Clouds Where let us mind and consider these things 1. The person here spoken of and that cometh He 2. Of what coming is here spoken and intended 3. How or in what manner he shall come 4. From whence or from what place he cometh 5. To what end or ends he cometh 1. The person that cometh He of whom we have a description before in v. 5 6. as we have seen even he that loved us and died for our Sins and who is raised from the dead to wit the Son of Man Dan. 7. 13. The Son of Man shall come in the Clouds of Heaven with Power and great Glory Mat. 24. 27 30. and ch 25 13. and ch 26. 64. with Mark 13. 26. and ch 14. 62. Luk. 21. 27. It is the Man Christ Jesus who hath made Peace for us and is our Peace that shall come and whom we are called upon to behold He doth not cease to be a man though he be not a mere man but this Man continueth for ever and very frequently when he speaks of his coming he calls himself the Son of Man Mat. 16. 27. Luk. 17. 24 26 30. 2. Of what coming doth he here speak We have intimated before that though he may and doth include his coming providentially and in his Judgments yet hereby is ultimately meant his glorious coming to take to him his great Power and reign and to judge the World in Righteousness as appears by what follows in that it is said Every Eye shall see him c. and by the Apostles vote in the latter end of the Verse like that He which testifieth these things saith Surely I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Jesus ch 22. 17 20. But here we may consider there are two personal comings of our Lord Jesus Christ's 1. To take our nature and be abased that he might redeem us from the Curse of the Law and obtain Eternal Redemption in the nature of Man for us Of this he here speaks not for so he was come and gone before this as he saith I come forth from the Father and am come into the World Again I leave the World and go to the Father Joh. 16. 28. And before the time that this Book was sent and signified unto John he had come and finished the work which the Father gave him to do on Earth in the body of his Flesh and was gone up into Heaven and sate on the right hand of God Acts 1. 11. Joh. 17. 4 5. Act. 3. 20 21. 1 Pet. 3. 21 22. 2. He shall appear and come the second time Heb. 9. 28. He shall come again in his personal body Joh. 14. 3. God shall send us Jesus who hath been preached to us Acts 3. 20. and of this he here speaketh as hath been said See more concerning his coming on ch 2. v. 5. and ch 3. 20. 3. How or in what manner shall he come Answer 1. He shall come without Sin Heb. 9. 28. when he was here before though he knew no Sin yet God made him to be Sin for us 2 Cor. 5. 21. He himself in his own body bare our Sins to the Tree and suffered for them 1 Pet. 2. 24. and ch 3. 18. But when he shall appear the second time no Sin shall be imputed to him nor suffered for by him Nor shall there be any mortality or weakness upon him God hath raised him again from the Dead now no more to return to corruption Heb. 1. 3. Acts 13. 33 34. 1 Cor. 15. 1 Joh. 3. 5. Phil. 3. 21. 2. He shall then come in Glory as appears in the Doxology v. 6. To him be Glory Behold he cometh with Clouds he shall come in his glorious body Phil. 3. 21. This second appearing is called his glorious appearing Tit. 2. 13. He shall come in his own Glory and in his Fathers Mat. 24. 30. and ch 25. 31. Mark 8. 38. and ch 13. 26. Luke 9. 26. and in the Glory of his Angels all the Holy Angels shall come with him Mat. 16. 27. and ch 25. 31. Mark 8. 38. and he shall come with all his Saints The Lord cometh with ten thousands of his Saints The Lord shall come and all the Saints with him Jude 14 15. Zech. 14. 5. 1 Thes 3. 13. and with the Trump of God 1 Thes 4. 16 17. 1 Cor. 15. 52. 3. And he shall come visibly as afterwards followeth in this Verse 4. He shall come suddainly and unexpectedly The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night 2 Pet. 3. 10. 1 Thes 5. 2 4. Mat. 24. 43. Be ye therefore ready also for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not Luke 12. 39 40. Mark 13. 35 37. 4. From whence shall he come And that will be from Heaven from that glorious place where the Throne of God is 1 Thes 1. 10. and ch 4. 16. We look for the Saviour from Heaven Phil. 3. 20. 1 Cor. 15. 47. He shall not come from his glorious state but shall fit on the right hand of Power till all Enemies be destroyed Mat. 2â— 64. Ps 110. 1 2. Heb. 10. 12 13. But the Lord himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout c. 1 Thes 4. 16. 5. To what end cometh he And that is 1. To raise the dead that sleep in Jesus and change the surviving believers and they shall be all gathered together and caught up to meet the Lord in the Air and so shall be ever with him And they shall then bear the Image of the Heavenly 1 Thes 4. 16 17. 1 Cor. 15. 21 23 49. Phil. 3. 21. Mat. 24. 30 31. Mark 13. 25 27. Then shall the righteous be gathered together unto him and one unto another 2 Thes 2. 1. Ps 1. 5 6. 2. He shall come with them to destroy all the Horns of the Wicked and all them that oppose him Ps 75. 10. and 149. Dan. 7. 11 12. 2 Thes 1. 5 8. Rev. 11. 18. and ch 19. That will be the day of Perdition of Ungodly Ones 2 Pet. 3. 7. And all these things shall be dissolved 2 Pet. 3. 10 14. And the Devil bound up in the Bottomless-pit Rev. 20. 1 3. with Luke 8. 31. 3. He shall make all things new New Heavens and a New Earth wherein dwelleth Righteousness Isay 65. 17 19. and ch 66. 22. 2 Pet. 3. 13. Rev. 21. 5. Then shall be the restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his Holy Prophets since the World began Acts 3. 20 21. Rom. 8. 21 22. Then the light of the Moon shall be as the light of the Sun and the light of the Sun shall be seven-fold as the light of seven days Isay 30. 26. Then the face of the Earth shall be renewed Ps 104 30 31. and Ps 8. 3 4. 4. He will then inherit all Nations and give to his people to reign with him they shall reign on the Earth Rev. 5. 10. they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand
as appears in some good measure in what hath been said of them already and as will further appear if we consider what followeth That is to say 1. They have very great wisdom knowledge and understanding and have a very piercing inspection So much that wise Woman of Tekoah signifieth saying As an Angel of God so is my Lord the King to discern good and bad And again My Lord is wise according to the wisdom of an Angel of God to know all things that are in the Earth 2 Sam. 14. 17 20. and ch 19. 27. and that they are of a piercing inspection and insight into secret things is signified in that they are said to be Aâ—lame of Fire as the Eyes of the Son of God the Angel of the Covenant are said to be though yet they know not the hearts of men as he doth nor are perfect in knowledge as he is compare Ps 104. 4. and Heb. 1. 7. with Rev. 2. 18. See notes on Rev. 1. v. 14. yet they have much more knowledge than men have as our Saviour gives us to understand when he saith Of that Day and Hour knoweth no Man no not the Angels of the Heavens Implying they know more than any meer man Mat. 24. 36. Mark 13. 22. 2. They are also very strong and powerful as it is said Bless the Lord ye his Angels that excel in strength or are mighty Ps 103. 20. they are greater in power than men are or any other Creature 2 Pet. 2. 14. Hence they are called powers Col. 1. 16. 1 Pet. 3. 22. Indeed it doth appear that some of these Glorious Creatures excel others of them in strength See notes before on v. 2. but yet they are all of them very strong and powerful And hence also whereas it is said in one place The Son of Man shall come in the Glory of his Father with his Angels It is thus exprest to us in another The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels signifying to us that all the Angels of God are mighty in strength Compare Mat. 16. 27. with 2 Thes 1. 7. and Mat. 25. 31. And to this we may have further occasion to speak afterwards 3. They are very swift and speedy in their motion from one place to another with two Wings they do fly And saith the Prophet One of the Seraphims flew unto me Isay 6. 2 6. They can come from Heaven to Earth instantly as it is said Suddenly there was with the Angel a multitude of the Heavenly Host Luke 2. 13. To the same purpose also is that of the Prophet whilst I was speaking in Prayer saith he Even the Man Gabriel whom I had seen in the Vision at the beginning being caused to fly swiftly touched me c. Dan. 9. 21. they have not such gross earthly Bodies as we have nor are hindred or retarded by such letts and obstacles as we are 4. They are very watchful Creatures and need not sleep to refresh them as we do while we are here in mortal corruptible bodies Hence they are called watchers Dan. 4. 13 17 23. 5. They are very glorious Creatures full of splendor lustre brightness and Majesty Hence we hear of the Cherubims of Glory Heb. 9. 5. and the Glory of the Angels Luke 9. 26. So also it is said All that sate in the Council saw Stephens Face as it had been the Face of an Angel Acts 6. 15. So Manoahs Wife said to her Husband that he that appeared to her was a man of God and his countenance was like the countenance of an Angel of God very terrible Judges 13. 6 15 16 21. And so much also is signified in that they are called Angels of light as is before said 6. They are Immortal Creatures such as shall not cannot dye as our Saviour signifies when he saith neither can they dye any more for they are equal with the Angels Luke 20. 36. And so they shall for ever enjoy that honour and happiness and holiness of which they are possessed 7. They have an excellent Voice or Language as the Apostle intimates when he saith Though I speak with the Tongue of Angels c. 1 Cor. 13. 1. Gal. 1. 8 9. Vse 1. The consideration of what we have said already concerning these Glorious Creatures is useful to deliver and preserve us from the errour of the Sadducees new and old who say there is neither Angel nor Spirit Acts 23. 8. they are herein more bruitish than the Pharisees were for they confessed there were such Creatures Acts 23. 8 9. yea that there are such Spiritual Beings was also acknowledged by an unproselyted Gentile Acts 10. 22. and by an Heathen to wit Achish King of Gath 1 Sam. 29. 9. 2. VVe may be led by occasion of the excellency of the Angels in some little measure to consider and conceive of his infinite glory and majesty who is the Creatour and former of all things So the Lord from the strength and excellency of some of his Creatures gives us to understand that he who is the Creatour of them must needs be infinitely more glorious and powerful So he saith of Leviathan none is so fierce that dare stir him up who then is able to stand before me Job 41. 10 11. Isay 40. 26 28. 3. We may in some small measure conceive from hence what glory and excellency they shall arrive at and partake of who are called to the fellowship of God's Son Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 1. 9. Man was made in the first Adam and Creation a little lower than the Angels Ps 8. 4 5. And so indeed for a little while our Lord Jesus the second Adam was also inferiour to them Heb. 2. 6 7 9. But for the sufferings of death he was crowned with Glory Heb. 2. 9. and hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they Heb. 1. Eph. 1. 18 22. 1 Pet. 3. 22. He hath advanced our nature in his person far above all those glorious Spirits and they that shall be accounted worthy to obtain that World and the Resurrection from the Dead shall be equal to the Angels and be the Children of God being the Children of the Resurrection Mat. 22. 30. Mark 12. 25. Luke 20. 35 36. they are called to the obtaining of the Glory of our Lord Jesus 2 Thes 2. 14. 1 Job 3. 2. 2. We have the number of these holy happy and glorious Creatures indefinitely intimated to us Many Angels and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand and thousands of thousands so many as no man can number They are frequently signified to be a very great number or an innumerable company of them as will somewhat appear to us if we consider 1. The plain affirmations and intimations given to us thereof in the Scriptures So when Jacob went on his way the Angels of God met him and when Jacob saw them he said This is Gods Host and he called the name of that place Mahanaim that
