Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	conscience_n	open_v	write_v	2,760	5	5.9989	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86457	An exposition, or, A short, but full, plaine, and perfect epitome of the most choice commentaries upon the Revelation of Saint John. Especially of the most learned and judicious authors, as Bullinger of Helvetia, Francis Iunius, Thomas Brightman, Aug. Marlorate, Aug. de Civitate dei, but especially (among many) the excellent and learned David Pareus. With severall remarkable notes, observations, and doctrines very profitable. / As it was for the most part delivered by way of commentary in the parish-church of Sutton-Valence, Kanc [sic]. By Hezekiah Holland Anglo-hibernus, Minister of the Gospell at Sutton-Valence.	Holland, Hezekiah, fl. 1638-1661.	1650 (1650)	Wing H2426; Thomason E606_1; ESTC R5543	143,079	206

Boniface the third but Satan being let loose Ann. 1073. Gregory 7. raged with both swords spiritual and civil deposing the Emperour Henry forbidding marriage of Priests advancing Idolatry Now comes in the grand Idol of Transubstantiation and Purgatory called by Pareus the god of forces out of Dan. 11.38 because by the meanes of it and Purgatory the Popes became rich and all their forces were employed to confirme this Idol it being also the strength and nerve of Popery In the first Millenary the flourishing Churches of the East indeed became adulterate but Mahometisme though it also began in the thousand yeers hath infinitely more spread after Satans loosing by which meanes the Nations have been much deceived Now the judgment upon Satan Gog and Antichrist follow in the last act And fire came down from heaven and devoured them The first Gog and his Army fell partly upon the mountains of Israel by the Macchabes here followes the last destruction of Gog and Magog some notable judgments shall overtake them before or to be sure however at the day of judgment these judgments are set out by fire a mercilesse Element so Psal 11.6 God shal rain upon his enemies fire brimstone alluding to Ezek. 38.22 where Gog's destruction is set forth perchance as relating to the last day of vengeance and that by fire Thus the old Goggish war and the new somwhat agree This fire from heaven is the sharp sword which proceeded out of Christs mouth Chap. 19.21 to devour or slay the Adversary Vers 10. And the divel that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire c Master and servants are tormented for ever but doubtlesse Satans punishment shall be greatest as the seducer of them to wit of the nations upon whom the whore sitteth chap. 17 15. who through Satan deceives them and Gog and Magog with all their forces Princes and retinue under the Turk and Kings of the earth which I the rather mention because here is mention made not only of Satan and them as of Gog and Magog whom he deceived but of the Beast and false Prophet suffering in the lake whom he also deceived the Nations then or inhabitants of the earth are deceived chiefly by Antichrist and Satan after the thousand yeers and Gog and Magog with their adherents distinctly from them thus we have an Eastern and Western Antichrist Vers 11. And I saw a white throne Here is the description of the day of judgment which I observed in this Congregation was after every Vision after some sort expressed except in the first which being a peculiar Vision omits it and after follows the joyful marriage of Christ and the Church with the description of the heavenly Palace or new Jerusalem which Master Brightman mistaking applys it to this life A great white throne and one that sate on it Great because set up for the general judgment of all white because of its celestial splendor and majesty it is the white cloud mentioned chap. 14.14 he that sate on it was Christ to whom God hath committed all judgment John 5.22 From whose face the earth and heaven fled away c. Being not able to endure his Majesty yet they shall not depart as a scrowle till the judgment be past And there place was found nowhere Most say the renovation of all things shall be and that only the fashion of the world that is the outward forme and corruptible qualities shall be destroyed and so the earth shall be found no more as it was but shall be made most beautifull and glorious being to be delivered into the glorious Liberty as far as 't is capable of the sons of God Rom 8. being to be freed from corruption and bondage But few shew good reasons for this renovation except that the Saints might contemplate on the creation renewed which they in heaven shall know to perfection though this be altogether consumed now since all the sons of men shall be in heaven or hell to what purpose shall the renovation be It is some may say for the Saints somtimes to visite delight in and live but their mansions are prepared in heaven These