing which for memory sake they set downe in writing This Booke therefore shall also be opened because then it shall appear who were Elect who Reprobates who truely beleeved in Christ who not who truely worshipped God Mat. 25.32 who were hypocrites for then Christ will sever the sheep from the goats who in this life were mixt one amongst another And the dead were judged This shall be the denouncing of the sentence the equity whereof is commended by a two-fold reason both because every one shall be judged out of the things written in the Bookes As also because he shall receive according to his workes For what concernes the Bookes whither we take them for the scriptures which are now the rules of our Faith and actions Or the inward working
will I give the Morning-Star for if the Morning-Star be Christ the sense is To him that overcommeth I will give my selfe or communicate my selfe with all my benefits unto him viz. joy and glory in part in this life but perfectly in the life to come 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say Come These kinde of abrupt sentences full of affection serve to stir up like affections desires and wishes in us Here the Lord Iesus commends unto us the studie of this Prophesie by the example of the Spirit and of the Bride They say Come that is from this Prophesie they long for my comming and that I fulfill the same Therefore ye also that heare the Prophesie ought to have the like desire And the Spirit and the Bride By the Spirit and Bride may be meant the spirituall Bride sanctified by the Spirit of God By the Bride I understand the Church especially the Triumphant She desires me to come that is to fulfill the Prophesie and to return to judgement that she might at length be glorified through a finall redemption like as the Soules of the Martyrs under the Altar did desire the full deliverance of the Church from all the miseries of this life Or we may understand the Spirit properly of the Holy Ghost Metalepsis is a figure whereby a word is put from his proper signification who above spake to the Churches in the Epistles of Christ in which it is often repeated Hee that hath eares let him heare what the SPIRIT saith unto the Churches In this sense the Spirit is said to wish the comming of Christ by a Metalepsis because it is the Spirit that makes the Bride to desire Christs comming in which sense also it is said Rom. 8.26 that the Spirit maketh intercession for us that is stirreth us up to make our requests and to cry Abba Father Come Namely to the full glorification of thy Bride This is the reason of the wish for the coming of the Lord shall be the full redemption of the Church the which seeing wee all doe expect wee must also wish for the comming of the Lord for as the Apostle intimates it is a note of Gods children to love his comming 2. Tim. 4.8 And let him that heareth This is the consequent of the former as if he should say If the Spirit and the Bride long for my comming then also let him that heareth the words of the Prophesie say COME that is ardently desire my comming for his redemption Thus hee would have us continually to pray Let thy Kingdome come by which we daily desire that the Lord Iesus by his comming would wholly destroy the Kingdome of Satan and perfectly set up his owne in us in eternall glory And let him that is athirst come He teacheth us what we ought to doe untill we obtaine our desire by a most large promise comforting us against the temptation of delay Let him saith he that is athirst that is that desireth full redemption and glory through my comming Come To wit unto me or unto the studie and meditation of this Prophesie It is an Answer unto the Churches wish as if he should say ye desire that I should come to your deliverance Yee therefore come unto me through Faith What it is to come unto Christ Mat. 11.28 Obedience and true Sanctitie being alwayes as it were girded with the same For to come to Christ is to receive his doctrine trust obey serve and wholly to give ones selfe unto him This is meant in the Gospell where hee saith Come unto mee all yee that are heavy laden AND VVHOSOEVER VVIL According to the promise Chap. 21.6 To him that is athirst I will give of the Fountaine of the water of life freely So here to them that come unto him he promiseth the living water of the pure Chrystalline River of the Heavenly Ierusalem This water is Christ himselfe the Fountaine of Life Or the Holy Ghost filling the Saints with Heavenly consolation This water is drawne or obtained by Faith and Prayer Therefore he saith Let him take That is by prayer beg and by faith obtaine the same It is not thrust into the hands of unwilling slothfull and drowsie persons therefore hee saith Whosoever will Hee saith not that it is in the power of free will but requires the will to receive it The will is ours but the will of receiving is not in us it is the gift of grace 1. Cor. 4.7 For what hast thou that thou hast not received Therefore the will and desire of grace is required to be in us that wee might bee quickned with the water of life Freely The Fountaine of grace which is open to all that desire the same is not to bee bought with the price of any