them shall appeare after fall to one of two opinions Some taking these times indefinitely But while they bring no reason why such and such are put of the holy Ghost for indefinite times they rather cut the knot then lose it Others and some of the most learned take these times for definite in exact calculation but that they are not to bee taken in propriety of speech except the last and that by a Propheticall frame of speech a day is to be taken for a yeere and so by consequence a moneth for a moneth of yeres and a yere for a yere of yeres But in my iudgement there is hereof neither ground nor example in all Scripture The 4. of Ezechiel whereon all this opinion is builded yeeldeth to it no ground at all Where God commanding the Prophet in a typicall action to expresse the long rebellion of the people being impossible to doe it so many yeres that some analogy at least might bee hee biddeth him lie so many daies and therefore the interpretation is added that a day was inioyned him for a yere But that in any part of Scripture calculation of time either propheticallyforetold or historically recorded is thus expressed I see it not That place Nom. 14. 34. maketh lesse for it God shewing but the analogy of his iudgemēt to the peoples rebelliō whereon if any thing of this sort might be built it should rather seem that a yere were for a day then a day for a yere Now vpon this weake or rather no ground to infer that as a day in Scripture is found put for a yere so heere by consequence a moneth is put for a moneth of yeeres and a yeere for a yeere of yeeres without so much as a shew of example for me I thinke it too great licence in interpreting God his Oracles As for these places in Daniel where yeeres seeme to bee by daies calculated they are of the most learned taken in propriety and the accommodation of story fitly giuen which maketh me much maruell that an exceeding learned man euen so interpreting Daniel yet in his notes vpon this place for warrant of the other interpretation should say apud Danielem passum And for what reason shall daies in Daniel be taken for yeeres in other places more then Chap. 10. 13 that he counteth yeeres by the hebdomades and onely Chap. 9. it strengtheneth their opinion nothing For in the common vse of Hebrew speech hebdomades are no more properly of daies then of yeeres but alike of both as the count falleth either for the sabbath day or sabbathicall yere whether common in the seuenth yeere or great in the Iubily and as in the 9. Chapter of Daniel the matter euidently sheweth the account to be of yeeres so Chap. 10. 2. where doubt might haue troubled the Reader with an apparent strange thing if they had beene taken of yeres as in the former Chap. hee addeth the interpretation for a cleare distinction If it had bene the purpose of the holy Ghost through all the rest of this Prophesie to set downe in these formes of speech the exact supputation of time I see no reason why in the last of a thousand yeres which only of them all is to be taken definitely and for great reason as shall beshewed hee should haue altered his ordinarie manner of stile This wrong conception of these times hath marred all the accommodation of this Prophesie making euen notable learned men and who otherwaies haue had deepe insight in these mysteries to iumble and confound distinct matters while still according to this forelaid preiudice of definite calculation they apply things but giue no satisfaction and the matter here handled and the manner of leading being opened vp will shew cleerely how by this preiudice they haue laide both before themselues and others great blockes to impede a cleare way This time then here of fiue moneths is to be taken indefinitely and put here for a consolation to shew that this terrible plague should not alwaies preuaile ouer the world But besides this we must finde out some reason agreable to the maiesty and wisdome of the holy Ghost why this time in this place and the other in their places are taken of the spirit more then any other time As for that of tenne daies Chapt. 2. it is easie by common frame of Scripture speech both for time and number The parents of Rebecha intreated her abode tenne daies Iacob his wages were changed tenne times Wisdome strengtheneth more then tenne Princes Ruth to her mother in law and Elkana to his wife were better then tenne sonnes tenne Virgins haue tenne lamps and Chapt. 11. the tenth part of the great City falleth tenne men take hold of the skirt of a Iew and many such So as for this number or of seuen in matter or time the ordinary vse of Scrpture answereth The reason of others is more difficulte and most of all that of this time here put why it is seeing this euill of the fifth trumpet is all one with that beast which worketh 42. moneths Chap. 13. All which time accordingly the heathen trod vnder foot the holy City and the Prophets prophesie in sackecloth 1260. daies Chap. 11. and the Church is so long fed in the wildernesse Chapt. 12. that here to the Locusts should bee attributed fiue moneths a time through all this booke no where else recorded And this is indeed wisdome for perceiuing whereof we must vnderstand that as all the types yea and frames of speech in this Prophesie are from the old Testament the collation whereof bringeth to both great light so these times heere are put by allusion to the like times there not onely to shew that these euils should haue an end as had the others but also by the same time attributed to take vp the conformity of case in things here prophesied to those to which the same time in the old Testament is giuen for more cleare light in both And to stirre vs to aduert this purpose of the holy Ghost in vsing these times not onely is the same time but also the same speeches put to moue vs to the collation of things and so therein to finde both great light and delightfull satisfaction Now then albeit this time as the others last mentioned bee of the working of Antichrist yet the euill here hath a farre different consideration from the same euill where the other times are thereto attributed Here it is deliuered to our consideration as the plague of God vpon the whole world from which the sealed ones the true Church are free as the other times are attributed to it it is put as the wrestlings sufferings and troublesome state of the true Church vnder and by this euil are to be considered Therefore to the euill here such a time is giuen as may leade vs by the like time and like frames of speech ioined therewith to find out and consider such a like case in the old Testament of a generall plague
Whoore. 181 The Eâ—â—s of Christ as a flame of fire 212 Elders Throne and Beasts 202 Romane Emperors bloody persecuters and how some were forced to honour the Saints 48 The Germaine Emperors 175. 179 The Graecian Emperors 178 The Enemies of the Church in the old and new Testament 104. 145 Example 193 F HOw to iudge of our Fathers in time of Antichrist 136 141 Fire from the Altar of a double effect 60 Fire of Gods spirit of loue and the fire of contention the different companions and effects of the two fires 62 The Fire of Ambition 63 Fire Brimstone and Iacinthe 83 The Fire of Christs feet 86 To haue power ouer Fire 146 How the Fire is mingled with the Sea 150 Christ his eies a flame of Fire 212 The Flood cast out of the Dragon his mouth 109 Flying through the middest of heauen 68. 134. 187 Frogges comming out of the mouthes of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet 161. 162 Their properties 164 Who they are 165 Fulminatrix legio 43 G CHrist his Garment dipt in Blood 214 His neme written on his Garment 216 Our Gate and onely doore to God is lesus Christ 259 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 254 God his seate in his Church his nature and Trinity of that one shadowed by three Iewels 12 His patience 82 Gog and Magog 233 That they are not particularly the Turkes who they are 242. 243. 244. 245 Golden Vials 27. 153 The three Graces of God towards his Church 15 Pope Gregory the seuenth 229 H THe mourning of Hadadrimon 167 Haile for cold preaching 62 For iudgement 99 Heretikes their disposition 66 Haleluiah 200 Harpes 27. 148 Haruest 145 Heauen in opposition to earth throughout this Prophecie is taken for the true Church in opposition to the worldly sort 10 Heauen put for the glory and honour of the great men of the earth 40 Amultitude in Heauen 200 The Heauens cast wide open 211 Hornes 26 Why the Beast is said to haue two hornes like the Lambs seeing to the Lambe are attributed seuen 115 Tenne hornes of the Dragon and of the Beast 123. 179 The difference betweene the tenne hornes Daniel 7. and the tenne hornes Reuel 13. and 17. 179 Why the hornes of the Beast haue crownes and not the hornes of the Dragon 113 Horses 33 The Host of heauen 215 I ALlusion to the fall of Iericho to the fal of Babel 100 Iesuits the origine their busie endeauours their date they are the last puffe of Satan his mouth and of the Vicar of his throne 165 The conuersion of the Iewes 80. 164. 167 But most euidently 168 139 Whether they shall inhabit their owne Landagaine 168 How great a way the Popes fall shall make to their conuersion 169 Their conuersion and ioy vpon his fall 201. 206 Iohn disposed the Canon before his death 269 The Impenitency and Induration of Papists 160. 161 The ordinary degrees of true Illumination 25 How we should looke on the condition of the Church of Israel in the old Testament 245 What is requisite to Iudge righteously 212 A description of the last Iudgement 234. 235 The manner of processe in the last Iudgement how it shall be ledde by that which is written in the bookes and yet according to our workes set foorth not for it selfe or time thereof but to shew the continuall recurelesse and finall destruction of the enemies and goodly state of the Church thereupon holding still one to the last Iudgement and so eternall 236. 237 The yeere or age of that day cannot determinatly bee gathered vpon any ground in Scripture 241 Iulian. 229 K KIngs 194 King of Kings and Lord of Lords 215 The Keies which the Popes haue to wit of the bottomlesse pit 70 Christ and his Ministers haue these same Keies in a farre different sense 221 L THe Lambe of God 27 In what respect the Lambe his slaughter is the reason of his worthinesse 28 The Lambe his mariage 206 Seuen burning Lamps 15 Legio fulminatrix 43 Lightnings thundrings and voices 14 True Light bringeth euer true ioy 24 White Linen apparel 153 Where our Church was before Luther 140 Lions Buls and Cherubins in Salomon his Temple types of the Ministers of the word 18 Two Lions of diuers qualities 24 M MAgeddon or Megiddon 165. 166 Mahomet his time of rising by what meanes he spred his doctrine the swift course of the victories of his successors 82 A Man 42 The face of a Man 17. 78 A Man-childe 106 The number of a Man 126 The measure of a Man 257 Of an Angel 258 The Marriage of the Lambe 206 The soules of the Martyrs cry 77 The Merchants and Merchandize of Rome 195 God euen in wrath remembreth Mercy 60 Ministers of God his word are necessary for begetting in vs the life of God 16 The properties requisite in them 17 The light and feeling that ought to be in them 88 They are the light of the world 188 The degrees of a true inward calling of a Minister 91 The type of the Ministers who were first open contesters with Antichrist in three rankes 133. 134. 135 How they were persecuted 141 True Ministers haue power ouer fire 146 Myracles 151 Christ is our Morning starre 267 Why the Church is called a Mountaine 166 Mourning must goe before ioy 23 The Mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Mageddon 167 The Mystery of God the finishing thereof 88 89 99. 155 What is requisite for the perception of Mysteries 173 A Mystery where of the Author in sobernesse confesses bee dare not determine 12. Another 232. Another 258. N ANtichrist his Name 79 Christ hath a Name which none knoweth but himselfe 213 His Name King of Kings 215 His Name the Word of God 214 To haue the Name written on the garment and one the thigh 216 A New World 241 How Christ reneweth the world 252 The Night for humane sciences 68 Noah his flood semblable to the euil of Antichrist 77 Number of the Elders twenty foure the reason thereof 13 The Number of foure 17. 49 In an other respect 81 The Number of twelue 120. 128 The Number of the name of the Beast 124 The Number of the name of God 125 O VVHat makes the Obduration of Papists 173 Odoacer King of the Heruls 17 Our praiers are Odours 27 How and in whom they are Odours 59 The Order of the Reuelation 32. 142. 153. 232 The great artifice thereof 48. 90. 94. 98. 100. 101 P HOw to iudge of Papists 136. 137. 141 The cause why Papists be so obdured 147 Their vnity 180 Papisticall seducers may be iustly punished by death yea and should be 159 Their impenitency 160. 161 Their desperate sorrow because of the light of the Gospel 161 Christ his feete are Pillars 86 Pharao a type of the Dragon 104 That the Pope is Vicar of Satan his throne 112 That he is the Beast that Antichrist 113 It is also proued by three infallible tokens 183 And by a plaine and forcible argument euinced 185