shall be changed if Philosophy could bear that interpretation into nothing having served the creatures for the creators pleasure as they were created out of nothing or shall be exchanged for the heaven of heavens Now perchance to be delivered out of corruption is liberty enough for this whole creature Man excepted But we expect new Heavens and new Earth that is the glorious heavenly condition of the Church above in perfect glory and the bodies of the Saints which are earth consummated Sea shall be no more c. 21.1 We scarce hear of ' its renovation or use why then should Heaven and Earth be renewed without their fellow Element But I referre the reader till anon to the most learned discourse of Dr. Hackwill upon this subject towards the end of his most delightsome book of Gods preserving the world and governing of it Vers 12. And I saw the dead small and great Meaning those who had died from Adam to the last day but now raised up by the power of Christ but those who are found alive at the last day shall be judged also being lesse in number then the said dead who now are quickened through Christ Small and great Great men and beggars men and children It seems John saw children in the stature of children though then made capable of understanding their sentence but most beleeve we shall be of a full stature to which the Apostle alludes till we come to a full man the stature and fulnesse of Christ Ephes 4.13 For as in Paradise the type of heaven Adam was created perfect in stature and of a ripe choyce age So 't is thought it shall be in heaven Such was Christ so the young man appeared in Christs grave as typing out the resurrection Mar. 16.5 but enough And I saw the dead Yea and living to be judged who shall be changed in a moment and I beleeve the false Prophet or Beast shall be so found and after changing be cast alive into the pit as chap. 19.20 Standing before That is brought to judgment The guilty standing ready to be condemned who are already condemned and the Saints standing in Christs presence to be absolved who were formerly in soul in blisse and absolved but here perfect misery and joy is expected And the Books were opened alluding to humane courts not as if God wanted books The Reprobates own conscience will be an open book against them God forgets not their impieties Perchance the Scripture may be produced against those who knew them and disobeyed them according to that saying The words which I spake shall judge at the last day John 12.48 then Hereticks will answer for abusing the book of God And another Book was opened The book of all those that were elected and redeemed to life through Christ Jesus And the dead were judged Sentence was pronounced According

who have not the doctrine of Balaam and Nicholas There was some wheat among the chaffe Depths These hereticks it seems called their doctrines deep mysteries Christ confessed they were depths but of Satan As they call them the hereticks called them depths and more excellent doctrines then the Apostles knew but Christ says their Original was from hell and Satan No other burthen the deceivers imposed on them the burden of the Ceremonial law which Christ had took off For by burden is not understood punishment for Christ doth comfort not threaten them Vntil I come to wit in the clouds at the last day So that Christ is yet bodily absent and not in the Sacraments Vers 26. Overcometh to wit by faith through Christ not by his own power My works To wit of faith commanded in the Gospel So on the contrary works of infidelity are called works of the devil There only remains two promises to the overcommers 1. Power of nations that is at the last day to judge with Christ the world and Satan t is taken from Psal 2. 2. The morning starre that is himselfe called so because of its heavenly brightnesse and glory Rev. 22.16 Christ will communicate himself both in power and glory to his members CHAP. III. Vers 1. Vnto the Angel of the Church in Sardis write NOt of Sardica where a Synod was held in the eleventh yeare of Constantine But of Sardis the royal City of Craesus the Angel or Pastor was not Melito for he was not Bishop of Sardis till sixty yeares after in the reign of Antoninus Pius also he was a good Bishop but this is reproved for negligence and hypocrisie These things saith he that hath the seven spirits of God Though Christ may be said to have procured and sent the holy Ghost called the seven spirits Chap. 1.4 from the Father to his Church yet since these seven spirits are joyned with the seven stars or Ministers I rather understand created Angels now they are called the seven spirits not in relation to those in Chap. 1.4 but because seven choice or principal Angels by way of preheminence Now in the Preface of this Epistle Christ is described holding the seven spirits and the seven stars to note that as he upholds