Booke heere are to be found very large and lively descriptions of the most glorious Person of Christ Chap. 1. Chap. 2. Chap. 3. 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 necessity passe through in the World Also of Gods mercifull providence for his Church and most vigilant care over it in the middest of all extremities Here are set before our eyes very lively descriptions of the Churches deadly enemies both of Satan himselfe and his three great instruments the Roman Emperour the Pope and the Turke Here are set down all their cruell persecutions of the Church and their utter overthrow in the end Here are described Hell Death the resurrection and the last judgement Here also the very Kingdome of Heaven is at large described with all those great rewards infinite glory and endlesse felicity 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 use and necessity of it must needes be very great And for this cause Iohn is willed and commanded by Alpha and Omega to write the things which he 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 wherein Jesus Christ did appeare unto him in the middest of the seven golden Candlesticks â—erse 13. â—4 15.16 in most glorious manner as is there described And all this was in the Isle of Pathmos where Iohn was first called and authorized to this worke and therefore he is willed first of all to record this vision which hee had already seene By the things that are hee meaneth the present state of the seven 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 shall be he meaneth all the prophesie of this booke which were to be fulfilled in their time and all those strange accidents which should come to passe in processe of time and the severall ages of the Church even unto the end of the world Thus we see how Iohn received a precise commandement from the Sonne of God to write things past present and to come that they might stand in record unto all posterities from generation to generation Thus much touching the fift circumstance which is the end and use of this booke Now followeth to speake of the last circumstantiall point which is the authority of this Prophesie which is strongly confirmed from the Author of it which is JESUS CHRIST and therefore it is called the Revelation of Jesus Christ which GOD gave unto him And againe it is written I Jesus sent mine Angell to testifie these things in the Churches Here wee see plainly Chap. 22.16 that Jesus Christ the very Sonne of God the Alpha and Omega is the Author of this booke for he subscribes his name unto it and set his hand and seale unto it Needs therefore must the authority of it be very great which commeth from so great a personage for looke what dignity and auâ—hority he is of from whom the booke commeth of the same dignity and authority is the book it selfe Another strong argument to confirme the authority of this book may be taken from the protestation of Jesus Christ in these words I protest unto every man that heareth the words of the Prophesie of this Booke Cha 22.18 if any man shall adde unto those sayings God shall adde unto 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 Heere we see how Jesus Christ maketh the authority to this Booke equall to all other the Oracle of God to the which it is not lawfull for any man to adde or detract under paine of condemnation It maketh much also for the authority of this booke that S. John doth so often repeat reiterate and inculcate his owne name I John I John I John I John the Apostle I John the Evangelist I John the Divine shewing by all these repetitions how needfull a thing it was that the faithfull should bee throughly instructed who he was even one of the Lambs twelve Apostles and therefore to be void of all suspition and doubt concerning the authority of this booke and not once to imagine it to bee any invention of man or feigned device sith it was penned by so great an Apostle Moreover the authority of this Prophesie is confirmed by foure reasons in the last Chapter The first is the affirmation of the Angell who saith The words are faithfull and true Chap. 22.6 7 8. The second is the authority of the most high GOD himselfe in these words The Lord GOD of the holy Prophets sent his Angell to shew unto his servants the things which must shortly be fulfilled The third is the testimony of Jesus ver 6 7. who pronounceth them blessed which keepe the words of this Prophesie For saith he Behold I come shortly Blessed is he that keepeth the words of this Prophesie The fourth and last is the witnes of John in these words I am John which heard and saw these things Now it may bee demanded what is the cause that here are so many things heaped up for the confirmation of the authority of this Booke Surely we must thinke there is some speciall cause and reason of it For the Holy Ghost doth not use to deale so much and so earnestly in a matter but upon great cause Wee may easily gather what the cause is The Booke painteth out the Whore of Babylon and the whole Kingdome of the great Antichrist together with all Sathans cunning and fleight therein and for this cause Sathan hath laboured especially to weaken the credit and authority of this Booke He by some meanes in old