of them to vs is by opening of the seales expressed Now then all beeing comprehended vnder seuen seales sixe of them are opened in this Chapt. and the euents accordingly shewed The seuenth holdeth to the end of the propheticall narration begetting first seuen trumpets the last of which begetteth seuen vials of the last wrath Thus the course of the prophesie is heauenly and cleere all beeing â—o comprehended vnder seuen seales as the first sixe containe the beginnings of sorrowes the seuenth bringeth foorth the succeeding heauier euils in the trumpets in sixe of which the second dangerous mischiefe in the degrees thereof is shewed The seuenth hath the third and last wrath powred out of seuen vials to finall destruction All which euils are against the world and worldly sort in vengeance of the Gospell and true Church persecuted and contemned by them till by finall destruction of all enemies and troubles she be beautified with fulnesse of grace here to the attent expectation of glory hereafter 2 The sixe seales opened in this Chapt. afford sixe types of the ensuing euils to all which this is common that the lambe openeth and that to each proceeding type is ioyned a speech giuing the signification To the first foure is common first that their types are horses and riders and next that to each of them is adioyned a wakening voice of one of the foure beasts to stirre to attendance and perception as of things whereof albeit many felt the smart yet none could discerne the reason but the valiant patient wittie and sharp-sighted and such as by them were wakened to perceiue Horses whereby not vnlike euents are in Zacharie expressed as swift fierce and couragious beasts shew the celerity and the irresistable inuasion of these iudgements The rider guiding the horse and receiuing power to worke sheweth God his prouidence directing and ruling all these euents What in each type is singular the particulars will shew 3 The first seale opened bringeth out a white horse and his rider armed with a bowe and adorned with a crowne To the beholding whereof the first of the foure beasts warneth Whose Lions face as it sheweth courage so his voice like thunder sheweth powerfull preaching such as were the ministers of the Gospell in this time abashed with no feare The speech giuing the signification is that Hee went out conquering and that hee might ouercome White coloure besides that it is the note of gladnesse truth and simple purenesse both in Scripture and heathen speech it is also a note of triumphe And ordinarily triumphing Captaines rode vpon or had their triumphing Chariots drawen by white horses The bow is a weapon smiting swiftly and hitting both neere and farre off The crowne giuen him sheweth vndoubted preuailing for victors are crowned The type thus we see accordeth fully to the speech vttered of it This is the type of the power of the Gospell preached whereby Christ subdueth all to his obedience as riding on the word of truth and meeknesse of righteousnesse his right hand teaching him terrible things hauing arrowes sharpe to pierce the hearts of the King his enemies whereby peoples fall vnder him This rider triumpheth alwaies both in them who are saued and in them who perish These arrowes kill all but differently Some are slaine to liue and beeing killed are cured who will be cured and heare his voice while it is to day Others are killed to vtter destruction in whose refractary soules is shot in the seale of their iust condemnation and of Christ his terrour vers 15. 16 17. For this is a strong archer not like those of Ephraim who being taught to handle the bow gaue backe in the day of battell but euen the true Ioseph the feeder of Israel who though the archers shot at him and grieued him yet his bowe abode strong through the mighty God of Iacob and the stone of Israel This occasioneth but improperly the subsequent euils and beeing in it selfe the first of all blessings becommeth to the world madly reiecting and foolishly impugning that which must conquer and ouercome the first of plagues and cause of all miserie and destruction 4 To the perception of the second type vpon opening of the second seale the second beast like the bullocke giueth warning while the patient sufferers and who as calues yeeld themselues to be sacrificed for the Gospell both themselues see and stirre others to perceiue in this second type a iust recompence on the world for their bloud shed inhumanly The type is a red horse with a rider to whom is giuen a great sword A fit type for expressing both in colour and kind of weapon that which the speech ioyned for explication sheweth that to him was giuen power to take peace from the earth This is the type of bloudy warres a iust punishment of the Gospell persecuted That who embrace not the word of peace from God bee embrued in bloud-shed I came not to send peace but the sword saith our Sauiour 5 At the opening of the third seale the third beast warneth to behold a iudgement albeit terrible yet which none but the wiâ—e-hearted should vnderstand that for contempt of the Gospell it was inflicted others feeling it but mistaking the cause The type is a blacke horse with a rider hauing a ballance The opening speech hath this singular that it is vttered by a voice from the midst of the foure beasts euen the voice of the Lambe who standeth amidst the throne beasts and elders to shew that by his direction all these euents are directed and ruled who hath the seuen hornes and seuen eies the spirits of Iehouah sent thorow all the earth This is the type of famine fitly expressed by a blacke horse a dolefull colour And what more lamentable case can fall then that a mother should eate the fruit of her owne wombe euen her children of a span long Famine maketh such as were purer then snow whiter then milke more ruddy then the red pretious stones and like the polished Saphirs to haue visages blacker then coales To this horse and rider is attributed a ballance to designe exceeding great scarsity when according to the curse of the law men shall eat their bread by waight Agreeably whereto the voice denounceth strange scarcity but with a caution of not hurting wine and oile so as the want should be of wheat and barly the ordinary repast of all men and which might worse be wanted then wine and oile which serue for the great and dainty sort and are spent commonly more for superfluity then naturall necessity Heere then is a grieuous famine when the most necessary things for fustenance are abstracted The degree of scarsity is shewed in that a measure of wheat should giue a penny and three measures of barly a penny three of barly counteruailing one of wheat the Roman penny beeing in value neere our teston or tenne pennies sterling and the measure Chaenix beeing of all measures the sharpest as which
of scarsity which the godly who were men for that is all the man Eccles 12 13. â—oted to bee in punishment of the Gospell reiected See Tertullian in his Apology and to Scapula and Cyprian contra Demetrian 13 As induration grew and cruelty against the Gospell how God sent out all his foure great plagues on these persecutors consider the tragicall time of Antoninus surnamed the philosopher a most bloudy persecutor and the record thereof in story Ab Armis nusquam quies erat perque omnem Orientem Illiricum Italiam Galliamque bella feruebant terra motus non fine interitu ciuitatum inundationes fluminuns lues crebrae locustarum Species agris infestae prorsus vt nihil prope quo summis angoribus anteri mortales soleant dici seâ— cogitariqueat quod Antoniâ— imperante non seuierit The times of Gallus and Volusianus were more miserable and yet more that of Valerianus and Galienus but most of all that of Maxentius Maximinus and Licinius all these foure plagues raging mightily their Stories will make any Reader agast and comparing therewith these praedictions to wonder at God his both wisdome and iustice 14 Now all these plagues working no amendment but stirring them to further rage against christians whom they tooke to bee causers of all these euils the fiercenes of persecution was more intended Dioclesian set himselfe to roote out Christianity his Collegue Herâ—uleus no lesse bloudy Hereupon a great and loud cry of martyred soules ascendeth which till the appointed time of full vengeance obtaine long white robes Thus God in some degree had comforted them before by imprinting his terror in the hearts of cruellest persecutors The Edict of Traiaâ— spake for them when he was forced to put forth that no Inquisition should bee made for Christians much more the Edicts of Adrian and Antonius Pius who vnder paine of death commanded that none should bee delated for Christianitie except guiltie of some other crime Antonine the Philosopher whom no Apologie could mitigate yet in the Marcoman wars is conuinced of Christ his power when in confession that hee and his Army were saued at the prayers of Christians hee called that Legion Fulminatrix the terrors affrighting so Dioclesian and Maximianus as wearie of Massacring Christians being ouercome by their constant sufferings they bequeth their states and seeke secret corners wherein to hide themselues what was it else but a quiet confession of Christians innocency Maximinus at his tragicall end setting himselfe to blaspâ—eme Christ yet is forced to confesse him and to acknowledge himselfe iustly punished for persecuting the Saints Licinius is faine to connterfet Christianity But then it was that the soules got the long white robes when Constantinus embracing Christianity by publike edicts Christian Religion is approued and established and heathen worship abrogated The Church so becomming glorious and of high account and all former horrible accusations now seene and knowne to the world to bee lies At this point of time Satan is bound a thousand yeeres seats are set vp and they sit on them Chapter 20 The commemoration of Martyres was alwaies honourable amongst Christians and laudably of them vsed at first howbeit it turned afterward to foule Idolatry but that the heads of that same bloody state