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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20217	The ruine of Rome: or An exposition vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Iesuites, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.	Dent, Arthur, d. 1607.; Culverwell, Ezekiel, 1553 or 4-1631.	1603 (1603)	STC 6640; ESTC S117456	184,102	332

Papacie was aloft and the Roman Empire ioyned with it so that the eyes of the world were dazeled with the pompe and magnificence thereof and they said What is like vnto it or who is comparable to the Pope the seuenth head thereof For then the blinde worlde thought that the power of the Popes was not onely aboue all things in this world but also did reach euen vnto heauen and hell For they imagined that the Pope might carie to heauen whom hee would and whom he would he might cast downe to hell and therefore who could warre with the beast And thus wee see the reason of their wonderment and of their speech All stories and experience it selfe doe shew that there was neuer anie power in the world so wondred at as the vsurped power and maiestie of the Pope after he came to bee the head of the Roman monarchie For then the world supposed that hee had power euen as God and that he might depose and set vp kings and Emperours at his pleasure Then it is cleere that vnder the dominion of the Popes Rome hath beene in her highest exaltation and glorie For the Papacie was the seuenth head of the beast whereby the whoore of Babylon was supported in her most magnificall pompe and pride vers 5 And there was giuen vnto him a mouth that spake great things and blasphemies and power was giuen vnto him to do 42. moneths ver 6 And he opened his mouth vnto blasphemy against God to blaspheme his name and his tabernacle and them that dwel in heauen Here are set down the proud and blasphemous speeches both of the old and new Romane Empire and of the old and new Romane Emperours For this beast as I said before comprehendeth al the Roman Empire both vnder the Heathen Emperours and the Popes Touching the great things and blasphemies which the old persecuting Emperours haue belched out against the God of heauē it wold require a volume to set them downe in particulars I wil therfore only mention two or three for exampels sake As first that of Caius Caligula which would haue his image set vp in temples to be worshipped as God and that the people should sweare by his name Nero also did openly blaspheme the name of Christ and required diuine honour to be giuen vnto him Domitian commanded that he should be called God and Lord. Many others required the like things and so al the world woondred and worshipped this blasphemous beast Now as the sixt head which was the old empire of Rome was ful of the names of blasphemy so the seuenth head which is the new Empire vnder the dominion of the Popes which he here chiefely speaketh of did most of al blaspheme For the Pope did challenge vnto himselfe al power both in heauen and earth he would be worshipped as God he vsurped authority ouer the worde of God he did take vpon him to forgiue sinnes He did most blasphemously incroach vpon all the offices of Christ as king priest prophet He hath commāded the Angels He hath erected blasphemous images and caused pictures to be made of the Godhead He boasteth and craketh great things of his Papal power of Peters keies of Peters chaire of Peters succession of his miracles of his two swords and of his manifold praerogatiues roial One of the Popes poisoned his God another cast his God into the fire another would eate his peacocke in despite of God Some of thē counted the religiō of Christ a tale or a fable some drank to the diuel some said they could doe as much as God It were infinit to set downe al their blasphemies for it is saide of the whoore of Babylon that she was full of the names of blasphemy Let this suffice for the vnderstanding of this text that as the olde heathenish Emperours did blaspheme so the Popes being heades of the Empire did most of al blaspheme And as it is here said they did not only blaspheme the name of God but also did open their black and blasphemous mouthes against his tabernacle that is his church calling it a cōpany of heretickes schismatickes apostataes and such like and also against them that dwell in heauen that is the spirits of iust and perfect men which are in heauē as Luther Caluin Melancthon and such like Moreouer it is to be noted that this mouth was giuen vnto this monstrous beast thus to blaspheme and speake great things But this is to be vnderstood that it was giuen in the wrath and iust iudgement of God vpō the world to plague them withal because they regarded not the knowledg of the truth But it is added that this power of the beast thus to worke his actions was limited vnto 42. monethes so that although he rule and rage for a time yet shal he not long continue ver 7 And it was giuen vnto him to make war with the Saints and to ouer come them