see afterward ch 16. signifieth the power wealth and authority which that City Rome even this Westerne Babel hath to defend it selfe Then it followeth that in this power authority and strength of Rome the Divels lye bound for they waited through the power of Rome to work yet far greater mischiefe and therefore are said to be bound so long as they were restrained The mischiefe which they plotted and purposed to bring to passe by the Authority and power of Rome was the hatching and bringing forth of the Mahometish Religion which in very deed did spring from the darknesse of Rome as from his proper root and originall cause The Divells did fore-see that out of the superstitions and Idolatries of Rome defended by their great power and authority Mahometish Religion might very well be framed and therefore not being content to plague the West part of the World with Popery and Idolatry they doe greedily desire also to plague the East part of the World with the false Religion of Mahomet They are not satisfied with plagueing and poysoning all Europe with abominable Idolatries except also they plague and infect all Asia and Africa with the Turkes most execrable Religion so insatiable are the devills in working mischiefe Now in the meane time they thinke themselves too much straightned bound and tyed up in Rome and Romish Religion except they may be loosed and proceed further to overspread the whole World with all impieties and horrible abominations A man would thinke that when the Divell had prevailed so farre as to place Antichrist in his cursed Chaire and to breed the swarmes of Locusts out of the smoake of Hell they might have been satisfied for then as we may say hell seemed to be broke loose But yet all this cannot satisfie the unsatiable Devill but they will have the Religion of Mahomet established to poyson and plague all the East parts of the World in their soules and also they will have the most huge cruell and savage Armies of the Turkes raised up to murther and massacre millions of men in their bodies in the West part of the World as presently we shall heare Now till all this be effected they are said to lye bound at Rome But here we see that this sixth Angell hath a precise commandement from JESVS CHRIST to loose these Devils which lay bound at the great River Euphrates that they might plague the whole World farre and neare at their pleasure so now all the Divells of hell are let loose and let us heare what followeth ver 15. And the foure Angels were loosed which were prepared at an houre at a day at a month and at a yeare to slay the third part of men Now the Divels being loosed and unbound by a speciall commandement from Christ were in a readinesse to execute their mischiefe This ascending by degrees from a short time unto longer and longer From an houre to a day c. doth signifie that as the Divels were prest and at hand at an houres warning as we say to put in practice whatsoever they had plotted so they were as forward to continew the same From as houre to a day from a day to a month and from a month to a yeare that is from time to time untill the date of their commission was out for their time was limited and their commission bounded as afterward wee shall see And this is our comfort that both the Papacie is limited to five months and the Turcisme to houres dayes months and yeares The divers power is limitted though it greiveth them full sore They cannot do what they list they cannot continue as long as they would After the number of Horse-men of warre were twenty thousand times tenne thousand ver 16. for I heard the number of them Now upon the loosing of these Divels here followeth the description of a most horrible plague which they raised up and it is a huge army a murthering army an army in number exceeding great for he saith They were twenty thousand times tenne thousand that is two hundred millions or two hundred thousand thousands But we may not thinke that this Army was ever all at one time or in any one age but here are the armys of many ages reckoned up and the full plague of many yeares set forth How could Saint John number such an Army may some man say He answereth this doubt and saith He heard the number of them He did not number them but the number was told him Moreover it is to be noted that as this Army did exceed in number so also in terror and strength and therefore they are said to be all horsemen For an Army of horsemen are both more strong and more terrible than any army of footmen And thus I saw the horses in a vision ver 17. and them that sate on them having fiery Habergions and of Jacinth and of Brimstone and the heads of the Horses were as the heads of Lions and out of their mouths went forth fire and smoke and Brimstone Here is the description of the horse-men and horses as they appeared to John in a vision First touching the horse-men it is said that they were very well armed with Habbergions that is Coates of Male Corslets or Curets and that of a fiery colour and of the colour of Jacinth that is of smoake as appeareth in the last clause of this verse and also of the colour of Brimstone For as horse-men in compleate armour were wont to weare in their Breast-plates and Targets certaine ensignes and colours whereby they might be made terrible to their enemies So these Turkish warriours and horse-men do hold out their colours of fire smoak and Brimstone as it were flagges of defiance against the whole world threatning present death to all that should with-stand them or as if they meant to spit fire and flame at them or to choake them with smoake and Brimstone and then burne them up with fire and Brimstone All this their colours and ensignes in their Breast plates and Habbergions did portend Now as concerning Horses