can never be able to stand in competition with the holy Word of God and the * sound and undeniable doctrine thereof Such is alwaies my temper and moderation that if by * one conviction thou demonstrate my error much more it the CHVRCH shall interpose her judgement whether it be in matter of opinion or action I will retract the one and relinquish the other And till thou dost this in the matter which we have in hand be not offended if I stand close by my Author but especially to reason and plaine Scripture it selfe alleaged by him Truth it is the onely thing I seâ—ke after for the puâ—â—uiâ— of which no man ought to be blame any more then they are to be execused who wilfully continue in known error and ignorance By the way then good Reader let me tell thee what credit soever I gaine from thee that it was the constant opinion of the Church in the very next age to the Apostles that there should be a resurrection before the generall rising at the last day and an happy condition of the faithfull upon earth for CIO yeeres This we may learne from a Tertullias and b Irenaeus And c Iustin the Martyr who of a Philosopher became a Christian some xxx yeeres after the death of Iohn the Evangelist and Penman of this holy Prophecy tels us plainly that not only himselfe but what d Christian soever in his time were in all respects Orthodox maintained the same grounding their opinion upon these words of Esay * Behold I create new Heavens and a new Earth and the former shall not be remembred nor come into my mind But be glad and rejoyce for ever in thâ—t which I create I know not whether so great a testimony as this of Iustin Martyrs may be brought concerning any opinion among Christians if you expect the maine articles of our Beliefe And the generall consent of all the orthodox and in the age too next the Apostles is no small argument or prejudice against the contrary opinion or succeeding ages It seemed the Heretiques of those times especially or indeed onely beleeved it not and that for some private respect because admitting thereof they must needs also confesse a resurrection of the flesh and that the same God who was mentioned in the Law and Prophets is also the Father of our Lord Iesus Christ I am sure Cerinthus that Arch Heretique in those daies whom the after-ages do make the first e broacher of this opinion and they would also have him the Author of the f Revelation is never taxed for it by them g who have diligently noted his heresies And perhaps if he had any sensuall conceit hereabout as it seemes he had he was beholding to Judaisme for it and he himselfe being a Iew it was not taken notice of in him But for a Christian to have any such doting imaginations would render him more wild-headed and besides himselfe in sober mens judgements then any Poet of Dithyrambique verse Yet no man ought to be blamed for maintaining a Truth in a Iewes company either in this matter or in any else if with heed he passe by those grosse fancies and stupid absurdities which doe infatuate and blemish the same truth More deservedly may we finde fault with Dionysius of Alexandria and his followers the great impugners of this opinion who when about the end of the third age the dispute about it grew very hot to lessen the authority of the Revelation by the evident and undeniable proofes whereof the matter in question was asserted O foule shame and impiety they fathered it upon I know not whom yet one of the same name against the manifest witnesse of h Iustin Martyr Irenaeus and all the Fathers before them who inscribâ— it to Iohn the beloved Disciple of Christ and Evangelist Neither can Hierome himselfe be exâ—used though a very learned man otherwise but easie to be deceived who with the same Dionysius doth upon an uncertaine report falsâ—ly affix to the opinion of them who according to truth beleeved the thousand yeeres happinesse on earth the i injury of Circumcision the blood of Sacrifices and rest duratiâ—n of all the ceremonies of the Law Which old pieces and rags of Indaisme or perhaps the dreames of some Heretiques being gathered out of a study of contention and ill will were patched to this opinion of the Primitive Church But if he certainely knew that the first Christians and holy Martyrs did expect Circumcision and Sacrifices in the Kingdome of Christ how is he to be blamed that condemned them not for it but k left every man to the freedome of his owne judgement either to approve or dislike thereof But what countenance soever this opinion hath or shall finde in this age let me tell thee this one thing Reader which I will leave to be considered of by thee that seeing there are so manifest proofes of a glorious Kingdome of the Saints here on earth out of the old Testament there will be no better or easier way to deale with the Iewes in matter of their conversion then not to wrest the plaine prophecies of a second and glorious appearance of Christ to his first comming but rather to perswade them that they must expect no other Messias who should fulfill all these promises expecting what is to be expected for we are not herein wholly to agree with the Iewes but to examine all things according to the rules of Christian faith besides that Iesus of Nazareth whom their Ancestors crucified And this way is every where almost through the whole Revelation diligently insisted upon For whilst we force those most cleare prophecies concerning things promised in the second to his first comming the Iewes scorne and deride us and are more and more confirmed in their infidelity But for the cours which I have here set downe I am much mistaken if it be not the same which was observed among them by Peter himselfe Act. 3.19 20 21. Repent ye therefore and be converted that your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord And he shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached unto you Whom the Heaven must receive untill the times of restitution of all things which God hath spoken by the â—â—uth of all his holy Prophets since the World began But I forget my selfe For indeed I thinke it more fit to set downe and publish what might be safely and piously beleeved concerning this Teneâ— rather in another mans sense and expressions then in mine owne being more willing l modestly to learne and be instructed from the abilities of others then impudently to obtrude mine owne weaknesses upon the world And to this end I have also collected what some of the most eminent Divines of the Church of England Dr. Hakewill Dr. Twisse Mr. Mede c. that thou mightest not thinke it onely an outlandish toy or a
now it hath as also the Majesty or glory thereof shall appear joyned with an absolute and sincere joy All which are here and there to be found in the places quoted and are unfolded in the following Questions And this is that happy condition and estate of the Church which shall be in this life and shall last for a thousand years And it consisteth of these Parts 1. Of the Resurrection of the Martyrs and of rheir Reign here upon Earth 2. Of the increase of the Church and multitude thereof through the conversion of the Gentiles and Iews 3. Of the setting of the Church at liberty from the persecution of Enemies thereof by the small destruction of them 4. Of the continuall and lasting peace thereof 5. Of the Reformation of the same both in doctrine and life 6. Of the Majesty and great glory thereof 7. Of it 's true and sincere Ioy The fourth Period of the Church of the New Testament is from the end of the Thousand yeares to the last Judgement In which time the estate of the Church shall be very miserable by reason of the War of Gog and Magog unto which Christ shall put an end by his glorious coming to the generall Judgement Revel. 20.3.7 8 9 10. And thus we have described the estate of the Church of the old and new Testament here upon earth The estate of the Church in heaven is of perfect glory everlasting triumph absolute regeneration exact illumination and unspeakable joy And this is the full Doctrine concerning the Estate of the Church which we thus set forth The State of the Church is either On Earth Before the fall of man fully happy After the fall and is either Internall perpetuall and common to all places and times in respect of the Elect in generall Externall temporall and proper and it is either of the Old Testament under Patriarches Iudges Kings Divers kindes of Government after the Babylonian captivity New Testament where are 4 periods 1. Of the Jews to the yeare of Christ 51. 2. Of the Gentiles under Emperours Roman Heathen Christian untill Phocas Popes of Rome Fully exercising their power Suffering some abatement thereof 3. Of Jews and Gentiles for a 1000 yeares 4. Of the same after those 1000 yeares finished In Heaven where is the Beginning of the triumph in the last Judgement Consummation thereof in life Eternall The Affections of this manifold Estate are thus delineated The Estate of the Church is either of One kinde to wit Onely happy On Earth Before the fall For the 1000. yeers now at hand In Heaven Onely unhappy by reason of severall persecutions Already past before these 1000. yeares To come after these 1000. yeares Divers kindes to wit partly happy partly unhappy or temporate and lyable to the enterchange of temporall felicity or calamity Of the Connexion of this Chapter with the former IOHN in his Revelation which he received from God in the yeare of Christ 94. after the Preface chap. 1 to the 9 verse describes seven generall Visions in this order The first Vision is of the seven golden Candlesticks and of so many Starres and it is concerning the present and future estate of the seven Churches in Asia in the 1 2 3 chapters The second Vision is of the Book shut up and signed with seven Seals in the 4 5 6 chapters And it is concerning the estate of the Church of the new Testament after the departure of Iohn to the yeare of Christ 606. The third Vision is of the seven Trumpets in the 8 9 10 11 chapters and it is concerning the state of the Church from the year of Christ 606 to the year 1517. The fourth Vision is of the woman bringing forth a childe and of the Dragon of the Beast and the Lamb in the 12 13 14 chapters And it is partly a description of the Birth of Christ partly a recapitulation and exposition of the second and third Visions and concerning the estate of the Church of the New Testament from the Nativity of Christ to the yeare 1517. The fifth Visiion is of the seven Vials in the 15 and 16 chapters of which the three former are poured forth from the year of Christ 1517 to the year 1625. the four following shall be poured forth from the year 1625 to the year of Christ 1694. in which the 1000 years seem to begin The sixth Vision is partly of the punishments as well those which are peculiarly appointed for the Whore and her worshipyers before the beginning of the 1000 years in the 17 18 19. chapters as also those which shall be inflicted upon all the enemies of the Church Partly of the future happinesse of the Church here upon earrh in the 20 chapter from the 1 uerse to the 7. After the end of those years chap. 20. the 7 and following verses The seventh Vision is of the Heavenly City chap. 21 22. II. The Sum of this Chapter AFter that the Evangelist hath related what happened to the first Beast and the false Prophet and their followers chap. 19. verse 20 21. He tells you now what happened to the Dragon himself For the Mystery of Iniquity being overthrown and due punishments inflicted upon the first Beast and the false Prophet the Angel descends from Heaven and being endowed with great Power he takes order that the Dragon that is Satan should not any more by the ministery of ungodly men stirre up those accustomed troubles in the Church Militant Wherefore there being no place left him any longer for his wonted impostures but bound up in the bottomlesse pit for a thousand years the Nations are not seduced â—y him untill being loosned out of prison he again makes use of his old Engines and Stratagems against the Church Therefore for the space of those whole 1000 years the Church shall enjoy outward peace the Martyrs being raised from the dead and the Nations together with the Jews being converted to the Faith of Christ Now after the end of these thousand years Satan is again let loose and the Church by reason of the Warre of Gog and Magog made sensible of more grievous afflictions then she had suffered in former times At length he being again thrust into the bottomlesse pit together with all his forces and power the Saints shall for ever reign with Christ III. The Analysis of the Chapter ANd that is After that For {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is to be taken transitively here in this sense After that I had seen the Beast and the false Prophet thrown into the Lake burning with Bâ—imstone and the rest slain with the sword of him that sate upon the horse and all birds satisfied with the flesh of them I saw these things which now follow I saw that is In the Spirit or extasie of my minde Compare Revel. 1.10 An Angel A good Spirit a Minister of the Judgements of God such as were in the former Visions Therefore neither Christ nor any Doctor of the Church is
interpretation oâ— these thousanâ— yâ—ares permitting to the Revelation it's divine authority they ceased from their attempt which could by no meanes be freed from the censure of impiety Conceive thus them that the Seaventh Trumpet with the whole space of those thousand yeares and other predictions belonging thereto doth set forth that great day of judgement so much spoken of by the ancient Church as also by Christ and his Apostles and is not the short space of a few houres as commonly it is beleives but according to the manner of the Hâ—brewes using a day for a time the continued intervall of many yeares and circumsâ—ribed with two resurrections as with two set or limitted tâ—rmes I say that this day shall bee begun first with the partâ—culâ—r and tâ—mely judgement of Antichrist and othâ—r eneâ—ies of the Church then remaining alive with the glorious appearance of our Lord Christ in flames of fire and that at length after the Kingdome of a thousand yeares granted to his holy Spouse the New Ierusalâ—m here on earth and others that shall afterward be borne this great day now drawing to an end shall bee finishâ—d aftâ—r the letting loose of Satan and uâ—ter destruction of the Churches eâ—emies with the generall resurrection and judgement of all the dead which being performed the wicked shall be thrust downe iâ—to Hell to bee tormâ—nted eternally and the Saints translated into Heaven to live with Christ there for ever This indeed is the Time of the anger of God upon the Nations and avenging the cause of them who dyed for Christ for which after the blast of the seaventh Trumpet chapter eleâ—enth the Elâ—ers give thankes with triumph because therein God was to gâ—ve a reward to his servants the Prophets and Saints and to them that feared his â—ame small and great and would destroy thâ—m who destroy the earth This is that day of judgement and destruction of wicked men of which Peter 2. Ep. 3.8 having spoken prâ—sently addes But beloved be not ignorant of this one thing for before I shewed it was called a day that one day is with the Lord as a thousand yeares and a thousand yeares as one day In which very day the Apostle with his brethren and kinsfolk the Iewes to whom he writeth doth expect a new fashion of things to happen of which hee saith Presenâ—ly BVT WEE EXPECT A NEW HEAVEN AND A NEW EARTH according to his Promise where in dwelleth righteousnes Take notice according to his promise Now where was this promise to be found of a new Heaven and new Earth seeing Iohn had not yet had this Revelation but Esaya 65.17 and 66.22 which promise whosoever shall reade I should wonder if he think that it is to be accomplished anywhere else but vpon Earth This is also that Kingdome which is ioyned with Christs appearance heere on Earth to Iudge the world of which Paul to Timothy 2. Ep. 4 1. I charge thee before god and the lord Iesus Christ 〈◊〉 shall Iudge the quicke and the dead at his APPEARING and HIS KINGDOME For after the last and Vniuersall Resurrection the same Paul being witnesse 1. Cor. 15.24 Christ having destroyed the last enemy death shall deliver up the Kingdome to the Father that he himselfe may be subiect to him that put all things vnder him so little can he be said to enter upon a new kingdome The Kingdome therefore which neither was before the Appâ—arance of the Lord neither shall be after the last Resurrection must necessarily be concluded to be batweene them both This is the kingdom of the son of man which Dan. saw the times of the Antichristian HORNE being finished or the times of the Gentiles Luke 21.24 being accomplished who shall appeare in the clouds when power and glory and the Kingdome shall be given to him that all people nations and languages may serve him for when as the Angel streight expoundeth it the Kingdom and Dominion and greatnesse of the Kingdome under the whole heaven mark it well shall be given to the people of the Saiâ—ts of the most high For neither as I sayd before shall this Kingdome be after the last Resurrection seeing then the Sonne of man shall not enter upon a Kingdome but as Paul saith he must lay it downe and deliver to his Father Now that the same kingdome is spoken of by Daniel and Iohn may from hence be evinced First because both Kingdomâ— begin with the ruine of the fourth or Roman Beast that of Daniel when the Beast under the last command of the Horne which had eyes was slaine and his body given to the burning flame that in thâ—Revelation when the Beast and false Prophet that wicked Horne is Daniâ—l having mouth and eyes like a head were taken and both cast alive into the lake of fire burning with brimstone Secondly from the same sitting in judgement which went before both for that one place is borrowed from the other and both enteâ—d the same thing will appeare from the comparing of the descriptions of both DAN. Cap. VII APOC. XX 4 Ver. 9. I beheld till the Thrones were placed For so it must be rendred with the Vulgar LXX and Theodor and so {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} is used of a Throne in the Targum on Ier. 1.15 And I saw Thrones Ver. 10. And judgement was set That is Judges as in the great Sanbedrim or Councell of the Jewes according to the manner of which this whole description is fitted And they sate upon them Ver. 22. And judgement was given to the Saints of the most High That is Power to Judge whence is that of Paul The just shall judge the Earth And judgement was given unto them And the Saints possessed the Kingdome That is with the Sonne of man who came in the clouds of Heaven And the Saints lived reigned with Christ a thousand yeares Moreover I would advise the Reader of this whatsoever wholesome truth almost is delivered by the Iewes or by our Saviour in the Gospel or anywhere in the new Testament by the Apostles concerning the day of the Great Iudgement is taken out of this vision of Daniel namely the Judgement which shall be by fire Christs comming in the Cloudes of Heaven his comming in the glory of his Father with a multitude of Angels the judging of the world by him with his Saints the abolishing of Antichrist by the glorious appearance of his comming c. So that they goe about to take away a pillar of our Evangelicall faith who neglecting this ancient tradition of the Church goe about to carry this Prophecy another way Lastly to make an end This is that most great Kingdome which as Daniel interprets it was shewed to Nebuchadnezzar in that representative Statue of the foure Kingdomes Not that of the STONE which the succession of the IV Monarchies yet remaining was cut out of the Mountaine for this is the
