and to build and to plant let no man now marvell that fire or divine revenge is said to proceed out of the mouthes of the witnesses who notwithstanding have the sole power of denouncing it or obtaining it from God So the witnesses doe revenge their own injury it so loweth by what means also they revenge the contumely offered to the Temple of God They have power to shut heaven that it raine not to wit a mysticall Vers 6. raine in the dayes of their prophesie That is they are furnished with the power of the keyes whereby they shut up heaven against these new Gentiles the corrupters of Christian worship that the grace of the blood of Christ sealed by Baptisme be not shed upon them for the remission of their sins so long as they by their Idolatries and Superstitions shall persevere to be the cause of the mourning prophesie of the witnesses I will more plainly expresse it They according to the word of God do debarre from the hope of eternall life promised onâ—ly to the pure worshippers of God those new Idolaters untill being mindfull of their covenant in Baptisme they shall returne to the worship of one God by one Mediatour Iesus Christ forsaking the worshipping of Satan and so shall put an end to the mourning prophesie of the witnesses Even as Elias also restored not raine to the Israelites now almost killed with drought before that the prophets of Baal and his worship were destroyed But of this power of the witnesses we have an example afterwards Chap. 14 9. If any one say they shall worship the Beast and his Image and receive his marke in their forehead or on his hand the same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God of the pure wine 10. tempered in the cup of his indignation and he shall be tormented with Chap. 11. fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels and in the presence 11. of the Lambe and the smoake of their torment shall ascend for ever and ever c. To conclude they have power over waters to turne them into Vers 6. blood and to smite the earth with every plague as often as they will Such like power indeed Moses and Aaron used when they brought Israel out of the Egyptian bondage Whence I gather that the power of the witnesses figured by this type pertaineth not to all the dayes of the mourning prophesie but to the end of them or the time of the phyalls to wit when by the conduct of the witnesses or Prophets as it were of Moses and Aaron the Christian people is to be brought out like wise from the tyranny and service of the Beast by plâ—gues expressed after the manner of those of Egypt For truly the first plague of the Phyals doth strike the earth with an Vlcer by the secoâ—d and third the waters are turned into blood the rest doe torment the worshippers of the Beast or the Gentiles abiding in the court of the Temple with other and yet more grievous plagues The interpretation of all which we will reserve to their proper place Let it suffice here to have referred this last power to the powring out of the Phyals It followeth And when they shall be about to finish their testimony the Beast which ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre against Vers 7. them and shall overcome them and kill them Of the function and power of the Witnesses hitherto it followeth now of their destinie which they were to finde at the end of their Prophesie The description whereof is wholly compact out of the historie of the passion of our Lord. For the Lord Iesus likewise when he had ended his preaching of about so many dayes as the prophesie of the Witnesses amount to is slaine by the Romane Governour the Legate of this beast between whom and the Witnesses there is warre but in the time of his sixt head the third day after there being likewise a great earthquake he rose againe And a little after to wit upon the fortieth day being received in a cloud he ascended into heaven All which things God would have to be represented in this slaughter of his witnesses by his owne death that like as they have borne the likenesse of those renowned paires of which is spoken before in the state of their function so they should be made conformable Chap. 11. in suffering and death to their Lord Christ that faithfull Witnesse which truely ought to be both comfortable and glorious to them in the midst of their miseries But let us give light to the text When saith he they shall be about to finish their testimony for so 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be translated noâ— of the Preterperfect tense when they have finished the Beast which ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make war with them and shall overcome them and kill them That is when now part of the holy Citie or inhabitants of the Christian world acknowledging the horriblenesse of Gentilisme repenting of their Idolatries and abominations and clensing the Temple of God within themselves the witnesses rejoycing should begin to put off their sackcloth and to be freed from their daily mourning notwithstanding they should not yet be wholly freed that Romane seven-headed Boast of the last time of which Chap. 13. chasing that the preaching of those mourners had so farre prevailed shall make warre against them overcome and kill them The first of which concerning the mourning of the witnesses already begunne to determine â—ath beene continually performed from the beginning of the reformed Church untill this present The other concerning warre and slaughter I conjecture is yet to come But our Brightman thought it already fulfilled to wit in the Smalcaldian warre under the Emperour Charles the fifth Others apply it to the late ruine of the Churches of Germany And who would not much rather that so lamentable an accident to the Church were past then to feare it to be yet to come But the interpretation is not to be directed according to our wish Yea rather the errour will be with greater danger on that part then on the contrary For the expectation of a future calamity conduceth more to piety then an over-credulous securitie thereof as if it were already past There are two things which perswade me that this last destruction is yet to be feared The first that those lamentable times of the Gentiles trampling under foot the holy Citie or Christian Religion or the times of the forty two moneths cannot be said to have fulfilled their period so long as the Beast shall reigne and therefore neither the Dayes of the Witnesses mourning in sackcloth being of the same time and of the same age with them Another because this destruction of the Witnesses is to be the next antecedent as we shall heare afterwards Chap. 11. to the destruction and ruine of the great Citie that is Rome which the * Series course of
