Propriety of the Titles attributed to Christ for he is said to be the faithful Witness that the following Prophecy might be the more readily believed and in Opposition to the Pretences of Antichrist to New Traditions distinct from those delivered by him in his Gospel the intire Revelation of his Father 's Will. 2dly His Resurrection is mentioned because it was the chief Proof of his Divinity and the Ground of our Faith and chiefly because that from thence is taken the Epocha or the beginning of the Account of the Times and Seasons of this Prophecy The other Titles plainly relate to the Efficacy of his Blood alone to our Justification and Sanctification and to our Praises due to him alone in opposition to Merits and Satisfactions Prayers to Saints and Angels and the other Corruptions of the Opposite Antichristian Kingdom 6 And hath made us Kings to Reign on the Earth in his Kingdom Dan 7.27 Rev. 5 10.20 6. and Priests to offer Spiritual Sacrifices 1 Pet. 2.9 Rev. 20.6 unto God and his Father and not unto Saints and Angels to him Christ be Glory i. e. Praise and Acknowledgment of his Perfections and Kingly Dominion for ever and ever in his Everlasting Kingdom Dan. 2.44 Revel 11.15 Amen So be it and so it will be 7 11 Behold he cometh 12 i. e. he will as certainly come as if we saw him now a coming with Clouds i.e. with Power and great Glory Dan. 7.13 Matth. 24.30 and every Eye of all Men shall see him coming and they also which pierced him i. e. the Jews shall see him feel his Power and acknowledge him Isa 40.5 Zach. 12.10 John 19.37 and all Kindreds Tribes or People of the Earth i.e. of the wicked worldly and 13 Antichristian Part shall wail because of him their Judg whom they had provoked Even so 14 Amen i. e. this is a certain Truth to be expected and desired 11 This Verse relates to the coming of Christ in his Kingdom at the last Day when the Jews who crucified him and all other his Enemies shall appear and be judged by him And it is worth noting That according to the Precepts of Art observed by the most Judicious Writers we have here from Verse 5. given us in short at the very entrance of this Prophecy a brief Representation of the chief End and Design of it The Kingdom of Christ of which upon all fit Occasions we are presented with a short View because it is the thing which all the Events Typified in this Book were designed to produce and as it were the Catastrophe of this 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the World according to Plotinus's Phrase or of all the Transactions which have appeared on the Stage of it 12 A Form of Speech in use with the Prophets denoting the Infallible certainty of what they foretold Or cometh may here signifie he beginneth to come as Verse 1. See * Pag. 145. 150. Dr. Pocock on Joel 13 Earth is taken in this sense sometimes in this Prophecy as we shall see hereafter 14 This Word in Scripture is put to affirm that the thing will be as well as to wish for it and approve it 8 And do not doubt of the Truth and Extent of this Prophecy for I Christ who have revealed it am Alpha 15 and Omega the beginning and the ending who am before all things and shall abide after them for ever saith the Lord Christ which is or The That is and which was and which is to come the Almighty as well as Eternal Jehovah who can bring to pass the Words of this Prophecy from the beginning of it to the end of Time 15 These are the first and last Letters of the Greek Alphabet whereby the Beginning and Consummation of all Things Times and Seasons is ascribed to Christ as the incommunicable Attributes of God also are viz. his Name Jehovah and his Almightiness So that this Verse contains a plain Declaration of the Divinity of our Saviour 9 I John who also am your Brother in the same Faith and Companion in tribulation i. e. a Fellow-sufferer with you and in the Kingdom and patience or patient 15 expectation of the Kingdom of Jesus Christ delayed unto the time of the end Dan. 12 4-13 Rev. 10.4 7. was in 17 Banishment in the Isle that is called 18 Patmos for preaching the word of God and for the testimony of Jesus Christ i.e. the Gospel 16 For so the words seem to signifie and may very well be Translated by a figure common in Scripture for this Kingdom was to have begun in its full Power immediately at Christ's Resurrection and was then expected by