THE BOOK OF THE REVELATION PARAPHRASED WITH ANNOTATIONS ON EACH CHAPTER Whereby it is made plain to the meanest Capacity DAN XII 4. Many shall run to and fro and Knowledg shall be increased HAB. II. 2. Write the Vision and make it plain upon Tables that he may run that readeth it LONDON Printed in the Year MDCXCIII THE PREFACE THere is scarce any part of Holy Writ which hath met with a more severe entertainment in the World than this Sacred Book For although it hath evident Characters of its Divine Authority and more Humane Testimony than any other Book of the New Testament yet upon the increase of the Millenary Controversies in the Church it was first called in question and then boldly and impiously rejected by that party whose Sentiments it oppposed until they had found out a way of reconciling it unto them Into such extravagancies will immoderate opposition transport men and a fond Love and heady Zeal for private Fancies and Opinions Neither have those who have endeavoured to illustrate and clear the difficulties of this Mysterious Book met with less gentle usage in these latter ages especially from those of our own Nation but have been commonly represented as Frantick Zealots and Crazed Enthusiasts or where such Characters could not be fastned on them they have been generally depressed in the World if their Sentiments proved contrary to what was most prevailing in it to the great discouragement of inquisitive Persons and to the mighty hindrance of Truth and Knowledg which never thrive better than under a gentle and moderate freedom And therefore I cannot but regret although it be to the Dishonour of my own Nation the hard fate of those two excellent Persons Mr. Potter and Mr. Mede the former of whom although admirably skilled in many abstruse parts of Learning yet lived and dyed in an obscure retirement in a remote corner of the Land whilst the other the Ornament of our Church and of the Age he lived in was never able so much as to keep a Horse for Health not State which was the heighth of his ambition And I wish I could say that we were grown more favourable to such disquisitions that so a considerable person of deep Thought and of great insight into Mysterious Truths upon whose Hypothesis the following Interpretation is chiefly grounded after much doubt and tryal of it might not be permitted to struggle with adversity and lie under the depressing circumstances of Restraint But alas I fear that like the Apostle Peter (a) Luke 9.33 when he desired the continuance of the Glory of Christ's transgfiuration upon this Earth we know not what we say when we wish that such men had met with greater advantages in the World as the present state of it is and that we ought not to seek (b) Jerem 45. great things for our selves or others whilst the Church is in a Sack-cloath State and Condition but that our Souls are to be suited to God's Dispensations and we are not to aim at high things in the times of publick calamities And whosoever makes this use of privacy and adversity may sooner meet with Divine Visitations and comforts in the most obscure corner and with Spiritual Illuminations in a Patmos or a Prison than amidst the greatest affluence of the enjoyments of this World and all the advantages of great Parts many Books and much Learning which too often swell the mind and puff up more than edifie whereas the chief qualifications next to Prayer and the Divine assistance to the attaining to Knowledg in this or any other part of Scripture are Humility Industry and Patience in searching and a ready submission to Convictions although they prove contrary to our former thoughts and our present interest For great application of Mind is necessary to search into the bottom of Mysterious Truths and a man who would understand the Will of God in this Prophecy must during the Study of it renounce Parties and Prejudices and divest himself of his former Principles although never so deeply rooted and never so seemindy rational and closely follow that Sense which appears to be the meaning of the Holy Spirit For God's Thoughts are not as our Thoughts and men of the greatest strength of Reason when they happen upon false Principles and too strictly adhere to them are of all others the most irreclaimable It were easy to shew that Alcasar who spent twenty Years in the Study of this Prophecy Ribera and other very Learned and Judicious Men amongst the Romanists had scarcely missed of many great Truths if they had not been of that Communion and that several truly great and good Men among the Protestants were misled by a too fond respect for some private Principles Such as were the impossibility that so gross an Idolatry and so Universal an Apostasy as is supposed in this Prophecy should ever be permitted to overspread the Face of the Visible Church which yet is supposed should actually come to pass towards the end of the Word by Ribera (a) Viegas Victorinus and most of the Ancient Fathers Alcas pag. 20. and other learned Papists chiefly upon the evidence which this Book afforded them And such also was their opinion of the necessity of an uninterrupted Succession in every Church and the impossibility of deriving it from one which was formally Idolatrous together with a greater Love for the outward Peace Unity and Prosperity of the Church than it is capable of during this imperfect State in which they seem to have rested without expecting one of a different Nature Which seem to be the chief prejudices upon which Grotius Mr. Thorndick Dr. Hammond and others espoused a groundless narrow and inconsistent Hypothesis contrary to the common Doctrine of Protestants and of the Churches of which they were Members and to the Scope and genuine sense of the words of this and other Prophetical Books of Scripture as hath been sufficiently shewn by Dr. Moor Dr. Cressener and several Divines of Foreign Churches Whereas Mr. Mede seems to have been rewarded by God with the best grounded the most consequential and the most comprehensive Hypothesis of any other for his great freedom of Mind impartial Search and universal Charity which were joyned in him with a rare and uncommon mixture of slowness and yet largeness of thought I am not ignorant that many excellent persons who have shaken off the fetters of Prejudice and Education and have too great Souls to he confined within the narrow compass of a Party or a private Interest are yet very a verse to the Writings of those who offer at the Interpretation of Prophetical Scripture if their sentiments seem to look with a too close and threatning Aspect upon the Age they live in because of the frequent falsity of such pretences and the ill influence they may have especially at some times and seasons upon the publick peace of Church and State And indeed they are not to be blamed for being cautious and
