height of impiety and marketh the two pointes of this time with most euident notes of the binding of the Dragon and his lousing againe 13 In Constantine his time that too great and open steppes were laide for Antichrist to mount vp to Sathan his throne is too well knowne And to what a height the mistery of iniquity had wrought on in the Pontificality of Boniface the eighth their owne stories giue cleare testimony recording of him that hee entred like a foxe raigned as a Lion and died as a dogge When by a counterfeit Oracle hee had got himselfe made Pope hee would vpon no condition acknowledge the Emperour except hee did take his title and dignity of him as to whom properly it belonged He excommunicated the French King because hee would not take his Crowne holden of him and impudently and impiously discharged his Subiects of their allegeance He blasphemouslie against the honour of Christ his Crosse instituted the first Iubilie at Rome and put forth this decree that the Bishoppe of Rome ought to be iudged of none although he should carry innumerable soules with him to hell 14 The peruerse mindes of the Romanes here bewray themselues For this time of a thousand yeeres which onely of all the times in this prophesie is to bee taken definitely they will haue to bee indefinite and al the rest to be taken both definitelie and properly And without either example of Scripture or shew of allusion casting it roundly by them they will forsooth haue these thousand yeeres here indefinitely put for all the time from Christ to Antichrist his raigne who shall raigne say they three yeeres and a halfe before the last iudgement But if during these thousand yeeres the speciall honor and chiefe crown of them who liue and raign in them be their refusing to worshippe the Beast whom euen Romans confesse to be Antichrist of necessity his Kingdome must haue beene in vogue these thousand yeeres And this againe sheweth plainely that these times of a 1260. dayes 42. monethes and a time times halfe a time are not properly and definitely put for the iust time of Antichrist his raigne as the Romans would inforce seeing these thousand yeeres hee beareth sway further if these times were definitely and yet not properly to be taken as some of our learned interpreters esteeme I see no reason why here the holy Ghost should haue altered his ordinary stile See Chapters 9. and 11. and 12. 15 Now considering all the course of this prophesie expressing first the state of the Church in the seuen of Asia next comprising the whole future euents in seuen Seales the seuenth whereof affordeth seuen Trumpets and the seuenth of these seuen vials of the last wrath Seeing also that in all this Booke but seuen diuers times are recorded First that of ten dayes Chapter 2. 2. that of halfe an houre Chapter 8. 3. that of fiue monethes Chapter 9. 4. that of an howre day moneth and yeer of the sixth Trumpet Chapter 9. 5. that of 1260. dayes 42. monethes a time times and halfe a time which are but one Chapter 11. and 12. and 13. 6. that of three dayes and a halfe Chapter 11 and now this of a 1000. yeeres is the seuenth in huge proportion exceeding all the former Considering also that this time of a 1000. yeeres is in the course of this Chapter and within short space sixe times recorded and thereafter no time mentioned but euermore Whither in these considerations if this maner of leading implyeth any further mystery I referre it to godly and sober considerations not daring louse the raines to curiosity in so diuine and hid matter wherein yet I am perswaded thongh my weakenesse cannot find it out that nothing is eyther in matter or manner of handling which hath not in it a great depth of wisdom 16 Thus was the dragons first restraint in a certaine degree of time and measure Followeth the second absolute and euerlasting And it is cleared by the fore-going liberty to which hee is loused From the first binding So as all this point is in these two the dragons second liberty and the euent thereof 17 In this his second liberty is the time when and his endeauour beeing loosed The time is at the expiring of the thousand yeeres whereof wee haue spoken His endeauour being loosed is to practise againe that from which by his first taking hee was with-held that is to seduce Nations Which seducing must bee vnderstoode to be of that same kind as heereafter is clearely shewed in that hee brought them to compasse the tents of Saints and beloued City For otherwaies all the time of his restraint from this kind of working hee by the Lieutenant of his power seduced in another kind mightilie The greatnesse of this his endeauour to this end is cleared first by these whom hee seduced and next by their action vpon his instigation In these who are seduced are these circumstances 1 Their habitation 2 Their quality 3 Their number Their habitation is the foure quarters of the earth Whereby is offered to our conception both Satan his earnest and diligent practise in this his last puffe and that all the enemies ouer the whole earth of what state and condition soeuer whom in this his last fury hee bringeth foorth are heere designed Their quality is expressed in the names giuen them of Gog and Magog To shew them detestable for cruell disposition to destroy that by a huge destruction they shall be destroyed and that they are the instruments of Satan his last fury Their number is expressed in two notes One that they ouerspred the plaine of the earth the other that they were as the sand of the Sea for multitude 18 Such are they who are seduced The end whereto the Dragon leadeth them is to compasse the tents of Saints and the beloued City Euen the vtter destruction in their intent of God his true Church heere on earth pitching in Tents as yet in their warfare and absent from their eternall habitation but who notwithstanding are the true Citizens of heauen beloued of God 19 Thus is the Dragons liberty and his endeauour thereupon The euent heereof is double One of them who thus seduced by him were set on so euill a worke that fire came from heauen and deuoured them The other of him who is their leader that hee is now taken and commited to euerlasting fire and torment This his iudgement is cleared by his fellowship therein the Beast and false Prophet 20 This euent is further cleared and declared sure by setting downe the last degree of their destruction in the last iudgement when all enemies being brought vnder death shall bee swallowed vp to victory To shew vs that this second victory ouer Satan and restraint of him from this his last rage shall not bee but onely for a certaine space as was that first or in a speciall respect as that was but it shall be absolute and eternall So as from the time
Christ began this second time sitting on a white cloude Chap. 14. 14. to make his iudgements manifest Cha. 15. 4. And from the time he began to erect this his great white Throne by the reuiued light of the Gospell when the time of the dead commeth to bee iudged Chap 11. The seuenth Trumpet sounding to the finishing of the mystery of God in full accomplishment of all which the Prophets foretold for deliuerance of the Church and her goodly state in grace So as the signe of the sonne of man shall bee seene in heauen the victory ouer her enemies shall still hold on and the enemies still fall as did Haman before Mordecay till by all the degrees of destruction they at last in the generall iudgement receiue finall sentence when death and the Diuell who hath dominion thereof shall be abolished And for this purpose onely it is that heere so liuely an hypotyposis of the last iudgement is set downe In the person of the iudge the maner and order of iudging and the execution so farre foorth as for the present purpose was needfull The person of the Iudge is described in his office administration thereof and his dreadfull maiesty and power In office hee is a Iudge a royall and a great Iudge as hauing a Throne and a great Throne He is also faithfull true vpright and glorious and whose iudgements are cleare and manifest by his white Throne As he rode before Chap. 19. on a white horse and did sit Chapt. 