Miracles and Kainish Persecutors had they but Power and in the mean time gross Idolaters and either lovers of lying Legends or Inventours of them These unclean Birds are kept out of the New Ierusalem but have their dismal haunts in the rubbish and ruines of the demolished Babylon as has been observed above 16. I Iesus have sent my Angel to testifie unto you these things in the Churches alluding to the Churches in Asia which signifie the whole succession of the truly Catholick and Apostolick Church to the end of the world The Churches therefore for whose use this Book was written are the Churches in Smyrna Pergamus Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea The whole Book of the Apocalypse is as it were an Epistle to them all as they are concerned in their several Successions Which passage is a farther confirmation of the Prophetical sense of the Epistles to the seven Churches in Asia I am the Root and the Off-spring of David * Which may denote his Divinity and Humanity as also his being the Off-spring or Son of David the true Messias his Right to the Kingdoms of the Earth as it is foretold in the second Psalm Ask of me and I will give thee the Nations for thine Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy possession And therefore because of the greatness and glory of his Kingdom it follows And the bright Morning-Star In the Sardian Interval he was onely the Morning-Star here the bright Morning-Star which is a sign this saying glances at the Philadelphian Interval in the commencement thereof under the last Vial which sutes with the saying of S t Iohn in the next Verse 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say Come The Spirit because this is the commencement of those Times that are properly called the Reign of the Spirit by the Cabbalists And the voice of the Bride is added as a Testimony of the Churches desire of the settlement of things into the Glorious Condition of the New Ierusalem upon the destruction of the blood-drunken Idolatrous Babylon And let him that heareth say Come that is Let him pray for the acceleration of so glorious a settlement of things And then our Saviour speaks for this latter part of the Chapter from vers 10. to the end is a kind of Dialogue as both Peganius and Grotius have observed And let him that is athirst come that is He that sincerely hungers and thirsts after Righteousness And whosoever will that is whosoever has a Will and Desire let him take the waters of Life freely Let him enjoy the happy priviledge of this Living City of God and so grow up in all true Holiness and Godliness in Communion of the Spirit This priviledge shall he enjoy 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 gratis or freely without money as the Prophet speaks 18. For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book If any one shall add unto these things Interpreters and not without reason take this to be a commination to terrifie men from being so negligent as to let any Errata slip into the Copies of this Book of Prophecies where every word was so curiously weighed by the Pen-man thereof or from being so bold as on purpose to alter any thing therein by adding or taking away * But I conceive also there is besides this a 〈◊〉 sense and that it is a prohibition from bringing in their carnal Inventions to add inconsistently with the pure Apostolick Doctrines and Institutes of this City Whosoever would do any such thing God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this Book whether they concern this Life or that which is to come the sulphurous lake of fire which is the second Death 19. And if any man will take from the words of the Book of this Prophecy and be faint-hearted or of little or no Faith and contend there never will be such an Excellent State of the Church upon Earth God shall take away his part out of the Book of Life and out of the Holy City and from the things that are written in this Book He shall never be able to enter into the blessed New Ierusalem state by reason of his unbelief 20. He that testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly that is for the fulfilling of the Visions of the first six Seals and what contemporizeth with them to assist his Church and support them in their Smyrnean Affliction and to defeat the Enemy under the sixth Seal To which Saint Iohn answers Amen Even so Come Lord Iesus This was seasonable for Saint Iohn to say in his time in reference to Christs Coming to subvert the Power of the old Dragon and abolish Paganical Idolatry and Tyranny As it was also in the Pergamenian and Thyatirian Intervals for the oppressed and afflicted Church to say in respect of his coming to judge the Great Whore the Pagano-christian Hierarchy who had been drunk with the blood of the Saints and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus And in the Sardian that he would consummate the Judgement begun to be executed on the false Prophet who is perfectly to be consumed under the seventh Vial. And lastly in the Laodicean Interval it will be again very seasonable by reason of the inclining of things again to worse to pray Come Lord Iesus come quickly to that general judgement when Death shall be swallowed up into Victory and all the Saints shall be translated into the incorruptible state of heavenly Bliss and Glory And this whole Book of Prophecies being as it were one entire Epistle Monitory to the Church of God throughout all Ages of the world as there is mention Vers. 16. of witnessing these things to the Churches in Asia no doubt that is over the face of the whole Earth and successively through all Ages or Intervals from Saint Iohn's time to the end of the world Smyrnean Pergamenian Thyatirian Sardian Philadelphian and Laodicean This whole Book I say being such a general Monitory Epistle it is but sutable that he conclude with that usual form of valediction in the Epistles of the Apostles 21. The Grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all Amen NOTES CHAPTER XXII Vers. 16. Which may denote his Divinity and Humanity c. This any one that firmly believes the Divinity of Christ and that he is the Eternal Logos united with the Humane Nature will easily admit to be suggested here though Grotius is content to understand no more by Radix Davidis than Surculus Davidis and I must confess that according to the use of the Hebrew word Radix is sometimes the same with Surculus But being that Root ordinarily signifies that from which another grows not that which grows from another and that this sense here is both true and more ample and sublime and therefore more sutable to the Genius of the Apocalypse I thought it was more probable to be meant here as also in the fifth Chapter And generally the Ancients go