the Ministry if sincere so he has Angels to defend the righteous and oppose and punish the wicked I know thy Works Observe three things First Christs Divinity seeing the Pastor and Churches hypocrisie Secondly That all that make shew of holinesse are not so thou hast a name that thou livest but art dead some members of the Church are good some bad Thirdly The efficacy of the Ministry doth not depend upon the goodnesse of the Minister Christ doth oft quicken and governe his Church by dead Officers Thus it might be in the Papacy where Christ had a Church before Luther See ver 4. Vers 2. Be watchfull Shake off the hypocritical drowsinesse into which thou art fallen and strive to live the life of faith again Strengthen the things which remaine Meaning those dying members in the Church by holy life and doctrine That are ready to dye Therefore the Pastor is exhorted to take speedy care of their recovery being not quite dead where observe how mindful and careful Christ is of his poore people I have not found thy works perfect Christ here reproves not the common frailties of the Saints but some notable hypocrisie and defect Before God God looks narrower after truth then men do though this Pastor might passe for currant among men yet Christ sees a defect Here note Christ as man hath a god but as a Son is God and life This I observe because some read before my God As Montanus Vers 3. Remember therefore how thou hast received and heard Because this Bishop or Pastor was unmindful of the faith committed to him by the Apostles Christ bids him remember what he had heard of them where observe the only way to redresse corruptions of life or doctrine is to have recourse to the rule of the word Also here observe against the Bishops of Rome that though Christ made that Promise to his Church the Spirit shall lead you into all truth yet not only this Bishop of Sardis but all of the seven Churches but two were hereticks or hypocrites and much defective and how comes it to passe that they are so infallible And repent Forsake thine hypocrisie and carefully performe the duty of thy place which though we cannot do of our selves yet they are unexcusable who willingly disobey the commandement Of this see my quoted book page 46. lines 18 19 20. If therefore thou shalt not watch Christ adds this commination to his exhortation and that righteously for if he repented not upon so mature gentle praemonition he deserved a sudden judgement to come upon him As a thiefe in the night Unawares this doth not countenance or uphold a thiefe because Christ attributes the title to himselfe no more then when Christ bids his servants put their talent to usury he perhaps countenanceth that yet when Christ speaks of musick in the receiving the Prodigal home in the Gospel intimating joy and the peace of conscience following his reconciliation with God through Christ which was allowed in the Law it proves the lawfulnesse of it if lawfully used since the joyes of a man in Christ are expressed by it as I have noted in my little fore-quoted book pag. 84 85. Vers 4. Thou hast a few names in Sardis Meaning a few true beleevers though some were dead or ready to dye rather yet Christ reserved a few to himself notwithstanding the negligence of the Pastour See vers 1. Christ had seven thousand that never bowed the knee to Baal though the ten Tribes of Israel were fallen away in the Papacy some who resisted the abuses of the times unto bloud A few Gods flock is a little flock for though many are called few are chosen It is not the best to follow the multitude Who have not defiled their garments Their constant sincerity is set forth by this metaphor By garments is meant that as their bodies were not polluted by the filthy lusts of the Nicholaitans so their soules were not not stained with that impious doctrine The body is our garment with which we are cloathed righteousnesse and faith in Christ is the soules garment which they had kept somewhat undefiled They shall walk with me in white Alluding to the Garments of Kings and Conquerours which was white thus in scorne Christ was cloathed in earth now as he is glorious so his Saints shall partake of his glory note the Saints righteousnesse in earth though white in some degrees is defiled in respect of this in heaven therefore they groan till cloathed with this And they shall walk It notes the Majesty of the Sons of glory and perchance the curious question of some Philosophers and Divines may hence receive light that the Saints move and walk from place to place in heaven after the