14. on a white cloude His administration is in that hee sitteth His dreadfull maiesty and power is expressed in a wonderfull forme of ishing before his presence Heauen and Earth depart and so as their place is not found To shew a perfit departing as that which in Scripture is saide of the wicked that he perisheth so as his place is not knowen 21 The order of iudgement is in the persons iudged and manner of processe The persons are all the deade great and small cleared by enumeration of these who are dead in the Sea who by any other kind of mortality or who were in their graues And herein clearely is implyed the power of the Iudge For no question can bee of the liuing when all the dead are forced to giue presence The manner of processe is set downe after the forme of well ordered humane iudicatories In that bookes were opened euen the records of mens actions and another booke the booke of life The iudgement of earth is of these things which were in the bookes according to their workes The forme of speech is to be noted in that it saith not of things written in the bookes and according to their workes To shew that heere are not two rules of iudging But that so men are iudged according to their works as yet the iudgement is led and ordered by the bookes For the ground and cause of the iudgement is the booke of life according as in it mens names are written or are passed by beeing either giuen to Christ of the Father or left Now whom the Father giueth him none is able to take out of his hand but he raiseth them vp at the last day And whom he electeth them hee predestinateth to bee made conformable to the image of his sonne whom he predestinateth he calleth effectually whom he calleth he iustifieth and sanctifieth heere by his spirit to bring foorth fruits of righteousnesse and so at length glorifieth These fruits of faith confirme vs in the assurance of our election and that wee are in Christ Iesus that which further strengthneth our peace as writing it in our owne consciences which are the one sort of bookes and whose testimonie must accord with the other booke of life Now then in the iudgement so are workes lookt on as collation alwaies must be of the bookes to see if our names be written in the booke of life as assurance of life and ioyfull peace are written in our consciences Otherwaies in it selfe all our righteousnesse is but as a menstruous clout But yet what Israel will not obtaine seeking to establish their owne righteousnesse which is by the Law the election will obtaine 22 Such are the person of the Iudge and the order and manner of processe Now the execution followeth Which agreeably to the purpose of the holy Ghost for which onely mention of the last iudgement is heere made is all in wrath against death hell and such as are not written in the booke of life who are adiudged to euerlasting fire which is the second death And this is to shew as I touched before that this last victory ouer the Dragon and his instruments shall bee full and perfect holding course from the first degree of their foile therein till death and the graue which are the last enemies be subdued And this execution of enemies was sufficient to record in this place where this matter is not handled as though now at this point of time and incident case the last iudgement were to fall out As many heereupon haue imagined that the ouerthrow of Antichrist and these huge Armies of opponents should bee conioined with Christ his last comming But the spirit hath no such meaning But handling the victory of the Church ouer her enemies to shew that it should bee perfect he letteth vs see that it shall hold on till all enemies being subdued to Christ his feet at last death be swallowed vp of victorie and that the Dragons foile should not bee now as at the first binding from which after a space hee got loose againe But it should bee to finall destruction And in this sense the Apostle in the second to the Thess 2. telleth that Antichrist shall bee abolished with the brightnesse of the Lord his comming Not as though he shall raigne till then but that he shall be so consumed heere with the power of the word of truth as without recouering strength he shall be destroied for euer the full and perfect point whereof is in the Lord his last comming and finall sentence against him Therefore Cha. 17 the Beast is said to goe to destruction In the vsuall manner of Scripture when God will confirme his Saints against dangers and in hope of deliuerance for their full setling he leadeth them to the consideration of that finall deliuerance whereto euer our hearts should bend themselues and in like manner in denouncing destruction to the enemies in the measure whereof as it falleth out here we neuer are satisfied he leadeth vs to their last and finall sentence Thus the Lord calleth the Prophet and other faithfull in that promised deliuerance from the tyranny of Antiochus Epiphanes to the consolation of the resurrection So Christ in his sermons often Paul for all Christianity pleadeth the resurrection The Martyres suffered constantly vnder the Lawe looking for a better resurrection The Scripture teacheth vs that that day shall come as a thiefe vpon a peaceable and secure world marrying and taking in
lector arenam Liba neu â—icco rade profunda pede Hic sulcanda via est huic te duce numine oportet Etpoteris placiâ—ae credere tutus aquae The Summe of the Booke THis Booke is that written record of the things in Vision heard and seene by Iohn in Patmos which according to the commandement giuen him hee sent to the seuen Churches of Asia Whereof it is that besides the inscription in the first three verses the whole is an Epistle hauing a salutation to the ninth of the first Chapter a valediction in the last verse of all and the body of the matter in the rest This body hath for the most part a propheticall narration to the sixt of the last Chapter and thence the generall conclusion The narration hath two parts the first is of things which partly then were and partly were also to bee done thereafter And this part hath first a goodly vision of Christs presence operation and dispensation in and towards these seuen Churches and which in common concerneth them all And secondly a particular accommodation thereof to each one according to their proper condition good or euill or mixed at that time In which respect this part is said to be of things which were then existent as it is also of things to be done thereafter because of the future good or euill promised or threatned The second part of the narration is of things which were to be done thereafter concerning first and properly the whole militant Church Like as the whole euents thereof were to fall out after the time of this trance how soeuer for cleering the working on of these euents some circumstances and beginnings are in one or two places deduced higher And this second part hath a generall introduction to the speciall Storie Chap. 4. and 5. and the story of speciall euents thenceforth The introduction hath two parts first a goodly type of the true Church militant according to that constant and inuariable condition shee euer holdeth in all her changes wrestlings sufferings victories kythings and eclipses For expressing accordingly of all which as diuers and conuenient types thorow this Prophecie are taken so alwaies in all cases this of the Throne Beasts and Elders euer holdeth thorow all This constant condition hath God his constant presence as King and Lord fixing his habitation and ruling in the midst of his Church her gracefull state herethrough as which is a royall priesthood to him his generall and constant dispensation to this end terrible for her and gracious towards her and her dutifull worship of him againe Chap. 4. In the second part of the Introduction is shewed by whom and in whom it is that shee hath all this presence protection and graces and specially thus artificially to bring on the story of speciall euents by whom it is that she hath this singular benefit of this reuelation The dignitie whereof is shewed first in the retired eminencie of the matter and secondly in the worthinesse of the Person reuealer Chap. 5. The speciall storie is thence of which the abstruse secrecie locked vp in God his counsell as by a sealed Booke in God his right hand it was figured so the manifestation thereof to vs is typically expressed by opening of the seales in which the whole Story being comprehended six of them opened yeeld also many types of these first sorrows wherewith God plagued the world for reiecting the Gospel I hâ— seuenth yeeldeth 7. Trumpets whereof the first six haue the second euils and the seuenth vpon induration against all former punishment