no doubt they were as fierce as the Horse-men They weare great Lances they had heads like Lions that is they were full of stomacke and fiercenesse ver 18. and out of their mouths went forth fire and smoake and Brimstone that is they had the same colours and ensignes upon them that riders had Of these three was the third part of men killed that is of the fire and of the smoake and of the Brimstone which came out of their mouthes Here is set downe the great slaughters and massacres which these martial horse-men and Turkish armies made thorowout the most part of Europe For he sayth the third part of men that is great numbers in Europe were slaine by the fire the smoake and the Brimstone which came out of their mouths that is by their bloody cruelty and barbarous immanity some being murthered in their bodies by cruell death and others violently drawne to
upon the blacke Horse so here death and hel are said to be upon the pale Horse for pestilence and death maketh men look pale but being dead he saith Hell followed For assuredly Hell doth alwayes follow the death of the body excepting those onely whom Christ hath delivered from hell and damnation by the power of his death Thus then it is the red Horse with bloud the black Horse with famine the pale Horse with pestilence have power given over the fourth part of men to murther kill and slay as all Stories doe shew that for the rejecting of Christ and his Church and his Gospell these plagues were carried as it were on horse-back over a great part of the world Now as touching this famine and pestilence which fell out upon the opening of the third and fourth seales they are to be referred unto those times especially wherein the Hunnes Goths and Vandals and other barbarous Nations which were the wasters of the world did waste and decay the Romane Empire both farre and neere Whereupon grew this famine scarsitie and pestilence and strange diseases heere spoken of about some 300. yeares after Christ and somewhat more And when he had opened the fift Seale I saw under the Altar the soules of them that were killed for the word of God and for the testimony which they maintained c. Here is discovered the state of the Martyrs after this life and the condition of the spirits of all just and perfect men For whereas it might be demanded what became of all those heapes and multitudes of men which were slaine for the testimony of Jesus in the ten persecutions it is here answered That they were under the Altar John in a vision seeth them under the Altar That is under the mercifull protection of Christ in Heaven who for them and for us all was made both Altar Priest and Sacrifice This Altar Christ is afterwards called the golden Altar which is before the Throne of God Chap. 8.3 So then it is cleare that the soules of the Martyrs were with Christ in glory For he saith to his disciples Where I am there shall you be also Joh. 14.3 And in another place he sayth John 12.32 If I were lift up from the earth I should draw all men unto me that is all beleevers Then it followeth that the soules of these just and righteous men were in Paradise and in Abrahams bosome which is the very Port and Haven of salvation For although the persecuting Emperours and other tyrants of the earth had power to kill their bodies yet had they no power over their soules as our Lord Jesus affirmeth And they cryed with a loud voice saying How long Lord holy and true verse 10. doest not thou judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell upon the earth Heere we see plainely that the soules of the Martyrs doe very vehemently cry for vengeance upon these cruell Tyrants which shed their blood Moreover they cry for it speedily and seeme to be impatient of delay But it is to be observed that they do not this in any hatred or private desire of revenge in respect of any wrong or cruelty shewed to them but in a very love and burning zeale of the Kingdome and glory of Christ and whatsoever desire they have it is wholly to that end Wherefore they are here under a figure brought in crying for vengeance rather to expresse what judgement of God tarrieth for the cruell persecuters then to shew what minde they beare towards them For it is indeed their cause that cryeth for vengeance And as Abels bloud so their bloud cryeth aloud in the eares of the Lord of Hoasts for revenge Moreover we may not imagine or gather out of this loud crying of the Martyrs in Heaven that they have any disturbance impatience disquietnesse or any discontentment there But this they doe in a fervent desire of that fulnesse of glory which they assuredly hope for and looke for in consummation of all things when both their souls and bodies shall be joyned together Ver. 11. And long white robes were given unto every one and it was said unto them That they should rest for a little season untill their fellow servants and their brethren which should be killed even as they were were fulfilled These white robes doe signifie that honour glory and dignity whereunto not only the Martyrs but also all other faithfull beleevers are advanced in the chambers of peace for so white Robes are to be understood in sundry other places of this booke And this doth plainly prove that the martyrs were now in glory with Christ Now as concerning the answer to their complaint and cry it was this That they should be content and have patience for a little season for the time remaining to the end of the World was but as a day with God and as a moment in comparison of eternity and the reason of the delay is yeelded which is this that there were numbers of others their brethren in the World which should bee martyred and slaine for the truth as well as they under the great Antichrist of Rome and the bloudy Turke at and