lector arenam Liba neu â—icco rade profunda pede Hic sulcanda via est huic te duce numine oportet Etpoteris placiâ—ae credere tutus aquae The Summe of the Booke THis Booke is that written record of the things in Vision heard and seene by Iohn in Patmos which according to the commandement giuen him hee sent to the seuen Churches of Asia Whereof it is that besides the inscription in the first three verses the whole is an Epistle hauing a salutation to the ninth of the first Chapter a valediction in the last verse of all and the body of the matter in the rest This body hath for the most part a propheticall narration to the sixt of the last Chapter and thence the generall conclusion The narration hath two parts the first is of things which partly then were and partly were also to bee done thereafter And this part hath first a goodly vision of Christs presence operation and dispensation in and towards these seuen Churches and which in common concerneth them all And secondly a particular accommodation thereof to each one according to their proper condition good or euill or mixed at that time In which respect this part is said to be of things which were then existent as it is also of things to be done thereafter because of the future good or euill promised or threatned The second part of the narration is of things which were to be done thereafter concerning first and properly the whole militant Church Like as the whole euents thereof were to fall out after the time of this trance how soeuer for cleering the working on of these euents some circumstances and beginnings are in one or two places deduced higher And this second part hath a generall introduction to the speciall Storie Chap. 4. and 5. and the story of speciall euents thenceforth The introduction hath two parts first a goodly type of the true Church militant according to that constant and inuariable condition shee euer holdeth in all her changes wrestlings sufferings victories kythings and eclipses For expressing accordingly of all which as diuers and conuenient types thorow this Prophecie are taken so alwaies in all cases this of the Throne Beasts and Elders euer holdeth thorow all This constant condition hath God his constant presence as King and Lord fixing his habitation and ruling in the midst of his Church her gracefull state herethrough as which is a royall priesthood to him his generall and constant dispensation to this end terrible for her and gracious towards her and her dutifull worship of him againe Chap. 4. In the second part of the Introduction is shewed by whom and in whom it is that shee hath all this presence protection and graces and specially thus artificially to bring on the story of speciall euents by whom it is that she hath this singular benefit of this reuelation The dignitie whereof is shewed first in the retired eminencie of the matter and secondly in the worthinesse of the Person reuealer Chap. 5. The speciall storie is thence of which the abstruse secrecie locked vp in God his counsell as by a sealed Booke in God his right hand it was figured so the manifestation thereof to vs is typically expressed by opening of the seales in which the whole Story being comprehended six of them opened yeeld also many types of these first sorrows wherewith God plagued the world for reiecting the Gospel I hâ— seuenth yeeldeth 7. Trumpets whereof the first six haue the second euils and the seuenth vpon induration against all former punishment affordeth seuen vials of the last wrath for full and recurelesse destruction of the enemies and the Church her constant gracefull and quiet state thereupon The beginnings of sorrowes are first the powerful preaching of the Gospell in it selfe properly the first blessing yet to the world â—adly impugning that which must Conquer and Ouercome becomming the sauor of death is the first and mother plague begetting bloudy warres strange famines greeuous pestilences and not some beasts God his foure great plagues seuerally and iointly Against all which notwithstanding the rage and induration of enemies still groweth and that to so huge and cruel effusion of the bloud of Saints as in God his iustice cried for no lesse then the full and finall destruction of that afflicting state Which neuerthelesse in God his wise dispensation is reiourned till the accomplishment of the rest of Martyrs in that honour of suffering And that the Church might attend this the more patiently she getteth in the time relaxation from open persecution and the sufferings of Martyrs become honourable Thereafter that bloudy state through inuasion of barbarous and vncoâ—th nations suffereth such strange alteration as the whole face thereof is turned and it receaueth a deadly wound so farre as might make way for the succeeding huge mischiefe in the seuenth