hee was called faithfull and hee that iudgeth and fighteth righteously his face like a flame of fire and vpon his head many Crownes hee had a name written that none knew but himselfe hee was cloathed in a garment dipped in blood and his name was the word of God and the warriers in Heauen followed him vpon white hories these are the Preachers of the Gospell their pure white linnen is the righteousness of Christ out of his mouth wenâ— a sharpe sword that he might smite the Heathen for hee shall rule them with a rodde of Iron for hee it is that treadeth the wine-presse of the fiercenes of Gods wrath and hee hath a name written the King of Kings and Lord of Lords all these figuratiuespeeches haue beene sufficiently declared heeretofore And an Angell cryed to the fowles of Heauen these are the tenne Kings and their armies to gather themselues vnto the supper of the great God to eate the flesh of Kings Captaines and of mighty men and of horses and of them that sit on them and of free-men and of bond-men and of small and of great And the Pope and Kings and Warriours gathered themselues together to make Batraile against Christ that sate vppon the Horse and his Soldiours but the Pope the false Prophet that deceiued them that receiued his marke and worshipped him these were aliue cast into the Lake burning with fire and brimstone and the remnant were slaine with the sword that came out of Christs mouth and all the foules were filled with their flesh that is the tenne Kinges and their Captaines and Soldiours had a most rich and full booty of the destruction and sacking of Rome When Rome was destroyed Saint Iohn heard a great voyce of a great multitude in Heauen saying Halaluiah that is Praise the Lord saluation and glory and honour and power bee to the Lord our God for true and righteous are his iudgements for hee hath condemned the great Whore which did corrupt the earth with her fornication and hath auenged the blood of the Saints shed by her hand And againe they said Halaluiah and her smoke rose vp for euermore and the Elders and foure Beasts said Amen Halaluiah Then came a voyce out of the throne saying Praise our God all yee his seruants and a great voyce as of many waters and as thunder said Halaluiah for our Lord God Almighty hath reigned let vs bee glad and reioyce and giue glory to him for the marriage of Christ is come and his wife that is the faithful hath made herselfe ready This sheweth that the Gospel shall flourish more when Rome and the Popedome is destroyed then euer it did And to Christs wife was granted that shee should bee cloathed in pure fine and shining linnen that is in Christs righteousnesse and Saint Iohn was bid to write blessed are they that are called vnto the Lambs supper saying These words are true Saint Iohn was so rauished with the ioy of this vision that hee worshipped the Angell that shewed it but hee forbad him and bad him worship God saying I am but one of your brethren which haue the spirit of Prophesie which is the testimony of Iesus CHAP. 20. IN this Chapter is declared the history of Sathan the Authour of the first tenne persecutions but when as Constantine had ouercome those persecuting Idolaters Saint Iohn seeth in a Vision that God bound the Diuell for a thousand yeares that is from generall martyring and deceiuing of the elect and chosen Children of God Yet in this time Sathan brought in all popish blasphemies Superstitions and Idolatries and grieuously persecuted those that stood to the puritie of the word against Antichrist The Seates that Saint Iohn saw and them that sate vpon them was Christ and the faithfull and gaue Iudgement and condemned the idolatrous and superstitious Papists who these thousand yeares persecuted the faithfull And Saint Iohn saw the soules of them that were persecuted for the witnesse of IESVS and the word of GOD and did not worship the Pope nor had taken his marke on their fore-heads or on their hands and they liued and reigned with Christ To arise from popish errours sinnes and superstitions is the first resurrection on such the second death shall haue no power but they shall bee the priests of God and Christ and reigne with him for euer After the Diuell had bin bound a thousand yeares from the time of Constantine as an Angell in the first Verse had the key of the bottomlesse pit and bound Sathan then the Pope had the key of the bottomlesse pit to loose the Diuell as appeareth in the ninth Chapter and when hee was loose hee went out to deceiue the people in the foure quarters of the earth Gogge and Magogge that is the open and the secret enemies of the faithfull which are in the ninth Chapter shewed to bee the Locusts and their tayles that is the popish Cardinals Bishoppes Abbots Fryers and such like to gather them together to battell against the faithfull and the number of them was infinite as the sands of the Sea but as they compassed the beloued Citie that is the faithfull fire came downe from heauen and deuoured them that is the Lord in his wrath destroyed the popedome and the Diuell that deceiued them and the Pope the false prophet were cast into a Lake of fire and brimstone where they shall bee tormented day and night for euermore After all these things it is prophesied that Christ shall come vnto iudgement sitting vpon a great white throne from whose face fled away both the earth and the Sea and their place were no more found And Saint Iohn saw the dead both great and small before God the Bookes were opened and another Booke was opened which is the Booke of life and the dead were iudged of those things which were written in the Bookes this is a Vision according to our capacitie for Gods wisedome is his Booke whereby hee alwayes seeth all things that euer were are or shall bee and Death and Hell that is the Diuell the cause of them were cast into the Lake of fire which is the second death and so were all that were not found written in the Booke of life CHAP. 21. IN these two last Chapters is declared how flourishing the Church shall be after the destruction of the Popedome vnto the end of the world This is declared in the tenth Chapter and the second Verse In that Christ is said to set one foote vpon the sea and the other vpon the land that all Countries shall confesse Christ and hee shall haue of his elect in all places As Mahomet rose iust with Antichrist in the yeare 666. so no doubt but the example of the destruction of Rome and the Popedome shall make the Turkes Iewes and them of other Nations to become Christians This is declared likewise in the 19. Chapter Let vs be glad and reioyce for the destruction of Rome because then the Lambs wife shall be made ready and