and power was giuen vnto him ouer euery kindred and tongue and nation ver 8 Therefore all that dwell vpon the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the booke of life of the Lambe which was slaine from the beginning of the world These two verses do set forth the great power which was giuen vnto this beast both in fighting against Gods people and also ouercomming of them and murdering of them by heapes As we reade of thousands murdered in the first ten great persecutions and ten thousands by the Popes since they came to exercise the ciuill authority and iurisdiction of the Romane Empire and that in al countries and kingdomes of Europe as it is here said that power was giuē vnto him ouer euery kindred and tongue and nation And it is added that all that dwell vpon the earth that is al the subiects of the Roman monarchy shal worship the beast and make a God of him as we read they haue don And the chiefe motiue therof was his blasphemous mouth boasting threatning great things if any did withstand him and also his mighty power and authority whereby he bare downe al before him For if any did but mute against him he was sure to smart for it And thus through his tyrannicall power he subdued al nations vnder him and made them stoupe and fal downe and worship him But it followeth that for al this none of Gods elect did worship him or submit themselues to his religion and authority but only those that dwell vpon the earth that is earthly men as papists atheists and reprobates and al such whose names are not written in the booke of life Christ is called the Lambe slaine from the beginning of the world because the sauing power of his death was from the beginning to all beleeuers although hee was not actually exhibited vntil the fulnesse of time Yf any man haue an eare let him heare Yf any lead into captiuity he shall goe into captiuity ver 9 ver 10 yf any kill with a sword he must be killed by a

yea did couer the whole face of the earth with their multitudes and compasse the tents of the Saints about and the beloued citie that is did make warre against the Church and people of God which in comparison of them were but as a few tents or some little citie But marke vvhat followeth and consider the issue of the battaile The holy ghost saith expressely that fire came downe from God out of Heauen and deuoured them Which doth plainely shew that the armies of Gog Magog though neuer so huge shal be destroyed by the fire of Gods vvrath Now from this I gather that as the armies of the Pope shall goe downe still more and more as formerly hath bene shewed and as experience in the last yeeres good successe both in Ireland Netherland and against Spaine also hath partly prooued Gods most holy name be praised so also the armies of the Turk shal be ouerthrowen so farre foorth as they fight against the true Church or at least be so kept back that they shall not be able to compasse the tents of the Saints as vve see and feele this day God be thanked ver 10 And the Diuell that deceiued them was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where that beast and that false prophet are and shal be tormented euen day and night for euermore Heere is set downe the Diuells doome to vvit that he shal be cast downe into the infernall pit as vvell vvorthy both for his seducing all nations and stirring vp the armies of Gog and Magog against the Church euen to roote it vp if it vvere possible Therefore Saint Iohn telleth vs that forasmuch as he is the author of all mischiefe and he that hath set all the rest a vvork therefore both he and his instrumens the beast and the false prophet Gog and Magog shall all drinck of the same cup of Gods eternall vvrath and be all throwne downe together into one close prison vvhich is that gasping gulfe and infernall lake that burneth vvith fire and brimstone for euer Loe then vvhat shal be the end of the diuell the Pope the Turk the Emperour the King of Spaine the Cardinall and all other the diuels instruments vvhich heere in earth haue persecuted the Church and compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloued Cittie Now after all this in the fiue last verses Saint Iohn entreth into a liuely and cleere discription of the last iudgement First noting the terror and maiestie of the Iudge himselfe in this ver 11 that from his face both Heauen and earth fled away that is no creature shal be able to endure his angry countenance in that daye and yet vvithall setting downe the puritie and vprightnesse of his iudgement and iudgement seate calling it a white Throne ver 12 And after this the generall citing and personall appearing of all men before him of vvhat degree estate or condition soeuer For both death and hell sea and graue did deliuer vp their dead And all vvithout exception came to iudgement And the bookes of their consciences vvere opened for euerie mans vvorke is engrauen vpon his cōscience as it vvere in letters of brasse or vvith the point of a Diamond as the Prophet