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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37035	A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the series of the several prophecies contained in that book, deduced according to their order and dependance on each other; the periods and succession of times, at, or about which, these prophecies, that are already fulfilled, began to be, and were more fully accomplished, fixed and applied according to history; and those that are yet to be fulfilled, modestly, and so far as is warrantable, enquired into. Together with some practical observations, and several digressions, necessary for vindicating, clearing, and confirming many weighty and important truths. Delivered in several lectures, by that learned, laborious, and faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, James Durham, late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. To which is affixed a brief summary of the whole book, with a twofold index, one of the several digressions, another of the chief and principall purposes and words contained in this treatise.	Durham, James, 1622-1658.	1658 (1658)	Wing D2805; ESTC R216058	1,353,392	814

said to rise again and their death must be such a death as is consistent with that and with the manner of their rising 3. It is not three years for dayes for 1. no considerable application can be given that agreeth with it That which interveeneth between Charles the fifth his taking and imprisoning the Elector of Saxon and Landgrave of Hessen and Mauritius Duke of Saxon his making him again to flee and the peace which was concluded at Paussow with Ferdinand will in strict account be about five years and odds to wit from April 1547. to August 1552. The third circumstance is vers 10. their exceeding great mirth and jollity which is aggreged from the reason of it in the end of the vers all that dwell on the earth that is all carnall Professors of that antichristian Kingdom for the earth here is opposed to the true Church which is called Heaven shall make such feasts and chearfulnesse and use all signs of joy which men do in their greatest mirth and upon obtaining greatest victories See Esther 9.18 after their delivery and Nehem. 8.10 c. These are the greatest tokens of mirth Let us consider the victory which is the cause These two Prophets that before tormented them now they are rid of them and at ease We shall enquire in the reasons of these 1. Why faithfull Preachers are often a torment and torture to the men of the world who neither can abide their consciences to be stirred their faults touched their designs marred or lusts restrained c. such Moses and Aaron were to Pharaoh the prophet to Ieroboam Elias and Micajah to Ahab and Iezebel Iohn Baptist to Herod c. 2. Why a profane people will be so glad to be rid of honest Ministers and yet well pleased with hir●lings Ahab could abide four hundred Prophets of Iezebel but could not endure one Micajab that spoke the truth The world is now swarming with the supporters of Antichrist who live delicately on the fat of the earth uncontrolled yet two poor witnesses of Christ are unsufferable And 3. Why the Lord often upon the back of a begun rise of the Gospel will suffer an exceeding nipping storm to arise against it For the first faithfull Ministers especially in times of declining may be said to torment the earth these six wayes 1. Their word and testimonie hath influence on the conscience when it forcibly discovereth and reproveth the ill which a hearer is guilty of it is said Acts. 7.54 that Stephens free witnessing cut the hearers that were guilty to the hea● that is when they cannot get leave to quench all challenges and to sleep on but these witnesses by the power and evidence of the Word and Spirit do condemn their deeds and consequently themselves That galleth them and wanteth not ifluence upon profane consciences though they stop it as Stephens hearers did their ears 2. It tormenteth their will and affection that when they would sleep on and delight themselves in these wayes of their own free preaching marreth their quietnesse even as when Elias cometh to Ahab with this word Hast thou killed and gotten possession and so proceedeth in the threatning 1 King 21. he goeth home sad and all the pleasure that he expected in his new garden evanished so saith the same King of Micajab that he hated him because he never prophesied good to him he was alway thorturing him as Elijah did and as Moses and Aaron did to Pharaoh 3. It tormenteth their corruptions and lighteth upon their Idols by discovering and reproving them and so stirreth up their enimity as Iohn's free preaching did to Herod and Herodias they touch folks sores and that tormenteth them though it be tenderly done yea some good men as Asa 1 King 16.10 have been tormented with this and could not abide it and when enimity and envie are wakened they have a cruell torment as we may see in Haman at Mordecai There is no greater torment to a malignant heart swollen with enimity against the power of Godlinesse in the Godly than to have a faithfull