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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86457	An exposition, or, A short, but full, plaine, and perfect epitome of the most choice commentaries upon the Revelation of Saint John. Especially of the most learned and judicious authors, as Bullinger of Helvetia, Francis Iunius, Thomas Brightman, Aug. Marlorate, Aug. de Civitate dei, but especially (among many) the excellent and learned David Pareus. With severall remarkable notes, observations, and doctrines very profitable. / As it was for the most part delivered by way of commentary in the parish-church of Sutton-Valence, Kanc [sic]. By Hezekiah Holland Anglo-hibernus, Minister of the Gospell at Sutton-Valence.	Holland, Hezekiah, fl. 1638-1661.	1650 (1650)	Wing H2426; Thomason E606_1; ESTC R5543	143,079	206

inhabitants of the earth but Saints as they have their Original from so their conversation in heaven CHAP. IX Act. 1. continued NOw follows the fift and sixt Trumpets the fift prefiguring the dissipation of the Western Europian Churches by Antichrist The sixt the destruction of the East by the means of the false Prophet Mahomet and the Turks after him these began to blow together as it were of which histories sufficiently testifie Vers 1. The first Angel sounded and I saw a star fall from heaven unto the earth who this Angel or Minister was is not certainly known perchance the said Gregory upon whose preaching this starre fell but the star notes some notable Bishop falling from the heavenly truth to earthly traditions and doctrines of divels certainly as Christ did not signifie the divel by this starre fallen long since of which therefore Iohn needed not to be informed so certainly 't was not Luther a poor Monk who had little and left nothing behind him except footsteps of Reformation The starre notes some notable Prelate long before him who began to ruine the West as Mahomet did the East and 't was none but the Pope of Rome signified by the star chap. 8. ver 10. who burning as a Lampe that is clearly and gloriously as the Bishops of Rome did at first yet did fail at last and together with Arrius not Mahomet who neither was one of the stars of heaven that is of the Ministers of the Church nor did ever shine being a wretched villain always imbittered the waters by falfe doctrines traditions heresies Now to whom or what Ecclesiastical person can this be applied but to the Anti-christian Apostacy of the Bishops of Rome Gregory as all know makes him to be Antichrist that should affect the title of Universal Bishop Boniface the third his successor three years after his decease was declared by Phocas the intruder as all agree universal Pope chief Priest or Bishop of Bishops Behold the Star though this is not to be applied to Boniface alone who sate not on the chayre scarce a yeare but to his Successors the whole Series of Popes The Key of the bottomlesse pit by Key power is meant for he that hath the Key of the house hath the power of the house Now the Pope says he hath the power of hell or the bottomlesse pit to damn whom he will and to deliver whom he will thus he is the Angel of the bottomlesse pit ver 11. God permitting the divel tempting Phocas gave him this power behold the man Christ then though he gave the first Bishop of Rome and all other the Key that is power of binding and loosing casting forth and receiving in according to the word yet the Pope having thrown away Christs Key he makes use of Satans usurped one This his triple Crown can prove whereby his power over heaven earth and hell is meant but enough his practice makes him known Where note Christ hath the Key properly as head of the Church and Mediatour the Pope usurpingly and deceitfully as Angel of the bottomlesse pit not of the Church or sinke of hell also God suffers the sin by it to punish another sinne to wit for not receiving the knowledge of the truth see 2 Thes 2.10 11. and Rom. 2.24 26. Vers 2. And he opened the bottomlesse pit and there arose a smoke out of the pit Hell and the doctrine thereof was shut up by the Prophets and Apostles who led men to the true fountaines out of the snares of Satan but the Pope has opened it to the destruction of poore souls behold the smoke of the pit I mean the Popes black divinity worshipping of Images forgivenesse of sins by Masse Pennance Almes Pilgrimages of which the Volumes and practice of Papists sufficiently testifie Now as smoak doth hurt the eyes darken the aire cause things not to be seen as they are so doth the doctrine of Papists And the Sun and the Aire was darkned by reason of the smoke of the pit Christ the Sun of righteousnesse was obscured formerly in part