little interruption made to Iohn to prepare him for it An Angel flying through the midst of heaven that is so as he might be best heard having a sad proclamation Wo wo wo repeated thrice according to the number of the Angels that were yet to sound that every one of them were to bring an harder and greater wo to the men of the earth than any thing that had befallen them under the former four and whether we take these woes as denouncing judgement or as lamenting over the earth for what was coming as if he did say Alace alace alace it turneth to one thing there were great woes coming It is clear here 1. That interruptions for Iohn's clearing are not inconsistent with this prophesie 2. That there is an order of time in the woes of the trumpets these three have order and follow the former four 3. That the next trumpet is not the Saracens neither do the former look mâ—inly to the Goths c. because it will appear in story that the Empire suffered more from the Goths and these other barbarous Nations than it did from the Saracens as they are distinguished from the Turks so in that way of interpretation there is not that remarkable and palpable gradation to be found which is implyed amongst these woes Some apply this to Gregorius because of his prediction foresaid and the words agree well to his time but this Angel foretelleth three woes and he did but foretell one at most It is like therefore that no person is signified by this Angel in particular but the Lord by it giveth Iohn and by him others warning that there were sadder things coming after the first four had come Hence Observe 1. The nature of Truth and Error the one is like light the other like darknesse the one comfortable and profitable the other comfortlesse and hurtfull Obs. 2. The nature of declining among Ministers and Professours in a Church is such that when once begun it groweth Obs. 3. The nature of judgements when once inflicted they ordinarily pursue a person or people and the greatest come last when people abuse the light it draweth on the darkening of it by degrees and it resteth not till it come to a height Unthankfulnesse for the Gospel and not receiving the Truth in love provoke God to give up to strong delusion to believe lies 2 Thes. 2.11 12. Obs. 4. Gods way of dealing with His people in giving warning before the judgement come that these three great plagues come not on them unawares He warneth that folks may repent and His own may be armed ere judgement come 5. The Angel pronounceth a wo thrise Observe That spirituall judgements or offences have many woes in them and warnings against them would be doubled and tripled and cryed with a loud voice for when once such judgements sease upon people they get not easily out from under them and are not easily affected with them Therefore is the wo proclaimed thrise and so loud LECTURE I. CHAP. IX Vers. 1. ANd the fifth Angel sounded and I saw a Star fall from heaven unto the earth and to him was given the key of the bottomless-pit 2. And he opened the bottomlesse pit and there arose a smoke out of the pit as the smoke of a great furnace and the Sun and the Air were darkened by reason of the smoke of the pit 3. And there came out of the smoke locusts upon the earth and unto them was given power as the scorpions of the earth have power 4. And it was commanded them that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth neither any green thing neither any tree but only those men which have not the seal of God in their foreheads 5. And to them it was given that they should not kill them but that they should be tormented five months and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh a man 6. And in those dayes shall men seek death and shall not find it and shall desire to die and death shall flee from them 7. And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battell and on their heads were as it were crowns like gold and their faces were as the faces of men 8. And they had hair as the hair of women and their teeth were as the teeth of lions 9. And they had breastplates as it were breastplates of iron and the sound of their wings was as the sound of chariots of many horses running to battell 10. And they had tails like unto scorpions and there were stings in their tails and their power was to hurt men five moneths 11. And they had a king over them which is the angel of the bottomlesse pit whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon but in the Greek tongue hath his name Apollyon THe fifth Angel soundeth here where the first of the greatest woes is brought in of what dreadfull nature it is the woes that are prefaced to the sounding of it may declare It will concern the opening of all to consider of what wo this judgement speaketh particularly and to what it relateth It is more largely described than any of the former because the tentation of it was most dangerous and the effects thereof of more concernment to the Church 1. The object of this judgement is the same Church or Christian world whereupon the effects of the former trumpets did fall for these last three do signifie greater degrees of wrath upon these who had despised and abused the former lesser woes 2. The Christian world is obscured by the trumpets and the Antichristian brought in its place as was said at the entry to the trumpets for the Antichristian world is in being after the sixth trumpet when the vials begin it must therefore have attained that being under the trumpets and especially under the immediate foregoing trumpets seing the seventh fiâ—deth it at its height and so consequently the Christian world i.e. the pure Church must be decaying under these trumpets where the Antichristian cometh to its being seing two of these worlds cannot consist together yea the Church must be lowest and decline most under these trumpets wherein Antichrist groweth most and cometh to the greatest height as under these first two great woes it must be Whence we may gather 1. That the Church is here the object of this plague 2. That Antichrist must grow under these trumpets and particularly under this it being a further step of the same kind of plague and the sixth finding Idolatry under Antichrist at a height which it plagueth it must then grow here 3. This first great 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 bringeth spirituall plagues and tyranny upon this world by this King and his Armies who advance that Idolatry The sixth bringeth temporall judgements on the same persons for whoring from God and receiving this idolatrous worship For further clearing of this we say 1. It is not any temporall judgement by Armies such as the sixth trumpet holdeth
warn all her followers by that prediction but to withdraw them from that erroneous way under all highest pains certifying them that Popery will bring Gods everlasting curse on them and that it standeth them on no lesse than the necessity of Salvation to quite it by which Angel separation from Him is pressed as it is Chap. 18. come out of her when the same threatening is mentioned so every one of these Preachers and preachings inferreth the other well and agreeth to the Lords way of making His Truth to break up in the event 1. Luther began to preach against some errors as humane traditions and to open the Doctrine of Justification by Faith alone in opposition to Indulgences Purgatory c. at first without thinking that Rome was Babylon or that there was a necessity of separating from it but the Gospel could not long be in the world but that must be clear like the light Then 2. he grew in light and boldnesse and others joyned with him as Melancthon Iustus Ionas c. and they came directly to speak of Rome as of Babylon and of the Pope as of Antichrist and thereupon applied these and such like plain passages foretelling their ruine as of the speciall treacherous enemies of Jesus Christ who had so long deluded the world and abused the Church Followeth upon that the third Angels preaching who cometh in with the necessity of abstaining from His worship and fellowship under pain of damnation and the more the Pope fumed and persecuted the more they preached and cleared that strange truth in the world that Popery was of it self damnable and that though God had a Church latent amongst them in the time of darknesse yet now he would not have it so and this Doctrine was much urged against the Pseudo-nicodemites to have the sinfulnesse of the Popish way born in upon souls not only that it was not good or so good as the other but that it was deadly and of a slaying and mortiferous power and therefore the Godly could not communicate with them in it without sin This was the Reformers third work See Sleid. lib. 1. 2. Calvin opuscul especially class 3. per totam Luther his work ascendeth by these steps 1. In his Theses given out Anno 1517. against Indulgences and thereafter in their defence against Sylvester Eccius Pererius and others he sheweth these things profit not to life but Repentance and Faith resting only on Christs merits and the mercy of God alone seing no Saints merits are perfect Anno 1519. Caralastadius beginneth a dispute against the Pope at Lypsick whither Eccius came and provoked Luther to dispute by maintaining the Popes absolute supremacy which Luther impugned Melancthon also was with Luther at this dispute but after in an Epistle to Leo 10. he excused it some way yet Anno 1520. he by a Book de captivitate Babylonica publickly asserted and proved Rome to be Babylon and the Pope Antichrist Sleid. lib. 2. pag. 23. Thereafter Anno 1521. when Zuinglius had begun to preach boldly the year before at Tigurine in Helvetia Luther with the whole College of Wittenberge burnt the Books of his adversaries as they had done his before appealing from the Pope to a Councel earnestly exhorting to abstain communion with the Church of Rome which thereafter he hath both in his Sermons and Writings confirmed This was more fully afterward joyntly prosecuted by Melancthon Calvine Martyr and Bucer See Calv. contra Pseudonicodemitas So we take the scope of this Chapter generally to set forth 1. Antichrists fall and the certainty of it 2. The means by which it should be effectuated to wit preaching and action by preaching withdrawing many from him by judgement overthrowing the rest which judgements are more particularly described by the vials 3. By what degrees or in what order it should be carried on by these means 1. Preachings and threatenings go before judgements And 2. in preaching the Truth of the Gospel is first preached and then judgements more peremptorily denounced ut supra 1. against the head then against the followers Now to come more particularly to this third Angel he cometh shortly on the back of the former with a loud voice which intimateth much deadnesse amongst the people that would not awake 2. Much zeal boldnesse and freenesse in him that preached making out this Truth plainly that he was commissionated with It is in generall a commination yet set down conditionally that it may be a warning to make men flee that sin that they may escape that judgement and because the Key of Doctrine in threatenings and promises is not absolutely to be applied by Ministers the conditions whereupon it goeth being indiscernable to them and so it differeth from the use-making of the Key of Discipline whereby absolutely we admit to or reject from Ordinances because the rule of it is conversant about externall scandals and profession which are discernable In short as if he would say follow not Popery longer for if ye so do ye shall not escape the heavy judgement of Gods everlasting wrath and it will be the greater that ye have gotten warning In particular it containeth a description of a Papist or one of Antichrists followers which is the object of this threatening vers 9. 2. It describeth their judgement vers 10 11. The description hath two parts 1. They are described by worshipping Antichrist which pointeth at some inward impression 2. By reserving his mark which supponeth some outward expression of their respect to him 1. He saith If any worship the beast and his image because none shall be missed if it were but one that continueth By beast and image we are not to understand two distinct things as we shew Chap. 13. for here they have the same common worship and their worshippers are of equal extent and their judgement is the same and vers 11. when it is repeated they are both spoken of as one his mark and his name and not theirs but by beast is more especially holden forth the Pope as the head of that antichristian estate and as it were the Author and by Image is holden forth the complex body of the hierarchy doctrine and superstitions which he hath framed called his because he composed it and made it called an image because of its likenesse to the old Roman heathenish worship and tyrannie over the Church The worshipping of these implieth as was said Chap. 13. more than a civil devotednesse to that Pope as head especially in his doctrine and worship The second part of the description of receiving his mark in the forehead and hand was expounded Chap. 13. and implieth not only mens acknowledging the Pope but their yeelding and submitting to him and giving up themselves as Souldiers or Servants to that antichristian state adhering to that profession and by publick evidences owning it without as well as cleaving to it in affection within It is called here the mark of his name which was before called the
Pallace and the first-born shall be gathered together By Called here are understood 1. those who are effectually so for they are blessed and glorified Rom. 8.30 Yea 2. called even outwardly Now they of the Jews that shall be called to the Supper are more happy than those who were called at the first to the Dinner for God shall make them generally more obedient and the iron sinew shall be taken out of their neck and the vail from off their eyes and they shall generally yeeld to this Call and flow like doves to their windows to this Gospel therefore are they blessed and happy Thus these who are called by this happinesse are not only opposed to these who are not called at all or only to such who are called and not chosen Matth. 20. But this second Call of the Jews is opposed thus to the first Mat. 22. which is in a word that the Jews after their re-ingrafting shall be generally more blessed by being made to yeeld to the call of the Gospel than those who did live under the first offer thereof So the things prophetically confirmed are two 1. That there is a second calling of the Jews or feast of Christs Marriage to come beside what was at first at the Dinner a new offer to be made to the Jews before the end of the world and a new and most beautifull lustre to be put upon the Church 2. That they shall be blessed and happy beyond the former Jews that shall be called to this as is said This truth is confirmed two wayes 1. by a speciall command to write Write saith he as Chap. 14.13 importing a singular excellency in the thing 2. A great certainty in it that it may be recorded ad futuram râ—i memoriam as Paul signifieth in expressing that of the Jews calling Rom. 11. 3. A difficulty in believing or receiving the truth so pressed And a second way he confirmeth this is These are the true sayings of God it is from the Author of them and His nature and the nature of all His sayings they are saith he not Mens nor Angels words for there might be a lie in both these but they are Gods all whose words are Truth He Himself being Truth He Himself being God who cannot lie and yet as in these sayings concerning the happinesse of these called there is as it were a singular eminency of His faithfulnesse so in speciall these are His true sayings and will take effect The 10. ver is notable by expressing the infirmity of an eminent Saint and the Angels rejecting of that worship intended to him by Iohn with severall reasons as if purposly he would rectifie men in that point of will-will-worship in giving that religious adoration to creatures though most excellent which alone is due to God Iohn's infirmity is set down in these words And I fell at his feet to worship him Worship implyeth three things 1. An act in the judgement taking up an excellency in the object worshipped 2. An act of the will yeelding it conformly to that apprehended excellency 3. An externall act of the body This may be common to all sorts of worship Further we may consider a twofold adoration or worship mentioned in Scripture that is allowable one is Religious and is a speciall duty due to God and commanded in the first Table of the Law the other is Civil which is due to creatures and commanded in the second Table Again this second sort is twofold the first is that which proceedeth from a reverencing of men for their stations or relations whatever their qualifications be as Magistrats Ministers Parents great Men c. The second is a reverentiall worshipping of men for their qualifications of wisdom and holinesse so we respect good men though they be not great as Act. 2.47 Such living Saints get and in a greater measure Angels may have when they appear such was that which Abraham and Lot gave to the Angels Gen. 18. and 19. supposing them to be men All these are lawfull There is also an idolatrous and sinfull worship and that is when what is due to the Creator is given to any creature and that either more grosly to Idols Images c. called worshipping of devils or more subtil to Saints as that of Cornelius to Peter Act. 10. and that to Paul and Barnabas Act. 14. and is also of diverse sorts This here is not of the first two sorts for it is not condemnable to worship God nor to give holy Men and Angels due reverence But it is this third sort an unlawfull worship as appeareth by the Angels rejecting it with so much zeal and earnestnesse these two wayes expressed 1. By a vehement prohibition See thou do it not there is no more in the Originall but See no an abrupt cutted expression such as is used when men hasten to prevent something they abhor and would fain prevent 2. It is expressed by the pressing arguments he useth which are two 1. This is not my due to be so worshipped I am saith the Angel thy fellow-servant not thy Lord and the fellow-servant of thy brethren that have the testimony of Iesus and are imployed in his Ministery we have but one Ministery 1. The Angels to the Prophets then the Prophets to the Church Therefore are Ministers called Angels and Angels Ministers The second argument is taken from Gods prerogative to whom only such worship is due Wâ—rship God saith he I am not God and that is alone due to Him therefore give it not to me but to Him allowing by the one argument no such worship to creatures and by the other appropriating it all to God He confirmeth in the close his arguments especially the first thus For the testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie which may be thus understood the Spirit of Prophesie and revealing of these things is not mine but it is Jesus Christs hence it may be called the testimony of Iesus as belonging peculiarly to Him therefore worship is not due to me who am but a servant with thee Or to the same purpose reading the words as they lye I am thy fellow-servant for the testimony of Jesus or the ministery of the Gospel called so for its bearing witness to Christ in which respect Ministers are often called Witnesses See Chap. 22.8 is the Spirit of prophesie that is is also His gift and way of revealing secrets and edifying of others as this more immediat message which I bear is they are of the same nature and kind of service and therefore from these who are imployed in one of them religious worship is not due to the other they being fellow-servants For more clear opening the doctrine contained in the words it may be asked 1. If Iohn sinned 2. What sort of sin 3. How he being such an eminent servant of Christ and in the midst of such revelations fell into it First That he sinned we suppose is clear 1. in that he never fell to worship an Angel before
