was the riches of the Gentiles so their receiuing may bee much more the life of the world from death by so strange and wonderfull a change as shall make in a manner a new heauen and a new earth in which they shall haue greatly to reioice and bee glad When both sisters aswell the little sister which had no breasts as the other are spoken for and receiued That the Shepheard may be one and the sheepfold one When in that day there shall bee one Lord ouer all the earth and his name one This is that number innumerable Ch. 7. of al Tongs Nations Languages with Palmes in their hands clothed in longwhite roabes c. This is that Ierusalem from heauen wherin the heathen nor any vncleane thing shall enter no more which now shall bee perfectly adorned with such fulnesse of gracefull quiet state al being performed whatsoeuer the Lord by his seruants the Prophets had promised that shee hath as a Bride perfectly busked but to attend the last and full act of the marriage to enter into the marriage chamber and eternally inioy her spouse This goodlie state in grace vpon full ouerthrow of all troubles described most goodly Chap. 21. and 22 is the finishing of the mystery of God Chap. 10. When a Bride is perfectly â—usked and trimmed wanting none of her ornaments then nothing remaineth but the solemne acts of the mariage to enioy her Lord. So the reason of the speech is plaine from common vse 9 This her preparation that we may vnderstand it not to be of herselfe for the Lord will answer her before shee aske is shewed to bee in her attire Whereof is noted whence she hath it and what it is Shee hath it by free gift of the Bridegrome For what a Bride we are by nature see Ezechiel 16. and not onely is the garment giuen her but which is to be marked the putting on thereof is giuen her also as which shee can no more put on by her selfe then shee can purchase it What this garment is in shewed first figuratiuely and then in proper termes Figuratiuely it is fine linen pure and shining This linen hath two properties It is pure because Iesus Christ giuen vs of the father to iustification whom by the gift of faith we put on is pure spotlesse and vndefiled and maketh vs pure before God This is iustification of faith properly The second property is Shining for as it is spotlesse and pure so hath it a glorious lustre to shew that Christ is not onely put on to iustification but also to glorie and that in two respects One in that hee sanctifying vs wee shine here as lights in the middest of a froward generation shewing forth the vertues of him that hath called vs so glorifying God witnessing to the world our iustification and euen strengthning our own soules in the certainety of our election while wee declare our faith perfect by our workes euen as our works thereupon shine and are approued because faith worketh together with the worke For whatsoeuer is without faith is sinne and this is that iustification whereof Iames Chapter 2. to expresse both the word is plurall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other respect of shining is in that as we put on Christ to iustification and sanctification so also to full glory at length with himselfe our corruptible bodies being made conforme to his glorious body The Iewes first seeking to establish their owne righteousnes which is by the Law so like Adam and Eua making garments to themselues fell from the righteousnesse of God but now God turneth their hearts to prepare and trim themselues with the Bridegroome his gifts as was Rebeccha with the ornaments brought from her husband both giuen her and put on her counting all things losse to bee found in Christ that is not hauing their owne righteousnesse which is by the law but the righteousnesse of God which is by faith in Iesus which and application thereof are both the fâ—ee gift of God And the holy Ghost so coucheth the words as no place is left to cauillation For he sayeth not our Iustifications are the fine linnen but the fine linnen giuen vs is our iustifications 10 Thus was the song maruellous for strange forme and matter Now followeth the strange euent in the Apostle wherein come to be obserued the occasion and euent it selfe Albeit the whole matter and manner of the song occasioneth this euent yet most speciallie it followeth through the Angels singular care and manner of confirming Iohn in the greatnesse and truth of these matters euen therein implying that they are so wonderfull as men would hardely belieue that such things could come to passe Hee confirmeth Iohn by commandement and by affirmation The quality of the commandement giueth of it selfe to presume assuredly both some great and also a certainely determined case as which hee commandeth him to write both for regard of the matter as also for sure preseruation and lasting record therof as which most assuredly should fall out He commandeth to write one speciall point which yet implyeth all that they are blessed who are called to the Supper of the Lambes marriage VVhich blessednes as it must bee restrained to the effectuall calling many being called who are not chosen so here the Angell will stirre Iohn and all Christians in Iohn his person to the consideration of a singular blessednesse of this time through the great efficacy of the voyce from the Throne and obedience wrought thereby in them who first refused and no doubt of the Orient by and with them A blessednesse was commanded to be written Chapter 14. but that was of suffering wherein they were euen blessed Here the case varieth For now all shall suffer who come not to the Lambe his Supper and shall bee made