Scale Chap. 6. Before the opening whereof to a particular manifestation of the euils therein for more cleering of the matter and in a diuine artifice to imply that this second mischiefe was hatching euen in time of the first sorrowes a summary view of the whole sequell thereof is giuen in a deadlie euill to ouergoe all the face of the visible Church worship and professors therein Against which the care of Christ for preseruing his true Church is shewed and her double condition first vnder and in time of the mischiefe by a mystical number of sealed ones and of whome and how that number is made vp to the ninth verse and secondly her condition victorius ouer the euill as the same condition is offered to Iohn his perception first by seeing and hearing and secondly by information to the end of the seuenth Chapter For particular explication of that which in the seuenth Chapter was summarily portended the seuenth Seale is opened and yeeldeth seuen Trumpets as also many signes giuen of diuers degrees of iudgements whereby God was as it were to charge vpon the World these in coÌ„parison are lighter or heauier The first foure are lighter first through cold showers of selfeloue and fierie contention mixed with crueltie in the visible Church followeth a destruction in part of true spirituall life and religion both in weake and in such as appeared strong Christians Secondly through the fire of ambition amongst Church-men a corruption in part of the common worship and a death in superstition Thirdly through hereticall prauity arising vpon despitefull pride bitternesse and presumption of great knowledge the very grounds and chiefe Doctours are poisonablie infected to the death of many therein Fourthly darke ignorance and a decay in part of true light and learning both in diuine and humane sciences Chapter 8. Now these foure lighter euils were but alse many steppes to the fift and first of three great woes in the fift Trumpet When not in part onely but through the fall of great Pastours from Heauen to the loue of the Earth and thus losing the Key of knowledge and of the Kingdome of Heauen
frō the Prophets with whō it is ordinarily in this sense 7 Now against this woman according to the old warre proclaimed in Paradise is set in apparance a very vnequall match but that Michael fighteth the battell This aduersary is Satan for so the spirit interpreteth verse 9. Hee is a great Dragon for great malice force and subtilty He is red for his cruell and bloudy disposition as who was a murtherer from the beginning Hee hath seuen heades and tenne hornes the armes of Rome because of this the Diuell his fury against the Primitiue Church the Emperours of Rome were the instruments and executors And therefore to shew Rome in that state of persecuting Emperours the heades are crowned for an euident distinction of Rome then from Rome thereafter in the beast The heads and hornes are put in both that we may know what state the spirit designeth but by the different note of these heades and hornes To take vp the different time and condition in time Against the Primitiue Church the Diuell albeit working by Rome is made the direct enemie because then Christianity was directly oppugned and open rage practised against the name of Christ Heathenisme and worship of Diuels plainely maintained From which open dealing and licentious murthering Satan being tyed vp afterwards by power of the Gospell hee dealt more couertly by the beast of his authority vnder name and profession of Christianity and pretence of Christ his power deceiuing men of the world till after a thousand yeeres the reuiued light of the Gospell breaking out a fresh and discouering the deceit of the beast hee is so chafed as hee falleth to murthering of Saints In which respect the Dragon is said to be loosed the second time Chap 20. and thereby the beast falling to open murther becommeth of his colour Chapter 17. Of these heades and hornes see vpon the 13. and 17. Chapters 8 This Dragon then imployeth head and taile that is cruelty and lies for hee was a lier and murtherer from the beginning By his taile that is by his alluring deceit whether effectuall error or deceitfulnesse of honours riches and worldly lusts hee insinuateth himselfe amongst these who seeme shining starres of heauen and draweth them to fall from light and grace and to become earthly such as goe out of the Church that is heauen but were not of it Marke alwaies that Satan his first attempt against the Church is with his taile amongst the starres Thus he stirreth his taile With his heads that is his power and force hee setteth himselfe first against the childe to deuoure him in the bearing Whereby the fury and rage of Satan by the Romane Emperours to keepe the Church of Christ from rising is signified notwithstanding whose malice and cruelty the childe and a man childe alluding to the story of Aegypt and also for that as Christ was in person and as the paschall Lambe and other expiatory sacrifices of the flocke so all Christians in Christ Iesus are consecrated as males for perfection of strength and spirituall vigor is borne that is the Church is brought foorth to the partaking of the honour first proper to Christ and in him to all his members To rule all Nations with a rod of iron Chapt. 