gathered togither to Mizpa drew water and powred it out before the Lord to wit rivers of teares with earnest repentance wrunge frō them 1 Sam. chap. 7. ver 5. And noe lesse is it a signe of thankesgiving as in the Revelation they that got the victory over the Beast stood at the glassy Sea having the Harpes of God wherewith they sunge his prayses chap. 15.2 Therefore this Sea sheweth by right the whole worship which in respect of the lāpes is like a Sea of oyle wherewith their heavēly fyre is nourrished cōtinually But what māner of one this Sea is wee must see frō the Epithets the first of which he sayth that to be glassy How is this Is it in respect of the colour There is a glassy colour agreable to the Sea Wherupon Virgille describing the Fairies attributeth the same to the Godesses of the Sea The Nymphes did spinne the fleeces of woll of Miletus dyed with a deepe colour of glasse Geor. 4 And againe a little after and all in their glassy seates were astonished glassy not in respect of the matter but of the colour clearnes So Ovid. There is a cleare river more bright then glasse a sacred fountaine Epist Sapph But glassy in this place is even as of glasse shewing rather a shining matter that one may see through then a colour without matter wherto serveth the other Epithet like unto Chrystall Glassy to wit for a difference from the legall Sea Which being made of brasse a thick darke matter could not be seen through of any sight 1 King 7 23. The face of God did shine upon his but under those rites ceremonyes somewhat darkly which thing also Moses declared putting a vayle over his face that the children of Jsraell should not looke into the ende of that which was to be abolished 2 Cor. 3.13 But contrarywise all wee beholde with uncovered face the glory of the Lord as in a glasse In the same place ver 18. Therefore their Sea is of Brasse and ours of Glasse and great is the dignity of the Christian Church in comparison of that under the Lawe considering that our worship doth shew us the most pleasant face of God as it were through a most cleare glasse how amiable are thy Tabernacles cryed the Psalmist in that darknes Psal 80.1 But how admirable ought the most sweete countenance of Christ to be unto us whom wee with Peter and those two disciples doe see shyning as the Sunne his garments made white as the light Mat. 17.1.2 O wee blessed men if wee could have allwayes our eyes fixed on this glasse There is a certen incomprehensible maiesty of God to be seen in that very creature but this knowledge is common to the reprobate there is noe where any meanes to enioy a saving sight unlesse by this glassy Sea God hath replenished it with most pure waters both of knowing and worshipping him truly of both which he hath layed up such aboundant plenty in this sea that there is no neede to fetch any thing from any other ditches And this ought to be the scope of all worship that it may shewe us GODS face By howe much the more eyther the doctrine or the ceremonyes doe hurt or stop up our eyes in this matter by so much the more doe both of them swerve from the right The other Epithete is Like unto Chrystall What neede is there of this seconde In deede that he may teach that that Glasse is not onely bright but even also most purely bright which noe other mixed colour doth in noe sorte darken For Chrystall is as it were voyde and free of any colour approaching the neerest to the purity of the ayre which the eyes doe pearse through almost as easily Therefore noe humane devise and invention is powred into this Sea but it is pure from all filth added to it and also perfite and absolute without any thing detracted from it As it is taught in Deut 4.2 Such is the worship of the Saints in Christ in whom God the Father beholding his elect faithfull findeth noe thing in them coloured nothing maymed and imperfect nothing filthy and defiled All worship ought to levell hereto and be framed after this patterne Others doe interprete these things otherwise some doe referre this Sea to the iudgements of God but enough was fore shewed touching them in the thunders and lightnings Others thinke that it signifyeth a multitude of men living on the earth But if this multitude be holy it was noted before in the foure and twenty Elders But if it be wicked what doth it before the throne or howe may the purity of Chrystall agree unto it There is noe need that I should confute other mens interpretations in many wordes The very order of the thinges doth shewe easily what cometh nighest to the trueth This onely I will say which is common to this whole booke in every allegoricall interpretation before all thinges the purpose of the allegory it selfe is to be regarded without which every interpretation shal be doubtfull and uncerten and of noe weight but if wee shall knowe that well and shall adde to it prudently the other circumstances wee may drawe noe lesse constant sense from an allegory then frō any other playne place ¶ And in the middest of the throne and which compassed the throne foure Beasts The second outward gift are Beasts whose qualityes come first to be considered which respect the preparation to their office if in a fewe wordes wee shall first see of what sortes the beasts are Which is heard to be knowē from the iudgement of the Interpreters they are in so manyfold difference wee will propounde in a word as wee have begun and intended that which seemeth to be most neerly ioyned with the trueth They are servāts and Ministers of God all whose labour is bestowed in preaching the word and in looking to the other things which belonge to the Ecclesiasticall policy For first it is manifest that they are men for so they sing together with the Elders thou hast redeemed us to God by thy blood chap. 5.9 Secondly seeing there is two sortes of Redeemed one of the people another of the Ministers the very place in which they serve sheweth that they belonge to this second degree For they are conversant betweene the hyghest Throne and the Elders set rounde aboute Therefore they approch neerer unto God and are as his messengers betweene both Hereunto is added that they are leaders of the publike action as is manifest after at the ninth ver Lastly they are represented so in winges eyes and their whole shape that they may be most furnished to performe this office Neither are they any of the excellent men of the age passed but Ministers to come to which sorte of thinges this whole Prophecy is applyed as that of the first verse hath taught I will shewe thee the things that must be done hereafter They are called Beasts because of that lively force of the Spirit
this mountaine called great and hie which is set in the highest toppe and height of other mountaines Therfore whatsoever excelleth in dignity on earth the excellency of this Church shall passe it In this mountaine shal be seen the beauty of this city as if her cityzens dwelling within the walles should pereeive most plainly her reverend and divine worthines which cannot be so manifest to them that dwel farther off in remote countreyes And many Iohns that is godly and holy men leaving their places of abode shal flee unto this mountaine not that being superstitious they may visit holy places but that face to face they may behold the glory of the Lord and enioy being present the gladnesse of the saints For can any thing be more longed for then to be conversant with them which shal worship Christ most purely and most holily according to his ordinance alone and with most fervent affections It shal be certenly an excellent patterne of our felowship with the holy Angels But it is sufficient to touch these things in a word least I may seeme to some men to delight my selfe with a sweet dreame But let us observe that if these things should be spoken of the saints countrey after the last iudgement no Olypus would be high ynough to shewe it manifestly 11 And he shewed mee that great city This city is great and most ful of citizens hitherto it hath bin alwayes contained within a smal number of men now first of al called great her boundes being inlarged and increased with a ful multitude It shal be farre more glorious in this respect seing that the more common good surmounteth it selfe But beside these shee is holy and commeth downe out of heaven from God Of which things we have seen before This is a new thing that shee is adorned with the glory of God that is that shee hath the presence of God manifested in her by a certaine glorious beauty as it is declared in those things that follow To this ende the temple before was filled with smoke after the old manner of appearing in the tabernacle and temple but now there shal be an other way God shal give a more cleare shew of his maiesty then ever before this time either with the Iewes or Christian Gentils Moreover also it hath a light which is like to a stone most pretious c. What is this light Not any brightnesse with which the city shineth by her owne purity although of it selfe it shal be most beautiful but a light which is conveyed into it from an other For so Phoster signifieth to weet such a thing as sendeth forth light from it selfe as the Sunne Moone Starres candle torch the like Therfore the Grecians translate these wrds of Gen. 1 16. tous duo Phosteras tous megalous those two great lights And also Paul Phainesthe hos Phosteres shine yee as starres Phil. 2.15 Therfore the Phoster of the city is that which giveth light to the city the which light shee draweth frō an other and hath it not naturally From whence then is it ministred From the very glory of God for these thinges depend on the next before going as though he should say I sawe the City having the glory of God which glory of God being the light of it was like a stone most pretious c. which interpretation is affoarded by the 23 verse after where the office of lighting the city is given to the glory of GOD. But why is this light like to a stone most pretious and not rather like to the Sunne or Starres Because perhaps the light of the Sunne doth burne and blindeth the eyes rather more agreable with an overthwart looking upon it then a direct The shinning of the stone is altogither harmelesse very much grateful and pleasant yee the more that one looketh upon it the more agreable it is in which respect it representeth most excellently the pleasantnesse of the divine knowledge For the nature of this is to recreate and cherish the fainting soule even with the onely sight of her beauty but yet much more if any with a serious contemplation doth fixe the eyes of his minde upon her The light and glorious brightnesse of al other thing as of the Moone and of the Starres is overwhelmed by the bright-shining beames of a greater light The brightnesse of a stone compareth with the sunne neither is diminished but increased by the beame therof even as there is not any glory so great that can darken the glorious maiesty of God The things which are lightsome with us as torches lampes candles alwayes stand in need of some matter wherwith fire is kept burning otherweise they would be turned by and by into darkenesse the sparkling brightnesse of a stone is naturaly ingendred in it which hath no need of any outward helpe but shineth alway by his owne flame so as it representeth before our eyes the eternal light of the most High God in this respect also But the Kind of stone is also expressed For it is like a Iasper stone cleare as Chrystall The Iasper is a most noble Iewel both for antiquity and for variety The likenesse to cleare shining Chrystal describeth a certain kind of it which shineth through most purely darkened with no colour Therfore the Iasper like Chrystal is that kind of Iasper which is commonly called Aerizula resembling the most cleare ayre Here it noteth the most excellent glory of God shining in this city which no spot of earthly filthinesse doo make darke as it is wont to come to passe where any humane invention is patched to Gods ordinances 12 Jt had beside a wall Now he expoundeth the matter particularly first the things which belong to the forme of the wall which is great and hie that is long broad and hie firme on every part The description wherof had bin superfluous if it should belong to the heavenly city to be expected after the last iudgemēt which al know wel inough to be set free from al danger But the celestial Hierusalem on earth which we have seen tossed with very many stormes from her first beginning even unto this day hath had need of this defence and fortification of walles least any should feare the same thing touching this city which he knoweth to hav happened to the same in former times But this forme hitherto belōgeth to the whole wall The parts are the gates and foundations The gates ar notable for their number the watch the names written upon them in this verse then for their most cōmodious situation in the thirteenth verse which al ar so described that they may declare a most ready way into this city which no impediment shal hinder Hereunto first of al the twelve gates have respect that an entrance be prepared for every tribe apart to to the ende that it may be more free and ready For the same purpose are the twelve Angels being the watch who doo waite at the gates to open them and to