safely and at rest when they shall be invaded by Gog that is the Heathen Nations out of whose Captivity they are to be brought And in such a Posture may the Saints upon Earth be well presumed to be after the Thousand Years when the Laodicean State as hath been before observed on Chap. 3 14-21 begins in which through a long continuance of Glory and Prosperity the Saints upon Earth began to be less Zealous and did not so ardently desire to be caught up to Christ and be for ever with him as they had before done 10 And the Devil that deceived them or the Deceiver of them and that from the beginning John 4.44 1 John 3.8 was without any Tryal as being taken in the very Fact and having been a notorious Murtherer and Lyar from the beginning and the Father of all Sin and Enmity to Christ's Kingdom cast immediately into the 33 Lake of Fire and Brimstone where the 34 Beast and the False Prophet are who were before cast into it Chap. 19.20 and shall be tormented day aad night for ever and ever i. e. he was adjudged upon undeniable Evidence of Fact to a State of utter inability of acting against God and Christ and to extreme Torments to all Eternity without intermission 33 He and his cheif Agents are condemned to the same punishment having no remains of any Power left no more than there is of a thing which is consumed by Fire for the Devil shall not be only held in Chains as formerly but all his Power and Authority shall be utterly abolished Grotius in locum in Cap. 19,20 34 From hence it appears that Gog and Magog is not Antichrist as some have thought because Antichrist was in the Lake before their Discomfiture and Condemnation 11 And I saw a 35 great white 36 Throne i. e. a Representation of the last and great Act of Judicature in which all Enmity was destroyed and the living remaining Saints were caught up to the Lord to sit with him on his Throne and all which belonged to Christ's Kingdom were fully sanctified and glorified and prepared for Union with God to all Eternity 1 Cor. 15. 1 Thes 4. Rev. 3.21 and him that sat on it i. e. Christ Matth. 25.31 Acts 17.21 from whose 37 Face or Presence upon the Declaration of his Will the 38 New Earth and the 38 New Heaven sled 39 away or disappeared at his Rebuke and Command and there was found no 40 place for them i. e. they were utterly abolished and annihilated Psalm 37.10 Dan. 2.35 Rev. 12.8 35 It was a great Throne because all who had overcome were to sit with Christ in it and the whole World was to be finally Judged at it and it was White to shew the Glory Sanctity and Purity of Christ's Justice and of the State in which the Saints were now to be invested who at this great and last Session are caught up together into the Air to be with Christ for ever after they had Judged the World with him 36 From the Appearance of this Throne and the following Judgment it may be concluded that this was the Laodicean State of the Church according to the importance of the Word which signifies the Judging of the People See on Chap. 3. 37 Face signifies a stedfast Will and Purpose shewn by Gestures or other Signs and Circumstances as the word is taken Luke 9 51-53 38 38 These must be the New Heaven and New Earth whose Description is given in the following Chapter because they fly away after the Expiration of the Thousand Years which is the space of Time allotted to the Duration of the Reign and Kingdom of Christ and of the Holy City prepared as a Bride the New Jerusalem which are to be not in the Old but the New Heaven and Earth as will plainly appear to any one who compares this Chapter with the following wherein as is all along observed are such Descriptions given of the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ as can agree to no other but a New Heaven and New Earth in which dwelleth Righteousness 39 This New Earth flies away but the Old One is to be dissolved by Fire of which flying away is not a proper Expression 40 The Psalmist expresseth the Death of a Man by his place knowing him no more Psalm 103.16 But when it is said That no place is found for a thing thereby seems to be denoted its utter annihilation and withal the impossibility of any other thing succeeding in its place because there is no place remaining into which it should succeed Whence it follows that this is the last Heaven and Earth and that no New Ones are to succeed it and that nothing else shall remain after it but the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All in the highest Heavens and the Lake of the Damned 12 And I saw the 41 Dead in Trespasses and Sins who had lain in an unactive State of Infamy during the Thousand Years and were afterwards discomfited by the Fire of God which came down from Heaven Verse 5 9. small 42 and great i. e. all sorts and the whole Race of them Chap. 19.18 stand before God to be judged by him and the 43 Books of God's Omniscience Mens Consciences and the Law were opened i. e. Mens Actions and God's Knowledge of them were made manifest and 44 another Book was opened which is the Book 44 of Life viz. the Lamb's Book of Life from the foundation of the World Chap. 3 5.13 8.17 8 21 27. and the Wicked Dead raised to Condemnation and discomfited by God's severe Judgment and Indignation and now brought all together to receive their final Sentence were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their own wicked Works which were not also found written in the Book of Life Verse 15. 41 Hence it appears that this is the Judgment of the Nations the Gog-Magog who were discomfited Verse 9. because they are called the Dead in Ezekiel and the Slain and Dead in this Prophecy 42 Hence it also appears that these are the Kings and their Armies mentioned Chap. 19.18 19. who are the slain and the all men small and great viz. the whole Race of wicked Men. 43 A Metaphor (a) Dan. 7.10 Esth. 6.1 Isa 65.6 Malach. 3.16 taken from the Rolls and Records of Courts of Judicature and from the Registers kept by the Eastern Kings of the Actions of their Reigns whereby God's exact Justice and the perfect Knowledge which he hath of all Mens Actions is set forth and the evident Conviction which will attend the procedures of that Great Day Matth. 12.36 1 Cor. 4.5 44 44 This is is the Book of Election and Predestination belonging to the Living in the New Jerusalem State which is represented as One single Book because it depends upon One single Decree of God and One single Cause of that Decree viz. the free Grace and Good Pleasure of God in Christ Acts 13.48 Rom. 8.28 c.
