aduersity for the Lords sake nothing doubting but as the holding forth of this open booke hath beene already accomplished and the preaching againe after so long a time of silence so whatsoeuer is here further auerred by the same Angell of the consummation of this world shall also vndoubtedly follow and yet a little while he that shall come will come and will not tarry CHAP. XI AND there was giuen me a reed like a rod and the Angell stood and said Vers 1. Arise and measure the Temple of God the Altar and those that worship in it And the outer Court of the Temple cast out c. What is figured out by this measuring Quest 1 the leauing out of the outer Court to be troden vnder foot by the Gentiles 42. months Who are the 2. witnesses that prophesie in sackcloth what time is designed by their 1260. dayes What are the miracles done by them and the beast that killeth them What time is meant by three dayes and a halfe wherein their dead bodies should lie vnburied And what is their rising againe and being called vp into heauen And lastly what is the great earthquake shaking the great city so that the tenth part falleth and seuen thousand men are slaine and what city is this called Spiritually Sodome and Aegypt where the Lord was slaine Answ These things are very obscure and therefore Interpreters are much diuided about them Lyra. Lyra is the most absurd referring this to the feast of the dedication of the Temple ordained by Pope Felix about ann 525. as if he had beene figured out Here Pareus telleth of some that vnderstand this literally of Ierusalem and the Temple there the reedifying of which is here figured out but this cannot stand because not onely the Court but Temple and Altar and all are troden vnder foot of the Gentiles neither shall this Temple or Altar euer be reedified againe The Papists generally grounding vpon the opinion of the ancients referre all to Antichrists time Irenaeus Iustin Martyr Cyprian Ierom. Basil Chrsost c. who they thinke is yet to come and shall reigne three yeeres and an halfe but Enoch Elias shall resist him doing many miracles c. The consent of antiquity I confesse may much moue and is indeed to be regarded in matter of faith when with one consent they giue the sense of any place of Scripture which requireth not experience for the better vnderstanding therof But the things here set forth being of that nature that they cannot be so well vnderstood till that in processe of time the euent giueth some light to the prophesie it is no derogation from the ancients herein to goe from them especially when by euident reason it appeareth that they haue erred in their iudgement And Bellarmine himselfe consenteth Lib. 3. de P. R. cap. 5. that the Fathers haue erred much about the Antichrist because they saw not the histories of future times Ieronym in Malac ad Minerium Alexandrum cap. 4. Neither yet are the ancient Fathers for the comming of Enoch and Elias in person for Ierome calleth them Iudaizers who thinke that Enoch and Elias shall come againe in person for he saith The Iewes and Iudaizing heretikes thinke that Elias shall come againe and restore all things but to this Christ answereth when being demanded about the comming of Elias he saith Elias indeed shall come and if ye beleeue it he is already come by Elias meaning Iohn Baptist Moreouer that this is an errour is plaine 1. Because it is impossible Reas 1 that any man should effect so many things in so short a time The Antichrist expected by the Papists confuted as they say Antichrist shall doe that is bee receiued of all the Iewes for the Messiah build the Temple in three dayes ouerthrow the Turke the Persian the grand Cham and Prester Iohn kill the three kings of Aegypt Libia and Aethiopia build vp Rome burnt with fire and sit there as a Monarch persecuting the Christian religion in all parts of the world 2. Because at the end of this time they say Antichrist shall bee destroyed Reas 2 and from his death to the end of the world shall bee but fiue and forty dayes and so the very day of iudgement shall bee knowne contrary to the consent of all Scripture 3. Because the things in this booke set forth are said to bee such Reas 3 as must shortly be done now for so much as a great part of the booke is spent against Antichrist it cannot be that his time should be put off so long or be so short when it commeth seeing it occupieth the greatest part of this prophesie comprehending the whole time of the Gospell Yea the Apostle Paul saith plainly 2 Thess 2.7 that the mysterie of iniquity did then worke Lastly Antichristianisme is a mysterie that is so couertly carried that Antichrist can hardly be discerned when hee is come Bullinger Fox Pareus Brightman c. so that many shall be deceiued which were not so if he were a professed enemy and had Enoch and Elias to fight against him Our Diuines generally hold that there is set forth a reedifying of the spirituall Temple of God being ruined and almost râ—zed to the ground by the fury and malice of the enemies thereof as in the like figure Ezech. 40. c. is set forth the reedifying of the materiall Temple being destroyed by the Babylonians after their returne from captiuity Euen as when one is set to measure ground for any building to bee set vpon it it doth argue an intention to build there Now as the Temple of old did consist of an house called the Temple and an Altar and such as came to worship there so the spirituall Temple is described by way of allusion to it by these parts 2. But touching the outercourt there is difference in the reading Pareus following Luther and the copies of Robert Stephanus readeth it the inner Court but Arethas the outer and so Arrias Montanus Oecumen August Beda Tho. Aquin. Abbas Ioachim Rupertus Haimo Beza c. But the difference in the sense is nothing the Court whether inner or outer is left vnmeasured to figure out the power which the Gentiles should haue there euen in the time of the repairing of the decayes of Gods Church by oppugning errour and teaching the truth But what is meant by the Court is hard to determine Some vnderstand the Popish Clergy Pareus Bullinger which together with the Pope haue apostatized from the truth these are not to be measured but left out as aliens from the grace of God and fitly are they set forth by the inne Court which was the Court of the Priests Some vnderstand all the Papists Brightman Forbs Grasserus which by this figure are set forth to be more than the professours of the truth as the Court was greater than the Temple and the city yet farre greater than it so the Lord would
was crucified Here the Papals triumph as if by no meanes the Pope could be counted an instrument from the bottomlesse pit killing the Lords Witnesses and exposing their bodies without buriall seeing it is plaine they thinke from hence that these things shall be done at Ierusalem and not at Rome for Ierusalem is the great City where Christ was crucified and which the Prophets were wont to vpbraid by the name of Sodome and Egpyt for their vncleannesse and idolatries there But who so shall attentiuely consider the whole passage here shall easily finde that by Ierusalem must be vnderstood necessarily a farre larger place than that City seeing that vpon the entrance of this prophesie that which shall be trodden vnder foot by the Gentiles is called the holy City which no man can deny to be the Christian Church in all parts of the world whereof that holy City was a type and therefore according to the vsuall phrase of holy Scripture it is set forth by that name This then being taken for granted the same prophesie still continuing about that which should befall the seruants of God in this City being a long time at the will of their enemies it cannot with any probability be denied but that this spirituall Egypt and Sodome where the Lord was crucified is the same holy City of the vniuersall Church destined yet to the treading vnder foot of the Gentiles this being one most tyrannous act executed by them to expose the murthered bodies of Gods faithfull seruants vnburied euen here But this Church becommeth first another Sodom for vncleannesse an Egypt for idolatries and yet is old Ierusalem for crucifying and putting to death the Lord Iesus in his members This great City then is the vniuersall Church before called the holy City trodden vnder foot by wicked enemies not in respect of all the parts for the Temple and the Altar are exempted but in respect of those parts which are oppressed by the enemies of the truth both Turke Pope and chiefly the Pope whose iurisdiction is most infamous for vncleannesse and therfore called Sodom and for idolatry being therefore called Egypt and for murthers being therefore here set forth by a Periphrasis Where the Lord was crucified Ierusalem I grant is properly the City where our Lord was crucified but seeing all that hath beene said hitherto of the place is allegoricall this cannot be in any reason taken properly but allegorically also the City where our Lord was crucified that is Ierusalem imbrued in the most innocent bloud for the Roman Church so full of innocent bloud Ierusalem another Sodom and