it were lawfull to departe froÌ„ the common edition Thou seest then that those faultes must be made good by thee and the fidelitie of the old Interpretour very ignorantly I will not say impudently boasted of though in deede so it was needfull for thee by reason of that dutifulnes wherby thou art bounde to Rome 6 And hath made that is and which hath made by a want of the relative as but now we have said All those things tende hereunto that they may teach that Christ hath not these good things for himselfe alone wherwith we have heard by the wordes last handled he is endued but doth poure them on the elect wherby they may be blessed thorough the participation of them ¶ Kings and Priests to God Some reade A Kingdome and Priests as also the common translation hath It makes not much for the meaning yet it is more likely that there is a conioining of persons betweene themselves than of things and persons The elect are Kings by participating of Christs Kingdome through which we have overcome the law death and sinne and doe daiely triumphe over the world treading under foote the same by faith 1 Ioh. 5.4.5 By him also we are Priests who being dead in him we have God mercifull to us and a waie opened to call boldly on him But he addeth wariely that we are made Kings and Priests to God that we maie not thinke that this honour is given to us eyther to trouble civill matters or to confound Churches politie ¶ To him be glory This is all that we can render for his exceeding benefits namely to wish that by his righteous praises he be celebrated amoÌ„gst all men And this thankesgiving seemes to be undertaken for Gods present gift thorough the knowledge of Christ poured forth on the GeÌ„tiles Beholde he commeth with the cloudes A benefite to come to be expected at his glorious coming To come with the cloudes is to manifest himselfe with a storme and tempest and wonderfull terrour of vehement and great lightening to be avenged on the wicked and to deliver his After which maner Daniell also speaketh of his coming J saw in the visions of the night that behold one like to the sonne of man came with the cloudes of heaven chap. 7.13 For so the notable iudgements of God ar wont to be described by which he poureth forth his fervent wrath on his enemies that we maie thinke that all creatures doe fight for God also he will use the heaveÌ„ the earth to helpe his people and furthermore that the reprobate shall have no meanes to escape After the like maner the Psalmist being delivered out of the handes of his enemies praiseth God for his power shewed from heaven in delivering of him Ps 18.13.14.15 In Mathew it is saide he will come on the cloudes chap. 24.30 but it may be in the same sence which is in Ps 18.11 and he sate on the Cherubins and did flie c. But the Angels affirme that he will come as they had seene him going into heaven Act. 1.11 And no feare was there onely the cloude tooke him awaie out of their sight but without any stricking of terrour But the similitude seemeth to be referred to the truth of the humane nature in which he shall returne to be seen of all men after which sorte he went into heaven not for the pompe and maiestie of his coming or the Angels speake in regard of the Godly to whom his coming shall be most ioyfull for which the reprobate shall in vaine desire that the mountaines should cover them All be it it shall be manifest by those things that follow that here these wordes are not spoken of his last coming but onely allude unto it because of the similitude ¶ And they shall waile over him Here the wailing is of repentance not of desperation as is plaine out of Zachary from whence these wordes are fetched and they shall looke saith he to him whom they have perc d and they shall lament over him as a lamentation for their onely begotten chap. 12.10 But seeing that when men shall stand before the throne of the universall iudgement their repentance shall be to late by no meanes these things seeme that they can be uÌ„derstood of the last iudgemeÌ„t neither of that his coming with the cloudes which but now he spake of but rather of that his excelleÌ„t glory which shall be manifest in the world in the calling of the Iewes Those are they which once perced him but at length they shall beholde him all the Tribes of the earth that is the whole nation of the Iewes shall with aboundaÌ„ce of teares bewaile the wickednes of their ancestours for delivering Christ to death And in deede the Revelation staies her narration upoÌ„ their conversion as hereafter God willing it shall be manifest And because then the glory of Christ shall be very great in the earth a most lively patterne of that which shall shine in the last daye a preparation unto this is brought for the beautifying of it Neither alone in this place but as it seemeth also in many other ¶ All Tribes These things are proper to the Iewes to whom once tribe by tribe the promised land was divided The thing could not in more exquisite wordes be declared Sometime the tribes are taken metaphorically but in no wise here seeing that Zachary mentioneth by name the Iewish tribes The land saith he shall lament every family apart the family of the house of David â—part the family of the house of Levy apart all the rest of the families every familie apart The lamenters here are those which were percers and the tribes are of those that lamented therefore of them which perced him to wit of the Iewes to whom properly this sinne belongs Therefore these wordes of the Apostle are thus as if he should saie Beholde he comes with the cloudes all men of all sortes shall see him also those which perced him to wit the Iewes whose predecessours crucified Christ and perced his side with aspeare these being scatered every where thorough all nations shall at length be convertâ—d to the true faith for earnest grief shall morne both for the detestable iniquity of their forefathers and also for their so long hardening yea Amen And so finally this is the summe of all that the benefite of Christ partly present is here celebrated in the calling of the Gentiles for that which he before spake of Kings and Priestes is referred to the seaven Churches of Asia that is to all the Gentiles embracing Christ at that present for which cause there is attributed to him the praise of glory power partly to come in the calling of the Iewes which we have declared to us both by their repentance and also by the desire and wishe of all the Godly ¶ Yea Amen The fervent desire of the Godly desiring this coming is expressed in greeke and hebrew for this shall be the wishe of all nations The
enemies of the Church This name once lighted upon all as many as were not the people of Jsraell but strangers froÌ„ their lawes and covenant now of the Gentiles themselves all that professe Christ syncerely are counted among the Israelites The other multitude that openly despiseth the trueth or embrace it onely in name doe stick still in their former myre and are called by the old name of Gâ—ntiles There were therefore Gentiles amonge the Thyatirens namely Iezabell with hers AmoÌ„g us Rome with her Adulterers and children Neither must wee doubt but that the Thyatirens obtayned victory against Iezabell as ours against Rome and her followers For when Luther arose some Princes of Germany departed from the service of the Romane whore WhoÌ„ at length after some strugling they cast to the ground and trode her under foote The same came to passe by the grace of God in many other places Therfore this promised power is the society of the victory against Papists which at this day all reformed Churches enioy whereof in short time there shal be a full triumphe as after in his place by God his helpe wee shall shewe 27 And he shall rule them c. These are the attributes of the former power To rule with a rode of iron is mightily to subdue and to compell to obedience will they nill they Which was done of the Protestants Prince in Germany and elswhere Who turned the Papists out of their Monasteries Collegies Temples Groundes and other goods and bestowed them on former uses to wit to the maintaining of godly teachers widowes orphanes schooles or finally on whatsoever could make to the promoting of Christianity But the Papist cryeth out that this is sacrilegious and tyrannicall Let him cry out as much as he will the more he mourneth the more we doe acknowledge the hard iron rode to be upon his backe Therefore as many of the Thyatirens as should preserve even to the end the trueth kindled among them they should see this ioyfull day with their eyes should be partakers of the victory Not that it should be neefull for them to be living at that time which arose about the yeare 1300 but because that is wont to be attributed to all which are of the same condition that happeneth to any of them to wit to them which should be alive at the end of this period For so the coÌ„munioÌ„ of saints require that that which is a few should be all 's ¶ And as the potter c. It is without any hope of restauration even as the fragments of earthen pottes which are for no use Let then the RomaÌ„ Pope sweate move every stone that he may recover his former authority he striveth in vaine his fall is unrecoverable he shall finde no glew whereby his earthen vessels may againe be ioyned together That in the end As I have received of my father signifyeth that this power shall not be obtayned without blood For Châ—ist first suffered and so entred into glory So Christians after some dangers and battels yea overthrowne in warre as wee knowe to have fallen out in Fredericke Saxon Philipe the Lantgrave their armies shall obtayne this dominion over the Papists as wee shall shew more fully in his place 28 And I will give him the morning starre An other reward noe lesse agreeing to the times This starre is Christ as wee shall see after in the 22. ch where he hath thus I am the roote and gâ—neration of David that bright morning stâ—rre so called partly because in this life he imperteth to the saincts himselfe a pledge and first fruites of the true glory least through a long desyre they be discouraged in their mindes partly he taketh to himsâ—lf this name in respect of the divers administration of things When he shineth fully he is both the morning starre the Day and the Sune but when he giveth a lesse light but so yet that he giveth hope of the perfit day following by and by he is the morning starre the Precursor of the Sonne And we must knowe that which shabe clearer in the expositioÌ„ following that a most bright light of trueth of all godlines and religion shall shine upon the earth when our brethren the Iewes shall be converted to Christ Seeing therefore that then shal be the full day that renewed Church which goeth nex before is the day starre which in the morning being seen nigh the Horizon sheweth that the fountaine spring of light will straightway appeare And this Church is that reformed which succeedeth the Thyatiren taking his beginning after the yeare 1520. Which the full restauration of the Iewes followeth at the heeles as the Sunne the morning starre That which is here but barely avouched as much as may be sâ—fficient to illustrate this place the sequent treatise shall adde proofes Wherfore in this place the promised morning starre is that sweet communicating of Christ which one shall enioy in the reformed Churches whereof he shall be enrolled a citizen which communication shal be followed of the full happines of the saints as great as can be on earth shortly after 29 Let him that hath an eare The usuall Epilogue but to be observed by reason of his divers placing For to what end in the 3 first Epistles is the reward set after the coÌ„clusioÌ„ In the 4 last this Epiphoneme holdeth alwayes the last place First the Spirit teacheth this that there is a certen difference betweene the three first and foure last which wee have observed distinguishing all the seaven into the three fâ—rst Churches growing worser and the foure last waxing stronger after sicknes feeling themselves somewhat better Secondly there may be an other reason which I gather from the event that the rewards in the three first as to eate of the fruit of the tree of life in Paradise not to be hurt of the second death to eate of the hidden Manna c. were not payed on the sudden and in one moment but perteyned to a time farre of and delayed Whence doe follow the Epiphonemes as though after the admonition they should give time to deliberate but in the foure last they goe before the Epiphoneme as if the admonition once given there should be no place left for to take counsell but the thing forthwith should obtaine an issue beyond all expectation togither the deedes and sayings And so wee know it came to passe in the reformation begun by Luther which we have shewed to be a reward in respect of the Antitype of the Thyatiren state Who would have beleeved that from so small beginnings that thing could have gone so farre at length Luther indeede thought nothing lesse then any alteration or defection from Rome or who could have expected in so small a space so great a change of things But now was the time when there should be power over the nations and therefore the matter once begun proceeded of it owne accord an alteration of those things being made in a moment