thing but is freely bestowed by the merit and efficacie of the Lord Iesus Away therefore with the merits of Hypocrites 18. For I testifie These also are the words of the Lord Iesus not Iohns as appeares from ver 20. Before he said Blessed are they that keepe the words of this Prophesie Now he threatens a terrible curse unto all such as presume any wayes to adulterate this Prophesie For he foresaw that some would despise question and falsifie the same by their Additions Hee was not ignorant also that Antichrist with his false Prophets Falsifiers of Holy Writ would take liberty to falsifie the Faith yea usurpe to themselves absolute power over the very Scriptures of God Therefore he thought it necessary to defend the Authority of the Revelation and the whole Booke of Canonicall Scripture by this threatning as it were with a Seale that it might bee preserved entire unto the end for the Churches unto whose profit it was dedicated For I testifie The causall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For seemes an over-plus to Ribera by a Graecisme but as we shewed in the Analysis it is a seventh Argument commending the worthinesse of this Prophesie taken from the inviolable authority thereof Andreas for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I also testifie for so it is in the Text simplie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 I testifie And so the Kings Copie hath it But all other Copies have it I also testifie neither is it without ground for the Lord Iesus assenteth to his Angell whom he had sent 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to testifie these things to his servants as if he should say My Angell hath testified unto you and I also testifie with him For properly Summarturesai signifies to affirme a thing by a religious testimony or to urge it with serious contestation and so oblidge the Hearers upon pain of vengeance to obey the same But let us briefly consider to whom Christ doth testifie what it is and after what manner Vnto every man that heareth the words This Protestation belongs unto all that heare and read the same not one excepted And therefore neither Pope nor Councell have any right to adde or
rendred 75. Benevenutus Rambaldus a worthy historian 128. Bernhardus Clarevallensis his invectives against the Pope and Clergie more then 464 years agoe 318. Beryl growing in the Indies 565. Bellarmin touching the libertie of the will either to admit or exclude God knocking and perswading refuted 81 c. Bellarmins arguments answered 222. Bellarmins subtilties answered 321. Brightmans coniecture touching the time of the Turks power considered 188. His opinion of the flood of waters 278. His allegoriall exposition 541. Bishops why called stars and Angels 27. Bishops have no Apostolicall power 20. Bishops or teachers of Churches how they are said to be in the hand of Christ 31. Bishops must flee ambition and covetousnesse 33. many Bishops though in appearance pious are meer hypocrites 55. The Bishops did augment the sicknesse and palenesse of the Church above measure 117. 118. Romane Bishops ever since Pope silvester have striven to Lord it over their fellowes 126 127. Blasphemie what it is 290. Blasphemie of the Romane Beast 299. Blasphemie against Marie 300. Blasphemous verses of Carolus scribanius touching the milke of Marie and the blood of Christ 301. Whither the Black horse denotes hereticks 112. It denotes the Church made black with heresies ibid. The Black horse hath Christ with a ballance on him ibid. The Blasphemous title of Pope Paulus V. doth expresselie contain the number of the Beast 297. 323. Blood in the moon whence 128. The Booke of Gods providence 60. and of vniversall Iudgement ibid. The Book containing the matters which Christ revealed unto Iohn touching the last times is the Revelation it selfe 96. The open book is that which was shut before 199. The book eaten up by Iohn 207. what it meaneth ibid. The book of life 60 302. 544. Books how attributed to God in scripture 60. The books of the Ancients were rolled up 97. Bondmen and free men denote all adversaries of inferiour ranck 132. Boniface III. first established monarchicall tyrannie 118. being declared vniversall bishop by Phocas 127. 244. Boniface VIII a loftie tyrant 129. The Bow of Christ is the Law and the Gospell 108. Brimstone and hell fire 352. Bullingers opinion of the flood 278. To Buy white raiment what it is 79. C. CAlamities why foretold 126. Calling of Evangelicall preachers 378. Candidati Romans so called and why 79. Carkeyses of the witnesses what they are and how they shall lie in the streets of Rome 233. Carkeyses of the witnesses unburied 240. The Campe of the saints is the Christian world 537. Catastrophe of the Churches calamities under Antichrist 106. The Cause of Gods connivence is both his benignitie leading the wicked to repentance as also his counsell for the completing of the number of Martyrs 121. 122 Catholick Character 312. Character of the Beast 315. 