threatned by the sixth Trumpet the reasons why it is applied to the Turks with an answer to some objections made against this 448 to 454 The overthrow of the Turks prophesied of under the sixth Vial with answers to some objections on the contrary 620 That there is an indefinit time understood by these fourty and two months Chap. 11.2 is cleared and some exceptions considered 479 480 Why the same time is changed from dayes to moneths and from moneths to years 482 V THe preparation to the prophesie of the seven Vials where the judgment is set forth in its rise the instruments are described their furniture and concomitants with the execution of the judgment is set down 605 606 Some general considerations premitted for understanding of the Vials 607 608 The object plagued by these Vials and the effect following thereupon 608 609 The pouring-forth of the first Vial with the effects thereof ibid. The second Vial with its object to wit the sea and what is signified thereby and the effects thereof 610 611 The third Vial with its object to wit the rivers and fountains and what we are to unstand by these with the effects thereof and the congratulations that followed thereupon 611 612 Why these congratulations are marked at the pouring-forth of the third Vial ibid. The pouring-forth of the fourth Vial the object thereof to wit the Sun and what we are to understand by it together with the effects of the same 613 614 The fifth Vial poured-forth with its object and effects 614 615 Some helps for understanding the sixth Vial the object upon which it is poured-forth and the effect which follow 615 616 Whether the last Vial bringeth judgment on the Beast alone or the last plagues on the world including the last judgment what is the object thereof and the effects which follow 625 626 The event of the sixth Vial more fully explained Chap. 19. and that this doth belong to the sixth Vial cleared 688 689 What is meant by that he that is unjust let him be unjust still 766 W OF the Waldenses and what the Popish writers charged them with 501 502 503 What is meant by the Waters being turned into bloud 424 Some things observed concerning the Whore where it is cleared that by the Whore Rome is understood 628 629 The judgment of the Whore and some of her properties also what the name Whore doth import 630 631 What is understood by winds in scripture 379 What is particularly to be understood by these Winds mentioned Chap. 7. 380 The object and the instruments of these judgements signified by the four Winds 381 382 The consolation which the Lord giveth to strengthen and guard His people against that storm and judgement held forth by these four Winds the instrument of this consolation the place whence he cometh the manner of executing his office the matter of his cry the objects about which he taketh care together with the effects of the execution of his commission 385 386 This consolation against these winds set forth more particularly in severall circumstances 392 393 Why Christ is called the faithfull Witnesse 5 What the two Witnesses denote where of their work number and the power that is given them 481 482 The prophesie of the two witnesses groundlesly applied by Papists to Enoch and Elias and no lesse absurdly by Grotius to two Bishops in Ierusalem ibid. Who these two Witnesses were whom the Lord acknowledgeth for His Prophets or how they could be so accounted of having one common call with Antichrists followers 483 Why the two Witnesses are not only called the two Olives but the two Candlesticks also 484 Where Christ hath a politick body of a Church there He hath still Witnesses in it ibid. Of the killing of the two Witnesses by whom it is done and how the beast is said to make war against them now 485 486 How the Witnesses testimony is said to be finished when Ministers testifying is a continuall work and how the beast can be said to prevail more against the witnesses at the beginning of his fall than in the time of his reign 485 486 The place described where the witnesses are to be slain with the properties thereof which are to be understood mystically the satisfaction that men had at the death of these witnesses and the continuance thereof 487 488 The resurrection of the witnesses and what is signified thereby with the circumstances thereof and the glorious condition of the Church which followed thereupon set forth by severall concomitants that waited upon this resurrection 491 492 493 If the killing of the Witnesses be past or if these 1260. dayes of the Gentiles treading underfoot the outter Court and the Prophets prophesying in sackcloth be expired and if so how this prophesie is fulfilled where some objections moved against the affirmative are considered and the time for the beginning and end of these dayes is more particularly fixed 494 495 496 497 That there were ever some Witnesses and a Church keeped pure from Antichrists abominations untill the time of Reformation and that about the time when it began the witnesses were very few and in a low condition proven 498 499 Some application of the witnesses being killed and of their resurrection afterward to the time when it was done 500 501 How Christs head and hair are said to be like wool 38 Some generall observations for clearing that vision of the womans appearing in heaven c. 519 520 What we are to understand by the Dragons watching the woman and the childe and who this woman and the childe were 520 521 The woman described and the event of her war with the Dragon 521 522 What is to be understood by the womans fleeing into the wildernesse 523 The woman that sitteth upon the beast described more generally and more particularly 633 634 657 658 Why the devil seeketh to engage Women and put them upon the top of sinful designs 162 Christs commendation of the whole Word of God in generall and particularly of this Book together with a severe commination incase of making any addition to it or taking any thing away from it 779 780 781 Worthinesse how many wayes considered 184 185 How to apprehend of God in the Trinity of Persons rightly when we worship him with some rules to direct us therein 9 God the only object of divine worship 11 In what respect Christ as Mediator is the object of worship and in what not 12 13 And how prayers may be formed expresly to Him 14 15 16 What may encourage us to make use of Him in our worship 17 18 19 The several sorts of idolatrous Worship and the way how to try it 455 Worship doth imply three things and the kinds of lawfull worship mentioned in the Scriptures 695 Whether Iohn sinned in Worshipping the Angel what kind of sin it was how he fell into it with the judgment of some Popish Doctors about this matter 695 696 Of the Popish Worshipping of Angels and Saints and what is to be thought of that mid worship between civil and religious invented by them 697 698 That none are to Write without a clear call thereto and what is sufficient what nor to clear a mans call to Write 61 62 63 Y VVHether by the thousand years of the Saints reign we are to understand a definit or indefinit time 722 Whether these â—ears be wholly past or wholly to come or now current with the diversity of opinions in this matter 723 What is to be determined concerning the beginning and close of these 1000. years ibid. If the beginning of these 1000. years be to be reckoned from the beginning of the vials or is it to be restricted to the seventh vial 725 The beginning of the thousand years falleth to be about the year 1560. where some objections to the contrary are answered 727 Z ZEal often lesse against error than scandalous practices 156 157 FINIS Chap. 1. Chap. 2 and 3. Chap. 4. and 5. Chap. 6. Chap. 7. Chap. 8. Chap. 9. Chap. 10.11 Chap. 12. Chap. 13. Chap. 14. Chap. 15. Chap. 16. Chap. 17. Chap. 18. Chap. 19. Chap. 20. Chap. 21. and 22. Grotius Hammond
under them Obs. 5. That the filling up of this roll or the ending the sufferings of Gods people here on earth and the coming of the great day of Judgement come together Or The finall Judgement of the World shall immediately follow the fulfilling of the sufferings of the Martyrs The reason given of the suspension here is that their fellow-servants who were to be killed must be fulfilled and the term that is set for the answering of their prayer to wit untill their fellow-servants c. doth confirm this For there is no delay put to Judgement then and there is no more to interveen the Martyrs perfecting and this vengeance on the persecuters These two are also joyned Mat. 24.29 The ending of the affliction of Gods people and the coming of Judgement Immediately saith the Lord after the tribulation of these dayes shall the sun be darkened c. There is therefore no temporall peace or millenary Kingdom altogether free of suffering to be expected before that time which is the day of redemption from these sufferings LECTURE VIII Vers. 12. And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal and to there was a great earthquake and the Sun became black as sackcloth of hair and the Moon became as bloud 13. And the Stars of heaven fell unto the earth even as a sig-tree casteth her untimely figs when she is shaken of a mighty wind 14. And the heaven departed as a screwl when it is rolled together and every mountain and island were moved out of their places 15. And the Kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the chief captains and the mighty men and every bondman and every freeman hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains 16. And said to the mountains and rocks Fall on us and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb 17. For the great day of his wrath is come and who shall be able to stand WE proceed now to the opening of the sixth seal which holdeth forth some most terrible and dreadfull dispensation and that both in respect of the type and the word of explication or effects mentioned for opening of the type The type is set down vers 12. in three expressions 1. There was a great earthquake 2. The Sun became black as sackcloth of hair 3. The Moon became as bloud The effects which serve for explication of the former follow and are of two sorts 1. Upon the reasonlesse creature in three instances 1. The Stars fall from heaven vers 13. 2. Upon the heavens they depart c. vers 14. initio The third is upon the earth the mountains which are most stable in the continent the Islands which are most remote in the sea both are moved out of their place Ibid. The second sort of effects are upon reasonable men of all sorts Kings great men rich men Captains mighty men bond men and free men Great terrour is upon all these which is two wayes evidenced 1. In what they did they hid themselves in the dens c. vers 15. 2. In what they said unto the mountains and rocks fall on us and hide us c. vers 16 Lastly the rise of all this terrour and these dreadfull effects is more plainly expressed to wit the wrath of the Lamb for the great day of His warth is come verse 17. In sum the words point out this terrible dispensation 1. That it is universall in respect of all creatures neither Sea nor Land Heaven nor Earth nor men of any quality or condition are free but all are sharers of the effects of it 2. It holdeth forth terrour on all these in a most high and eminent measure and degree as the effects do clear 3. It pointeth at the speciall cause which hath influence on all these effects to wit the wrath of the Lamb that is of the Mediator because the day of his wrath is come c. Which we conceive especially to be added for these reasons First To hold forth the speciall procuring cause of this judgement which is not so much sins done against God the Creator in the breaking of the Law as against the grace of the Mediator offered in the Gospel therefore is the wrath of the Lamb especially mentioned as if he were in an eminent way avenging Himself against these who had vilified and contemptously despised His Gospel and the professors of it Secondly To shew some convincing appearing of Christ in this terrible change so as it should be seen to be He by on-lookers and that this acknowledgement should be extorted by that manifest appearance even from these against whom He pleadeth this controversie Thirdly it sheweth the scope of all the former terrible effects that are mentioned in the type to be the Lords executing judgement on the great men and others of the world who put no price upon Him but persecuted His servants and that so convincingly as He might be seen in the pursuing of that His quarell against them Fourthly It sheweth Though Christs forebearance be long yet hath He a time of reckoning and cometh terribly when He cometh and so this seal wherein it is said the great day of the Lambs wrath is come c. is to be looked upon in part as the answer of the Saints prayer How long O Lord c. in the former seal there they long for His coming to Judgement here it is marked that that day of His wrath is come That some dreadfull event is foretold here is most manifest The difficulty is how to apply it in particular For understanding whereof we premit these Considerations or Assertions 1. It is usuall to the Prophets to expresse great judgements even such as are in temporall things by such expressions as the overturning of Heaven and Earth c. It is also usuall to Iohn to make use of the expressions which are used by them particularly we will find the same expressions in the Prophets that are here made use of in the threatning and foretelling of temporall judgements as that in the type of the earthquake the Suns darkening and the Moons being turned into bloud may be gathered from Ier. 4.23 24.28 Ioel 2.10 The earth shall quake before them the heaven shall tremble the Sun and the Moon shall be dark and the Stars shall withdraw their shining Hag. 2.21 22. I will shake the Heavens and the Earth saith the Lord which in plain terms followeth I will overthrow the throne of Kingdoms and will destroy the strength of the Kingdoms of the heathens In a word it is to foretell a remarkable ruine upon the enemies of His Church Adde Isai. 13.9 10. Behold the day of the Lord cometh with fierce anger and wrath c. For the Stars of heaven shall not give their light and the Sun shall be darkned and the Moon shall not cause her light to shine So also Ezek. 32.7 I will cover the Sun with a
cloud and the Moon shall not give her light c. In all which places the Prophets after their manner are aggreging temporall judgements by such expressions Again the first sort of effects of the Stars falling from their place of the mountains and islands their moving are upon the matter the same with Isa. 34.1 The Lord maketh the earth empty and turneth it upside down c. with vers 3. and 4. with Ierem. 4.24 Psal. 18.7 Habak 3.6 c. The other sort of effects are the same â— e. expressions of terror used Isa. 2.19 They shall go into the holes of the rocks and into the caves of the earth c. The other part of those effects we will find Hos. 10.8 They shall say to the mountains cover us and to the hills fall on us c. which words are by our Lord Luk. 23.30 applied to set out the terriblnesse of Gods judgement upon the Iews which was to come a little after at the destruction of Ierusalem From which places put together it will appear not inconsistent with this description and expressions thereof to apply this event to some temporall judgement For confirming whereof further we may 2. Consider that this event cannot be understood principally and primarily of the day of Judgement but must be understood of something going before that It is true the compleating of vengeance to speak so will be then at its height and by proportion we may gather from the terrible expressions used to hold forth Gods wrath in a temporall judgement the unconceivable dreadfulnesse of the last Day which will be exceedingly beyond the most terrible temporall event Yet we conceive the scope of this place is not to hold forth that day but some particular judgement wherein Gods wrath against the enemies of Christs Kingdom is in a singular and extraordinary way manifested For 1. The seventh seal is yet to be opened which containeth events in time posterior to the sixth as was shewen Lect. 1. on this Chapter 2. No mention hath hitherto been made of Antichrist either of his rise reign or ruine and it will not be consistent with that immediate dependence which each of the former seals hath one upon another to say that this sixth seal leapeth from the Heathenish persecution over many hundreds of years and all the interveening events till the day of Judgement 3. The matter contained in it is only terror against Christs enemies who are enemies to Him as Mediator which cannot be said of the day of Judgement which is as comfortable to His friends as terrible to His enemies and all sorts of wicked men It agreeth therefore better to some particular judgement than to that generall appearances 4. If this were the day of Judgement principally longed-for by the Saints in the former seal Then there needed not have been so many Arguments to presse quietnesse during the suspension of that suit if it were so instantly and immediately fulfilled 5. It is not like that the day of Judgement should be prophecied of and described before any temporall judgement on enemies be heard of especially seing they are spoken of in this same prophesie But concerning this see more in the first and seventh Lectures on this Chapter 3. We say This event prophecied of here cannot be understood as containing sad things to the Church but on the enemies and persecuters thereof which is clear 1. by the former consideration compared with the persons on whom this judgement falleth it is on Kings Captains and great Men of the earth Now during the Heathenish persecution under the former seals unto which this immediately succeedeth there were no such persons in the Church as these 2. This is confirmed by the terror accompanying this judgement which maketh them in their practice flee from Christ and in their words cry out against it as being to be reckoned with against their wills and as apprehending certainly wrath to themselves from His appearing as in the parallel places Hos. 10.8 Luke 23.30 is evident All which agreeth not with the Saints frame of Spirit especially under affliction who are crying How long O Lord as under the former seal and are described by this that they love Christs appearing and are joyfull of it as of the day of their Redemption 3. Persecution on the Church could breed no such terror on the Kings of the earth as is here prophecied of 4. We say this type cannot hold forth defection in Church-men as if that were typified by Stars falling from Heaven darkening of the Sun c. For darkening of light or defection of Church-men could not breed such terror on the Kings and great Men of the earth as is here they are not usually much troubled with these things and yet it is clear that this terror floweth as an effect from this sad judgement typified and expressed by these former expressions And therefore by the same reason this seal is not to be divided as if by the first part thereof were holden out defection in the Church and by the last judgement upon enemies seing this last part doth clearly hold forth the effects of the former and doth more fully explicate the same thing 5. We do also assert that here cannot be understood any trouble brought upon persecuters by Heathens nor any trouble brought upon the Empire while Emperours and Rulers were Christians by these who were Heathens such as that of the Goths and these inundâ—tions of barbarous Nations which after the four hundred year brake in upon the Empire For 1. the series of time will not agree to that this seal followeth immediately the Churches sufferings by Heathen Emperours and therefore it is not like the great mutation on the Empire when it became Christian should be omitted 2. This judgement speaketh out especially the wrath of Christ and that so palpably as His hand is in a more singular way acknowledged in it than the prevailing of Heathens against Heathens would readily produce This conviction as would seem of Christs being acknowledged in it flowing mainly from the instruments imployed and owned by Him in the execution of it and this terror that falleth on them is not that terror as it seaseth on all the wicked in the generall judgement such as was mentioned Chap. 1.7 nor that which affecteth men simply by the dread of Gods greatnesse as He is in Himself but it is two wayes qualified 1. It is the terror of Him that sitteth on the Throne that is of God as He ruleth in His Church in which respect He is holden forth Chap. 4. v. 5. and so distinguished from the Mediator so now by this judgement on enemies for persecuting His Church He maketh them know that He ruleth and hath a Throne particularly in Iacob to the ends of the earth as the Saints Prayer is Psal. 59.13 2. It is the wrath of the Lamb appearing as Mediator and befriending His Church which the more surpriseth them that formerly they despised both now they find them both