meane time let us knowe that this shal be a fearfull punishement for first Christ will take great pleasure in reiecting from himselfe this Angell For what can be more pleasante to a man that hath a disposition and will to vomit then to be eased by and by of the cause of his griefe Even as Moses threatneth to the Apostate Iewes that Iehovah will so reioyce in destroing and rooting them out as before he reioyced to doe them good Deut. 28.63 Secondly because he will cast out this Angell with greate dishonour For an uncleane place is sought for vomiting howsoever Antonius in the assembly of the people of Rome governing the publike businesse filled his owne bosome and the tribunal with gobbets of meate Thirdly that the Angell shall never recover his former dignity For farre be it that the Prince and Authour of all cleannesse should ever returne to his vomit But this punishement was not to be inflicted to the whole Laodicean Church but to the Angell alone that is to all lukewarme Pastours partly because of that which wee spake even nowe partly because the Church is wont to be mentionned expressely where shee is intreated of As unto the Ephesine Angell I will remove thy candlestick out of his place chap. 2.5 It shall therefore be peculiar to the Ecclesiasticall men without the destruction of the whole Church Neither is it to be doubted but the same at length happened to the Laodicean Angell which here is denounced The which thinge is also certenly to be expected in his Antitype unlesse shee shall prevent it by repentance For it shall come to passe that that faithfull witnesse shall overthrowe this whole Hierarchy and not alwayes suffer men seeking onely honours and riches not those things which are Christ to enioy even this false fâ—licity Certenly a great and reprochfull iudgement abideth those lukewarme on s Of which though they be troubled with noe feare as having with their terrour put to flight all the noyse there of yet though all shall hold their peace he will not deceive who hath threatned that he will punish It is also to be feared that the Church may feele some adversity through contagion and consenting to Such as are the Angels such becometh shee for the most part and none is so ignorant of the matters who seeth not plainely that the whole body is sicke of the same disease But have mercy upon us o thou beginning of the workmanshippe of God deale not with us according to our sinnes thou knowest our making that wee are dust and ashes How should not earth wax cold Rayse up in us the burning heate of thy love dissolve J pray thee our yce neither suffer us to please our selves in our miparted godlines but kindle us with thy heavenly fire unto a full heate and fervency that wee may both avoide thy lothsomnes of us and may alwayes enioy that pleasantnes which thou givest to them whom thou lovest Amen ¶ For thou sayest I am riche Thus was the nature of the sinne The cause is double a false perswasion of their owne worthynes and ignorance of their misery That grew from their wealth which was of earthly and not spiritual riches for against these he opposeth the riches which he biddeth the Angell to buy of him in the next verse Neither could he have ben lukewarme if he had expected spirituall riches from any other then from Christ alone but rather throughly cold and altogither a stranger from grace being become voyd and separated from Christ Gal. 5.4 But he seemeth to have abounded in earthly riches because of the wealth of the city which wee spake of chap. 1.11 For which cause peradventure Archippus was more negligent of his ministery whereupon Paul would that he should be admonished Col. 4.17 although small fruit seemeth to have followed thereof seeing that even unto these times of this Revelation there was so great matter of boasting and that also not newly bred but gathered from old time The abondance therfore of things for this life begate this lukewarmnes And it is noe newe thing that prosperity doth steale away our mindes draw men away from God This warning is often in the lawe that they should take heede to themselves least being fullfedd and filled with good things they should forgeth Iehovah And the boasting is threefolde the first of the present wealth The second of long continuing The third of a perfit and absolute to every use For so the wordes require that J am rich should be referred unto the present riches I have ben rich unto those that are past I want nothing unto a certen fulnes From which further must needs spring a certen persuasion of a permanent state and also constant felicity for the time to come And it is to be observed that he bringeth in this Angell boasting in his owne wordes otherwise then was done hitherto yet this not in vaine seeing nothing is uttered rashly of the H. Ghost But as touching the Anghel of Laodicea a clearer application offereth not it selfe In our England the congruency is so manifest that nothing could have bin expressed more lively For what other cause can wee bring of our lukewarmnes the Popish gouvernement mingled with the pure doctrine then the love of riches honours Men suffer not this hope to be taken from them but they had rather have a halfe godlinesse togither with the inioying of their riches then a full and perfit reformation with the losse of them Yet least they should seme to preferre any thing before the trueth with dishonour they prayse some what proudly our present happines in the published bookes and in the assemblyes as wee may see from the writings of many men which have come forth in these last yeares Not without cause therfore the Spirit maketh this Angell vaunting him selfe but in the same setting before our eyes our notable glorying And wee have said that the first bragging was of the present riches Howe doth our Angell triumphe in this respect and lifteth up the head above all other reformed Churches In other places there are poore and basse Pastores almost of a vulgar state condition nor of any greater authority then their godlines and learning can procure unto them But our Bishops are Peeres of the Realme superiour in honour to many great states also in riches company of men and mayd servants in magnificence of houses and all the other pompe of the world equall to any even the greatest Earles Howe riche is the reste of the Clergy The Deanes Arch-Deacons Prebendaries Chaplaines heaping and gathering togither many benefices as they call them doe match Squires at least in early revenues Doe not this amplify and encrease very greatly the glory of the Church that her ministres doe shine in garments of silke and Velvet doe walke in the streetes with the retinue of noble men so drive farre off the contempte of the ministery Where canst thou see after the Pope expelled a Church
false friends open enemys coūterfait Sosiae who should vaunt themselves under the shewe of her and many other things of that sorte were to be declared with which shee should contende and have to doe it was needfull that first a certen forme and image of her should be pourtrayed which is the principall point of the treatise following lest peradventure in so great sturres and troubles wee should suppose her to have ben wholy extinguished and abolished or at least wise her face being not knowne wee should be the more hindred from acknowledging of her Werfore wee shall finde this Type to be common to all ages as of which there is mention made in the fourteene chapter of this booke and thirde verse Where the companions and followers of the Lambe sing a newe songe before the foure Beasts and the Elders And againe nearer to the ending of the Prophesy the foure and twenty Elders and the foure Beasts fall downe and worship God as may be seene in the nineteene chapter of this booke and in the fourth verse So in other places as speach is made of the true Church so farre as any thing is to be done in the publike assembly shee is noted alwayes after the manner of this type For wee may not thinke that any congregation on earth is to be found of so absolute purity and sounde perfection as is here described but that all the holy assemblyes of the elect are counted such in Christ before God the Father although much terrene dregges be sprinckeld upon them according to that The Church to be sanctifyed by Christ to be purged by the washing of water through the word made also glorious without spot or wrinkle or any such thing but to be holy and without blame Ephes 5.26.27 An exemple of which description wee have here set before our eyes And for that purpose besides that wee should conforme all our assemblyes unto this rule even as Moses was commaunded to make the frame of the Tabernacle and all his implements altogither as was shewed to him in the mount Exod. 25.9 But the type of our Church is shewed in the very heavens according to the more plentifull glory wherewith the Gospell shyneth above the Lawe But howe much the more diligently all things are to be considered Seeing therfore wee knowe the drift of the vision let us search out the exposition of the severall things First the head it selfe of the Church is described such as the true members doe alwayes confesse and worshippe both by his sitting in a Throne in this verse and also by the similitude following The sitting declareth the maiesty and glory of the most high God and noe lesse his steddy and stable dwelling among the Saints in whose assembly he hath placed his throne of dignity to goe to noe other place And because there is but one throne and one that sitteth on it wee knowe that God is one in nature power maiesty glory and that there is not any other beside who ruleth in the middes of the saints Therfore the holy Church worshippeth and prayseth with all honour and reverence the one onely supreme Iehovah 3 And he that sate was to looke on like Aretas the Complutent edition and the Kings Bible doe not reade these first wordes and he that sate was but they adde by and by to the ende of the former verse these following wordes like in sight Our bookes and the comon latine translation doe distinguish more playnly the sitting and the similitude which thing in describing the true God seemeth that it ought not to be omitted This verse sheweth a little more fully of what sorte this one God is of whom yet it setteth forth noe image but onely a certen kinde of colour after those auncient representations made once to the olde people You saw sayth Moses noe similitude in the day that Iehovah spake to you in Horeb out of the middes of the fyre Deut. 4.15 For the same is that one true God reigning in the Christian assemblyes whom from the beginning the primitive Church worshipped And seeing that in the infancy of the Church he shewed noe image of himselfe much lesse is any similitude to be expected in this up growen and ripe age This is a more familiar fuller manifestation seeing beside one and the same essence which the common glory noteth the incomprehensible distinction of the three persons is in some sorte revealed by the three pretious stones the Iasper Sardin and Emerald For it pleaseth the Spirit to use the delightfull Iewels to disclose these mysteryes because the grace and beauty of these doth most of all excell in this world belowe whereupon they may be most fitte images of that pleasantnes which exceedeth all created understanding especially seeing the representation is rather of the vertue then of any forme The first sight of the Iasper resembleth the person of the Father this Iewell is greene and not without cause called the mother of Jewels the kindes of it are so many and the honour so auncient And what more fitly among pearles could shadowe out the Father who is the first in order alwayes of a flourishing eternity of whom the other persons have their beginning and originall The second sight is of the Sardin wherby the Sonne is represented This Iewel is redde of a fleshly colour frō whēce also it is called a Carneole fitly in deede being in his stead who tooke upon him flesh for our sake and was made a man like unto us The third sight is of a rainebowe of the colour of an Emerald wherby the H. Ghost is noted He compasseth the Throne round aboute as in the booke of wisdome chap. 9.4 compassing the whole circuit of the divine maiesty with an unutterable sweetnes For the Emerald doth shewe so acceptable pleasant and shining greenes that the eyes beholde nothing more gladly Yet this Raynebowe is not like that which is comonly so called For this is not over against the Throne but about the Throne neither is it an halfe circle but whole and full on every side For it is rounde about the throne finally it is not of three colours as the true Rainebowe but of one onely and simple colour of the Emerald Such therfore is that God one in nature three in persons the head and centre of the Church whome alone the faithfull are in love with and doe worship taking pleasure most sweetly with all their hartes in his incomprehensible sweetnes ¶ And rounde aboute the Throne So is the Head nowe he adioyneth the body like the circumference of this centre as wee have sayd Which is described by the place the number of members age apparell and crownes The place is double common about the hyghest throne and proper the peculiar throne of every one The comon rounde about the throne is before behinde at the right hand and at the left that it may parte the Raine bowe which compassed also the Throne but with a contrary situation above beneath and
