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

our selves in the diligent observation of things both from histories and events One of the foure beasts saying come and see the beasts it seems performed the office of publike Cryers whose work it is to call Persons neerer the Throne of Judgement-seat they in order call Iohn who stood afarre off either for reverence or that he might more certainly write down what he saw As the voice of thunder The first beast was like a Lyon who now called to Iohn to come and see requiring hereby great Attention and hence this Lyon-like voice as of thunder Vers 2. And I saw and behold a white horse to wit went out of the book or seale for indeed as all the mysteries were in the book so upon opening it they came out that is were expounded to Iohn now if the book were so great to contain a horse and man how great was he that held the book how great he that opened it how great were the mysteries and events The white horse denotes the Purity of the Primitive Church compared to that warlike creature an horse because the Church militant should fight against the world flesh and divel The rider is Christ who was swiftly carried on in the Ministry of the Apostles and other faithful Teachers in the first times Thus Paul bare his name before the Gentiles the Bowe is the Word by which he wounds the hearts of the Elect that he may heale and restore them to life the Crown notes his Regal Crown of triumph because he goes forth conquering by his death he conquered sinne by his resurrection death hell Satan and the world and tyrants Iulian the Apostate confessed so much in his blasphemous speech thou hast overcome O Galilaean he conquers hereticks he conquers converting sinners many ways he conquers which for brevity sake I omit Christ in one respect opens the book in another comes forth conquering the first as the chief Prophet God-man the last as God and King Vers 3. And when he had opened the second Seale behold a red horse John is called to see the future condition of the Church under persecution behold t is blood-red under many tyrants t is the same Church though called another because of its differing colour the rider I take to be Christ not Satan who is with his People in all misery He came not to send peace on the earth but a sword and fire yet by accident not in himself because of the malice of Tyrants and Hereticks opposing truth Vers 4. And that they should kill one another Hereticks under a colour and pretence of Christ persecute and kill the servants of Christ learn hence the divel can do no more then Christ will suffer for our good to wit the exercise of faith Christ suffers tyrants to afflict his Saints Vers 5. Loe a black horse and he that sate on him had a paire of ballances in his hand To wit the Church in her afflicted condition by wicked hereticks who cloud the light of the truth with their black heresies and bring in a deformity upon the Church who was formerly white I omit the names of the Hereticks who in the age following the Apostles till the time of Greg. the first though they professed themselves Christians overthrew Christianity after also the faith of Christ was oppressed and way made for Antichrist who shortly after came into the Temple of God when Boniface the third obtained the primacy over all Churches from Phocas the usurper Thus the white horse became black yet Christ rides on it with the ballance of holy Scripture in his hands Rides For the worst and grossest Heretick professeth Christ 2. By his providence rules them for in greatest confusion of heresies he is not wanting to his Church as they came not unawares but for the tryall of his Church so they are continually examined and confuted by the ballance of his word he so ordering it for a ballance is the tryall of just or unjust weights so Scripture is a true touchstone to try gold and brasse Vers 6. And I heard a voyce in the midst of the 4. beasts c 'T was the Lambs voyce in the midst of the Throne and foure beasts Chap. 5.6 proclaiming a famine of the Gospel for through the ambition Luxury covetousnesse and negligence of Bishops the Gospel should be so corrupted and by Here ticks so adulterated that nothing should be pure and sound by wheat in this place sincere teachers are meant who should be rare by barley the comforts of the Gospel which should be scarce though some understand a plenty hereby since a measure of wheat and three measures of barley should be sold for a penny a measure containted a quart being a mans allowance for a day a penny was neer 7 pence with us if so then Christ in the midst of all heresies had truth * The penny was wages for the day as Mat 20.13 now a measure being as much as a man could cat in a day was to be had for the penny or dayes labour enough for his people See thou hurt not the Oyle and the Wine By Wine and Olye some understand the Orthodox faith which should not be totally obscured by heretical blacknesse Now as Wine Cherishes and Oyle clenses so sound doctrine doth