about it but with preparation and order which things are certainly mentioned for imitation that these who pray for grace to do Gods will on earth as it is done in heaven may take this as a patern especially such as are instrusted to be Heraulds and do sound His trumpets 1. They are set apart and designed for this office so should Ministers they should look well they be designed for this office and have their calling clear as these seven Angels were separated from others to this work 2. Trumpets are given them that is they are furnished with gifts whomsoever He designeth for an office in His house He furnisheth them and giveth trumpets to all whom He calleth to sound 3. When they have gotten trumpets they will not blow while He command to sound it is not gifts that warrant men to Preach but they must have particular orders when to do it The Word must be taken from his mouth when where and how He shall order it 4. They are prepared advised and warrie in going about the work when they are called to sound Gods giving of gifts and orders to exercise them is not enough except men prepare themselves for the work and be advised and warry in going about it as Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 1.6 Stir up the gift that is in thee c. 5. They are diligent and faithfull in their execution when they have gotten orders and are prepared although the message be heavy faithfulnesse and diligence is a good property of a Minister of Christ 6. They keep an orderly way of proceeding in discharging their duty every one in their station and not in a confused way so it becometh Ministers and Ministers being resembled to Angels and their giving of warning to the sounding of the trumpet Their office and duty may be thus pointed at here Lastly Sounding of a trumpet implieth distinctnesse 1 Cor. 14. and statelinesse and power in the manner of carrying their commission giving alarm convinceingly and plainly which notably agreeth to Ministers Followeth from the 7. vers and forward their sounding where there is in every trumpet 1. The sounding 2. The effect or consequent of the sounding and that is the judgement that followed 3. The object of the judgement the earth And 4. the extent fruit and effects of the judgement To understand more particularly this prophesie of the trumpets which is an hard place and needeth Gods speciall direction in it which we humbly desire we premit these considerations or observations which may in some things fix us in the opening of it 1. For its beginning rise and close it is cleared before to rise after the breaking of that little peace the Church enjoyed under Constantine and to close at Antichrists begun fall when he is brought to a height and the vials begin to be poured out 2. It is not only contemporary with but hath respect unto the prophesie of the beasts ' Chap. 13. and Chap. 11. vers 7. as also the rise and close of that prophesie of the beasts ' will fall under the same times and marches whereby it appeareth considering also Chap. 7.1 c. and what was said there they do most directly belong to the Church and that in Spirituall trials 3. Consider that the fifth trumpet looketh clearly to Antichrist and his discovery openly as appeareth by comparing vers 4. Chap. 9. with vers 8. Chap. 13. The same persons and by the same mark are keeped from the spirituall hurt of both as also that the sixth trumpet bringeth the Mahometans upon the back of that the Turks being raised as a scourge for the Idolatry of the former which are the first two great woes and the first four are lesser in comparison of these Now this discovery of Antichrist will be about the six hundred year or a little after the first four then must preceed that time and continue the state of the Church from the three hundred or thereby where the seal is closed till that time 4. Consider that the main drift is to discover that defection of the visible Church in declining by steps from purity in Doctrine and simplicity in Worship which endeth in Antichrists height and also consider it as it is penall every step of their sin and defection being in Gods righteous judgement penall including in it some Spirituall plague and carrying alongst with it or on the back of it some temporall judgement on the world and exercise or triall on the Godly especially under Antichrist 5. Consider that it doth not so much point at particulars either of things or persons as to shew the generall state of the Church in these successive times by whatsomever instruments or events of all sorts having influence on her declining and especially as they make way for Antichrists growth by weakening the Church or shaking the Empire which being the main scope is more clearly insisted on in the 11. Chap. and in the vision Chap. 12 13 and 14. therefore may they in part be of a mixed nature as they stand in reference to this scope 6. It is observable That as in all the other changes of periods so in this the overturning of the visible Church is compared to the overturning of the world and plaguing the Earth Sea Rivers Sun Moon c. There are three worlds mentioned which successively are defaced by the three principall prophesies of this Book 1. The heathen world it is overturned together Chap. 6. and under the sixth seal 2. To it succeedeth the Christian world when Religion hath liberty and the countenance of the Romane Authority this is defaced successively under the trumpets by that worlds declining to be Antichristian and by his getting Authority and Power on his side and bringing the Church witnesses and Saints low This Popish or Antichristian world is destroyed under the vials in the the same expressions of Sea Earth c. All which states of the Church in the Empire are compared to different worlds and their overturning or defacing to the changing of the world while it is only the Church or Religion in the world which suffereth change 7. If we will look to the trumpets as the effects follow them and to the vials and their effects There is a great suitablnesse between them in all The first trumpet is on the Earth and so is the first vial poured out on it the second on the Sea the third on the Rivers in both so the fourth on the Sun The fifth trumpet bringeth out Antichrist as on his throne the fifth vial is poured out on the seat or throne of the beast the sixth trumpet louseth the four Angels at Euphrates the vial drieth up that River whereby it appeareth that God destroyeth Antichrist in that same method he grew and cleareth His Church as she was in severall steps darkned obscured and troubled that as Antichrist brought in a new counterfeit Church or World by degrees overturning what was before So shall he be destroyed And therefore as the
them which is the shot of all is set down Generally miracles are divided in true and false 1. True are such as exceed naturall or second causes which were proofs of our Lords Deity and sometimes by the power of God are mediately exercised by men 2. False miracles are not only such things as are meer juglings such as possibly were by the Magicians in Egypt but such as though they have some wonderment in them to men who know not the causes which produce these effects yet are really brought about by second means such are spoken of by Christ Matth. 25. and such the Apostle faith shall make Antichrist famous He shall come in the power and after the working of Satan with signs and lying wonders 2 Thess. 2. â— Of this last sort are the Popes miracles and it suiteth well with Antichrist to be stored with miracles of this nature such as the papacy aboundeth with and glorieth in and therefore none needeth to stumble to hear them mentioned The particular pitched on is He maketh fire come down from Heaven It is not needfull to stick to the letter here the scope is clear it is to shew he shall do great signs for confirming his doctrine and power even as Elias did who twice made fire come down from heaven 1 King 18.38 2 King 1.10 So as it were he shall not be behind him That miracle of fire coming down is instanced to shew they shall be great Beside history maketh it clear that often firy visions have been made use of by the Popes for gaining their point as when Stephanus is going to seek help from Pipinus against Astuâ—phus King of the Lombards Anno 751. firy balls are seen reeling and falling in amongst them which he interpretteth as holding forth their ruine and Anno 776. two firy target appear against the Saxons when they are to fight against Charles the great at Herburgh Zâ—charias the Pope in his march against Ravenna hath igneas acies going before him Cent. 9.301 c. Or it may be applied to the firy threatnings and curses by which they thundered and terrified men and a counterfeit assuming of Christs Power and Authority as the two witnesses were really furnished therewith Chap. 11. The scope and effect is he deceiveth the world by these miracles in a word he deludeth them to think him indeed more than ordinary which 2 Thess. 2. is called to believe lies and by these he confirmeth his doctrines and mandats and maketh them passe is uncontroverted and indeed all the Popish miracles tend to confirm invocation of Saints or Angels Transubstantiation Purgatory or some such thing as witnesseth Baronius his frequent mentioning of miracles for this end to confute Hereticks c. and further in the Centuries cap. de miraculis c. This agreeth well to Antichrist in the doctrine and to the Pope in the fact and under miracles and signs would be understood all these stupendious things spoken of amongst the Papists either as done by the Pope himself or by some of his vassals under him yet so as the authorizing of such things dependeth only on him We come to that wherein he deludeth or deceiveth the world which he by his miracles aimeth at its saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make an image to the beast which had the wound by a sword and did live Concerning this image take these advertisements 1. That it is no dead Image but an Empire that can speak and can cause such as would not worship it be killed 2. It is no different power from the two beasts formerly described but the same under a distinct consideration of its rising or of its appearing This Image is the Pope under a civil notion in which respect he is the Image of the former Empire and the effect of his lamb-like appearance in which respect he is the efficient of this effect for this Image of the beast getteth the common worship of all the world with the former in all repetitions afterward Chap. 15.2 and 16.2 and Chap. 14.9 it is alway one the character of the beast and his Image the victory over the beast and his Image are one the judgement on the worshippers of both is the same which can be true of no other but the Antichrist 3. The reason why it is called here the Image is to hold forth the way and steps how the Pope came to an height in temporall things by some resemblance to the old Empire It is not every way the same with the former under this head yet very like Therefore in some respect it is its Image rather than it self and that though both in its power and in its pretext he saith one thing as if he were setting up Peters throne yet really he is doing another to wit making an Image to the old Heathenish superstitious way of worship that was under the former heads Therefore it is said he deceived the world that is that he made them never acquaint with his design or intention of his work which was to erect former Idolatry in worship and tyrannie in his own person but as if he minded the honour of Christ Peter Saints c. and the furtherance of Religion he brought the world to be instrumentall in bringing about this design which when it was accomplished is the Image of the Heathenish Empire for extent of dominion manner of worship cruelty against the Saints c. And therefore when he is brought in v. 14. saying that they should make an image to the beast this is to be understood as the language of the design in it self and not of his expression as is frequent in Scripture In a word by Image is understood the papacies temporall power which is indeed imperiall-like and therefore so expressed by the former type So then in this 14. vers there is 1. the design to make an Image to the beast which was wounded This is called an Image because it was in a great part like it therefore represented as one Monarchy with it yet not every way the same therefore set out by another type also as is said 2. His manner of proceeding in this design is 1. in engageing the men of the world for he could not without them effectuate it 2. The way he engageth them it is saying or perswading which is not to be meaned of expresse saying so but his miracles had such a language with them as to encline and perswade the deluded world to be well content to further such a thing 3. The successe is hinted at in the last words and it did live so it will read revixit or vixit not as if he were describing a present living patern according to which that Image was to be drawn but either he speaketh of the beast as it lived before it received the wound which did then live or as it may be read it was wounded and it did live to wit after his pains taken on the world to heal it
number to shew that the number is something making his followers discernable as well as the mark The judgement threatened followeth vers 10. and 11. which is to be looked on not only as he threatened them with hell for that was common to such at all times but from the aggravations of it it is clear he threateneth them with more than an ordinary torment in hell yea more than these that lived in darknesse before this light shined unto them The judgement is generally set out in two similitudes then aggravated by some circumstances The same shall c. that is every one or any one that sinneth follower or master The first similitude is He shall drink of the wine of the Wrath of God powred out in the cup of his indignation c. This similitude is opposed to their sin vers 8. Antichrist hath a sinfull cup and they will drink it God hath a cup of wrath or wine of wrath not for refreshing but that it maketh madd drunken and loathsome Psal. 75.8 Isa. 51. ult Ier. 25.15 27. And this wine of His wrath is powred out to shew the aboundance of it not in the cup of mercy no but of His indignation and when the wine is wrath and the cup indignation O what a drink will that be especially the wrath of an omnipotent just Godâ— Psal 76.7 Psal. 90.11 every word setteth out its terriblenesse The second similitude is They shall be tormented with fire and brimstone whether there be materiall fire in hell or not we need not dispute it is here to expresse the exquisitest and greatest torment that can be imagined from what is used amongst men possibly alluding to the destruction of Sodom which God destroyed by fire Certainly that torment must hold out a great torment yet there are four aggravations added 1. This wrath is unmixed vers 10. pure wrath O how terrible when little sparks of wrath here mixed with many mercies are so sore what will it be when there will not be a drop of cold water gotten to quench burning wrath Luk. 16. The second aggravation is vers 10. in the end that is before the Lamb and His Angels which implyeth 1. They shall be tormented before Christ as if he took delight in it whom now they despise He will be master then and shall see them and not help them but their torment shall be as it were a satisfaction to Him and a trophee of His victory See Luk. 19.27 The Mediators vengeance is sore Isa. 61.2 2. That there will be in them by this a sense both of their losse and of the sin that hath procured it to be a gnawing worm within them they shall not get leave to forget any of these this presence before Him being more in respect of their conscience and sense than of nearnesse of place which is not understood here The third aggravation is from the eternity of their torment it hath no end but that fire burneth alway for their eternall torment is but satispassio to them and never satisfactio to God for the smoke thereof ascendeth for ever and ever vers 11. It was Spira's word he would eare little for hell if it were for no longer than 20000. years but when 20000. times 20000. years are expired it is but beginning 4. It is aggreged from its want of intermissions pains here are sometimes lesse and more but there there is no rest night nor day it is there alway at the height of torment as the effect of Gods wrath In which ye have a lively description of hell It must needs be a fearfull thing to fall in the hands of the living God If any ask how that rigide executing of justice upon