And in deede it might easily be understood that the time was not farre of when an ende should be put unto publike murders seeing all degrees of men did encline with so great gentlenes to the trueth But this Seale hath both some thing proper in the rest of this chapter and also common in chap. 7. That is the last triall of the Seales the first part of which conteineth the going on of the sorrowfull Tragedie and all the former calamityes ver 12.13.14 The secōd the ioyfull isue in subduing the enemyes and appeasing all hurliburlies ver 15.16.17 As touching that Aretas reporteth from the monuments of Andreas that very many sayd that this earthquake was a passage from the persecutions which were brought upon them for Christ his sake unto the time of Antichrist And so the scriptures are wont to call some notable alteration an earthquake as where it is sayd yet once more I will shake the earth Heb. 12.26 It signifyeth the remooving of those thinges that are shaken as Saint Paul declareth And in the olde Testament the going of the children of Jsraell out of Egipt is called an earthquake as Psal 68.9 The earth was moved and the heavens dropped at the presence of God Those Interpreters have touched the point according to the trueth but onely they did misse in this that living under Antichrist they expected him yet to come not knowing that he was come longe a goe Which errour of the auncient Fathers as who being further of from the last event were lesse able to perceive the matter it selfe the Papists snatch to themselves greedily and here they make a very great gaping and distance of time leaping over from the times of Traiane in which they conclude the former Seales unto the last ende of the world which they reserve to their Antichrist as though by this earthquake all iudgement of that which is right had fallen unto them But whether is it likely that a whole thousand and five hundred yeeres and yet to come wee knowe not how many more have bin passed over with silence and that all the rest of the Prophecy was stuffed togither into the narrow straites of 3. yeeres and an halfe as Fraunces of Ribera the Jesuite will have it It is indeede a profitable abridgement and a short way to set free his Lord the Pope from a very great feare For it could not be but as often as he should beholde his face in this glasse he would seeme to himselfe to be Antichrist unlesse the Iesuite now did make it apparant that all that was but a phantasme which made him afraid That nothing is here spoken of the present time neither of that which is past through many ages but that all the speech following is of the time yet to come But wee will put away this smoke mist through Gods his helpe neither will wee suffer that the Pope seeming to himselfe a triksy felow should love himselfe to destruction also will make playne that the Jesuites doe not interprete but moke the scriptures ¶ And the Sunne became blacke These figurative and hyperbolicall speeches doe shewe that there should be a persecution the most fierce of all those which the Church endured at any time from Christs birth till nowe For so the Prophetes are wont to speake when they pointe at any great calamity as Isaiah He will clothe the heavens with blacknes he will make their covering as a sacke cloath chap. 50.3 And Ieremy When I beholde saith he the heavens they have noe light ch 4.23 and the heavens above shal be blacke ver 28. but most playnly in Ezechiell speking of the overthrowe of the Egyptiās When I shall put thee out I will cover the heavens and make the starres thereof darke I will cover the Sunne with a cloude and the moone shall not make her light to shine all the cleare lights in the heaven I will make darke upon thee and bring darkenes upō thy land saith the Lord ch 32.7.8 Many such places doe teach that these speeches are not to be refferred to the last iudgement onely as some doe expounde but also to other times which those auncients did see of whom spake Aretas even now who would have these thinges to be understood of the passing over to Antichrist This blacknes of the Sunne the other disturbance of the creature perteineth to that horrible slaughter wherby those wicked men Diocletian Maximinian endevoured to roote out the Church For wee shall see that the Sūne Moone doth note stably through this booke the chiefe ornaments of the congregation of the faithfull so that the Sunne may signify the Scriptures the Moone that excellent glory of godlines wherby the saincts doe shine after they have borrowed light frō thē That both these should be miserably defyled by this common calamity this seale sheweth it The accomplishement whereof is recited by Eusebe booke 8.2 For when the Emperours in the nineteenth yeere of their reigne ordained by publik decrees that the bookes of the holy scriptures should be committed to the fire in the middes of the marked wee sawe sayth Eusebius with these very eyes that the sacred Scriptures inspired of God were cast in to the fire in the middes of the market place and in the same place a little after the Kinges letters patents did fly to fro in every place wherby it was commaunded to abolish the scriptures So this Sunne as a sacke cloath of haire noteth not onely generally that the publicke ioy should be turned into very great sorrow but also especially that outragiousnes wherby cruelty was exercised against the sacred scriptures Neither could it be otherwise but when the fountaine of light was darkened the Moone which hath her light onely borrowed should fade away into the darke colour of blood as almost alwaye it happeneth when shee is kept from having society with the Sunne 13 And the starres from heaven fell to the earth The starres were Ministers Pastors of the Churches chap. 1.20 In which signification they are used both here in other place afterward Many of thē through feare should revolte from the trueth which is shewed by the falling from heaven to earth Neither that onely after many dangers and divers calamityes wherby being weakened they should yeeld but in the very first assault they should fall downe as greene figges that is with very little adoe even at the first rumour of perill for the figge tree most easily looseth her fruit before maturity neither tarrieth almost for the violence of stormes but with any light blast of winde maketh an untymely birth that I may so say Plin. booke 16.26 Of which thing the Spirit maketh mention in so fine a similitude that the faithfull being forwarned should not be discouraged with the so easy falling away of many Eusebius sheweth that the thing fell out altogither as it was here foreshewed For after that first decree of demolishing the temples burning the scriptures there was added an
evill but light in comparison of his wrath from which they would redeeme themselves with any most grievous dammage whatsoever Diocletian being sent for by the letters of Constantine the great drunke poison for feare Maximianus ended his life with an haltar Gallerius perished of a most fowle disease Maximinus prevented the death that was nigh to him from Licinius by a voluntary death Maxentius tooke for him selfe a denne in the very bottome of the great river Tybris So in divers maners the Tyrants desyred to be hid from the sight of the Lambe Many men from the lykenes of speaking doe thinke that these thinges are to be referred unto the last day But noe man can deny that these same kindes of speaking are applyed of the Prophetes unto other and also unto the last calamityes And they shall come sayth Isaiah into the holes of the rockes and into the caves of the earth for the feare of the Lord chap. 2.19 Likewise Hoseah And they shall sâ—y to the Mountaines cover us and to the hilles fall upon us When yet neverthelesse he speaketh there onely of the carying away into Babylon chap. 10.8 Therefore the likenes of speaking hath small force to effect that which they would have Moreover neither can the consideration of the time suffer that interpretation by any meanes For seeing the time of the Trumpets and Violâ— is of longe continuance as wee shall shewe in the thinges that follow the sixt seale must needs be a great way from the last day especially seeing the first Trumpet shall not beginne to blowe before the seaventh seale be opened This one thing may be sufficient to convince that strange interpretation 17 For that day cometh In which the Lambe would doe that for the soules which they desired ver 11. would take deserved vengeance on the enemyes would breake the yoke of the Tyrants would take away the power of assayling with publike persecutions would set his people at liberty neither would suffer them to he vexed any more for a longe time as after chap. 20.2 of any enemy of this kinde Therefore the Church now could not be withstood by any forces that shee should not get out of trouble and obtaine the soveraignty of things even as the experience of the same times hath shewed plenteously Nowe therefore wee see the wonderfull Prophecy of the sixe Seales in which have ben disclosed the thinges of chiefe moment from the time of the Revelation given unto the raigne begun by Constantine surely in so expresse types and image of the thinges to be done that although peradventure some will accuse the interpretation of novelty yet every syncere and equall iudge will mervayle rather that the same hath not ben observed of others afore time theÌ„ refuse this as strange Yf any desyre to understand more fully touching the sixe Seales let him reade the seaven last bookes of the Ecclesiasticall History of Eusebius which may well serve him in steade of an ample and sufficint Commentary CHAP. 7. AFTER that J sawe foure Angels standing on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure windes of the earth that the winde should not blowe on the Earth neither on the Sea neither on any tree 2 And I saw an other Angell coming up from the East having the seale of the living God who cryed with a lowde voice to the foure Angels to whom power was given to hurt the earth and the sea saying 3 Hurt ye not the earth neither the sea neither the trees till wee have sealed the servaunts of our God in their foreheads 4 And J heard the number of them which were sealed there were sealed an hundreth an foure and forty thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israell 5 Of the tribe of Iuda were sealed twelve thousande of the tribe of Ruben were sealed twelve thousand of the tribe of Gad were sealed twelve thousand 6 Of the tribe of Aser were sealed twelve thousande of the tribe of Nepthali weâ— sealed twelve thousand of the tribe of Manasses were sealed twelve thousand 7 Of the tribe of Simeon were sealed twelve thousand of the tribe of Levi were sealed twelve thousand of the tribe of Jssachar were sealed twelve thousand of the tribe of Zabulon were sealed twelve thousand 8 Of the tribe of Joseph were sealed twelve thousande of the tribe of Beniamin were sealed twelve thousand 9 After these thinges I beheld and loe a great multitude which noe man could number of all nations and kinreds and people and tongues stood before the Throne and before the LAMBE clothed with longe white robes having Palmes in their handes 10 And they cryed with a lowde voice saying Salvation commeth of our GOD that sitteth upon the Throne and from the Lambe 11 And all the ANGELS stood round about the THRONE and about the ELDERS and the foure Beasts and they fell before the Throne on their faces and worshipped God 12 Saying Amen praise and glory and wisdome and thankes and power and might bee unto our God for ever more Amen 13 Then spake to mee one of those ELDERS saying unto mee who are thâ—se and whence came they which are arayed with longe white robes 14 And I sayd unto him LORD thou knowâ—st And he sayd unto mee These are they which come out of great affliction and have washed their longe robes and have made them white in the blood of the Lambe 15 Therefore are they before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his Temple and he that sitteth on the throne will protect them as in a bowre 26 They shall hunger noe more neither thirst any more neither shall the Sunne light on them neither any heate 27 For the Lambe which is in the middes of the throne shall feede them and lead them unto the lively fountaines of waters and God shall wipe away all teares froÌ„ their eyes Analysis HITHER To that which is proper to the sixt Seale that which is common followeth that is to say a certen generall pourtraiture of the whole future Church even unto her last ende Which is distinguished into two times The first is in which the true worshippers are defined with a certen number who are called the sealed by a peculiar name the occasion of whose sealing are the foure Angels prepared to shewe rigour against all men standing for this purpose on the foure corners of the earth that they might restraine all provision of food for salvation ver 1. Afterward the Minister of sealing who exempteth the elect out of the multitude of the destroyed coÌ„ming from the East with full power and noe lesse valiantly executing the office committed to him forbidding with a lowde voice that they should not proceed in their intente untill he have sealed certen that were to be taken out ver 2.3 But howe great the number of the sealed is it is shewed generally ver 4. Specially of what Tribes and how many of every one ver 5.6.7.8 And this time belongeth chifly to the