by Hereticks but after the fall of this star much more as the times after Boniface the third make known the Aire signifying the Church as receiving light from the Sun as the Church doth from Christ was darkned and no wonder for if the doctrine of Christ be darkned how shall the Aire or Church have light Thus 't is plaine though the Papists professe they know God yet in works they deny him Note that some by Aire understand the Scripture which conveys the light of the Sunne as the Scripture doth the light of Christ which was much darkned by Popish doctrines and expositions If the Aire signifie the Church yet Christ had the sealed ones and consequently a Church notwithstanding this darknesse among the Papists Vers 3. And there came Locusts out of the smoke After the falling of the Star First the bottomlesse pit was opened there the Angel of the bottomlesse pit takes the Keyes to wit absolute authority upon him Secondly there followed smoak to wit divellish doctrines Thirdly the darkning of the Sunne and Ayre Christ and the Church Fourthly follows the generation of the locusts they are small creatures having little wings by which they lift up themselves a little from the earth and seem rather to leap then to fly but in some parts of the world there be some have bigger bodies God plagued Egypt with an Army as it were of locusts John the Baptist did eat them as well as wild honey Pray mark do not the Monks Fryeryes and religious Orders as they call them come out of the gulfe of the sea of Rome sure not by Christs authority or his word the opening of the pit brought them so then the Goths army cannot be here understood which came not out of the pit but the Popish Clergy who seem to be holy to fly a little from the earth but indeed are as the locusts gorbellied devourers and earthly some are greater behold the Bishops and Cardinals And as the Baptist did eate locusts so some have fed on those as I may so say but with this difference to their destruction Who as locusts skip in the Summer sing and delight in ease but the Romish Clergy where are greater troops then of Locusts Where then of Fryers What creatures destroy more then the Locusts Who more then the Romish Clergy who devoure widowes houses gather infinite riches without labour build Colledges palaces but as the Locusts do good neither to God nor man If it be objected that these cannot be understood of the Romish Clergy because vers 4. these cannot hurt the sealed ones but Antichrist and his instruments shall kill the two Witnesses Chap. 11. ver 7. I answer they may kill them yet not hurt them in this sense the outward killing of which in its place may befall the Saints not the inward hurting of the soule for they are sealed by election redemption And power was given them as the

Lords Vers 18. That yee may eate the flesh of Kings c. Who by the unclean spirits chap. 16.14 were to be gathered to Armageddon Both the Kings of the earth suppose Persians Tartarians Indians and those of the ten Kings who forsooke not the Whore who shall be a feast for birds indeed for hell for the Lord shall overtake these his enemies combining against him and utterly destroy them for ever I meane the judgment day shall overtake them for they shall warre against him and last in some sort till then And the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them c. So it is after a battel but here at the last day though all shall be destroyed yet only the Beast and the Kings shall be cast into hell not the horses together with their Armies which being plain in vers 19. I passe Vers 20. And the Beast was taken alive c. The Beast and false Prophet here are one as the Beasts chap. 13. v. 1. 11. are one for the false Prophet is but Antichrist as a Deceiver together with the Cardinals and Clergy of Rome as chap. 13. v. 11. who hath two hornes as a Lamb and doth wonders in the sight of the Beast as this doth here and the Beast is Antichrist as a secular Prince as I have noted chap. 13. and are but one Beast called by John chap. 13. vers last They shall be cast alive into hell either because being taken alive at the last day they shall only be made incorruptible changed and cast into hell-fire and never dye a temporal death or because they shall alwayes live in hell in torment and never die a living death or dying life however by a double punishment he shall be plagued as a secular wicked Prince and as a false deceiving Prophet the Lord having long since begun to destroy Antichrist by the preaching of the word as by the spirit of his mouth 2 Thes 2.8 now finally casts him into the lake of fire and his friends thus the brightnesse of Christs coming shall destroy Antichrist 1. By