testimonie against it and this pain proceedeth not from any unskilfulnesse and untendernesse in the Minister but from the desperatnesse of their corruption which is like some grievous sore that cannot abide to be cleansed or purged by the most tender Physician 4. It affecteth and tormenteth their credit and pride when their Religion is called superstition idolatry and no Religion they cannot away with that to be called guilty of such and such crimes men in nature and as such cannot digest it and faithfull witnesses must tell them when they go to the left hand yea and to the right also and lift up their voice for that end like a trumpet hence the Pharisees say they will bring this mans bloud upon our heads Acts. 4.5 and that tormenteth them to call the Pope Antichrist and Rome Babylon must be pricking This hath ofen made faithfull Ministers appear untolerable when proud humours disdained to have them meddling with their actions much lesse to condemn them 5. Their testimonie affecteth the ease and outward quietnesse of the world for men naturally love so much Religion as never putteth them to trouble but where faithfull witnessing cometh it will not be content with a form but it casteth their old wayes and bringeth in new as they suppose and that ordinarily meeting with Satans opposition in the world and mens corruption bringeth changes contests wars and judgements for abusing this Word which judgement the witnesses threaten in this sense Ahab calleth Elijah the troubler of Israel 1 King 18.17 And the Apostles are said to turn the world upside down and from this many say it was a good world before but since these Ministers arose there is no peace hence some places of the world yea some Pharisees have more outward peace with formall Ministers yea with Idolatrie than when Christ is preached therefore Christ saith He came not to send peace but a sword and thus the world thinketh if they were quit of some heady Ministers all would be quiet It is no marvell then that worldly men rage at this and that it torment these who have their portion here only 6. Men in darknesse have accesse to their private designs but light crosseth their interest and so tormenteth them for the keeping of a good conscience which Ministers that are faithfull must presse maketh folks inflexible to these crooked ends which the world cannot abide to have obstructed or crossed thus the Prophet that testified against Ieroboam's worship crossed his intent and so marred the securing of the Kingdom to him as Ieroboam thought and this made him hate th●t freedom This may in part vexe all sorts but especially it is intolerable to great men who fret to be bounded either in reference to end or midses and cannot abide to be reproved which was in Asa's case formerly hinted we may see it also in the three Children Dan. 3. It galleth the King that a pretext of

people as distinguished from the Stars But the last cannot be Therefore of necessity the first must be understood We conceive then as by Church or Candlestick is understood many Professors or Churches for under Church here such who thus plead will grant moe particular Churches to be comprehended for say they they are Diocesian Churches in an united way of worshipping or Government So by Angel many Church-guids in an united way of Governing may be understood Ministers are called Stars for these reasons 1. To signifie and point out the eminence and dignity of the Office that it is a glorious and shineing Office 2. To point out what is the especiall end of this Office It is to give light as the use of Stars is to give light to the world so it's Ministers main imployment to shine and give light to others to make the world which is a dark night to be lightsome In which sense Mat. 5.14 It 's said They are the light of the world 3. It is to signifie that they are but subservient lights Our Lord Jesus is the Sun of Righteousnesse that Light that great Light and Ministers are lesser lights 4. It is to point out the way how Ministers become lightsome Stars receive their light from the Sun and by vertue of that borrowed light are made lightsome so Ministers are made lightsome and shine to give others light by vertue of the light that they receive from Christ they are lights but their light is Star light a borrowed light and ecclipses betwixt Jesus Christ and them will darken them seeing they have no light but what they receive from Him This would learn Ministers and People a right uptaking of the nature of this Office and keep off contrary extremes that both respectively are subject unto The second part is expounded the seven Candlesticks are the seven Churches as before he expounded the seven Stars to be the Angels of the seven Churches The Churches are called Candlesticks for these Reasons 1. Because the Candlestick is that which properly the light is set into and it 's fitted for receiving of light though it have none of its own so the visible Church is that wherein Christ Jesus sets His lights 1 Cor. 12.28 God hath set some in the Church first Apostles secondly Prophets c. The Church is as it were the