with the remnent of hir seed 2 While she abode ther wher two Beasts occurred one rising from the Sea with seven Chap. 13. heads and ten horns and on his horns ten Crowns with the name of Blasphemy on his heads A secund coming out of the Earth who had two horns like a Lamb but spake as a Dragon he did great wonders making fire descend from Heaven and deceived them that dwel on Earth bidding them make an Image to the other Beast which was wounded and did liv and caused such as would not worship it to be slain He also made al receiv a mark in their right hands or foreheads that none might buy or sel sav he that had the mark name or number of his name which is 666. During thes Beasts joint reign the Churches state on mount Chap. 14. Sion and Gods imparting his Wil to the World touching the everlasting Gospel Babylons future fal punishment of the Beasts folowers and gathering the Harvest and Vintage are declared Gods Judgments on the Beast are poured out in seven Chap. 15. golden Phials of his last plagues by seven Angels coming out of the Temple in Heaven clothed with pure white linnen and their brests girded with gold girdles The first poured his on the Earth Chap. 16. and a noisom sore fel on the Beasts worshipers The secund poured his on the Sea which becam as blood of a dead Man The third his on Rivers and Fountains which turnd to blood The fourth his on the Sun which scorched Men with fire that they blasphemed Gods name The fift his on the Beasts seat whos Kingdom was darkned that Men gnawed their toungs for torment The sixt his on Euphrates which was dried up that the way of the Eastern Kings might be prepared The seventh his into the Air whence folowed Voices Lightnings Thunders and such a mighty Earthquake as the like was never seen by Men and huge hail 〈◊〉 every stone weighing a Talent and Men blasphemed God 〈◊〉 of this plague Ther cam three unclean Spirits of Devils lik â—â—ogs from the mouths of the Dragon Beast and fals Prophet which by lying miracles gathered the Kings to battel of that great day of God Almighty at Armageddon Next the judgment and mystery of Babylons great Whore sitting on a scarlet Beast with seven Chap. 17. heads and ten horns is shewed to John that the seven heads are seven hils and ten horns ten Kings After it Babylons destruction Chap. 18. is declared and great lamentation of several sorts made for it as may ther be read 3 As she cam out of the wildernes Chap. 19. great gratulations are given to God for perdition of Babylon and preparation for the Lords marriage with his wife then the Armies of Heaven on whit Horses under conduct of Christ caled the Word of God who had on his vesture and thigh a name writen King of Kings and Lord of Lords made war with the Beast fals Prophet and Kings wherto an Angel invited al Fowls to eat the flesh of the slain but the Beast and fals Prophet were taken and cast alife into a lake burning with fire and brimstone 4. During hir reign with Christ after she cam out Chap. 20. of the wildernes one thousand yeers when Satan being loosed a little space shal deceiv the Nations Gog and Magog to gather them to battel but fire cam from God and devoured them Lastly A new Heaven and Earth caled the holy City new Jerusalem Ch. 21. Ch. 22 coming down from God prepared as a Bride for hir Husband is pourtraied at large Thes Analyses in a prosal method or maner are plainer better At end of his Annotations and briefer for the vulgar sort then such as are set in Sections and Subsections but Dr. Deodat hath a very ample one on the Apocalyps in substance the same with the 2 former or very litle varying which he that lists may survey Now to my main task The Author of Apocalyps is John the Divine Christs best Introduction beloved Disciple Son to Zebedee a Fisher Man and Brother of James the greater whom Herod the King â—lu with the Sword who wrot the fourth Gospel and three general Epistles but not John a Presbyter in thos dais as Eusebius and Dionysius Alex deem nor any other of that name as al Antients agree for he only was exiled to Patmos A. C. 97 wher thos Rev. 1. 9 10. Rev. 1. vers 1 2 11. Visions were presented on the Lords day to which he gav that appellation mis-named by many the Sabbath without any Scriptural warrant nor did any of the Fathers so stile it The Authority also is every way divine being indited by Christ Jesus Authority as God gav it him and sent to John by an Angel that he should communicat it to the Churches who wrot it in a Book and sent it to the seven Churches of minor Asia So John imparted it to the Churches an Angel to John Christ to the Angel and God to Christ Jesus what can be a more divine Origin or Pedigree Specialy being an inspired Prophecy For Moses the Man of God and his peculiar Favorit had the honor to Pen the first Book of the old Testament and John Christs chief favorit the last of the new Testament so the one commands old Israelits not to ad or take from Gods Word Deut. 4. 2. and the other threatens al which shal ad to the Words of his Prophecy that God wil inflict the plagues writen therin but Rev. 22. 18 19. if any shal detract God wil take away his part from the Book of Life and holy City The Excellence of it apppeers many wais for the stile is Excellence most statly and sublime the matter ful of Majesty and Mystery the expressions pathetical and pithy som mystical in dark Visions to exercise the Judgments of the wisest som more facil or familar to succour the infirmities of the weakest Much more might be added ingeneral but I hasten to Mr. Medes Clavis and Comment whom Dr. Twiss highly admires saying he hath sundry rare notions stiled Specimina or Essais wherin he excels specialy in rendring the Revelations right sens which is most Tropical or Figurativ As in the mystery Rev. 12 of the battle in Heaven and casting Satan to Earth he shews that Stats and Kingdoms in the politic World are resembled in Scripture sutable to the Natural wherin Heaven and Earth denot the Nobility and Commonalty For Heaven consists of Sun Moon and Stars of greater or lesser magnitud as in a Realm is a King Queen Nobles and other officers of divers degrees but on Earth is much more variety of Creatures as Trees Herbs Flowers Fishes Beasts Serpents so among People of any Community no less difference of Trades and Professions He destinguisheth the whol Prophecy into the Book closed Division with seven Seals comprising an History from the Gospels first preaching to the Worlds
Micheah saith He shal Dan. 2. 44. Dan. 7 14. Michah 4 7. Ps 7â— 5 8 11 17. reign for ever yea God saith to his Son Ask of me and I wil giv the Heathen for thine inheritance and utmost parts of the Earth for thy possession meaning that Messiah shal be universal King to rule over Jews Gentils and al the world by his spiritual power He shal endure with the Sun and before the Moon from generation to generation he shal reign from Sea to Sea unto the lands end al Kings shal adore and al Nations serv him al Tribes of the Earth shal be blessed in him and al People magnify Gen. 12. 3. him for â—ver Yea God told Abram That in his seed the Messiah of his seed al Nations shal be blessed Isaiah sets down Gods Commission to Messiah It is too little that thou be my Isai 49. 6. Servant to rais up the Tribes of Juda and convert the preserved of Israel I wil giv thee for a light to the Gentils that thou be my Salvation to the Earths end What can be cleerer that he shal be a Saviour both of Jews and Gentils 't is therfore a fond fancy that he shal be King of Judea only to subdu their Enimies The Prophets foretel how he shal com riding on an Ass and of no reput that he shal be led as a Sheep to the slaughter or a Lamb dumb before the Sheerer and they shal look on him whom they pierced that he shal be slain as a sacrifice for sin and broken for our iniquity with whos stripes we are healed and such like Wher then is his pomp if he was to be poor wher his earthly reign if he must be despised wher his able resistance if he must suffer as a Sheep led to the slaughter wher his worldly conquest if he was to be crucified nay how can the Jews deem or dream he shal be so potent or triumphant when they must be the Men to pursu his death and look on while they pierced him as their own Prophets predict or premon sh add herto how their Rabins testify that the Messiahs Mother shal be Parthenos a pure Virgin and he not begot as others by carnal coition but by the holy Ghost and his name Jesus Yea the whol stream of Scripture runs that he must not be meer Man but God also as Isaiah saith Isai 7. 14. Isai 57. 4. Isai 9. 6. He shal be caled Immanuel God with us wonderful Counsilor the mighty God Prince of Peace the everlasting Father the issu of the Lord and fruit of the Earth in al which both Natures are implied Jeremy saith He shal be stiled God our righteousnes and God saith of him Thou art my Son this day i Jer. 33. Psalm 2. 