of Sealing be thus taken in the scripture let him reade the places quoted in the margent and in all these places hee shall finde it taken in this sense Whereby it doth euidently appeare that the minde and meaning of God is that this booke should be proclaimed and published in all the Churches And vpon this grounde I holde that euery Minister of the Gospell standeth bounde as much as in him lyeth to Preach the doctrine of the Apocalyps to his particular charge and congregation for euery Minister of the Gospell must shewe vnto his people all the counsell of God and keepe backe nothing as Paul testifieth that hee did to the great comfort of his conscience But the doctrine of the Reuelations is a part and parcell of the counsell and will of God therefore it must not be concealed or kept backe from the knowledge of the people of God And in these dayes I thinke it not only meete and conuenient that it should be so but in truth absolutely necessary But now me thinketh I heare some man say what must this book of the Apocalyps be preached made knowne to the commō people alas what should they do with it It is not for them to meddle withall It is not for their diet I answere and yet not I but the holy Ghost that this booke must be made knowne to all the seruāts of God For Saint Iohn calleth it the Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue him to shew vnto all his seruants It is plaine therefore that al the seruantes of God both men and women yong and old rich and poore must be made acquainted with this booke Moreouer Iohn is commaunded by the God of heauen to set downe all the visions which the Angell shewed him and to write them all in a booke and send them to the seuen Churches of Asia that is to people of all sortes and conditions And therefore this booke doth not only concerne preachers and deep diuines but euen all the Lords people whatsoeuer for it doth minister great comfort and strength of faith to all the people of God that liue in this age But here the Papists obiect that this booke is full of darkenesse and obscuritie and therefore not for the common people to meddle withall nay say they there are as many misteries as words in it and therefore what should men trouble their heads about it But no maruell though the Papists say so much for it is the wound of their kingdom and the battery of their Babylon As for others both learned and godly which in this point are almost of the same mind that they will not meddle with this booke of the Reuelations I cannot but maruell at it The modesty and humility of some very rare and reuerend men for learning great variety of gifts which notwithstanding scotch much at this book is greatly to be commended But if I were worthy to giue them aduice I would wish them in this behalfe to change their minde and to be of another resolution for I dare auouch it that there is nothing in this Prophesie which study and diligence with prayer and humility may not ouercome True it is indeed that the shell is thicke and hard to breake but being broken the kernell is most sweet and pleasant If any be discouraged with the darkenesse obscurity of it let him hearken to these reasons following First it is called a Reuelation which is as much to say as an vncouering of things which did lie hid if it be an vncouering and reuealing of things then no doubt it may be knowne and seene into For reuealed thinges are for vs and our children If it be a Reuelation how say some that it cannot be vnderstood For it is contrary to the nature of a Reuelation to be so darke that none can vnderstand it But shall we say that the holy Ghost which is the spirit of truth hath giuen a wrong name vnto it God forbid For if it hide matters or so set them forth that it cannot be vnderstood then it is not rightly called a Reuelation If this booke be so mysticall that it cannot be vnderstood If the interpretation of it be vncertaine If the common people cannot be taught to vnderstand it how then should the holy Ghost say Blessed is he that readeth the words of this Prophesie c. Let any man iudge that hath common sense Can any man be blessed by hearing and reading those things which he vnderstandeth not I trow no. Then it followeth that this booke may be vnderstood and no doubt is vnderstood of many and might bee better vnderstood of many moe if they would bend their wittes and studies vnto it The holy Ghost as I said before willeth and commaundeth that the words of this Prophesie should not be sealed vp Whereby it is euident that he would haue them read and made knowne to all Then I reason thus That which is open and vnsealed may be read and knowne But this booke is open and vnsealed Therefore it may be read and knowne If men say the matters of this Prophesie are sealed and hid and God say they be vnsealed and open whether shall we beleeue men or God If any shall reply say we feele finde by experience that the words of this booke are hard to be vnderstood I answere that the fault is in our selues because we are so negligent in the search and study thereof For if we did with that humilitie and reuerend care that ought to be in vs search after the things reuealed in this booke we should finde that they be not sealed vp but lie open to bee read and knowne True it is indeed that if any man light vpon some peece and take it by it selfe he shall finde it very darke But if he looke vpon the whole course of matters throughout the booke and marke and obserue diligently how things be iterated hee shall finde no such darknesse as he feareth for there is a notable coherence of matters and course of times obserued in this booke euen from the first chapter vnto the last as God willing shall more fully plainly appeare in the particular opening and interpretation thereof One great obiection against this Prophesie is that the Fathers confesse it is full of mysteries and that they could not vnderstand it If they could not vnderstand it say some how how shall we vnderstand it Is it not great arrogancy for vs to say wee vnderstand it better then they did I answer no. For a man of meane learning in comparison may now in these daies more easily vnderstand expound this booke then the learnedest Doctors and Fathers in auncient time The reason is this we liue in an age wherein the most of the things prophesied in this booke are fulfilled Now the fulfilling of a prophesie is the best exposition of it But as for the Fathers they liued in a time wherein many of these things were not come
to whom he will make knowne all things that he hath heard of his Father But now let vs proceed to the third circumstance The third circumstance is the place where Iohn receiued this Prophesie and that is set downe to be the I le of Pathmos which as the Geographers write is a litle desart Iland lying in the Aegean sea wherein it is reported that Iohn the Apostle was banished by the Emperour Domitian about the yeare of our Lorde 96. and there receiued and writ this booke of the Apocalyps where note by the way that there is no place so obscure or vast wherein a godly mind may not aspire vp vnto heauen and receiue a great largesse of supernaturall things for Daniel in prison Peter in a Tanners house Paul in a broken shippe receiued a superabundant measure of grace more to be esteemed then all the golde of India Some write that this I le of Pathmos is accounted amongst the Ilands called Sporades which lye ouer against Asia and the Citie of Ephesus and was in the sight both of Europe and Affrica so that it seemed to bee as it were as middle seate or holy chaire out of the which Christ preached by Iohn from heauen to the whole world And indeed the counsels of God are wonderful and his goodnesse vnspeakeable which reuealeth so great mysteries to his faithful as it were out of the Romish prison and Babylonicall captiuitie Moreouer Iohn declareth the cause of his comming into the same Iland for hee saith he was there for the word of God and the testimonie of Iesus Christ that is for the preaching and constant profession of the Gospell of Christ Histories doo report that Iohn was apprehended in Asia and by souldiers ledde to Rome that hee might pleade his cause before the Emperour Domitian who most sauagely and cruelly condemned the innocent and caused him to bee put into a cauldron of hotte boiling Oyle out of the which when hee by miraculous prouidence escaped without harme hee was carried and conueied into the I le of Pathmos But immediately after Iohns banishment God met well inough with this persecuting Emperour Domitian For in the fifteenth yeare of his raigne hee was most cruelly and shamefully murthered by his owne seruants And thus much for the third circumstance Now it followeth to speake of the fourth circumstance which is the persons to whom this prophesie is written and that is set downe in the first chapter and first verse to bee all the seruants of God As many therefore as be the seruants of God must attend vnto this booke heare it reade it and remember it for to all such it is dedicated by the holy Ghost to all such it belongeth for all such it is written and recorded Some do falsely and foolishly imagine that it was giuen onely to Iohn and that it might likewise bee giuen to some speciall men as to some great schollers or deepe diuines which could tell how to vse it and how to weld it But wee see how grossely they erre for the holy Ghost saith it belongeth to all the seruants of God And moreouer chapter 1.11 Iohn is willed and commaunded to write all the things which hee sawe in sundrie visions in a booke together and to send it to the seuen Churches which are in Asia because the Lorde would haue it remaine in perfect record vnto the vse of the whole Church both that the Church might haue the custodie of this booke and also that it might bee a faithfull witnesse vnto the ende of the world that this booke was written and penned by Iohn the Apostle of whose truth and sinceritie the church had sufficient experience True it is indeede that there are but seuen churches named but vnder these seuen Churches all others are comprehended It had bene an infinite matter to recken vp all the particular Churches which were then in the world and to haue opened their seuerall estates therefore vnder these seuen Churches of Asia and their particular and seuerall estates the state of the vniuersall Church militant is laid open I conclude therfore that the whole doctrine of S. Iohns Reuelation appertaineth to the vniuersall Church of Christ throughout all the world and in all times and ages since it was written and recorded And that as all scripture is written for our instruction and comfort and as all scripture giuen by diuine inspiration is profitable to teach and conuince c so this booke of the Apocalyps is written for the speciall comfort and instruction of the Church in these last daies And so I do conclude this fourth point The fift circumstantiall point is the end and vse of this Prophesie chapter 1.1 which is to publish and blaze abroad the things which must shortly come to passe that is all things prophesied in this booke and to be fulfilled euen to the end of the world And whereas he saith that these things must come to passe hee doth vs to vnderstand how great the stablenesse and assurednesse of Gods determination is For looke what things are foreappointed by Gods determinate purpose they are altogether vnchaungeable for the Lord is God and he is not chaunged And he saith My determination shall stand and all my will shall come to passe And Christ saith Heauen and earth shall passe away but my word shall not passe It is therefore most certaine that euery particular thing contained in this prophesie shall bee fulfilled in Gods appointed time For God hath disclosed these things to his sonne Christ not to the end he should shut them vp againe in himselfe but that he should shewe them forth to the godly that the whole Church might fare the better by them It doth then stand vs all vpon to enquire and search into these things which must so shortly come to passe that thereby wee may bee strengthened and comforted against all future dangers And Christ saith Beholde I come shortly Blessed is hee that keepeth the words of the Prophesie of this booke But how shall we keepe them except wee knowe them and how shall wee know them except wee reade them and studie them If therefore we meane to bee partakers of this blessednesse wee must not onely esteeme this booke to bee very profitable but absolutely necessarie for all the seruants of God to be exercised in And if euer there were any time wherein it behoued to set forth to vrge and to beate in this doctrine to all the people of God then is it chiefly necessarie to bee done in this our time For this age of ours hath in the Popes kingdome many sharpe and quicke wits which commend with maruellous praises both the Pope and the Popish Church and buzze into the eares of the common people and vnlearned sorte many things cleane contrarie to the doctrine of the scriptures The Iesuites Priests are growne exceeding craftie and cunning The Papists are rich wealthy and full of armour and munition Poperie seemeth to make a head
