earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven 14. The second woe is past and behold the third woe cometh quickly The Preamble FRom these verses I desire as the Lord shall enable me to declare that which God hath discovered to me For I hope that it may be as advantagious to others as it hath been to my own soul But though the publication of what appears to me in these verses be that which I chiefly aim at yet being prest in spirit to give forth some meditations from the Preamble of this Book which Preamble is contained in the three first verses of the first Chapter of this book of the Revelation I cannot but here insert it as a Preamble to the following discourse also though it may be it may not seem in the eyes of some so pertinent The three verses are as follows 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to passe and he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John 2. Who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand In these verses is contained these five particulars First The subject matter of this book Secondly The reason of the divulgation of this book Thirdly The instruments of the divulgation of this book Fourthly The fruitfulnesse of those instruments in the divulging this book Fifthly The pronunciation of a blessing upon the persons that reade or hear the words of this book The first particular contained in these verses is the subject matter of this book and that it exprest in these words The Revelation of things that must shortly come to passe The word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ From whence this is the Observation Observ 1. That the whole book of the Revelation is a Revelation declaration or manifestation of the minde of God about the things which were to come to passe shortly after the revealing of it which Revelation is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ This point being so evident and clear in the Text I shall not produce any further proofs of it because I intend brevity but immediately proceed to the Deductions which flow from it which are these If this book be a Revelation or Declaration of the minde of God about the things which were shortly to come to passe then it is our duty to observe how God hath brought to passe the things which he did pre-declare he would bring to passe that so we may glorifie God in his omnisciency in fore-seeing and fore-knowledge of all things and in his omnipotency in bringing the things to passe which he did fore-appoint to bring to passe that he can doe all things and nothing can hinder him from bringing all things to passe according to the counsel of his own will When Saints doe most diligently observe the works which God brings to passe according to what he hath pre-declared in his word then do they most answer the end for which God did before reveal these things which was that he might be admired and magnified by his people in bringing all things to passe according to his word shewing that he is God alone for none else can declare things to come as the eternal God doth But how can Saints have experience of this but by comparing his Word and works together Therefore it is the duty of Saints frequently so to do So much of the first Secondly Is this book of the Revelation the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ then we are hereby informed That it is warrantable for us to call that which is a Revelation of the minde of God the word of God We see John cals it so and why may not we I the rather speak of this because some have affirmed That nothing may be called the Word of God but Jesus Christ because it is a title the Scripture gives to him as John 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God And vers 14. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten Son of God full of grace and truth And 1 Joh. 5. 7. For there are three that bare record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one And Revel 19. 13. And he was cloathed with a vesture dipt in bloud and his name is called The word of God and the armies that were in heaven followed him upon white horses c. But let these know that though in these places that title The word of God is given to Jesus Christ he being the essential word of God which is the reason why this title is given to him Yet that the Spirit of God gives this title also to the Scripture to the written word the word which is the Revelation of the minde of God as appears here and in other places as Jer. 2. 1. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying Go and cry in the ears c. And vers 4. Hear ye the word of the Lord O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel And Jer. 7. 2. Stand in the gates of the Lords house and proclaim there this word saying Hear the word of the Lord all ye of Judah that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of host the God of Israel amend your waies c. And Jer. 14. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth c. And Jer. 30. 1 2. The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel saying Write all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book And severall like passages to these we have as in Ezekiel 6. 1. and 7. 1. and 12. 1. and 16. 1. and Hos 1. 1. and 4. 1. And the like we have also in Joel Jonah Micah Zechary and the rest of the Prophets where it is clear That that which was the Revelation or manifestation of the minde of God concerning the waies in which he would have his people to walk or the things which he was about to doe whether of bringing a dearth upon a people or any other judgement or the doing of them good This title is given to it The word of God So that it is clear that this title may be given to the written Word the Scripture both by all the fore-cited places besides many others that might have been cited to the same effect and also in the text where this book of