Apocalypsis Apocalypseos OR THE REVELATION OF S t JOHN the Divine unveiled CONTAINING A Brief but perspicuous and continued EXPOSITION From Chapter to Chapter and from Verse to Verse of the whole Book of the APOCALYPSE By HENRY MORE D. D. Ecclesiastic Chap. 39. He that giveth his mind to the Law of the most High and is occupied in the Meditation thereof will seek out the Wisdom of all the Ancient and be occupied in Prophecies Ezech. Chap. 43. vers 10. Thou Son of Man shew the House to the house of Israel that they may be ashamed of their Iniquities and let them measure the pattern LONDON Printed by I. M. for I. Martyn and W. Kettilby at the Bell and the Bishops-Head in S t Paul's Church-yard 1680. THE PREFACE TO THE READER READER THat thou mayest with better acceptance peruse my Exposition of this Book of Prophecies the Apocalypse I thought fit to say something by way of Preface First concerning the Book it self not only the Authentickness and Intelligibleness but also concerning the Excellency thereof Secondly concerning the grounds I go upon and the Truth of my Exposition And thirdly and lastly concerning the great Usefulness thereof That this Book is Canonical and of Divine Inspiration is confirmed by the Authority and Suffrage of the Church Universal both Roman and Reformed And though it had no external Confirmation the truth of Predictions in that large comprehension of things that it reacheth to and the holiness of that Spirit that breaths in it to any intelligent Reader will certainly prove it to be a Book Divinely inspired Not to add that the very Wit as I may so say and Artifice in it seems not to be Humane but Angelical It was indeed doubted of at first and the Authority thereof called into question but the occasion of questioning it was because it was in the hands of very few it being dangerous for the Christians to let this Book of the Apocalypse that does plainly predict as it might seem the burning of the City of Rome situated on seven Hills and having Rule then over the whole Earth so freely to go about as those others of the New Testament did And therefore this Book being so generally unknown when they began to determine what Books were Authentick and what not they might very well be at a loss concerning it Besides that Cerinthus and others overmuch Judaizing Christians who drew those things written of the first and second Resurrection and the New Jerusalem and the thousand years Reign of Christ to their Carnal Iudaical conceits made them more shie how they admitted this Book for Authentick Nay some as Gaius an ancient Author in Eusebius relate that Cerinthus the Chiliast was the writer of it Others who yet thought well of the Book that John the Presbyter a Disciple of the Apostle not John himself was the Author thereof The occasion of which might be as Grotius ingeniously conjectures because that John the Presbyter had the Book in his custody whence some out of mistake might deem him the Author thereof But by the Authority of the chiefest Fathers and upon a more narrow search and examination of the business it is now out of question with all Christian Churches that this Book of the Apocalypse is Authentick and Canonical and writ by John the Evangelist and Divine so called for his more plainly and peculiarly declaring the Divinity of Christ beyond any other of the Evangelists Now for the Intelligibleness of the Book Though there is a marvellous artifice of Concealment in it yet there is as sure an artifice of Revealment as I hope will appear by this our Exposition And why Prophecies should be obscurely writ and in what this obscurity consists I have sufficiently elsewhere declared The chief obscurity is in the Prophetick stile which when it is opened to a Man the sense will run clear As he that understands any other Language different from the Vulgar if the Book it is writ in be good sense he without difficulty will find it out And as it would be absurd in him that understands not that language to complain of the obscurity of the Book so it is as childish for him that will not take the pains which is not much to understand the Prophetick stile to complain of the obscurity of the Apocalypse But that it is intelligible all sorts of Christians Reformed and Unreformed have given their suffrage thereto in writing Commentaries upon it And it is no less than blasphemy against the Holy Ghost that inspired this Prophecy to say it is simply unintelligible as if Christ trifled with his Church in a thing so exceeding serious as this Book of Prophecies seems to be The Excellency whereof is notably set out if not also the necessity of reading and understanding it chap. 1. vers 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this Prophecy and keep those things that are written therein which they cannot do unless they understand them And so chap. 22. vers 7. Blessed is he that keepeth the sayings of the Prophecy of this Book Which is chiefly performed by Faith and Constancy to the True Church of Christ against either the Dragon or Antichrist which he cannot do if these Prophecies were unintelligible nor can there any blessedness accrue to a man from reading a Book he understands not But the sayings thereof understood and kept being so effectual a way to blessedness it must needs argue the excellency of the Book But there is yet a further illustration of the Excellency thereof from what occurrs chap. 5. vers 2. which concerns the greatest part by far of this Book and that which some phansie the only Prophetical part thereof namely the Visions of the Sealed Book and of the Opened Book For what was contained in the Opened Book lay open by virtue of the breaking up of the Seals In that Chapter is the highest Encomium of this Book of Prophecies that the Wit and Rhetorick of men or Angels can invent or utter For first it is said vers 2. And I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the Book and to loose the Seals thereof And no man in Heaven nor in Earth neither under the Earth was able to open the Book neither to look thereon This therefore must be a most excellent and transcendent Book of Secrets and Predictions that neither Angels Men nor Infernal Spirits can reach to the knowledge of by virtue of their own faculties And then it follows And I wept much because no man was found worthy to open and read the Book and to look thereon Which further argues that it is a Book not only of rare secrets and vast comprehensive Predictions but more than ordinary desirable if not necessary to be known And lastly when the Lion of the Tribe of Judah that is Christ the Lamb under another expression and figuration was found worthy and had taken the
Book what acclamations in Heaven were there thereupon For the four Beasts and four and twenty Elders fell down before the Lamb having every one of them harps and golden vials full of odours which are the prayers of the Saints And they sung a new Song saying Thou art worthy to take the Book and open the Seals thereof for thou wast slain and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood As if this priviledge of obtaining such a wonderful power of predicting things to come and communicating such a Book as this of the Apocalypse unto his Church were one special fruit of his Passion and the shedding his most precious blood upon the Cross. And therefore let them take heed that despise this Book of the Apocalypse so much and all endeavours to understand it aright that they be not found in the number of them that tread under-foot the Son of God even in those things for which he is the most highly admired and extolled by the blessed Saints and Angels which is the greatest slight and affront of him imaginable and count his precious blood shed upon the Cross whereby he procured this transcendent priviledge to himself and them of fore-knowing things that concern all Ages of his Church an unholy thing and do despite to the Spirit of Prophecy In the mean time this may at least excuse them that seriously and soberly endeavour rightly to understand the Visions of this Book from being reputed men less judicious or else very unfortunate to spend their time and labour on so mean and obscure an argument as this Book of the Apocalypse as some for want of judgement or good will have perstringed that excellently learned and pious person