Romanum idem Apoc. cap. 13. verse 2. commentarij in id caput sectionibus 1. 2. 5. QVis renuat diadema tuo submittere sceptro Nam merito in terris diceris esse Deus Cui sua mundi huius Deus imperiumque thronumque Tradidit vafris vincere posse dolis Ad ciues Romanos idem Apoc. cap. 17. verse 16. Sect. 14. cap 18. vers 8. 21. 22. 23. Sect. 8. 14. QVid gelidae torpent dextrae salientia pulsat Cordapauor mutat pallidus or a tremor Non Elephante vehens Pyrrhus non feruidus oris Currit ab hesperijs Hanibal arma ferens An quiae terribilis magis est Cotharistius heros Qui Romaman cipiti coelitus ense quatit Ad Iesuitas idem Apoc. cap. 16. vers 13. 14. sect 8. 9. VOsne estis triplici ranae de gutture iussae Obstrepero regum corda ciere sono Quis iubet ergo sacrum praetendere nomen Iesu Num fucata gerens cornua fronte fera Quid ruitis veluti stimulis furialibus actae Spesne Orci in vestro totalabore sita est Ad Papistas omnes idem Apoc. 7. vers 10. sect 7. ADeo nostro veluti perenni Fonte promanans ab eius Agno Lux salutaris fluit atque pleno voluitur alueo Ad Authorem commentarij idem Apoc. cap. 16. vers 9. 10 sect 6 7. NOn Troas flexit Nereus non regia Virgo Exitium patriae vaticinata suae Maternum est soboles si sit Troianarebellis Diuinisque minis consilijsque tuis Ad Iudaeos idem Apoc. cap. 9. vers 11. sect 7 cap. 16. vers 16. sect 10. cap. 19. vers 2. 3. 4. 6. sect 4. SAncta sanctorum soboles parentum Quae dementra proh dolor Fascinans vestros animorum ocellos Messiam prohibet sequi Scilicet promptos simulans Abaddo◠Agni cornua territat Ergo cum magnis petit Armageddon Vis Papistica copijs Per Perathaeum via siccaeoïs Fietregibus alueum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sine fine quando Ibit dirus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omnis Abrami canet Halleluiah Laetans progenies boni Voce clamantes alacri Halleluiah Gentes gaudia proferent Halleluiah ter quater Halleluiah Tota Ecclesia concine◠AN EXQVISITE COMMENTARIE VPON THE REVELATION OF SAINT IOHN CHAPTER 1. 2. 3. THis Booke is the third part of the Euangelike Story and hath the condition of the Church from the Aopstolike times till the finishing of the mystery It is for the most part Propheticall and accordingly vttered in a stile agreeable to the maiesty of so high mysteries which were reuealed to the beloued disciple and in goodly and conuenient types in one continuall trance exhibited with commandement of sending a writen record thereof to the seuen Churches of Asia and vnder their names the whole militant 2 Of this it is that besides the inscription in the first three verses the whole is an Epistle whereof the salutation is to the 9. of the first Chapter The valediction in the last verse of all The rest is a narration of things heard and scene to the 6. of the last Chapt. Whence is the generall conclusion 3 These things for their distinct time end and maner of reuelation are two and accordingly the parts of narration The first is of things which are and which shall come heereafter that is which both in propriety of story then were existent according to the constitution of these seuen Churches trewlie expressed and for their particular instruction and yet so as the things to come are therein also reuealed for that the promises or threatnings to and against each according to the good or euill praised or taxed in them are future and for that in these seuen Churches the holy Ghost hath in great depth of wisdome so liuely paterned the diuers cases that may befall as none euer hath beene or in any age shall bee which in one of these as in a liuely example may not clearely read her owne cause and learne wisdome Wherethrough it is that this first part of narration in the first three Chapters for end and manner of reuelation differeth from the second in that albeit in some respect the first be of things to come and for instruction of the whole Church yet it is properly of things then existent and first for the vse of particular Churches whereas the second thorow the rest of the booke is only of things which must bee done heereafter and whose vse is first and properly for the whole militant Church and therefore to the perception thereof Iohn behooued to goe vp to heauen Chap. 4. 4 Before the first part is a goodly and glorious vision of Christ not acording to the proper verity of his person but according to his presence and operation in and towards his Church and in speciall regard of these seuen of Asia and therefore commonly concerneth them all as we see that from it are taken these properties and attributes which are fit to expresse his particular dispensation towards each and seuerally applied as in them he worketh 5 The Church of Ephesus is commended in that shee hath such a presence of Christ so painefull powerfull zealous watchfull patient and constant a ministry that albeit the mystery of iniquity was working and false teachers were busie to aduance it yet they were so watchfully marked and mightely resisted that errour was borne downe and truth helde place but so as at length through falling from the first loue a step was made to Apostasie And therefore she is warned to repent and doe the first workes vnder paine of remoouing the Candlesticke 6 In the Church of Smyrna errour and lies did so farre preuaile as heretikes durst blast of the name of the true Church and depise the pouerty and abiect state of true professors yea cruelly persecute and blaspheme the way of truth 7 Pergamus is praised that albeit shee dwelled where Satan his throne was yet she kept God his name but hauing this note of weakenes that albeit they kept themselues pure yet Idolatry and spirituall fornication was tollerated by them euen the doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaus Against them and their followers the Lord fighteth with the sword of his mouth 8 Thyatira is praised for her workes and loue and seruice and faith and patience and that her workes are more at the last then at the first But hath this note of infirmity that albeit she dranke not of Iezabel her cup nor committed fornication with her yea and was waxing in loue and workes thereof yet shee had not either the knowledge or the courage to challenge her whoredome as shee ought but euen tolerated that Whore whom God will cast into the lake of fire and brimstone euen the bed of torment as also hee threatneth that hee will cast into great affliction that commit fornication with her except they repent and kill her children with death 9 In the Church of Sardis if they could remember what they haue receiued and heard they
the true Church of God worshipping him in truth 9 Thus is the victory now their gracefull state hereupon is shewed in a freedome from all euill and affluence of all good and that through God his presence and protection and the Lambe his gracious dispensation set out in so goodly a manner as many thinke the things here promised to bee of the Kingdome of glory but here in magnifike termes the goodly state of the Church is expressed according as for plenty of light peace shee shall bee vpon the destruction of Antichrist and all open enemies heâ—e in the Kingdome of grace no description of the glory to 〈◊〉 reuealed in heauen which neither the eye can see nor the eare heare nor heart of man conceiue and in heauen is no such dispensation of the Lambe as here is noted who then shall surrender the Kingdome to his Father that God may bo all in all As in Antichrist his preuailing the state of God his Church was shewed in the 144000. and the Church victorious ouer him now discouered and going to destruction in the number innumerable and their victorious gesture so here the goodly state of the Church now free of all inuasion or bondage and hauing plenty of light and quiet state is magnifickly expressed and yet but in such frame of speech as is ordinary in the Prophets for such cases This state of the Church is largely handled in the end of this booke as the first in the hid and sealed ones is in the sixe trumpets and the victory in the seuenth and seuen Vials thereof Now as I haue said according to the phrase of the Prophets these blessings are set forth vnder things corporall and amplisied each by remouing the contrarie euill They shall not hunger for the Lambe shall feed them they shall not thirst for hee shall leade them to the fonntaines of waters they shall feele no burning for God shall ouershadow them c. the ouershadowing is from the cloud in the wildernesse for the leading and feeding see and weigh Psal 23. a profession of these graces which the man of God felt See Iohn 4. 13. and 6. 27. c. It is maruaile how men acquainted with the ordinary stile of Scripture should haue drawne this to any other sense but hereof more vpon the 21. and 22. Chapters This state is in these few words expressed Chapter 19. The Bride is prepared And accordingly in all her goodly ornaments shewed to Iohn Chap. 21. CHAP. VIII THe sixth seale being opened first was exhibited the proper euent thereof in the end of the sixth Chapter and in the seuenth Chapter a summarie view giuen for strengthning hearts against the terrour thereof of the whole matter of the seuenth seale which heere now is opened and speciall euents thereof declared through the rest of all this propheticall narration Of these wee haue first a generall preparation and next the perticular execution The preparation hath an incident effect immediatly following vpon the opening of the seale which is Silence about halfe an houre To shew an attent expectation of great things whereto well the portending of them in the former Chapter might haue erected the mindes And the waiting for rare or fearefull euents worketh a silent attendance When the wise speake then all keepe silence and when the Lion roareth all the beasts of the forrest hold their peace Besides this great things commonly come foorth with processe and preparation And truly God who is slow to wrath is in a sort forced to poure out heauie indignation 2 After this incident effect is the preparation in the ministers and in the orderer of the whole errand The ministers are described by their nature Angels Quality ministering Spirits as who stand before God Luke 1. And instruments of ministration Trumpets In the instruments are noted two things First that they are trumpets and secondly that they are giuen to them That the instruments are trumpets it sheweth that their ministry in this ensuing matter is to be sounders of the alarume and giuers of the figne for inuasion of the world by each woe as al 's many armies of him who is Lord of hosts as also that they are denouncers that of great and weighty matter For Trumpeters are messengers of great things and but for great personages In this also is implied that the end of their ministry and of these iudgements denounced and executed is to waken vp the dead world to repentance or make it inexcusable against finall wrath See the end of Chapter 9. Therefore when the world is not wakened with Trumpets it feeleth iustly full cups of wrath tumbled out That these Trumpets are giuen to the Angels it sheweth them to doe nothing without special warrant and mandate 3 Thus are the ministers the master and orderer of the errand is described by his office and his actions His office that he is an Angell for that is heere the name of office and not of nature And this angell differeth farre from the other seuen for he is the Angell of the couenant cleerely by all his notes He standeth as the other seuen for hee also in some respect is a minister but hee hath a particular stand which is at the Altar as High Priest He is furnished also with an instrument but which is proper to the Priest and belonging to the most holy place to wit the golden Censer He hath also somewhat giuen to him but a rare gift that is Many odors whereby all the praiers and of all Saints is acceptable For by him we offer vp sacrifices to God In the fifth Chapter the praiers of Saints are called Odors and heere the odours are distingushed from the praiers onely to shew how it is and in whom that they are odors that is acceptable to God These odours are said to be giuen him according as he acknowledgeth all things to be giuen him of the Father as he who is both sealed and sanctified and as mediator hath receiued the spirit without measure This is by allusion to the Leuiticall ministrie and not to the Masse 4 His actions are two one of gracious dispensatioÌ„ another of wrath as hee who is both the propitiation for Saints trcader of the winepresse of Gods indignation both an elect precious stone and a stone of offence And our consolation heerein is great that to him all iudgement is committed His action of grace is the offering vp of the Saints praiers and making the gratefull smoke of them goe vp before God through his odors and this hath a double consolation first that God alwaies in the midst of wrath remembreth mercy and is neuer so carried in wrath to poure out heauy indignation on the sinful world but that the louing care of his elect commeth first in place secondly that the praiers of Saints haste on indgement on the world while they send vp sighes and groanes for God his dishonour a great incouragement to prav If Israel had