should submitte themselues to Christ his name and the Church thereupon to haue so goodly free and peaceable state as wee see ensued that was indeed to receiue long white robes 15 The promised vengeance yet behoued to come vpon that bloody Empire whiâ—â— in the sixth seale commeth in a high degree when the whole state thereof is shaken and in a manner defaced by the Gothes and other barbarous nations whose names had beene till then not heard of who occupying the fairest and goodliest Prouinces of the Empire erecting new kingdomes and states and changing the names of countries euery part almost receiuing new inhabitants altered as it were the face of the world and eclipsed the glory of that pompous and bloody Empire And this out of all doubt is meaned by the sixt seale and is that deadly wound which the beast getteth in his sixth head which wound beeing afterward cured that state in the cured head continueth the enemy and murtherer of Saints the rest of the brethren albeit in an other sort till for the full finall and recurelesse ouerthrow thereof we expect a greater earthquake then this or any since the beginning of the world by powring out the seuenth V all of the last wrath That some enterpret this seale of these sturres whereby the heathen persecuters were deiected about Constantines time who preuailing against them maâ—e at it were a new face of an Empire by abrogating heathenisme it hath no conuenient analogy with this type and lesse cleare accommodation to the signification heere set downe by the spirit The slaughter and deiection of diuers Emperours from their states so long as in the succeeders the Empire retained the lustre and strength as in Constantine it was more confirmed and enlarged was no such vncouth or strange thing in that state which was but a very stage of Tragedies as that in such speeches as the spirit vseth in this type it should haue beene expressed It is true that the coincident case of Christianity established and heathenisme abrogated was a great and vncouth thing but which in all mens confession cannot by these speeches of darkening the sunne and fall of starres c. bee signified For that aduancement of Christianty was in the fifth seale by long white robes expressed whereby the soules were the more patiently to attend the vengeance promised which is heere in a great measure but then fully shal be executed when the rest of the brethren euen the rest of the womans seed against whom the Dragon maketh warre by the Vicar of his throne being slainâ— the kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords and all both first and last dead shall be iudged and aduenged by the finall ouerthrow of that bloody state which first and last is the murtherer of Saints Which now in this sixth seale receiueth a deadlie wound but hauing it cured againe in the eighth head therefore called one of the seuen recouereth glory and worship of nations and holdeth on the aduersary still till out of the tabernacle of testimonie open in heauen at the seuenth trumpet seuen ministers of the last wrath come against it whereof the last bringeth a greater earthquake then this to vtter destruction of that state for euer That which hath ledde exceeding learned men in this errour of accommodation both heere and in other parts of this Prophecie is that wrong conceiued ground whereof I spake before that these seales and trumpets are sections of time and finding that at the opening of the seuenth seale such effects ensue as are anterior in time to this fall of the Westerne and great weakening of the Easterne Empire they drawe backe the accommodation But as the euils of the sixe seales which
which it is that the world feeleth all this wrath That story therefore was in the 12. 13. and thus farre in this 14. Chapters Wherein is no idle repetition of what appeareth before set downe For the consideration is much diuers in that whatsoeuer before the 12. Chapter was spoken of the enemies or their dealing was to shew how by them the world and worldly sort in God his iustice were punished The case of the Church sparingly touched so farre as might shew her to bee free from these euils euen in the midst of them which were poured on the world for her hard intertainement And what in the eleuenth Chapter seemeth wholly agreeable for time and condition with that which hithertils in this Chapter is said of the Church in her two declared states yet hath a farre distinct consideration from this In that there the witnesses first in the Temple next in their warre with the Beast slaughter rising againe going vp to heauen and terrour of their enemies thereupon with the fall in a part of the Antichristian kingdome are put as plagues on the world and men thereof whom they first plagued next tormented and vexed after terrified and in part ouerthrew For the Gospell to whom it is not the sauour of life is the greatest iudgement that commeth on the world But from the beginning of the 12. Chapter to this place the enemies are handled as by them the Church is exercised First fighting and preuailing to Satan his deiection and exaltation of the first seede Yet so as through Satan his rage but aided thereto with the two wings of that great Eagle the true Church at length fleeth to the wildernesse and there lurketh Wherethrough the Beast comming in place obtaineth and deceiueth all except these who on mount Sion inioy the presence of the Lambe Who at length by degrees breake foorth and albeis in much suffering yet still fight till at length by him who sitteth on the white cloude the iudgemeuts of God are made manifest The story of the eleuenth Chapter and of this are for time and matter the same but the consideration and respect of handling much different Which is yet for course and order in so diuine an artifice led on as heere the story falling in againe to the same point from which for inserting this narration it was since the eleuenth Chapter broken off of that which from the 15. verse of 11. the Chapter at the sound of the seuenth Trumpet was vpon preconceiued ioy denounced heere from the foureteenth verse of this Chapter to the ende the execution is summarily proponed Exceeding fitly so falling in to the large explication of the seuenth trumpet in the subsequent Chapters 11 This summary execution is declared by two comparisons One of the Haruest the other of the Vintage From Ioel 3. In both are to be considered the Actors and their actions The Haruest hath two actors and so hath the Vintage The actiōs of both Actors both in haruest vintage are that the one worketh furnished with conuenient instrument the other stirreth to the work Which in the Haruest is reaping the haruest of the earth in the Vintage the cutting downe of the Grapes casting them in the winepresse treading c. The arguments whereby the inciters stirre the executers is the readinesse of both for reaping and cutting downe Thus by similitudes familiar in the Prophets for such iudgements the destruction of the enemies of the Church is expressed who in God his wrath as an vncleane thing without the Citie are destroied with so huge a slaughter as all the earth is filled farre and deepe with their blood by Hyperbolike speech expressing the greatnesse of the plague and as to the holy City so also alluding to the Land of Canaan which is in length 160. furlongs as witnesseth Rabbi Menahen vpon Genesis fol. 60. For clearing heereof the Actors and their distinct actions must be diligently aduerted so much the more as to the obscuring of all the Prophesie this place is widely mistaken In them are to bee noted their properties their doing and their order of doing for course of time to be carefully obserued In the haruest hee that worketh being accordingly furnished with fit instrument by all hi◠notes is vndoubtedly Christ the Lord of the haruest For he is one like the sonne of man which in all this Prophesie is put but in one other place and that for Christ he fitteth as a Iudge on a white cloude both for eminency and maiesty as also by the whitenesse to shew the clearenesse purenesse of his iudgements which Now were to be made manifest Chap. 15. 4. The first flying Angell foretold that they were neere now Christ is cleerely to shew himselfe by shewing hence The signe of the sonne of Man in heauen The speech is from Isai 19. 1. Behold the Lord rideth on a swift cloude Hee hath with a sharpe sikle a crowne to shew him to be the Lord both of Haruest and Vintage For he not onely gathereth the Saints but also the Tares in bundles and treadeth the Winepresse of God his wrath and in both he conquereth ouercometh Chap. 6. The other comming out of the temple is the type of Saints faithfull ones whose habitation is in the Temple out of which they are now bold to step out and be seene and perceiuing the ripenes of the Haruest whereto it was not yet come in the fifth Seale and therefore this execution craued of them then was delaied and yet not being able in that weake estate of the Gospell reuiuing for so great a worke therefore it is that this Angell hath no sikle they beseech the Lord of the haruest to put too his hand and Haue mercy on Sion For the time to haue mercy for euen the ful time is come The haruest of the earth is ripe and the rest of the Saints slaine Neither is this thus expressed as if euen then or at any time Christ did not worke by instruments but to shew the beginnings such as in respect of the greatnesse of the worke and little humane aide it was in a sort Christ his owne arme which helped him But in processe of time by the powerfull progresse of the Gospell hee getteth to himselfe ministers of executing his wrath euen out of the Temple furnished with conuenient weapons And to expresse this in the Vintage the Actor commeth out of the Temple hauing a sharpe sikle as Christ betime got himselfe and daily raiseth of his owne faithfull ones fit instruments inabled and furnished with power to execute his iust iudgements against the enemies To doe to her as shee hath done to vs and to render her double For this it is that this second Actor hath these different notes from the first He sitteth not he is not crowned and he commeth out of the Temple So then this Angell is the generall type in this summary proposition of that same whereof the seuen Angels are in the