though they expected Christ his coming at that very time yet were offended at his not taking upon him the Regall authoritie his time for that being not then come For mine own use also I made a Compendium of the whole Commentarie and have in the Margent thereof set down the chapters and verses out of which the severall matters are taken that by turning thither the larger Exposition may be seen this also was thought fit to bee added at the latâ—er end of the worke Whilst this was at the Presse and the plate for the Scheme in the Apocalyptique Key under the hand of the Sculpter there came thither Master Haydock a learned Gentleman who enquiring after me was pleased to come unto mee and acquainted me with some passages by Letters betwixt himselfe and Master Mede touching the Seven sealed book and the figure thereof wishing it might be expressed in another forme which considering I was but the Translator of his book who no doubt is with God I could not yeeld unto yet gave way that what he desired might be added with distinction betwixt them and printing so much of Master Mede his letter as concerned the reason of the alteration of the forme of that book the matter in substance not differing This is the cause why you may discerne a difference betwixt the Scheme in Master Medes Latine and this Translation of it into English the extract of which Letter turned out of Latine into English by Master Haydock himselfe followeth in these words viz. The observation of your Seal-bearing Sylinder is most ingenious and such as never entred into my thoughts before although I often beat and hammered upon it Nay I rather doubted whether any such forme of volume might be given wherein the opening of each severall Seal might in order represent to the eye of the Reader a new inscription Now as for the matter it selfe therein comprised I rest altogether uncertaine what to determine sometimes I was of opinion that those visions concerning the Seales were not written by Characters in letters but being painted by certaine shapes lay hid under some covers of the Seales which being opened each of them in its order appeared not to be read but to be beheld and viewed and according to this apprehension those words of Iohn 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Come and see seeme not unfitly to agree Afterwards I considered that this conceit of mine agreed not generally with all the Apocalypticall narration insomuch as in the fift and sixt Seales the speech is directed to the thing seen Besides I observe that in the seventh Seale the visions of the Trumpets are not delivered together and at the same time but produced unto the sight in order and succeffively Moreover that the preparation going before the sound is so described that it must be confessed that the thing was performed in the naked descriptions of the things seene in the volume which way soever described nay nor yet in the simple writing but altogether in forraigne representation At the length therefore because it seemed too unseemly a thing to affirme that the thing was performed by a meere outward representation the book conferring nothing thereunto I fell into the opinion that both were to be joyned together and that we must say that indeed the Prophecies were described and pourtrayed in the Volume whether by signes and shapes or letters but that these were no otherwise exhibited to Iohn and other beholders of this coelestiall Theater then by a forraigne representation supplying the roome of a reherfall not much unlike to our Academicalâ— interludes where the prompters stand neere the Actors with their books in their hands whereas then neither the Lamb himselfe could recite any thing out of the book neither did the Apostle stand so neere for the Lambe stood neere to him that sate on the Throne that he might read out of the hand of him who opened the Seales it must needs be that he apprehended all these after the manner as I have said Now Sir it is meerely your humanity which hath moved me to expresse these my cogitations to you And so I conclude praying that Almightie God may be pleased to affoord you an happy old age with a longer extent of life which may prove the forerunner of that Blessed one From Christs Colledge Ian. An. 1634. The true esteemer of your self and your studies Joseph Mede Thus much of this letter I insert here as it was received from Master Haydock whom it hath pleased God lately to take out of this life He purposed also to have given the motives and reasons of his alteration of the forme of the seven sealed booke which in effect were these 1. The ancient form of Books was in severall sheets of Parchment fastned at one end only and so rolled up together as appeareth by the texts Heb. 10. 7. In the Volume a Volâ—endâ—â— volume of thy Booke it is written of me c. cited out of Psal 40. 