the Apostles Acts 1.6 but was still patiently to be waited for until the time of the end to which it was deferred Altho the words may more properly relate to the Patience of Christ or to his own patient Expectation of his Kingdom until the times agreed on with his Father See Chap. 3.10 17 In the time of Domitian about the end of the year of our Lord 95 or the beginning of 96 as Chronologers generally agree 18 Situate in the Archi-pelago about 40 Miles from the Continent of Asia towards Ephesus in the Sea next to the Churches to which he wrote And as Ezekiel and Daniel had their Visions when they were in Captivity so also might it be by way of Correspondence Ordained by God that John should receive this Prophecy in a place of Exile Restraints and places of Recess and Retireme◠from the wicked World affording the fittest dispositions and opportunities for Divine Communications 10. I was in the Spirit 19 i. e. under the immediate Power of it on the 20 Lord's day and 21 heard that is perceived in my Spirit unexpectedly and as it were from behind me a great voice as of a Trumpet i. e. a very loud voice as the sound of the Trumpets on the solemn Festivals Psal 47.5 or in the time of War Zechar. 9.14 to raise my attention and to encourage me and to signifie that Judgments were to be denounced 19 That is I was not in the Body but in a Spiritual Extasie or Rapture under the immediate actings of the Spirit of God representing things to my Soul and not to my Senses 2 Cor. 12.2 20 The First Day of the Week or the Christian Sabbath instituted in Memory of Christ's Resurrection and called The Lord's Day a Phrase never used in the New Testament but with reference to this Day and the Lord's Supper because it was blessed and sanctified by Christ's Resurrection and the Descent of the Spirit intimated here by John's saying that he was then in the Spirit and instituted and set apart by his Authority as the Day in which his Worship was ordinarily and necessarily to be frequented by all Christians And the Day is here punctually expressed which is also exactly observed by Ezekiel and Daniel for the benefit of the Church which is to take notice of Times and Seasons to shew that these
3 4 18.6 2. 25 These Heavenly Armies appear in the same Habit with the Spouse at the Eighth Verse whence it follows that they are Saints who differ not from the Spouse which is the Church but as the Members do from the Body the whole from the parts united But Christ only and not the Saints appears in a Vesture dipt in Blood to shew that this Victory over Antichrist and the wicked world was wholly owing to his Blood according to Isaiah 63 1-7 and that the Saints Robes were washed and made white in his Blood alone 15 And out of his Mouth goeth a sharp Sword of Sentence and Condemnation proceeding out of it verse 21 that with it he should smite all the Wicked Nations of the Earth and after he hath smitten them he shall rule them with a rod of Iron during the continuance of his Glorious Kingdom Psalm 2. Rev. 2.27 See Rev. 20. and he treadeth and that alone Isa 63 1-6 the Winepress 26 of the feirceness and wrath of Almighty God i. e. the wicked of the Earth were punished by him with exquisite Torments 26 From hence it appears that this Judgment and Victory is contemporary with Chapter 14. 19 20. See also on Chapter 20. 16 And he hath on his Kingly and Glorious 27 Vesture Is 63.1 and on his Thigh upon which the Sword of his Fury was also girt Psalm 45.3 Is 27 1.66 16. Ezek. 38.18 21 a Name Written legibly and now seen and acknowled by all King of Kings and Lord of Lords i. e. the only Supreme Universal Monarch Dan. 2.44 45 47. 1 Tim. 6.15 Rev. 17.14 27 Here Christ is represented as taking possession of his glorious Kingdom clad in Imperial Glorious Apparel and girt with a Kingly Sword according to the Description of his going forth to his Kingdom in his Might Glory and Majesty Psalm 45. It is an ingenious conjecture of those who think that as his former Name Verse 12 13. denotes his Divinity so does this denote his Kingdom as the Son of Man Whereupon he wears a Title on his Vesture as Kings are wont to do their Regal Cognizances by which they are distinguished and made known and also on his Thigh to signifie that he came from the Loyns or Thighs of Abraham and David whose Son he was according to the Flesh Matth. 