time prevailed thus farre that even among some Churches of true Christians the authority and truth of it was doubted of The Holy Ghost did well foresee the practice of Sathan and therefore bringeth the more reasons for the confirmation thereof If the credit and authority of this Booke should never have been impugned there needed not any such speciall confirmation But now God be thanked there is no question or controversie concerning the authority of this Prophesie It is received as authenticall by the common consent of all the Churches Almost all the ancient Fathers doe acknowledge it to be canonicall The new Writers doe with one voyce give their consent and approbation unto it The Papists themselves doe acknowledge it to be the sacred and undoubted Word of God though of all Scriptures they cannot endure it should be medled withall
preach the Doctrine of the Apocalyps to his particular charge and congregation for every Minister of the Gospell must shew unto his people all the counsâ—ll of God and keepe backe nothing as Paul testifieth that he did to the great comfort of his conscience But the doctrine of the Revelation 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 daies I thinke it not onely meete and convenient that it should be so but in truth absolutely necessary But now me thinketh I heare some men say What must this booke of the Apocalyps bee preached and made knowne to the common people alas what should they doe with it It is not for them to meddle with all It is not for their diet I answer and yet not I but the holy Ghost that this booke must be made knowne to all the servants of God For Saint John calleth it the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to shew unto all his servants It is plaine therefore that all the servants of God both men and women young and old rich and poore must be made acquainted with this Booke Moreover John is commanded by the God of Heaven to set downe all the visions which the Angell shewed him and to write them all in a booke and send them to the seven Churches of Asia that is to people of all sorts and conditions And therefore this Booke doth not onely concerne Preachers and deepe Divines but even all the Lords people whatsoever for it doth minister great comfort and strength of faith to all the people of God that live in this age But here the Papists object that this booke is full of darkenesse and obscurity and therefore not for the common people to meddle withall nay say they there are as many mysteries as words in it and therefore what should men trouble their heads about it But no marvaile though the Papists say so much for it is the wound of their Kingdome 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 Revelation I cannot but marvell at it The modesty and humility of some very rare and reverend men for learning and great variety of gifts which notwithstanding scotch much at this Booke is greatly to be commended But if I were worthy to give them advice I would wish them in this behalfe to change their minde and to bee of another resolution for I dare avouch it that there is nothâ—ng in this Prophesie which study and diligence with prayer and humility may not overcome True it is indeed that the shell is thick and hard to break but being broken the kirnell is most sweet and pleasant If any be discouraged with the darkenes and obscurity of it let him harken to these reasons following First it is called a Revelation which is as much to say as an uncovering of things which did lie hid if it be an uncovering and revealing of things no doubt it may be knowne and seene into For revealed things are for us and our children If it be a Revelation how say some that it cannot be understood For it is contrary to the nature of a Revelation to be so darke that none can understand it But shall we say that the holy Ghost which is the spirit of truth hath given a wrong name unto it God forbid For if it hide matters or set them forth that it cannot be understood then it is not rightly called a Revelation If this Booke be so mysticall that it cannot be understood If the interpretation of it be uncertaine If the common people cannot bee taught to understand it How then should the holy Ghost Apoc. 1.3 Apo. 12.7 Blessed is he â—hat readeth the words of this Prophesie c. Let any man judge that hath common sense Can any man be blessed by hearing and reading those things which hee understandâ—th not I trow no. Then it followeth that this Booke may be understood and no doubt is understood of many and might be better understood of many moe if they would bend their wits and studies unto it Apoc. 22.10 The hâ—ly Ghost as is said before willeth and commandeth that the words of this Prophesie should not bee sealed up Whereby it is evident that hee would have them reade and made knowne to all Then I reason thus that which is open and unsealed may bee read and knowne But this booke is open and unsealed Therefore it may be read and knowne If men say the matters of this Prophesie are sealed and hid and God say they bee unsealed and open whether shall we beleeve men or God If any will reply and say wee feele and finde by experâ—ence that the words of this booke are hard to bee