dwell What more grateful Entertainment for an Ingenious Mind than to have a prospect of all the great Transactions of the World since Christ's Resurrection represented as in Scenes shifted by the Ministry of Angels at each great change upon the Stage of this World For this Book is a Divine Drama full of holy Art and sacred Ornaments taken from Prophetick Symbols and Eastern Hieroglyphicks into which the Holy Spirit hath transferred most of the Beauties Excellencies and Magnificence of the Old Testamens and the greatest part of the Types and Figures of the Law the Throne of God and the Kingdom of Christ being the True Tabernacle of which Moses saw the Pattern in the Mount And the Art observed in it is very admirable and much like that of a true and just Poem the design of it being one great Action viz. The Kingdom of Christ to which all the lesser Actions are Subservient as to one great End which is carried on after a delightful as well as an Instructive manner by Descriptions Narrations a Chorus of Angels and blessed Spirits and by Christ himself speaking on great occasions as by so many Episodical Ornaments And may God inspire some Pious and Devout Soul with a Poetical Spirit suitable to the greatnest of the Subject with a Spirit like that which came from him upon his Servants David and Solomon when in Divine Raptures they set forth the glories of his Kingdom for the Subject well deserves an inspired Pen and will outlive all which have been hitherto undertaken as affording the most proper matter for the Devotion and Contemplation of the New World and therefore may be justly recommended to all Ingenious Persons as worthy their most serious Thoughts and pious Meditations Ribera a learned Romanist resembles this Prophecy to a vast Ocean full of Deep Gulphs receiving and swallowing up all Human Wisdom and the Metaphor although something bold hath much of Truth in it there being few of the Liberal Arts and Scienâ—es which the Eternal Word the Wisdom of God hath not made use of in it to exercise the understanding of those who have Spiritual Wisdom and to confound the Wisdom of those who are wise in their own conceits Here the Sacred Orator may find the most Magnificent Idea's of Divine things and the most lively Images of what can most effectually raise Admiration Love and Fear the most prevailing Passions of Mankind viz. the Glory of God and of Christ's Kingdom and the horror and dread of the Punishments denounced and executed in it And all this expressed in a Style (a) Stylus five Structura Orationis qualis nunquam à Mortalibus usurpata fuit nec apud quenquam Humanum Auctorem Extat 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hic vides non Humanam Cotton apud Poli Syn. more than Human whereby some of the wisest and best of all Ages have been induced to search into it for the Providential Fate of God's Church and to admire and acknowledg its profound depth and Divine Authority as that great Critick (b) Euseb Hist Eccles 7.25 Dionysius Alexandrinus did even when they professed that they could not fathom the meaning of it which is no slight Argument of the peculiar Majesty and Excellen of this Book Neither let nice VVits be offended at the Paronomastical Allusions may he found in it for they are frequent in (c) Vid. Maimonid Duct Dubit 2.43 Gen 9 27.49 8 16 19. Jerem. 1.11 12. Dan. 5.25 29. Zephan 2.4 and the Notes on Chap. 2. 1 3. Scripture as they know who have skill in the Original Languages and were much in use in the Eastern Nations Those who have skill in History and Chronology may here exercise it with great Delight and Satisfaction and every mind that hath Wisdom whether it be in Numbers Geometry Architecture Colours Precious Stones Meteors or any other parts of Knowledge here hinted at or alluded to ought to contribute their skill to it For united Endeavours best promote Knowledge and God himself usually joyned (a) Exod. 31.2 3 6. 36 1 2. Eccles 4.9 Mark 6.7 1 Cor. 12.8 many together Two at least in every great and Weighty Work He gave Aholiab to Bezaleel joyned Aaron to Moses and Christ sent forth his Disciples by Two and Two and raised up Two Witnesses to testify to the Truths of this Prophecy And therefore I cannot but earnestly entreat all that are Wise-hearted in whose Hearts God hath put Wisdom and skill in Arts for they are from him and may thereby be Sanctified to stir up the Gifts which are in them and to joyn heartily and unanimously together for the service of the approaching Sanctuary and Kingdom of Christ for the work hath been long retarded by the noise of (b) 1 Kings 6.7 Axes and Hammers that is by Divisions and Contentions amongst Christians which ought not to be heard in the Building of God's House whatsoever hath been hitherto permitted under imperfect and lower Dispensations But further if the Hypothesis here advanced prove true and this Book be found to contain the great Events belonging to the Christian Church from the Reformation to the End of Time and to the Kingdoms of this World as they have a relation to it will it not afford a most cogent and most illustrious Proof for the Being of a God and a Providence and for the Divine Authority of the Scriptures and most effectually silence the little and unreasonable Cavils of Atheists and Antiscripturists For how could so long a Series and so great a variety of Events depending on rational Instruments and free Agents seemingly independent on each other and yet all tending to One End be revealed so long before their accomplishment but by One Infinite Mind or Understanding comprehending all things at one View and over-ruling and conducting them all to One End What but infinite Mind and Wisdom could foresee and so exactly describe the Orderly (a) See Chap. 6. Succession of the Roman Emperours by the very particular Countries from which they came and the great occurrences which happened under them or so exactly (b) See Chap. 2 10 6 9-17 foretell the very Period of the Persecution under Dioclesian and at so long a distance shew the Souls of the Martyrs under the Altar and the fatal overthrow of Paganism What else but the Eternal Knowledg could foretel and that so particularly in exact agreement with all History the Destruction of the Roman Empire and the (a) See Chap 8. Various Fate of Rome so often taken and retaken so often Burnt and yet not utterly Consumed What else but Wisdom it self could so livelily (b) See Chap. 9. represent the innumerable swarms of Tormenting Saracens the Locusts and Scorpions of the Earth and the mighty inroads of the Turkish Cavalry passing the River Euphrates and foretel the very manner and precise time of their taking Constantinople which cannot therefore be the Beloved City as Dr. Hammond supposes in agreement with the Opinions of the
