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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86457	An exposition, or, A short, but full, plaine, and perfect epitome of the most choice commentaries upon the Revelation of Saint John. Especially of the most learned and judicious authors, as Bullinger of Helvetia, Francis Iunius, Thomas Brightman, Aug. Marlorate, Aug. de Civitate dei, but especially (among many) the excellent and learned David Pareus. With severall remarkable notes, observations, and doctrines very profitable. / As it was for the most part delivered by way of commentary in the parish-church of Sutton-Valence, Kanc [sic]. By Hezekiah Holland Anglo-hibernus, Minister of the Gospell at Sutton-Valence.	Holland, Hezekiah, fl. 1638-1661.	1650 (1650)	Wing H2426; Thomason E606_1; ESTC R5543	143,079	206

the overcommers chap. 2.28 as is expounded he being the morning starre Vers 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say come That is the Spirit in every Saint sayes come Every Saint having the Spirit longs after Christ so David Psal 42.2 As the heart pants after the water brookes that hot and therefore dry or thirsty creature so doth my soule after thee O God And the Bride or Church longs after Christ to be fully gloryfied by him and to live ever with her husband the Church Militant Cant. 8. vers last cals for Christ saying be like the Roe that nimble creature and come in haste The coming of Christ is fearfull to the wicked but the regenerate long for him Let him that heareth say come As the Bride doth Truly the reading and hearing this book will make every spiritual man say come Lord Jesus such sweetnesse is here Let him that is a thirst come That is the qualification required in the commers come to me for redemption salvation glory if athirst for a thirsty man is fit to drink of the fountain of water of life Now he that is athirst is he that has the Spirit crying to Christ to come to perfect him and the Church in glory And whosoever will Being qualified and a thirst none else can come these the father draweth Let him take the water of life freely Being a thirst and drawen by the Father The invitation is generall Isa 55.1 Hoe all but note the qualification that thirst come ye to the waters but note God worketh in us to will and do Phil. 2.13 whosoever commeth then God draweth Vers 18. For I testifie This depends upon vers 7. blessed are they that keep the words of this Prophecy now he threatens those who any way corrupt or abuse it Sure Antichristian falsifyers of the truth are here meant For I also testify or testifie together sayes the Greek Because the Angel had spoken now Christ confirmes the Angels testimony witnessing also with the Angel Vnto every man that heareth Not the Pope excepted If any man shall adde By false interpretations as 2 Peter 3.16 adulterating the Text. Let the Papists take heed how they mingle traditions and lyes with the Text. Vnto him God shall adde the plagues To wit not only the seven last plagues but to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for ever with the dragon and false Prophet chap. 19 20. O Arrius and Engedinus where are ye O Popelings and Hereticks take heed Vers 19 If any man shall take away from the words of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of life c. To the adders he will adde plagues to the takers away he sayes hee 'll take away his part out of the book of life That is what part he seemes to have or will utterly condemne him one day Indeed they may be said to take away from the Book that deprave it allow not of it sleight it or the like The overcommers were promised choyce rewards in the seven Churches these deprayers shall have no share with them nor with the glorious Bride in heaven Some have denyed Saint James his Epistle some this book through mistake not malice being otherwise true Christians and are not to be comprehended here Luther doubted of James many ancient Christians through weaknesse of the authority of this most Divine book on whom I dare not doubt but God had mercy But note not only the integrity but perfection of Scripture is hence proved since nothing is to be added away then with traditions the written word is perfect and only to be followed to salvation Deut. 4.2 Moses gives the same command let no man adde by which it is plain the holy Scriptures of the Old-Testament were full enough and perfect to salvation Now our Saviour not John takes this passage from Moses and other things in this book are taken from the Prophets everywhere To note the perfect agreement of the New-Testament and Old and also to shew how this Book sayes my Pareus is a summe of holy Scripture Well we must not depend upon Revelations but the written Word By this Christ proved himself and his death to his disciples Luke 24.27 see my Glimps of Christs Love pag. 57. Vers 20. He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly c. They be the words of Christ not of Iohn who testified and revealed this Prophecy to Iohn being the true and faithfull Witnesse chap. 3.14 who promises to come quickly to confute those who make a mock of his coming to judgment 2 Pet 3.2 3 4. and to stirre us to patience and watchfulnesse And truly if when Iohn writ this book Christ promised to haste then now he is even at the door many Jews are daily converted the Gospel much spread Antichrist manifested and spiritually killed by the Witnesses forsaken by the Kings of the earth or many of them nay and Christ has powerfully reigned by the Reformation of many Kingdomes in matters of Religion We expect to hear of Romes literall desolation but the utter ruine of Turke and Pope we expect not till the seventh Viall be poured out into the aire or the seventh Angel sound at the last day other things are most fulfilled and we hope God for