fancy of yesterday muchlesse savouring of Popery have thought and published concerning this opinion Besides the irrefragable judgement of the Divine Tycho Brahe that singular ornament both of the Heavens and his owne Denmarke and with him the termination herein of Carolus Gallus omitted by Asted and not long agoe one of the States Professors of Divinity in their University of Leyden If thou finde any discrepancy in their resolutions about this matter perswade thy selfe that time and the holy Spirit will more and more enlighten the deepe mysteries of Godâ— word and of its unspeakable goodnesse of the Saints of God will yet in these latter times make us all of one heart and one mind in Christ Iesuâ— That all we that doe confâ—sse his holy Name may agree in the truth of his holy Word and live in unity and godly love which is the prayer of our Church In the meane time good Reader consider that it is as lawfull for men yea for good Christians themselves to differ in circumstances of opinions as it is requisite and seemely that they should grow up together like m fellow branches in matter of good correspondence and affection Farewell SCRIB LIMNOPOROPOLI Antiquorum Saxonum five Regiovici in Regniâ— X. ab V.L. Ad Jamissam Ptolomaei si non omnes depravati codâ— In {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} quod Iohannes Loukinn LONDINI IV. Mater 39. Edw. R. 3. P. Elizabethâ— Regina {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} SCHOLPUBL GR. LAT. LL. E. V. Regni sui III. To the Christian Reader THere are three things necessary for him who takes upon him to expound Prophecies published by the Holy Ghost And first truely the light and Grace of the holy Spirit is requisite For seeing that Prophecie proceedeth from the holy Spirit It is necessary that by the same also it should be expounded Next Apious and diligent reading of Prophecies and conferring them one with another much avayleth hereunto Lastly The fulfilling of any Prophecie and an experience in a manner thereof is as it were the Key with which it is unlockt and opened Wherefore that saying of Irenaeus is true Every Prophecy before it is fulfill'd is a Riddle But when it is fulfill'd it hath a plain exposition and understanding of it self These three things as in all holy Prophecies so in the Divine Revelation may be joyned together and namely in this piece thereof which now according to my Ability I am about to Illustrate and at this day too Wherein to the light of the Gospel there is added a great Catastrophe or Issue of many things foretold by God himself except indeed any one happily chance to be bewitched with a prejudicate opinion Let us set sail therefore in the Name of God and comfort the desolation of Germany with this pious meditation Revelation Chap. 20. ANd I saw an Angel come down from heaven having the Key of the bottomelesse pit and a great chain in his hand 2. And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the devill and Satan and bound him a thousand yeers 3. And cast him into the bottomlesse pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the Nations no more till the thousand yeers should be fulfilled and after that he must be loosed a little season 4. And I saw thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them And I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus and for the Word of God and which had not worshipped the beast neither his image neither had received his mark upon their foreheads or in their hands and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yâ—ers 5. But the rest of the dead lived not again untill the thousand yeers were finished This is the first resurrection 6. Blessâ—d and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection on such the second death hath no power but thâ—y shall be Priests of God and of Chrâ—st and shall reign with him a thousand yeers 7. And whâ—n the thousand yeers are expired Satan shall be loosed out of his prison 8. And shall goe out to deceive the Nations which are in the four quarters of the earth Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell the number of whom is as the sand of the Sea 9. And thâ—y went up on the breadth of the earth and compassed the campe of the Saints about anâ—â—he beloved Citie and fire came down from God out of heaven and devoured them 10. And the dâ—vill that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and the false Prophet are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever 11. And I saw a great white Throne and him that sate on it from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away and there was found no place for them 12. And I saw the dead small and great stand before God and the books were opened and another book was opened which is the Book of life and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books according to their works 13. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them and they were judged every man according to their works 14. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire this is the second death 15. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire PROLEGOMENA OR THE PREFACE Concerning The Author and Subject of this Chapter and the Connexion thereof with the foregoing and following Chapters 1. Of the Author of this Chapter THe Principall Author of this Chapter is the same who is Author of the whole Book namely Iesus Christ who as a faithfull Steward of our Salvation received this Revelation from God the Father and sent the same by his Angel to Iohn the Evangelist Revel. 1.1 Wherefore the Principall Author is the Spirit of God the Minister or Messenger partly the Angel partly Iohn who Chap. 1.1 and 4. setteth down his name in generall but a little after in the ninth Verse restraining that generality He doth as it were with his finger point at it I John your brother and companion in the affliction and Kingdom and patience * which is in Jesus Christ was in the Island which is called Patmos The history which Eusebius relates tells us That Iohn the Evangelist and Apostlé was banished into the Island of Patmos by Domitian Whence it is collected that Iohn the Evangelist and Apostle was Gods Poâ—-man in the delivery of this Prophecy and hence That the Authority of this Book and so of this Chapter which we intend to expound is Divine Wherefore deservedly we most highly esteem of this Revelation as a part of Scripture which hath God for it's Author But especially this Prophecy ought in this respect to
be welcome to us because it contains the last Divine Revelation of Gods will after which no Prophecy following is to be expected and because this Book is very profitaâ—le in this Age in which the lively performance of things hitherto abstruse and concealed is presented before our eyes 2. Of the Subject of this Chapter THis Chapâ—er discourseth of the singular happinesse of the Church both under it's Warfare and Triumph The singular happinesse of the Church during it's warfare or being militant is let down in three respects 1. In its security from the hostile incursions of the wicked for a 1000 yeers 2. In the resurrection of the Martyrs before the generall resurrection 3. In the wonderfull dâ—livâ—rance of the godly from the last persecution of the wicked which shall happen after those thousand yeers The happinesse of the Church Triumphant is hâ—re described so farre forth as the beginning of its Triumph in the last Iudgement That these things may be made more plain I will from the very beginning make a repetition of the state of the Church here upon earth and I will say something briefly concerning the State and condition thereof in Heaven The State of the Church hereupon earth was either that before the fall of the first man and that was wholly Legall or that after the fall and this is wholly Evangelicall Again The State of the Church after the fall is either Internall and perpetuall or Externall and temporall The State of the Church Internall and perpetuall consists in the Union and Communion with Christ as also in the enlightning and guidance of the Spirit Isa. 54.5 Hos. 2.15 19 20. Iob. 6.56 1 Cor. 6 17. Eph. 5.30 1 Cor. 10.17 2 Cor. 11.2 Eph. 3.6 Gal. 3.28 Câ—l 3.15 Hence it is that the Church is one Holy and Invincible The Externall or temporall State of the Church is as well under the Crosse and Persecution as Light and Comfort or refreshing which two changes the Church undergoes here on earth by turns as well under the Old Testament as the New and that either more or lesse For Adam and Eve after their most grievous fall were raised up again by the most sweet promise of the Gospel and after they had begot Cain and Abel and their Sisters they were comforted with this Infancy as it were and first foundation of the Church But no small grief followed hard upon this joy when as Cain slew his brother Abel However this breach was made up again in Seth whose posterity propagated the Church although not without grievous persecution by the race of Cain which had an end put unto it by the delâ—ge in the yeer of the world 1656. From whence the Church was enlarged to the yeer 1757 without any notable persecution which at that time the building of the Tower of Babel brought and hence sprung the division of Languages In the yeer of the world 2023 the Church was contracted into the Posterity of Abraham only And here begin the four hundred and thirty yeers dwelling of the Israelites in Egypt where Abraham Isaac Iacob and Ioseph underwent manifold changes both of prosperity and affliction And their posterity after the death of Ioseph was detained under a most horrid slavery from the yeer of the world 2360 even to yeer 2453 in which the Israelites were brought out of Egypt From which time to the yeer 2493 they had experience of divers blessings and judgements of God in the Wildernesse Now after they were brought into the Land of Canaan which happened in the yeer of the world 2493. Iosuah with very good successe for the six first yeers conquered the Canaanites vanquishing one and thirty Kings After the death of Iosuah to the yeer of the world 2879 the Israâ—lites were vexed with divers slaveries and persecutions and rescued from the same by severall Judges namely Deborah Gedâ—on Samson and Samuel And now the Kingly power being established in the dayes of Saul or yeer 2879 the Church presently in the very beginning thereof suffered persecution from Saul himself After that it underwent divers chanceâ— and changes namely under David and Solomon it exceedingly flourished under Rehoboam it suffered a great losâ—e ten Tribes falling of to Ieroboam By occasion whereof a most sad rent of the Kingdom happened the Church by little and little degenerating in Israel whose ten Tribes under Hoshea in the yeeâ— of the world 3228. were led away into a most grievous and yet continuing captivity as farre as the Col. hi Iberi c. As for the Church remaining in the Kingdom of Iuda it had severall entercourses of deformation as well as reformation of calamities as well as victories unto the yeer 3350. in which began the Babylonian captivity continuing Lxx yeers In the yeer 3419 Cyrus released this captivity giving the Iews free leave to return into their Country and to establish their own Laws and Religion as farre as their own Country did reach But not withstanding this Priviledge of using their own Laws was