p. 47. l. ult r. 1 Cor. 2. p. 55. l. 26. r. Gospels p 64. l. 15. blot out an indifference p. 66. l 23. r. wilt p. 72. l. ult r. compare p. 82. l. 21. r. slain p. 83. l. 30. r. haveing p. 84. l. 30. f. in the Earth r. on p. 85. l. 13. r. 19. l. 23. r and that because l. 30. r. brought in l. 31. r. objects p. 86. l. 20. r. also as well as p. 88. l. 10. f. whence r. where l. 26. f. his r. Gods p. 113. l. 16. f. Psalm r. Palm p. 149. l. 3. r. in a Cave p. 158. l. 3. r. about it p. 170. l. 25. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 174. l. 7. r. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 p. 191. l. 22. r. much indebted p. 177. l. 14. r. that it l. 15. f. that r. the p. 205. l. 7. f. Times r. Time p. 283. l. 4. r. each of which Heads p. 300. l. 7. r. Σ. p. 344. l. 20. r. were Types p. 402. l. 7. r. the Lord God p. 415. l. 17. insert see thou do it not I am p. 235. blot out these words A.D. 1507. within ten years of p. 236. l. 4. r. 1529. ANNOTATIONS ON THE REVELATION CHAP. I. The Text. 1 THE Revelation of Jesus Christ i.e. the Discovery and Manifestation of Divine Secrets in a Prophetical Vision from Jesus Christ which God the Father gave unto him the Great Prophet and Mediatour to shew or make known by Prophetical Symbols and Representations and actually to * So the word is taken John 5 20.14 8. and in this sense God is said to shew Christ and he to be Revealed when he came into the World exhibit or produce the Effect of every Vision in its proper time unto his Servants i. e. those Eminent and Faithful Christians especially Ministers who dedicate themselves to his Service things which must shortly i. e. suddenly and speedily begin 1 to come to pass one after another and or which †And is here according to the Custom of the Hebrew Language put for the Pronoun Relative which he Christ sent and signified it i. e. made known the Prophetical Visions of this Book by his 2 Angel sometimes one special Angel sent for this purpose and sometimes another unto his Servant John The Annotations 1 Thus Grotius Dr. Hammond and most Interpreters expound these Words this Prophecy containing a Discovery of things which were to come to pass in a Succession of time one after another of which it may be very appositely said That they must come to pass shortly when they are shortly to begin to pass into Event as an Army is said to be coming when only the Van-Guard begins to appear With which Interpretation these Words of Dr. Pocock agree on Joel pag. 145 150. Of those last things which were to be done or in doing to the last of time in this world St. John by reason of the certainty of their being fulfilled in due time saith that they should be fulfilled 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or shortly come to pass 2 Michael and Gabriel are employed in Daniel but in this Prophecy several Angels are made use of but none by Name which together with the Humane Subordinate Ministry employed under them are generally called by the Name of Angel in this Book From this Verse we may observe the Order of Divine Revelation which proceeds from God the Father as the Fountain and Original and is committed by him to Christ unto whom all Power is given in the Church by whom it is sent to his Servants especially Ministers by the Ministration of his Angels who are under him as their Head and Lord and his Ministers to whom the Prophecy is principally directed are also stiled Angels from their Ministring to him in this Prophecy together with the Angels See on ver 20. 2 Who bare record i. e. hath testified and declared by his Preaching and Sufferings vers 9. and in this Book of Christ the Word of God John 1.1 Chap. 19.13 and of the Testimony of Jesus Christ i. e. the 3 Gospel 1 Cor. 1.6 and of all things that he saw 4 concerning Christ while he abode on Earth and afterwards in this and the following Visions 3 Called his Testimony because it testified of him declared the Will of God and was testified unto or confirmed by his Miracles 4 Here the Apostle plainly discovers himself to be the Writer of this Book from many Characters peculiar unto himself as that he had given Testimony which is part of the Office of an Apostle in Scripture Acts 1.8 22 c. unto the Gospel of Christ and to the Divinity of the Word of God by his Preaching and by his Sufferings for it and that he had delivered many things concerning Christ of which he had been a peculiar Eye-witness which are now upon Record in his Gospel in the like manner of Speech and way of Assurance John 1 14.19 35. And moreover this being a Preface to the whole Book of Visions he had already seen these Words may very well refer unto them 3 5 Blessed here and here after is he that readeth and expoundeth with diligence and understanding and they that hear with attention the words of this Prophecy and keep in their Minds observe and practise those things which are written therein for the time of their beginning to be successively compleated is at hand and therefore to be regarded and the Consideration of it not to be put off unto a further Day as the Jews were wont to do Ezek. 12 21-28 5 The Divine Authority of the Revelation the Author of the Book and the Subject-matter of it having been delivered in brief in the foregoing Verses St. John here declares the Fruit and Benefit which the Readers and Observers of it shall reap by it and very probably gives an intimation That it ought to be read in publick Assemblies here being mention of one 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Reader and of many as it were assembled to hear him Read and Interpret according to the Custom of the Church And without doubt great is the blessing attending the sober Study of this Book and the due Observation of the Correspondence betwixt it and the Events foretold in it must needs be a matter of extraordinary comfort especially to those who shall be so happy as to live near the Times of its full completion as Christ told Daniel chap. 12. 12. And even what is not so fully understood is nevertheless according to the Example of Daniel and of the Blessed Virgin Luke 2.19 50 51. to be pondered upon and kept in our Minds lest we be found wholly ignorant of the great Truths contained in this Book when the Times of their Consummation appear and that thereby God may be wrought upon to make known unto us what we do not understand seeing he hath declared That he that seeketh shall find and to him that knocketh it shall be opened But chiefly the Blessedness here pronounced