M r Joseph Mede But what a vast difference is there betwixt the Spirit of the holy Evangelist John and the great Spirits or Wits as they would be accounted of this Age He wept out of an eager desire of understanding the Prophecies of this Book they laugh at any one for a fool that pretends the endeavouring to understand them or thinks they are to be understood But I hope that will be found true that Solomon sayes Prov. chap. 14. vers 6. A scorner seeketh wisdom and findeth it not but knowledge is easie to him that understandeth Which I distrust not but will be made good in any intelligent Reader of my Exposition of this Book It will prove easie to him upon his taking notice of the meaning of the Prophetick stile and supposing the grounds I go upon which are but few and allowed generally by all Protestant Churches that I know of viz. That the Church of Rome is Idolatrous which will imply that the Greek Church also was so as is plain from the second Nicene Council which the Romanists alledge That the said Church is murderous as having put to death many and many thousands of innocent Souls because their consciences would not allow them to joyn with this Church in their Idolatrous Worship And lastly that she is Imposturous in pretending to many miraculous Acts that exceed the power of Nature or the faculties of any ordinary men As changing the Elements as they call it of Bread into real Flesh and of Wine into real Blood by saying certain words over it In exorcising or enchanting of Statues or Images and of Water Oyl and other things by certain words into a power of keeping off Enemies repelling Diseases ceasing Thunder and Lightening and driving away the Devil nay in pretending to a Power of thunder-striking men down into hell which is only in the hand of God Almighty to do at his pleasure and not for men to do at their pleasures because others will not joyn with them in their gross Doctrines and Idolatrous Worship This if it were true were a stupendious Miracle indeed thus to bring fire from heaven to thunder-strike innocent men into the pit of hell But such pretended feats as these this Book elegantly expresses by the phrase of Sorcery or Magick as it may be called as being an imitation of the pretences of Magicians thus to act above Nature by words and charms These are the main things that are supposed concerning the Church of Rome which if they be admitted the sense of the Apocalypse will run as glib as may be upon a little knowledge of the Prophetick stile And I shall wonder at any one that is satisfied concerning these that shall stick at the truth of our Interpretation which as touching this part is so throughly demonstrated in my Joynt-Exposition or rather in the eight last Chapters of the first Book of my Synopsis Prophetica that I cannot tell what can be more fully evidenced to the reason of a man namely That the Beast that was and is not and yet is is the Roman Empire and the Woman that rides him the Roman Hierarchy after the times of the seventh King that was to stay but a little while which are the pure Christian Caesars Wherefore the Roman Hierarchy after that time being set out by the symbol of a Whore for so that Woman is called viz. the Whore of Babylon and the Beast she rides on said to be full of Names of Blasphemy it is manifest that both the Empire and Hierarchy are become Idolatrous Besides that if the Apocalypse were silent in this matter of their being Idolatrous the Writers of the Protestants have over and over again demonstrated them to be so and for them that are so perswaded not to acknowledge their condition to be predicted in the Apocalypse but to conceit it silent therein is to envy God and Christ the Glory of foretelling things to come and the Church the priviledge of having them foretold her and the advantage of confounding her enemies thereby And now for the state of the Reformed Church that it will be at last so well Reformed and so largely amplified that Peace Truth and Righteousness shall at last over-spread as it were the face of the earth and that herewith the Iews will be called and make one part of the Catholick Church this is a thing both believed and hoped for by all good men and expresly pointed at in several places of Scripture as well as in the Apocalypse And lastly for the first Resurrection the proper priviledge of the Martyrs at the entrance of the Millennial Reign of Christ upon Earth that this was the general Opinion of the Primitive Church is made out notably by M r J. Mede in sundry places of his Writings And that way that I have explained it here in my Exposition it cannot have the least scandal or offence the Martyrs according to my Explication not living upon Earth but being revivificated into their Glorious Bodies reign with Christ in Heaven Wherefore the things that I suppose being so certain or unexceptionable and my Exposition consequential to these and perpetually made out according to the known meaning of the Prophetick stile and agreeably to the truth of History without any violence done to either
the Church in the state of the New Jerusalem of which it is said There shall be no night there and they need no candle nor the light of the Sun For the Lord God giveth them light and they shall reign for ever and ever 17. And when I saw him I fell at his feet as dead as being exceedingly afraid that this fight might portend some great evil to the people of God And he laid his right hand upon me saying unto me Fear not I am the First and the Last And though there may be some great Afflictions and Tryals of my Church represented to thee in what thou seest yet thou must remember nothing shall come to pass without my Providence who am the First and the Last and will carry you through all Persecutions and Deaths and make you at length more than Conquerours 18. I am he that liveth and was dead and behold I am alive for evermore Amen and have the Keys of Hell and of Death as if he should say For I am now alive though I was my self dead once and crucified but behold I am alive for Ever Amen This is most certainly true of him whom this Vision represents and that he has the Keys of Hell and Death And therefore no man need fear to undergo martyrdom for his Cause who will certainly make him partaker of a Blessed Immortality and plunge his barbarous persecutors into everlasting perdition Wherefore after this encouragement to Iohn he sayes 19. Write the things which thou hast seen and the things which are and the things which shall be hereafter that is write the things which thou hast seen and known already as being past and the things that are present and the things that are to come after viz. The affairs of the first succession of the Church which is the Ephesine succession the affairs of the present succession of the Church in which S t Iohn wrote these Visions which is the Smyrnean and of the rest of the successions of the Church which are to come afterwards 20. Which affairs thus distributed into seven successions or intervals are indeed the mystery of the seven stars which thou sawest in my right hand and the seven golden candlesticks For the seven stars are the Angels of the seven Churches that is the seven successions of Bishops and Pastors that are to shine forth in the brightness and purity of their Life and Doctrine in the seven successions of the Churches And the seven candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven successions of the Apostolick Church here called seven Churches NOTES CHAPTER I. Vers. 1. Manifestly shewn