the Elect sake will hasten his coming Surely I come 'T is an asseveration confirming his promised coming to comfort the godly and to stir them up to watchfulnesse and patience in well doing and ill suffering Vers 21. Even so come Lord Jesus Sayes Iohn after all the most joyfull glorious things in the Prophecy the Beast and Dragon in the Vision cast into the lake of hell longing for the consummation of glory Indeed Christ is the good Ahimaaz 2 Sam. 18.27 that brings true and good tydings here in this life but cheifly hereafter of perfect redemption which all the creation groanes for and perfect glory for the Elect. Or Iohn may be understood to desire Christ to hasten Antichrists destruction to hasten comforts to Syon and lastly to come to judgment to condemne the Dragon and Beast and deliver the Saints redeeming their bodies out of their graves consummating them in glory Thus the Spirit in all the Saints teaches to long after Christ and say come Lord Jesus come quickly even so Amen Hanc epitomen praecipuorum Commentariorum supra Revelationem JOHANNIS unàcum annotatiunculis quibusdam feliciter peregi 30 Martii 1650. Ann aetat meae 31. Trinitati gloria sempiterna Amen FINIS

expound it though some have anciently supposed this Book to be forged by the Heretick Cerinthus because seemingly favouring the errour of the Millenaries though it be indeed full of divine testimonies of Christs divine nature and no way favours that Millenary errour as will appear in the progresse if the objections of Hereticks and others had presently been beleeved we should long since have had little or nothing entire in the whole Scripture Among all Commentators Pareus who borrowed much of Brightman and Bullinger by his own Confession but especially of Anonymus upon whom he seemes sometimes to be but a large Commentary most affects me yet sometimes I borrow light of a seemingly lesse glorious torch then his This book is a Prophesie as Mr Goodwin observes it out of Mr Mede of the destruction of the Romane Empire either as heathenish in the whole or else Christian yet persecuting in both the parts of it East and West The Book is tragi-comedy which begins with a kingdom given to be won by conquest Rev. 6. and ends with the Coronation of a King and the Marriage of his Bride and all between is but the removing of all such lets and impediments namely of the Roman Monarchy and all other kingdomes which that was broken into so far as they stand in the way and possesse the roome of that kingdome which is to beset up When Christ first began the whole world then worshipping Idols he sets upon conquering the whole Romane Empire as it was heathenish and the worship of Satan and Idols in it and in three hundred yeares he dispatcheth that and throws down all both Idoll worship and Princes that did uphold it And then when the whole Empire was turned Christian yet the devill as one ewll said did not turne Christian but under the name and profession of Christ he stirreth up the Arrian Christian world to prosecute the Orthodox Christians as much as heathenish Rome had done but Christ takes further vengeance for this persecution under both these Heathenish and Arrian Rome it was the cry of the bloud of the Saints slaine under both that brought on them the vengeance that followed see Chap. 6. vers 10.11 The Empire having been afore divided into two parts the Easterne all which now the Turk possesseth and the Westerne this in Europe he fals first on the Westerne Europian part breaking that by the incursion of those barbarous nations * Which the foure first Trumpets did sound forth as M. Goodwyn affirms Rev. 8. the Goths and Vandals then for the Easterne part of the Empire although his revenge was slower yet he reserved them for the forest vengeance that could befall the Christian world the Conquest and Tyranny of the * The 6. Trumpet sounded forth this ch 9.13 Saracens first afterwards the Turks Thus here is an end of the Romane Monarchy under the Emperours in the whole and in the parts of it The Westerne part in Europe was by occasion of the Goths invasion broken into seven Kingdoms which though helping the Woman against the floud of Arrian persecution yet through Satans seducing of them they set up the Beast or Antichristian Rome And these altogether did joine to make us as great a war against the Saints in Ch. 13. as the Heathens and Arrians had done and so Christ in a manner was as far off his Kingdome as at first The next counterplot of Jesus Christ is to overcome these Kingdomes so you find Rev. 17.14 They shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called chosen and faithful Thus far he Which generall methodicall division I in the general like and allow of though in particular I have shewed upon Chapter eight that the first foure Trumpets did not signifie the incursion of those Nations Goths and Vandals neither indeed came they to help the Woman but to destroy her though they embraced her faith when most corrupted of which more in order and place See Chap. 12. I desire the Reader to remember that though the Revelation may seeme to be one continued Vision yet indeed it is not one nor revealed at one time but seven as so many sights exhibited to John in the Spirit John was not once only but oft times ravished in the Spirit neither saw he all in one place but some things in Patmos some things in heaven some things at the seashore some things in the Wildernesse Note the Revelation sayes Pareus out of Augustine speakes the same things after a diverse manner the former Visions are for the most part more obscure the latter bring clearer light to the darknesse of the former if one rightly observe them sayes Pareus for example in the second Vision the black horse denotes the Church made black with heresies after Constantines time the pale