resurrection For they are worthy Not in respect of merits and works but of free grace for they are worthy whom Christ esteems his Sons and hath made worthy So Christ calls them Heb. 2.13 Behold me and the children God hath given me Vers 5. I will not blot out his name out of the book of life Since the names of the Elect are said to be written in heaven that is they are sure and certain of eternal life observe two things 1. Believers obtain not salvation by chance but were elected of God through Christ from eternity and known from them that perish 2. That the Elect are certain of life none can pluck them on t of Gods hand God is said to have books metaphorically for he needs none but doth all things by his foreknowledge counsell and judgement he is said to have three books in Scripture one of Providence wherein he hath set down how every thing shall come to passe when the wicked are destroyed who are equally written here with the righteous they may be said to be blotted out of his book Gods second book is of Predestination and eternal life out of which none can be blotted His third is of the general judgment of which t is said the books were opened ch 20. I will confesse his name an honour beyond thought to be called by name as it were before the Throne and Angels and to be acknowledged publickly This might stirre up in us a care to get the first white garments of grace that we may enjoy these of glory and this glorious acknowledgement I omit ver 6. being easie Vers 7. Vnto the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia write Some conceive this to be Quadratus a disciple of the Apostles whom Eusebius mentioneth Ignatius wrote to these Philadelphians That is holy because he is in himself holy and made to us of God sanctification And true constant in keeping promise and loving truth hating falsehood and hypocrisie As this is an argument of Christs being God out of Isa 6. so t is an Argument that the Pope is Antichrist calling himself not only holy but holinesse and whereas Christ cals himselfe but a great high Priest in Hebr. 4. the Pope cals himself the greatest high-Priest shewing himself not to be Christs vicar but the successor of the Pagans Arch-flamens or Priests Who hath the Key of David or of the house of David to wit the Church by Key power is noted for Christ hath an absolute power over the Church as Lord and head of it and hath committed the ministerial power and keyes to the Apostles and their Successours He openeth and no man shutteth to wit the doore of grace and heaven and Scripture men are already blind in the things of God yet he may for further punishment darken them more and more No man shutteth because none can hinder his from entring in at his opened doore or can pluck them out of his hand He shutteth and no man openeth because whosoever is not elected and drawn by Christ can never enter this proves Christs deity for the Apostles ministerially doe it Matth. 18 and Eliakim as high-Priest Isa 22.22 but Christ absolutely Vers 8. I know thy works I approve thy good works Christ praises his good parts to encrease them particularly because he had kept his word and not denied his name in the former he commends the sincerity of his doctrine in the latter his constant Profession of the same before the adversary But least this holy teacher should be lifted up to think he did ought by his owne strength Christ tels him he set before him an open door that is 't was by Christs power that the Church over which he was Pastor embraced the truth For thou hast a little strength outward help and assistance or any what in thy self without me so that t is Christ that opens Christ had opened a door in Sardis and gathered a Church which though the Pastor had little outward means or help he would so defend that none should shut or overthrow it Sometimes by an open door is meant an occasion or opportunity of doing good Our Apostle said there was a door opened to him in Troas so t is Christ prepares the hearts of the People to receive him t is he that preserves the People that do receive him Christ hath opened a door in many Kingdomes though Antichrist did his devoire to shut it Vers 9. I will make them of the Synagogue of Satan this is a tacit answer to an objection that might be made for since both unbelievers of Jews and Gentiles opposed it might be questioned how this Church could stand and not be shut to which Christ answers I will make them or give them c shewing his power above theirs so comforting the Pastor also it might comfort him thus that if these unbelievers did molest him Christ did but use their innate malice to teach him and the Church patiently to relie on him and that it should prove good to them Synagogue of Satan The Jews called themselves so from Judah which in Hebrew signifies to praise as if they had been the Praisers of God but they lyed being enemies to Christ and of the Synagogue of Satan so then hypocrites vainly brag of their glorious titles I will make c Here is comfort that these opposing Iews should in time be converted and reverence him as their Pastor and worship God both which are noted in these words shall worship before thy