already by him or that are past c. This is spoken in reference to the absurd Interpretations of Grotius in the first six Seals and the first six Trumpets who fixes the Scene of all those Visions in Judea and ends them with the sacking of the City which was before S t John wrote the Apocalypse for he wrote it in Domitian's time But what will not prejudiced Wits imagine rather than stoop to the Truth See my Mystery of Godliness Book 5. chap. 16. And Synops. Prophetic Book 2. chap. 2. sect 4 5 c. Vers. 4. Truly Catholick and Apostolick Church c. This I conceive to be comprehended in the name Asia in allusion to the Hebrew word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Asia signifying Fundamentum as if he should say To all the Churches that keep the Apostolical Foundation in Doctrine and Practice that keep in it and swerve not from it by admitting any thing contrary thereto And dispersed on the face of the earth c. This also is comprised in the word Asia by allusion to another Hebrew word of a like nearness of sound 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Asia again and is the lowest of those four Worlds notoriously known amongst the Cabbalists Aziluth Briah Jetzirah Asia of which last the lowest part is this Earth we tread upon So evidently is the allusion to the nearness of sound in words made use of in this Book of the Apocalypse See another reason from 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in my Exposition of the seven Churches Vers. 19. The affairs of the first succession of the Church which is the Ephesine succession the affairs of the present c. That the affairs of the Ephesine succession were past when S t John received those Visions in Patmos is plain from hence because he received them about the end of Domitians Reign But the beginning of the Smyrnean succession is in the tenth of Nero or not long before which is about thirty years before S t John received the Visions in Patmos Besides that the Ephesine succession is described amongst other characters as not yet being stained with the doctrine and deeds of the Nicolaitans But the Nicolaitans appeared in the twelfth year of Nero as you may see in Spandanus the Epitomizer of Baronius Therefore the Ephesine succession was to expire before that time So plain is it that it was past when S t John was in Patmos But hence emerges a difficulty that well may stumble some viz. Being the Ephesine succession was then past why should there be an Epistle directed to it which is as if one should write to the deceased To which I answer That this Book of Prophecies being designed a Representation of the State of the Church or of the Empire in reference to the Church from the very beginning of the Church that the Representation might be the more compleat by not leaving out that little Time that was then past to the end of the world in that way I say it is comprized whether Epistolar or other it is to be begun and continued throughout And therefore in the Prophetical Vision of the Seals as the first Seal is rather an History than a Prophecy though disguised under Prophetick Iconismes For the time of the thing signified there by the Rider of the White Horse which the whole stream of Interpreters understand of Christ guiding and assisting the Apostles and his Church in the Apostolick times was in a manner quite expired when John wrote the Apocalypse So this Epistle to the Ephesine succession of the Church is to be conceived an Historical Description of that State of the Church rather than an Epistle though for conformity-sake it is put into this Epistolar disguise And since it is not so proper to write Epistles to any but those who are in present Being surely they who are satisfied there is no absurdity in writing in this Epistolar way to the successions of the Church not yet come ought to think the using this Epistolar form to a succession already past the more tolerable But supposing the Apocalypse a designed Representation as I hinted above of the affairs or state of the Church set out by a triple Prophecy this of the Seven Churches the second of the Sealed Book and the last of the Opened Book and that the Prophecy of the Sealed Book and of the Opened Book each
you would be done to Quod tibi fieri non vis alteri ne feceris which he caused to be set up in his Palace and other publick places They are both taken notice of for their care and provision in Bread-corn and other necessaries of life 7. And when he had opened the fourth Seal I heard the fourth Beast that was like a flying Eagle and was placed on the North say Come and sée 8. And I looked and behold a pale Horse which colour of the Horse is very sutable to the Name of the Rider For it follows And his name that sate on him was Death And Hell followed him that is the Grave which is made a person here as Death is and as it were his Lackey to follow him And Power was given unto them over the fourth part of the Earth that is over almost all the Roman Empire which upon due compute was then a third part of the Earth as if this Power reached three fourths of the Empire To kill with the Sword and with Hunger and with Death that is with Famine and Pestilence and with the Beasts of the Earth Which ordinarily invade the Land in those Eastern and Southern parts in extream Famines and Pestilences to increase the mortality The beginning of this Seal is from Maximinus the Thracian and consequently an Emperour from the North as the place of the flying Eagle denotes that notable bird of prey and feeder on dead carcasses and therefore significant of the condition of this Seal under which concur so various modes of vast Mortality the Sword Famine Pestilence and wild Beasts Which Pestilence raging and over-running in a manner the whole Empire for the space of fifteen years and ending Anno CCLXIII from Maximinus to this year is the extent of this Seal And now for the Sword in the Interval of this Seal besides that in the Reign of Gallus and Volusianus Emperours the whole Empire in a manner was exhausted with rapine and slaughters by the Barbarians and consequently Tillage did fail and Famine ensue there were not two more bloody Beasts in the world than Maximinus and Gallienus the former for his cruelty being called Cyclops Busiris Phalaris and what not who without accusers or defence caused to be killed and spoiled of their goods no less than four thousand men and the latter his cruelty was such that he killed all the Male Sex of whole Cities and made nothing of slaying three or four thousand of his Soldiers in a day And there are many more examples of horrid cruelty by the Sword under this Seal according to the prediction thereof So admirably fully was accomplished what was predicted by these four Seals of which it is to be noted that not only parts of the Introductory Vision are made use of namely the four Beasts which usher in each Seal I mean the Visions thereof as parts of the description of him that appeared in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks in the salutation of each Epistle are again made use of but as those parts of his description were sutable to the things signified concerning the Church the Epistle was wrote to so each Beast is sutable to the things predicted in each Seal in these four first Seals which strengthens the certainty of the Epistles being a Prophecy reaching from the beginning of the Church to the end of the World as well as this of the Sealed Book 9. And when he had opened the fifth Seal I saw under the Altar the souls of them that