speaketh And they were iudged of those things which were written in the bookes according to their workes and according to the testimonie of their owne consciences And death and hell ver 14 that is all the heires of death and hell euen all the societie of reprobates both papists Atheists and all vnbeleeuers yea whosoeuer were not found written in the booke of life were cast into the lake of fire ver 15 which is the second death Now heere I would haue it dilligently obserued that the holy ghost hath three seuerall times in this booke described the last iudgement to wit in the latter end of the 11. Chapter in the latter end of the 14. Chapter and now in the latter end of this Chapter And moreouer I would haue the order and causes of these descriptions well waighed For in the 11. Chapter hauing before described the kingdome of the Pope and the Turk with their ouerthrow and also the preaching and preuailing of the Gospell in these last daies hee commeth to describe the last iudgement In the 14. Chapter hauing set downe that the euerlasting gospell should be plētifully preached in this last age the ouerthrow of Babylon immediately following forthwith hee proceedeth to the discription of the last day In this Chapter hauing before concluded of the vtter ouerthrow of Rome of the beast and the false prophet of Gog and Magog and all aduersary power at length hee proceedeth to this description of Christs second comming which wee haue heard of And out of all this I do gather that the vtter ouerthrow of the Pope all his adherents shall be in this life a little before the comming of Christ vnto iudgement Chap. 21. AS wee haue heard before of the vtter ouerthrow of the beast and the false prophet and all their adherents and also of the euerlasting condemnation of the dragon that old serpent which set them all a worke So now in this Chapter wee are to heare of that most happy and blessed estate which the faithfull shall dwell in for euermore so that the maine drift of this Chapter is most fully to describe that infinit glory and endlesse felicitie to the which all the 144000 that is all the elect of God shal be aduanced when both the beast and all that haue receiued his marke shall be cast downe into the infernall lake This Chapter may very fitly bee deuided into foure parts The first is a description of the renouation of the world and the restauration of the creature ver 1 The second is ver 2.3.4 a laying foorth of the most glorious estate of the Church when it shall bee freed from all misery The third is a protestation of God himselfe ver 5.6.7.8 concerning the renouation of all things the felicitie of his elect and the endlesse torment of all reprobates The fourth is ver 9.10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17.18.19.20.21.22.23.24.25.26.27 a liuely description of the very kingdome of God and the vnspeakeable ioyes of heauen vnder the figure of a great citie called the holy Ierusalem Which citie is heere most gloriously described of his walles gates foundations streets height length breadth brightnesse matter forme persons and inhabitants The text ver 1 AND I saw a new heauen and a new earth for the first heauen and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea ver 2 And I Iohn saw the holy city new Ierusalem come downe from God out of heauen prepared as a bride trimmed for hir husband ver 3 And I heard a great voice of heauen saying behold the tabernacle of God is with men and hee will dwell with them and they shall bee his people and God himselfe shall bee their God ver 4 And God shall wipe all teares from their eies and there shall bee no

fiercenesse of his wrath both vpon her and her whole kingdome yea and that in such terrible and wrathfull maner that there shall bee no place of refuge no place to flie vnto for succour vers 20 For Saint saith Euerie I le fled away and the mountaines were not found Meaning that the Papists in that day shall haue neither moutaine nor Iland to flie vnto And last of all the holy Ghost saith that there fell a great haile like talents out of heauen vpon the Idolaters chapter 16.21 insomuch that they blasphemed God because of the plague of the haile For the plague thereof was exceeding great A talēt was about the weight of threescore pound as some write Then it followeth that this haile of Gods wrath vpon the Papists shal be most terrible and fearfull and beate them all downe to the ground as it were an haile of milstones or plough-irons Nowe when this haile of talents commeth as assuredly come it shall then shall the kingdome of Poperie bee beaten to dust and powder and therfore no maruell though the idolaters seeing all this bee in a most horrible rage and blaspheme God as Saint Iohn saith vers 21 because of this exceeding and most extraordinarie plague which shall then come vpon them But nowe to conclude and wind vp all together For as muc● as this last viall is powred into the aire God saith it is done an extraordinarie earthquake followeth the