7. which in many translations is In the rolles of thy Book so that we may be confident that the same kinde of Booke was meant which was then most if not wholly in use 2ly The form of the seven-sealed Booke ought to be such as might satisfie the Lambes intention which had an eye unto Prius and Posterius in regard of the sequell of the ensuing History for that part which belongs to the first Seale ought to be viewed before the second or the rest be opened whereas in the form of the Moderne Books untill all the seven Seals be opened no use can be made of any part or leafe in the book But in the form of the roll when every leafe hath its severall labell inserted in its proper distance with a Seal and severall impression of Emblimaticall signiture each severall leafe being taken and unsealed in order the severall matter therein contained will appeare and no more of any of the rest till they be opened in order Had Master Haydock lived this had beene more exactly performed by his penne I have for the satisfaction of the Reader extracted these things out of his papers if this translation at first purposed only for mine own benefit shall be usefull to others let those have thâ— thanks that have called it forth to the Presse which though the Booke it selfe be of high estimation yet this translation was never designed to publike view by The Translator RICH. MORE To the curteous Reader IN the sâ—â—mer part of this Booke some sheets fell under the hands of an unskilfull Compositer and an unfaithfull Corrâ—cter wherein such faults as doe not pervert the sence are left to the ingenuitte of the Reader such as these Seale for Seales the for they glasse for glassie what for which Hypocrocy foe Hypocrisie Also take notice that from Page 33. to 63. these references Chap. 4. Chap. 5. Chap. 6. againe from Page 96. te 120. Chap. 9. are confusedly placed which ought to be onely at the top of those Pages and
windes whâ—ch hitherto they had restrayed for whom also a caveat is given at the sound of the fiâ—t trumpet chap. 9. verse 4. that thou mayest at least by that marke know that sealing to belong to the times of the trumpets And that the end and going out of the sixt seal is the beginning of the seventh is out of all question since the order of the seales one after another neither can nor ought â—o bee interrupted Therefore it must needs bee that the companie of the 144000. sealed which followes the seale being over do begin with the seaventh seale which immediately sucâ—eedeth the said sixt seal And so the holy spirit by the marke of this sealing as I judge hath in his marvellous councell taken order that wee might know the connexion of the beast beginning with the beginning of the seventh seale since no other reason can be rendred why the orderly succession of the seales not otherwise to be interrupted should be confounded with the interposition of this vision of the sealed Chap. 7. Secondly the end of the Beast doth contemporize with the going out of the sixth Trumpet For since the 1260 dayes of the witnesses mourning in sackcloth are ended at the going out of the sixth trumpet or the beginning of the seventh it must needes be that the 42. moneths of the beast end there also and by consequence that the tyrannie of the beast is contained within the compasse of the six first trumpets which was the very point I was to demonstrate But that the 42. moneths of the beast in like manner as the 1260 dayes of the mourning of the witnesses their contemporaries are to be ended at the going out of the sixt Trumpet is already demonstrated in the first part Synch 1. § 3. where out of Vers 9 10 11 12 the eleventh chapter is shewed when the witnesses after they had continued dead three dayes being raised to life againe and carried up into heaven had fulfilled the dayes of their mourning prophesie and a great earth-quake being caused the same houre or time the Verse 13 great City was fallen and the Beast the cruell enemy of the witnesses Animam agereâ— by reason of the destruction then to bee suffered was at the last cast that wee may know in what time of the seales and trumpets this should happen the Spirit hath immediately joyned the Verse 14. second woe that is the sixt trumpet even then to be past and the third woe to wit the seventh trumpet to come anon which character another guide of this great Synchronisme I do beleeve to be inserted in that place even chiefly to that end that it should bee as it were another of the hinges upon which this great and universall frame of the open book and prophecie of seales should be turned For otherwise both this warning and the sound of the seventh trumpet which followeth forthwith in right and naturall order should have been placed at the end of the prophecie of seals chap. 10. But the holy spirit having in that place foreshewed the mysterie of the seventh trumpet after the manner of a Proclamation lightly only yet as much as seemed sufficient to wit that at the sounding thereof the mystery declared to the prophets should Chap. 10.7 be consummate he would a little while withhold and deferre the sounding thereof and the expresse definition of the mysterie and that no doubt not without some weighty cause to wit untill a transition being made to the new prophecie of the open booke Chap. 10. from the eight verse to the end he had brought up the first vision thereof the course of the Revelation being likewise run over to the lame period For that I would the Reader should well observe in this one vision of the eleventh chapter as being the first of the prophesie repeated over again the most wise spirit runneth through as the Weaver the warpe with the woofe the whole space of the prophecie of the seals and knitteth the same by the seventh trumpet as it were with a curious knott to 〈◊〉 the order of the seales for direction of the time But to what end but that the other prophecies of the little book being joyned by their characters to the first vision so fixed and compared with the seales the whole body of the repeated prophesie might bee aptly conjoyned with the seales Furthermore lest that happily should raise any scruple in any that those things which are related in the Text concerning the overthrow of the Beast concerning