were slain for the Word of God and for the Testimony which they held that is he saw them lye at the foot of the Altar as Sacrifices that are slain use to do slaughtered or martyred for their couragiously professing Christianity For by Faith and an invincible Firmness of mind and unspeakable Patience they had made themselves an Oblation or Sacrifice for the carrying on the Affairs of the Kingdom of Christ. Here is predicted the bloody ten years persecution begun by Dioclesian and continued by his successor which was the most terrible that befell the Church of God This is the dregs of bitterness in the Smyrnean succession of the Church where by the ten days of Tribulation this persecution may be more particularly glanced at as well as all the Ten Persecutions usually so called 10. And they cryed with a loud voice saying How long O Lord holy and true dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the Earth that is the Persecution of the Church under this Seal was so exceeding grievous that they called aloud for Divine Vengeance on this persecuting Empire 11. And white Robes were given to every one of them and they were adopted into the Society of the Blessed which white Robes allude to the custome under the Jewish Temple Where after a due search into their Pedigree and the unblemishedness of their body by giving them or putting on them a white Vesture they were admitted into the Court of Priests as these to serve God in Heaven And it was said unto them that they should rest yet for a little season untill their fellow-servants also and their brethren that should be killed as they were should be fulfilled that is till their fellow-Christians under Licinius Iulian and under the Arians should be slain after which due vengeance should be taken of the bloody Empire under the time of the Trumpets 12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth Seal and lo there was a great Earthquake The Greek word is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and may have a more general signification and denote a concussion shaking and commotion of the frame of things which things are here the constitution of the Pagan Hierarchy as I may so call it or Gentilism the Religion of the Roman Empire as Pagan And the Sun became black as sack-cloath of hair and the Moon became as blood that is they were both eclipsed both the Dragon himself the Sun as Head of that Religion and the Office of their Pontifex Maximus which is next to the Draconick Majesty and there intimated by the Moon These plainly suffered an Eclipse when the Roman Emperours by professing Christianity renounced Satan with all the wicked crew of evil Spirits under him and would serve him no more nor exercise the Office of his Pontifex Maximus as is recorded of Constantine Constantius Valentinianus and Valens and Gratian would not so much as retain the name of Pontifex Maximus 13. And the stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth even as a Fig-trée casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken with a mighty wind that is all the false gods of this Diabolical Polity the frame of the Pagan Religion they fell from that Religious Honour and Worship which was given them and were trampled under-foot by the prevailing Christians as also their Priests that served them 14. And the Heaven departed as a scrowl when it is rolled together that is this Pagan Hierarchy shrivelled
Reader for the taking notice of it by makeing use of it here as a Note of the ending of the time of the first wo-Trumpet Wherefore the sense is Chap. 11. vers 14. of The second wo is past Here ends the time of the second wo-Trumpet or sixth Trumpet namely with the Rising of the witnesses or inchoative destruction of the Beast or expiration of his 42. Months Whence this Note is plainly intended for a Note Synchronistical to show that the end of the fourty two Months of the Beast and the end of the sixth Trumpet do Synchronize Which therefore is a thing of admirable importance For the Beast and 144000 sealed Virgins Synchronizing Synch 4. Part. 1. and the commencing of the sealed ones being just at the beginning of the first Trumpet Chap. 7. the Beast also begins and ends with the six first Trumpets whence the time of the sealing of these Virgins and this Note The second wo is past are as it were the two hinges on which all the middle Synchronals hang as M r Mede has very well observed And this I think is a sufficient answer to R. H. his question wherefore were those remarkable closes added to the fifth and sixth Trumpets But the ends he would have them added for I have demonstrated cannot be Which is the greater confirmation they were added for this which is a most worthy and admirable end and becoming the stupendious artifice of this Book To the third argument of M r Mede he answers Admit that passage Thou must prophesie again c. to emply two main Prophecies one of the Sealed Book the other of the Opened Book or that the Book maybe divided into two Tomes and the second begin at Chap. 10. vers 8. yet it does not follow that the second part must begin ab ovo or from the same Epocha with the former But I answer the Vision reaching to the very utmost Goal of the Apocalyptick race from such a time before we come at the eighth verse as I have clearly proved there is all the reason in the world S. Iohn being bid to prophesie again that his prophesying should commence from the same Epocha As if one should intend to write two Tomes of the affairs of any Kingdom the one Secular the other Ecclesiastical and that in his first Tome he had deduced his secular History to the last year it is impossible to imagin but in his next Tome he would begin his Ecclesiastick story from the same Epocha that the secular began from To the fourth and last he answers not unappositely We read not saith he that the voice Chap. 10. vers 8. was as the sound of a Trumpet and therefore not likely to relate to the voice Chap. 4. vers 1. but rather to the voice Chap. 10. vers 4. For that voice Chap. 4. vers 1. is said to be as the sound of a Trumpet but this not This is the first part of his answer but he proceeds But to what purpose he would have the Reader saith he to take notice of this I cannot tell Is this an Index that the Prophecy of the little Book as he calls it doth contemporate with the Prophecie of the Seals No more than the voice Chap. 4. vers 1. is an Index that the Prophecy of the Seals doth contemporate with the Vision of the Seven Churches c. But I briefly reply to the first That seeing Ellipses are so usual in the Apocalypse that the sense may not lye over bare M r Mede has with judgment made this supplement as of a Trumpet it being in all likelihood the same voice that spoke to him at the beginning of the Vision of the seven Churches and of the Prophecy of the Seals Chap. 4. v. 1. Nor is it said here not to be as the sound of a Trumpet but only that qualification is not mentioned for the reason abovesaid But that it should be the voice mentioned vers 4. of this tenth Chapter is not at all likely First because then it would have been only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 i. e. And the voice which I heard from Heaven said unto me and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 would be superfluous But then in the second place it being added there ought to be understood something more or different in the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 than simply in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and methinks it