preaching 2. By this spiritual not proper slaughter or destruction in hell Vers 21. And the remnant were slaine with the sword of him that sitteth upon the horse c. Alluding to Ezek. 39.15 Go ye cursed Now as literally Gog and Magog were slaine and birds eat their flesh so shall allegorically this be fulfilled in the destruction of Antichrist after such a manner as the last judgment requires for the Devil shall have enough and hell shall be even filled with reprobates by reason of this Armageddon CHAP. XX. Preface to Vision 7. or last Act. 1. Vers 1. And I saw an Angel come down from heaven having the Key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chaine in his hand THis Vision is in some sense the recapitulation of all the former and concludes the marriage of the Lamb and history of the Church from Christs incarnation to the last day or the consummation of all things the Angel is Christ who came down from heaven being incarnate for us being the womans seed and to bruise the Serpents head having the Key that is power of hell and death chap. 1.18 or the bottomlesse bit and that by right not as Antichrist who usurps it And I saw Noting the order of the Vision not the order of the events for after the day of judgment now mentioned chap 19. there shall follow no binding and loosing Satan so that here is not a continuation of history and times observed A great chaine in his hand Noting Christs omnipotency and power above and over Satan a chaine of providence shewing how Christ by his Birth Passion Burial Resurrection Ascention sending the spirit cheifly preaching by the Disciples bound up and hindred Satans tempting the world to Idolatry of which see my Glimps of Christs love page 48. and margin Vers 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon c. In the Vision this is the battle betwixt Michael and the Dragon chap. 12. v. 9. there he is bound from accusing the brethren and cast out of heaven and Church and packt into the earth wildernesse heathens and dry places here lest he seduce the Nations keeping them from beleeving being but almost the same with the former So Satan was not so bound the thousand yeers absolutely for he tyrannized by the Romane Emperours over the Saints in the red horse chap. 6. and overspread the face of the Church with Heresie in the black horse chap. same v. 5. but in respect of seducing the Nations Now since the thousand yeers began many Nations have beleeved which Satan could not hinder Thus Christ beheld Satan fall like lightning Luke 10.18 thus the Prince of this world was judged John 16.11 when Christ in earth And he bound him a thousand yeers Though from Christs Nativity Satans Kingdome began to be ruined yet his death and resurrection did him most hurt but the Jewes much hindred the calling of the Gentiles with any great efficacy till the ruine of the Temple from which time chiefly the thousand yeers of Satans binding are reckoned being Anno 73 according to my Pareus who conceives them to be ended anno 1073. when Gregory the seventh a Monke and a Magician poysoning Alexander the second invaded his chaire at Rome and so the divel began to be let loose by him who gave himselfe to all manner of loosenesse yet from the Angels descent or Christs incarnation Satan began to be bound for then temples idols oracles were forsaken fell down and were silent as histories testifie See Master Smiths arrow against Atheists Thus however Satans loosing hath been 577 years or thereabout Vers 3. And cast him into the bottomlesse pit and set a sea upon him that he should deceive the People no more Into hell and confirmed him there as with his seal now though truly Satan had been cast into hell from his fall according to Peter and Jude yet he had more liberty to range abroad then after Christs incarnation for a thousand years after which he was To be let loose a little season No doubt from the expiration of a thousand years after the Angels descent to the end of the world Satan shall be loosed called A little season either in respect of God with whom a thousand years are but as one day or in respect of years past since the Creation or of eternity or in respect of the Scripture wont who cals the Generation since Christ the last houre Now Satan is to be let loose to manifest his rage against the Church to increase his future torment 2. For the triall of the Saints 3. Justly I mean in respect of Gods punishment upon the nations to seduce them that will not beleeve the truth unto salvation Act. 2. Vers 4. And I saw thrones and they that sate upon them and judgement was given unto them c. The former act answered to ch 6. about Christs riding on the white horse and to ch 12.