1.1 Rom. 1.3 to whose Seed which is Christ an universal Kingdom was promised Whereupon also they were wont to put their Hands under the Thighs of them to whom they swore Fidelity and Subjection to shew that Christ the Blessed Seed and Vniversal Monarch was to come from the Thigh or Loyns of Abraham Gen. 24 2.46 26.47 29. 1 Chron. 29.24 Ezek. 17.18 17 And I saw an Angel standing in the Sun to shew the Glory of Christ the King of Kings and the Sun of Righteousness now câ—mforting his Servants and treading down his Enemies Malach. 4.2 3 Rev. 1.16.8 12 10 1.12 1. and he cried with a oud voice saying to all the Fowls 28 that fly in the midst of Heaven come and gather your selves together unto the Supper of the great God i e. come and partake of and c lebrate this his great Victory Is 34.6 Jerem. 12.9 Ezek. 39.17 19. Zeph. 1.7 28 In this Verse begins the Third Vision of this Chapter wherein is described the Event and Success of the Battel of Armageddon by a Feast for Fowls upon the Carcasses of the slain to which they are as it were invited by a Poetical Allocution made use of 1 Sam. 17.46 Jerem. 12.9 and Ezek. 39 17-20 the place here alluded to from whence it is evident that the Battel and Success mentioned in this place has a reference to Gog the Subject of those Visions of the Prophet Ezekiel Now although by Fowl are meant in the Prophet the Damned Spirits who seize on lost Mankind as Ravenous Birds on their Prey yet because they are discomfited in this Battel and are represented as bound in it they cannot be understood in this place which has a reference rather to the Saints those Armies of Heaven on white Horses who come with Christ in the Air at this Day of Judgment typified by a Battel of Decision and are as it were invited to a Feast upon a sacrifice of the slain as it is called Ezek 39 17-21 according to the Notions and Customes of the Jews who were wont to (a) Dr. Cudworth's true Notion of the Lord's Supper Feast upon Sacrifices and that after a Victory and sometimes upon the Spoils taken in War as Abraham was fâ—asted by Melchizedeck and his Soldiers upon the Spoils taken from the wicked Kings a Type of the Kings here vanquished Gen. 14. And accordingly the Saints are here invited to an Eucharistical Feast for the slaughter of Christ's Enemies who are frequently in Scripture said to (b) See Rev. 18.20 Psalm 58.10 Psalm 106. and 149. rejoice not in the misery but in the righteous Judgments of Christ upon the wicked in regard of which Righteousness they are comforted as the Prophet Ezekiel speaks Chap. 14.22 23. concerning the Evil which God brings upon the wicked for their wicked ways and doings 18 That ye may Eat the Flesh of the Kings of the Earth and the Flesh of Captains and the Flesh of Mighty Men or Soldiers Jerem. 46 5. and the Flesh of Horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all Men booth free and bond both small and great i. e. that ye might rejoyce for the Judgments of God upon all his Enemies whatsoever Psalm 110. and 149. Rev. 18.20 Ezek. 39 18-21 19 And I saw the Beast i. e. the Papacy and its Hierarchy and the Kings of the Earth and their Armies i. e. all the wicked Potentates of the Earth and their followers and adherents gathered together to make War i. e. united in a Diabolical Conspiracy chap. 16.13 14 16. against him that sate on the white Horse i. e. Christ verse 11. against his Army the Saints verse 14 20 And the Beast was taken captive Rev. 13.10 and with him the false Prophet i. e. the other Beast that wrought Miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the Beast and them that Worshipped his Image i. e. the adherents of Antichrist chap. 13. these 29 both were cast 30 alive into a lake of Fire burning with Brimstone i. e. were punished after a most exemplary manner and with the utmost severity 29 The Beast and the False Prophet as being the Chief in the Conspiracy against Christ's Kingdom are first taken and are condemned to the Lake even before the Devil and the wicked Nations who found them there when they were cast into it Rev. 20 10-15 30 This Phrase shews 1. That their Punishment will be very severe and very exemplary proceeding from the utmost Wrath and Indignation of God expressed by Fire and Brimstone 2. That it was their Final and Eternal Condemnation as being the very same punishment to which