many wayes interrupted untill the yeer 3527 that is for 107 yeers From which time to the yeer 3781. the Church of the Iews enjoyed happy and Halcyonian dayes under the Persians and in like manner under Alexander the Great But under the Successors of Alexander especially the Kings of Syria they were divers wayes afflicted untill in the yeer of the world 3783 and so downward the Maccabees fought with happy successe for their Religion and possessions From the yeer 3887. Iudea was laid wast and severall wayes oppressed by the Romans and Parthians so that the whole State thereof was exceedingly troubled Let us now come to the estate of the Church of the New Testament which we will divide into four periods The first period is of the Church of the godly Iews in Iudea from the time of Iohn the Baptist to the Councell of Ierusalem that is from the yeer of the world 3948. to the fiftieth yeer of Christ In all which space of time Christ was born Baptism instituted Iohn put to death the twelve Apostles and Lxx. Disciples called by Christ Christ himself suffered the Holy Ghost was powred out upon the Apostles the Apostles were whipped for their bold preaching of the Doctrine of Christ c. The seâ—ond period is of the Church spread over the whole world and contains the calling and conversion of most nations from the 51. yeer of Christ to the beginning of the thousand yeers And this period hath four branches I. Under the Henthâ—n Roman Emperours till Constâ—ntine the Great 's time wherein the Church was propagated under divers Persecutions of which tenne were more notable from the 64. yeer of Christ to the 3â—3 II. Under Christian Emperours from Constantine the Great to Phocas in which time it was adorned with divers priviledgâ—s by Constantine the Great and other godly Princes yet so That notwithstanding it felt great persecutions by the Arians by Iulian by the Persians Sandals Gothâ—â— c. to the yeer of Christ
here to be understood Coming down from Heaven to wit The third Heaven or the Heaven of the blessed Who had the Key of the bottomlesse pit that is Who had received power from God to open and shut up Hell We must not therefore by the Key of the bottomlesse pit understand any inward light or knowledge kindled by some famous Doctor of the Church by whose help the Scripture may be the more enlightned or the profound skill in Divinity of such a one And a great chain in his hand The great power of binding and tying up the enemy is here understood This chain therefore is falsly expounded concerning the Divine Writings of some Angel or Teacher of the Church whose coherence like a chain may be such that they may bring Heaven and Earth together and draw the hearts of the believers up unto God 2. And he caught as if he had laid hands on him The Dragon That monstrous virulent and violent enemy of Christ and Christians That old Sorpent Who by his winding and subtle kinde of Oratory in the beginning of the world seduced our first parents and who yet keeps his old skin Who is the Devill That Slanderer and Sophister that mis-interpreter of all the good sayings and deeds as well of God and Christ as holy Angels and men And Satan The adversary and everlasting enemy of God Christ and the Church And bound him By hindering his wicked enterprises and attemps A thousand yeers Solar and usuall years 3. And he threw him into the bottomlesse pit that is With mighty power he restrained the malignity of Satan thrusting him down into Hell And * shut him up as if he should say He laid him not onely fast in prison but also shut up the prison upon him with him in it And set a seal upn hiom Here are four acts of the Angel the first bindes Satan then cast him being bound into the bottomlesse pit then he shuts up the pit and sets a seal upon it being shut up That he might not seduce to wit Partly by Idolatry Superstition and the power of lyes partly by bringing War upon the Church Any more As he had formerly done The Nations {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} The Nations â—oth Jews and Gentiles This word {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} in Scripture properly signifies the Gentiles as they were opposed to the Jews But that in this place the signification of this word is extended it doth hence appear The power of the devill is so fast bound he can no more seduce either Jews or Gentiles for the space of those thousand yeers Therefore this word is to be taken in a more large signification So that the Conversion of the Jews is described also implicitely in these words Till the thousand yeers were fulfilled to wit Untill the whole course of the Churches hapyinesse here on earth were finished And after that he must be loosed For these thousand yeers being ended the Devill by the just Judgement of God shall again recover his power and indeed a farre greater For a short time The kingdom of Satan shall not fulfill a thousand years but shall remain onely for a small time 4. And I saw Thrones Then I saw a Judiciall Processe prepared And they sate upon them that is Christ and his holy Angels And Iudgement was given unto thâ—m The power of Judgement was given by God as well to Christ as to the chief Judge as to the Angels as it were his Assessors Compare Mat. 25.31 And the souls I saw as well the Judges Christ and his Angels as also them that were to be judged that is To be absolved or freed in this Judgement And in this place souls are put for men Of them that were beheaded that is Of them that were slain by any kinde of torment And it is a description of the Martyrs For the testimony of Iesus Whereby they witnessed concerning Christ that he was the onely Iesus that is The onely Saviour both by merit and efficacy And for the Word of God that is The holy Scripture which they had learned to be the onely rule both of faith and life And which had not worshipped the Bâ—ast that is The Second Beast of which mention is in the 13 and 19 chapters which had arrogated to it self the divine Honours of Christ Nor his Image that is Those Kings and Princes which are the Image of the Beast that is which represent the Beast in their likenesse of doctrine and life Compare Revel. 13. v. 14. And had not received his mark in their foreheads By mark in this place is to be understood some characteristicall note or distinguishing signe or token which they are said to bear in their foreheads who publikely professe themselves to be addicted to such or such a master or leader Or in their hands that is In their actions Rites and Ceremonies In these words therefore is contained a concealed antithesis or opposition whereby the Martyrs are declared contrary to the slaves and servants of the Beast concerning whom there is former mention chap. 13. â—â— 14 15 16. that they worshipped the image of the Beast and received his mark on their right hand or on their foreheads From which words it is manifest that the Martyrs are here described by the distinction of their sufferings and doings And they lived that is They lived again as may be gathered from the fifth verse But the rest of the dead lived not again So formerly Revel. 2.8 Who was dead {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} for {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} and is alive for hath lived again Here then is described the singular reward which the Martyrs have received for their sufferings and extraordinary performances And reignâ—d As being appointed here on earth Governours of the Church having now gained it 's most welcome Halcyonia or dayes of calmnesse With Christ Who all this while shall raign visibly in heaven invisibly upon earth his visible Kingdom being resigned to the Martyrs For those thousand yeers Of whiâ—h in the former verse For that the thousand yeers of Satans binding and of the Kingdom of the holy Martyrs with Christ are the same and not distinct or divers the Article {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} four times repeated in the 3 4 5 6 7 verses doth sufficiently declare and the term of time appointed for the loosing of Satan doth fully evince It is a forced Interpretation therefore that some do make taking the thousand yeers in the 4 and 6 verses tropically by a Synecdoche for Eternity in the other verses namely 3 5 7 according to the letter But the rest of the dead As well the godly as the ungodly * Lived not again that is Were not made partakers of that happinesse and prerogative whereby a number of some of the faithfull shall rise before the Universall and last Resurrection and shall reign with Christ here upon earth Vntill those
or Dragon and his two companions the Beast and the false-Prophet Day and night Continually without intermission For ever and ever A description of all Eternity 11. And I saw a great white Throne By this Throne a cloud is understood and being termed a great Throne the Universall judgement is figured out and being also called a white one Truth Equity and Justice are thereby signified And one sitting thereon Namely Christ God and Man Now he is said to be seen to sit there that hereby we may be taught That he is prepared and ready to passe judgement From whose face Being both most refâ—lgent and full of austherity The Earth and Heaven fled away That is the fashion of this world passed away and was consumed with fire which went before this Judge and the Creatures the Inhabitants of earth and heaven did all tremble at the sight of him And there was found no place for him By reason of the resplendenâ—y and Majesty of the Judge which no creature could endure without being changed into some other state and condition Therefore there shall be an Universall change of the whole world in that Judgement day 12. And I saw the dead That is Those who had been dead but were now raised and restored unto life Small and great A Dichotomy or division naturally to be understood in regard of quantity morally in regard of quality or dignity So that all must be placed before the Tribunall of Christ Standing before God As expecting his definitive sentence And the Books were opened Books not devised or written by any other then by every one in his own private conscience dictated according to his severall thoughts words and deeds These Books therefore thus written have hitherto been reserved shut up and not taken notice of as it were in some private closet or place of account But now they are opened so that they