ages as Luther have thus spiritually undone and devoured poperie and the beast severall Kingdomes of late in some measure being enlightened and Antichrist there destroyed by the witnesses and faithfull Ministers of Christ notwithstanding all the plots armes threatnings of the Adversaries So then as the witnesses have as it were weapons so they are not carnall but spirituall Vers 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not c. Alluding to the Ministery of Elias 1 King 17.1 this is not to be taken literally for then there should be no rain during Antichrists kingdom which according to the letter is false Spiritually the witnesses by the power of the keyes shut heaven so that the raine of grace doth not mollifie the hearts of opposers and contemners either the spirituall rain of the Cospel comes not to them or works not upon they trusting in merits pilgrimages masses thus the word hardens accidentally though it soften the heart of the Elect. Here also may be thought on the imprecations of the Saints against the utter enemies of the Church as Antichrist which with God is of great force They have power over waters to turne them into blood c. Alluding to Moses and Aaron turning the waters of Egypt into blood So when the spirituall Pharaoh of Rome kept the Church in spirituall bondage God raised up witnesses as Mofes and Aaron to gain home his people but upon Antichrists refusall the witnesses by their sighes teares prayers procured great famines pestilences which have been common upon the adversaries for the contempt of the word thus also the witnesses spiritually smite the earth with plagues Where observe the reason and cause of great punishment by famine plague war was contempt of the word and witnesses thus the word and witnesses accidentally bring miseries Vers 7. Moreover when they have finished their testimonie c. The preaching of the Gospel is called a prophecy and a testimony of Christ and the Truth Which when the witnesses shall have finished for before Antichrist shall not overcome them and then only them not their testimony for the Gospel cannot perish the beast arising out of the bottomlesse pit out of which the locusts came chap. 9. v. 3. and Antichrist or the Pope too shall make war with them and kill them the war here is by disputations in behalfe of Antichrists Sermons branding the witnesses as hereticks seducers by councels condemning the witnesses by excommunications and buls cursing and casting them out by force by fire and faggot and the like not by the word of truth for so the witnesses shall kill Antichrist and the Locusts or the goodnesse of the cause Thus Jerom of Prague was overcome and Wickcliffes bones were taken up and burnt so was John Husse destroyed after he had prophecyed even literally 42 moneths for from the first time he began to maintain Wickcliffes opinions being Anno. 1412. to his martyrdom were precisely say his friends 1260 dayes or two and forty moneths Now though some famous witnesses were put to death suddenly after their finishing their testimonie and so the beasts treading down the holy city to be a time larger then that of the witnesses whereas the text gives both the same space of 42. moneths or 1260. dayes remember that the two witnesses in their successours revived and prophecyed again vers 11. So God has not lest himself without a witnesse to this houre nor will not till the Peast ceaseth to tread under foot the holy city or give over tyrannising at least Vers 8. And their dend bodies shall lye in the street of the great city c. This must not be quite taken literally for the bodies of the witnesses were burnt and needed no buriall but as the Church of Rome is the great city consisting of many Kingdomes and is spiritually called Sodom because of her uncleannesse among the Clergie and other sins and as Rome is spiritually called Egypt in respect of the spirituall slavery she keeps the people as Egypt did Israel and in respect of the thousands of Idols of Rome like that most Idolatrous Egypt and as Rome spiritually crucified Christ not because Pilate a Roman and the souldiers did it though that is somewhat but because Christ is recrucified at Rome and in the Idol of the Masse where they of Rome say they crucifie him daily as being say they bodily present but especially because she spiritually crucifies Christ in his members and is as wretched and as ready to do it as Ierusalem that literally did it So spiritually their carcases lie unburied that is their names are cursed and exposed to shame their books burnt condemned and not suffered to be bought their friends abused and their very houses made jakes Thus the great city or Church of Rome is in respect of her Idolatry tyranny over the people darknesse in the matters of saving faith obstinacy in matters of obedience to the witnesses and word contempt of God and his messengers and judgements notwithstanding the pure water of life is become puddle to them and other judgments meant by the waters turned into blood called spiritually or allegorically Egypt Vers 9. And they of the People tongues shall see their dead bodies c. To wit all those that adhered to Antichrist should applaud their King Abaddon and see with joy the dead bodies of the Saints cast forth as dung into the street in the fore quoted sense Three days and an half If the Popish Councel