THE FALLING STARS OR THE DRAGONS Bringing down and trampling upon HEAVENLY GLORY BY JOHN ESTON sometime Fellow of Oriel Coll. Oxon. 1 Joh. 2.19 They went out from us but they were not of us for if they had been of us they would no doubt have continued with us but they went out that they might be made manifest that they were not all of us LONDON Printed by Francis Leach 1653. To all that love the Lord Jesus Christ in Martines Vintry THis little Peece was never intended for publick view only to discharge my duty at the late erected Exercise at Thomas Apostles where I not long since by the providence of God in the desires of my fellow laborers in the Vineyard was called to work I did not in my preparatory meditations consult with flesh and blood what might gain me esteem with that Auditory what doctrine might probably be most taking and suit best with the dispositions of the people but laying aside all by-respects which to the praise of grace be it spoken I was resolved to deliver what my own spirit was convinced of for a truth and was most agreeable to this tottering and declining age It pleased God to fix my unsetled thoughts amongst the varieties of Texts upon that place of Scripture Rev. 1 2.4 I was not disobedient to this heavenly suggestion however I was not then ignorant how some whose tempers I very well understand would disgust and disrellish that matter the words offered to be spoken to yet this I can say but one I ever heard of was dissatisfied in and dissented from what was laid down either as contrary to the Analogy of Faith or the true sense and meaning of Christ in the Vision I shall leave it to the spirituall man who judgeth all things to examine this little Treatise I refuse to put my self upon the tryal of those who whilest they boult out their own opinions with such confidence as Authentic all they are guilty of that which themselves cry down a Papall infallibility To wave what I could say for my self concerning the releasing of this poor Prisoner at the Barre and giving him liberty to wander at large though I know the modesty of some with the dissimulations and flatteries of others have brought Apologies into fashion I shall address my self to you with whom according to the weak gifts in me I have for a Twelve moneth laid open the unsearchable riches of Christ and I must needs say both my Person and Ministry hath been entertained with the love and respect of divers more than could be expected by one comming in upon such disadvantage as my self it will adde much to my engagements if you will but give shelter to this poor Pilgrim of mine now upon travell I cannot tell but that by reason of storms it may be necessitated to house somewhere I beseech you think never the worse of it because it visits you in a homely dresse like that plain mind from whence it went out voyd of all ornaments and accommodations which may set it out and commend it My confidence is however some in these curious times may censure and judge of me yet you will accept of my Endeavours as a standing pledge and token of that love and service I now doe and hope ever shall bear unto you in the Gospel Out of inward bowels I pray that may never happen to you which did to these Starres being indeed nothing but transitory impressions in the Air For this Cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ that your light may alwaies shine before men that no wiles of the Dragon may so far prevail as to cast you down from your good beginnings I know not what better to wish you which is my hearts desire that you may be saved and because holinesse is the way to happinesse I pray God keep you pure and unspotted that so when Christ who is your life shall appear you may then appear with him in Glory Now to him who is able to strengthen and establish you I commend you and rest Yours in the common Saviour John Eston THE FALLING STARS REVEL 12. the former part of the 4th verse And his tayl drew down the third part of the stars of heaven and did cast them to the earth THis book was the last breath wherewith the Penmen of holy Writ were inspired and the last love-token of a kind Husband to his Spouse Christ handed it to us by John the beloved Disciple he was a speciall favorite one that did lean upon Christs breast therefore he above the rest was honoured with speciall secrets and bosom counsells He was made one of heavens Privy-counsell having the futurition of things presented to him The matter here treated of is altogether propheticall viz. concerning the Church her persecutions by enemies The mutations of the visible state thereof defections of Apostates fearful cloudings and darknings of the light of the Gospel In brief we have here a generall view and project of all the conditions of Gods people untill the second comming of Christ Some have thought this Chapter to be the whole Apocalyps in a lesser volume In it we have the preparations and skirmishes between the old Serpent and Michael the two Generalls of the Armies and the mutuall successe of both