by the name of Angels it sheweth that he vseth them the onely meanes to call the elect to grace and it teacheth Ministers to looke to God and his word onely for their Doctrine and hearers to receiue the word preached as of God and not of man CHAP. 4. 5. NOw this Vision concerning the present estate of the seauen Churches being ended S. Iohn is taken vp into Heauen in the spirit to receaue a Reuelation from Heauen touching the whole affaires of the Church vnto the end of the world but this was likewise directed to the seauen Churches and therefore here the spirit is said to be seuen spirits Christ is said to haue seuen hornes that is his power in euery Church As St. Paul when hee was taken vppe into the third Heauen could not vtter that which hee saw and heard there so no doubt it was with St. Iohn but this vision was shewed him for our intelligence The things in summe which hee saw was the inspeakeable glory of God and Christ all Angells and Saints praising God for their saluation and hee saw Gods anger against the damned by the voyces thunders lightenings and earthquakes which hee saw in the vision God seemes to him like a King sitting in Parliament in his chaire of estate with a Raine-bow compassing him to glorifie him his face like a Iasper stone and a Sardine But the glory of God is the truth of his promises which is signified by the Raine-bow which was giuen to certifie vs of the truth of his promise that hee would neuer drowne the World againe and the face of the Lord is his louing kindnesse vnto his children in Christ which is signified in these most beautifull stones the Sardine and the Iasper The 24. Elders are the bookes of the law and the Prophets the foure Beasts are the foure Gospells these set forth his glory and declare the truth of his promises more then the Raine-bow and the brightnesse of his loue vnto his Children more then the Iasper and Sardine stones The Elders are cloathed in white to shew the purity of their doctrine they haue Crownes to shew how powerfull they are to conuince sin and error these and the beasts are about the throne because none come to God but by them they sit as Iudges because at the ende of the world all shall bee iudged by them These comforted Saint Iohn when he wept so will they all of vs if wee seeke comfort of them and if any bee ignorant of any thing touching their saluation they will certifie vs thereof One of the foure Beasts had the face of a Man this seemeth to bee Saint Mathew because the beginning and face of his Gospell declareth the generation of the humanity of Christ from Dauid The Beast like the Eagle signifieth Saint Iohn because he mounts like an Eagle into Heauen speaking of the Diuinity of Christ the other two are Marke and Luke one like a Lyon because hee speakes more largely of the resurrection of Christ wherein he rose like a Lion from death and conquered sinne death and hell the other was like a Calfe because hee spake more largely of the offering of Christ vpon the Crosse which was prefigured by the sacrifice of Calues in the old Law Their sixe wings a peece sheweth the speedy flying of the Gospell about the world In that they are full of eyes it sheweth that by the new Testament wee may see Christ more plainely then by the old there we see but the types of him heere wee see Christ himselfe In that Saint Iohn saw thousand thousands of Angells it sheweth what an innumerable number there be the office of these bee to preserue the faithfull in this world what need we then to feare The Angell interprets the waters where the Whore sitteth Reu. 17.14 to bee people so this glassie Sea before the throne signifies the soules of the faithfull so it doth in the beginning of the 14. Chapter The faithfull of the old Testament are called Heb. 12. so great a Cloud of witnesses signifying that there was as many of them as droppes of raine in a great cloud so the soules in Heauen are called a Sea to signifie vnto vs that there bee such a number as droppes of water in a Sea according to Gods promise vnto Abraham that his seed that is the faithfull should be so many in number as the sands on the Sea shore or the starres in the Element In that it is a glassie Sea though heere afflictions may tosse our mindes as the windes the waues yet as no winde can stirre a glassie Sea so all sorrow is parted from them nothing can disturbe their mindes but they alwayes reioyce in the Lord. In that this Sea is of glasse an intire substance it sheweth how the soules in Heauen be vnited together in loue reioysing euery one at anothers saluation as at their owne In that the Sea is like Christall it sheweth how holy they are neuer offending their louing God but are all crowned with Crownes of righteousnesse In that the Angells and they did especially reioyce when Christ obtained to open the seales to shew vs this Reuelation it declareth how dearly they loue the elect vpon earth and how profitable this Reuelation is to vs. CHAP. 6. IN that one of the foure Beasts calleth Saint Iohn vnto the opening of euery seale to see what followes and his voyce was as thunder it sheweth that the way to come to Christ and to obtaine any thing at his hand is to hearken vnto the Gospell and that it is as forcible to the heart as thunder to the eares The white Horse signifieth the Apostles Preachers of the Gospell anone vpon the sending of the holy Ghost the Rider is Christ his bow whereby hee conquers the preaching of the Gospell his Crowne sheweth that the Gospell so preuailed that it got him a Kingdome In that the Apostles are called Horses it sheweth their swiftnesse in publishing the Gospell that white Horse Saint Paul what a number of Countries did he plant the Gospell in Ioseph of Arimathia and Philip brought the Gospell into England Saint Paul in the tenth to the Romanes affirmeth that then the sound of the Gospell had gone through all the earth and into the ends of the World The red Horse signifies the idolatrous Emperours of Rome which raised the tenne persecutions against the Christians the rider was the Diuell prouoking them thereto for he had permission of God to take peace from the earth and to kill with the sword and he had a great sword giuen him which sheweth that the Diuell doth nothing vnto Gods children but by Gods permission the causes why God will suffer the Diuell to persecute his children are best knowne vnto his wisdome Nero Domitius caused the first Persecution He regarded neither sexe condition or age the streets were spred with dead bodies of Christians he indeuored vtterly to abolish the name of Christians and his Successors followed his steppes for