17. God honoured him also in being with him and owning and strengthening him when he was generally despised and rejected of Men Joh. 8. 54. with Isay 53. 3. In laying our sins upon him and delivering him to death for the offences of all He crowned him with honour that he by the grace of God should taste death for every Man Heb. 2. 9. with Isay 49. 6. And hath upon the account of his sufferings honoured him for the sufferings of death he hath crowned him with honour Heb. 2. 9. with Ps 91. 15. He hath raised him again from the dead Rom. 1. 4. And laid him as a good foundation of Faith and Hope for Mankind 1 Pet. 2. 4 6. Isay 28. 16. The Stone which the Builders refused and disallowed is become the Head of the Corner This is the Lord 's doing c. Psal 118. 22 23. And he is the fountain of all grace and spiritual blessings God hath given him the preeminence in all things for in him it hath pleased the Father that all fulness should dwell Col. 1. 18 19. And he is the Bread of Life the Door of approach unto God the true Vine c. And he hâ—th preferred him above all above the glorious Angels He hath by Inheritance a more excellent Name than they Heb. 1. 4 14. Above Moses the Mediatour of the Old Testament Heb. 3. 1 6. Above Aaron the typical High Priest Heb. 5. 4. 7. He is the first-born higher than the Kings of the Earth the Prince of the Kings of the Earth Col. 1. 18. with Psal 89. 27. Rev. 1. 5. and 17. 14. Because he humbled himself and became obedient unto death the death of the Cross Therefore also God hath highly exalted him and given him a Name which is above every Name Phil. 2. 8 10. Eph. 1. 20 21. And hath put all things under his feet though yet we see not all things put under them Psal 8. 5 8. with Heb. 2. 6 8 9. Eph. 1. 22. And in due season his Horn shall gloriously and visibly be exalted with honour Psal 112. 9. with Psal 145. 5. 14. And Honour from all Creatures Divine Honour even Religious and Divine VVorship Isay 29. 13. with Mat. 15. 8 9. See notes before on v. 8. And particularly by all Men God hath committed all Judgment to him that all Men should honour the Son as they honour the Father they should honour him in hearing his word and believing on him that sent him Joh. 5. 22 24. with 2 Pet. 1. 17. and Mat. 17. 5. and by all his Saints as here he is v. 8. 10. A Son honoureth his Father Mal. 1. 6. And they that hear his word and believe on him are the Children which God hath given him And it is but meet and reasonable therefore that they should honour him not doing their own wayes nor finding their own pleasure nor speaking their own words Heb. 2. 13. Isay 58. 13. See Notes before on ch 4. v. 9. And he hath gotten him honour upon that crooked Serpent Leviathan the Devil as God did on Pharaoh Exod. 14. 17 18. In that he hath bound that strong one thorow Death destroyed him that had the power of Death and is destroying and will destroy him as to his second in due season Psal 110. 1. Heb. 10. 11 12. Oh then seeing he is worthy to receive honour let us honour him in preferring him before our chiefest joy and loving him more than our nearest Relations in this World Mat. 10. 37 38. with 1 Sam. 2. 29 30. Luke 14. 26 27 33. Let us kiss him come unto and follow him in the regeneration Ps 2. 12. Joh. 12. 26. Let us honour him with our substance and with the first-fruits of our increase Prov. 3. 9. Considering that honour is with him and he hath power to give and dispense it to others and will honour them that honour him Prov. 3. 13 16. and 4. 8. and ch 8. 6 18. 6. And glory This is near in signification to the former expression as is said before see Notes on ch 4. v. 9. And he is indeed worthy to receive glory to be highly and honourably esteâ—med To receive lustre beauty splendoâ— and majesty in the nature of Man The God of our Fathers glorified his Son Jesus Act. 3. 13. He herein glorified him in begetting and making or creating him his Son Jer. 31. 22. In acknowledging him to be his Son 2 Pet. 1. 17. In being with him and strengthening him unto and in all his services and sufferings Joh. 17. 1. In appointing him and giving him by his grace to die for our sins to taste death for every Man Joh. 12. 23 24. and ch 13. 31. Heb. 2. 9. In raising him from the dead for our justification Act. 3. 13 15. And giving all glory to him upon the account of his sufferings Joh. 17. 4 5. 1 Pet. 1. 19 21. He hath a glorious Body Phil. 3. 21. Act. 22. 11. He is a spiritual Man and hath an heavenly Image 1 Cor. 15. 44 48. A glorious Dominion and Lordship over all Creatures God hath Crowned him with glory and put all things under his feet Ps 8. 4 8. with Heb. 2. 6 9. A glorious fulness of all grace and truth Joh. 1. 14 16. with Col. 1. 18 19. and ch 2. 3 9 10. The spirit of glory rests upon him Isay 11. 1. In him is redemption righteousness eternal life yea all things that the Father hath are his Joh. 16. 15. But to this we shall have afterwards further occasion to speak in the last particular here attributed to the Lamb viz. Blessing He is gone and received up into glory 1 Tim. 3. 16. Act. 7. 55. And is set down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. and ch 8. 1. where he is and remains a Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedech He glorified not himself to be made an High Priest but he that said unto him Thou are my Son this day have I begâ—tten thee Heb. 5. 4 5. And God hath given this glory unto him to be a Covenant of the people a Light of the Gentiles to open the blind Eyes c. And to be the Apostle of the Believers Profession Isay 42. 6 8. Heb. 3. 1 3. And in due season he shall appear in glory Ps 102. 16. In his own glory in his Father's glory and in the glory of the holy Angels Mat. 16. 27. Mark 8. 38. Luke 9. 26. And shall sit upon the Throne of his glory Mat. 25. 31. and 19. 28. And he is worthy to receive glory from all his Angels and Saints 1 Chron. 16. 28 29. Ps 29. 12. and 96. 7 8. with Heb. 1. 6. And he hath power to give glory unto and confer it upon others upon them that come unto and follow him in the regeneration Mat. 19. 28 29. He is the Lord of glory as the owner and professor of it so the giver and dispencer of it both now and hereafter Jam.
is called upon to hear c. See the Notes before on v. 3. and on ch 2. v. 7. And it was to be sent directly and expresly to the seven Churches in Asia the less many of whom it may seem were turned from Paul 2 Tim. 1. 15. yet Christ leaves them not but seeks their good Mat. 21. 35 36. Now he orders another to them Paul was an Instrument of preaching the Gospel to them at the first Acts 19. 10. And now he sends another to instruct admonish reprove comfort recover them He who is not willing that any should perish is more unwilling that any of those little ones that believe in him should perish Mat. 18. 14. One may plant and another water 1 Cor. 3. 5 8. One begin and another finish and all to help forward the Church Gal. 2. 9. To Ephesus which might be the chief City of Asia the less Smyrna not elsewhere mentioned in Scripture but in this Book nor Pergamus nor Thyatira but Acts 16. 14. nor Philadelphia Laodicea Col. 2. 1. and ch 4. 13 16. all of them chief Cities as some say Verse 12. And I turned to see the Voice that spake with me and being turned I saw seven Golden Candlesticks 1. In this Verse we have an account given unto us of the carriage and demeanour of the Apostle referring unto v. 10. and 11. He turned to see the Voice that spake with him He turned He was not regardless and careless thereof Zech. 5. 1. and ch 6. 1. And it is good for us to mind and set our hearts unto his words and sayings And though it were a mighty Voice as of a Trumpet and such an one as might have terrified and affrighted him and caused him to have run away and to have hid himself as they did Dan. 10. 6 7. yet he turned the Lord strengthened and emboldened him 2. We have here some beginning of what he in Vision saw which he was commanded to write in a Book v. 11. And being turned I saw seven Golden Candlesticks Where we may enquire and consider 1. What are the seven Candlesticks here spoken of 2. Why are they called and compared to Candlesticks 3. In what respects are they said to be Golden Candlesticks 1. What are the seven Golden Candlesticks here spoken of To this we need not nor shall enlarge our Lord doth plainly open to us what is signified to us thereby when he openeth this mystery and saith The seven Candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches Rev. 1. 20. To wit the seven Churches in Asia whom the Apostle doth salute v. 4. and which are particularly named v. 11. 2. Why are these Churches called and compared to Candlesticks 1. Because they are to bear forth the light unto and before others to wit the word of life or Christ in the Gospel the light of the glorious Gospel of Christ and thus they were to shine forth and to be as lights in the World Phil. 2. 13 16. Luke 12. 35. 2 Cor. 4. 4. as in our Types the Candlestick was for the light Exod. 35. 14. Numb 4. 9. So Christ's Churches are Candlesticks to bear the light Prov. 6. 23. And this they are to do In Word and Confession Phil. 2. 16. 1 Pet. 2. 9. and ch 4. 10. Rom. 10. 9 10. This liberty Christ hath given them to be teachers of others and one of another according to their measure of knowledge and proportion of Faith to edifie one another on their most Holy Faith 1 Thes 5. 11. Heb. 3. 13. and ch 10. 23 25. and ch 4. 14. nay not only they may but they ought to hold forth the truth and be teachers 1 Tim. 3. 15. Heb. 3. 1. and ch 5. 12. And they are also to bear and shine forth this excellent light In Conversation to have their Conversation as becometh the Gospel of Christ Phil. 1. 27. to let their light so shine before men that they seeing their good works may glorifie their Father which is in Heaven And indeed in walking uprightly according to the truth of the Gospel they shall also shine as lights Phil. 2. 14 15. walk as Children of light Eph. 5. 8. The way of the just is as the shining light which shineth more and more unto the perfect day Prov. 4. 18. 1 Pet. 2. 11 12. and ch 3. 1. 16. This is the proper use of Candlesticks 2. They are called Candlesticks to denote that they are not light in themselves nor can enlighten others or be instruments of good one to another unless the Word of Christ be received and entertained by them they must continually hold forth that or else they can be of no usefulness as Candlesticks what use is the Candlestick of unless a light be in it A Candlestick without that cannot light others Truly they can do nothing without Christ though they are light yet it is not in themselves but in the Lord Joh. 15. 4 5. Eph. 5. 1. Col. 3. 16. If any say but the Angels are called and compared to Stars and they are light bodies and have the light abiding in them and so the Angels are always herein useful to give light but not the Churches which are Candlesticks To that I say These Metaphorical Expressions are not to be extended too far The most eminent Instruments and Ministers of Christ have nothing but what they have received and do receive from Christ the Sun of Righteousness The most eminent Instruments may say and confess as that famous Apostle of the Gentiles doth that they are not sufficient of themselves to think any thing as of themselves but their sufficiency is of God 1 Cor. 4. 2 7. 2 Cor. 3. 3 5. And though the Ministers are here called Stars yet the Prophets are called elsewhere Candlesticks Rev. 11. 4. And though here the Churches are called Candlesticks yet elsewhere the Saints in general are said to be the Light of the World Mat. 5. 14. and to be light in the Lord Eph. 5. 8. and are exhorted to shine as lights in the World Phil. 2. 15. but neither the one nor the other have light in themselves as of themselves but of the fulness of Christ they all receive and Grace for Grace Joh. 1. 14 16. 3. Candlesticks they are compared to to instruct us that their usefulness as such and as distinct Bodies and Societies one from another is but in this dark World as it were and while themselves also see but thorow a Glass darkly as in our Types of old 2 Chron. 13. 11. When the new Jerusalem shall come down from God out of Heaven the Glory of God shall lighten it and the Lamb shall be the light thereof Rev. 21. 23. and they shall not need such Mediums as now they do There shall be no night there and they shall need no Candle nor light of the Sun nor Moon Rev. 21. 24. and ch 22. 5 6. Isay 60. 1 3 19 20. The Sun of Righteousness shall then arise gloriously Mal. 4. 2. and
then Prophesies shall fail and Tongues shall cease and knowledge shall vanish away 1 Cor. 13. 8. In former times the Candlestick was in the Sanctuary or holy place and not in the holiest there was none at all Heb. 9. 2 3. 1 Kings 8. 12. they shall then be lights in themselves and shall shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Who hath Ears to hear let him hear saith Mat. 13. 44. 4. They are compared to Candlesticks to teach us that it is possible they may be removed and put out of the place they are in for their evils even as it fared of old with our Types Jer. 52. 16 19. So Christ threatneth unto one of these Candlesticks Remember from whence thou art fallen and repent and do the first works or else I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of its place except thou repent Rev. 2. 5. Hereafter they shall be fixt as the Sun Mat. 13. 41 44. they shall be as Pillars in the House of God and shall go no more out Rev. 3. 12. But now it is possible the Candlesticks may be removed and it is very probable that some of these seven if not all are in a great measure so long since Behold Israel after the Flesh In such like respects they are called and compared to Candlesticks 3. In what respects are they said to be Golden Candlesticks 1. With allusion and respect to our Types in former times to whom there is frequent reference in this Book Their Candlesticks were formerly of Gold as may be seen Exod. 25. 31. 2 Chron. 4. 7. and ch 13. 11. 3. They are said to be golden as called after Christ who is that Gold tried in the Fire Rev. 3. 18. Job 22. 25. And they are enriched by him with the unsearchable Riches of Christ Eph. 3. 8. Riches of Mercy Rom. 10. 13. Riches of Understanding Col. 2. 2 3. Riches of Glory Rom. 9. 25. yea Christ is theirs and all things are theirs 1 Cor. 3. 21 23. Jam. 2. 5. 2 Cor. 6. 8 10. 3. As the consequent of the former they are called Golden because they are the most excellent Societies and are fitted to bear forth the most excellent light Exod. 31. 4. Numb 31. 22. Dan. 2. 38 39. Cant. 1. 8. and ch 5. 9. and ch 6. 1. 4. Golden to signifie they are fitted for and must abide the Fire of Tribulation Numb 31. 22. as the Lord saith I will bring the third part thorow the Fire and will refine them as Silver is refined and will try them as Gold is tried they shall call on my name and I will hear them I will say it is my People c. Zech. 13. 9. 1 Pet. 1. 7. So all these Churches were and should be in tribulation that they might be tried See notes on v. 9. and on ch 2. v. 10. c. 5. Golden Pleasant as Churches to the Eye of the Master of the House Cant. 1. 15. and ch 2. 13 14. and though there were faults in many of them yet still he is pleased to own them as and call them Golden Candlesticks Vers 13. And in the midst of the seven Candlesticks one like unto the Son of Man clothed with a garment down to the foot and girt about the Paps with a Golden girdle In these words we have some Account given unto us of what this Apostle farther saw in vision namely 1. The person whom he visionally saw one like unto the Son of Man 2. The place where he saw him In the midst of the seven Candlesticks 3. The clothing and habit in which he saw him clothed in a garment down to the foot and girt about the paps with a Golden girdle 1. The person whom he in vision saw one like unto the Son of Man He did not now see his person but onely the likeness and similitude of him or one like him Dan. 7. 