the damned in hell may stand with the mercies of God which are said to be over all His works in a generall sense at least Answ. That may be said notwithstanding of this in these two respects 1. Because that wrath which is inflicted upon the damned is not adequate to the Power of God for He is able to punish them yet more terribly even when their torment is at the highest 2. Because even then they deserve more and it would be no imputation to Justice if they were more intently plagued for although their sins as they are acts in them be finit yet being considered with respect to the object God against whom they are committed they are infinit ills and therefore deserve infinit punishments and so in severity of Justice might be reached beyond what they are this expression in its scope here doth hold forth hell to be insufferable to all but that there is a further and greater measure of wrath to be powred out upon these who are guilty of the sin of Popery continued-in after the bringing of the Gospel to light Whence we may Observe 1. What a horrible and dreadfull thing hell and lying under the wrath of God for ever therein is that is so described here It must be a fearfull thing to be for ever there Many will curse their own unbelief of this when the cup of the indignation of God filled with His wrath shall be put in their hands to drink thereof for ever 2. This sin of Popery and worshipping of the beast must be most abominable which hath this wrath threatened against it it must be a desperate Religion that hath this condition for the expectation thereof Let none think it a light sin which the Lord so peremptorily threatneth it is no little mercy that we are fred therefrom and there is need to be thankfull for the light we have and to improve it well while we have it 3. Abused light hasteneth and heightneth wrath hell now becometh both more hott and more inevitable than before this light did break forth The despising of the Gospel will make hell exceeding insufferable even beyond that of the despising of the Law as Heb. 10.28 c. 4. Mark the connexion of these two cups there is a cup of sin which she maketh others to drink of it s called the wine of the wrath of her fornication because in Gods justice men were plagued by being given up to that error whereupon followeth vers 10. a cup of the wrath of God and that without mixture Sin may be sweet for a time but it draweth on bitternesse without mixture the cup that followeth it will better shew the nature thereof Concerning the difficulty of Salvation under Popery THere is one thing asserted here as also in the preceeding Chapter which possibly may need clearing to some not acquainted with the nature and mysteries of Popery and that is that the salvation of Papists according to their principles seemeth hereby to be made impossible it may be therefore worthy the enquiring into whether or upon what grounds that may be made out and if that be understood of and extended unto all within that Church or whether and how difference may be made amongst these that bear that name What may be said of some and how
wit that this way is involved with many fundamentall inconsistencies with the Truth and way of the Gospel and so cannot be a possible way of attaining Salvation for it maketh men to count many sins not to be sins and so never to repent of them the sins that it discovereth it leadeth them not to the right satisfaction which only can be accepted for them to wit Christs Righteousnesse but to their own inherent holinesse and good works yea even this they corrupt and what they account saving Grace as Faith Repentance Humility and such like are nothing lesse than such indeed before God If it be again further asked what then are we to esteem of such as lived under Popery if all of them be excluded from the obtaining of salvation We answer with a fourfold distinction 1. We would distinguish these who might live under Popery and yet be keeped from the infection thereof and no way belong to that body from the native members thereof of such we have spoken Chap. 11. and 12. to such the Lord speaketh Chap. 18. Come out of Babylon my people such were rather captives under her tyrannie than subjects of her Kingdom of these there is no question but as the Lord sealed them for Him self Chap. 7. so did He alwayes singularly own them and accept of them 2. We may distinguish Papists in these that are antichristian worshippers and others who are superstitious and in some things are erroneous We call them antichristian who receive the beasts mark and number and give him worship in more than an humane manner ascribing to him a certain divinity infallibility universall supremacy and such like antichristian attributes and who 2. receive his doctrine in the complex contrivance thereof which is his number and 3. who joyn in his worship wherein it is antichristian as praying to Saints worshipping of Images adoration of the Masse and such like These in the former assertion we have excluded Again we call them superstitious Papists who might not altogether have keeped a distance from that Church in every thing but many wayes have been tainted with their superstitions yet so as to be keeped from an antichristian conjunction with that society or union therewith in things that are plainly antichristian but might be testifying against such by some sincere zeal and pure light Thus 1. we suppose that many did give some reverence to the Popes who yet did utterly abhor their grosse usurpations and blasphemies his assuming to himself what was proper to God and Jesus Christ and detest the base flatteries of others that ascribed these to him as to be supream head of all and that both in Civil and Ecclesiasticall things to be infallible to be countable to none to authorize traditions and such like and might only give him some reverence either from humane policie and Ecclesiastick constitutions such as was given to Archbishops Patriarchs c. or they might esteem him though erroneously and ignorantly to be a Church-officer for medling with things incumbent to Church-officers to meddle in without any opinion of his illimited or absolute power even as men might err in accounting Bishops Archbishops Patriarchs c. of divine Authority although they might disclaim antichristian tyrannous usurpation and practices in them and seek only to have that power subservient to edification 2. Further in fundamentall doctrines they may be pure although not altogether without errors even as were many of the Fathers 3. In worship they might joyn many superstitious rites as Crosses Altars Bowings c. yet abstain from worshiping of Saints and Idols and from accounting the Masse a propitiatory sacrifice although they might joyn in the Eucharist and such like Of such sort were Gersom Bernard and some others in the midst of Popish darknesse who were not altogether free of these superstitions yet still did check the Popish pride and usurpation and bound their authority and preserved the doctrine of remission of sins through faith in Christs Righteousnesse pure and pressed holinesse in some spirituall manner even in the midst of many superstitions that abounded and whereof they were not altogether free We suppose these last are no wayes to be classed with the former but might have had accesse to Gods mercy through Christ Jesus Because 1. although they had errors yet were they not such as were inconsistent with sincerity and the nature of the administration of Grace And 2. because they keeped the way of attaining pardon through Christ Jesus clear which being followed by them in their practice as no doubt it was by many might through Gods gracious dealing with them make them acceptable before Him so that their failings being of infirmity and not of malice might not be imputed to them but they accepted as penitents being sincerely affected with what they conceived to dishonour God although they did not discern every thing that was sin against Him Dist. 3. We would distinguish Papists living so and dying so from such as though living so might yet by Gods Grace have repentance conferred upon them at their death This hath been found by experience that many who have been tenacious of the doctrines and superstitions of Popery in their life have been yet at their death brought to abhor them and to betake them to the Righteousnesse of Christ alone for their Justification These where that Repentance and Faith were true as no question often it was are no wayes to be excluded or accounted worshippers of the beast 4. Distinguish times some thing might through Gods Grace be more dispensed with in these times of more universall darknesse than afterward in the breaking out of light and in Gods erecting a Standart for His Truth in the earth and bringing forth a visible Church-state for His People to joyn in which formerly was not hence communion in Church-fellowship with the Church of Rome is much more dangerous now than formerly which will appear upon these considerations 1. Because the Lord doth more peremptorily now threaten her and her followers and addeth more severe certifications to the same as we may see in this place now this is proclaimed If any man worship the beast c. the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God And again Chap. 18.4 2. Their stay now is more unexcusable because the Lord hath opened a door of freedom and they refuse it even as the peoples stay in Babylon while the captivity lasted was not imputed to them yet staying after the proclaimed liberty was detested and having with it ingratitude against their Redeemer and despising of their Redemption offered and a willing submission to that bondage contrary to the warnings and advertisements given them and Gods call to abandon the same 3. After this also things in the doctrine and worship of the Church of Rome became more deadly for Babylon refused to be cured and in the Lords righteous judgement it came to passe that their doctrines became more corrupt that thereby He might punish
is fully happy freed from all miserie and enjoying fully unchangeably and eternally what may make them compleatly happy even God Himself Matth. 5.8 Or the words contain a great end men naturally aim at to wit Blessednesse and 2. the compendious clear way of attaining it by dying in Christ implying 1. a being in Him 2 Corinth 5.17 which is to be a Believer by Faith united to Him 2. to live in Him this is presupposed also for death followeth life Gal. 2.24 that is an exercising of Faith not only for attaining spirituall life but for the fruits and acts of it also living like one in Christ and by vertue of that life bringing forth fruits Iob. 15.4 3. To die then in Him is the adding to these faith exercising itself on Christ in reference to death when it cometh chearfully willingly boldly and confidently in the Faith of Gods promise committing it self to Him 2 Tim. 1.12 as Stephen Acts 7. and carrying with it the sense of its own naughtinesse even to death notwithstanding whereof it resteth it self over upon His gracious promise and like David 2 Sam. 23.5 dieth there contentedly These are blessed This in generall of dying in Him If it be applyed to such in particular who suffering for Him keep faith in Him to the end it will suit with the scope as if he said these that suffer for Christ rightly by persecution under Antichrist and thus to die for Him is to die in Him shall be blessed as if he had suffered under Heathens although the world think there is a great difference The third is the qualification added with its confirmation yea saith the Spirit from henceforth c. which doth not imply that these who die in Christ are from the time of their death blessed as freed from that fancied Purgatory and all labours which certainly is Truth otherwise neither could they from the instant of their death be called Blessed nor yet said to be at rest from their labours For 1. the blessednesse here is brought in as something peculiarly encouraging the Godly against these coming trials 2. The word from henceforth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from now looketh to the instant the prophesie relateth unto as when Christ saith Matth. 26. from henceforth I will not drink of the fruit of the vine it is as if He had said from this time forth so here otherwise it would be from thenceforth if it related to death simply beside the connexion here will not agree that they may rest it is not for they shall rest for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is causally to be understood If it be asked then what peculiar happinesse or encouragement is holden out to the Godly under Antichrists troubles now Answ. 1. It strengtheneth them against the many calumnies of persecuters reckoning them not Martyrs but ill doers for now they suffer from Christians not from Heathens as Martyrs did formerly The Spirit saith not only before this but from henceforth shall they be fully blessed that die in Christ even under Popes as well as Heathen Emperours 2. They are now blessed because freed from many great troubles crosses and tentations that were coming on the world for rejecting the Gospel now preached in which outward troubles the Godly living are involved Isa. 57.1 2. 3. Their blessednesse is the more now because hell groweth hoter as vers 9 10. and it is more mercy to be freed of it 4. They have this use and advantage of their pains as to have peace and clearnesse at their death no fear of Purgatory and clearnesse of salvation now after the Popish uncertainty is banished giveth them quiet which is a great advantage in this time yea whatever the world think of them who in zeal for Christ do suffer under Antichrist God will esteem and reward of Grace their suffering Matth. 5.16 and take speciall notice of what testimonie is given for Him The words yea saith the Spirit are to confirm this Truth to be divine because the world would not believe it The fourth thing confirmeth these reasons to wit why from henceforth they are blessed 1. They are freed from their labours which is supposed in their life they suffered 2. Their works do follow them for these labours they have joy These sufferings work to them a far more exceeding and eternall weight of Glory and there is a proportionablenesse in their glory to their suffering 2 Corinth 4.17 suitable to it though not deserved by it Rom. 8.17 Therefore are these works said to follow in respect of the fruits of them but not to go before as causes to procure an entry In a word God remembereth their good works and in heaven they have the fruits of them Isa. 3.10 Vers. 14. We come now to the last part of the Chapter which setteth forth Gods executing His judgements against Antichrist and his kingdom in deeds when words do not the businesse It is set out in two similitudes one of an harvest whereby the world is compared to a field the wicked to corn and the execution of judgement to reaping like as in the other similitude of a vintage Both of them set out 1. the multitude of wicked men that are like fields of corn and clusters of grapes good men like Berries here and there 2. A growth of sin and an height of ripenesse that it cometh unto as corns at harvest 3. A readinesse of judgement and easinesse of executing it as with a sickle both which similitudes are borrowed from Ioel 3.13 Put ye in the sickle for the harvest is ripe come get you down for the presse is full that is for the wickednesse is great and Ier. 51.33 the like is spoken of Babylon For understanding of this obscure place as soberly we ought to search in what is apparently to come for the most part if not for all we would consider and observe these four things concerning it 1. That both these similitudes hold forth wrath and sad judgements to come 1. Concerning the last it is certain for what is gathered is cast in the wine-presse of Gods wrath and the similitudes are every way alike harvest and vintage sharp sickles are the instruments and they are both ripe Beside these places Ioel 3.13 and Ier. 51.33 hold out an harvest of wrath when wickednesse is ripe which similitudes may well be made use of here when there is clearly an allusion to Babylon So they seem to be of one nature though different in degree Again the scope here cleareth it for it is the fulfilling of these former threatenings of the preceeding Angels and the summary expression of what followeth in the vials which are degrees of the same judgement which ascendeth from the lesse to the greater as the exposition will clear 2. Consider that though both hold out judgements yet apparently different judgements not in kind or object But 1. in degree the vintage is a greater judgement as the close of all 2. In time as it is greater so it is after as