Greatnesse that being written as both a sure and permanent name and also exposed to bee read yet none knoweth it but himselfe And what is he not able to doe who seeing and by matchlesse authority ouerruling all yet is set aboue the reach of all his state counsels and wayes being knowne to himselfe onely as whereof no flesh is capable So insearchable are his wayes and his iudgements past finding out according as in consideration of one speciall euent of this his iudging and fighting at this time Paul exclameth and the sealed Booke no creature was able to looke on 18 That none imagine these to be idle Titles in name onely hee is also a practised warriour and now specially come forth to shew how mighty hee is to saue For this his garment is dipt in bloud euen the bloud of his enemies to note a huge slaughter Hee is now to tread the Wine-presse of God his wrath He hath long looked if any would helpe but there was none to helpe none to vphold therefore his owne arme now shall helpe him and his owne wrath sustaine him the day of vengeance is now in his heart and the time of his redeemed is come And accordingly as he who speaketh iustly and is mighty to saue hee is called the word of God Not onely for that hee is that word which was in the beginning with God and was God but also and here specially because hee is that true one who speaketh and performeth as who both speaketh iustly and is mighty to saue For this redde garment and name agreeable to it See Isai 63. and weigh the place 19 Such is the Captaine of the Lord his hoast The inhabitants of the earth following the Beast Chapter 13. Wondered and in wonder exclamed Who is like the beast who is able to fight with him Heere I thinke hee hath his match and more But these earthly ones see not the Heauens and so goe on blindfolded to their owne destruction His army is in his owne Liuery Hee needeth no armie but his army hath need of him For he is their glory their strength their armour their victory and all In his strength they fight and ouer come They are all horsed as who for dignity are Iudges and warriours like their Captaine They are also faithfull and true in and by him They are all kinges and priestes clothed in pure and shining silke This is a blessed Captaine who conformeth all his followers in glory and dignity to himselfe Alexander was foolish to glorie in his Argyraspides here is a Captaine of high note In opposition to the earthly ones on the other party they are called the host of heauen where there conuersation is euen while they are in the world but not of the world 20 The weapon of this great Captaine whereby he worketh and fighteth is the sword of his mouth With it he smiteth the Heathen enemies of his Church treaders downe of the holy City crushing them in peeces with an iron Mace And hee treadeth the winepresse of God almighty Heere now the treaders are troden downe Thus with mouth and hand hee fighteth and with feet downe-trampleth all How so strange effects of bloud-shed and ouerturning the whole state of the earth are attributed to the sword of his mouth is cleare Chapt. 14. 17. 18. where an Angel armed with a sickle commeth out of the Temple and is stirred to cut downe the grapes of the earth by one comming from the Altar hauing power ouer fire And Chapt. 15. where the Angels of the last wrath receiue their Vials from one of the foure Beasts and come to execution out of the Temple like as the voice commanding it is from the Temple By the breath of this Lord his mouth Antichrist must bee consumed 21 This his fighting to the foile of all his foes maketh him yet a name The King of Kings and Lord of Lords This he was at all times And euen from the day of his ascention was alwaies seene of his owne crowâ—ed with glory and honour God hauing exalted him aboue all name that is named so as all knees must bow and euery tongue confesse him to bee the Lord. Yet hee getteth this name at this time in a speciall manner written on his garment and thigh So as now it becommeth manifest to the view of all his power and strength kything clearely in this victory and wonderfull sequels of it This is that same which in the song was said the Lord God almighty hath raigned And Chapt. 11. The kingdomes of the world are our Lord his and his Christs This is his sitting on a white cloude Chap. 114. euen the manifestation of his iudgements Chapt. 15. 4. Rome in great derision when they crucified him set ouer his heade in three Languages This is the King of the Iewes And the Iewes counting it scorne and high disgrace to haue him called their King intreated the alteration of the words in that he so called himself But now by the finall and euerlasting ouerthrow of the Kingdome of Rome and by conuersion of the Iewes to mourne for him whom they pearced hee shall gloriously manifest himselfe and bee acknowledged not onely King of the Iewes but also King of Kings and Lord of Lords This name hee hath written on his garment as great Kings and high Captaines haue their imperiall garments whereby they are discerned On his thigh not so much for that ordinarily the sword weapon of the victory is girded on the thigh but for that in Scripture speech a man his strength is placed commonly in his losnes and thighes now it is his owne strength that helpeth him and therefore it was a token of subiection and seruitude to put the hand vnder the thigh Which custome Aben-Ezra witnesseth to haue continued still amongst the Indians and Ethiopians till his time And therefore his name is also written on his thigh because all the world now haue to put their hands vnder it and sweare him homage This Captaine wrestling with Iacob to make him know he was his Lord and that all his strength was of him hee did strike him with a note of infirmity in the thigh 22 Thus was the description of the great Captaine of the heauenly host in himselfe his armie armour and manner of fighting Now followeth his herauld or trumpet Who is remarkeable for his standing place and for the tenor of his proclamation Hee standeth in the Sunne To note exceeding great light now of the Gospell and preaching therof wherein the preachers should clearely see and confidently proclaime Antichrist his ruine For great measure of light the Apostolike Church in the woman Chapt. 12. was clothed with the Sunne Wee see to the praise of God and euidence of this Prophesie light already growen in great degree as no doubt but for this sight and great effect it shall yet grow more so as the light of the Moone shall bee as the light of the Sunne
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
to come into the obedience of faith In which perilous case of their kingdome the Dragon Beast and false Prophet bestirre themselues and iointly bend their whole malice power and deceit by their emissarie false Teachers to seduce the Kings of the earth in their quarrell against the true Church But for such a mighty foile to both the seducers and the seduced as shall make at length the long blinded Iewes turning to the faith to concelebrate the victory 7. This miserable euent in the enemies prognosticated against all their busie indeauors in the sixt Viall is now in the seuenth fully executed with so strange a commotion alteration and ouerturning of the state of the earth by so vncouth plagues as was not since the beginning of the world At all which notwithstanding that Antichristian body deuoted to destruction still obstinately blasphemeth Chap. 16. This so huge a destruction so summarily in the seuenth Viall deliuered is henceforth more largely and cleerely exponed according to that grouth of light which that time shall bring with it laying open to the view of the Earth the parties destroied and the manner measure and euents of their ouerthrow These are the Whoore Chap. 17. and 18. The Beast and false Prophet Chap. 19 and the Dragon for an absolute victorie Chapter 20. Of the Whoore is shewed who shee is and by whom shee shall be destroied The Whore is the City of Rome borne vp to be a Lady of Kingdomes and a mother harlot corrupting the Earth with spirituall fornication by the pontificality the eight and last sort of soueraigne heads ouer-ruling that state and with whom it shall fall for euer Her destruction shall bee by these selfe same Kingdomes and States who before deceaued with her had beene speciall props of Antichrist his power but at last espying the abhominations thereof fall from him and become instruments of God his iust indignation against the Whore Chap. 17. The greatnes certainly instant performance equitie of her irreparable ruin is Rhetorically amplified Chapter 18. Whereupon and the conioined fall of Antichrist her aduancer by the sword of his mouth who iudgeth and fighteth righteously whose name is that word of God is ministred to the Church such matter of ioyfull praise as stirreth also at length God powerfully turning their hearts the Iewes to ioine in the concelebration of the same victory Chap. 19. The Dragon Satan who by Constantine his conuersion and Christianity by lawes established had beene bound vp from open rage a thousand yeeres all which time howsoeuer the most part of the World through Antichrist his preuailing deceit were dead in superstition and blindnes yet the true Church who receiued not his character liued the life of God being partakers of the first resurrection and Christian religion was in account is therefore againe let loose to practice open cruelty and thereto stirreth all his forces from all quarters But yet by the power of the Gospell preuailing maugre all his endeauours the rest of men who haue long laien dead in blindnes and error rise also the first resurrection there is a new face of a world all enemies being so ouerthrowen as the Church hath a most gracefull and quiet state for that Satan is now taken againe this second time and so as hee neuer getteth any liberty hereafter either by errour