the Fall of the Citie and the slaughter of men caused by the Earth-quake seeme not at all that they ought to be understood of the utter destruction of the beast I say that neither is this requisite to that Synohronisme whereof we have treated but that they be meant at least concerning the finishing of his time of authority and raigne which is determined in 42. moneths and which the Synchronisme of the beast and witnesses being granted must needs end together with the dayes of the witnesses But that estate of the Beast which yet a little while shall be remaining as hence may be gathered shall bee so unlike the former as is not to be accounted the same but also not long after under the seventh Trumpet utterly to bee destroyed and abolished the Kingdomes of this world becomming our Lords and his Christs And so this principall Synchronisme being well groundâ—d it will be manifest that the other Synchronismes may be easily derived thence and knitt together with the sâ—ales The second Synchorisme Of the inner Court and of the warre of the Dragon and Michael Chap. 1â— concerning the birth oâ— the childe bâ—ing conâ—â—mporarie Chap 7. with the first six Seales Because they are the next antecedents of the succeeding contemporancies For the six first seales are the next antecedents of the seaventh The inner Court and the contention of Mâ—chael with the Dragon are the next antecedents of the Beast and the company of 144000. sealed But now the seaventh seale or which is all one the six first trumpets the company of the sealed and the Beast are contemporaries as is shewed in the former Synchronisme The third Synchronismâ— Of the Vialls with the sixt trumpet Chap. 16. Chap. 9. The seven Vialls of the last wrath since they are so many degrees of the ruine and fall of the Beast Synchronisme 7. Part 1 thereupon necessarily they are to begin with the beginning of the ruine and fall of the Beast But the kingdome of the Beast began so much to decay the sixt trumpet yet sounding and proceâ—ded to that ruine at length that at the going forth of that trumpet there should be an end of that power of 42. moneths in which it was given him to bear rule and to overcome the Saints Synch 1. of this part But the Beast could not fall to that ruine and fatall calamities before that the fift Viall at least should be poured out for then at
whether those elogies of the Angel of the bottomlesse pit and Abaddon can agree with any other besides him Howsoever it is certainly Satan was not then bound the bottomlesse pit as there it is said was not shut upon him and sealed up but as you may see chap. 9. 2. open and that so that the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a great furnace and the sunne and the aire was darkned by the smoke of it To conclude but that this libertie of the Dragon or Satan in deceiving the people continued even to the very destruction of the Beast and therefore was altogether of one time with the six first trumpets I thinke no man can doubt which shall well mark what is read to be done from the effusion of the sixt Viall to wit that when the seventh that is the last by and by was to be pouâ—ed out and therefore the finall ruine of the Beast was even then at â—and out of the mouth of the Dragon and the Beast and false prophet his Vicars three uncleane spirits spirits of devils working miracles shall goe out to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Alâ—ightie Chap. 16. 13. 14. So the 1000. yeeres of Satans being bonnd that he should not â—eceive the people any more can have no place neither under the six first seales noâ— under the six first trumpets therefore they are â—o be left in the sevenâ—h trumpet 2 Arg. After a thousand yeers being fulfilled Satan being let loose cut off his prison for a short time hee had raised new stirs the scum of the deceived people which hee had gathered together being conâ—uâ—ed with fire fallen from heaven the deceiver himselfe being taken and arrested is said to be sent into the lake of fire and brimstone * Chap. â—â— 10. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where were both the Beast and the false prophet Marke here reader the chronicall caracter by which is intimated that this whatsoever it is concerning Satan being taken and condemned after his second loosing it succedeth the vision of the former Chapter concerning the Beast and the false prophet being vanquished taken and thereupon cast into the lake burning with fire and brimstone by him which sate upon the white horse as in order of narration so also in the time of the thing done For otherwise it should not have been said that Satan was sent thither where both the Beast and the false prophet were except both the Beast and the false prophet had been sent thither first Neither can any man of judgement say by way of evasion that this war after a thousand yeeres of this 20th chapter is not differing from that of the former chapter when as not onely the character already brought but also all the circumstances on both sides are repugnant the parties the battell and the manner of the slaughter there with the sword here with fire yea and the event of either war unlike as anon the matter being demonstrated shall be made plaine there the binding of Satan onely for a time but here a condemnation to eternall fire The war therefore wherein the Beast and the falsâ— prophet being taken are sent into the lake of fire seeing that it is different from this last to which Satan at length to be cast into the same lake had stirred up the nations presently after his loosing either it must needs be waged within the very same thousand yeeres or els when they were not yet begun It couâ—d not be waged within the thousand yeeres because so long Satan is said to be bound and shut up in the bottomlesse pit that he should not deceive the people any more untill the thousand yeeres should be consummate chap. 20. vers 3. But in the war wherein at length there is triumph over the Beâ—st and the false prophet and their companions if ever at any other time hee was most free and loose to deceive as appeareth by those things which even now wee have alleadged out of the sixteenth chapter concerning the preparation of this war to wit that from the effusion of the sixt Phiall when as now the seventh wherein the Beast was utterly made an end of was ready to be poured out out of the moâ—th of the Dragon out of the moâ—th of the Beast and of the false prophet * Chap. 16. 