in the following discourse Therefore so much shall suffice to be here spoken of it and of this fourth particular the faithfulnesse of the instruments of divulging this Book The fifth particular Is the pronounciation of a blessing upon the persons that read or hear the words of this Book And that we have in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophesie and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand From whence arises this Observation Observ 5. That it is a blessed thing to reade and hear the Word of God and particularly that which is contained in the book of the Revelation so as to keep it This clearly appears in these words and the Apostle James likewise witnesseth the same Jam. 1. 25. Be ye doers of the word saith he at the 22. vers and not hearers only deceiving your own selves Whereas it appears he speakes of the written Word which men may â—â—ar with the ear and doe not And now at the 15. vers he saies Who so looketh into the perfect law of liberty and continueth therein he being not a forgetfull hearer but a doer of the work this man shall be blessed in his deed What is the man that James saith shall be blessed It is the man that looketh into the perfect law of liberty that is heareth or readeth the word of God in the Scripture which is a perfect law of liberty Spiritual liberty and heareth or readeth it not forgetfully but is a doer of it This is the blessed man Thus it is a clear That it is a blessed thing to hear and reade the Word of God and particularly that which is contained in the Book of the Revelation so as to keep it Then first This condemns those that neglect the reading and the hearing of the word since it is a blessed thing to reade and hear the Word of God so as to do it Now they that doe not reade it nor hear it cannot doe it for saies the Apostle Rom. 10. 14. How shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard Implying That without hearing the Word of God they cannot believe in God but if the Apostle had not so said yet we see it to be true In that the nations and people to whom the Gospel is not preached and that doe not reade it doe altogether continue in unbelief And so those that are under the darknesse of Popery to whom the word in the purity of it is not preached and have not liberty to reade it they continue also in a dark and a miserable condition but among those people where the Word is embraced and read and heard there are many brought into the obedience of faith Nay in some places of this Kingdome where they seldom enâ—oy a publick Preacher yet by reading the Word they are made partakers of the sweet blessing of it They ought therefore to be sharply reproved for their folly who neglect the hearing and reading the Word and consequently the doing of it in which they might be blessed In the second place Hence all sorts of people are exhorted to be frequent in reading the Word for all desire to be blessed and those that have in any measure been made partakers of the blessing of the Gospel they cannot but desire more of it therfore it would be wisdome for all to improve the means of being made blessed which is hearing and reading the Word If a man that desires a great outward estate should be perswaded that if there were any way at all for him to attain that estate it must be such or such a way that man would be sure to take that way Why this is the case in respect of attaining Spiritual blessings the readiest way that any Soul can take to attain them is a frequent reading and hearing of the Word of God waiting for the comming in of the Spirit in it O therefore let not men discover that they have a sleight esteem of Spirituall blessings and heavenly treasures by neglecting the means by which they are attained for if men have a high esteem of Gold and Pearls if they know the means by which they may be attained they will make use of those means so according to the esteem we have of Spirituall blessings will be our diligence in improving the means of attaining them Object But it may be some one will say I have been frequent in hearing and reading the Word and finde it but an empty thing I hear and am as carnal as before I read and am as dark and low as before and therefore how can it be said that hearing and reading the Word is a means of attaining Spirituall blessings I Answer Answ First If thou findest to thy apprehension but little benefit from hearing or reading the Word yet thou canst not conclude it would be better with thee if thou didst not reade or hear the Word for there is no ground of hope for thee when thou neglectest all means of enlivening comforting or of heightning the Spirit But secondly Though to thy apprehension thou hast no benefit from reading or hearing the Word yet remember that the Word is compared to seed Mat. 13. 19. and 1 Pet. 1. 23. Now you know that seed useth to lie hid under the clods for a time and afterward groweth up so may the seed of the Word seem to be hid in thee for a time and yet afterward it may grow up and bring forth fruit The Disciples while the Lord Jesus was with them often heard his word and he plainly fore-told them of his Resurrection but when their Lord was crucified though they had so often heard it yet they seemed to be altogether ignorant of the doctrine of the Resurrection but afterward it was sweet unto them when the Spirit brought it with other things to their remembrance In the 4. of Iohns Gospel at the 36 37 38. verses our Saviour tels his Disciples That both he that soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together but saies he herein is that saying true one soweth and another reapeth I have sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labour other men laboured and ye are entred into their labours Others had sowed the seed of eternal life in the hearts of the people and therefore he said in the 35 vers That the fields were already white unto the harvest but the Disciples were sent to reap the fruit of that seed that others had laboured in the sowing of So that one Minister may sow the seed of life and joy in the hearts of some people and another may reap it But the time shall come that both he that soweth and he that reapeth shall rejoice together When the seed â—â— sowne the fruit doth not by and by appear and of this Saints have had experience that have laine long under the hearing of the Word frequently attending upon it and been diligent in reading and yet have attained to their own
