Souls to call them back or retain them when they are departed out of the Body and of Death it self to keep men from it and therefore fear not for if you were really Dead I could raise you up again All which looks with a Full Eye on that great First Resurrection c. 20. 28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Hammond on Matth. 11. and Bishop Pearson on the Creed 19 And upon this assurance stand up upon thy Feet and be of good Courage and Write in a Book unto the seven Churches as I before commanded thee vers 11. the things which thou hast seen already 29 in the representation of the seven Stars and seven golden Candlesticks vers 12 13 16. and 30 write also the things which are now in being in my present Apostolical Church and the things which shall be hereafter successively to the very end of Time 29 It is manifest from the next Verse that this is the true sense of these Words where it is expresly said that the Seven Stars were Seen by him in his Right Hand which are therefore the things he had Seen and were written with the rest of the Preface in a Book to the seven Churches verse 11. 30 Here he is commanded to write the Epistles to the seven Churches the first of which viz. that to Ephesus as we have there shewn refers to the State of the then Apostolical Church beginning at Christ's Resurrection the others to the following successive States of the Churches to the End of the World 20 Which things present and future are the 31 Mystery or the Prophetical and Mystical sense of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my right hand which are the things thou hast seen and not the Mystery to be written concerning them and write the seven Golden Candlesticks i e. the mystery or mystick sense of them also The seven 32 stars are or signifie and represent Gen. 41.26 the Angels 33 or Pastors of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches or are 34 seven Churches that is Bodies of Christians under their several Pastors as well those which are now as those which shall be successively hereafter 31 These words which are of the Accusative Case and put by way of Apposition plainly refer only to the things which are and shall be which are here said to be the Mystery or mystical meaning of the seven Stars which therefore are not referred to as being not themselves the Mystery but the things which were to be mystically explained in the following Epistles And from hence also we are plainly given to understand that the Subject Matter of these Epistles is Mystical and not barely Literal and that they concern things future as well as the present 32 Here is explained what is meant by Stars and Candlesticks whose further mystical meaning as they relate to Churches then in being and to future Successions of them and their Pastors is largely delivered in the following Epistles 33 The Ministring Spirits which attend on God are called Angels in Scripture from their being employed as Messengers in his Service and therefore by the Angels of the Churches must be meant the Pastors of them which are here clearly distinguished from the Churches themselves from their like Office of delivering God's Messages to the People and putting up their Prayers unto him Upon which Account the Jewish Priest is called The Messenger or Angel of the Lord of Hosts Malach. 2.7 where Angel that I may observe this by the way is evidently taken collectively as Dr. Pocock on the Place confesses for the Succession of the whole Jewish Priesthood comprehended there under the common Name of Levi their Father and spoken of as one Person because they were all of the fame Stock and all separated to the same Function And as they are upon this Account called Angels so are they called Stars from their Office of enlightning or instructing others By Angels therefore in this and the following Chapter is meant the Evangelical Ministry represented by Angels as all other Ministerial Agents are in this Prophecy because the present World is subject to Angels under Christ the Head of them and the Angel of the Covenant Whereas the World to come that is the Kingdom of Christ at his last coming as the Apostle speaks Heb. 2.5 is to be ruled by Christ and his Saints and is not to be in subjection unto Angels 34 It is here said That the seven Candlesticks are or signifie seven Churches for so it is in the Greek not the seven Churches which might seem to have determined them to the seven in Asia The Epistles are indeed to be sent to the seven Churches of Asia ver 11. But the mystical meaning of them is not here said to belong to the Angels or to the Seven Churches of Asia only but to Seven Churches and to the Angels of them from whence it is plain that they are prophetical relating to Seven Successions of the Vniversal Church See Mr. * Book 1. Disc 52. and pag. 905. Doctor Moor's Exposition of the Epistle to the Seven Churches Mede CHAP. II. The Text. UNto the Angel or Evangelical Ministry Chap. 1. 