feet as a dog fawning on one This notes the insufficiency of man to convert himself t is God makes also t is not the minister I will make says Christ note also the mercy of God those of the Synagogue of Satan shall worship Christ not only comes by persuasive but effectual means of grace to gaine man who is averse to and blind in every thing of God naturally and so gains the will not forcing it which after works freely through the means of grace Vers 10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience Christ out of a fatherly love and mercy promises a reward to obedience be cause he had kept his Word the reward was that he would deliver him either in the approaching persecution of the Emperour Trajan See Plin lib. 10. Ep. 97. that he commanded the accused Christians to be put to death or in regard of the persecutions of Antichrist which troubled these and all the world From the houre this comforts the Pastor that it was but a short trial and therefore the more chearfully to be undergone To try them This notes the use and end of affliction that 't was not for destruction but trial and salvation Which dwell upon the earth God tries hypocrites as well as his faithful People the one shew their constancy and faith in trial the other their corruption in Apostacy Thus the chaffe is winnowed from the wheat Vers 11. I come quickly here is another use of comfort since Christ will come quickly to destroy

of but his coming to assist by his spiritual presence nor his coming in clouds at the last day is not to be here conceived but chap. 19. vers 11. And the Rainbow on his head The Rainbow signifies mercy because God set it in the cloud as a signe he would not destroy the world by water any more notwithstanding the sin of man Christ comes to his poor afflicted Church as a Messenger of peace and mercy who is our peace and procured us mercy a comfortable signe for an afflicted people promising one day to his true servants eternal rest and peace His face was as the Sun Noting two things Christs glorified condition and his being the Sun of righteousnesse illuminating his Church dissipating the tempests of calamities promising as it were by the clear beams of his countenance to dispel adversity from his people His feet as pillars of fire Pillars note strength to uphold fire notes Christ refining his Church for fire consumes chaffe also hereby is noted Christs consuming his adversaries and enemies so Christ appears as upholder of his people refiner of his Church devourer of his adversaries Thus Christ the strong Angel is above the Locusts and like the Sun looks upon the rage of the four Angels loosed and the rest of the adversaries ready to support refine consume Vers 2 And he had in his hand a little book open This is the same book which was formerly sealed with seven seales which Christ opened and holds it so in his hand 't was lesse now then when the seven seales were one for now many events were revealed to John out of it and the seales taken off Quest Why doth Christ open the book and now keep it so Answ Because Christ is the revealer of secrets and of the will of his Father and he keeps the holy Scripture open so that the Locusts nor their King notwithstanding the smoak of the bottomlesse pit can darken the truth of Jesus totally nor the armies of thè Barbarians could root up the faith of Christ Mark then notwithstanding all opposers of the truth the book is kept open for Christ raised some alwayes to defend his truth furthermore he keeps it open for his two Witnesses in chap. 11. to purge by it the dregs of the Locusts and their King And he set his right foot upon the sea c. Some by Christs right foot understand powerful ministers and by the left foot more weak ones however Christ sets his feet on sea and land that is takes possession of the world as preserving in all places some remnants of a Church to himselfe notwithstanding the many persecutions of tyrants who endeavoured to root out the very name of Christ mangre also the cunning endeavouring of that old serpent by many hereticks and by the Bishop of Rome's falling from heaven to earth turning the doctrine of Christ into wormwood and opening the bottomlesse pit this is a great consolation to the Saints that none can put Christ out of possession Vers 3. And he cryed with aloud voice as when a Lyon roareth This lyon-like voice shews the efficacious spreading of the Gospel which should and doth frighten the opposers who the more they rage the louder the voice is the more earnestly the name of Christ was professed and this Christs loud voice did foretel so that the enemies and opposers though they did rage yet they had a kind of secret feare in them Seven thunders uttered their voices These represent seven that is a perfect company of thundering ministers or Boanergeses of the truth who should upon the books being open