13. and ch 10. 16. Appearing possibly by his Angel Rev. 22. 8 9 13 16. And yet to signify to us that the Son of man who is in his Personal body in Heaven Heb. 9. 24. in Paradise Rev. 2. 7. he is in the midst of the Candlesticks invisibly and Spiritually Now here consider we 1 Who is the Son of Man 2. Why is he called the Son of Man 1. Who is the Son of Man Joh. 12. 34. The Scripture helpeth us to understand who he is to wit Jesus Christ the anointed Saviour the only begotten Son of God So he speaking of himself calleth himself whom do Men say that I the Son of Man am Mat. 16. 13. so Luke 22. 48. Joh. 6. 53 56 57. And he is onely so called when one Individual person is spoken of indeed Ezekiel is often so called when spoken to and Daniel once But Christ is never so called when spoken to but always when spoken of and most frequently when he speaketh of himself 2. Why is he called the Son of Man Not because he is a mere Man for he calleth himself and saith of himself that he is Alpha and Omega The beginning and the ending The Lord which is and which was and which is to come the Almighty v. 8. And Alpha and Omega the first and the last v. 11. The Almighty is the Son of Man and his excellent one who is the Son of Man is Almighty The first and the last is the Son of Man who liveth and was dead c. and he who was dead and is alive is the first and the last Before him there was no God or nothing of God formed neither shall there be after him Rev. 1. 17 18. and ch 2. 8. with Isay 43. 10. and ch 44. 6. For this child is wonderful counsellor the mighty God the everlasting father c. Isay 9. 6. and the consideration hereof is very instructive and comfortable But he is called the son of Man 1. Because he who was and is over all God blessed for ever Amen Rom. 9. 5. partook of our nature and was also and is very Man The Word that was in the beginning with God and was and is God was made flesh Joh. 1. 1 3 14 1 Tim. 3. 16. he partook with us of flesh and blood Heb. 2. 14. he was truly a man Joh. 1. 29 30. Act. 2. 22. and is so now in Heaven Acts 7. 55 56. 1 Tim. 2 5. he is not a mere spirit but was raised in the body of his flesh which hath flesh and bones Luke 24. 37. and shall come again as the Son of Man in his own glory and in the Glory of his father with all his holy Angels Mat. 16. 27. Luke 9. 26. and ch 21. 27. 2. He is so called to signifie to us that he partook of the nature of Man of this kind or species of creatures and it was for the good and behoof of all Men that he partook of their nature He was not only the Son of Abraham and David to perform the promises made unto the
High-priests in former times to wit the Cloths of Service to do service in the Holy place and the Holy Garments for Aaron to minister in the Priests Office Exod. 39. 41. When the High-priest went into the Holy Place to make atonement by Blood-shedding he put on the Linnen-Garments and afterward he put them off and put on his Garments in which continually he ministred in the Priests Office Garments for beauty and glory Lev. 16. 4 23 24. Exod. 28. 1 3. Now to answer hereto In former times our High-priest might appear in Linnen because he had not actually made Peace and Atonement by his Blood but now he hath done it and is become glorious in his Apparel he hath now Garments for beauty and glory If it be said the Girdle in Daniel's Vision and this in John's is the same he was then girded with fine Gold of Vphaz Dan. 10. 5. And here he is girt with a golden Girdle and therefore also the Raiment is the same To this I only say here the Girdle doth signifie his Righteousness and Faithfulness and so it might denote to us that though he had not yet made the Atonement by his Blood yet he was righteous and faithful God's righteous Servant who would do it in due time But though he had the Girdle yet he might not be or appear glorious in his Apparel because the work was not finished though he was always faithful But now he hath finished the work the Father gave him to do in his own Personal Body he is glorified Joh. 17. 4 5. Isay 11. 5. 1 Pet. 1. 21. And so Aaron and his Sons had Garments holy Garments to Minister in for beauty and Glory that were beautiful fair and pleasant and glorious splendid rich and full of lustre Exod. 28. 1 3. So our high priest Jesus the Son of Man he is clothed with the Garments of beauty the beauty of holiness Ps 110. 3. Heb. 7. 26. and Glory the God of our fathers hath glorified his Son Jesus Acts 3. 13. I will saith he greatly rejoyce in the LORD my soul shall be joyful in my God for he hath clothed me with the Garments of Salvation he hath covered me with the Robe of righteousness as a Bridegroom decketh himself as a priest with ornaments And as a Bride adorneth her self with her Jewells Isay 61. 1 2 10 11. he is now become beautiful and glorious in his apparel as the Prophet signifieth when he Prophetically saith In that day seven Women shall take hold of one Man even of this one Man saying we will wear our own apparel only let us be called by thy name to take away our reproach We would be called Christians notwithstanding and not Heathens Pagans Infidels In that day shall the Branch of the Lord be beauty and Glory Compare Isay 4. 1 2. with Exod. 28. 2. Now then as the High-priest in former times did bear the names of the Children of Israel in two stones upon the shouldiers of his Ephod which Ephod was a part of his Raiment for a Memorial to or as some translations read it for a remembrance of the Children of Israel Exod. 28. 6 12. and ch 39. 6 7. so our High-priest who hath born our sins on his body on the tree now bears the names of them that so hear and learn of the Father as to come unto him upon his shouldiers before the Lord that they might always be had in remembrance before him he presents them in his raiment and Righteousness and so the memory and name of the just is Blessed but the name of the wicked shall Rot Prov. 10. 7. The righteous shall be in everlasting Remembrance Ps 112. 6. and he beareth their names upon his shoulders for a memorial to his Israel that they may Remember and rejoyce in this that their High-priest carrieth their names upon his shoulders and presents them in the body of his flesh thorow death holy unreprovable and unrebukeable in his sight they continuing in the Faith grounded and settled c. Col. 1. 22 23 he presents their names and persons for so names doe signifie even Persons Acts 1. 15. Rev. 3. 4. and renders them accepted in himself who is the beloved one Eph. 1. 6. Jude 24. that they may rejoyce with joy unspeakable and full of Glory in this that they who cannot present themselves in themselves nor appear immediately before God are presented notwithstanding by their great High-priest and upon his shoulders they are made the righteousness of God in him 2 Cor. 5. 21. they are in Christ Jesus and he of God is made unto them Righteousness 1 Cor. 1. 30. and he is entred not into the holy place made with hands which are the figures of the true but into Heaven it self now to appear in the presence of God for them for them especially who come unto God by him on their behalf and in their stead and representing their persons Heb 9. 24. and ch 8. 1 2. he is one who is Beautiful and glorious in his apparel in the eyes of the Lord And his Garments are of his own making as Mediatour as the Garments of Aaron were made by Moses the Mediatour of that Testament Exod 28. 1 2 3 39 40. and on the shoulders thereof he beareth them up and carrieth them and presents them before the Lord Deut. 32. 11 12. Isay 46 3 4. yea their names are graven in stones in precious stones Exod. 28. 9 11. to signify they shall be had in remembrance for ever before the Lord for so much the graving or engraving of them may signifie A perpetual presentation and memorial of them as when Job is declaring the root of the matter he not only desireth that what he spake were written nor onely that they were printed in a book but also that they were graven with an iron-Pen and laid in the rock forever Job 19. 23 24. So much is also intimated in what the Lord speakes to Zion when she said My LORD hath forgotten me Can saith he a Woman forget her sucking child that she should not have compassion on the son of her Womb yea they may forget yet will I not forget thee But what assurance doth he give her of this It followeth Behold I have graven thee upon the palmes of my hands thy walls are continually before me Isay 49. 14 16. To this it may seem the spouse referreth when she prayeth of and to her beloved Set me as a seal upon thine arme Cant. 8. 6. Engrave me upon thy shoulders Again in former times the typical High-priest did in the breast-plate of judgment bear the names of the Children of Israel upon his heart for a memorial before the Lord continually whose names were engraven in twelve stones and all upon his heart Exod. 28. 13. 29. and ch 39. 8. 14. To signifie his tender and cordial love and compassion to them So our merciful and gracious High-priest beareth the names of his Israel on his heart not upon some
that which is perfect is come that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 8 9 10. Then they shall not teach every Man his Neighbour and every Man his Brother saying know the Lord for all shall know him from the least to the greatest Jer. 31. 34. Heb. 8. 11. 5. Stars they are to acquaint us that now their work is to rule in and amongst the Churches so it is said God made two great lights the greater light to rule the Day and the lesser light to rule the Night and to rule over the Day and over the Night Gen. 1. 16 18. The Moon and the Stars to rule by Night Ps 136. 9. So should these Angels do and be such as should rule not as the Princes of the Gentiles do and lawfully may over their Subjects Mark 10. 42. not to have Dominion over the Faith of any or as Lords over the Flock of Christ 2 Cor. 1. 24. 1 Pet. 5. 1 3. but in speaking to them the word of God as his word with all Authority and therewith instructing admonishing reproving counselling c. And being Examples and Patterns unto others in Word and Conversation in Charity in Spirit in Faith in Purity Heb. 13. 7 17 24. 1 Tim. 3. 4 5 6. and ch 4. 10. and ch 5. 17. Mat. 24. 45. Tit. 2. 11 15. And so for order in and about Assemblies and Assemblings appointing Times Places c. 6. Stars God hath made use of to fight against his and his Peoples Enemies as it is said They fought from Heavens the Stars in their courses fought against Sisera Judg. 5. 20. So God makes use of these also having fitted and furnished them with gifts and skil to fight against Satan and his Instruments to which the Apostle exhorts Timothy saying fight the good fight of Faith 1 Tim. 6. 12. And the Apostle speaking of himself saith I have fought the good fight I have finished my course I have kept the Faith â— Tim. 4. 6 7. and the Weapons of their Warfare are not carnal but mighty thorow God to the pulling down strong-holds casting down Imaginations c. 2 Cor. 10. 4 5. Eph. 6. 10 11 12. 7. The Stars are not clean in the sight of God of the Holy Lord God Job 25. 5. So it may also be said of the Angels of the Churches and of the most pure of them while here In many things they offend all Jam. 3. 2. they are subject to like passions as others are as it is said of Elias and too often polluted therewith Jam. 5. 17. for there is not a just Man upon the Earth that doth good and sinneth not Eccles 7. 20. and therefore they are not to be worshipped or sacrificed unto as hath been said Acts 14. 15. but they need an High-priest aswel as any others and to come continually by the Laver unto the Altar Ps 2â— 8. 8. They are called and compared to Stars to teach them that they should be Inhabiters of Heaven and mind heavenly things they are chosen of God to have and should have their Conversation in Heaven and so above others however in degree So they especially should dwell above in their Faith Hope Desires Delight Exercise Expectation that they may be Patterns and Examples unto others to be imitated by them as the Apostle saith Brethren be followers together of me and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an example for our Conversation is in Heaven from whence also we look for the Saviour the Lord Jesus Phil. 3. 17 20. So the Stars are called the Stars of Heaven Job 22. 12. Isay 13. 10. Nahum 3. 16. To the Stars are the twelve Apostles of the Lamb compared who had their dwelling on high Rev. 12. 1. and so should the Angels of the Churches have they should have their delight in and hold forth the Heavenly Word the Gospel with the Holy Ghost come down from Heaven 1 Pet. 1. 12. Heb. 12. 25. 9. Stars also they are called to signifie that God may be so provoked by their evils or by the Iniquities of others as to with-hold or with-draw the light from them and so render them unuseful and unprofitable to others So he threatneth as with respect to those natural lights The Stars of Heaven and the Constellations thereof shall not give their light And the Stars shall with-draw their shining Isay 13. 10. Joel 2. 10. So also from these Spiritual Stars he may take away his Holy Spirit and those gifts he hath been giving to them or their utterance in Testimony of displeasure to themselves or others unto whom they have formerly mâ—â—â—stred and held forth the light Ps 51. 11. Isay 5. 6. and ch 29. 10. Ezek. 3. 26. yea and it is possible that these Stars may by their Sin fall from and in God's Judgment be cast down from Heaven So we read in this Book that the Stars of Heaven fell unto the Earth Rev. 6. 13. and ch 8. 10. and ch 9. 1. and that the Dragon's Tail drew the third part of the Stars of Heaven and did cast them unto the Earth Rev. 12. 4. and this consideration might admonish them not to be high-minded but fear and others of their Brethren also to have their Conversation as becometh the Gospel of Christ Mica 2. 6. 10. They may also be called Stars to mind them of the Glory that shall be given unto and conferred upon them in their being faithful unto the death though yet this glory may be differently given to them for one Star differeth from another in glory so also it shall be in the Resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 41 But yet when the chief shepherd shall appear they shall all of them receive a Crown of life which â—adeth not away 1 Pet. 5. 5. Then they that be wise or teachers shall shine as the brightness of the firmament And they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Dan. 12. 3. and the mindfulness hereof is propet and powerful to provoke them and prevail with them to be stedfast unmoveable always abounding in the work of the Lord forasmuch as they know their labour shall not be in vain in the Lord. In such like respects the Angels are called and compared to stars in this vision 2. What is imported to us in this that he hath them in his right hand 1. He who hath the seven Spirits of God hath these seven stars to fill enlighten fit and furnish them that they may be instruments of his praise and shine as light in the World Rev. 3. 1. To give wisdom and understanding unto them and pour out his spirit unto them that hereby they may be profitable unto others 1 Cor. 12. 1 7. Yea though they be dead and withered yet he hath the holy spirit in the immeasurable fulness thereof to dispense unto them and to revive and re-enlighten them as Rev. 3. 1 2. Or also if they sin against him he can take away or