understood I answer that the fault is in our selves because we are so negligent in the search and study thereof For if we did wâ—th that humility and reverend care that ought to be in us search after the things revealed in this booke wee should finde that they bee not sealed up but lie open to be read and knowne True it is indeed that if any man light upon some peâ—ce and take it by it selfe hee shall finde it very darke But if he looke upon the whole course of matters through the booke and marke and observe diligently how things be iterated hee shall finde no such darkenesse as he feareth for there is a notable coherence of matters and course of times observed in this booke even from the first Chapter unto the last as God willing shall more fully and plainely appeare in the particular opening and interpretation thereof One great objection against this Prophesie is that the Fathers profesie it is full of mysteries and that they could not understand it If they could not understand it say some how shall wee understand it Is it not great arrogancy for for us to say wee understand it better then they did I answer noe For a man of meane learning in comparison may now in these daies more easily understand and expound this booke than the learned doctor and Fathers in ancient time The reason is this wee live 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 lived in a time wherein many of these things were not come to passe nor fulfilled and therefore more hard for them to interpret and understand for these things in this prophesie which are not yet fulfilled are hardest for us of this age to understand and resolve 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 dayes of the Fathers and some things in
because it cutteth them so neere the bone Moreover it may not be omited that God is called the Lord God of the holy Prophets which proveth that this Prophesie is of equall authority with the Prophesies which were of old in as much as the same God is the Author of it And this Book is to be held in the same account with the Books of Moses and of the Prophets for all things contained in it shall as certainly be fulfilled in their times as theirs were In Esay in Jeremy in Ezechiel in Daniel and in the rest we finde many things which the Lord shewed by them long before they came to passe Even so there bee many things fore-shewed and fore-prophesied in this Booke which in their time shall be assuredly fulfilled Nay we see and know that many things here fore-told are already fulfilled and some things are come to passe even in these our dayes He that shall look into the times that are past since this Prophesie was given shall finde that all things have fallen out agreeable to the Prophesie of this Booke And surely if there were none other thing to perswade us touching the authority thereof this might suffice that every thing hath fallen out just and jumpe as the Prophesie did fore-shew It is our great negligence that wee doe not cleerly see so much And I doe humbly entreat all the people of God to looke more diligently and narrowly into it in all time to come And thus much as concerning the circumstances Now as concerning the Booke it self it may very fitly be divided into three visions as it were into three generall parts The first vision is contained in the three first Chapters The second vision is contained in the next eight Chapters following from the fourth to the twelfth Chapter And the last vision is contained in all the Chapters following from the twelfth to the end As concerning the first vision my purpose is not to stand much upon it because it is plain and easie to understand and because it containeth no Prophesies of things to come but only openeth the present state of the Church at that time and also because I have already touched the summe of it in handling the circumstantiall points I will therefore content my self with a very briefe opening and resolution of it beginning at the first Chapter CHAP. I. The summe of the first Chapter THe first Chapter containeth foure principall things The Title of the Book The salutation of the Churches The manner of Johns calling to receive this Prophesie The description of Christ the person that called him The Title of the Book is set downe in these words The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him It containeth three things First the Author of the Booke which is Jesus Christ receiving it from God the Father Secondly the end and use of this Booke Ver. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. which is to shew unto all the Servants of God the things which must shortly bee done Thirdly the singular fruit and benefit which the Church shall receive by it in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie c. The salutation is in these words John to the seven Churches which are in Asia Grace be with you and peace c. It containeth a description of the Trinity or three Persons in the Godhead The Father is described of his eternity namely to be Hee which is which was and which is to come The Holy Ghost is described of his divers gifts and operations and therefore is called the seven Spirits which are before the Throne or which proceed from the Throne but S. John speaketh here of the holy Ghost according to the vision shewed him in the fifth Chapter where Christ is said to have seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the world Of the which afterward Jesus Christ is described of his three great offices of King Priest and Prophet and also of his glorious power and eternity First touching his Kingly office he is called the Prince of the Kings of the earth that is King of Kings for he is King of Sion He is a King to rule and governe his Church He must reigne over the house of Judah for ever Hee must reigne over all his enemies and in the middest of his enemies even till hee have trode them all under his feet And this benefit wee have by it that we are made Kings in him in this life to reigne over our corrupt affections and after this life to reigne as crowned Kings for ever with him in infinite glory and endlesse felicity Secondly touching his Priest-hood Ver. 5. he is said to love us and wash us from our sinnes in his bloud For he is our only high Priest which by his owne blood hath once entred into the holy place and obtained eternall redemption for us Hee onely it is Heb. 9.12 which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God to purge our consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 So then by vertue of his Priesthood and sacrifice we are reconciled unto God have free accesse unto the Throne of Grace and are made Priests in him to offer us spirituall sacrifices acceptable to GOD through him Verse 6. For he hath made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father Thirdly Veâ—se 5. concerning his Propheticall Office he is called that faithfull witnesse For He is said to Pilate John 18.37 For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the World that I might beare witnesse unto the Truth And the Apostle saith Hee witnesseth under Pontius Pilate a good confession Tim. 9.13 So then Jesus Christ is one of those three great witnesses which beare record in Heaven Jesus Christ is the Prince of Prophets even that great Prophet that should come into the world through whom all the counsells of God are revealed to us He is that only begotten Sonne which is come downe from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne unto us whatsoever he hath received of his Father Hee both by his Doctrine Life and Miracles hath borne witnesse unto the truth and by the vertue of his Propheticall Office the whole will of God is made knowne unto us For GOD hath sent him as the great Prophet to instruct the world in Righteousnesse and hath revealed himselfe to us in him and therefore he is called the Image of GOD the brightnesse of his Glory Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 and the ingraven forme of His Person And therefore Hee said to Philip Hee that hath seene Mee hath seene my Father also John 14.7 And if you had knowne Mee you should have knowne my Father also Mat. 11. â—7 And againe No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and hee to whom the Son will reveale him Thus we see that Jesus Christ is that faithfull witnes and Prince
to cover their faces two to cover their feete and two to flye withall And they have two wings to cover their faces withall because they are not able to endure the unconceiveable brightnesse and glory of God for he dwelleth in unapproachable light They have two wings to cover their feete withall because mortall then are not able to looke upon the brightnesse that is in Heaven For we reade that many have beene astonished and dazled with the glory and brightnesse of Angels so glorious creatures are they They have two wings to flie withall to note their prompt obedience and readinesse to execute the commandements of God as formerly was shewed Moreover the Angels are said to have wings and to flye swiftly because God by them doth speedily dispatch many purposes actions and services here below and for this cause the Scripture affirmeth that he rideth upon the Cherubins that hee dwelleth betweene the Cherubins and that hee maketh the Clouds his Chariots and walketh upon the wings 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 weighty affaires within their dominions so the Visions in Ezechiel do shew 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 over-rule all actions under the Sun Moreover these Angels are said to be full of eyes within Verse 8. to note not onely their fulnesse of knowledge but also their inward sight into all heavenly things yea even 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 heere said to prayse God uncessantly Verse 8. day and night saying Holy holy holy Lord God Almighty which was which is and which is to come where we may cleerely see that the Angels prayse 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 wearinesse in Gods worship but they do alwaies serve him with infatigable desires and therfore are called Seraphins because they burne in the zeale of God and Cherubins because their delight is to approach neare unto him and to be alwaies about his Throne yea even in his chamber of presence They doe double and treble this word holy and warble much upon it because they know full well that he is righteous