upon the opening of the seventh seal And therefore in consideration that the most wise God had decreed and fore-determined with himself in most secret and hid counsell to bring multitudes of others to glory by the same way and meanes that themselves were brought that therefore in the meane time being so short a time they should rest satisfied and contented And here by the way we see what stayeth the comming of Christ unto judgement namely this that the number of the Martyrs and Saints and al such as he hath chosen unto life are not yet accomplished And behold when he opened the sixt Seale and loe there was a great Earth-quake ver 2.13.14 and the Sunne was as blacke as sacke-cloth of haire and the Moone was like blood And the starres of Heaven fell unto the earth as a fig-tree casteth her greene figges when it is shaken of a mighty winde And Heaven departed away as a scrole when it is rolled and every Mountaine and I le were moved out of their place Upon the opening of the sixt Seale very dolefull and fearefull things doe follow As earth-quakes the darkning of the Sun the obscurity of the Moone the falling of the Starres the rolling together of the Heavens the remooving of mountaines and Iles out of their places the howlings and horrors of Kings Captaines and other Potentates of the earth which are all things very terrible and fearefull to behold and all these doe represent and figure out unto us the most fearefull tokens of Gods high displeasure and most heavy indignation against the wicked World Very grievous things fell out upon the opening of the second third and fourth seales but they are farre more grievous which follow upon the opening of this sixt seale for this sixt Seale contayneth an aggravation and increase of
notwithstanding the rage and fury of the World ver 11.12.13 in persecuting them to death God should not only receive their soules to glory but also raise up others endued with the same spirit which should preach professe and witnesse the same truth constantly and continually even unto the end of the World Lastly it sheweth ver 14. c. that after the preaching of the Gospell some good time in this last age the seventh Angell should blow the trumpet and the world should end And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod and the Angell stood by saying Arise verse 1. and measure the Temple of God and the Alar and them that worship therein Here Jesus Christ giveth a reed unto John like unto a rod and hereupon he is commanded by an Angell to goe about the measuring of the Temple the Altar c. By this measuring with a reed like a rod is signified the restoring and building up of Gods house which now was greatly ruinated and runne into decay through the long prevailing of Popery Measuring with a reed is taken for the building up of Gods Church after the decaied estate thereof both in Ezekiel Zachary and this Prophesie John in the persons of all faithfull Ministers hath this measuring rod given him because the Church was to be restored and built up by the Ministers and Ministery of the Gospell The thing to be measured is the Temple the Altar and them that worship therein This is an allusion to the legall worship whereby our spirituall worship is represented For by the materiall Temple is meant the spirituall Temple or Church of God By the Altar of stone is meant the spirituall worship By them that worship therein with carnall sacrifices is meant all the true members of the Church which worship God in spirit and truth Now then both the Church the true worship and worshippers were all to be measured repaired and built up by Ministry of the Word which all were decayed and almost laid waste by the Popes tyranny But the Court which is without the Temple cast out and measure it not verse 2. for it is given to the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under their foot two and forty moneths John is here forbidden to measure and build up the Court which is without the Temple Whereby is meant all Heretickes Hypocrites worldlings and all such as have a place in the Church but are not of the Church This phrase of speech is taken from the old shadowish worship as the rest before For in the Temple of Jerusalem there was an outward Court which was common to all good and bad the holy place which was proper to the Priests and Levites and the holy of holiest or most holy place where none might come but the high Priest only Here is a reason added why the Lord God refuseth all Papists and Hypocrites and all such as belong to the outward Court only and it is this that this outward Court is given unto the Gentiles that is to all false Christians and counterfeits in religion which are members of the visible Church but have nothing to do with the invisible These are compared to Gentiles in two respects First in regard of prophanesse for they are as prophane as the Heathen Secondly in respect of persecuting the truth for Hypocrites and Atheists are as forward in persecuting the people of God as the Heathen Emperours which persecuted the Church by the space of 300. yeares All comes in this that when the Church should be gathered and built by the preaching of the Gospell God would have all Papists Atheists and Hypocrites shut out Moreover here is the second reason yeelded why the outward Court should be cast out and not measured to wit because they should tread the holy City under foot forty and two moneths that is they should persecute the Church all the time of Antichrists raigne For forty two moneths in this Verse and 1260. dayes in the next Verse and three dayes and a halfe Verse 9. and time times and halfe a time in the twelfe Chapter the foureteenth Verse and 1260. dayes the twelfe Chapter the sixth verse do signifie all one thing