againe and the Papists looke for a day It stands vs then all vpon which loue Christ and his Gospell that wee should be well appointed and throughly armed against them And for this purpose the Reuelation of S. Iohn is of great vse necessitie As I said before so I say againe that it is the Prophesie of our time written to this speciall ende that by it wee might bee both fore-warned and fore-armed If wee doo consider the whole matter of this booke wee shall easily finde out the vse and end of it For the excellent matter of it doth argue the excellent ende and vse of it Now then as concerning the generall matter of this booke here are to bee founde very large and liuely descriptions of the most glorious person of Christ chapter 1 and all his excellent offices both of King Priest and Prophet and also most notable descriptions of the Church and of the Ministers of it and of the persecutions and afflictions which it must of necessitie passe through in this world Also of Gods mercifull prouidence for his Church and most vigilant care ouer it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very liuely descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Sathan himselfe and his three great instruments the Romaine Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set downe all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their vtter ouerthrowe in the ende Here are described hell death the resurrection and the last iudgement Here also the very kingdome of heauen is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicitie which remaine for all the faithfull worshippers of God I conclude therefore that for as much as this Prophesie is of such excellent contents therefore the vse and necessitie of it must needes bee verie great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commaunded by Alpha and Omega chapter 1.19 to write the things which hee had seene the things that were and the things that shall come hereafter By the things which he had seene is meant that glorious vision mentioned in the first Chapter vers 13 14 15 16. wherein Iesus Christ did appeare vnto him in the middest of the seuen golden Candlestickes in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the I le of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorised to this worke and therfore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had alreadie seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seuen Churches of Asia which were then the most flourishing Churches in the world as they are described in the second and third Chapters and in them the estate of all other Churches By the things that shal be he meaneth all the prophesies of this booke which were to bee fulfilled in their time al those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the seuerall ages of the Church euen vnto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn receiueth a precise commandement from the sonne of God to write things past present to come that they might stand in record vnto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the ende and vse of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authoritie of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is Iesus Christ and therefore it is called the Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue vnto him chapter 1.1 And againe it is written I Iesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches chapter 22 16. Here wee see plainely that Iesus Christ the very sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for hee subscribes his name vnto it and sets his hand and seale vnto it Needes therefore must the authoritie of it bee very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignitie and authoritie he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignitie authoritie is the booke it selfe An other strong argument to confirme the authoritie of this booke may be taken from the protestation of Iesus Christ in these words I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this booke chapter 22 18. if any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke And if any shall diminish of the words of the booke of this Prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life Here wee see how Iesus Christ maketh the authoritie of this booke equall to all other the Oracles of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract vnder paine of condemnatiō It maketh much also for the authoritie of this booke that S. Iohn doth so often repeate reiterate and inculcate his owne name I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn I Iohn the Apostle I Iohn the Euangelist I Iohn the Diuine Shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was euen one of the Lambes twelue Apostles and therefore to be voide of all suspition and doubt concerning the authoritie of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any inuention of man or faigned deuice sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreouer the authoritie of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last chapter The first is the affirmatiō of the Angell who saith chapter 22.6 7 8. These words are faithfull true The second is the authoritie of the most high God himselfe in these wordes vers 6 The Lorde God of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shewe vnto his seruants the things which must shortly bee fulfilled The third is the testimonie of Iesus who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly vers 7 Blessed is hee that keepeth the words of his Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnesse of Iohn in these words I am Iohn which heard and sawe these things vers 8 Now it may bee demaunded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped vp for the confirmation of the authoritie of this booke Surely wee must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the holy Ghost dooth not vse to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but vpon great cause We may easily gather what the cause is This booke painteth out the whore of Babylon and the whole kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and sleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authoritie of this booke Hee by some meanes in olde time preuailed thus farre that euen among some Churches of true Christians the authoritie and truth of it was doubted
of his sonne in the flesh so to foretell both of the affliction it selfe and also of the iust period and determination thereof And shall we not thinke that God hath the like care now for his church which then he had or hath he not as great and as prouident care for the good of his Church since the promised Messias was actually exhibited as before Yes assuredly and much more too for if his care and prouidence was so great for his Church being in her ward-ship and minoritie then much more now being come to her ripenesse and full age If when it was lesse glorious then much more now being farre more glorious Therefore now vnto vs he foretelleth by his seruant Iohn what shall be the estate of the Church vnto the end of the world and therefore Blessed is hee that heareth and readeth this booke sith it foretelleth of the Churches afflictions in this age by the whoore of Babylon and of the full end and determination thereof It sheweth iustly and precisely what the Church hath suffered since the Apostles times in seueral ages and what it shall suffer and also how all the enemies thereof shall shortly be troden vnder foote What can be more ioyfull or comfortable to all the people of God then to know afore-hand that Babylon shall fall Rome shall downe Antichrist the great persecutor of the Church shal be vtterly confounded and consumed in this world notwithstanding all plottes and policies crafts and deuises to the contrary notwithstanding all forces armies cunningly contriued and raised vp against the Church by Seminary Priests Iesuites Pope Cardinall and King of Spaine For all these in this age do very busily bestirre them and ransacke all corners of their wits to repaire the ruines of Rome and to make vp the breaches which are made in the walles of Babylon their great citie But alas all in vaine for it shall fall It shal fall It shal fall as Dagon before the presence of the Arke do what they can spight of their hearts maugre their beards it shall fall finally it shall without all hope of recouery for hath the Lord spoken it and shall it not come to passe or can any word of his euer fall to the ground Sith therefore the Iesuits and Secular Priests do so fiske about and croake in euery corner as greatly fearing the fall of their Babylon and the drying vp of their Euphrates it standes vs all in hand to be as resolute for Christ as they are for Antichrist and as studious to vphold the kingdome of God as they are to vphold the kingdome of the diuel And for this purpose it is very requisite and necessary that all the Lords people should be acquainted with this booke and armed against them with the things reueald in this Prophesie For this booke is a most precious Iewell which God hath bestowed vpon his Church in this last age and it is great pitie that all the seruants of God are not better acquainted with it especially in these times for now in this age is and shall be the very heate of the warre and brunt of the battell betwixt Papists and Protestants betwixt God and Belial betwixt the armies of Christ and the armies of Antichrist Now this Prophesie laieth all open and plainly telleth vs what shal be the issue and successe in the day of battaile which side shall haue the victory and which side shall goe downe And therefore very needfull it is that it should be expounded againe and againe and all the Lords people made throughly aaquainted with it For in this age wherein we liue this Prophesie can neuer be inough opened and beaten vpon that all good Protestants may bee armed with it against future times euen as it were with an armour of proofe S. Iohn plainly telleth the people of his time euen the Churches of Asia that they should be blessed by reading and studying this booke because they should thereby be both forewarned and forearmed against many eminent troubles and future dangers For saith he The time is at hand that is to say some things were euen then to be fulfilled For some matters foretold in this booke did begin to be fulfilled euen presently after they were shewed vnto Iohn for the mistery of iniquitie did euen then begin to worke The Church in the Apostles time had her conflicts The ten great persecutions began euen then to be raised vp Heresies shortly after beganne to spring and sprout Afterward by degrees the great Antichrist did approach towards his cursed seate And after all this S. Iohn foretelleth how hee should take possession of his abhominable and most execrable seate and sea of Rome How he should raigne and rule for a time as the Monarche of the world How he should preuaile against the Church and make warre against the Saintes How he should raigne but a short time and afterward come tumbling downe as fast as euer he rose vp and decrease as fast as euer he increased Therefore Blessed is he saith S. Iohn that diligently readeth and peruseth this booke that thereby hee may foresee all these thinges and bee armed against them For as the Heathen man saith Leuius laedit quicquid praeuideris antè Foreseeing daungers do least hurt Now to apply all this to our times I say they are twise happie that are studious and painfull in searching out the true sense and meaning of this Prophesie that thereby they may be strengthned against all the assaults of the Papists our professed enemies and the enemies of Gods Church and stick fast to the euerlasting truth of God knowing for a certaintie that these sonnes of Belial shall not long preuaile The date of their raigne is almost out and the time draweth on apace wherein both they and their king Abaddon shal be laide in the dust But I will now proceed to a new reasō to proue that this booke of the Reuelations ought not to be concealed but openly preached and published to the whole Church of God in this age My reason is taken out of the 22. chapter of this booke ver 10. in these words Seale not the words of the Prophesie of this booke for the time is at hand Here is a flat commandement from God that this booke and the doctrine of it may not be sealed vp that is to say kept close from the knowledge of Gods people but it must lie alwaies vnsealed that all men may open it read it and see what is in it for it is a borrowed speech taken from sealing of Letters For we all knowe that when Letters are sealed none may open them or reade them but onely those whom it doth concerne but if they be of purpose left vnsealed then any man may reade them without daunger So the Lorde willeth and commaundeth that this booke of the Reuelations should of purpose be left vnsealed that all the people of God might reade it studie it and knowe it If any man doubt whether the Metaphor