great citie of Rome is rent Babylon called into question and feareful hailestones of wrath poured down vpon the Idolaters I do conclude that Rome shal fall finally and come to vtter destruction in this life Nowe let vs proceede to further proofe In the eighteenth chapter of this booke the whoore of Babylon saith in her heart chapter 18.8.9 I sit being a Queene and am no widowe and shall see no sorrowe Therefore shall her plagues come at one day death and sorrow and famine and shee shall be burnt with fire For that God which condemneth her is a strong Lord. First here Rome is described as shee was in the height and toppe of her pride and securitie when shee held the dominion of the kings of the earth and boasted that shee was the head of the Catholike Church carying her selfe very insolently aboue all kings and Emperours treading vppon their neckes and making them attend at her gates barefoote in the middest of winter as the stories report Yea and that shee was no widow that is no solitarie or desolate person but one that had manie louers which were strong to defende her so as shee should feele no want nor see any sorowe But the time will come and draweth on apace wherein shee shal be throughly punished for her haughtinesse and intolerable pride security For the holy Ghost saith her plagues shal come at one day that is sodainly shortly and speedily euen death sorow and famine and she shall 〈◊〉 burnt with fire For that God which condemneth her ●● a strong Lord. If this bee not plaine enough to proue an vtter ouerthrow of Rome I know not what can be plaine enough For if death famine and fire will not pul her downe I knowe not what shal pul her downe But Saint Iohn saith flatly that God himselfe who is a strong Lord will oppose himselfe against Rome and condemne her If this strong God take against her who can vpholde her Can the king of Spaine can the Cardinalles can the Emperour can all the Dukes of Italy and al the potentates of the earth that take part with her No no they are al too weake For if God take against a man who can reclaime him sayth the Holy-Ghost For he dooth whatsoeuer he will And againe God is wise in heart and mighty in strength who euer hardened his hart against him and prospered If God call not backe his anger the most proud helpes are bowed vnder him And God sayth by the Prophet Can thy hands be strong or can thy hart endure in the day that I shal haue to do with thee Then it followeth that though Babylon sit as a Queene al her louers take part with her yet because the strong Lord is against her therefore shee shal come to vtter destruction Some of good iudgement in the truth haue gathered from this place that the very City of Rome shal be burnt with fire which assuredly may wel bee But this I am sure of that the phrase of burning with fire doth in the Prophets alwaies signifie an vtter destruction and desolation of a City or a kingdome and therefore it followeth that Rome shal be vtterly destroied But behold yet stronger and plainer proofe chapter 18. verse 2. For Saint Iohn sayth a mighty Angel tooke vp a stone like a great milstone and cast it into the sea saying with such violence shal that great City Babylon be cast downe and shal be found no more Al men know that old Babylon in Chaldaea was destroied by the Medes and Persians long before Saint Iohn writte this booke and therefore that is not here meant but the new Babylon which is Rome as afore hath bin prooued The Phrases of speech and the signes which the Prophets vsed to declare the destruction and desolation of olde Babylon are heere alluded vnto in the destruction of Rome For we reade in the prophecy of Ieremy that the Prophet hauing written in a booke al the euil that should come vpon Babel for holding Gods people so long in most miserable captiuity sayd to Seraiah When thou commest vnto Babel thou shalt reade all these words and when thou hast made an end of reading this book thou shalt bind a stone to it and cast it into the middest of Euphrates and shalt say Thus shall Babel be drowned and shall not rise vp from the euill that I will bring vpon her although they wearie themselues Now let vs consider how this agreeth with the same which is heere set downe and wee shal finde that all thinges are here set downe with greater force to expresse as it were a deeper vengeance and a more heauie and vnrecouerable destruction First there is a man here is a mighty Angel there the man taketh vp a stone heere the Angell taketh vp a great stone like a milstone there the stone is caste into the riuer here into the deepe sea Al these circumstances being applied to Rome doo greatly aggrauate the matter and verie plainely shewe that it shal fal Without al hope of recouery For the Lorde declareth by this forcible signe of casting a milstone into the sea that the City and kingdome of Antichrist shal bee cast deepe downe into perdition and shall lie ouerwhelmed and drowned in the same for euer For if olde Babylon was vtterly destroied and came to a final desolation in this life much more shal Rome as the Holy Ghost disputeth But olde Babylon came to vtter ruine and desolatition in this life as both Isay and Ieremy doe witnesse Therefore