Candlestick to the Candle the proper seat of the Apostles Prophets and Ministers after them 2. Though the Candlestick give no light yet it makes the light set on it to be the more usefull to others as Mat. 5.14 Ye are the light of the world a city set on a hill cannot be hid neither do men light a candle to put it under a bushell but on a Candlestick that it may give light to all that are in the house So Ministers are set in the Church and their setting in the Church is the way whereby God preserves light ordinarily and makes it shine And so the excellent comely order of the visible Church kyths in this that it is like a City set on a hill And hence the Church is called the pillar and ground of the truth 1 Tim. 3.15 The light of the Truth being set in the Church as on a pillar to make it kyth the more and be seen the further that others may fall in love with it And laying both these together the Ministers being Lights and the Churches Candlesticks it holdeth out a near and sib relation betwixt Ministers and People as if the People were dark without Ministers and the Ministers would not shine far nor be usefull if they had not Churches to bear them up We ought not to strain this similitude too far as if Churches might be Churches without Ministers much lesse before Ministers be set in them as a Candlestick still is a Candlestick without a light but certainly very dark That is not the scope but it is to shew that in Constitute Churches what is Christs esteem both of Ministers and People and what is the mutuall relation that stands betwixt them each to other We know that the Church organized is but one body whereof the Pastors are a principall part and that these derogate not to the other relations betwixt Ministers and People as to be Fathers to them to beget them to nourish them as a Nurse doth in giving suck to be Mothers travelling in birth with them in which respect particular Churches and Christians have their being from Ministers as such instruments who hath begotten them by the immortall seed of the Word 2. Golden Candlesticks 1. To point out comparatively the excellency of the Visible Church above all other Societies in the World and positively the excellency that is among the Churches as gold is the most excellent mettall so the Church is the choice and waill of all the World beside it 's Gods Garden 2. To let us see what is Believers duty and what all the members of the Church are obliged to they ought to be as gold that will abide the tryall and hath no drosse The Church of Christ should be throughly sincere as gold to be like every sort of mettall will not be enough Quest. How can these Churches be called gold seing many of them are of so little worth that they could scarce abide the tryall as Pergamos Thyatira Sardis c. and Laodicea is so corrupt that she hath no commendation at all Answ. Our Lord Jesus designes the Visible Church or Churches not according to the plurality but according to the better part and when there is any gold He counts by it even as one may call an heap a heap of corn though the greatest part be chaffe 3. There is something essentiall to the Church as Visible which makes them get this denomination for the Visible Church hath a comparative excellency beyond others that are without and Jesus Christ looking not to what they were but to the nature of a Visible Church He calls them golden Candlesticks even as He calls the Ministers Stars though there were some among them of little worth as that Angel of Laodicea because by vertue of their Office they were so So the Churches written to by the Apostles are called Saints and Holy in so far as by vertue of their profession and Church-state-relation that they stood in to God they were so 3. He designes them so by vertue of their obligation to let them see what they should be and were obliged to be This is a main reason why the Church of the Iews is called a Holy people not for any great holinesse that often was amongst them all but because they were separated from other People to be a peculiar People to Him in which respect the children of Believers are called holy 1 Cor. 7. which is not to be understood of any personall holinesse but of a holinesse in respect of a federall or Covenant relation in which respect they are separated from the rest of the world who have not an externall right to