20. of the Church of Ephesus that is now planted there and of that Period 1 of the Church which is mystically represented by it write these things saith he that holdeth the Seven Stars in his Right Hand who walketh in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks i. e. Christ the Light of the World who is more immediately present with them to enlighten guide and support them Chap. 1. 13 16 20. Annotations on CHAP. II. 1 This I shall hereafter endeavour to make out to be the principal if not only drift of these Epistles from such Characters and Arguments as shall arise from the Text it self Very good Interpreters and particularly Grotius on Revel 1.11 have thought that the several Successions of the Church here represented are intimated in their very Names according to a way of Allusion made use of in Scripture as well as in Heathen Authors For thus the God of Ekron whose True Name is thought to have been Baal zebachim or the Lord of Sacrifices is called in derision Baal zebub or the Lord of Flies and Belzebul or the Dunghil God And the Prophet Micah 1.14 15. manifestly alludes to the Names of Cities calling Achzib a Lie as if its Name were derived from Cazab which in Hebrew signifies to Lie and the City Mareshah is threatned to be disinherited in allusion to its Name and Adullam is called the Glory of Israel perhaps says Doctor Pocock on the Place from its Situation its Strength or its Beauty or some other Reason probably taken from its Name as the others are although now unknown And such Paronomasia's or Allusions may be more frequent in Scripture than we think for by reason of our Ignorance in the Premitive Language and of the Story and Circumstances of the Places whose Names are alluded to 2
(a) Allix Du Pin de antiq Eccles Disciplin pag 23. 27. 82-96 from that of Rome and have witnessed in all Ages against the Apostasy (b) Allix Remark on Albig Chap. 19. on the Church of Piedm pag. 188. 207-210 286. Mede's Works 517 721. 722. Usher de Succession Eccles pag. 78. from the beginning of it always asserting the Pope to be The Antichrist and attributing to him the Characters of him given in this Prophecy of which they were diligent Readers Upon which Account alone their Adversaries having nothing else to object against them they were severely persecuted becoming thereby after a most remarkable manner Antipas Christ's faithful Martyr and Witness against the Papal Corruptions 3. These faithful Churches were placed by Providence like Candlesticks on a Hill being situated as Mr. Allix remarks amongst the Alps and Pyraenean Mountains that they might be exposed to the view of Four or Five Kingdoms all at once one of them being planted in Italy the very Seat of the Beast and shining there according to their own Motto and Device as a Light in the midst of the Aegyptian darkness of the Apostacy surrounding them and the other possessing the Southern parts of France that it might the better convey the Purity of the Gospel into Spain over the Mountains and into England and other places from the Sea-Coasts which was actually performed (a) Allix's Remaaks on the Albig pag. 222-237 by them with great success some Remains of their Doctrine continuing in Spain until the times of the Reformation and the Lollards and the Followers of Wickliff in England having been instructed by them 4. As no Churches can shew a fairer Account from the most early times of faithful VVitnesses against the Apostacy so can none parallel the Persecutions they have undergone from the Papacy or pretend to a better Title to prophecying in Sackcloath for 1260 Years being warred with by the Beast killed by him and lying dead in his great City than they can Insomuch that although the Title of Witnesses may be justly given to all the other Bodies of Christians who have testified through all Ages of the Church against Antichristian Corruptions yet they must be confess'd to have the Preheminence upon many Accounts but especially by reason of their Visibility and uninterrupted Succession from the Times of the Apostles their Constancy Zeal Courage and Success most Nations having received the purity of the Gospel from them their Sackcloath and mournful condition and their dreadful and unparallell'd sufferings from the Papacy under which they are still in a state of Death 5. But although these Churches are the most Eminent and most Conspicuous Body of Christians concerning which it can most properly be said that they have prophesied as Candlesticks or Churches regularly and orderly constituted in a continued Succession of Pastors and People and that by emptying the Oyl out of themselves into other Churches most of which owe the Reformation to them Yet they are not the only Body of Christians which are to be accounted VVitnesses and of whom it may be said that they shall prophesie 1260 Days For the Albigenses or Churches of Gaul are accounted one of the Witness-Churches which yet cannot shew an orderly continued Succession from the beginning of the Apostacy which is clear and uninterrupted only in the Succession of the Churches of Piedmont