may be plainly read by every particular man And another book was opened That onely book written by God himself Which is the book of Life That is The secret and hidden Decree of God concerning our Election which there shall in publike be exhibited and made manifest Now it is called The book of Life because therein God hath as it were set down the names of them who through his grace and favour shall become heirs of eternall life Compare Luke 10.20 And the dead were judged A definitive sentence passing upon all acquitting some and condemning others Out of those things which were written in the Book To wit In the books of mens consciences Now these books shall be opened after a severall manner For the books of the Consciences of godly men shall not be so opened that their sinnes shall rise up in judgement against them for in this respect they are still sealed up but they shall be so opened that they may read indeed their sinnes there many and gâ—eat ones but so as they are covered by Christ and the power of them more and more weakened by the Spirit of Christ through repentance and the study of good works Therefore the godly shall reade in their conscience the justice of Christ covering their sinnes and through him bringing forth good works But the condition of the ungodly shall be farre otherwise For they shall read in their consciences their sinnes not pardoned by Christ According to their works Which shall give testimony either of their faith in Christ or else of their impiety and unbeleef 13. And. Tâ—ansitively for After that that is After the sentence of the Judge now passed and published The sea gave up her dead that were in it Bâ—ing drowned or devoured of fiâ—nes And death That is The Fire Aire and Beast of the Earth and Fowls yeelded up their dead which had not been buâ—yed And Hell That is The Grave In these words then is contained partly a description of the generall Resurrection partly a distribution of the bodies of them that were dead into three sorts One of them that were drowned in the Sea Another of those which were not drowned in the Sea but being dead had no buriall as being brought to ashes either by the fire or aire or else devoured by beasts of the earth or by flying fowls A third sort of those who were laid in their graves Gave up their dead By the command and appointment of God Which were in them The very same and not others the same in number And they were judged every man Not any one being excepted According to their works So that no man shall have cause to complain of any injury done unto him 14. And death And for But adversatively Death that is some and indeed most of the dead but not buryed And Hell The Grave which is here put for them that were buryed therein And again not all the buryed are here to be understood but some and indeed most Now by Death and Hell may be understood men deserving both Were cast into the lake of fire That is made subject and slaves to eternall damnation so that the Saints for the time to come need not stand in any danger or fear of them Which is the second Death Or Eternall This Relative Which may either be referred to the word Lake or else may be taken collectively In the former acception the Lake is called the second death that is a signe or Symbol of the second or eternall death In the latter the judgement of condemnation committed to execution is called the second death Now this is called the second death because the bodies and souls of the damned do in very deed dye twice For the body dyeth both when it is separated from the soul and also when being again joyned to the body it is seperated from God And the soul dyeth both when in this life it separateth it self from God by sinne and when after this life it is separated from God by everlasting punishment Lastly This punishment is called Death because it taketh away the life of grace and glory with which if the life of nature be compared it is rather to be called death then life 15. And whosoever was not found And for For a copulative particle for a declarative Finding is here applyed to God by an {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} or by attributing of humane actions passions and affections to the unlimited power and unsearchable operations of the Deity Written in the book of Life Both in the former book as well through the love and election of God as in the latter by faith hope and charity Was cast into the lake of fire Through the just judgement of God and by his own default 2. A Logicall-Theologicall Analysis This Chapter is divided into five parts I. THe Description of the Angel Vers. 1. II. The Effects or operations of the Angel that is what the Angel did In part of the 1. Verse 2.3 III. The happy estate of the Church which followed upon what the Angel had effected In part of the 2 3 4 5
6. Verses IV. The troubled State of the Church Vers. 7 8 9 10. V. The Description of the last judgement From the 11. Verseâ—â— the end Of the first Part. The Angel is described 1. From the Person imployed therein who is Iohn the Evangelist whose effect illustrated by the time added is expressed in these words After that I saw 2. From the proper Person or Subject An Angel 3. From the effect which is illustrated by the place Coming down from Heaven 4. From the double adjunct illustrated by a threefold similitude Having the kâ—y of the bottomelesse pit and a great chain in his hand Of the second Part. Five effects of this Angel are recited 1. The first is illustrated by an allegoricall description of the object thus And he laid hold on the Dragon that old Serpent which is the Devill and Satan The second is illustrated by the circumstance of time And he bound him for 1000. years 3. 4. 5. The other three are set down with a manifestation of the end for which this was done And cast him into the bottomelesse pit and shut him up and set a seal upon him that he should deceive the nations no more Of the third Part. The happy estate of this Church hereon Earth is either common or proper The common estate of the Church is that of all the godly then living in these words That he should not seduce them any more And it is discribed thus 1. From the extent of the Subject Thaâ— he might not seduce the Nations 2. From the adjunct of time Till the thousand yâ—â—rs should be fulfilled 3. From the destructive cause of their felicity And after that he must be loosed Now as well the efficient cause of the corruption of this felicity is declared namely The decree of God He must be loosed As the manner and forme Be loosed And lastly the adjunct of time For a little season The Proper estate of the Church is that of the Martyr and is consists of their Resurrection and Kingdom The Resurrection of the Martyrs is described 1. From the Person imployed Then I saw 2. From the impulsive procuring cause to wit the Judgement of those heavenly powers which is illustrated from an adjunct and effect metaphoricall thus Thrones and they sate upon them and judgement was given unto them 3. From the recipient subjects which is described from the adjunct passions as also from the its effects And the souls of them who were beheaded for c. The procuring cause also of these passions or sufferings is declared to wit Their confessing of Christ and their refusing of Idolatry 4. From the manner of their Resurrection And they lived agaiâ— The Kingdom of the Martyrs is described from the effect connâ—â— and adjunct time And thâ—y reigned with Christ for a thousand years The Resurrection of the Martyrs is again described 1. From the unlike condition of others But the rest of the dead lived not again untill c. 2. From it's Epithite This is the first Resurrection 3. From four adjunctâ— of which the first second and fourth are peculiar the third common For the Martyrs are described from their particular happynesse Blessed From their particular holinesse And holy From their holy security On such the second death hath no power From the dignity of their Priesthood But they shall be Priests Their Kingdom with the durance thereof is the second time also set down in the 6. Verse Of the fourth Part. The happy estate of the Church shall be troubled by the extreme persecution of the wicked that is to say by the warre of Gog and Magog the cause whereof and the event is described The cause is as well efficient as formal The efficient is either principall The seducing of the Devill or instrumentall The wicked Nations The seducing of the Devill is described 1. From the time When the thousand years shall be finished 2. From the permissive cause Satan shall be loosed out of his prison For he shall be let loose by the Angel God permitting and commanding it 3. From the manner and end And he shall go forth that he may deceive the Nations and gather them to battlâ— The wicked Nations are described 1. From the subject place The Nations which are in the four corners of the earth 2. From the comparison with their like Gog and Magog 3. From the adjunct That he might gather them to battle 4. From the multitude added which is set forth and illustrated by a simile whose number is as the sand of the Sea 5. From a double effect And they came up on one breadth of the earth and encompassed c. The event of this warre of Gog and Magog is in respect 1. Of the Nations But fire came down from heaven 2. Of the Devill whose action is described And the Devill who seduced them and his passion He was cast into the Lake And this punishment is described from his company Where the Beast and the false prophet are And from the durance of time added And they shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever Of the fifth Part. The last Judgement is described 1. From the efficient cause which is the Iudge who is described partly from the limited place to wit The Cloude Then I saw a Throne c. partly from adjunct to wit His Majestie And one sitting thereon before whom the Earth and the Heaven fled away 2. From the Object which are the guilty or the persons to be judged They are described both from their past condition The dead both small and great as also from their present state Standing in the sight of God as likewise from their future condition And they were judged From a tripartite distribution also from the distinct places And the sea gave up no dead and death and helâ—gave up their dead which were in them 3. From the Rule observed in the Judgement thereafter as their works are According to their works This rule is declared from the infallibility thereof which is signified by the books that is the Consciences of men And the books were opâ—ned And by the Book of life also And another book was opened 4. From the execution of the sentence of which one part here is onely mentioned namely the casting of the wicked into the Lake of fire Vers. 14. the other is related in the following chapter Now this casting into the Lake is described partly from what went before And Death and Hell Partly from the forme and manner of it Were cast into the lake of fire which is the second Death And partly also from the impulsive cause And whose names were not found in the book of life were cast into the lake of fire If you like better of it divide this Chapter into four particular Visions Of which the 1. Is concerning the Angel Vers. 1.2.3 2. Is concerning the State of the Church here on Earth as well In a most happy condition Verse 3 4 5 6. As in a most afflicted