which is the short raigne of Antichrist for these moneths these dayes and these times do every one of them make three yeares and an halfe For who knoweth not that forty two moneths make just three yeares and an halfe and that 1260. dayes maketh even so much also and by time he meaneth a yeare bytimes two yeare and by halfe a time halfe a yeare Now the reason why Antichrists raigne is numbered by dayes moneths and halfe times and all amounting but to three yeares and a halfe is to note the short continuance thereof for the comfort of the Church as appeareth more fully and plainely in sundry places of this Prophesie where it is set down in plaine words that Antichrist should raigne but a short time for what is five or six hundred yeares in comparison of eternity But here the Papists do shew themselves most sottish and ridiculous in that they would gather from hence that the Pope is not Antichrist for say they Antichrist shall raigne but three yeares and an halfe but the Pope hath raigned many yeares therfore the Pope is not Antichrist Now to answere the proposition of their argument taken from this place First it may be answered that this place is not to be understood literally but mystically as many other things in this booke Secondly here is a certaine number put for an uncertaine a definite number for an indefinite which also is usuall in this booke as we heard before concerning the sealing of the Tribes of every Tribe 12000. which maketh 144000. Now no man is so mad as to thinke there were just so many sealed and neither more nor lesse Thirdly here is an allusion to Daniels weekes and other propheticall computations wherein somtimes a day is put for a yeare a weke for seven yeares as in Daniels sevens and a moneth for thirty yeares So then I conclude that it is extreme folly to interpret this place litterally The curious and frivolous interpretations of this place and such like in this booke by some writers I do of purpose omit as matters untrue unsound and unjudiciall for I only in this book seeke the sense that is and not the sense which is not as hath been said before verse 3. But I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie 1260. dayes cloathed in sackcloth Having set down how Antichrist and his company being those Gentiles which possesse the outward Court should tread downe the holy Citty that is the true Church of God for a short time now he commeth to shew that even in the height and pride of the Popes power and governement yet the Church was not utterly extinct God did never utterly forsake it but in all ages and at all times God raised up one or other to withstand
all Popish proceedings which is here meant by the two witnesses For assuredly these two witnesses doe not signifie Enoch and Elias as the Papists and some others doe dreame but they signifie all the faithfull Preachers and Professors of the truth which in all ages both former and later have opposed themselves against the Pope his Clergy his doctrine his religion and all his abhominable proceedings They are called witnesses because they should beare witnesse unto the truth They are said two in number for three reasons First because they were very few in those dayes when Poperie did so generally prevail for two is the smallest number Secondly because the law of God doth admit of no lesse number in witnesse-bearing as it is written In the mouth of two or three witnesses shall every word stand Thirdly it is an allusion to Zorobabel and Jehoshua which were the two restorers and builders of the Temple after the captivitie Hag. 2.5 Christ saith here that he will give power to his two witnesses for no man hath any power in heavenly things except it be given him from above and especially to stand fast to the truth in the heat of persecutions and troubles It is said that these two witnesses shall prophesie that is preach declare and speake For so Prophesie is taken in the former chapter and last verse so also in other places of the Scripture The time of their prophesying being 1260 dayes hath been expounded before These two witnesses are cloathed in sackcloath which signifieth that they should lead a sorrowfull life here in this world For in old time when men did fast and mourne they did use to put on sackloath It followeth then that these faithfull Preachers and witnesses of the truth did not spend their dayes in mirth jollity and worldly pompe and bravery as did the Popes Clergie and pompous Prelates of Antichrist Now if any man will demand how this may appeare that there have been alwaies some raised up of God to write preach declare and speake against the whore of Babylon even then when shee was aloft and raigned as the Queene and Lady of the world I answer that Histories are very plentifull in this point which at large doe shew that in all countries and kingdomes of Europe there were ever some stirred up to impugne and resist the whore of Babylon As In England Robert Grosted Bishop of Lincolne An. dom 1293. An. 1400. John Wickliffe supported by Edw. the 3. and divers of the Nobility in England In Germany Taulerus a Preacher An. 1354 1356. 1357. 1359. 1359. 1360. Franciscus Petrarcha Johannes de rupe scissa Conradus Hager Gerhardus Rhidor Petrus de Corbona Johannes de Poliaco 1420. John Zisca In Bohemia John Husse An. dom 1414. 1416. 