7 8. from al eternity hav I begot thee Yea David cals him Lord The Lord said to my Lord sit on my right hand til I make thine Enimies thy footstool al which pregnant places are cleerer then the Sun therfore 't is a sensless surmise that he should be a mundan Monarch Quae de Messiae adventu cecinere Prophetae Praestita per Christum cuncta fuere bene What of Messias Prophets did foretel Were by Christs coming al performed wel Aliâ—â—r Quae de Messia veteres retulere Prophetae Perspicue in Christo praestita quaeque patent What of Messiah Prophets old informed Doo cleerly al appeer in Christ performed Aliâ—â— Ordino retrogrado quae Christus facta peregit Cuncta libris Vates praemonuere suis Bacward again Al things which Christ atchived Were by the Prophets in their Books premised Sâ—â—uâ— Quam bene conveniunt praemissa Prophetica Christo Quam bene complevit singula Christus item How wel to Christ thos Prophecies agree How wel by Christ al things accomplish'd be THES V. Christi duae Genealogiae Christs two Genealogies FOur Evangelists wrot Christs life acts death and resurrection This Thesis is taken mostly from William Cowper Bishop of Galloway in Scotâ—and at several times and places who jointly agree in Story which argues the truth of their testimony but two only record his Genealogy diversly not adversly which shews the sweeter symmetry St. Matthew a Jew reckons Josephs natural pedigree and Maries legal becaus they regarded not womens Parentage But Luke a Gentil born reports hir Natural Prosapy and his legal to whom both Sexes are alike So betwen both the two Descents are completly displaied to satisfy al Men and stop Maligners mouths Matthew descends from Fathers to Children denoting that we com from God by his divine word Luke ascends from Children to Parents implying that by the same word Incarnat we return to God for we cam from God the Father only by Christ his Son as Sons of Creation common to al Flesh and can go to him by no other then Christ Redeemer as Sons of Regeneration proper or peculiar soly to his spiritual Kindred Christs Genealogy deorsum is sorted into fiv sections 1. From Adam to Noah 2. From Noah to Abram 3. From Abram to David 4. From David to Zerobabâ—l 5. From him to Christ In the first and secund to Abram St. Luke runs alone In the third to David both march mutualy In the fourth to Zerobabel they take different races from David Matthew by Salomon Luke by Nathan meeting in Salathiel wher they take two steps jointly and part again the one shaping his cours from Zerobabel by Abiud to Joseph the other by Rhesa to Mary but both concur in Christ being supposed Son to Joseph and genuin of Mary This is the general Genethliacal series of both very obvious to al specialy to Men versed in Pedigrees the several sections shal render the reason of al. The first to Noah contains ten Fathers Adam Seth Enos 1 Section Cainan Mahalaleâ—l Jarâ—d Enocâ— Methuselah Lamâ—ch Noah al which Matthew omits and next ten too becaus his chief aim was to convert his Countrimen and so begins plausibly with Jesus Christ the Son of David son of Abram for it was current among al them that Messiah should be the Son or Seed of David and Abram was their first beleeving Progenitor after four descents of Idolaters But Luke a Pagan Phisition Convert seeking to win al Nations drew the line twenty links higher one teaching to seek our Saviour in Abrams seed the other that al Beleevers of Adams Progeny hav property in Christ Here obsery That Adam Christs first forefather after Notae the flesh is caled Gods Son by Regeneration so wel as Creation for as at beginning Adam Gods Son is Christs first carnal Father so at Christ end Gods eternal Son becam the Son of Man A marvelous mutation that Man made by God should becom Father to him who being God was made Man to make Men the Sons of God Lo what a binding stone the Lord Jesus is which knits together not only Man with Man Jews and Gentils but Man with God not by personal union
Fire was cast into Sea and a third part becam Blood At the third A great Star caled Wormwood burning as a Lamp fel making a third part of Rivers and Fountains bitter that many died of them At fourth A third part of Sun Moon and Stars was darkned that the day and night for a third part shined not Here intervens as a preparatory transition to the three last Trumpets An Angel flying through midst of Heaven crying a loud Wo Wo Wo to the Earths Inhabiters by reason of the three Angels yet to sound The fift sounded which is the first Ch 9. 1 Wo. of Wo And a Star fel from Heaven to Earth and he opened the bottomless Pit with a Key whence arose Smoke darkning Sun and Air out of which cam Locusts whos effects are notably described together with their King Abaddon or Apollyon The sixt or secund Wo sounded whâ—ch 2 Wo. Ch. 10. loosed four Angels bound at Euphrates who were prepared to slay a third part of Men their Army being two hundred thousand thousand Horsmen which are largely described with their woful effects Here a mighty Angel Jesus Christ descended with a litle Book in his hand open who set his right Foot on the Sea and left on Earth swearing with lifted up hands by him that livs for ever ther should be no more time but at sound of the seventh Trumpet the mystery of God shal be finished as he declared to the Prophets This Angel cried loud as if a Lion roared or seven Thunders uttered their voices which John was about to writ but a voice from Heaven bid him seal it up and eat the little Book which in his mouth was sweet as Hony but made his Belly bitter that he might Prophecy Then â—b 11. was John bid to mesure Temple Altar and Worshipers with a reed but not the out Court for the Gentils must tread the holy City under foot forty two Moneths and he gav his two Witnesses power to Prophecy one thousand two hundred sixty dais clad in Sack-cloth but the beast rising from the bottomless Pit shal kil them whos dead Bodies shal ly in the street of the great City three dais and half unburied who shal reviv and ascend to Heaven to their Enimies great grief and terror The seventh 3 Wo. or third of Wo sounded which finished Gods mysteries and his Churches miseries then were great voices heard in Heaven saying the Kingdoms of this World are becom the Lords and his Christs to whom the twenty four Elders sung a gratulation attended with Lightnings Thundrings Voices Earthquake and great Hail Here the first Prophecy or System of Visions which contains chiefly the fourth Empires condition ends after which the secund contemporar with the former of Seals and Trumpets folows foretelling the Churches future state til the last day Herin three principal points are handled 〈◊〉 1. Hir tribulations 4 Vision by several Enemies 2. Hir deliverance by their destruction 3. Hir happy condition after deliverance Most Interpreters make both Visions one continued Prophecy yet not so properly tho in substance neer one The Churches persecutions Ch. 12. by several Enimies are pourtraied in this fourth Vision but the parturient Womans pursuit by the Dragon most pointly who waged war with the remnent of Hir seed The Dragons Ch. 13. instruments are the Beast with seven heads and ten borns rising from the Sea and that coming out of the Earth which had two horns like a Lamb but spake as a Dragon The events Ch. 14. of this persecution is the Saints victory by their constant confession of Christ even to death which is amplified by the causes and effects The Vision of seven Phials ful of Gods wrath and the seven 5 Vision last plagues poured out by seven Angels declare the Churches Ch. 15. deliverance by hir Enimies destruction The first poured his Ch. 16. plagues on the Earth the next on the Sea the third on Rivers and Fountains the fourth on the Sun the fift on the Beasts seat the sixt on Euphrates the seventh into the Air whos effects see in the context In the sixt Vision many mysteries are manifested being before 6 Vision Ch. 17. but obscurely mentioned which point out the Rise Reign Seat Vassals Success and final fal of Antichrist with al the Churches Enimies Here behold the great Whores judgment and event wherin a lifely description of the Whore to be judged both by visional representation of a Woman sitting on a scarlet Beastful of Names of Blasphemy having on hir forehead a Name writen A Mystery Babylon the Great Mother of Harlots and Abominations and by real explanation that the Beasts seven Heads are seven Hils and ten Horns ten Kingdoms The Instruments which shal destroy the Whore are thos ten Horns or Kings who shal hate and make hir desolat or naked eat hir flesh and burn hir with fire The promulgation Ch. 1â— of Babylons perdition is performed by three Angels one declares the certainty 't is falen and becom the habitation of Devils another warns al Gods People to com out of hir for fear of hir plagues setting forth hir Vâ—ssals sad laments crying alas alas that great City the last seals up hir ruins irrecoverablenes under the type of A great Milstone cast into the Sea Then folow gratulatory Ch. 19. exultations of the Heavenly company singing Halelujah to