And all the faithful Christians in the Communion of the Apostacy but not of it who have through the Succession of all Ages witnessed against it are to be accounted Witness-Churches that is States or Successions of Faithful Witnesses as Church is used in the Vision of the Church-Prophecy For by the Two VVitnesses are meant as appears from the Notes on Chap. 2 12-29 and on Chap. 11.4 num 18. in general Two Successions of Faithful Christians witnessing from the Beginning of the Apostacy the one in the Communion of it typified by Pergamus the other in a distinct Communion from it typified by Thyatira the Emblem of those pure Reformed Churches which are under the power of Anti-christian Princes and are not Established by Laws and maintained by Reformed Magistrates as the Sardian and Philadelphian Churches are which rose out of the other Two Successions at the beginning of half Time and are still Witnesses but VVitnesses risen to an imperfect State altho under Reformed Princes Whereas the other are Witnesses still lying dead in the Streets of the City as the French Churches do or else risen only to some Favour and Protection but within and under the Dominion of Princes of the Apostacy as the Churches of Piedmont For during the space of Half Time until the Three Years and a Half are fully ended many of the Witness-Churches may lie dead and none will be raised to a perfect State by the Spirit of Life from God But as for those Churches of the Reformation who are under Reformed States they being already raised to Life cannot again return to Popery or be utterly extinguished by it because they having been raised by Christ cannot die again Only as to whatsoever remains of Antichristianism may be in any of them 6. God (a) Alcazer in locum pag. 420 421 439. hath ordained that the Persecutions of wicked and Antichristian Tyrants should sometimes end after three Years and a half in congruity to the three times and three years and a half of the continuance of Antichrist and to the Resurrection of our Saviour after three days this being the time in which the Church may have hope of deliverance according to the Type of Christ's deliverance from the Grave a longer continuance of Persecutions being apt to make the Church despond which expects according to Hosea 6.2 a Revival and Resurrection on the third day and is out of ordinary hopes if it last a day longer as Martha despaired of the Revival of Lazarus because he had been dead four days And thus it is observed that (b) Grot. in Dan. 7.25 Antiochus a Type of Antichrist oppressed the Jews for three years and a half and that the Persecution under (c) Alcazer pag. 420 421. Nero and that in (d) Poli Synops in Apoc. 11.19 England under Queen Mary and in the Netherlands under Duke D'Alva lasted for the same space of time That it was much (e) Jurieu's Pastor Let. Tom. 3. Let. 21. about that time from the Coronation of the late King James to the Arrival of King William into England and from the Revocation of the Edict of Nants October 12 22 1686. unto Their Majesties Coronation April 11 21 1689. when a Spirit of Zeal and Courage entred into the Protestants of France That it was about that time from Tyrconnel's entring upon the Government of Ireland Feb. 6 or 12. 1686 7. unto his Majesties signal Success in Ireland in July and August 1690. And lastly that the Protestants of the Valleys (a) See Monsieur Jurieu's Pastoral Letters An account of the Vaudois Printed at Oxford A. D. 1688.
to the Churches in the Plural that is all the several Periods and Successions of them 14 The Particle what refers not only to the following Sentence but to all which went before as appears from the Epistles to the Churches of Thyatira Sardis Philadelphia and Laodicea in which there is nothing that follows this Proverbial Sentence which must therefore have a reference to what preceded it 15 This Promise refers to the particular Overcomers of the Evil of each Church-State and not to the Churches themselves for as some Men may fall short of overcoming Vice and Error in a good Church-State so others may overcome the Evil of a bad one And the Promises to the several Overcomers are taken from the Descriptions given afterwards in the latter part of this Prophecy of the New Jerusalem or Kingdom of Christ which as they have promoted so shall their Reward be Now the Earthly Paradise was a Type of Christ's Heavenly Kingdom and to eat of the Tree of Life in the midst of that Paradise is to be refreshed and nourished with Divine Communications in the Kingdom of Christ in which the Saints and Overcomers shall Reign with him And here we are to take notice that the Rewards are suited to each particular State to be refreshed by eating in a State of Happiness being proper to those who are wearied with Labour and Sufferings and a Crown in the next Succession being the fit Reward of the Overcomers of a state of persecution It is also further fit to be observed That the Right of Primogeniture is not given to Ephesus but to Smyrna the