glad and cleanse the conscience Alcasar applies Oyle to the light and true knowledge of happinesse and wine to spirituall joy which the Lambs voice promiseth the Elect shall not be deprived of notwithstanding the dearth of truth by the darknesse of heresie Which happened partly when the whole world groaned under Arrianisme Vers 7 8. And I looked and behold a pale horse c. This fourth beast having the for me of a flying Eagle with quick fighted eyes having spied something as it were on high cals to John for I beleeve hereby may be signifyed these plagues coming from above to revenge the injuries done to the Saints and to punish the impenitent This pale horse is the same Church of Christ in the succeeding age though of another colour Pale because it is infirme weak sickly neer unto death and hell it by accident was occasioned by Constantines excessive bounty to the Church for then Pastors began to be proud luxurious idle and fertile in vices Jerome complained in his time that after Princes became Christians the Church indeed was greater in power and riches but lesse in vertue the remote cause was the guile and malice of that old serpent the devil Also now Bishops by infinite ceremonies and human traditions increased the pale disease Nay Monks whose at first solitary hard life wrought much upon the people increased this palenesse for people that desired pardon for sin were sent to the Monks dennes not to Christ whereby this mortall wound came upon the Church drawing more to hell then either the blacknes of heresies or sword of tyrants though this might seeme rather to be expressed under the notion of the darkning the Sun and rolling up the heaven then by

the gathering together the Kings of the earth into Armageddon the burning of the whorish woman the desolation of Babylon the event of the Goggish war More then the beginning we have seen and further shall see E. H. The Errata of moment are these CHap. 1. page 2. line 10. Alcasar should be set in the margin against that line l. 13. read changeable causes for unchangeable cause ch 3. p. 30. l. 6. after doth r. not l. 26. for spiritual r. spirit ch 8. p. 54. l. 31. r. Bishops successors ch 9. p. 66. l. 30. for eye r. use ch 9. l. last for withdraw r. wrath ch 10. p. 72. l last after locusts r. doctrine ch 11. p. 83. l. 37. for shew r. flew ch 12. p. 88. l. 11. for of Christs birth r. at Christs birth AN EXPOSITION OR A short but full plaine and perfect Epitome of the most choice Commentaries upon the REVELATION Of Saint JOHN Especially of the most learnedly judicious DAV PAREVS CHAP. 1. Vision 1. Vers 1. The Revelation of Iesus Christ .. THE Word Revelation or Apocalypse signifies the unfolding of a secret T is called a Revelation for two reasons First because we need the knowledge of it Secondly it shews the divine authority of it for the title answereth the title of the ancient Prophets as the vision of Isaiah so the Revelation of John Of Jesus Christ which God gave him God may be said to give it to Christ as he was man nay as God for the father is the fountaine of the Godhead So Christs wisedome is from the father by an eternal generation it shews Christ to be God because it belongs to God only to reveal secrets Isa 41.23 now t is Christ office to reveal to his People the Will of his father His servants To wit Christ This proves Christs divine nature because all the faithfull are his servants Which must shortly come to passe therefore this book doth not treat of things then past as some would perswade but things to come Must come shews the unchangeable decree of God Also secondary causes as the malice and rage of Satan and his instruments against the Church though unchangeable causes if not hindred by the over-ruling Power of God bring forth necessarily an effect Shortly That is shall begin suddainly to take effect though the things herein mentioned were not in a very short time to be all performed for many hundred years are past already and yet many things are not come to passe yet the time is short in respect of the age of the world already past or in respect of eternity Alcazar or God with whom a thousand years are but as one day And signified it by his Angel God gave him the Revelation not to keep for himself but to shew it to his servants now is expressed the faithfulnesse of Christ in executing his charge committed to him of God And he sent This proves Christs Divinity in that he commands the Angels and they obey him This is Pauls argument of the Deity of the Son Heb. 1.6 His servant John Christ takes notice of nay doth register the names of his servants Poor Lazarus is mentioned when the rich mans name is buried in Oblivion only there was a certain rich man Happy are his servants whom he hath graven unto their comfort be it spoken on the palmes of his hands not on iron but flesh not on his back parts but his hands not the back of them but the palmes of his hands Vers 2. Who bare record of the Word of God That is of Christ the Word note three things 1. That