God both for the Whores judgment and preparation of the Lambs Wife to marry with him together with the Lamb and his Armies total conquest over the Beast fals Prophet and earthly Kings with their Armies wherto al Fowls are invited to eat their flesh The last Vision shews the event of the Whores judgment 7 Vision Ch. 20. which is triple 1. The Saints safety by chaining up the Dragon or Devil for one thousand yeers in the bottomless pit 2. The Martyrs living and reigning with Christ one thousand yeers but the rest of the dead lived not again til thos yeers were finished 3. The Saints miraculous deliverance from the Nations Gog and Magog by fire from Heaven to devour them when their Deceiver is cast into a Lake of fire and Brimstone wherupon folows the general judgment of the dead smal and great according to their works So far the Church Militants future state on Earth next folows the Triumphants happy condition in Heaven for ever which is gloriously decyphered with the Water of Life and Tree in midst of the Street as the Text Ch. 211 Ch. 22. shews The conclusion with its three parts is Analysed at first among the three chief Heads of this Prophecy which shal not be Tautologicaly repeated or reiterated Mr. Dury in a prolix Preface to the German Divines Clavis hath prefixed an ample Analysis which is abundantly abridged and annexed for variety of wit The Title tels that the Book Ch. 1. v. 1. is a Revelation of Jesus Christ who is the Subject-matter sith the sole scope is
to make him manifest This Title contains three things 1. the Author God who gav it to Christ 2. The use for which he gav it to shew his Servants the things that shal shortly befal 3. The means by which Christs manifestation is put forth to this use 1. He sent and signified Ibid v. 2. 3. c. it by an Angel to John 2. The Preface directs either generaly to al Churches that bear record of Gods Word and Testimony of Jesus and al things he saw which wil make them blessed that read hear and keep the same or specialy to the seven Asian Churches of Jesus Christ who is described 1. By the properties or effects of his first coming in the Flesh who is the faithful Witnes and first begotten of the dead Prince of al earthly Kings which loved us and washed our sins in his Blood making us Kings and Priests to God his Father 2. By the properties and effects of his secund coming with Clouds when every Ey even thos that pierced him shal see him and al Kindreds wail becaus of him 3. By a narrativ of the Visions which extends from ch 1. v. 9. to ch 22. v. 6. 4. By the conclusion comprised ch 22. v. 6. ad finem Here consider 1. The certainty importance and use of it 2. The effects which it wrought in John who was ready to worship the Angel but bid to forbear 3. The command which he had not to seal the Prophecies with the reason of it 4. The authority therof is repeated becaus Jesus sent his Angels to testify thes things in the Churches becaus 't is ratified by the Spirit Bride and al Beleevers becaus the perfection is such as no thing may be added or subtracted on pain of eternal plagues and perdition The Contents of the Prophecy are triple 1 The things which John saw in the first Vision viz. 1 Vision Chap. 1. Christs presence with his Churches who is their Mediator and high Priest as walking in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks their King as holding their seven Stars or Angels in his right hand and Prophet as out of whos mouth went a sharp two edged sword of Gods Word 2 The things which then were Chap. 2 3. viz. the seven Churches to whom John by Christs appointment sent Epistles wherin al perfections and imperfections promises and menaces admonitions and reproofs exhoâ—tations and precepts are intended to al Churches and Pastors so wel as thes sith no Prophecy is of privat interpretation for the proem and period of every Epistle is Let him that hath an ear hâ—ar what the spirit saith to the Churches 3 The things to bâ—fal hereafter Ch. 4 tâ—l ch 22. which transcend from the Churches on Earth to the Kingdom of Heaven wher John saw the things which must be hereafter The secund Vision shews 1 What the Churches constitution 2 Vision in Heaven is how ordered about Gods Throne and set in his presence 2 What the administration of affairs in Heaven and Chap. 4. the Churches government on Earth by Jesus Christ is who a spotless Lamb flain meritoriously purchased that honor to open Chap 5. the sealed Book of Gods Counsils being his seven Eys of Wisdom and seven Horns of Power able alone to discharge such a trust 3 What changes chanced in the World and the Chap. 6. Churches condition at opening of the first six seals wher is shewed how at preaching of the Gospel great troubles and terrible Chap. 7. wars arose among Men wherin Christs Martyrs ly as Sacrifices under the Altar crying for vengeance but are comforted that they shal be avenged after a short season and their Enimies terrified at first executing of the Lambs wrath upon them Yet lest judgment prepared should fal on his Friends a preventiv Chap. 8. provision is made to seal and sever them from the rest that no hurt heat or hunger shal annoy them 4 What destruction betides or is brought on the World at opening the seventh seal and what glory to the Saints which last includs al that folows to the end of this Book Here seven Angels with seven Trumpets declare Gods Judgments on the Earth but the three last remarkably differ from the four first which giv warning of great Wo thrise threatned by tripetion to the Earths Inhabitants but the four first tend to depriv the World of a third part of their comforts as in trees green grass the Seâ— with al Animals therin Ships Rivers Fountains Sun Moon Stars the light of day and night The three Wo-Trumpets Chap. 9. produce heavier plagues both by Locusts which shal so torment Men that they shal seek death but not find it and Euphratean Horsmen which shal slay a third part of Men yet the rest repented not The third Vision of A mighty Angel coming from Heaven 3 Vision Chap. 10. clothed with a cloud and Rainbow on his head his face like the Sun and feet as pillars of fire who stood on the Sea and Earth had a litle Book open in his hand which John being bid eat up and inabled him to Prophecy The three past Visions shew three substantial Note differences of things reveled to John and three main changes of his Spirit in receiving them the first contains Christs ministration of his Offices on Earth among his Churches the next of his Offices in Heaven over al the World to preserv and propagat his Church the last of his Offices both in Heaven and Earth to finish al wickednes in the World and to perfect his Churches felicity In al which manifestations he is presented sutable to the things reveled 1 As a Man in dealing with Men 2 As a Lamb offred to God in dealing with God 3 As a mighty Angel to incounter Satan with his Angels and powers of darknes in the World The matter of this Vision is Chap. 11. to shew when and how the mystery of God spoken by the Prophets shal be finished wherin 1 John had a Reed as a Red given to mete the Temple Altar and them that worship 2 The out-Court is given to the Gentils who shal tread on the holy City fourty two moneths 3 The two sack cloth witnesses had power to Prophecy one thousand two hundred and threescore dais 4 The Beast rising from the bottomless pit shal slay them but after three dais and a half they revived and ascended to Heaven in a cloud which terrified their Enimies 5 Great joy was in Heaven becaus this worlds Kingdoms are becom the Lords and his Christs that he may reward his Saints and Servants Ther folow several subordinat Visions which concern the Church typified by a woman Chap. 12. and respect 4 times 1 Before she fled into the wildernes who brought a Man-child which the Dragon waited to devour but he was rapt up to Heaven and the Dragon with his Angels cast to Earth by the Angel Michael yet he persecuted the Woman and made war