is the second starre in the ninth Chapter which is Hildebrand which ioyned the supremacie vnto the Popedome that is temporall iurisdiction ouer the Emperour and the ten Kings to place them and displace them at his pleasure which is manifested in that hee is said to haue two hornes like the Lambe Christ that is to bee King of Kings and Lord of Lords as well as Ruler ouer soules Whereas his Predecessors had the Emperours power and iurisdiction but by permission and fauour hee and his Successors claymed the supremacie of duty giuen vnto them of God alleadging all those places of Scriptures which declareth what supremacie God hath giuen vnto Christ ouer all in heauen and earth for his proofes thereof and so made the image of the first Beast that is like as the first beast had the power of the Emperour but in fauour hee annexed the power and supremacie aboue all Emperours and Kings as an appertinent and duty vnto the Popedome for euer and he spake as presumptuously as the Dragon did execute his power in the Emperors sight that is as not hauing his power from him but from God This Beast did great signes so that hee made fire to descend vpon earth in the sight of men but these signes were done by Nigromancy wherefore after Pope Hildebrand was condēned by a general Councell and for coniuration and dealing with the Diuell many other grieuous offences hee was by the said Councell depriued from being Pope but his Successors vnto this day still maintaine the doctrine of his vsurped Supremacie ouer all Princes And this Beast made a law that whosoeuer would not worship the Image of the Beast should bee slaine The number of the beasts name is 666. this is to shew that at that time the first beast beganne to corrupt the Church with superstitions and false doctrines as is declared in Chap. 8. of the first Starre In that in the fift verse of this Chapter there is a mouth giuen vnto the beast to speak blasphemies 42. moneths which is interpreted Chap. 11. to be 1260. yeares so that iust this time was appointed vnto the People Emperour and Pope and it sheweth that they all this time ioyned together to tread downe the holy Citie the true Church all this while CHAP. 14. NOw Antichrist is reuealed in such liuely colours that none except the diuell blinde his eyes but may see the Pope to bee Antichrist now in this Chapter begins to be declared his destruction Christs standing vpon mount Sion signifieth his presence with his children the 144000. that were with him which were sealed in the 7. Chapter a certaine number for an innumerable number declaring that all the Saints who all this time of 1260. yeares were martyred or persecuted by Antichrist were with him in glory and none of them lost In that the sound of their voices was like the roaring of many waters and like thunder it declareth what a multitude of them there be In that they played vpon harps and sung a new song which none could learne but themselues their harping sheweth how ioyfully they praised God that none can sing such new songs and so much praise God as those which haue suffered for standing faithfully in the truth and haue beene deliuered In that they are commended for not being defiled with women it is not onely meant of their bodily chastity but also of their spirituall chastitie in that Antichrist had not made them commit spirituall fornication by following his idolatrous doctrines but they were virgins that did onely cleaue vnto their Spouse Christ and his word In their mouthes was found no guile they taught onely the truth they were without spot before the throne of God that is in the righteousnesse of Christ Now the 1260. yeares of Antichrist appeare plainely to bee finished in that the Gospell doth so plentifully flourish and in that wee see Christ vpon mount Sion that is defending his Church And here wee haue a promise that this shall be an euerlasting Gospell that is to indure vnto Christs comming as which so great a grace was neuer shewed vnto former ages therfore the Angell that brings vs these glad tidings exhorts vs to feare God giue glory vnto him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him that made heauen and earth and the fountaines of water Then is prophesied that Rome shall bee destroyed called by the name of great Babylon because as the Babylonians destroyed the materiall Temple so haue they of Rome the spirituall Temple the faithfull the cause of her destruction followeth Because shee hath made drunken all nations with the wine of the wrath of her fornications that is of her idolatrous and false doctrine Therefore there followes a warning that whosoeuer shall worship the Image of the Beast that is the Pope and receiue the print of his name that is make holinesse in crossing himselfe and in other superstitions hee shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God and bee tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe and the smoake of their torments shall ascend euermore and they shall haue no rest day nor night In that the destruction of Antichrist followeth the preaching of the Gospell it declareth that by it Antichrist shall bee destroyed and that the suppression of the preaching of the word was the cause of the growth of it and therefore it is that the diuell puts into the heads of Papists to keepe all people from the reading hearing and preaching of Gods word The voyce from heauen that bad Iohn write Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them ought to incourage vs to preach the Gospell to the beating downe of Antichrist though we suffer neuer so much for our labour After the fall of Antichrist by the preaching of the Gospell and that the Lord hath fulfilled the number of the elect then shall Christ come vpon a white cloud wearing a golden crowne in his hand a sickle and because the haruest of the earth is ripe heeshall thrust in his sickle and the earth shall be reaped that is by an allusion to husbandmen in haruest is declared how Christ shall gather his Saints to him into heauen And by the Angell that with a sharp sickle cut vp the vineyards of the earth because her grapes were ripe and cast them into the great winepresse of the wrath of God the winepresse was trodden without the Citie the bloud or wine of the grapes was vnto the horse bridles by the space of 1600. furlongs By an allusion to grape-gatherers is declared how Gods Angels shall cast the reprobate into eternall torments and in that the winepresse is without the Citie it sheweth that the place of the damned shall be separated from the Elect and in that there was such plenty of grapes that the wine or bloud of them was vp to the horses bridles that trode