to deceiue or persecution to disturbe the Church her quiet hee being now not onely bound vp for a thousand yeeres as that first but so as his destruction now begunne holdeth on till that full point it shall haue in the last iudgement and the Church her raigne hereupon shall accordingly not be for a thousand yeeres onely as at the first but for euermore hauing now performed in her and to her whatsoeuer rested foretold by the Prophets vnaccomplished for her gracefull and quiet state and her enemies full destruction here and in that the mystery of God is fulfilled shee hauing no more to expect but the comming of her Lord for translating her to glory From the sixth verse of the 22. Chap. is the conclusion of the Booke wherein for procuring to this prophecie due regard and carefull obseruation it is commended from the truth and fidelity of the matter which is from God by a glorious dispensation and ministry deseruing credit from the neere approaching performance of things prophecied and from the perfection thereof in this that it closeth vp the Canon so as no more is to be expected either for light or manners but hearts to be erected in earnest wish and attentiue expectation of our Lord his comming Euen so come Lord Iesus DIuinus quidquid vates contexerat altis Sphingibus hic dextré Forbesius referat Sic sibi promeruit nomen per saecula foelix Qui simili expendit pauca talenta modo Andreas Aidius Scoto-Britannus Ad patrem suum colendissimum Patricium Forbesium à Cothari de pererudito eius in Apocalypsin Commentario Iohannes Forbesius filius VAtibus haec olim sanctis imperuia Ioua Innuit Isacidis quisque Propheta suis Post vatum Deus haec etiam tunc aspera nato Fulminis ostendit caetibus ille Asiae Presbyteri Deus haec patefecit peruia tandem Patricio varijs gentibus indepatent Peruia nulla via est talis sine Flamine Sancto Quo duce teste libro hoc inuia nulla via est Ingentem veteres amplam Zebedeia proles Obtinet hinc laudem Forbesiusque suam Pectus ob haec tacitae pertentauere Sionis Gaudia quae prae se vate canente tulit Hinc etiam Ionias Hilarauit Apostolus vrbes Oblectauit enim littera missa viros At duce Patricio lector pius intime noscens Gestit exultat laetitiaque fremit Propter aquas vitreas ignitas mosis Agni Turbae tenens palmas nobile cantat epos Diuinum a quo lux numen super ardua tollens Forbesij per quem nomen in alta ferens Hinc tua progenies noua pectore gaudia voluit Dum te chare pater Nestora quisque cupit Nestor eris nec Nestor eris sed corpore quanto Mens prestat tanto Nestore maior eris Victa cadunt ictu annorum collapsa putrescunt Corpora at ingenijs stat sine morte decus Esto quidem arctatam vinclis suspirantem Admeliora animam liberet inde Deus Quantaque terricolis tua per spicientia praebet Gaudia caelicolis mens tua tanta ferat Te tamen haud triplicis venturi terminus aeui Finiet aut lucem nox ruitura tuam Daedala sed magni dum stabit machina mundi Ingenij viues per monumenta tui Te monstrante micat primoque oriente relicto Ardua caelorum Phosphorus vsque petit Donec protulerit vultus splendore decori Aeternum aeternus Phaebus ab axe diem Tum clarus multis in milibus aera carpens Te sistes album Principis ante thronum Indeque cum Christo clamore per astra secundo Coelica tendentem turma sequetur ouans Ad Papam
from Christ his owne words I called the beginnings of sorrowes being taken whole and together are anteriour both in consideration and in time to the euill of the seuenth seale and sixe trumpets thereof as whereby are shewed the iudgements of God against the open rage of the Dragon in his ministers the Roman Emperours by all the degrees thereof till induration at length bringeth this ruine and as the the second great euill of the seuenth seale and sixe trompets thereof taken whole according to that height of mischiefe whereto it grew is posterior both in consideration and time to the former so in comparing parts the second in some first degrees of her grouth is before the full end of the first Heere is the deceit that men thinke the effects of the sixe seales must haue a full end before the opening of the seuenth vpon their forelaid preiudice For euen in the time of Satan his first open rage he was busie hatching the second euill the mysterie of iniquity working euen then albeit before it could be reueled or come to any great height that which with-held behoued to bee taken out of the way the sixt head behoued to be wounded deadly and the seuenth rising by the wound euanish in a short space that the eighth by cure of that deadly wound the beast which was and is not and yet is might bewhich all the world and perish in the cup of the last wrath So that Areth as saith fitly that this sixth seale maketh way to the Antichrist who though he was before this well farre aduanced yet the holy Ghost deliuereth his whoâ—e grouth in the seuenth seale thus distinguishing diuers cases and not preciselie cutting times And the next Chapter containing summarily the whole story of the seuenth seale before it bee opened for particular explication sheweth that as that mischiefe was in some degrees working on in time of the sixt seale so this Prophecie is penned for clearing of matter and not for calculation of times Albeit each euill considered in the height thereof and taken whole and together is deliuered according to their order in time 16 The summe then of all this Chapter is that the Gospell going forth in power should by Satan stirring the Empire of Rome against it so bee resisted as God in his iustice should punish that state with sending bloody both intestine and forraigne warres strange famines and grieuous pestilences seuerally and iointly and all his ordinary plagues Notwithstanding which they should stil so grow in cruelty against the professors of the Gospell as in God his iustice required no lesse then full and finall vengeance the patience of Saints being extreamly proued Which vengeance in respect that for good considerations in God his wise administration specially for fulfilling the sufferings of Saints and therein the cup of the enemies iniquity it was to bee for a space delaied left the Saints thereupon should be tempted aboue measure God gaue them in that time great relaxation from persecution and high account before men And soone after in such degree as in the time might witnesse his wrath euen to the consciences of the aduersaries indured against all the former iudgements hee powreth a great measure of indignation vpon that bloody staâ—e giuing it so a deadly wound CHAP. VII THe sixeseales opened exhibited the particular types of the first sorrowes The seuenth is to bring foorth so huge an euill as the heart of Iohn and all hearers and readers were to bee strengthened against the horror thereof Herefore it is that before the seale be opened to the manifestation of so many degrees of a detestable mischiefe in this Chapter a summary view is giuen of the rest of this Prophesie in a generall type of the euill arising of the prouident care of Christ to preserue to himselfe a Church vnder and in the midst thereof the victory of the Church ouer this euill and her gracefull state thereupon Thus not onely by a timous praeception of deliuerance from so dangerous a case fortifying hearts which otherwaies at long and particular explication thereof without this praemunition might haue fainted but also by this order of handling in proponing these things before the opening of the seuenth seale whereof they are the proper euents implying not obscurely that this second great euill was euen in time of the former sorrowes greatly aduanced 2 The mischiefe is shewed in foure ministers of indignation by their number place and action portending plainely that euill which at more length and particularly in the sixe trumpets is exponed Against which inconuenience vpon the world how Christ entertaineth his Church during the time of the euill is declared to the 9. verse From thence to the end of the Chapt. is first the Church her victory at length in the seuenth trumpet and seuen vials thereof declared and next her gracefull state thereupon which is amplie in the 21. and 22. Chap. inlarged heere both summarily proponed 3 The number of these ministers of indignation is foure for the foure corners of the earth See Chapt. 4. their place the foure corners of the earth to shew an euill which in the height of it should ouergoe all as is cleere in the fifth trumpet and end of the 13. Chapter Their action is to hold the forue windes c. Windes when they are tempestuous are noysome but blowing temperately and mildly they bring a sweet influence of fertility to the earth and of purification both to sea and aire We liue by emitting and indrawing of breath and without wind all things would putrifie Hence in Scripture to signifie the influence of spirituall graces speeches are borrowed Ioh. 3. Act. 2. Cant. 4. Arise ô South and come ô North blow on my garden c. See Ezech. 37. 9. whence most cleerely this speech is in this sense The with-holding then of windes signifieth the restraint of spirituall life and grace The earth sea and trees are also typicall as is euident in the fifth trumpet Chapt. 9. where the maine point of this foreshewed euill taking execâ—tion the ministers thereof are interdicted hurting of these trees who had the seale of God on their fore-heads This frame of speech is also from the practise of enemies in extreme destructions As of Israel Iuda and Edom against Moab Marring euery good field stopping euery fountaine of water and felling euery good tree 2. King 3. 19. Destroying so the fields wherein the moysture whereby and the things themselues which in fields and by moysture doe grow The eaâ—th then is the place of the visible Church wherein are trees good and bad some bearing fruit some but leaues but as heere it is hurt by this plague it signifieth onely the earthly ones who are in it but not of it for the sealed ones are not of the earth but albeit in the earth yet the citizens of heauen The Sea is the common worship wherein men are ioyned pure or impure as it falleth through the lothsomenesse or deadlinesse of