and the voice of Christ as the Lyons roaring to wit in the publishing the Gospel notwithstanding all opposers undauntedly preach Christ against tyrants hereticks and Antichrist to make them unexcusable Vers 4. I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me c. This voice did not absolutely forbid the writing of what the seven thunders uttered but in respect of the event God foreseeing that the opposers would not hear but despise their voice causing the same to be sealed secret and hid to them through their own default Note that some Copies read After these things write what the seven thunders uttered However here you see how true that of Paul is the Gospel is hid to them that are lost Vers 5. And the Angel which I saw stand lift up his right hand to heaven So they did in old time that did sweare God once swore by himselfe Christ here sweares by God Christ forbade not swearing upon a just occasion an oath so is the end of strife idle oaths Christ forbade as by ones hair head Ierusalem by which none ever swore before a Magistrate rash oathes then are forbid not other Observe Christs sword as Mediatour and God-man by his father who in that respect is greater then he Now in Vers 6 7. And sweareth by him that liveth for ever and ever c. follows what was sworn to wit that time should be no longer but the accomplishment of the mystery of God under the seventh Trumpet at the day of judgement was at hand but Christ is not to be understood as if he had swore time should be no more after that day but should be swallowed up in eternity for what needed an oath to confirme so apparent a truth Christs swearing was to comfort the godly under tyrants and especially Antichrist who had established his kingdome as it made the Saints feare much more misery for it seemed so firme that it should not be demolished now Christ promises a time of Reformation tacitly of which in chap. 11. also the ruine of Antichrists Kingdome and that no more time of such misery and sadnesse should happen to the Church So the oath here is for the confirmation of the promise and for the Saints consolation The mystery of God shall be finished c. either of the Jews calling a little before the seventh Trumpet of whose calling the Prophets speak and Paul Rom. 11. or rather the mystery of the resurrection as Paul cals it 1 Cor. 15. behold I shew you a mystery and destruction of the adversaries of which see Zach. 14 Mal. 3. penult and Mal. 4. thus the sixt trumpet shall continue fulfilling till the last day then the seventh by the Arch-angel shall sound 1. Thessal 4.16 Vers 8. And the voice which I heard from heaven c. to wit that bade not to write the things uttered by the thunders ver 4 commands him 1. To take the book out of the hand of Christ 2. To eat it True seven thundring ministers in the time of Antichrist and opposers preached undauntedly the truth of Christ but without fruit but now John must eat the book by which is signified that the Gospel is to be preached anew though not by John himselfe in the time of Antichrist with successe this book then written within and without chap 5.1 is the Gospel as well as the Revelation that without is the known word of God

to the things that were written Gods Word as it is the rule of our life so it shall bee of our judgement According to their works Good or bad but the just are not judged or saved because of their works Good or bad works are known to all and by them as open testimonies shall all be judged The good works of Saints Christ wrought in them yet hee 'l reward them for what he has wrought O blessed Jesus work thy work in us Vers 13. And the sea gave up her dead which were in her c. Sentence being pronounced all the Elements give up their dead the Water those that were drowned the Earth those that were buried whether Saints bodyes or Reprobates but the Saints so long before the rest that they might meet Christ and the rest of their brethren in the Aire and come to see and approve Christs judgment of the wicked by Hell I understand how the damned shal appear to receive their final sentence who are called dead because they were dead in sin and once bodily dead By death I understand the grave or the earth as before the effect of death All that were burnt eaten by birds of the Aire or fishes of the Sea shall appear the Angels shall gather the ashes of the Elect from the four corners of the earth Vers 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire That is the devil who brought death and caused destruction or enticeth to hell Thus death shall be swallowed up in victory 1 Cor. 15.54 in vers 10. by an anticipation of time the devil was said to be cast into the lake of hell which indeed was but now fulfilled This is the second death Or eternall death The first was a temporall death if it may be called one or rather a separating man by sin from God