that with them truly is found all the bloud shed vpon the earth Chap. 18. 24 CHAP. X. AS the sixth Seale besides the own proper effect gaue a preparation to the seuenth by a summary view of the whole effect thereof in the seuenth Chapter so here the sixt Trumpet besides the proper woe of it in the four destroying Angels from Euphrates and their Armies of desolation in the end of the last Chapter maketh way now in this and a good part of the next Chapter to the effect of the seuenth Trumpet and last woe which impenitency now iustly bringeth on Now all this preparation euen to the blowing of the seuenth Trumpet Chapter 11. 15. albeit it be to cleare the way yea and hath some no small beginnings of that great woe which by the seuenth Trumpet is fulfilled yet it is comprehended vnder the second great woe according to their distinction by Trumpets because euen in the height of this second great woe these degrees towards the last were working So wisely and artificially is the course of this Prophesie led forward and parts thereof clearely coupled together This preparation then for Antichrist his iust and full ouerthrow vpon obstinate impenitency against the punâ—shment from Euphrates is by a magnifike description of that great partie who foileth him and of the meanes of his victory The party is Iesus Christ heere typically setforth as alwaies throughout this Prophesie not according to the veriry of his person but to expresse his operation in this worke His meanes of victory are the little booke opened and the bold and powerfull preaching thereof and that for Finishing the mystery in the full ouerthrow of the enemies and perfecting the Church in all grace heere as a prepared Bride for her husband whereto hee fitteth â—pt instruments who by diuine motion studying diligently the Scriptures preach euery where the Gospell So as by the true rule rightly applied the true Church of God is discerned from the false and light growing Antichrist his kingdome is in a degree shaken and beginneth to fall and in the seuenth Trumpet is vtterly and for euer destroied 2 Wee haue then in this Chapter the comming of the great personnage performer of this worke and the end of his comming For effectuating wherof prophecy is restored This great persoâ—nage is that stronger one then Satan who foiled him and now after a sort returneth to ouerthrow the beast of his power the Angell of the bottomlesse pit king Apollyon In this personage are to be obserued whence he commeth the forme of his person and his actions Hee commeth from heauen as the aduersary came out of the bottomlesse pit not in propriety of speech as if he personally descended but that he who through antichrist his darkenesse was not seene now againe sheweth himselfe As God is said often in Scripture to depart or hide and againe to shew himselfe The glorious and magnifike forme of his person is shewed in a note of diuine maiesty that he is clâ—athed with a cloude Luke 2â— At the erecting of the tabernacle a cloud filled it So also Salomon his Temple The Lord hath said he will dwell in the cloud Hee gaue his presence to Israel in the wildernesse in a pillar of a cloud Hee maketh the cloudes his Chariot and he went vp in a cloude Secondlie he hath the Rainebow about his head as he whose presence bringeth peace the raies of his face imprinting the seale of peace in the darkest soâ—le and most clowdy conscience The shining of the Sunne against a cloud maketh the Rainbow So Christ whose face shineth like the Sun in his strength Chap. 1 being clothed with a cloud hath conueniently a Rainebow about his head His flesh is the vaile couering his Deity whereof the manefestation therin maketh our peace But heere specially hath hee the Rainebow about his head as comming now to dispel the great deluge of Antichristian darkenesse which shall neuer againe ouerspread the face of the Church more then the waters of Noah shall the earth giuing thus a sure pledge of serenity Chapter 9. Section 5. Thirdly his feet haue two notes They are pillers and they are fire The first for stable firmnesse and solide strength wherein hee now commeth both to stablish his Church in peace and to tread downe all his enemies The fire sheweth with light and purity dispelling darkenesse and purging all vncleannesse yet fiery affliction conioined in this conflict with Antichrist against all which notwithstanding his Church should stand stable as the Pillar of truth He hath fourthly in his hand a little booke open This is the weapon of his victory It is little in comparison to Antichrist his great booke of humane Traditions vnwritten Verities Apocriphe Scriptures Decretals Canons and manifold Legends all ioined and equalled by them in their practise at lest with this booke It is open for that cleere vnderstanding of holy Scripture which now Christ should bring whereas in Antichrist his darkenesse the same was buried in ignorance which with them is the mother of deuotion it being held capitall for common laicke men to read Scripture in vulgar tongue 3 The actions of this great personnage thus furnished are in his gesture and in his voice His gesture is that he set his right foot on the Sea and his left foot on the Land as he who hath power ouer all creatures Who stablisheth the mountaines by his power and appeaseth the noise of the Seas the noise of the waues thereof and the tumults of people Psal 65. His right foot is set on the Sea as whose rage is most terrible and the left on the earth to shew that he is sufficiently furnished with all strength and accordingly vttereth it as for the party opponer is requisit In the 13. Chapter to expresse Antichrist his estate two beasts arrise the one out of the Sea the other out of the Earth These he commeth to vndoe and conueniently therefore setteth his feet in this manner So is his gesture His voice is a loud cry Wherein as the little booke is the weapon of his warfare so the vse and welding of it is heere expressed to wit Preaching Whereof to shew the boldnesse his voice is compared to the reoaring of a Lion And to expresse the power and that perfect accompanying the bold Preaching of the Gospell now restored seuen thunders are said to speake As at the going out of the Gospel in the first seale the first beast hauing the face of a Lion Spake like thunder So now at reuiuing of the Gospel to Antichrist his ouerthrow it shall be accompanied with boldnesse and perfection of of power The great Angell comming downe to fight for Sion and the hill thereof Isai 31 4. Now consider that Christ is heere described according to his vertue working in his seruants whose voice if it be his is bold and powerfull If their voice be as it ought the eccho of his cry it will be like thunder For thunders
the Gospell and by the powerfull and wide preaching thereof gathering of his Church and defeating darkenesse hee will raise first in mens harts a loue of knowledge and of the booke of God who thereupon by his motion shall study the same most diligently as eating it with appetite and shall finde in studying it exceeding sweetnesse and spirituall ioy to their soules and letting it as it were downe in their stomachs and filling their bellies with it they shall bee so filled as not able to containe it they must burst foorth though the preaching thereof beget them of the world great trouble and many teares For all this frame of speech see Ezech. 2. and 3. and Ierem. 15. and 20. and withall obserue herein the distinct degrees of a true inward calling whereof none can be lacking in the true minister of Christ First a loue of God and of the knowledge of his word begotten in the heart by diuine motion 2 A heart to pray for light 3 A diligent and carefull study of Scripture 4 A sweet delight and taste found therein of spirituall ioy to their owne soules Now all these any good Christian may haue but to make a Pastor thou must also find the last that is bitternesse of belly The accommodation of this is so cleare in story of these whom God thus first stirred vppe to the loue of learning and by whom the true light both of diuine and humane sciences was restored so as Antichrist was discouered and noted for the man of sinne that it needeth not here to be inlarged Reade the story and accommodations of Writers on this place CHAP. XI HEere the effect in some degree is shewed of that which typically was spoken of Iohn in the last verse of the former Chapt. in that the little booke being eaten giueth to the eaters a faculty to discern the true Church from the false by assistance and instigation of the great Angel who giueth it And this is by applying the rule and measure thereof sound and straight as a reede strong apt and maniable as a rod and as Aaron his rod which deuoured the rods of the Inchanters whereby the body of the true Church is found to bee small as the Temple in comparison of the Court and City and hid as the Temple wherein none entred but the Priests as a small center in the midst of a large circumference and closed vp within it The Ministers in number few beeing but two the smallest of numbers and yet sufficient for witnessing of a truth In calling witnesses and of diuine things being Prophets and standing before God In condition afflicted as doing it in sackecloth in much heauinesse and many teares In this condition yet hauing great and diuine power towards the Temple dispersing plentie of grace as oliues and true light as candlestickes and outward hauing vengeance in readinesse against all disobedience as Elias and Moses hauing nor vsing against their enemies no armour but spirituall and that for the space of a 1260. daies al the while the Gentils occupy the Court and holy City and tread them vnder foot that is all the time Antichrist possesseth the name and title of the visible Church defacing and downe treading therein true worshippe which therefore is cast out and hath not with God the account of his true Church now-onely closed vp within the Temple The frame of speech is from the Iewes Temple thereby to expresse the condition of the Christian Church vnder and within the compasse of Antichrist vsurping the title and glorying in multitude and visibility who therefore after the same frame of speech hath with his false Church the name of Gentiles obtaining a good space the whole City Court of the Temple euen that beast who worketh 42. moneths Chapt. 13. All which time God had his owne Church albeit small and not seene of men euen within the bowels of the Antichristian vsurpation as the Temple is within the City and Court. Which true Church hee intertained in the life of God by a hidde but powerfull dispensation of grace of a secret vnknowne and small number of true Ministers Whose state and condition in course of time and Antichrist his opposition is threefold First they prophesie long and powerfully and albeit in sackcloth yet without bloudshed beeing hid in the Temple Secondly the Angel of the bottomelesse pit King Abaddon smelling them out they are openly murthered and cruelly and barbarouslie intreated euen with applause and congratulation of the world in all parts of the Antichrist his power the great City so as they seemed to bee vtterly vndone and extinguished and the earth and earthly men thereupon reioysed as freed of them who by the light reprooued their darke workes and thus tormented them not as the Locusts tormented men Chap. 9. But as Elias and Micheas did Ahab Ieremias the Land and Amos Israel Thirdly the spirit of life from God which neuer can be killed for the truth can neuer be bound raiseth them that is others hauing the same spirit and power who stand vp on their feet that is stoutly and vigorously set themselues to fight against Antichrist so as hee shall then beginne to be affraid and his former great mirth shall be troubled and that so much the more when hee and his sectators shall see to their great both griefe and feare these few hid afflicted slaine mocked ones of whom they thought they had beene rid for euer by diuine calling called vp to heauen that is separated from the fellowship and all communion with Antichrist and his earthly sort to bee with account protection acknowledged and seene the true Ministers of God his true Church which now from vnder Antichrist his darkenesse vnder which it lay vailed as the Temple within the Court shall become visible in a degree euen to the enemies Whereupon immediately ensueth a great commotion and stirre so as a part of Antichrist his kingdome falleth and the power thereof is much impaired by ouerthrow of a great number and conuersion of others And thus way is made to the seuenth trumpet wherein not a part but all Babel falleth an eternall fall 2 Consider now how distinctly and clearly â—heere Antichrist his whole dealing in the diuers degrees thereof and the true Church her case all the while is euen painted out before the eies of any that is not blinde So great light commeth by the little booke eaten and rod applied The first of the three conditions was of the Church before this time of application of the rod but the measuring and finding it out is of this time The other two conditions come now vpon this applying of the rod by such as through eating the little booke were inabled thereto which Antichrist perceiuing they are killed and lie dead c. And as for course of time and story this Chapter is orderly put so also exceeding pertinently for order of matter For where by the restoring of prophesie in the last Chapt.