approacheth to inlarge and decke with his graces his Spouse the Church which shall bee vpon the destruction of Rome that the number of the elect being fulfilled Christ may come to iudgement and exalt vs vnto his eternall glory And because the more neere the Diuell seeth his time of eternall torments to approach the more hee rageth against Gods Children therefore this flaming starre must certifie vs that euen now the Diuell by his priuie Counsellors the Iesuites is most busily plotting and practising the destruction of all Protestant Kings and Countries and it ought to prouoke vs to earnest prayer vnto our chiefe Captaine Iesus Christ to confound their enterprises and to destroy them in the same suare which they haue laid for others To the Prince of the Kings of the earth that loued vs and washed vs from our finnes and made vs Kings and Priests vnto God to him bee all honour glory and power now and for euermore Amen A REVELATION of the Reuelation CHAP. I. EVen as GOD so much loued faithfull Abraham that hee would not destroy Zodome vntill hee had foretold him thereof and likewise his chosen Children Israell that he would doe nothing but he would foretell them therof by his Prophets Likewise as Christ so loued his Disciples that hee foretould them his Sufferings Death Resurrection Ascension and the comming of the holy Ghost their troubles that they should suffer for his name the successe of the Gospell the destruction of Ierusalem the glory that they the faithful should haue with him in Heauen such immeasurable riches of his loue hath God shewed vnto his faithfull ones in these last ages in shewing vnto them what shall happen vnto his Church from the blessed Ascension of his Sonne Iesus Christ vntill his glorious comming to Iudgement And because he hath exalted Iesus Christ on his right hand and giuen all power vnto him in Heauen and earth and made him the onely saluation of all that are or shal be saued hee hath likewise giuen vnto him this Reuelation and because Angels be his ministring spirits for our saluation Christ hath sent it by an Angell and because the Lord will not vse the ministry of Angells immediatly for our instruction the Angell brought it to Iohn to conuey it to the seauen Churches of Asia and although it is directed of God onely to the seauen Churches of Asia it doth as properly belong to all Churches people of God as vnto them In that it is said to bee of things that shall shortly come to passe a thousand yeares with the Lord is but as one day with vs In that they are pronounced blessed that read heare and keepe the things of this Prophecie it should stirre vs vp neuer to be weary of knocking asking and seeking vntill the true vnderstanding here of be giuen vs and this as the onely meanes S. Iohn by his example commends vnto vs in that hee beginneth with Prayer to the Father Son and holy Ghost for grace and peace for them In that he calleth the holy Ghost which is one Spirit seauen Spirits it is in respect of the seauen folde operation therof in the 7. churches And hauing now seene Iesus Christ in heauen hee cannot passe by him by barely naming him but declareth what hee hath seene of knowne of him That he is a faithfull witnesse the first begotten of the dead Prince of the Kings of the earth that loued vs and washed vs from our sinnes with his bloud and made vs Kings Priests vnto God he commeth with clouds and euery eye shall see him yea they that pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wayle before him euen so Amen In that by persecutions hee was faine to leaue his Churches and to saue himselfe in a desolate place he might think that God had forsaken his faithfull Churches and him his faithfull seruant but wee know that all things work for the best for Gods children now euen now in this desolate place he seeth more comfort then euer he did and receiueth the greatest Reuelation that euer was and most beneficiall to the comfort and direction of the Church to the end of the world and fends this vnto his Churches farre passing the comfort of his presence In that the seauen golden Candlestickes which by Christ is interpreted the seauen Churches the gold thereof sheweth the puritie of their Religion without any drosse of humane traditions or Iewish ceremonies The office of a Candlesticke is to hold vp the candle that it may lighten all the place where it is whereby is noted vnto vs their care and loue of the Gospell and the conuersion of others vnto the same by holding vp and maintaining their Ministers to edifie themselues and to bee a light to them that be in darknesse And as Christ walked amongst these golden Candlesticks so wil he neuer be absent from such golden Candlestickes No man as he is flesh and blood can see Christ as he is therefore he appeares vnto S. Iohn by vision and so no doubt hee did vnto S. Stephen when he saw the heauens open and Christ sitting at the right hand of God Christs long garment golden girdle was after the manner of Kings and Priests declareth that he is the King of kings and Lord of lords and the onely Ruler of all things in heauen and earth and our onely high Priest In his haire he resembles auncient Senators which sheweth his wisedome and that he is the first and the last Alpha and Omega hee that was and that is and that is to come His flaming eyes sheweth that hee is the searcher of all reynes and hearts and that nothing is hid from his eyes with whō we haue to doe His brasen feet declare that hee shall stampe the diuell and all his instruments his and our enemies vnder his feet His loud voyce manifesteth that hee shall be heard vnto the end of the world how forcible his Gospel is to conuert the elect how it shall be able to awake to life all that are dead and to make the elect to meet him in the ayre and to follow him vnto glory and to cast the diuell and all the wicked into hell His two-edged Sword out of his mouth sheweth his wrath and indignation vnto the enemies of his Church and their destruction His shining face sheweth his louing fauour vnto his children and assureth them of his saluation In that the Ministers of the seauen Churches are called Stars they are shewed their office euer to bee inlightning those that are in darkenesse with the bright beames of the Gospell and to shew forth their loue vnto God and his children by their good workes that men may glorifie their Father in heauen In that he holds them in his hand whereas hee is said but to be in the middest of the Candlestickes it assureth vs if wee be such Starres he will haue a speciall care ouer vs he will hold vs in his hand and none shall be able to hurt