affordeth seuen vials of the last wrath for full and recurelesse destruction of the enemies and the Church her constant gracefull and quiet state thereupon The beginnings of sorrowes are first the powerful preaching of the Gospell in it selfe properly the first blessing yet to the world â—adly impugning that which must Conquer and Ouercome becomming the sauor of death is the first and mother plague begetting bloudy warres strange famines greeuous pestilences and not some beasts God his foure great plagues seuerally and iointly Against all which notwithstanding the rage and induration of enemies still groweth and that to so huge and cruel effusion of the bloud of Saints as in God his iustice cried for no lesse then the full and finall destruction of that afflicting state Which neuerthelesse in God his wise dispensation is reiourned till the accomplishment of the rest of Martyrs in that honour of suffering And that the Church might attend this the more patiently she getteth in the time relaxation from open persecution and the sufferings of Martyrs become honourable Thereafter that bloudy state through inuasion of barbarous and vncoâ—th nations suffereth such strange alteration as the whole face thereof is turned and it receaueth a deadly wound so farre as might make way for the succeeding huge mischiefe in the seuenth Scale Chap. 6. Before the opening whereof to a particular manifestation of the euils therein for more cleering of the matter and in a diuine artifice to imply that this second mischiefe was hatching euen in time of the first sorrowes a summary view of the whole sequell thereof is giuen in a deadlie euill to ouergoe all the face of the visible Church worship and professors therein Against which the care of Christ for preseruing his true Church is shewed and her double condition first vnder and in time of the mischiefe by a mystical number of sealed ones and of whome and how that number is made vp to the ninth verse and secondly her condition victorius ouer the euill as the same condition is offered to Iohn his perception first by seeing and hearing and secondly by information to the end of the seuenth Chapter For particular explication of that which in the seuenth Chapter was summarily portended the seuenth Seale is opened and yeeldeth seuen Trumpets as also many signes giuen of diuers degrees of iudgements whereby God was as it were to charge vpon the World these in coÌ„parison are lighter or heauier The first foure are lighter first through cold showers of selfeloue and fierie contention mixed with crueltie in the visible Church followeth a destruction in part of true spirituall life and religion both in weake and in such as appeared strong Christians Secondly through the fire of ambition amongst Church-men a corruption in part of the common worship and a death in superstition Thirdly through hereticall prauity arising vpon despitefull pride bitternesse and presumption of great knowledge the very grounds and chiefe Doctours are poisonablie infected to the death of many therein Fourthly darke ignorance and a decay in part of true light and learning both in diuine and humane sciences Chapter 8. Now these foure lighter euils were but alse many steppes to the fift and first of three great woes in the fift Trumpet When not in part onely but through the fall of great Pastours from Heauen to the loue of the Earth and thus losing the Key of knowledge and of the Kingdome of Heauen
degrees as haue beene shewed as in like manner in the sixth seale was giuen a view of the mischiefe of the Trumpets to learne vs that euen then before the ouerthrow and shaking of the Empire the mystery of iniquity was working And in all God sheweth his power and prouidence that euen with the sinne and wickednesse of men hath his iudgements preparing long before for their due punishment in time Now maruaile not that here that which is to the Saints chiefe ioy is a woe to the World for our victory is the worldes ruine 5 Vpon the blowing of the seuenth Trumpet the effect thereof is in the rest of this Chapter summarily denounced by a gratulatory song of praise of the Church to God for the ioyfull effect to them though wofull to the world which now they preconceiue is to ensue And this effect summarily here denounced is through the rest of all the Propheticall narration exponed at large The summe and matter of their fong which stirreth them to thanksgiuing is in this that God now raigneth And this raigne is cleared by two great effects the one is the destruction of all enemies the other is a sequell hereof the good estate of God his children the time of whose reward now is come The Iustice of God in the destruction is shewed in that these enemies were angrie and had in their fury destroyed the earth and murthered the Saints so as now God had iust reason to be angry in his course and to iudge and reuenge his dead fully on the world by prosecuting still his now begunne wrath and iudgements against the aduersaries till they be closed vp in euerlasting torment and redressing the estate of his Church in continuall deliuerance and encrease of grace till as a Bride fully prepared shee be receiued to glorie all being here performed now in the dayes of this Trumpet whatsoeuer by the Prophets was foretold either of the Church her perfection in grace and peaceable state or of the enemies destruction And this is that finishing of the mysterie sworne Chapter 10. this is that vengeance promised to the slaine soules in the 5. Seale but which they were to attend till the rest of Saints were slaine and this the Gentiles in their anger hauing performed hauing trod downe the holy City euen that beast that worketh forty two monethes making warre with the Saints and ouercomming them Chapter 13. Now the Lord commeth in great indignation to repay the world their cruelty This double euent thus denounced is by figne also forshewed to signifie the rising of the Church in great light and deepe sight of the most hid mysteries the Tabernacle is open in heauen and the Arke which stood in the most holy place is openly seene Here is a great degree of knowledge In the end of the sixt Trumpet was a great measure euen that first visible separatiō from Babel and her earthly ones when to the witnesses it was said Come vp hither but her clearenesse of light is aduanced greatly and the truth hereof is euident All praise to him who hath taken his Kingdome for since the seuenth Trumpet began to blow the Antichristian kingdome thinketh light of the sixt Trumpet and now this is their heauiest woe as wil appeare in the effects of the Vials but it is our song The signe of the other effect in the destruction of the enemies and God his horrible iudgements to that end are thunderings lightnings voices earthquake and much haile See vpon Chapter 4. Sect. 10. thus Babel whereof but the tenth part fell at the first essayes in the time of the sixth Trumpet now at the sound of the seuenth taketh a totall ruine as did Ierico at the seuenth Trumpet for to that is the allusion CHAP. XII THe seuenth Trumpet sounding the effect thereof was summarily foreshewed in a congratulatorie song signes expressing the maine points of the euent to ensue in the end of the last Chapter Now hence through this Booke to the generall conclusion of al that is largely and particularly exponed in the story of two great wonders or signes in Heauen The first in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters the other thence to the end The first signe or wonder hath the story of the enemies and condition of God his Church oppressed by them in some degrees comming out vnder that bondage The second hath the story of full victory in the perfect ouerthrow of the aduersaries and the Church her goodly and gracefull state thereupon The first in the 12. 