shewed and proued that the Popish Religion together with all the power and authoritie of Rome shall ebbe and decaie still more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life BEfore I enter into the exposition of this Prophesie I thinke it not amisse to handle sixe circumstantiall points which may giue some light to the whole matter following and they be these First the instrument that writ this booke Secondly the time when he writ it Thirdly the place where he receiued it Fourthly the persons to whom he writ it Fiftly the ende and vse of his writing this Prophesie Lastly the authoritie of it As touching the first it is agreed vpon amongst the soundest Diuines that Iohn the Apostle or Euangelist Iohn the Disciple whom Iesus loued was the Authour and Instrument of penning this Prophesie as hee himselfe testifieth saying I am Iohn which sawe these things and heard them And he receiueth a commaundement from Iesus Christ which hath the keies of hell death that hee should write the things which hee had seene and heard and set them all downe together in a booke Now we all know that the testimony of Iohn is of great weight though hee be but a man for hee is such a man as is firmely to be beleeued in all that he speaketh Hee is an Apostle an Instrument of the holy Ghost and so guided by the spirit of God that he speaketh vttereth nothing that is his owne He was well knowne to the Churches to be one of Christs Apostles his authoritie among all the faithfull was throughly knowne and approued For we must consider that what an Apostle did vtter hee did vtter it as the instrumēt of the spirit which cannot erre For the prophets Apostles did not write the holy scriptures as they were men only nor yet as they were Ministers of the church only but as they were the immediate certain instruments of the holy Ghost of purpose chosen set apart to pen publish the holy bookes of God This S. Peter confirmeth saying Prophesie came not in old time by the wil of man but holy mē of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost The Apostle Paul also affirmeth the same touching his Gospell which saith he was not after man neither receiued hee it of man but by the reuelation of Iesus Christ Therefore whē this our Apostle saith I am Iohn which saw these things and heard them hee giueth vs to vnderstand that hee was both an eye and an eare witnesse Hee bringeth not matters which he hath heard by vncertain report he deliuereth this book to the churches they which receiued it at his hāds did know him to be a most faithfull seruant of the Lord euen a great Apostle which deliuereth not any thing but that which he had receiued of the Lord and therfore he testifieth that he saw heard al the things which he hath written in this booke And moreouer he testifieth of himselfe that he was called and authorised by Iesus Christ to write this Prophesie did nothing herein of himselfe or of his own brain For saith he I Iohn heard behind me a great voice as it had bene of a trompet saying I am Alpha Omega the first and the last that which thou seest write in a booke send it vnto the Churches Here we see how Iohn is called authorised by Alpha and Omega that is Iesus Christ to write this doctrine of the Apocalyps But may some man say was not Iohn called before was he not one of the Lambes 12. Apostles had he not now many yeares executed the office of the Apostleship right faithfully must hee now haue a new calling a second calling what needs he being an Apostle to be called authorised again To this I answer that this matter now in hand was a new a special work and therfore requires a new special calling It is a strāge reuelation therfore requireth a new authoritie to meddle in it For in this prophesie God dealeth with Iohn as he did with the old prophets in like cases For whē he wold foreshew vnto any of thē speciall matters he called them by glorious visions as we may read what a goodly visiō Esay had what a vision ful of glory Ezechiel had what a visiō Daniel had euē in maiestie like vnto this which Iohn hath here Thus then it is to be considered Iohn now is as one of the old Prophets to foreshew things to come therefore the Lord appeareth vnto him in vision and calleth him and authoriseth him therevnto as he appeared vnto them called them Let this then suffice for a reason of Iohns new calling to his new worke and office And thus much touching the first circumstance Now followeth the second circumstance which is the time whē Iohn receiued this Prophesie which is noted to be vpon a Lords day It is the day which S. Paul to the Corinthians calleth the first day of the weeke in which the Churches did meete for the holy exercises in religion which is also euident because hee saith they came together to breake bread Now the obseruation of a seuenth day is of diuine institution euen from the beginning It is naturall morall and perpetuall for God blessed the seuenth day and sanctified it We are therfore to thinke that although Iohn now in his exile was absent in bodie from the church assemblies yet he was present with them in spirit commending them most earnestly vnto God in his holy praiers and meditations and therefore it is said that hee was rauished in the spirit vpon the Lords day So we reade that the like befell vnto Daniel when hee was prisoner in Babylon the like also vnto Ezechiel who was taken by the spirit in the visions of God and carried to Ierusalem The like to Peter the like to Paul But the speciall reason of Iohns rauishment in the spirit at this time was that thereby hee might be made more fit and capable to receiue and vnderstand all those great mysteries and heauenly visions which now should be shewed vnto him And withall let vs obserue that all men are alwaies most capable of heauenly things when they are most in the spirit for God doth euermore most reueale himselfe to such as are most in praier reading and meditation and to such as make greatest conscience to spend his Sabaoths Christianly and religiously according to his great commandement And let vs alwaies be sure of this that the more feruent zealous we are in religious duties the more familiar acquaintance we shall finde with God and he will at all times be the more open-hearted vnto vs and will hide nothing from vs that may be for his glorie and our good For such as are much in heauenly contemplatiō he doth reckē not amongst his seruants but amongst his dearest friendes
next chapter when wee come to the opening of the seuen seales thereof For the things which fall out vpon the opening of the seuerall seales do plainely declare that all is meant of the particular matters contained in this present booke This booke is said to be in the right hand of him that sitteth vpon the throne because all the secrets reuealed in it come from the counsell and decree of the most high God and are ordered by his meere direction and prouidence It is called a written booke to shewe that the things contained in it are so firmely decreed in the counsell of God that none of them shall faile but come to passe and bee fulfilled in their season They are such as wee may write of as wee vse to say and therefore for the certaintie of them they are here said to be written in a booke This booke is said to bee written within and without for the multitude and varietie of matters contained in it For there were both many and great things which should fall out in the world from the time that Iohn receiued this Prophesie vnto the end of the world This booke is sealed with seuen seales that is to say perfectly sealed because the things contained herein are counsels and secrets onely knowne to God til it pleased him to reueale them to his church by his sonne The elect Angels knew nothing of the things written in this booke before the seales were opened vers 2 And I sawe a strong Angell which proclaimed with a loude voice Who is worthy to open the booke and to loose the seales thereof Here is proclamation made to all creatures that if there were any manner of persons in heauen or earth among men or Angels that would take vpon them to open and expound this booke that they should come forth and shewe themselues and bee very willingly and gladly heard But alas the next verse doth shewe vers 3 that none in heauen or earth was able to open the booke and expound it wherevpon Iohn wept very much vers 4 because no man was found worthy to open and interpret this booke The cause of Iohns weeping and lamenting was for feare the Church should bee depriued of such profitable and excellent things as hee knew were contained in this booke Such was his loue to the Church such was his zeale and care for the people of God An example worthy of all imitation to mourne and weepe for the concealing of the booke of God and to reioyce in the opening of it But Papists and Atheists are of a contrary minde for they reioyce in the concealing and keeping close of the scriptures and are much grieued with the opening and reuealing thereof because thereby their hypocrisie and villany is detected and discarded Vpon this one of the Elders said vnto Iohn Weepe not vers 5 Beholde the Lion which is of the Tribe of Iudah the roote of Dauid hath obtained to open the booke and to lose the seales thereof Here we see how Iohn is comforted and cheared vp by one of the Elders being now very pensiue and sad and is willed to plucke vp a good heart and to bee of good cheare for hee could tell him good newes to wit of one that could open and expound this booke and all the secrets in it and that is Iesus Christ the great reuealer of secrets and onely expounder of all riddles and hidden mysteries as before hath bene spoken Iesus Christ is here said to be of the Tribe of Iudah because he is lineally discended of that Tribe according to the flesh and his humane nature He is compared to a Lyon by allusion vnto Iacobs words in his last will and testament concerning Iudah namely that hee should couch as a Lyon and as a Lionesse none should stirre him He is fitly compared to a lion for his great admitable power strēgth for he raigneth and must raigne ouer al his enemies and in the middest of all his enemies yea till he hath troade all his enemies vnder his feete He is called the roote of Dauid both here and also in the 22. chapter of this booke verse 16. because he sprung out of Dauid the sonne of Ishai as a braunch out of his roote as the Prophet did foretell that A rod should come forth of the stocke of Ishai and a graft should growe out of his rootes And the Apostle saith that Christ was made of the seede of Dauid according to the flesh vers 6 Then saith Iohn I beheld and loe in the middest of the throne and of the foure beastes and of the Elders stood a Lambe as though he had bene killed which had seuen hornes and seuen eies which are the seuen spirits of God sent into all the world Here Iohn taketh a view and sight of Iesus Christ from the verie middest of the throne of the foure beastes and the Elders Christ doth not appeare about the throne as do the Saints and Angels which are but ministers and ministring spirits but in the verie middest of the throne and the foure beastes c. because hee is God euerlasting coequall and coeternall with the Father in whom as the Apostle saith dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily or essentially And here afterward the same worship and honour is ascribed vnto him both by the Saints and Angels which before is ascribed vnto God the Father Christ is here compared to a Lambe for his innocencie for the scripture saith He was as a sheepe dumbe before his shearer Hee is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world He is the Lambe slain from the beginning of the world Hee is compared to a Lyon for his great incomparable strength in cōquering hell death and damnation and all infernall power And to a lambe because he hath dispatched all this vpon the Crosse by the sacrifice of himselfe once offered for hee neuer did more liuely shewe forth his Lyon-like power then when hee was as a lambe slaine and sacrificed vpon the Crosse This Lambe Christ is here said to haue seuen hornes which signifie his manifolde power or fulnesse of power or perfect power according as this metaphor or borrowed speech of horne is vsually so taken in all the scriptures This Lambe also is said to haue seuen eies which are interpreted to be the seuen spirits of God that is the manifolde graces and gifts of the Spirit which hee giueth vnto his Church Now then to conclude this point for as much as the number of seuen in this booke is a number of perfection and alwaies noteth perfection therefore by Christs seuen hornes and seuen eies wee may and that soundly vnderstand his perfect power and his perfect sight and knowledge in all things For his seuen eies are so taken in the third chapter of the Prophesie of Zacharie where it is said Vpon one stone shall be seuen eies Meaning that Iesus Christ the corner stone of the
description of Christ and his glory vers 2 The second sheweth how the Gospell should be preached in many nations and kingdomes by the Ministers of this last age whereby all aduersarie power should be ouerthrowne vers 6.7 The third is a watch word giuen to the world by Christ that when the seuenth Angell should blowe the trumpet the world should ende vers 9.10.11 The last doth shewe how all faithfull Preachers being called and authorized by Christ should trauell and take paines in the studie of Gods booke and afterward should publish the knowledge thereof far and neare vers 1 And I sawe an other mightie Angel come downe from heauen cloathed with a cloude the Raine-bowe vpon his head and his face was as the Sunne and his feete as pillars of Brasse This Angel of might is Christ as appeareth by the description of him by all the consequents following for he is said to be cloathed with a cloud which signifieth his great glory and maiestie For he shall come in the cloudes of heauen to iudge the world that is with great pompe and glory The Raine-bowe was vpon his head which signifieth the couenant of peace with his church as before chap. 4.3 His face was as the Sunne which signifieth comfort and deliuerance to his church the dispelling of all the smoake of the bottomelesse pit as the Sun scattereth and driueth away the thicke mists His feete are as pillars of Brasse which signifieth that he should tread downe all his enemies vnder his feete both Pope and Turke for hee must raigne till hee haue destroied them all The Pope a long time kept all the kings of Europe in awe The Locusts were of great power The Turkes preuailed exceedingly But what are they all to this mightie and glorious Angell Christ What is their power to withstand him What can Abaddō the king of the Locusts do against this mighty king of Sion What can the Turkes most terrible horses and horsemen do against this Angell which sitteth vpon the white horse Alas alas they are able to do nothing They must all bee troden downe vnder his feete of brasse And hee had in his hand a little booke open vers 2 and hee put his right foote vpon the sea and his left vpon the earth This little booke signifieth the Bible It is called little in respect of the great and huge volumes of Popish bookes though in it selfe it bee large It is saide to bee open that all men might looke into it because it had bene shut a long time before euen during all the time of the darkening of the Sun and the Ayre by the smoake which came out of the bottomlesse pit But although it was long shut vp in the time of Poperie and lay buried in a straunge tongue yet now it is opened and publikely preached vnto all the seruants of God And all this no doubt is to be vnderstood of Luthers time and all the times euer since the Gospell was spread abroade after the great darkenesse For some hundred yeares agoe it was hard to finde an English Bible but now God be thanked there are thousands to be found in the hands of Gods people And therfore the things here prophesied of are fulfilled in our daies for wee liue vnder the opening of the seuenth seale and the