vs or take vs from him S. Iohn at the first sight did think him to be like Christ but lest hee should be deceiued Christ telleth him that He is he that was dead is aliue and bade him behold him and told him that he liued for euer and had the keyes of hell and of death In that Iohn is commanded to write these things it sheweth how necessary they are to be read of his Children and in that Christ interpreteth the hardest things to be vnderstood in these visions it certifieth vs that wee may attaine vnto the meaning of all the rest by earnest prayer CHAP. 2. 3. IN that Iesus Christ commands Iohn to write seauen Letters vnto the seauen Churches and indites euery Epistle with the words of his owne mouth wee are assured that hee is the only head of the Church and that his care and loue vnto the Church is no lesse then when hee was vpon earth and that hee seeth whatsoeuer is done whether it be good or bad Therefore let euery one of vs in his calling serue the Lord Iesus as walking alwayes before his face for such an high Priest it behooued vs to haue which is holy harmelesse vndefiled seperated from sinners and made higher then the heauens and which once hath offered himselfe a sufficient sacrifice for all the elect and is consecrated for euermore All Ministers must striue to serue Christ in those things which hee commends in the Ministers for they concerne all Ministers to the end of the world The Minister of Ephesus is commended for his workes his labour his patience his zeale that he cannot forbeare the euill but examines false Apostles findes them lyars and for suffring patiently for his name and not fainting for hating the workes of Seducers as the Nicholaitans Hee saith to the Angell of the Church of Smyrna I know thy workes and thy labour and pouerty but thou art rich He saith vnto the Angell of the Church of Pergamus I know thy workes and where thou dwellest euen where Sathans throne is and thou keepest my name and hast not denyed my faith when Antipas my faithfull Martyr was slaine amongst you He saith to the Angell of Thyatyra I know thy workes thy loue and seruice and faith patience and thy works are more at last then at the first If we follow these things vnto the end we shall ouercome then shall wee eat of the Tree of life in the midst of Paradice which is Christ wee shall eate the Manna that is hid which is the ioy of the holy Ghost and peace of conscience wee shall haue a white stone and a new name that wee are Christs written on it which none can read but them which haue it that is the Spirit shall assure vs that wee are Gods Children and none but our selues can know the assurance of our hope then shall we haue power to rule the Nations with a rod of Iron that is we shall ouercome the Diuell and sinne and his instruments and in the world to come breake them in pieces like a Potters vessell As Christ receiued the morning starre of his father so he will giue it vs that is the spirit of wisdome wee shall be clothed in white that is with his righteousnesse and not bee put out of the booke of life but Christ will confesse our names before his father and his Angells we shall be made pillars in the temple of God and goe out no more and wee shall haue the name of our God and the Citty of our God and Christs new name written vpon vs Christ will grant vs to sit in his throne as hee sits in his fathers throne In that the aduersaries vnto the truth vnto Gods Ministers are in the letter vnto the Smyrnians in that to Philadelphia called the synagogue of Sathan in the letter to Pergamus their dwelling is called the dwelling of Sathā the throne of Sathan and in the letter to Thiatyra their false doctrine is called the deepenesse of Sathan let all such know of whom they are and call to God for his grace in Christ that they may repent with Saint Paul and be translated from the power of Sathan into the Kingdome of Christ neither needs Gods Ministers and Children bee afraid of them their lies subtile practises or persecutions for he that is with vs is greater then he that is against vs. Likewise let all Gods Ministers and Children marke what things the Ministers are blamed for that they may be wary not to offend in the same Christ remembers the Angell of Ephesus that hee is fallen from the loue he had at the first belike because hee reaped vnthankfulnesse and ill will for his labour this must not discourage vs wee must looke for our reward of God and if wee had neuer so many afflictions they are not worthy of the great glory wee shall haue in Christ Christ threatneth him to come against him shortly and remoue his Candlesticke out of his place if he amend not and surely this want of loue was it that remoued all these Candlestickes out of their places and long time these places haue beene inhabited of Idolaters See what a many of commendable vertues euen of Christ himselfe the Minister of Ephesus had and lost the reward of them all by loosing his loue if hee did not amend Christ findes fault with the Angell of Pergamus for suffering the doctrine of Balaam and of the Nicholaitans to be maintained there and threatneth to come against him for it this must make vs wary not to suffer false doctrines to bee maintained The Angell of Thiatyra is found fault with for suffering Iesabel to intise Christs seruants to sinne we must take heed of such Christ findes fault with the Angell of Sardis that hee had a name that he liued but he was dead let vs therefore examine our selues well whether wee liue in the spirit or be dead in any sinne and let vs awake and repent else Christ will come vpon vs suddenly and destroy vs. Christ findes fault with the Angell of Laodicea because hee was neither hot nor colde and threatens to spue him out and in that he boasted of his riches and trusted in them saying that hee lacked nothing and telleth him that hee was poore and councelleth him to buy heauenly treasure and that hee was blinde and willeth him to buy the eye salue of the spirit that he might see the riches of Christ and therefore for the want of Christs righteousnesse imputed vnto him was naked and miserable Christ telleth him that as many as hee hath he rebuketh and chasteneth and telleth him that he stands at the dore and knocks that is at the heart and if any heare and open hee will come in and suppe with him and he shall suppe with Christ that is Christ will reioyce to saue him and hee will reioyce that he is saued of Christ In that Christ from heauen stileth the seauen Ministers and in them all other Minsters