Vers 15. Is easie All but the elect are damned being not written in the book of life If any man demand why so oft this book speaks of the last judgment 'T is answered because the Saints my be comforted and patiently endure persecution for a while This Act answers the harvest and vintage chap. 14. latter end And to the seventh Viall of the haile chap. 16.21 and to chap. 19.20 concerning the armyes of the Kings of the earth together with the Beast and the Kings casting into the lake of Hell CHAP. XXI Being the seventh Vision continued AFter the Renovation if not destruction of the world the heavenly glory is shewed to John under a twofold simile First As a glorious bride adorned Secondly As a most excellent choyce City which is set forth by things which are most rare and precious to man to give a glimps of the Saints glory in the glorious heaven Vers 1. And I saw a new Heaven The devils and the reprobates being cast into hell being mentioned Now follows the description of the Saints glory And I saw Iohn as Moses saw the promised land sees heaven before death into which Paul was wrap'd and heard unspeakable things A new heaven Esay foretold of a new heaven and earth chap. 65.17 which began to be accomplished after the shaking heaven and earth Heb. 12.26 by a Reformation by Christ and the Apostles when all things became new men became new creatures here the new heaven may signifie the Churches glory in heaven with Christ and the earth the bodies of the Saints most glorious Master Brightman applies the latter to the glorious condition of the Church after the Jews Conversion which cannot hold though we expect their Conversion but do not beleeve it to be tyed to Judaea as he supposes who in some measure are daily gained to the faith The Millenaries apply this to their golden age of whose opinion in part Augustine confesseth he once was but our Saviour tels us of no such brave time in earth towards the end but says when the Sonne of man comes shall he find faith in earth and though Rome shall be burnt yet both Antichrist and Gog shall rage to the end Concerning the new heaven and earth though I almost stagger in the point I will follow the most common opinion notwithstanding what elsewhere I have said in this book concerning the dissolution of all things and by a new heaven and new earth prophesied by Esay and in some sense fulfilled by the renewing of the Church I understand the renewed condition of heaven and earth literally to be fulfilled according to Esay and Peter 2.3 13. The substance whereof shall not be utterly abolished but the corruptible qualities and it shall be pure bright glorious Thus the first heaven and earth were passed away being not vanished quite for substance but quality being to be renewed and purified by fire A new heaven and a new earth c. John saw not the very glory of heaven which eye hath not seen but types and similies of it And the sea was no more According ro corrupt qualities and rolling with waves as now but made solid and in a globe though I know no use of these things unlesse to remaine as monuments of the great works of God and of his Power and to be renewed as having in their nature and course faithfully served their Creator as a reward for their service being delivered from bondage into the liberty of the sonnes of God according to their capacity And perchance the heavens may not as now compasse the earth or move there being no use of it But the brightnesse and lustre thereof shall be much augmented as of the Sun and Moon Vers 2. And I saw the holy City Here is the glory of the renewed Church shewed to Iohn after he had seen the renewed world and indeed this renovation of the Church seems distinct from that of heaven and earth renewed therefore one cannot be well the other or the new heaven and new earth the glorified condition of the Church for t is said And I saw as distinct from the former Let the Reader perpend this also Iohn seems to insert his name to confirm it saying I Iohn saw the Holy City Ierusalem Meaning the Church which the Scripture cals Ierusalem A City Because of its choyce and rare building such was Ierusalem built by Salomon more rare is this which is not built of common stones but as Esay 54.13 which I may apply in some sense here the Citizens are Saints who know one another as Citizens do She is called holy Because glorious in heaven and perfectly holy so appearing to Iohn in the Vision she in some sort is holy here below for Christ sanctifies her washing her by water regenerates her by faith and the spirit The old Ierusalem was polluted this is new newly glorified in heaven in the Vision perfect holy Coming down from heaven So chap. 3.12 noting her original to be from God this must not be understood of local motion her abode is heaven as chap. 12. vers 1. a woman in heaven but here is noted her heavenly grace and