the Penman was one that writ of Christ 2. That 't was Iohn who in the entrance of his Gospel says In the beginning was the Word to wit Christ 3. That Iohn wrote his Gospel before he wrote the Revelation who bare Record of the Word And of the Testimony of Iesus Christ the doctrine of Christ the death and martyrdome of Christ for Iohn stood by and saw him crucified And of all things that he saw to wit now in visions also he alludeth to a place in his Gospel where he says he that saw it bare record and his record is true Vers 3. Blessed is he that readeth because by reading comes faith and observance also he commendeth the reading of this book to all men And which heare those then that cannot read may be blessed let them procure others to read to them this and other books of the Scripture especially explained And keep the things reading and hearing without observance will availe little yet it may be both a means to remove what may hinder our happinesse and to direct us in the right way of attaining the same Of this Prophecie This shews it is from God for all Prophecie is of him 2 Pet. 1.20 it may also the sooner stirre up our hearts to feek the knowledge of this book for men do covet to know the things to come See my little book called A glimpse of Christs love p. 14. concerning a Prophet and Prophecie in part For the time is at hand The time of the beginning of the performance The time both of the fury of the adversary and the deliverance of the Church this should stirre up in us a diligent care to read this Prophecie for the knowledge of good and evill at the doore ought not to be neglected Vers 4. Iohn to the seven Churches gathered in Asia the lesse by the preaching of the Word chiefly by Paul to whom Iohn dedicates and sends his book because the first Vision directly concerns them Grace he to you and Peace by grace understand the free love of God in pardoning sin by peace chiefly that of conscience but also all temporal blessings included in that word peace he is to reprove these to whom he wisheth thus well it teacheth that reproofe should be the effect of love not of malice From him which is which was and which is to come that is from the father alluding to that name in Exod. 3. I am which is because the father is from none which was because he was before all time in eternity which is to come because he shall come to judge the world by the Sonne the Sonne also is one with his father was for in the beginning was the Word is to come to judge immediately the quick and the dead yet I rather understand this of the father because by the seven spirits before the throne is meant the holy Spirit as Christ is expressed in the next verse From the seven Spirits before the throne the holy Spirit is called seven because he is perfect in working for seven is used for a perfect number in this book In my quoted book pag. 43. I proved that by Angels excelling in strength arch-angels are meant Psal 103.20 the rather because the ordinary Angels are meant in ver 21. yee his host Also I affirmed that by seven spirits ch 3. v. 5. happily these angels may be meant but in

the wicked and deliver the righteous Hold that fast which thou hast to wit faith and a good conscience By faith they had righteousnesse sanctification and adoption and a good conscience helped them forward in sincerity and patience under the Crosle which were therefore to be kept That no man take away thy Crown this notes the dangerous effect of slothfulnesse such lose their Crown Observe three things 1. The promises of God ought not to make us secure Christ promises to deliver them in the houre of temptation yet they must hold fast what they had See my book already quoted p. 79. 2. They only who hold fast what they received shall be crowned 3. Each shall have his own Crown so there are differences of reward in heaven as well as of punishments in hell See the same book pag. 122.123 all have the like glory not for the degrees but quality they shall shine as the Sunne there 's the quality some degrees yet are no doubt allowable to be affirmed for as one starre differs from another in glory so also is the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15.41 Vers 12. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the house of my God This verse hath a promise of a threefold reward to the overcomers 1. That they shall be glorious members of the Church triumphant understood by Pillars in the Temple 2. Their glory shall be unchangable perpetual eternal understood of the perseverance of the Saints in those words He shall go no more out alluding to the brazen pillars thrown out and destroyed with the Temple by the Babylonians 3. The promise of the inscription of a threefold name 1. I will write upon him the name of my God either alluding to Salomons pillars which had names or to the Romanes who usually write upon their statues of triumph the actions of the Conquerours and the names of the conquered nations These names are perished but those Christ writes are