full of the holy Ghost but there being various opinions about the occasion and rise of it I shall name two that are special and choose which of the two we think safest 1. Some write of him that having fallen from his integrity and become dissolute in his practice he strove to maintain it in his Doctrine a thing too common to draw our Doctrine to maintain our practice and form●●ly taught this error and begat many profane followers Neither say they is it like that such a vile sin would have been fathered in Scripture on such a man if he had been innocent Others set it down with more mitigation and charity to Nicolas thus That this Nicolas having a beautifull wife was suspected to entertain jealousie of her it 's like from some others Members of the Church and being too inadvertant and rash in the way which he took for removing that suspicion to make it be seen that he had none he brought his wife in publick and holding her forth said he cared not who conversed with her so far was he from being suspicious of her honestie This rash fact though flowing from a good intention say they was abused by some to patronize the errors formerly mentioned beyond his intention And they were called Nicolaitans on this occasion not because he taught so but that they concluded so from that his practice and fathered what they maintained on that worthy man as it is ordinary for corrupt men to father their corrupt opinions upon and to shelter themselves under grave and Godly mens names This last in the doubtfulnesse of this case it being asserted by the most ancient to wit Clemens Alexand. we rather embrace partly because of that mans commendation Acts 6. where it is said he was a man full of the holy Ghost and partly because it is most charitable and therefore is safest especially where such a testimony is given to the man in Scripture And for as abominable as this was it was for many centuries of years revived and continued with many additions in the Church by Gnosticks Basilides c. by those called the Saturnians Carpocratians and many others who made a pretext of Nicolas for their patron A thing to be wondered at that so soon after Christ while Iohn the beloved Disciple was living Satan should assault and set upon the Church with such errors and yet as wonderfull that after those errors were refuted by an extraordinary Apostle speaking from Christs own mouth they were vented and maintained by those Hereticks a symptom of that peartnesse and impudencie that corrupt men are led with when so soon at such a time contrarie to so clear reproofs men durst vent and abide by such grosse things O what force and efficacie hath the spirit of delusion when it 's letten loose and what a hight may it come to Tremble at the beginnings of it it 's hard to conceive with what audacity and boldnesse it will bear it self out that though our Lord would write an Epistle from Heaven delusion will so blind folks that they will not question their errors The second thing to be spoken unto in this commendation is that they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans not their persons simply but their deeds and them as promoving these deeds though the Church had these men among them and was severe in her Discipline yet the Lord taketh notice of this especially that she kept a secret sincere abhorrencie of them in her heart not only did not the Angel and Church countenance them nor only censure them nor only forbear their company but they had such an abhorrencie of their deeds and of themselves in carrying on these deeds that the thinking of them was abominable as saith David Psal. 139.21 22. Do not I hate them that hate thee I hate them with a perfect hatred And Ps. 119.104 I hate every false way So this hatred in reference to these Nicolaitans was not carnal or in reference to their persons simply but in these three respects especially 1. In respect of their deeds and Doctrine it struck at their deeds as here and at their Doctrine as vers 15. And 2. Looking upon them as instruments and Ministers of Satan made use of by him for corrupting and poisoning of souls and shaming of the Gospel they abhorred them considered as such what ever pity to their persons or desire to their Salvation they had 3. As they conceived them to be hateful to Christ and hated by Him so did they hate them squaring their hatred as they did conceive Christ to hate Observe 1. That there are some things and persons especially at some times that it is not enough for the people of God to abstain from them in their practice if there be not an abhorrencie of them in their hearts The way of error and corrupt practices that follow on it should be abhorred as any other sin how grosse and scandalous soever Heresie as murther and Schism as witchcraft Gal. 5.19 and there is good reason for it for if folk be not serious in hatred of and so out of love with the thing they may soon fall in the practice of it and simple abstinence will never be counted sincerity before God whose trial is how it stands with the heart and affections how the heart is affected or dis-affected toward the thing 2. Our Lord Jesus counts it some mark of sincerity when there is a single hatred of the way of errour as it is in it self evill and hatefull to and hated by Him The third thing in this mitigation is the ground on which their hatred is commended It is conformity with Christ which I also hate I hate them therefore it 's commendable in thee to hate them It 's a sure ground of commendation to hate what He hates and love what He loves This ground of commendation implyeth two things 1. That it 's well done to hate what Christ hates Observe Gods People should love and hate one thing with Jesus Christ they should study to be conform to Him in the exercise of all their passions and affections 2. It implyeth a likenesse to Christs hatred in the