in all his waies and holy in all his works and that all his proceedings and judgements are even then weighed in the ballance of Justice and equity when to mans sense and the judgement of reason they seeme nothing lesse For his judgements are as a great depth which mans reason cannot sound Further wee see that when these beasts that is the Angels gave glory and honour and thanks to God c. the 24. Elders also fell downe before him and worshipped him that liveth for evermore Where we may see that both Saints and Angels doe joyntly prayse and magnifie God and him alone Even that GOD that liveth for evermore even that GOD which was which is and which is to come that is the eternall and everlasting God For the Scripture sayth Praise him O yee Saints and praise him O yee Angels that excell in strength And the 24. Elders cast their Crownes before the Throne saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour c. Wherein we see that all the Elect do empty themselves of all worthinesse to have any glory acknowledging that their Crownes of glory are Gods free gift and that the praise thereof belongeth only to him and nothing to themselves And this in very deed is the right manner of worshipping God frankly to ascribe all glory to him and all shame to our selves to give all to him to whom all is due and nothing to our selves which have nothing for nothing can be given or taken out of nothing Now then to conclude and winde up this 4. Chapter we do clearely see the summe and drift of all is that Heaven doore was opened unto John and that he was let in and called up into the Chamber of presence by a very loud voice there to take notice of the future estate of the Church and that the person which thus called him up was the very immortall God himselfe who is so gloriously described of his Throne his troopes and traines of Saints and Angels as we have heard And all this is to commend and set forth the authority of this booke whose Authour is so excellent yea super-excellent CHAP. V. AFter this Vision containing the glory of the divine Majesty was shewed unto John that he might know from what fountaine this Prophesie was derived now in this fift Chapter is taught and shewed by what meanes and by whose mediation the knowledge of such hidden mysteries were revealed unto the Church namely by the meanes and mediation of Jesus Christ in whom onely the counsels and secrets of God the Father are opened and made knowne unto men For he is the great Prophet and Doctor of the Church which is come down from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne unto us whatsoever he hath received of his Father as he himselfe testifieth And the Church is commanded by a voice from Heaven to heare him and him alone This fifth Chapter containeth three things generally Ver. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7. First a description of the booke which was in the right hand of God Secondly a description of Jesus Christ which receiveth it at the hand of his Father and openeth it Thirdly a description of those most glorious praises which are given to Christ by the Angels Saints and all the creatures in Heauen and earth I saw in the right hand of him that sate upon the throne a book written within Verse 1. and on the backe side sealed with seaven seales By this booke here mentioned is meant this present booke of the Apocalyps or Revelation as it shall plainely appeare in the next chapter when we come to the opening of the seaven seales thereof For the things which fall out upon the opening of the severall seales do plainely declare that all is meant of the particular matters contained in this present booke This book is said to be in the right hand of him that sitteth upon the throne because all the secrets revealed in it come from the counsell and decree of the most high God and are ordered by his meere direction providence It is called a written booke to shew 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 be fulfilled â—n their season They are such as we may write of as we use to say and therefore for the cerâ—ainty of them they are here said to
be writâ—en in a booke This booke is sayd to be written within and without for the multitude and variety of matters contained in it For there were both many and great things which should fall out in the World from the time that John received the Prophesie unto the end of the World This booke is sealed with seven seales that is to say perfectly sealed because the things contained herein are counsels and secrets only known to God till it pleased hiâ— to reveale them to his Church by his Son The elect Angels knew nothing of the things written in this booke before the seales were opened Verse 2. And I saw a strong Angell which proclaimed with a loud voice Who is worthy to open the booke and to loose the seales thereof Heere is Proclamation made to all creatures that if there were any manner of persons in Heaven or earth among men or Angels that would take upon them to open and expound this booke that they should comâ— forth and shew themselves and be very willingly and gladly heard Verse 3. But alas the next verse doth shew that none in heaven oâ— earth was able to open the