a Supper to the foules of Heauen verse 17 Now the teares shall bee wiped from the eies of Mourners and the destroyers of the earth shall bee destroyed The Heathen were angry now the Lord is angry in his course which if it kindle Blessed are all that come to him Now they who did slay with the sword are slain by the sword and the Captiuers are captiued For now God taketh his kingdome by the euident ouerthrow of his enemies and exaltation of his Church hauing his name written euen on his garment and thigh So blessed in effect are they who come to the supper of the Lambe his marriage The Angell next confirmeth Iohn by affirmation that these words of God are true Thus wakening vp Iohn to consider rare matter whereof hee so earnestly affirmeth that the words are true and for assurance of their truth that they are of God or God his words 11 Now besides the song in it selfe wonderfull this care of the Angell to confirme Iohn and waken vp his spirits by so singular a commandement and so peremptory an asseueration so rauisheth the heart of the Apostle
was the ordinary stint of a bondslaue his daies allowance out of which at most foure bread could bee baked 6 To the perception of the fourth type vpon opening the fourth seale the fourth beast warneth like a flying Eagle to shew that albeit God now vpon continuance in rebellion and contempt of his former iudgements bringeth on heauier yet the induration of mens hearts should bee such as none should bee able to perceiue God his working but such as rising aboue the earth with sharpe sight looked on his dealing The type is a pale horse a deadlie colour and well fitting such a Rider as death and who is accordingly accompanied euen with the graue to expresse great mortality whereto the commission is large ouer the fourth part of the earth the executors many in respect that the iudgement chiefly here meaned pestilence which commonly followeth vpon famin as famin vpon war commeth seldom out single but accompanied with the former both sword and famine and moreouer with noysome beasts God his foure great plagues to shew here a heape of all iudgements iointly on the world for their induration 7 That to the perception of the two types following none of the foure beasts giueth warning it is because the fift type it selfe speaketh and the sixt bringeth so sensible a iudgement for greatnesse and strangenesse as all how endured soeuer are compelled in it to see acknowledge the day of the Lambe his wrath so in it Christ his dealing speaketh for it selfe and these who made the soules of Martyrs cry in the fift type in the sixt againe by iust recompence are made to cry in their course and that iustly to the confusion of such as would rather heare the beasts crying at God his first and gentler strokes than regard the pittifull cry of the slaine soules The fift type then vpon opening of the fift Seale are the soules of Martyrs lying vnder the Altar crying receiuing answere and White robes The speech opening the scope of the type is the tenor of their cry and answere made thereto Then to come by the right sense of this type wee must weigh the soules their demand and answere made vnto them In the demand consider first who cry secondly the place attributed to them and thirdly their demand or petition The Cryers are the soules of these who were slaine for the word of God as to which they gaue testimony held that testimony for it is the cause that maketh the Martyr and hee that perseuereth shall bee saued Their place is that they lie vnder the Altar by frame of speech from the Legal worship wherein no sacrifice was lawfull or accepted but at the Altar at the foot whereof round about which and vpon which the bloud and offering in diuers respects were powred sprinckled and offered For it is the Altar that sanctifieth the offering From thence hither a typicall speech is borrowed to shew that all our obedience and sacrifices of praise yea the offering of our liues and bloud for the honour of God and testimony of his truth is onely accepted in Christ who is our Altar and sanctifyer of all our oblations For properly neither soules lye nor cry nor haue robes so as the Romans grosenesse who hereupon build their superstitious laying of Saints Reliques vnder Altars is not onely ridiculous in that vpon things typically spoken they build Arguments of existence in propriety but also impious and idolatrous In their demand is first their affection or disposition in that they cry and with a loud voice and next the substance of their demand How long Lord c. This their demand is strengthned with an Argument from the Nature of God who is holy and true whereto it seemed very agreeable that speedy vengeance should bee taken vpon men of the earth for shedding their bloud so cruellie and aboundantly Now this cry is not here attributed to the soules for any such affection in them who are farre from that as resting from their labours free of all perturbation but by this frame of speech to shew that notwithstanding all God his preceeding iudgements against the world for cruelty against his Saints yet now it had come to such a height therein as it might well seeme that no longer it could stand with God his iustice to delay the finall ouerthrow of that bloody state by which the Martyrs suffered whose bloud now seemed to cry for no lesse and to cry loude as crying is attributed to the bloud of Abell as the cry of Sodome is said to haue come vp before God and as the earth is said to cry out of violence 8 Thus was their demand The answere hath in it a two-fold consolation against the reiourning of the sought