Egypt for the Roman Church a very Sodom and Egypt for the vncleannesses and idolatries as much reigâ—ing here as euer they did in those two cursed places Our Diuines doe all generally in effect say the same for they agree vpon the popish Church here meant But that some apply it vnto Rome Brightman as from whence the authority to crucifie Christ was deriued and so the great City where the Lord was crucified setteth forth the Roman Empire for which cause it is not only called Sodom a City but Egypt a Country and whole dominion which is now vnder the Pope as it was then vnder heathen Emperours Pareus Bullinger Some repeating the word spiritually say that it is meant where the Lord was crucified spiritually in his members neither can it be meant properly of Ierusalem because all nations and tongues shall see these dead bodies which could not be in one City againe this is doubtlesse the same City ruling ouer the Nations afterwards more amply described which the learned amongst the Papists themselues cannot deny to be Rome Touching their rising againe whereupon a great feare fell vpon those that saw them vers 11. and their being called vp into Heauen and ascending in a Cloud their enemies beholding it vers 12. Some vnderstand hereby other men of the same zealous spirit that they were of which were slaine Bullinger whom God stirreth vp to abate the ioy and to strike new terrour into the Antichristian Sect who are finally receiued vp into Heauen at the last day in the sight of their enemies the Kingdome of Antichrist being first much ruined by their meanes great warres being stirred vp called an Earth-quake by which many thousands are shine here called 7000. and the state in a great part commeth to ruine here said to bee the tenth part of the great City whereupon men suruiuing who were formerly deluded returne vnto God giuing all glory to him alone not making others partners with him any more as in their ignorance they had before done With this consenteth Pareus Paâ—â— but that he will haue their ascending to bee the honour and esteeme which the Teachers of the truth come into when their true doctrine is againe reuiued and preuaileth by meanes of such as God stirred vp in the roome of those that were formerly slaine by the enemies of the truth for thus Iohn Husse and Ierome of Prague being killed and their tenents condemned for hereticall liued againe in Luther and Melancthon and Caluin c. and were highly honoured and esteemed of together with their doctrine as also these and other their successors maintaining the same wherby great terrour was stricken into the Papals and that state being much ruined many were turned to the truth Brightman Brightman will haue this ascending to be of their doctrine concerning which a decree was made by Cesar Ferdinand and other Princes Sleid. lib. 26. that the Religion of the Augustane confession should bee free for all men ann 1555. sept Calend. Octobris Hereupon followed a great change in the state called here an Earth-quake the Pope loseth a great part of Germany the tenth part of his reuenue and the religious lose their meanes whereupon their life depended But these are said to be but 7000. the generall losse the fall of the tenth part of the City because this losse by the supressing of superstitious houses was not so great extending but to particular persons as the vilifying of the Pope for hereby the state in generall was greatly shaken For mine own part I consent with these learned Authors in that wherein they all agree that by the two Witnesses reuiued is not meant properly the raising againe of two particular persons Enoch and Elias as the Papists hold for this hath beene sufficiently confuted already but the stirring vp of others in the roome of such witnesses of the truth as haue been slaine during the reigne of Antichrist Yet I doe not thinke that this is to be brought within the compasse of the 1260. daies as already accomplished but that this shall be in the last declination of Antichristianisme at what time the enemies of the truth shall haue no more power to persecute and destroy as yet they haue For within the compasse of that time of their power as any haue beene stirred-vp they haue not stood still as affrighted hereat but they haue
not in a corner but in all countreys and nations of Christendome and shall wee doubt not be diffused into all other parts ere long This is the same in effect with that Chap. 10. Thou must prophesie againe to Nations and Kings and many peoples Feare God Vers 7. and giue glory to him c. this is all the effect of our preaching now and the speech is adaptated to the present occasion for in the time of Popery men feare the beast Pareus giue him glory and worship him as most admirable as was shewed Chap. 13. The chiefe thing therefore now to be pressed is to feare God and to worship him by giuing ouer that fond admiration of the Pope whereby they were drawne after him trusting in him and receiuing his Dictates as the Oracles of a God which indeed is the worshipping of him And the phrase here vsed giue glory to God doth fitly answer that in Chap. 11.13 where it is said that the great city being fallen and seuen thousand slaine the rest trembling gaue glory to God that is were conuerted from that superstition The time of his iudgment is come that is is at hand so that wee may gather hence as Chap. 10. where after the open booke appearing the Angell sweareth that time shall be no more c. that now since these things haue come to passe the destruction of the Pope and Papacy and of all wicked ones is very neere euen at the doores Touching the second Angell proclaiming the fall of Babylon Vers 8. it is plaine that by Babylon here the old city of the Assyrians so called is not meant both because this Babylon is described to be such as had dominion in the time of Saint Iohn ouer the Kings of the earth Chap. 17.18 and because the people of God are bidden to come out of this Babylon where they had not beene fiue hundred yeeres before the time of this Prophecie But some haue held that by Babylon the world is meant wherein there is so much confusion by reason of the Deuils reigning in it But this cannot stand Ambros Beda Arethas Haimo Primasius Ansel because this Babylon is spoken of but as a part of the world for with her all nations haue committed fornication and when it is fallen yet the world of the wicked remaine for they are threatened with euerlasting torments by the next Angell And lastly wee are bidden come out of Babylon which we cannot doe if by Babylon the whole world be vnderstood If wee looke backe to Chap. 11.8 we shall finde a great city mentioned which before was called the holy City vers 2. trodden vnder foot by the Gentiles two and forty moneths in which city it is said the Lord was slaine and his two witnesses their dead carkasses being cast out and all nations and kindreds beholding them which city all men know according to the letter is Ierusalem but spiritually the Text saith it is Aegypt or Sodome This city I shewed there setteth forth the Church of the Gentiles sometime holy but by Popery and Mahumetisme in time corrupted wonderfully and therefore called Aegypt or Sodom and the fall of it in part is also there spoken of vers 13. Now the same is called Babylon another great city and of great note for rule and dominion and of infamy for idolatry and cruelty and because Rome is the head of this corrupted Church and the chiefe city of the world the Papall Empire residing there but extending it selfe into all parts it is meant by this Babylon the name being aptly changed from Aegypt or Sodom to Babylon Ribera to expresse this imperiall Babel-like power Ribera the Iesuite acknowledgeth Rome to be meant by Babylon here alleging many worthy Writers who affirmed the same As Augustine August de Ciuit. Deid 8.6.22 who saith that Babylon falling Rome was built the daughter of Babylon and another very Babylon so likewise Euseb lib. 2. cap. 14. Beda Oecumen Victorinus Ieronym in Esa 24. Tertull. lib. 3. contra Marcion Sixtus Senensis Ludonicus Viues Lindanus Bellarmine c. But hee will not haue Rome as the state thereof now standeth to be Babylon but as it was vnder the persecuting heathen Emperours But this is a most vaine defence 1. Because Antichrist was not come whilst heathen Rome stood who by the consent of all must be come before this fall of Babylon 2. Because from this Babylon spirituall fornications that is idolatries are deriued to all countreys and nations whereas it was neuer so with heathen Rome for then all countreys were suffered to enioy their owne religions but the Christian onely 3. Because none of the Authors alleged except Tertullian liued whilst heathen Rome stood and therefore could not call Rome Babylon meaning heathen Rome Lastly because this Babylon is afterwards called The great Whoore noting a state apostatizing from the truth sometime receiued to goe after Idols for in the holy Scriptures Israel only and Iudah are taxed for whoredome and not either Countries because they were married as it were vnto the Lord and yet they fell from him to the seruing of Idols Other