appointe to so great an Office Then shee presented to CHRIST Sainct DOMINICVS To Whom CHRIST said in deede he is a good and stout Champion and will doe carefully all the thinges of which thou hast spoken unto mee Shee presented also SAINCT FRANCES And CHRIST commaunded him likewise as the former c. In the same place after And blessed DOMINICVS continuing in prayer and intreating the Blessed Virgine MARIE to whom as a speciall Patronesse he had commited the whole care for his order c. From which wee see what haire these fryars had And not these onely but also the whole nation of the Papists who hold not Iesus Christ to be favorable to them any otherwise but so farre as Marie by her intercession procureth them favour But it shal be superfluous to wring out that thing by witnesses which they confesse at this day of their owne accord But thou wilt say howe now doe I attribute longe haire to the fryars whom of late I had sayd to be shorne and shaven To be shaven and to glory in the name of a woman are not contraries which to be signifyed by these allegories and not any proper covering of haire I suppose to be manifest enough So before chap. 4. Foure and twenty Elders are said to sit upon thrones crowned who yet afterward fall on their faces and throw downe their crownes at the voice of the Beasts giving glory to God continually which seeme so repugnant that they cannot stande if they be taken not figuratively but properly Christ also in the parable from one that had not on a wedding garment and cast into utter darkenesse inferreth that many are called and fewe are chosen when as the proper application would make the contrary that many are called fewe are reiected Mat. 22.13.14 But the favourable readers will unloose these thinges easilie of themselves ¶ And their teeth were as the teeth of Lions The well knowne rage of both hath sufficiently proved to the world their teeth to be as of Lions seeing the Saracenes assailed with sword and fire they devoured widowes houses under a colour of prayers and godlines 9 They had also habergeons Both the one and other should be fenced nobly and should be noe lesse safe then if they should have ben covered with iron corselets labour should be undertaken in vaine either for to subdue them by warre or restraine them by any force as long as their time of reigning should continue How unprosperously did the Romanes warre often times with the Arabians untill their fore appointed time of tyrannizing was passed over is relatetd by Zonaras in Constans the nephewe of Heraclius in Justimanus Rhinoâ—meta and others The same also is evident in the friars one exemple shal be instead of many The Vniversity of Paris accused to the Pope a certen blasphemeous booke patched by the Dominicanes which they called the Eternall Ghospell The Pope disallowed the booke yet he would not have it to be condemned publikely that nothing might be diminished of the estimation of the Monkes neither would he correct any further their wicked impudency Maidenburg Cent. 13. chap. 8. col 776. Therefore he that did strike them with any weapon it was as if he had cast it against an iron corselet or rather against a brazen wall ¶ And the sounde of their winges The huge noise of the Locusts wheÌ„ they should even move themselves to make an assault against any I will speake nothing of the Saracenes whose hostile in roades howe great terrour they brought to men who is ignorant Was it not a thing worthy of feare unto all Kingdomes and Dominions whatsoever that almost an infinite host of most strong men did remaine in the middes of them who were wholy addicted to the faith of a forren Pope and did altogither depend upon his pleasure alone By what cunning could the Pope more terrify the Kinges then by the clapping togither of these winges It is noe mervaile that the Popes cherished so greatly this bande of men whose labour was so profitable unto him 10 And their stinges were in their tailes The Complutent edition some other bookes read otherwise then the translation of Theod. Beza And they have tailes like unto scorpions and stinges and in their tailes they have power to hurt men five monethes Aretas agreeth with the same And so indeede the declaration of the thinges in order set forth requireth For that which was set downe before undeterminatly verse 3. and 5. as though the power to hurt had ben common to all the Locusts in this maner is drawne more distinctly and expressely to one certeÌ„ kinde Nowe it is shewed that the chiefe fiercenesse shal be in the tailes to which also the five monethes should properly belong but the tayle is every worst and filthyest thing in his kinde Doth not the thing it selfe declare that it came so to passe Who of the Saracenes did chiefly bring misery upoÌ„ our men CerteÌ„ly the tayle of the Saracenes the basest route the rascall sorte and company of vile persons which having noe resting places of their owne raÌ„ne hither and thâ—ther into Cyprê° Creta Sicilia Sardinia the two Ilandes Baleares Spaine Fraunce and Jtaly to seeke a place to dwell in The other multitude whose tyranny was more stable and which continued longer kept the countries more quietly and with more estimation which they had once possessed Also of all the Religious the Begging fryars are the tailes to whom especially the sting belongeth the five monethes of tyrannizing For taking their beginning from Innocentius the third they grew into almost an infinite number untiil the yeere one thousand three hundred and fiftieth that is untill Gerardus Ridder wrote a booke against them which he intituled the teares of the Church in which he proved that that kinde of life was farre from a Christian perfection that it is against charity that they doe feede of other mens labours when a man should be able to get his living with his owne handes that they are hypocrites that they live most filthily that for mens sake and for lucre they mixed fables Apocrypha most vaine dreames with the syncere trueth that they devoured widowes houses under a colour of long prayers that they did troble the whole Church many wayes by their confessioÌ„s sermons and solemnitiâ—s at mens burials and therefore that it belongeth to the Bishops to restraine and represse this immoderate libertie and abuses of the Monkes Those are his wordes the summe of which I have mentioned because it agreeth wonderfully with this description of the Locusts Neither doe I attribute it to him alone that this plague was quailed and repressed but many couragious men desirous of true godlines wer about that time who with ioint forces did put to flight the same From hence therefore it is more apparant which wee said at the fifte verse That the whole Kingdomes either of the Saracenes or of the Pastists is not to be gathered into that space of five monethes
are kept certenly from the holy place with brasen walles Albeit the discerning now is not so heard as it was in time past while the Church had no place in the publike Read but the writings of our men by the grace of God thine eyes shall waxe cleere to perceive the trueth Mayest thou not worthily suspect the Popes craft restraining thee from buying and selling of our bookes and of all familiarity Yet neverthelesse doe thou strive so much the more to knowe the trueth that thou shalt see the same to be hated of thine through the conscience of their owne deformity ¶ Two and fourty moneths The time wherein the true Spouse should lie hid and the false should rule But how great darkenesse is here And noe marveile in so great blindnesse of mans understanding Wherefore be thou present who hast received these thinges that thou mightest disclose them to thy servants to the ende that by thy guiding I may goe safely For to dispell the obscurity it is to be observed first that there is not signifyed in these two and fourty moneths three common yeeres an half going about I hope that the accord of the things hath proved already that the foure Euphratean Angels in the 9. chapter are the Turkes To whom power being given for one houre and moneth and yeere seeing that the three hundreth yeere is nowe slipt away is there any so obstinate who will yet avouch that these two and fourty Moneths are to be restrained togither within the narrowe limites and straights of their owne and naturall-signification Hereunto is to be added that seeing these moneths pertaine to the Beast chap. 13.5 that the same was not yet borne in the time of the revelation For Iohn sawe her rising up afterward chap. 13.1 which thing no where is either said or can be said of the Romane Empire this is certenly that space in which Antichrist shal be borne shall growe be wounded and recover health againe wherein he shall exercise power over eveâ—y tribe tongue and nation shall make the dwelling place of his tyranny the queene of the whole earth in which finally both he himselfe and also all the Ministers of his pleasures shal be altogither given to exceeding riot as is cleere from chap. 13. and 17. and 18. But can all these thinges be performed in three common yeeres and an halfe Peradventure Therapontigonus Platâ—gidorus shall recover life who conquered the halfe part of all nations well nigh within twenty dayes Alexander of Macedonia is compared to a Leopard which had foure wings on his backe notable tokens of his swiftnes that he should obtaine the Empire of Asia in twelve yeeres all that time dwelling in tents neither giving himselfe to any other thinge Dan. 7.6 But Antichrist should for iust cause ride on the very Sunne to subdue all countries none excepted in three yeeres and an halfe and in the meane while to give up himselfe through idlenes to all delights wretched intemperancie But it is more plaine yet after in the chap. 20.4 Where the enemies of the Beast refusing to be subiect to his governement and raigning with Christ a thousand yeeres on earth to with all that space of time in which the Divell is bound and tyed in chaines and the subiects of Antichrist lie dead before the first resurrection doe proove necessarily that the Beast also Antichrist was through all that time otherwise how were they able to resist him not onely commanding nothing but also not living The same thing also shal be minifest from the person of Antichrist which in his place wee will shewe not to belong to one man alone but to a certen kingdome and succession chap. 17. Secondly seeing this account is not common it is needfull that wee recken these moneths after the manner of the other scriptures for almost all things in the Revelation are expressed after the maner of the auncient types But what is that maner Shall every severall moneth note seaven yeeres as the weekes in Daniell It is wholly without all example and reason to compare the moneths to the weekes Neither will the wordes suffer it by any meanes For the Angell sheweth that every eche day is to be counted from whence he noteth commonly this space sometime by two and fourtie moneths some time by a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes as in the next verse and in chap 12.6 But that way whereby the moneths are brought unto the weekes and there is made the number of two hundred ninetie foure yeeres numbreth not the fourth part of the daies Wee therefore thinke that every one is to be reckened and that so many yeeres are to be assigned as there are dayes in these moneths which agreeth wholly unto the manner of the weekes in Daniell Thirdly that these are not Iulian yeeres For these two and fourty moneths make onely a thousand two hundred threescore dayes But so many Iulian moneths doe effect a thousand two hundred seventie eight dayes more Whereupon there wante of the Iulian foure score dayes and some what more how many yeeres the thousand two hundred and three score dayes doe lacke every one by it selfe being taken for one yeere of the thousand two hundred three score Iulian yeeres What moneths then doeth the Angell use here Not the Lunarie nor Iulian but onely the AegyptiaÌ„ moneths every of whâ—ch consist of thirty dayes He hath shewed that according to the custome of this nation onely wee must recken the moneths because it was it that should kill the Prophets of the Lord and in the streete of whose great city they should lie troden under foote unburied for a mocking stock after in ver 8. After the manner of these moneths wee have limitted by thirty daies every of those five moneths chap. 9. Fourthly that this account is not to be begun either from the passion of the Lord or any other time which went before this writing For as wee have told you divers times these wordes I will shewe thee the things that must be done hereafter in chap 4.1 will not beare it Neither by and by after the giving of the RevelatioÌ„ For next after followeth the dwelling in heaven the cloathing with the Sunne the crowne of twelve starres and the Moone trode under the foote chap 12.1 For with all this glory shined that first most holy Church or else wee can not finde to what times wee may referre it But of what sort I pray you is this space of two and fourty moneths Namely of a most waste wildernesse of sackcloth uncleenes corruption and lamentable deformity As touching that the wordes are expresse that this wonder appeared in heaven where afterward the Dragon warred at length throwne headlong from thence chap. 12.7 c. But what had the Dragon to doe in heaven but that he might lie in waite for the woman travailing with childe From whence also did the woman flee if shee dwelt in the wildernes before the time of her