may take notice what effect the Vision which he saw had upon him I fell at his Feet as dead such was the Glory Majesty and terribleness of him in this appearance as hath in some measure been shewed Truly so great and dreadful to Mortal-ones is the Glory and Majesty of Christ and of God that when it appeareth it usually causeth such manner of effect as here on John either to faint or to be sick or swoune away as it were c. we are not capable to behold it unless wonderfully strengthened and yet then also usually it hath such or somewhat like Impression as it had upon the Apostle Heb. 12. 21. So the Prophet Ezekiel when he saw the appearance of the likeness of the Glory of the Lord he fell upon his Face Ezek. 1. 28. and ch 2. 1. So Daniel when he saw one Vision he was afraid and fell on his Face and was in a deep sleep on his Face toward the ground and he fainted and was sick certain days Dan. 8. 13 18 27. And when he had another like unto this vouchsafed to John though the Men that were with him saw not the Vision yet a great quaking fell upon them so that they fled to hide themselves and there remained no strength in Daniel and by the Vision his Sorrows were turned upon him and he retained no strength For saith he how can the Servant of this my Lord talk with this my Lord for as for me straightway there remaineth no strength in me neither is there breath left in me Dan. 10. 5 7 9 15 17. So in the transfiguration of Christ they that were with him were â—ore afraid Mark 9. 2 6. Mat. 17. 9. So Christ's appearing to Saul struck him blind for three days he could not see for the glory of that light which was above the brightness of the Sun at Mid-day and was led by the hand of them that were with him Acts. 9. 9. with ch 22. 7 11. and ch 26. 13 14. and in other Revelations and Visions of the Lord vouchsafed to him he knew not whether he was in the body or out of the body 2 Cor. 12. 1 3 4. 1. Then we may herein have some glimpse or be helped to believe that that is surely wonderful glory that our Lord Jesus hath received in our Nature such as we cannot now behold without fainting or amazement In this he shall appear in due season gloriously which is called the glorious appearing or the appearing of the Glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ Tit. 2. 11 13. And we may be helped to conceive and understand that Christ's Glory doth infinitely exceed and surpass all the Glory the Vain-glory in this World we may well enough look upon all the Glory Splendour and Magnificence of this World Even Solomon in all his Glory was not arrayed like one of the Lillies Mat. 6. 29. And we may look upon the glory of a Lilly well enough without being strengthened thereto extraordinarily but behold an infinitely greater in Glory is here even the Rose of Sharon and Lilly of the Valleys Cant. 2. 1. And we may say of all the Glory here below with reference to Christ's what the Apostle saith in another case Even that which was made glorious hath no Glory in this respect by reason of this Glory that excelleth 2 Cor. 3. 10. Therefore the consideration of the inconsiderableness of all other Glory as compared with Christ's might help us to mortifie our Members which are upon the Earth and not be desirous of the Vain-glory which is here below 1 Joâ— 3. 1 2 3. Col. 3. 1 3 5. Gal. 5. 25 26. 2. Hereby also we may be helped to conceive and conclude that the Believers hereafter even the now weakest of them shall be advanced unto a more excellent condition then now they or the strongest of them are in He that is now feeble amongst them shall at that day be as David and the house of David as God as the Angel of the LORD c. Zech. 12. 8. Now the strongest cannot behold his Glory and Majesty in a Vision without fainting or fear but then they shall see him as he is and be ever with him Joh. 17. 24. 1 Joh. 3. 1 2. they shall then see God Mat. 5. 8. they shall see his Face and his name shall be in their Fore-heads Rev. 22. 4. Now they are imperfect even the strongest of them and see thorow a Glass darkly but then Face to Face Now they know in part but then they shall know even as they are known 1 Cor. 13. 9 12. Rom. 8. 23. 1 Thes 4. 16 17 18. 3. How might the consideration of the excellency of Christ's Glory engage us to seek after it that we might be made partakers of it we are called by the Gospel to his Eternal Glory 1 Pet. 5. 10. to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 2 Thes 2. 14. Oh that we may in a patient continuance in well-doing seek after this Glory Honour and immortality that we may in due season have rendred to us â—nd given us of grace eternal life Rom. 2. 6 7 10. 4. How might the consideration and view of the excellency of the Glory of Christ hide Pride from us poor shameful Creatures what have we to be compared to his Glory and Majesty when Job had some imperfect sight of the Glory of the Lord he cries out Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee Job 40. 4 14. Now mine Eye seeth thee whererefore I abâ—or my self and repent in dust and ashes ch 42. 3 6. When the prophet Esay saw his Glory he cries out Woe is me for I am undone because I am a Man of unclean Lips for mine Eyes have seen the King the Lord of Hosts Isay 6. 5. with Joh. 12. 41. And did we more behold him in the Glass of the Gospel it would cause us to enter into the Rock and hide us in the Dust for fear of the Lord and for the Glory of his Majesty Isay 2. 10. It is our Ignorance of him and distance from him and from the beholding of his Glory that causeth us to think and conceit so goodly of our selves of our knowledge cleanness and attainments and makes us so well or rather so ill conceited of our selves 5. If the sight of him in Vision be so dreadful to his Servants what will he be in the execution of his wrath towards those who have persisted in their Rebellion against him Who knoweth the Power of his Anger even according to his fear so will be his Wrath Ps 90. 11. and 76. 7. Then will Men cry to the Mountains and Rocks fall on us and hide us from the Face of him who sits on the Throne and from the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand Rev. 6. 16 17. Oh then now fear before him kiss the Son and trust in him Ps 2. 6
and turn from all their wandrings and departures unto Christ again who is the Green Fir-tree from whom all good fruit is found and without whom we can do nothing Hos 14. 8. Joh. 15. 1 6. Rev. 3. 3. The word of the beginning of Christ is the Foundation of Repentance from dead works and of Faith and of all gracious and spiritual Works and Operations Heb. 6. 1 2. and ch 9. 14. 4. In that he adds And do the first works after the two former Branches of the Counsel so we may learn that we should not simply remember and repent but also bring forth Fruits meet for and answerable to such remembrance and repentance as the Baptist saith to the Pharisees and Sadducees Mat. 3. 7 8. So the Apostle shewed first to them of Damascus c. that they should repent and turn to God and do works meet for repentance Acts 26. 19 20. God is indeed first working in us both to will and to do of good pleasure But still somewhat is required of us as he is thus preventing us namely to do all things without murmurings and disputings Phil. 2. 13 15. Heb. 13. 20 22. Be we then doers of the word and not hearers only deceiving our own selves Jam. 1. 22 25. 2. We have next to speak unto a conditional threat denounced against them Wherein we have to consider 1. The Threat or Commination it self I will come unto thee quickly and will remove thy Candlestick out of his place 2. The condition Or else except thou repent 1. We have to take notice of and to consider the threat or commination it self In which also there is 1. That which preceeds and yet is in order to their Punishment I will come unto thee quickly 2. The Judgment it self directly threatned unto them And will remove thy Candlestick out of his place 1. That which precedes and yet is in order to their punishment I will come unto thee quickly I will come How so Is he not gone up into Heaven And must not the Heavens receive and contain him until the time of the Restitution of all things Acts 3. 21. yes surely But we may say 1. There are personal comings of his and they are two 1. His coming down from Heaven to be made and manifested in the Flesh and to be further abased for us that he might deliver us from that so great a Death as in which otherwise we must have perished for ever And that he might obtain for us Life and immortality so when the fulness of the time was come God sent forth his Son made of a Woman made under the Law that he might redeem them that were under the Law And he came down from Heaven not to do his own will but the will of him that sent him Gal. 4 4 5. Joh. 6. 40. So according to the end of his Father 's Mission he came into the World to be made Man wherefore when he cometh into the World he saith A Body hast thou prepared me Heb. 10. 5. And once in the end of the World he appeared to put away Sin by the Sacrifice of himself Heb. 9. 26. He was manifested to take away our Sins and make peace for us 1 Joh. 3. 5. Col. 1. 20. 1 Joh. 4. 9 10. And to that end he humbled himself and became obedient unto Death even the Death of the Cross Phil. 2. 6 8. aswell as also He came to preach peace in a frail and mortal body Luke 4. 18 43. And to seal to the truth of the Gospel by his Blood Joh. 18. 37. And as with respect to both ends he came to be a Saviour to save that which was lost Mat. 18. 11. Luke 18. 10. Joh. 12. 47. Luke 9. 54 56. 1 Tim. 1. 15. So and in this consideration he hath come once and shall come no more Joh. 16. 10 28. Rev. 1. 18. Rom. 6. 9 10. 1 Joh. 5. 20. and ch 4. 2 3. 2. And he shall come again and appear the second time in his own personal body not in abasement and weakness as formerly but in Glory in his own Glory and in the Glory of his Father with all his Holy Angels Mat. 16. 27. Joh. 14. 3. Heb. 9. 28. Luke 9. 26. He shall descend from Heaven with a shout with the Voice of the Arch-Angel and with the Trump of God 1 Thes 4. 16. But of neither of these two personal comings doth this place speak See the Notes before on Rev. 1. v. 7. 2. There are other comings of Christ spoken of in scripture which are not personal but invisible spiritual and providential comings of his that is to say 1. His comings in his mercies word and ordinances in his gracious visitations of mens hearts and spirits so before he took our nature upon him he was in the World and came unto his own in the ministery of of his Prophets Joh. 1. 10 11. Thus it is said Wherefore when I came was there no man when I called was there none to answer c. that is he came in his word and called and knocked that they might have opened and given entertainment to him Isay 50. 2. Rev. 3. 20. And the Lord saith In all places where I record my name I will come unto thee c. Exod. 20. 24. with Mat. 18. 20. And If any man love me he will keep my word and my Father will love him and we will come unto him and make our abode with him Joh. 14. 21 23. But of his thus coming he here speaks not neither see notes on Rev. 3. v. 20. 2. He is also said to come judicially to execute judgments now in this day either to take men away out of this World by death as our Saviour saith Be ye ready for the Son of Man cometh at an hour when ye think not Luke 12. 40. Mark 13. 35. or to execute and inflict some judgment here as Rev. 2. 16. and ch 3. 3. and ch 16. 15. or to take away and remove some mercies he hath been vouch-safing to any thus we are here to understand it So it is said The Lord cometh out of his place to punish Isay 26. 21. Mica 1. 3. So he that is in the Heavens in his personal body can come unto us in his providences and judgments when he pleaseth Quickly that is 1. Easily lightly without difficulty if men repent not Mark 9. 39. Jer. 31. 28. Prov. 1. 24 29. 2. Quickly without delay speedily so v. 16. he would hasten his word to perform it as Jer. 1. 12. 3. Quickly unexpectedly and unthought of and so he would come as a thief when they were not aware and take away his mercy from them Rev. 3. 3. and ch 16. 15. Now in that he thus threatens to come to this Angel and Church we may learn 1. That he on whom we call is one that is without partiality in his judgments he is such an one as without respect of persons judgeth according unto every man's work Jam. 3. 17.