the vintage is after the harvest in the season of it 3. It is like also different in the instruments or inferiour agents therefore it is said another Angel 4. The harvest is ripe but the vintage is fully ripe sin is at a greater height 5. The first instrument is a sickle vers 15. but the second a sharp sickle vers 18. when the commission is given to thrust in 3. Consider that Antichrist and his kingdom is the object of both 1. It is the scope here for it is Babylon and her worshippers who were threatened by the former Angels 2. When it is further explained and enquired into it will be found to be the same under the vials Chap. 16. and Chap. 19. which is clear to be on the beasts Kingdom 4. To enquire more particularly unto what particular judgements and times they relate In short we conceive them to hint at the judgements under the seventh trumpet and enlarged under the vials Chap. 16. yet more particularly to hold out the last judgements on the beast and his kingdom but not the last on the world for 1. this judgement of the vintage seemeth to be the battell of Armageddon largely prosecuted Chap. 19. vers 10. as appeareth by vers 15. of that Chapter he hath that for his name to tread the Wine-presse of the wrath of God and His Armies followed Him for the executing of this same judgement on the whore or beast Now this being a finall judgement on the beast it can probably be no other so likely as this where Christ doth the thing from which He hath that name vers 16. Chap. 19. yet this belongeth to the sixth vial probably there being a large description of many things after this and a new battell of Gog and Magog Chap. 20. vers 8. and then the end cometh vers 9 10. c. 2. Then it will follow that by the harvest is meaned the judgement on the beasts seat under the fifth vial that being the other remarkable stroak on Antichrist to wit the first harvest on his seat or state or more generally it may take in Gods first judgements on him which yet do not destroy him and so the vintage will be more universall on him and his followers The scope and sum then will turn to this 1. That when Antichrist groweth worse by the Word the Lord will severely by judgements execute wrath on him and his and that certainly and fickerly 2. To shew by what method the Lord will proceed first by lesser judgements then by greater He will make a full end in due time when all is ripe He will take them as they ripen 3. By what means some executing some praying and Christ Himself over-ruling all We come to the words The 1. judgement is set down vers 14 15 and 16. containing 1. the person executing this judgement 2. the incitment he hath to it vers 15.3 the execution vers 16. The person is described in the 14. vers beside a preface of Iobns I looked and behold which should make this to be observed The person executing the judgement is set out in four properties If it be asked who it is For Answer We conceive Christ to be principally meaned here yet so as inferiour agents who are made use of by Him who is the principall are not to be secluded That He is principally understood will appear 1. By comparing this treading with that name Christ getteth Chap. 19.15 He treadeth who is the Lord of Lords 2. The properties agree well and only to Him principally 1. He rideth on a cloud when He cometh to judgement Isa. 19.1 none hath such a Throne as He and He is said to come in the clouds with Power and great Glory Matth. 25. It is called a cloud and a white cloud 1. To shew Soveraignty and Glory in the Judge 2. Speedinesse and swiftnesse in coming to execute 3. By whitenesse is meaned not only gloriousnesse but innocency and streightnesse of proceeding Second property He is like the Son of man by which Title Christ is described Chap. 1. vers 13. and it can well agree to none other Third property He hath a golden crown on His head signifying 1. Authority He is a crowned King and that with a crown of gold signifying statelinesse Psal. 21. and prosperous successe in His undertakings and conquests Fourth property He hath in his hand a sharp sickle that is an instrument wherewith they used to reap as we mow hay with a syth By this is set out Christs readinesse furniture and power to execute judgement on wicked men as readily and easily as a man cutteth down grasse or corn with a sharp sickle he will mow them down Yet though we look upon Christ as a principall agent we do not exclude inferiour instruments Hence the second Angel which cometh out to the vintage is so described as the inferiour agents are yet in that Christ is chief as is said Beside Chap. 17. it is said God shall put it in the hearts of Kings to execute judgement on the whore and hate her and it is like Christ now appearing with a crown as a King may signifie his use-making of such and so appearing as King of Kings Chap. 19. in this work 2. The incitation that Christ getteth to delay no longer vers 15. hath these two things 1. the party urging 2. the motives used to perswade Him The party is an Angel and that out of the Temple by an Angel we understand as formerly some Minister or Ministers as mouths of Congregations interposing with Christ seriously to execute His wrath This their prayer suiteth with the Saints practice pointed at Chap. 16. See also Ier. 33. It agreeth well also with the practice of Saints under Antichrist and with the Lords way of stirring up people to pray before he deliver fully Dan. 9.23 for this voice being to Christ from an Angel that cometh out of the Church represented by the Temple because in it Ministers of old used there to serve it must necessarily be vented in praying and not in commanding And the Angel must be no proper Angel but a figurative as before By his coming out of the Temple also may be holden forth 1. their joynt concurrence in that suit who were in the Church 2. A liberty that was now in professing such petitions whereas before they were shut up in the Temple Chap. 11.1 This Angels speach containeth 1. his suit Thrust in thy sickle delay no longer 2. The motives or reasons for we ought to seek nothing especially of this kind but what is well grounded are two in generall The time for thee to reap is come holding forth 1. that there was time set to the judgement 2. When it is come then it is time to pray as Dan. 9.3 with 2. This word the time for thee seemeth to point out one especially interested in this office which must be Christ. The 2. motive is more particular confirming the former for the harvest of the earth is ripe By
harvest is understood in the Prophets especially speaking of Babylon as was said a full return of judgement Ier. 51.33 By ripenesse is understood a fulnesse and height of sin Ioel 3. so together holding forth ripe sin and ready judgement sin hath its sowing and growth and ripening and so wrath answerable is treasured up till the harvest time as God said of the Amorites Gen. 15. their cup was not full and sin may be long in ripening for hundreds of years There is a set time for mercy Psal. 102. and a set time for judgement also The meaning in short is Antichrists sin is become great aggreged with many circumstances as now ripened and when our Lord appeared as on His way to execute judgement His Church and People stepped in to beg that it might be so which accordingly vers 16. is granted and fields of wicked men are destroyed possibly that which Antichrist lived on and the harvest he had in the earth by Gods judgements was destroyed However what the Angel had to execute is instantly done upon that petition and accordingly it followeth vers 16. in two things according to commission he putteth in his sickle Then the earth was reaped easily was the judgement executed which he intended there is no more but it was reaped when he beginneth he maketh an end Vers. 17. The second similitude followeth of the vintage which is both a sorer degree of judgement and posteriour to the former sin being now riper even fully ripe These grapes of Sodom are cut down gathered and cast into the wine-presse of Gods wrath it being usuall to the Prophets to use this similitude Isa. 63.2 3 4. It hath also three parts 1. The executioner is described vers 17. 2. His incitment to proceed vers 18. 3. The execution This executioner is an Angel yet diversly described from the former and called another yet comparing it with Chap. 19.15 Christ must be understood as principall but seing He doth these works mediately as in that same Chapter by Armies on horse-back sometimes He is represented because they act by Him sometimes the types more formally represent them who are agents because he maketh use of them however when He is represented they are not secluded contra He is not when the types resemble them most and the putting these two agents together it sheweth that though Christ 〈◊〉 instruments yet that Himself first appeareth because the work was great and the 〈◊〉 weak extraordinarily He beginneth but when the Church multiplieth He 〈◊〉 Him instruments out of her The instrument or agent is called an Angel as these who powr out the vials are yet we conceive them not to be understood as properly so seing battels and horses are not obscurely mentioned here and Chap. 19. to be made use of in the execution of these plagues but the manner of the expression of things in this Book is in the tearms of heaven It pointeth at some fit ready instrument Jesus Christ shall have to make use of when He shall have to do one or moe to cut down and cast these grapes in the wine-presse but Chap. 19. He treadeth it Himself Two things are spoken concerning this Angel 1. He came out of the Temple which is in heaven that is some member or members of His Church here called heaven for it was the wine of the earth that is of the wicked and not of the Church which was to be gathered 2. He is armed even with a sharp sickle such as Christ had to shew it was that same power whereby this instrument acted the armour and strength was of the supream Agent Hence Chap. 19. which we take to be the same judgement with this and ending Gods controversie on the beast He as King rideth foremost and the Armies of heaven follow Him to this battell yet none have armes but He and we cannot conceive them acting but He is on their head Hence we may think it the lesse absurdity that the petition again for furtherance of the work is renewed to this Angel although it be not absurd to conceive this Angel to be a Minister of the Gospel as Levits served at the altar giving direction to such as Christ should choose to execute His judgements as one of the beasts giveth the Angels the vials Chap. 15.7 and so his power over the fire will be to be understood as Chap. 11. of the Witnesses their having power over fire and diverse other plagues Vers. 18. The incitation is renewed God will be called on in every step In which ye have 1. The suiter described 2. The suit and its reasons are set down both which differ from what is spoken of by the former intercessour vers 15. the suiter is called an Angel but hath two peculiar properties 1. He cometh forth from the altar which importeth some more retired secret holy place than the Temple we can expound it no otherwise than we did Chap. 6.9 10. in the fifth seal to hold out heaven ordinarily set out by the most holy 2. He had power over the fire not as one peculiarly separated to govern that element nor one commissionated to execute judgement himself by fire properly or figuratively to be understood for then he needed not deal with him who is properly commissionated for that end and that Angel Chap. 16. is called the Angel of the waters not as having a peculiar charge ordinarily of them or over them but as peculiarly commissionated in reference to them with his vial yet it is not properly to be understood of waters as will appear it holdeth out then to speak so some contest and fight they had with fire and that the fire did not prevail over them but they overcame it by the bloud of the Lamb Chap. 12.11 and by their faith and patience Heb. 11. being invincibly armed against all torments In a word we take it to be the reviving of the Martyrs cry which was against heathen persecuters Chap. 6. Now their number is compleat and there is not that ground of suspending the judgement which was given in that place This cometh to rememberance before God who findeth in her the bloud of all Prophets and Apostles because they have served themselves heires to all and this guilt hath a loud cry before the Lord to procure the hastening and closing of Antichrists judgement So the first Angel setteth out the cry of all the Church Militant the second more especially of sufferers Triumphant See Chap. 6. This Angels suit in two things differeth from and goeth behind the former 1. The suit is thrust in thy sharp sickle it was simply sickle before This is added to shew a severity in this judgement and a holy pressing in this Angel beyond the former 2. The grapes are said to be fully ripe so there needeth no longer waiting The harvest was ripe before now the grapes are fully ripe for they have had more time 2. They had more means and former lesser judgements were despised 3. They have
had more light by what hath past 4. More wickednesse hath fallen in their hand notwithstanding and out over the belly of that light especially perfection and now the number of the Witnesses or Martyrs seemeth to be nigh compleat and therefore the sin is riper now than it was Chap. 6. or yet under the former similitude Thus as it were heaven and earth concur to pull down Antichrist The execution followeth vers 19. and 20. in which the◠〈◊〉 are considerable 1. There is no longer delay but judgement is immediately 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sin and a sinning people hasten wrath See Psal. 119.126 It is time for thee 〈◊〉 to work for they make void thy Law And no sooner is the execution begun but in its due order and time it is finished And the vine is gathered Judgement never misseth its end 2. The vine is not only cut down and gathered but it is cast in the winepresse of Gods wrath that is brought or put in the place where God executeth His judgements on them which as it is temporall is Chap. 19 called Armageddon and as it is eternall it s the lake Chap. 19.20 which certainly is the last result 3. This wine-presse is trod vers 20. following the similitude and it sheweth that Christs wrath who is the treader shall pursue them terribly 4. It is troden without the city It is like so was their presses in their wine-yards for to be near them It signifieth here 1. a fit place set apart for executing wrath on them 2. a shutting them out as polluted from His Church here and heaven hereafter so the lake is opposed Chap. 20. to entering into the holy Ierusalem a separating of them from His people in that judgement that the City should have no hurt by it 5. The terriblnesse of the effect and judgement is described in three things 1. That bloud came out that sheweth that a proper judgement on men is to be understood here 2. It was to the horse-bridles so very deep which would be compared with Chap. 19. 15 c. where Christ there erodeth this presse and His followers are mounted on horseback for pursuing this victory the bloud is so deep on the fields and the slaughter so great that it choaketh up to the horse-bridles of these who pursue 3. This deepnesse of the bloud its running was not a furlong or two but 1600. furlongs counting eight furlongs to a mile It is two hundred miles a long way a definit space for an indefinit but great and setting out great slaughter of enemies so that all the fowles are invited to a feast Chap. 19. In a word it is a dreadfull judgement on the beast and his followers most certainly to come LECTURE I. CHAP. XV. Vers. 1. ANd I saw another sign in heaven great and marvellous seven Angels having the seven last plagues for in them is filled up the wrath of God 2. And I saw as it were a sea of glasse mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast and over his image and over his mark and over the number of his name stand on the sea of glasse having the harps of God 3. And they sung the song of Moses the servant of God and the song of the Lamb saying Great and marvellous are thy works Lord God Almighty just and true are thy wayes thou King of Saints 4. Who shall not fear thee O Lord and glorifie thy name for thou only art holy for all nations shall come and worship before thee for thy judgements are made manifest AT the close of the 11. Chapter when the seventh trumpet did sound we told you that the order and series of the story of the events would have required a present entering into the particular description of the last wo which here is called the last plagues but that it might be the clearer the explicatory prophesie and vision is cast in Chap. 12 13 and 14. as the first great sign that was seen after the sounding of the seventh trumpet ◠and when that is sufficiently done he returneth in the fifth vision to set down the third and last principall prophesie which is as the other two set down in seven types and hath its preparation making way to it as they had So it is formally in the series knit to the 11. Chap. at the close where the Temple is opened then followeth thunders generally intimating judgements Now it is set down what judgements and this vision declareth these by bringing seven Angels out of the Temple thus opened with wrath which is the same hinted at there and Chap. 14. from vers 15. See Chap. 11. vers 15. This principall prophesie is contained Chap. 15. and 16. in the fifth vision it hath its preparation and execution The preparation hath three steps 1. more generally giving a little view and sum of it vers 1 2 3 4. of this Chapter 2. More particularly describing its instruments and concomitants vers 5 6 7 8. The third is a plain giving of the word to these instruments thus made ready Chapter 16. vers 1. The more generall proposition of this vision is set down in two things or is two wayes expressed first vers 1. that now Iohn saw after much delay these who had the last plagues to execute making for it The verse containeth three things 1. Iohn's designing this vision to make men the more attentive I saw saith he another sign that is somewhat appearing not accidentally or from naturall causes but purposly appointed to signifie something It is another that is different both in type and signification from what was Chap. 12. 1. It is called great and marvellous in respect of the events especially which it foretelleth to wit Gods wrath upon the Beast and his kingdom to their very overturning and erecting of a Church and Kingdom unto Jesus Christ on his ruins Which considering the beasts grandour in the world and the way of Gods bringing that destruction about will be a very wonderfull thing 2. The thing is hinted at in generall seven Angels having the seven last plagues where is summed the last wrath and judgements of Antichrist in that respect they are called the last plagues The instruments are Angels it may be God will make use of Angels yet not only or immediately Therefore by Angels may be understood whomsoever God shall make Ministers of His wrath probably Members of His Church as Kings Chap. 17. that are made to hate the whore and do his pleasure on her See Chap. 14. vers 13. and 19.14 They are seven to shew different judgements or severall degrees to be poured out The last thing in the verse is the reason why they are called the last plagues because in them is filled up the wrath of God that is not only is there wrath in them but such wrath as will consummate what wrath here-away God determineth for the beast till he be cast into the lake there will be no judgement here after these come