wounding of the whole Popish nation was reserved to this time Which after they heard of our England and Queene overthrowing the Romish impiety burst out altogither devising for us by what meanes soever they could a finall destruction And many wordes are not needfull in this matter Known to the whole world are the Popes curses against us our people being stirred up often to rebellion the bloody Iesuites sent privily daily hired traitours privie murtherers sorcerers the Popes armies set out in Ireland the Spanish navie then which there was never any stronger and better appointed Neither yet with weapons and armour more for fight then with scourges and haltars and things of that sort for torment the desirous inquiry of Philip the Father lately wakened almost from very death concerning our England as though he were to goe by by into that place where the teller of our evill should be noe lesse pleasant to others then to himselfe Rages certenly meete for wicked mindes For these are onely the beginnings of furie although famous notable then chiefly the Papists shall storme when Christ shall enter upon his full Kingdome as after more at large The Pope and Turke shall purpose the last desolation of the whole Church for which cause they shall gather very great armies But the rage of men shall turne the greater glory of God as the Psalmist singeth For by how much the danger shal be greater by so much his honour shall shine the more in delivering his As touching the second Gods punishement begun which these wordes signify and his wrath is come that conteineth the summe of the Vials which therefore are called the last plagues as shall be said in his place The full reward and first of all goods as great as can be on the earth is found in these wordes and the time of the dead that they should be iudged Which things perteine to the Iewes yet strangers from Christ and therefore without salvation and dead in deede but at length they shall be iudged and shall come to the trueth Which Interpretation I have taken out of Daniell Ezechiel and some places of this Prophecy following of which how great is the weight it shall appeare after more clearly The recompensing of the evill in the last wordes and shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth To wit The Pope and Turke and all their servants yet mighty robbers of the whole earth And so is the short summe of the things to be declared afterward more plenteously 19 Then the Temple was opened Therefore it was shut before when it was measured in the beginning of this chapter and because the elect were sealed But now it should be opened noe more to be used to the receaving of a fewe faithfull but that is should extende to an huge multitude of Saincts Neither onely should the Temple be opened but also the most holy place in which was set the Arke of the covenant Into this once it was lawfull for the High Priest onely to enter and that but once in a yeere Now it should be gone into of all Saincts in likewise all the mysteries of salvation being as plaine cleere and manifest to every one as before time they were to the learned and skilfull men all whose study was bestowed in them And who but a very envious anthankefull man acknowledgeth not a most rich encrease of trueth which is come to passe in these last times since the yeere 1558. in which the seventh Trumpet sounded The doctrine was made lightsome in many points more clearly known delivered more distinctly then hath happened in many ages past Neither doe I speake this to boast but to praise Gods bounteousnes and to shewe forth the trueth of the Prophecy Surely God hath begun to consume in his mountaine the forme of that veile which covereth all people and that covering which is spread upon all nations Isay 25.7 He began I say because it shal be taken away more fully when it shal be taken from the Iewes also ¶ And there were lightnings The third part of the signe which declareth what should follow after the opening of the Temple great evils should fall upon the world from the Church increased and abounding with so great riches of divine knowledge The world waxeth leane throug her prosperity and by howe much the Sunne shineth more brightly upon it so much the more are the sicke eyes of it grieved Therefore it desireth that this were abolished and endevoureth as much as it can but prevaileth nothing by endevouring unlesse to call forth lightnings upon it selfe and those evils which are rehearsed But this is onely a briefe foreshadowing of the things the patterne shal be mote lively set forth afterward CHAP. 12. AND there appeared a great wonder in heaven a woman clothed with the Sunne under whose feete was the Moone and upon her head a crowne of twelve starres 2 And being great with childe shee cryed traveiling in birth was pained that shee might bring forth 3 And there appeared an other wonder in heaven for beholde there stood a great red Dragon having seaven heads and ten hornes and upon his heads seaven crownes 4 Whose taile drewe the third part of the starres of heaven which he cast to the earth And that Dragon stood before the woman being ready to bring forth that when shee had brought foorth he might devoure her childe 5 And shee brought foorth a man childe which should rule all nations with a rod of iron and her childe was taken up unto God and his throne 6 But the woman fled into the wildernes where shee should have a place prepared of God that they should feede her a thousand two hundreth and three score dayes 7 And there was a hattell in heaven Michaell and his Angels fought with the Dragon and the Dragon fought and his Angels 8 But they prevailed not neither was their place found any more in heaven 9 And that great Dragon that olde serpent which is called the Devill and Satan was cast out which deceaveth all the world he was cast I say into the earth his Angels were cast out with him 10 And I heard a loude voice saying in heaven nowe is salvation and strength and the kingdome of our God and the power of his Christ because the accuser of our brethren is cast downe which accused them before our God day and night 11 But they overcame him by the blood of the lambe and by the word of their testimony and they made no accounte of spending their life even unto death 12 Therefore reioice ye heavens and ye that dwell in them woe to the inhabitans of the earth and of the sea for the Devill is come downe unto you full of great wrath as who knoweth that he hath but a little opportunity 13 When therefore the Dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth he persecuted the woman which had brought forth the man childe 14 But to the woman were given two winges of a
shal come to passe between that signe given this thankesgiving The first gratulation is of a great multitude in heaven that is of the mixed multitude of the Church conversant on earth for we keepe in the common signification of this word which beareth not that these things should be referred to any knowledge which the heavenly soules have of things done with us The citizēs therfore of this militant Church in every countrey where the fame shal come they shal leape for ioy and shal breake forth into this grateful commemoration ¶ Hallelujah Halleluiah is an Hebrew word praise ye the Lord wherby the faithfull exhort one an other to give thākes and prepare their minds as it were with this preface True joy suffereth not it selfe to be contained in the bosome of any one but taketh to her selfe fellowes to whom shee may both impart her selfe and also may be more stirred up by the joint affection of others This one word containeth large matter of very great ioy But why doth the heavenly multitude speake now in Hebrew Is ther more holinesse in these lettres and syllables than in other They ar toyes Are then some Hebrew words kept as Osanna Amen Abba and the like which we shal use as tokens of our cōcord with the ancient Church that both wee beleeve in the same God and invocate him alone This indeed is a profitable cause of retaining these words but especially this seemeth to be the reason in this place that the Church of the Gentiles after Rome be overthrown shal provoke their brethrē the Iewes to the faith that impediment being taken away which most of all hindred their conversion it could not be that the crucifyers should acknowledge the same Lord while this flourished or was at all which gave leave to crucify him This is the cause why the Hebrew word now soundeth againe so often Praises were not in these words before time but whē the conversion of the Iewes is at hand ioyned next to this reioycing for iust cause now the Saincts doe speak with the tongue of one sheepfold ¶ Salvation and honour and glory That is the prayse of salvation honour and glory and praise of power be given to our Lord. Glory is a certaine very excellent opinion which a man hath of any ones excellency therfore called of the Grecians doxa Wherfore in this destruction of Rome so bright a beame of Gods goodnes and power shal shine forth that al the faithful shal admire it and be astonied Honour is that worship both inward and outward wherby we doo reverence so great excellency It is ought alwaies to be ioyned with glory otherweise vaine is that estimation of one which no dutie accompanieth the vulgar latine readeth prayse glory and powr be to our God The Complut and the Kings Bible have Salvation and power and glory of our God 2 Because true and righteous The truth in iudgments respecteth the promise righteousnes rewarding according to their deserts The credit of both these falleth into utter decay with the world because of delaying frō whence now for good cause God is praised of his people in both these respects wheras he hath proved sufficiently to the world that he dooth punish naughty acts and that he neglecteth not the iniuries which are done to his 3 And againe they said An other thankes giving the thing being more certenly known The first tidings of the taking of the city shal cause the first as it seemeth but when the faithful shal have learned that the same is utterly overthrown without al hope of renewing they shal renew their ioy and shal give new thankes a fresh The second is done in fewer words than the former peradventure according to our disposition whose first brunt is most vehement ¶ And her smoke rose up That is now is shee delivered up to eternal punishment to be tormented For an everlasting fyre is shewed by the smoke ascending for evermore by which kind of speaking is signifyed that the continual remembrance of her punishment shal be with al the godly alwayes A token wherof they shal have continually before their eyes the smoke ascending without intermission least perhaps they should forget it He alludeth to the eternal torment of the wicked Therfore the eternity of the punishment shal give a new cause of gladnesse And not without cause when they knowe that the insolency of the wicked whore shal not onely be restrained for the present but also that none shal have any feare of her for the time to come 4 And those fowr and twenty Elders fell down Such was the reioycing of the mixed multitude ther followeth the assembly of the faithfull gathered togither solemly which doo labour openly and ioyntly to the same duty of thankes giving For this multitude of Elders and Beasts giveth a shew of an Ecclesiastical assembly which God the Father for his sonnes sake coūteth such as this most holy company representeth And therfore as oftē as any thing is performed by a common name that is shewed by this sacred Senat as we have shewed in chap. 4. Such therfore shal be the order of giving thankes that the end and conclusion of the common thankes giving be reserved to the publike congregations And so it hath come to passe that private reioycing alwayes goeth before the common publik Any blast of report is wont to stirr up that first this is not undertakē but when the things are throughly known and undoubted But the foure and twenty Elders fall down when the Beasts give glory and thankes to him that sitteth on the throne It belongeth to these to moderate the whole action in the publike assembly the rest of the congregatiō ought to ioine their praiers and to testify their consent by a common voyce in the ende According to this custome there are rehearsed here onely two words Amen Allelujah As though that former were of the Elders this latter the summe of the thankes giving which the Beasts utter in conceived words But this order hath bin declared more fully in chap. 4. from whence this ought to be understood the same which now is shewed briefly But observe that the last songs of the Church of the Gentiles shal be gratulatory which yeeld no other song then Halleluiah Even as the book of the Psalmes is concluded with songs of praises Shee sunge in time past many lamentable songs and hymnes of a mixt kinde but the last part of the Comedy shal be doubtlesse a most joyful tryumph And these are the funerals of the city of Rome and the rites by which her burial shal be celebrated The day and yeere cannot certenly be set downe in which her funeralls shal be yet from other scriptures I think it to be clear that they shall not be differred at the furdest beyond three score yeeres The sixeteenth chapter hath taught that next after that the vial is powred out upon the throne Euphsates shal be dryed up that is after Rome destroyed