314. his two fold Character ibid. Character and Charagma how they differ 312. The proper and common Character how they differ 315. Causes of Babylons ruine 455. Chaenix a measure containing a dayes provision for one man 114. Certaintie of the saintes salvation 527. Chalcedonie 564. Chalcolibanum or fine brasse 24. Chiliarchi are captains of thousands 123. Chiliasts or millenaries their ancient opinion 524. the author of it Papias ibid. the refutation thereof 525 531. The ground of their errour 515. their corrupting of the text ibid. The Chore or company of Patriarchs Prophets saints Iudges and kings represented by the four and twentie Elders 90. Chore of the 24 Elders 248. Christ why called Amen 75. Hath future things revealed unto him as he is man 3.4 is Lord of the Angels 5. his dietie more expresselie testified by no canonicall writer then by the Evangelist Iohn 5. his three fold office and benefits 10.13 His comming why promised 15. He appeared in an humane shape in the middest of the seven candlesticks 22. He opens and no man shutteth 64. How he is like to the Son of man 23.24 How he attributes the simile of a thief unto himself 57. Is called a Lambe in respect of his humility and office 100. Is our fine linen and wedding robe 482. He is the faithfull witnesse and so called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 10.11 Is the first begotten from the dead 11. and Prince of the kings of the earth 12. He cleanseth us from our sinnes two manner of wayes 13. His body doth not lie hid invisibly under the host 15. He is the onelie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or merchant offering unto us spirituall wares of salvation 78. His philanthropie 80. His righteousnesse is the white robe 79. How he suppeth with us 80. His proper titles 88. Is represented to Iohn under divers figures 88. By his spirituall scepter he forceth the adversaries unto obedience 103.104 He is the Lyon of the tribe of Iudah 109. Hath the seven spirits in his hands 54. Js author of the ministrie ibid. He attributes life to himself 26. Is divided by the Lutherans 44. How he shall deliver up the kingdome to the father and reigne for ever 248. He is alpha and omega 587. The root of David the morning star 593. Is compared to a traveller knocking at our dore 80. How he is heard and let in with the benefit thereof ibid. He is the beginning of the creation of God actively and passivelie 75. Why he would rather have men cold then Lukewarm 76. What is meant by the open booke in his hand 199. Christ and Antichrist have the key of the bottomlesse pit in different respects 172. 502. Christians miscalled by the Romanes 17. Church Church discipline in its vigor in the primitive times 32. the Churches adversaries sometimes converted 67. Whether the Church may be removed 35. her abode uncertain 36. she was preserved in the Papacie 43. she sometimes lies hid in the world ibid. she must reprove notorious and scandalous sectaries 44. The Church of the called and the Elect doth differ 55. The Church abounding in idlenesse and riot heathenish and Iewish rites were brought in 76. The Churches condition in this world was alwayes red with persecution 111. She became black in the first 200 yeeres 112. And pale even to death 117. was preserved in the midst of the Papacie 139. Where she was before Luther 142. she could erre for she needed measuring 213. Why she is represented by the figure of a woman 257. her variable condition in this world 258. How she changed her sun-like clothing into purple 259. Vanishing as the moon 265. The Church triumphant her song 268. How long the Church was in the wildernesse 276. Whether there were no Church vnder Antichrist 329. Her condition at first 358. Before Luther the Church was in Babylon 459. The Church is the bride of the Lamb and citie of God 560. Why Compared to Candlesticks 27. and sometime to a vineyard 363. Chrysolite 565. Chrysoprasus whence it takes its name ibid. Chrystal what it signifies 506. Cities of the nations what they are 400. the beloved city is the Church 537. Clemanges his speech of Rome 4â—4 Clement
at Euphrates 187. the four Angels at the four corners of the earth who they be 136. 137. The Four Acts of the second vision 84. The Fourty two moneths designe the time of Antichristian persecution 216. diverse opinions about them 217. 218. 219. 220. The Foure yeeres reigne of Antichrist refuted 231. Franciscus Petrarcha against the Romish Sea 235. 319. 320. The Full assurance of faith and perseverance proved against Popish Sophisters 46. 47. 71. 269. The Full sight of God and of Christ shall be at the last day 120. G. GAbriel its signification 98. Gagnaeus refuted 20. 133. Garments not defiled Metaphorically denote sincerity and purity of the body 58. The Gesture and habit of the Beast what it denotes 102. The Gesture and voice of mourners 465. Glory how ascribed to God 93. how given to him 480. Glorification of the witnesses 243. Glory and honour of the nations 571. The Godhead of Christ demonstrated and proved against Hereticks 3. 4. 5. 12. 15. 16. 26. 27. 31. 37. 40. 42. 43. 47. 50. 54. 62. 64. 65. 75. 78. 80. 88. 99. 100. 102. 103. 104. 133. 149. 369. 437. 492. 493. 542. 543. 568. 577. 581. 586. 587. 