AN EXQVISITE COMMENTARIE VPON THE REVELATION OF SAINT IOHN VVHEREIN BOTH THE course of the whole Booke as also the more abstruse and hard places thereof not heretofore opened are now at last most cleerely and euidently explaned By PATRIK FORBES of Corse REVEL 1. 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophecie and keepe those things which are written therein for the time is at hand TOBIAS LONDON Printed by W. HALL for Francis Burton and are to bee sold at his shop in Pauls Churchyeard at the signe of the Greene Dragon 1613. TO THE MOST MIGHTY MONARCH MY MOST GRATIOVS SOVERAIGNE LORD IAMES KING OF GREAT BRITAINE FRANCE AND IRELAND DEFENDER OF THE FAITH c. GRACE AND PEACE WITH ALL INCREASE AND CONTINVANCE OF HAPPY AND ROIALL STATE FROM GOD THE FATHER IN OVR LORD JESVS CHRIST THE KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS FOr a token though poore in my part yet that gratefullie I remember your Highnesse Princely mind in keeping mee an eare against sinistrous delation and giuing so gentle warning of your good pleasure therein this part of my misreported paines I humbly present vnto your Maiestie to whose Souer aigne skill in these diuine secrets by your royall writings well witnessed to the world besides common allegeance all pens and of all men imploied on this Prophecie owe proper homage as not only to the most glorious patrocinie but therewith also the most learned censure In both which I doe yet more relye on your Maiesties experienced benignitie then I presume either of merit for the one or sufficiencie against the other I know the too iust complaint of the wisest vpon the great abuse of that excellent gift of printing both to the disgrace and detriment of learning while each man dotting after the brood of his owne braine and vainly promising to himself the same applause of others which his own partiall heart yeeldeth him no end is of making many books so as the inexpert student in search of letters weilding amidst infinite variety is cast in such doubt of choise that tasting about before he happilie fall on oughtworthy to feed on appetite is spent and he filled with he cannot tell what I know also that as it was not permitted each Painter to practise his skill on the roiall Effigie of Alexander so were it intollerable presumption for each Pamphlet to vsurpe the shadow of your Highnesse Name Neither hath selfe-weining so ouersiled mine eies from the sight of mine own slendernesse but that sincerely I acknowledge in this so learned an age wherein much is excellently well written and yet infinitely more paper miserably spoiled that hundreths more gifted then I might well be pardoned to put vp their pennes and so much lesse to currie credit to their vnsutable works by shrowding them vnder the shelter of so sacred a vaile yet how great soeuer be my imparity to so high attempt the subiect of this my labor is of such a surpassing eminency as if it hath pleased God onelieâ—wise by my weakenesse to bring forth any one sparkle of new and true light for more cleare vnderstanding thereof wherein for ought that hithertils hath been said of any the most learned yet acknowledge an vntried depth of which anie one point opened may bee a competent recompence of much paines I hope it shall somewhat excuse me of too great temerity either in writing or in vowing what I write so highlie and shall heerewithall encourage the better gifted soberlie to search out what heerein hath escaped me also Now heereof as your Maiestie can best of all men iudge so am I the bolder to vndergoe the hazard of so high a sentence for that of your Maiesties knowne clemence I am certaine to report either praise or pardon Your Maiesties humble Subiect PATRIK FORBES of Corse Ad eundem IOANNIS FORBESII filij Epigramma INgenio pollet pacisque Minerua refulget Artibus ast eadem parmamque hastamque trementem Fulmineumque ensem bello metuenda virago Concutit ac trepidare vetat virtutis amantes Peste per argolicas latè grassante cateruas Placandum missa numâ—n Chyseide Calchas Fretus Achille canit Cantu Philomela secunda Dicetur Cuculo calamis ex virgine factis Cedet Apollineus Pollex Asinoque Midaque Iudicibus vulgus praeponet Stentora Vlissi Non humili subiecta toro at laquearibus altis Fax appensa domum illustrat fulgore corusco Haec tria Forbesius vasti intra maenia mundi Altè vestigans oculis ac mente peragrans Europamque Asiamque rotaeque ardoribus altae CandenteÌ„ Lybiam queis nomen Americns olim Addidit inuentis seris radiantia flammis Littora quaeque Magellanus circuÌ„ aequora vectus Antipodum procul arua polo subiecta notauit Illis doctrinam validas contingere vires His alijs decus esse videt sed cuncta sub vno Pectore non habitare locis quae Diua triformis Noctiuagis ambit per muta silentia bigis Vnum vsque excipio cui Magna BritaÌ„nia tanto Rege beata subest Iacobi nomine Magni Clarum hac tergemina qui fulgens laude per orbe Finitimos stellas veluti Phaebaea minores Lampas è solio reges intermicat aureo Ergo huius tenuis queÌ„ nostra Camaena vocandi Affari casu metuit conamine multo Et precis studij expressas ab aethere missas Luminis aetherei scintillas queis liber olim Visibus humanis septena ob claustra negatus Agno post reserante legi patefactaque vati Porta poli posset penetrari subijcit acri Censurae patrocinium mentemque priore Sperans Forbesius fretus comitate benignam Vt tenebras valeat tam celso è culmine terris Pellere tutelaque ingenti spernere caecam Inuidiam victorque virûm volitare per ora THE AVTHOR TO THE Christian Reader grace and peace from God the Father in our Lord Iesus Christ IF God did but command yet were all disobedience excuselesse if but promise yet were wee holden against all apparant impossibilities to beleeue and hope euen against hope But this magnifieth his mercy exceedingly and taketh from all men all pretext of defection that in his written word in a singular compassion of our weakenesse hee not onely setteth downe the rule of our waies and proponeth the ground of our hope but also to his seruants in all ages hee hath foretold such future cases as the strangenesse whereof might either discourage them in the course of the one or shake their constant keeping of the other and that so farre forth as the wise in each time had not onely enough whereon to stay their hearts euen in the midst of most greeuous calamities but being placed as it were in the light of diuine reuelation they might cleerely perceiue the course and reason of God his wise dispensation and reioice in the assured expectation of such euents as neither the World dreamed of and were much contrary to all their vngodly designes Thus the
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