vengeance First by word and next by signe The first hath two arguments of comfort one that the delayed punishment of their persecutors should bee but a space For the hope of the righteous shall not perish for euer And the iudgement of the wicked sleepeth not The second is the reason of the delay the perfecting of the number of their Brethren in the same honour of suffering whereby as the guiltinesse so the iudgement of the enemies behooued to grow Thus a great benefite it is to die for Christ and foolish is the world in troubling the Church but hastening on so their owne destruction from which it hath no respite but till the Saints bee fulfilled as had Sodome till Lot was in surety The other consolation by signe sheweth a present benefite giuen to the Church the more patiently to attend the reuenge of their bloud on the world The signe is long white robes which in Scripture haue a triple consideration First they are the note of our State towards God in which consideration Christ and his righteousnesse put on by faith is our white garment The second is our condition towards men where our inherent righteousnesse through Christ dwelling in vs and making vs to shine as lights in the middest of a froward generation to the conuiction of gain-sayers is our White robe God bringing forth our righteousnesse as the light and our innocency as the noone day The third respect is to our selues in which our garment of glory in heauen is vnderstood Of these three in this place The second is meaned as a most necessary consolation to the Saints of that time who were not onely murthered in heapes but also traduced with horrible calumnies to eclipse the glory of their sufferings whose innocency God now would bring to light euen in the consciences and confession of those who had persecuted them to the great glory of their sufferings and high account of Christianity which had beene so farre abhorred In summe the euent signified by this fifth type is that notwithstanding the former iudgements of sword famine and pestilence seuerally iointly executed against the world for resisting the victory of the white horse and his Rider whereby they ought beene terrified yet the furie of the
on the world which yet the sealed ones escape that by comparing wee may finde what a huge wisdome here in two words is comprised Now in all the story of old no such case occurreth but onely the deluge of Noah in all things semblable to this That was the onely generall plague wherewith euer at one time the whole world was punished and this darkenesse of Antichrist is a spirituall plague ouergoing once all the Christian world In that onely they escaped whom God sealed vp and inclosed in the Arke the type of his true Church here none escape but the sealed ones who are on Mount Sion with the Lambe while all the earth follow the beast That plague ouerwent the earth by opening the fountaines of the great depth Abyssi magnae Tehom Rabbah of the windows of heauen This by fall of a star from heauen opening the bottomles pit smoake bullering out therat ouergoeth all That by degrees grew till at length it ouerwent the highest mountaines fiue times three cubits this by degrees rose to ouerwhelme sunne and aire These waters preuailed ouer the highest mountaines fiue times thirty dayes that is fiue monethes this euill growing by degrees to a height shall haue a time of preuayling and obtaining place ouer all These waters preuailed not still but after an hundred and fifty dayes that is fiue monethes they beganne peece and peece to decrease til at length the earth was dried the Arke opened and the closed and sealed vp ones came forth and replenished the earth This euill after a time of preuailing ouer all shall abate and by the light of the Sunne of righteousnesse and wind of God his mouth by degrees bee consumed as by degrees it did grow and the true Church shall breake forth the Tabernacle of Testimony shall bee opened in heauen and these 144000. hid ones shall become a number innumerable with palmes in hands And as Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist bearing the reproch of barrennes hid her selfe fiue Monethes thereafter to appeare with big bellie so in this preuailing euill of Locusts and their King Abaddon the true Church as barren shall lurke fiue monethes that is for a time to breake forth thereafter big with child Of these who should bee preachers of repentance from Antichristian workes and forerunners of the Lord his last comming as Iohn was of the first Finally as the waters of Noah was such an euill as neuer shall come againe and thereof the Rainebow made a Seale so the darkenesse of Antichrist once dispelled shal neuer againe ouergoe all for hee must goe to destruction And for this it is that agreeably thereto the great Angell comming to his ouerthrow in the next Chapter hath the Rainebow about his head Now weigh what plenty of light and depth of wisdom lye hid in these two words of fiue monethes which the spirit repeateth twice of purpose to waken our negligence to take it vp Of the other times wee shall speake in the owne place 6 This was the generall note of their limitation Now follow the properties of these Locusts whereby they are able to vexe first they are like horses not common horses but prepared to battell lusty fâ—d strong and fierce ouer comming all opponers Hereto they are strengthned by vsurped spirituall authority expressed in Crownes which are neither vpright in forme nor matter With this is ioyned hypocrisie for they look like men who measure their affaires by iudgement as full of reason and humanity For