shewed and proued that the Popish Religion together with all the power and authoritie of Rome shall ebbe and decaie still more and more throughout all the Churches of Europe and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life BEfore I enter into the exposition of this Prophesie I thinke it not amisse to handle sixe circumstantiall points which may giue some light to the whole matter following and they be these First the instrument that writ this booke Secondly the time when he writ it Thirdly the place where he receiued it Fourthly the persons to whom he writ it Fiftly the ende and vse of his writing this Prophesie Lastly the authoritie of it As touching the first it is agreed vpon amongst the soundest Diuines that Iohn the Apostle or Euangelist Iohn the Disciple whom Iesus loued was the Authour and Instrument of penning this Prophesie as hee himselfe testifieth saying I am Iohn which sawe these things and heard them And he receiueth a commaundement from Iesus Christ which hath the keies of hell death that hee should write the things which hee had seene and heard and set them all downe together in a booke Now we all know that the testimony of Iohn is of great weight though hee be but a man for hee is such a man as is firmely to be beleeued in all that he speaketh Hee is an Apostle an Instrument of the holy Ghost and so guided by the spirit of God that he speaketh vttereth nothing that is his owne He was well knowne to the Churches to be one of Christs Apostles his authoritie among all the faithfull was throughly knowne and approued For we must consider that what an Apostle did vtter hee did vtter it as the instrumēt of the spirit which cannot erre For the prophets Apostles did not write the holy scriptures as they were men only nor yet as they were Ministers of the church only but as they were the immediate certain instruments of the holy Ghost of purpose chosen set apart to pen publish the holy bookes of God This S. Peter confirmeth saying Prophesie came not in old time by the wil of man but holy mē of God spake as they were moued by the holy Ghost The Apostle Paul also affirmeth the same touching his Gospell which saith he was not after man neither receiued hee it of man but by the reuelation of Iesus Christ Therefore whē this our Apostle saith I am Iohn which saw these things and heard them hee giueth vs to vnderstand that hee was both an eye and an eare witnesse Hee bringeth not matters which he hath heard by vncertain report he deliuereth this book to the churches they which receiued it at his hāds did know him to be a most faithfull seruant of the Lord euen a great Apostle which deliuereth not any thing but that which he had receiued of the Lord and therfore he testifieth that he saw heard al the things which he hath written in this booke And moreouer he testifieth of himselfe that he was called and authorised by Iesus Christ to write this Prophesie did nothing herein of himselfe or of his own brain For saith he I Iohn heard behind me a great voice as it had bene of a trompet saying I am Alpha Omega the first and the last that which thou seest write in a booke send it vnto the Churches Here we see how Iohn is called authorised by Alpha and Omega that is Iesus Christ to write this doctrine of the Apocalyps But may some man say was not Iohn called before was he not one of the Lambes 12. Apostles had he not now many yeares executed the office of the Apostleship right faithfully must hee now haue a new calling a second calling what needs he being an Apostle to be called authorised again To this I answer that this matter now in hand was a new a special work and therfore requires a new special calling It is a strāge reuelation therfore requireth a new authoritie to meddle in it For in this prophesie God dealeth with Iohn as he did with the old prophets in like cases For whē he wold foreshew vnto any of thē speciall matters he called them by glorious visions as we may read what a goodly visiō Esay had what a vision ful of glory Ezechiel had what a visiō Daniel had euē in maiestie like vnto this which Iohn hath here Thus then it is to be considered Iohn now is as one of the old Prophets to foreshew things to come therefore the Lord appeareth vnto him in vision and calleth him and authoriseth him therevnto as he appeared vnto them called them Let this then suffice for a reason of Iohns new calling to his new worke and office And thus much touching the first circumstance Now followeth the second circumstance which is the time whē Iohn receiued this Prophesie which is noted to be vpon a Lords day It is the day which S. Paul to the Corinthians calleth the first day of the weeke in which the Churches did meete for the holy exercises in religion which is also euident because hee saith