13 and 14. Chapters is of one time with that story which in the fixe seales and sixe trumpets of the seuenth hath beene shewed but yet is not the same And where it would appeare to haue but one and the same matter yet the purpose and respect of handling is much different wherof see more vpon Chapter 14. Sect. 10. And here this Narration commeth exceeding fitly both for time and matter For time because albeit it be of things fallen out before the seuenth Trumpet yet so cleare a sight of them was not got till vpon the blast of it the Tabernacle of testimony opened in heauen afforded to God his children a more plaine sight of the enemies their course successe of working For matter because that vpon the souuding of the seuenth Trumpet so great a ioy of the Church vttered in such a song vpon preception of so great a deliuerance to her selfe and destruction of her enemies requireth for cleare vnderstanding thereof and how great the worke is that these enemies be knowne and their dealings and to endeare the more to the Church her owne deliuerance that her troubles and wrestlings with these enemies bee also seene that so both the equity of the former iudgements and specially of this last and finall wrath to come on them may bee cleare Till now the Story hath beene of wrath vpon the world from which the sealed ones were free the Church her sufferings nothing or but sparingly touched the Story of the Witnesses Chapter 11. being deliuered but as they were a Woe vpon the world but now in these three subsequent Chapters the Story of the Church her sufferings and of the parties by whom vpon whome and for which came all the former woes and now finall wrath is denounced is most pertinently both for time and matter inserted The not aduerting of this purpose of the holy Ghost hath bredde to many in reading this Booke great obscurity while they tooke not vppe the sweet and plaine way thereof so ledde as falling in againe in the end of the soureteenth Chapter to the point where it left in the end of the eleuenth for inserting of this necessary Story the summary execution is their preponed of that which in the end of the eleuenth Chapter was summarily denounced And so in the second great Wonder or Signe seene in Heauen throughout the fifteene sixeteene seuenteene eighteene nineteene and twenty Chapters this effect of the seuenth Trumpet as touching the
destruction of enemies and Church her victory is largely exponed and in the twenty one and twenty two as touching her gracefull and peaceable state thereupon 2 The first wonder or signe is double according as therein the enemies inuaders and partie assailed are expressed The party assailed is the woman and her seed first and last The assailing enemy is the Dragon by himselfe openly and by his Lieutenant the beast of his power couertly Against the woman and her first seede is set the Dragon directly in this Chapter Against her in her other seed the beast of his power throne and authority in the next Chapter This is that warre proclaimed in Paradise In this Chapter are first the description of the parties by their habit and disposition to doe Secondly the euent which maketh way to the next enemy in the next Chapter The party assailed is the woman in habit clothed with the Sunne treading the Moone crowned with twelue Starres In disposition of present endeuour big with child trauelling pained and crying through paine The assailing party for habit is a great redde Dragon hauing seuen heads crowned tenne hornes and a taile His endeauour to doe is he casteth stars from heauen with his taile and standeth before the woman to deuoure her child with his heads 3 The euent hereof is according to the ordinary forme of Scripture first Summarilie proponed in the 5. and 6. verses And next thenceforth more largely cleered And this euent is double The childe is borne and exalted and the woman flieth In the summarie proposition of this double euent the childe his quality dignity and exaltation to high estate is proponed and the womans flght by the place whither her condition in it and time of this her condition is described 4 Hauing thus summarily in the 5. and 6. verses proponed this double euent he sheweth after how it fell out and by what meanes And first how it came that the childe so narrowly watched and by so strong an enemie yet not onely escapeth but is exalted to great honour This of the childe commeth by a great battell in heauen wherein are the Captaines of either side their Armies and the euent of the conflict The Generall Captaine of the one side is Michael his Armie are his Angels The Captaine and Army opposite are the Dragon and his Angels The euent of their conflict is the Dragon is foild and the degree of the foile is that he and his Angels are so deiected as they haue no more place in heauen This is cleared by two contrary effects The one in the heauenlie Citizens of ioy the other in the Dragon of rage The ioy of the heauenly Citizens is set foorth in their song of victory which victorie is amplified by the greatnesse cruelty subtiltie maliciousnesse enmity and peruerse diligence of the Dragon who is ouercome by the noblenesse of the victorie for the price of it by the Souldiers constant suffering to attaine it which endeareth it the more and lastly by the miserable condition of the earthlie sort through this his foile Thus is declared how the child escaped and was exalted Next is shewed how the second part of the generall euent that is the womans flight did come The Dragon his rage for his foile and misgiuing endeauour against the Childe stirreth him to peisecute the woman Thereupon shee flieth being healped thereto by the meanes giuen her of two winges Of that great Eagle And her flight heere as before in the summarie proposition is cleered by the place of her retrait her condition there and the time thereof This rage of the Dragon against the woman hath two degrees The first is hee persecuteth her wherethrough shee is brought to flie by the meanes giuen her of the winges The second degree is his endeuour for her ouerthrow in her flight the floud cast out against her This double rage is eluded the first by the wings the second by the helpe of the earth which swalloweth the flood This generall euent of all this misgiuing endeauour against childe and woman worketh in the Dragon increase of rage whereby he is stirred to make warre against the rest of her Seede Against these hauing misgiuen in his open dealing against her first seede he stirreth vp that beast whose rising and working to behold Iohn standeth on the Sea shoare 5 I haue ioined together and at length the resolution of this Chapter the mistaking whereof in my iudgement hath marred all the accommodation heere and much obscured all the rest of this Prophesie The right accommodation shall yet bee the more cleare if wee obserue after what manner in this Prophesie the holy Ghost describeth the enemies of the Church and whence the whole frame of speech in this Chapter is taken First then the course of the Church her sufferings and her enemies by whom is framed to the course of the old Testement wherein the first great enemie was Phaaro The second great foe was Babel and these Beastes in Daniel Of which the last extreme enemy was Gog and Magog euen the Kings of Syria and of them most of all Antiochus Epiphanes To these their enemies and the old Churches sufferings by them that heere in the story of the Christian Church her foes and sufferings the Spirit alludeth it is most cleare To moue vs to compare and finde not onely light heere but to see also that these former were stamps of greater things to come Now all the speech of this Chapter is from the state of the Church in Egypt which in her infancy there was as a woman big with childe and crying through cruell burdens Pharao that great Dragon euen that great Leniathan first wrought wisely with them as with his taile and next stood cruelly ready to deuoure all her Male Children But Michael fought for them and in the blood of the lambe they ouercame and all the first borne of Egypt are slaine The Church flieth as carried vpon Eagles winges to the wildernesse where she is fed with Manna In her flight the Dragon Pharao minded to haue drowned her in the redde Sea but the earth helped her for earthlie Pharao and his earthly Army dranke vp that floud And all this is to make vs vnderstand by conformity of case that here the first great enemie and sufferings of the Christian Church in her infancy are set forth 6 The woman is the Primitiue Apostolike Church glorious in the cleare light of the sunne of righteousnesse whom she put on for her wisdome and iustification Treading all borrowed spotted changeable transitory and light things vnder foot glorying onely in the light ministred by the twelue Apostles which is her crowne Shee is big with childe of all peoples whom she was begetting to God through obedience of faith in Christ For her great troubles and sufferings she is said to be in trauelling and to cry of paine trauelling in birth of all nations till Christ should be formed in thē The speech is