2. 27. And not onely thus brought foorth but in euident presence and power of God ruling in and amongst them established here in earth against all Satan his fury and visibly separated to God from the rest of the world becomming Kings and Priests to God in Christ so as according to Christ his owne prediction the sonne of man was seene come in his Kingdome with power by his Church raised in the world The throne as the iron rod is first and properly Christ his right but it is also the honour of the Saints in him to whom hee giueth a Kingdome as he hath receiued one of the father and to whom he giueth to sit in his throne as he ouercame and sitteth in his fathers throne For euen here we sit with him in the highest places So the taking vp of the childe is the erection of the Church amongst men visibly in that same sense that the two Witnesses were bid come vp hither Chap. 11. And the casting of the Dragon from heauen is all one thing with this For the exalting of the childe is the deiecting of the Dragon from heauen and the deiection of the Dragon is the vptaking of the child Satan is said to be in heauen when so by lies and error he hath preuailed in the visible Church as no apparant or very small face thereof is seene Like as the Church is in the earth euen where Satan his throne is when it is so compassed with error and ignorance as it appeareth not till it be said come vp hither that is till God by purity of worship and open profession thereof make his true Church visibly separated from the contagion of the worldy sort And euen in this case Satan is deiected from heauen and sent amongst his owne earthly ones He is said to fight in heauen when by slight and might he laboreth to keepe downe so the true Church as it can not bee discerned from his company and is deiected thence when truth openly in the Church is maintained so as he can haue no place for dominion but amongst the children of disobedience For beeing cast out of men hee goeth madlings in the swine of the world and shut out of God his house he furiously mistrāmeth his owne putting forth his rage where hee may seeing hee cannot where hee would Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth This is it which maketh that where euer the Gospell is purely preached there immediately by Sathan are raised stirres and tempests For while hee brooketh all peaceably hee is at ease but when that stronger commeth who spoileth his house then hee chafeth and becommeth mad in his Instruments This euent Christ in these same words foretelleth so as we need not doubt of the right sense Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world bee cast out And in another place speaking of the effect of the Gospell truely preached I saw Sathan fall from the heauen like lightning 9 This victory is by Michael and his Angels fighting in heauen that is by Christ who is Michael our Prince and the Angels of the Churches Apostles and faithfull Pastors fighting by the powerfull preaching of the Gospell against Sathan his Ministers of darkenes heathen Philosophers heretikes and all such for Christianity is a warfare against Principalities and powers against beasts wherin we must all fight the good fight of faith and striue for that victory which standeth in saluation of the elect from God in Christ and in the foile of Sathan and that by the bloud of the Lambe apprehended by true faith in the word of Iesus his Testimony with perseuerance and a ready offering of liues for his
honour 10 Now Sathan so deiected in rage that thus against all his endeauors the Church riseth setteth himselfe to cruelly persecute the same For except in distinct considerations the woman and child are all one but that the holy Ghost will thus expresse how Sathan first by craft and cruelty laboured to destroy the Church in the rising that it should not spread whereof misgiuing and shee multiplying wonderfully hee inforceth still thereupon ragefull persecution The first and second both are more then cleare in the persecuting Emperours and state of the Church in that time Now this second endeuour against the Church is eluded and the woman retired from his fury but yet so as shee goeth to the wildernesse this is to shew how by the protection maintenance of Constantine the Great and his Successors becomming Christians and who according to the Phrase of the