Symbol of the afflicted Church-state which has the Crown of Life bestowed upon it the Symbol of Royal Dignity which of Right belongs to the First Born and the very Kingdom of the New Jerusalem is given to Philadelphia of which the Key of David and her Crown are the Symbols which seems to be shadowed out unto us in the Blessings of Jacob Gen. 49. which may by way of Allegory and as Typical be accommodated to the Mystical Israel the Church where the Precedency both in Dignity and Power is taken from Reuben the First Born because of his Instability and having defiled his Father's Bed which may be Typical of Ephesus's Early Departure from its First Love and of the Idolatrous Apostasie which crept into it betimes which is a spiritual Defilement in Scripture whereupon its Candlestick was removed out of its place that is it lost the Rank of priority it was to have in the Kingdom of Christ which was given to the next Succession of Smyrna for it's Constancy in Afflictions bur especially the New Jerusalem State coming down in the Philadelphian Succession 8 And unto the Angel Verse 1. of the Church in Smyrna 16 write these things saith the First 17 and the Last which was dead and is alive that is Christ the Eternal God who raised himself from the Dead 16 Smyrna is the next City of the seven Northward from Ephesus and about Forty Miles distant from it and it is still a Metropolitical See having yet no more than Two Churches of Greeks in it and One or Two of Armenians It 's Name may by a Figurative Allusion be derived from a Syriack word signifying Bitterness to denote the bitter persecutions of the Church under this State 17 These Attributes are made use of to encourage them to undergo their Sufferings as having been already experienced by Christ who was God and had vanquished Death for them 9 I know and approve thy good works in the propagating of my Kingdom and tribulation under persecutions and poverty or extream want by thy being spoiled 18 of thy Good but thou art really rich in Grace and in my Esteem and Favour and I know the blasphemy 19 i. e. Idolatry of them or that party that say they are Jews 20 that is boast themselves to be the pure Christians the true Worshippers of the one only God and art not truly so but are really and in God's Account the 21 Synagogue of Satan that is an Antichristian Congregation 18 As was usual in Times of persecution Heb. 10.34 19 Blasphemy is a Contumely or Reproach of God by attributing that to a Creature which is properly his whence in Scripture it is put to signifie Idolatry which is the highest Blasphemy See Isa 65.7 1 Maccab. 2.6 2 Maccab. 8.4 And this Blasphemy then appeared in the Reverence paid to Martyrs which was the Beginning of Idolatry 20 The Phrases and Expressions of this Mystical Book are taken from the Old Testament and the Jewish Oeconomy which was Typical of the Christian as the Apostle asserts 1 Cor. 10 1-4 the Type in this prophecy being constantly put for the Anti-Type or thing signified And therefore according to that usual Figure by Jews here must be understood Christians who are the mystical Israel or the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the True Israel as Justin Martyr calls them whose Glory and proper Priviledg it was to be the Worshippers of the One True God whilst all the World besides were guilty of Idolatry Now the Jews being wont to pride themselves in their priviledges those here represented are also said to say that they are Jews that is boast of it in allusion perhaps to the Name Judah which signifying Praise and Thanksgiving is here and by the Apostle Rom. 2 17-29 put to denote a Boasting Confession joyned with a seeking the Praise of Men as Grotius has noted on the place and as is obvious from the last verse of that Chapter as I before hinted Of which Pride of theirs there is an eminent instance in the very first Apostolical Church at Jerusalem Acts 6. where the Hebrews or Natural Jews who came from the Loyns of Abraham neglected or proudly despised the Hellenists or Proselyted Gentiles altho Jews by their Religion as well as themselves And therefore in proportion by Jews here must be meant those Christians who more than ordinarily boasted themselves to be the pure Worshippers of the True God only when yet they were really guilty of Idolatry For the word Jew as Grotius notes on Rom. 2.17 was then a word significative of their Religion rather than of their Nation and denoted as much as a Worshipper of the one God or one who confessed and acknowledged him as the word Judah is Explained by Philo and Interpreted by the LXX Gen. 29.35 21 Satan signifies according to the Original of the word the Great Adversary the Devil of whose Congregation these Pretending pure Christians are said to be and not of Christ's because by their Blasphemous or Idolatrous Practises they did indeed and in God's account Worship him and Propagate his Antichristian Kingdom But this was at first the Fault only of a few of them or of that Party that Valued themselves and Despised others calling themselves Jews or the only True or pure Israel of God it having always happened so from the beginning of God's Church that according to the Allegory insisted