Father and is over all God blessed for ever Rom. 9. 5. The true God and eternal life 1 Joh. 5. 20 21. 2. And he is the Son of God as he partook of our nature and is the Man Christ Jesus 1 Joh. 4. 14 15. And he is so called and is 1. As to his incarnation or being made flesh Joh. 1. 14. as the Angel saith to the Virgin The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee and the Power of the highest shall over shadow thee Therefore also that holy thing which shall be born of thee shall be called the Son of God Luke 1. 31 32 33 35. That which was conceived in her was of the Holy Ghost and so of God Mat. 1. 18 20. God prepared him a Body Heb. 10. 5. The Lord herein created a new thing in the Earth a Woman hath compassed a Man Jer. 31. 22. 2. He is the Son of God his obedient Son one that obeyed and so honoured his Father and learned Obedience by the things which he suffered Heb. 5. 9. A Son honoureth his Father Mal. 1. 6. And Christ did always those things which pleased his Father Joh. 8. 28 29. And he became obedient to him unto Death the Death of the Cross Phil. 2. 6 8. Heb. 10. 5 8. 3. The Son of God one in whom he is infinitely delighted He received Honour and Glory when there came such a Voice unto him from the excellent glory both at his Baptism and at his Transfiguration saying This is my beloved Son in whom I am well-pleased Mark 1. 11. and 9. 7. and ch 12. 6. 2 Pet. 1. 17. The Father loveth the Son and so loveth him that he hath given all things into his Hand Joh. 3. 35. and ch 10. 17. Mat. 11. 27. 4. He is the Son of God his first-born and so his Heir Ps 89. 26 27. He is his Son whom he hath appointed heir of all things the Inheritour of his holy Mountain Heb. 1. 2 3. Isay 65. 9. One who shall inherit all Nations Ps 82. 8. Yea all things that the Father hath are his Joh. 16. 14 15. 5. The Son of God one that is infinitely like unto him and that doth most perfectly resemble him the Son of the Father in truth and love 2 Joh. 3. His holy Child Acts 4. 27. The Image of the Invisible God 2 Cor. 4. 4. Col. 1. 13 14. The brightness of his Glory and the express Character of his person Heb. 1. 2 3. So as he that seeth him seeth the Father also He hath come a light into the World that whosoever believeth in him should not abide in Darkness in Ignorance of God Joh. 8. 12. and ch 12. 45 46. and ch 14. 6 7 9. For God hath shined forth the light of the knowledge of his Glory in the face of Jesus Christ 2 Cor. 4. 4 6. And he is the Son of God compleatly and gloriously in the Nature of Man in his being raised from the dead He was in the Resurrection from the Dead determined to be the Son of God with Power Rom. 1. 4. The promise which God made unto the Fathers he hath fulfilled in that he hath raised up Jesus again As it is written thou art my Son this Day have I begotten thee Acts 13. 32 33. He is in this sense said to be the first born from the dead that in all things he might have the preeminence Rev. 1. 5. Col. 1. 18. And this consideration that Jesus is the Son of God may be of use to us 1. To shew unto us the great and wonderful love of God to mankind God so loved the World that he gave his only begotten Son 3. 16. In this was manifested the love of God towards us because that God sent his only begotten Son into the World that we might live thorow him the Father sent the Son the Saviour of the World 1 Joh. 4. 8 10 14. Rom. 8. 32. 2. Seeing Christ is the Son of God it may provoke us to hear him Mat. 17. 15. And to give the more earnest heed unto the things which we have heard because God in these last days hath spoken unto us by his his Son Heb. 1. 1 2. with ch 2. 1 2 3 3. We may see and perceive that this Son of God is more excellent than all others that are so called he is God's first born unto whom God hath given the preeminence in all things for it pleased the Father that in him all fulness should dwell Col. 1. 18 19. God hath anointed him with the Oyl of gladness above his Fellows Psal 89. 20 27. Heb. 1. Col. 2. 9 10. 4. Seeing he is the Son of God and so eminently the root of Sonship it shews unto us how we may become Sons To as many as received him to them he gave power to become the Sons of God even to them that believe on his name Joh. 1. 12 13. He that believeth on the Son is not condemned but hath everlasting life Joh. 3. 16 18 35 36. and ch 6. 40. 1 Joh. 5. 10 12. 5. The consideration hereof may encourage such as have the saith of our Loâ—d Jesus Christ to hold it fast and to hâ—ld fast the profession thereof Seeing we have a great High priest that is passed into the Heavens Jesus the Son of God let us hold fast the Profession Heb. 4. 13 14. Who is he that overcometh the World but he that believeth that Jesus is the son of God 1 Joh. 5. 4 5. 6. It sheweth unto us the sad and deplorable condition of such as rebel against and persist in their disobedience to him Seeing they crucify to themselves the Son of God afresh and put him to an open shame Heb. 6. 6. and chap. 10. 28 29. Oh Be we then wise all of us and kiss the Son lest he be angry and we perish from the way Ps 2. 10 12. Mat. 21. 37 41 43. Who hath his Eyes like unto a flame of Fire and his Feet are like fine Brass See the Notes before on ch 1. v. 14. and 15. Only here we may again note in general from this description of the Son of God in which he appears dreadful as considering the evils found with this Angel and Church namely their suffering Idolatrous and Antichristian Teachers among them That he is greatly displeased with and incensed against such as are false teachers and them who suffer such corrupt teachers amongst them also So also he appears terribly to the Angel and Church in Pergamos who were guilty of the like evil as these were See the Notes before on v. 12 15. And though there were great evils in other of these Churches as in Ephesus Sardis and Laodicea Yet he only appears terrible in the description of himself to these two Churches who had evil and corrupt teachers amongst them 2 Joh. 9. 11. Verse 19. I know thy Works and Charity and Service and Faith and thy Patience and thy Works and the last more than the first Or as some read it
to him Ask of me and I will give thee the Heathen for thinâ— Inheritance and the utmost parts of the Earth for thy Possession To wit all power over the Nations Then it is added Thou shalt break them with a Rod of Iron with an irresistible power thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel Psal 2. 7 8 9. with Acts 13. 32 33. As it is here also assured by Christ to him that overcometh c. Christ hath received all power over the Nations and shall inherit all Nations Ps 82. 8. He shall govern the Nations upon Earth Psal 67. 4. He shall judge the World in righteousness and minister judgment to the people in uprightness Psal 9. 6 8. and 96. 13. and 98. 9. and 22. 27 29. He shall have dominion from Sea to Sea and from the River unto the ends of the Earth They that dwell in the Wilderness shall bow before him and his Enemies shall lick the dust The Kings of Tarshish and of the Isles shall bring presents The Kings of Sheba and Seba shall offer Gifts yea all Kings shall fall down before him all Nations shall serve him Psal 72. 8 11. and 66. 1 4. The Lord shall be King over all the Earth Zech. 14. 9. He and not the Church of Rome as a learned man â—ondly conceits is the Man-child who shall rule all Nations with a rod of Iron Rev. 12. 5. Isay 2. 4. He shall rule them with a Rod of Iron with an irresistible power as before is said and break in peices the Oppressor and all that rebel against him and will not fall down and submit to him Psal 72. 4. Isay 1â— 4 5. Yea this Kingdom of Christ's which the God of Heaven shall set up shall never be destroyed nor be left to other people but it shall break in pieces and consume all other Kingdoms and it shall stand for ever Dan. 2. 34 35 44. And so in the beginning of his Reign he shall smite the Nations and he shall rule them with a rod of Iron and he treadeth the Wine-press and Wrath of Almighty God Rev. 19. 15 21. And he shall fight against and destroy those Nations that come against Jerusalem Zech. 14. 3 4 12. And in the time of his reign he will plague those Families that come not up to worship the King the Lord of Hosts and to keep the Feast of Tabernacles Zech. 14. 16 19. And in the end of the thousand years reign Fire shall come down from God out of Heaven and devour the Nations which are in the four quarters of the Earth who will then being deceived by the Devil go up and compass the Camp of the Saints about and the beloved City Rev. 20. 7 8 9. And in that Christ hath received and will in due season exercise such power over the Nations the consideration of it may be useful to us 1. To shew unto us the preciousness of his blood for upon the account thereof the Father hath highly exalted him and given him a name above every name Joâ— 3. 35. with ch 10. 17. Phil. 2. 6 9 11. Rev. 5. 12. 2. It may engage and provoke us all now to submit to him this is the use the Holy Ghost makes of the power given to Christ and that he shall rule the Nations with a Rod of Iron c. Be wise now therefore O ye Kings be instructed ye Judges of the Earth Kiss the Son lâ—st he be angry and ye perish c. Psal 2. 8 10 12. Acts 3. 19 20. and ch 17. 30 31. 3. In that he will give such power to him that oveâ—cometh it shews that such are called to the fellowship of Jesus Christ our Lord 1 Cor. 1. 9. 2 Thes 2. 13 14. To him are they beholden for all Rom. 8. 17. Luke 22. 29 30. And it might engage us therefore to hold fast his works and to fight the good fight of Faith 1 Tim. 6. 12. Then their Horn shall be exalted with Honour Psal 75 10. Verse 28. And I will give him the Morning Star This is a farther Branch of the Blessedness assured unto him that overcometh and keepeth Christ's works unto the end By the Morning Star is here meant Jesus Christ himself as he gives us to understand saying I Jesus have sent mine Angel to testifie to you these things in the Churches I am the bright and morning Star Rev. 22. 16. And he is the morning Star so called by way of excellency and eminency and so he is preferred before the Angels or Messengers of the Churches who are called Stars chap. 1. 17 20. For he is the Angel or Messenger of the Covenant Mal. 3. 1. And before the Apostles who are compared to and called Stars Rev. 12. 1. For he is the Apostle of the Believers Profession Heb. 3. 1. And before the Angels who are by nature Spirits and who are called the morning Stars Joâ— 38. 7. For he is Gods Angel emphatically so called in whom his name is Exod. 23. 20 21. He is made so much better then the Angels as he hath by Inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they Heb. 1. 3 4 13. This is that Star of which Balaam prophesied when he said There shall come a Star out of Jacob Numb 24. 17. and he is here called the morning Star and the bright and morning Star ch 22. 16. to signifie to us that when God shall send him again then immediately will follow the day of God 2. Pet. 3. 12. or the day of Christ Phil. 1. 6. and ch 2. 16. that notable day of the Lord Acts 2. 20. And so he is called the Day-Star 2 Pet. 1. 19. and Day-Spring East or Sun-rising Luke 1. 78. This Morning-Star he will give to him that overcometh then not as now by Faith but gloriously And so 1. He will give himself then gloriously who is the Resurrection and the Life and so give them a part in and raise them up in the first Resurrection so the different glory in the Resurrection is compared to the diversity of the glory among the Stars 1 Cor. 15. 41. with Verse 33. Rev. 20. 4 6. He will raise them up in the Resurrection of the just Luke 14. 14. and ch 20. 35 36. 2. He as the Son of Righteousness will appear and immediately arise to them with healing under his wings Mal. 4. 2. and wipe away all Tears from their Eyes and there shall be no more death neither sorrow nor crying nor shall there be any more pain for the former things shall pass away Rev. 21. 1 4 5. He will then perfectly and eternally forgive their Sins and heal their Diseases and deliver them from all the Fruits of Sin Ps 130. 8. Isay 33. 24. 3. He will immediately be a perpetual light to them he will give himself as the morning-Star unto them and that day shall then come in which there will be no darkness to those that have their part in the first Resurrection The Sun shall be no