worship the Doner Dragon Ergo the Courts measuring the womans Childing the Dragons waiting and his Duel with Michael synchronize even at the very Epoche of St. Johns repeated Prophecy 9 The pouring out of seven Phials by seven Angels synchronize Rev. 15. 2 3. with the Beasts downfal and Babylons destruction for which the Victors sing Moses triumphant hymn Thus far of the nine chief Synchronicisms Now the Apocalyps contains three parts 1 The Vision of seven golden Candlesticks or Asian Churches which takes up the three first chapters 2 The Prophecy of seven Seals and Trumpets from Chap. 4. to 10. vers 8. 3 The Prophecy of the litle open Book Rev. 16. 10 19 or body of Prophetic Visions which John being bid eat up from Chap. 10. vers 8. to the end of al. That this is a repetition of the Prophecy appeers by the Angels words to John Thou must Prophecy again 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to many People Nations Toungs and Rev. 10. v. 11. Kings which are plainly distinguishd from the rest of Prophecies He hath other synchronicisms of Seals Trumpets and Phials too tedious and invious or obscure beatus qui intelligit Howbeit som confused collections shal be exhibited to be better sifted or scanned 1 The seventh Seal touching the first six Trumpets is the Rev. 8. same with the two Beasts which concur with the company of one hundred forty four thousand Virgins being opposit to the Rev. 7. Beasts reigning this initiats with the sixth Trumpet or beginning of the seventh for sith the witnesses mourning one thousand two hundred threescore dais ends with the sixth Trumpet or as the seventh begins the Beasts forty two moneths must needs expire then also and by consequent the Beasts tyranny is confined in the compas of the first six Trumpets For the Vision of witnesses being the first repeated Prophecy the most wise Spirit runs through as a Weaver doth his warp with Rev. 11. his woof the whol body of repeated Prophecies to connect them aptly with the Seals The Beasts overthrow Cities fal Note slaughter of Men by an Earthquake are not meant of the Beasts utter destruction but end of his authority and reigning forty two moneths which the Beasts and two witnesses synchronicisms being granted must determin together For the Beast shal remain a short space but so unlike former as scars to be reputed the same which soon after under the seventh Trumpet shal be absolutly abolished 2 The seven Phials of wrath being so many degrees of the Rev 16. 10. Beasts fal or fate synchronize with the inchoation of his destruction but his Kingdom fel so fast the sixth Trumpet yet sounding which put a period to his power of forty two months over the Saints that he cannot be quit ruined til the fifth Phial be poured out when his seat shal be shaken and kingdom Rev. 10. 6. darkned Ergo fiv Phials were poured out yer the sixth Trumpet ceased for the seventh Phial of consummation concurs with the seventh Trumpets initiation which also sounds the termination 3 The thousand yeers of the Dragons binding and shutting up in the Rev. 20. the bottomless pit with a seal set theron that he should no more deceiv the Nations concurs with the seventh consummation Trumpet and Beasts confusion for the use was to seal up a place or prison sure as Darius did the Lions Den with a ring and the Jews Christs Sepulcher by sealing the stone Som suppose his casting down to Earth and shutting up is the same but 't is not so For his ejecting from Heaven hindred not his doing harm on Earth but being clos prisoner in chains he cannot Rev. 12. wander to doo hurt nor doo the things related agree sith during the first six Seals and under the six first Trumpets of the seventh he was free or loos Ergo his shutting up for one thousand yeers fals under the seventh Trumpet For he was not bound at the battle nor while the woman staid in the wilderness nor during the ten hornd Beasts reign sith his Scholar the fals Prophet seduced People with signs and wonders al that Rev 9. 11. time Yea the Locusts King caled the Angel of the bottomless pit is the very Dragon or Satan then not sealed when the sixth Angel poured out his Phial and seventh ready to pour his For three unclean Spirits like Frogs cam out of the Dragons Rev. 16. 13 14. Beasts and fals Prophets mouths which wrought wonders and went to the Kings of the World Ergo the thousand yeers of his being bound belong to the seventh Trumpet So the war when Satan after a thousand yeers is loosed a little space differs from that when the Beast and fals Prophet are cast alife into the burning Rev. 20. 10. Brimstone Lake For the first war is waged by him that sat on a whit Hors caled Gods Word who smot the Nations with a sharp Sword and was folowed by Armies in Heaven on Whit Horse◠But in the last at Armageddon God sent fire from Heaven to devour them and Satan is cast into that Lake wher the Beast and fals Prophet are before For he is first clapt close in prison a thousand yeers and then loosed but now condemned to be incessantly tormented for ever Sith then the war with the Beast and fals Prophet differs from this last either 't is to be waged during thos thousand yeers which cannot be sith Satan was then bound or before as it must needs be Ergo thos yeers commence at or after the Beasts casting into a firy Lake or rather together at one time 4 The thousand yeers of Christs Imperial reign at coming Rev. 20. 4. wherof the triumphant Elders sang gratulatory Hymns to God being immediatly at conquest of the Beast and Babylon which contemporize with the seventh trumpet For this Kingdom is given to the Saints as a reward of their faith and constancy becaus they did not worship the Beast nor his Image nor receiv his mark This is that Kingdom caled Christs who Rev. 11. 15. shal reign for ever which the Angels foretold that the mystery of God should be finished at sound of the seventh Trumpet as the Rev. 10 6 7. Prophets declared Then neither the Beasts forty two months nor the witnesses mourning one thousand two hundred threescore dais nor a period of a time times and half no nor time it self shal any more remain 5 The new Jerusalem the Lambs Bride and seventh consummation Rev. 21. 2. Trumpet or time of the Beasts and Babylons confusion synchronize for new Jerusalem is the Lambs Bride or beloved City which immediatly at the thousand yeers end is compassed by the last troop Gog and Magog of Satan then loosed for a little space Ergo it was extant before at sound of the seventh trumpet At pouring out the seventh Phial when the Beast is destroied ther cam a loud voice from the Rev 16 〈◊〉 17.
leaving Egs in the Earth to increas their issu They had a King the Angel of the bottomless Pit caled â—n Hebrew Abaddon in Greec Apollyon destroier which imports them Infidels or Children of unbeleef subject to the Prince of the Air as St. Paul saith wheras Eph. 2. v. 〈◊〉 Christians are freed from Sarans power and converted to God This Prince cald before the Devil old Serpent Satan Dragon is here new named Abaddon wheras Mahometans profes to worship one sole God Demiurgus Maker of the univers to whom they giv the Epither Abdi or Abada i. Eternal wheras the holy Ghost givs this King a title of semblable sound but opposit sens Abaddon the Worlds destroier instead of Demiurgus the Maker The sixth or secund of Wo hath a voice from the four horns 6 Trumpet Rev. 9. 13. to 2â— of the golden Altar saying Loos the four Angels which are bound at the river Euphrates Thes Angels being Patrons of thos parts metaphoricaly signify the confining Nations which breaking in upon the Roman Regions stopped a few ages neer this River but are now loosed They may probably imply the Turcs four Sultanies or Signiories Asia minor Aleppo Damascus Antioch but becaus Antioch lying a little remot from Euphrates lasted but fourten yeers being surprised by Boemund in the holy war som instead reckon Bagdet beyond Euphrates in Persia Such was their State at first irruption under Trogulbecus or Tongrolipix who took Bagdet An. 1008. Seididruddulas or Cutlumuses Nephew to Tangrolipix founded the Asian Kingdom An. 1012. Siarfuddulas subdued Aleppo An. 1079. Tagaddaulas another Nephew of Tangrolipix surprised Damascus at the same time Al which Angels were long limited to thos parts with manifold changes and now at last let loos being prepared for an Hour a Day Month and Yeer that they might slay the third part of Men. This loosing befel when the Tartars abolished Bagdets Caliphship A. C. 1621. An. 1258. and the Turcs were cast as it were with a sling into the Empires territories on this side Euphrates For the Latins who staid their incursions two hundred yeers were about that time driven out of Syria and Palestine Then the Turcs shared lesser Asia til Ottoman grew great whos Son Orchanes entred Europ and his fith Successor Mahomet 2. took Constantinople which is that slaughter of a third part of Men here intimated as the time a Day Month and Yeer plainly indicats For a Prophetic Day implies one yeer a A nice observation if vâ—ri table Month thirty a yeer three hundred threescore and fiv in al three hundred ninty six Now Tangrolipix was inaugurated King of Persia An. 1057. and Constantinople sacked An. 1453. just 396. yeers asunder Haply the very hour which in that proportion makes fiften dais agreed also with the event if Almachinus had recorded the Month of his Inauguration so wel as the yeer They are said to be Horsmen as Turcs and Persians are mo then Foot in number two hundred thousand thousand which intimats huge Armies as David saith The Charets of God are Psal â—8 17. twenty thousand even thousands of Angels such vast Armies the East Nations bring into field I heard saith John the number of them viz. by voice for he cannot see numbers in Vision and so must other places be understood which appeer not by Vision Ezekiel in his Prophecy against Gog the land of Ezek. 38. 