Prophets are called that great Eagle as the doubled Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Constantine his peculiar surname 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proue clearely this open and furious persecution was stayed the soules receiuing long white robes Chapter 6. but yet so as the great honour and riches wherewith as with wings hee vpon good intention endowed the Church as an occasion to make her flie to the wildernesse all true and sincere religion by degrees decaying in the visible Church And so by Sathan his craft who now is bound vp a thousand yeers the beast stealeth in and sitteth in the Temple of God The true Church in the meane time lurking in the wildernesse as Elias in the time of famine and no more any face of true worshippe appearing then was in Israell that while or then when the dayly sacrifice was remoued and the abhomination of desolation erected in place thereof for a time times and halfe a time Now this flight was not in an instant but by long and yet sensible degrees And therefore wee haue an other degree of Sathan his fury against the woman after he seeeth her so furnished with wings as he being now chained Chapter 20. could no more persecute openly or come at her Hee casteth a great floud out of his mouth after her to drowne her in her flight This must bee a filthie floud which springeth from so foule a fountaine Hereby then is meaned not onely that inundation of barbarous Nations which in Sathan his intention no doubt were set forth to drowne the woman but also all these poisonable heresies whereof vpon this restraint he spued out an Ocean both which by God his prouidence turned to the destruction and punishment of the earthly sort For the bloody Romane Empire was ouerturned by these Nations and the wicked of the worlde poisoned with these heresies Thus then Sathan misgiuing of all his attempts against the woman and her first seed and finding so little successe in open dealing from which also hee is now bound vp hee prepareth a beast of strange working to deceiue the world and to make warre against the seed of succeeding times Whereof Chapter 13. So as the whole summe of this Chapter is this Sathan seeing the Primitiue Apostolike Church by the cleare light of the sunne of righteousnesse ministred by the Apostles whereby all borrowed spotted transitory light was trod vnder like to bring Nations to the obedience of faith and so to bring forth a church in the world as hee who had long miscarried all men was now by the light of the Gospell to be deiected from his place hee vseth all both craft and violence to impede the successe of the Gospel and notwithstanding it is so fruitfull through Christ his power and endeauour of faithfull Ministers that the sonne of man commeth in his Kingdome with power and Sathan is dethroned This maketh him in ragefull despite not onely to raise terrible broiles in the world to the earthes great woe but to enforce also cruell persecution against the Church against which shee is armed with that great Eagle his wings so as Sathan is restrained from open rage His next endeauour therefore against her thus protected is by inundation of barbarous nations and poisonable heresie to drowne her but this the Lord turneth on the world yet so as the Church goeth to the wildernes and lurketh Where-through the Beast in the next Chapter stealeth in to occupie City and Court Chap. 11. CHAP. XIII THus was the open rage of the Dragon against the Woman her first seed now followeth his couered dealing against her seed of succeeding times by the Vicar of his power described in this Chapter from his quality that hee is a beast origine that hee riseth out of the sea and earth in distinct consideration shape exceeding monstrous hauing seuen heades and ten horns as had the Dragon but other wayes busked as hauing his hornes crowned and on his head the name of blasphemy in body like a Pard footed like a Beare and mouthed like a Lion Besides this hee hath for right discerning of him two notes of great marke The first is his great power and authority as Vicegerent to Sathan in his power throne and authority The second is that one of his heads hauing beene deadly wounded was cured againe where-through all the world astonished at the beast of so great maiesty and vnmatchable power worship him and the Diuell his aduancer 2 These two notes and effect thereof thus summarily proponed are from the fift verse throughout the chapter exponed more largely and first this his authority practised in two mischieuous effects the one of speaking blasphemies and the other of doing what hee list vncontrolled This double authority is cleared first by the time thereof forty two moneths and next by the practise of it his speaking of blasphemies against God his Church and members