Parties this was brought to John in two Visions both which he gives an exact accompt of the first vision he describes 1. From the quantity it was a great wonder 2. From the place in heaven 3. From the form a Woman i. e. the Church militant because she is chased and put to flight which cannot be said of the estate triumphant then the Saints are at rest She is called a woman because of self-impotency and insufficiency not being able to doe any thing without Christ no more than the woman without her husband This woman hath three Externall adjuncts 1. Cloathed with the Sunne that is Christ so called in Scripture Mal. 4.2 Secondly the Moon under her feet c. that is in her Affections which are the feet to carry the soul she tramples upon terrene things as inconstant as the Moon Thirdly a starry crown and three Internall ver 2. She was with child she travelled in birth and in pain to be delivered not of Christ as some think for he is not the seed but the father of the Church but of some Magistrate or Ruler who was to be instrumental for her preservation and deliverance The second Vision is described 1. From the place in heaven 2. From the quantity great 3. From the form a Dragon 4. From the colour red 5. From his monstrous shape and figure having seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads all which note the subtilty cruelty strength and dominion of the Dragon being the Prince of the power of the air 6. From a double cruelty the first in Execution the words of my text And his tayl drew c. the second in Intention he
such as the Devill may have when they are sanctified and Iesus Christ hath shined in they prove good helps and furtherances therefore Ministers must look to Christ from whose fulness all is imparted and communicated not their own parts and industry without Christ and the Spirit they can doe nothing see 1 Cor. 3.5 6. what Gospell preachers declare is nothing else but that which Christ brought from the bosome of the Father 1 Ioh. 1.3 3. Stars are wonderfully communicative they affect these inferior bodies with influence motion and light they keep not their light to themselves but carry and transmit it to the world so Ministers convey spirituall light to men on Earth living in the dark night of ignorance error and superstition how should they pitty poor soules who sit in the very shadow of death whose eyes are so fast close that they never saw Sun Moon or Stars who never had any light risen upon them as is upon us in the Preaching of the word We are blessed that hear the joyfull sound the Gospell trumpet blowing proclaming liberty to the Captives c. But it is sad to think the lights of divers places in this Nation are very darkness many thousands of People are under a dark ministery who are communicative of nothing but their corrupt opinions and misunderstandings of the grace of God to sinners of a loose Gospell unbecoming life Blessed be God the Churches hereabouts are better provided having Ministers like fixed stars who by the sweet distillation of their lips teach by the orderly regular motion of their lives confirm and by both enlighten many with such orient heavenly pearls the Churches in some places like a bright sky in a clear evening sparkle and are bespangled 3. Q. What Pastors are these here signified by the Stars of Heaven who are pluckt from their orbs and stations and drawn to the Earth A. Neg. Not fixed Stars The Dragon cannot move any one faithfull Minister of Iesus Christ he may as soon bring Heaven and Earth together and turn all things into a confusion as pluck them from Christ in whom they are imbodyed the reason is because Christ holds all those who aime at the glory and advancement of himself in the nothingness of themselves in his right hand Rev. 2.1 Christ holds them First ratione operationis efficaciae in regard of efficacy and operation it is he that works effectually by the outward administration of ordinances upon the hearts of men which are naturally shut baracadoed against God and Christ Act. 16.14 1 Cor. 2.5 Secondly ratione protectionis custodiae in regard of keeping and defence The right hand in Scripture signifies the virtue and power of God this streched-out arm is engaged in mantaining the Ministers of his Church he is indeed a powerfull keeper and a faithfull upholder of all the Saintes yet somtimes he doth make his glory more evidently appear and shine forth in protecting the Ministers This may bear up the spirits of them that are industrious in their callings let them meet with never so many discouragements and reproaches what though you are scorned by the head-long multitude what though discountenanced by rulers men in place and Authority what though the great ones of the world frown upon you yet let not your hearts fail only be of a good courage you are in the right hand of Iesus Christ and what honour is this to poor Creatures that he should have such a care of them and love to them Princes either cannot or will not vindicate those they imploy from injuries and