2 3. Magog chief Prince of Mesech and Tubal from whom Tures descend describes them to be Horsmen armed for Persians and Parthians take name of Paras a Hors or Horsman But Turcs since their long plantations ther are by Nicetas and others caled Persians So thes Euphratean Horsmen are Turco-Persians They had brest-plats of fire Jacinthian smoke and brimstone which is no wher els in Scripture Ergo it may wel allud to Guns and the Horses heads were like Lions out of whoâ— mouths issued fire smoke and brimstone by which a third part of Men was killed For the Turcs used Guns latly before invented See Chalâ—â—â—dilas at siege of Constantinople and slu a third part of Inhabitants as their Successors did since at Corinth and other Cities Such sharp sawces make meats seem more savoury and Mr. Mede hath many such unvulgar unparalleld Annotations The Horsmens power was in their mouths and tails having tails like Serpents and heads with both which to doo hurt So Sarasens are said to hav sharp tails of Scorpions which is tru of Turcs who had tails of Serpents signifying their Mahometan subtlety or imposture wherby both did more mischief then by the Sword The rest of Men which were not killed by thes plagues repented not of their works that they should not worship Devils and Idols of gold c. which can neither hear see nor walk Nor of their Murders Sorceries Fornication and Thefts This is manifestly meant of Christians in the Roman Empire which worship Images made of those metals and materials for none but they doo 〈◊〉 on this side Euphrates Thes indeed are no Devils or unclean Spirits sith no Christians wil 1 Tim 4. 1 2 3. wittingly or willingly worship such But Demoniacs or Deastri dead Men Deified whom they make Mediators of Intercession betwen God and Men. The seventh Trumpet or third of Wo is ready to sound but 7 Trumpet Rev. 10 v. 1 c. a mighty Angel cam from Heaven clothed with a Cloud a Rainbow on his Head his Face as the Sun and Feet pillars of Fire He had in his hand a little Book open who set his right foot on the Sea and left on Earth crying loud as when a lyon roars and seven thunders uttered their voices John was about to write it but a voice from Heaven said seal up thes things which the seven thunders uttered and write not Then the Angel lifted his hand to Heaven and swore by him that livs for ever that Time shal be no more But in the dais of the seventh Angels voice when he shal begin to sound the mystery of God should be finished as he declared to his servants the Prophets The sound of this seventh Trumpet should succed the sixth but is superseded by the litle Book intervening yet lest ought be omitted in the interim to fulfil the Prophecy of Seals the holy Ghost shews the last trumpets event in general viz. that at sound therof the Roman Beast being destroid and the last heads time com to an end the mystery of God shal be finished as he foretold his Prophets For so 't is declared to Daniel that the fourth Dan 7. 13. 14. Beast being slain the Son of Man or King of Saints should rule over the World and the gratious promises of restoring Israel be fulfilled The finishing of which mystery is Christs glorious Kingdom which arose or appeered at sound of the 7 Ttrumpet when the grand acclamation of Voices in Heaven was heard saying The Kingdoms of this World are becom the Lords and his Rev.
11. 15. Christs who shal reign for ever What can be cleerer Ergo the Time which the Angel swore shal be no more is the period of al four Monarchies in general or Roman in special which is one effect of a time times and half This consummation of Gods mystery is the matter of the seventh trumpet attended with seven thunders which uttered their voices while the Angel proclamed it and synchronize with that trumpet But John is bid to seal up thos things of the thunders being inscrutable til the proper times that God shal revele it This trumpet discovers the mystery reserved to another place but both Prophecies of the Seals and litle Book are concluded with one issu which this trumpet exhibits the ful opening wherof is deferd til a ful passage be made to the litle Books new Prophecy and then the seventh trumpets mystery which is the Catastrophe is aptly and amply declared as shal be shewed Hence this busines is undertaken by no other Angels but by that excellent one who held in his hand the litle Book eaten by John If that Angel be Christ as his Roial attire and furniture imports this suspending the last sound in favor of the other Prophecy agrees to none so wel as him but if it were Michael the great Prince or another Angel clothed in linnen and his Dan. 1◠〈◊〉 Dan. 1â— 6. â—oins girded with fine gold of Vphaz as appeered to Daniel the case alters not being from God Here the first part or Prophecy of Seals ends touching the 2 Part. Empires affairs the next or nobler concerns the Churches fate to be agitated John proceds herein The voice which I heard Rev 10. 8 9â— 10 11. from Heaven spake to me again saying Take the litle open Book in the Angels hand who oat it up as he was bid wherby he was prepared to Prophecy again before many People Nations Toungs and Kings but the mystery to be reveled was sweet as hony in his mouth and the secret part of the Churches woful condition bitter as Aloes in his maw the representation is taken from Ezekiel The Prophecy proceds which begins from Ezek 3. 1 2 3. his work about Gods Templeâ— which presents the Churches duple state by two Courts one measured and another cast out Ther was given me a reed like a rod and the Angel said Rev. 11. 〈◊〉 measure Gods Temple and Altar and them that worship but the Court without measure not for 't is given to the Gentils who shal tread the holy City under foot forty two Months Here the primitiv state of Christs Church conformable to Gods Word is described by measuring the inner Court the type wherof an Angel shewed to Ezekiel The outer Court not to Ezek 〈◊〉 be measured sets forth Gods holy City or Christian Church which must be given to new Idolaters caled Gentils becaus they defiled it with Antichristian Apostasy fourty two annal months as shal be fully handled in the Story of the two horn'd Beast contemporizing herwith Jerusalems Temple had two Courts 1 Inner wher the burnt Offrings Altar stood at the 2 〈◊〉 Temples entry which was open only to Priests and Levits 2 Outer or great Court common to the People cald the Court of Israel The first termed Thyasterium or Altar of Sacrafice John is bid to measure but ths outer is given the Gentils to prophane fourty two months If it be said 't is the holy City not out Court which must be troden under foot 'T is answered that both are one and cald the holy City becaus People assembled here for holy Services To thos Herod at rebuilding the Temple added a third for Gentils and unclean persons who were prohibited the two others I wil giv power to my two witnesses V. 3 4 5. who shal Prophecy in sackcloth one thousand two hundred threescore dais thes are two Oliv Trees and two Candle sticks standing before the God of the Earth If any wil hurt them fire proceds from their mouths to devour their Enemies and if any wil hurt them he must thus be killed Thes mourning witnesses are Preachers or Patrons of divine truth which shal bewail the filthy pollution of Christs Church Idolizing like Gentils as Monitors to desist from their abomination and guids for the Saints to persist pure They are named two according to three famous Pairs in the old Testament viz. Moses and Aaron in the wildernes Elias and Elisaeus under the Baalitic Apostasy Zerobabel and Jesua at the Babylonish Captivity For they sympathise with thos types in number power and acts as the state of the Church when thes Prophecied suting with that of Israel is resembled to the wildernes Baalatism and Babylon V. 6. Thes hav power to shut Heaven that is rain not during their Prophecy as Elias and Elisaeus had and to turn waters into blood as Moses and Aaron had and to smite the Earth with al plagues so oft as they pleas Thes are caled Oliv Trees and Candle sticks standing before the Lord like Zerobabel Prince of Juda and Jesua the high Priest whom God annointed to restore Zech. 4 3 11. the Jewish Church under Captivity as Zechary alluds This Prophecy til the seventh trumpets sounding is not presented in Vision but dictated by an Angel personating Christ The witnesses are caled two as the Law requires to confirm every word and in regard of Gods two Tables or Testaments which they used in Prophecying They shal Prophecy one thousand two hundred threescore dais being forty two months which are not natural dais nor three dais and half when they shal ly dead so meant becaus the Beast whos time they contain contemporized with the hundred fourty four thousand sealed and they with the six first trumpets which cannot run out in so short a space as 1260. dais If any ask why the Gentils prophanation Note is measured by months the witnesses defending Gods pure Worship by dais 't is becaus Idolatry is the power of darknes or night which the Moon rules but tru religion compared to light or day which the Sun governs So Paul is said To turn the Gentils from darknes to light from Satans Acts 26 18. power to God Sith then Months are measured by the Moons motion but dais and yeers by the Sun the Beasts blasphemy is stil reckoned by months and the Womans stay in the wildernes by dais or yeers Zechary likens the two Oliv trees to the Zech. 4. 14. two annointed Zerobabel and Jesua which stand by the Lord but he mentions only one Candlestick signifying the Temple of that time and John two implying haply the East and West Church as it was divided during the witnesses mourning Thes did not avenge or afflict their Enemies by war and weapons but by fire from their mouths or denouncing Gods wrath on the abusers of his Ministers As the Lord speaks to Jeremy I wil make my Words in thy mouth fire and this Peo-ple Jer