See Chap. 2.9 num 19. 22 The Humane Nature of Christ is called in (a) John 1.14 Hebr. 8 2.9 11. Col. 2.9 See Dr. Hammond on John 1.14 Scripture the True Tabarnacle in which the Divinity as it were sojourned here upon Earth And the Church also may be represented by a Tabernacle as it is called Ezek. 23.4 Rev. 21.3 because of its wandring Wilderness-condition in expectation of its Home and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Heaven The (b) See Dr. Moor's Mystery of Iniquity first is blasphemed in the Papacy many ways but especially by the Doctrine of Transubstantiation and the Idolatrous practises consequent upon it the latter by Calumnies Excommunications and Persecutions It is the Opinion of a Learned Man that by Tabernacle is here meant the State of Saints and Angels in Heaven or the Heavenly State in which Christ is said to minister Heb. 8.2 and through which he is said to have passed Heb. 9.11 to the Holy of Holies the very Throne of God which may also be the meaning of Heb. 10.20 And this Interpretation he thinks to be most probable 1. Because the Humane Nature of Christ is it self the Minister of the Tabernacle and not the Tabernacle in which the Ministration is performed 2. Because the Heavenly things themselves are to be purified and anointed Dan. 9.24 Heb. 9.23 and therefore are to be supposed to have been prophaned and blasphemed that is Idolatrously abused and because such an Acceptation of the Word Tabernacle here is more agreeable to what is said in this Vision concerning the Tabernacle of Testimony being opened and the Tabernacle of God being with Men and with Ezekiel's Visional Temple or Tabernacle and with the Divine Tabernacle Chap. 4. the Scene or Apocalyptick Stage of these Visions See Chap. 12 1. 21 3. And lastly because Christ in his Humane Nature may be more significantly comprehended under the (a) John 1.1 18. See Mercer and Pocock on Joel 2.32 and Acts 2.21 Name of God 23 Who are blasphemed by the Idolatrous Worship of them taught and practised in the Church of Rome 7 And it was given to him to make War with the Saints i. e. to oppose excommunicate and persecute the Witnesses Chap. 11 7. and the Seed of the Woman Chap 12.17 and to overcome them Chap. 11.7 and power was given him over all Kindreds and Tongues and Nations i. e. to make Proselytes in all parts of the World and to Rule and Govern the Kings and People of the Antichrian Kingdom Chap. 10.11 8 And all that dwell upon the Earth i. e. the Apostacy shall worship him i. e. obey and honour him as an Infallible Head whose 24 Names are not written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the Foundation of the World i. e. except those Living Eminent and Excellent Members of Christ's Church particularly known and designed by him to be effectually saved by his Blood who was crucified in respect of the Divine Decree Appointment and Agreement betwixt the Father and the Son from all Eternity Phil. 4.3 Gen. 3.15 Acts 15.18 Gal. 3.17 24 See on Chap. 3. 4 5. These are the Witnesses Chap. 11. the seed of the Woman Chap. 12.17 and the Sealed ones 9 If any man 25 hath an ear let him hear for what hath been now delivered in a Spiritual and Mystical manner is very remarkable and worthy the most attentive and most serious Observation See Chap. 2.7 25 Hereby as hath been already shewn on Chap. 2.7 is intimated that what has been delivered concerning the Beast in this Chapter after an aenigmatical and parabolical manner this being the Sentence made use of by our Saviour in the close of his Parables is a Truth of the greatest importance against which yet many would shut their Ears And therefore all Christians are called upon seriously to consider and weigh what is here delivered and not to be driven from the profession of the pure Faith by Fear of Punishment nor wrought upon to follow the Beast by the spendid Baits of Greatness Power and Authority or the high and big pretences of Infallibility Success and Vniversality seeing it was foreseen and foretold by the Holy Spirit that the generality of Mankind should be earthly minded and should thereupon follow the Beast and only a few chosen and beloved of God should escape this Vniversal Corruption 10 He that leadeth 26 into Captivity shall go into Captivity he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword i. e. all Antichrian Enemies shall be dealt with at last as they have dealt with others Chap. 19. 20 21. Here is an occasion for the Exercise of the Patience and Faith of the Saints in bearing their Sufferings and in believing and patiently waiting for their deliverance out of them and the destruction of the Enemies of God and of his Church See on Chap. 14.12 26 Here is a plain reference to the Beast's and the False Prophets being taken Captive and to the slaughter of the Remnant by the Sword Chap. 19. 