Church of God should bee narrow as Israel yea but a remnant of Israel as the Temple while Court and Citie are giuen to the Heathen Chapter 11. in comparison to the state following in the victorie when as by ioyning of all Nations the Church of Israel was enlarged by the comming of these out of great tribulation who with palms and white robes celebrate the victory and by rising of the rest of the dead after a thousand yeeres an innumerable multitude shall fill the Church The number then is a few secret select ones abiding with the Lambe on Mount Sion while all the earth follow the beast This number is 144000. to shew a competent Company euen then when none appeared to bee left Of the further mystery of this number see Chapter thirteene in the end 7 〈◊〉 the 9. verse is the third type and part of this Chapter of the Church victorious ouer this mischieâ—e set downe two waies First as Iohn had the knowledge thereof by seeing and hearing that company which are the type Secondly as hee is otherwise informed of their case The first to the 13. verse the next to the end That which Iohn did see of them is their number place and habite The number is innumerable and that of all Nations Kindreds and Tongues to shew the largenesse of the Church in this state farre beyond that vnder the euill and here expressed by the names of Nations Kindreds and tongues according to the maner of Propheticall speech as is before touched These haue notes farre differing from the former arguing euidently this type to be of the Church victorious ouer the euill The former were few marked and secret ones closed vppe from a common plague whose song none could learne but themselues here are innumerable with publike Ensignes of victory in high and loud song celebrating the same and praising him by whom These come not in place till the Tabernacle bee opened in heauen and the Vials of the last wrath bee a powring out on the beast Chapter 15. 5. Their place is standing before the throne the place of the true Church Chapter 4. and accordingly interpreted of the elder verse 15. So in this sense it is said Chapter 11. to the two reuiued witnesses Come vp hither Their habite is white garments so interpreted v. 14. with palms in their hands as victors ouer great tribulation out of which they are come verse 14. the Palme with all nations is the signe of victory so iustly in remembrance whence they are come these celebrate now the feast of Tabernacles victorious ouer the beast his character name and number thereof Chap. 15. 1. Thus farre Iohn seeth of them He heareth them cry and with a loud voice Here now these sing and with a loud voice so as all may heare and learne who will not harden their hearts To the former was no song attributed they had one but which none could learne except themselues Here is a Song in the eares of heauen and earth The Song of Moses and of the Lambe Chapter 15. The substance of their Song as it is excellent so it well fitteth their case Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe Antichrist deriued saluation from so many and diuided the praise thereof among so many as little part thereof remained to God and the Lambe These to shew a plaine crossing of all Popery and a triumph ouer it acknowledge all saluation to be of God in Christ and therefore all praise thereof to belong onely to our God and the Lambe This ouerthroweth all wherein the Romans contest with vs wee pleading nothing but that All Saluation is of our God and the Lamb In which song if they would ioyne with vs al debate were ended This Song by times the Iewes no obstinate shall learne and washing their garments in the bloud of the Lambe shall come out of great tribulation being at last fully wakened by a voice from the throne to sing with vs Haleluiah Chapter 19. All Angels affirme this Song of whom their place and song Chapter 5. 8 Thus farre Iohn heard and saw of the case of these Now from the thirteenth verse is what hee learned by information wherein come to bee considered the Informer one of the Elders see Chapter 5. Sect. 4. and what hee informeth Wherein againe is the occasion and the matter whereof vpon that occasion he informeth The occasion is Iohn his ignorance and desire of knowledge to the consideration of the one whereof and so to the desire of the other he is stirted vp by an Interrogation What are these she wing an admiration as of an vncouch and strange thing in the eyes of the world when men in so great numbers shall arise from vnder Antichrists darkenesse to the true light of the Gospell whereof the daily encrease maketh the enemies gnaw their tongues for sorrow and amaseth the world but greater wonder shall yet bee when vpon the beast his fall the Iewes forsaking their own righteousnesse which is by the Law and taking hold of the righteousnesse of God by washing their long white robes in the bloud of the Lambe shall ioyne with vs in this song so as the Church herselfe with ioyfull admiration shall bee moued to say Who hath begotten mee these behold I was barren whence are these For the speeches after following see Isai 25. and 49. and 60. Iohn his answere hath a confession of his ignorance and a modest request of information whereupon the Information followeth first shewing what and whence they are according to the double demand and next shewing their gracefull state vpon this their victory through God his dwelling amongst them and copious dispensation of grace Their coming out of great affliction is the comming from vnder the bondage of Antichrist which how great spirituall affliction it is they know who haue gotten the victory in whose mouth God hath put this song Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe For this tribulation see the fift Trumpet Chapter 9. And when God openeth the eyes of the Iewes to see their common Sauiour then shall they well vnderstand what both spirituall and bodily affliction they now are in which shall endure so much the more their victory Hee sheweth their long white robes to bee their iustification in the bloud of Christ apprehended by true faith expressing the action of faith in these words they haue drpt c. Thus noting a great difference betwixt them now and when their garmentes were dipte in the mire of mens merites in the filthy sincke of Antichrists Indulgences and puddle of Purgatory and in Iewes now a great change no more seeking to establish their owne righteousnesse which is by the law or placing it in diuers washings rites and carnall ceremonies which cannot purge from sinne but dipping their robes also in the bloud of the Lambe So liuely the holy Ghost painteth out these things Thirdly hee sheweth of them that their standing before the throne noteth
turned to mee how soone would I haue humbled their enemies His second action is a signe giuen to his trumpeters who stand attending it from him to set too to particular execution The signe is Hee filleth the Censer with fire c. In token of burning wrath and with fire of the Altar For as the acceptation and sanctification of all the Samts and their offerings is of him who is the true golden Altar so all his wrath on the world is from him in whom all men in God his predestination are ordered to their diuers ends according as they are either giuen to him and builded on him or passed by and stumble at him This fire is also from the Altar for the spiritual iudgements that it worketh For the fire of this Altar hath double effects It is gracious nourishing purging renuing and strengthning to the elect Isai 6. And it is a fire deuouring the aduersaries burning vp the world as stubble for our God euen a consuming fire Christ comming into the world brought both the one and the other though the one improperly Thus from one and the same Censer and one and the same Altar one and the same fire both sendeth vp a sweete perfume and downe a consuming wrath As the praier of Elias brought both fruitfull raine and deuouring fire and as the two witnesses Chapter 11. are to the godly candlestickes and refreshing oliues but with fire out of their mouthes slay their aduersaries If I bee the man of God saith Eliah let fire come downe from heauen c. Vpon this fire cast on the earth follow Lightnings Thundrings Voices and Earthquakes euident types of horrible iudgements and commotions Chapter 4. And so heereby the attending Trumpeters get signe to blow the alarum and denounce particularly the iudgements whereby God was now to plague the blind and obstinate world And vpon the signe thus giuen them they set too in order to blow See Ezech. 