Nations which were neuer taken in for Gods peculiar though they were full of Idols could not properly be said to goe a whooring no more could heathen Rome but the Popish state now iuling there may justly be thus charged Ribera seeing that it is but a shift to apply this to Heathen Rome at the last leaueth it and saith That Rome is meant as it shall be when in the time of Antichrist it shall forsake the Pope and the Catholike Religion as he laboureth to make it probable that it shall doe But who so is wise will easily see that this is but a shift to elude a plaine euidence To Rome that now is and to the Pope who hath his seat there all circumstances doe so agree as that we are sure this Prophesie thus taken is already verified a state falling from the Pope there and returning to their old heathen idolatry is but a phantasma like the man in the Moone which none but fooles will beleeue to be so indeed Here is now the Empire ouer Kingdomes and Nations here are miracles and shewes that draw the world after the Pope After a long time of delusion by faire pretences the eternall Gospell is come to light againe and this state hath beene much shaken this thousand yeeres and vpward and is in a great part fallen but yet murthereth and destroyeth the Saints according to their old manner from hence are idolatries and superstitions deriued into all Countries and lastly now standeth that reuiued head which was deadly wounded being the seuenth which was to come after Saint Iohns time for of the seuen fiue were fallen one that is Emperours then stood and the seuenth that is the Pope was to come And the Iesuite in yeelding that Rome shall fall away to heathen idolatry from the Catholike Religion doth quite forget himselfe of that grand Maxim that
to draw any to the Roman religion thus seeking to alienate their hearts from their lawfull Prince for hereby many riuers setting forth their Popish Doctours came to run with bloud when they were for this executed The fourth such as haue illustrated the darke places of the holy Scriptures which are as the Sunne and the more they come to be explained as it is now to be expected that they shall be daily more and more this being the time wherein knowledge shall increase the more as with the heat of the fire shall the Romanists be vexed and tormented but rather to their obduration than to their conuersion The fift some greater calamity than euer that shall come vpon Rome it selfe to the vtter ouerthrow thereof according to that prophecie of the Sybil 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Then thou shalt bee all desolate as if thou hadst neuer beene The sixt a Diuine power that shall bring the Iewes home vnto the truth â— Esdras 13.43 who as Esdras saith went thorow the straight passages of Euphrates for of their returne Esayas prophesieth saying I will say vnto the deepe be dry and I will dry vp thy flouds Chap. 51.10 they are called kings because they shall reigne all ouer the Eâ—st parts Then the Turke and the Pope set forth by the Dragon and false prophet and beast shall bestirre themselues by their agents Bassaes Iesuites and the like sparing for no cost to suppresse the truth and the powers which they shall assemble shall be in these Westerne parts where the Gospell hath most preuailed being called Harmageddon the mountaine of delights of Har a mountaine and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Maggedim delights The seuenth is according to this exposition applyed as in the exposition before going all the prophecies of holy Scripture haue now taken their effect The great City is diuided into three parts the three before spoken of viz. the Dragon beast and false prophet that is the Turke and Pope being destroyed but yet no end of the world Some a little different yet for the most part subscribe vnto this Pareus holding that the first viall was powred out by Luther and Zwinglius laying open the sores of Popery to their great vexation the second when the Councell of Trent set down such corrupt Canons of religion the third which is not yet fulfilled when the Bishops and Doctors and chiefe vpholders of the Roman religion shall haue the same measure meted vnto them which they haue measured vnto others by the shedding of their bloud the fourth when by the light of the truth increasing the Papals shall bee heat and troubled and blaspheme it out of their anguish the fift when the state of Popery shall yet become more abominable the foggy darknesse thereof appearing more and more by the comming on of the light the sixt when the reuenues of the Popedome decaying new kings set forth by the kings of the East because they shall be conuerted to the truth shall bee a meanes of the destruction thereof This was Bullingers before and is subscribed vnto by Aretius and Illiricus and by Pareus his Auonymus as he saith who wrote aboue two hundred and threescore yeeres agone This decay in the Papail reuenues hath beene these hundred yeeres but how doth the Pope seeke to helpe himselfe There are three vncleane spirits like frogs comming out of his mouth which are the Popes Legats the Bishops who direct them and the Iesuites who draw into their league the Kings of America India and Persia for the defence of the Popedome so that there are like to bee great stirres in the world and a great conspiracy to oppresse the truth but their gathering together shall be to their owne destruction because into Harmageddon where Iosiah fell an occasion of much sorrow and mourning For the seuenth Angell shall then powre out his viall the great day of iudgement being come the terriblenesse whereof is set forth by many fearefull euents of thunder lightening earthquake and haile More ancient Expositors vnder these Angels with their vials doe thinke that the Preachers Primas Richard de Sancto Victore Hanno Ambsbert Pannonius Ioachim c. who at seuerall times haue threatened Gods iudgements are set forth By the first the Apostles threatning the Iewes for their infidelity which as an incurable sore remaineth vpon them to this day By the second the Preachers which threatened the sea of the Gentiles By the third such as opposed heretikes By the fourth such as reproued the Clergy and chiefe Bishops for their corruptions By the fift such as opposed the followers of Antichrist and that Antichrist By the sixt such as reproue the Kings and Princes adhering to Antichrist By the seuenth such as threaten the destruction of the prince of the aire the Authour vnto Antichrist of all his tyranny after which hee shall be throwne downe to his place of torment Diuers Popish Writers follow this also as Gorran and Gagneus c. Yet Viegas will haue all to be literally vnderstood holding that as the Aegyptians were visibly and sensibly by diuers iudgements confounded before the Hebrewes Blas Viegas so Antichrist and his followers shall be before the Catholikes There are other expositions also as that by the sea and riuers turned into bloud Mason the slaughters made of the Papists by the Turkes are to be vnderstood by the viall powred out vpon the Sunne the turning of their Bishops Friers and other religious persons out of their dens here in England c. making them boile in heat at it By that vpon the beasts throne the taking away of the Popes reuenues to the great darkening of his glory consisting so much in worldly pompe and riches By that vpon Euphrates the remouing of all impediments that the kings which haue formerly giuen honour to the beast may now come and destroy her By that into the aire producing thunderings c. the vtter destruction of Popery by the powerfull preaching of the word when all flie away that is turne from Popery to the embracing of the truth Another applying the foure former vials onely in generall to the life and doctrine of the Papists being discredited holdeth that by the fift viall the going downe of the pompe glory and honour of the Pope is set forth in that being before time adored as a God he is now vilified and abominated as a monster By the sixt the decay of his reuenues which in time shall come to be so poore and meane as that hee shall bee easie to be inuaded as old Babylon was when Euphrates was dryed vp whereupon the Iesuites haue done their vttermost endeuour to stirre vp Popish Princes to succour this languishing state but by a secret prouidence they haue beene brought together into Harmageddon that is to their destruction so that the place may well be called from hence by this name signifying the destruction of an army as the Hebrewes were wont from any notable accident to giue the name to