13. 14 three uncleane spirits the spirits of devils shewing wonders went forth to the kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them together to the battell of the great day of God Almightie Because therefore the * Raâ—â—â— state of the thousand yeeres doth no way admit such Satannicall troubles and stirs it must needs be that this warre of the Beast shall in time goe before them and so at length the 1000. yeeres of Satans binding shall contemporize with the space from the slaughter of the Beast which was to be demonstrated 3. Arg. To conclude since through those thousand yeeres wherein Satan is kept in prison Christ is said to have reigned in that Emperiall and Magnificent Kingdome with his thereupon by the same arguments and marks by which the Synchronisâ—e of either is established the other also will be confirmed Therefore that that Emperiall Kingdome of Christ doth begin with the seventh trumpet or from the destruction of the Beast is now for us to shew The fifth Synchronisme Of the 1000. yeeres of Christ his Emperiall raigne and of the seventh trumpâ—t or the space from the destruction of the Beast 〈…〉 1 The excellent and Emperiall Kingdom of Christ often and again mentioned in the Revelation and upon the coming whereof the quire of the Beasts and triumphant elders are wont to sing hymnes and thanksgivings to God every where succeedeth in order the conquest of and the triumph over the Beast and Babylon For first where this reign of a thousand yeers is proâ—erly handled in chap 20. of the number of those which reign with Christ are 〈◊〉 4. they who had not worshiâ—ped the Beast nor his image nor had received his marke in their foreheads or in their hands doe not these words sufficiently shew that this reign of Christ succeeded the reign of the Beast his image and his stigmatized followers For wherefore should this elogie be given to those sons of the kingdome that they had not worshipped the Beast c except the Beast had now gone before For certainly the desert in time goeth before the retribution and reward But now this kingdom is given as the order of the narration sheweth to the Saints as a reward of their faith and constancie and that after their cause was first discussed in open Court of which Session as iâ— were there is a description in these words * Veâ—â—e 4. And I saw thrones and they sat upon them and judgement was given to them that is to say to them was given authoritie of judging c. Therefore the time
chap. 6.9 except in the temple whencâ— appeâ—â—ed to him the the golden Altar of incense be ore the throne chap. 8. 3. except the tâ—mple or Tabâ—rnacle had binne that throne Or what other thing will the fouer hornâ—s of the golden Altar which is in the sight oâ— God intimate chap. 9 13. what the temple the courts of the temple and Altar parteâ—y to be meâ—suâ—ed wiâ—h the Angels reed partly to be cast our chap. 11. 1. what 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the temple of God opened in Hâ—aven and therein the Arke of the testimonie exposed to sight câ—ap 11. 19. what the Angels comming out of the Temple chap. 14.15 17.18 and that also in heaven verse 18. what the â—arpers standing upon the brimmâ— of tâ—e Sea or lavour of glasse and singiâ—g the tryumphant Songe chap. 15. 2. and that also in heaven verse 1. what in the same place verse 5. The Temple of the Tabernacle of the testimony opened in heaven and the same temple veâ—se 8. filled with smoake Verse 3. from the majesty of God But that chap. 16. verse 17 putteth the matter out of all question And there came a great voice 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is out of the temple of heaven from the throne Furthermore in this throne or temple least happily thou shouldest be any thing doubtfull the place of Gods Session or as the Septuagnits 1. king 10. 19. speake of the throne of Salomon 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was the Inner and most holy parte of the temple wherein was laid up the Arke of the covenant with the propitiatorie For there God is said to dwell and to sit between Chap. 4. the Cherubins of glory For which cause finally both the seven lampes here as also the golden Altar of Incense afterwardâ—s are rightly said to have binne before the throne to wit before the oracle of the temple as it is found concerning both plainly in so many and the self same wordes 2. Cron. 4.20 and 1. King 6 20. in the former of which the septuagints have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so the Oracle is called in Hebrew in the other 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in meaning right with the Relveation 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 verse 4. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 So the other partes either of the temple or of the tabernacle wil be partly for stayes partly for stepps partly for a footstoole to the throne peculiarly so called such kinde of parts or appurtenances that emperiall throne of Salomon is said to have had So much of the throne 2. The fouer and twenty Elders compasse next about the throne which represent the Bishops and prâ—lates of the churches Ver. 6 â— and do answere both in place and order to the Levites and Preests in the campes of Israel and their number of 24 to so many courses of Preists and Levits or which cometh to the same passe to the chief of the courses whereupon besides that they are neerest to see Ezech. 