Popish Clergy of whom shal perish seven thousand a few more or less Ther is a third interpretation that by names of Men are meant Companies Corporations Cities Boroughs or Societies which hav their names so wel as Men but we may not rashly resolv future things whos chief commentary is event nor is name tied to any one certain signification The secund Wo is past and lo a third coms quickly The fifth V. 14. Trumpets Earthquake ended with the secund Wo of the sixth and the Witnesses mourning prophecy is to finish together with it being al synchronicals If then the sixth Trumpets Wo or plague be the Turcs over flowing from Euphrates into the Empire doon long ago this end of the same plague must be a drying up of the said water at pouring out of the fifth Rev. 16. 1◠c. Phial wherby the way is prepared for the East Kings to com in but lest a gap be left betwen either Trumpet the seventh seems to begin so that wondrous preparation of the Dragon Beast and fals Prophet for the last war in Armageddon with its issu should be set here at beginning of the seventh to which the war pertains Hence a doubt occurs not to be slighted sith ther is one term Doubt of the Beasts fourty two months and witnesses one thousand two hundred sixty dais which expired with the sixth Trumpets plague or secund Wo it may be asked why the Beasts months are reckoned no farther sith after that term much of the Beast remains unabolished til the seventh Trumpet begins This is doon either becaus the Jews conversion being as a Resolv new Kingdom then commenceth or becaus in the Beasts continuance special consideration is had to the Empire of Rome-City which being the Beasts throne is overthrown in that great Earthquake so the Beast being driven from his Metropolis shal as it were change his form and be no more a Kingdom of seven Hils which is another signification of the seven Heads At sound of the seventh Trumpet or last Wo Christs imperial V. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. reign in that great day of Judgment is touched the interpretation wherof he suspends til the end of al that he may handle the prophecies pertaining therto jointly together To make up the Body of the open Book the other prophecies of Ecclesiastic affairs com to be knit to the same among which the Woman in travel or Church laboring to bring forth Christ as spiritual Head of the Empire is chief which after 300. yeers persecution she effected in Constantin but hir Enemy the red Dragon watched to devour the Child Ther appeered a great wonder in Heaven a Woman clothed Rev. 12. v. 1. with the Sun the Moon under hir foot and on hir head a Crown of twelv Stars Lo a glorious Image of the primitiv parturien Church which shined by the faith of Christ the Sun of righteousnes treading under foot the Worlds rudiments both Lawish shadows and Heathenish superstitions and triumphing in the Ensigns of Apostolic Ofspring Most Men make the Moon a Type of terren transitory things which the Church contemns as below hir self This is tru but no wher so noted in Scripture which should be our warrant Indeed most Fests wher Typical worship was celebrated by Sacrifices as new Moons Paschal Penticost Tabernacles and Ecclesiastic yeer were ordered by the Moons motion which may resemble Mosaical worship put under foot by reveling of Christ who blotted out the hand writing of Ordinances and nailed them Colos 2 14. to his Cross as St. Paul speaks So sith God made the Sun a great Light to rule the Day and Moon a lesser to govern the Night she may be a symbol to signify the power of darknes or Satans worship and his spirits in Idols wherby the matter may be referred to Baptism by which the Church being illumined trampled on Idolatry renouncing the Devil and al his works Hence such as abjured turned to the West wher night begins as contrarily al Professors of Christs Faith and holy Trinity looked to the East wher Sun dispelling darknes begins the day She being with Child cried travelling in birth and was in pain V. 2. to be delivered The Church universaly and separatly taken as an Idaa is a Mother but in relation to Children continualy begot in hir is said to travel or bring forth See Isai 54. 1. Ezek. 23. 4. Hosea 2. 45. The throws or torments in travel are painful pangs or paroxisms of persecution which the infant Church suffred in parturition For tribulations are usualy resembled to sorows in Childbearing Isai 66. 7. Jer. 30. 6 7. Mat. 24. 8 9. Marc 13. 8. and elswher Another wonder appeered in Heaven lo a great red Dragon V. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with seven Heads and ten Horns and seven Crowns on his Heads his tail drew a third part of the Stars and cast them to the Earth This is a type of heathen Rome worshiping the Dragon who drew a third part of Stars with his tail to Earth or subjected three parts of the Worlds Rulers to his Empire The effigies of a Dragon points out his Pagan worshipers Enimies to Christianity as the Serpent was to the Womans seed but his rednes notes his embruing in the blood of Saints This type represents Pharaoh the old Synagogs cruel enemy bearing Children in Egypt as the Roman Dragon was of the Christian Church Ezek. 29 3. bearing hir Children For Ezekiel cals Pharaoh the great Dragon lying in midst of his Rivers and David saith thou brokest Ps 74. 13. 14. the heads of Dragons Egyptians in the waters The Dragon stood before the Woman ready for delivery to devour hir Child so soon as 't is born as Pharaoh laid wait for old Israel born in Egypt and Herod for Christ in Judea which places are sited in Afric and Asia so the Roman Dragon in Europ watched for mystical Christ which the Church was to bear that he might soon slay him after birth She brought a Manchild who was to rule al Nations with a V. 5. Rod or Scepter of Iron She bore mystical Christ formed in his Members not the Son of Man as St. Paul saith My litle Gal. 4 19. Children of whom I travel in birth again til Christ be formed in you Here a Christ is pourtraied as Prophetic types use not properly Theantropos but analogicaly a Son of the Church who was to rule al Nations with an Iron Scepter or Sword sith they were not Citizens or Denisens but Enemies Rev. 19. 15. or Aliens As 't is said Out of his mouth went a sharp Sword that he should smite the Nations for he shal rule them with a rod of Ps 2 9. iron Which words are taken from David and applyed to mystical Christ or a Christian Man to whom Christ the Head promiseth like power under name of the Church of Thyatira Rev. 2. 26. Hir Child was caught up to God and his Throne Real Christ is
two Prophecies 1. The sealed 1 Part. Book 2. The litle Book open In the Seal Prophecy is described the celical Imperial Session sutable to Israels incamping The twenty four Elders signify Bishops resembling the Rev. 4. 4. c. Priests and Levits in their twenty four courses The four Beasts are Israels Ensigns 1. Like a Lion 2. A Rev 6 per totum Bullock 3. With a Mans face 4. A flying Eagle They were ful of Eys to shew sagacity and ech had six wings implying agility The first Seals opener a Lion shewed a whit Hors and his Rider armed viz. Christ the Lion of Juda from the East who laid the foundation of conquest over the Dragon when Oracles ceased The next a Bullock presented a red Hors and his Rider denoting Trajan a Spaniard from the West whos reign was Bloody The third with a Mans face exhibited a black Hors and his Rider importing Septim Severus an African from the South who held Ballances in his hand indicating justice in the Empire The fourth an Eagle shâ—wed a pale Hors with his Rider which points out Maximinus a Thracian from the North in whos time and som Successors the Sword Famin and Pestilence messengers of death raged every wher The fifth no Hors nor Rider enters with A. C. 268. Aurelian til Rev. 7 4 to 10 Dioclesian presenting the primitiv persecutions The sixth declares a strange shaking of Heaven and Earth signifying the change or conversion of Heathen Rome by Constantin But before the seventh care is had for the Church to seal a company of one hundred forty four thousand viz. of every Tribe twelv thousand In which type is an unusual reckoning yet such as best resembles the profession of tru Religion miraculously preserved in midst of the old and new Idolatry The twelv Apostles aptly answer Israels type the number twelv being the Ensign of Apostolic race which by multiplying sets forth their progeny Hereto is added by representation of innumerous Palmbearers a most ample state of every Nation People Tribe Toung which praised God The seventh seal contains seven Angels with seven Trumpets Rev. 