shall be preferred before and be more eminent than others even in that Temple also for as one star differs from another in Glory so also will it be in the resurrection of the dead 1 Cor. 15. 41 42. He shall be preferred before little ones of whom yet is the Kingdom of Heaven and before such as have not had any considerable trials or opposition and so no such occasion to fight for our light affliction which is but for a moment works for us a farmore exceeding and eternal weight of Glory while we look not at the things which are seen but at the things which are not seen c. 2 Cor. 4. 17 18. he that overcometh shall be exalted above others as the pillar is above the earth generally and as now their sufferings for Christ do abound so then also their consolations by Christ shall answerably abound 2 Cor. 1. 4 5 7. Rev. 22. 12. 2. A pillar By which the King will stand and with whom he will be present for ever as it is said in our types Behold the King stood by the the pillar in the Temple as the manner was 2 King 11. 4 14. 2 Chron. 23. 13. and Josiah stood by a pillar in the house of the Lord 2 King 23. 2 3. So the Tabernacle of God shall be with them that overcome and he will dwell with them and they shall be his people and God himself shall be with them their God Rev. 21. 2 3 7. Joh. 17. 24. 3. More directly a pillar is a strong one though now he be never so weak and have never so little strength v. 8. he shall be a pillar a stable one established so as nothing shall prevail against him As the Lord saith to Jeremy Behold I have made thee this day a defenced city and an iron pillar c. and they shall not prevail against thee for I am with thee Jer. 1. 18 19. indeed now in this day he that abides in Christ sins not he keeps himself and the wicked one touches him not 1 Joh. 3. 6. with ch 5. 18. The gates of hell neither the power nor policy thereof shall not prevail against such an one Mat. 16. 18. Joh. 10. 27 29. But it is possible Men may not abide in Christ and then Satan and his instruments may get their advantage against them as hath been shewn before But hereafter they that overcome shall be like pillars gloriously they shall be so established that they shall not possibly depart or be removed from Christ or his Temple they shall be like the pillars in our types which were set in the porch of the Temple whereof the name of the one was called Jachin that is he shall establish and the name of the other Boaz that is in it is strength 1 King 7. 21. Then they that overcome and keep Christ's works to the end shall be stable for ever God will establish and in them shall be his strength Ps 87. 5. So as they shall go no more out no not for ever as here it presently followeth 4. A pillar on which Christ will write as also followeth presently after so in former times they did write some choice and excellent things of God's law upon their postes or pillars as it is said Thou shalt write these words upon the Posts of thine house and on thy gates Deut. 6. 4 9. and the Church is now called the Pillar of truth upon which the truth is so written that it may be seen and read of all Men they being manifestly declared to be the Epistle of Christ ministred by the Apostles written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God not in Tables of stone but in the fleshly Tables of the heart 1 Tim. 3. 15. with 2 Cor. 3. 2 3. so they shall be pillars hereafter gloriously as it is promised and covenanted by the Lord saying I will put my laws into their minds and write them in or upon their hearts Heb. 8. 10 11. with Jer. 31. 33 34. And saith Christ I will make him a pillar in the Temple of my God my God he calls him by way of Eminency and Excellency to distinguish him from and infinitely prefer him before all others who are called Gods The God of our Lord Jesus Christ is the Father of Glory 1 Cor. 8. 5 6. Eph. 1. 17. And his God because he is immediately originally and eternally and most compleatly and gloriously his and ours thorow and upon the account of him as Christ saith I ascend to my Father and your Father and to my God and your God Joh. 20. 17. Now Christ will make such an one as overcomes A Pillar in the Teâ—ple of his God even in the Church of Christ in its glorious estate The Church is now called the Temple being built upon and abiding in Christ as it is said ye are built upon the Foundation of the Apostles and Prophets Jesus Christ himself being the chief Corner-Stone In whom all the building fitly framed together grows unto an Holy Temple in the Lord Eph. 2. 20 21. 1 Cor. 3. 16. for ye are the Temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them c. 2 Cor. 6. 16 17. And this Church will be the Temple of Christs God hereafter when he shall present it to himself a glorious Church not having spot or wrinckle or any such thing but that it should be holy and without blemish Eph. 5. 25 27. Which glorious Church or Temple is called by the Prophet Gods Holy Hill or The Hill of the Lord Ps 15. 1. and 24. 1 3. with Allusion to the Temple of God which was built on Mount Moriah 2 Chron. 3. 1. In this glorious Temple he shall hereafter be a Pillar not of or in this World for Christs Kingdom is not of this World Joh. 18. 36. But when the Mountain of the Lords House shall be established or prepared in the top of the Mountains and shall be exalted above the Hills and all Nations shall flow to it Isay 3. 2 3. Mica 4. 1 3. This is therefore a powerful motive and argument to engage us to fight the good fight of Faith and to resist unto Blood striving against Sin for in so doing we shall hereafter inherit Glory when shame shall be the promotion of Fools and Cowards Prov. 3. 35. with Rev. 21. 7 8. 2. And he shall go no more out namely out of this glorious Temple before spoken of no not for ever upon any Account whatever And so 1. They now go forth into the field of the World to call and bring Men into wisdoms house out of it as it is said she hath sent forth her maidens Prov. 9. 1 5. and the Master of the house said to his Servant go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city and again he said Go out into the highways and hedges and compel them to come in that my house may be filled Luke 14. 21 23. Joh.
shall be put upon the victors and conquerors as the name of the Husband is upon the wife and so as his name shall be called the Lord our righteousness so this is the name wherewith she the Church shall be called the Lord our righteousness compare Jer. 23. 6. with ch 33. 16. Rev. 19. 7 8. Or as the Lord saith thou shalt be called by a new name which the mouth of the Lord shall name thou shalt no more be termed forsaken neither shall thy land any more be termed desolate But thou shalt be called Hepzi-bah that is my delight is in her and thy land Beulah that is married for the Lord delighteth in thee and thy land shall be married Isay 62. 2 4. A name better then of Sons and Daughters Isay 56. 15 16. all this will he write upon them that overcome who hath the writers inkhorn by his side spoken of Ezek. 9. 2 4 11. and this honour shall all his Saints have Hallelujah Ps 149. see the notes before on ch 2. v. 17. Verse 14. He that hath an ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches see the notes before on ch 2. v. 7. Verse 13. And unto the Angel of the Church of the Laodiceans write see the notes before on ch 2. v. 1. These things saith the Amen the faithful and true witness the begininng of the creation of God We have from the beginning of this verse to the latter end of the eighteenth verse spoken in a Treatise called Needful Counsel and therefore might forbear to speak anything hereto But because these notes may be some-what uniform possibly some may read or hear these that have not that or a time or heart to do it therefore I shall more briefly write over again somewhat of that which is fore-printed in that book These things saith the Amen Thus our Lord begins to describe himself to this Angel and Church he is the Amen to wit he in whom all the promises of God are yea and Amen 2 Cor. 1. 20. ratified confirmed and sealed even by his precious blood which is the blood of the new Testament and everlasting covenant Mat. 26. 28. Heb. 10. 29. and ch 13. 20. Those great and precious promises ministred in the Gospel which pertain to life and godliness yea in which are contained and given all things for this life and that to come are not only assured by the word of God and confirmed by his oath which yet are two immutable things in which it is impossible for God to lye and therefore might quicken and encourage lukewarme ones to flee for refuge to lay hold on that hope set before them But also they are actually made firm by the blood of the Testator who is also in the vertue thereof raised and as the fore-runner entred into Heaven and is the mediatour of the new Testament that by means of death for the redemption of the transgressions uâ—deâ— the first Testament they which are called may receive the promise of the eternal inheritance he mediateth and makes intercession for the taking away the iniquities of those that come unto God by him and that the contents of that â—ovenant may be dispenced to them according to their needs and capacities God hath promised and Christ hath actually said and is the Amen to them Rev. 1. 18. Heb. 8. 6. and 9. 15. It may seem in that Jesus Christ doth first describe himself by this title of the Amen that these lukewarme ones did not keep in believing remembrance the promises and the firmeness and immutability of them and certainty of their performance according to the tenour of them being ratified by such precious blood and ascertained by such a faithful and true witness and therefore they grew sluggish remiss and indifferent and there was great abatement of their former â—ervency either fearing they should be left in sufferings or not provided for or dispenced unto according to their wants and therefore to recover them he telleth them his name is the Amen The consideration hereof is powerful to stir up to diligence and to recover us from our decays to cause us that we shall not be slothful but diligent followers of them who thorow faith and patience inherit the promises Heb. 6. 10 20. To strengthen us to hold fast the profession of our Faith without wavering and â—o consider one another to provoke to love and good works not forsaking the assembling of our selves together Heb. 10. 22 25. To engage us to come out from among Men and to be separate and not to touch the unclean thing But to cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God 2 Cor. 6. 16 18. and 7. 1. If these exceeding great and precious promises given to the Apostles to minister and ministred by them in and with the glorious Gospel be in us received and entertained by us and abound if they be suffered to dwell richly in us and to have their perfect work so as we limit them not nor hold them in unrighteousness they make us that we shall not be idle or â—nfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they will provoke us to flee from and escape the corruption that is in the World thorow lust and besides giving all diligence thereto they will enable and stir us up to add to our Faith vertue and to vertue knowledge and to knowledge temperance and to temperance patience and to patience godliness and to godliness Brotherly kindness and to brotherly-kindness charity To these things will these precious promises confirmed by such precious blood enliven and quicken us if they be suffered to dwell richly in us For hereby we shall be made partakers of the divine nature 2 Pet. 1. 4 9. Oh exercise we our selves to godliness to Christ who is the root and foundation of godliness for it is profitable to all things having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come 1 Tim. 4. 8. with ch 3. 16. How effectual were the promises with the partriaâ—chs in former times when they were not so confirmed as now to make them forsake their country kindred and Fathers house To confess themselves strangers and pilgrims on earth c. These believed caused Abraham the Father of the faithful not to consider his own body now dead neither yet the deadness of Sarah's womb But was strong in Faith giving glory to God and being fully perswaded that what God had promised he was able to perform and therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him but for us also to whom it shall be imputed if we believe on him who hath performed the promise made to the Fathers in raising Christ from the dead who was delivered for our offences and raised again for our justification Gen. 12. 1 3. Heb. 11. 13 16. Rom. 4. 16 25. with Acts 13.