592. GOD. His names are 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 9. His benignity the cause of forbearance 121. God and Satan do the same thing after a diverse manner and end 41. He detesteth pollutions 50. Will have Chast and holy worshippers ibid. He is holy and loveth holynesse he is true and loveth truth 64. How he reigneth and shall reigne 479. He never neglects the prayers of his servants 121. How he worketh in the hearts of men 444. He is not the authour of sin 446. 447. How he puts good and evill into the hearts of Kings ibid. and 448. His ordination is not that we should obtain life eternall by the Merits of works 250. God alone is to be worshipped 342 God hath a people in Babylon 459. God forgets not the blasphemies of the wicked 121. Godfrey of Bullen Generall of the Holy warr 190. 537. Gog and Magog who with the Papists 533. 534. Their fiction refuted ibid. They are the four Angels of Euphrates 536. Gogish warre how occasioned and when it began 537. Gold tried in the fire what it signifies 78. The Golden censer what it noteth 154. it is cast into the earth 155. The Golden girdle what it noteth 371. The Gospel preached is the sword wounding the beasts head 296. this sword accidentally takes away peace from the earth raiseth cruell persecutions 111. The Gospel is the word of the Crosse 32. Good works how great soever merit no reward because they are debts 59. They merit not life Eternall 545. Good men stand in need of often admonishings 33. Gratianus a Popish parasite 52. The Great Dragon described 260. How he differs from the Beast ibid. Why he devoured not the Man-child 264. The Great city is Rome 233. 234. The Great day of wrath is the last day 134. The Great number of sealed ones 142. the Great multitude represents the Church Triumphant 146. The Great Star falling from heaven whom it denoteth 170. Grecian Empire overthrown by the Turks 192. Green grasse trees what they signify 178 Gregorie II. bereaved the Emperor Leo of his revenewes 130. Gregorie VII an exquisite instrument of Satan 532. He was the first Antichrist ibid. He affirmed that married Priests were Nicolaitans ibid. He deposed the Emperor Henry IV. 532. 533. Gregorie the Great perceiving Antichrist to be at hand pointed as with the finger at his successor Boniface the III. 318. The Greek reading vindicated from the insultation of Gagnaeus and Ribera 12. H. HArpers how they overcame the beast 366. whither they be martyrs or professors 367. Harpes of God are by an Heâ—â—aisme put for Excellent harpes 368. Hailstones of a Talent waight 401. Happinesse of the Celestiall Citizens 135 577. To Have part in the first resurrection 526 Heads and hornes of the dragon whom they denote 260. 261. The Healing of the beasts wound 294. 296. The heaven rolled up is the Church apostating 130. Heaven departing is the closing of the scriptures in Poperie 130. Hereticks in several ages 112. 113. Hesperus and Lucifer that is the morning and the evening star is one 593. Hieroms observation of the titles of the Revelation 3. His opinion of the seats of the four and twenty Elders 89. He approues not the Iesuiticall fiction 431 Hierom refuted ibid. Hieracites heresie 334. refuted ibid. Hierusalem is not the Great Citie 236. The Holy Citie troden down by the Gentiles is the church 215. The Holy war was the occasion of the Gogish warre 537. Hoe his consequence against the Calvenists refuted 36. Homicide of the Papists 193. Hornes what they denote 100. Hornes of the Golden Altar 187. Hornes like the Lambs 307. The ten Hornes springing out of the seventh head 432. They denote Christian kingdoms 435. Hour of temptation 69. The profit and end of temptation 69. 70. How it stands with pietie and Charitie to stir up the saints to revenge 461. 462. Husse burnt at Constance 226. his prophesie of Luther ibid. Humane traditions a burden imposed by Satan 51. How much is to attributed vnto the antiquitie of traditions 524. The Hyacinth 565. its colour 189. Hypocrisie what it is 55. Hypocrites deceive not God but men ibid. Hypocrisie must be avoyded as a pest ibid. Hypocrites are mixt among the saints 71. are compared to lukewarme water 77. Many of the Clergie are Hypocriteâ— ibid. They imagine that they are just and holy ibid. are very quick-sighted in outward things 78. They put not on Christ by baptisme and the supper ibid. Hydra Lernea a strange Monster 260. I. IAsper a precious stone 87. 564. Idoles described 193. Idolatrie of the Eastern-nations 192. Of the Papists 193. who in Idolatry exceed the Egyptians 234. why Idolatry is compared to wine 350. Iehovah the sacred name of God distinguishing him from all false Gods 203. What it signifies 8. Iesuites affirme that Iohn did not evill in falling down before the Angel 484. 485. Iesuites bafling 420. They againe roll up the open book of the scripture 130. Iezabell a false prophetesse 48. Her doctrine 49. Ignatius his Epistle to the Philadelphians 62. Ilands denote peoples and nations 130 how they were moved out of their places ibid. Image of the beast 310. 311. hath life put into it by the dragon 312. Image of babylon 311. the beasts Image excels that of babylon 312. Images of Christ and the saintes are not to be set up in temple 23. Impatience and desire of revenge how it can be in the souls of the saints in heaven 120. Impotencie of all creatures 99. Imprinting of the Charactar on the right hand 312. 313. Impure spirits 394. Incompassing what it signifies 537. The Infirmities of the saints Gods clemencie passeth by 44. Incense what it is 155. The Inflicting of punishment on impostors belongs to God alone 50. The Individuall communion of the Saints with the Lamb 3â—6