nature thereof that they hated them as they were hated by Christ and not as they were enemies to them Obs. It 's a good way to square folks hatred and zeal so as it degener not into passion to look to the matter that it be such as is hated by Christ and to the manner that it be such as His is single and zealous and that it be on that account because hatefull to Him otherwise men may carnally and selfishly hate but without commendation 3. It implyeth also that corrupt Doctrine is most hatefull to Christ Jesus and should be to His People Vers. 7. Followeth the conclusion wherein we have two things 1. A general advertisement or exhortation common to and repeated in all the Epistles Let him that hath an ear hear 2. A particular promise for upstirring of them to wrestle and

is called a Lamb partly for His meeknesse in bearing so long with His enemies partly to distinguish Him from and oppose Him to the two horned beast Chap. 13.11 that appeared like Him Would Iobn say I saw after this the true Lamb who is indeed the Lamb as if for a time He had not been discernable And He is said to be on mount Sion to expresse His care of His Church even then when the former beast took all on him in Christs name yet this Lamb had not laid it by nor committed it to him but retained still His watchfull oversight of His Church though for His own good reasons He delayed the inflicting of vengeance on her enemies in these respects He is said to be standing to expresse both His watchfulnesse and tendernesse Micah 5 4. Act. 7.34 This sheweth the Church was not slighted by Christ even under Antichrist He is there and standing there as sitting doth expresse His dominion this doth His care 2. The state of these Believers is set down in respect of the place where they appear it is on mount Sion where our Lord stands and they with Him by this is meaned the Church whereof mount Zion was a type Psal. 48. and Psal. 125. for strength beauty and the fixing of the worship of God their thus appearing on mount Zion is in opposition to their being hid in the Temple Chap. 11.1 They are now as it were drawing out and Christs appearing here is His appearing by some visible Ordinances and Worship amongst them In a word saith he my eyes was taken off the enemies of the Church to behold her and I saw that Christ wanted not a Church neither was the Church destitute of His care but both are represented here though for a long time both were little seen 3. They are set out in their number to wit 144000. relating to that Chap. 7. First to shew they were just so many as were sealed and none of these were wanting the effect had holden good on them all and their sealing was not for nought Secondly to shew that the number kept clean after a strait and that decerned of God for that end will be alike Thirdly to shew that that time is at a close now for the 144000. which were brought in successively are now compleated in all which Gods faithfulnesse doth kyth 4. They have his fathers name written in their foreheads that is a profession of Gods truth as a seal bearing out to whom they belonged they thinking now no shame of owning Him In a word I saw that number bearing out his mark and burn-iron on them looking otherwise than all the rest of the world that had a different name upon them by which they are certainly opposed to these mentioned Chap. 13.17 18. Or more plainly this number in this posture waiting on the Lamb is certainly opposed to the number that followed the counterfeiting beast and received his name Christ to Antichrist His followers to his worshippers The name also is opposed whereby it appeareth there is some light to be gotten in clearing the one for clearing the other Secondly This state of the Church is set out by what Iobn heard as the first by his looking and seeing setteth them out in their appearance and profession So 2. this of hearing setteth them out in their practice The third setteth them out as they were indeed before God real Converts Elected Redeemed Called Justified and Sanctified This practice that he heard is in general singing and praising partly following the allusion used in the dramatick form of this Book by interludes of singing c. partly to shew the heartsomnesse and real mirth of Christs followers singing and glorifying Him in the fires Isa. 24.15 partly to point out the chearfull effect and blessed change that was now coming and at hand This singing and practice of theirs is more particularly set forth in these five 1. the place from whence from heaven that is the Church as Chap. 4. and 5. Or it may be to set out the joy in heaven at the Church appearing again on mount Sion However these 144000. learned this song and joyned in it possibly it is both as in Chap. 5. 