degrees as haue beene shewed as in like manner in the sixth seale was giuen a view of the mischiefe of the Trumpets to learne vs that euen then before the ouerthrow and shaking of the Empire the mystery of iniquity was working And in all God sheweth his power and prouidence that euen with the sinne and wickednesse of men hath his iudgements preparing long before for their due punishment in time Now maruaile not that here that which is to the Saints chiefe ioy is a woe to the World for our victory is the worldes ruine 5 Vpon the blowing of the seuenth Trumpet the effect thereof is in the rest of this Chapter summarily denounced by a gratulatory song of praise of the Church to God for the ioyfull effect to them though wofull to the world which now they preconceiue is to ensue And this effect summarily here denounced is through the rest of all the Propheticall narration exponed at large The summe and matter of their fong which stirreth them to thanksgiuing is in this that God now raigneth And this raigne is cleared by two great effects the one is the destruction of all enemies the other is a sequell hereof the good estate of God his children the time of whose reward now is come The Iustice of God in the destruction is shewed in that these enemies were angrie and had in their fury destroyed the earth and murthered the Saints so as now God had iust reason to be angry in his course and to iudge and reuenge his dead fully on the world by prosecuting still his now begunne wrath and iudgements against the aduersaries till they be closed vp in euerlasting torment and redressing the estate of his Church in continuall deliuerance and encrease of grace till as a Bride fully prepared shee be receiued to glorie all being here performed now in the dayes of this Trumpet whatsoeuer by the Prophets was foretold either of the Church her perfection in grace and peaceable state or of the enemies destruction And this is that finishing of the mysterie sworne Chapter 10. this is that vengeance promised to the slaine soules in the 5. Seale but which they were to attend till the rest of Saints were slaine and this the Gentiles in their anger hauing performed hauing trod downe the holy City euen that beast that worketh forty two monethes making warre with the Saints and ouercomming them Chapter 13. Now the Lord commeth in great indignation to repay the world their cruelty This double euent thus denounced is by figne also forshewed to signifie the rising of the Church in great light and deepe sight of the most hid mysteries the Tabernacle is open in heauen and the Arke which stood in the most holy place is openly seene Here is a great degree of knowledge In the end of the sixt Trumpet was a great measure euen that first visible separatiō from Babel and her earthly ones when to the witnesses it was said Come vp hither but her clearenesse of light is aduanced greatly and the truth hereof is euident All praise to him who hath taken his Kingdome for since the seuenth Trumpet began to blow the Antichristian kingdome thinketh light of the sixt Trumpet and now this is their heauiest woe as wil appeare in the effects of the Vials but it is our song The signe of the other effect in the destruction of the enemies and God his horrible iudgements to that end are thunderings lightnings voices earthquake and much haile See vpon Chapter 4. Sect. 10. thus Babel whereof but the tenth part fell at the first essayes in the time of the sixth Trumpet now at the sound of the seuenth taketh a totall ruine as did Ierico at the seuenth Trumpet for to that is the allusion CHAP. XII THe seuenth Trumpet sounding the effect thereof was summarily foreshewed in a congratulatorie song signes expressing the maine points of the euent to ensue in the end of the last Chapter Now hence through this Booke to the generall conclusion of al that is largely and particularly exponed in the story of two great wonders or signes in Heauen The first in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters the other thence to the end The first signe or wonder hath the story of the enemies and condition of God his Church oppressed by them in some degrees comming out vnder that bondage The second hath the story of full victory in the perfect ouerthrow of the aduersaries and the Church her goodly and gracefull state thereupon The first in the 12. 13 and 14. Chapters is of one time with that story which in the fixe seales and sixe trumpets of the seuenth hath beene shewed but yet is not the same And where it would appeare to haue but one and the same matter yet the purpose and respect of handling is much different wherof see more vpon Chapter 14. Sect. 10. And here this Narration commeth exceeding fitly both for time and matter For time because albeit it be of things fallen out before the seuenth Trumpet yet so cleare a sight of them was not got till vpon the blast of it the Tabernacle of testimony opened in heauen afforded to God his children a more plaine sight of the enemies their course successe of working For matter because that vpon the souuding of the seuenth Trumpet so great a ioy of the Church vttered in such a song vpon preception of so great a deliuerance to her selfe and destruction of her enemies requireth for cleare vnderstanding thereof and how great the worke is that these enemies be knowne and their dealings and to endeare the more to the Church her owne deliuerance that her troubles and wrestlings with these enemies bee also seene that so both the equity of the former iudgements and specially of this last and finall wrath to come on them may bee cleare Till now the Story hath beene of wrath vpon the world from which the sealed ones were free the Church her sufferings nothing or but sparingly touched the Story of the Witnesses Chapter 11. being deliuered but as they were a Woe vpon the world but now in these three subsequent Chapters the Story of the Church her sufferings and of the parties by whom vpon whome and for which came all the former woes and now finall wrath is denounced is most pertinently both for time and matter inserted The not aduerting of this purpose of the holy Ghost hath bredde to many in reading this Booke great obscurity while they tooke not vppe the sweet and plaine way thereof so ledde as falling in againe in the end of the soureteenth Chapter to the point where it left in the end of the eleuenth for inserting of this necessary Story the summary execution is their preponed of that which in the end of the eleuenth Chapter was summarily denounced And so in the second great Wonder or Signe seene in Heauen throughout the fifteene sixeteene seuenteene eighteene nineteene and twenty Chapters this effect of the seuenth Trumpet as touching the
first two For the voice of the Lord is mighty the voice of the Lord is glorious it breaketh the Cedars and maketh the wildernesse to tremble But in his Temple only men speake of his glory Psalm 29. This gracious dispensation incredible and vnseene to the world which could not therefore learne the song of praise thereupon was in the 11. Chap. expressed by two witnesses which for dispensing grace and light were two oliue Trees and two Candlestickes in the Temple while it seemed impossible that any such could bee Antichrist brooking City and Court and for force and power fire went out at their mouths and they did strike the earth with all manner of plagues Now these comparisons of the voice of waters thunder and harping as they expresse fitly what I haue told so in them is implyed a sure prognostick and argument of the next insuing estate in the Angels breaking forth and crying For albeit this sound of water thunder and harping the world in this lurking condition of the Church perceiued not yet they could not still remaine vnheard Who can restraine the breach of great waters what congealed cloude can keepe in thunder and excessiue ioy a heart of any thing can least hold vp Forth therefore this hid Church behoued to come The bellies made bitter with eating the little booke behoued to burst or breake out according as we see in the three Angels following who come forth like the swelling of Iorden like sonnes of thunder according as Christ Chapt. 10. preparing for this outbreake his roaring voice was seconded with seuen thunders and like the bursting out of a blythe heart which cannot hold vp a surfet of ioy 4 This second condition of the Church breaking forth hath the velitation or skirmish and a coincident case with it The velitation I call it so in comparison to the great battell in the seuenth trumpet and seuen vials thereof summarily proponed in the end of this Chap. and exponed largely thenceforth according to the first degrees of the light of the Gospell reuiuing is set downe in three Angels types of these Ministers whom God stirred vp to bee the first open contesters with Antichrist to the 12. verse The coincident case is in the 12. and 13. verses 5 The first ranke of Preachers are expressed by an Angel fleeing thorow the mids of heauen c. for open and swift course which notwithstanding was yet farre remoued aboue the perception of men of the earth whereof few vnderstood or imbraced the first warnings and light arrising it being but yet obscurely preached like as few vnderstood the warning of Antichristian darknesse comming on Chap. 8. and in respect of that Angel there it is that this is called an other Angel as who is the next vsing his forme See a contrarie dispensation to this which cleareth this sense Chap. 18. His doctrine is set downe first in generall and to whom he preached and secondly the speciall points thereof In generall it is an euerlasting Gospell euen that truth which was from the beginning and which when heauen and earth passeth away shall abide for euer the immortall seede and begetting to immortality So it is called against the calumnies of nouelty and in opposition to the doctrine of men Hee preacheth to them who dwell on the earth euen in Antichrist his darkenesse aboue whose reach it is lesse maruell that this first light was yet farre remoued as a fleeing flash thorow the mids of heauen He preacheth to all Nations Kinreds Tongues and Peoples who had worshipped the Beast and of whom by restored light of the Gospell an infinite number was now to be brought out of great tribulation to sing with Palmes in hand and hauing washed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe and to be made partakers of the first resurrection the thousand yeeres being expired Chap. 20. Now the hid ones beginne to breake out and the song vnheard to bee tuned vp loudlie in the eares of all the earth therefore this Angel is said to cry loude In his speciall doctrine is the substance thereof and his manner of teaching The substance is that all feare glory and worship bee giuen to God onely and that both for auoiding his iudgements neere to bee executed and because he is creator of all things A doctrine exceeding fite for that time His manner is to bee marked in that hee vrgeth onely true worshippe not bold yet to challenge directly the Antichrist as the succeeding Angell doth roundly but more the third so wisely and plainely as the Spirit sheweth the course and the accommodation of Story is euident Now as this was the first degree of the conflict with Antichrist so accordingly in the song of victory God is praised for these same points Chapter 15. 3. 6 The second Angell roundly denounceth the fall of Rome that spirituall Babell Sodome and Egypt and that because shee had not onely beene an Idolatresse her selfe but as Ieroboam made Israel to sinne shee is the mother of Whoredomes through the world making men drinke vp superstitious worshippe greedily as wine and so to be besotted therewith To the which God both gaue ouer the world iustly in his wrath that they who would not beleeue the truth should be taken with deceiueable illusions and for which now againe the world iustly feeleth the cuppes of the last wrath As hee gaue to Israel Kings in his wrath and tooke them away in his displeasure 7 The third Angell yet more vehemently toucheth neerer Warning all to leaue the Beast his worshippe and character either in worke or profession vnder paine of eternall damnation Wherein they against whome the iudgement is denounced are exactlie noted and twise set downe in the beginning and in the end of the denunciation for speciall purpose and the quality durance and continuance of their iudgement expressed In the quality of iudgement are two First as they dranke greedily the Whores Wine so get they to drinke the pure vnmixed wine of God his wrath and next they get it in the cup of his wrath God sometimes giueth a bitter cuppe to his owne children but as strong wine for mitigation is tempered with water or sugar so are all God his chasticements to his owne mixed with mercy but to the wicked is powred out mercilesse iudgement Next the Cuppe propined to the Saints is not the Cup of wrath but of loue and medicinall but the wicked drinke out of the cuppe of wrath Lord reproue mee not in thy wrath Psal 6. 8 Now this iudgement is denounced against such as worshippe the Beast and receiue his Character c. And they are twice repeated as I haue said wherein is no Tautologie but diuine wisdome for to make vs take vp a great point In the 13. Chapter all the Beast his followers haue his Character or his name or his number whereof as I shewed there the difference is ill obserued For many haue his