indelible 2. The name of the City of God as the first name signifies their being sons of God glorified so the second their being members of the Church triumphant 3. His new name since his exaltation Christ will make his partakers of perfect happinesse being members of his body To the godly in Pergamus he promised a new name but to these his new name which he received of his Father which is above every name now as it signifies Christs glorious exaltation at his right hand so he promises to make them glorious according to measure being members of such a head Concerning the Churches or Cities coming down from heaven who sees not that her Original is from heaven grounded on Gods Election also it receives its birth here from heaven But lastly John saw the Vision in heaven ver 13. hath been mentioned elsewhere vers 7. chap. 2. Vers 14. Vnto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write Whoever this Pastor was he was a carnal crafty man and though he bore the name of a Minister he was void of God linesse Our Apostle twice mentioneth these Laodiceans in his Epistle to the Colossians as chap. 2.2.4.16 though in Johns time 't was very corrupt Yet upon Christs sending this sharp Epistle doubtlesse it repented of its evils for Eusebius commendeth this Church as flourishing in his time These things saith the Amen Aman in Hebr. signifies verity now Christ cals himselfe so because he is true both in promises and threatnings that by promise-keeping he might win this hypocrite from sinne or by threatning and assuredly without repentance punishing he might deterre him Again Christ is not yea and nay that is variable and inconstant but in Christ all the promises are Yea and Amon 2 Cor. 1.19 20. Therefore he takes upon him this name here because the hypocrites he was to deal with being grown secure it should seem begun to esteem of the faith of Christ as a thing indifferent and that for the cause thereof they needed not suffer affliction or contend with the Opposers thus then the more plainly to taxe their luke-warmnesse he declares his truth and faithfulnesse concerning his being a faithful witnesse See ch 1. ver 5. The beginning of the Creation of God this proves Christs deity for the Sonne with the father and the spirit gave unto all creatures the beginning of their being Touching the Son all things were made by him Now Christ calleth himself the beginning that these poor Laodiceans might return to him the fountain of all good Vers 15. I know thy works that thou art neither cold nor hot Neither were these Laodiceans enemies to Christ nor true friends but served Christ and the world alike as occasion served They were neutrals that is fained hypocrites worse in Christs esteem then his professed enemies I would thou wert either hot or cold He first wisheth they were hot that is truly zealous in faith and godlinesse or cold that is altogether without faith and godlinesse he wisheth not this absolutely but comparatively insomuch as they that seem to be cold seem to be more excusable then those that be luke-warm and more easily to be reformed and better avoided Certainly t is a worse thing not to follow the truth we know in sincerity then to be ignorant altogether thereof Hypocrites and those that have faith only in shew and think that they see but are blind are greater enemies yet with pretence of Religion to Christians then those who are quite cold One may be sooner hurt and deceived under the name of a friend then of a foe A Pagan also were sooner gained to Christ then a Jew or Hypocrite Here you may see what to think of the members of Antichrist who joyne Christ and Belial Images and Scripture God and gaine together Vers 16. I will spue thee out of my mouth the metaphor is taken from warme water which is loathsome to the stomack it notes the hypocrites creeping into and being in the Church with a forme of Godlinesse but to be cast out because wanting the power thereof Vers 17. For thou sayst I am rich either because many rich Merchants were in this Church and therefore they boasted as having all wordly comforts though they be weak arguments to prove our being in Christ to reason from outward blessings or rather because hypocrites do imagine they are rich in spiritual things wanting nothing here is their Pride also reproved Because thou sayst thou art rich and knowst not ignorance was the cause of their pride they knew not themselves nor their own wants The best way to beat down pride is to examine and know our selves Thou art wretched Christ sheweth in five things what naturally we are all and what hypocrites are Wretched is one oppressed with calamity and sicknesse which must here be understood of the soul Miserable deprived of mercy Poore destitute of true righteousnesse and holinesse Blind ignorant of his miserable state which is a very great misery Naked wanting Christ the wedding garment Vers 18. I counsel