affronts but the Lord Christ keeps his safe and is a revenger of the wrongs of those he intrusts he rebukes even Kings for their sakes saying Touch not mine anoynted nor do my Prophets no harm A. Aff. Those Stars which consist of earthly matter called up by the heat of the Sun and enlightned by the same which are more properly called Meteors than Stars they may and doe fall so those Pastors and Teachers which are earthly and sensuall flourisht or glided over only with the light of an outward profession being exhaled or drawn up by common illuminations tasts of the good word of God and powers of the world to come may be cast down and drawn from all that lustre and glory with which they did shine in the Churches of Christ Now we are not to understand these Stars any otherwise thā in appearance opinions of men which may be discerned by their shooting from Earth to Heaven and going out in obscurity and darkness when that matter which should feed them is spent or when shaken with the boisterous winds of temptations and persecutions as the Comets doe which by no means can be said of the heavenly bodies therefore to be drawn from Heaven to Earth is not to be understood literally but mystically it is to fall from a heavenly hope and comfort from an imaginary enjoyment of and living in God to carnall and earthly practices to hugging and tasting wordly pleasures it is of inhabitants of Heaven to become inhabitants of the Earth Rev. 13.6.8 we find the distinction of these 2 sorts of men such are all those Pastors who forsake God the Gospel busie themselves only about secular imployments 4. Q. How may Ministers be said to fall An. They with all visible Saints may fall First in their own judgments when the fire of heavenly truth which did seemingly shine burn in them is quite extinquished and covered over with the Ashes and Embers of Errors Lyes Mens Fancies Licentious Doctrins which they hold forth as enjoyned by God fathering their fond and gross conceits upon him such men are never constant and setled but like wandring stars as Jude speaks ver 13. moving from one opinion to another like blasing exhalations however they may carry it out gloriously for a time yet they soon vanish faulter in their motions whereby the People come to have false directions such men are in their doctrine as unstable as reeds because they follow the guidance of carnall and degenerated reason which hurrieth them into destructive paths and are not led by the Spirit into the wayes of truth Secondly in their affections and practices when the seeming ravishings in the Spirit and Soule-extasies are metamorphosed and turned into a worldly greediness when leaving the desires of Gods countenance they gape only after such dignities advancements and preferments as the creatures store-house will afford when the getting of riches and applause to themselves is preferr'd before gaining of Souls to Iesus Christ instead of having their conversation in Heaven by meditations and earnest longings and breathings of heart they altogether mind Earthly things they set the Moon in the wrong place above their heads when it should be under their feet so as I may speak glorying in their shame such men are far from Moses temper and disposition elevated and lifted up above the quintessence of Creature-glories he undervalued and
had purposes of further mischief the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered c. Here we have news from the Camp how this weak combatant the Woman comes off at the first onset with losse she hath a seeming rout we have here 1. The party prevailing expressed in his shape before mentioned with seven heads and ten horns 2. Against whom he prevails the Stars 3. How with his Tayl. 4. In what he prevails to draw them from heaven and cast them to the earth The words thus divided afford this observation Obs The Dragons tayl causeth the downfall of many heavenly lights Or thus A multitude of the Stars of heaven are by the Dragons tayl drawn to the Earth I shall clear the Proposition by answering the following Quaeries Q. What we are to understand by the Stars of heaven A. First neg not the laps'd Angels as some fondly imagine of whom Jude speakes that they kept not their estate that glorious condition in which they were first made but did of themselves revolt from God and the truth The reasons which move me against this opinion are these 1. Because this book is not a History rerum gerundarū of things don it relates not passages which were then accomplisht but it is a draught and representation of things to be acted and hereafter to be performed as John himself tels us Rev. 1.1 the Visions contained in this book were given him by God to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to passe now the Angels fell some thousands of years before John writ 2. These Stars here spoken of fell upon the Dragons encounter with the Woman they were the spoyl he took from her but the wicked spirits apostatized from the begining before ever God had a Church or people