simulate modesty and simplicity and for force of alluring inticements they haue haire like women with faire and flattering speeches deceiuing the hearts of the simple and prouoking to spirituall fornication But vnder this they are cruell deuourers as hauing teeth of Lyons deuouring widdowes houses vnder colour of long prayers whiles within they are rauening Wolfes They are armed against all inuasion hauing priuiledges and immunities from all secular power shaking their tippets on Kings as being onely subiect to their King Abaddon Now al these make their inuasions terrible to the greatest they being therefore like horses and chariots rushing to battell and it is well knowne how the contesting with them hath often brought Princes to the pinche of their estates and their daily treasonable bloody attempts and suggestions against the liues of Princes proue this clearely All this is effectuate by the stings in their railes that is their poisonable doctrine The ancient and honourable man is the head and the false Prophet teaching lies is the tatle Isai 9. 15. 7 Thus is the Armie Their head is described from his state and his name agreeable thereto his state is that he is their King euen setting himselfe vp against the great King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Thess 2. the quality of this his Kingdome is shewed in that hee is the Angell of the bottomlesse pitte that is the Diuell his Lieuetenant for to him the Dragon giueth his throne and great authority Chap. 13. Hee is the man of sinne His name fit for such a King is destroyer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both for destroying the faith of others and for that hee goeth to destruction Chapter 17. Paul calleth him accordingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee goeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chapter 17. 11. It is wonder in so clear consent of scripture how any learned could doubt who here is described Hee is so called both in Hebrew and Greeke to shew that hee shall bee no proper head of Iewes or of Gentiles but a common deceiuer of both Iew and Gentile professing Christianity and whom at length both Iewes conuerted to the faith and Gentiles shall know and call the Antichrist when the place of his foile shall bee called in Hebrew Armageddon for euen in this that hee shall bee so called in Hebrew is implyed a prophesie of the conuersion of the Iewes as in the same sense Chap. 1. with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is put Amen in Hebrew 8 This is the first great woe now said to bee gone the second to come anone in respect of their description here not that for euent in time this woe was fully past before the beginning of the next as is euident by the end of this Chapter where after the description of the sixt Trumpet the impenitency of men still continuing in Antichristian works is shewed so as the first woe holdeth on all the time of the second and this second woe had his beginning soone after the open beginnings of the first God so punishing sinne by sinne according to the growth and induration of men in the first impietie giuing the more free scope to the second till desperate obstinacie bringeth on the last woe and finall wrath for as the woe is not said to come till the height thereof at least in such degree as wherefore it may iustly bee esteemed the soarest iudgement in the time albeit in some degrees it hath beene working on before so the next woe comming
name and are content to be called his being so farre deceiued with his shew as yet they receiue neuer his Character as his mancipate slaues And yet moe haue the number of his name that is are counted and numbred to bee of his body who yet in effect neither haue his name nor his Character This hath deceiued men that they haue imagined the Character to be some other thing then of his name But as is cleare by this place his Character is of his name and they receiue his Character who so haue his name as they are characterized therewith and vpon his marke A speech from common vse Hereof it is that in Mount Sion all haue the Character that is all who are of the true Church elected according to the purpose of grace But as in the visible Church many haue the name of God moe haue the number that is are accounted Christians who yet are not of the number sealed so in Antichrist his Church are many hauing his name and moe hauing his number and so are tolerated to haue commerce and trade with men who yet neuer receiued his Character Therefore it is that the iudgement is denounced onely against those who worshippe him and receiue his Character and accordingly the Vials of wrath Chapter 16. are powred onely vpon these Who are here twise repeated that wee may bee wakened to aduert how here the holy Ghost teacheth vs not to iudge so hardly of all that follow the Beast as that eternall damnation abideth them but onely such as haue receiued his Character For no question but many haue beene and are still named his and counted of his number who learned neuer the deepenesse of Sathan as simple sheepe fallen into that slocke of his because they saw there the publike Ensigne and the Lambe his horns in semblance because hee brooked the holy City and Court of the Temple Euen like these two hundreth who in simplicity of heart followed Absolom from Ierusalem knowing nothing of his treason For we must consider what sort of enemy Antichrist is That hee is no fortaine inuader but an inward Traitor None directly fighting against the name and Ensigne of Christ but by pretence of the name and Ensigne deceiuing And sitting