blowing of the sixt trumpet and the powring forth of the sixt viall as here doth partly appeare and shall God willing be made more manifest whē we come to the 16. chapter Now wee are diligently to obserue that as the opening of this booke the preaching of the Gospell by Luther his successors hath dispersed the former darkenesse and beaten downe Poperie so also hath it driuen backe the Turke and taken from vs all feare of him which in former ages was the terrour of the worlde for since men haue looked into this booke repented of their Idolatrie and turned vnto God with all their hearts The Turke and his power hath not bene feared especially in these parts where the Gospell is preached For God in his mercifull prouidence towards his Church hath diuerted his power an other way and set him aworke else-where So that if men cannot be brought to beleeue that God raised him vp as a scourge for Idolaters and a plague for Idolatrie and other foule sinnes according to the wordes in the former chapter where it is said They repented not of the workes of their hands c. yet when they see that at the opening of the booke of God and forsaking Idolatrie the feare of him is remoued let them beleeue it What can be more plaine then that this opē booke in the hand of the Angell hath deliuered vs from the Pope and from the Turke A most happie opening of this blessed booke Moreouer it is said that hee put his right foote vpon the sea and his left on the earth The setting of Christs right foote vpon the sea signifieth that he is ruler of the sea and standeth as firmely vpon the sea as vpon the land The setting of his left foote vpon the earth doth signifie that he is Lord of the earth and true heire to all things in it And cried with a loude voice as when a Lyon roareth vers 3 and when he had cried seuen thunders vttered their voices This crying with a loude voice like the roaring of a Lyon doth signifie the manifestation of the wrath of Christ against all his enemies for now hee beginneth to roare against them as a Lyon whē he is hungry roareth for his pray Therefore now both the scorpion Locusts the fierce horses and horsemen are like to goe to the pot By the 7. thunders which vttered their voices is meant those perfect and exquisite iudgemēts which now were to be infflicted both vpon the kingdome of the Pope and of the Turke We haue heard before that 7. is a perfect number in this booke that thunder is put for the thundring of Gods wrath and all such broiles and plagues as follow therevpō And this is the reason of this interpretation And when the seuen thunders had vttered their voices vers 4 I was about to write but I heard a voice from heauen saying vnto me Seale vp those things which the seuē thunders haue spoken and write them not It should seeme these seuē thunders did so speake as they might be vnderstood for Iohn was about to write the things which they spake thinking that they were vttered for that ende and purpose that he should deliuer them in writing to the churches But he receiueth a commandement to the contrarie for he is willed not to write them but to conceale them vntill the appointed time But some man may say Why were they vttered seeing they must be concealed and kept close I answere it was not in vaine for first though the particulars bee not expressed what the thunders spake yet here we are taught that there remaine most fearfull iudgementes against all the oppressors of
to passe nor fulfilled and therfore more hard for them to interprete and vnderstand for those things in this Prophesie which are not yet fulfilled are hardest for vs of this age to vnderstand and resolue of But when a Prophesie is fulfilled it is an easie matter to say this was the meaning of the Prophet Some things in this booke were fulfilled before the daies of the Fathers and some thinges in the daies wherein they liued and both those they did clearely vnderstand Some things were fulfilled after their daies as the rising and raigning of the great Antichrist which they did not so clearly see into Hereupon it commeth to passe that many things which vnto them were very obscure are vnto vs most cleare manifest as being already fulfilled insomuch that all which are not wilfully blinded may see and vnderstand them yea the most vnlearned Be not therefore discouraged gentle Reader at the darknesse difficultie of this booke Doe not preiudicially resolue and set downe with thy selfe that the naturall sense of this booke cannot be giuē nor the true meaning found out but that we must be faine when we haue done all that we can to rest in vncertaine coniectures some following one sense and some an other as seemeth most like and probable But no man can say confidently and precisely this is the meaning of the holy Ghost Oh be not of that minde good Christian brother for if we haue not an vndoubted certainty for the sense meaning of this Prophesie we are neuer the nearer and that is it which the Papists would driue vs vnto But know for a certainty that the naturall sense of this booke is to be found out as well as of other bookes of the Scripture And that we might not be left to our selues in the darke and to our vncertaine coniectures and doubtfull interpretations Behold the mercifull goodnesse of God to his Church who himselfe doth expound the darkest and most misticall things in this Prophesie or at least so many of them and so far as the rest are thereby laid open and made manifest The Lord himselfe expoundeth some things in the first Chapter which giue cleare light to the first vision The Angell expoundeth diuers other things In the 17. Chapter which is the key of this prophesie the Angel doth of purpose open and interpret all the greatest doubts of this booke as who is the Whore of Babylon who is the beast what be his seuen heads what be his 10. hornes what be the waters which the woman that is the Whore of Rome sitteth vpon Moreouer for the better vnderstanding of this Prophesie we must note that the writings of Moyses and the Prophets vnto which there bee sundry allusions and from the which sundry things are drawne do cleare diuers things in this Reuelation The knowledge of antiquities ministreth much aide to the vnderstanding of this Prophesie The knowledge of the histories of the Church and the particular state thereof in diuers ages bringeth great light The obseruation of the phrases and maner of speech vsed by the old Prophets doth helpe also not a little The serious and deepe weighing of all the circumstances of the text conferring one thing with another the cōsequents with the antecedents the antecedents with the consequēts furthereth greatly for the bolting out of the true natural sense And furthermore as the spirit of God is the author of this prophesie so the same spirit is the best interpreter of it doth opē and reueale it to all such as vsing al other good meanes are earnest and humble suters vnto God for the illumination thereof whereby they may vnderstand both this and all other the mysteries of his will which the Apostle saith God hath reuealed vnto vs by his spirit For the spirit searcheth all things yea the deepe things of God To all this may be added the knowledge of artes tongues and the learned writings and interpretations of sundry excellent men which all do bring great furtherance to the vnderstanding of this Prophesie Sith then there be so many helpes for the opening and expounding of this Reuelation why should any be discouraged from the reading and study thereof But if any man demaund a reason why Saint Iohn writeth this Reuelation in such misticall and allegoricall maner I answere that there may be diuers reasons yeelded hereof First that the world being blinded might fulfill the things herein specified Secondly because Iohn was to publish this Reuelation in such maner and forme as he had receiued it from Iesus Christ which was figuratiue and allegoricall Thirdly because it was much more wisedome to foretel the destructiō of the Romaine Empire which al that time bare the sway almost ouer all the world vnder couert and figuratiue speeches then in plaine tearmes least the Romaine Princes should rage more against the Christians euen in that respect The like also may be said for Daniels darke maner of deliuering his Prophesie For if he had vttered those things in plaine tearmes which he spake darkely and allegorically it might haue cost him his life For the heathen enemies would neuer haue endured to heare that all their Empires glory and renowne should fall one after another and one by another and that the Iewes were the onely holy people whome God did defend and to whome in the ende God would not onely giue a quiet possession of their owne land and kingdome but also a kingdome euerlasting that through their Messias and great deliuerer But to grow to a conclusion gentle Reader thou shalt find in this poore trauell First an exposition of the first 13. Chapters after thou shalt find the next 6. Chapters vnto the twentith reduced all to one head which is to proue the 5. points propounded and last of all the 3. Chapters following briefely and plainely expounded If any through lazinesse will not or through want of leisure cannot read ouer this short trauel yet for his cōfort let him read those things only which are written vpō the 14. Chapter And thus Christian Reader hoping that thou wilt not neglect that which may be for thine owne good I commēd thee to God to the word of his grace which is able to build further and to giue thee an inheritance among all them that are sanctified Thine in the Lord Arthur Dent. Vpon the 14. Chapter of this Booke these fiue points are handled First that Babylon in this Booke of the Reuelation is Rome Secondly that Rome shall fall and how Thirdly that Rome shall fall finally and come to vtter desolation in this life before the last iudgement Fourthly by whom and when it shall be ouerthrowne Fiftly the causes of the vtter ruine and ouerthrow thereof Apoc. 18. vers 4. I heard a voice from heauen say Goe out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sinnes and that ye receiue not of her plagues THE RVINE OF Rome or an Exposition vpon the Reuelation Wherein is plainly
and by the vertue of his Propheticall office the whole will of God is made knowne vnto vs. For God hath sent him as the great Prophet to instruct the world in righteousnesse and hath reuealed himselfe to vs in him and therefore hee is called the Image of the inuisible God the brightnesse of his glorie and the ingrauen forme of his person And therefore hee said to Philip Hee that hath seene mee hath seene my Father also And if you had knowne mee you should haue knowne my Father also And againe No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and hee to whom the Sonne will reueale him Thus then wee see that Iesus Christ is that faithfull witnesse and Prince of Prophets in whom the will of God and all the counsels of his Father are reuealed vnto vs. The manner of Iohns calling to receiue this Prophesie is set downe in these wordes vers 9 I Iohn euen your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ was in the I le of Pathmos for the word of God and for the witnessing of Iesus Christ vers 10 And I was rauished in the spirit on the Lords day and heard behinde mee a great voice as it had bene of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega vers 11 that first and that last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it vnto the seuen Churches which are in Asia c. Now out of these three verses fiue things are to be obserued First that Iohn is commaunded by the voice of Christ which he heard behinde him as loude as a Trumpet to write and record the visions which he sawe and being so written and recorded to commend them to all the Churches for the common benefite and vse thereof So that herein Iohn doth nothing of himselfe nothing of his owne braine but all things by special warrant and authoritie from Iesus Christ that Alpha and Omega which doth call him and authorize him to this great businesse which now he is set about Secondly Iohns rauishment in spirit to the ende he might be made more capable of all these heauenly visions which were shewed vnto him Thirdly his great humiliation whereby also hee was fitted to receiue and vnderstand these great mysteries For God will guide the meeke in iudgement and teach the humble his wayes yea his secrets are with them that feare him Therefore although Iohn was a great Apostle and had seene wonderfull visions yet hee is not thereby puft vp with pride and conceit of himselfe but in the greatest humiliation of his soule calleth himselfe a brother and companion of all the faithfull vers 9 but specially of such as patiently suffer for Iesus Christ and his kingdome Fourthly the time when Iohn was called which was the Lords day Fiftly and lastly the place where he was called which was the I le of Pathmos as formerly hath bene shewed The description of Christ the person that calleth Iohn to this new office is set downe in the next fiue verses following wherein the excellent glorie of Christes person is described vers 13 First from the place where Christ did appeare vnto him Secondly from the seuerall parts and members of his royall person vers 14.15 vers 16 Thirdly from his prouident care ouer his true ministers and all his faithfull people Touching the place where Christe in a vision did appeare to Iohn hee saith it was in the middest of the seuen golden Candlestickes For saith hee I turned backe to see the voyce that spake with mee and when I was turned I sawe seuen golden Candlestickes and in the middest of the seuen Candlestickes one like the sonne of man c. The 7. vers 12 vers 13 golden Candlesticks are interpreted by Christ himselfe in the last verse of this Chapter to be the seuen Churches The Churches are saide to be of golde because Christ delighteth in them as much as we do in golde he valueth euery true member thereof as we do golde for euery beleeuer is all glorious within euery true Christian is faire and beautifull euery regenerate man is all as