all Countries who were the first people of God and had the Gospell first preached vnto them whereas the other of the Catholike Epistles are to the Gentiles that beleeued in all parts of the world Wherefore Ierome setteth them in this order also Hieron prolog though the Latines respecting the dignity of Peter placed his Epistles first Pareus Pareus holdeth that they should rather bee put in another order first 1 Peter and then Iames because Peter wrote that Epistle first and then Iames following Peter in the same after both which Paul wrote to the Hebrewes Howsoeuer this matter needeth no great dispute seeing order in the placing of the Bookes of holy Scripture is not so precisely obserued yet in reason seeing Saint Iames his Epistle is nominatim to the twelue Tribes but Saint Peters is not so and his second Epistle is to all Christians if any preference be giuen to an Epistle in the placing thereof in respect of them to whom it is written this of Iames should be first and then those of Peter together it being neuer vsed to separate the Epistles of one and the same Author but to place them together This Epistle is said to be of the Apostle Iames and so it is intituled by Beza both in Greek and Latine Euseb Eccl. â—ist lib. 3. cap. 25. Hieren Epist 41. ad Paulin. Cypr. lib. ad Nouat Aug. Epist 29. and both Eusebius and Ierome doe testifie that this Epistle was counted Apostolicall in their times Cyprian also citeth it as Apostolicall and Augustine and Concilium Mileuitan Can. 7. Pareus also subscribeth to this Yet some thinke it was written by Iames surnamed Iustus or Oblias that is Mute who according to Epiphanius was called the Brother of our Lord because hee was the sonne of Ioseph by a former Wife Epiphan in Haeres Antidicomarianorum and hee was one of the 70. sent forth by our Lord being afterwards constituted Bishop of Ierusalem To this Luther subscribeth Luther and the Lutherans following him who doe not therefore hold it to be canonicall Scripture But for as much as it hath anciently beene receiued as Canonicall and Apostolicall not onely by the forenamed Authors but also by Origen Athanasius Orig. Hom. iâ— Ios Athan. in Synops Epiph. lib. 3. haer 76 Isid Hisp lib. 6. Etymol cap. 1. Niceph. lib. 2. hist cap. 46. Damasc lib. 4. de fide cap. 11. Epiphanius Isidorus Hispalensis Nicephorus and Damascen and the very directing of it to all parts after an Apostolicall manner doth argue it to be written not by a Bishop of any particular place but by an Apostle who was sent vnto all I hold it without doubt to be the Epistle of the Apostle Iames and consequently Canonicall as the Epistles of other Apostles are If it be demanded which Iames wrote it for there were two of that name Iames the sonne of Zebedeus and brother of Iohn and Iames the sonne of Alpheus a Kinsman of our Lord and therefore called his Brother also as Iames Oblias before spoken of was I answer with Pareus and others that the consideration of the time when it was written argueth that the first of these Iames the brother of Iohn cannot be the Author of it but Iames the sonne of Alpheus otherwise called Iames the lesser Act. 12. for the elder Iames was slaine by Herod before the dispersion of the Iewes the second yeere of Claudius Sucton in Claud. cap. 25. who did afterwards cast the Iewes and Christians out of the City and then in the time of their dispersion was this Epistle written vnto them as appeareth by the superscription thereof Enseb lib. 2 c. 22. Hieron in Catal. If it be obiected that Eusebius and Ierome both doe report that it was anciently doubted of whether it be Canonicall or no I answer that they did onely mention such a thing but they did not doubt hereof themselues If it be further obiected that he doth not call himselfe an Apostle but the seruant of Iesus Christ I answer that Paul in some of his Epistles in ituleth himselfe likewise the name of an Apostle being omitted and neither Iohn nor Iude write themselues Apostles but only Peter Lastly if it bee obiected that here is something deliuered contrary to that of Saint Paul touching iustification not by saith onely but by workes and anointing with Oile is mentioned which none of the other Apostles speaketh of I answer that I haue already shewed vpon Rom. 3. that the seeming contrariety betwixt Saint Paul and Saint Iames is nothing they being rightly vnderstood and touching the anointing with Oile it shall be considered in the proper place As for any thing else obiected it is not worth the naming and therefore I come directly to the Epistle it selfe wherein after a salutation he comforteth them as the present occasion of their distressed estate did require and hauing called their troubles herein temptations he taketh occasion to speake also of inward temptations tending vnto euill vers 13. prouing that they come not from God one speciall reason of which is that euery good and perfect gift is from him vers 17. and to proue this hee doth instance in the great gift and grace of our regeneration which is of God by his Word vers 18. and therefore inferreth a readinesse to heare this Word remouing the ill effects that through mens owne corruption follow of hearing wrath and speaking in wrath verse 19. c. and setting downe the right vse and end of hearing verse 22. c. And lastly to driue all men from speaking in wrath he sheweth the vanity of his religion that doth so verse 26. and to perswade to loue and pure affections in hearing the contrary to which he had commanded to lay apart verse 21. he commendeth charity whereby our loue is most declared and of which it is said Giue almes of that yee haue Luk. 11.47 and all things shall be cleane vnto you and purity from the inquinations of the world to which a man is subiect by ouerualuing the things thereof verse 27. How the other Chapters of this Epistle doe cohere each one with the former and in it selfe shall bee shewed as wee come to the expounding of them in order CHAP. I. THe former words of this Chapter haue little difficulty in them and therefore I will runne them ouer briefly Vers 1. Verse 1. The twelue Tribes vnto which hee writeth said to be scattered abroad or in dispersion are the beleeuers of euery Tribe now expelled from Ierusalem by CLAVDIVS CESAR as hath beene already touched But it is to be vnderstood that ten of the twelue Tribes were still in that banishment vnder Salmanasar King of Assyria for wee reade not of the returne of any 2 Kings 17. but of the two Tribes and an halfe in the dayes of Exra and Nehemiah or at any time since and therefore it is likely that the Apostle had respect to that dispersion also if happely
it agreeth best to vnderstand it of those that be of an inferiour ranke amongst whom all younger persons are included as Saint Paul sheweth Gal. 4.1 and so the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is vsed Luk. 22.26 1 PETER Chapter 5. Verse 13. The Church that is at Babylon saluteth you Vers 14. Greet yee one another with a kisse of charity BY Babylon here all the Ancients generally Mayer Luther Faber and Luther and Faber vnderstand Rome so called because of the idolatrous confusion that was then there and cruelty that was vsed against the faithfull in that City and this allegoricall Exposition follow all popish Writers of whom Lorinus hath made a Catalogue to the number of 26. But Beza and Piscator Beza Piscator and other newer Writers vnderstand Babylon in Chaldea where Peter was when he wrote this Epistle holding that it cannot be proued that he was euer at Rome and if he had meant the Church at Rome he had no reason to conceale the name and Luther saith that he knoweth not whether by Babylon here Rome be meant or no. It seemeth the more probable that Rome is not meant but Babylon properly vnderstood because Peter was the Apostle of the circumcision and therefore according to his Office might well be in those parts where many Iewes were But because it hath beene the common receiued opinion of the Church thorow so many ages I subscribe rather to the allegoricall exposition that Rome is meant here For Peter was sent to preach vnto the Gentiles also Act. 10. and so might well be at Rome though there bee no certaine proofe hereof in sacred Story but rather a probability that hee was not there What if the Lord would guide this blessed Apostle who was the first and chiefe in setting forth diuine Mysteries to name Rome Babylon to giue the more light to that which should afterwards be prophesied of Rome vnder this name in the Reuelation The Roman Catholikes contend the rather for this exposition of the name that it may appeare that Peter was at Rome But be it so yet by their owne choice Rome is called Babylon in the phrase of Gods Spirit and then Babylon is Rome which is so infamous in the Reuelation and that not heathen Rome as they pretend thinking thus to salue all againe but popish Rome as I haue shewed more at large there His sonne Marcus who is said to haue saluted them was Marke the Euangelist called his sonne because he begat him by the Gospell as Paul calleth Timotheus his sonne Piscator speaketh of him as his naturall sonne but Oecumenius confuteth that opinion as hauing too weake a ground viz. Act. 12. where it is said that Peter came to the house of Mary the mother of Iohn whose surname was Marke that is say some to his owne house where his wife and children were But if this had beene meant there could haue beene no reason to speake by a periphrasis but directly and plainly Touching the saluting of one another with a kisse of charity enough hath beene spoken 1 Cor. 16.20 Touching the Messenger that carried this Epistle Siluanus it is thought by many that he was the same who is called Silas