in being the time his decree should bring forth was not yet come Secondly not the promiscuous number of those who consent and joyn together in Apostolical doctrine setting it up as a guide and rule of faith and manners or the company of those who make an outward profession i.e. visible Saints be they Pastors or People not having reference at all to any orders constituted and appointed by Christ in the Church for though the Godly if we may speak at large those that are really or seemingly so taking a view of them in the lump are Stars of Heaven every one in their several orbs and stations shining in the rayes of Gospell glory yet these are not the Stars here spoken of but some who in gifts and place were more eminent and advanced Aff. By Stars therfore in this Prophetical naration I conceive the Spirit chiefly intends yet not excluding others those who exercise ministerial office the Pastors and Teachers of the Church of Christ I take this to be the sense 1. Because the Stars in this verse are the same with them in the first which the Woman is crowned with notwitstanding there is a definite number exprest twelve in this we have the consent of the best Expositors that by them are meant the doctrine by the Apostles themselves published which they had from Christs own mouth yet not to be lookt upon with a personall restriction or limitation to them for then the Church ever since they were bydeath silenced hath lost her ornament wherefore it must necessarily be verified in all those who were their undoubted successors preaching the same Christ with them and administring the same Sacraments in this number of universality and perfection all that purely hold forth the rich grace of the Gospel are included and comprehended 2 Because in most if not all places of this mysterious book ministers are called Stars as Rev. 1.20 The mystery of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my right hand the seven Stars are the Angels of the seven Churches are doe signifie as the bread is Christs body in the Sacrament By Angels in this Epistle we are not to understand incorporeall substances with Origen but Ministers and the reason is obvious because God in his ordinary dispensation doth not teach the Church by Angels but by men the Scripture elsewhere gives Ministers this honourable appellation Hag. 1.13 and Malachy speaking of the Priests Chap. 2.7 For he is the Angel of the Lord of hosts They are called Angels First Propter vocationē missionem They are ministring spirits sent forth Heb. 1.14 They act by divine Commission and Authority so all Gospel Ministers can shew the broad seal of heaven They are employed by the great God to carry on his designe of gathering the Elect I look not upon him as a lawfull Pastor that hath not a lawfull call or is not sent Rom. 10.15 of such God complains as who runne without any mission Jer. 14.13 Secondly Propter munus officium quo funguntur as the Angels are messengers to publish the mind of God so are also Ministers as the Apostle saith 1 Cor. 4.1 To them are committed choice treasure for the enriching of souls Thirdly Propter eximiam scientiam quâ excellūt They whose lips are to preserve knowledge must have more then an ordinary competency 2. Q Wherein doth the resemblance hold between Stars and Ministers 1 Stars are the clearest and brightest part of Heaven such are Pastors in the firmament of the Church they should out-shine others in their knowledge of divine mysteries and have a clearer insight in the hidden things of the Gospell they should have a double portion of the Spirit as was upon Elijah and as they are to be more eminent in spirituall endowments and inward qualifications so also in a close walking with God and a Gospel conversation they are to benefit others both by soundnes of doctrine and integrity of life it is their duty to teach both by precept and example 2. Stars shine not in their own but a mutatitious light all their Iustre and resplendency is borrowed from the Sun so what ever gifts of wisdome and discerning of utterance and opening the mind of Christ are in dispensors of the word it flowes from Iesus Christ all the beauty glory and shining of Christs Embassadors is from him In the 5 Mat. ver 14. we read that the Disciples are the lights of the world but it is to be understood by way of participation not originally for Christ is called the true light Joh. 1.8.9 he only properly deserves the name of light being so by nature not by dimanation from another as the creatures have it Christ is that eternall uncreated ray which darts upon every one that is born both naturall and heavenly light he is the Sun of righteousnes the great fountain of light who sends forth and displays his beames for the illumination of all the elect it is not the studying of Arts Sciences it is not skill in tongues and originall languages of Scripture which can bring us to the knowledge of God if Christ and his Spirit be abstracted and separated our apprehensions will be but historicall and notionall