1370. Jerome of Prague Mathias Parisiensis In Spaine An. 1250. Arnoldus de nova villa In Italy An. 1500. Jerome Savanarola a Monke Silvester a Frier In France An. 1160. An. 1252. An. 1290. An. 1290. Waldas of whom came the Waldenses or poore men of Lyons in France Guilielmus de sancto amore Robertus Gallus Laurentius In Ireland An. 1362. Armachanus an Archbishop In Suevia An. 1240. Many Preachers at once In Grecia An. 1230. All the Churches of Grecia renounced the Church of Rome for their abominable Idolatry It were too tedious to recite all which the Stories doe report to have withstood both Pope and Popery even when it did most of all beare the sway these may suffice for the understanding of the Text. As for those which have been raised up since the decay and fall of Popery I meane since Luthers time they are so many and so well knowne that I need say nothing These are two Olive trees and two Candlesticks standing before the God of the earth vers 4. Here the two witnesses are compared to two Olive trees because that as the Olive tree doth drop downe his oyle and fatnesse so the faithfull Ministers doe droppe downe upon the Church the sweet oyle of the Spirit which is all heavenly and spirituall graces as the Metaphor of oyle is often so taken in the Scriptures They are also compared to two Candlesticks because that as the candlestick beareth up the candle set upon it so the Ministers of the Gospell beare up and hold forth the light of Gods word even in the greatest darknesse These candlesticks are said to stand before the God of the Earth because God beareth rule not only in heaven but in earth also even then when all things in the earth seeme to be most troubled and the Church militant â—nder greatest persecutions as now it was And if any will hurt them ver 3. fire proceedeth out of their mouthes and shall devoure their enemies for if any will hurt them so must he be killed vers 6. These have power to shut heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their prophesying and have power over waters to turne them into bloud and to smite the Earth with all manner of plagues as oft as they will Here is shewed that if any despise the simplicity of these two winesses and offer them wrong because of their basenesse and contempt in the world that there is a fire commeth out of their mouth that is the fiery and mighty power of the word of God uttered out of their mouthes which overthroweth and overturneth their enemies nay as fire it consumeth them to ashes for the Ministers of the Gospell are armed with ready vengeance against all disobedience 1 Cor. 10. Therefore they be starke mad and know not what they doe which oppose themselves against the true Ministers of Christ For the sword which they fight with slaieth the reprobates in their soules though not in their bodies for the ministry of the word is the savour of death to all unbeleevers That which is here spoken of shutting the heavens that it raine not and turning the waters into bloud 1 King 17. is an allusion to Elias and Moses whereof the one by his prayer shut the Heavens the other by his rod turned the waters into blood Now the faithfull Ministers of the Gospell are compared to these two not because they should worke such outward miracles as they did but because they should be furnished with spirituall power which is farre greater For most sure it is that the invisible and spirituall power where with the Ministers of the Gospell are armed is very great and glorious though the world see it not nor know it not For the Apostle saith The weapons of our warfare are not carnall but spirituall 2 Cor. 10.6 mighty through God to cast downe holds casting downe the imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God c. And when they have finished their testimony ver 7. the beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre against them and kill them Here is set downe the greater cruelty
as it were a little before the blowing of the seventh trumpet which presently hereupon is sounded as in the next verses appeareth many should repent and give glory to God The second woe is past behold Vers 14 15. the third woe will come anon And the seventh Angel blew the trumpet and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for evermore Now cometh the third the last and the greatest woe which is the woe of eternall death upon all the ungodly both in their soules and bodies for ever in the last judgment The second woe was Turcisme and this third wo is the last judgment For it now followeth that the seventh Angel bloweth the last trumpet as our Lord Jesus sware before that when the seventh Angel should blow the trumpet there would be no more time Chap. 10.6 Therefore when we see all things fulfilled which do belong unto the sixth trumpet it remaineth that we should every hour expect and look for the blowing of the seventh trumpet and the end of the world For the holy Ghost telleth us that when the kingdome of the Pope and the Turke shall fall and the Gospel be preached in many nations and kingdomes that then the third woe will come anon that is the last judgment followeth presently upon it Now at the blowing of this seventh trumpet there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and hee shall reigne for evermore These voyces in heaven are triumphing voyces of Gods elect who doe exceedingly rejoyce and triumph that the kingdome of Satan and Antichrist is overthrown and that the kingdome of God and of Christ is set up and shall stand for evermore For now all adversary power being overthrown Christ doth deliver up a peaceable kingdom to his Father as it is written Then shall be the end 1 Cor. 1.15 24. when he hath delivered up his peaceable kingdome to God the Father For hee must reigne over the Church militant till he have trod downe all his enemies under his feet and when the Son of God hath subdued all things to himselfe then shall hee be subject to his Father as hee is the Mediator of the Church and yet reign with his Church triumphant for evermore Then the four and twenty elders which sate before God on their seates fell upon their faces Verse 16. and worshipped God Saying Wee give thee thankes Verse 17. O Lord God Almighty which art which wast and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome These four and twenty elders do signifie all the elect both of Jewes and Gentiles Chapt. 