and our men but busie themselues more then is needfull the holy Ghost hauing so plainely foretolde the case And how common doe wee see in our daylie experience of particular Churches that things will by custome or tyranny so obtaine as none are found to resist while yet in the meane time great numbers not only disallow but euen hold themselues pure there from Here who would aske the succeeding age what had beene the estate then hee could find nothing but that all had erred because the common Records beare but what obtained in the time no Record remaining of these who though for feare they durst not contest yet misliked and mourned for the iniquity And if perhaps they did vtter any thing which to the posterity might haue carried testimony of their mind the same being smothered by them who violently possessed and disposed of all I haue no doubt but in euery age euen in the greatest height of darkenesse diuers haue not onely been enemies thereof both children and ministers of light but euen haue beene in their time knowne to the godly then Albeit to enquire the succeeding ages of their story it is ridiculous and wee but fashe our selues vnnecessarily to haile therein the cord of contention with the aduersaries hauing otherwise so cleare and solide answeres furnished vs by the holy Ghost to close their mouthes Yea the Antichrist his prerogatiue and his long and peaceable obtaining in the visible Church dismayeth vs so little as thereupon wee build a sure argument that there all the time was the true Church For hee is a proper sore of the body of the Church And as such a pestilent boile or leprosie which can bee in no other but a man his body albeit the whole body should bee so couered that nothing could bee seene but the boile or leprosie yet euen thereby the beholder is assured that there is a man his body because that soare can befall none other So by Antichrist who is a proper euill and sitting no where else but in the Church wee discerne and perceiue clearely where the true Church hath beene and still in great part is For euen before the last fall of Babell the Lord his people are exhorted to come out of her In the visible Church the truth hath alwaies beene but so a long time as the Booke of the Law was within the Temple before Iosias Now then the obiection of the Romans whereby they labour so much to shake vnstable soules is more then ridiculous where was your Church before Luther what became of all our Fathers to which we answere Our Church was euen where Satans throne was And of our Fathers wee iudge well as who howsoeuer they receiued the Beast his name or at least the number of his name yet might haue beene free from receiuing his Character and so out of the danger of this sentence of eternall fire If they had eies to see and hearts to vnderstand this Prophesie they would bee confounded in that wherein they glorie most and ashamed to obiect to vs that which most approueth our cause 9 Thus was the velitation The case coincident is terrible persecution The weight whereof is cleered by a warning verse 12. and a consolation vers 13. The warning together with the weight declare against whom this heauy persecution is intended to wit the Saines and those who keepe the commandements of God and faith of Iesus The weight is shewed in this that their shall bee need of Christian patience as which shall be greatly exercised and that the triall shall bee such as the constant keepers of God his commandements and faith of Iesus shall finde wherein to be prooued This the phrase of speech sheweth as that Chap. 13. Heere is wisdome Now this warning implieth cleerely the party persecuter to be the Beast to whom was giuen To make warre with the Saints and to ouercome them Chap. 13. 7. who thereupon got the same warning there verse 10. And seeing that the remnant seed of the woman against whom the Dragon was to stir vp warte Chap. 12. 17. are described by the same titles Of keeping the commandements of God c. This warning heere giuen hath also this end to waken vs vp to consider the speciall time and heate of that warre their foretold to bee then when Antichrist beeing chaffed with these three Angels made all Europe to feele cruell fires and bloody massacres whereof the memory is yet recent That so the rest of them who should be killed for Iesus being fulfilled Chap. 6. 11. finall and full vengeance may come on that bloody state The weight of this persecution is yet further amplified by the consolation giuen against it Which besides the substance thereof is notable in many circumstances Of the deliuery from heauen the commandement how to receiue it in that it should not onely be heard but also written as worthy of lasting record of double asseueration and that by the holy Ghost The substance of the consolation is Blessed are the dead that hencefoorth die in the Lord. The reasons are They rest from their labours and their works follow them Our daies heere are but a shadowe and in them euen our strength is but labour and sorrow all wherein a man seeketh happinesse vnder the sunne beeing but vanity and vexation of spirit from whence to remoue in the Lord and enter into our rest is a great blessednesse in so farre as our labour is not in vaine in the Lord but great is our reward in heauen Now howsoeuer all men goe naked out of this world as naked wee come and nothing of all our great labour and works goeth with vs. Yet as euery one shall be indged and receiue according to that which hee hath done in the flesh good or euill so euery soule carieth with it an instamped sense of the workes done in the flesh so as either a speaking and selfe accusing guiltinesse followeth a man or then as by grace he hath beene inabled to make his election sure by good workes in this life so shall the testimony of peace in his conscience follow him For There is no condemnation for them which are in Christ Iesus which walks not after the flesh but after the spirit 10 From the 14. ver is the third part of this Ch. Wherein is the summary proposition of the full ouerthrow of the enemies which at length in the subsequent Chapters is explaned Now heere the course of this Prophesie is carefully to be marked for a great light through all The iudgements of God first and second vpon the worlde were in the sixe Seales and sixe Trumpets of the seuenth To the 15. verse of the 11. Chapter there the seuenth Trumpet soundeth and the last wrath is denounced Before the particular declaration whereof that the iustice of God therein might the better appeare it was requisite that the Historie of these enemies to be destroied in their dealings against the Church should be cleered for
second death as contrariwaies who haue part in the last resurrect on are blessed and holy and shall liue and raigne eternally not feeling the second death 8 Now this death of the Rest of men albeit in particular considerations of the singular persons in that time who lay dead and raise not the first resurrection it was an entrie to the second death Yet the spirit heere sheweth that in the generall consideration of the world it should not alwaies lie in that death But as these 144000. liued and raigned with Christ these thousand yeeres while all the earth followed the Beast and were dead in Baal and were partakers in the first resurrection vnder sure hope of the second to glory so after these thousand yeeres were expired not these onely but an infinite number of all peoples Kindreds Tongues and Nations with Palmes in their hands and long whit robes made white in the blood of the Lambe should rise from their death wherein they lay and sing a new song This is euidently implied in these words The rest of the dead liued not till the thousand yeeres were expired and this is called the first resurrection which is spoken in common both of the former who liued during the thousand yeeres and of the other who after the thousand yeeres arose and liued So as these words This is the first resurrection are relatiue al 's well to the life of these who liued during the thousand yeeres as to them who should liue after the expiring thereof for their life is one albeit not of one time as the words The rest of the dead liued not till c. euince clearely and accordingly blessednesse and immunity from the second death is the first pronounced in common of both and thereafter seuerally by parts this their common life and blessednesse of the first resurrection is exponed That the first should liue and raigne with Christ a thousand yeeres and the other notwithstanding of the Dragon againe loused and his strange endeauours thereupon yet should rise this first resurrection and liue and raigne with Christ for euer and euer The place hath been and is mistaken highly euen to the breeding of dangerous heresies But thus it is The holy Ghost hauing set forth the state of the Church as shee riseth the first resurrection and liueth the life of God from the time of Sathan his first restraint and that in two degrees of risers first these who during the yeeres of his Captiuity liued raigned when as by the Beast his preuailing it might haue seemed that there had beene none at all Next these who after the thousand yeeres notwithstanding his loosing and rage yet rose from their death in superstition and blindnesse and hauing said of both in common this is the first resurrection He then proclameth their blessednesse accordingly in this their spirituall life and raigne here and that distinctly according to the two times Of the first sort that they shall be Priests of God raigne with Christ a thousand yeeres And of the second sort that after the thousand yeeres were expired they should rise to the life of God and raigne for euermore Now if this second member had been thus succinctly put answering so to the other it had exempted al doubt But because in stead of this summarie reddition the holy Ghost much more gracefully subioyneth the narration how as during Sathan his first restraint a good number liued the life of God refusing the Beast his marke and so were blessed in the assurance of victory ouer the second death so after his lousing notwithstanding thereof and all his endeauours thereupon the rest of the dead shall rise the first resurrection and the Church should still waxe and encrease in light grace Sathan in his highest endeauours against her should be againe made fast for euer and she enioy an eternal peace Then to haue the full sense of the second member and a cleare reddition wee must reade from the beginning of the seuenth verse to the end of the 5. of the 22. Chapter Neither must wee here imagine that the first