ages as Luther have thus spiritually undone and devoured poperie and the beast severall Kingdomes of late in some measure being enlightened and Antichrist there destroyed by the witnesses and faithfull Ministers of Christ notwithstanding all the plots armes threatnings of the Adversaries So then as the witnesses have as it were weapons so they are not carnall but spirituall Vers 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not c. Alluding to the Ministery of Elias 1 King 17.1 this is not to be taken literally for then there should be no rain during Antichrists kingdom which according to the letter is false Spiritually the witnesses by the power of the keyes shut heaven so that the raine of grace doth not mollifie the hearts of opposers and contemners either the spirituall rain of the Cospel comes not to them or works not upon they trusting in merits pilgrimages masses thus the word hardens accidentally though it soften the heart of the Elect. Here also may be thought on the imprecations of the Saints against the utter enemies of the Church as Antichrist which with God is of great force They have power over waters to turne them into blood c. Alluding to Moses and Aaron turning the waters of Egypt into blood So when the spirituall Pharaoh of Rome kept the Church in spirituall bondage God raised up witnesses as Mofes and Aaron to gain home his people but upon Antichrists refusall the witnesses by their sighes teares prayers procured great famines pestilences which have been common upon the adversaries for the contempt of the word thus also the witnesses spiritually smite the earth with plagues Where observe the reason and cause of great punishment by famine plague war was contempt of the word and witnesses thus the word and witnesses accidentally bring miseries Vers 7. Moreover when they have finished their testimonie c. The preaching of the Gospel is called a prophecy and a testimony of Christ and the Truth Which when the witnesses shall have finished for before Antichrist shall not overcome them and then only them not their testimony for the Gospel cannot perish the beast arising out of the bottomlesse pit out of which the locusts came chap. 9. v. 3. and Antichrist or the Pope too shall make war with them and kill them the war here is by disputations in behalfe of Antichrists Sermons branding the witnesses as hereticks seducers by councels condemning the witnesses by excommunications and buls cursing and casting them out by force by fire and faggot and the like not by the word of truth for so the witnesses shall kill Antichrist and the Locusts or the goodnesse of the cause Thus Jerom of Prague was overcome and Wickcliffes bones were taken up and burnt so was John Husse destroyed after he had prophecyed even literally 42 moneths for from the first time he began to maintain Wickcliffes opinions being Anno. 1412. to his martyrdom were precisely say his friends 1260 dayes or two and forty moneths Now though some famous witnesses were put to death suddenly after their finishing their testimonie and so the beasts treading down the holy city to be a time larger then that of the witnesses whereas the text gives both the same space of 42. moneths or 1260. dayes remember that the two witnesses in their successours revived and prophecyed again vers 11. So God has not lest himself without a witnesse to this houre nor will not till the Peast ceaseth to tread under foot the holy city or give over tyrannising at least Vers 8. And their dend bodies shall lye in the street of the great city c. This must not be quite taken literally for the bodies of the witnesses were burnt and needed no buriall but as the Church of Rome is the great city consisting of many Kingdomes and is spiritually called Sodom because of her uncleannesse among the Clergie and other sins and as Rome is spiritually called Egypt in respect of the spirituall slavery she keeps the people as Egypt did Israel and in respect of the thousands of Idols of Rome like that most Idolatrous Egypt and as Rome spiritually crucified Christ not because Pilate a Roman and the souldiers did it though that is somewhat but because Christ is recrucified at Rome and in the Idol of the Masse where they of Rome say they crucifie him daily as being say they bodily present but especially because she spiritually crucifies Christ in his members and is as wretched and as ready to do it as Ierusalem that literally did it So spiritually their carcases lie unburied that is their names are cursed and exposed to shame their books burnt condemned and not suffered to be bought their friends abused and their very houses made jakes Thus the great city or Church of Rome is in respect of her Idolatry tyranny over the people darknesse in the matters of saving faith obstinacy in matters of obedience to the witnesses and word contempt of God and his messengers and judgements notwithstanding the pure water of life is become puddle to them and other judgments meant by the waters turned into blood called spiritually or allegorically Egypt Vers 9. And they of the People tongues shall see their dead bodies