4. as wee have heard before which all in most suppliant manner doe worship the onely everlasting God even in the Church triumphant and doe greatly rejoyce and give all praise and glory unto him because now he hath received the kingdome the power and the glory both Pope and Turk and Emperor and all his enemies being subdued under his feet Verse 18. And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the saints and to them that fear thy name and to small and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth Now he mentioneth the wrath and vengeance which is to be powred forth upon all the wicked at the last day and also the reward of the godly For whereas he saith The Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged the sense and meaning is that all the profane enemies of the Church which had their time in which they were angry with Gods people and in their wrath did afflict and vexe them very sore should now be judged and condemned in Gods wrath for now the day of his wrath and vengeance is come wherein hee will destroy them that destroyed the earth and seemed to carry all before them and where also he will give a full recompence of reward to all his faithfull worshippers both small and great both preachers and professors of his Gospel Then the Temple of God was opened in heaven Verse 19. and there was seen in the Temple the ark of his covenant and there were lightnings and voyces and thundrings and earth-quakes and much haile This is a further amplification of that which is set down in this former verse For now hee saith that the Temple of God should be opened in heaven that is an open door and passage should be made through Christ for all the elect to enter into Gods everlasting kingdome and reigne with him and his Angels for evermore By the arke of the Covenant is meant Christ who is said here to be seen in the Temple or kingdome of glory because through his mediation onely in whom the covenant of peace is established with his Church the twenty four elders are made partakers of their crownes and enter in with him and his Angels into the everlasting Temple made without hands and eternall in the heavens But on the contrary here is said that there were lightnings thundrings c. that is most horrible vengeance and wrath powred down upon all reprobates in hell-fire for evermore For when it shall be said to all the faithfull Come yee blessed c. then also shall it be said unto all unbeleevers Goe ye cursed into hell-fire c. Now for warrant of this exposition of the last verse that the Temple in heaven is to be understood of the kingdome of glory look chapter 15. verse 5 6 8. chapt 16. verse 1. The reason hereof is that as the doors of the Temple of Jerusalem being set open Gods people entred in and worshipped so the everlasting gates of the new Jerusalem and celestiall Temple being set open by Christ all the elect do enter in and worship God without wearinesse even as the Angels for evermore That the ark of the covenant is taken for Christ see 2 Sam. 6.2 Psal 78. vers 61 62. This ark of the covenant that is Christ is here seen in the Temple because Christ hath already taken possession of heaven as Mediator and Head of the Church and now doth set open the kingdome of heaven to all beleevers that through him they may have free accesse thereunto as it is written that through him onely we have an entrance unto the Father Eph. 2.28 That by thundrings lightnings earthquakes hail is meant that horrible vengeance and wrath which is powred forth upon all the ungodly see Psal 11. verse 6. Let this briefly suffice to satisfie the conscience of the reader And thus much concerning the second vision contained in these eight chapters going before wherein we have heard all things expounded that doe belong unto the opening of the seven seales and
in the earth when they overcome the world by faith and subdue Satan and sin by the power of grace Now where it is said that John saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus c. It is to be understood of those which in the time of the persecuting Empire and growing of the Papacie were slaine for the truth For the second beast which is the dominion of Popes reigned not in those thousand yeers in the which Satan was bound but yet did grow by degrees towards their height and used great tyranny against the servants of God before Satans full loosing The Chiliasts or Millinaries doe fondly gather from this Scripture that after the overthow of Antichrist the Lord Jesus would come and reigne with the faithfull here a thousand yeers upon the earth and that in this time that Christ did so reigne as a great and glorious King upon the earth his subjects should enjoy all maner of earthly pleasures and delights This foolish error is confuted by the words that follow in the text as wee shall see afterwards Whereas hee saith The rest of the dead shall not live again It is to be understood of such as were spiritually dead that is such as despised the Gospel which was preached those thousand yeers and were not thereby revived and quickned unto eternall life but did still remain as men dead in sinnes and trespasses Therefore the meaning of Saint John is that as in the thousand yeers many that heard Christ and his Apostles and their successors were raised up from the death of sin to the life of righteousnesse so many others were not quickened by their doctrine but still dwelt in their sinnes whom hee calleth the rest of the dead and hee saith These shall not live again meaning the life of God or the life of grace And whereas he addeth