Temples opening or the change of the outward face of the Church 2. The description of the seven Angels that were instruments vers 6. 3. The furnishing of them for their task and work 4. A concomitant going alongst with the execution of their judgement The first thing is vers 5. the antecedent to all these plagues which is the rise of all that is the opening of the Temple That this is antecedent appeareth by the context where this opening is observed to clear what followeth concerning the Angels coming forth as a prior step of the narration in order before their coming forth For understanding of it we would consider that there is an allusion as Chap. 11. vers ult to the Jewish Church where in time of Idolatry and backsliding the Temple was shut as in Ahabs dayes and in time of Reformation when all was brought again to the rule the Temple was opened and sanctified the Sacrifices put in order and the Priests sanctified as in Hezekiahs dayes Iohns meaning is before this the Temple was shut Religion in its outward splendor and beauty defaced by Antichrist but now as if he said I saw a time of Reformation when superstition and Idolatry was banished and Purity and Truth preached in open view as it was before Antichrist darkened their light Thus as the Temple was that which most evidenced the state of the Jewish Church and the changes were most sensibly observed there so as many other things that is borrowed to set out the change in the Christian Church here See more Chap. 11. vers 19. This step of preparation concerning the publick breaking out of the Truth is observed for these reasons 1. To shew to what time these vials belong to wit to the state of the Church after Antichrists treachery is discovered and God hath made some light to break out in His Church to wit to the last period 2. To shew the connexion of these vials with and their dependence upon the blowing of the seventh trumpet Chap. 11. last vers where this same is mentioned Now after a profitable digression when he cometh again to the series of the prophesie he beginneth as it were where he left so to carry it on from thence forward the more clearly The second thing will clear this after this Temple is opened and Religion in heaven that is in the visible Church is publickly professed the Lord bringeth out seven Angels out of the opened Temple These are the instruments of this wrath mentioned vers 1. They are described by these things 1. They are called Angels we think not properly but figuratively such as He had fitted for this work and commissionated to execute it whether Ministers or Magistrates Their getting their vials from one of the beasts and their being arayed with girdles seemeth to confirm this and more especially that they were great civil men 2. They are described from whence they came They came out of the Temple that is as it appeareth they shall be members of the Church now made patent who are to be made use of in these judgements to execute His wrath on the whore 3. They are cloathed with linen either to shew the purity of their proceeding or alluding to the Priests habit Ezek. 44. as that of golden girdles alludeth to the manner of Kings So these are Kings and Priests authorized and well furnished for such a work all whom He employeth are fitted instruments for His work The third circumstance of their further preparation is mentioned vers 7. where two things are to be observed 1. The instruments or means of the plagues which they had to execute them with that is vials full of wrath Vials ar great hollow vessels or cups wide at the mouth whereby is meaned 1. great wrath 2. an easie and quiet way of pouring it forth without great noise possibly having respect to the threatning Chap. 14. where they are threatned with the cup of Gods wrath These are called golden vials partly because Justice in it self is precious and it is an excellent dignity and honourable to be made use of in its execution especially as approved instruments partly to shew Gods pure proceeding without the least mixture of any passion 2. These vials are given by one of the beasts it is like the first beast as one day of the week is the first day Matth. 28. which Chap. 4. is the type of valiant bold and zealous Ministers They are said to give these Angels these vials when by and from Gods Word they clear that to be their duty and in Gods Authority calleth them to it By which it would seem that God would not have Kings and Princes waiting for an extraordinary revelation and call to awake to this judgement but to acquiesce in ordinary Ministers clearing His Truth from His Word and thus though Ministers be not to execute wrath actually and immediately by fighting yet do they as it were blow the trumpets 2 Chron. 13. and so they set up and cast down Kings and Kingdoms Ier. 1. and their sword slayeth more than Hazaels Thus it would seem when eminent men are converted and ingrafted in the Church zealous Ministers do put them in mind of this duty that God expecteth from the Kings of the earth such zealous men have been and particularly were after the begun opening of the Temple God is said here to live for ever and ever partly to shew that He is reverently alway to be spoken of partly to shew what Master these Angels had and whose wrath they were executing not their own Therefore they should not be in their zeal selfish and carnall but it was Gods wrath and the wrath of such a great God and therefore they had need to be single and humble as others had reason to be afraid of such everlasting wrath That denomination of God addeth to the heightening of the wrath The fourth thing which is the concomitant of these plagues is vers 8. containing 1. the concomitant it self 2. its effect The concomitant is the Temple is filled with smoke this alludeth to Gods way of old making His presence sensible by signes in the Tabernacle when it was newly erected as Exod. 40. and in the Temple when it was newly builded as 2 King 8.10 So here when the Gospel-church shall be of new recovered Gods presence will be as sensible and great in it as it was of old when Priests might not enter into the Temple because of the glory of it Sometimes also this appearance is a signe of anger as Numb 16. when He appeared to take vengeance on stubborn offenders and would admit of no intercession These being not inconsistent but ordinarily conjoyned to wit Gods presence glorious and refreshing to His own and terrible and dreadfull to His enemies Isa. 66.5 we understand both here which agreeth well with the words following filled with smoke from the glory of God that looketh to His gracious appearing and from His power that holdeth Him forth terrible as now appearing
of the East 1. because in respect of the part of the world we live in who before them injoy the Gospel they are East to us and so they are distinguished from the native Western Kingdoms and Kings made also now to hate the whore 2. Because many of them living there it is like since the first captivity and last dispersion when they may be made to joyn against Antichrist in the West which maketh him so afraid their expedition will look as coming from the East and so the Turks will be in their way as Euphrates was in Cyrus way impeding the intaking of Babylon till it was dried so this of mysticall Babylon 3. Because possibly if not probably after the Turks destruction God may give them great possessions and Dominions in the East and make them much instrumentall for spreading of the Gospel to other Kings in these parts besides ordinarily any rise of light to the Church and of Christs coming is spoken as from the East so Chap. 7.2 and Mat. 24. it is like lightning as it were a new day or morning breaking up in the Church 2. For the next thing what this way of the Iews is It seemeth to be one or all of these three 1. It is to the Church 2. to help down the Pope 3. to their own possession The Turks standing marreth all and his removing will further all these To clear it That their way may be prepared taketh in this generall the removing of any thing which may hinder them in their way towards the Church or in the former expeditions For 1. not only are they to be looked on here as coming to the true Church now separated from Antichrist but 2. as concurring to have a main hand in his overthrow Hence he is so afraid at their conversion for it seemeth that now all true converts are to be imployed in ruining him and he hath an Hebrew name Abaddon to shew their abhorrency of him as others do and the place of his ruine and the praise for the same is in Hebrew Chap. 19. pointing at a speciall hand which they are to have in his last overthrow And in reference to these two ends of the Iews conversion to wit of joyning to the Church and of going against Antichrist there is to them a twofold lett in their way to forbear now their going to their own land there is a great stumbling from the superstitious worship of Papists who are called Christians and a stumbling at the long prevailing of the enemy of Christians the Turk wondering that if Christ be God how He suffereth such blasphemy and blasphemers The first in a great part is removed by Gods judgement on the Pope and Rome in the fifth vial The second is to be removed now by this that no stumbling or lett remain for though they would do something and possibly now having the Pope discovered to them their zeal is more hot against him than others because by his means they have been much hardened yet the Turk becoming their enemy and being engaged to that whores support they are impeded while the Turkish Empire standeth This vial removeth that impediment his power is weakened whether by themselves or by others or by drawing of many to Christianity from him we are not to determine but accesse is given to them both to pull Antichrist down and probably to win to their own possession by his ruine And this leadeth to the third thing proposed to wit how the ruine of the Turks or their weakning may be called the preparing of their way Which is clear 1. whether we look to the Iews conversion it strengthens them that Christ is God and giveth them hopes of coming home on which they lay great weight Or 2. whether we look to their undertaking against Antichrist Or 3. their return to their own land all which three as we said seem to be pointed at here The standing of the Turk obstructeth all these three and the overturning of him will strengthen all and give them liberty without fear in the professing of Christ. For further clearing of this That these two events to wit the Iews conversion and the Turks downfall are prophesied of here we shall confirm both severally from these reasons That the Iews conversion must be understood here appeareth for 1. It is certain their conversion in the last dayes is spoken of and to be expected and it can suit with no time better than of this sixth vial which is after the Popes overthrow in respect of his seat at Rome and before the seventh vial which bringeth the end Neither is it like that so great and concerning a businesse of the Church would be omitted in this prophesie and it can be brought in no where so clearly that of the Iews mentioned Chap. 7. being nothing to this purpose as was said there 2. The Prophets seem to foretell their restoring in these same terms See Isa. 11.15 and 16. which Chapter speaketh of the dayes of the Gospel and the Iews restoring suiting with that time as cannot be denied The expressions in sum are that as God when He brought them out of Egypt dried up the sea and Iordan so when He bringeth them from Assyria which was beyond this Euphrates from Iudea He shall smite that river and the removing of all impediments is set out under that expression Neither is it for nought that drying of waters is a peculiar mercy shown to Israel in their first deliverances and that allusion is made to that in their following restitution to be a confirmation to their faith therein as Isa. 44.27 Thus saith the Lord that drieth up the rivers and saith to the deep be drie c. when yet no particular river was to be dried up but thereby to mind them of what He had done 3. If we look further to the explication of this Chap. 19. there is much joy in the Church praising God that He reigneth and that in an eminent way that His Wife hath made her self ready and the marriage is come c. And can these agree so well to any event as to the conversion of the Iews which Rom. 11. shall be as a resurrection from the dead Or can the joy be so great or the Marriage be made ready without them especially considering if now they be not amongst Christs friends when in the words following He is on His march against all His enemies and could the Church of the Gentiles be merry if the Iews were amongst these enemies But from Chap. 19. it is clear that there is here a notable and singular accession to the Church and what one can have these effects so as this 4. It is not unworthy the observing that here so many Hebrew expressions and phrases are used and not so any where else which seemeth to plead a speciall interest that the Hebrews have in the event of this vial 1. The place is named in the Hebrew Tongue Armageddon Why Hebrews are there to put on that name
if the Lord Christ said such ill dayes and great temptations to draw folks in snares are coming that many will go on in these designes as thinking all their own The advertisement is Behold I come as a thief when they think least on it and seeth least appearance of it I am at hand to take vengeance on them and to deliver the Church So he speaketh Matth. 24.43.44 2 Pet. 3.10 2. There is insinuated a duty suitable to this advertisement that is to Watch and keep their garments clean which was expounded Chap. 3.3 Implying 1. a strait and difficulty 2. the only mean of being preserved in a strait time that is watching seing by it only men are keeped free of spots in their profession and Christian walk 3. There is set down here two excellent motives pressing this necessary duty of watching 1. from their happinesse who doth so they are blessed 1. In themselves being keeped from much sin and wrath which others fall under 2. In reference to others who being by that design of Antichrists ensnared shall share of wrath The second is because by watching men keep their nakednesse covered which by sinning is discovered to their shame a spotted garment hideth not this shame but manifesteth it To be keeped from sin is a great motive and to keep from sin keepeth from shame for shame followeth ever upon sin And there is a behold prefixed yet Readers may not passe it but observe the warning for their instruction in duty and the encouragement of blessednesse for their upstirring and comfort Gods people would never look for a constant peace in the greatest growth of Religion even at the Iews in-coming the Church hath one of her sorest battels There is great odds betwixt a thriving Gospel and the real advantage that cometh by it and outward peace and prosperity The last thing is the successe these foul spirits had They gathered these Kings who for many years despised the Gospel and never had been gathered by it in Gods judgement they are given up to yeeld to them This hath these circumstances 1. The successe They are gathered and who It is these to whom they were sent both Popish Kings and Heathen Kings It is like the Turks as nearest are most easily engaged to set on Christians In a word such speciall enemies as God mindeth to be about with 2. It is said he gathered them not the spirits that is either the beast who commissionated them or rather God who in His secret providence ordereth that designe of the beasts and the enimity of these Kings for such an end as might glorifie Him and undo them It is like an allusion is to the commission Satan getteth against Ahab in perswading him wherein though the devil be instrumentall by false prophets in bringing Ahab to Ramoth 1 King 22. yet it is by Gods permissive providence to punish Ahab that maketh him prevail So it is here the devil hath one design the beast another God a third and He maketh use of both for furthering of His He doth it when they seem to get most way in theirs and it s but the effectuating of His so Gods hand is soveraigne even in Antichrists designs 3. Concerning the place unto which they are gathered two things are to be enquired 1. What this Armageddon is 2. Why it is expresly said in the Hebrew Tongue 1. Armageddon is not to be taken literally as if there were such a place in which indeed bearing that name that battell is to be fought in but figuratively it setteth down before hand from the effect and event of that expedition and battell after the manner of the Hebrews who called places from notable events in them as Bochim Achor Hamon Gog Ezek. 39. Bethel with many others Now this is two wayes applicable 1. Gnarim which Arma cometh from signifying subtillity and applied to the Serpent Gen. 3.1 yea subtillity with deceitfulnesse 2. Geddon cometh from a root that signifieth gathered together so the word signifieth deceitfully gathered together by craft or the first root may signifie destruction so it is gathered to be destroyed The second way how it is applicable is to take it in allusion to Megiâ—do so it will be the hill of Megiddo a place in Iudah famous for two events 1. Iudg. 5.19 in overthâ—owing Sisera's mighty Army by a womans help So these enemies brought into such a fit place shall be as Sisera at the river Kison Psal. 83. The other at Megiddo by Iosâ—a's death is lamentable Thus it relateth to the great zeal and repentance which shall be among the Iews at such a joyfull event Zech. 12.12 both or either will suit here what ever way it be But take it from the force of the compound word it agreeth best to the Hebrews way and that is the reason why especially it is mentioned here expresly in the Hebrew tongue implying 1. that they put that name on it for it is not like that other Nations would give it a name in a strange tongue 2. Their respecting the event in the name as is their manner as before was said thus the name speaketh out the event If it be asked why the Lord delayeth so these vials or carrieth them so on as the Pope getteth such help and bringeth Gods Church low even when he is near to ruine Answ. 1. This way trieth the faith and patience of Gods people most as here is their faith and patience Chap. 13. importeth So was Israel tried in their slow delivery out of Egypt 2. This effecteth His end amongst enemies more and giveth them occasion of kything and in Gods judgement hardeneth them by hopes sometimes to prevail till His wrath come on them So was Pharaoh by Israels straits at the Red-sea and the Magicians counterfeit miracles hardened thus Christs coming is as a snare Luk. 21.35 3. It contributeth more for Gods glory He getteth them thus together to the great battell He hath by this means many victories and much glory over one enemy as He had over Pharaoh otherwise they would never uphold a contest with God The Lord in this doth as one saith as a man who being to leap far goeth a little back to come up with the greater force For sinfull causes of it we may name 1. their ingratitude and unanswerable walk who receive the Gospel which will make God remove it and therefore also not to propogate it 2. Little pity on them that lieth under Antichrist and little prayer for Gods hastening His judgements on him and fitting of instruments for it 3. Little singlnesse in any undertaking for that end few Kings mindeth it self-interests sway all and others carnally seek their own glory in being instrumentall in such a thing or under such a pretext pursue their own more than Christs therefore they are not blessed 4. Want of a powerfull Ministrie and lives answerable amongst Professors which maketh this Truth to be loathed seing so many are carnall deceitfull c. who professe it Thus