2. In its manner it is a voice like waters thunders and harpings Waters make a great noise See Rev. 1.15 Ezek. 1. This sheweth the loudnesse of their cry it was now heard Rev. 19.6 Thunderings shew a vehemency and terriblenesse in the sound or powerfulnesse as Psal. 29. that sheweth goodwill in their crying Harpings shew chearfulnesse in the fingers and harmony in what was plaid or sung all three put together they shew a sound in the Church which had the word of God both loud powerfull and comfortable and that these professours were not dumb and silent nor jarring but now they are both seen and heard and it is pleasant both to see and hear them Thirdly In vers 3. they are set out by the matter of their song It is a new song now looking not to Christ to come but as come so differing from the old song of the Fathers See Chap. 5. New also in respect of a new reason and matter by a new mercy Psal. 40.3 and so this may be new as looking to Christs care of them in their almost now bypast strait so different from that Chap. 5. which for opening the seals was sung 4. This song is before the Throne Elders and beasts that is publickly as these represent a publick Church state as Chap. 4. Now it is in the Congregation or before the Throne c. that is they made good musick before God and in the approbation of His people though the world understood it not and thought nothing of it So these are looked on as contra-distinguished from the world They had the glad tydings of the Gospel that made them merry but the world was uncapable of that joy 5. This song is described by this that none in all the world that heard it could take it up or joyn in it but these redeemed ones whereby it appeareth to be yet a time of ignorance when the Gospel was keeped up from the world and also it holdeth forth that it is a special priviledge to understand the Gospel and that naturally men are uncapable of it in a word it is this the Church that I saw was in this condition that it was singing chearfully and merrilly Antichrists persecution could not mar nor take their joy from them that was such a sung and mirth a● was not carnall or naturall but spirituall of a new nature and therefore they sing this song alone none could sing nor perceive nor understand that which comforted them or kindly blessed God for it but such as had some experience of it they had it given them to learn this mystery which none other had and as propheticall it saith that though the Church of Christ peeped out for a considerable time in the Waldenses here and there and that they suffered joyfully which indeed

In a word they are justified and absolved by God and have His testimony and therefore they are sincere which expression before the Throne of God importeth two things 1. Sincerity as it is opposed to mens judging who cannot see so far as God 2. It looketh to the ground of their acceptation which is not any righteousnesse of their own for upon that account none living will be justified in his sight Psal. 143. but the righteousnesse of Christ that is the ground of their absolution before God In a word they were indeed sincere and through Christs bloud washen and absolved Chap. 7. vers 14. By all which it appeareth they are really sanctified and justified who are meaned here seing no hypocrite never so well painted can be without fault before God LECTURE II. Vers. 6. And I saw another Angel flie in the midst of heaven having the everlasting Gospel to preach unto them that dwell on the earth and to every nation and kindred and tongue and people 7. Saying with a loud voice Fear God and give glory to him for the hour of his judgement is come and worship him that made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountains of waters IN the preceeding part of the Chapter there is a little hint given of the estate of the Church when Antichrist was at his height she was in a defensive posture In the second part of the Chapter from vers 6. and forward the state of the Church is described after its beginning to be active and to come out of the secret wildernesse wherein she was hid and it hath two parts to the end of the Chapter In the first the Church is set out encountering with the attempts of Antichrist in lighter skirmishes by the word labouring to discover his treachery and Idolatry and so to bring men out of his snare and this is done by three severall Angels to the 13. vers every one of them more clearly speaking to the ruine of Antichrist and threatening judgement on him and his followers than the former In the second part from vers 13. to the end when advertisement by the Word doth not the business the Lord cometh in by deeds and falleth about the perfecting of what was threatened by the former three Angels which is set down in two similitudes whereby he finisheth the execution of his wrath These three Angels come out after the darknesse of Antichrist to spread the everlasting Gospel and to preach the righteousnesse of Christ for the sending of Ministers and the encreasing of the Church go together and are trysted together The first in the 6. and 7. verses hath this mainly in commission to allure souls from Antichrists flattery to the saith and obedience of Christ. The second in the 8. vers cometh and foretelleth the destruction of spirituall Babylon or Rome and because he would have them certainly believing it he speaketh of it as a thing already done The third in the 9 10 and 11. verses cometh to denounce Gods fearfull