untill the thousand yeeres be finished hee meaneth never or not at all for so the word untill is often taken in the Scriptures and it is sure that after the expiration of the thousand yeers they did not live the life of God and the life of the Spirit For then the Divell was let loose upon the world to work his pleasure and to seduce with all efficacy of error and iniquity Whereas it is said This is the first resurrection hee meaneth the rising from sin to the life of righteousnesse which was in the thousand yeeres of the Gospels preaching and therefore he addeth that he is blessed that hath part in the first resurrection c. and saith that all such shall reigne with Christ a thousand yeers Which is meant of the reigne of the faithfull even upon earth for the space of the thousand yeers in which Satan was bound but yet excludeth not their eternall glory in the heavens And when the thousand yeers are expired Vers 7.8 Satan shall be loosed out of his prison And shall goe out to deceive the people which are in the foure corners of the earth even Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell whose number is as the sand of the sea Verse 9. And they went up unto the plain of the earth and they compassed the tents of the Saints about and the beloved city But fire came downe from God out of heaven and devoured them Now Saint John telleth us that after the determination of a thousand yeares Satan shall be let loose upon the world for their unthankfullnesse and contempt of the Gospel to seduce and deceive even as much as ever he did No marvaile therefore that the two great and monstrous Heresies of Popery and Mahometry did now begin mightily to grow and increase in the world For what other thing can be looked for after this setting loose of Satan But we are to observe that as Satan was bound by degrees through the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles and in their immediate successors so also he was loosed by degrees by the prevailing of Heresies till the great Antichrist was hatched and brought into the possession of his cursed Chaire For Satan was not fully loosed till the yeare of our Lord 998. At what time Silvester the second came to be Pope who was in league with the Divell Stories doe report that at his death he called for the Cardinals and confessed that hee had familiarity with the Divell and how hee had given himself unto him body and soule so that he might come to the Papall dignity After him succeeded sundry other Popes which were notorious monsters some of them murtherers some poysoners some sorcerers some conjurers by whom the Divell was fully loosed all light of the Gospel and â—rue religion being in a manner cleane put out and most abominable idolatry and all manner of villany spreading over the face of the earth and hereof Saint John saith that Satan being fully loosed hee went forth to deceive the people which were in the foure corners of the â—arth even Gog and Magog c. This seducing by Satan here spoken of is the same with â—hat which is spoken chap. 13. onely this exâ—epted that this of Gog and Magog is more generall Wee read there how all nations â—indreds and tongues were made to worship â—he image of the beast and to receive his mark but that is to be extended no further â—hen to those kingdoms which were subject â—o the Papacy But here by these armies of Gog and Maâ—og are understood all the chiefe enemies â—f the Church in these last dayes since the loosing of Satan both open and secret both Turk and Pope for the Turk is an open enemy the Pope a more close enemy Gog signifieth covered Magog uncovered whereby is noted the Turk For the Pope cometh covered under the name of Christ and Christs Vicar Peters successor c. But the Turk cometh uncovered for hee openly denyeth and impugneth Christ Moreover the names of Gog and Magog are here set downe to note of what countries these chiefe enemies should spring to wit out of Scythia Syria Arabia Italy and Spaine for Magog was the son of Japheth Gen. 10. ver 2. of whom came the Scythians Gog was the name of a great Captaine in the lesser Asia which built a city and named it after his own name Gogkartah that is the city of Gog and it is put in the Prophecie of Ezekiel for the whole region of the lesser Asia and Syria whereby the Prophet did fore-tell that the great enemies of the Church should arise out of those coasts And in very truth they did for out of Egypt Scythia Syria and the lesser Asia did spring up Ptolomeus Seleucus Antigonus Cassander and the rest of Alexanders successors which vexed and oppressed the Jewes by the space of 294. yeers even untill the coming of the Messias at what time the divided Greek Empire was overthrown and translated to the Romans Furthermore it is to be noted that the Prophet Ezekiel saith That Gog is the chiefe Prince of Mesech and Tubal By
the wicked Religion of Mahomet For partly by externall violence and partly by a subtill shew of Religion and devotion they destroyed thousands both in their Soules and bodies And therefore it is sayd Their power is in their mouths ver 19. and in their tayles For their tayles were like unto Serpents and had heads wherewith they hurt But for the better understanding of these things I thinke it not amisse a little to open and lay forth the rising up and increasing of the power of the Turke About the yeare of our Lord 591. was Mahomet borne in a certaine Village of Arrabia called Itrarix for so Histories do report This Mahomet by fraud and coozenage grew into great credit and fame among the seditious Arabians and Aegyptians insomuch that they made him a Captaine over them to warre against the Persians After this he married a rich wife and by that meanes he wonne the hearts of many with gifts In the