Act. 15.22 and whose name is prefixed with the name of Timotheus before some of Pauls Epistles THE SECOND EPISTLE CATHOLIKE OF THE Apostle PETER TOuching the Author of this Epistle it is not to be doubted but as it beareth the name of Peter the Apostle of Christ so it was written by him to the same persons to whom he wrote the first And to confirme this the more he saith That hee was present with the Lord in the holy Mount when his glory appeared vers 18. for hereby Gregory the great confuteth those that doubted whether it were written by Peter or no. Hierom Eusebius Greg. Hom. 18. in Ezech. Euseb l. 2. c. 40. Hieron de viris illustribus and Nicephorus doe all shew that it hath sometime beene doubted of but indeed there was neuer any reason to doubt of it and therefore it hath beene receiued by all orthodox Writers for canonicall and for Saint Peters vndoubted Epistle no man euer reiecting it though some haue sometime doubted of it It was written according to Baronius as I haue shewed before vpon the first Epistle three and twenty yeeres after the first the same yeere that Peter suffered martyrdom The Argument is a commendation of a godly vertuous life vnto them lest by his former Epistle they should gather that it sufficeth onely to beleeue and an admonition to take heed of false Teachers especially as some thinke being occasioned by the followers of Simon and some by the Gnostickes though that be more improbable seeing Carpocrates the Author of that heresie or Basilides were not in the Apostles daies It seemeth that hee had some reuelation touching his martyrdome shortly to come whereupon he toucheth and therefore he was the more carefull to leaue this Epistle as a further Memento to all the faithfull In his first Epistle hee sought to arme the faithfull with comfort and patience against such as troubled them here he terrifieth the troublers of the Church with threatnings of such iudgements as God of old hath executed against the wicked He beginneth in the first Chapter with salutations commemorating the great grace of God in Iesus Christ towards the faithfull vnto vers 5. to the faith in whom he exhorteth to ioyne all Christian vertues vers 5 6. yeelding some reason how that thus their faith shall appeare to be a true faith indeed and their knowledge of Christ shall not be without benefit in the end whereas otherwise it will proue but vaine and fruitlesse vers 8 9 10 11. And then making some Apology for his remembring them of these things who knew them so well already vers 12 13. he confirmeth both by testimony from Heauen of which he was an eare-witnesse Mat. 17. that saluation is to be lookt for in Christ vers 16 17 18. and by the testimony of the Prophets exhorting them to be conuersant in their writings for their further illumination and confirmation vers 19. Teaching the infallibility of their prophesies vers 20 21. 2 PETER Chapter 1. Verse 4 5 6. Whereby are giuen to vs exceeding great and precious promises that by them ye might be partakers of the diuine nature hauing escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust And besides this giuing all diligence adde to your faith vertue c. WHereby that is by the comming of which Lord Iesus Occuâ—en in 2 Pet. 1. Exceeding great promises are giuen vnto vs that is many excellent gifts of grace whereby we might be made partakers of the diuine nature being lifted vp to life and godlinesse and therefore wee ought so to carry our selues as that wee may ioyne vertue to faith and by vertue goe forward to the increase of piety till we come to the perfect good of all viz. charity We are made
long time Some vnderstand the time of the reigne of the ten persecuting Emperours a Brightman Some precisely but ten dayes Lastly some the ten yeeres of Traians persecution who raged all that time like a Deuill till that by Pliny the second writing vnto him of the innumerable company of Christians that were put to death a cessation was obtained Yet one will haue it referred to the ten yeeres of Dioclesians persecution Fox for that lasted iust ten yeeres according to Eusebius For mine owne part I preferre that exposition of the ten persecuting Emperours euery ones time being his day and their times are said to be but ten dayes that is but a short time to comfort the faithfull in their sufferings and because with the Lord many yeeres are but as a day A long time cannot be meant because this would haue greatly discomforted them nor an vncertaine time for the comfort of the faithfull in their sufferings is that God limiteth the time of their sufferings to the very day beyond which they shall not passe For Traians time they had their persecutions as sharply repeated ouer againe after it and for Dioclesians it were much that comfort should not bee spoken to them against any before for though no persecution were so terrible yet they were all terrible enough to shake their faith had they not beene supported with this comfort that they should haue but ten such brunts and then be deliuered Touching the different title giuen to the reward here promised Vers 12. He shall not be hurt of the second death this serueth to arme them against the feare of death bodily according to the argument of the Epistle and as hath beene already touched THe third Epistle is to the Church of Pergamus The third Epistle contained in six verses 12 13 14 15 16 17. wherein their constancy in the faith is commended and the following of the doctrine of Balaam condemned with an admonition to repent vnder paine of being stricken with his sword and incouragement to ouercome by the hidden Manna and a white stone with a name written thereon promised Quest 1. Why is the Lord set forth here Vers 12. as hauing a sharpe two-edged sword Answ Because as all agree he is to deale with rebels against the truth whom hee threateneth to cut off with the sword One hath a conceit vpon the name Pergamus signifying the diuision of hornes Gorran because Heretikes haue two hornes to push at the truth one is the wresting of the Scriptures the other is their sophistry in arguing against which a two-edged sword is opposed Quest 2. What is meant by Satans throne Vers 13. which he saith was there and who was Antipas his faithfull Martyr Answ I omit to speake any thing of the Angell of this Church because I finde nothing said of him who it should be Satans throne according to most argueth the height of impiety and sin and his dwelling the continued course hereof and withall the outward eminency of this place For the seat of the persecuting Emperors is called afterwards the throne of the dragon Chap. 13.2 and of the Deuill and Satan Chap. 12.9 so that it may hence be gathered that Pergamus was a royall city and so it was indeed for it was the seat of Attalus Philometor a king after that of the Roman Proconsuls Liu. Decad. 4. l. 7. And most notoriously sinfull this city was for it was giuen to idolatry according to Arethas more than any city in Asia Antipas as Arethas thinketh was a Pastour of that Church burnt to death in a brazen bull for the profession of the Christian religion whereby they could not yet be made to shrinke But God still had a Church there and why not then in the midst of Popery If it be obiected if there were any many yeeres agoe it was inuisible so as this Church was not I answer it might be so indeed and yet true that there was such a Church as in the dayes of Elias but it was not so inuisible but that the Antichrist of Rome could finde them out in all ages to put them to martyrdome Quest 3. What is meant by holding the doctrine of Balaam Vers 14. Thou hast there such as hold the doctrine of Balaam Answ Here is not onely made mention of Balaam but vers 15. of the Nicolaitans also which whether it be a taxation of two vices or of one diuersly expressed some make question But it is most likely by the manner of speaking Parous that it is onely declared by this circumlo quution wherein the wickednesse of the Nicolaitans did consist which was before passed ouer in silence After the maner of Balaam they were Authors to the Christians of eating things offered to idols and of fornication for so the sequele of the History of Balaam doth declare Num. 22.23 24. that he aduised Balaak to set faire women to call the Hebrewes to their idolatrous feasts and thence to luxury For this doth so necessarily append vpon the other that Ierome hath rightly said Venter vino aestuans citò despumatin libidinem Vicina sunt venter genitalia pro vicinitate membrorum sequitur confoederatio vitiorum Vers 17. The bellie boiling with wine doth soone seeth ouer into lust And againe The belly and the genitals are neere together and therefore through the vicinitie of members followeth a confederation of vices Quest 4. Why is eternall blisse here propounded vnder the name of hidden Manna and a white stone two names or two wayes when as other Epistles propound but one Answ Most Expositors obserue three wayes of setting forth the reward here the hidden Manna the white stone and the name written in it vnknowne to any saue to him that hath it But they may well come vnder two because this name is comprehended in the second For the diuers rewards named more than in other Epistles before going the like course is vsed also in the three Epistles next following but I finde nothing by Expositors obserued hereupon but onely that this is spoken according to the necessity of these Churches being more oppressed by the wicked aduersaries and so hauing more temptations where almost all were enemies Whereunto if we adde that more is here spoken for the amplifying of the benefit promised we shall attaine to the full reason of this variety More particularly the reward is compared to hidden Manna that is the pot of Manna kept in the Arke for a monument of what God had done for the Israelites in feeding them miraculously in the wildernes with Manna when other food falled it is said to be hidden because the people might not looke into the Arke to see it Exod. 16.33 Heb. 9.4 To this Manna it is alluded here because as that was ministred vnto the people of Israel in the wildernesse so they were preserued when in mans reason they must needs haue perished for want of food so the