of Judgment being One of the Lord's Days called frequently the Day of the Lord in Scripture must consist of a Thousand Literal Years and a Thousand Years when spoken of with relation to some mystical Day or Time of the Lord must be accounted as One mystical Day comprehending a Thousand Years of common Account And also he further intimates that the Days of the Lord in which he perfected the Work of the Creation and rested from it being Seven there must consequently pass before the Day of Judgment six Thousand Years or six mystical Days and that the Day of Judgment must accordingly last a Thousand Years which should be a Day of Sabbatism or a Thousand Years of Rest or Peace and of Sanctification or Righteousness in correspondence to Gods resting on the Seventh Day and blessing and sanctifying it And this Interpretation of the place is not only agreeable to the Traditions (a) Mede 's Works pag. 609. Grot. in loc Ainsw on Gen. 1.31 Burnet's Theory B. 3 5.4 3 6. of the Jews to whom the Apostle wrote and to the Sentiments of the Primitive Christians but also may be stongly enforced from the Circumstances of the Text it self For if this were not the sense of the VVords and it contained only this plain Natural Truth that Time is nothing to Eternity why should so solemn an Admonition be prefixed to it VVhich is also a sense nothing proper to the scope of the Apostle who was to answer the Objection of the Scoffers and to comfort the Christians under the delay and long suffering of God and to excite them to look for it and hasten unto it to which end it was no ways proper to tell them that each Natural day of the Year was with the Lord as a Thousand Years which would but have encreased their impatient expectation and would withal not have answered the Objection of the Scoffers because there might be for all the Apostle had asserted many Thousand Years before the Promise of his coming should be fulfilled VVhereas the other Interpretation affords Hope to the Christians that things should not always continue as they were but that this wicked World should be at last destroyed and a New One succeed it wherein they should be found of Christ at his coming in peace that is in a state of rest and peace to their good and prosperity according to what the Apostle Paul had written unto them in his Epistle to the (b) Especially in the 3d and 4th Chapters Hebrews where besides the Rest from the VVorks of the Creation and that promised to the Israelites in the Land of Canaan he makes mention of another Rest which he calls a certain limited Day wherein another kind of Rest is to be expected plainly intimating the Day of Rest in the Times of the Messias or a Sabbatism as the word ought to be translated verse 9. that is a seventh Thousand Years of Peace and Righteousness after six Thousand of Labour Misery and Sin for according to the Key of Mystical Knowledge given by the Apostles Peter and John after a (a) Bp. Fell 's Sermon on 2 Pet. 3.3 Millenary Week the Everlasting Sabbath shall commence And further this Number is to be taken literally because by it is signified a State of Perfection a Year being the perfect Revolution of the Sun and a Thousand being a perfect Number and the perfection both of Time and Numbers concurring in a Thousand Years For a Thousand Years is a Cube (b) For it arises out of the multiplication of Three Tens Two Tens multiplied making 100 Years and 100 Years multiplied by the Third Ten amounting to 1000 Years which is a Cube of Time See Meursii Denar Pythagor and Dr. Moor's Cabbala Oper. Philosoph Tom. 2. pag. 500 501 530 532 557 558 559 561. of Time whose Root is Ten whereby is signified a steddy uninterrupted and permanent State of which a Cube is the Symbol and withal a perfect one to which no other State is to succeed but is to be swallowed up in the perfection of Eternity as the Number Ten is a perfect Number beyond which there is no simple Number and comprehends all simple Numbers in it Whence it is that Man being a sinful and imperfect Creature could never arrive to the Term of a Thousand Years as Jachiades a Jew has observed on Dan. 7.25 the period of a perfect State upon Earth which the First Adam could not reach for if he had he had been probably translated into an Immortal State nor any of the Sons of Adam during the Old World but is proper only to the Sons of the Resurrection in the New World of the Second Adam or the Messias 5 But the 17 rest or remnant of the dead i. e. those who weâ—e slain by the Sword of Christ's Mouth Chap. 19.21 lived 18 not again 19 until the Thousand Years were finished This living again of the Saints and Martyrs 20 is the first Resurrection of Life John 5.29 1 Thes 4.15 16. 