large explication Chapter 15. As is most cleere by comparing the Angell stirring this to execution with that one of the foure beasts furnisher of the Vials to the seuen Angels Chapter 15. This last inciter hath this common note with the former two Angels that he commeth out of the Temple but this he hath singular that he came from the Altar So then he is a minister of the Altar by allusion still to the Temple and Legal worship Next he hath power ouer fire as Christ who came to send fire in the earth as the two Witnesses Cha. 11. and Elias out of whose mouthes fire proceeded to deuoure their aduersaries and who had power to plague the earth with all manner of plagues al 's often as they would as hauing vengeance in readinesse against all disobedience Now then as by the Angell out of the Temple armed with the sikle are expressed heere generally and summarily in this summary propositiō all faithfull Christians of whatsoeuer calling instructed with power from God to execute his wrath against the enemies which executors are more largely expressed in the seuen Angels Chapter 15. So this comming from the Altar is the type of true pastours by whose plaine and powerful preaching the other are informed and stirred to consecrate their hands to the Lord. Euen to serue Babel as shee hath serued vs. As accordingly Chapter 15. The seuen Angels receiue the vials of wrath from one of the foure beasts Of whom Chapt. 4. CHAP. XV. HEnce is the story of the last wrath for finall destruction of the enemies to the peace of the Church that the kingdoms of the world may be Gods and Christs Vpon obstinate impenitency against sixe trumpets Chapt. 9. 21. The fulfilling of this wrath was sworne to come in the daies of the seuenth trumpet Chap. 10. Vpon sounding of the seuenth trumpet summarily denounced Chap. 11. And summary executing thereof proponed Chap. 14. in the end Whereof here the larger narration hath the executers Chap. 15. Their execution in order Chapt. 16. Cleared more largely Chapters 17. 18. 19. and 20. Whereupon the gracefull condition of the Bride victorious is magnifickly set downe Chapt. 21. and 22. This whole matter is that other great signe seene in heauen to distinguish this part of story from the preceding in the last three Chapt. called also a signe in heauen This is that which Mat. 24. is called the signe of the sonne of man For hee and his iudgements now are made manifest As not inconueniently the other might be called the signe of the Dragon 2 In this Chapter from the beginning to the fifth verse is set downe the greatnesse of the erand thence to the end the disposing of the instruments for execution thereof the greatnesse of the matter is first summarily proponed in this that hee saw a signe a great yea a maruellous signe and in heauen That Chap 12. was a great signe but this is both great and wonderfull euen the signe of the sonne of man in heauen This great wonderfulnesse is shewed in the Ministers Angels their number seuen their imployment to bee executors of God his last wrath for finishing of the mysterie Chapt. 10. For his spirit would no longer striue with men vers 1. Next in the effect and end of their worke to the 5. verse Which are the destruction of Antichrist that the Saints victorious ouer him may praise God and by the greatnesse equity and truth of his iudgements manifested all men may feare glorifie and worship him who onely is holy For expressing of this effect and end the Church and her condition in and vpon this execution to follow ioyfully vpon sight of the instruments prepared precōceiuing the certaine euent is set down in the victory and song thereof In the victory are the meanes whereby and the party ouer whom The meanes are a glassie Seamingled with fire the pure word of God mingled with the vertue of the holy Ghost Chap. 4. The victory is ouer the Beast his image his marke and number of his name to shew it now full and perfit In their song are first the quality that it is a song of praise for a maruellous deliuerance and ouerthrow of a great enemie such as Moses vpon such a case did sing at the red Sea Exod. 14. Secondly it is in praise of the Lambe through whom they obtaine this victory and in whom the Father is glorified and not in praise of Moses who is the seruant of God Heb. 3. 3. Chapt. 22. 9. and 19. 10. Thirdly their disposition is noted in that they haue the harpes of God giuen by him for his praise that is well tuned hearts filled with ioy and loue in conscience of his benefits and bursting out in thanksgiuing For hee onely putteth a new song in the mouthes of his seruants Lastly the tenor of their song is in two the praise of God his works and waies and the sequell therof The praise of his workes is that they are great and maruellous according whereto hee hath a competent title Lord God almighty The praise of his waies is that they are iust and true and competently thereupon he hath the title of King of Saints In infinite authority and power yet to hold euer a iust and true way is a great praise Now the sequell hereof is that he onely be feared glorisied and worshipped of all And that for two reasons First because he onely is holy and not the Beast who sacrilegiouslie busketh his head with that blasphemie Next his iudgements are now made manifest to all so as who before worshipped and wondered after the Beast as hauing none equall or able to fight with him now in his iust and manifest ouerthrow may know and praise God only holy For Christ now sitteth on a white cloude iudging him Compare this 4. verse with the 7. of Chap. 14 and see what wisdome 3 Before wee enter in the second part in the disposing of the instruments for this great execution the interpretation giuen of the glassie Sea mingled with fire is to be cleared 4 That the glassie Sea is the type of the pure word and pure worshippe according thereto see vpon the 4. Chap. Heere the allusion is to that storie Exod. 13. and 14. When Moses and Israel with him hauing past the red Sea standing on the shore thereof and seeing Pharao and his host drowned therein they praise God singing the song of Moses c. Of this allusion while men marke not narrowlly all the points of conueniencie the place is diuersly mistaken Some taking this Sea mingled with fire to be but the type of great troubles thorow which the Church now hath escaped according to the speech Psalm 66. Thou hast brought vs thorow water and fire But this is not all whereto heere the spirit will lead vs. Others take it for the treasure of meanes which God hath euer in readinesse as before his throne to destroy his enemies But this is too generall For
are to holy writ As this speech is plainely from Ieremy And the Prophets who in respect of Media by whose forces specially Babel was taken denounce her ruine from the North shew the weakenesse of that coniâ—cture And this Prophesie cleereth euidently that her destruction shall be by Westerne Kings euen the hornes of the Beast who hauing long drunke of her cup and giuen their Kingdomes to the Beast at last haue their hearts turned by God to hate the Whore eate her flesh make her naked and burne her with fire and so shall make way for the Kings of the East that is whole States that particular persons be not thought heere to bee designed as were the Sages who at the natiuity of Christ vpon sight of his star came from the East to worship him whil Priests and Phariseis abode in blindnesse which by Babels fall the cleare starre of Christ shall bring to bowe vnto him Whereat Herod and all Ierusalem shall bee troubled As their endeauour heereupon well sheweth Now heere a great wisdome and delightfull congruity in the order of God his working is to be obserued and admired By Antichrist his vsurpation and darkenesse preuailing on the fifth trumpet as by the swelling of Euphrates the East was alienated debarred from the Kingdome of Dauid God in his iustice losing thereafter in the sixth Trumpet from Euphrates these Armies of desolation poisoning error So heere in the fifth Viall the kingdome of Antichrist becomming darke and contemptible and in this sixth Viall all beauty strength and fortification being dried vp the East shall come againe to the Gospell and Iewes â—epent from their obstinate blindnesse and induration God thus wonderfully and to the high praise of his wise grace bringing a more ioâ—full effect