the false Prophet who is the great Antichrist being thrust down a little before the beginning of the thousand yeers do endure their punishment There they shall be tormented day and night without intermission for ever and ever that is For all ages so that for the time to come they shall never scape forth again 11. I saw also a great cloud like a great white Throne and Christ the Son of GOD the Judge of the living and dead sitting thereon with great Majesty and prepared to give Judgement From before his face the Earth and the Heaven fled away and there was no place found for them For this earth and this heaven shall passe away at the coming of Christ and all things shall be made new 12. I saw also all the dead small and great standing before God and ready to hear the sentence of the Judge What happens then The books of mens Consciences are opened the counsells of all mortell men and the secrets of their hearts being brought to light Now lest the elect children of God should be disheartned every one by the particular survey of his own book or conscience behold another book is opened for them I mean the Book of Life in which according to the fatherly acceptance of God in Christ their names are written from everlasting These books being thus opened the dâ—ad are judged out of those things which are written in the books according to their works and that after such manner that the works of the Saints are judged out of the book of life which contains the books of their Consciences washed and cleansed with the Blood of Christ But the works of the ungodly are numbred and surveyed and so judged out of the books of their own consciences not cleansed from sins nor purged with the Blood of Christ 13. Hereupon then the Sea gave up its dead which had been concealed in the bosome thereof Death also and the Grave that is The fire ayr and the earth and indeed all the Elements dâ—livered up their dead which having received formerly they had partly consumed partly yet preserved They were therefore all judged and every one in particular none at all excepted and they were judged justly for the judgement was according to every ones works of which their consciences bare them record 14. And this being performed ungodly men Death and Hell that is Men deserving both were cast into that lake of fire that there for ever they might swallow up waters running with fire and there suffer the second death that is by dying the second death never to die 15. For whose name soever was not found written in the Book of Life was cast into that lake of fire both by the just Judgement of God and by the heynousnesse of his own deservings V. The Questions arising in this Chapter THe chief Questions of this Chapter are these 1. Whether these thousand yeers severall times here mentioned are alwayes to be understood literally 2. Whether they be already finished 3. What year ought to be put for the beginning of them 4. What is to be understood by the first Resurrection 5. Who are to be understood by Gog and Magog 6. Whether the Martyrs with Christ shall reign here on Earth All which Questions I will bring into this one Whether there shall be any happinesse of the Church here upon earth before the last day and of what kinde it shall be This question I will handle somewhat more largely both by way of confutation and confirmation I will in the first place therefore by certain Classes or ranks of Arguments confirm the truth to be maintained herein After that I will confute the Objections of the adversary part I. The Confirmation of the Truth THere shall be three Classes or ranks of Arguments for the maintaining of this Truth which we comprehend in the following Thesis or Position The happy estate of the Church in this life shall consist of the Resurrection of the Martyrs and their kingdom here on earth of the freedome of the Church from the persecution of the enemies of the Gospel by an utter overthrow of them of a lasting peace which shall arise from thence of the encrease of the Church or the multitude of the believers by the conversion of the Iews and Nations not yet converted of the Reformation of Doctrine or a greater enlightment and life among all estates of men of the Majesty also and great glory of the Church and lastly of the sincere joy thereof Now this happinesse shall begin in that very year wherein it shall come to passe That the kingdom of that great Antichrist shall be destroyed and it shall last for a thousand years The truth hereof we will make good 1. Out of the Context and Coherence of this Chapter 2. Out of other sayings of the Scripture 3. Lastly by Arguments taken from reason and the consent and agreement of some holy and learned men The first Classis of Arguments From the Context of the Chapter we draw these Arguments THe first Argument is taken from the connexion of this Vision with the former which is described chap. 19. verse 19 20 21. For Iohn saith in the first verse of this Chapter And I saw that is Afterwards to wit After I had seen the Beast and the false Prophet cast into the Lake of fire Now lest any one should think that this casting of them in shall be in the end of the world Iohn doth presently adde and the rest were slain with the sword of him that sate on the horse and all the fowls were filled with their flesh From which words it is manifest That it is spoken here concerning the destruction of Antichrist and his followers which shall not happen in the last and Universall Judgement but shall be a particular Judgement by it self which is thus demonstrated The coming of Christ to the last Judgement shall at length happen after the Warre of Gog and Magog which is a distinct War from that which is described chap. 19. ver. 19. For the Warre of Gog shall be against the Saints having now enjoyed a long-lasting Peace But the Warre of Antichrist shall be against the Saints being now brought almost to nothing by some great persecution Again in this 20â—h Chap. vers. 10. it is said That the Devill should be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone after the Warre of Gog where the Beast and the false prophet * WAS which words have a plain respect to those chap. 19. ver. 20. These both the Beast and the false prophet were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with Brimstone The second Argument is from the Connexion of this Vision with the following which is set down in the 21 Chapter For saith Iohn in the first verse thereof After that I saw a new Heaven and a new Earth that is The thousand yeers being finished the Warre of Gog and Magog being ended and the execution of the last Judgement of which in the
Egyptian bondage Exod. 12. and 14. by the deliverance of Hierusalem from the siege of Sennacheri◠2 Kin. 19. by the deliverance from the hostile invasion of the Ethiopians under King Asa. 2 Chro. 14. by deliverance from the invasion of the Moabites and Ammonites under King Iehosaphat 2 Chron. 20. And lastly by deliverance from the oppression of Antiochus Epiphanes 1 Mac. 1. and following chapters Adde unto these divers examples of the Church of the N. T. which when it's condition hath been granted as desperate and quite lost hath had deliverance by the * unexpected handy-work of God See the Ecclesiasticall History at large From hence we may very well gather that the Church at this time oppressed on every hand and left destitute of all humane assistance shall by the power of God be asserted and vindicated when Antichrist in the full course and carrére of his happynesse shall little think of any such matter IV. The downfall of Antichrist and the binding of Satan for a thousand years do without any intermission meet together It is very probable therefore That the beginning of these thousand years is at hand For Antichrist at that very time wherein he shall make the greatest boast of his victories shall suddenly fall Revel. 