20 21. For as the Prophets of old were wont to comfort the People of God when in Captivity and under great distress by Denunciations of Ruine and Destruction to their Enemies so does the Holy Spirit here revive the persecuted Saints by telling them that their Persecutions should have an End and that the Apostasy which now domineered and blasphemed the Holy Name of God should at last be abolished and utterly destroyed according to the just and righteous Judgment of Almighty God who recompenses Tribulation to them that trouble his Saints 2 Thes 1.6 7. Isa 33.1 2. Ezek. 39.10 Matth. 7 2.26 52. But yet they are commanded to have Patience for although the Judgment is certain yet it will not be so soon as they might expect Hab. 2.3 4. Matth. 21 19-24 11 And I beheld another 27 Beast i. e. another Persecuting and Idolatrous Body of Men under Superiors coming up silently slowly and by degrees as feet of Clay out of the 28 Earth or Apostasy and he had two 28 Horns Potentacies or Powers like a Lamb 29 i. e. seemingly Christian and he spake as a 30 Dragon i. e. was in his Doctrines Decrees and Practises Antichristianly Idolatrous and Persecuting 27 This Beast is different from the former as appears from his Original Shape and the other Characters here given of him called therefore the other Beast as being a distinct Beast from that whose Succession the Prophecy was describing 28 28 The former Beast rose up out of the Sea that is the Commotions and Divisions of the Empire This rises as things grow out of the Earth silently and by degrees And as by the former Beast the Papacy as Monarchick and Imperial was fitly represented so in this Type there seems to be a signification of the Apostate Hierarchy or of the whole Body of the Ecclesiasticks as Antichristian as appears 1. From the Account here given of its Original viz. that it was out of the Earth by which
25 is most admirably applicable to the Antichristian Roman State it being the only Conspicuous and Remarkable number in that Hierarchy describing the Papacy in its most Essential Parts that Church having been Fatally led to lay its very Foundations upon it it having at first Five and Twenty Cardinals and its Creed consisting of Five and Twenty Articles as the Apostles doth of Twelve as Mr. Potter hath accurately shewn in these and many other Particulars 7. It may be observed That as the Number 666. can by no means be made out of 12 whatsoever Number you multiply it by so neither can the Antichristian State any way arise out of the Apostles Doctrine Lastly The Number 666. consisting of the same number in all its places from Vnits to Hundreds is upon that account as Grotius observes on the place very Remarkable according to the Opinion of the Wise Pagans who made their Vows in the same proportion And because it consists of an entire (a) Poli Synops in locum Senary of numbers arising by degrees from Vnits to Tens and from thence to Hundreds and that in a proportion very agreeable by the multiplication of 6 by 10 so as that 6 are found 10 times in 60 and 60 10 times in 600 it may from thence be thought to signifie the seeming Comeliness and Proportion of the Antichristian State which is so great that it is apt to deceive those who do not exercise Wisdom to discern things it being at first sight a Number more proportionable than 144 the Number of Christ's Kingdom So necessary is it to count numbers and to extract the Roots of them by stripping things of their Outward seeming Appearances although never so Comely and searching into the very intimate nature and Essence of them CHAP. XIV The Text. 1 AND I looked or was in Vision and lo a Lamb i. e. Christ stood to import his settlement in his Government and his Rule and Defence of his people Psalm 2.6 Mic. 5.4 on the Mount 1 Zion i. e. appeared in an exalted and an established State in his Kingdom Psalm 48. Mic. 4.1 Heb. 12.22 and with him an 2 Hundred Forty and Four Thousand i. e. a Body of Apostolical Pure Christians Chap. 7.4 having his i. e. Christ's Fathers Name 3 written in their Foreheads i. e. openly adjudged by God and professing themselves to be the true Followers of Christ See on Chap. 7.3 Annotations on CHAP. XIV 1 Zion (a) Josh 15.63 2 Sam. 5 1-10 1 Chron. 11 1-9 2 Chron. 3.1 Psalm 48.2 was the Mountain or upper part of Jerusalem on one side of which stood the House or Palace of David as the Temple did on the North side of it called Mount Moriah which was reckoned as a part of Mount Zion This Mountain was taken by David from the Jebusites whom the Children of Judah were not able to drive out because of their Vnbelief and was the first Exploit undertaken by him after his being anointed King over all Israel upon the Submission paid unto him by all the Tribes of Israel and their acknowledgment of their being his Bone and his Flesh wherein they were Types of the Obedience that all Nations are to pay to Christ and of their becoming Members of his Body of his Flesh and of his Bones Ephes 5.30 David took it when he began to (a) 2 Sam. 