the comforter 49. The Moon red with blood what it signifies 128. It is the Church ibid. The Moon receives its light from the Sun ibid. The Moon under the feet of the woman 259 The Morning Star 52. 53. Moses his twofold song 368. The Mother of fornications who 41◠Mountains removed 130. They denote Emperors and Christian kings ibid. The Mountain cast into the sea what it noteth 160. MYRIAS what 189. Mysteries of the faith whither four 92. The Mystery of the Angel with the Golden Censer expounded 154. Mysticall famine proclaimed 114. N. NAturall misery of all men 78. The Name of God written on the faithfull 73. The Name of the City of God ibid. The Name of Christ ibid. The Name of God the Father Son and holy Ghost is seldom absolutely expressed in the Revelation 8. The Names of the Elect written in the book of life shall never be blotted out 61. The new Name no man knoweth but he that hath it 46. The Name of the Generall how known unto no man 490. why he hath his name written on his thigh 492. The Names of the Apostles why written on the foundations of the city 561. The Nations that were saved how they are both the city and the citizens 569. The nations possessing the inward court 215. New heaven and the new earth whither taken allegorically or properly 549. 550. The New Jerusalem how it descends from heaven 551. It s originall ibid. Etymologie 560. walles and gates 561. foundations ibid. foursquare figure 562. quantity ibid. it glitters with gold 563. the matter of the gates 566. court ibid. temple 567. light 568. citizens 569. her peace and tranquility 570. glory 571. pleasantnesse 574. puritie and majesty 576. her governour ibid. her felicity 577. The New opinion of some learned brethren touching the thousand yeers examined 510. 511. Nice taken by the Turks 192. Nicolaitans their doctrine 36. 44. What their heresie was according to Antichrists opinion 45. The Nicolaitans openly tolerated in the Church of Pergamus ibid. Number of the Beast what it is 315. The Numeral letters denoting Antichrist whither Greek or Hebrew letters 317. O. OAthes how lawfull 203. Occasion of rejoyceing over Babylons destruction 475. Old and new Romes cruelty against the Godly 471. 472. The Old and new Gogish warre 536. One and the same thing why oftentimes represented under diverse types 109. Open books denote judicial proces 544. Opinion of the Fathers about the said books ibid. Opening of the book what it signifies 98. Opening of the seales 106. Open door what it signifies 65. Christ Opening no man can shut 64. The Open door in heaven what it is 86. OPinions of the Fathers without scripture prove nothing 223. Opinion of the authour touching the book that was closed or shut 96. 97. Opinions about the star fallen from heaven 168. 169. Opinions about the sea-beast 282. 283. Opinions about the book written within without 95. 96. Opinions about the womans flight 275. Opinions touching the trumpet of the sixt Angel 185. Oppression of the Church under Antichrist 106. It came not all at once but by degrees 225. Oracles of the Revelation why for the most part taken out of the old testament 596. Apollos oracle to Augustus 503. Oracles of the Devill wholy ceased at Christs suffering on the Crosse 502. 503. Order of existence betwixt the Father and the Son 7. Order of the tribes not observed 143. Ottoman the Turks first Emperor 186. The Out-spread firmament how created 130. Out of every tribe of Israel how to be understood 142. 143. P. PAngs of the Church in travell 259. The Pale horse diversly interpreted 116 It denoteth the Church being sick even to death toward Antichrists rising 117. The Papacy a filthy sinck of all manner of lies 361. Papacy established in the West and Mahumetisme in the East 124. 125. How Christ the Son of righteousnesse is darkned in the Papacy 127. The Papacy acknowledgeth not Christ for the onely Mediatour 128. The Papacy must be left separated from 484 Papists by their Idolatry draw the armies of the Turks upon Christendome 194. the Papists fable of the two witnesses 221. refuted 222. their opinion of the 2660 dayes refuted 224. the true and safest opinion 225. the Papists crucifie Christ 320. their glosse refuted 356. Papists glory in their multitude objecting to us the paucity of Orthodox Christians 58. Parabolicall declaration of the harvest 361 Parallel of the third and fourth Act 145. Pastors duty 56. They are spirituall Physicians ibid. Patmos where 18. 19. Paul hath set forth Antichrist in his colours 288. The feined Epistle of Paul to the Laodiceans is Apocrypha 74. Peace what it is 7. The Pleasantnes of the caelestial city 574. The Pelagian Heresie 82. 83. Pergamus a city of Troas 22. A Periphrasis of Hell 495. Persecution The first persecution of Christians under Tiberius Nero 5. 