dayes of Heraclius the Emperour which was in the yeare of our Lord 623. he grew to be very mighty After this he fained himselfe to be a Prophet and said that he had visions and revelations and talked with Angells And so by the helpe of Sergius a Monke he framed a new worship and Religion a patched part out of the old Testament partly from the Papists and partly from the Heathen He raigned nine yeares and so dyed After him succeeded in the Kingdome of the Sarazens Ebubezar who raigned two yeares Haumar who raigned twelve yeares Muhavias who raigned twenty foure years All these made great warre against the Persians and sundry other Nations and overcame them and set up the Religion of Mahomet amongst them and so the Kingdome of the Sarazens grew mighty but in processe of time the Kingdome of the Turkes grew great and the Kingdome of the Sarazens diminished Within a short time after this the Tartarians a barbarous people waxed strong and made warre against the Turkes and prevailed greatly for a time But about the yeare of our Lord 1300. the Empire of the Tartarians was over-throwne and the Empire of the Turkes did flourish more than ever before for now came the greatest monsters and most Savage and cruell tyrants of all The first of them was Ottomanus The second Bajazethes The third Amurathes These made bloody warres against the Christians I meane the Papists in Europe and enlarged the Turkes dominions very farre They did from time to time so cruelly murther and massacre the inhabitants of the West with their huge and bloody armies that at last both the Pope the Emperour the King of Hungary the King of Polonia the King of France the Duke of Burgundy and the Duke of Venice and almost all the Potentates in Europe did joyne together to make warre against the Turkes so huge leave huge armies but yet could not prevaile so strong were the Turkes so huge and dreadfull were their armies Then we see that verified which here was foretold to wit That the monstrous armies of the Turkes with their horses and horse-men should slay the third part of men that is the Idolaters in Europe by heapes and Infinite numbers To set downe the particular battels betwixt the Turkes and the Christians in Europe and their horrible blood-shedding would require a volume but this which I have brifely set downe may serve to give some light unto it and may suffice for the understanding of this Text. Now it is sayd in the next verse That notwithstanding this heavy hand of God which was upon the Papists in Europe and these fearefull Judgements and massacres they repented not of their Idolatries but waxed worse and worse for no Judgements no plagues can make the wicked any whit the better as we see in the examples of Pharaoh and Saul ver 20. And here it is sayd That the remnant of men which were killed by these plagues repented not of the workes of their hands that they should not worship devills and Idols of gold and silver and of brasse and of stone and of wood which neither can see nor heare nor goe Also they repented not of their murther and of their sorcery neither of their fornication nor of theft ver 21. And thus we see how the Divells which were bound at Euphrates being let loose upon the World in the wrath and just judgement of God did fearefully plague both the Turkes in their Soules and the Papists in their bodies The one with false Religion the other with bloody swords and so was the desire of the Divell fully satisfied CHAP. X. HAving opened and expounded the two first Woes which fell out upon the blowing of the fift and sixt Trumpet containing the two great plagues of Popery and Turcisme wherewith the World was punished many hundred yeeres now in this Chapter we are to heare of good newes and great comfort after so much sorrow For heere Jesus Christ commeth down from heaven to deliver his poore afflicted Church and to be revenged of all his cruell enemies For now before the third and last woe containing the greatest plague of all upon the World which is the last Judgement wherein the wicked shall be tormented in hell fire for ever both in body and soule I say before the blowing of the seventh Trumpet by the seventh Angell of which we shall heare in the next Chapter Now in the meane time is shewed in this Chapter what care God had for his little flocke which no doubt were hid in those daies and did not appeare and yet were scattered in corners even in the middest of the darknesse of Popery and the most furious and hellish rage of the Turkish armies And therefore the principall scope and drift of this Chapter is to shew how the Gospell should be preached in many Kingdomes now after this generall darkenesse for the discovering and overthrow both of Popery and Turcisme and to shew what should fall out in the Church now in the middle time before the seventh and last Trumpet blow for then commeth the last Judgement as the Angell sweareth in this Chapter verse 6 7. This Chapter doth containe foure principall parts The first is a description of Christ and his glory ver 1. The second sheweth how the Gospell should be preached ver 2. in many Nations and Kingdomes by the Ministers of this last age whereby all adversary power should be overthrowne The third is a watch-word ver 6.7 given to the World by Christ that when the seventh Angell should blow the Trumpet the World should end The last doth shew ver 9.10.11 how all faithfull Preachers being called and authorized by Christ should travell and take paines in the study of Gods Booke and afterward should publish the knowledge thereof far and neere And I saw another mighty Angel come down from Heaven cloathed with a cloud ver 1. and the Rainebow upon his head and his face was as Sunne and his feet as pillars of brasse This Angell of