horse having death sitting on and drawing hell after him the Church sick even unto death towards Antichrists rising In the third Vision by the sounding of the third fourth and fifth Trumpets the same state of the Church is indeed represented yet more especially the declining corruption and lastly the Apostacy of the Sea of Rome plainer Some Visions represent the foure conditions or the foure acts of the Church to wit of its flourishing and groaning under Roman Tyrants till peace brought in by Constantine 2. Of the Church raigning and rioting under Christian Emperours till the rising of the Westerne Antichrist Boniface third Pope of Rome and of the Easterne in Mahomet six yeares after 3. Of the Church trodden upon and oppressed by Antichrist especially the Westerne till the measuring of the Temple which began to be effected by the Two witnesses John Husse and Ierome of Prague who were slain by the Beast in the Councel of Constance Anno 1414. and thence untill Luther by whose Ministry the measuring of the Temple hindered through the tyranny of Popes began to be continued Anno 1517. The fourth of the Church reformed from Popery and of the declining of Papacy to endure till the end Some Visions represent not the entire but only the two * The 2 3 4 and 7. Visions containe the 4. Acts or estates of the Church the 5. and 6. Visions are more particular containing the 7. last plagues and the judgment of the Whore latter conditions of the Church Thus the most excellent Pareus It is safest expounding the Revelation by the Revelation one thing explaining another yet much of this Book the Lord hath yet reserved in his own power yet this latter age hath had better help of experience then that of the Fathers many things being fulfilled which they dived not into The fourth Actor condition of the Church with its accomplishment is secret Because the seventh Trumpet hath not yet sounded Neither is the seventh Viall yet poured out into the aire a great part also of the third Act is reserved unto posterity which in time shall see

the gathering together the Kings of the earth into Armageddon the burning of the whorish woman the desolation of Babylon the event of the Goggish war More then the beginning we have seen and further shall see E. H. The Errata of moment are these CHap. 1. page 2. line 10. Alcasar should be set in the margin against that line l. 13. read changeable causes for unchangeable cause ch 3. p. 30. l. 6. after doth r. not l. 26. for spiritual r. spirit ch 8. p. 54. l. 31. r. Bishops successors ch 9. p. 66. l. 30. for eye r. use ch 9. l. last for withdraw r. wrath ch 10. p. 72. l last after locusts r. doctrine ch 11. p. 83. l. 37. for shew r. flew ch 12. p. 88. l. 11. for of Christs birth r. at Christs birth AN EXPOSITION OR A short but full plaine and perfect Epitome of the most choice Commentaries upon the REVELATION Of Saint JOHN Especially of the most learnedly judicious DAV PAREVS CHAP. 1. Vision 1. Vers 1. The Revelation of Iesus Christ .. THE Word Revelation or Apocalypse signifies the unfolding of a secret T is called a Revelation for two reasons First because we need the knowledge of it Secondly it shews the divine authority of it for the title answereth the title of the ancient Prophets as the vision of Isaiah so the Revelation of John Of Jesus Christ which God gave him God may be said to give it to Christ as he was man nay as God for the father is the fountaine of the Godhead So Christs wisedome is from the father by an eternal generation it shews Christ to be God because it belongs to God only to reveal secrets Isa 41.23 now t is Christ office to reveal to his People the Will of his father His servants To wit Christ This proves Christs divine nature because all the faithfull are his servants Which must shortly come to passe therefore this book doth not treat of things then past as some would perswade but things to come Must come shews the unchangeable decree of God Also secondary causes as the malice and rage of Satan and his instruments against the Church though unchangeable causes if not hindred by the over-ruling Power of God bring forth necessarily an effect Shortly That is shall begin suddainly to take effect though the things herein mentioned were not in a very short time to be all performed for many hundred years are past already and yet many things are not come to passe yet the time is short in respect of the age of the world already past or in respect of eternity Alcazar or God with whom a thousand years are but as one day And signified it by his Angel God gave him the Revelation not to keep for himself but to shew it to his servants now is expressed the faithfulnesse of Christ in executing his charge committed to him of God And he sent This proves Christs Divinity in that he commands the Angels and they obey him This is Pauls argument of the Deity of the Son Heb. 1.6 His servant John Christ takes notice of nay doth register the names of his servants Poor Lazarus is mentioned when the rich mans name is buried in Oblivion only there was a certain rich man Happy are his servants whom he hath graven unto their comfort be it spoken on the palmes of his hands not on iron but flesh not on his back parts but his hands not the back of them but the palmes of his hands Vers 2. Who bare record of the Word of God That is of Christ the Word note three things 1. That the Penman was one that writ of Christ 2. That 't was Iohn who in the entrance of his Gospel says In the beginning was the Word to wit Christ 3. That Iohn wrote his Gospel before he wrote the Revelation who bare Record of the Word And of the Testimony of Iesus Christ the doctrine of Christ the death and martyrdome of Christ for Iohn stood by and saw him crucified And of all things that he saw to wit now in visions also he alludeth to