golde euen as most pure golde It is said afterward that Christ walketh in the midst of these seuen golden Candlestickes that is he is alwaies present with his Church to feed it gouerne it defend it comfort it The Prophet saith that Christ hath seuē eies which goe through the whole world whereby is signified his watchfull prouidence for his Church for hee is alwaies looking out for the good of it to defend and protect it against all aduersary power whatsoeuer Which thing was figured in the Rammes skinnes Badgers skinnes wherewithall the Arke was couered to defend it against all violence of winde and weather Euen so the mercifull protection of Christ is as it were the continuall couering of his Church As touching the parts and members of his royall person hee is described of his head and haire vers 13.14.15 of his face of his eyes of his voice of his feete of his garments and of his girdle As concerning his head and haire they are said to be as white as wooll and as snowe vers 14 which signifie his great wisedom knowledge to performe all things in his Church for wisedome and knowledge for the most part do accompany white heads and gray haires His face shineth as the Sunne in his strength Which signifieth that Christ is the same to his Church that the Sunne is to the world For as the Sunne lighteneth the whole worlde with his brightnesse So Christ with the brightnesse of his face lighteneth his whole Church His eyes are like a flame of fire that is exceeding bright and piercing into all places yea the very harts of men for nothing is hid frō his sight with whom we haue to do He hath Egles eyes to foresee all dangers intended and plotted against his Church that he may in due time preuent them His voice is compared to the sounde of many waters because it should sounde throughout all the world by the preaching of the Gospell Waters is expounded Chapter 17. verse 15. of multitudes nations and tongues Christs voice therefore is like many waters because his voice should goe through many countries and kingdomes His feete are compared to fine brasse to signifie both the perfectiō of all his waies and also his mightie power to treade downe all his enemies He is cloathed with a garment downe to the ground to signifie that he walketh as King and Priest in the midst of the seuen golden candlestickes For Kings and Priests in olde time did weare long garments specially in the execution of their offices He is girded about the pappes with a golden girdle for as Kings and Priests did gird their garments close vnto them least otherwise they might be hindred in the execution of their offices So Christ girdeth himselfe close to his businesse for he is no idle beholder of the
thought their state good inough being puft vp with conceitednes yet are they charged to be poore naked and blinde and therevpō counselled admonished to buy spiritual gold that they may be rich and spirituall garments to hide their nakednesse and spirituall eye-salue to annoint their eyes that they might see Concerning reprehensions Ephesus is reproued for going backward Pergamus and Thyatira for suffering and maintaining corrupt doctrine as formerly hath bene shewed Sardis for dulnesse deadnesse and vnsoundnesse in their manner of worshipping God Laodicea for lukewarmnesse and conceitednes Touching threats Ephesus is threatned that except they repent and do their first workes their candlesticke should be remoued out of his place that is the Church should bee translated to some other place but not destroied For God doth remoue but not destroy his Candlestickes Pergamus is threatned that vnlesse they did speedily repent Iesus Christ would come shortly and fight against them with the sword of his mouth Thyatira is threatned that except they repent them of their workes they should be cast into a bed of affliction and all their fauourites should be slaine with death Sardis is threatned that if they did not watch and awake Christ would come suddenly vpon them as a thiefe and they should not knowe what houre hee would come Concerning promises they be very great large for euerlasting ioy and the very fulnesse of glory is promised to all that fight the good fight of faith and ouercome in the spirituall battell against the flesh the world and the diuell Ephesus is promised that if they fight it out couragiously and constantly to the ende they should eate of the tree of life which is in the middest of the paradise of God Smyrna is promised in like case that they should not be hurt of the second death Pergamus likewise is promised to eate of the Manna that is hid and to haue the white stone of victorie giuen them Thyatira is promised to haue power giuen them to rule ouer Nations to be lightned with heauenly brightnesse like the morning starre Sardis is promised to be cloathed with white aray that is with heauenly glorie and to haue their name continued in the booke of life Philadelphia is promised to haue a pillar made in the Temple of God that is a firme and vnmoueable place of eternall glory Laodicea is promised to sup with Christ and to sit with him vpon his throne for euermore Thus wee see what great and precious promises are made to all Churches that fight and ouercome in this their spirituall battell and conflict Concerning the conclusion it is one the same to all these seuen churches Wherein they are exhorted that such as haue eares to heare should heare ponder and consider all the foresaid praises and dispraises admonitions reprehensions threates promises And it is therefore said such as haue eares because there are very fewe to be found that haue circumcised and sanctified eares to heare and vnderstand heauenly things This is proper to the elect this is but to whom it is giuen And thus briefly and generally we see what was the present state of euerie one of the Churches of Asia vnto which this Prophesie was to be sent so that by them we may see in what estate the vniuersall Church militant was at that time For as some of these seuen as yet stood firme and others had much declined so was it with all other churches Hitherto concerning the first vision containing generally the inscription of this booke Iohns salutation to the Churches Iohns new calling The excellencie of Christ which called him And the present estate of the Church Now we are to proceed to the second vision contained in the next 8. chapters to the 12. wherein is shewed what should be the future estate of the Church in all ages euen vnto the ende of the world CHAP. IIII. THe principal things contained in this 4. chapter is a description of the person of God the Author of this booke who is most gloriously described of that excellent glorie that is in himselfe and of his royall throne which he sitteth vpon of his goodly retinue and troupes of Saints and Angels attending about his most glorious throne Wherevnto is added the diuerse qualities both of Angels and Saints both in themselues and their owne natures as also in their manner of praising and worshipping of God This is the generall summe and sense of this chapter But for the better clearing and more full opening of it I will come to the words of the text and open them as they lie in order vers 1 After this I looked and beholde a doore was open in heauē and the first voice which I heard was as it were of a trumpet talking with me saying Come vp hither and I wil shew thee the things which must be done hereafter These words After this haue relation to the first vision spoken of before as if hee should say after I had receiued the former vision concerning the present estate of the Church now I had an other vision concerning the future estate therof and therfore he saith a doore was open in heauen that he might come in and see al these things which should be reuealed vnto him For the opening of the doore in heauē doth here signifie the vnlocking of heauenly things vnto Iohn or his entrance into them for so the word doore is taken 2. Cor. 3.12 Apoc. 3.8 After the opening of the doore hee is called vp with a loude voice like a trumpet saying Come vp hither For although the doore was opened yet durst hee not enter in till hee was called and commanded to come in For in these cases he doth not presume in any thing as of himself without speciall warrant and direction As the scripture saith No man taketh this honour vnto himselfe but he that is called of God as was Aaron The voice that calleth him is like a trumpet that is loude and shrill that he might be stirred vp more diligently to attend vnto the contemplation of these great secrets which should be reuealed vnto him This voice commandeth him to come vp hither which sheweth that Iohn was rapt vp in the spirit vnto the heauens to see this vision This voice promiseth to shewe him things which must bee done hereafter that is that hee should be made acquainted with the future estate of the church as alreadie he was with the present estate thereof vers 2 And immediately I was rauished in the spirite and beholde a Throne was set in heauen and one sate vpon the Throne Vpon this suddaine and extraordinary calling by so heauenly and loude a voice Iohn was forthwith rauished in spirit For as the Prophet Ezechiel was by the spirite in the Visions of God carried from Chaldea to Ierusalem So this holy Apostle is carried by the spirite in the Visions of God into heauen and by the same spirite is made fit and capable of all these heauenly Visions
flye a very high pitch we are giuen to vnderstand that the heauenly spirits are much in celestiall contemplation and do receiue the knowledge of hid secrets and counsels for they are much aloft about the throne of God and many high and deepe secrets are opened vnto them And the foure beasts had each of them sixe winges about him and they were full of eyes within c. vers 8 This maketh it very plaine that by these beasts are vnderstood the sixe Angels because he ascribeth vnto euery one of them sixe wings a piece For the Angels are described with winges both in the first and tenth of Ezechiel before mentioned and also in the sixt Chapter of the prophesie of Isaias where the Seraphins are saide to haue sixe wings a piece two to couer their faces two to couer their feete and two to flie withall because they haue two wings to couer their faces withall because they are not able to endure the vnconceiuable brightnesse and glory of God for he dwelleth in vnapproachable light They haue two wings to couer their feete withall because mortall men are not able to looke vpō the brightnes that is in them For we read that many haue bin astonished dazeled with the glory brightnes of Angels so glorious creatures are they They haue two wings to flie withall to note the prompt obedience and readinesse to execute the commandements of God as formerly was shewed Moreouer the angels are saide to haue winges and to flie swiftly because God by them doth speedily dispatch many purposes actions seruices here below and for this cause the scripture affirmeth that he rideth vpon the Cherubins that he dwelleth betweene the Cherubins and that he maketh the cloudes his chariots and walketh vpon the winges of the winde For as earthly Kings are in their progresses carried in their most sumptuous coaches drawne by the most excellent coach-horses to dispatch great businesses and many waightie affaires within their dominions so the visions in Ezechiel doo shewe that the immortall king is carried most swiftly in his chariot of triumph drawne by the Cherubins as it were by beasts to direct and ouerrule all actions vnder the Sunne Moreouer these Angels are said to be full of eies within vers 8 to note not only their fulnesse of knowledge but also their inward sight into all heauenly things yea euen such as are most secret and hid for they are of all other creatures most inward with God None of his children know so much of his counsell as they Furthermore the Angels are here said to praise God vncessantly vers 8 day and night saying holy holy holy Lord God almightie which was which is and which is to come Where wee may clearely see that the Angels praise and worship God in a burning zeale without wearinesse For they are not as men which through their great corruption are full of dulnesse and wearines in Gods worship but they do alwaies serue him with infatigable desires and therefore are called Seraphins because they burne in the zeale of God and Cherubins because their delight is to approach neer vnto him and to be alwaies about his throne yea euen in his chamber of presence They do double and treble this word holy and warble much vpon it because they know full well that hee is righteous in all his waies and holy in al his workes and that all his proceedings iudgemēts are euen then waighed in the ballance of iustice and equitie when to mans sence the iudgement of reason they seeme nothing lesse For his Iudgements are as a great depth which mans reason cannot found Further wee see that when these beastes that is vers 9 the Angels gaue glory and honour and thankes to God c. vers 10 the 24. Elders also fell downe before him and worshipped him that liueth for euermore Where we may plainely see that both Saints and Angels doo iointly praise and magnifie God and him alone Euen that God that liueth for euermore euen that God which was which is and which is to come that is the eternall and euerlasting God For the scripture saith Praise him ô yee Saints and praise him ô yee Angels that excell in strength And the 24. Elders cast their crownes before the throne saying Thou art worthy ô Lord to receiue glory and honour c. Wherein wee see that all the elect doo emptie themselues of all worthinesse to haue any glorie acknowledging that their crownes of glorie are Gods free gift that the praise therof belōgeth onely to him and nothing to themselues And this in very deede is the right manner of worshipping God frankely to ascribe all glorie to him and all shame to our selues to giue all to him to whome all is due and nothing to our selues which haue nothing for nothing can bee giuen or taken out of nothing Now then to conclude and winde vp this fourth chapter wee doo clearely see the summe and drift of all is that heauen doore was opened vnto Iohn and that hee was let in and called vp into the Chamber of presence by a very loude voice there to take notice of the future estate of the church and that the person which thus called him vp was the very immortall God himselfe who is so gloriously described of his throne his troupes and traines of Saints Angels as we haue heard And all this is to commend set forth the authoritie of this booke whose Author is so excellent yea superexcellent CHAP. V. AFter this Vision containing the glory of the diuine maiestie was shewed vnto Iohn that hee might knowe from what fountaine this Prophesie was deriued now in this fift chapter is taught and shewed by what meanes and by whose mediation the knowledge of such hidden mysteries were reuealed vnto the church namely by the meanes and mediation of Iesus Christ in whom only the counsels and secrets of God the Father are opened and made knowne vnto men For hee is the great Prophet Doctor of the church which is come downe from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne vnto vs whatsoeuer he hath receiued of his Father as hee himselfe testifieth And the church is commaunded by a voice from heauen to heare him and him alone ver 1.2.3.4 This fift Chapter containeth three things generally First a description of the booke which was in the right hand of God ver 5.6.7 Secondly a description of Iesus Christ which receiueth it at the hande of his Father and openeth it Thirdly a description of those most glorious praises which are giuen to Christ by the Angels vers 8.9.10.11.12.13.14 Saints and all the creatures in heauen and earth I sawe in the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne vers 1 a booke written within and on the backe side sealed with seuen seales By this booke here mentioned is meant this present booke of the Apocalyps or Reuelatiō as it shall plainely appeare in the