c. To wit all those that adhered to Antichrist should applaud their King Abaddon and see with joy the dead bodies of the Saints cast forth as dung into the street in the fore quoted sense Three days and an half If the Popish Councel of Constance where many of several nations met be the kin●ed and people that rejoyced over the witnesses as our Iohn Fox thinks then by three days and an half may be understood three years and an half for so long that Councell sate Now days sometimes signifie years as Ezek. 4.6 each day for a year However the witnesses shall be exposed to reproach but for a short time this is for the comfort of the Saints and in the first place for Iohn that he might not be troubled Ver. 10. And the inhabitants of the earth shall rejoyce over them c Meaning those servants of Antichrist called inhabitants of the earth as having nothing to do with Heaven 'T is bad to do ill worse to rejoyce in it Now behold 't is come to passe in a strange manner that men in killing them shal tink they do God service 'T is said during the Antichristian councell of Constance publick shows and feasts were kept at the burning of Martyrs And the Romish locusts when they condemne a Saint to the fire use to feast gratulate each other and send presents one to another Well Lazarus saw Dives in hell in torment in the Parable The reason follows Because these two Prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth The word Prophet here is taken in a large sense sometimes in Scripture to prophecy is to interpret here 't is to preach c. Here remember what Ahab said to Elijah thou troublest Israel when he was the troubler of Israel Indeed the little book

will be bitter in the working it brings sorrow not to be repented of to the Saints though it torment the consciences of wicked men accidentally the Physick works most upon the fowlest stomach where the fault is not in the Physick but in the body so the word will have its proper effect The locusts are the wicked tormentors ch 9. ver 5. Vers 1. But after three days and an half c. That is after a litlle while the spirit entred into them to wit in the Vision to Iohn The truth is the same spirit being immortal shall enter one day into the bodies again when to be glorified but here 't is meant that God would raise up such men with the like spirit as the spirit of Elias is said to be in the Baptist to witnesse his truth against Antichrist Thus God raised up Luther and Melancthon to succeed the former witnesses in whom they are said to live c. But litterally Antichrist never got the bodies to burn yet the locusts have exposed them to what shame they can in writing this may comfort the godly and encourage them not to fear them that can kill the body hence 't is plain God is not left without a witnesse so that the terme of the witnesses prophecying is not come to an end Lastly you see the Locusts and Abaddon their King can kill the witnesses yet not hurt them nor their testimony God will raise them up in their successors here and glorifie them hereafter Vers 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven c. The witnesses did not the enemies Great Because of the power thereof for it shall bring the witnesses to glory Saying unto them come up hither To wit to Christ who is not bodily everywhere but in glory Now Iohn saw the witnesses ascend perchance bodily in the Vision teaching how after the death of the Saints their souls immediatly are in glory This confirms the doctrine of the witnesses though by the enemy condemned as heresie And their enemies beheld them So in the Vision Truly thus have the enemies beheld the witnesses whom they slew raised up to life in Luther Calvin and standing upon their feet as it were and consequently beleeve they ascended into glory after death though they rage against their successours Thus at this restauration of the witnesses to life in their successours the Antichristian adversaries are amazed seeing their doctrine so glorious And fear fell upon the beholders They beheld them dead with delight but at their ascending to honour they are amazed and afraid These as the enemies in the Gospel raged at Christ to wit and the disciples yet feared them against whom they raged they fear because they feel though perhaps too late that they warred against Christ and Truth Therefore also they shall fear their kingdom riches and they shall dread the judgment of GOD but not escape it Vers 13. And there was a great earthquake the same houre Antichrist raised an earthquake against Christ Chap. 6. Now Christ against Antichrist By this earthquake I understand not only the great stir among themselves about Religion which much shakes great Britaine at this houre but Luthers preaching and before that the Bohemians war but to say no more experience shews how both multitudes of witnesses the revolt by the witnesses means of many Kingdomes from papacy the many wars made aganst Spaine Romes most beloved son have made a most terrible earthquake in that great city I mean