is very obvious to conceive what it is if we recur to Chap. 1. vers 10. where Iohn is said to hear behind him a great voice as the sound of a Trumpet that is a loud sonorous or canorous voice And then to Chap. 4. v. 1. where the voice he there hears from Heaven is said to be 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as of a Trumpet talking loudly or canorously with him Here the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to speak aloud is put instead of the great voice Chap. 1. vers 10. and that the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 has sometimes this peculiar signification not to speak simply but to speak aloud is observable in that verse of the Poet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. where 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is loudly speak out thy letters as the following words also imply And let the inscription on thy leaves be more than ordinary express But what is yet more to the purpose 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which besides the usual signification is very often by the Seventy rendred by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 He cryed also in my ears with a loud voice Ezek. 9.1 so is it also in the same sense rendred by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Proclaim in the ears of the people saying Judg. 7.3 And so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which has no other signification but of loud clamour or vociferation yet by the Seventy Esa. 58.9 it is rendred by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Clamabis dicet Thou shalt cry and he shall say Here am I. And to come nearer to the present Chapter vers 3. The voices of Thunder I think are loud and sonorous enough and yet the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is used of them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The seven Thunders uttered their voices From whence we see plainly that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vers 8. is not there prefixed for nought but that it signifies a speaking to Iohn with a loud and sonorous voice such as was the voice Chap. 1. vers 10. and Chap. 4. ver 1. expressed by a Trumpet Now therefore being it is said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which implies a speaking thus sonorously to him again and that voice vers 4. of this Chapter is not said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 but only 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it cannot be said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to speak in such a loud tone again it having not done so yet once and therefore of necessity it must be referred to Chap. 4. vers 1. From whence it is evident that that supplement of
as of a Trumpet made by M r Mede is added with judgment and truth To the second part of his objection I answer briefly and confess that this canorous voice like a Trumpet in this Chapter vers 8. is no more an index that the Prophecy of the little Book doth contemporate with the Prophecy of the Seals than the voice Chap. 4. vers 1. is an Index that the Prophecy of the Seals doth contemporate with the vision of the seven Churches But withal I affirm that the voice Chap. 4. vers 1. is an Index that the Prophecy of the Seals does contemporate with the Vision of the seven Churches and that the Vision of the seven Churches is a Prophecy commencing with the beginning of the Church and reaching to the end of the world as I have made good by no less than twenty firm arguments in the last Chapter of my Exposition of the Vision of the seven Churches So fitly do all things fall in together M r Mede's way But no sense to be made of them any other way Nor is that which R. H. takes notice of Disp. II. Ques 5. that 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is the Preface to the Vision of the Seven Churches Rev. 1. but 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Preface to the Prophecy of the Seven Seals Chap. 4. vers 1. as if the events of the Seals should be after the events of the Vision of the Seven Churches and begin a good while after them of any validity against the contemporizing of the Vision of the Seven Churches with the Prophecy of the Seven Seals For this is but another notable example of which I have given several in my Notes of that Apocalyptick figure which we call Lemmatosynechia or the holding together of the external cortex of the Apocalyptick narrations But according to the sense of all Interpreters 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 has no reference here to the things of the Seven Churches but only signifies things which shall be hereafter which hinders not but that they may contemporize with the future things of the Seven Churches All take it in that sense which Beza translates it in Quae oportet fieri posthac which must be hereafter as our English rightly renders it Which had been good sense though it had been said in the very beginning of the Apocalypse according to Ribera his own interpretation who without any reference to what belongs to the Seven Churches understands by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the things which must be hereafter Decursum Ecclesiae à tempore Iohannis ad finem seculi Aperit saith he argumentum sequentis Prophetiae To which I may add that it is a mistake in R. H. that he makes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a proper Preface to the Vision of the Seven Churches whenas it is rather a general Preface to all the three Prophecies of this Book and true of them all that they contained some things that were then to come to pass quickly as it is true of them all that they are the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him c. And what I was a going to say That there can be no sense made of the Apocalypse but M r Mede's way a notable pledge of the truth thereof is in that that egregious learned writer Hugo Grotius who so humanely when he saw the Romish Interpreters so foully stick in the mire and make such pitiful sense of things offered his helping hand in their behalf but with so little success that R. H. himself to give him his due has all along notably well confuted the Grotian way though to enemy at all to the Romanists but out of like kindness to them that Grotius seems to have born he to wipe off that charge from the Church of Rome that she might not be taken for the Whore of Babylon by a marvellous invention makes her as innocent and clear of that fault as the Child yet unborn namely by laying the Scene of the affairs of the Apocalypse not in Europe no by no means but in Asia and by affirming that all the Visions are to be fulfilled in their litteral sense and that there is no mystical meaning of them in any place but where they are explained and acknowledged to be such in the very Book it self and consequently that none of these Visions are yet fulfill'd and he adds not to be fulfilled but in such order as they are set And therefore no Whore of Babylon to appear upon the stage no not so much as in Asia it self much less in Europe at Rome in Italy till there be a great shaking and concussion in the Heavens and the Sun it self become as black as Sackcloth made of Goats Hair and the Moon as red as blood and the Stars fall from Heaven in clusters to the Earth and that there be such great Earthquakes that every Mountain in the Earth shall be moved out of its place and every Island in the Sea also which be the events of the sixth Seal Rev. Chap. 6. vers 12. And