it too highly and sometimes spake unadvisedly as Elihu saith unto him Thou saidst my righteousness is more than Gods Job 35. 2. But when he had a more open sight of the Almighty he crys out Behold I am vile what shall I answer thee I will lay mine hand upon my mouth once have I spoken but I will not answer yea twice but I will proceed no further Job 40. 3 4 5. with chap. 13. 18 22. and chap. 23. 2 5. And again he thus saith and confesseth I have uttered that I understood not things too wonderful for me which I knew not I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear but now mine eye seeth thee wherefore I abhor my self and repent in dust and ashes Chap. 42. 3 5 6. Thus also it was with the Prophet Isaiah when he had that vision vouchsafed to him In which he saw the Lord sitting upon a throne high and lifted up and his train filled the temple above it stood the Seraphims and one cried unto another Holy holy holy is the Lord of hosts then said he Wo is me for I am undone I am cut off because I am a man of unclean lips c. Isa 6. 1 2 3 4 5. see also Dan. 10. 5-8-15-17 Rev. 1. 13-17 and without doubt those which are in their spirits in Heaven and being absent from the body are present with the Lord they are more humble than we are who are on earth And did we more clearly behold his glory and glorious Majesty who sits upon the throne as it is discovered to us in the face of Christ in the Gospel 2 Cor. 4. 4-6 It would cause us to lye low before him and hide us in the dust for the glory of his Majesty and yet in the encouragement of his grace come by our High-priest with boldness to the throne of grace Isa 2. 10. Heb. 4. 14 16. And that any of us are proud and highly conceited of our selves and are lifting up our selves unduly in language apparel or demeanour of our selves is because of our foolishness and ignorance of God or because we do not behold in the glass of the Gospel the glory of the Lord 2 Cor. 3. 18. the proud person is a fool 1 Tim. 6. 4. Hos 4. 1-6 with chap. 5. 5. Oh then humble we our selves in the sight of the Lord and he will lift us up Jam. 4. 5-7-10 Act. 20. 19. Matth. 11. 28 29. Eph. 4. 2-4 Verse 11. Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power for thou hast created all things and for thy pleasure they are and were created These are the words of the twenty-four Elders to him that sate on the Throne in their humble prostration of themselves In which we have 1. Their Acknowledgment or Doxology 2. The Reason or Reasons thereof 1. Their Acknowledgment or Doxology Thou art worthy O Lord to receive glory and honour and power Where we may note in general That they prostrate themselves as is fore-declared in ver 10. when they speak to him that sits on the Throne and not when they speak of him simply so it is said chap. 5. 8 9. the four living creatures and four and twenty Elders fell down before the lamb saying Thou art worthy to take the book and to open the seals thereof They speak not of him simply but direct their speech unto him when they fall down Thou art worthy By way of highest merit and desert to have all divine and religious Worship and Adoration and thou only see the notes before on chap. 3. ver 4. which is not said to exclude Christ from being the object thereof also for he and the Father are one and the same blessing honour glory and power is ascribed unto the lamb as unto him that sits upon the throne by every creature whereto the four living creatures say Amen chap. 5. 13 14. But to exclude all merely created Beings whatsoever Thou art worthy who hast created all things as it presently follows he as distinguished from opposed to and infinitely preferred before all creatures or merely created beings whatsoever As the Psalmist saith I will call upon the Lord who is worthy to be praised 2 Sam. 22. 3 4. Psal 18. 3. He with exclusion of all others whatever even this one God the Father the Word and Holy Spirit 1 John 5. 7. with exclusion of all inferiour creatures as the Sun Moon Stars all the host of Heaven Deut. 4. 19. of all birds four-footed beasts creeping things c. Rom. 1. 23-26 of the likeness of any of these inferiour creatures or any else Deut. 4. 15-18 of man corruptible man Rom. 1. 23. of holy and good men even the most eminent of them Acts 10. 26. and chap. 14. 14 15. of the glorious Angels Judg. 13. 16. Col. 2. 18. Rev. 19. 10. and chap. 22. 8 9. He only is to be worshipped with divine Adoration as we have frequently had occasion to shew in the foregoing part of this Chapter Deut. 6. 13. and chap. 10. 20. with Matth. 4. 10. To receive glory and honour c. not as if he needed any thing Acts 17. 25. If thou be righteous what givest thou him or what receiveth he of thine hand Job 35. 7. But to receive that acknowledgment of praise and honour from all creatures which appertains to thee and is thy due whether it be given thee or no see the notes before on ver 9. of the living creatures it is said They give glory c. And here the Elders say Thou art worthy O Lord to receive or take it Indeed it is not meet for mere creatures to receive religious or divine worship though it should be given to them and the holy Ones both men and angels have disclaimed and refused it Act. 10. 25 26. and chap. 14. 14 15. Rev. 19. 10. And how deer did it cost Herod when he received it The people gave a shout saying It is the voice of a God and not of a man and immediately the angel of the Lord smote him because he gave not God the glory but received it to himself and he was eaten up of worms and gave up the ghost Act. 12. 22 23. Dan. 4. 30 31. Rev. 18. 7. And how sad and deplorable will be the end of that man of sin the Son of Perdition who sitteth in the Temple of God shewing himself that he is God The Lord will consume him with the spirit of his mouth and will destroy him with the brightness of his coming 2 Thes 2. 3 4-8 Ezek. 28. 2-8-10 But thou art worthy O Lord to receive it say the Elders we cannot speak too highly and honourably of him yea he is exalted above all blessing and praise Nehem. 9. 5. Psal 106. 1 2 3. Job 26. 14. Thou art worthy to receive glory and honour and power Unto the two former we have spoken before see the notes on ver 9. And power This is also ascribed to him that sits on the throne and
now ascended up on high and hath led Captivity captive Psal 68. 18. with Eph. 4. 8-10 His right hand and his holy Arm hath gotten him the victory Psal 98. 1. He hath spoiled Prineipalities and Powers and made a shew of them openly triumphing over them in himself Col. 2. 15. He hath overcome and prevailed mightily against his Enemies Rev. 3. 21. And he hath redeemed us from the curse of the Law being made a curse for us Gal. 3. 13. He hath given a resolution to that Question and done that which was impossible for all Creatures Shall the Prey be taken from the Mighty But thus saith the LORD even the Captivity of the Mighty shall be and now as to the Ground-work of it hath been taken away and the prey of the terrible delivered Isa 49. 24 25. He hath cast out the Prince of this world out of his Principality that he had gotten over mankind and drawn all men unto himself to be under his gracious Government that through him the world might be saved Joh. 12. 31 32. with Chap. 3. 16 17. and Chapt. 5. 22 23. Psal 118. 6-20-24 And from the Prey he is gone up into Heaven into Heaven it self having finisht the work in his own body which the Father gave him to do and is glorified with the Father 's own Self with the Glory which he had with him before the world was 1 Pet. 3. 22. Hebr. 9. 24. John 17. 4 5. And he is gone up to Ariel the Lion of God as the Altar in former times was called Isai 29. 1-6 Ezek. 43. 15. A Type of Christ who is the true Altar and Sacrifice Heb. 9. 14 And unto him who hath appeared to be the LORD strong and mighty the LORD mighty in battle the everlasting doors of Heaven are set open and the King of Glory in our nature is entred in and hath taken possession thereof Psal 24. 7 8 9 10. and Psal 118. 19-21 And he hath obtained eternal redemption forgiveness of sins for ever Heb. 9. 12. with Eph. 1. 7. and Heb. 10. 12. And all Grace and Truth all Power and Spirit John 1. 14-16 as is declared in the following Verse to this we are speaking to And now we have an Altar this Ariel this Lion of God that by him we might offer up the Sacrifice of praise to God continually that is the fruit of our lips giving thanks unto his Name Hebr. 13. 10-15 16. He stooped down he couched as a Lion and as an old Lion This is still to be understood as it is applied to a Lion and to a Lion and as it follows his going up from his Prey And so it signifies That after our Lord Jesus had taken the Prey he lay down as it were After he had purged our sins abolisht our death and overcome all our Enemies in and by himself redeemed us from the curse of the Law and obtained eternal redemption for us by his Blood he sate down on the right hand of the Majesty on high Heb. 1. 3. Rev. â— 2â— Heb 9. 12. This Man after he had offered one Sacrifice for sins for ever sate down on the right hand of God Heb. 10. 11 12. He entred into rest and ceased from these his works as God did from his Heb. 4. 10. And as it is said of the Lions when they have roared after their Prey and sought their meat of God they then lay them down in their dens Psal 104. 21 22. So it is said of Israel which was a Type of Christ Hos 11. 1. with Matth. 2. 15. Behold the people shall rise up as a great Lion and lift up himself as a young Lion he shall not lie down until he eat of the prey and drink of the blood of the slain But then it is implied he should lie down and take his rest Numb 23. 24. And again He couched he lay down as a Lion and as a great Lion Numb 24. 8 9. So our powerful and victorious Lion having vanquisht his Enemies is entred into rest He for the joy set before him endured the Cross despising the shame and is now set down on the right hand of the Throne of God Heb. 12. 2. 1 Pet. 3. 22. having all power given to him both in Heaven and on Earth and is God's King whom he hath set down upon his holy hill of Zion Matth. 28. 11. Psal 2. 6. Zech. 6. 12 13. Who shall rouze him up that is to say none shall to do it And as it is said of Israel when mention is made of his King to wit That he shall be higher than Agag â—ho shall stir him up viz. none shall be able to do it Num. 24. 7-9 None to be sure shall divest or dispossess our Mighty One of his Rest Rule Glory and Power and whosoever provoketh him to anger sinneth against his own Soul for his wrath and terrour is as the roaring of a Lion Prov. 19. 12. and Chap. 20. 2. Gen. 49. 9 10. Of the increase of his Kingdom and peace there shall be no end Isaâ— 9. 6 7. Luke 1. 33-38 His Kingdom is an evealasting Kingdom and his Dominion endureth for ever Psal 145. 10-13 Oh! this is that Lion that is infinitely better than Sampson's for he is raised again from the dead and is gone up into Heaven and is on the right hand of God and out of him comes sweetness indeed that which is better than honey and the Honey-comb wherewith our Souls may be delighted Judg. 14. 14-18 Isa 55. 1-3 Prov. 24. 13 14. And like as a Lion and as a young Lion roaring on the prey when a multitude of shepheards is called forth against him he will not be afraid of their voice nor abase himself so will he fight for Mount Zion c. Isa 31. 4 5. His face is continually towards the righteous Ezek. 41. 19. with Psal 92. 12 13. And like a Lion he will both tread down and tear in pieces his enemies if they go on still in their trespasses and none can deliver Mica 5. 8 9. Hos 5. 14. and Chap. 13. 7 8. And yet in seasonably submitting to him they shall find mercy for the Lion is a noble generous Creature Amos 5. 19. And this Lion of the Tribe of Juda is very merciful Hebr. 2. 17. and Chap. 5. 1-2 The Root of David This is a further description of our Lord Jesus Christ In which the Elder hath respect unto that Prophesie In that day there shall be a Root of Jesse Isa 11. 10. who was the immediate father of David Matth. 1. 6. And our Lord himself thus also describeth himself saying I Jesus am the Root of David Revel 22. 16. He is the Root 1. One that hath been planted oâ— put as it were into the earth As we know a Root is placed in the earth Job 1. 4 8. Isa 37. 31. So our Lord Jesus who was in the beginning with God yea who was God the Lord from Heaven was made flesh John 1. 1-3 14. He