the Church cannot erre and is alwaies visible whereas if this should befall the Church of Rome which they hold to be the onely Catholike Church it should both erre fowly and the Church should sometime be ouerthrowne by the gates of Hell and put downe from the visibility into such contradictions doe they plunge themselues that are contradictors of the plaine and euident truth of Gods Word Touching the third Angell threatning eternall destruction to the followers of the beast Vers 9. enough hath beene said already to shew to what time it is to bee referred and as for the torments here mentioned and the comforts propounded to the faithfull it is easie for any man of himselfe to render the sense thereof Note from all that hath beene said Note that the doctrine of the reformed Churches at this day is the very doctrine of Gods Angell for we teach to ascribe all glory and to giue all worship â—o God only and not to make any a partaâ—er with God herein and in these points not to feare the tyranny of the Pope and his adherents but in the feare of God to persist herein to the end which is the very effect of the Angels teaching To this tendeth our impugning of Images and the worshipping of Saints departed our denying of the merit of workes and supererrogations the Popes power of pardoning sinnes our ascribing all to grace in the conuersion of a sinner and holding no vertue to be in crossing and holy water c. Againe Note see a plaine euidence that this is the truth and the Roman Catholike state Babylon falling before it in diuers Countries and which shall be vtterly razed to the foundation so that a stone shall not be left vpon a stone Lastly Note all prosperity and preuailing is not to be expected by the seruants of God vpon the first falling of Babylon for she maketh head still and putteth many to death whose comfort yet is that they are blessed and rest with the Lord whereas if cowardly they should for feare turne to the beast they must be tormented miserably for euermore But why is this word from henceforth put in are not all the dead that die in the Lord at any time blessed Yes doubtlesse but there is an opinion of Popery by which men were carried away in times past touching the paines of purgatory fire to be suffered after death which is secretly here glanced at as if it should haue beene said Hitherto a long time it hath beene thought that there is no râ—st in death to the godly but further pangs yet to be endured in Purgatory but the vaniâ—y of this tenent being now discouered by the preaching of the Gospell set forth vnder the type of the three Angels no such thing shall henceforth bâ—feared but they shall comfort themselues in the expectation of immediate rest and ioy Quest 3. And behold one like vnto the Sonne of man sitting vpon the cloud Vers 14. hauing vpon his head a crowne of gold and in his hand a sharpe sickle c. Who is this and what are the Angels next mentioned whereof one comming out of the Temple calleth to him to put his sickle into the haruest and a second comming out of the Temple also hauing a sharpe sickle to whom a third comming out from the Altar that hath power ouer fire calleth to put his sickle into the Vintage which is cut downe and trodden in a Winepresse without the City the bloud comming out vp to the bridles of the horses by the space of 1600. furlongs Answ Almost all Expositors agree that the comming of Christ to iudgement is here represented for hee is like the Sonne of man though a great Iudge he shall come in the Clouds 1 Thes 4. and the consumma ion of the world is likened vnto the cutting downe of the Haruest Mat. 13. and both to the Haruest and Vintage Ioel 3.13 from whence this phrase seemeth to bee taken But some vnderstanding Christ by one like the Sonne of man as it is commonly taken P. du Moulin yet hold that some other iudgements vpon Babylon are here set forth to be applyed to the times of the three Angels going before the first whereof come with the eternall Gospell ann 1039. in Berengarius opposing transubstantiation and preuailing so farre that France Spaine Guil. Noribrigens Eng. â—â—ist lio 2 chap 13. Italy Germany were full of men holding the same with him for William Noribrigens saith that they were as the sands of the Sea but they were persecuted for this whereupon the Lord being offended sent his Angell with a sharpe sickle of iudgement ann 1076. About the time of Berengarius his death by a quarrell arising betweene Henry and Gregory the seuenth named Pope Hildebrand betwixt whom forty bloudy battels were fought and all things were filled with confusion and misery The second Angell came with threatnings against Babylon by Peter de Bruis and Henry de Tholouse ann 1130. and by Iohannes de Waldo of Lions ann 1158. for they called Rome Babylon and exhorted all men to goe out of her but Innocent the third then Pope caused the Croisado to be preached and by that meanes within a few moneths 200000. of them were slaine in Prouence Ioh. Cassanion Hist Languedoc and Guienna Hereat God being againe offended sent another sharpe sickle by Fredericke Barbarossa his armies and the Popes by reason of which the miseries were so great as that no Pen can expresse them sufficiently For whilst these warres lasted the Moores wasted Spaine together with the Sarazens murthering all the Christians which they could finde and the Saladine destroyed the Kingdome of Ierusalem which had cost so many millions of mens liues to conquer it The third Angell came with admonition to beware of worshipping the beast by the Preachers of these times against which when the Papacy shall grow most outragious some greater iudgement then euer yet shall come vpon them to the effusion of so much bloud that it shall come vp a wonderfull great space of ground to the very horse bridles which is not yet effected Forbs Grasserus Others hold that here is set forth the increase of such as should stand for the truth it being first vpheld by the immediate power of Christ set forth by his comming in a cloud with a sharpe sickle but afterwards diuers Countries being conuerted his Angels dare be bold to be seene to stand for the truth both temporall Kings set forth by the Angell with his sharpe sickle and spirituall Ministers comming from the Altar who by their exhortations and preaching stirre vp the other against Babylon so that here in briefe is set downe what is more at large described vnder the seuen Vials powred out by the seuen Angels following Some more particularly by one like the Sonne of man vnderstand the protestant Princes in Misnia Brightman Hassia Prussia c. such as Fredericus Saxo Mauritius Philippus Lantgranius Iohannes
but by the Westerne Kings who set vp the Whore she must be made desolate againe as is plainly shewed Chap. 17.16 and it were strange that such a poore runnagate people as the Iewes should haue the title of Kings of the East where they are the basest and of the least account I subscribe therefore to them that expound it as altogether Allegoricall by Euphrates the reuenues of the Popedome being meant and by the Kings of the East such Kings as God would stirre vp in these parts to be her vtter ruine and ouerthrow the great defence which is in the riuer of worldly wealth being taken away as sometime Euphrates was dreaned whereby Babylon was taken by Cyrus and Darius Easterne Kings And because the wealth of Spaine is so great a meanes to strengthen this kingdome yet I thinke it not amisse to bring that in also within the compasse of this great riuer In that part where the Popes reuenues runne the water is very shallow at this day there is great probability that the other will be much diminished shortly if not cleane dryed vp if the Indian treasure be once cut off which is very powerfully attempted And hitherto I thinke that these vials haue taken effect for the most part already onely we are to expect the drying vp of this Euphrates more and more and then that such Kings and Princes as abominate Rome for the wickednesse therof should vniting their forces giue the on-set vnto her desolation