are said so to liue a thousand yeeres as though the life of God had perished from them thereafter or that this life and raigne is of one and the same persons still liuing all this while which were a lourdly grosse apprehension as neither must wee thinke that because the second are said to raigne for euermore that thereby is first and properly meaned their state in glory after the last resurrection But thus the spirit will shew how first and last God entertained a Church and spirituall life therein To the first are attributed a thousand yeeres in respect that the Dragon being so long tyed from disturbing their spirituall life and raigne by open rage is againe let louse To the second a raigne for euermore because the Dragon fighting against it is taken and captiued for euer to shew such a destruction of opposers as the Church her peace should neuer againe bee disturbed by any new lousing of Sathan from his second imprisonment but shee shall enioy quiet state here in plentifull dispensation of grace till shee bee at length translated to euerlasting glory according to that which of her in this respect was said Chapter 7. they shall hunger no more c. To take the thousand yeeres verse 6. to beginne at the expiring of the first thousand verse 4. and 5. which second thousand yeeres the rest of the dead arising shall liue and raigne and to take the first resurrection here so in relation to a second as by the first should be meaned the rising of Gentiles from vnder Antichristian darkenesse and the conuersion of Iewes to be in relation thereto the second Albeit it be the indgement of one deepely seene in these mysteries and deseruing well of the Church for his learned Commentaries on this Booke yet it seemeth to me a groundles coniecture which hath made him to mistake also as I think the end of this Chapter For besides that to take the thousand yeeres verse 6. for a second thousand after that verse 4. and 5. and yet to make the thousand yeeres spoken verse 7. to be relatiue to the first and not to these immediately preceeding it maketh an obscure and implicate construction which in our interpretation goeth plaine and soundly what should induce to thinke a second thousand yeeres to be meaned verse 6. seeing no case is put at the end thereof to fall out why the spirite should so exactly haue limited them as we see in the first the loosing againe of the Dragon The thousand yeers life and raigne then in the 6. verse is the same which was spoken verse 4. and there resumed very pertinently to shew in subioyning the other sort of risers and liuers God his whole dispensation from the first binding of the Dragon towards his Church first and last and distinctly in both 9 Now from what point of time to beginne and at what point consequently to
height of impiety and marketh the two pointes of this time with most euident notes of the binding of the Dragon and his lousing againe 13 In Constantine his time that too great and open steppes were laide for Antichrist to mount vp to Sathan his throne is too well knowne And to what a height the mistery of iniquity had wrought on in the Pontificality of Boniface the eighth their owne stories giue cleare testimony recording of him that hee entred like a foxe raigned as a Lion and died as a dogge When by a counterfeit Oracle hee had got himselfe made Pope hee would vpon no condition acknowledge the Emperour except hee did take his title and dignity of him as to whom properly it belonged He excommunicated the French King because hee would not take his Crowne holden of him and impudently and impiously discharged his Subiects of their allegeance He blasphemouslie against the honour of Christ his Crosse instituted the first Iubilie at Rome and put forth this decree that the Bishoppe of Rome ought to be iudged of none although he should carry innumerable soules with him to hell 14 The peruerse mindes of the Romanes here bewray themselues For this time of a thousand yeeres which onely of all the times in this prophesie is to bee taken definitely they will haue to bee indefinite and al the rest to be taken both definitelie and properly And without either example of Scripture or shew of allusion casting it roundly by them they will forsooth haue these thousand yeeres here indefinitely put for all the time from Christ to Antichrist his raigne who shall raigne say they three yeeres and a halfe before the last iudgement But if during these thousand yeeres the speciall honor and chiefe crown of them who liue and raign in them be their refusing to worshippe the Beast whom euen Romans confesse to be Antichrist of necessity his Kingdome must haue beene in vogue these thousand yeeres And this againe sheweth plainely that these times of a 1260. dayes 42. monethes and a time times halfe a time are not properly and definitely put for the iust time of Antichrist his raigne as the Romans would inforce seeing these thousand yeeres hee beareth sway further if these times were definitely and yet not properly to be taken as some of our learned interpreters esteeme I see no reason why here the holy Ghost should haue altered his ordinary stile See Chapters 9. and 11. and 12. 15 Now considering all the course of this prophesie expressing first the state of the Church in the seuen of Asia next comprising the whole future euents in seuen Seales the seuenth whereof affordeth seuen Trumpets and the seuenth of these seuen vials of the last wrath Seeing also that in all this Booke but seuen diuers times are recorded First that of ten dayes Chapter 2. 2. that of halfe an houre Chapter 8. 3. that of fiue monethes Chapter 9. 4. that of an howre day moneth and yeer of the sixth Trumpet Chapter 9. 5. that of 1260. dayes 42. monethes a time times and halfe a time which are but one Chapter 11. and 12. and 13. 6. that of three dayes and a halfe Chapter 11 and now this of a 1000. yeeres is the seuenth in huge proportion exceeding all the former Considering also that this time of a 1000. yeeres is in the course of this Chapter and within short space sixe times recorded and thereafter no time mentioned but euermore Whither in these considerations if this maner of leading implyeth any further mystery I referre it to godly and sober considerations not daring louse the raines to curiosity in so diuine and hid matter wherein yet I am perswaded thongh my weakenesse cannot find it out that nothing is eyther in matter or manner of handling which hath not in it a great depth of wisdom 16 Thus was the dragons first restraint in a certaine degree of time and measure Followeth the second absolute and euerlasting And it is cleared by the fore-going liberty to which hee is loused From the first binding So as all this point is in these two the dragons second liberty and the euent thereof 17 In this his second liberty is the time when and his endeauour beeing loosed The time is at the expiring of the thousand yeeres whereof wee haue spoken His endeauour being loosed is to practise againe that from which by his first taking hee was with-held that is to seduce Nations Which seducing must bee vnderstoode to be of that same kind as heereafter is clearely shewed in that hee brought them to compasse the tents of Saints and beloued City For otherwaies all the time of his restraint from this kind of working hee by the Lieutenant of his power seduced in another kind mightilie The greatnesse of this his endeauour to this end is cleared first by these whom hee seduced and next by their action vpon his instigation In these who are seduced are these circumstances 1 Their habitation 2 Their quality 3 Their number Their habitation is the foure quarters of the earth Whereby is offered to our conception both Satan his earnest and diligent practise in this his last puffe and that all the enemies ouer the whole earth of what state and condition soeuer whom in this his last fury hee bringeth foorth are heere designed Their quality is expressed in the names giuen them of Gog and Magog To shew them detestable for cruell disposition to destroy that by a huge destruction they shall be destroyed and that they are the instruments of Satan his last fury Their number is expressed in two notes One that they ouerspred the plaine of the earth the other that they were as the sand of the Sea for multitude 18 Such are they who are seduced The end whereto the Dragon leadeth them is to compasse the tents of Saints and the beloued City Euen the vtter destruction in their intent of God his true Church heere on earth pitching in Tents as yet in their warfare and absent from their eternall habitation but who notwithstanding are the true Citizens of heauen beloued of God 19 Thus is the Dragons liberty and his endeauour thereupon The euent heereof is double One of them who thus seduced by him were set on so euill a worke that fire came from heauen and deuoured them The other of him who is their leader that hee is now taken and commited to euerlasting fire and torment This his iudgement is cleared by his fellowship therein the Beast and false Prophet 20 This euent is further cleared and declared sure by setting downe the last degree of their destruction in the last iudgement when all enemies being brought vnder death shall bee swallowed vp to victory To shew vs that this second victory ouer Satan and restraint of him from this his last rage shall not bee but onely for a certaine space as was that first or in a speciall respect as that was but it shall be absolute and eternall So as from the time
marriage c. Which vndoubtedlie will be when vpon destruction of all troublers the Church enioying quiet state shall fall in the sleepe of security For if the last iudgement and comming of Christ to it had so notable markes as the foile of Antichrist taking of the Dragon and so great tumults warres and commotions with the hauocke of so huge Armies besiedging the Church how could either that day comes as a thiese on a peaceable world or the Church in such cruell inuasion be at ease and sleeping This errour hath made the subsequent matter to be of most part mistaken as if therein the state of the triumphant Church in heuens were set foorth as it shall be after the last day 23 A learned man lately commenting and with high and iust commendation vpon this booke perceiuing well that the subsequent condition of the Church must be vnderstood of her state heere in grace and so being not seeing how this place could bee taken of the last iudgement turneth it to an allegory of the conuersion of the Iewes by allusion to the last iudgement their conuersion to the faith in respect of their present and long beegunne desperate estate both temporall and spirituall being as it were a rising from the dead According as by the Prophets in regard of the full point thereof it is called and by the Apostle a life from death But besides that where a plaine sense in proprietie is conuenient farre sought allegories are not meete albeit for the wonderfulnesse and inexpected falling out thereof the Iewes restitution be of the Prophets called a rising from their graues yet that thus the whole description so cleerely in all the circumstances of the last iudgement can be drawne thereto I see no reason specially where agreeably to the manner of the holy Ghost the descripton of the generall iudgement may bee taken properly and conueniently for the purpose in hand and no necessity for this to interpret the subsequent Chapters of any state of the Church in time thereafter Which doubt will nothing trouble the iudicious Reader considering the manner of the Propheticall descriptions much different from common historicall narrations in that they by Hypotyposeis represent to the view as present those things they prophesie Further to say in a resurrection whereby men rise from ignorance and in duration to the knowledge of God and imbracing of the faith that they rise to eternall destruction it is vtterly absurd And heere we see that all the execution is of enemies in torment and euerlasting fire The spirit euen heereby