〈…〉 Exod 34 19 Levit 8. 17 and else where 40 times God they also have their thrones moreover they weare crownes which are signes of dignity and power given from God 3. Thirdly a meete distance after the Preestes where the lines drawne through the midst of the throne doe twise divide the sides of the throne every way to the fouer corners of the heaven fouer living creaturs appeare the first in the shape of a Lyon the second of a Bullock for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with the septuagints is Bos a bullock the third in the shape of a man the fourth of a flying Eagle representing the christian Churches through the four quaters of the world and they answere to the foure campes of Israel bearing in their standerds the same Beastes That which in the text of the Revelation is somthing more obsâ—urely said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the midest of the throne and round about the When by two words one things is signifyed throne ought to be expounded by the figâ—re 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 familiar with the Hebrewes as if indeed it had binne said 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the midst of the circuit or compasse of the throne and that in this sense If to the throne for example as being square thou draw about a paraâ—ell foâ—re square figure with a meete distance from the throne and Elders compassing it about foure Beasts did shew themselves in or at the midle of the sides of every quadrangle for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is to be taken distributively to Chap. 4 wit in the midest of every side one Furthermore those Beasts are describâ—d full of eyes before and behind having moreover six wings aboute and those full of eyes within So many â—yes do set forth the multiâ—ud of Sharpsighted verse 8. meâ— and full of knowledge of the mysteries of God such as are in the Beasts that is the churches which the 〈◊〉 do represent The wings agiliâ—y and a lacrity o put in exâ—cution the commandement of God The wings full of eyes zâ—ale joyned with knowledge and faith To conclude the six wings aâ—out doe set them forth flying every way that is most ready universaâ—ly and wholly to fulfill the commandements of God 〈◊〉 9 10 11 Last of all is added what the office of both of them should be aswel of the Bâ—asts as of the elders about the throne to wit this thâ—t as aften as tâ—e Beasts should give glory and honour and thanksgiviâ—g to him that sitterh on the â—hrone that is as often as the Churches should performe their holy seâ—vicâ— so often the 24 Elders going before the Beasts according to their function used to faâ— downe before God saying Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power because thou hast created all things c. This interpretaâ—ion being admitted the saâ—ing of Iohâ— which most do accuse here of incongruity as abusing the futures 〈…〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 for the praete perfect will easily maintaine it self since with the Hâ—brewes whose notion the Apostle every where vseth the futures are wont to denote an act accustom'd â—rdue so as Iohn is not at all to be thought here to relate Chap. 4. what then in the vision is done by the Beasts and elders but what occasion required should be done and what he afterwards in the progresse of visions if at any time occasion of praysing God shoâ—ld happen he saw done by them And so that at length I may end I conceive I have plainly shewed that the throne in this â—mperiall session answereth to the Tabernacle or Temple the elders to thâ— Levites and Priests the four Beasts to the four campâ— of Israel that is the whole session to be the type of the ancient encamping in the wâ—ldernesse whâ—ch thing was so much the more largely by me to be handled because â—o served the reason of the most typeâ—â—n the Revelatâ—on to depend chiefly upon the
many famous victories doe witnesse partly of Constantine against Maxentius Maximinianus and Licinius partly of that great Theodosius as well against others as against Eugenius and Arbogastus the Devils Standard-bearers before the stubbornnesse and pride of the Gentile worshippers of the Dragon Rebbels against the Christian Empire being utterly broken and consumed ceased But before we depart hence one thing yet remaineth to be spoken of to wit that the Childe of the Woman was not lifted up to the Throne of God so soone as it was borne but so soone as it was growne ready for a Kingdome Therefore it is said she had brought forth a Son 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 who was to rule to wit not presently but when he had grown up Even as also Christ the sonne of Mary our Lord whose likenesse in all things this mysticall Christ the Childe of the Church doth resemble being taken up to the Throne of God entered his Kingdome not so soone as he was borne but when as likewise he was come to his perfect age there to sit untill he shall have made all his enemies his footstoole It followeth And the woman fled into the wildernesse where she hath a place Vers 6. prepared of God that they should feede her there a thousand two hundreth and threescore dayes Which since it is afterwards to be repeated and somewhat more fully to be described we will put off the exposition to that place And there was warre in heaven Michael and his Angels fought Vers 7. with the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels but prevailed not neither was their place found any more 8. in heaven It hath beene said that the woman in travell with her childe being safe escaped the Dragons lying in waite But how it came to passe that he who had so diligently watched her not withstanding failed of his purpose now at length beginneth to be mentioned To wit that it came to passe by the helpe and succours of Michael who went forth valiantly to fight against the