from Euphrates in Antichrist his fall then hee brought a heauy woe in his rising And consider how wonderfully heereupon the case varieth In the sixth Trumpet out of the mouthes of these destroiers from Euphrates came Three things Fire Brimstone and Smoake By which three the third part of men were destroied Here to disturbe al 's ioifull an effect from the East â—uâ— Of the mouthes of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet three foule spirits euen spirits of Deuils That is men led with the spirit of Satan lyers and murtherers like their Father and accompanied with the effectuall deceiuablenesse of his working authorised by Antichrist his state and in speciall by the false Prophet head thereof are sent abroad as crouting froggs to bestirre themselues Who these are the state of our time and practise of Iesuites and Seminary Priests compassing Sea and Land specially busie about Kings maketh more then manifest They beginne to see their waters drinking in and Euphrates earst so great a riuer now running in a narrow channell and this setteth them madlings a worke Besides their origine they haue a speciall note of distinction whereby to discerne them that they are workers of miracles so to shew them false Prophets to whose begetting authorizing and setting a worke all the power of the kingdome of darkenesse Dragon Beast and false Prophet haue iointly bended all their malice force and intising hypocrisie as to the last puffe of Satan his mouth and of the Vicar of his throne for vnderpropping Babilon But shee can not be cured For the Beast goeth to destruction Heere the Beast and false Prophet are distinguished as the first and second Beast Chap. 13. That heere may bee shewed a ioyned endeauour of the head and whole body of the state See vpon the next Chap. Sect. 11. 18. and vpon the 19. Sect. 27. 10 The vnlucky euent of this their endeauour to themselues and happy to the Church specially these to whom by this viall the way is prepared is shewed in these words that they gathered them to a place called in Ebrew Armageddon Wherein much matter is comprised and offered to our consideration partly in the name of the place but specially in that it is so called in Hebrew The place is Armageddon a word composed of Har a Mountaine and Mageddon a plot of ground in the of lot Manasse famous in Scripture for two notable euents the one of great ioy the other as sorowful The first is in the 5. of Iudges where a great victory is obtained against Iabin and Sisera at the waters of Mageddo when the Kings fought and were swept away This was so noble a victory to the Church as the Psalmist maketh it the measure of his wish against the enemies The other al 's mournfull is when Iosias by Necho is slaine at Mageddo Whereupon to the Iewes insued most bitter mourning To both these euents the spirit heere alludeth yet with this remarkable point of difference that where the first of them was at the waters the second in the valley of Mageddo Heere the place is Armageddon that is the mountaine of Mageddon This difference is purposelie put of the spirit to shew that the enemies heere should bee in some great indeauour against the Church of God in all the old Testament bearing the name of a Mountaine Not onely for God stablishing her against all assailers and for her eminencie but also in respect of her type in Mount Sion and land of promise which is a land of Mountaines and for the Church her abode therein called of Daniel Hartsebikadosh This is the Mountaine of Mountaines wherein the Lord will destroy death and thresh Moab as straw is threshed in Madmena in which the Lord will destroy all that rise against her Heerein then is implied that this great destruction of Antichrist and his aiders by perswasion of the frogges shall bee in a high enterprise against the true Church as God foiled Gog vpon the Mountaines of Israel And the King of the North entring in the pleasant Land and planting the Tabernacles of his Palace in the glorious and holy Mountaine Now as for this their purpose causing their destruction the place is called Har a Mountaine So to expresse a double euent of this their enterprise it is called Megiddon by allusion to the two stories before mentioned To that in the 5. of Iudges to shew that the same shall befall all these enemies assembled by the frogges which did befall Iabin and Sisera at the waters of Megeddo And thereupon such a like song of ioy to the Church as is that of Deborah and Barak To the other story of Iosias slaughter the allusion is to shew that vpon this victory should arise such a mourning and that proper to the Iewes as they had for the slaughter of Iosias in the valley of Mageddo but of a much different kind Euen that mourning whereof Zachary prophecieth in his 12. Chapter When by this victory the way beeing prepared for them to come and see him whom they pearced they shall bee sorry for him as one is sorry for his first borne and when in that day there shall bee a great mourning in Ierusalem as the mourning of
King of Saints CHAP. XIX THus hath beene the description of the Whore and her iudgement Followeth now thereupon the ioy of Saints and that it may bee full the finall ouerthrow of the other enemies Of the Beast in this Chapt. and Dragon in the next for an absolute victory 2 This Chapter hath first the ioy of Saints in their song of praise and next the foile of the Beast The song for the forme matter and euent is admirable In the forme are the singers the strange manner of singing and the course or order of their song The singers according to the course and degrees of the song are three First a great multitude in heauen Secondly the 24. Elders and 4. Beasts Thirdly the voice of a great multitude as the voice of many waters c. Stirred thereto by a voice from the throne 3 By the first a multitude in heauen by all the frame of speech thorow this Prophesie are signified the Saints in common In whom all and generally the destruction of the Whore worketh this ioy which breaketh foorth in thanks-giuing Their manner of singing is with a loude voice both for their force of affection in them selues and for the aduowed open proclaiming thereof before the world and that first in a generall and vncouth word they praise God and stirre all others thereto and next they vtter speciall points of praise with the reasons wherein is the matter of the song 4 The generall word is Haleluiah two well known Ebrew words and of frequent vse in the Psalmes but neuer till now in all the new Testament recorded And heere are put soure times not for any speciall holinesse or mysterie that in the frame sillables or letters thereof is contained and for which it must be religiously kept vntranslated as the Romans after a foolish and cabbalisticke forme esteeme and vse it and others but yet it is not without great purpose and high mystery that tâ—e faithfull now not onely first beginne their song but also therein so often in course vse this word and in Ebrew Which purpose and mysterie to take vp clearely the occasion of this song and course thereof as orderly it goeth on beeing compared with what at length wee spake vpon the sixth Viall Chapt. 