a place in his Gospel where he says he that saw it bare record and his record is true Vers 3. Blessed is he that readeth because by reading comes faith and observance also he commendeth the reading of this book to all men And which heare those then that cannot read may be blessed let them procure others to read to them this and other books of the Scripture especially explained And keep the things reading and hearing without observance will availe little yet it may be both a means to remove what may hinder our happinesse and to direct us in the right way of attaining the same Of this Prophecie This shews it is from God for all Prophecie is of him 2 Pet. 1.20 it may also the sooner stirre up our hearts to feek the knowledge of this book for men do covet to know the things to come See my little book called A glimpse of Christs love p. 14. concerning a Prophet and Prophecie in part For the time is at hand The time of the beginning of the performance The time both of the fury of the adversary and the deliverance of the Church this should stirre up in us a diligent care to read this Prophecie for the knowledge of good and evill at the doore ought not to be neglected Vers 4. Iohn to the seven Churches gathered in Asia the lesse by the preaching of the Word chiefly by Paul to whom Iohn dedicates and sends his book because the first Vision directly concerns them Grace he to you and Peace by grace understand the free love of God in pardoning sin by peace chiefly that of conscience but also all temporal blessings included in that word peace he is to reprove these to whom he wisheth thus well it teacheth that reproofe should be the effect of love not of malice From him which is which was and which is to come that is from the father alluding to that name in Exod. 3. I am which is because the father is from none which was because he was before all time in eternity which is to come because he shall come to judge the world by the Sonne the Sonne also is one with his father was for in the beginning was the Word is to come to judge immediately the quick and the dead yet I rather understand this of the father because by the seven spirits before the throne is meant the holy Spirit as Christ is expressed in the next verse From the seven Spirits before the throne the holy Spirit is called seven because he is perfect in working for seven is used for a perfect number in this book In my quoted book pag. 43. I proved that by Angels excelling in strength arch-angels are meant Psal 103.20 the rather because the ordinary Angels are meant in ver 21. yee his host Also I affirmed that by seven spirits ch 3. v. 5. happily these angels may be meant but in

or the Gospel which Christ held open ver 2. in all the time of the hereticks tyrants and the kingdome of the locusts that within the Revelation This eating the book is a Preparation to the act of the two witnesses fighting with Antichrist of which in ch 11. which in some sort is acting in this age Hence observe that the open book doth manifestly set forth the mysteries of God not the canons or traditions of Papists Vers 9. And eat it up c. So John did however in the vision to eat it is to read preach meditate digest so all ministers should be devourers of books understand them before they preach Christ bids Iohn eat the book and then prophecy We must not then presumptuously relie upon the extraordinary revelation of the spirit without reading Vers 10. And I took the little book c. 'T was foretold Iohn it should be in his belly bitter yet he readily takes the book So the bitternesse of the events should not dishearten us from preaching now the word in it selfe is most sweet comfortable bringing peace but in the event it brings by accident bitternesse gripings hating the world fighting with sinne nay and persecutions banishments martyrdomes This bitternesse to follow in the third act of this vision is foretold Iohn that he might not be thereby troubled being already an exile Vers 11. And he said to me thou must prophesie againe c. The true pteaching of the Gospel was destroyed by Antichrist but now to be renewed purged from the dregs of Antichrist And the locusts reformed meant by Iohns prophesying again Thou must prophecie hence I beleeve John was restored in time and performed his office ministring to the Churches but this proves not that Iohn is alive and reserved to preach towards the end of the world for Iohns prophesying again did not so much concern himself as other witnesses to be raised up to reform religion as he tels us in chap. 11. for since the seven thunders wrought little on the enemy Christ raises up his two Witnesses as defenders and maintainers of his truth CHAP. XI Act. 3. 4. Vision 3. Vers 1. And there was given me a rod like a reed HEre Reformation is treated of This rod was a measuring staste such as builders use to mete ground with when about building to which the reed was like Of this rod see Ezech. 40.5 by it is meant the Word of God by which the Temple that is the Church of Christ was to be reformed and t is the very little book of which before Now the Word as a rod chastiseth sinners and reforms them Here observe that the Temple or Church was ruined and wasted then observe that the visible Church could erre since it wanted this reed Lastly observe the Word is the best means and rule for Reformation And the Altar The Altar is Christ as is said now Christ needed to be reformed how because under the pretence of the name of Christ he was thrown out of doors and the true doctrine of Christ as the Sun was darkned before Now by the Altar the whole worship of Christ is to be understood which by the corruption of hereticks and Antichrist needed measuring rebuilding or reformation And them that worship therein meaning the true worshippers of God in the midst of