that there be just 12000. young men of every Tribe of Israel sealed with the Seal of God in their foreheads Chap. 7. Moreover it must rain hail and fire and blood upon the land of Asia and a sulphureous mountain burning with fire must be cast into the Asiatick Sea and the third part of that Sea be turned into blood And a great blazing Star fall from Heaven burning and flaming like a torch which shall break asunder and fall into the third part of rivers and into the third part of the springs of waters throughout the land of Asia And the third part of the Sun shall be smitten with darkness and the third part of the Moon and the third part of the Stars Chap. 8. There shall be also a bottomless Pit opened out of which such a smoke shall arise that men shall not see the light of the Sun in the land of Asia And strange kind of Locusts with tayls of Scorpions heads with crowns of gold on them faces like men and hair like women and with wings that make such a dreadful noise as if it were the noise of Chariots drawn with horses running furiously to battle these shall swarm in the land of Asia and sting and vex men very sore There will also appear in the said Land an innumerable number of strange kind of Horses with their Riders upon them The heads of the Horses in shape like the heads of Lyons and out of the mouths of every one of them shall come forth fire smoak and brimston Their tayls also shall be like Serpents with heads and mouths and by the fire smoak and brimston coming out of their mouths and by the Serpents heads and mouths at the end of their tayls shall the third part of men be slain in Asia about the river Euphrates Paraph. R. H. 9. Furthermore before the Whore of Babylon be in being that Emperess of the World and debaucher of the Kings of the
Earth with her cup of Fornication the Temple will be rebuilt and the Inner Court at Ierusalem and there will then appear two inspired Witnesses doing such Miracles as Moses and Elias did and after three years and an half they will be slain by the Scarlet Beast and their dead bodies lye three days and a half in the open streets of Ierusalem and at the half days end they will be revived again stand upon their feet and ascend visibly in a cloud to Heaven their enemies beholding them Chap. 11. The Jews also before that time shall be converted to Christianity in despight of the Devil who will persecute them so that part of them will fly into the wilderness and the Devil send a great flood of water after them Chap. 12. There will also appear before the time of the said Whore a two-horned beast like a Lamb and that speaks like a Dragon who besides that he will do strange miracles as being a Magician or Witch and make a molten Image to the ten-horned Beast which shall breath and speak he will cause also his subjects to be marked in their right hands or in their foreheads with the capital or Acrostick letters of his name and the letters of that mark shall contain the value of 25. the root of 666. Chap. 13. And when this Queen of Babylon shall be in being that she may sit secure and at ease like a Queen and never dream of any sorrow she is not concerned in any one of the Vials but the seventh which are all litterally to be understood nor any of the Vials to be poured out till there be such a slaughter of the people of the Beast in Iudaea without Ierusalem that the blood shall reach even to the horses bridles in height for the space of a thousand six hundred furlongs in length Chap. 14. v. 20. and Chap. 15. So tender and dear a friend does this R. H. approve himself to this Whore of Babylon if she be already in being to shelter her thus from all suspicion from all peril of both dammage and disgrace This it is to have a friend in a corner to help at a dead lift And when both her own proper Champions and Grotius himself fails to take up the buckler so dexterously for her But certainly you will say It is either a piece of madness or a piece of Drollery in him to comment in this sort on the Apocalypse Whether it be a piece of Drollery in him to jear and insult over the desperateness of the Romish cause as to this point that have no safer Sanctuary at last than this to betake themselves to to free themselves from that grand accusation of Idolatry and Murder that is so plainly cast upon them by the true and genuine meaning of the Apocalypse he himself best knows But if he be mad he pretends cum ratione insanire he offering his reasons for all those extravagant positions he goes upon The first whereof is That the scene of the affairs of the Apocalypse is not in Europe but in Asia The second That the Visions are to be fulfilled not in a Mystical but in a bare Litteral sense The third That the Visions are to be fulfilled in such order as they lye in the Apocalypse The fourth and last is That none of the Visions of the Sealed Book nor Opened Book are yet fulfilled Which is a necessary Consectary from the second and third position We shall now examine the reasons he builds these Positions upon so many and so far as is requisite I. The reasons that he alledges for his first Position occurr Disp. 1. Quest. 3. And the chief of them are these two 1. The Prophecies saith he were written unto Asia and not unto Europe Rev. 1. vers 4. Iohn to the seven Churches in Asia and vers 11. What thou seest write in a Book and send it to the Seven Churches in Asia 2. His second argument is taken from Chap. 22. vers 16. I Iesus have sent mine Angel to testify unto you these things 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning the Churches saith he and Grotius himself expounds it ecclesiarum bono in the behalf or for the good of the Churches And saith R. H. what is meant by the Chuches but the Churches of Asia Rev. 1. vers 4. And therefore Asia is the scene of the Visions of the Apocalypse I confess comparing the citations of the first Chapter with that of the last and which to me is highly probable allowing that the same Churches are meant in both Chapters these two arguments of his make a fair show But those that expound the Vision of the Seven Churches litterally will deny that the same Churches are understood in the last Chapter but that that passage signifies indefinitely all or any of the Christian Churches for whose use this Book of Prophecies was writ But I will easily allow R. H. this liberty to expound it of the same Churches in my Prophetical sense and of the same Churches of Asia too in the Cabbalistical sense of that word which signifies this lower region of the world or terrestrial Globe containing not only Asia but Europe and Africk and America too if need were Which spoils the conceit of his making Asia only in the usual sense the scene of the Apocalyptick Visions though his conceit in the mean time gives countenance to my understanding the Churches Chap. 22. to be the very Churches in Asia in my sense and to my making the Epistles to the Seven Churches to be a Prophecy II. The reasons for his second Position the principal of them are these 1. A Revelation cannot be a Mystery nor a Mystery a Revelation They are as contrary each to other saith he as light is to darkness Wherefore the whole Book of the Apocalypse being a Revelation it cannot be a Mystery or be expounded in a Mystical sense but only in a litteral unless where the Spirit of God himself tells us it is a Mystery and renders to us the mystical sense of the Letter To this effect is his first argument Disp. 1. Quest. 4. and Disp. 11. Quest. 2. 2. The second Where things are mystically to be understod they are afterwards interpreted in the Apocalypse or in other Texts of Scripture which speak of the same or the like matter As Rev. Chap. 1. vers 20. Rev. Chap. 17. vers 7 8 9. c. Dan. Chap. 7. vers 17 23 24. Wherefore when there is no such interpretation the Text is litterally to be understood Ibid. 3. His third is No Scripture is mystically to be understood without evident necessity but there is no necessity much less any evident necessity of understanding those things in a mystical sense which himself has interpreted in a litteral Wherefore the things above mentioned and all the rest where the Spirit or Angel does not interpret them to a mystical sense ought to be understood in a litteral Ibid. 4. The fourth and last This mystical way of interpreting