euen in the Temple of God as if a hid Traitor pretending the King his Masters seruice and commission would summon all true Subiects to follow him while hee were but minding vsurpation euen good Subiects might bee thus far deceiued as to follow the publike Ensigne till the treason were detected Further consider that the true Church in Antichrist his greatest preuailing was alwaies within his compasse within which all were euer accounted to bee his owne but yet were not As within the compasse of the holy City and Court of the Temple were the Temple and witnesses in it Chapter 11. besides as no way could bee to the Temple but through the City and Court so no way euer was or shall bee to become a member of the true Church but by comming through the visible Church wherein Antichrist fortie two moneths working and obtaining without controlment all behoued to ioyne to that body where was the Ensigne and seek in through the City and Court to com to the Temple Now no maruell though many in the passing through were taken in admiration of the City Court before they got sight of the Temple And the prouidence of God was wonderfull in this that in greatest corruption he reserued alwayes a sure way through Antichrist to the Temple the Sacrament of Baptisme in substance remaining and the doctrine of the Trinity abiding sound So thus all comming through him had his name or his nūber of whom yet many neuer receiued his Character but espying the pollution of City and Court stepped into the Temple Where still though quietly God preserued two Candlestickes and two Oliues till at length his impiety came to that height by murthering the Saints that it was said to them Come vp hither and so a visible separation was made not from the Church but from the thiefe and Traitor in the Church his mouth bewraying it selfe to bee the Dragons And certainely this holdeth true so as we neede not so much iangle with the Romans thereabout that the Church hath and euer shall bee visible because alwayes the common Ensigne is seene But this Ensigne the Traitor craftily tooke vpon him to beare and thereby deceiued Here is the fallacy that by aequiuocation they conclude if the Church hath alway beene visible then are wee the true Church Here more is added For albeit the church be alwayes visible yet the truth and true professors in it are not alwayes so For the witnesses were closed in the Temple the woman lurked in the wildernesse and the sealed ones were albeit singing yet vnseene and vnheard vpon Mount Sion Three distinct speeches vsed of the Spirit for great purpose The first to shew that howsoeuer the true Church was hid yet where shee was to witte within the compasse of the visible where Antichrist ruled and where Sathan his throne was The second to shew that albeit shee lurked yet she was fed as was Israel in the wildernesse and Elias in the dayes of famine The third that in that great preuailing of Antichrist when all the earth followed the Beast yet she was stablished on Mount Sion so as against her the gates of hell could not preuaile The true Church is in some sort euer vlsible though not in her selfe yet in her infallible Ensignes as who seeth the Citie and Court hee seeth in a sort the Temple because albeit hee see it not distinctlie yet seeing the City and Court hee is certaine that the Temple is there So seeing the visible Church within whose compasse though no eye see them yet God hath his true worshippers one seeth also the true Church For within the Church are truth and lies Christ and Antichrist and either of them now and then obtaine in it and hold place communiter in toto but neuer vniuersaliter in singulis From the Apostolike times as witnesse Paul and Iohn Antichrist was in the Church but hee appeared not some ages after In his time hee riseth and obtaineth all the holy City and Court of the Temple erecteth a throne in Pergamus and domineth as Iezabel in I hyatira Truth is hid and true Professors till the noise of many waters the voyce of thunder and sound of well tuned Harpes breake out of Sion and the Temple and the woman returne from the wildernesse It is a great Sophisme to conclude from the Church visible to the Church absolutely or true Church or againe from these to that or to reason a toto communiter ad vniuersum singulariter Albeit Antichrist was commonlie acknowledged of all yet neuer vniuersally of each one For he neuer set his foot in the Temple nor vpon Mount Sion The Romans presse sore vpon vs to shew who in former ages haue been of our Religion
fully waken them from their deadnesse and pull perfitly the vaile from their hearts pouring on them the spirit of mercy and compassion and taking from them their stony hearts that they may see him whom they pearced And this is called peculiarly the voice from the Throne to note God his powerfull working of their illumination and full conuersion at this point whereto their hearts by the victory of the Christian Church and praise offered to God therefore were in some good degrees before prepared and mollified So as now all the seruants af God all that feare him both small and great shall raise vp a song to God for multitude maiesty and noise admirable for exceeding great power and motion of spirit full of thundering for newnesse of matter passing ioyfull For raising of this great Halleluiah a strange order of working as would appeare is heere set downe For where it might seeme that according to the ordinary dispensation of all grace the voice should from the Throne haue gone first to the Beasts and Elders and from them to the multitude in a heauenly wisdome