the Revelation is called the word of God But I still acknowledge That Jesus Christ is more eminently the word of God he being the originall of it for as God doth all things else by Jesus Christ so he gives out his Word by him and Jesus Christ gives testimony to it which is the next instruction arising from the point and comes now to be spoken of Thirdly Is it so That this Book of the Revelation is the Word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ Then this may informe us that as this so all the Scriptures doe as truly come from Jesus Christ as from God the Father for he gives testimony to what the Father saies What the Father declares he witnesses and testifieth the same and therefore he is said to be The faithfull witnesse Rev. 1. 5. And it is said of him 1 Cor. 1. 20. For all the promises of God in him are yea and in him amen So much of the first particular the subject matter of this Book I come now to the second which is The reason of the divulgation of this Book and that is contained in these words Which God gave unto Jesus Christ to shew unto his servants From whence arises this Observation Observ 2. That it is the pleasure of God to have his servants acquainted with his secrets and to know what is his minde concerning things to come This we see was the reason of the divulgation of this Book because it was the minde of God to have his servants acquainted with it a sutable place to this is that John 15. 15. Henceforth saith Jesus Christ I call you not servants for the servant knoweth no what his Lord doth but I call you friends for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you and Psalm 25. 14. The secret of the Lord is with them that fear him and he will shew them of his covenant So that it is a clear truth That it is the pleasure of God to have his servants acquainted with his secrets and to know his minde concerning things to come It being so in the first place it teaches Saints to admire and magnifie the love of the Father that doth expresse himself so graciously to them as to afford them that honour to be as his friends in râ—vealing his secrets to them It is a remarkable passage Amos 3. 7. Surely the Lord God will doe nothing but he revealeth his secrets unto his Servants the Prophets Oh what a high savour is this that the Lord should engage himself that he will doe nothing but he will reveal it unto his servants As a tender Husband unbosomes himself and discovers his secrets to his beloved Wife and cannot with-hold them from her So the Lord God doth expresse his tender love unto his servants in revealing his secrets to them and he will doe nothing but he will discover it unto them What cause have Saints now to admire and extoll that rich Grace of God that is extended to them herein Secondly Doth the Lord reveal his secrets unto his servants Then ought they to be dilligent observers of what he reveals unto them Revealed things are said to belong unto us and if they belong unto us then it behoves Saints to observe them and to improve them to those ends for which they are discovered to us and if we should come short of it we should demean our selves very unworthily When a man reveals his secret unto his dear friend if his friend should slight him in it and take no notice of what he discovers to him he were a very unkinde and a very unworthy friend But how much more may we be said to carry our selves unkindly and unworthily if we should slight the love of our God in revealing his secrets to us by not being diligent in observing of them Since it pleases the Lord to reveal to his servents things to come it well becomes them to observe them exactly And so much of the second particular The reason of the divulgation of this Book I come now to the third which is the instruments of the divulgation of this Book which is contained in these words Who sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John So that the Angel and John were employed as instruments in that work From whence the Observation is this Observ 3. That though Jesus Christ could reveal immediately to al his servants all these things revealed in this Book yet it pleased him to chuse rather to doe it by instruments If it had pleased him he might have revealed these things to all his people in all ages since John immediately by his own Spirit but he chuses rather to doe it by the writings of John which he preserves and keeps up in a high esteem in the hearts of all his Saints as his own infallible and unquestionable truth and testimony or else he might have sent a John or some Prophet of his to have revealed these things by mouth unto his people in every age age after age but he chuses rather to doe it by revealing it to John so many hundreds of years agoe and his writings must be the instruments of revealing these things unto his people and he might have revealed those things unto John immediately himself without any other instrument but he chuses to signifie it by his Angel to his servant John So he might teach and edifie and build up his people immediately but he chuses rather to doe it by instruments by Apostles and Prophets and Evangelists and Pastors and Teachers which he hath appointed For the perfecting of the Saints for the edifying of the body of Christ till we all come in the unity of the Faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God unto a perfectman c. Ephes 4. 11 12 13. So he might likewise have revealed himself immediately to all his people of old but generally it pleased him to make use either of Angels or of his servants the Prophets to be the instruments of revealing his minde unto his people then Now the reasons why it pleaseth God usually to make use of instruments to effect his designs by may be these The first is that which is the reason of all his doings his own will He makes use of instruments because it is his will to make use of instruments for his will is the reason and the rule of all his actions Secondly But a subordinate reason to this may be to shew his soveraignty over al his people therefore he sends them about his work they being all at his royall command As a Prince hath power over all that are in his dominion saying to this man go and he goeth and to another come and he commeth and to another doe this and he doth it So the great King of Kings and Lord of Lords maketh it to appear that he hath all his servants at his beck by sending of them about severall employments Thirdly Another reason why he maketh use of