〈◊〉 7. to 12. sounding alarm to the Empires ruin by sevenfold plagues the four first of less extent The first wasts the Empires terraetenures by terrible incursions of north Nations like hail mixd with blood and fire who destroied a third part of al green things the Empire swaying a third part of the known World which began at Theodosius death by Alaric Rhadagaso and others A C 395. A 410. A 455. A 476. A â—42 The next assails the very Empire expressed by the Sea when Alâ—â—ic sacked Rome After which it daily declined til Gensericus took it and then began the ten Kingdoms The third casts down the Western Caesar omniously named Augustulus who being a baleful bitter Prince is resembled to a Star caled Wormwood The fourth bereavs the light and lustre of Roman Majesty with a third part of Sun Moon and Stars which shone bright before under Ostrogoth Kings when Romes Consulship with al Pomp of other Officers câ—ased Then folow three Wo Trumpets the fifth being the first of Rev. 9 per totum Wo sends hostil bands of Arabians Sarrasens likened to Locusts who not only spoiled the soil from A. 830. to 980. 150. yeers or 5. annal Months but poisoned Mens Souls with Mahometism like the venom of Scropions having a King cald in Hebrew Abaddon in Greec Apollyon destroier The sixth or secund Wo Trumpet looseth four Angels before bound at the River Euphrates being the Turcs four Sultanies as they were long so divided til Ottoman united them into his Monarchy This is to be accomplished in a Prophetic Day Month and Yeer viz. 396. yeers from A. 1051. when Tangrolipix took Bagdet til Mahomet 2. surprised Constantinople slaying a third part of Men A. 1453. Their number of Horses is computed two hundred thousand Rev. 10 〈◊〉 to 11. thousand their Ordnance Powder and Munition explicated by smoke fire and brimstone then invented The seventh or third Wo Trumpet is suspended til the litle Books Prophecy which contains the Churches destiny and John bid to eat it which was sweet in mouth but bitter in belly who is commanded to prophecy again before many People Nations Toungs and Kings This comprehends the consummation of Gods mystery the event wherof is declared by a mighty Angels Oath at whos loud cry seven Thunders uttred their Voices which John is forbid to write and bid to seal up The measured Court displais the primitiv Churches state conformed Rev. 11. 2. to 13. to Gods Word contrary wherto is the Court not to be measured being not his operature but to be prophaned by renewed Idolatry or Antichristian Apostasy which shal reign forty two Annal months During this space two Witnesses clad in sackcloth testify Gods truth and exhort to repent 1260. dais or yeers equivalent to forty two months of prophanation Thes denounce Gods Judgments which begin at pouring out the Phials and debarring the Idolaters from hope of eternal life Their fate is after finishing their testimony to suffer semblably with Christ as the Roman sevenhead Beast shal inflict on them Thes must dy mysticaly lying unburied three dais and half but then shal be restored to pristin place or eminenter estate and dignity Upon a Commotion or change of Politic affairs the City Rome being but a tenth part of what it was shal be overthrown at fifth Phial and seven thousand Men of mark and name the Clergies or Companies of Men slain This is the end of the sixth Trumpet when Kings of the East the Jews shal erect a new Kingdom and the two hornd Beast the Papal Clergy with Antichrist the fals Prophet the Pope driven from Rome before the great battle The Vision of the open Book goes through the whol cours 2 Part. of Revelation to shew its connexion with Seals and Trumpets Rev. 12. per 〈◊〉 after which insu many great mysteries The Roman Empire worshiping the Dragon or Devil persecuts Gods Church represented by a Woman in travel of mystical Christ 300. yeers but when Constantin cast him from the Throne he and his Successors enjoied it which chance or change contemporizeth with the sixth Seal The Woman being delivered of a Son dwels in the Desart forty two months or a time times and half or one thousand two hundred sixty dais typifying the Churches middle condition as being freed from Pagan persecution yet stil tossed with a flood of errors and Heresies cast from the Dragons mouth A new tragedy of troubles pursues hir who lighted on two Rev. 13 per 〈◊〉 Beasts at entring the Desarts porch one tenhornd rising from the Sea viz. the secular Empire shared into ten Kingdoms another two hornd coming out of the Earth which is the Ecclesiastic State or Pope and his Clergy Both reign with neer alliance together under the seventh Head of the old Beast exercising the Dragons
be for a time times and half or 1260. yeers and from the Temples abominable desolation to that time 1290. 2. That the Son of God lifted his hand to Heaven and swore by him who created Heaven Earth Sea and al things in them that time shal be no longer or ther shal be no delay nor any time intervene But at the seventh Angels voice or sound of his Trumpet the Rev. â— 18. mystery of God shal be finished as he declared to his Prophâ—ts Thes things saith the Son of God whos eys flame as fire and his feet like fine Brass Thes things saith he that is boly and tru that Rev. 3. 14. hath the key of David c. Thes things saith Amen the faithful tru Witnes and beginning of the Creation of God Who then wil not beleev him Sith then according to Gods decree Anthichrist shal rage or reign but three times and half or 1260. yeers which terminat at end of A. 1655. Let us look up and Luk. 21. 28. lift our heads on high for our redemption draweth nigh Ob. Som Objections occur such meer mysteries may not be pried into specialy of things yet to com for divers deep Divines and solid Scholars hav been lost in this labyrinth Ergo it should remain as a book sealed til the event or accomplisHment be reveled as Christ to his Disciples curious question of Israels kingdoms restauration answered 't is not for you to know the Acts 1. 6 7. times and seasons which the Father hath put in his own power much less for us Sol. The Apocalyps is ful of dark deep mysteries which wil â—y hid til the event detect them by applying Histories to see or search the effects therein meant or mentioned yet it folows not that we must lay it aside and not inquire what is already accomplished or shortly to be expected specialy touching the time when the Churches Enimies shal be destroyed and it restored to rest for Daniel observed by Books what the Lord told Jeremy Dan. 9. â— Rev. 1. 3. that he would accomplish seventy yeeres in Jerusalems desolation and John saith Blessed is he that reads and they which hear the words of this Prophecy to keep the things writ therin for the time is at hand 'T is a book of memorable Acts which foretels what shal betide Gods Church and the Empire under which it subsists being writen to be read and such stiled blessed as read it for many things are already fulfilled and by comparing thos past with the Apocalyps we may the better descry what to look for yer long but he that forbears to read or is not versed in Roman Histories nor knows how to distinguish Revolutions or Changes but confounds Apocalyptic numbers making many Epoches wheras they synchronize containing only Relativs and correlativs or carelesly slights the numbers as an arcane mistery to such it remains a Book unopened ful of obscurities Is qui nil dubitat nil capit inde boni Men must dig Diamonds out of Rocks and never be daunted or deterred with difficulty many learned hav mistook for thes causes 1 Most primitiv Interpreters apply things to their times which had no relation and som modernists folow their steps as wild Gees doo their leaders misleading others out of the way Secondly a right method is not used for in the Apocalyps al things are orderly set as they shal befal the synchronisms folowing one another and revolutions exactly distinguished as Histories doo in describing human actions and affaires but too many Expositors pervert this cours thinking to set things as succeding one another which being Relata belong to the same time Who place before Babylons fal what shal be after not knowing wher they stick nor how to wind out Thirdly they confound the Civil and Ecclesiastic State oft applying Monastic matters or Antichrists actions to Monarchic and contrarily Yet that the Revelation shall remain a Book sealed or shut up repugns the very Text for the seven Epistles were never sealed the Lamb opened the sealed Book the other was a little open one and Rev. 10. 2. 8. Rev. 22. 