many have a sinfull accession to Antichrists standing LECTURE VI. Vers. 17. And the seventh Angel poured out his vial into the aire and there came a great voice out of the Temple of heaven from the Throne saying It is done 18. And there were voices and thunders and lightnings and there was a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth so mighty an earthquake and so great 19. And the great city was divided into three parts and the cities of the natiâ—ns fell and great Babylon came in remembrance befâ—re God to give unte her the cup of the wine of the fiercenesse of his wrath 20. And every island fled away and the mountains were not found 21. And there fell upon men a great hail out of heaven every stone about the weight of a talent and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hail for the plague thereof was exceeding great THis is the last vial for understanding whereof It will be necessary to enquire whâ—ther it bringeth the last judgement only on the beast Or if â—t looketh to the last plagues on the world simply including in it the last judgement Which last being of largest extent and including the former we conceive to be understood not only because of the series of this prophâ—sie which being divided into threâ— principall typicall prophesies of sevens whereof this of vials is the last and other explicatory prophesies or visions both which go alongst from Iohâ—'s tiâ—e to the â—nd and therefore this vial being the last stâ—p and close of the typicall prophâ—sies according to that series it must extend it self to the end which afterward is more fully explained Chap 20 21 c. as the two former vials are Chap. 17.18.19 Beside this these reasons evince it Fiâ—st Chap. 15.1 2. they are the last plagues â—n which are fulfilled Gods wrath and that simply in the world for here the Cities of the Nations are dâ—stroyed as well as Babylon and these plagues are to be understood the last with reference to such plagues as went before them under the seals and trumpets whâ—ch are first and second plagues and these are extended even to the Heathen world Therefore so must also the vâ—als be and not be astâ—icted to the beasts kingdom only Secondly The seventh trumpet bringeth the last wo which Chap. 10.6 7. finisheth the mysterie of God when time shall be no more but it is cleared Chap. 11. that the last wo and the last plagues are one Therefore the day of Judgement must be the period of these vials seing it is the period of the third wo. 3. The expressions of this vâ—al are such as bear it out It is done a grâ—at earthquake mountains were not found c. which shew another manner of change than was under the seals as the particulâ—rs will clear Only take these two cautions 1. Not to think â—t bringeth the lâ—st judgement immediately as if it contained no preceeding events but only thâ—t the plagues immedâ—ately preceeding that judgement are set out in this vial and that there are no succeeding judgemâ—nts on the earth after it but it terminateth and endeth in eternity and Gods finall immediate inflicting judgement on the world of the wicked 2. That we look not on this or the other vials as fully or principally holding forth the condition of the Church in that time but consequently for they hold forth wrath on enemies from which may be gathered If it be ill with enemies it is good and well with her but that is more fully to be sought and gathered from the explicatory visions respectively contempoâ—ary with these in which the flourishing state of the Church and the succâ—ssive inflicting of these plagues oâ— her enemies is more fully expressed In this vial we are to consider 1. the object 2. the effects The object is vers 17. He poured it out into the air which object is of a larger extent than any of the former and cometh nearer Satans kingdom in the foundation and extent of it who is Eph. 2. prince of the power of the air the earth sea sun and seat of the beast are destroyed before this is poured out into the air as that which was only resting and comprehendeth what yet standeth of Satans kingdom for the air to be plagued hath influence on all under it especially these who bâ—eath in it and leaveth nothing breathing and so no living in Satans world yet a power he hath in it so long as it standeth That thus it is to be extended appeareth 1. by the effects which are on the great City i.e. what of it remained and on all the Cities of the Nations Islands Mountains and men that are smitten with it 2. by comparing vers 10. Chap. 20. with this event it is on the devil and his kingdom Gog and Magog universally for two of the three grand enemies that engaged against Christ under the former vial to wit the beast and false prophet are destroyed Chap. 19. and casten into the lake The third to wit the devil hath some essay by other instruments after these are gone Chap. 20.10 He by this last viaâ— is cast into the lake where the former two are before him And his last instruments Gog and Magog are more immediately destroyed from heaven as the effect of this vial afterwards cleareth This then taketh in what dominion yet Satan had in the world and is to overturn it where ever it were and amongst whomsoever The effects of this vial are three wayes set out 1. by word 2. by signe 3. by real effects and conseqâ—ents all speaking the greatnesse of this judgement 1. The word vers 17. 1. generally is a great voice to make it observable 2. whence it cometh from the throne out of the Temple of heaven In a word from God to shew the authority of the speaker and the certainty of the thing spoken which is the third thing the expression it self beareth It is done it is like alluding to Christs word on the Crosse it is finished when that work was at a close so here there is an end of Gods plagues on the earth and what Hâ— had sworn Chap. 10. concerning the finishing of the mysterie was now perfected and what was before prophesied of the end now they are fulfilled which words suppone not an immediate instantaneous fulfilling of these effectâ— but successive so as by that vial in due time and order they are brought about and closed 2. The eâ—â—ect is set out by signe vers 18. And there were voices thunders and lightnings which as we heard Chap. 11.19 do signifie great and dreadfull changes and judgements and it may here include with the last judgement these commotions of Gog and Magog which do next preceed 3. It is set out by the reall effects and their consequents as means by which these judgements are produced They are of two sorts First a great earthquake vers 18. and a great hail vers 21. These are not to be
limited only to the very same plagues but hold out 1. a concurrence of heaven and earth for inflicting that judgement as it was in the deluge the eaâ—th shaketh from beneath and the heavens throw down stones from above 2. It holdeth forth the dreadfulnesse and greatnesse of the judgement of this vial 3. The immediatnesse of it wâ—thout any instruments interveening He executeth it on them Himself as in earthquake◠〈…〉 so Chap. 20.9 it is said to be by fire from heaven which is upon the maâ—â—eâ— â—â—e same This earthquake vers 18. is described in itâ— degree Then in its conseâ—â—ents or effects 1. A great one such as never was far beyoâ—â— that Chap. 6. And indeeâ—â—â—e last judgement will shake the world beyond any thing that ever it felt before Sâ—conâ—â—â—y The effects of this earthquake are marked to be three or four 1. The great city to 〈◊〉 Sodoâ— Chap. 11. where the witnesses were killed or Babylon waâ— dâ—vided in thâ—ee that is overturned for a city to be divided in three parts by an earthquake making the gapes of the earth that great and wide and to be overturned is one Beside in plain words it is spoken afterwards of the cities of the Nations that they fell which expoundeth the former Thus what reliques of Popery or Papists in any part of the world whether â— Rome if possibly somewhat recovered or any where else yet without their Pope shall now wholly be overturned The second effect is on the heathens caâ—led cities of the Nations and contradistinguished from this one great city They fell all these shall be ruined also 3. Babylons judgement is enlarged and aggreged that it resteth not in a temporall overturning but God putteth in her hand the cup of the fiercâ—nessâ— of his wrath spokeâ— of and threatned to all her followers Châ—p 14.10 Wherâ—by it appeareth 1. That this judgement endeth in eternity And 2. that it respecteth former threatnings A fourth effâ—ct is vers 20. shewâ—ng what influence this vial or earthquake shall have not only on Cities but on Islands at a distance and mountains In a word on all the universe which shall not only be moved as at other earthquakes and vers 12. Chap. 6. but here they shall fleâ— away and shall not be found holding out thereby the consummâ—tion that shall be at the end further expounded Chap. 20.21 The second effect of the bail vers 21. iâ— to the same purpose to shew that then sinners shall have refuge neither from earth nor heaven the hail is terrible alluding to that plague Exod. 9. but exceedingly beyond it never such an hail heard of as this every stone a talent weight it is irresistible there is no fence against it and it may allude to Ezek. 38.2 where Gog and Magog are to be destroyed by hail the expressions of the judgement may be borrowed as the names of the enemies from Gâ—g and Mâ—gog The greatnesse of it is furâ—her set out by the effect on reprobate men who are the object of itâ— they now break out in open blasphemy against God so that the last wrath meâ—deth them not though it be great That exceeding greatnesse of it without mixture of mercy is insufferable and insupportable and yet they are continued in a being after such a plague We must therefore look upon it as an eternall judgement for a temporall life could noâ— sustain men under it but in hell although malice being now inveterate and at its height in reprobateâ— and devils so as they neither fear nor love the Lord but do constantly blaspheme as their continuall exercise under their plagues yet are by the revenging justice and power of God sustained in a being for ever for the declaration of the glory of Hiâ— Justice and now the sentence being past on them we are to look upon this obdured desperate maliciousnesse rather as the just fruit of former sins than as having influence to encrease their punishment after their finall doom It must be a dreadfull thing to be in hell especially after the last Judgement LECTURE I. CHAP. XVII Vers. 1. ANd there came one of the seven Angels which had the seven vials and talked with me saying unto me Come hither I will shew unto thee the judgement of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters 2. With whom the kings of the earth have committed fornication and the inhabiters of the earth have been made drunk with the wine of her fornication WE have had a little view of Gods judgements against Antichrist and Babylon his seat in the former principall and last typicall prophesie of the vials which carried it on to the last judgement Now followeth the last explicatory prophesie in two visions wherein some speciall things mentioned in the former more darkly and shortly are more fully explained The holy Ghost aiming hereby clearly to point out what this Babylon or antichristian Church and who this Antichrist is the one in opposition to the true Church the other to Christ the right Head and Soveraign thereof with a more clear description of them their actings and ruine We are therefore to look on this prophesie and especially on this Chapter as a speciall key for opening the main mysteries concerning these things which are delivered in the former prophesies In order to which and for understanding of what followeth in general we premit these things 1. Concerning the scope it is in these words Chap. 17.1 I will shew unto thee the judgement of the great whore by which is meaned not only nor mainly the last judgement or last step of her judgement under the seventh vial for all which followeth aâ— the destruction of Babylon Chap. 18. which is the seat or throne of the beast belongeth not to the seventh but to the fifth vial nor the battell of Armageddon where the beast is taken belongeth not to it but to the sixth and this would make the story of the seventh more comprehensive than it will bear But we take in the remarkable events on the beast and his throne which are by temporall judgements to be carried on by the Kings who once having given their power to this beast shall afterwards withdraw from her and piece and piece hate her and make her naked as is clear vers 16. all which cleareth that this following vision Chap. 17.18 and 19. doth belong to the fifth and sixth vials and not to the seventh 2. Concerning the series and placing of them it is thus to be done 1. He describeth Chap. 17. the object of these judgements to wit the whore and the beast and who are to be understood by them with a generall hint at the instruments to be made use of in their ruine Then Chap. 18 he more fully and pathetically sheweth the temporall destruction of that city or whore by the following lamentations of her followers which sheweth it not to be the last judgement on her which could have nothing following but that judgement on the beasts seat mentioned under the fifth
excels and goeth beyond other places and that is not so much in outward commodities as 1. they sold pardons indulgences Bishopricks yea Christ heaven dispensations c. as it is said omnia sunt Rome venalia These make their great men rich 2. They buy costly things for their own pomp and the pomp of their worship and therefore they are called Merchants who both buy and sell and they are singularily Merchants beyond others The righteousnesse then of this sad judgement appeareth 1. from the greatnesse of her superstition idolatry and superfluity 2. From her propagating of it to others 3. From her making a trade of it so that no calling almost did thrive better than to be a monger of her superstitions either in carrying something from her or bringing something to her The second voice from vers 4 to vers 21. setteth out the same thing but as by a new witnesse of that destruction which men easily believed not This is either the Lord Himself immediately who calleth the people his My people or His Ministers mediately by His Authority calling them His words set out this destruction 1. by way of exhortation to Gods people from vers 4. to 9. 2. By way of commination or foretelling of the lamentation should follow this great desolation amongst her friends Kings Merchants and Ship-masters to vers 20. 3. By incitation to Gods People to rejoyce over her vers 20 c. All which sheweth the greatnesse of the desolation that 1. all that would shun the judgement would flee from it as Lot did out of Sodom 2. As it giveth ground of fear to some so it giveth ground of lamentation to others 3. Of rejoycing to a third sort that is these who have formerly separated from her It must then be great that maketh and worketh fear grief and joy so universally The exhortation hath two parts with the reasons of them 1. There is an exhortation to separate from her vers 4. and 5. which sheweth that now her ruine is at hand get you saith he quickly from her as Moses saith Numb 16. 26. to the people to separate from Korah Datban c. it is borrowed from Ier. 51.6 and that their delivery approacheth with her ruine and fall The second exhortation is vers 6 7 8. and it is an upstirring of Gods people not to be remisse in executing Gods judgements on her according to their callings and stations as God shall give them opportunity Concerning the first exhortation we are to enquire beside its scope which is clear to shew her approaching ruine 1. What sort of separation this is which is called for 2. In matter of fact if any Godly have been may be or are to be in Rome before its destruction 3. What is the necessity or warrant of separating from Rome and what more now than before And why Babylon only is to be separated from if this be peculiar to her Before we answer we must premit a twofold consideration of Babylon and being in Babylon 1. Babylon or Rome may be considered meerly as a great City or Dominion 2. As an Ecclesiastick sinfull degenerating party or apostatized Church of Antichrist so in the first acceptation to be in Rome differeth from the second which is to be of Rome as Gods people were in Babylon yet not of Babylon lived in the place but did not partake of their sin So one may be in Rome two wayes 1. locally thus he is not of it as an antichristian Church nor is this in it self sinfull if by some circumstances it become not so 2. One may be in Rome as a member of that Church thus he is not formally one of Gods people and if he belong to His Election he is to be called in due time For answer then to the first question there are three things distinguished even by Independent Divines Vide Norton ad Apoll. quast ult 1. there is Schisma that is a separating from the unity and from the communion of a true Church whether more or lesse pure if it be a true Church this is simply and alway sinfull because it is from a true Church This Schism consisteth not alway in diversity of Doctrine which is heresie but in divided practices from the communion of a true Church as Augustin contra Faustum lib. 2. cap. 3 Schismaticos facit non diversa fides sed disrupta communionis societas so it renteth unity and is either negativum schisma where it s simply a withdrawing without setting up a new distinct Church or positive when it not only withdraweth but setteth up another worship or Church as the Novatians and Donatists did to keep communion only with themselves And this is called to have altare contra altare 2. There is separation and that is 1. either in whole when people withdraw from communion in whole from others as no Church or 2. in part when they acknowledge them Churches yet cannot communicate in some things with them as in the Sacrament with Ubiquitaries since that ubiquity sprung up this is sinfull or lawfull according to the grounds of it If it be no Church such as Babel was a totall separation is necessary or in part it is lawfull if it exceed not its ground but when separation is from a true Church though with some defects totally or beyond that wherein she is corrupted that is sinfull and as Cotton saith on Cant. 6. a condemning as no Church that which Christ accounteth one and is too much nycity not to keep communion with them with whom He keepeth communion Thus it becometh schisma The third is secession that is without refusing the communion of another yet locally to remove upon some urgent or lawfull occasion spirituall or temporall to another or better constitute Church that is lawfull and is no separation but may be even from a lawfull Church and pure The first to wit a schism is neither here called-for nor is it possible to make a schism with Rome she not being a true Church which is rent or from whom the rent is and the second to wit separation and that totall is called-for and was so alway since she became antichristian that none continue in her communion but that they renounce it The third also is now called-for here that they would even separate locally from her as Lot did from Sodom or these that were near Korah did from their tents because 1. the scope is clear to set out the greatnesse and suddennesse of her ruine therefore they had need to keep a locall distance as in the examples foresaid 2. The former separation was alway necessary in heart and practice from that party and it is like except it be amongst any yet to be called was actually before this but here something more and peculiar to this reason to wit her destruction is called for which was not alway before required Separation may be without secession and secession in changing place without separation in communion but here both are called-for For