Touching the seuenth Angell I hold it best to go with the common streame of them that expound this of the finall iudgment 7. Angell not only of the beast and his followers but of the whole world that of the beast being againe re-assumed to bee more fully declared in the Chapters following as being the most remarkable thing pointed at in this booke For without wresting and straining the passages here in such manner as that there is no president for it in other places of holy Scripture it cannot be applied otherwise It is done Babylon came into remembrance to giue vnto her the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of Gods wrath and euery Iland fled away and the mountaines were no more found What else can these speeches set forth but the full and finall recompencing of the Whore of Babylon and of others enemies of the truth which cannot be said to haue beene done but at the last day For then onely it may be rightly spoken it is done it being till then but in doing and it is at that time onely that there is flying away to hide themselues from the wrath of God and that the fashion of the world is altered It should seeme to make against it that the great city is not said to fall Vers 19. but to be diuided into three parts I answer with Pareus that hereby the vtter ruine of it is set forth seeing three parts which may well be taken for all the parts of a building are said to be diuided or rent in sunder and in speaking of three it is alluded to the three before spoken of as the founders of this city the Dragon the beast and the false prophet the three vncleane spirits like frogs comming out of their mouthes Againe the nations are immediatly said to haue fallen that is to be quite ouerthrown and therfore it is not likely but that the vtter ruine of Rome is meant also though deliuered in a diuers phrase Or if by the great city we vnderstand all the countries where the Christian religion hath beene planted as I haue expounded it before vpon Chap. 11. then the city of Rome is not so much meant but the whole dominions of Turke and Pope for it is likely that Rome shall be destroyed before the riuer Euphrates the defence thereof being dryed vp yea it must needs bee so by reason of the lamentation made by such as haue had trafficke there for the desolation of that city Chap. 17. which cannot be after the great day of iudgement And if the great city bee thus taken then by the nations other countreys which are neither Mahumetane nor Popish are to be vnderstood which for their sinnes shall come to ruine also this being plainly set forth and the fall of the city by a periphrasis taken from such a fal as is by diuision as Ierusalem fell before the Romans by a triple faction therin to which in particular it is to be thought that it is alluded for so much as Ierusalem trodden vnder foot by the Gentiles is a type of Christendome vnder the dominion of Turke and Pope as hath been shewed more at large vpon Chap. 11. Vers 21. If it should seeme to make against this exposition that a great haile like talents is said to follow after all this whereupon men blaspheme God which as Brightman saith is not to bee thought shall be at the day of iudgement because all mouthes shall then be stopped the generall silence of all arguing their consent to the iustice of Gods proceedings and none blaspheming any more I answer with Pareus againe that howsoeuer the wicked shall subscribe to this iudgement in their owne conscience as most iust and so shall not mutter any word of reason against those proceedings yet the sense of the extremity of torment from which they shall despaire euer to be deliuered will so inrage them Exod. 6. as that like the Aegyptians when haile fire mingled therwith came down from heauen or like the Canaanites vpon whom God hailed with exceeding great hailestones to the destroying of most of them to which I think it is rather than to the other alluded here as they I say being moued with anguish did doubtlesse bitterly take on against the God of Israel so here the wicked at the last day are brought in blaspheming to expresse the sense of intolerable pangs vpon which wicked men are wont thus to do And haply their tongues will thus rebell against God as the tongues of persons inraged euerlastingly These things being thus explained wee see that there is no reason why any should be offended and doubt whether Popery shall euer goe downe altogether or no because it is still vpheld after so many yeeres since it first receiued a blow for it must fall by degrees as it rose by degrees and as it had a long time of rising to the full height so it must bee long in falling into vtter destruction And seeing fiue of these Vials haue so manifestly taken effect already and the sixt in a great part why should wee not by faith assuredly expect the full accomplishment of it as well as wee see the accomplishment of those foregoing by experience O yee foolish and blinde Papists why are ye so hard to beleeue the things that this Prophet hath foretold touching your Babylon if ye loue your soules open your eyes and by that which hath beene hitherto done be assured of a full destruction and therefore come out of Babylon in
which is only when the Word doth powerfully operate in the heart to make a man come out of his sinnes For a man may liue in the time of this resurrection and yet not haue part in it if after the manner of most men he contenteth himselfe with an outward profession and name of a Christian not caring to haue grace in his heart whereby he may proue that he hath attained to a new life Quest 3. And when the thousand yeeres shall be expired Vers 7 8 c. the Deuill shall be loosed out of his prison againe and shall goe forth to deceiue the nations in the foure corners of the earth Gog and Magog c. How or in whom is this accomplished who are Gog and Magog gathered in such innumerable multitutes by Satan vnto the battell what is the Campe of the Saints and the beloued city which they compasse about at what time God sendeth downe fire to destroy them when also the Deuill who deceiued them is cast into a lake of fire and brimstone Answ Forbs Some by Gog and Magog vnderstand the enemies of the Church indefinitely whatsoeuer they shall bee in the last dayes who shall make their last attempt against the truth but shall then be vtterly destroyed Some vnderstand the Turkes by Magog Brightman and the Scythians who are now called the Tartars by Gog being both of one stocke Gen. 10.2 for Magog was one of the sonnes of Iaphet of whom came the Scythians who are all one with the Turkes and Tartars for they spring from the Scythians but they are thus distinguished into Magog setting forth the Turke and Gog the Tartar because Magog doth containe in it Gog and more as the dominion is now in the Turkes the Tartars seruing only vnder them in their warres Which they seeke to proue also by the place ouer which Magog is said to be the chiefe Prince viz. Mesech and Tubal Ezech. 38.2 that is Cappadocia and Ibenia the ancient seat of the Turkes till that ann 1300. they further enlarged their bounds The campe of the Saints is the true Church of God in Europe which is so small in comparison of the Turkes as that they may well be said to compasse them about as in a siege the beloued City is the company of the Iewes which shall bee conuerted to the faith but being opposed by the Turkes then God shall miraculously destroy the Turkes and preserue them as if he sent fire downe from heauen vpon them and then the Emperour of the Turkes shall haue no place but in hell any more which is set forth by the Deuils being cast into the lake of fire and brimstone And as touching the time when this shall bee it is the same with the battell mentioned before in Harmageddon Chap. 16.16 which shall bee fought and then all enemies of the truth shall bee quite ouerthrowne at the end of Daniels 1335. Dan. 12.12 yeeres which will bee abbout anno Dom. 1690. Hitherto Brightman Bullinger Parcus Others vnderstanding the Turkes also yet goe another way in expounding this place The Deuill being let loose againe goeth out to seduce the nations partly by the increase of Popery which now little differeth from Heathenisme and partly by Mahumetisme which after this loosing of Satan preuailed wonderfully in so much that those parts in which were famous Churches of Christians are now turned into places of Turkish superstition few Christians that vnderstand and professe the truth remaining Moreouer he stirreth vp the most cruell and deadly enemies of Christians to the warres viz. the Turkes which wars were begun first about the holy Land haue continued euer since innumerable armies as the sands of the sea shore being gathered together to destroy the Church of God But they shall at the last be confounded at the comming of the Lord in flaming fire to take vengeance vpon all the wicked at what time the Deuill the stirrer vp of these and all other troubles shall be for euer shut vp in hell Napier Dent. Mason Others according to the etymology of the name expound Gog of the Pope and Magog of the Turke for Gog signifieth couered and Magog vncouered such as the Pope and Turke are he a secret this an open enemy to the truth Againe 1 Chron. 