observes one of the most Illustrious Events which has come to pass and not to be parallell'd since the Apostles times which none can think of without astonishment and the utmost degrees of admiration and wonder there being in it great Discoveries made of God's Almighty Power and admirable Counsels which being designed as the Creation and all his providential Works are chiefly with reference to his Son's Kingdom he hath been pleased to give us Visible Marks and Characters of it in the Reformation such as are 1. The Agreement and Consent which there was in the Substantials of Doctrine at first betwixt the Reformers Vnity (a) John 17 11-23 Eph. 4.3 4. in truth being a Mark of Christ's Kingdom and one of the most powerful external means to convert the World For this great Work was begun about the same time in two distant places by Luther in Germany and by Zuinglius at Zurich and although they held no Communication with one another Zuinglius on purpose abstaining from reading of Luther's Books when they began to be common amongst them yet they differed in no Doctrine of any very considerable moment as the French Historian (b) Pag. 946. Mezeray confesses concerning the Protestants in general but in that of the Sacrament where also their difference was not so great but that they both (c) Sleidan pag. 97 121 159. edit Anglic. agreed in the Substance of the Article that Christ's Body was taken spiritually with the Heart and not corporally with the Mouth and resolved at a Conference they had about it to refrain from all Contention concerning the manner how Christ was present in the Sacrament Whereby it came to pass that the people amongst whom Luther 's Writings were at last common by hearing and reading of them did see the same Spirit in both of them according to the Scriptures and did submit the more willingly to the Truth although it seemed something New to them which was Zuinglius's Design in abstaining from reading of Luther's Books as (a) Melchior Adam Vita Zuingl pag. 28. Melchior Adamus particularly testifies in his Life 2. The Reformation began on a sudden with a surprise and at unawares when men were most secure and were the least prepared for it which are the Signs of the coming of Christs Kingdom in Scripture Matth. 24 36-51 1 Thes 5.3 For Leo (b) Father Paul's History of the Council of Trent pag. 4 5.9 Fascicul rerum expetend passim Bishop of Meauxe's History of Variat pag. 1 â— the tenth was then Pope a most Voluptuous Libertine as loose in his Religion as his Manners whose Example also was followed by almost the whole Clergy who were then as the Popish Writers of those Times unanimously confess very ignorant and very vicious And the Church also was then at ease and quiet the Schism as Father Paul speaks being absolutely extinguished and no considerable Adversary appearing When all on a sudden whilst the Pope was at rest in his House and flourishing in his Palace dissolved in Ease and Luxury the Reformation broke out to his great astonishment and disquiet at an unexpected time and by an Accident very observable his Factors being then busie in selling Indulgences to supply his excessive Prodigality and to raise a Portion for his Sister All which came to pass according to what the Scripture has assured us That when Men say Peace and Safety then sudden Destruction cometh upon them and that the coming of the Son of Man shall be when Men are eating and drinking marrying and giving in marriage and so was it at this his remarkable coming 3. The Reformation proceeded from small beginnings and yet made a wonderful progress in a short time notwithstanding the most powerful Endeavours to the contrary being sometimes carried on by Men who designed nothing less and by Means and to Ends unthought of even by those who begun it Which are plain Characters of the Kingdom of Heaven in (a) Matth. 13. Mark 4.26 27. Scripture which is likened to a Grain of Mustard-Seed the least of all Seeds which yet when it is grown up is the greatest of all Herbs and to Seed sown in the ground which springs and grows up and yet the Sower himself knoweth not how For (b) Father Paul's Hist of Counc of Trent pag. 6-12 15 17. 71. Sleidan in Prefat pag. 31. Luther was a Person of no great Fame or Interest who designed at first only to preach against the Scandalous Abuses of Indulgences and was carried on contrary to his Expectation from one Controversie to another and against his first Inclinations and Resolutions chiefly by the forward Oppositions of his Adversaries he having often professed that he was ready to let the Cause fall if his Enemies would but permit him And if some few (c) Father Paul's Hist pag. 20-23 Bishop Burnet's Histor Reform part 1. pag. 255. things had been at first granted which Pope Hadrian was inclinable to but was diverted from his purpose by others it is generally thought that a stop had been put to the Reformation But God ordered things otherwise making the sins of Men subservient to his Will as is apparent from the Actions of Henry the Eighth who intended (d) Fox's Rook of Martyrs Vol. 2. pag. 273. Vol. 3. pag. 92. nothing less at first than the throwing of the Pope's Power and seems in all his Actions to be lead on by Providential Circumstances to do that which he least designed But as its Beginnings were mean and contemptible so was its Progress (e) Sleidan 133. 160. Basnage Histoir de la Religion pag. 421. wonderful for by the year 1532. Seven Princes and Twenty Four Cities had received Luther's Doctrine and as Erasmus tells us it had spread all over Germany and had stretched it self from the Ocean as far as Switzerland Neither did it contain it self only within Germany but the sound of it reached Sweden and Denmark the former receiving the Reformation A.D. 1525. the latter A. D. 1537. and its progress was so sudden and so swift rouzing the whole World as Erasmus speaks of it out of its Lethargy that I could never think of it without reflecting upon the Question made by our Honest Martyrologist John (a) Vol. 2. pag. 80. Fox viz. how it should come to pass that although the Romish Bishop hath had great Enemies and Gainsayers continually from time to time both speaking and working preaching and writing against him yet notwithstanding never any could prevail before the coming of Luther To which weighty Question although he gives there several good Conjectural Resolutions as he calls them yet the Chief Reason is to be assigned to the Thunders and Voices which were then uttered and to the wonderful Efficacy which prophetical Times and Seasons have upon the Affairs of Christ's Church it being Necessary as Father (b) History pag. 4. Paul judiciously observes upon this very occasion for the effecting of any thing that the time come