as it were pointing to vs his purpose of this narration in this place And this argument â—uinceth that place Daniel 〈◊〉 to bee of the last resurrection For none rise the first resurrection to euerlasting shame but all are blessed As for the word there put of Many as if therein an argument were implied of some other resurrection then the generall wherein All rise it helpeth nothing that opinion as being put but in common and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 repeated according to the subsequent partiâ—ition of Many to glorie Many to shame And if thereon ought might be builded with al 's good reason heere the generall iudgement must bee vnderstood where All the dead small and great doe rise c. That the many and goodly Prophesies of the restoring of Israel haue not as yet their full accomplishment till by faith they be grafted in againe whence they were cut out through vnbeliefe it were either great ignorance or perhaps blasphemy to denie seeing the Apostle to that purpose citeth Prophesies which therfore but in that case cannot be fulfilled Againe that it seemeth necessarie so great a point not to bee ommitted in this Reuelation I hartilie yeeld but that therefore this place should from a proper and well consisting sense be drawne thereto I see no necessitie For that matter was not obscurely in the sixth Viall signified and more plainlie in the Church her song Chapter 19. and if more be requisite who may not be satisfied as such mysteries are heere deliuered with that which in the next Chapter is said of the new Ierusalem hauing vpon this full ouerthrow of her focs her ports cast open towards all the quarters of the earth and on them written the names of the twelue Tribes of Israel to whom then they are made patent that all Israel may bee saued 24 A Throne Daniel 7. is erected and one sitteth for iudging and destroying the Beasts there mentioned enemies and troublers of the Church then And Daniel 12. the faithfull for conception of a perfect deliuerance and full ouerthrow of their aduersaries are called to the meditation of the last and full degree thereof in the generall resurrection To that heere is the allusion euen as in the description of the enemies heere the allusion was to these To shew not onely the like and full ouerthrow of the troubles now of the Christian Church holding on to finall accomplishment in Christ his last comming as the other were abolished at his first but also that the first euen in the promise of God his dispensation were types of the latter The not aduerting whereof hath made many to misconceiue the minde of the holy Ghost in the Prophets While some in accommodation of the promises and denunciations so rest in the first state and time as they looke not how therein God looked further and others so interpret them of the last state and time as against the minde of the spirit they apply them not first and properly to the state then Whereof first and for speciall consolation against the euils then they are meaned albeit they had also typically a further signification as the wise and frequent allusion in this Prophesie prooueth and accommodation through all the new Testament no lesse clearely 25 This great white throne shadowed by that of Solomon albeit then in full and finall degree it shall be erected when our Lord returneth in the cloudes of heauen yet in some degree it is erected here in the cleare and euident preuailing light and power of the Gospell So as euen heere after a sort heauen and earth depart that is the whole state of the world is changed as vpon pouring out of the seuenth Viall was denounced and as for the like euent though not in so full measure was spoken of at the opening of the sixth scale For euen heere we shall haue new heauens and a new earth that is a new state of things by the enemies vtter fall and goodly gracefull and peaceable estate of the Church thereupon when there shall be no more Sea as by Isay is Prophesied often and magnifikly in the subsequent Chapters is declared Thus the state vnder the Gospell in collation to the former is called of the Apostle a new worlde and so the condition of the Christian Church vpon destruction of Whore Beast and Dragon and strange alteration of all the states in the earth enioying peace shal bee yet
The shifts of the Papists for exempting the Pontificality from this blot 183 Whence he arriseth 175 His fall irrecouerable 78. 89. 165. 177 His presumption obstinacie and vnexpected foile 218 Aplaine crossing of all Popery 54 An incouragement to Praier 60 The false Prophet all one with the Beast and for what cause they be distinguished 121. 177. 178 The Lord God of the holy Prophets 254. 265 R RAine twofold 62 The Rainebowe about Christ his head 86 All Religion 19 The first Resurrection 224 Who they are that are said Chap. nineteenth to rise the first Resurrection 224. 225 The Reuelation worthy of our study 11. 265 The dignity thereof shewed in two great points 21 The course thereof 32 Riches and authority without wisdome are but the weapons of a foole 30 The Riches of Christ 30 Riders on Horses 33 Christ his Riding on a white horse 212 White Robes in Scripture haue a triple signification 38 Rome her presumption 192. 218 The Renting of her in three 171 By whom shall her fall bee 152. 163. 182 The first and second degrees of her fall 157 The third degree of her fall 158 The fourth 160 The fifth 161 The sixth 163 What her fall shall be 181 It is irrecouerable 165. 177 And vnexpected 192 The certainety and greatnesse thereof 188. 191. 198 The equity thereof 189. 198. 205 Yet in considering the equity a diffeerence is to bee put betwene the state euery particular mēber of that state 193 S TO the Saints is giuen a kingdome euen heere 107 Satan his twofold dealing against the Church 105. 106 What is his first attempt alwaies 106 How he is said to be in heauen to fight there to bee cast downe out of heauen into the earth 107 The Scripture is onely to bee heard and no voice else in the Church of God 25 In what respect it is a little Booke 86 It is kept secure by the Pope Ibid. It must be eaten 91 In the Scripture all is reuealed requisite for light or manners 266. 267. 268 To couplerightly the parts thereof 268 The glassie Sea a type of the Word 15. 149 The Sea for the common worship 49. 64 For that which is below 120 The Red Sea and pillar of fire types of the Word and Spirit 150 For what reason the Sea is said Chap. 15 to be mingled with fire 150 There was no more Sea 120. 250 Seamen 196 The Seale of God 51 Seducing of two sorts 228. 233 The twofold Seed of the Church 130 Seuen Lamps 15 Seuen hornes and seuen eies of the Lambe 26 Seuen points of his praise 30 Seuen heads 118. 175 Seuen Seales Seuen Trumpets Seuen Vials 153 Seuen diuers times recorded in all this booke and concerning this number Seuen 232 The Shining of the Bride her attire 208 Showers twofold 62 Two great Signes in heauen 100 The Signe of the Dragon 102. 147 The Signe of the Sonne of Man 147. 212 To Sit. 191 The Slaughter of the Lambe the reason of his worthinesse and in what sense must thinke so 24 Sobriety 88. 211 Example of Sobriety in the Author 12. 232. 258 Solitary places 188 The Holy Spirit his procession and name of Comforter signified by the Rainebow diffunded about the Throne 12 In a diuers consideration he both sitteth in the throne and also is before the throne set foorth in Seuen burning Lamps 13 Starres for great men of the earth 40. For Pastors 67 And in that case how they are to be considered 68 To stand in the Sunne 216 T The Tents of Saints 233 Theodoricus the Ostrogoth the seuenth head of the Beast 122 Thrones 161 Thrones Beasts and Elders 202 Thrones set for saints 228 Christ his white Throne 235. 240 Seuen Thunders 87 Why their speeches were vttered and yet not written 88 The Times recorded in the Reuelation 73 A refutation of Propheticall yeeres as they call them 74. 96 How to vnderstand the Times of the Reuelation 76 The Time of tenne daies 76 The Time of fiue monthes 77 How the Trumpets beginne and ende in respect of time 80. 89. 90. The Time of fourty two monthes and of 1260 daies and of Time Times and halfe a Time 96. 231 The Time of three daies and a halfe 97 Which also is the space that the Dragon is let goe loose after his first binding 222 The effects of that his loosing 203 The Time of a thousand yeeres 226 It is the onely Time in all this prophesie to be taken definitly 230. The Thighi to put the hand vnder the thigh Christ his name written on his thigh 216 Tragicall times of some Emperours 43 Treasons of Papists by whom they are atchiued how good and worthy works they doe esteeme them 72 And what setteth them so madlings a worke 165 The Tribes of Israel 53 Why they are recorded but to be twelue seeing they were thirteene 127 Trumpets 58 Twelue 120. 128 Turkes their heades terrible Army the great desolation they make V GOlden Vials types of faithfull and pure hearts 27 Golden Vials cups of wrath 153 The reason why they come in place after the trumpets 154 On whom they are powred out 156 Vintage 146 Of the Visibility of the Church 138. 139 The Vnity of the Church of Rome 180 The Voice of Christ is bold as a Lion and powerful as thunder How to know if the Ministers speake his voice Pope Vrbane the second and his successors kindlers of the holy warre for recouery of Ierusalem 229 W LOue of the Wages ofvnrighteousnes 196 The Warre proclaimed in Paradise 102. 105 Christianity is a Warfare against whom it is and how to fight it out 108 And ouercome 180 Counsel and strength are for the Warre 213 The holy Warre 229 Waters of two sorts 67 Many Waters 162 The drying vp of many Waters 162. 173 White colour White horses 33. 145. 212 White robes 38 White linen apparell 153 A White throne 240 Windes for influence of spirituall graces 49 Deepe Wisdome 204 The Whoore described 174 Who shee is 182 How the restoring of Prophesie and dispelling of darkenes is a Woe 98. 160 Two great Wonders in Heauen 100 Wondring of two sorts 174 The Word compared to water figured by the Lauer in the Tabernacle and by the brasen Sea Temple and in this booke Chap. 4. set foorth vnder the type of a glassie Sea before the throne 15. 16 The Word contemned of a blessing becommeth the first of plagues 34 The Word is the weapon of Christ his victorie 86. 88. 215 Three degrees of operation which the Word of God hath in the hearts of his owne 132 Our Worship to God must proceed of knowledge 20 The Wound of the Beast in his sixth head 117 How Works doe follow the dead 142 FINIS Faults escaped Page 8 Line 1 Fault Affliction that Correction Affliction them that Page 8 Line 29 Fault sex Correction step Page 27 Line 12 Fault three Harps Correction their Harps Page 31 Fault last Correction of ingratitude Correction of our ingratitude Page