5.4 Luke 3.22 23. Reign being Thirty Years old according to the Age when our Saviour began to preach gather Members for his Kingdom and cast out Devils as David also dispossessed the (b) 2 Sam. 5 6-8 Gregories Observat Chap. 7. Jebusites and cast out their Tutelary Idols the Hatred of his Soul called by him and his Followers by way of Sarcasm and Contempt the Blind and the Lame as having Eyes but seeing not and Feet but walking not according to the like Expression used by him Psalm 115. When he had taken it he fortified the Strong Hold of it and afterwards built there and made a Beautiful City calling it the City of David In all which he was a Type of Christ as that Mountain Strong Hold and City were of the Strength Stability and Beauty of Christ's Kingdom especially as it shall appear at last in a most glorious manner triumphing over all Heathen and Antichristian Idols when the Lord shall set his King upon his Holy Hill of Zion and Christ shall stand and feed his People and be great unto the Ends of the Earth Psalm 2.6 Micah 5.4 Only here it may be observed 1. That as the taking of this Mountain was the first Atchievement of David after he came to the Kingdom before he was fully established in it and had built his City so may this Appearance of Christ be some Preparatory State of his Kingdom called the Kingdom of David in Scripture rising (a) Micah 4.1 2. to the Tops of the Mountains and exalting it self above the Hills that so the Everlasting Gospel might be heard and People might flow unto it but somewhat different from the State of its full Establishment when his Kingdom shall appear in its utmost Glory as in the Description of it given Heb. 12.22 they first come unto Mount Sion before they come unto the City of the Living God and the Heavenly Jerusalem as is more fully shewn on the Three last Chapters where this whole matter is largely considered 2. That here is represented some Exalted State of the Heavenly Tabernacle it self typified by Mount Sion which was not yet of so high and so exalted a Nature as that which it shall afterwards arrive to when it shall appear as in the highest Heavens or in its Heavenly State it being probable that there are Exaltations of Christ's Kingdom in the Archetype of it in the Heavenly Places of which the several Advances it receives here on Earth are the Counterpart Patterns and Example according to what hath been already discoursed on Chap. 12.1 and will be shewn more largely hereafter it being very difficult to give Account of many things in this Prophecy without this Supposition 2 As this Vision relates to the State of Christ's Kingdom upon Earth there is hereby signified a Body of Apostolical pure Christians appearing in a State of open and publick profession of Christ's pure Religion but as it refers to the State of things in the Heavenly Places hereby is denoted an appearance of the very 144000. mentioned in the seventh Chapter who are the Saints and Witnesses departed in the Lord. 3 They were before sealed and in a hidden and invisible State but now they have a Name written that is appearing legible upon their Foreheads and that the Name of God whereby may be understood some Approbation of them and Declaration on God's part before whose Throne they are Verse 5. as to be judged and approved by him that they were Holiness unto the Lord in allusion to the Inscription on the High-Priest's Frontlet Exod. 20.36 and that they were worthy of the Exalted State they now
iâ— was the Measure of the Prophetick Temple and City in Ezekiel Cubits the Root of which is Twelve the Apostolical Number to shew that the Safety and Security of the Church consists in its conformity to the Doctrine and Discipline delivered by the Apostles Acts 2 42. See the Notes on Chap. 7 4.13 18. according to the measure of a Man i. e. this Church-State was highly 30 rational and exactly agreeable to the Intellectual Capacities of Mankind and such as Men of Understanding may find out when â—hey make use of that part of Wisdom by which the Roots of Numbers are extracted See on Chap. 13.18 that is the Angel to shew that this was a State of Men above this present mortal State in which the children of the Resurrection are made equal unto the (c) Grot. in loc Angels Luee 20 35 36. and that it was not Beastian or Antichristian but Angelical 29 The Wall is measured to shew that Apostolicism signified by Twelve the Root of its measure contains all things in it necessary to a Church as the Wall does inclose the whole City and is the fixt and unmovable Dimensions of it 30 Whereas the Antichristian State is irrational disagreeable in its self and from the Divine Rule in correspondence to its Root 25 which is a surd and irrational Number uneven and irregular in the Product arising from it as well as in its self See Mr. Potter and the Notes on Chap. 13.18 18 And the building of the Wall of it was 31 Jasper i. e. it was firm and impregnable and withal glorious Verse 11. and the City was pure Gold like unto clear Glass i. e. this was a precious and pure State and (a) The gawdy Whore had only External Ornaments but this State is transparent pure and clean within as well as without Forestus in locum See Chap. 4 6.15 2. throughly enlightned by God Verse 23. 