your selves not to be Ministers of Christ And in this weise is the first calling of the Iewes that shal be now shortly which Daniel describeth by a certen pointing out of the time chap. 12.12 c Ezechiel saw it shadowed out by the dry bones moving themselves with an exceeding great noise shaking and by and after covered with sinewes flesh chap. 37.78 as wee shal heare afterward God willing more fully 11 Then J saw heaven open It being declared how Euphrates must be dried up or rather to what ende that is to say that nothing may be an impediment to the Iewes returning into their owne countrey now he proceedeth to the other part of the sixt vial the preparation for warre the Captaine wherof is first described And such a forme of him is exhibited not onely as is needful for this warre but also which declareth the whole state of things from that instant moment even to the end of al things It is no new thing that under the person of Christ a short and brief Prophecy of the whole state of his spouse should be delivered He is not chāged unlesse in so much as it is convenient for his Church Therfore in this new shape as in a glasse we ought to behold the face of the spouse by how much it is to be considered the more diligently This wonderfull sight is seen in heavē open that is in the holy Church whose most bright glory now most of all shal be made manifest to al men as before by a dore open in heaven the notable dignity and excellency of the first Church as it was in the Apostles daies and by and by after chap. 4.1 But this is more ample glory that heaven is opened not by some little dore but by a whole gate ye whole walles that I may so say nothing letting but that her full maiesty now may be seen of men as farre as is granted on earth ¶ And behold a white horse We may not suppose that Christ shal come forth in any visible shape these things are farre from his last comming as those things which follow wil manifest but he wil shew forth openly and evidently such a force in the administration of things as this figure representeth The whole description consisteth of foure parts In every one of which is to be considered the preparation and name In this first part the furnishing is a white horse the name faithful and true The similitude of which things with that in chap. 6.2 hath caused that some did thinke this to be the same vision by which errour they confound all things They differ much in times and in argument That white horse belonge to the first lists But this to the last goale That former went forth by and by after Iohn when Traiane flourished and his next successours This last is not seen but after the destruction of Rome There the confused multitude of all the beleevers was respected Here the conversion of the nation of the Iewes onely is intreated off Yet herin they agree that the white horse in both places signifyeth Christ triumphing by his truth but thē the Gentiles being subdued now at length a stubburne people being reconciled unto him To which thing he carried a name fitted wherby he sheweth that he wil now at last manifest to the whole world how faithfull true he is in performing his promises and that not any thing even the least shal be frustrate which once he foreshewed by the Prophets concerning the restoring of this nation in the last times Such a one therfore shal Christ be notable by these marks when he shal beginne the conversion of this people His promise shal seeme to have bin forgotten through long delay which at length he shal performe with most plentiful increase of new joy ¶ And who jugeth and fightest iustly So Theod. Beza translateth a relative being put between as though these things togither with the former should constitute the name it selfe which in the rest is wonte to be shorter but the sense is al one seing it is in likeweise whither a man be counted such by his name or found to be of this sort in very deed The worde have this force properly and he iudgeth and fighteth in righteousnesse where the coniunctiō copulative may be a causal as though these words should render a reason both of the white horse and also of the name should be added to the same in stead of an interpretation He sitteth upon a white horse because he fighteth righteously His name is faithful and true because he iudgeth righteously Which words are spoken in respect of his own people taken as they seem out of Psal 96.10.13 where to iudge in truth and righteousnes signifyeth to rule and moderate his people in framing and ordering their life according to truth and righteousnes that not onely as touching their outward actions but also in respect of inward newnesse of the heart which dependeth upon the regeneration of the Spirit wherby we are reformed after the Image of God as Calvin hath written very wel These words therfore declare the effectual power of calling which Christ shal now bestow aboundātly upō his and moreover safety from their enemies with whom he wil make warre and render them a reward meet for their deserts 12 And his eyes The second part of the description where his eyes are as it were a flame of fyre and on his head are many crownes but a name unknowne to all men but to himselfe alone As touching his eyes they are most sharpe pearsing al things which as flames of fyre consume whatsoever letteth the sight make lightsome the darkenesse it selfe and set most hidden things in the light What cā hide it selfe from such eyes Such an one shal Christ shew himselfe in drawing out his people into the light of truth from the hidden dennes and darkenesse whersoever they lurked so as this sharpnes of sight shal be very admirable to the world I wil say to the North saith the Lord give and to the South keepe not backe bring my sonnes from farre and my daughters from the endes of the earth Isay 43.6 The crownes are many because of the many singular victories which the Iewes shal get when first they shal give their name to Christ from those sundry nations among which they live dispersed striving as much as they can against their conversion But why is his name unknown that here we may know that great mystery to be wherat Paul cryed out O the deepnesse of the richesse both of the wisdome and knowledge of God! how unsearcheable are his iudgements and his waies past finding out Rom. 11.33 c. There he speaketh of this same thing of the hardening of the Iewes for a time calling at length in their time which whole matter he concludeth with an admiratiō of Gods wisdome affirming that no wit of any creature can comprehende the infinitnesse of the mystery So this vision foreshewing in the
they wer removed froÌ„ their place office whose genealogie was not found Nehem. 7 61.64.65 The Gospel is in truth savoury to no man neither doth any man give his name to it from his heart but he who is written in the book of life and in the booke of his heart hath a writing answering the same word for word 13 And the Sea gave up her dead The way wherby they that are to be iudged are presented before the iudgement seate to weet the Iewes wer gathered from all the corners of the earth as in the generall resurrection nothing shal hinder by what kinde of death soever any hath perished but that a body shal be restored to him Yet notwithstanding when as the Sea signifyeth corrupt and false doctrine by this also is noted that those Iewes which live in Christian countreyes of which sort are very many in Spaine France Germany Italy as it were in the bosome and compasse of the Popish sea of which we have spoken so many things before shal open their eyes to acknowledg the truth and shal fly togither at the light thereof ¶ Death ulso and hell gave up A Synecdoche of the general as though he should say and al that have dyed of any other death It must needs be that the karkeise be drowned in the sea or be covered with earth or rot in the aire or be consumed of the fire or devoured of beasts or some like thing As touching the drowning he said before the sea as touching the grave now he saith hell Death conteineth all the rest But seeing death restoreth those Iewes which live in the Christian landes and are infected with the Romish superstition death and hell shal restore them that shall live among Turkes and Heathen who are banished further off from salvation and are conversant in the inner parts of hell it selfe For so are al those nations of whom the name of Christ is either hated or not heard Neverthelesse it maketh no matter whither a man perish by sea or land either among Christians or among the enemies of this name 14 But hell and death A special execution on death Therfore as after the general resurrection no death shal raigne any more in the world besides that eternal which shal alwayes feed up and not consume the wicked so after the Church shal be restored by that full calling of the Iewes death and the grave shal raigne no more in her as of old while as scourges they alwayes lay upon the shoulders of the offenders but onely they shal serve to translate the elect into the Kingdome of heaven whereupoÌ„ they shall loose their former name They are cast into a lake of fâ—re not because either death or hell susteyne any person but because that which is proper to men is attributed to them as though he should say there shal be no torment any more eyther of death or hel but in the lake of fire where the reprobate dye for ever But from hence observe that seing hel is cast into the lake of fyre that is into hell properly so caled that it obtaineth an other proper signification then that which commonly is given to it in our mothers tongue It is takeÌ„ of many for the place of the damned but commonly it noteth not any thing but the grave and the common state of the dead as may be learned from this and other places of this booke 15 And whosoever was not found None shal be gathered into this Church but he that shal be of the elect How excellent is this preheminence of the Church which shal not be defiled with any hypocrites and counterfait Christians as before time How faire is this field which shall abounde with most fruitful corne without any tares and darnel Whatsoever is found in this nette may be laied up in a safe vessel Therfore it cannot be declared in words how amiable this most glorious spouse shal be It may come to passe that some may fall some time through humane infirmitie but holy admonitions and wholsome correction shal bring them againe to good thrift and repentance But shal every one of the Iewes be such Some shal not embrace the truth as is manifest from Daniel many arising to shame and perpetual contempt chap. 12.2 And we shal learne from the chapter folowing that some doggs shal be excluded without this city But they which now shal refuse the truth shal shew forth a manifest token of their reprobatioÌ„ that the Church shal not be subiect to be deceived any more Wherfore in this renewing the goodnesse and power of God shal be most famous through the whole world VVhich shal restore wretched men so wonderfully and make so singular choise of them whom he wil redeem But see how the godly shal receive comfort from hence For wheras every most holy man might iustly tremble through conscience of their sinns against this feare we have here a notable confirmation that election by Christ setteth us free from guilt CHAP. 21. AFTER I saw a new heaven and a new earth for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away and the sea was no more extant 2 And J Iohn saw the holy city the new Ierusalem come down from God out of heaven prepared as a bride trimmed for her husband 3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying behold the tabernacle of God is among men and he wil dwel with them and they shall be his people and God himselfe shal be with them their God 4 And God shal wipe all teares from their eyes and death shal be no more neither neither sorow neither crying neither shal ther be any more paine because the former things are past 5 And he that sate upon the throne said behold J make all things new And he said unto me write for these words are true and faithfull 6 And he said unto mee it is done J am Alpha and Omega the beginning the ende I wil give to him that is a thirst of the well of the waters of life freely 7 He that overcometh shall inherite all things and I will be his God and he shal be my sonne 8 But the fearfull and unbeleeving and abominable and murtherers whore mongers and sorcerers and Idolaters and all lyars shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 9 And ther came to mee one of the seven Angels which had the seven vials ful of the seven last plagues and he spake unto mee saying come I will shewe thee the Lambes wife 10 And he caried mee away in the Spirit in a great and high mountaine and shewed mee that great city that holy Hierusalem descending out of heaven froÌ„ God having the glory of God 11 And her brightnes was like unto a stone most pretious as a Iasper stone shining as Crystal 12 It had beside a great wall and hie having twelve gates at the gates twelve Angels and names written which