16. will euidently lead vs. For by the iudgement of the Whore the way is prepared for these of the East who vpon the victory here ensuing ouer the Beast shall celebrate the same by calling the place in Ebrew Armageddon and mourning the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Mageddon And shall bee brought with vs Gentiles to sing Halleluiah As the course and matter of this song shew euidently But wee must not esteeme that this first Halleluiah is sung by the Ebrews albeit it bee in Ebrew to waken vs to aduert the mystery For this first Halleluiah the Christians of the Geutiles doe sing onely to shew the way now prepared by the iudgement of the Whore for them to come in and concelebrate the victorie Neither thus so much for any such intention of the singers toward that end as that heereby the spirit will shew that the fall of the Whore and loud praise of God by Christians for it shall in a degree waken vp the East and Ebrews principally and shal serue for a great step for them to come in to the Church And yet an other greater step is laide for them and they more stirred vpon the higher intending of this song by a second Halleluiah for the euerlastingnesse of her ruine And yet more by a Halleluiah of the Elders and Beasts falling downe and worshipping him that sitteth on the throne Wherein wee must take heede that wee esteeme not the multitude in heauen and the Elders and Beasts to be otherwaies diuers then in distinct consideration for the more cleare explication of the degrees whereby God wrought on this great effect Which as it shall be in a good degree promooued by that common ioy and praise of Christians such as confusedly and suddenly at the first ioyfull euent is raised in all hearts so a greater and more effectuall degree thereof shall follow when the praise hereupon shall be solemne in the Church assemblies and publike actions thereof which is meaned by the song of the Elders and Beasts who are the type of the Church as for solemne and lawfull worship it is ordered in the Beasts going before and elders following them hauing God his presence in his gtacious dispensation of the spirit word and faithfull ministery thereof such as albeit it hath not alwaies appeared to the eies of men of the earth yet God had at all times as by conference of the 4. and 11. and 14. Chapters herewith is manifest When this Church thus for a lawfull ministery seruing God in the communion of Saints is hid from the world then none heare or learne their song but the sealed Virgins But at this time their Halleluiah and publike solemne praise shall be seene and heard widely euen to the wakening of the East thereby For it is now a long time since it was said to the reuiued witnesses Come vp hither The 144000. sealed ones are saide Chapt. 14. to sing a new song before the throne Elders and Beasts not that the 144000. are one thing and the Elders and Beasts another But as the 144000. are put to expresse the state and condition of the true Church in Antichrist his vsurpation so they are said to sing before the Throne Beasts and Elders To shew that albeit the world perceiued it not euen then God had still a Church in the midst whereof he dwelt and had in it a ministery and was worshipped lawfully in the assembly and communion of Saints For this it is that thorow this whole Prophesie howsoeuer to expresse the diuers conditions of the Church sundry and diuers types are vsed yet this of Throne Beasts and Elders euer holdeth in all Thus then the first common and confused ioy and praise thereupon is a double degree according as it riseth vpon the Whores eternall fall and effectuall to waken But when euen these same in solemne assembly professedly praise God it both inhanceth the seruice done as done in the Sanctuary and sheweth a deeper sense and regard of the benefit moouing that duty in the hearts of the praisers as also the publike well ordered and holy excercise in the Congregation stirreth more them who are without to reuerence and conuersion then common and priuate cariage Psalm 5. 7. and 1. Cor. 14. 24. 25. These same two degrees are Chap. 11. Where vpon the signe giuen by the Trumpet and preconceiued ioy of these same euents to ensue this same praise is summarily sung Now then this third Halleluiah of the Elders and Beasts falling and worshipping him that sitteth on the Throne is a neerer degree of vp-stirring and step of in-comming of Ebrewes and Orient to sing Halleluiah with vs. But lastly the voice from the Throne euen God his owne powerfull voice shall
with excessiue ioy of so good newes that hee was for a notable document of humane infirmity in so great an Apostle about to haue worshipped this Angell Which attempt how vnlawfull it is in it selfe and how vnpleasant to the Angell First his interdiction well sheweth in such haste and concise forme of speech as commonly men vse vpon care to preuent some instant and detestable euill When feare and solicitude â—uffer not to speake at length or a full sentence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Next hee strengthneth his interdiction with strong reasons one taken from his owne condition to whom this worship was offered as which was not capable thereof being but a seruant and not onely his left some prerogatiue might be imagined in the Apostle to stay that which of an other mighthaue bin offered but euen a fellow seruant of his brethren who had the testimony of Iesus his greatest honour and chiefe scope of al his seruice being Christ and his knowledge to minister the same without which he were nothing and therefore albeit of different nature from Iohn and other Christians yet in condition and end of calling but their fellow-seruant they hauing the spirit of Prophesie as he had The other reason is from the person of him who onely is to bee worshipped and serued according to the law alleadged by our Lord against Sathan Now it might probably appeare that herein yet some further thing were implyed For this Angell being the type of these ministers who shall bee the shewâ—◠〈…〉 paâ—sators of this huge meaâ—ure of powerfull lig◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 for so wonderfull effects and Iohn here baâ—â—â—g the person of common Christians of that time 〈◊〉 may seeme that the rare and excellent graces of the Ministers who shal then bee furnished with a golden 〈◊〉 would so farre miscarrie weake Christians in admiâ—â—tion of their gifts and working as to attribute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto them if their owne fidelity and holinesse 〈◊〉 not lâ—t it And as this giueth vs to expect yet goodly things so herein is a close warning of humility in the one and circumspectnesse in the other to giue all glory to God But hereof I dare determine nothing fearing still to bee curious in so diuine an Argument wherein I haue choosed rather to hold vp coniecturall suggestions then appeare vnreuerently to handle such mysteries 12 Thus wee haue heard the song of Saints first vpon the Whoreâ— destruction and next more mightily and of moe intended higher vpon preception of full victorie ouer the other enemies and the Church her graceful state thereupon which so rauished the Apostle as hee had almost miscarried Now are the other victories shewed and goodly state of the Bride thereupon And first through the rest of this Chapter is the foile of the Beasâ—bearer vp of the Whore and no question but now highly chafed with her fall 13 In the victory ouer the beast are the description of the parties and the euent of the battell The party victorious is magnifickly described first in his person army weapons of war and his working by them and next in his Herauld His person by great properties and many agreeable to his many and great names First his comming forth declareth him a heauenly personage for hee is from thence Of great maiesty comming forth in abundance of light as to whose outmarching the heauens are cast wide open A greater degree of light then hitherto hath been mentioned so as the signe of the son of man is clearly seen in heauen Oh that thou woldest breake the heauens and come downe His administration at this time in Antichrist his full ouerthrow shall bee in exceeding great euidency of light and power 14 Hee sitteth on a white horse for fidelity and truth and namely for these points of his administration wherin his fidelity and truth are now specially to bee shewed in iudging and fighting for all which respects he rideth and on a white horse according to the state of a Iudge and triumphing glory of a victorious VVarrious He is also a faithfull and true witnesse Chapter 1. And a faithful High Priest Hebr. 3. But here hee is to shew his fidelity and truth in iudging and fighting Now the time of his redeemed is come and the time of the dead that they bee iudged and such destroyed who destroy the earth In all which hee both iudgeth and fighteth righteously for he is pure when hee iudgeth and iust when hee speaketh This indgement is not that last and generall but here the speciall of these enemies of his Church is meaned whom he is now to ouerthrow so as they shall neuer bee any more able to trouble Sion but their ruine shall hold on till at last they be for euer adiudged to endlesse torment Hee rode on a white horse from the first outgoing of the Gospell to conquere Chapter 〈◊〉 and to deiect the Dragon from heauen Chapter 12. when hee and his Armie fought to that effect but this is the last and noblest act of his riding for the Dragon and his Vicars vtter destruction 15 Now to iudge righteously is requisite not onely a righteous disposition but also a wise heart to discerne for often Iudges who are in mind set to doe