10 for this casting of fire in signe of wrath and God his departing from his sanctuarie 5 Thus farre is the generall preparation The particular execution hath in each the denunciation by the trumpet and the effect insuing And are diuided in lighter or lesse woes and heauier and greater The first soure in degree of comparison are lighter and are in this Chapter The three other are heauie whereof two are thorowout the 9 10. and a good part of the 11. Chapt. The last holdeth to the end of the whole narration The first foure are al 's many degrees of the mystery of iniquity working on to that fearefull height which is in the fifth trumpet accompanied with a no lesse deadly euill for iust punishment thereof in the sixt trumpet which being ineffectuall to worke repentance commeth on the last wrath in the seuenth trumpet 6 Vpon the first sound are seene haile and fire mingled with blood which cast on the earth that is in the visible Church Chap. 7 Section 2. Produce then a terrible effect That all greene grasse c. The iudgements of God in Scripture are ordinarily expressed by haile fire and stormy tempest God borrowing speeches from naturall things to set foorth his terror But this speech heere hath a speciall allusion to that plague on Egypt Exod. 9. and Psal 105. Now then to finde the analogy as heere the burning vp of grasse and trees is to expresse the decay of spirituall life and moisture in all true Christianity and that not onely in weake ones as grasse but in the strong as trees so heere we are to search agreeably to this effect what is answerable to haile and fire It is the fire of God his spirit begetting in vs faith and loue which maketh vs Christians weaker or stronger according to the measure of grace giuen vs and our grouth therein and that by the watering moistening of sweet showers of grace as dew vpon the mowne grasse or raine on the thirsty ground For of heate and moisture commeth all flourishing greennesse Hereof it is that so often in Scripture we are exhorted to edifie on another in loue This burning heat did eat vp our Lord and in it the Apostle burnt this fire of loue is the band of perfection whereby we grow vp as one man in Christ And hereupon are in Scripture so many attestations to be like minded and detestations of debate and diuision Now when this fire of loue is turned into the fire of contention then they from whose mouthes should droppe wisdome and refreshing showers send out the could haile of their owne affections and frosty showers of selfe-loue which in place of comforting and nourishing the hearbes and trees by wholesome word and sound example of life in contrary burne them quite vp as doth haile and fire This was the first euill which entred into the Church for the first degree whereof the Church of Ephesus was taxed Which degree betime growing not only to coldnesse in loue but also to fiery contention and mixed with frosty haile wrought this fearefull effect and first step to antichristianisme euen want of true religion and of the life of God in a great part This fire and haile is said to haue beene mixed with blood for that not onely this euill of firie debate beganne euen while as yet hot persecutioÌ„ lasted against the Church by heathen Emperours but also for that it entred in the Church in such degree as proceeded to cruelty and bloodshed This euill Satan laboured to bring in from the first times of the Gospell but that the fire of loue sweet showers held things greene The first that greatly kindled this flame was Victor Bishop of Rome whose fiâ—ie headines in a friuolous matter had it not beene repressed by the graue rebukes of Irenaeus Bishoppe of Lions and Policrates of Ephesus had made a great burning Eusebius recordeth Lib. 8. of the persecution by Dioclesian that it was a necessary correction of the Church which had fallen to ouer great a custome of sin see how greennesse was burnt vp whose pastors were begun to sauor of pride and tyranny see the step to the next euill Thus wee see how the fire was euen mixed with bloud but soone after how farre this fire brake out vpon the first relaxation vnder Constantine it is wonderfull so as if the prudent care of that Prince had not bene the greater that first and famous Councell of Nice had beene a miserable proofe of this fire which beeing but restrained there for the time how vehemently to the disgrace of christianity and burning vp of all true religion in the hearts of men it brake out thereafter is manifest in the story So as Constantine in his Epistle to the Synod of Tyrus exprobrateth to them that he saw nothing in Bishops dealings but an ouerthrow of all religion This made Nazianzen to vtter that hard speech That hee neuer did see a good effect of any Synod because in steade of the fire of loue mixed with the
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
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
whereof sixe bringing the second euils and these working but further induration Chapter 9. The seuenth Trumpet sounding yeeldeth these seuen Angels with seuen Cuppes of the last wrath Whose storie by the narration wisely and exceeding purposely in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters interiected was till now delayed 6 The disposition of these Angels is shewed in their apparrell which is linnen and that both pure and bright and girded to theÌ„ with a golden girdle about the breast White linnen apparrell is the garment of all Saints who in Christ are made Priests to God by putting on and girding to or applying Iesus Christ to their hearts by the girdle of faith more pretious then gold to righteousnesse and holinesse But here in these Angels this common garment hath a speciall relation to their speciall calling To shew that this execution should bee iust vpright not only in respect of God the iust Iudge whose wayes are iust and true but euen in respect of the Ministers also who in the light and assurance of faith should in the zeale of God and of his worship bring downe Antichrist For blessed shall hee be called that rewardeth her as she hath serued vs. 7 They are instructed hereto with golden Vials or Cuppes full of wrath euen the wrath of God that liueth for euer Golden cuppes were also holy vessels of the Sanctuary to shew hereby likewayes this to bee a pure worke like gold and holy and acceptable And the wrath powred out is euerlasting as hee whose wrath it is for according to his name so is his feare and as is the man so is his strength Hereto also serueth the kind of Instrument At the iudgements by the sixe Seales some cry was alwaies ioined to waken if it had beene possible men to learne The Trumpets sounded loud in sixe of them God giuing Iezabel time to repent Chapter 3. and 9. Hereupon obstinate impenitency out of golden bowles wrath without noise is tumbled The seueral degrees whereof in God his patience Chap. 16. yet more argueth and aggrauateth the obstinacy of the enemies stil more and more endured to endlesse wrath 8 These cuppes are giuen to the Angels by one of the foure Beasts that is by the true Pastors of the church Chapter 4. to shew that through the cleare light of the Gospell preached Antichrist being laide open the hearts of God his faithfull seruants shall bee filled with holy indignation and zeale to imploy their power to God his honour in his ouerthrow stirred there to by the preachers of the truth Reward her as shee hath rewarded you c. according to the Cup shee filled to you fill her the double This was summarily touched in the end of the 14. Chapter when the Angell from the Altar hauing power ouer fire stirred the other to cut downe the grapes of the earth the which same thing is here more largely explaned That this is said to bee done by one of the foure Beasts as it sheweth them to be the stirrers to worke so according as their diuers faces expressed diuersity of gifts as for diuers times and cases is requisite to signifie the imployment at this time of such as were fittest whether for wisdome as Men to spie out the Beast or rather that being already done for leonine courage roaring and thundering Chapter 10. to encourage and terrifie How it be what of one of them is done is done of all 9 The power whereby this great execution is borne out that it cannot bee stayed is God his glorious and powerfull presence in his owne true Church opened and made visible before fuming in wrath against Antichrist so as neither dare these Ministers but execute their charge The feare and loue of God and knowledge of his terrour stirring them neither any enemy impede the course of God his iudgements till they bee finished For the Beast must goe to destruction and the Whores louers shall stand a backe afraid at her burning Chapter 18. And what is it else that miraculously hath and yet doth beare out against Antichrist his power and malice Who if the Lord were not on our side would haue eaten vs vp and as mighty flouds haue ouerwhelmed vs in the depth but the Lord is our helper Peoples heare it and are afraid Sorrow commeth on the Iuhabitants of Palestina Now this type is not so put as if the Saints this time should be debarred from the presence of God in his Church But by allusion to the 40. of Exodus 1. Kings 8. Isai 6 to shew a great and powerfull presence of God in his Church newly reerected from vnder Antichrist his tyranny where through the execution shal haue no let It is true that the resort albeit very frequent and dayly encreasing shall not bee such during the plagues and smoking wrath of God as when Euphrates is dried vp the high places taken away and Baal destroyed When the twelue Ports of the new Ierusalem shall be cast open continually to receiue from all quarters both Iewes wakened by a voyce from the Throne and the Kings of the East with them comming to worshippe Iehouah the Lord of hostes who then shal be the onely one Lord in the earth and his name one To which the sixt Cup shall in the owne time prepare the way and which in the seuenth shall bee fulfilled and so the mystery finished in the accomplishment of all foreâ—old by the Prophets Chapter 10. CHAP. XVI IN the 15. Chapter was the preparation for the last wrath Here is the particular execution in seuen degrees according to the number of the Ministers thereof which degrees in order and manner haue a great resemblance and relation to the degrees of Antichrist his rising in the Trumpets to shew the wisdome and iustice of God in rendring measure for measure and bringing him downe as hee arose The resemblance hath made many to thinke both to bee of one matter and time But these Vials are all powred on the Beast and his marked ones whose height in working began but in the fifth trumpet 2 This execution is commanded verse first from the Temple as a holy and iust worke with aloud voice as a matter important and to bee performed with care to the Ministers who being prepared attend the signe The execution is vpon the earth that is the earthly sort of men thorow all the plagues euidently designed to be Antichrist and his adherents It is executed by seuen degrees to shew God his patience in his greatest wrath in each degree is the common signe of powring out the Viall and the ensuing effect first or secundary 3 The first Viall is powred on the earth Where the earth must bee vnderstood according to the relation it hath in collation to the subsequent things and degree which in that respect it holdeth to the sea riuers sun throne Euphrates the aire For as when the earth or the earth and Sea opposed to heauen then things below are
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