the Church of Rome The same houre That is presently after the killing of the witnesses I know not one whole Kingdom God be praised for it except Spaine and Italy and herein the Venetian begins to hare the Locusts that totally adheres to his unholinesse the Pope Thus the tenth part of the city fell In the Vision Nay by Luthers Ministery great part of the Romish Religion and tyranny or jurisdiction fell in Germany which was a great part of the Romish city and in England and other places upon it Seven thousand names were slaine c. By the fall of the city names are put for men Now as Brightman has it the revenues and profits of many parish Churches as I may adde Monasteries and Colledges being lost by the rising of the Gospel impoverished and as it were shew many Priests also by the preaching of the Gospel many Papists being more hardened perished And the remnant were affrighted c. The falling of the great city builds Christs little one this proved a good fear many seeing the works of God turned to the Gospel of which experience and histories speak Vers 14. The second Woe is past and behold c. To Iohn in the Vision The first woe t was under Antichrist from his rising to the councell of Constance when the city began to fall The second is yet under both Antichrist Pope and Turke The third lasts to the seveth trumpet to the end for the wicked Vers 15. And the seventh Angel sounded This is the Archangell mentioned 1 Thes 4.16 so the seventh trumpet is that which shall sound when the dead shall rise And their were voyces in heaven saying To wit of the 24. elders or heavenly inhabitants rejoycing for the just judgment to come so the Woe threatned belongs to Antichrist and the damned which Woe Christ uttered in those words Go you cursed and is now to be fulfilled The former woes did belong to the godly and wicked alike under both Antichrists Turk and Pope this only to the wicked Now the cause of the heavenly rejoycing was in part because the kingdomes of the world which the adversaries had violently taken into their possession and as much as in them lay thrust out Christ now returne to Christ who having destroyed his enemies shall raigne alone after which time Christ shall deliver up his Kingdom for now he rules by his word Spirit Sacraments Ministery as Mediatour but then as God and one with the Father for ever of which see 1 Cor. 15. hereafter Antichrist and the wicked shall not rivall with him but our Lord and Christ that is our Lord Christ Jesus alone with the Father and Spirit Vers 16. Then those foure and twenty Elders which sate before God c. Of which before largly chap. 4.4 Here all the heavenly host shut up the third Vision with a song of triumph humbly falling down on their faces in the Vision otherwise they are not bodily in heaven giving thanks to him that is and was and is to come the Almighty of which before chap. 1.8 the cause is Vers 17. Because thou hast taken to thee thy great power and hast raigned Taken that is doest exercise thy great power destroying all thine enemies and delivering thy afflicted Spouse blessing her with thy selfe eternally in heaven Vers 18. And the nations were angry c. The heavenly host give this a reason why they rejoyce in the great judgment because the Nations have sufficiently been angry and raged against thy Church and to

notes the utter desolation of Rome and her stately Palaces and Temples before the end of all things for Satyrs and Devils appear in Deserts and wild places and these birds inhabit ruinous Towns and Castles such as Rome must be and a just punishment upon her Idols and Temples hell is the Devils hold properly so that this shall be a fearful place where the Pope Cardinals Bishops and Clergy sinned and feasted luxuriously now Devils shall dance commonly Vers 3. For they have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication c. All Nations have that is many Nations all Christendom and more Now here spiritual fornication is meant because she is a City chap. 17. vers last with whom the Kings here mentioned could not commit literal fornication 't is called wine because pleasing to corrupt nature as all sin all heresie is and enticing overtaking one as wine unawares called wrath because it causeth Gods wrath So here is the true reason of Romes desolation her damnable Idolatry so that the place is justly punished for the sin committed therein And the Merchants of the earth To wit Cardinals Bishops and the like who only have leave to trade in holy wares of Masses Indulgences Pardons Peter-pence spiritual riches and soules of men vers 13. which old Rome never traded with Are waxen rich By most unlawful means which brings a judgment as spiritual whordom damnable Idolatry deceit thus heaping up riches living by this means delicately luxuriously dishonestly for by this means these spiritual Merchants called Princes of the earth vers 23. could buy any temporal merchandise of common Merchants Now certainly all things are vendible at Rome any sin to be forgiven for money by the spiritual Merchants Vers 4. And I heard another voice saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins c. So Jerem. 