5.4 Gog was an Israelite comming of Reuben Magog an Heathen Gen. 10.2 comming of Iaphet so the Pope is of Israel bred in the bosome of the Church and the Turke an Heathen Lastly Gog was the chiefe Prince of Mesheeh and Tubal of one of which viz. Tubal came the Iberi which are the Spaniards subiect to the Pope and of Magog came the Scythians who are the Turkes and Tartars subiect to the Emperour of the Turkes Augustine saith the same in effect w th the first exposition August that no certaine people are here set forth but all the enemies of the truth at large in whoÌ„ whilst the Deuill lurketh Gorran they are rightly called Gog that is tectum an house but when he breaketh out into violence Magog detectuÌ„ vnhoused The Papists generally hold that such as shall assist Antichrist against true Christians are here set forth and that they shall come out of Scythia Bellarmine and some that Gog is Antichrist Iudaei The Iewes hold that Gog and Magog are the Northerne people shut vp beyond the mountaine Taurus by Alexander the great who shall at the last come forth and waste Ierusalem by their warres but then the Messias shall come and stay them according to the Prophecy of Ezechiel And the Alchoran of the Turkes also hath something touching Gog and Magog a little different from this â—unius Tremel Some deriue these names from Gyges the king of the Lydians who built a City in Asia the lesser and called it after his owne name Gog-kartah that is the City of Gog or Gyges and hereby was afterwards vnderstood the whole Country of Asia the lesser and Syria from whence arose the chiefe enemies of the Iewes after their returne from their captiuity viz. Ptolomeus Seleucus Antigonus Cassander c. Hauing thus set downe the diuers expositions which I find vpon this place I come now by the helpe of them to determine By the Deuill I vnderstand the Deuill properly and not the Emperour of the Turkes because he is the Author of seducement to such as are seduced and he not the Turke was shut vp a thousand yeeres but now getting loose hee goeth out to deceiue the Nations in that wherein hee was hitherto restrained viz. by idolatry and superstition through the meanes of the Turke and Pope his chiefe instruments For the idolatry of Popery and their superstition and the superstition of the Turkes began to increase mightily about ann 1300. Neither was this all that the Deuill laboured in but that there might be none to oppose these things he gathereth Gog and Magog together whose number is as the sand of the Sea-shore
City in this light they walke that enioy it as all the saued of the Gentiles shall doe and by the Kings of the earth they vnderstand all Regents temporall and spirituall politicke and Ecclesiasticke who bring their glory and honour hither when hauing drawne many by their care and industry in their places to piety they present them before the Lord in Heauen For this is immediatly after set forth to bee the glory here spoken of when it is added Vers 26. Vers 26. And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it for the nations and peoples who haue embraced the faith by their meanes are their glory as Saint Paul calleth the Corinthians his glory 2 Cor. 1. 1 Thes 2. Pareus Napier and likewise the Thessalonians Others agreeing in the light here spoken of yet differ a little about the Kings bringing of their glory hither for they say that they bring their glory hither when as they referre their power and authority to the honouring of the Church so comming at the last to enioy this glorious light for thus the Prophet Esay speaking of the same setteth it forth in words a little different from these Esa 60.3 The nations shall walke in thy light and the Kings in the splendour of thy rising It is againe obiected here that it cannot bee meant of the Church triumphant in heauen but of the flourishing Church of the Iewes that shall be vpon earth because the nations are distinguished here-from so as they shall not bee in heauen in the participation of that light for all shall enioy it immediatly not the nations by the meanes of the Iewes as they are set forth here to doe Againe all earthly kingdomes being in the end destroyed what glory shall the kings of the earth haue to bring into heauen They may indeed be rightly said to bring their glory to the Church when as they come in with their subiects to the embracing of the faith of Christ but otherwise there can be no good exposition of this passage I answer that the nations are not spoken of for distinction but for necessary resolution that the faithfull amongst them should enioy this glorious light as well as the faithfull of the Iewish nation who might easily bee vnderstood by the generall type here represented the new Ierusalem now lest any man should doubt whether the faithfull amongst the Gentiles should not partake of this light also he resolueth it by saying And the Gentiles that are saued shall walke in the light of it for as much as they concurre to the making of this holy City Touching the Kings bringing of their glory to it I take it that nothing else is meant but their accession vnto this building so many of them as haue beene wise and haue serued the Lord against the Whore as it was declared that they should Chap. 17.16 though at the first there were not many Noble yet the truth should so preuaile in time as that the Church should not only consist of the vulgar sort but of Kings and Princes also who are the glory and the most magnificent amongst the nations and as they helpe to constitute the spirituall building in this world so shall they be a part of this new Ierusalem in the world to come when all their worldly glory shall seeme nothing to them to the glory which they shall then partake of for which sense that of the Prophet Esay before alleaged maketh notably Esa 60.3 The nations shall walke in thy light and Kings in the splendour of thy rising And so it is no more than as if it had been said As this City shall be infinitely rich for gold and all the costly pretious stones and glorious like vnto the glory of God so they which seeme most glorious in this world the Kings of the earth that be of the faithfull and not the common sort of people shall ioy to bee made partakers of this glory bringing in as it were and laying at the Lords feet all their temporall honour and glory as nought worth in comparison of this as the faithfull in the Primitiue Church brought in their goods and laid them at the Apostles feet willingly depriuing themselues thereof that they might enioy their blessed and heauenly society in comparison of which they counted all this world as nothing All this then serueth onely to expresse yet more fully the glory of the new Ierusalem The gates of it shall not be shut Vers 25. It is the manner of citizens to shut their gates in the night to preuent danger because the world is full of euill disposed persons by reason of whom they may iustly feare to haue them stand open then but this state here described enioyeth perpetuall day here is no night neither is there any feare of enemies for they that are in heauen dwell most securely in this respect and therefore the gates are set forth to be continually open Yet whatsoeuer is vncleane is not permitted to enter for the Angels stand at the gates to keepe it out O thrice and foure times happy are they which shall partake of this estate Dost thou loue to be rich to be glorious to bee safe from danger to bee for euer free from the assaulâ—s of enemies and the vexation of such as be of corrupt and filthy conditions then loue the truth and walke according to it and abandon errour for such onely as cleaue to the truth and are constant against all temptations haue a part in this admirable City CHAP. XXII IN this Chapter it is proceeded in the description of other commodities of this City keeping to the allegory of a City wherein as a riuer of cleare water running thorow the midst of it is very pleasant and comfortable to the inhabitants and trees by the riuers side alwayes greene springing and fructifying doe yet adde vnto the pleasantnesse of the place so the heauenly city is set forth For hee proceedeth saying He shewed me a pure riuer of water of life Vers 1. as cleare as Crystall proceeding out of the Throne of God and of the Lamb. And in the midst of the street Vers 2. and on either side of the riuer was there the tree of life which bare twelue manner of fruits and yeelded fruit euery moneth and the leaues of the tree were for the healing of the nations There is a place not much vnlike to this in Ezechiel where waters were shewed vnto the Prophet Ezec. 47. â— 3.5 increasing to a great riuer that issued out from the Temple Vers 7. many trees growing on the bankes on the one side of the riuer and on the other and it was told him that euery thing Vers 9. where these waters should come should bee healed and liue and that the trees should bee all sorts of trees for meat Vers 12. whose leaues fade not and they should bring forth fruit according to their moneths their fruit being for meat and