Antichristian defilements now to measure them is to sever them as chosen members or to seale them as t is said of them ch 7. for these are the very sealed ones Therein Though none but the chief Priest worshipped in the Temple other worshippers stood in the Court yet here the true worshippers because of their coming near to Christ are said to worship in the Temple being indeed the very Temple of the holy spirit Concerning the Temple Altar and Courts to which here is a plain reference see 1 Kings 6. and Ezek. 40. where the Temple is described Vers 2. The Court which is within cast forth and measure it not The inner Court in the time of the Law was holy and for the Priests and sacrifice the outward was common and therefore not to be cast out now the Masle-priests have an inner room hallowed in allusion to the old in the law into which the common People are not to come Iohn must not mete this Court but cast forth certainly by the Court the People are meant So those seemingly holy Priests of Rome are not to be measured or reformed but to be declared as cast out by the word as none of the Church For 't is given to the Gentiles Antichrist and his ministers are Gentiles to whom the inner Courts are given to possesse and pollute Thus those seemingly holy Priests are Antichrists servants nay are Gentiles being as idolatrous almost as they worshipping images and are cast out in the sight of God and counted as heathens though they colour and cover their idolatry It is given God hath given this inner Court of Priests to Gentilisme and Idolatry by a just judgement And the Holy City shall they tread underfoot fourty two moneths Ierusalem who should have been holy and was by the Jews esteemed so was a type of the Christian Church which was by the Romanes burnt and destroyed which nation now again under Antichrist was to tread under foot Christs Church Nay thus the man of sin in particular hath exalted himself to be the Temple of God trampling under foot the Church of Rome making himself king of it Fourty and two moneths God be thanked 't will not last always Doubtlesse by fourty two moneths a shorter time then to the end of the world is meant else what needed the limitation at all yet I confesse Antichrist after Romes burning of which chap. 18. shall survive and not be fully destroyed nor his false Church till Christs coming for he must destroy him with the brightnesse of his coming 2 Thes 2.9 11. yet his tyrannizing shall end before that indeed if I may be allowed my judgement I conceive the fourty two moneths shall expire when Rome shall be litterally burnt which we expect daily Though I confesse to the praise of God be it spoken Antichrist hath in a great measure ceased to tread underfoot the holy City or Church in England Scotland Ireland France Germany Sweethland long since and perchance can't last but to the firing of Rome which if wise men conjecture aright will be 216 years hence Doubtlesse here is a definite number of moneths laid down for an indefinite certain to God but unknown to us Learned men resolve the fourty two moneths into years each moneth containing thirty years and the whole to arise to 1260 years begin then at the time when the Gentiles began to trample underfoot the Church or holy city which was when Boniface usurped the chayre An. 606. from what time to this the Romane Antichrist and his Gentiles have trodden underfoot the Church or holy City the space of 1044 years this being the yeare of our Lord 1650. So there remains 216

this lake have not their names written in the book of life chap. 20.15 therefore the lake is hell Now though things are spoken here as yet to come being a Prophecy yet in the order of the Vision the wicked were before in hell chap. 20.10 14 15. and the Saints in glory Vers 9. And there came unto me one of the seven Angels What Iohn heard and saw generally is now ended Here followes perchance a kind of a special Vision or the glory of heaven more opened then hitherto I will shew thee the Bride the Lambs wife Here is noted the familiarity of the Angel with Iohn by which we may guesse they desire none of his worship I will shew thee Formerly Iohn saw her in the Wildernesse now he shall Visionally see her in glory Vers 10. And he carried me away in the Spirit It should seem to be indeed another Vision To a great high mountaine Iohn had hitherto been in the wildernesse as chap. 17. where this Angel shewed him the Whore and perchance having turned aside now returnes to him to shew him the Lambs wife Another like sight farre then the former in the Wildernesse Iohn saw a strange Whore From this high mountain high mysteries of the Church gloryfied And she shewed me a great City The Angel promised to shew Iohn the Lambs wife and now presents him with this sight for indeed the Church in glory is both the Lambs wife and City of God A Bride because of her marriage and ornaments A City because of her most magnificent building comely order invincible strength to last for ever Her Maker and Founder was God Heb. 11.10 this City only has foundation A great City In respect of her largenesse full of Saints and Angels So the glorious condition of the Church seemed to Iohn like a fair City which argues that whatsoever one may require to make up a compleat City is found beyond thought in the Church triumphant honour riches multitude learning or knowledge order all things convenient for that state see chap. 18.22 what Babylon shall want as musick trumpets harpes which this City shall abound with The holy Ierusalem The old was unclean this perfectly holy being according to the order of the Vision in perfect blisse Called Ierusalem because of her everlasting peace for so the word in Hebrew signifies under which is comprehended all manner of happinesse Coming down from God out of heaven So in the