51.6 45. 1. Here is commission to separate from Rome in heart and bodily and any thing that is Antichristian 2. God hath and ever had a people in Babylon though at least spirituall captives yet elected and to be saved 3. The means of salvation is to be laid hold on and to flie to the Word and Christ to wit out of Babylon 4. If we partake not of the sins of Babylon nor of her punishments shall we lest we partake of her sins and of her plagues 5. Because our corrupt natures are easily enticed to sin fly out of her Indeed travellers who really are not for Rome must uncover the head and bow the knee by force at Masses which is too much connivence even adoration therefore be not there fly out of Babylon lest God be angry and ye partake of her plagues Vers 5. And her sins have reached unto heaven Abels blood and the Sodomites sins called to heaven in a metaphor for vengeance Sin is of a crying nature especially spiritual whoredom noted by her sins being of a more wicked and heinous nature then ordinary And God hath remembred her iniquities Fully to punish them otherwise God remembred Rome before though he for many reasons forbore her The Jesuites confesse that Rome shall be wasted by ten Kings before the coming of Antichrist pray examine why she is to be wasted because of her Idolatry therefore Antichrist that causes men to commit by counsel from the Dragon this great abomination is come O Jesuites see the cause of your Cities ruine is your beloved Idolatry and Fornication Ver. 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you reward to sin is due which the godly shall in time see done to Rome when she is wasted at what time they are bid to reward her that is to rejoyce at her punishment being Christs great enemy for they are not to reward her otherwise neither need they for God is said to have done it in her overthrow by the Angel before the godly are bid to reward her or rejoyce The Saints approving Christs judgement at the last day is called their judging the world So the godly's rejoycing here is called their rewarding Babylon Reward yee Ye of the ten Kings who are converted and against Rome ye Preachers also teach that she is to be rewarded so private revenge is not here thought on And give her double according to her works c. That is a very sore and sufficient reward of punishment for so the word double is used Esay 40. vers 2. comfort Jerusalem to wit after her captivity because I have rewarded her double for her sin that is abundantly enough thus Rome is to be rewarded yet according to her works as she hath afflicted the Saints so she shall be sorely afflicted the Lord remembers his peoples miseries and tormentors to return both double the one of joy the other of punishment O Ireland how canst thou escape Vers 7. How much she hath glorified her self and lived in pleasure c. Saying she was Christs only Spouse the Catholique Church the Apostolique Sea the Pope Christs Vicar condemning all the Saints for Hereticks calling her self the head of all Churches a Queen by so much sorer punishment she shall be afflicted as by a law of equality Now never was such a boasting Church as Rome Saying I sit a Queen Not only in her heart but in her Sermons writings and actions I sit Noting her pride and security as if she were unmoveable A Queen Noting her self-confidence and usurping authority above all Churches Thus Antichrist exalteth himself 2 Thes 2.4 above all that is called God whether Angels or Magistrates for both are so called Thus in a parenthesis the sons of God or Judges great men Magistrates took the daughters of men being faire or ravished them taking them by force being mens sons of power and without controul and gyants were gotten Apostates for so the word in Hebrew may be rendred Gen. 6.2.4 from God and Religion then arose God not blessing those unlawfull courses of marriages which occasioned the flood Thus Magistrates are called Gods above whom Antichrist exalteth himself as above Emperours Kings Churches and Councils as is noted I am no widow As by a Queen is noted the pride pompe riches state power of Rome So by her being no widow is meant her being Christs supposed Spouse for so she calls her self and her extraordinary boasted of honour and pomp which abounds at Rome and that perswades them there that God loves them as Ephraim boasted foolishly Hos 12.8 I have found me out much riches when indeed Christs Church is denominated from her affliction Esa 54.11 O thou afflicted and riches and pompe are more companions of the wicked Job 21. to vers 15. I shall see no sorrow This is Romes language Yet many Kingdomes and people have revolted from this proud harlot so her sorrow increases and some of the ten Kings have long since begun to hate her Vers 8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and sorrow c. That is suddainly swiftly She delighted in pleasure