booke and expounâ— it whereupon John wept very much becausâ— no man was found worthy to open and interpret this booke The cause of Johns weeping and lamenting was for feare the Church should be deprived of such profitable and excellent things as he knew were contayned in this booke Such was his love 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 concâ—â—ling of the book of God and to rejoyce in the opening of it But Papists and Atheists are of a contrary minde for they rejoyce in the concealing and keeping close of the Scriptures and are much grieved with the opening and revealing thereof because thereby their hypocrisie and villany is detected and discarded Vpon this one of the Elders sayd unto John Verse 5. Weepe not Behold the Lion which is of the Tribe of Judah the roote of David hath obtained to open the book and to loose the seals thereof Heere we see how Iohn is comforted and cheered up by one of the Elders being now very pensive and sad and is willed to plucke up a good heart and to be of good cheere for he 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 Jesus Christ the great revealer of secrets and onely expounder of all riddles and hidden mysteries as before hath been spoken Jesus Christ is here said to be of the Tribe of Judah because he is lineally descended of that Tribe according to the flesh and his humane nature He is compared unto a Lyon by allusion unto Jacobs words in his last will and testament concerning Judah namely that he should couch as a Lyon and as a Lyonesse and none should stirre him He is fitly compared to a Lyon for his great and admirable power and strength for he raigneth and must raigne over all his enemies and in the middest of all his enemies till he hath troade all his enemies under his feete He is called the roote of David both here and also in the 22. Chapter of this Booke verse 16. because he sprung out of David the Sonne of Ishai as a branch out of his roote as the Prophet did fore-tell that A rod should come forth of the stock of Ishai and a graft should grow out of his rootes And the Apostle sayth that Christ was made of the seede of David according to the flesh Then sayth John I beheld and loe Verse 6. in the middest of the throne and of the foure beasts and of the Elders stood a Lambe as though he had beene killed which had seven hornes and seven eies which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the world Here John taketh a view and sight of Jesus Christ from the very middest of the throne and of the foure beasts 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 very middest of the Throne and the foure beasts c. because he is God everlasting coequall and coeternall with the Father in whom as the Apostle saith dwelleth all the fulnesse of the Godhead bodily or essentially And here afterwards the same worship and honour is ascribed unto him both by the Saints and Angels which before is ascribed unto God the Father Christ is heere compared to a Lambe for his innocency for the Scripture sayth He was a sheepe dumbe before his shearer Hee is the Lambe of God that taketh away the sinnes of the world Hee is the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world He is compared to a Lyon for his great and incomparable strength in conquering Hell Death and damnation and all infernall power And to a Lambe because he hath dispatched all this upon the Crosse by the sacrifice of himselfe once offered for he did never more lively shew forth his Lyon-like power then when he was as a Lambe slaine and sacrificed upon the Crosse This Lambe Christ is here sayd to have seven hornes which signifie his manifold power or fulnes of power or perfect power according as this metaphor or borrowed speech of horne is usually so taken in all the Scriptures This Lambe also is sayd to have seven eies which are interpreted to be the seven spirits of God that is the manifold graces and gifts of the Spirit which he giveth unto his Church Now then to conclude this point for asmuch as the number of seven in this booke is a number of perfection and alwaies noteth perfection therefore by Christs seven hornes and seven eyes we may and that soundly understand his perfect power and his perfect sight and knowledge in all things For his seven eyes are so taken in the third Chapter of the Prophesie of Zachary where it is said a Vpon one stone shall be seven eyes Meaning that Jesus Christ the corner stone of the Church should be full of eyes to looke out for the good of his Church and to give light to all others for he is the life and light of the World And he came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate upon the throne Ver. 7. Here Jesus Christ takes the booke out of his Fathers hand purposing both to open it and expound it For he is the only expounder of the law and the best interpreter of his Fathers will Hereupon it is sayd that the foure beasts Verse 8. and 24. Elders fell downe before the Lambe to testifie their thankefulnesse and inward joy and rejoycing that the Sonne of God would take upon him this office which none other would or could performe Moreover by their falling downe and worshiping him they doe plainely testifie that he is God over all to be