Dragon lying in waite and becoming Conqueâ—our thrust him down from heaven into the earth Thereupon the womans sonne not only escaped Chap. 12. safe but was lifted up to the throne of God and she her selfe departed into a place safe from the fury of the Dragon And there was saith he warre in heaven c. To wit while the woman was in travell not after she was delivered as many take it For it is certaine out of the 14. Vers that this warre was waged before the flight of the woman into the wildernesse But the woman fled not into the wildernesse before she was delivered and her sonne caught up to the throne of Majestie Vers 5 6. Michael and his Angels fought with the Dragon not alone but taking with them the Martyrs and Confessours of Christ their King for whose cause they fought Concerning whom therefore a little after it shall be sung in the triumphant song that they overcame him by the blood of the Lambe and by the word of their testimony and they loved not their lives unto the death which cannot be spoken of bare and sole Angels And the Dragon fought and his Angels that is the Devils taking with them likewise the Romane tyrants and their ministers which worship them But thou wilt demand who is this Michael Not I suppose Christ himself but as in Daniel unlesse I be deceived is manifest one yea even the chiefest of the chiefe Princes or seven Archangels Chap. 10. 13. to wit that great Angel who in the same is said to stand for the children of God Chap. 12. 1. and whom Christ that great chiefe Generall and consequently King of Angels and men hath so opposed against Sathan and his black guard raging against his Saints For the Angels are sent forth for the safetie of them who are heires of salvation Hebr. 1. 14. and they protect and defend them according to their hidden and invisible manner of working against evill spirits which worke in men that are enemies of God and his Christ although they appeare not in a visible shape So that in this warre we have in hand of the Primitive Church of Christ against the Romane worshippers of the Dragon the Angels under Michael their Captaine acted their parts as well by strengthening the holy Martyrs and Confessours of Christ against the threats of tyrants and violence of torments and mittigating their pains in agonies and sometime taking away plainly the feeling of any paine as also by breaking and weakening the force of the adverse spirits sometime on a sudden casting lets and impediments in the way of the persecutors who were led by their instinct frustrating their purposes sometimes by casting Chap. 12. terrours and other distractions into the minde so that thereupon desisting from their project they have granted even against their will unto the Church truce and space of breathing untill at length after three hundred yeers warre when as it seemed to Christ to have now enough exercised his and was pleased to bestow a full victory upon his Angels the childe of the woman Christians prevailing being placed in the Emperiall throne the kingdome of the Devill being conquered suffered a wonderfull great fall For this is that which he saith The Dragon prevailed not neither was his place found any more in heaven that is being conquered and put to flight with all his forces he was deprived of heaven In the saying prevailed not there is an Hebraisme of which afterward And the Dragon was cast out that old serpent called the Divel Vers 9. and Satan which deceiveth the whole world that is perswadeth to Idolatrie and hitherto had possessed the Romane Empire he was cast out into the earth and his Angels were cast out with him That is he with all his * Daemons Devils hitherto worshipped instead of God were throwne downe from the top of their divinity which they enjoyed to the bottome of execration and contempt That what is read to have come to passe long agoe in the delivery of Israel from the tyranny of the Egyptian Pharaoh whose likenesse this Dragon â—areth that God executed iudgement upon the Exod. 12. 11. gods of the Egyptians the same shall finde place here at least * 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 according Numb 33.4 to the letter The Iewes deliver that it was so even there also I or see both the Targums R. Salomon R. Aben Ezra with R. Moses ben Nachman c. Neither is there cause that any should wrest the cleere words of the Scripture to another meaning especially since it may seeme that Esay 19. 1. hath allusion thereto Prevailed not for was overcome is an Hebrew figure as I have said whereby the Adverbs of denying doe expresse the contrary of that to which they are applied as in this same vision a little after is used they loved not their lives unto the death that is they Vers 11. valued their life at nothing
same Romane Beast of the last State which is here spoken of But those things which are declared there by the Angel to Daniel more succinctly are here opened more at large to Chap. 1â— Iohn as it were an explication being interposed There was given to him saith he a mouth speaking great things those words a mouth speaking great things are out of Daniel but here those great words are expounded by blasphemies by which name as by and by shall be said Idol worship is signified a matter indeed of the highest contumely against God Further he saith that the Beast should so blaspheme fortiâ— two moneths to wit annall moneths during the very same space of time wherein the Gentiles should trample the ouâ—er Court of the Temple or the holy Citie and not without cause for since that prophanation of the Gentiles doth altogether tend to the same impietie whereunto the blasphemie of the Beast doth each of them may signifie the dominion of the power of darknesse and of the night and therefore measured not by yeers or dayes according to the motion of the Sun but by moneths after the motion of the Moon which ruleth the night And surely unlesse the holy Ghost would have the specifying of the time to be referred to the blasphemie to what end hath he brought it in in this place presently after the mentioning of blasphemie Therefore the moneths of the Beast are not to be measured from the beginning of his cruelty or warre against the Saints but of his blasphemy So that if the word of doing should signifie â—â—â—e certaine act or state of the authoritie of the Beast some such thing some may imagine is meant here by the power of acting or doing that should be altogether referred to the act of blaspheming But 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 seemeth rather to be used in the signification of continuing or abiding as otherwhere it is wont being joyned with words of time For so Acts 15. 33. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 after they had tarried there a space and 18. 23. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 when he had spent some time or some while and 20. 3. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 there abode three moneths 2 Cor. 11. 25. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a night and a day I have been in the deepe Adde Jam's 4. 13. To day or to morrow we will goe into such a citie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and continue there a yeere Where Drusius noteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to be so used â—ccles 6. 14. and facere in the Latine tongue Seneca epist 67. Quamvis paâ—cissimos unà fecerimus dies although we tarried but a few dayes * In tabella â—arâ—orea â—n the maâ—ble table Cum qua fecit annos 9. with whom he dwelt nine yeers Apud A senum 1. c. Is servus fugerat annum à suga fecerat i. egerat manserat finierat transegerat That servant Chap. 13. fled and continued that is he dwelt he abode he ended he spent a yeere in flight These things being thus why may not these words Bestia fecit menses quadraginta duâ—s have this construction the Beast lived remained continued blaspheming fourtie two moneths The force of which speech those that understood not seeme to have inserted into the text that word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 warre which is extant in some coppies Now that which I said that here by the name of blasphemy as it were by way of eminency is signified Idolatry or spirituall fornication that may be proved by a double or treble argument First because Babylon the Metropolis of this Beast is termed the mother of harlots and the Kings and inhabitants of the Earth are said to play the harlots with her But the Beast which we have in hand is none other thing but the generality of those Kings and inhabitants Secondly it must be such a manner of blasphemy as may fall into the courses of the next antecedent yea rather of all the other heads for the names of Blasphemy were put upon them all Vers 1. Adde hereunto that this Beast of the last course is descended and compact of the renewing of the impiety of his predecessour of the sixt course Now what blasphemy can be given to all these in common except onely idolatry None at all The use of Scripture expressing the idolatry of the ancient people by this name doth further confirme this Which that it may be understood it is to be known that there are three words in the Hebrew rendered in the acception of blasphemy by the Greeke interpreters and the vulgar Latine 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 all which signifie idolatry For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ezek. 20. 27. yet in this your fathers have * blasphemed me when I had brought them into the land for the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which I lifted up my hand to give it to them They saw every high hill and all the thicke trees and they offered there their sacrifices c. For the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Esay 65. 7. which have sacrificed upon the mountaines and upon the hills 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 have reproached me In the English translation have blasphemed me And surely 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answereth the Greeke 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 exactly as Theodotion hath translated Prov. 14. 31. for each of them signifyeth to reproach Whereupon 2 Kings 19. 22. it is joyned with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as a Synonima 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 whom haste thou reproached and blasphemed as also Psal 44. 16. The Septuagints are wont to render each of them Chap. 13. by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which signifie to reproach to provoke Also the Chalde rendereth each of them by their word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which also signifieth to reproach Furthermore that I may adde this also that it was usuall not only with Esay but also with the Iews of the later age by the * Nomenclatura name of blasphemy to understand the worship of idols may be gathered even out of the Chalde Paraphrast where Psal 69. 10. for those words the reproach of them that reproached thee hath fallen upon mee the Chalde hath The rebukes of the wicked who rebuke thee while they make their idols partakers of thy glory have fallen upon me It remaineth concerning the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is the other of the two to which in the seventie 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 answereth In Forster it is to vexe with contumelies reproaches cursing words Ierome in the Psalmes according to the Hebrew truth as often as it faâ—leth out and it happeneth five times alwayes translateth it to blaspheme with others it is to contemne or contemptuously to provoke so that the most true signification may seeme to be with reproaches and contumelies to provoke to wrath By this word I say as well as by the former that idolatry is signified may appeare out of Deut. 31. 20. When they shall