answer to the second if there shall then be any of Gods people de facto in Rome â— or quo jure may they be there till then Ans. In these Conclusions having distinguished Gods people 1. In elected regenerated and called and elected but un-called 1. Many un-called have been and may be in Rome yea even of it and these are called to separate for experience telleth us God hath called many who have been members of her and may do so still 2. Many of Gods called people have been in Rome locally but not of it and have continued long so in her bosome There are true worshippers in the Temple Chap. 11. even when the outter court is trod on by heathenish Papists then the Prophets prophesie even in the great city and God hath a Temple and Church even where Antichrist sitteth though His Congregation be not that Church even as the Lord had His Word Prophets and People at old Babylon captive when the face of Worship was overturned in Iudah so in this Babylon He keepeth still His Word Baptism as in the former He did Circumcision and a Ministery that was never lost but all the fourty two moneths of Antichrists reign the Prophets prophesie though in sackcloth Hence in all the Universall expressions of Antichrists dominion still they are excepted Chap. 13. and 17. whose names are written in the Book of life and Chap. 7. an hundred fourty and four thousand are sealed who Chap. 14. are found on mount Zion even before light in Luthers time brake forth And it may possibly be that some sinfully as some of the people in Babylon did have not made a secession from Rome and these parts though they have formerly separated from her communion or otherwayes by their callings as Obadiah was engaged with Ahab being intangled to live still This voice putteth them to it not to lodge a night in it for they know not when Gods judgement may seize upon it yet she is Babel and these in her are Gods people even then but now when the Gospel breaketh out and her judgement approacheth they are called not only to separate from her but to remove out of her and expect her judgement For the third the necessity or warrant of separating it is grounded on these 1. She is Babel and ye are My People and there is no communion between light and darknesse Christ and Antichrist this giveth the great ground she is but your oppressor Babylon not your Mother the Church 2. Ye cannot shun her sins if ye stay not only should ye own Me in separating your selves when ye are called which belongeth to the first ground that is to confesse with the mouth by profession as well as to believe with the heart but if ye stay ye are still in danger of snares yea sometimes in lesse or more are partaking of them as Ioseph did in swearing by Pharaoh's life at the Court of Egypt And by this it may also appear that many living in such places are engaged and ensnared in many things that at a greater distance they would be liberated of If any ask May not one abide in Rome now and not be a partaker of her sins more than before Answ. The hazard is greater now 1. They have a retiring place and a standard for Truth set up that they should now follow 2. They have Gods call and invitation to come out and though He was a Sanctuary to them in their wildernesse-state while the set time of their captivity lasted yet when He openeth the door that is not to be expected so confidently from Him 3. Babel groweth still more corrupt and never more than since Trent added to all her former abominations 4. Because Romes judgement hasteneth and though they keep themselves free of many of her sins yet they may share of her temporall wrath as Lot's family was in hazard had not the Lord removed it from Sodom A third reason of secession is the coming great plague so that God who had long spared was by judging her to make it appear He had forgotten nothing and now her sins being come to an height her judgment shall delay no longer and this presseth a locall secession Hence it followeth 1. That it is no schism to quit fellowship with Rome she being no wife to the Lamb is therefore no mother to His Children she giveth them poyson for sincere milk by corrupting the truth of the Gospel and not suffering them to feed upon the Truth She hath been condemning persecuting and destroying the true worshippers for many generations together and would have no fellowship with any without the beast's character therefore is there a necessity of separating as was said to the Witnesses Chap. 11. Come up hither and here Come out of her 2. It followeth also that folks not only may quit Rome but of duty they should do it in obedience to Christ's call and they would try their warrant that go there for curiosity seing here is a command to quit it Who are they that know what night or day this horrible judgement will be executed it were dreadfull curiosity to be found there then 3. It followeth that where God warranteth separation it is from a company that is no Church and must be supposed a Babel and therefore there is no separation allowed by Him from a true Church seing this is a proof of His disclaiming her to be a Church to command them to separate from her Therefore here is Babylon contradistinguished from His People who are called to come out of her which supposeth that He calleth none of His to separate from such as are His. It 's one thing to withdraw from civil conversing with particular wicked men another thing to separate from Gods Church for its defects There is therefore this observable in separating and withdrawing that we are to keep lesse fellowship in civill things with a Brother that is a Church member and is grosse than with one that is without and not a member as the Apostle writeth 2 Cor. 5.10 But we may and should on the other side keep Church-fellowship with a true Church though in many things faulty and corrupt whereas we may not at all with an idolatrous company in their worship Hence in that same Epistle to the Corinthians going to and eating in Idols temples or at their feasts was so much condemned yet communicating with the Church of Corinth or living as a member of it though corrupt both in doctrine and practice was never found fault-with as to worship for it is clear that that of not eating with an offending Brother looketh only to civil fellowship because it is such a fellowship that is condemned with them as is allowed to Heathens which certainly is such If our Churches therefore be Christs Churches as sometimes the favourers of separation grant There can be no separation from them without turning to a schism The second exhortation may be read by way of prophesie or because the former is by way
still the greatest His first dominion we may call personall when he keeped all the world in grosse darknesse worshipping him directly in temples and he giving responses and answers in them possessing men personally and corporally as he did in Christs time leading the world at his will He is bound in this respect by Christs birth preaching miracles death ascension and sending forth the Apostles and the Gospel like a white horse conquering Chap. 6. whereby the prince of this world was judged Satan casten from heaven like lightening many corporally possessed were dispossessed and freed from his dominion and the devil chased from his audible answering in oracles as formerly he had done His known answer given at Delphos to Augustus his Legats who were sent to him to enquire concerning his successor about the time of Christs birth is by many cited to this purpose Me puer Hebraeus superum Rex linquere tecta Haec jubet ditis cacas remeare sub umbras Ergo silens aris tu nunc abscedito nostris An Hebrew childe King of the heavens high To leave these Temples hath commanded me And to be gone to darknesse and to wo Thou therefore silent from our altars go After this no audible answer was given at these Oracles Thus Satan is bound from the beginning of the Gospel to the end of the world for Christ shall have a Church even among the Nations and Gentiles and thus Christ hath overcome him and so spoiled him that he shall never prevail against the Catholick Church Matth. 16. This is not the binding here because this is a binding that is eminently applicable and agreeable to one particular time so as it cannot agree to any other before nor after And it would seem that as it is clear that Satan is loosed after it before Christs second coming so it is clear that Satan hath been as to this binding loose before it after Christs first coming except we say that all the time between Christs first coming and His second shall be taken up in these two to wit 1. a thousand years restraint upon Satan and then a little times liberty upon the back whereof cometh the judgement but the length of time interveening and the various and frequent ups and downs of the Church shew that there are moe periods in her case and the great liberty of the Church and so the binding of Satan which is still contemporary with it spoken of to be in the latter dayes of the Gospel at least after the first thousand years will not admit that These thousand years therefore must not begin either at Christs birth or death or yet at the destruction of Ierusalem or sending of the Gospel to the Gentiles beside that it presupponeth Martyrs as antecedaneous to it and therefore it must begin after these periods There is a second dominion Satan hath yet even when the Gospel is preached and that is by his guiding the publick magistracy of the world whereby he condemned Christians persecuted and destroyed them and obstructed the publick and avowed profession of Christ in an united Church-way at least in a great part and keeped up still Temples and idol-worship and that as countenanced by Authority Satan is put from this Chap. 12. where we have the story of his casting from the throne before which time he is seen as loose in heaven that is in person of the Emperours as a bloudy Dragon ready to devour the childe as formerly Chap. 6. he rideth as it were on the red pale and black horses till by the sixth seal answerable to and contemporary with Chap. 12. he is in all these respects defeated the publick and avowed worshipping of idols overturned and the publick profession of Christianity countenanced by Authority in which respect Chap. 12. ver 10. it is called the Kingdom of our God and power of His Christ which certainly inferreth a good condition to the Saints with it His third storm and loosing after he cometh to the earth is by more subtil means prosecuted in the first six trumpets by the beast Chap. 13. and in the end of Chap. 12. which is contemporary with the first six trumpets His restraint as to that loosing is by the seventh trumpet wherein his dominion by the beast such as formerly he had by the heathen Emperour is overturned and answerably to that liberty of his spoken of Chap. 12. and 13. here is set down in this third explicatory prophesie Satans third restraint in opposition to that dominion of his by Antichrist and this prophesie will be found contemporary with the seventh trumpet and the vials from their beginning which succeed immediately to the witnesses ascending up to heaven and to the end of the womans flight and abode in the wildernesse and to the fourty two moneths of the beasts reign The fourth and last liberty and dominion of the devil mentioned is this of his stirring up Gog and Magog and his restraint in reference to this is the last judgement Now seing his binding here cannot be the first as is said nor the second Chap. 12. this presupposing the beast in being as appeareth by these who reign in this time nor yet the last It must necessarily follow therefore that it is the binding spoken of in the third place which is contemporary with the beasts overthrow in whom he was formerly worshipped and fain would have sustained that worship but was bound up from it and could not help himself as Chap. 18. Taking this then to be the binding of Satan following upon that rage of his Chap. 12. ver 13 and 17. the scope will be to shew what came of the devil after he had brought that design to a great height Chap. 13. So that if it be asked what became of him after he had raged fourty two moneths against the woman having made her flee to the wildernesse and against the witnesses having made them prophesie all that time in sackcloth It is answered here I saw saith Iohn him again taken and bound up from his liberty as the beast was from his and I saw that Church which by and under the beast he had persecuted and made despicable in the world brought again to an honourable condition wherein he could not impede them having again an honourable publick and avowed profession of the Gospel in greater number of professors purity of doctrine holinesse of life spirituality of worship and vigor of discipline with much lesse outward disturbance than formerly which restraint of his and kingdom to them continued a long time till God in his secret justice permitted him to make a new onset before the last judgement by Gog which followeth that assault of the devils by the beast thereafter the Lord pursueth and overturneth him and his designs everlastingly after which he shall never have a link of his chain loosed to the disturbance of Christs Church This is the sum which will be more clear in the particular explication of the words and in that which
which follow on the contrary 109 110 111 That a Minister may have an eminent name while yet he is but dead and how it cometh 177 178 179 Reasons why a Minister may be cryed-up for gifts and have a name and please himself with these when faulty before God 180 What things are requisit to make a Ministers work perfect before God 182 That an unsound hypocriticall man may be a Minister of Christ cleared and continued 187 That gifts may be in exercise with a Minister where there is little or no Grace 187 188 That such a Ministers gifts may have some fruit and yet but some and often very little ibid. That the Ordinances dispensed by such Ministers are not polluted to the person notwithstanding of their unsoundnesse 189 How a Minister may discern his own deadnesse even when things seem to go well with him in publick ibid. What a dead Minister would do for recovering of himself out of that condition 189 190 How a Minister may know if an effectuall door be opened to him and what way he would improve that 196 197 Three things required to qualifie a person for the Ministery 199 A ministeriall gift what it is and what it includeth 199 200 Some rules to be observed by Ministers in their choise of Texts and Doctrines 472 473 Whether a Minister may lawfully preach over and over the same Doctrine with some rules about it 475 476 Why faithfull Ministers are a torment to the men of the world and why a profane people would be glad to be rid of an honest Minister and yet well pleased with an hirelâ—ng 488 489 The reasons why sometimes the Lord suffereth His Ministers to be trod upon at the very entry to their witnessing and Reformation to get a sorer dash than if the establishment thereof had never been intended 489 490 What is understood by Mountains in Scripture 423 The Mountains on which the woman sitteth described 639 640 What we are to understand by finishing the mysterie of God 467 N NIcolaitans what they hold how their doctrine did agree with the doctrine of Balaam what the hatred of their deeds was and what is meant by Christs fighting against them by the sword of His mouth 79 80 157 What it is to count the number of the Beast 566 How the number of a man is to be taken ibid. How the particular number of 666. is to be understood ibid. Some generall considerations for understanding this number 567 Why the particular number of 666. is mentioned and why we are commanded rather to reckon his number than his mark or name 570 571 O OMega what is imported thereby 25 Why Christ so oft designed by it vid. Alpha. Whether ordination in the Church of Rome maketh a man no Minister of Christ 483 The faith of an outgate the best way to bear a triall 393 P VVHom we are to understand by that innumerable company who stand before the Throne with Palms in their hands to what state of the Church it relateth and if to the state of the Church-militant wherefore is it that this condition is set down under expressions seemingly only suitable to the Church-triumphant 391 392 That Papacy is the seventh and last government of Rome proven and some objections to the contrary answered 645 646 A view of the rise progresse and nature of the Papall Kingdom and the time about which it began to appear 442 443 444 A Papist as such living and dying according to the complex principles of the doctrine and worship followed in Popery cannot be saved 585 The grounds that render the salvation of such a Papist impossible ibid. The way laid down by Papists for justifying a sinner before God 586 587 588 The first Period of the militant Church which beginneth with the seals is to be fixed at the close of the persecution by heathens with a caution added concerning this 331 The Period between the trumpets and the vials is to be fixed at the Lords beginning to pursue Antichrist 331 The remarkablnesse of Gods judgement upon persecuters 376 Persecuters often punished in this life 377 The terriblnesse and inevitablnesse of Gods wrath against persecuters 377 378 How it cometh to passe that persecution so ordinarily followeth the Gospel 347 The principal occasion upon which the primitive persecutions were raised ibid. The persecution of the Church is particularly ordered and bounded by God 348 The sin of persecution shall be most certainly punished 367 368 Gods people may continue long under persecution 368 That there are three Persons in the Godhead 6 The severall steps how the Pope rose to his temporall greatnesse under the pretext of Religion 558 559 The Pope the image of the beast under a civil notion 561 Of the Popes civil power 563 564 That the power assumed by the Pope and given to him is contrary to the Word of God 662 663 664 Of the Popes succession to Peter 664 665 Peace with God not attainable by the Popish justification proven 590 591 592 The way of Popery sinfull in it self 585 According to the principles of Popery a sinner can never have his sins removed nor be at peace with God 586 Whether all these who lived under Popery be excluded from salvation A fourfold distinction 593 594 The great variety of Interpretations which is amongst Popish Doctors of this City Whore Beast and Kings for saving the Pope from being Antichrist and the Church of Rome from being the whore 667 668 669 Rules for differencing what was ordinary from what was extraordinary in the Practice of Christ and the Apostles 116 117 What is to be thought of that form of Prayer O Mediator plead for me 15 16 The Prayer of the souls under the altar and the return that is given with the reason of Gods delaying to execute present judgement on persecuters 364 365 366 Gods people may Pray for vengeance on persecuters 368 The Prayers of the People of God and His peremptory decrees not inconsistent even when the decree aimeth at one thing and the prayer at another upon the matter inconsistent with that 369 There is no efficacy in the Prayers of the Saints without Christs Intercession 406 A time of trouble is a speciall time of Praying ibid. Christ perfumeth all the Saints Prayers What an encouragement that is to pray as also it directeth us how to Pray 407 Judgements even spirituall judgements of Error Schism Division c. may follow a Praying frame of Gods people and how that cometh to passe 415 Directions concerning Preaching 260 to 266 No gift can warrand one to take on the office of an authoritative Preacher though in some particulars Gods mind should be extraordinarily revealed unto him 471 As God may furnish some with gifts in more than an ordinary way for Preaching so may He and useth He to thurst them out in a mixed way to exercise these gifts for the edification of His Church 472 Presbyter Bishop and Angel all one in Scripture vid. Angel That there