Eph. 1. VVhereas the Books of Reprobation are many because that depends upon the many Evil Actions of Men which Justice particularly weighs and considers and upon the Multitude and Diversity of Sinners which are to be convicted and condemned according to the Sins each of them had particularly committed So that there is to be a◠it were a particular Book of Conscience for each of them And it is Another 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Book or a Book of another sort or kind to shew that the Elect shall be justified and saved by Free Grace and not for their VVorks nor even according to their own VVorks but those which Christ had wrought in them 13 And or for the Sea 45 gave up or had before given up to Death 46 and Hell the Dead which were in it viz. at the beginning of the Day of Judgment when the Dead Wicked were raised to Condemnation and Death and Hell i. e. the common Receptacle of the Wicked where they were under Confinement and Punishment during the Thousand Years delivered up now at this last Act of Judicature the Dead which were in them i. e. all the Wicked which had been under their Confinement and they i. e. the Dead Wicked were judged every man according to their Works 47 which were not found written in the Book of Life and which they had lately done against the Camp and City of God as well as for all their other wicked Deeds which they had done whilst they were in the Flesh in this present World 45 Grotius and Piscator render the VVord had given up which must refer to the rising of the Dead Wicked at the beginning of the Thousand Years when because there was to be No Sea in the New Earth the Sea gave up its Dead 46 For the Dead Wicked were condemned at first to the Four Corners of the Earth which were as a kind of Hades or Common Receptacle of the Dead answerable to the Hamonah or City of Dead Carcases in Ezekiel Chap. 38 and 39. See on Verse 8. and Mr. Mede pag. 57 1. and Bishop Vshers Answer to the Jesuites Challenge concerning Limbus Patrum 47 Their Works in the former Verse are represented as written in Books because being committed long before they were thereby to be put in remembrance of them and therefore the Books are opened unto them But here being no mention of Books opened it may well be concluded that these Works were those which they had newly committed against the beloved City Verse 9. which being fresh in their Memories there needed not any writing of them in Books in order to their conviction 14 And Death 48 and Hell or the Grave the last Enemies to be destroyed 1 Cor. 15.26 55. were cast into the Lake of fire i. e. Mortality and all Places of Punishment except that designed for the Eternal Torment of the Wicked were annihilated there being now no further use of them and they having delivered up the Dead which were in them This casting into the Lake is the 49 second Death i. e. Death Eternal Matth. 10.28 See on Verse 6. 48 These are the Enemies of Christ which according to Doctrinal Scripture in full concurrence with Prophetical are to be destroyed by him at last just before the delivery of his Kingdom up to the Father 1 Cor. 15.25 26 54 55 56. 49 As that Expression Verse 5. this is the first Resurrection seems to denote that it was to be at the beginning of Christs Kingdom so does this parallel Expression intimate that this Second Death was to be at the End and last Appearance of it These Two being as it were solemn Inscriptions on Two Pillars shewing the Two Bounds of Christ's Kingdom beginning in a First Resurrection of Saints and a First Death of the Wicked and ending in a Second Resurrection to Glory of the former and a Second Death of the latter as Absolute Final and Immutable as the Life of the former 15 And 50 whosoever was not found written in the Lamb 's Book of Life i. e. whosoever was not a Living Member of Christ's Kingdom during the Thousand Years of Life and Blessedness was cast into the Lake of Fire i. e. was punished with Eternal Torments 50 The Reprobate are not only judged according to the Rules of Justice by their own works but the Book of absolute soveraign and free Grace is looked into when they are condemned to shew the Agreement there is betwixt God's Decrees and the proceedings of his Rectoral Justice in condemning Sinners according to their own demerits there being none left out of the Book of Life and Grace who shall not be shewn to have justly deserved to be condemned for their own sins And hitherto hath been a Description of the Wicked their City in the four Corners of the Earth their Actions and Final Condemnation There follows now in the next Chapters a Description of the City of the Saints and of their Final Reward in the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All. CHAP. XXI The Text. 1 1 AND I saw a New 2 Heaven and a New Earth i. e. the Seat of the Kingdom of Christ wherein the Saints Reign with him a Thousand Years Chap. 20.4 6. 2 Pet. 3. Isa 65 17.66 22. Matth. 19.28 Acts 3.19 for the first Heaven and 2 the first Earth i e. the Heavens and the Earth which are now 2 Pet. 3.7 were 3 passed away with a great Noise burnt up and dissolved by Fire 2 Pet. 3.10 11 12. and there was no more 4 Sea Annotations on CHAP. XXI 1 Here according to the custom of the Sacred Writers a particular Account is given of the Generations as the Scripture speaks Gen. 2.4 of the New Heaven and New Earth which he had before Chap. 20 11. seen fly away at the Consummation and End of all things when Christ shall deliver up his Kingdom to the Father 1 Cor. 15.24 28. it being usual as appears from Gen. 2. for the holy Penmen to give a particular Description afterwards of what they had before either briefly hinted or only described in general who are wont also to pursue the matter they have in hand quite throughout before they resume its more particular consideration as appears from the former Chapter where the duration of the Kingdom of Christ is continued from its beginning in the Resurrection of the Saints to its End in the Destruction of Death his last Enemy and to the flying away of the very New Heavens and Earth when Christ's Mediatory Kingdom being at an end the Eternal Kingdom of God All in All is to succeed 2 The preceding Vision plainly relating to the Resurrection and the last Day of Judgment the New Heavens and Earth here described must accordingly be understood concerning those mentioned by the Apostle Peter 1 Ep. 3.13 which are to succeed the general Conflagration of the present Heavens and Earth to be dissolved at the very first Appearance of Christ at his second Coming who is to be manifested or