18.7 8. V. The severall Phaenomena or Apparitions in the Heavens namely new Starres and Cometes also Earthquakes and the like taken notice of in these latter times do without doubt portend and manifestly foretell some notable and extraordinary change VI The Period or limited time for the Kingdom of Antichrist to continue is almost expired and at an end as appears by the Revelation and History VII Daniel Chap. 12. declares an end of his prophesie when he expressely sets down that 2625. years shall be finished after the end of his Lxx. Weeks that is from the year of Christ 69. which years if they be added to the other the sum of 2694. years is made up In which current of time all things shall happen out which are foretold except the last Judgement and what follows thereon Wherefore if from 2694. years 1000 be subducted we shall come by the year of Christ 1694. In this year then or sooner our THOUSAND years shall take their beginning The consent of Godly and learned Men IN the forefront we place the fourth book of Esdras For there many passages occurre concerning the conversion of the Jews and the deliverance of the Church of the N. T. from Antichrist Especially That is a notable place Chap. 13.39 40. And whereas thou sawest that he gathered another peaceable multitude unto him Those are tenne Tribes which were * carried away prisoners out of their own Land in the time of Hoshea the King What the same Author writes concerning the Eagle and Lion is severally expounded by severall interpreters Out of the Sibylls also some things are brought about the downfall of Antichrist and the happy estate which the world shall enjoy after that shall come to passe Very much mention is made of that Rome shall become a street or high way All the Fathers were of this opinion that Elias should come and restore all things Some as you may see in Alfonsus Conradus in his Commentary on the Revelation between the coming of Christ in the flesh and his coming in Majesty do maintain a certain middle coming which they call his coming in the power and effiency of his Spirit to destroy the great Antichrist to reform his Church This coming they say shall be in the end of the sixth Millenary or 1000 years of which coming they make Enoch and Elias the forerunners They say that Antichrist shall be destroyed by their preaching and his Kingdom abolished After whose downfall peace shall be granted to the Church and Satan shall be bound so that he shall not be able to disturbe the tranquillity thereof Now this peace and happy progresse of the Church they say shall last for the whole seventh Millenary till the last time of her troubles by the persecution of the Nations Gog and Magog because Satan who they say shall then be set at liberty shall stirre them up against the Godly From hence it appears That our opinion concerning these 1000 years is not new and unheard of Alfonsus Conradus of Mantua in his Commentary on the Revelation published at Basil. An. 1574. writeth as followeth IN his Preface This one thing perchance will offend the ears of some because I seem to promise a more plentifull peace to the Church then that likenesse of the Crosse will allow of to which in this world it must be made conformable to Christ it's head But let them bethink themselves I entreat them that this is not so contrary to the Scripture that it should be objected against me or laid to my charge as fit to be reckoned in the number of those which are termed either impious or absurd Especially when as I cannot perceive by what means that happinesse which Iohn writes the Church shall enjoy Satan being bound can be made good except we acknowledge some rest of the Church her enemies being overthrown Which I think indeed ever happened as often as the enemies of God's people have been removed out of the way Now because the enemy which Iohn tells us shall be taken away is more dangerous then all that ever yet infested God's people it ought not to seem strange to any one if he being once overcome the Church enjoy a more plentifull peace then usually Vpon the 20. Chap. of the Revel. Vers. 1. God being about to bestow a more plentifull peace upon his Church then hitherto he had granted to it it sufficeth him not to have removed out of the way the Beast and those Kings of the Earth with a horrible slaughter who favouring the Beast had wholly disturbed his Churche's peace except also he restrain Satan the beginner of all these mischiefs So that he may not any more raise those usuall contentions and strife among men Wherefore the Angel comes down from Heaven who repressing the fury of Satan shuts him up in the bottomelesse pit and there forces him to remain so long as he pleases not to have the peace of the Church to be taken away And a little after Now he binds him and shuts him up into the bottomelesse pit for a thousand years that is for that whole time wherein God hath determined that the peace of his Church shall not be disturbed by Satan See more there to this purpose Lucas Osiander upon Daniel 12. I think the end of these years will fall in with that time in which the Popedome of Rome shall bodily be overturned although in some mens mindes it shall hiddenly remain even untill the last day Matthew Cotterius in his continued and demonstrative Exposition of the Revelation upon the 20 Chap. Satan began to be tyed in bonds when the restored Truth of the Scriptures began to take place on earth the witnesses being
raised and the dark miste of lyes being dispelled Then shall Satan be bound for a thousand years which must be expired before he scatter new errours through the world and by them seduce the Nations This this is the imprisonment this is the liberty or setting free of Satan In the same place upon vers. 2. But when began Satan to be bound In the year 1517. when the witnesses were raised From that time ALL people generally have not drunk any new poyson of heresie which might weaken or overturn their faith In the same place To 1517. adde 1000. years So you shall make 2517. at which time Satan shall again draw the Nations into abominable heresies In this Exposition of Cotterius the thousand years are rightly urged according to the letter But his Epocha or beginning of his account is not well placed in the year 1517. For then began onely the praeludium or proeme of this Millenary Iohn Piscator in his Commentary on the Revelations The happynesse of the faithfull who shall live upon earth after the downfall of the Papacy is their security from the hostile invasions of the wicked for 1000 years In the same place The singular happynesse of the Martyrs of Christ who before these thousand years indured persecution is their Resurrection which shall be before the generall Resurrection and their reign in Heaven with Christ for a thousand years before the Resurrection of the rest In this Exposition the literall interpretation is rightly urged But that he sayes the Martyrs shall reign with Christ in Heaven for those thousand years cannot be proved out of the Text Nay the contrary may thence be proved because the Resurrection of the Martyrs is part of the happinesse of the Church here on Earth Again The Kingdom which is limited by a certain number of years cannot suite well with eternall life See also Revel. 5.10 where the Saints in Heaven among other things sing thus And we shall reign upon the Earth But moreover the same Iohn Piscator maintains this opinion of the thousand years in his German translation of the Bible and a little before his death he wrote a short Treatise Of the future happinesse of the Church in this life Out of which I have made use of many things which I have transcribed into this Meditation for that Treatise of his hath not as yet seen the light Many Writers of the former and this present Age have published many things concerning Elias the Artist who is to come Of the Lion of the North who is neer at hand Of a fourth Northern Monarchy Of a great Reformation Of the Conversion of the Jews and the like See Theophrastus Paracelsus Michael Sendivogius in his Treatise of Sulphur Stephanus Pannonius Of the circle of the Works and Iudgements of God where among other things he writs thus Yet it shall come to passe that the pure Gospel of God shall be preached to the Americans before the end of the world Again Nothing is more sure then that the Reformation of the East and South drawing on some famous Emperour whose types Constantine and Theodosius both entitled Great were shall openly shew himself and granting liberty of Religion to them who professe the name of the Holy Trinity shall do some great matter in the world for the glory of God for the building up of the Church and for the downfall of Antichrist In the same place The Eastern Christians fired with the zeal of Christ shall make their way into Asia it self and provoke the Jews to jealousie Rom. 11. And the spirituall Babylon shall be a pray unto all Nations In the same place A refining of the Souldiers of God whereof there is mention Zach. 13.8 that is temptations and tryalls shall go before this Reformation that the light of God may arise out of the Crosse of Christ This Treatise was published in the year 1608. Iohn Dobricius also in the year 1612. did set forth a notable book entitled {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} that is The Interpreter of times wherein both out of the Holy Scripture and from the new Star which appeared in the year * DC.IV. and the great Conjunction of the Planets many things are discoursed of concerning the reformation and future happinesse of the Church Peter du Moulin in his French Book intituled Du Combat Christien that is The Chrictian Conflict pag. 256. This persecution is a cruell tempest which cannot last awayes Either it will take us out of the world or God will take it away from us Pag. 353. Every one hath but a short journey whereby he must come to God and the time is at hand that we must commit our bodies to the earth our Souls to God and to the Church peace and the blessing of God For it shall come to passe even in our times that God shall be glorified in the great Congregations Yea even in those places where are horrible ruines the Word of God shall â—ound forth and God shall afford us matter of praise and thanksgiving Pag. 450. After that God shall have shewn us his deliverances on earth he will also shew us his riches in Heaven A CONFUTATION Of the Objections I. Object IS taken out of Matth. 24.14 If after the Gospel preached in all the world the end of all things shall come that happinesse of the Church in this world shall not happen out between the end thereof and the preaching of the Gospel For the Gospel is already preached through the whole earth I answer 1. The Consequence is to be denyed for although this happynesse do come between yet it hinders not but that the end of the world should come after the Gospel preached over the whole earth Secondly The pro-syllogisme is to be denyed because the Gospel is not already preached over the whole earth II. Object Is taken from Matth. 24.29 30. If presently after the destruction of Hierusalem Christ shall come to Judgement then this happinesse of the Church shall not be before his coming to Judgement Answ. The matter it self speaks and experience witnesseth that this word Immediately or Presently is not here properly or simply to be understood but hyperbolically and according to what went before namely in relation to the foregoing Prophesie concerning the overthrow of the Iews which they were to receive by the destruction of Hierusalem So that this is the meaning that between this desolation of Hierusalem and the coming of Christ the Iews should receive no other overthrow III. Object Is out of the same Chapter vers. 37 38 39. If a little before the coming of Christ to Judgement the State and condition of the world shall be such as it was in the time of Noâ—h before the Deluge and that such a state of things is to be seen at this day It may be hence gathered that such a condition of the Church as is here described shall not happen out before the coming of