19. the second under Domitian ibid. the nine persecutions under the Romane tyrants 110. A new persecution 272. by the ambition and riot of Bishops 273. A new civill persecution by Emperours 273. 274. Antichristian persecution how long it dured 358. Perseverance commended unto us by a consolatory argument 61. Perseverance under the Crosse is to overcome 72. The Pharises being hypocrites were worse then if they had been blinde 70. Philadelphia a city of Mysia 22. 64. Phocas gave the key of the bottomlesse pit unto the Pope of Rome 171. A Piece of Ordnance of incredible bignesse 190. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 what kinde of garment it was 24. Polycarpus Iohns disciple 38. The Pope is Antichrist 63. 320. 346. He lifts up himself above Christ 63. Arrogates the title of Vniversall contrary to their own Canons ibid. He impudently assumes to himself what is proper to Christ 64. He deceitfully selleth pardons and heaven for money 78. How he causeth fire to come down from heaven 310. Why he is not expresly named by the holy Ghost 321. He causeth his God to be carried on a white horse 489. The Popes pride 63. He is author of most cruell warres among Christians 129. He not content with his spirituall lightnings draws the temporall sword also against Kings and Emperors 128. His cruelty against the Martyrs 129. He vaunts himself to be Christs Vicar and Monarch of the Church on earth and will be worshipped as God 174. The Pope long since called Antichrist 318. 319. He is the Babylonish Strumpet 320. How he came to be the Eight King 428. He assumed the Augustall title of Pontifex Maximus Which of old was the title of heathenish Emperors 428. 429. He condemneth all for hereticks who oppose his tyrannie and Idolatry 129. Why he would never be present at the Eastern Councils but by Legates 289. His Latine Church 317. Pope Silvester 163. Pope Zachary deposeth Childerick King of France 130. He condemnes married Bishops and Priests as Nicolaitans 45. Popish heathenisme 215. Popish excommunication is that evil ulcer 379. Diverse opinions about the same ibid.
Popish Rome is the woman sitting upon many waters 443. And the seat of Antichrist 444. Popish idolatry is fornication 456. The Powring of the first Viall on the earth 378. Of the second Viall 380. Diverse opinions about it 381. Of the third viall and divers opinions about it 382. Of the fourth Viall 385. Of the fift Viall 388. Of the sixt Viall 390. Of the seventh Viall 398. Power received from the Dragon 298. Six effects of the Beasts power 308. 309. Preachers of Gods word how they inflict plagues 376. Praedestination must be taught though many abuse this doctrine 584 The Praerogative of being the first fruits to God is an allusion unto the first fruits of the Law 336. Praetence of Antichristian tyranny is false 241. The vain pretence of Idolaters 242. Priesthood common to all the faithfull 14. Priscilla a false Prophetesse 49. Priscillian declared an heretick by the Pope 129. The Prison is put for all kinde of torments 40. Priviledges of Antichrists marked ones expressed in the Bull of Pope Martin V. 314. Promises how far they become debts 250. The Prophets and Apostles wrought not miracles by their own power 50. To Prophesie again 208. To Prophesie is to Preach Propheticall and Apostolicall Doctrine 224. A Prophesie of the future condition of the Godly under Antichrist 121. A prophesie found in the house of the Governour Salezianus 440. The Prophesie why sealed 583. A Proverbiall description of the ungodly despairing 133. Punishments of the wicked 251. 252. Purgatory 357. Puritie of the Saints whence it cometh 90. Q. QVadratus a disciple of the Apostles 64. A Question concerning the order of the Revelation 365. Quintilla a false Prophetesse 49. R. REligious worship of Angels expresly condemned in Scripture 9. Religious worship unto the Creature simply denied 582. It being a most horrible unpiety 486. The Reasons of the Angel against the worship of Angels cannot be taken away by Idolaters 486. The Red horse is the Church of Martyrs 110. On whom Christ is said to ride 111. To Render the double to Antichrist how it agrees with Equitie and Justice 461. 462. Remedie of pride 77. 78. Repentance described 34. 49. If true comes never to late 79. Why it is necessary 387. Representation of the state of the Primitive Church 106. Reprobates divided into Eight rancks 555. 556. The Rest of the dead who 517. The Rest of the womens seed who they are 279. Their Epithetes ibid. The Revealing of future things is proper to God alone 3. The Revelation It treateth of future things 5. How Iohn received it ibid. It was written by the Evangelist John ibid. It is an holy canonicall book of divine scripture 6. Containing excellent doctrines precepts and promises of the Churches deliverance and of the marriage of the Lamb 6.7 It hath many phrases proper to it self and excelling 8. Where John saw and wrote the same how and on what day 18. 19. Whither the whole was revealed in one Lords day 20. Revenge in the Saints how it can stand with piety and charitie 461. 462. Reward due and not due 586. Reward of the just is blessednes of the unjust exclusion out of the heavenly city 591. 