righteously yet ignorantly giue wrong iudgement But no such thing can befall him whose eyes are as a flame of fire Pure piercing purging and searching hearts and reines from whom nothing can bee hid for euen the darkenesse is light before him And as for iudging so also for fighting as Rabsace though prophane yet pertinently sayeth in that Counsell and strength are for the warre This Captaine then who seeth the thoughts of his enemies before they bee hatched in their hearts hath no perill to bee deluded or circumuented with stratagems or as often befalleth otherwise expert warriours through want of intelligence to slippe opportunities If Elisha by a ray of the light of this Captaines flaming eies was able to discouer and so disappoint what the King of Aram consulted in his secret Cabinet what may this Lord doe who formeth the heart 16 With wisdome hee hath also great authority as hauing on his head many Crownes Both for that hee is King of Kings and also for his many victories specially in this his last warre Which how peculiarly is respected his Crownes are all on his head For hee standeth not by crowned hornes as the Beast but all his authority and strength is in himselfe and of himselfe and hee in this his strength power now commeth to take the Crowne from the head of the King of Ammon to set it on Dauid his head The Beast now must forgoe his Triple Crowne Christ his proper honour wherewith hee hath blasphemously attired his head 17 Being thus able to see all and of authority to conquere all hee hath yet a name written which none knoweth but himselfe And this name is so much the more maruailous and hath the more cleare note of his
Temple of God could no longer beare out the rod now being applyed to measure and his mouth found out whose it is by the Beast he maketh warre with the Saintâ— and ouercommeth them Falling to open and cruel murther the Dragon Beast and false Prophet all iointly bending their whole endeauours to seduce the Kings of the earth enemies of all sorts to compasse the tentes of Saints and beloued City The City and Court of the Temple trod vnder foot and occupied of the Beast albeit called holy for that the Temple was within them yet were cast out Here the Tents of Saints and beloued City are besieged The foure Angels from Euphrates were instruments of God his wrath against the world and for the sinnes specified Chapter 9. 20. 21. from which the sealed ones were free Here the endeauour of Gog and Magog is directly against the Saints Gog and Magog then are the instruments whatsomeuer of Sathan his last fury against the Church whom for vpholding of Antichrist or at least for keeping downe the full preuailing light oâ— the Gospell and gracefull state of the true Church he stirreth vppe of what Nation soeuer Turks or others 29 The whole course of this Prophesie framed to the dispensation in the old Testament and condition of the Church then openeth clearely the reason of the allusion This is certaine that in the condition of the Church of Israel as I haue said wee are not onely to looke vpon things in propriety but also to consider them as stampes of things to come Hereof it is that as all the deliuerances promised from their enemies and afflictions then had a further respect as the measure of their present deliuerances nothing answerable to the high promises easily brought the godly to consider and waite for better so also were their troubles and troublers types of other and more dangerous enemies and the destructions denounced against them which in the first properly taken were not seene fulfilled in the degree threatned raised the hearts of the faithfull to waite in the end for a more absolute victory and constant peace The first great affliction of Israel was in Egypt by Pharao that great dragon as Chapter 12. Itouched The next great affliction and captiuy was by Babel and these Beastes in Daniel Now after the peoples deliuery from Babel City and Temple being reedified the last cruell oppressing enemy and stayer of true worshippe before Christ his comming in the flesh was Gog and of Gog specially Antiochus Epiphanes as Daniel Ezechiel and bookes of Machabees shew clearely For the Romans were not long before Christ but drawne in as sequestres by the Iewes owne partialities whereto pride brought them after they had beene helped by a little helpe and albeit the stronger yet so farre suffered and maintained the liberty both of state and religion as at Christ his birth Herod was a mighty King and the state and religion for freedome from any forraine oppression flourishing Hence it is that as for expressing the first troubles and troubler of the Christian Church and her deliuery there from allusion is to Egypt c. And for expressing the next huge euill of Antichrist the allusion is to Babel and that in a Beast carrying a note of all the foure in Daniel so here to expresse the last enemies who after her comming out of Babel and Sion reedified shall be instruments of Sathan his last puft the holy Ghost alludeth to Gog and Magog For whose destruction as a great white throne was set vp that at the first comming of Christ the saints might get the Kingdome so here to shew that these last Ministers of Sathan his rage shall fall still to finall destruction in the Lord his last comming a great white throne is erected And as vpon the full ouerthrow of Gog and Magog Ezech. 38. and 39. Thereafter the state of City and Temple are set down most goodly so by allusion thereto here vpon the vtter foile ofher enemies the new Ierusalem is magnifickly described That of Ezechiel is of the state of the Church of Christ vnder the Gospell generally in relation to the Church before Christ and vnder the law This here in the subsequent Chapters is of the Church specially now victorious ouer these enemies and gracefull through the conuersion of the Iewes and Easterne Kingdomes to the faith enioying plenty of light and peace in relation to the Christian Church before in her wrestlings and sufferings by these enemies now ouerthrowne 30 By the course of this Prophesie it would appeare that first the Whore shall bee destroyed next that the Kingdome in the head thereof the false Prophet shall be done away and that thereafter Sathan for his last endeauour stirring vp Nations against the Church shall bee in these his instruments so absolutely foiled as the Church from thence shall enioy quiet state For whither things shall thus fall out in course or if thus by parte the ouerthrow of all the enemies be set downe to shew a perfect victory I dare not determine And if as possibly and very probably it may fall after the burning and sacke of the City of Rome by Christian Princes and next afteâ—â—he ruine of the Kingdome and head thereof the false Prophet that the Dragon by some residue of the Frogges shall stirre vp nations and perhaps of them the Turkes that so God may destroy all them who haue destroyed the Church yet wee see cleerely what shall be the euent For both the inward enemy and traitor the beast shall be destroied and all outward enemies who by Satan his instigation now madly furious that his time is so short shall rise against Sinn shall finde it a cup of poison The Turk hitherto hath been God his scourge against the world and false Christianity and therefore hath preuailed But if hee rise against the true Church fire from heauen shall deuoure him Yet that heere specially the Turkes are meaned I see no reason And as I can take vp the drift of the Holy Ghost in this Prophesie it would rather appeare and my heart inclineth so to thinke by the fall of the Beast and conuersion of Iewes thereupon to the faith that the Turkes and other states of the East shall bee brought to embrace the Gospel albeit perhaps first taught thereto by some noble foile For no question but as the euent of the seuenth Viall maketh cleere the whole estaâ—e of the earth shall suffer such alteration as was not since men first inhabited the same 31 Now for the different measure of iudgement vpon the Army and vpon their Captainâ— the Dragon whose iudgement is according to that of the Beast and false Prophet besides the reasons aboue touched vpon the end of the 19. Chapter wee must further consider that the Dragon is such an enemy as no foile of him can secure vs till he be sealed vp in euerlasting torment And for the Beast and false Prophet signifying a Kingdome and order of succeeding heads ouer it and