10. at end an Angel saith to John Seal not the Prophecies for the time is at hand Now tho Daniel was bid to close his Prophecy yet was it Dan. 12 4. 9. but til the time of the end for it was unsealed after by Johns Revelation Christ spak of times and seasons occasioned that John 2. 4 8 9. 't is not for men to know what God conceals as he said to his Mother my hour is not yet com yet soon supplied the Wine out of Water Here we tak time in general which is determined on Antichrists blasphemies and tyrannies in what yeer it shal begin or end which God hath reveled as is shewed not month day or hour which the Father keeps in his own power So tho no infallible certainty in al circumstances can be had yet many most pregnant conjects are prefined Ob. The chief O jection is that al Divines and Statesmen set the period of the fourth Monarchy and Papacy at Christs secund coming either to reign a thousand yeers as Chiliasts cry or to judg al flâ—sh which Master Mede makes one day or time but there is no certainty of confining the Catastrophe to A. 1655. Ergo 't is presumption for you so to doo Sol. The Apocalyps mentions no such matter but clean contrary Rev. 19. 1. to 20. for upon Romes destruction great joy was heard in heaven and the Son of God who at opening the first Seal went forth to Conquer on a whit Hors appeers again on the same whom the Armies followed on whit Horses clad in clean whit linnen Thes are Martyrs who having whit Robes given them Rev 7 14. cam out of great tribulation and washed their robes being caled chosen and faithful Against them the Beast and Kings of the Rev. 17. 14. Earth made war the issu wherof was that the Beast and fals Prophet Empire and Popedom or rather popish Clergy and Pope shal be cast alife into a Lake of fire burning with briâ—stone Rev 20. 1 2 3. but the Dragon had Quarter who is only shut or sealed up in the Ibid. v. 11. to 15. bottomless pit for a thousand yeers that he should deceiv the Nations no more nor excite them against the Church In the interim Gods faithful Children hav rest but the last judgment is described afterward hereto agrees Daniel's Image representing Dan. 2. 34 35. the four Monarchies til the stone smot it on his feet which was not when the fourth began for feet and toes were not then til the end thereof and broke it in peeces but the stone becam a great Mountain or Kingdom when al four Monarchies are grinded to dust which shal break in peeces al the rest Daniel in this Monarchic Vision beheld til the Dan 7. per totum Thrones were cast down and the Antient of dais sat not for
the last universal Judgment for that is committed to the Son but in particular over the Churches Enimies in the fourth Monarchy and Papacy which Daniel saw til the Beast was â—lain and his Body given to the burning flame and the power of the other Beasts cam to an end for a term was set how long eâ—h should last and the Saints shal be given into the fourth Beasts hand so long as the Whore rides the Bâ—ast til a time times and dividing of time but at end of these three times and half the judgment shal sit and his power totaly abolished yet the World not destroyed but al kingdom dominion and greatnes under Heaven given to the Saints of the most High whos kingdom is everlasting and al dominions shal serv him Saint Paul's words The Lord shal destroy him 2 Thes 2. 8. with the brightnes of his coming are expounded in the Apocalyps but it seems the two judgments ch 19. and 20. are Rev. 19. 11. c. different and not reduced to one self time sith one thousand yeers intervene for the two great Guests the Beast and fals Prophets are lodged in a Lake of fire and brimstone but their Host the Devil associated to them a thousand yeers after at end of the World when the last judgment is immediatly held Weigh al wel and God giv thee wisdom unto Salvation The Author intimats that Christ shal com to destroy the Churches Enimies A. 1655. finito and bind the Devil in chains a thousand yeers at end wherof he shal judg the World yet protests he wil not presume to penetrat too far into thes secret sublime mysteries which he borows from Master Mede He exhorts us out of the Apocalyps to address our Rev. 3. 20. 21. ears and hearts to the Son of God Who stands at dore and knocks saying If any wil hear my voice and open dore I will sup Rev. 1. 3 6 8. with him and he with me to him that overcoms wil I grant to sit Rev. 22. 7 14. with me on my Throne as I overcam and sat down with my Father on his Throne Blessed is he that keeps the sayings of this Books Prophecy nay blessed are they that doo his Commandments that they may hav right to the Tree of life and enter the Gates into the City To him which is was and is to com the Almighty be glory and dominion for ever Amen The sum of al his Explications is 1. The last act of Reformation Summary and releas of Protestants in Silesia Rev. 11. 7. 2. The three yeers and half when the Witnesses bodies ly in the street Ibid. v. 8 9. 3. The continuance of war in thos Kingdoms til the Martyrs innocent blood be avenged 4. The sudden fal of a strong Pillar or Protector of the Papacy 5. The exaltation of an Evangelical Head or Protestant Patron 6. A Reformation in Germany 7. The destruction of Rome City 8. The end of the Turcs Empire Rev. 11. 14. Rev. 16. 12. 9. The Jews Conversion Ibid. 10. The Papists sedulity to gather their utmost forces Rev. 16. 13. Rev. 19. 16. 11. The total ruin of al the Papacy Rev. 16. 18. 21. Rev. 19. v. 20. 21. 12. The fulfilling of Gods mystery Rev. 10. 7. Wherby the Devil is shut up in the bottomless Pit the Son of God takes possession of the Kingdoms the Church fares in peace and tranquillity al which he writes to comfort his afflicted Countrimen and draws al Chronical lines to one Center of A. 1655. as the common gulf which is a conjectural crotchet no certitudinal conclusion wheron Men may rely One yeer and half wil bewray the verity or vanity therof to Gods glory and Mens satisfaction who must stil wait and watch but not sift or serch into his secret hidden Counsils The future contingents which he proposeth to be shortly expected A. 1655. are thes 1. Romes final ruin 2. The Papacies total confusion 3. The Jews conversion 4. The Turcs Empires abolition 5. The Churches restauration 6. Christs readvention al which materials he hath from Mr. Mede Neither of them handle the Lambs mystical mariage with Rev. 19 7. his spiritual Spous which Dr. Preston compares to civil carnal Nuptials in â—iv respects 1. As Parents consents is requisit in the contract so God the Father hath freely given his Son to us and us to him 2. Both Parties must mutualy consent to be wedded so Christ the Husband as the Man stil is Suitor tho the Woman most needs it for hir perfection first invites us to this match and the holy Ghost prepares our hearts to intertain it 3. Both make a Covenant Christ on everlasting one to bestow himself and al that is his salvation remission of sins grace glory on us if we giv our selfs intirely to serv him Thes are but the Espousals 4. Ther folows a solen union or celebration of Mariage betwen both which is doon in Baptism when as we promiss in Weâ—lock to take ech other renouncing al other so here we vow by word of mouth or sureties to forsake the World Flesh and Devil with al their Works cleaving soly to Christ both in prosperity and persecution and keep our Souls chast to him not prostituting them to unclean lusts or service of any Creatures 5. The Nuptial consequents correspond in both which is an inseparable union of hearts and communion of goods my Beloved is mine and I his what Christ hath is made ours and our his our debts becom his as al his riches righteousnes honors and privileges ours by imputation O what a blessed condiâ—on is it to say with the Spous in the Cantiâ—les I am my Beloveds and his desire Câ—nt 7. 10. is toward Me He feedeth me among the Lilies O let his pretious Blood make my scarlet sins so whit as Wool or as the Snow in Salmon In this peece are mo tedious repetitions then in al the work els which is doon purposly to make it more obvious or perspicuous unto every common capacity Quae placuere semel decies repetita placebunt Sunt patefacta sacro mysteria magna Joanni Quae Deus in seclis efficienda dâ—cet To holy John great mysteries were told Which to be doon in Times God doth unfold Medus vir celebris nulli bonitate secundus Artibus Ingenio Judicioque praeit Quaeque revelavit mysteria magna Joanni Christus in illius sunt patefacta libro Mede was a rare Man for goodnes next to none In Learning Wit and Judgment cheif alone And what high hid things Christ to John declared Are in his Apocalyptic Book explaned Mira brevi obvenient Germanus praedicat Author Si modo venturis est adhibenda fides Mira canit quae anno simul efficienda propinquo Vix credenda tamen dum patefacta forent Strange things saith a German shortly shal befal If faith to futures may be giv'n at al. Wonders he tels which next yeer doon must be Yet scars to be beleevd til