apprehensions neither to faith nor peace nor joy nor strength but have seemed to be as unbelieving as carnal and as fleshly as ever walking heavily for a long time And that Word which hath been sweet to others that at the same time heard it hath been as nothing to them That word which hath raised the heart and strengthened the faith and inflamed the love of others hath seemed to have no effect upon them and thus some have continued weeks months nay years together and if they have had any reviving it hath been but as a morning dew and yet at last when the Fathers appointed time was come wherein he hath raised them up to joy and peace in believing and given them life vigour and strength then hath the Spirit brought to their remembrance the things which they heard many years before and then have they been wonderfully overcome and taken with it and it hath brought forth fruit abundantly in them Therefore Saints you that say you finde little or no effect the word hath upon you for the present be not thereby discouraged but goe on to reade and to hear the word still for it is a means which is often blessed to many But thirdly Is it so that it is a blessed thing to reade and hear the Word so as to keep it Then it serves to exhort all as to hear and reade the Word so to look beyond it in the frequent hearing and reading of it waiting for the coming in of the Spirit for the blessing is not pronounced upon the hearers of the Word only but such as hear it and keep it and hear it and doe it and then shalt thou hear the Word so as to keep it when the Spirit comes along with it Therefore when thou comest to hear the Word doe not rest upon the bare hearing of the Word but expect the coming of the Spirit and that thou maiest thus doe consider that there are frequent presidents in Scripture That in the hearing of the Word the Spirit hath been given as you have it Act. 10. 44. While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word And in the second of the Acts at the 41. verse we finde that there were three thousand souls converted at the preaching of Peter And when Philip went down to Samaria and preached the Word there were by his preaching many converted both men and women as appears Acts 8. 12. There are severall other passages in the Acts to this purpose And Gal. 3. 2. saith the Apostle Received you the Spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith Whereby it appears That the Spirit was received by the hearing of the word of faith and therfore it is that the Apostle cals the Ministery of the Gospel The ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. Therefore let all be encouraged in the hearing of the Word to wait for the Spirit whereby they may not be forgetfull hearers but doers of the Word and be blessed in so doing Vse 4. And in the last place it serves to encourage all Saints to be frequent in reading of and meditating upon the book of the Revelation for there is a blessing particularly pronounced upon them that read or hear and keep the things that are written therein therefore let none be discouraged from reading those things that are written in this book because they are so hard to be understood and are more darke and mysterious than most places of Scripture It is true they are so but to encourage us to be frequent in reading of it notwithstanding the mysteriousnesse of it the holy Ghost hear pronounces a particular blessing to it which is a speciall encouragement to incite us to the reading of it And there is also another encouragement in these words For the time is at hand And now if we be desirous to be informed of the things that concern the present time then let us look diligently into the book of the Revelation for this word The time is at hand hath held true and doth and shall hold true in all ages and times even until the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ to judge the quick and the dead when all shall appear before the judgement seat of Christ for there hath been no age since the delivery of it in which it might not be said The time is at hand that is The time is come in which some part or other of it hath been fulfilling for at the time when this Revelation was given to John then was fulfilling that which is spoken concerning the seven Churches and soon after that which was to be done in the opening of the seals began to be fulfilled which is not yet fully accomplished and about four hundred year after Johns time began that to be fulfilled which is spoken of concerning the rising of the beast and what is revealed concerning the actions of the beast and the pouring out of the viols upon the beast hath been since that and now is a fulfilling and what is spoken concerning the totall ruine of the beast and the happy deliverance of the Saints and the glorious state of the Church after deliverance shall be hereafter fulfilled So that still it might and now and hereafter it may be said of the prophecy of this book The time is at hand therefore it concernes us to be frequently looking into it and diligently to observe the things that are written therein And now since the following Discourse is on a part of the book of the Revelation let these two motives which here you have to stirre you up to the reading of the whole book as that it is a blessed thing and it concerns the present time incite you to the reading and the serious consideration of what is herein delivered concerning the exact accomplishment of some of the things contained in this book which comes now to be spoken of AN EXPOSITION VPON Part of the eleventh Chapter OF THE REVELATION The Exposition of the first Verse And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod IN the 21. Chapter of this book at the 15. verse when the holy City was put into a delivered enlarged raised condition there is mention made of a golden reed wherewith it was to be measured But here is not a golden reed but a reed like unto a rod importing that it is a chastized and afflicted depressed low condition into which it was at this time to be put and that it was indeed so appears in what follows And the Angel stood saying This Angel chap. 10. 1. is thus described And I saw a mighty Angel come down from heaven cloathed with a cloud and a rain-bow was upon his head and his face was as it were the Sunne and his feet as pillars of fire This description resembles that which is given of Jesus Christ Chap. 1. 15 16. by which it appears That this Angel here spoken of is Jesus Christ It is