those that shall reign with him even all his Saints and holy Ones shall keep a perpetual Sabbath and sing forth Hallelujah's and it will then be their great delight to serve the Lord in his glorious Temple And this will be a righteous reign also there will then be no crying out nor complaining in the streets as too too often now there is but then a King shall reign in righteousness he hath prepared his throne for judgment and he shall judg the world in righteousness and minister judgment to the people in uprightness and Princes even these reigners with Christ shall rule in judgment Psal 144. 14 15. Isa 32. 1. with Psal 9. 7 8. and 67. 4. and 82. and 96. 11 13. and 98. 4 9. Micah 4. 1-5 Behold the days come saith the Lord that I will raise up unto David a righteous branch and a King shall reign and prosper and shall execute judgment and justice in the earth In his days Judah shall be saved and Israel shall dwell safely c. And then he will set up shepherds over them to wit Rulers and Kings these here spoken of which shall feed them and they shall fear no more c. Jer. 23. 4 5 6. The mountains shall bring peace to the people and the little hills by righteousness and the work of righteousness shall be peace and the effect of righteousness quietness and assurance for ever Psal 72. 1-3 4. Isa 32. 1 16. 17 18. 4. These Saints and holy Ones shall reign in wonderful glory lustre and splendor they shall then inherit the throne of glory 1 Sam. 2. 8. Psal 149. 5. The wise shall then inherit glory wisdom shall then give to their head an Ornament of grace and shall compass them with a Crown of glory Prov. 3. 35. and chap. 4. 7 9. Isa 24. 16 23. They are in this day called by the Gospel to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ 1 Thes 2 12. 2 Thes 2 13 14. 2 Pet. 1. 3. And it is assured to them that when Christ who is our life shall appear then shall also the Saints appear with him in glory Col. 3. 1-3 4. And in vision and as a confirmation of the truth hereof some to wit Mâ—ses and Elias have appeared in glory and in such glory and brightness as at the beholding whereof the disciples werefore afraid and fell on their faces c. Matth. 17. 1-7 Mark 9. 2-6 with Luk 9. 29 31 32. and the Apostle John saith The angel carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountain and shewed me to wit in vision that great city the holy Jerusalem descending out of Heaven from God having the glory of God and her light was like unto a stone most precious even like a jasparstone clear as crystal Rev. 21. 9 11. with chap. 4. 3 They that be wise shall then shine as the brightness of the firmaâ—ent and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever Dan. 12. 3. yea then shall the righteous shine forth as the Sun in the Kingdom of their Father Matth. 13. 43. Jude 5. 31. They shall then be like to Christ when he shall appear for they shall see him as he is their vile body shall be changed and fashioned into the likeness of his glorious body and as they have born the image of the earthy so they shall also bear the image of the heavenly Phil. 3. 21. 1 Cor. 15. 48 49. 1 John 3. 1 2. Though now they lye among the pots as it were and are as the filth and off-scouring of all things yet they shall be as the wings of a Dove covered with silver and her feathers with yellow gold Psal 68. 13. And the hope of this glory which shall be partaken of by them is powerful to move and engage them to purifie themselves even as he is pure 1 John 3. 1-3 And to strengthen them to rejoyce inasmuch as they are made partakers of Christs sufferings and when they are reproached and defaâ—ed for the name of Christ for when his glory shall be revealed they also shall be glad with exceeding joy 1 Pet. 4. 12 14. Rom. 8. 17 18. For their light affliction which is but for a moment worketh for them a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory while they look not on the things that are seen but on the things that are not seen c. 2 Cor. 4. 16 18. Considering always there will be then degrees of glory And as one star differs from another in glory so also it will be in the resurrection from the dead Dan. 12. 3. Luk. 19. 15-19 1 Cor. 5. 41 42. 5. As to the duration of their Reign and Kingdom it shall be everlasting they shall reign for ever and ever Rev. 22. 5. The Saints of the most high shall take the Kingdom and possess the Kingdom for ever even for ever and ever Dan. 7. 18 27. But as to the Davidical Administration of it so it shall be a thousand years whether more strictly or largely taken I cannot determine as it is said They lived and reigned a thousand years And again They shall be Priests of God and of Christ and shall reign with him a thousand years Rev. 20. 1-3 4 6. 3. Where and over whom shall these holy ones so reign 1. Where shall they so reign and that is here expresly declared to us by these Saints viz. We shall reign on the earth Psal 25. 13. and 112. 2. So it is plainly said The Kingdom and dominion and greatness of the Kingdom not in but under the whole Heaven namely on earth shall be given to the people of the Saints of the most high Dan. 7. 27. and Chap. 2. 35. And this appears also in that it is said The Kings of the earth bring their glory and honour into the holy Jerusalem which therefore certainly will be on earth as after we may shew Rev. 21. 10-24-26 and they shall reign with Christ but he shall reign on the earth and govern the nations upon earth Psal 67. 4. For the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his Father David which was not in the Heavens but on earth Isa 9. 6 7. Luk. 1. 32. Act. 2. 30 31 34. And hereby also it appears the Saints shall reign on the earth because it is said When the thousand years of their reign are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison and shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battel the number of whom is as the sand of the sea and they went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the beloved City to wit the children of the first Resurrection or the gloriously reigning Saints which very plainly shews they shall reign on the earth Rev. 20. 7 8 9. But now when with the Scripture we say they shall reign on the earth we intend not nor
1 31. for he made all things for himself Prov. 16. 4. He heard in vision every creature so extraordinarily was he strengthned thereto But some may say how could this possibly be how could the Apostle John possibly hear every creature which is in Heaven c. Ans 1. That he did so it behoves us to believe because the truth thereof is assured to us by the Apostle yea by the holy spirit who is truth it self for he speaks and saith this also to the Churches 2. And why should it be thought a thing incredible that God should enable him in Spirit in Heaven ch 4. 1 2. 2 Cor. 12. 1 4. to hear every creature when the Devil a creature a fallen creature in a moment of time shewed unto our Lord Jesus all the Kingdoms of the World and all the glory thereof Mat. 4. 8. Luke 4. 5. or why more incredible or impossible then to hear that innumerable company of Angels or many other things which he heard not with his bodily ears but in Spirit in or after a visional manner Rev. 5. 11 12. and 7. 4 9 10 c. And herein we may have some glimpse of the excellent state and condition the Saints are now in who are absent from the body and present with the Lord even the Spirits of just men made perfect Heb. 12. 23. and what glory and excellency they shall arrive at when their bodies shall be raised and they shall compleatly and gloriously be Spiritual men then they shall be perfect as to attainment which none are while in mortal bodies Phil. 3. 11 12. Now the best see in part and know in part but when that which is perfect is come then that which is in part shall be done away 1 Cor. 13. 8 9 12. they shall then be equal to the Angels Luke 20 35 36. yea they shall be like to Christ so far as meer creatures are capable Now are we the Sons of God and it doth not yet appear what we shall be But we know that when he shall appear we shall be like him for we shall see him as he is 1 Joh. 3. 1 2 3. 1 Cor. 15. 48 49. 2. We have a more particular account by way of enumeration what he means by or what is contained in and under every creature And that is 1. Which is in Heaven Here he begins first in this more particular account because it is the most excellent place and part of Gods Creation Heaven is Gods Throne and the Earth his Footstool Isay 66. 1. Acts 7. 48 49. And in Heaven are the glorious Spirits and Angels c. Now by every Creature which is in Heaven we may understand the Sun Moon Planets twelve Signs or Constellations and Stars 2 King 23. 5. these are often called the Host of Heaven Deut. 4. 19. and 17. 3. and here God placed them Gen. 1. 8. 14 15. 17. and herewith he hath garnished the Heavens Job 26. 13. and hereby he gives light to us that are upon the Earth Psal 19. 1 5 6. and the clouds of Heaven Matth. 24. 30. and 26. 64. in which the waters above the Heavens these inferiour ones are inclosed and contained Psal 148. 4. as it is said He bindeth up the waters in his thick clouds and the cloud is not rent under them Job 26. 8. from whence comes the rain when God commandeth which is frequently said to be rain from Heaven Job 36. 27 29. Judg. 5. 4. Psal 77. 17. Eccles 11. 3. Acts 14. 17. and from whence also descendeth the dew as Solomon saith The clouds drop down the dew Prov. 3. 20. which dew comes from Heaven hence 't is oft-times called the dew of Heaven Gen. 27. 28 39. Deut. 33. 28. Dan. 4. 15 23 25 33. Zech. 8. 12. the winds of Heaven Dan. 7. 2. and 8. 8. and 11. 4. Zech. 2. 6. Frost also comes from Heaven as the Lord saith Out of whose womb came the Ice and the hoary Frost of Heaven who hath gendred it Job 38. 29. as also Hail Rev. 16. 21. Snow Job 37. 6. Isay 55. 10. Thunder and Lightning 1 Sam. 2. 10. and ch 7. 10. out of the Throne which is in Heaven proceeded thundrings and lightnings Rev. 4. 5. And so we read often of the Fowls of Heaven as He maketh us wiser than the Fowls of Heaven Job 35. 11. and the Fowls of Heaven hath he given into thine hand Dan. 2. 38. and 4. 12 21. Rev. 19 17. Gen. 1. 20. so of some of them particularly it is said as the Stork in the Heaven Jer. 8. 7. and the Eagles of Heaven Lam. 4. 19. Fire also is oftentimes said to coâ—e down from Heaven 2 Kings 1. 10 12 14. with Luk. 9. 54. Job 1. 6. though yet it is also on the earth as also are many other things we have mentioned which are said to be of and from Heaven As he saith to the Snow Be thou on the Earth likewise to the small rain and to the great rain of his strength Job 37. 6. And the like we might say of other things fore-named 2. And on the Earth which is full of the goodness mercy and riches of the Lord Psal 33. 5. and 104. 24. and 119. 64. In which are Kings of the Earth and all people Princes and all Judges of the Earth both young Men and Maidens old Men and Children Psal 148. 11 12. and other Creatures as trees fruitful or fruit-bearing trees and others for mans use and service Gen. 1. 11 12. Deut. 20. 19 20. Psal 148. 7 9. grass herbs Gen. 1. 11 12 29. Psal 104. 14. Cattel and Beasts of the Earth and four footed Creatures Gen. 1. 24 25. Psal 148. 7 10. Job 35. 11. Isay 18. 6. Act. 10. 12. Rom. 1. 23. creeping things and flying fowls which have wings and yet remain tame on the Earth Psal 148. 7 10. Gen. 1. 24 25. Lev. 11. 21 29 41 42 44 46. Mountains and all Hills Psal 148. 7 9. Corn and Wine and Oyl Gen. 27. 28. Deut. 7. 13. Job 28. 5. Psal 104. 15. Pretious things of the Earth Deut. 33. 14 16. Dragons and all deeps c. Psal 148. 7 8. Gen. 3. 1. 3. And under the Earth We may read these two sentences to wit this and the following thus And under the Earth even such as are in the Sea As And is often explicative and many times rendred even in Scripture And so indeed the Sea is under or beneath the Earth and so by consequence the things that are therein as it is said In the Earth beneath or in the waters under the Earth Exod. 20. 4. Deut. 4. 18. and 5. 8. Hence also men are said to go down to the Sea because it is beneath or under the Earth Psal 107. 23. Isay 42. 10. Joh. 6. 16. and God hath stretched out the Earth above the Waters for his mercy endureth for ever Psal 136. 6. And what is also said before in verse 3. of this Chapter might confirm this sense for