thereof In his doing are noted what it was making warre against whom the Saints with what successe that hee ouercame them Thirdly how largely this power was extended Ouer euery Tribe Tongue Nation Through al which he obtaineth that al follow and worship him â—he elect onely excepted a case so dangerous and fearefull as a warning is Epiphonematically set downe to all of attention and therewith a consolation vpon two reasons First that according to the generall law of God his iustice whereby euery oppressour is oppressed and the slaier slaine this beast should come to destruction Next that it pleased God thus to trie the faith and patience of his Saints 3 His second note of his deadly wound cured againe how it was is shewed by a new vision of an other Beast rising from the earth in all outward semblance like to the Lambe and pretending simplie his power but that his speech was like the Dragons This Beast his actions and end thereof are first summarily proponed in that he did all that the first beast could doe before him and to this end that all the earth might worship the first Beast in the state of the cured wound Then is exponed how he
name and are content to be called his being so farre deceiued with his shew as yet they receiue neuer his Character as his mancipate slaues And yet moe haue the number of his name that is are counted and numbred to bee of his body who yet in effect neither haue his name nor his Character This hath deceiued men that they haue imagined the Character to be some other thing then of his name But as is cleare by this place his Character is of his name and they receiue his Character who so haue his name as they are characterized therewith and vpon his marke A speech from common vse Hereof it is that in Mount Sion all haue the Character that is all who are of the true Church elected according to the purpose of grace But as in the visible Church many haue the name of God moe haue the number that is are accounted Christians who yet are not of the number sealed so in Antichrist his Church are many hauing his name and moe hauing his number and so are tolerated to haue commerce and trade with men who yet neuer receiued his Character Therefore it is that the iudgement is denounced onely against those who worshippe him and receiue his Character and accordingly the Vials of wrath Chapter 16. are powred onely vpon these Who are here twise repeated that wee may bee wakened to aduert how here the holy Ghost teacheth vs not to iudge so hardly of all that follow the Beast as that eternall damnation abideth them but onely such as haue receiued his Character For no question but many haue beene and are still named his and counted of his number who learned neuer the deepenesse of Sathan as simple sheepe fallen into that slocke of his because they saw there the publike Ensigne and the Lambe his horns in semblance because hee brooked the holy City and Court of the Temple Euen like these two hundreth who in simplicity of heart followed Absolom from Ierusalem knowing nothing of his treason For we must consider what sort of enemy Antichrist is That hee is no fortaine inuader but an inward Traitor None directly fighting against the name and Ensigne of Christ but by pretence of the name and Ensigne deceiuing And sitting euen in the Temple of God as if a hid Traitor pretending the King his Masters seruice and commission would summon all true Subiects to follow him while hee were but minding vsurpation euen good Subiects might bee thus far deceiued as to follow the publike Ensigne till the treason were detected Further consider that the true Church in Antichrist his greatest preuailing was alwaies within his compasse within which all were euer accounted to bee his owne but yet were not As within the compasse of the holy City and Court of the Temple were the Temple and witnesses in it Chapter 11. besides as no way could bee to the Temple but through the City and Court so no way euer was or shall bee to become a member of the true Church but by comming through the visible Church wherein Antichrist fortie two moneths working and obtaining without controlment all behoued to ioyne to that body where was the Ensigne and seek in through the City and Court to com to the Temple Now no maruell though many in the passing through were taken in admiration of the City Court before they got sight of the Temple And the prouidence of God was wonderfull in this that in greatest corruption he reserued alwayes a sure way through Antichrist to the Temple the Sacrament of Baptisme in substance remaining and the doctrine of the Trinity abiding sound So thus all comming through him had his name or his nūber of whom yet many neuer receiued his Character but espying the pollution of City and Court stepped into the Temple Where still though quietly