revealed in Flames of Fire It being very (a) Luke 17 26-31 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom c. Even thus shall it be in the Day when the Son of Man is revealed i. e. to make good the parallel in the very self same Day in which he is revealed 2 Thess 1.7 8. 2 Pet. 3.10 12. See Dr. Burnet 's Theory B. 3. and 4. Mather de Signo Filii Homin 2. 5. plain from Doctrinal Scripture that the present World shall be burnt before the end of all things and probably at Christ's very first coming to his Kingdom to which Conflagration there will be many preceeding Dispositions and Preparations which are called the Signs of Christs Coming in Scripture and are probably the Vials in this Prophecy before insisted on Chap. 16. This New (b) Dr. Burnet 's Theory B. 4. 3 8. Heaven and Earth which are to arise out of the Remains of the Old ones as out of a Second Chaos are no other than the Seat of the Kingdom of the Blessed Millennium in which the Saints are to Reign with Christ Chap. 20. because according to the plain words of the Apostle Peter it is that New Heaven and Earth in which Righteousness is to dwell i. e. Righteous Saints are to Reign in Holiness and Righteousness during the Day of Judgment which is a Day of the Lords consisting of a Thousand Years which is as plain a Description of the Blessed Millenium as can well be given of which Truth also the following Verses will administer many Proofs 3 The very word made use of by the Apostle Peter 2 Ep. 3.10 concerning the passing away of the Heavens of this World at the general Conflagration For it is to be observed that the Scriptures make mention of Three Worlds 1. The World before the Flood reaching from the beginning of the Creation to its perishing by Water Which the Apostle (a) 2 Ep. 2 5.3 5 6. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Peter calls the Heavens and Earth of Old the World that then was and the Old or Original World concerning which see the (b) Burnet's Theory B. 1. and 2. and the Append to the 4th Book ingenious Theory of the Earth 2. The present World reserved for fire called in (c) 2 Pet. 3.7 Rom. 8 19-24 Gal. 1.4 John 12 31.14 30. 1 Cor. 2.6 8. 2 Cor. 4.4 Mather de Signo Fil. Homin 1. 2. Scripture the Heavens and Earth which are now this present evil World and this VVorld by way of Contempt and to distinguish it from the world to come 3. The New (d) 2 Pet. 3.13 Heb. 2.5 Eph. 1.21 Luke 20 34-38 and Chap. 17. Heavens and New Earth called in Scripture the VVorld to come that VVorld the VVorld of the Resurrection from the Dead and the Kingdom of God and of the Son of Man at his coming which is to succeed when (a) 1 Cor. 7.31 Psalm 102.26 2 Pet. 3. Psalm 104.30 Matth. 19.28 Acts 3.21 Rom. 8 19-24 Mather de Signo c. 2.5 Burnet 's Theory the Form Fashion and Disposition of the parts of this VVorld shall pass away and be changed upon its dissolution by fire and there shall be a Restitution Regeneration Delivery Redemption and Restauration of all things in the Natural as well as Moral VVorld into the Primitive State from which they had fallen by Sin 4 This is a very surprising confirmation of Doctor Burnet's Hypothesis viz. That the VVorld shall be restored to its Primitive Paradisiacal State in which there was no Sea and that the Sea shall be devoured by the Conflagration which latter is also alluded to by the Prophet Amos Chap. 7.4 where he supposes that Fire shall devour the great Deep of which it had already eaten up or devoured a part in Vision And the VVicked being separated by God from the Righteous now strictly united into one Body and living together in perfect Peace and Unity it seems to be very congruous there should be No Sea in that State which as it is the Type of unquiet multitudes so also is it an hinderance to the mutual communication of Men one with another And here it may be convenient to give a brief Account of the Series and Order of things according to Scripture from the Time of the Approach of Christ's Kingdom until the End and Delivery up of it to God 1. Antichrist will fall as soon as ever the Months of the Beast are expired and Mahometanism which was designed as a Scourge to it shall consequently afterwards cease to be a VVo to the Christian VVorld See Chapter 9 12.11 2 3 14. 2. The Jews also will be restored to their own Countrey after the fullfilling of the Times of the Gentiles i. e. at the End of Antichristian Times Matth. 21.24 3. There will be Days of Great Tribulation and immediately after them there will be many signs of Christ's coming and of the End of the VVorld and very great Preparations for the general Conflagration Matth. 24.3 29. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis Dr. Burnet's Theory B. 3. Chap. 10 11 12. 4. Then will appear some Extraordinary Sign of the Son of Man in Heaven upon which all the Tribes of the Earth shall mourn and the Son of Man shall be seen coming in the Clouds of Heaven Matth. 24.30 5. As soon as ever Christ shall appear the Dead will be raised and the Earth and Heavens of this present World will at the same time be dissolved by Fire in which the Wicked Living and Raised are punished (a) 2 Thes 1.8 9. 2 Pet. 3.7 Vengeance being to be taken on them and they suffering Perdition in and by this Conflagration of the Heavens and Earth which were kept in store and preserved by God for the perdition of ungodly men and that not only of the wicked men of that Generation which shall be then alive but of all who have died in their sins it being plain that our Saviour bids all of every Generation watch least that Day surprize them and that he supposes that Sodom and Gomorrah which were set forth for an Example of Eternal Fire should suffer again in the Day of Judgment and that all which repent not must perish (a) Luke 13.3 5. Matth. 11.24 Jude 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after the like manner with the Galileans and those on whom the Tower of Siloam fell that is by sudden Bodily Judgments which can happen to all impenitents only at this General Judgment by Fire 6. The whole Antichristian State will be utterly annihilated at the first appearance of Christ Satan will be bound for a Thousand Years and the Wicked will not be consumed in the Conflagration but having Bodies capable of undergoing it will be brought thereby into a state of Confinement and that as it were in the (b) See the Opinions of the Ancients about Limbus Patrum in Bp. Usher's answer to the Jesuit Ends and Corners of the New Earth during the