Vision Noting her descent and Original from God who is her husband who elected her through Christ Vers 11. Having the glory of God and her shining was like unto a stone most precious c. As if her situation and aire were commended She enjoyes that unaccessible light of Gods Majesty and presence And her light far beyond Sun and Moon was like to precious stone even a Jasper excellent in vertue good against poyson like a Christ all that is most bright and no wonder since God was the light of it vers 23. By these stones the bright majestique light of heaven is set forth excelling and comforting or driving away ill if possible any should be there and hence the precious stones and gemmes are mentioned by which not only the choycenesse of the City is set forth because most pleasing and precious to men but the imcomparable vertues in them shew the most incomparablenesse of God to the Church who is all to them and the Author of these vertues in the stones of which somewhat anon and must have them in a most plentiful measure in himself Vers 12. And had a wall alluding to a City Now the wall is the safeguard and protection of God The safeguard of heaven depends upon the wall of Gods omnipotency Great Being thick and broad therefore strong High Therefore not to be scaled Had twelve gates Meaning the doctrine of the Gospel or twelve Apostles by which heaven is opened to us At the gates twelve Angels Gallant Porters meaning the Fathers Prophets and Apostles who by preaching shewed us the way to the City And names writen thereon The names of the twelve Tribes of Israel noting the gathering of the spiritual Israel thither and perchance the literal seed Vers 13 On the East three Gates c. I seek no mystery here but look on the allusion to Ezek. 48.30 where such a City is described by which is meant the Church of the New Testament gathered from East West North South that is from all corners of the world Such is the represented Church above Vers 14. And the wall of the City The foundation is Christ 't is said to be twelve because the twelve Apostles by their preaching laid the foundation Christ for honour sake the names of the twelve are written upon the foundation because so fully laid by them because they if there be differences of glory as Christs right hand and left hand seeem to prove shall excel others in the Kingdom of glory doubtlesse the laborious Saint Paul is to be reckoned among them The Apostles of the Lamb Christ for so in their Epistles they stile themselves Vers 15. And he that talked with me One of the Angels of the seven Vials ver 9. and chap. 17. 1. who said come and I will shew thee Had a golden Reed to measure the City Not as chap. 11. v. 1. concerning reformation but only to acquaint John with the largenesse and figure of this City to describe the same to us So 't is Ezek. 40.3 4 5. where the Lord and now Christ by the Angel talking with John perchance who poured his Vial on the aire as chap. 16.17 setting the Prophet on a high Mountain as the Angel doth John here ver 10. sheweth him a City and Christ measuring it A golden Reed Because to measure so precious and glorious a City Vers 16. And the City lyeth foure square c. Which form is most solid and perfect the Longitude and Latitude being equal consisting equally of elect this notes the firmenesse of the City the largenes of the City is shewed in v. 16 17. to confirme what multitudes of Saint and Angels as Citizens are there being larger then the old Jerusalem but after that form nay larger then the literal Babylon which was one of the greatest Cities of the world being 66. miles compasse whose wals were one of the worlds wonders yet the wals of this are stronger and higher being not to be vanquished or conquered as Babylon and the old Jerusalem were I seek no mystery here According to the measure of a man Which measure the Angel used as he might say the City is so large according to the common measure of men which the Angel used John saw the City out of heaven when it was measured yet not in earth and it was only measured to shew every way the largnesse and majesty of that mystical City above Vers 18. And the building of the wall was of Iasper Babylons walls were choyce yet but of Brick Sand Pitch but this wall is of

be there and consequently blisse There shall be no curse because his servants there obey and serve him deserving no curse but obtaining honour unutterable such are Angels and Saints Since the Queen of the South wondred to see Solomons attendants sure in heaven is matter of admiration Vers 4. And they shall see his face That is shall be in the presence of God and shall see Christs humane nature gloryfied and comprehend God to content and satisfaction as far as created natures are capable See my Glimps of Christs love And his name shall be in their fore-heads Either alluding to the Beasts marked ones chap. 13. by which is noted his property of them and so Gods owning the Saints may be here meant or his name is his nature which they shall pertake of in heaven See chap. 3.12 expounded to this purpose I will write upon him my Name The Beast marked his that they might only serve and worship him Gods then are also marked that is consecrated to openly praise him and serve him for ever Vers 5. And there shall be no night c. Darknesse is but sad therefore no night of darknesse or sorrow shall be there The glory of God there hinders all night or darknesse so there needs no Sun being there is no night see chap. 21.23 where this verse is fuller explained And they shall raigne for ever and ever As Kings and Priests as chap. 20. v. 5 6. expounded the thousand years of Satans binding the primitive Saints lived with Christ in heaven after the expiration of them all others that were regenerated or partakers of the first resurrection after death reigned