the Church which Christ hath thundred out with terrour against them And when the time determined is come they shall be seene and vnderstood but in the meane time they bee sealed vp and kept close according to that of Iob Why should not the times bee hid of the Almightie so as they which know him should not perceiue the times appointed of him and that of Daniel These things are sealed vp vntill the time determined vers 5 And the Angell which I sawe stand vpon the sea and vpon the earth lift vp his hand to heauen vers 6 And sware by him that liueth for euermore which created heauen and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that therin are the sea the things that therein are that time should be no more vers 7 But in the daies of the voice of the seuenth Angel when he shall begin to blowe the trumpet euen the ministrie of God shall be finished as he hath declared to his seruants the Prophets The summe of these three verses is that Christ giueth warning of the last iudgement that men might awake and looke out in time And because men for the most part are carelesse and secure putting the euill day farre from them as the Prophet speaketh Therefore here Christ bindeth it with a solemne oath and solemne gestures therevnto annexed as was the lifting vp of the hand in auncient time Gen. 14.22 The thing that our Lord Iesus deposeth is that Time shall be no more that is Time as it is now or the state of things as they be now but he telleth vs flatly that as sixe Angels haue alreadie blowne their trumpets so when the 7. Angell should blowe the mysterie of God shall be finished that is the time of punishing the wicked and rewarding the godly should come which is therefore called a Mysterie because the world vnderstandeth it not They thinke there is no such matter They imagine there is no reward for the iust or punishment for the wicked as the Prophet saith But the holy Ghost saith Verily there is a reward for the righteous Doubtlesse there is a God which iudgeth the earth And here it is said that God hath declared it to his seruants the Prophets And the voice which I heard from heauen vers 8 spake vnto mee againe and said Goe and take the little booke which is open in the hand of the Angel which standeth vpon the sea and vpon the earth vers 9 So I went vnto the Angell and said vnto him giue me the little booke· And he said vnto me take it and eate it vp and it shall make thy belly bitter but it shall bee in thy mouth as sweete as honey vers 10 Then I tooke the little booke out of the Angels hand and ate it vp and it was in my mouth as sweete as honey but when I had eaten it my belly was bitter vers 11 And hee saide vnto mee Thou must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and to many kings The briefe sense of these foure verses is that the Preachers of the Gospell being called allowed and authorised by Christ vnto their ministry should study the scriptures with great diligence eueÌ„ vntil they had eaten vp the booke of God then they should preach publish vnto all nations kingdomes that truth of God doctrine of the Gospell which now a long time had lien hid in the raigne of Antichrist It is to be obserued that Iohn in this place representeth the person of all the ministers of the Gospell which should be raised vp in these last dayes for the ouerthrowe of Antichrist and the restauration of true religion for Iohn himselfe did not liue to these times Further it is to be noted that all godly Students and zealous Ministers do eate vp the booke of God by reading study praier meditation they finde it sweete in their mouth that is they finde and feele great ioy and comfort in the studie and meditation thereof especially wheÌ„ God reuealeth therby great and hid secrets vnto them giueth them to vnderstand the mysteries of the Gospell counsels of his will which are locked vp from the wise and prudent of this world This I say is sweeter vnto their mouth then hony and the hony combe Concerning this phrase of eating vp the booke looke Ezech. 2.9 for here the holy Ghost alludeth therevnto This booke being so sweete in the mouth yet being eaten and digested is bitter in the belly There may bee three reasons yeelded of this bitternesse First because it being once taken downe into our soule by godly meditatioÌ„ doth mortifie our corrupt nature bring vnder our lusts therefore seemeth bitter to flesh and bloud Secondly because afflictions trials do alwaies necessarily followe the sounde digestion of the Gospell Thirdly because the doctrine of the Gospel being swallowed by the Ministers therof must not be kept to themselues as it were closed vp in their stomacks but they must out with it againe as if it were some loathsome bitter thing which must needes be cast vp again And for this cause it is said in the last verse that they must prophesie againe among the people and nations and tongues and many kings Now blessed be the name of the Lorde our God who hath giuen vs to liue in this age wherein we do with our eies behold and see the fulfilling of all these things let vs therefore praise God for this great worke which wee see wrought in our daies and let vs still more and more magnifie this lâ—ttle booke which will vtterly destroy Popery and bring downe the proude Antichrist do all that fight for him what they can CHAP. XI WE haue heard that the little Booke should be opened and the Gospell preached and published to many nations and kingdomes after the great darkenesse of Popery and that this was done by Luther Melancton Caluin Peter Viret Peter Martir Bullinger Bucer and all their faithfull successors vnto this day Now in this Chapter we are to vnderstand of the effect good successe of their preaching and publishing the Gospell which was that the Church should be restored reformed and built vp thereby which a long time had bene wasted and oppressed by the tyrannie of Antichrist and that many should imbrace the Gospell forsake their Idolatries and turne to God with all their hearts yea whole nations and kingdomes in Europe should be conuerted to the faith as we see this day God be praised So then the principall drift of this Chapter is to shewe those thinges which yet remaine to be fulfilled vnder the blowing of the sixt trumpet which is the preaching and preuailing of the Gospell euen vnto the worldes ende and also the thinges which follow vppon the blowing of the seuenth trumpet which is the resurrection last iudgement This Chapter containeth sixe principall things as it were the sixe parts thereof First ver 1.2 it
we are therefore it was needfull for the better strengthning of their hope cōfort in afflictiōs that they should know the very time determined but because the Church of the christians liueth vnder most cleere comfortable promises of deliuerance therfore God according to his deepe wisedome would haue our faith exercised in an assured expectation of the accōplishment therof though the precise time be concealed An other reason may bee this the vtter ouerthrow of Rome falleth out to bee but a little before the comming of Christ to iudgement as appereth in this prophesie Now then if wee knew the day or yeere certainely when Rome should fall finally it would giue vs too much light vnto the knowledge of the last day which God in great wisedome hath of purpose hid from the knowledge of all men yea and of Angels I know right well that a certaine learned writer doth precisely determine the vtter destruction of Rome to fall out in the yeere of our Lord 1639. But by the fauour of so excellent a man bee it spoken I see no sufficient ground thereof But touching this matter of the time of Romes finall fall I will deliuer mine opinion and my reasons submitting my selfe to the iudgement of the learned for I would bee loth in this or any other thing to goe beyond my compasse or to passe the bounds of modestie and humilitie and therefore doe refer all to bee tryed by the sicle of the sanctuary I doe therefore thus iudge that the vtter ouerthrow of Rome shall bee in this age I meane within the age of a man my reason is this We of this age liue vnder the opening of the seauenth seale the blowing of the sixt trumpet and the powring foorth of the sixt vial For the first it is manifest because the opening of the seauenth seale containeth all things that shall fall out to the end of the world as hath beene shewed and proued before For the blowing of the sixt trumpet that also is plaine because vnder the blowing thereof the little booke was opened and the gospell preached as wee see in this age For the powring downe of the sixt viall of Gods wrath that also is most cleere because thereupon the great riuer Euphrates drieth vp and the Iesuits are sent out to sollicit the kings of the earth to battaile against the Church as wee see fulfilled in these our daies Then I reason thus Rome must fall downe finally in that age wherein the little booke is opened and the euerlasting gospell preached but in this age the little booke is opened and the euerlasting gospell preached therfore in this age Rome must fall downe finally And againe I reason thus Rome must fall downe finally in that age wherein the riuer Euphrates that is the fortification of Rome drieth vp and the Iesuits are sent forth to stop the leake thereof but all this falleth out in this age as wee see with our eies Therefore in this age Rome shall fall downe finally The reason of the proposition is because in this age the popish armies shall come to Armageddon Moreouer this I say and not I but the Lord when the seauenth Angell bloweth the seauenth trumpet then commeth the end of the world But the sixt Angell hath sounded the sixt trumpet long agoe as appeereth by the effects Therefore it cannot be long ere the seauenth Angell blow But Rome must fall downe finally before the seauenth Angell blow as hath beene shewed before Therefore the vtter fall of Rome cannot bee long deferred I doe not determine either of day month or yeere because it is not reuealed But I guesse at an age because the holy ghost pointeth vs vnto an agent But all these things I set downe for the comfort of Gods Church not desiring to vnderstand aboue that vvhich is meet to vnderstand but to vnderstand according to sobrietie Now it resteth to speake of the last maine point vvhich is the causes of Romes vtter ruine and ouerthrow chapter 14 8. Chap. 18.3 Chap. 19.3 Chap. 17 2. vvhich first of all are set downe foure seuerall times for falling to be because she made all nations drunke with the wine of the wrath of her fornication They which outwardly make others drunke or commit fornication vvith others are vvorthie to be seuerely punished How much sorer punishment are they vvorthie of vvhich doe the same spiritually and therfore vvoe be to Rome An other cause of the destruction of Rome is for that she hath shed the bloud of all the Prophets Martyrs chapter 16.6 Chap. 18.24 and Saints as it is vvritten In thee was found the bloud of the Prophets and of the Saints and of all that were slaine vpon the earth What is he vvorthie to haue that is a most cruell bloudsucker nay vvhat is he vvorthie to haue that shal murther a kings children yea that shall murther his eldest sonne and heire apparant to the crowne But Rome hath murthered thousands of the king of Heauens children Yea Rome hath murthered the great heire of Heauen and earth I meane the very sonne of God For Christ vvas put to death by the Romane power and authoritie and by a Romane Iudge chapter 11.8 as before hath bene shewed Therefore let all men iudge vvhat Rome is vvorthie to haue Moreouer S. Iohn telleth vs that Rome with her enchantments hath deceiued all-nations chapter 18.23 Then let the matter be referred to the iudgement of any indifferent man to determine and set downe vvhat punishment sorcerers and enchanters are vvorthie of especially spirituall sorcerers and enchanters Besides all this the holy ghost saith chapter 18.2 that Rome is the habitation of diuels and the hold of all foule spirits and a cage of euery vncleane hatefull bird What think you is like to come of an habitation of diuels What trow yee vvil be the end of a shoule of foule feends a company of most vgly mōstrous helcats What is like to become of a cage of Howles Rauens and Vultures Yea a nest of Vipers Toades Snakes Adders Cocatrices all the most stinging serpents and venemous vermin in the world What wil be the end of pild Priests filthie Friers maungy Monks roguing Iesuits Are not these a cage of vncleane birds What doe they studie what doe they plot what doe they practise euery daye but seditions periuries murthers cōspiracies treacheries treasons all maner of villanies If I had no other reason to persuad me that Rome shal fal come to a miserable end yet this onely would make me so to think that these villanous Iesuits do teach conclud in their cursed conuēticles y t it is not onely lawful but also meritorious to murther any christiā prince y t is not of their catholike religiō oh mōstrous villains ô most hideous helhoūds haue not these monsters suborned diuers desperate caitiffes to embrue their hands in the bloud of christian princes How many haue beene their plots now desperate