of Constance where many of several nations met be the kin●ed and people that rejoyced over the witnesses as our Iohn Fox thinks then by three days and an half may be understood three years and an half for so long that Councell sate Now days sometimes signifie years as Ezek. 4.6 each day for a year However the witnesses shall be exposed to reproach but for a short time this is for the comfort of the Saints and in the first place for Iohn that he might not be troubled Ver. 10. And the inhabitants of the earth shall rejoyce over them c Meaning those servants of Antichrist called inhabitants of the earth as having nothing to do with Heaven 'T is bad to do ill worse to rejoyce in it Now behold 't is come to passe in a strange manner that men in killing them shal tink they do God service 'T is said during the Antichristian councell of Constance publick shows and feasts were kept at the burning of Martyrs And the Romish locusts when they condemne a Saint to the fire use to feast gratulate each other and send presents one to another Well Lazarus saw Dives in hell in torment in the Parable The reason follows Because these two Prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth The word Prophet here is taken in a large sense sometimes in Scripture to prophecy is to interpret here 't is to preach c. Here remember what Ahab said to Elijah thou troublest Israel when he was the troubler of Israel Indeed the little book

about the womans travelling for when Satan was bound this was done and as some in this fourth verse appear beheaded being part of Act. 1. so ch 6. there was a red horse of which see the Commentary this also belongs to the three former trumpets chap. 8 7. about fire and blood mingled viz. persecution and death the burning mountain and the starre falling as in this verse some worshipped not the Beast so it belongs to chap. 13 about the Beasts raging The second act is comfort about the safety of the souls chap 6. under the altar of Christs Protection here upon thrones By which the cohaerence and parallel of this Church with the preceding may be understood I saw Souls are not to be seen but Iohn saw them visionally perchance after the forme of a body for they were sitting upon thrones Thrones note judiciary and royal dignity Sitting notes the souls resting from their labours for ever And Iudgement was given To the souls Noting not the day of Judgement of which after The Royal dignity given them fitting for the Kingdome of which anon So the Psalm Give thy judgements to the King Psal 72. The souls of them that were beheaded Not them that were beheaded as if in bodies as the Millenaries foolishly dream but their souls as Augustine observs For the witnesse of Iesus Meaning the Gospel for the Romane tyrants for three hundred years cruelly killed those that were servants to Christ Chiefly meaning those under the Altar chap. 6. And for the Word of God c. Meaning Christ who is the essential word Iohn 1. And them that worshipped not the Beast The former were Martyrs these are Professours who in all the time of Popery adhered to Christ being the sealed ones now in heaven and the 144000. chap. 14. glorified of which some perchance might escape without beheading See chap. 13 of the Beasts slaying those that worshipped not his image after 606 years of the thousand the Beast arose trampling underfoot the Saints whom Iohn also saw happy reigning with Christ from the very time of Satans binding for his binding and the Saints reigning with Christ began together being the same thousand years from what time however many Saints bodily perished by Romane tyrants That worshipped not the beast This shews they were such as were slain partly under Antichrist who raigned in part of the thousand years Also this proves the Papists fiction of Antichrist raigning four years towards the very end of the world to be a lye since he killed some of these now on thrones in the thousand years mentioned and it proves his raigne to be longer for the thousand years are past and yet Antichrist raignes And they lived and raigned with Christ a thousand years I see no difficulty in this place if well perpended which the Millenaries wrested to prove the Saints bodily raigning with Christ a thousand years before the generall resurrection The souls never die the souls of Saints whether Professours or Martyrs from Christs binding Satan and perchance here Stephen and John the Baptist with those primitive Professours as Symeon Anna Zachariah Magdalen may be thought on live gloriously and raigne with Christ in heaven So all that either were slain for the Word or however were not vassals or marked ones of Antichrist of which chap. 13. lived and as they dyed by degrees raigned with Christ a thousand years or some part of the thousand for there is no necessity to beleeve that they raigned at once But as 't is said of the ten Kings they received power with the Beast one houre chap. 17.12 That is by degrees as they were converted to the faith so these raigned with Christ according as in the thousand years they were gathered to Christ as if many travellers come to their Inne some at one houre some at another he that comes a five a clock comes but that day and so doth he that comes at twelve at noone he that was received into glory some few years before Antichrists raigning was but there in the thousand