with Christ forever Vers 6. And he said to me these sayings are faithfull and true c. Hitherto the Prophecy which one of the seven Angels who poured out the Vials and talked with Iohn ch 17. commends to Iohn to recommend to us So not only the two last Chapters concerning the glorious Bride or City wherein by most choyce things as gold pearle the glory of the Saints above is as it were shadowed out but all the book is commended And indeed it is the true summe of all things to happen to the last day nay for ever What ever may be said of any book of holy writ may be said of this being an Epitome of holy Scripture in some sence so that herein is enough for salvation if well understood and practised Faithfull To which we may give credit True Which shall in time and order be accomplished And the Lord God of the holy Prophets sent his Angel Christ the revealer of the Prophesie is the Lord God of the Prophets who sent his Angel vers 16. I Jesus sent my Angel which proves two things 1. That the Angel was not Christ but his messenger though in the Old-Testament Christ appeared oft as an Angel to wit of the Covenant 2. That Christ is God being Lord of the Angels see chap. 1. v. 1. expounded His Angel Meaning himself who spake to John See ch 1. v. 1. about the rest of this vers Vers 7. Behold I come quickly The voice is Christs perchance represented by the Angel Christ is the Lord of the Prophets who confirmes the words of the Angel saying the things must shortly be done for he comes quickly Time runs away apace and deceives men who live in security and carelsenesse Christ will come before such are aware to judgment Blessed is he that keepeth these sayings c. See chap. 1. v. 3. expounded Vers 8. And I John saw these things c. Visionally and heard them therefore a good witnesse This is the very stile of John in his Gospel he that saw it bears record and his record is true chap. 19.35 And when I had heard and seen I fell down to worship before the Angel He ingeniously confesseth his errour again Perchance he committed his errour twise If so as it is probable for 't was upon the joyfull news of the Bride and her marriage that John was formerly taken in the errour about worshipping the Angel chap. 19.10 See the exposition which now in the Vision was past it shews the pronenes of the best men to sin more then once after reproof as John had chap. 19.10 without Gods speciall assisting hand also it notes our natures being prone to Idolatry no wonder the world ever has been so prone to that sin in all ages Vers 9. See thou do it not worship God As chap. 19.10 The words here differ from them in chap. 19. which proves 't was not the former errour but a second upon Johns taking leave of the Angel Now Iohn worshipped not but composed himself to worship by falling down So the very gestures of Papists before Idols is sinfull and forbidden let them worship whomsoever under the Idol or Image The Papists say the Angel out of modesty commanded Iohn to forbear because also in Christs sight but the Angels reproving Iohn proves the contrary Of them who keep the sayings of this book The Angel confirmes that it was not lawfull for Iohn to worship his fellow-servant for such are the Angels to Saints but God only Now the Angels fellow-servants are those who hate the Whore and Beast and flye out of Babylon keeping the sayings of the Book worshipping neither the Beast nor his Images of which his Kingdom is full so the Angels reasons against Iohns worshipping are seasonable All worship is due to Iehovah alone Vers 10. And hee said to me seal not the sayings of the Prophecy c. This the Angel saith but chap. 10.4 God commanded the things uttered by the seven thunders to be sealed which seemes to be taken out of Dan. 8.26 where the Prophet is commanded to shut up the Vision or seal it because it was not to be accomplished for many dayes The Angel commands this not to be kept secret or sealed because all might read it and beware of the Beast also because the time was at hand when Iohn writ and Antichrist has been now long revealed God commanded the things uttered by the seven thunders to be concealed not absolutely but in respect of the event because Antichrist would not take notice of them and therefore they were as good be kept secret see chap. 10.4 expounded And indeed it is worth noting Christs Angel sayes seal not but let Scripture be read but Christs pretended Vicar sayes seal all Scripture let none be read but by the Clergy opposing Christ Vers 11 He that is unjust let him be unjust still c. Here is a kind of tacit Objection answered for some may say the Prophecy being open and to be read Tyrants and Antichrists will through Satans instigation rage the more knowing their time is short or knowing the short time comprehends hundreds of years they may say as the wicked servant our master deferres his coming and will rage the more in the mean time Therefore 't were better the Prophecy were concealed To which is answered he that is filthy let him