their speed in persecuting they may well bee compared to Horses The blacke Horse are such as went about to darken the light of the Gospell and to maintaine the blacknesse of Idolatry the Diuell the Prince of darkenesse was their Rider because he prouoked them therevnto but he had no power to hurt the oyle and the wine that is those that had the oyle of the Spirit and the wine of Christs blood by a liuely faith The pale Horse seemeth to bee Dioclesian which moued the tenth Persecution hee is called Death because hee martyred so many Christians in all Countries at one time hee slew 6660. of his owne soldiers because they were Christians hee destroyed all the Christians in England no tongue can vtter the deaths and torments that this Tyrant vsed hanging them by one hand scourging them and broyling them not to death but euery day Eusebius saith hee saw the swordes of the Persecutors blunt with often slaughter themselues for wearinesse to sit downe and rest but the Martyrs nothing dismaid were patient for Christs sake so he did likewise in all Countries Then the soules of the faithfull that were slaine in these tenne Persecutions being vnder the altar which is Christ cryed to God as Abels blood did for vengeance and they had long white robes which is the righteousnesse of Christ and they were bid to rest vntill their fellow-seruants should be killed as they were that is vntill Antichrist should be more drunken with the bloud of Saints then the Emperours were But their cries moued the Lord to vengeance and hee destroyed these idolatrous persecutors by the hand of Constantine whom the Lord made a most Christian Emperour The Earthquake the blacknesse of the Sun and rednes of the Moon the falling of the Stars the vanishing of heauen the remouing of the mountaines and the feare of the great ones desiring the mountains and rockes to couer them from the wrath of God describeth the fearefulnes of Gods wrath executed vpon these persecuting Idolaters although these things shall not truly come to passe vntil the comming of Christ yet these words were vsed by Christ in prophesying the destruction of Ierusalem and in other places of Scripture when the execution of some great Iudgement is prophesied CHAP. 7. THe foure Angels that held the foure windes from blowing vpon the earth sea or any tree shewes the peace that God had giuen vnto the Church by Constantine how God by his Angels preserued them from persecutions signified by the windes The sealing of the 12000. of euery Tribe a certaine number for an innumerable number and a greater number of other Nations sheweth the flowrishing of the Gospell at that time This likewise is declared by the wonderful reioycing of the Angels and Saints in heauen ascribing vnto God praise honour glory wisdome and thankes What haue the Martyrs lost by these persecutions Though they suffered tribulations for a small time now they are in long white garments which signifieth Christs righteousnesse being in the presence of the throne of God and serue him day and night in his Temple and hee that sitteth on the throne will euer dwell with them and they shall haue no more hunger nor thirst nor be hurt but God will gouerne them and leade them to the liuely fountaines of waters and wipe away all teares from their eyes CHAP. 8. IN that this peace is said to continue but halfe an houre it shewes that it did not indure long for the Church beganne to waxe wanton with this great peace indeuored more to get large reuennues and riches of the world then to set forth the Gospell In their establishing Christianity in Rome to please the most superstitious and idolatrous Romanes they translated all their Heathen gods of Rome to bee their gods only by giuing them other names Pantheon which was the house of all gods is Maria rotunda the house of all Saints the place of Cibel mother of gods is now placed to Mary the mother of God the temple that was dedicated vnto Pallas and Minerua is now dedicated vnto Minerua a virgin and they inclined to many other pernicious and idolatrous superstitions both of the Iewes and Gentiles Therefore Christ is siguratiuely said to stand before the Altar with a golden Censor and much odors was giuen him to offer which was the prayers of Saints and the smoake of the odors which is the prayers of Saints went vp to God out of Christs hand and hee tooke the densor and filled it with coales from the Altar and cast it into the earth and there was voyces thunders lightnings and earthquakes all which signifieth Gods most heauy indignation against them And there was hayle sire mingled with bloud cast vpon the earth and burned the third part of Trees and greene grasse The earth signifieth the great men as the earth is higher then the sea and flouds these were first perswaded to superstition the haile signifieth their coldnes in true Religion the fire mingled with bloud their heat to maintaine superstitions euen to the shedding of the bloud of such as would not consent to their superstitions The great Mountaine that was cast into the sea burning with fire was the Emperour which by the perswasion of the superstitious cast himselfe from God and Christ and tooke their part to maintaine their superstitions and with a burning zeale persecuted the third part of common people which are signified by the sea As the Starres signified the Ministers of the seuen Churches so this great Star that fell from heauen is the Bishop of Rome by falling from heauen is meant from the Church This seemes to be about the yere 666. according to Chap. 13. His bitternesse called wormwood are his wicked Canons and Constitutions for in that yeare Vitillianus Pope sent into England and into other Countries to set vp Latine Seruice and Masses Ceremonies Letanies and other Romish ware This Star fell into and made bitter the fountains and springs these are the Clergy for they should minister to all men the water of life as riuers feede both sea and land so likewise in that he darkned the Sun Moone and Starres and the day this meaneth the Ministers likewise which ought to make shine the bright beames of the Gospell vnto great and small and make thēselues and others Children of the day the meaning is that the Bishop of Rome silenced the Bishops Preachers which were within his Iurisdiction from preaching the truth made them preach superstitions and bitter doctrine to the poysoning of their soules In that there is mention made in all these iudgements but of the third part of men it is because there was neuer but the third part of the world that would consent vnto the Supremasie superstitions and false doctrine of the Pope CHAP. 9. IN this Chapter is a Prophesie of another Star which S. Iohn saith was fallen from heauen because the Popedome was fallen before This seemes to be Hilaebrand the Pope which