judgement against Antichrist and all that should take his mark that if they would not be allured by the Gospel they might be scared by the plagues and judgements that were to come on him from following him This is the sum of these three Angels preaching If it be asked to what time this relateth though we will not be peremptor to determine yet we think it looketh rather to the spreading of the Gospel about or in the dayes of Luther than to any time before Reason 1. Because the state of the Church before the rise of the Gospel is described before to be low and this spreading of the Gospel succeeding to that low estate it must look to her flourishing condition Reas. 2. Because the universall extent of this first Angels commission is such that we cannot so well apply it to any other time before that it is to all Tongues and Kindreds which only was fulfilled then and is in opposition to the former restraint Reas. 3. Because after the first Angels preaching the everlasting Gospel there is an immediate succession of one after another still without interruption carrying on this ruine we take it therefore most probably to relate to the spreading of the Gospel after Antichrists begun ruine for till then the Church was in the wildernesse and the witnesses are few and in sackcloth In the first Angels preaching we have these four 1. The instrument an Angel 2. The posture he is in flieing in the midst of heaven 3. His businesse or work to preach the everlasting Gospel to them that dwell on the earth 4. His message or the sum of his preaching vers 7. fear God c. For the first That the instrument is called an Angel it is not properly to be taken for the Angels are ministring Spirits sent forth to minister for them that are heirs of Salvation Heb. 1. ult but they have not the everlasting Gospel to preach This treasure is put in earthen vessels that the excellency of the power may be of God 2 Corinth 4.7 and he hath given to us the ministery of reconciliation saith the Apostle 2 Corinth 5.18 and it is common to all Ministers to be called Angels as Chap. 2. and 3. and Chap. 1. vers 20. of this same Book so we take the word here to hold out the Lords making use of a Ministrie after the darknesse of Antichrist to spread the Gospel and the Ministers are called Angels because they are Gods messengers intrusted by Him with a high and heavenly imployment and it is a title that should put Ministers in mind of their duty to do Gods will on earth as the Angels do it in heaven in a spiritual and heavenly way cheerfully willingly and readily and it should put people in mind of their duty to take this word off Ministers hands as from Angels 2. Angel here in the singular number is not one Minister for in the lowest condition the Church was in as Chap. 11. she had two witnesses and she behoved to have moe now when the Gospel is rising and to be published abroad but we are to take the word collectively and it is no extraordinary thing when the Lord would speak of moe Ministers nor one to speak of them as one and it implieth no singularity or superiority in one over the rest See Chap. 1. vers 20. For the second the posture he is in It is flieing through the midst of heaven as is spoken of another Angel Chap. 8.13 The Lord is now to shew that He will not keep His Church and Gospel as it were hid in a corner or in the Temple as Chap. 11. vers 1. nor on mount Zion though that be more publick but He will send out His Ministers conspicuously as it were in the open view of all to preach His Gospel to all the world And he is called another Angel as contradistinguished from that number of the true Church mentioned in the former part of the Chapter The Lord having a

new task and a new piece of work He provideth Himself of new Ministers and it may be some out from among Antichrists followers and none of these who stood on mount Sion of such did the Lord make use in the beginning of the Reformation to preach and to be instrumentall for Him who were not of the Waldenses or Albigenses but drawn from the midst of Popery For the third His errand or work is to preach the everlasting Gospel to them that dwell on the earth and that to every Nation and Kindred and Tongue and People wherein we have 1. His work 2. The object or extent of it 1. His work is the preaching of the everlasting Gospel we need not tell you what the Gospel is or what the word signifieth it is that that the Angel hath to the shepheards Luk. 2.10 good tidings of great joy and it is called the glad tidings of salvation because it is eminently and excellently beyond all comparison the gladest news that ever were made mention of to sinners and the word Gospel is drawn from an old Saxon word that signifieth Gods-spell such a word to man as is the best word that ever was heard of there is none to it And it is called everlasting for these reasons 1. From the rise of it from everlasting in Gods eternall plot and purpose 2. From the effect it bringeth life and immortality to light 2 Tim. 1.10 and 1 Pet. 1. ult It is said the word of the Lord endureth for ever the effect and efficacy of it