they came together to breake bread Now the obseruation of a seuenth day is of diuine institution euen from the beginning It is naturall morall and perpetuall for God blessed the seuenth day and sanctified it We are therfore to thinke that although Iohn now in his exile was absent in bodie from the church assemblies yet he was present with them in spirit commending them most earnestly vnto God in his holy praiers and meditations and therefore it is said that hee was rauished in the spirit vpon the Lords day So we reade that the like befell vnto Daniel when hee was prisoner in Babylon the like also vnto Ezechiel who was taken by the spirit in the visions of God and carried to Ierusalem The like to Peter the like to Paul But the speciall reason of Iohns rauishment in the spirit at this time was that thereby hee might be made more fit and capable to receiue and vnderstand all those great mysteries and heauenly visions which now should be shewed vnto him And withall let vs obserue that all men are alwaies most capable of heauenly things when they are most in the spirit for God doth euermore most reueale himselfe to such as are most in praier reading and meditation and to such as make greatest conscience to spend his Sabaoths Christianly and religiously according to his great commandement And let vs alwaies be sure of this that the more feruent zealous we are in religious duties the more familiar acquaintance we shall finde with God and he will at all times be the more open-hearted vnto vs and will hide nothing from vs that may be for his glorie and our good For such as are much in heauenly contemplatiō he doth reckē not amongst his seruants but amongst his dearest friendes

state of his church but one that continually worketh out the good thereof Concerning his prouident care ouer his faithfull Ministers he is said to carry them in his right hand for hee had in his right hand seuen starres that is vers 16 vers 20 the Ministers of the churches As Christ saith the seuen starres are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seuen churches Ministers are compared to starres because they should shine as bright starres in this darke world both by life and doctrine Christ is said to hold them in his right hand because he alwaies defendeth them against the malice fury of the world which of all others is most outragiously bent against them and their fauorites But let men take heed of ouer bold presuming to pul the starres out of Christs right hand least they smart for it The world is very busie this way they thinke to wring them out of his hands but alas poore soules they are not able he holdeth them too fast who can pull them out of his right hand If they continue bold and busie this way they may hap at last take a beare by the tooth and peraduenture pull an olde house vpō their heads An other reason why Christ is said to holde the 7. starres in his right hand is because he worketh by them and their ministrie as an Artificer with his toole in his right hande The things which Christ hath done by these instrumēts are glorious and admirable For by the ministery of the Gospell he hath cōuerted many sinners saued many soules then the which nothing can be more honorable wonderfull and therfore the word of God which is the Ministers weapō is compared to a sharpe two edged sword vers 16 which came out of Christs mouth Now vnto all this may be added that Christ saith he was dead but now aliue because hee died and rose againe And also that he saith Hee had the keyes of hell and death that is authoritie and power ouer hell and damnation For he hath absolute power to open and shut binde and loose and therefore it is written chapter 3.7 He hath the key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth All this setteth forth the great power glory of Christs person and all aimeth at this marke end to commend vnto vs the authoritie of this booke because it commeth from a person of so great dignitie excellēcy Last of all it remaineth to shewe how Iohn was affected with this vision wherein Christ did so gloriously appeare vnto him vers 17 for he saith When I sawe him I fell at his feete as dead Wherein hee sheweth how greatly hee was amazed and daunted with the sight of Christs most glorious personage Hee was striken with such an astonishment feare that there was almost no life or spirit left in him and all this was to humble him euen to the ground in as much as by it he findeth his owne weakenesse and imperfection not capable of such a sight so farre as to endure it It was no doubt profitable or rather necessary that this holy seruant of God should thus be humbled and made fit to receiue this reuelation with the greater reuerence from his great Lorde and maister And also it maketh much for our profit as appeareth in that euery part of this vision is rehearsed in the Epistles to the Churches But to conclude Iohn being thus humbled and cast downe in himselfe is comforted and raised vp by Christ who laid his right