enemies should still increase and that to such degree of crueltie as in God his iustice required their speedy and finall destruction which neuerthelesse should bee delayed for a time but so as the rage of persecution being mitigated the Church should become of great account euen before men Therefore in this fifth Seale is put the cry of Soules against cruelty not that here it beganne but for the hight whereto the enemies were come now therein as also a reason of God his patience in such measure of wrong was needfull And further hearts are hereby wakened to see the equity of the great plague in the sixt Seale when God in a great degree performeth the promised vengeance albeit then fully it shall bee executed when vpon powring out of the seuenth Viall they shall bee absolutely destroyed who destroyed the earth and the kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords the rest of Saints being slaine by the beast euen the rest of the womans seed Chap. 12. 17. and 13. 7. and 14. 12. 9 The sixth type vpon opening of the sixt Seale 〈◊〉 a great Earthquake the darkning of the sunne and moon the fall of starres the departing of heauen and remouing of mountaines and Ilands from their places the speech opening the signification is the Kings of the earth great men rich men chiefe Captaines mighty men bond-men and free-men should haue such commotion and alteration of state carrying such imprinted sense and cleare sight of Christ his wrath and vengeance as they should bee filled with desperate terrour so sore a iudgement comming on them as in a sort the state of the world should bee ouerturned these who were as the Sunne Moone and Stars for glistering shew in their Kingdomes wealthes honours commandements and great roomes being darkened and falling from their places all their glory and honour compared to Heauen euanishing as a scrole rolled vp such as seemed most closely hedged about as Ilands being driuen from their places and who appeared to bee setled as mountaines yet remouing Which plague should bee so much the more grieuous as no condition of men bond or free should escape it all feeling such desperate terror and sorrow as felt these Isai 2. as had the Israelites at the destruction of Samaria Ose 10. and as Christ foretold should betake the Iewes at the destruction of Ierusalem Luke 21. Neither is this type to be drawne to any other or extended to any further sense To take it of the last consummation is ridiculous ignorance the seuenth Seale as yet not opened and yeelding more then foure times as much story both for time and euents in time as all these six preceeding and to extend it to the decay of the visible Church is impertinent as which matter is handled properly in the seuenth seale and six trumpets thereof For albeit that in this Prophesie both before and hereafter starres be put for Pastors of Churches and the eclipsing of Sunne and starres for darkening of spirituall light and fall of starres for falling of Pastors from the truth yet here where that matter is not handled and where the holy Ghost so plainely ioyneth the interpretation wee ought not iumble so distinct matters and the frequent vse of these same Allegories in the Prophets for euents of this same kind might haue taught so much Isai 13. verse 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. and 14. 12. and 24. 19. 20. 21. 23. and 34. 40. Ezechiel 32. 7. 8. Ioel 2. 30. 31. 10 Now for right accommodation of Story to these Seales wee must flie two extremities wherein many Interpreters falling breed to themselues great difficulties and darken cleare matter The first is of these who tying themselues to more strait rules of interpretation theÌ„ the holy Spirite hath laid to them will needes haue these seuen Seales as also the Trumpets and Vials to bee so many knots or periods of time exactlie cutted within which the accommodation of each is to bee sought whereas they are no knots of time but types of distinct matters and the whole matter comprehended in seuen Seales whereof the seuenth affording the trumpets vials hath the matter of foure times alse much time as all the former sixe sheweth the weakenesse of this coniecture yea the effects of them are seene clearely to bee often of one time the former holding out long after the beginning of the next The other extremity is of these who well perceiuing the absurdity of the first neglect in the accommodation all consideration of distinct time so iumbling Seales Trumpets and Vials to the confusion of all order and light of Story which in this Prophesie is most orderly set downe with special relation to distinct euents Then let vs hold this rule that these sixe Seales haue the story of the first sorrowes as Christ calleth them Mathew 24. 8. as the seuenth Seale hath both the second sorrowes in the sixe Trumpets and the last wrath in the seuenth by seuen Vials Thus farre then wee haue to respect time in accommodation of these Seales that albeit they shew such ordinary iudgements whereby God at all time hath punished and will punish the contempt of his grace yet here they haue a speciall relation to the first time from the writing of this Prophesie to the ouerturning of the state of the Roman Empire so far forth as might make way to the succeeding more dangerous euill in the seuenth Seale and sixe Trumpets thereof Now as these beginnings of Sorrowes so called and of Christ himselfe recorded in the same order which here is set down fell out in diuers places Mathew 24. 7. 8. So also in diuers times of that first time now and then here there yet alwayes in this order that first the white horse goeth out after the Sword Famine Pestilence and noisome beasts God his foure great plagues Ezech. 14. 21 sometimes seuerally sometimes ioyntly as God saw it expedient fitting his iudgements to the growth of induration against that persecuting estate till at length all the glory and face almost of that wicked Empire was ouerturned And these are the proper euils of that first time for that albeit in succeding ages God hath inflicted them on the world yet neither in such degree as then neither for any degree thereof vpon the world thereafter come they in account in respect of heauier woes theÌ„ they 11 How the preaching of the Gospell went forth conquering to ouercome maugre all opponents besides the successe preceding this Reuelation it had after Domitian who now letted it with all his might a great propagation as in story is cleare and whensoeuer by persecutors it was crossed immediately the red horse and his great sword in God his iustice commeth forth in bloudy warres partly with forrainers but most tragically of the Caesars amongst themselues whereof the Stories are knowne and too long here to bee repeated 12 Now famine ordinarily euer accompanieth or ensueth hard vpon Warres but these times had as strange bloudshed so vncouâ—h examples
the true Church of God worshipping him in truth 9 Thus is the victory now their gracefull state hereupon is shewed in a freedome from all euill and affluence of all good and that through God his presence and protection and the Lambe his gracious dispensation set out in so goodly a manner as many thinke the things here promised to bee of the Kingdome of glory but here in magnifike termes the goodly state of the Church is expressed according as for plenty of light peace shee shall bee vpon the destruction of Antichrist and all open enemies heâ—e in the Kingdome of grace no description of the glory to 〈◊〉 reuealed in heauen which neither the eye can see nor the eare heare nor heart of man conceiue and in heauen is no such dispensation of the Lambe as here is noted who then shall surrender the Kingdome to his Father that God may bo all in all As in Antichrist his preuailing the state of God his Church was shewed in the 144000. and the Church victorious ouer him now discouered and going to destruction in the number innumerable and their victorious gesture so here the goodly state of the Church now free of all inuasion or bondage and hauing plenty of light and quiet state is magnifickly expressed and yet but in such frame of speech as is ordinary in the Prophets for such cases This state of the Church is largely handled in the end of this booke as the first in the hid and sealed ones is in the sixe trumpets and the victory in the seuenth and seuen Vials thereof Now as I haue said according to the phrase of the Prophets these blessings are set forth vnder things corporall and amplisied each by remouing the contrarie euill They shall not hunger for the Lambe shall feed them they shall not thirst for hee shall leade them to the fonntaines of waters they shall feele no burning for God shall ouershadow them c. the ouershadowing is from the cloud in the wildernesse for the leading and feeding see and weigh Psal 23. a profession of these graces which the man of God felt See Iohn 4. 13. and 6. 