never endeth 3. It is here called the everlasting Gospel in opposition to the Papists calumnie who enquire where was our Church and Gospel before such a time and to charge the Gospel at its reviving with novelty because differing from their traditions which for a time had obscured it as if it had been buried now what is preached is the ancient everlasting Gospel although it be of new revived and the Angel is here said to have the everlasting Gospel according to that word 2 Cor. 5.18 He hath given or committed to us the word of reconciliation He is made a steward of it which designeth and denotateth an office he hath not so given it to the community or multitude but hath committed it to such and such Angels 2. The object or extent of it is generally to all that dwell on the earth and to every Nation Kindred and Tongue and People as if he said the Gospel is not now to be sent to some few as in the dayes of Antichrists prevailing but to be manifested to all sorts of People of whatsoever Kindred Tongue or Nation And it is by vertue of this commission that so many Nations and we at this day enjoy this Gospel The fourth or last thing is his message or sum of his preaching more particularly set down saying with a loud voice implying great boldnesse to be in these Ministers as was in our first Reformers His meaning is they should not by whispering do it but with great authority and boldnesse should publish the Gospel The preaching it self hath three heads and a reason is annexed to perswade unto the first two The first is Fear God The second is Give Him glory the reason annexed for the hour of His judgement is come And the third and last head is And worship Him that made Heaven and Earth c. These three look to the three great parts of Religion opposit to the three faults that the followers of Antichrist are given to The first looketh to the regulating of men in their inward frame the second in their Faith the third in their externall worship 1. Fear God This regulateth our fear as to its object to wit God which supposeth now that many things have been feared by the world more than He also it sheweth that outward service will not do it there must be a right principle within and so it is opposit to profanity and hypocrisie fear of men and Antichrists cursings which should from this forth be lesse feared 2. Give Him glory The giving of God glory is diverse wayes taken according to His diverse Attributes but we take it here to look mainly to the giving of Him the glory of His Grace in resting by Faith on Christ alone as the only Mediator and Saviour so renouncing all others as it is said of Abraham Rom. 4.20 he was strong in Faith giving glory to God and Hos. 11.7 though they called then to the most high none at all would exalt Him none would give Him the glory of His Grace by believing for as the rejecting of the Gospel is a despising of God so the receiving of the Gospel is a giving Him glory Reason 1. Because the glory of Grace is especially the glory which the Gospel holdeth out 2. Because this meeteth especially with Antichrists dishonouring of Him by giving the glory due to Him to other things Saints Angels and mens own works and in not resting on His Mediation Intercession and Satisfaction alone and this cometh nearest the scope The reason perswading to these two for the hour of his judgement is come which being compared with a word Acts 17.30 The times of this ignorance God winked at but now commandeth all men every where to repent the force of the argument is this beware now of giving the glory of Gods Grace in a Mediator to other things for though God hath spared men a while in the times of ignorance and darknesse He will not do so now when the light is broken up but will send suddain judgements on the despisers of the Gospel and many Churches that have not made use of the Gospel find this true this day 2. It is called the hour of His judgement to teach us that as God hath a set time for all things so hath He a peculiar time for judgement and as for all sinners so for these that follow Antichrists way and also that often the hour of preaching the Gospel hath the hour of judgement waiting on it if it be abused The third head of his preaching is And worship Him that made heaven and earth This looketh to their externall worship as if he said ye have been worshipping stocks idols and images of gold and silver vanities that cannot profit you now beware of continuing any longer in that way but worship the alone living and true God who is thus described that He made heaven and earth the sea and fountains of waters even as the the Apostle speaketh Acts 14.15 We preach to you that ye should turn from these vanities unto the living God which made heaven and earth the sea and all things that are therein almost in the same words and this cleareth that these exhortations are set down in opposition to the way they look before while they were following Antichrist God is thus described here 1. That they may see the vanity of worshipping any other than God and that they had just reason and cause of worshipping Him 2. To point