of the destruction of Antichrist and such like and that whatsoeuer is written by his commandement we may be bold and ought to begge of Christ by prayer and by all meanes seeke for the vnderstanding thereof Saint Iohn his eating of the booke was his certaine vnderstanding of the things contained therein and the knowledge thereof was sweet to him at the first but when hee had well considered how the Diuell should haue such great power to persecure the Saints and to spill their blood in such aboundant manner the knowledge heerof was most bitter vnto him then St. Iohn is commanded of Christ to prophesie againe amongst the people Nations and Tongues and to many Kings according to which in the next Chapter Saint Iohn beginneth a new Reuelation of all things that hath beene reuealed touching Antichrist in a more large and ample manner then in this Reuelation already is declared CHAP. 11. IOseph telleth Pharoah Gen. 41 32. therefore the Dreame was doâ—bled vnto Pharoah the second time because the thing is established before God euen so because the Prophesies in this Reuelation are established and sure to be performed and to make them the more certainely and manifestly of vs to bee vnderstood beleeued all things that haue beene reuealed touching Antichrist are from this Chapter vnto the end of the Booke reuealed againe but farre more amply and plainely delared then in the former but in this is nothing prophisied but the things concerning Antichrist In the 8. Chapter Christ offereth the prayers of the faithfull to God and then filleth the Censor with coales of the Altar and threw them vpon the earth and there fell vpon the earth hayle and fire mingled with blood and it burnt the third part of Trees and greene grasse Wherein I shewed the great peace the Church enioyed by Constantine in which prosperity the Romish Church fell to superstitions and anger'd God wherefore hee gaue them ouer to their owne lustes vntill the Romane Church became the Synagogue of Sathan and Antichrist and they became as colde as hayle in true religion and as hot as fire euen to the shedding of blood to maintaine their superstitions In this Chapter they that trusted only vnto the blood of Christ by an allusion vnto the temple of Salomon are said to be the temple of God and Saint Iohn is commanded to measure them to God and the superstitious Romanes and those that tooke their parts are said to be the Courts because they make a shew of Religion but with superstitions prophane the truth therefore Saint Iohn is commanded to cast them out and not to mete them and these shall tread the holy Citty that is the Children of God vnder their feete 42. moneths this time is likewise set forth in this Chapter to bee 1260. dayes and also 3. dayes and a halfe these times are all one the three dayes and a halfe signifie three yeares and a halfe and in three yeares and a halfe there is iust 42. moneths and in so many moneths at 30. dayes to the Moneth which was the Iewes Computation there is 1260. dayes and it is common with the Holy ghost in Prophesies to set downe a day for a yeare so Antichrist must raigne 1260. yeares The two witnesses are the olde and new Testaments and all that preach and teach them all the time of Antichrist these shall bee two oliue trees spiritually to feede the soules of the Elect and to conuey the oyle of the holy Ghost into them and they shall be two lamps to lighten them in the wayes of saluation and they shall stand before the Pope the God of the earth and if any hurt the Preachers of them the Lord will send plagues from heauen vpon such In that they are said to be cloathed in Sackcloth it sheweth that the Professors of them shall be nothing regarded and shall haue all this time great cause to mourne for the little regard that the Gospell had and for the superstitions and sinnes of the people In the seauenth verse when they haue finished their testimony the Beast out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre against them and ouercome them and kill them this is after the loosing of Sathan Their corpes shall be dead and vnburied in Rome that is as a dead carcasse long vnburied is noysome to bee seene or smelt euen so noysome was the word of God and the preaching thereof vnto them all the time of their superstitions yet they could not bury their corpes all this while that is they could not quite pur downe the preaching of the word but the Lord still stirred vp some yea though they dyed for it to tell them of their idolatries superstitions murther sorcery fornication and theft It sheweth what great power the Diuel hath ouer the vnregenerate that hee can make them reioyce and bring gifts one to another for ioy that the preaching of the word is supprest and the bookes of the word it selfe as the Papists haue done these many ages reioycing that their meanes of Saluation is taken from them and that they are not hindred from going headlong vnto eternall damnation Rome is called spiritually Zodome because they exceed Zodome in the sinnes therof and it is called Egypt because they haue oppressed the Children of God more then the Egyptians did the Israelites and Christ was slaine in Rome in that Pilate a Romane Iudge condemned him and the Romane officers crucified him That after the 1260. yeares God sent the spirit into the two witnesses wee see the truth of this Prophesie performed and we see them stand vpon their feet and the feare of them is vpon the Pope and all his Clergie and God hath taken them vp into Heauen and exalted and preserued them in the sight of their enemies and the Popedome by them hath beene shaken as with a mighty Earthquake that the tenth part haue become Protestants long agoe and dayly his Kingdome hath decayed and the Protestants increased In that it is said that 7000. were killed with this earthquake and the rest glorified God it sheweth that when Rome shall bee destroyed all the Papists that then remaine shall become Protestants When the seauenth Angell shall blow his trumpet the Pope shall bee quite destroyed and the Kingdomes of the world shall bee our Lord Christs and hee shall raigne for euermore and all in Heauen shal reioyce and say We giue thee thanks Lord God Almighty for thou hast receiued thy great power and obtained thy Kingdome the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time that the dead shall bee iudged and that thou shouldest giue reward vnto thy Prophets and Saints and them that feare thy name and that thou shouldest destroy them that destroy the earth In that it is said then the temple of God was open and the Arke of the Couenant was seene and that there were lightenings and voyces thunder and great hayle it sheweth Gods anger against the disobedient to his word that then there shall