years so was he that was received into glory some few years before Satans loosing These then raigned in the Kingdom of grace first with Chrst and now in glory to wit in soul not in body of which in order Vers 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again till the thousand years were past All naturally who even were borne in the thousand years of Satans binding are dead in sin but Christ quickened those who belonged to him in the thousand years and after death received them to raigne with him But Satan was not so absolutely bound but that he hindred many from beleeving or living the spirituall life of grace and after of glory in the thousand years The rest of the sons of men dead in sin were not quickened when these mentioned before were who did raigne with Christ and shall for ever when the thousand years are past Quest Why was the thousand years mentioned Answ To shew what great events should happen in so short a time Paganisme and Iudaisme being much destroyed that the name of Christ should be spread over great part of the world Till the thousand years Not as if any of these dead should live a spirituall life afterward but to note 1. How in such a beleeving age many should not beleeve or be quickened 2. That after the thousand years many should live again we God be thanked are quickened though the thousand years be past and shall raigne with Christ a thousand years even to all eternity after death 3. That the common resurrection belongs to them and all at the last day but not the first to wit this of regeneration and grace which belongs to the Elect only This is the first resurrection To grace sayes Aug. not to glory Which against the Millenaries may be many wayes proved 1. Because were this a corporall resurrection 't were not the first for many in Old and New-Testament were risen before 2. At the last day some shall rise to glory some to shame but all together almost the Saints somewhat first the dead in Christ shall rise first not one a thousand years before the other but one for glory presently the other for shame 1 Cor. 15. but that is to be common to all not to the Saints only therefor this must be some other resurrection 3. The first death was to the soul a separation by sin from God and eternall life therefore the first resurrection must be to grace Ver. 6. Blessed and holy is he who has part in the first resurrection on him the second death hath no power c. Here is perseverance to eternall life proved They have part of the first resurrection who by faith and repentance turne to Christ from the death of sin to the life of grace and are holy in part having by faith purified themselves and layd hold on Christ Now their blessednesse who have part in the first resurrection is set forth in three wayes 1. The

second death shall have no power of them that is eternall death the first is that of the body which passes on all See my Glimps of Christs love concerning temporal death and its benefit now through Christ pag. 61 c and the impossibility of falling pag. 57. to 60. and 75. c. 2. They shall be Priests unto God here chap. 1.6 and for ever hereafter But all the Saints shall be so as well as these Martyrs and confessours having part of the first resurrection and living the life of faith therefore that resurrection is but a spirituall one of which all the elect shall partake 3. Shall raigne a thousand years not the thousand past but another thousand even for ever and ever Thus the Millenarian or Papian errour is confuted which some in the primitive times not being able to answer denyed the authority of the book This Act will be plainer if the reader conferre it with the 144000. chap. 14. standing on Mount Syon and with them in chap. 7. who were sealed and with the harpers chap. 15.2 upon the sea of glasse who were preserved and sealed or as it is here quickened by grace and faith in the midst of Tyrants Hereticks and Antichrist raging against them and the Gospel Act 3. Vers 7. And when the thousand years are expired Satan shall be loosed Here follows the Churches calamities under both Antichrist Turk and Pope to last till the end of 1260 years for so long though with diminished forces and power the holy City may be encamped and trod under by them After those thousand years To wit of the Martyrs and confessours living and raigning with Christ being the same which is past and Satan let loose So Papias his Millenarian dream is ended Out of his prison Either hell or deserts whether he was banished and frightened the nations He has been let loose neer 600 years and was bound about Jerusalems sacking by Titus and the Jews dispersing who formerly hindred the Gentles imbracing the faith of Christ Vers 8.9 And he shall go out to deceive the Nations Formerly Satan was cast out of heaven now though loosed yet in a great measure is restrained from hurting the Church but may deceive the Nations Gog and Magog Now what is this but the loosing the four Angels or Nations bound up by the means of the great River Euphrates from Christendom now or the Roman Empire as formerly See chap. 9.14 and the exposition upon it so that I need seek no other meaning of Gog and Magog for according as this Vision agrees with the former So the four Angels in Euphrates formerly were Arabians Tartarians and here they are understood by Gog and Magog Here is an allusion