hand vpon him and willed him to feare nothing For saith he I am the first and the last vers 17 and am aliue but I was dead behold I am aliue for euermore In which wordes hee dooth greatly cheare vp Iohns heart and telleth him plainely that this might and terrour of his person is bent onely against the wicked enemies of his Church nothing at all against the friends thereof but contrariwise that all this power and glorie might and maiestie is wholy and altogether for the good of his Church Wherein wee may all clearely see and knowe to our great comfort that the same arme of God which casteth down the wicked raiseth vp the godly the same power wich woundeth them healeth vs the same hand which destroieth them saueth vs the same might and maiestie wich hurteth them helpeth vs. For whatsoeuer is in God is wholly for his and wholy against those that are none of his And thus much concerning the first Chapter CHAP. II. and III. I Haue thought good to handle these two Chapters together and in a generall and compendious maner to set downe the most speciall matters contained in them both not meaning to insist vpon euery particular both because these two chapters are plaine and easie to vnderstand also because they haue bene sufficiently beaten vpon by many These two Chapters doo generally containe seuen Epistles written to the seuē Churches of Asia wherein the present estate of the Churches of Asia is very liuely described and in them the state of all other churches then militant vpon the face of the earth Euery one of these seuen Epistles containeth foure things First an Exordium or entrance into the matter Secondly a generall proposition Thirdly a narration Lastly a conclusion The Exordium or entrance of euery Epistle containeth two things namely the person to whom the Epistle is written and the person from whom the Epistle is written The proposition is one the same in all these Epistles contained in these words I know thy workes The narration containeth the matter of each Epistle and cōsisteth of commendations and discommendations of admonitions reprehensions threats and promises The conclusion of euery Epistle is one and the same in these words Let him that hath an eare heare what the spirit saith to the Churches First concerning the person to whom these Epistles are sent he is named in the beginning of euerie Epistle To be the Angel of such a Church By this word Angel he meaneth not the inuisible spirits which we call the Angels of heauen for the things attributed to these Angels can in no wise agree to the inuisible spirits as to be Angels of seueral churches to be neither hotte nor cold to leaue their first loue to repent and amend and sundry such like attributes throughout all these Epistles But by the word Angell he meaneth the Minister or Pastor of euery church which therefore is called an Angell because he is the Minister of God as the word signifieth As also because euery faithfull Minister ought to be receiued and regarded as an Angell of God as the Apostle witnesseth of the Galathians that they receiued him as an Angell of God yea as Christ Iesus And he giueth many admonitions in his Epistles to this effect for hee would haue all faithfull and painfull Ministers to be greatly reuerenced and had in double honour to be acknowledged had in singular loue for their workes sake to

Church should be full of eies to looke out for the good of his Church and to giue light to all others for hee is the life and light of the world And he came and tooke the booke out of the right hand of him that sate vpon the throne vers 7 Here Iesus Christ taketh the booke out of his Fathers hand purposing both to open it and expound it For he is the onely expounder of the law and the best interpreter of his Fathers will vers 8 Herevpon it is said that the foure beastes and 24. Elders fell downe before the Lambe to testifie their thankfulnesse and inward ioy and reioycing that the Son of God would take vpō him this office which none other would or could performe Moreouer by their falling downe and worshipping him they doo plainely testifie that hee is God ouer all to be blessed for euer For otherwise the Angels of heauen both Cherubins and Seraphins would not thus fall downe and worshippe him ascribing vnto him both deitie and diuine honour Consider then how great hee is of whom it is said Let all the Angels of God worship him Moreouer these Angels and Saints are said to haue euery one harpes and golden viols full of odours which are the praiers of the Saints vers 8 These harpes doo signifie the sweete concent and harmony both of men and Angels in sounding forth the praises of the Lambe For herein the whole Church both militant and triumphant doo accord and tune together as many harpers harping with their harpes as it is written also in an other place Hereby also they do plainely testifie that inward peace and spirituall ioy which all the faithfull haue through Christe which is more sweete and delightsome to the soule