the presses for the space of 1600. furlongs it sheweth the multitude of the number of the damned CHAP. 15. IN this Chapter begins the manner of the destruction of Rome and the Popedome by the seauen last plagues which vision S. Iohn cals a great and meruailous signe The glassie sea in the 4. Chapter is interpreted the soules of the faithfull there it was like Christall but here like fire shewing that the soules of the faithfull burned in zeale for the martyrdomes and persecutions of Antichrist and when they saw these 7. plagues goe forth they reioyced especially the soules of those whom Antichrist had martyred and persecuted Their ioy is signified by their harps and they sung the new song of Moses when he was deliuered from Pharao and the song of Christ when hee was raysed from death that is Great meruailous are thy workes Lord God Almighty iust and true are thy wayes King of Saints who shall not feare thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou onely art holy and all nations shal come and worship before thee for thy iudgments are made manifest The Tabernacle in heauen that S. Iohn saw open is the Church of the faithfull which by preaching opens a doore for all by beliefe to enter into the kingdome of heauen In that the 7. Angels with the vials of Gods wrath came out of the Tabernacle to wit the Church it sheweth that they were sent at the prayers of the faithfull their long white roabes is the righteousnes of Christ their golden girdles signifie the gloriousnesse and purenesse of their loue to God and his children for loue is the band of perfection In that the Angels poure out the vials of Gods wrath it shewes that God vseth them as instruments to punish the wicked and though Antichrist is and shall be destroyed by men they are but the instrumentall cause of God and his Angels CHAP. 16. THe first second third plagues are that there fell a grieuous and noysome sore vpon them who had the mark of the Beast and worshipped the image of the Beast in that the sea and waters became bloud it signifieth that many of thē should be slaine These seeme to prophesie the victories that the Turks other the Popes enemies haue had against the Papists the slaughters they haue committed vpon them which was the iust iudgement of God as appeares ver 5. in that an Angell saith Lord thou art iust because thou hast iudged these things for they shed the bloud of the Saints of the Prophets therfore hast thou giuen them bloud to drinke for they are worthy And another Angell said Euen so Lord God Almighty true and righteous are thy iudgements The fourth plague poured vpon the Sunne seemes to bee vpon their clergy this was the ouerthrow of the Cardinals Bishops Abbots Monks Friers Nuns and all their houses and dens in England Scotland other reformed countries this plague tormented them with heate of fire and made them boyle in great heate and blaspheme the name of God yet they repented not to giue God glory The fist viall fell vpon the throne of the Pope this was the cutting off of his reuennues which were infinite out of all countries and England was the most profitable in reuennues vnto the Pope of all countries and therefore was called the Popes Asse for bearing all taxes impositions that the Popes Cardinals laid vpon it but now the Pope is faine to allow maintenance for vpholding of Popery in al countries this hath wonderfully darkned the brightnes of his glory and kingdome and this makes them gnaw their tongues for sorrow and to blaspheme the God of heauen for their paines and their sores and yet they repent not of their works The sixt plague is the drying vp of the waters of Euphrates that the way of the Kings of the East should be prepared this is an allusion to the destruction of the temporall Babilon the meaning is that as the Medes and Persians turned the Riuer Euphrates out of his course whereby they went ouer destroyed Babilon so the Lord will take away all impediments that the ten King domes that haue hitherto taken part with the Pope may destroy Rome the spirituall Babilon as the Angell interpreteth it in the next Chapter The three vncleane spirits that came out of the mouth of the Pope for now the Pope is the Dragon in that hee is aboue the Emperour and as mighty and full of venome and as ready to sting and poyson Gods children as any Dragon and he is the Beast in respect of his beastly conditions and the false witnesse in respect of all his false doctrines These vncleane spirits are the Iesuites for they are sworne at the Popes command to goe into any Countrey and spend their liues for the vpholding of the Popedome these are the rotten pillers which proppe vp the falling tower of Babell the Popedome they are called three in respect of the triple diuision of the Popes Dominions to wit into the land the sea Riuers They are compared to frogges to shew they doe as much hurt all Countries as the frogs did Egipt and they are as lothsome in the sight of God and men as frogs are in our sights as frogs turne all things that they eat to poyson so doe they all Scriptures to the poysoning of soules and their study is nothing but treasons poysonings and murders of protestant Kings Princes and Countries but according to this Prophesie at the time that God hath appointed their wicked practises shall open the eyes of all Kings to see the vildnes and horrible wickednes of Antichrist and bee prouoked against that great day of the Lord to congregate themselues in Arma Geddon which may be interpreted a house or temple falling meaning Rome and the Popedome being now ready to fall The seauenth Angell powreth out his viall into the ayre that is sets the ayre against Antichrist which is the breath of Gods Ministers and their preachings vexed and tormented him like thunders and lightenings and shooke the Popedome like the greatest earthquake that euer was and made the greatest part of the Popedome to fall and become Protestants which the Lord be praised for it wee see already to bee performed and their preaching was like vnto the greatest hayle that euer was euery haylestone as big and heauy as a talent weight by which figuratiue speeches is signified the vtter destruction of Rome as the Angell interpreteth it saying It is done and in that it is said The Citty of the Nations fell and great Babilon came in remembrance before God to giue her the cup of the fiercenesse of his wrath and that the Iles that is them of the Iles and the mountaines that is the great ones fled away that is departed from the Popes false doctrines CHAP. 17. IN this Chapter an Angell sheweth St. Iohn Rome in a vision and interpreteth all the hardest things to bee vnderstood in this Reuelation He calleth