to Ezek. 38. and 39. about Gog and Magog all the open and secret enemies of Gods people who after the captitive and before the Messias comming were to oppose the Jews to wit in the latter dayes Chap. 38.8 Meaning after the captivity not towards the end of the world as the Papists affirme supposing this to be the army of their Antichrist Now these nations sayes Iunius and Tremelius were those of the lesser Asia and Syria called Gog from Giges King of the Lydians who under the cruell Antiochus Nicanor oppressed Gods people but by the valour of the Macchabees were oft miraculously discomfited of which see the Historie For the things are accomplished partly Yet doubtlesse those chapters of Ezekiel allegorically seem to aime at a slaughter from heaven So then Iohn alluding to that as he oft does to the Prophets foretells of some grievous wasters of the holy land or Church or Christendom by some cruell enemies under the name of Gog Magog who shall have many overthrows as the former had by the Macchabees but shall finally be destroyed by fire from heaven at the last day where observe that Turk and Pope though Rome shall be burnt before shall remain warring against Christ till the last day To deceive the Nations But how by the spirit of Devils or three unclean spirits chap. 16. who came out of the mouth of the Dragon to gather the Kings of the earth to Armageddon ver 13.16 So Satan deceives the Nations making them Heathens again for many had embraced the faith and Gog and Magog in hope of overcoming the holy City Church or Christendome which in relation to Jerusalem a type of the Church is called holy because it ought so to be and in respect of the Nations and their Idolatry is so 't is plain Satan hath been let loose for not only the secret and mysterious enemies Antichrist and his worshippers have wasted the Church but the four Angels or Gog and Magog with their innumerable army as chap. 9.16 have furiously raged and conquered what they listed so that the name of Mahometism is larger then that of Christianity but Satan deceives Gog and Magog and under hope of victory shall lead them to Armageddon Which are in the foure quarters of the earth c. Magog son to Japhet Gen 10. from him came the Scythians now Tartars from them the Turks to whom the Arabians Armenians Saracens are joyned wasting for a long time farre and neer Gog meanes the people of lesser Asia called from Giges to whom the Macedonians and Egyptians of old joyned against Israel these as from the four quarters of the earth now under the name of Turk and Pope Gog and Magog destroy the holy City the one openly thirsting after the Empire of the world the other more cunningly and Ecclesiastically traducing the Church drawing them to Idolatry Now Satan deceives the Nations and Gog and Magog Turke and Pope as Leaders of these seduced Nations And they ascended c. Noting the base original of these Nations and their sudden rising to honour On the breadth of the earth For their conquests are large of which see Knolls Turkish History And they compassed the Camp of the Saints about Christendom And the beloved City The Church alluding to Jerusalem see how Christ loves his Church the word compassing notes the many irruptions into Christendom and cruel attempts against the Churches therein How the Gogish war began I just named chap. 9.3 4. Perchance we encreased their fury when Gregory the seventh alias Hildebrand sollicited Emperours and Kings to regaine the Holy Land by force of armes and after him Vrbanus second Pope of Rome who indeed prevailed so that mighty forces and vast summes of money was sent and great were their conquests for awhile the Christians subduing Saracen and Turk but through discord among Christians they won all and have followed hard upon Christendom by a war which sprung out of this and of which perchance the Christians were partly occasioners see the sweet tongued Master Fuller his Holy Warre on this subject most satisfactorily The summe is those thousand yeers of Satans binding and the Saints reigning being the same is past in which time the Pope as his Vicar took up his power in Anno 606. in

be there and consequently blisse There shall be no curse because his servants there obey and serve him deserving no curse but obtaining honour unutterable such are Angels and Saints Since the Queen of the South wondred to see Solomons attendants sure in heaven is matter of admiration Vers 4. And they shall see his face That is shall be in the presence of God and shall see Christs humane nature gloryfied and comprehend God to content and satisfaction as far as created natures are capable See my Glimps of Christs love And his name shall be in their fore-heads Either alluding to the Beasts marked ones chap. 13. by which is noted his property of them and so Gods owning the Saints may be here meant or his name is his nature which they shall pertake of in heaven See chap. 3.12 expounded to this purpose I will write upon him my Name The Beast marked his that they might only serve and worship him Gods then are also marked that is consecrated to openly praise him and serve him for ever Vers 5. And there shall be no night c. Darknesse is but sad therefore no night of darknesse or sorrow shall be there The glory of God there hinders all night or darknesse so there needs no Sun being there is no night