yea did couer the whole face of the earth with their multitudes and compasse the tents of the Saints about and the beloued citie that is did make warre against the Church and people of God which in comparison of them were but as a few tents or some little citie But marke vvhat followeth and consider the issue of the battaile The holy ghost saith expressely that fire came downe from God out of Heauen and deuoured them Which doth plainely shew that the armies of Gog Magog though neuer so huge shal be destroyed by the fire of Gods vvrath Now from this I gather that as the armies of the Pope shall goe downe still more and more as formerly hath bene shewed and as experience in the last yeeres good successe both in Ireland Netherland and against Spaine also hath partly prooued Gods most holy name be praised so also the armies of the Turk shal be ouerthrowen so farre foorth as they fight against the true Church or at least be so kept back that they shall not be able to compasse the tents of the Saints as vve see and feele this day God be thanked ver 10 And the Diuell that deceiued them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and that false prophet are and shal be tormented euen day and night for euermore Heere is set downe the Diuells doome to vvit that he shal be cast downe into the infernall pit as vvell vvorthy both for his seducing all nations and stirring vp the armies of Gog and Magog against the Church euen to roote it vp if it vvere possible Therefore Saint Iohn telleth vs that forasmuch as he is the author of all mischiefe and he that hath set all the rest a vvork therefore both he and his instrumens the beast and the false prophet Gog and Magog shall all drinck of the same cup of Gods eternall vvrath and be all throwne downe together into one close prison vvhich is that gasping gulfe and infernall lake that burneth vvith fire and brimstone for euer Loe then vvhat shal be the end of the diuell the Pope the Turk the Emperour the King of Spaine the Cardinall and all other the diuels instruments vvhich heere in earth haue persecuted the Church and compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloued Cittie Now after all this in the fiue last verses Saint Iohn entreth into a liuely and cleere discription of the last iudgement First noting the terror and maiestie of the Iudge himselfe in this ver 11 that from his face both Heauen and earth fled away that is no creature shal be able to endure his angry countenance in that daye and yet vvithall setting downe the puritie and vprightnesse of his iudgement and iudgement seate calling it a white Throne ver 12 And after this the generall citing and personall appearing of all men before him of vvhat degree estate or condition soeuer For both death and hell sea and graue did deliuer vp their dead And all vvithout exception came to iudgement And the bookes of their consciences vvere opened for euerie mans vvorke is engrauen vpon his cōscience as it vvere in letters of brasse or vvith the point of a Diamond as the Prophet speaketh And they were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes and according to the testimonie of their owne consciences And death and hell ver 14 that is all the heires of death and hell euen all the societie of reprobates both papists Atheists and all vnbeleeuers yea whosoeuer were not found written in the booke of life were cast into the lake of fire ver 15 which is the second death Now heere I would haue it dilligently obserued that the holy ghost hath three seuerall times in this booke described the last iudgement to wit in the latter end of the 11. Chapter in the latter end of the 14. Chapter and now in the latter end of this Chapter And moreouer I would haue the order and causes of these descriptions well waighed For in the 11. Chapter hauing before described the kingdome of the Pope and the Turk with their ouerthrow and also the preaching and preuailing of the Gospell in these last daies hee commeth to describe the last iudgement In the 14. Chapter hauing set downe that the euerlasting gospell should be plētifully preached in this last age the ouerthrow of Babylon immediately following forthwith hee proceedeth to the discription of the last day In this Chapter hauing before concluded of the vtter ouerthrow of Rome of the beast and the false prophet of Gog and Magog and all aduersary power at length hee proceedeth to this description of Christs second comming which wee haue heard of And out of all this I do gather that the vtter ouerthrow of the Pope all his adherents shall be in this life a little before the comming of Christ vnto iudgement Chap. 21. AS wee haue heard before of the vtter ouerthrow of the beast and the false prophet and all their adherents and also of the euerlasting condemnation of the dragon that old serpent which set them all a worke So now in this Chapter wee are to heare of that most happy and blessed estate which the faithfull shall dwell in for euermore so that the maine drift of this Chapter is most fully to describe that infinit glory and endlesse felicitie to the which all the 144000 that is all the elect of God shal be aduanced when both the beast and all that haue receiued his marke shall be cast downe into the infernall lake This Chapter may very fitly bee deuided into foure parts The first is a description of the renouation of the world and the restauration of the creature ver 1 The second is ver 2.3.4 a laying foorth of the most glorious estate of the Church when it shall bee freed from all misery The third is a protestation of God himselfe ver 5.6.7.8 concerning the renouation of all things the felicitie of his elect and the endlesse torment of all reprobates The fourth is ver 9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27 a liuely description of the very kingdome of God and the vnspeakeable ioyes of heauen vnder the figure of a great citie called the holy Ierusalem Which citie is heere most gloriously described of his walles gates foundations streets height length breadth brightnesse matter forme persons and inhabitants The text ver 1 AND I saw a new heauen and a new earth for the first heauen and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea ver 2 And I Iohn saw the holy city new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen prepared as a bride trimmed for hir husband ver 3 And I heard a great voice of heauen saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himselfe shall bee their God ver 4 And God shall wipe all teares from their eies and there shall bee no
Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last ver 14 Blessed are they that doe his commandements that their right may bee in the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the citie For without shall bee dogges and enchanters and whooremongers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lies Heere is first an exhortation to publish and proclaime the knowledge of this booke to all people and in no wise to conceale it or keepe it close as formerly hath beene shewed in the epistle Heere is a further admonition that they which are vnrighteous should bee vnrighteous still c. Which is no allowance or encouragement granted vnto wicked men to continue in their euill waies but is rather a terrible threat if wee take all the wordes together in this and the next verse as if he should say if men will needes continue in their filthines yet certainely Christ will come shortly and reward them according to their workes Or else it may bee a phrase of speach which they call an ironicall concession as in another place the holy ghost saith to the young man Walke in the wayes of thine owne heart and in the sight of thine eies but know that for all these things God will bring thee vnto iudgement So likewise in other places After this heere is blessednesse pronounced vpon all such as keepe the commandements of God and it is said that there right is in the tree of life not meaning thereby that their keeping of the commandements is the cause of their right in Christ but onely an effect or consequence For our good works doe not goe beefore as causes of our iustification but follow after as declarations of the same For by doing wee are not made iust in the sight of God but onely declared to bee iust in the sight of men And as for the keeping of the commandements wee doe it not in such perfection as Gods iustice requireth but in such measure as his mercie accepteth through Christ And heere the holy ghost saith that all they which haue a right in Christ which is the tree of life and indeauour to keepe the commandements shall enter in through the gates into the new Ierusalem but on the contrarie all the rout of reprobates whom hee calleth dogges enchanters whooremongers c. shall bee vtterly shut out as hauing nothing to do in this euerlasting citie their portion beeing allotted in the infernall lake ver 16 I Iesus haue sent mine Angell to testifie vnto you these things I am the root and the generation of Dauid and the bright morning star ver 17 And the spirit and the bride say Come And let him that heareth say Come and let him that is a thrift come and let whosoeuer will take of the water of life freely ver 18 For I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the prophesie of this booke If any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke ver 19 And if any man shall diminish of the wordes of the booke of this prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life and out of the holy citie and from those things which are written in this booke ver 20 Hee which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen Euen so come Lord Iesus ver 21 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you all Amen The authoritie of this booke is heere againe ratified from the person of him vvho is the author of it that is Iesus Christ vvho is heere called the root and generation of Dauid both because he is discended of the house of Dauid according to the flesh and also because the eternall kingdome vvhich all the prophets did foretell should spring out of the house of Dauid vvas indeed and in truth established in Christ vvho is our true Dauid and our righteous braunch and as it is heere said the bright morning starre vvhich hath most gloriously risen vpon the vvorld to dispell all darknesse and to bring the great and euerlasting light Moreouer heere is great protestation made in the eightene and ninteene verses of great plagues to bee inflicted vpon all such as shall adde any thing vnto this booke or take away any thing from it Which also maketh greatly for the confirmation of the authoritie of this booke for that to the which nothing may be added and from the which nothing may be taken away must needes bee absolute and perfect But this booke is such a one therefore this booke is absolute and perfect being a part of Gods euerlasting truth Last of all heere is set downe the feruent desire of the bride after the bridgrome for shee being inflamed with the spirit desireth him to come and make vp the match betwixt them that shee may bee ioyned to him in marriage celebrate the solemnization and liue together with him in the eternall triumph Which is the sence of these words the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come For it is proper and peculiar onely to the brid to heare waite and long for the comming of Christ And let him that is a thirst come That is all such as thirst after righteousnesse may truely say come sweet Iesus For they are allowed freely to drinke of the water of life The plaine menaing of all this is that the Church being directed by the holy ghost most vehemently prayeth and longeth for the comming of Christ that shee may haue her topfull happinesse and full fruition of all those super excellent things which are prouided and purchased for her through him And therefore to satisfie her desire Iesus Christ the heauenly bridegroome saith I come shortly To the which the bride saith Amen Amen Euen so be it Come Lord Iesus come quickly and make an end of these sinfull and conflicting daies that all thy deer ones may haue and enioy their long â—â—ked for happinesse and felicitie in the heauens for euer and euer FINIS Apo. 1.3 Gen. 3. Gen. 15. Ier. 25. Dan. 7. Ezech. 38. Dan. 8. Dan. 9. Dan. 11. Apoc. 9 11. Esa 29 11. Dan. 12.9 Apoc. 4.1 Apoc. 10.4 Apoc. 1.1 Apoc. 1.11 Deut. 19. Apoc. 1. â— Apoc. 22 7. Apoc. 22.10 1. Cor. 2. Apoc. 22. verse 8. Apoc. 1. verse 19. Apoc. 1. verse 11. 2. Pet. 1. verse 21 Gal. 1. ver 12. Apoc. 1. ver 10.11 Esay 6. Ezech. 1. Dan. 10. Apoc. 1.10 1. Cor. 6.2 Act. 20.7 Dan. 7.2 Ezec. 3.12.14 Act. 10.10 2. Cor. 12.2 Iohn 15.15 Apoc. 1.9 Apoc. 1.1 Rom 15.4 2. Tim. 3.16 Mal. 3.6 Esa 46.10 Math. 24.35 Apoc. 22.7 Cap. 2. Cap. 3. Cap 7. Cap. 12. Cap. 7. Cap. 8. Cap. 15. Cap. 12. Cap. 1â— Cap. 9. Cap. 18. Cap 19. Cap. 14. Cap 20. Cap. 21. Cap. 22. Cap. 1.1 Cap. 1.4 Cap. 1.9 Cap. 22.8 Heb. 9.12 Heb. 9.14 Iohn 18 37. 1. Tim. 6.13 1. Iohn 5. Coll 1 1â— Heb.