592. Reward in heaven or degrees of glory may be different seeing there shall be degrees of punishment in hell 71. Rewards propounded unto them that overcome 72. Of whom there are three rancks 249. Ribera taxed 14. 20. His opinion of the four Angels 137. His argument not solid 138. His litterall exposition cannot stand ibid. His opinion of the Angel with the Censer 153. His reasons answered 154. His salving of Papall Rome 346. His eschappatories answered ibid. His new fiction in the Popes behalf refuted 347. His reasons touching Romes falling away examined 348. He commits crimen laesae majestatis against the Pope ibid. Contradicts himself and actuseth the Pope of extreme negligence ibid. His fiction refuted 409. 410. 411 c. His false opinion of the beast refuted 416. With the common opinion of expositors about the same ibid. His quaere why evill spirits rather frequent the deserts then populous places 455. The true cause thereof laid down by the Author ibid. Ribera refuted 514. He refuteth Bellarmins fiction 535. He confesseth the Pope shall be thrust out of Rome 441. A Ridiculous Etymologie of the word Apocalyps 3. The true Etymologie thereof ibid. Rivers and fountains are the breasts of the Sea 383. Romane Legions of how many soldiers they consisted 132. Romane Merchants buy and sell the souls of men 456. 457. Rome had no Epistle sent her from Christ and why 22. She is the calamity and destruction of the Christian Church 215. Her relapse to Paganisme 347. She must be burnt not before but after Antichrists comming 441. Whether Antichrist shall be abolished at Romes burning ibid. The Ruine of Old and New Babylon set forth by the same type 470. Ruine of the tenth part of the great city 245. The Rule of Articles with the Greeks is not alwayes observed 100. 307. 406. 410. 437. The Rule of finall causes 448. Rupertus opinion of the four Angels 136. He by winds understandeth teachers of Christian belief 138. His opinion of the Angel with the Censer 153. S. SAbinian a proud Bishop 127. Sackcloth of hair 127. Signifies Romane traditions 128. The Saints weaknesse at the beholding of the Divine Majestie 25. How farr the Saints may fall away how not 34. The Saints shall with Christ judge the world 104. How they require vengeance on the wicked 120. They may not be called upon neither do intercede for us 122. nor pray for the Church Militant 147. The Papists transform them into tutelar Idols ibid. How the Saints have right to Christ 591. Saladin Emperor of Egypt 190. Saphyr a Gemme of India 564. Saracens invading the provinces of the Romane Empire 186. Sardica a city of Illyria 54. The Sardine its colour and vertue 87. 565. Sardonix 565. Satan His proper domicile 44. He dwelleth in the children of disobedience ibid. His casting down into the earth is mysticall 266. 267. His Epithetes ibid. His action against the Saints 269. Why he was bound 502. 503. How he must be let loose again 505. 531. His twofold attempt 531. The Scripture must be read of all 583. It s twofold effect 584. The Scriptures are authentick and perfect 596. The Sea of Chrystall is the world 90. Diverse opinions about it 91. Why a third part of the sea was turned into blood 160. The Sea swalloweth up the great mountain 161. The Sea out of which the Beast ascended 288. The Sea of glasse is the world of wicked men 368. Why said to be of glasse ibid. The Sea into which the second viall was powred 381. The Sea renewed 551. The Sea-beast who it is according to Pareus 287. Seales their twofold use 97. The generall signification of the seales 107. The Seal of the living God 140. imprinted on the Elect 141. 142. The Sealed ones distribution according to the severall tribes of
Israel is not to be taken litterally 143. The Sealed ones who they were 329. diverse opinions about them 330 The Sealed in Chap. 7. and Chap. 14. compared together 331. The Second death 42. 528. The Second trumpet answereth to the red horse 160. How long the sixt trumpet was to sound 205. Securitie and fear in the Papacy 341. Seducement by signes 310. What it is to Seduce ibid. Separation from the Papacie commanded by God 459. Serpents have Venome in their head and tongue 191. The Seven Churches to whom John wrote 7. The Seven spirits who 9.54 The opinions of Andreas Lyranus and Ribera about the same 9. Seven is a perfect number 10. The Seven stars what they note 25. the Seven sounding Angels 152. 153. Seven put for an indefinite number 202. The Seven Mountains of Rome are the heades of of the Beast 420. 421. The Seventh ttumpet forerunner of the last judgement 247. The seventh trumpet what ibid. It puts an end to the Churches calamities 205. The Seventh viall answereth to the Seventh trumpet 398. The Seventh Angel 246. 247. The Sharp Sickle what it noteth 360. How it was thrust into the Earth by Christ 361. Shortly how to be expounded 4. The Short time of Antichrists reign how to be understood 121. 271. 272. The Sight of God is the Saints happinesse 251. A Signe what it is 364. Signes of assured peace 570. Silence for an half houre in heaven what it denoteth with diverse opinions about it 152. Sinnes reaching up to heaven 460. Romes sins do reach to heaven 461. Even small sins come to heaven that is unto Gods knowledge which refuteth the distinction of Veniall and Mortall sins 460. Sinners repenting in this life have an assured promise of pardon 50. The Sitter on the Red horse and on the Black horse with his ballance is Christ 111. 