be filthy still in hope to scape unpunished which words are not a permission or approving of filthinesse but a threatning a secret judgment for reprobates shall be given up to a reprobate sense if after admonishing such will be filthy let them be filthy still He that is righteous will be righteous still As Dan 12.10 many shall be pure but the wicked shall do wickedly to which our Gospel Daniel here alludes All the righteous will believe and do righteously though the day of judgement be not very near the Word in them is the incorruptible seed now for their sakes the Prophecy is chiefly therefore seale it not Here observe how the same word causes divers effects accidentally t is the savour of life to the Elect to the rest the savour of death as our Apostle 2 Cor. 2.15 16. bravely Righteous still Continuing in righteousnesse and encreasing in righteousnesse Here the Papists say second Justification by works is proved for they who were justified first by Christ may be more justified by works as charity but t is false no works justifie and Scripture which commands charity never speaks of its justifying Christ justifies alone but our good works declare us to be in Christ and justified So James may be understood ch 2. ver 24. Quaest How is a man that is justified justified still or more for the words in Greek bare that interpretation Answ We are justified but once but sanctified oft more and more both which Sanctification and Justification are here expressed but though we are but once justified as was David yet after sinning and falling from God when by repentance we return to the God of our Iustification we have the benefit of Justification renewed as Psal 51.7 David had as that most pathetique Psalme proves every where but enough Vers 12. Behold I come quickly and my reward is with me This is Christs voice perchance represented by the Angel yet it might be Christ distinct from the Angel for t is no unusual thing in this book as in some Comedy or Tragedy to have several Persons brought in speaking of Christs coming quickly See ver 7 and ch 1. ver 1. My reward Because Christ freely gives it Now the reward is eternal life and that is the gift of God Rom. 6. ver last Damnation is properly a reward so is not eternal life but improperly being out of free grace and promise To render to every one according to his works The good mans reward out of mercy and promise shall be good the wicked mans shall be evil to him but just as from God out of desert The wicked man is rewarded for his works being perfectly evil the good man according to his works which are due debts to the Creator but imperfectly good to which God hath annexed a promise out of free love not desert Vers 13. I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last c This proves it to be Christs voice who chap. 1. ver 8. cals himself so Now Alpha is the first letter and Omega the last among the Greeks So Christ is first even eternal with his father and last as God to eternity See chap. 1.8 expounded Christ though the Son is as soon as the Father as light and heat are in the Sunne and fire yet the Sunne and fire are causes of them he that pleases may read the learned refutation of Engedinus the heretick against Christ being Alpha and Omega by my Pareus upon this verse Vers 14. Blessed are they that do his Commandements It seems as if spoken by an Angel of Christ whose commandments are mentioned but it may be referred to the Commandements of the book or sayings of the Prophecy ver 7. and then t is Christs voyce Now the sayings of Christ or Commandements are touching the not worshipping the Beast nor his image as chap. 13. flying out of Babylon chap. 18. and forsaking any thing of Rome if they be blessed that keep them what becomes of them that break them worshipping the Beast The Lord remember all his People and them in Ireland to call them from Popery to salvation through Christ Iesus That they may have right to the tree of life To wit Christ Now that we have in being his spiritual members and spouse who have right to their head and husband The servants of the Beast have no right to Christ being neither elected nor redeemed in general Vers 15. For without are dogs and sorcerers Out of heaven to wit being not written in the Lambs book chap. 21 27. Now though all wicked men and reprobates are here meant yet in a most peculiar manner the servants of the Beast By which you perceive how God hates all Idolaters and Idolatry Dogs Are unclean and tearers or devourers Matth. 7.6 Give not that which is holy unto dogs Julian the Apostate was such a dog who receiving some knowledge of Christ tore the Gospel and rent it with arguments out of its selfe but wrested Now who are greater tearers of the Scripture then Papists wresting it to destruction who greater lyars against Christ and truth who teach more false doctrines then they Vers 16. I Iesus have sent my Angel to testifie unto you these things c He is the Person speaking the Author of the Revelation the Alpha and Omega the Lord of the Prophets the Commander of the Angels the doner of eternal life and therefore God Omnipotent Note Christ gives himself that name which long before was given him by the Angel Matth. 1.20 21. This name we should chiefly acknowledge him by this is the only name of comfort so he says thus muth I Jesus or your Saviour have sent my Angel putting us in mind of his love and mercies towards us To you Of or in the seven Churches chap. 1.11 But these things concern all the People and Churches of Christ though particularly the seven Churches in Asia long since ruined First this is comfort to us that our Jesus is the Angels Commander therefore we shall not want their assistance Secondly that we should carefully read what Christ commanded his Angel to testifie and John to write How ill did they who question the authority of this book I am the root and off-spring of David The root beareth the tree so Christ as God upheld and saved David but according to the flesh he was the off-spring or sonne of David and by consequent the true Messias The bright and morning starre The meaning is that as Venus outshines all the stars so Christs glory excels all the glory of Saints and Angels thus Christ resembles his glory to the heavenly brightnesse and lustre of the morning starre Balaam Numb 24.17 and Peter 2 Pet. 2.1 v. 19. cals Christ a star Christ expels the darknes of sin and ignorance and brings the light of knowledge and grace and at the morning of the resurrection will drive away the darknesse of this life and shew himself most gloriously to all the Saints Thus Christ promised himself to