who is the Authour of the Prophecy and revealed it to John would reveal the Truth to him as if the Reader was to find it in this his new and rare Litteral way But to examine now as briefly as we may the three grand causes or grounds of his betaking himself to this new Invention never yet met with in any other Writer whatsoever as he but truly and justly boasts of himself in the beginning of his Preface Concerning the first therefore I answer That I commend Civility and fair Language so far as is consistent with Truth But if by the Interpretation of the Angel the Whore of Babylon that rides the Beast Chap. 17. is necessarily and inevitably the Roman Hierarchy debauching the Empire with Idolatry I will ask R. H. whether he takes himself to be a more wise and just Nomenclator than the Holy Ghost speaking by the voice of an Angel and whether we have not sufficient warrant to call Rome or the Roman Hierarchy the Whore of Babylon we having the Example of such an infallible 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or imposer of names and whether he himself is not to take the less offence at it he expresly declaring at the end of his Book that God may permit the Turk for the punishment of Idolatry to take the City of Rome and possess himself of it To the second I answer That I dearly embrace that Christian good Nature in him and great abhorrence from War and Blood-shed especially upon account of Religion but withall I affirm that with this Christian temper my Exposition of the Apocalypse though I follow M r Medes Synchronisms for the main and interpret it Mystically better agrees than R. H. his Litteral Interpretation which seems framed in a tenderness to the worldly peace of the Church of Rome only but mine tends to a peace and cessation of Wars and Persecution in all Christendom Let R. H. read my Preface Sect. 12. and then tell me whether his Litteral sense or my Mystical sense is more abhorrent from persecution war and bloodshed and better consists with Christian peace and charity But he while he seems so solicitous for the Church of Rome in his Litteral Interpretation of the Apocalypse cares not to disarm all the Reformed Churches of that just defence which apparently they have out of the Apocalypse rightly understood for their separation from Rome whereby they can demonstrate themselves neither Schismaticks nor Hereticks nor ought to have been massacred and burnt for such to the exhausting of the lives of several hundred thousand innocent Souls that could not stoop to their Idolatries What a preposterous piece of Charity therefore is it in R. H. that in a tenderness to the peace of the Church of Rome he will despoil his own Church and all the Reformed Churches of their just and most effectual defence against that blood-thirsty Hierarchy who have drunk the blood of so many hundred thousands of innocent dissenters and if their Interest require it and opportunity give leave are it is to be feared ready to drink as much more But for my own part I am against all War upon account of Religion and all bloody Persecutions of one Party or other nor doth my Interpretation of the Apocalypse require any such thing But that they that are unjustly assaulted may defend themselves R. H. himself allows against the Papists in the Conclusion of his Book in these express words And so stands the Case betwixt Vs and Rome if they assault us we may assault them if they begin with us we may defend our selves and offend our foes until they be minded to be quiet and agree on peace upon safe terms and firm foundation And the Mystical Interpretation of the Apocalypse implyes no more against the persons of the Romanists than thus But that their Policy quatenus Idolatrous and persecutive will be confounded methinks R. H. should conceive there is no inconvenience in that unless he were a lover of Idolatry and Persecution more than of the purity of Gods Worship Goodness Equity and Truth Therefore the second cause of his adhering to a Litteral Exposition of the Apocalypse is thus quite blown away And for his third and last though the Church of England cannot but take in good part his kindness and well-meaning in her behalf against such phancy-full Sectaries as would prove her Antichristian out of the Mystical Interpretation of the Apocalypse yet the most Orthodox the most Pious and the most Learned Clergy-men of the Church of England to whom he dedicates his meaning of the Revelation will easily understand that he does our Church a great disservice by exploding all Mystical Interpretations of the Apocalypse the true Mystical Explication thereof such as I have pitched upon and such as I challenge R. H. or any man else living to show any flaw of moment therein excusing our English Church from all suspicion of that Antichristianism which is deciphered in the Apocalypse as doth appear by the second Consectary of my Ioynt-Exposition Synops. Prophet Book 2. Chap. 5. Besides what occurrs in my Preface to my Synopsis Sect. 17. of a peculiar Attestation to the Church of England from the completion of the Prophecy of the rising of the Witnesses Not to omit also that according to our mystical Interpretation Episcopacy was in the Church in the Symmetral times thereof And that there is no warrant for separation from the Church of England it being so considerable a part of the Reformed Church or the Church of Sardis So plain is it that R. H. doth disservice to our Church by decrying all Mystical Interpretations of the Apocalypse In the mean time I have abundantly shown how altogether groundless as well as how extravagant R. H. his Hypothesis is who would have the Apocalypse expounded in a litteral sense and supposeth the visions must be fulfilled in the same order they occurr in the Text And how weak his objections have proved against M r Mede's Synchronisms But as weak as they are they were the best his cause could afford him and his way more laudable thus to combate with his adversary in the open field to try if he could vanquish him than to use those small arts and petty tricks that is usual with a party of men that think any thing just that is for their Interest and stick not to report of men when they are dead that they had changed their opinions whom they being fixed upon firm grounds they could never move when they were alive And thus as I have heard has M r Mede been served His singular Learning and Piety being a great countenance to what tenents he held and therefore the most plausible as well as the most compendious confutation being his own disapproving of them upon better thoughts there has been a report raised that himself before he died was out of conceit with his own Synchronisms Which that it is a meer figment any unprejudiced man may be satisfied from these brief