years which cannot be understood of eternall life For the thousand years of Satans binding and of the kingdom of the Saints with Christ are the same as we have formerly proved XXI Object The War which Satan after his thousand appointed years being let loose hath made by Gog and Magog that is by the Turk * that Eastern Antichrist against the Camp of the Saints and the beloved City that is The Christian Church for 500 years and more with great successe even unto this day took it's beginning from the Holy Warre first raised by Gregory the 7 Pope of Rome by them who wore the Signe of the Crosse the end of which indeed shall not be before the last Judgement wherein the Beast with the false Prophet shall at length be cast into the Lake of fire And the Catastrophe or issue shall prove lamentable to all the enemies of the Church because the fire shall devour them Answ. This idle Glosse or Exposition may be confuted out of what I have said in the Analysis or unfolding of this Chapter and in answer to the 9 Objection This in brief The Beast with the false Prophet is thrown into the Lake of fire before those thousand years and those thousand yeers being finished the Warre of Gog begins Compare Revel. 19.20 with 20 7. Again Gog and Magog do not signifie the Turke But by this manner of speaking are figured out enemies of all kindes who by their incursions annoy or trouble the Church as before we have made it plain XXIII Object In every vision except the first the description of the last Judgement is set down in the Revelation more obscurely indeed in the former but in the latter more clearly because all the visions are terminated in the end of the world that the godly being injured may expect the day of their deliverance and occasion of security may quite be taken away from the mockers Wherefore it makes nothing which they say that Revel. 19.21 The peculiar destruction of Antichrist is described which shall not be in the last judgement but before those thousand years Answ. 1. The Antecedent is denyed For in the second Vision which ends with the 6. chapter a description of the last judgement is not set down but some particular judgement to be executed about that time which figures out the last judgement 2. The Text of Revel. 19. and the last manifestly argueth that that vision is not terminated with the last judgement 3. If however in every vision except the first a description of the last judgement were set down yet it would not be otherwise then by interruption or breaking of the present discourse and so no essentiall part of the matter in hand and consequently no way contradict or weaken this our opinion XXIV Object The 20 Chapter of the Revelation containeth a Vision which is the summe of all the foregoing visions and a succinct and brief iteration of the whole prophesie so often repeated which is divided into three parts In the first is the blessed state of the Church for a good space of time after the first coming of Christ which is expressed in the first Seal In the second are described the painfull labours and calamities wherewith the Church shall afterwards wrestle Of which in the third and fourth Seals and in the third fourth fifth and sixth Trumpets In the third is set down the joyfull deliverance thereof and the destruction of her adversaries with the end and Consummation of all as before in the sixth Seal and the seventh Trumpet and seventh Viall But especially in this Vision the punishment of the Devill himself is expressed when as in the former the destruction of his Ministers onely and his followers was set forth Hence therefore we may perceive that they are wide the whole Heaven as they say who out of this Chapter do erect I know not what happynesse of the Church which is yet to come here on earth for a thousand years Answ. This whole distribution or disposition of the Revelation and namely of the 20 Chapter which is here proposed is absurd and manifestly obscures the Revelation See what we have formerly discoursed up and down and namely the 1. Sect. Of the connexion of this 20 Chapter with the whole Systeme or entire body of the Revelation Briefly let this Maxime be observed The Divine Revelation from the departure of Iohn to the end of the world distinctly figureth out the State of the Church and the Ages thereof by Seâ—ls Trumpets Vialls and the following visions So that all these succeed one another in a most beautifull order and not one and the same thing is represented by divers visions For it doth not suite with that Majestique manner of teaching which the Holy Ghost observeth that in one and the same Prophesie he should propose so many visions of one and the same thing XXV Object No where in Scripture iâ— there any mention of these thousand years but in this place onely Therefore it is very likely That these thousand years signifie meerly a Great time so that a certain number is put for an uncertain Answ. 1. Here is no consequence It is but once mentioned in Scriptures Therefore it must not be taken litterally For also she Lxx. weeks of Daniel are but once mentioned and yet that number Lxx. is litterally expounded so that it is taken for a certain finite and determined number 2. This phrase {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} the thousand years is severall times repeated in this place Which repetition is not without some cause 3. From many testimonies of Scripture a a little before propounded and expounded from divers Arguments recited in the first Classis or distribution and compared with them places of Scripture it manifestly appears That the happy state of the Church for these thousand years is described in this Chapter XXVI Object The number of a thousand is the number of perfection Therefore these thousand years in this place do denote the fulnesse of time but are not to be taken literally Answ. 1. This is an Argument from a particular A thousand sometimes denotes perfection Therefore in this place 2. That the letter is here to be retained it is more then abundantly already proved XXVII Object The division of the Church into Militant and Triumphant opposeth this opinion of the future happinesse of the Church here on earth for a thousand years where by the Militant Church is understood that part thereof which in this life is subject to the Crosse and Persecution By the Triumphant iâ— meant the whole Church in as much as after this life it shall reign with Christ in Heaven Answ. 1. The Warfare of the Church is not to be restrained to the persecution to which now it is subject but it is to be extended to the Spirituall combate and wrestling which while it lives here it hath triall of from the lusts of the flesh Although therefore for these thousand years it shall have
Cerinthians or Chiliasâ—s But here de 1000 aâ—nis nihil corum narratur que Cerinâ—hus 〈…〉 Vbi enim luxus ille ubi cibus poius ubi nuptie 〈◊〉 sacrificia diâ—sfesti Hierusalem agen saith Trem. Besides Cerinthus affirmed Christ to be begotten at other men he denied God to be creator of the world he separated Christ and Iesus as two distinct persons Et que nescires melius * Christoph Angelus a Grecian whom I have been acquainted withall here in England some years agoe wrote a Book in Greek to prove that Mahomet was that Antichrist mentioned by S. Paul 2 Thes. 13. under the termes of the Man of siâ—ne and sonne of Perdition His book is entâ—tuâ—ed {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} c. I cannot blame the poor Greek for thinking so considering the horrid Tyranny and slavery his Countrymen live under being vassals to the Great Turke the admirer of Mahomet I rather wonder that there should be found among us learned men who are abâ—tters of this opinion when as the Apostle Paul teacheth us expressely that Antichrist shall sit in the Temple of God as God 2 Thes. 2.4 and Dominus DEUS noster Papa is a thing taken notice of in the world before yesterday The XXII Objection it appears is left out I know not by what chance if not by the Printers negligence * {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} v. Arislot Analys. Post lib. 1. cap. 16 M. Cotterius {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} He alludes to Glaucus changing his golden Armour with Diomedis for brasse Armoâ—r in 1. of the Rhapsody of Hoâ—â—s Ilias {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} {non-Roman} Besides the Antients Iustimâ—n useth it proverbically Pâ—oâ—m F. Concerning Elias comming Parvum sed magnae sedulitatis opus Alsâ—edius Sedalitas Dialog cum Tryphone Part of which Dialogue so farre south as it con câ—â—â—s the Millenary Reigne of Christ Mr. Mede hath boâ—h corrected and illustrated with notes in the 281 pag. c. of this woâ—k where hee hath also published the opinions of the Iewish Doctors concerning the kingdome of the Messias Every wheâ—e in the Prophets as when they say in that dayâ— and eâ—sewhere in the O.T. Aâ— aâ—so â—he N. as Mat. 6.11 Luk. 11.13 8 2 Pet. 3.18 The day of an Age whiâ—h wee rendeâ— for ever and evâ—r verse 13. Dan. 13.14 18.22.26.27 Dan. 7.21 vers 8. Dan. 11.34.35 Multi Ecclesiaricorum viroruÌ„ Martyrum ista diâ—erunt Hieron. in Hierem lib. 4. * Lactant. Institut l. 7. Lactantius expresseth this Prophecy in Virgils verses changing the order thus 38.39.40.41.28.29.30.42.43.44.45.21.22 Cerinthius and his followers the Millenaries were branded for Heretiques by reason of their carnall conceit of a meere temporall felicity That the earth during these 1000. yeareâ— should be not a paradise of spirituall delights but a stewes of all impure pleasures and a stage ef libertinisme not unlike the phantasticall heaven the Turkes dreame of This is also the fond fancy of the circumcised Iewes and our late rebaptized Heretiques * Hieron. de VV. M. numerosum antiquorum Paâ—â—â—m Catalogum in banc sententiâ—m recenset The first revolution of the fiery Trigon happened in Enco and in the then flourishing estate of the Church The third in Moses and the freedome from Egyptian slavery The fifth in CHRIST and the restoring of us to Gods â—avourby his Passion 〈…〉 SABBATISMI quâ—â—daâ—â—â—ccultaâ— rationeÌ„ obâ—inet praecaeteris peculiare magni momenti quid denunciat Tycho Brahe d. l. * Without doubt he meanes the 20 Chapter