111. 113. the Sitter on the throne who he is described 87. Six distinct visions 84. the Sixt viall truely interpreted 392. 393. Sixtus V. Endeavoured to thrust Charles IX king of France and Elisabeth queen of England out of their dominions 130. The Sixt vision unto what times it belongs 402. 403. Slaughter of Antichristians 245. Smyrna a city of Ionia 21. The Smoke out of the bottomles pit is Popish Divinity humane decrees 172. the Smoak of punishment 353. Whither there be Smoak in Hell ibid. the Smoak of prayers ibid. Smoak a Symbole of Gods wrath 372. Socinus his blasphemous fiction 13. The Son of perdition destroyeth the earth 251. The Son of Man denoteth Christ 359. The Son shall deliver up the kingdome to the Father how 578. Songs of the Revelation 369. The Sounding of the fourth Angel 164. Diverse opinions about it ibid. The Sounding of the second trumpet how farre to be extended 161. The Souls of the Martyrs departed this life are with Christ 119. How John could see their Souls they being invisible 513. How they lived and reigned with Christ 515. Whither they reigned all together at one time ibid. They cease not to reigne after the thousand yeeres are expired 516. How the Souls do fall rise again 520. The Soul of signes is the word 470. The Souls of the Saints departed must not be worshipped 105. Spirituall fraternity betwixt Christs members is the bond of love 18. Spirituall famine of Orthodox doctrine in the dayes of Constantius and other Arian Emperours 114. 115. Spirituall life of the Souls with Christ 514 515. The Spouse and Wife how differing 480. Ornaments of the Spouse 481. To Stand and not stand in judgement what it signifieth 134. To Stand before the throne 146. To stand before God 543. The Standing of the four Beasts what it denotes 92. Stars falling from heaven who they are and when they fell 129. The Starres falling signifies Apostacie from the true faith 162. 261. Stars are teachers and Bishops of Churches 162. 170. why teachers are compared to Stars 25. The Strong wind blowing down the Figs is the Papall Authoritie 129. Structure of the old temple 213. The Subject of the Revelation 4. The Succession of the Romane Church 408. The Summe of the fourth vision 252. It s foure Acts 253. The Sunne Christ wholy darkned in the Papacie 173. Sun and heat diversly interpreted 385. 386. The Susian women were beastlie harlots 407. To Swear by the creature is a horrible impiety 204. The Sword proceeding out of the mouth of Christ our Captain with which he smiteth the wicked is spirituall 491. The Synecdoche in the 1000. yeers of the Martyrs reigne 509. is proved 516. The Synod called Sardicensis took its name of Sardica not of Sardis 54. The Symphonie of the heavenly inhabitants is perpetuall 147. T. TAbernacle of God is the Church 299. To Take of from the prophesie what it is Tamherlan his huge armie 189. The Temple of God is the Church 212. The Ten kings are to be differenced from the seven former 432. Who the Ten kings are 433. Ten dayes what they signifie 41. The Third part of men slain by the Turks 191. The Third Act of the second vision hath two parts 124. The Third universall vision 150. in what it differs from the former ibid. Its beginning and ending ibid. Third Act of the sixt vision 476. Third Angel 350. The Thousand yeers of Christs reigne and the Dragons binding are the same 531. these yeeres are not indefinitely to be understood 507. in histories and in the prophets they are never indefinitely taken ibid. wher they begin end 508. 531. how they agree with the 42 months 509 they cannot be referred to the last times 510. Why they are defined 516. the condition of the godly during these 1000 years 511. What Satan is said to do at the end of these yeares 530. Threatnings of punishment in Scripture are to be taken with a condition of repentance either expresly or tacitely 36. What the Threatning of the Harlots children teacheth us 49. 50. Three a number of perfection 394. The Three dayes and an half what they signifie 241. The Three Legates how they proceed out of the mouthes of three 394. Why they are said to be three impure spirits ibid. Who they are 395. Three books attributed to God in scripture 60. 96. The Threefold distinction of time what it noteth 276. Theodoretus his opinion of Gog and Magog 535. The Throne of Christ 83. The Throne of God denotes his dominion over all things 87. The white Throne of Christs glory 542. Thrones why set up 512. The Throne of the Beast is the Romane Sea according to Lyra 388. Diverse opinions about the same 389. Thyatira a citie of Lydia 22. Time times and half a time what it signifieth 276. The Time of Antichrists rising noted 316. 317. 318. The Time of betroathing and marriage 480. Timothie no Bishop of Ephesus in Johns time 30. The Title of the Revelation answereth unto the titles of the ancient Prophets and confirmeth the authority of the book 3. The Titles of the witnesses are not to be litterally