31 This Stove is not to be subdued by the knocks of the Hammer but is so strong that it breaks all that strikes against it Dr. Moor. See Grot. on Chap 4.3 and Verse 11. 19 And the Foundations of the Wall of the City were garnished with all manner of 32 precious Stones to shew the Excellency of Christ the b corner-stone of this Spiritual Building and of the Doctrine of the Gospel upon which it was buiâ—t by his Apostles and the great variety and compleatness of the precious Gifts and Graces of this State The first Foundation was Jasper the second Saphire the third a Chalcedony the fourth an Emerald 32 The Precious Stones hereafter particularly mentioned are the same with those in the Breast-plate of the High-Priest (c) See Verse 14. and Braunius de Vestit Hebr. 2.26 Exod. 28.17 21. but placed in a different Order from them but for what Reasons I am not able to determine as I neither can precisely and positively the particular signification of each of them Only in general they may signifie 1. Perfection of Glory Prosperity and Happiness in the highest manner the Creation is capable of in its renewed State much beyond the choicest and most precious things of this World or even of Paradise it self whose Rivers flowed from the Land of Gold and Pearl 2. Perfection of Gifts and Graces Divine Presence and Illumination Doctrine and Truth and whatsoever else may be justly thought to be the true meaning of the Stones and the Vrim and Thummim in the Oracular Breast-plate of the High-Priest For which see the Commentators on Exod. 28. and 39. Lev. 8. Deut. 33.8 and Braunius de Vestit Sacerdot Hebraeor See also 1 Chron. 29.2 2 Chron. 3.6 Isaiah 54 11-14 Ezek 28.13 Tobit Chapters 13 and 14. and Dr. Moor's Paraphrase and other Commentators on this place 20 The fifth Sardonyx the sixth Sardius the seventh Chrysolite the eighth Beryl the ninth a Topaz the Tenth a Chrysoprasus the eleventh a Jacinth the twelfth an Amethyst i. e. this was a glorious State in which all true Israelites of the Twelve Tribes whose Names were engraven on the Twelve (a) See Ainsw on Exod. 28. Stones of the Breast-plate were joyned and united into one Body with the True Christians who kept and professed the Doctrine they had received from the Twelve Apostles of the Lamb Christ 21 And the Twelve Gates were Twelve Pearls every several Gate was of one Pearl to shew the inestimable value of the Gospel that one Pearl of great price and the pure 33 conversation and unity 34 of all who are to enter into Christ's Kingdom by him the only Door and Way to Eternal Life Matth. 13.45 46. John 10 1-14 and the Street of the City was pure Gold as it were transparent Glass i. e. the Conversation 35 of the Saints of this State was pure and incorrupt as refined Gold and sincere as if their Thoughts and Hearâ—s were transparent to each other and the very places of concourse were free from all manner of defilement contrary to what was in the Antichristian great City which was defilâ—d with Uncleanness and the Blood of the Witnesses which lay dead in the Streets of it Chap. 11.8 33 For they are of a White colour Grot. in loc 34 Pearls are called Vniones because they are always found united together and never separate from each other Plin. Histor 9. 35. 35 For the Street is the Forum Urbis as Grotius notes the publick place where Men meet and transact Business Moor 's Paraphr 22 And I saw no (a) Templi appellatione destinato abstinebant Christiani Grot. in Act. 7.48 Temple therein i e. no one particular place in which alone God would be worshipped and manifest his Presence as in the Temple of Jerusalem 1 Kings 8. for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple thereof i. e. do afford their Presence immediately and after a glorious manner in this State whereby each pious Soul becomes a Temple for God and Christ to dwell and manifest themselves in Exek 48.35 John 4 23.20 23. Acts 7 46-50 Rev. 3.20 23 And the City had no need of the Sun neither of the Moon to shine in it who were as it were ashamed anâ— confounded at the greater Glory of the Divine Kingdom and Presence Isa 24 23.60 19. for the 36 glory of God the Father the Fountain and Original of all Being whatsoever and of all Light Knowledge Life Love Grace and Comfort did lighten it by a Light communicated froâ— him and the Lamb Christ who is the Glory of God Light of Light and very God of very God is the light thereof by the Glory of the Godhead appearing illustriously in his Humane Nature See Verse 11. 36 God is not subject to the Son in this his glorious Kingdom 1 Cor. 15.27 and therefore he is said to be the Light of it and Christ the Son is said to be the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or the Lamp as shining by a Light communicated from the Godhead and residing in him who is the