God preserued two Candlestickes and two Oliues till at length his impiety came to that height by murthering the Saints that it was said to them Come vp hither and so a visible separation was made not from the Church but from the thiefe and Traitor in the Church his mouth bewraying it selfe to bee the Dragons And certainely this holdeth true so as we neede not so much iangle with the Romans thereabout that the Church hath and euer shall bee visible because alwayes the common Ensigne is seene But this Ensigne the Traitor craftily tooke vpon him to beare and thereby deceiued Here is the fallacy that by aequiuocation they conclude if the Church hath alway beene visible then are wee the true Church Here more is added For albeit the church be alwayes visible yet the truth and true professors in it are not alwayes so For the witnesses were closed in the Temple the woman lurked in the wildernesse and the sealed ones were albeit singing yet vnseene and vnheard vpon Mount Sion Three distinct speeches vsed of the Spirit for great purpose The first to shew that howsoeuer the true Church was hid yet where shee was to witte within the compasse of the visible where Antichrist ruled and where Sathan his throne was The second to shew that albeit shee lurked yet she was fed as was Israel in the wildernesse and Elias in the dayes of famine The third that in that great preuailing of Antichrist when all the earth followed the Beast yet she was stablished on Mount Sion so as against her the gates of hell could not preuaile The true Church is in some sort euer vlsible though not in her selfe yet in her infallible Ensignes as who seeth the Citie and Court hee seeth in a sort the Temple because albeit hee see it not distinctlie yet seeing the City and Court hee is certaine that the Temple is there So seeing the visible Church within whose compasse though no eye see them yet God hath his true worshippers one seeth also the true Church For within the Church are truth and lies Christ and Antichrist and either of them now and then obtaine in it and hold place communiter in toto but neuer vniuersaliter in singulis From the Apostolike times as witnesse Paul and Iohn Antichrist was in the Church but hee appeared not some ages after In his time hee riseth and obtaineth all the holy City and Court of the Temple erecteth a throne in Pergamus and domineth as Iezabel in I hyatira Truth is hid and true Professors till the noise of many waters the voyce of thunder and sound of well tuned Harpes breake out of Sion and the Temple and the woman returne from the wildernesse It is a great Sophisme to conclude from the Church visible to the Church absolutely or true Church or againe from these to that or to reason a toto communiter ad vniuersum singulariter Albeit Antichrist was commonlie acknowledged of all yet neuer vniuersally of each one For he neuer set his foot in the Temple nor vpon Mount Sion The Romans presse sore vpon vs to shew who in former ages haue been of our Religion
large explication Chapter 15. As is most cleere by comparing the Angell stirring this to execution with that one of the foure beasts furnisher of the Vials to the seuen Angels Chapter 15. This last inciter hath this common note with the former two Angels that he commeth out of the Temple but this he hath singular that he came from the Altar So then he is a minister of the Altar by allusion still to the Temple and Legal worship Next he hath power ouer fire as Christ who came to send fire in the earth as the two Witnesses Cha. 11. and Elias out of whose mouthes fire proceeded to deuoure their aduersaries and who had power to plague the earth with all manner of plagues al 's often as they would as hauing vengeance in readinesse against all disobedience Now then as by the Angell out of the Temple armed with the sikle are expressed heere generally and summarily in this summary propositiō all faithfull Christians of whatsoeuer calling instructed with power from God to execute his wrath against the enemies which executors are more largely expressed in the seuen Angels Chapter 15. So this comming from the Altar is the type of true pastours by whose plaine and powerful preaching the other are informed and stirred to consecrate their hands to the Lord. Euen to serue Babel as shee hath serued vs. As accordingly Chapter 15. The seuen Angels receiue the vials of wrath from one of the foure beasts Of whom Chapt. 4. CHAP. XV. HEnce is the story of the last wrath for finall destruction of the enemies to the peace of the Church that the kingdoms of the world may be Gods and Christs Vpon obstinate impenitency against sixe trumpets Chapt. 9. 