because they gaue their consent to the making of it for indeede the Popes themselues were the chiefe agents and doers in it ver 15 And it was permitted vnto him to giue a spirit vnto the Image of the beast so that the Image of the beast should speake and should cause that as many as would not worship the Image of the beast should bee killed Heere is shewed that this image of the beast was not a dead image but a liuing image for Antichrist put a spirit into it that is life and power and great authoritie insomuch that this Image could speake and not onely speake but speake with great authoritie and terrour so as whosoeuer would not worship this Image that is submit himselfe to the Popish Hierarchie should bee put to death But may some man say How did this image speake I answer by the Popes Clergie For the Romish rabble of Cardinals Abbots Monks Priests Friers and all that cursed corporation were the verie breath life and spirit of this image I meane that the life-bloud of their externall regiment did lie in the execution thereof by the Clergie as it were in certaine arteries and veines For what was their outwarde forme of gouernement without this cruell execution of their stinging Clergie men but as a dead Image without life But when Antichrist had once consecrated and erected his Romish priesthood then did hee put life into his Image which before he had caused to bee made and erected Then wee doe plainely see that the popish Hierarchie is not a bare resemblance of the old Roman policie to stand as a picture on a wall but hath a spirit put into it by the false Prophet and speaketh with such power and terrour in all kingdomes that it causeth all to bee put to death that will not submit themselues vnto it and fall downe and worship the beast Who knoweth not this that as manie in all countries as would not embrace poperie and the old Roman tyrannie the Popish Clergie their inquisitors and other Officers did condemne them in their Courts as heretikes schismatikes and deliuered them ouer being condemned to the secular power to bee put to death And he made all both small and great vers 16 rich and poore bond and free to receiue a marke in their right hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell vers 17 saue he that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Antichrist is not content to murder and massacre all in all countries which will not worship the Image of the beast that is stoupe to his gouernement and authoritie but hee will goe yet a steppe further and will haue all sorts of people brought in bondage vnto him as his marked seruants For as men vse to set a brand vpon their sheepe and other cattell and to eare-marke them that it may openly and manifestly appeare to whom they appertaine so doth Antichrist this Romish beast cause all men in all kingdoms to carie in open viewe his marke or brand whereby all may see that they do appertaine vnto him It is heere said that all the vassals of Antichrist of what degree estate or condition soeuer must receiue his marke in their right hand or in their forehead that is they must openly professe and practise the worship and religion of the beast For the forehead is put for the profession and the right hand for the action so that in one of them at the least euery man must openly declare that hee acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome to be Lord of his faith Moreouer it is added That no man might buy or sell saue hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name the meaning is that no man might traffique in the world or haue anie doings amongst men nay hee might not be suffered to liue except hee had the marke of the beast in his forehead or in his right hand that is vnlesse he did professe and practise the worship the religion the lawes and decrees of the Pope For the marke of the beast is put for his worship religion lawes decrees regiments and policie Moreouer the Popes vassals haue not onely his marke vpon them whereby they may be knowne but also the name of the beast for they must bee named after him euen as children beare the name of their Fathers and must bee called of the Pope or Papa Papists And not onely so but also they haue another priuie marke vpon them and that is the number of his name which is Latinos or professours of the Latine religion Latine kingdome and Italian Church as shall by and by appeare Now then to grow to a conclusion and to make a briefe recapitulation of all thinges heere spoken concerning the second beast which is Antichrist Let vs consider what increasings and proceedings hee hath made as it were by degrees First although he haue two hornes like the Lamb that is ciuill and ecclesiasticall power yet he speaketh like the Dragon that is he bendeth all his power and authoritie words and works for the diuell Secondly he doth as much as the first beast could do in the seruice of the Dragon Thirdly he causeth the first beast to be worshipped that is establisheth the substance of his religion Fourthly he maketh the image of the beast that is addeth a forme to the substance Fiftly hee putteth life into his Image by his Clergie Sixtly he will haue this Image worshipped and yeelded vnto on paine of death Lastly he will haue all men of all conditions to weare his liuerie and to receiue his marke as it were his hired and couenant seruants Heere is wisdome Let him that hath wit count the the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is sixe hundred theescore and sixe Now last of all the holy Ghost telleth vs that it is a verie high point of wisedome and vnderstanding to count the number of the beast and requireth a sharpe and pregnant wit and withall telleth vs that it is the number of a man that is such as a man endued with Gods Spirite may finde out Then wee are encouraged to search into it sith it is within the compasse of mans reach It is no impossible thing If therefore wee could find out his name wee would desire no more then the field were wonne for his name would discouer him and descrie him to all the world and quite stoppe the mouthes of the Papists so as they should neuer haue anie thing more to say For if Saint Iohn had said expresly and in plaine tearmes that the Popes of Rome are this second beast and the verie Antichrist himselfe then the Papists had beene put to perpetuall silence all matters quasht and all controuersies ended betwixt them and vs for euer But heere the holy Ghost doth not tell vs his name plainely but mystically as manie other things in this booke that the worldlings which
should fulfill them might be blinded whilest the eyes of Gods elect are opened to see into the truth of all these matters Well to come to the point Saint Iohn doth onely heere set downe the numeratiue letters of the beasts name Hee wrote in Greeke and he onely setteth downe three Greeke letters or characters which in Greeke numeration make sixe hundred sixtie sixe Now further wee are to note that the numeratiue letters of the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 doe make iust this number And yet further we are to obserue as a verie speciall thing that Irenaeus an ancient Father of the Church who liued verie neere vnto the Apostles times mentioneth this worde Lateinos as the name of the beast And moreouer affirmeth that it was a common receiued opinion in his time and before that the Beast should be so called Now then let vs consider how this fitteth First we know that the numeratiue letters of Lateinos doe iustly fit Saint Iohns Greeke numeratiue letters Secondly we know that Antichrist is the head of the Latine Church or Latine Empire and therefore this verie Lateinos For here we doe not enquire after the name of anie particular man but about the name of a kingdome for the beast is a kingdome and a succession of men Now Italy in old time was called Latinum the Italians Latini which noteth of what countrey the beast should come Moreouer the beasts name or name of the Romane Empire is Lateinos because the Empire both vnder the heathen tyrants and the Popes especially had all their religion seruice prayers lawes decrees writings and translations in Latine all was in Latine Latine The Pope preferred his Latine translation of the Bible before the Hebrue and Greeke originals Thus then it is Saint Iohn telleth vs flatly that the number of the beast is sixe hundred sixtie sixe Irenaeus saith that Lateinos is his name which containeth iust that number Therefore heere wee haue his name heere hee is found For if his name bee Lateinos wee neede search no further wee know who it is we know who is meant for is not the Pope Lateinos are not the succession of them Latini are they not the heads of the Latine Church and Latine Empire Haue they not all their worship and seruice in Latine Are they not Latines for what is the name of the Romane Empire but Lateinos And what is the name of the Popish Hierarchie but Lateinos True it is indeed which the papists say that manie names may bee inuented whose letters make this number but the Spirit of God speaketh not of fained names for thereof can come nothing but vncertaintie but he willeth vs to count the number of his name which then the beast had that is Lateinos I doe thus then conclude The beast is a kingdome and the Papacie is the kingdome of the Latines Therefore the Papacie is the beast The papacie is Lateinos and containeth the number of the beast For what other monarchie can bee shewed since this Reuelation was giuen whose numeratiue letters containe this foresaid number Assuredly none And therefore out of all doubt Saint Iohn pointeth at the Roman Empire and monarchie of the Popes For Lateinos doth both containe the number of the beast according to Saint Iohns computation and also his name which is the Latine Empire or Romane Empire And thus haue wee heard the description of these two huge and monstrous beasts the sea beast and the land beast which both from the Apostles times hitherto haue indeede played the beasts against Christ and his Church and still doe play the beasts and will neuer cease playing the beasts till their hornes and hoofes heads and bodies be cleane cut off which will be shortly as we shall heare anon CHAP. XIIII WE haue heard in the former chapter the description of the two great and dreadfull beasts We haue also heard how mightily they haue preuailed now manie yeeres raigned as monarches of the earth Now in this chapter wee are to heare of the fall and ruine of them both So that the maine drift and scope of this chapter and all the chapters following vntill the twentith chapter is to shew that both the Roman Empire and the Papacie shall ebbe as fast as euer they did flow shall wane as fast as euer they did waxe shall decrease as fast as euer they did increase and fall downe as fast as euer they did rise vp euen vntill they come to vtter ruine and desolation This Chapter containeth seuen principal things First vers 1 it sheweth that God had his Church vpon the earth euen then when it seemed to bee vtterly extinct by the preuailing of the two outragious beasts Secondly vers 2.3.4.5 it sheweth that the poore persecuted Church did sincerely zealously worship God euen in the fire and flames of afflictions Thirdly ver 6.7 it sheweth that the Gospell shall be preached with great successe in these last daies throughout manie kingdoms Fourthly ver 8 it sheweth that Rome shall fall downe at the preaching of the Gospell ver 9.10.11 Fiftly it sheweth that all Papists shal be condemned and cast into hell fire for euer ver 12.13 Sixtly it sheweth that it shall go well with Gods elect which hauing refused the worship of the beast do liue and die in the Lord. ver 14.15.16.17.18.19.20 Lastly it describeth the day of iudgement wherein all both good and bad shall haue according to their deserts Text. ver 1 Then I looked and behold a Lambe stood on mount Sion and with him an hundred fourtie and foure thousand hauing the Fathers name written in their foreheads Nowe at last the holy Ghost bringeth in Iesus Christ vpon the Theater of the world as it were to play his part in this tragedie and to helpe the poore weake woman which we heard of before against the Dragon and the two monstrous beasts which would haue torne her in peeces and vtterly deuoured her if this Lambe Iesus Christ had not stept in and rescued her Well now commeth in our Lord Iesus and beginneth to stirre in these matters and to take vpon him the protection and defence of the poore helplesse woman against both the dragon the dragons two great instruments But may some man say What is a poore Lambe to encounter with a dragon with a Lyon with a Leopard and a Beare I answer that although Christ be a lamb to his church euē the Lamb of God that taketh away the sins of the world and the Lamb that was a slaine sacrifice from the beginning for the redemption of his elect Yet to all his enemies he is a most strong and terrible Lyon euen the Lyon of the Tribe of Iuda as he is called before chapter 5.5 Now this most terrible Lyon euen the Lord of hosts the Lord mightie in battell commeth forth to protect and defend his Church against all her enemies who is of such infinite might and puissance that neither the old Dragon nor his young imps nor