the continued quantity now followeth of that which is severed and first of the city whose dimension is about twelve thousand furlongs which it is doubtful whither they belong to the whole plat of ground or onely to the compas There is nothing that can be determined certenly and distinctly touching this thing If we say the first it is a huge city every side of which shal be an hundred and nine furlongs and more lacking a very little of the old BabyloÌ„ which conteined a hundred and twenty furlongs in every side as Herodotus in Clio sheweth But if the compas alone receiveth this measure there was never any city to be compared with this in greatnesse every side wherof shal be three thousaÌ„d furlongs in lenght and the whole plat of ground nine times tenne hundred thousand The Complutent edition whom Montanus and Plantins Bible follow reade these things otherweise thus about twelve furlongs of twelve thousand that is as I suppose about twelve times twelve thousand furlongs as if the whole largenesse were so many furlongs as many as wer sealed of every tribe ch 7. to weet an huÌ„dred fourty foure thousaÌ„d furlongs Which agreemeÌ„t causeth to doubt that this reading is the truer both because it declareth the great similitude of this the old Church of the GeÌ„tils also because it retaineth the proportion of the wal in ver following By this meane the city is made of the mutual increase of the cityzens ministers as the wal of the nuÌ„ber of the ministers multiplyed in it selfe for 12 tims 12 thousaÌ„d of which that multiplying signifieth the ministers this to be multiplyed the citizeÌ„s do mak this nuÌ„ber whose side shal be of 379 furloÌ„gs above But here it may be asked why Iohn maketh this city much larger theÌ„ Ezech. seing it is the same in both For he rehearseth the measure of ech side 4500 cubits ch 48.30 that is 12 furlongs onely and some what more Iohn which reading soever we folow whether we esteeme the measure of the circuit or the plat of ground assigned a farre greater magnitude Ezechiel was a minister of the Law Iohn of the Gospel from whence ariseth a difference of amplenesse according to the allowed portion of light which alwayes was greater the nigher men approached to the times of Christ Wherfore the Temple of Salomon was built with laâ—ger dimensions then the Tabernacle and the Temple of Ezechiel with farre greater than that of Salomon but this ciry of Iohn with a great deale larger than of Ezechiel For after Christs comming there came a very great light according to which increase of knowledge ther is used an answerable magnificence of the building ¶ And the length and bredth and height of it are equall Even now we said that the length is continuance of time the bredth the present face of every time which shal be no lesse faire and beautiful then that glory of continuation Now first mention is made of height which serveth to betokeÌ„ and excellent glory of this city to be extolled by the speach and praises of al men Things are set on high by commendations wherby as it is much used in common speach they are lifted up to heaven Therfore this city shal be no lesse famous among al then durable in time alwayes flourishing in a great multitude of citizens For this city is solid not superficiary proportionable foure squarre on every part which consisteth of al her measures and al of them equal It is perfect every way to which nothing can be added The former wanted solidity whose bredth moreover was so narrow that it could scarce be seen What marveile therfore if they were shaken with every tempest This more firme shal stande with so great strength on every side that it cannot feare any stormes 17 And he measured the wall of it Such then is the forme of the city The quantity of the wall a part is of an hundred fourty foure cubits FroÌ„ wheÌ„ce is this number From the nuÌ„ber of the Apostles multiplied in it selfe for twelve times twelve doo make this number VVherfore the Apostles and the Ministere of the word who are propagated from them shal compasse the holy city round about and shal keepe it safe from al invasion of the enemy and from al the fraud and deceit of Heretiques But this measuring is onely the height that of the length may be known well ynough being shewed by the measure of the city which the wal compassing the same doth exceed because of the territories ¶ The measure of a man which is of the Angell As though he should say Though the Ministers shal make this description with their cubite yet they shal doo nothing at their owne pleasure but as the Angels of God shal respect Gods wil in al things and shal follow the same most happilye having the Spirit for their guide but what should the measure of a man doo in heaven observe therfore what city he describeth unto us 18 And the building of the wall was Thus farre of the forme now he speaketh of the matter and first iointly of the matter of the wall togither of the city The frame of the wall is of Iasper This stone both lyeth in the foundation and is used chiefly in the rest of the building perhaps because endomesis in greeke is the stuffing of the wall filling up the space between the fronts that it may signify the frame to be no lesse pretious within then without the stopping which the word noteth seemeth to signify some such thing or rather seing procumation is also a pile or dam laid for to repell and breake the waves the building is chiefly made of Iasper because those teachers which are signifyed by this gemme shal endure the chiefe violence and first assault of the adversaries being in stead of a fortresse to the rest ¶ But the city it selfe was pure gold The matter in summe of the city is pure golde which the fire consumeth not but maketh it more bright neither weareth away with use neither is defiled by the rust neither is overcome either by the juices of salt or vineger which doo overcome other things Plinie giveth those praises to gold Why should not this city be perpetual which is made of matter so invincible and is free from all corruption But beside it is like to cleare glasse that is not loathsome to looke on by the deformity of any filth even in the most secret corner So wholly clear it shineth through that in it and through it every one may beholde the most favourable face of God For hereunto tendeth this shining clearenesse that God himselfe may be considered and seen through it whom as strangers on earth we behold through a glasse and riddle 1 Cor. 13.12 Therfore this city is not as at this day Rome the whore gilded with golde wholly without and within full of filthinesse and al manner of corruption but it hath exceeding great purity and holinesse ioyned
playnly to Christians al coverings being removed as on whom the noone Sunne of truth shineth and all things are naked and open And indeed he openeth most significantly in one word that long obscure description in Ezechiel saying that that temple so magnifically gloriously prepared is in truth none at all not as though the Prophet had uttered so many words vainly but to shewe that we must not stick in the bark of the lettre but that the kernell of the Spirit is to be found out Let the Iewes heare neither let them expect a renewed temple as hitherto they doo amisse and obstinately but let them with minds and harts aspire in that right way which shal need no temple Let them look for the omnipotent God and the Lamb to dwel among them in comparison of which glory whatsoever can be built of men shal be vile 23 Neither hath this city any need of the Sunne or Moone For in very deed the Moone shall be ashamed and the very Sunne shall blush when the Lord of hosts shall reigne in mount Sion and Hierusalem and shall be glorious before his auncients Isaiah 24.23 And why may it not be ashamed of her former darkenesse when the light of the Moone shal be as the light of the Sunne and the light of the Sunne seven folde as the light of seven daies Isay 30.23 Which thinges are not spoken to that ende as though there should be no use then of the Scriptures but because all shall so understand Gods will as if they had no need to learne wisdome from books Full saith the Prophet shall this land be of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters covering the chanell of the Sea Isay 11.9 Neither shall they anie more teach everie man his friend and everie man his brother saying know yee the Lord for they shall all know mee from the least of them even to the greatest of them saith the Lord that J doo forgive their inquity and remember their sinne no more Ier. 31.34 From hence let us observ that that Church is most glorious in which the sunne of righteousnesse shineth with most open face covered with no cloudes of ceremonies therfore let them see in how great errour they are whom bring in a pompous shew of ceremonies to procure authority to religion with the people Furthermore let us note to what times Iohn applyeth the sentences of the Prophets that we may know the things are yet to come which we interpret commonly to be past and not onely in the heavenly countrey whose happinesse needeth the words of no man but here in earth in that restoring wherof we have spoken ¶ And the Lambe is the light therof Therfore this light the most bright of all godly times shal not yet be perfit as it shal be after this life but a candle onely in respect of that least peradventure wee should rest in our iourney as if we had come to the last ende 24 And the Gentiles that shal be saved The second outward argument is glory from the Gentils Before time the Iewes have alwayes found the GeÌ„tiles most hatefull who left no meanes unattempted to doo them hurt now contrariweise ther shal be no cause to feare that they will doo them any harme yea rather why should they not expect all good at their hands who shal apply al their forces to the advancing of them But these Gentiles are not al generally but are limited with a certain kinde which saith he shal be saved which word is inserted for an exposition The place is taken out of Isaiah 60.3 where it is thus and the Gentiles shall walke to thy light which Iohn draweth to the elect by putting in of one word least any should think it was spoken of every one generally And see how Iohn traÌ„slate that seÌ„teÌ„ce they shal walke to thy light thus they shal walke in the light of it the senteÌ„ce being well expressed For to walke at the light is not to come only to the light which one may doe depart again by by being at once both seen despised but to walke after or according to the light as to walke at the feete is alone with to follow serve one 1 Sam. 25.42 Neither-hath this place in the heavens that the people should walke at the light of the Church when Prophecyings shal be abolished and tongues shall cease and God shal be all in all 1 Cor. 13.8 and 15.28 But it may be doubtful how it can have place on earth For shal this difference remaine of some people which are saved and of other that are lost in this most happy government of the Church It seemeth indeed that there shal be many which yet still shal contemne the truth obstinately for the day of the Lord shall come cas a share upon all that dwell on the face of the earth Luke 21 35. But the children of the Church are not in darkenesse that that day should take them as a thief in the night 1 Thess 5.4 Moreover it was said before that the haile of a taleâ—t weight of the last vial shall drive men to blasphemy chap. 16.21 Neverthelesse those despisers shal be of so feeble strength that wil they nil the they shal be compelled to yeeld their necks The Complut edition and the Kings bible doo omit these words which are saved and so doth Aretas and the vulgar Latine neither doo they reade in the light of it but by the light ¶ And the Kings of the earth shal bring their glory unto it Then the Kings borderers on the Ocean and of the Yles shall bring a present the Kings of Sheba and Seba shall bring a gift finally all Kings shall worship him and all nations shall serve him Psal 72.10.11 And Isay The labour of Aegypt and marchandize of Aethiopia and of the Sabean Princes shall come unto thee and they shall be thine and shall follow thee they shall come in chaines and shall fall down before thee and shall make supplications unto thee saying onely the strong God is in thee there is none besides no where else is God chap. 45.14 Againe Kings shal be thy nurcing fathers and their Queenes shal be thy nurces they shall worship thee with their faces toward the earth and shall lick the dust of thy feet chap. 49.23 For then shal be given unto Christ a dominion and glory and Kingdome that all people nations and tongues should serve him whose dominion is an everlasting dominion which passeth not away his KingdoÌ„ a KingdoÌ„ which shall not be destroyed Dan. 7.14 It shal not also be from the purpose to add here in what words the Sybille hath described this same thing that at least wee may help tthe Iesuite if he will who in expounding the same is cleane out of the way thus therfore shee Prophecyed in the 3. book of the oracles of Sibyll And then the world by womans hands shall rul'd be and obey But when the widow over all the world