sure esperance but already great proofe Now this diuersity of gifts God giueth as hee findeth expedient and as they may best serue for his honour and good of his Church hee requireth the vse sometime courage sometime patient suffering sometime prudency in both sometime a deepe search of Scriptures and of the dealing of God as according hereto we see these foure to vtter themselues at the opening of the Seales Chapter 6. Consider alwayes how conueniently these eyed and winged wights are ioyned to the glassie Sea as the sea in Solomon his Temple was set on twelue buls and on the borders of the bases for the Caldrons were Lions Bulles and Cherubins the Cherubins for their face flight answering to both the man and flying Eagle in this place So sweet is the consent of Scripture Thus are their properties common and singular Their function is first described in generall and next from the speciall end thereof The generall is God his worship wherein are two things First their continuall diligence night and day in season and out of season waiting on nothing else for who is sufficient for these things see Paul his example Act. 20. Secondly is the function or worship it selfe wherin they kith such diligence which is they are publike Heralds of God his praise euen thereby teaching others to doe the same according to the speciall end we see hereafter whereto the forme is substantially framed For they ascribe to God all holinesse euen triple holinesse to that triple one Now if our God bee holy who sanctifieth vs that as he is holy wee may bee holy also this teacheth vs to study to our sanctification for holinesse becommeth his house Hee is onely Lord therefore to bee serued hee is God therefore to bee feared and as hee is not holy without authority but is Lord and God so hath hee not authority without power for hee is almighty so that we may and ought to put our whole trust in him alone and as hee hath all power so is hee constant and true as hee who is eternall and without shadow of changing who yesterday and to day and the same for euer is was and to come his holines is the more admirable as ioyned with absolute power and such a power as is not alterable his truth giueth assurance of his promises to repose thereon here is all Religion Thus is their function in generall The speciall end is to bee leaders of the Elders that is the Church in this same duty of publike worshippe and thanksgiuing by going therein before them This end is clearely shewed in that when the foure beasts gaue praise the twenty foure Elders fell downe following their very words as it were saying Amen to them and this is that fourth point which wee noted to bee in this Chapter the worshippe returned to God by his Church 15 Their worshippe is by outward gesture and by speech The gesture is threefold prostrating adoration and casting their Crownes all down to him that sitteth on the Throne and to none else in casting their Crownes confessing their vnworthinesse in themselues of that high honour whereto they are called Their speech hath the honour giuen to God and the reason thereof for God will haue all our worshippe and reasonable seruice to proceed of knowledge not as the Samaritanes who worshipped they knew not what The honour giuen to God is all whereof by signe they confessed themselues vnworthy The reason is for that hee created all things and that for himselfe as whereto no forraine cause but his owne will stirred him aboue which to search any cause is not onely grosse ignorance but presumptuous impietie And this reason concludeth strongly for hee of whom are all things for whom are all things ought onely of all things to receiue all honour 16 Thus haue we the type of the true militant church of Christ vpon earth but heauenly such as alwayes by powerfull protection and gracious dispensation of his Spirit Word and Ministery thereof hee hath preserued in the greatest power of darkenes which though the World cannot see nor learne their song yet the lightned by faith will perceiue and reioyce This sight made Moses to despise the pleasures of Egypt and chuse to be afflicted This made Dauid to make so great account of the Courts of the Lord as to make it the head of all his desire to dwell in his Tabernacle to behold his beauty Ierusalem is faire in situation the glory of the whole earth and City of the great King Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of our God Euen here wee are quickned together with Christ and raised together with him sit with him in the heauenly places This is the Church builded on a rocke against which the gates of hell preuaile not which though men haue often afflicted from her youth yet haue they not preuailed against her For the Lord her God is with her and the ioyfull shout of a King is in the middest of her Herefore it is that through all this Booke howsoeuer to expresse the diuers conditions of the Church in her speciall wrestlings sufferings eclipses victories diuers types are brought yet this of the throne elders and beasts in all her alterations still holdeth through all CHAP. V. THe first part of the introduction to the Story was in the fourth Chapter in a goodly type of the militant â—hurch and God his generall dispensation in her The second part is in this Chapter wherein is shewed in whom for whom and by whom it is that the Church hath all this presence protection and graces and in speciall for bringing on the second part in the story of speciall euents by whom and for whom shee hath this particular benefite of this Reuelation the great dignitie whereof albeit it appeareth sufficiently by that which in the former Chapter was seene it being from such a King as God to his owne Church yet here it is more plainely shewed in two great points The one is the retired highnesse of the matter surpassing the reach of all Creatures the second is the singular worth and prerogatiue of that personage by whome it is reuealed 2 The retired height of the matter is declared first by the naturall condition of it in it selfe and next by the imbecility of all Creatures in attaining thereto The condition of the matter is according to the manner of men set forth in foure circumstances 1. That it is in the hand of him that sitteth on the throne 2. It is a book 3. Copiously written 4. It is most surely sealed That it is in the hand of God not onely is shewed the eminency thereof but also that the whole case of his church and wrath on the world for her hard entertainement are directed by him as the worke of his owne right hand as also his carefull memory of it keeping the record therof in his right hand as men doe of these things they hold
most deare It is a booke for the certainety of things registred in God his booke Psal 139. according to the manner of men who carefully put in Register that whereof they would haue the record abide sure For properly God hath no booke but is his owne booke It is copiously written in that the inside of the roll for bookes must bee vnderstood according to the manner of that time not suffising to containe the whole it is written also on the backe and this sheweth besides the certainety of the matter so carefully and amply recorded the speciall prouidence of God in al the particular cases of his Saints as whose wandrings are counted teares are registred and haires are numbred It is sealed with seuen seales to shew the abstruse secresie as perfectly closed vp which the number of seuen implyeth 3 Now besides this condition of the matter in it selfe the retired eminency thereof is declared also by the imbecility of all creatures to attaine thereto proued by a most sure argument euen experience which is heere set out after the manner of men in that all beeing by publike edict prouoked to the opening of the booke all come short of it Which first euent of imbecility of all Creatures is more cleared by a second euent in the Apostle who thereupon mourneth a sore mourning Here then are to bee obserued the Herauld the tenor of the Proclamation and the double euent aforesaid The Herauld is a strong Angell hauing a strong voice such as becommeth the Herauld of a great King for making all Creatures heare him And euen herein is implyed an amplification of the imbecility of creatures as which all are prouoked and haue lawfull warning The tenor of the Proclamation is Who is worthy to open the booke loose the seuen Seales thereof shewing as a free essay offered to all yet that to atchieue it was required great worthinesse The first euent is the insufficiencie of all creatures whereof according to the ordinary maner of Scripture is put a perfit enumeration of those in heauen in earth and vnder the earth neither Saint nor Angel being found worthy of this work And their weaknes is amplified in that al were so far from the worthines of taking and opening the booke as none were able to looke vpon it The iudgements of God are so great a depth Vpon this first euent followeth a second in Iohn who hauing beene called vp to heauen to see such things as afterwards were to be fall the Church hee is at the first brought almost to despaire of seeing ought whereupon in a holy albeit infirme affection hauing forgot on whose breast hee had leaned as zealous of the Church her good and hartely sorry she should remaine depriued of so great benefit hee mourneth and mourneth much an affection now rarely found in any And certainely so long as for obtaining ought out of God his hand for our comfort wee looke to any creature wee shall reape but mourning till wee see him who onely is worthy to bring vs grace from the father 4 The second great argument of the dignity of this reuelation is the worthy personage by whom it is reuealed to whom God gaue it Chap. 1. And of him are to bee obserued two things First his performing of that wherein all creatures had succumbed and secondly the euent and effect following thereupon In the performer are first Iohn his knowledge of him and next the fact performed Iohn his knowledge is first by information and secondly by sight In the information are the occasion the informer and what he informeth The occasion is Iohn his mourning whereof the informer would comfort him For it is most true that as holding our eies on creatures we can reape but sorrow so till in conscience of our owne wants and felt experience of the vanity of all refuge to any creature wee learne to mourne and mourne much we finde no solid ioy either for peace of conscience or light of reuelation Our diuels are not cast out but by praier and fasting Daniel had then greatest reuelation when he had bene in heauinesse three weekes of daies The informer is one of the elders Now wee must consider whereof these twenty foure elders are the type and what personage Iohn heere beareth which duly weighed wee shall not maruell how this sonne of thunder is informed of one of the elders Iohn heere is the type of one entring in heauen to know God his secrets Now heauen and the twenty foure elders are the type of God his true Church as hath beene cleared As then the true Church is the pillar and stable seat of truth so without it is neither saluation nor any true knowledge for God is knowne in Iuda Hereby then is signified that all true knowledge of Christ is in his Church The information hath first a dehortation from mourning secondly a designation of the singular personage and thirdly his prerogatiue to performe the dehortation as it is grounded on the comfort hee was to shew him so hath it this vse that true light bringeth euer true ioy The designation of the person performer is by two titles 1 That Lion of the Tribe of Iuda 2 That root or syour of Dauid In these are to be obserued first the titles and next whence they are brought He is a Lion but with this note that he is of Iuda Satan is a Lion and a roaring Lion that Lion whom Sampson rent out of whose mouth Dauid pulling his sheepe killed him but this Lion of Iuda taketh the prey and none is able to rescue it whom when he lyeth downe who dare stirre him vp Hee is the root or syour of Dauid by Iuda and Dauid to shew the true Messias promised of their seed These titles are brought the one from Genes 49. the other from the 11. of Isaiah the one from Moses the other from the Prophets They haue Moses and the Prophets saith Abraham in Parable thither Christ sendeth the Iewes for true knowledge of himselfe So then the elders informe but out of Moses and the Prophets to shew that as onely in the Church true knowledge is to bee had so no voice should there be heard but of the Scriptures Search the Scriptures for they beare witnesse of mee The third point whereof the elder informeth Iohn is the prerogatiue of this great personage to performe And it is set downe in this one word hee hath obtained to open the booke c. of which more heereafter in the song This farre knowledge Iohn getteth by information the other degree of knowledge is by sight wherein the ordinary degrees of true illumination for stablishing of a soule in certainty of truth heere in great wisdome set downe are carefully to be marked The first is the information of the Church and authority thereof as Augustine calleth it Opportunum inquirendi exordium In which respect hee saith in another place and in the person of one ignorant