21. The fulfilling of this wrath was sworne to come in the daies of the seuenth trumpet Chap. 10. Vpon sounding of the seuenth trumpet summarily denounced Chap. 11. And summary executing thereof proponed Chap. 14. in the end Whereof here the larger narration hath the executers Chap. 15. Their execution in order Chapt. 16. Cleared more largely Chapters 17. 18. 19. and 20. Whereupon the gracefull condition of the Bride victorious is magnifickly set downe Chapt. 21. and 22. This whole matter is that other great signe seene in heauen to distinguish this part of story from the preceding in the last three Chapt. called also a signe in heauen This is that which Mat. 24. is called the signe of the sonne of man For hee and his iudgements now are made manifest As not inconueniently the other might be called the signe of the Dragon 2 In this Chapter from the beginning to the fifth verse is set downe the greatnesse of the erand thence to the end the disposing of the instruments for execution thereof the greatnesse of the matter is first summarily proponed in this that hee saw a signe a great yea a maruellous signe and in heauen That Chap 12. was a great signe but this is both great and wonderfull euen the signe of the sonne of man in heauen This great wonderfulnesse is shewed in the Ministers Angels their number seuen their imployment to bee executors of God his last wrath for finishing of the mysterie Chapt. 10. For his spirit would no longer striue with men vers 1. Next in the effect and end of their worke to the 5. verse Which are the destruction of Antichrist that the Saints victorious ouer him may praise God and by the greatnesse equity and truth of his iudgements manifested all men may feare glorifie and worship him who onely is holy For expressing of this effect and end the Church and her condition in and vpon this execution to follow ioyfully vpon sight of the instruments prepared precōceiuing the certaine euent is set down in the victory and song thereof In the victory are the meanes whereby and the party ouer whom The meanes are a glassie Seamingled with fire the pure word of God mingled with the vertue of the holy Ghost Chap. 4. The victory is ouer the Beast his image his marke and number of his name to shew it now full and perfit In their song are first the quality that it is a song of praise for a maruellous deliuerance and ouerthrow of a great enemie such as Moses vpon such a case did sing at the red Sea Exod. 14. Secondly it is in praise of the Lambe through whom they obtaine this victory and in whom the Father is glorified and not in praise of Moses who is the seruant of God Heb. 3. 3. Chapt. 22. 9. and 19. 10. Thirdly their disposition is noted in that they haue the harpes of God giuen by him for his praise that is well tuned hearts filled with ioy and loue in conscience of his benefits and bursting out in thanksgiuing For hee onely putteth a new song in the mouthes of his seruants Lastly the tenor of their song is in two the praise of God his works and waies and the sequell therof The praise of his workes is that they are great and maruellous according whereto hee hath a competent title Lord God almighty The praise of his waies is that they are iust and true and competently thereupon he hath the title of King of Saints In infinite authority and power yet to hold euer a iust and true way is a great praise Now the sequell hereof is that he onely be feared glorisied and worshipped of all And that for two reasons First because he onely is holy and not the Beast who sacrilegiouslie busketh his head with that blasphemie Next his iudgements are now made manifest to all so as who before worshipped and wondered after the Beast as hauing none equall or able to fight with him now in his iust and manifest ouerthrow may know and praise God only holy For Christ now sitteth on a white cloude iudging him Compare this 4. verse with the 7. of Chap. 14 and see what wisdome 3 Before wee enter in the second part in the disposing of the instruments for this great execution the interpretation giuen of the glassie Sea mingled with fire is to be cleared 4 That the glassie Sea is the type of the pure word and pure worshippe according thereto see vpon the 4. Chap. Heere the allusion is to that storie Exod. 13. and 14. When Moses and Israel with him hauing past the red Sea standing on the shore thereof and seeing Pharao and his host drowned therein they praise God singing the song of Moses c. Of this allusion while men marke not narrowlly all the points of conueniencie the place is diuersly mistaken Some taking this Sea mingled with fire to be but the type of great troubles thorow which the Church now hath escaped according to the speech Psalm 66. Thou hast brought vs thorow water and fire But this is not all whereto heere the spirit will lead vs. Others take it for the treasure of meanes which God hath euer in readinesse as before his throne to destroy his enemies But this is too generall For