see chap. 21.23 where this verse is fuller explained And they shall raigne for ever and ever As Kings and Priests as chap. 20. v. 5 6. expounded the thousand years of Satans binding the primitive Saints lived with Christ in heaven after the expiration of them all others that were regenerated or partakers of the first resurrection after death reigned with Christ forever Vers 6. And he said to me these sayings are faithfull and true c. Hitherto the Prophecy which one of the seven Angels who poured out the Vials and talked with Iohn ch 17. commends to Iohn to recommend to us So not only the two last Chapters concerning the glorious Bride or City wherein by most choyce things as gold pearle the glory of the Saints above is as it were shadowed out but all the book is commended And indeed it is the true summe of all things to happen to the last day nay for ever What ever may be said of any book of holy writ may be said of this being an Epitome of holy Scripture in some sence so that herein is enough for salvation if well understood and practised Faithfull To which we may give credit True Which shall in time and order be accomplished And the Lord God of the holy Prophets sent his Angel Christ the revealer of the Prophesie is the Lord God of the Prophets who sent his Angel vers 16. I Jesus sent my Angel which proves two things 1. That the Angel was not Christ but his messenger though in the Old-Testament Christ appeared oft as an Angel to wit of the Covenant 2. That Christ is God being Lord of the Angels see chap. 1. v. 1. expounded His Angel Meaning himself who spake to John See ch 1. v. 1. about the rest of this vers Vers 7. Behold I come quickly The voice is Christs perchance represented by the Angel Christ is the Lord of the Prophets who confirmes the words of the Angel saying the things must shortly be done for he comes quickly Time runs away apace and deceives men who live in security and carelsenesse Christ will come before such are aware to judgment Blessed is he that keepeth these sayings c. See chap. 1. v. 3. expounded Vers 8. And I John saw these things c. Visionally and heard them therefore a good witnesse This is the very stile of John in his Gospel he that saw it bears record and his record is true chap. 19.35 And when I had heard and seen I fell down to worship before the Angel He ingeniously confesseth his errour again Perchance he committed his errour twise If so as it is probable for 't was upon the joyfull news of the Bride and her marriage that John was formerly taken in the errour about worshipping the Angel chap. 19.10 See the exposition which now in the Vision was past it shews the pronenes of the best men to sin more then once after reproof as John had chap. 19.10 without Gods speciall assisting hand also it notes our natures being prone to Idolatry no wonder the world ever has been so prone to that sin in all ages Vers 9. See thou do it not worship God As chap. 19.10 The words here differ from them in chap. 19. which proves 't was not the former errour but a second upon Johns taking leave of the Angel Now Iohn worshipped not but composed himself to worship by falling down So the very gestures of Papists before Idols is sinfull and forbidden let them worship whomsoever under the Idol or Image The Papists say the Angel out of modesty commanded Iohn to forbear because also in Christs sight but the Angels reproving Iohn proves the contrary Of them who keep the sayings of this book The Angel confirmes that it was not lawfull for Iohn to worship his fellow-servant for such are the Angels to Saints but God only Now the Angels fellow-servants are those who hate the Whore and Beast and flye out of Babylon keeping the sayings of the Book worshipping neither the Beast nor his Images of which his Kingdom is full so the Angels reasons against Iohns worshipping are seasonable All worship is due to Iehovah alone Vers 10. And hee said to me seal not the sayings of the Prophecy c. This the Angel saith but chap. 10.4 God commanded the things uttered by the seven thunders to be sealed which seemes to be taken out of Dan. 8.26 where the Prophet is commanded to shut up the Vision or seal it because it was not to be accomplished for many dayes The Angel commands this not to be kept secret or sealed because all might read it and beware of the Beast also because the time was at hand when Iohn writ and Antichrist has been now long revealed God commanded the things uttered by the seven thunders to be concealed not absolutely but in respect of the event because Antichrist would not take notice of them and therefore they were as good be kept secret see chap. 10.4 expounded And indeed it is worth noting Christs Angel sayes seal not but let Scripture be read but Christs pretended Vicar sayes seal all Scripture let none be read but by the Clergy opposing Christ Vers 11 He that is unjust let him be unjust still c. Here is a kind of tacit Objection answered for some may say the Prophecy being open and to be read Tyrants and Antichrists will through Satans instigation rage the more knowing their time is short or knowing the short time comprehends hundreds of years they may say as the wicked servant our master deferres his coming and will rage the more in the mean time Therefore 't were better the Prophecy were concealed To which is answered he that is filthy let him