the first motion is from the multitude next from Beasts and Elders and lastlie from the Throne to shew this great worke as I haue shewed at last by God his owne power fully effectuall The order is from I say A voice soundeth from the City a voice from the Temple the voice of the Lord who recompenseth his enemies Then Sion before she trauelled brought foorth her children and before her paine shee was deliuered of a man childe Then The earth was brought foorth in a day and a Nation was borne at once Conferre diligently and espie deepe wisdome This voice is to all Gods his seruant to all that feare him both small and great the time of whose reward is now come when God destroieth them who destroied the earth Chapter 11. Now Rachel barren while Lea bare children shall breake foorth in the thousands of Manasse and tenne thousands of Ephraim So by this voice from the Citie from the Temple and lastly from the Throne euen from him Who fully recompenseth his enemies is raised for multitude of singers for manner and matter of song an Helleluiah of a wonderfull note While not onely a great multitude euen all the sernants of God small and great Iew and Gentile doe sing it but also their song is like the voice of many Waters and as the noise of great thunders not as these Cha. 14. which none heard but the sealed ones but such as shall fill the world with astonishment and make the heauens resound So sweetely and mightily shall the Harpes of them whose receiuing shall bee life from the dead bee tuned vp with vs Gentiles to praiseour common Sauiour 5 Thus for cleering the mystery heere implied hauing shewed the forme in the singers vncouth manner order and course of this whole song Now let vs returne and first consider the matter of all and then the euent in Iohn 6 The matter of the song in the first three Halleluiah and two degrees of singers is all one In the last Halleluiah last singers when all small great sing it is larger The song of the first singers hath two parts and accordingly to shew the rising of their affection the word Halleluiah is doubled The first part hath the speciall points of praise and reasons thereof The speciall points are Saluation glory honour and power c. Thus in ioyfull song professing that the onely praise of their saluation the onely glory that is the estimation and high account they haue God in as onely author of all their good all the honour that is all dutifull worship which according to that estimation and account they owe are due to him onely Lastly they acknowledge his onely power and strength in all their deliuerance and ouerthrow of their foes This song is the same in argument with that Chap. 7. Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe The reasons of this their praise are first generally giuen and next specially accommodare to the present matter The generall is that his iudgements are true and iust in relation to his promises and nature and accordingly in the speciall case heere meaned the truth of his iudgements is cleere in that the Whoore is iudged and destroied as he promised not onely to destroy her but also all that doe euill to the Sanctuary The iustice and equity is manifest in her sinne who was a great Whoore and therewithal the corrupter of the whole earth being both her selfe extremely sinnfull and inducing others to sinne next extremely cruell as in whom all the blood of the earth was found and who specially was drunken with the blood of Saints Now God is a requirer of blood and singulary of his holy ones whose death is precious in his eies This both truth and iustice of God in this speciall act of the Whoores damnation is yet more cleered in the second part of their song whereto they are stirred by the consideration of her euerlasting fall so as they neuer feare her deceit or cruelty any more And this raiseth their affection to a new Halleluiab so vpon the more cleare sense of the greatnesse of the benefit doubling the praise The foolish knoweth it not and the vnwise man vnderstandeth not that the wicked flourisheth as the grasse but hee shall bee destroied for euer 7 The second order of singers affirme the same matter in the word Amen and sing the same praise in Halleluiah 8 In the third order as the singers are moe and the note higher so is the matter of their song somewhat larger as which hath not onely relation to the iudgement of the Whoore as the former parts of the song but also to the subsequent story both of the enemies ouerthrow and gracefull state of the Bride thereupon both which are heere summarily celebrate and largely after through the booke exponed The first in this that now the Lord raigneth for they are destroied who vsurped the Kingdome The other in that the Bride is prepared The destruction of the vsurpers is hencefoorth in this and the next Chapter the Bride prepared Chapters 21. and 22. Heereupon all are of other mutually exhorttd to ioy and gladnesse aswell as to the praising of God for that The Lambe his marriage is come c. Wherein as there is huge matter of Gods praise so of exceeding ioy to themselues in their owne good from him This marriage contracted of old was come in a great degree when the Bridegrome came into the world but they who were bidden refused to come and amongst those who were brought in to the wedding one wanted a wedding garment and thereupon is cast out into vtter darkenesse euen the lake of fire and Brimestone But now at this point heere celebrated the marriage shall come in a nobler degree when God by a voice from the Throne shall turne their hearts who refused now to come in that as their casting of