feet were as the feet of a Bear and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the Dragon gave him his power and seat and great authority And I saw one of his heads as it were wounded to death and his deadly wound was healed and all the world wondered after the Beast and they worshipped the Dragon which gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the Beast saying Who is like unto the Beast Who is able to make war with him And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things and blasphemies and power was given unto him to continue fourty and two months And he opened his mouth in blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwelt in heaven And it was given unto him to make war with the Saints and to overcome them and power was given him over all kindreds and tongues and nations and all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world The third place where the enemies of the Temple and the holy City viz. The Saints are described is Rev. 17. 3 4 5 6. as it followeth And I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured Beast full of names of blasphemy having seven heads and ten horns and the woman was arraied in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold and precious stone and pearls having a golden cup in her hand full of abominations and filthinesse of her fornication and upon her forehead was a name written MYSTERY BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF HARLOTS AND ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH And I saw the woman drunken with the bloud of the Saints and with the bloud of the Martyrs of Jesus and when I saw her I wondred with great admiration Thus now the enemies of the Church the Temple or holy City which in the text in hand are only described by this word the Gentiles in these passages are more largely characterized But these expressions used in these descriptions of these enemies being for the most part very mysterious we have these mysteries opened and unveiled in the 17. Chap. from the 7 vers to the end of the Chapter as it followes And the Angel said unto me wherefore didst thou marvel I will tell thee the mystery of the woman and of the Beast that carrieth her which hath the seven heads and ten horns The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomelesse pit and goe into perdition and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the World when they behold the Beast that was and is not and yet is And here is the minde which hath wisdome The seven heads are seven mountains on which the woman sitteth and there are seven Kings five are fallen and one is and the other is not yet come and when he commeth he must continue a short space And the Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth and is of the seven and goeth into perdition And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings which have received no Kindome as yet but receive power as Kings one hour with the Beast These have one minde and shall give their power and strength unto the Beast These shall make warre with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called and chosen and faithfull And he saith unto me the waters which thou sawest where the Whore sitteth are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the Beast these shall hate the Whore and shall make her desolate and naked and shall eat her flesh and burn her with fire for God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will and to agree and give their Kingdom unto the Beast untill the words of God shall be fulfilled And the woman which thou sawest is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the Earth In these words we have the mysterie opened of what is delivered in the 12 13 and 17. Chapters concerning the Beast and the Woman and the Heads and the Horns and the many waters which are all mysterious expressions and hard to be understood as those were Dan. 7. from the 1 to the 9 ver untill the interpretation was given to Daniel at the 16 verse and so on but the Angel having in this 17 Chap. opened these mysteries now the meaning of them is more apparent So that First If it be queried What is the Beast We have it answered verse 8. in these words The Beast that thou sawest was and is not and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit and go into perdition Now by comparing this with some passages in the 12 and 13. Chapters we shall plainly see what the Beast is In the 11. Chap. at the 9 verse the Dragon there mentioned is said to be That old serpent called the Devill and Satan which deceiveth the whole world And in the 13. Chap. at the 1 and 2. verses it is said That a Beast did rise up out of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his heads the names of blasphemy and the Beast was like unto a Leopard and his feet were as the feet of a Bear and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion and the Dragon gave him his power and his seat and great authority So then The Beast that hath seven heads and ten horns and is like unto a Leopard c. is some wicked one in whom the devil raigns who hath power and a seat and great authority in the earth which power and seat and great authority was given unto him of the devil And though that wicked one that hath that devilish power and authority be distinct from the devil as he that receives is distinct from him that gives yet they are so one as the devill is said to be in the Beast for what the Beast is said to doe the devill is said to doe for in the 13. Chapter at the 7 vers it is the Beast that is said to make war with Saints but in the 12. Chapter at the 17 verse the devill is said to doe it And again they are so one as the Beast is said to be the devill and therefore when the Angel comes to declare what the Beast is in the fore-mentioned place saies he The Beast shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit It is not said he shall receive his authority from him that ascends out of the bottomlesse pit though that be the meaning of it as before appears but He shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit to shew the onenesse of the devil and the Beast Thus the mysterie of the Beast is unfolded and it appears that the Beast is a wicked one that hath