then any musicke is vnto the eares The viols full of odours are expounded to bee the praiers of the Saints which are therefore compared to odours because they smell sweete in the nosthrils of God and are more fragrant then any nosegay or perfume whatsoeuer for hee taketh great pleasure in the praiers of his people especially when they come out of golden viols that is sanctified hearts and consciences for euerie sanctified heart is a golden heart in the sight of God and euerie regenerate conscience is a iewell of price guilt with golde and enameled with pearle For this cause the holy man Dauid wisheth earnestly that his heart might bee so renewed and cleansed inwardely that his prayer might bee directed as incense in Gods sight and the listing vp of his handes as a sweete smelling sacrifice Furthermore vers 9 these Saints and Angels doo sing a new song That is they do sing to the praises of the Lambe with renued affections vnwearied desires Their inward ioy continueth alwaies fresh and greene as the Bay-tree They neuer wither or waxe wearie of the seruice of God Their song is euermore new and therefore euermore delightsome For the more new any thing is the more pleasant and delectable for men are not affected with olde but altogether with new things Now then Iesus Christ hauing taken this booke into his hande to open and expounde is applauded vnto by the general consent and voices of the whole church For say they Thou art worthy to take the booke vers 9 and to open the seales thereof Wherein they doo all with cōmon consent giue their voices vnto Christ acknowledging him to be the only fit persō in heauē or earth to take vpō him this functiō of opening a booke so closed so clasped so shut so sealed and they do yeeld a reason of their proceedings because say they thou wast killed and hast redeemed vs vnto God by thy blood out of euery kindred and tongue and people and nation Meaning hereby that he was put to death to pay the price of our redemptiō in whom all the beleeuers both of the Iewes and Gentiles are saued Their reason then is this he that hath died and risen againe and is now exalted farre aboue all principalities and powers c. is the most fit Instrument to open and interpret this booke But thou ô Christ the Lambe of God art such a one therefore thou of all others art most meete to take this matter vpon thee and to enter into this businesse Further they amplifie their reason thus that hee hath made vs of slaues and seruants vers 10 Kings and of prophane persons Priests vnto the most high God And last of all that we shall raigne vpon the earth Not meaning heereby that we shall raigne as earthly kings or only enioy an earthly kingdome For out of all doubt the Saints shall raigne with Christ in the heauens for euermore But heere is mention made of raigning in the earth because after this life Gods children shall haue the fruition and inheritance both of heauen and earth that is to say that new heauen and new earth wherein dwelleth righteousnesse for the heauens and the earth being redintegrated and purged from corruption shall be the portion of the Saintes and the habitation of the elect for euermore After all this vers 11 Iohn heareth the voice of innumerable Angels beside the foure beastes That is the Cherubins and Seraphins or chief Angels that is Angels deputed to chiefe offices round about the throne which all with a loud voice do acknowledge the Lambe which was killed to be worthy of all honor glory praise c. vers 12 And not onely these innumerable Angels being twentie thousād times ten thousand but also all other creatures both in heauē and earth as the Sun Moone Starres the fishes in the Sea and the beastes in the earth do all in their kinde sing the same song vers 13 acknowledging all honour and glory praise and power to belong vnto him that sitteth vpon the throne and vnto the Lambe for euermore For although the creature is as yet subiect to the bondage of corruption and therefore groneth and trauelleth in paine waiting when the sonnes of God shal be reuealed yet it stādeth in assured expectation of restitution to libertie incorruption and therefore here all the creatures do praise the Lambe for that restauration which they doo so longly and wishly looke for And the foure beasts said Amen That is they do subscribe to those praises which the creature yeeldeth to their Creator And not onely the Angels do subscribe and consent vnto it but the 24. Elders also who fall downe worship him that liueth for euermore So that the Lambe is praised and worshipped of all hands both of men and Angels and all other creatures as God euerlasting and blessed for euermore CHAP. VI. IN the fourth chapter we haue heard the description of God the Father which holdeth the sealed booke in his right hand In the fift chapter wee haue had the description of Iesus Christ the opener and interpreter of this seuen sealed booke Now in this sixt chapter wee are to vnderstande of the matter and contentes of this booke