watchful over such Pretenders especially at a time and in a Nation so prone to Enthusiasm and so easily transported into irregular Practises upon any new or unusual Occurrence But although due caution be commendable yet a settled aversion to or a careless neglect of searching into Scripture Prophecies may be of as ill effect to the Publick as the Confidence of false Pretenders to the Interpretation of them or the rashness of the giddy Multitude can possibly be And I cannot see what excuse Learned Men can have for not weighing and considering what is offered from Scripture History and Reason towards the clearing up of that Prophecy to the Study of which the reward of Blessedness is promised in it Rashness and groundless Confidence and pretences to immediate Impulses when not agreeable to Scripture or Reason are indeed to be Despised and it is fit that even those who propagate Truths after a Turbulent and Zelotick manner should be restrained but when things which may seem something strange and uncommon are offered by Men of Piety and Learning although with an Air of some more than ordinary assurance it is very commendable to search into the grounds of them and not wholly to slight them although there may be a mixture of Frailty and Error in them For God doth not now ordinarily assist after an infallible manner and sometimes permitted even his Prophets (a) 1 Sam. 16.6 2 Sam. 7.3 2 Kings 4.27 to Err when their desires were too eager and their approbation even of a good design too hasty and they spake as Men not as Prophets Enthusiasm which arises from an overheated Imagination is indeed a dangerous Disease of the Soul and it is I must confess something difficult for the best and wisest Men to avoid all taint and infection of it whilst they are too intent upon the Study of Prophetical Scripture especially of those parts of it in which God who hath afforded us in Scripture suitable matter for the exercise of all our Intellectual Capacities has condescended to the Fancy and Imagination of Mankind and has entertaired them as he hath done in this Book if I may so speak with a Divine Opera representing the greatest transactions belonging to his Church in Sacred Emblems and Hieroglyphicks Upon which consideration câ—re hath been taken that no interpretation should be inserted into the Paraphrase upon the Text which was not thought to be justly grounded upon the Scriptures quoted in it and bare Imagination hath not been in the least indulged but in the Annotations where it is Lawful to Exspatiate to propose conjectures to the Learned World and to give the raines to Fancy but under the curb and restraints of Reason and Prudence But although Enthusiasm which is a false pretence to extraordinary Impulses and Inspirations from God be very pernicious to the Souls of Private Persons as well as to the Publick yet it is certainly of very ill consequence rashly to reject every thing as Enthusiastick in the performance of which good sober and judicious persons profess themselves to have found sometimes more than ordinary assistance upon the due use of proper means Because it tends to the disparagement of the Gifts of the Holy Ghost encourages Men in a Jejune dry formality of Religion without inward Life and Spirit and robs them of much of that Joy and Comfort they might otherwise find in hearkning what God the Lord will say unto them by bringing natural and revealed Truths into their Minds and by opening and awakening their Ears to Discipline and Instruction for God speaketh once yea twice but man perceiveth it not For let Men of narrow Souls or those who have accustomed themselves only to dry Reasoning think what they will it is evident enough from some Mens Experience and from the very Spirit and Majesty which appears in their Discourses that they are raised sometimes above themselves and are afforded a clearer and larger prospect of useful great and momentous Truths than their Faculties do ordinarily arrive to or could have reached without Divine Assistance And extraordinary Truths are not only to be expected from those who have an happy Concurrence of all the Endowments which compleat a Great Genius but are frequently bestowed upon men of meaner abilities such Oar being often found amidst much Dross and many Imperfections especially of Style and other Ornaments which the World too much values and unreasonably dotes upon God for the Exaltation of free Grace and that men might not Glory in themselves and attribute things to their own Skill sometimes making use of the foolish weak and base things of the World to confound the Wise the Mighty and most valuable things in the esteem of Men. And therefore I hope that men of Wit and Natural Accomplishments will not disdain to look into Authors whose way of management may at first sight promise little much less rashly despise great Truths for not being cloathed in a modish Dress For many men who have true and just Thoughts of things are very unhappy in expressing them and they who much Study the Prophetical Writers whose Style as the ingenious Theorist of the Earth truly observes is rather Bold and Noble than Just will contract a swelling obscure and Metaphorical Style which elevated Minds and even Plato himself could not avoid nor the generality of the first (a) Plutarch 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Philosophers who are observed to have admitted a Divine Principle into their Philosophy the want of which is an unpardonable fault in Aristotle and others as if an uncommon and freer Style were the effect of Noble and Divine Thoughts and a too close and jejune one were the sign of a narrow and an Atheistical Disposition But whatsoever may be thougnt of the Interpreters of this Prophecy the Prophecy it self is certainly worthy the utmost thoughts of all Pious Learned and Ingenious Persons whose pains will be sufficiently rewarded by the pleasure Spiritual Profit and Advantages they will reap from it For what can afford greater pleasure to Pious Minds than to have a view in lively Emblems of the Throne of the Majesty of tne great God and to see his Glory and Goodness pass before them in Mystical representations of his Attributes of the Mystery of our Redemption and the Glorious Kingdom of Christ the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World Who can forbear breaking forth into Praises and Thanksgivings upon reading the Songs of Victory which the blessed Spirits sing before the Throne or God at the several Exaltations and Triumphs of Christ's Kingdom And who is so in Love with this present World as not to wish that he were Dissolved that he might be with Christ in his holy Mount (a) Chap. 14. 1. And that even this Earth and Heavens might meit and pass away although he himself should suffer Loss thereby and be saved but so as by Fire that he might be with Christ and the blessed Saints in a New World wherein Righteousness shall