27. c. It is maruaile how men acquainted with the ordinary stile of Scripture should haue drawne this to any other sense but hereof more vpon the 21. and 22. Chapters This state is in these few words expressed Chapter 19. The Bride is prepared And accordingly in all her goodly ornaments shewed to Iohn Chap. 21. CHAP. VIII THe sixth seale being opened first was exhibited the proper euent thereof in the end of the sixth Chapter and in the seuenth Chapter a summarie view giuen for strengthning hearts against the terrour thereof of the whole matter of the seuenth seale which heere now is opened and speciall euents thereof declared through the rest of all this propheticall narration Of these wee haue first a generall preparation and next the perticular execution The preparation hath an incident effect immediatly following vpon the opening of the seale which is Silence about halfe an houre To shew an attent expectation of great things whereto well the portending of them in the former Chapter might haue erected the mindes And the waiting for rare or fearefull euents worketh a silent attendance When the wise speake then all keepe silence and when the Lion roareth all the beasts of the forrest hold their peace Besides this great things commonly come foorth with processe and preparation And truly God who is slow to wrath is in a sort forced to poure out heauie indignation 2 After this incident effect is the preparation in the ministers and in the orderer of the whole errand The ministers are described by their nature Angels Quality ministering Spirits as who stand before God Luke 1. And instruments of ministration Trumpets In the instruments are noted two things First that they are trumpets and secondly that they are giuen to them That the instruments are trumpets it sheweth that their ministry in this ensuing matter is to be sounders of the alarume and giuers of the figne for inuasion of the world by each woe as al 's many armies of him who is Lord of hosts as also that they are denouncers that of great and weighty matter For Trumpeters are messengers of great things and but for great personages In this also is implied that the end of their ministry and of these iudgements denounced and executed is to waken vp the dead world to repentance or make it inexcusable against finall wrath See the end of Chapter 9. Therefore when the world is not wakened with Trumpets it feeleth iustly full cups of wrath tumbled out That these Trumpets are giuen to the Angels it sheweth them to doe nothing without special warrant and mandate 3 Thus are the ministers the master and orderer of the errand is described by his office and his actions His office that he is an Angell for that is heere the name of office and not of nature And this angell differeth farre from the other seuen for he is the Angell of the couenant cleerely by all his notes He standeth as the other seuen for hee also in some respect is a minister but hee hath a particular stand which is at the Altar as High Priest He is furnished also with an instrument but which is proper to the Priest and belonging to the most holy place to wit the golden Censer He hath also somewhat giuen to him but a rare gift that is Many odors whereby all the praiers and of all Saints is acceptable For by him we offer vp sacrifices to God In the fifth Chapter the praiers of Saints are called Odors and heere the odours are distingushed from the praiers onely to shew how it is and in whom that they are odors that is acceptable to God These odours are said to be giuen him according as he acknowledgeth all things to be giuen him of the Father as he who is both sealed and sanctified and as mediator hath receiued the spirit without measure This is by allusion to the Leuiticall ministrie and not to the Masse 4 His actions are two one of gracious dispensatioÌ„ another of wrath as hee who is both the propitiation for Saints trcader of the winepresse of Gods indignation both an elect precious stone and a stone of offence And our consolation heerein is great that to him all iudgement is committed His action of grace is the offering vp of the Saints praiers and making the gratefull smoke of them goe vp before God through his odors and this hath a double consolation first that God alwaies in the midst of wrath remembreth mercy and is neuer so carried in wrath to poure out heauy indignation on the sinful world but that the louing care of his elect commeth first in place secondly that the praiers of Saints haste on indgement on the world while they send vp sighes and groanes for God his dishonour a great incouragement to prav If Israel had
and our men but busie themselues more then is needfull the holy Ghost hauing so plainely foretolde the case And how common doe wee see in our daylie experience of particular Churches that things will by custome or tyranny so obtaine as none are found to resist while yet in the meane time great numbers not only disallow but euen hold themselues pure there from Here who would aske the succeeding age what had beene the estate then hee could find nothing but that all had erred because the common Records beare but what obtained in the time no Record remaining of these who though for feare they durst not contest yet misliked and mourned for the iniquity And if perhaps they did vtter any thing which to the posterity might haue carried testimony of their mind the same being smothered by them who violently possessed and disposed of all I haue no doubt but in euery age euen in the greatest height of darkenesse diuers haue not onely been enemies thereof both children and ministers of light but euen haue beene in their time knowne to the godly then Albeit to enquire the succeeding ages of their story it is ridiculous and wee but fashe our selues vnnecessarily to haile therein the cord of contention with the aduersaries hauing otherwise so cleare and solide answeres furnished vs by the holy Ghost to close their mouthes Yea the Antichrist his prerogatiue and his long and peaceable obtaining in the visible Church dismayeth vs so little as thereupon wee build a sure argument that there all the time was the true Church For hee is a proper sore of the body of the Church And as such a pestilent boile or leprosie which can bee in no other but a man his body albeit the whole body should bee so couered that nothing could bee seene but the boile or leprosie yet euen thereby the beholder is assured that there is a man his body because that soare can befall none other So by Antichrist who is a proper euill and sitting no where else but in the Church wee discerne and perceiue clearely where the true Church hath beene and still in great part is For euen before the last fall of Babell the Lord his people are exhorted to come out of her In the visible Church the truth hath alwaies beene but so a long time as the Booke of the Law was within the Temple before Iosias Now then the obiection of the Romans whereby they labour so much to shake vnstable soules is more then ridiculous where was your Church before Luther what became of all our Fathers to which we answere Our Church was euen where Satans throne was And of our Fathers wee iudge well as who howsoeuer they receiued the Beast his name or at least the number of his name yet might haue beene free from receiuing his Character and so out of the danger of this sentence of eternall fire If they had eies to see and hearts to vnderstand this Prophesie they would bee confounded in that wherein they glorie most and ashamed to obiect to vs that which most approueth our cause 9 Thus was the velitation The case coincident is terrible persecution The weight whereof is cleered by a warning verse 12. and a consolation vers 13. The warning together with the weight declare against whom this heauy persecution is intended to wit the Saines and those who keepe the commandements of God and faith of Iesus The weight is shewed in this that their shall bee need of Christian patience as which shall be greatly exercised and that the triall shall bee such as the constant keepers of God his commandements and faith of Iesus shall finde wherein to be prooued This the phrase of speech sheweth as that Chap. 13. Heere is wisdome Now this warning implieth cleerely the party persecuter to be the Beast to whom was giuen To make warre with the Saints and to ouercome them Chap. 13. 7. who thereupon got the same warning there verse 10. And seeing that the remnant seed of the woman against whom the Dragon was to stir vp warte Chap. 12. 17. are described by the same titles Of keeping the commandements of God c. This warning heere giuen hath also this end to waken vs vp to consider the speciall time and heate of that warre their foretold to bee then when Antichrist beeing chaffed with these three Angels made all Europe to feele cruell fires and bloody massacres whereof the memory is yet recent That so the rest of them who should be killed for Iesus being fulfilled Chap. 6. 11. finall and full vengeance may come on that bloody state The weight of this persecution is yet further amplified by the consolation giuen against it Which besides the substance thereof is notable in many circumstances Of the deliuery from heauen the commandement how to receiue it in that it should not onely be heard but also written as worthy of lasting record of double asseueration and that by the holy Ghost The substance of the consolation is Blessed are the dead that hencefoorth die in the Lord. The reasons are They rest from their labours and their works follow them Our daies heere are but a shadowe and in them euen our strength is but labour and sorrow all wherein a man seeketh happinesse vnder the sunne beeing but vanity and vexation of spirit from whence to remoue in the Lord and enter into our rest is a great blessednesse in so farre as our labour is not in vaine in the Lord but great is our reward in heauen Now howsoeuer all men goe naked out of this world as naked wee come and nothing of all our great labour and works goeth with vs. Yet as euery one shall be indged and receiue according to that which hee hath done in the flesh good or euill so euery soule carieth with it an instamped sense of the workes done in the flesh so as either a speaking and selfe accusing guiltinesse followeth a man or then as by grace he hath beene inabled to make his election sure by good workes in this life so shall the testimony of peace in his conscience follow him For There is no condemnation for them which are in Christ Iesus which walks not after the flesh but after the spirit 10 From the 14. ver is the third part of this Ch. Wherein is the summary proposition of the full ouerthrow of the enemies which at length in the subsequent Chapters is explaned Now heere the course of this Prophesie is carefully to be marked for a great light through all The iudgements of God first and second vpon the worlde were in the sixe Seales and sixe Trumpets of the seuenth To the 15. verse of the 11. Chapter there the seuenth Trumpet soundeth and the last wrath is denounced Before the particular declaration whereof that the iustice of God therein might the better appeare it was requisite that the Historie of these enemies to be destroied in their dealings against the Church should be cleered for