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
Christ began this second time sitting on a white cloude Chap. 14. 14. to make his iudgements manifest Cha. 15. 4. And from the time he began to erect this his great white Throne by the reuiued light of the Gospell when the time of the dead commeth to bee iudged Chap 11. The seuenth Trumpet sounding to the finishing of the mystery of God in full accomplishment of all which the Prophets foretold for deliuerance of the Church and her goodly state in grace So as the signe of the sonne of man shall bee seene in heauen the victory ouer her enemies shall still hold on and the enemies still fall as did Haman before Mordecay till by all the degrees of destruction they at last in the generall iudgement receiue finall sentence when death and the Diuell who hath dominion thereof shall be abolished And for this purpose onely it is that heere so liuely an hypotyposis of the last iudgement is set downe In the person of the iudge the maner and order of iudging and the execution so farre foorth as for the present purpose was needfull The person of the Iudge is described in his office administration thereof and his dreadfull maiesty and power In office hee is a Iudge a royall and a great Iudge as hauing a Throne and a great Throne He is also faithfull true vpright and glorious and whose iudgements are cleare and manifest by his white Throne As he rode before Chap. 19. on a white horse and did sit Chapt. 14. on a white cloude His administration is in that hee sitteth His dreadfull maiesty and power is expressed in a wonderfull forme of ishing before his presence Heauen and Earth depart and so as their place is not found To shew a perfit departing as that which in Scripture is saide of the wicked that he perisheth so as his place is not knowen 21 The order of iudgement is in the persons iudged and manner of processe The persons are all the deade great and small cleared by enumeration of these who are dead in the Sea who by any other kind of mortality or who were in their graues And herein clearely is implyed the power of the Iudge For no question can bee of the liuing when all the dead are forced to giue presence The manner of processe is set downe after the forme of well ordered humane iudicatories In that bookes were opened euen the records of mens actions and another booke the booke of life The iudgement of earth is of these things which were in the bookes according to their workes The forme of speech is to be noted in that it saith not of things written in the bookes and according to their workes To shew that heere are not two rules of iudging But that so men are iudged according to their works as yet the iudgement is led and ordered by the bookes For the ground and cause of the iudgement is the booke of life according as in it mens names are written or are passed by beeing either giuen to Christ of the Father or left Now whom the Father giueth him none is able to take out of his hand but he raiseth them vp at the last day And whom he electeth them hee predestinateth to bee made conformable to the image of his sonne whom he predestinateth he calleth effectually whom he calleth he iustifieth and sanctifieth heere by his spirit to bring foorth fruits of righteousnesse and so at length glorifieth These fruits of faith confirme vs in the assurance of our election and that wee are in Christ Iesus that which further strengthneth our peace as writing it in our owne consciences which are the one sort of bookes and whose testimonie must accord with the other booke of life Now then in the iudgement so are workes lookt on as collation alwaies must be of the bookes to see if our names be written in the booke of life as assurance of life and ioyfull peace are written in our consciences Otherwaies in it selfe all our righteousnesse is but as a menstruous clout But yet what Israel will not obtaine seeking to establish their owne righteousnesse which is by the Law the election will obtaine 22 Such are the person of the Iudge and the order and manner of processe Now the execution followeth Which agreeably to the purpose of the holy Ghost for which onely mention of the last iudgement is heere made is all in wrath against death hell and such as are not written in the booke of life who are adiudged to euerlasting fire which is the second death And this is to shew as I touched before that this last victory ouer the Dragon and his instruments shall bee full and perfect holding course from the first degree of their foile therein till death and the graue which are the last enemies be subdued And this execution of enemies was sufficient to record in this place where this matter is not handled as though now at this point of time and incident case the last iudgement were to fall out As many heereupon haue imagined that the ouerthrow of Antichrist and these huge Armies of opponents should bee conioined with Christ his last comming But the spirit hath no such meaning But handling the victory of the Church ouer her enemies to shew that it should bee perfect he letteth vs see that it shall hold on till all enemies being subdued to Christ his feet at last death be swallowed vp of victorie and that the Dragons foile should not bee now as at the first binding from which after a space hee got loose againe But it should bee to finall destruction And in this sense the Apostle in the second to the Thess 2. telleth that Antichrist shall bee abolished with the brightnesse of the Lord his comming Not as though he shall raigne till then but that he shall be so consumed heere with the power of the word of truth as without recouering strength he shall be destroied for euer the full and perfect point whereof is in the Lord his last comming and finall sentence against him Therefore Cha. 17 the Beast is said to goe to destruction In the vsuall manner of Scripture when God will confirme his Saints against dangers and in hope of deliuerance for their full setling he leadeth them to the consideration of that finall deliuerance whereto euer our hearts should bend themselues and in like manner in denouncing destruction to the enemies in the measure whereof as it falleth out here we neuer are satisfied he leadeth vs to their last and finall sentence Thus the Lord calleth the Prophet and other faithfull in that promised deliuerance from the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes to the consolation of the resurrection So Christ in his sermons often Paul for all Christianity pleadeth the resurrection The Martyres suffered constantly vnder the Lawe looking for a better resurrection The Scripture teacheth vs that that day shall come as a thiefe vpon a peaceable and secure world marrying and taking in