17 It is plain from what hath been observed in the foregoing Annotation that the Day of (a) See Mr. Mede pag. 531-537 571-573 577-580 602-619 Ep. 15.2 and Book 5. And Dr. Beverley of the Universal Christian Doctrine of the Day of Judgment Matth. 25.31 34. Luke 19 12-27 Judgment mentioned in the Doctrinal parts of Scripture is the same with the Thousand Years Kingdom of Christ Day (b) John 16.26 Heb. 3.8 9. See Mr. Mede in the places quoted and pag. 86. and Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis often signifying in Scripture a long space af Time and not only a single Day And therefore seeing that the Wicked are to be judged as well as the Good they must be here meant by the rest of the Dead who are evidently the same with the Wicked People slain with the Sword of Christ's Mouth Chap. 19.21 the same Expressions being used in both places 18 The Wicked indeed live again when they are raised to Judgment but because they rise only to Shame and Everlasting Contempt as the Prophet Daniel speaks Chap. 12.2 and lye as dead or slain under the condemning power of Christs Gospel the Sword proceeding out of his Mouth and shall never live a Life of Happiness therefore are they represented here as dead (c) See Matth. 8.22 Luke 15.32 1 Tim. 5.6 2 Peter 3.7 Jude 12. Men which lived not again and accordingly they are seldom mentioned in the general Discourses in the (d) Neither in the 15th of the Corinthians nor 1 Thessal 4. New Testament about the Resurrection 19 They are represented during the Thousand Years as in a dead spiritless and unactive State lying under the Judiciary Sentence of Condemnation and the perdition which the day of Judgment shall bring upon ungodly men 2 Pet. 3.7 upon the expiring of which they become active gather to Battle and compass the Camp of the Saints Verse 8 9. 20 This refers to the Resurrection and living again
Souls to call them back or retain them when they are departed out of the Body and of Death it self to keep men from it and therefore fear not for if you were really Dead I could raise you up again All which looks with a Full Eye on that great First Resurrection c. 20. 28 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 See Hammond on Matth. 11. and Bishop Pearson on the Creed 19 And upon this assurance stand up upon thy Feet and be of good Courage and Write in a Book unto the seven Churches as I before commanded thee vers 11. the things which thou hast seen already 29 in the representation of the seven Stars and seven golden Candlesticks vers 12 13 16. and 30 write also the things which are now in being in my present Apostolical Church and the things which shall be hereafter successively to the very end of Time 29 It is manifest from the next Verse that this is the true sense of these Words where it is expresly said that the Seven Stars were Seen by him in his Right Hand which are therefore the things he had Seen and were written with the rest of the Preface in a Book to the seven Churches verse 11. 30 Here he is commanded to write the Epistles to the seven Churches the first of which viz. that to Ephesus as we have there shewn refers to the State of the then Apostolical Church beginning at Christ's Resurrection the others to the following successive States of the Churches to the End of the World 20 Which things present and future are the 31 Mystery or the Prophetical and Mystical sense of the seven Stars which thou sawest in my right hand which are the things thou hast seen and not the Mystery to be written concerning them and write the seven Golden Candlesticks i e. the mystery or mystick sense of them also The seven 32 stars are or signifie and represent Gen. 41.26 the Angels 33 or Pastors of the seven Churches and the seven Candlesticks which thou sawest are the seven Churches or are 34 seven Churches that is Bodies of Christians under their several Pastors as well those which are now as those which shall be successively hereafter 31 These words which are of the Accusative Case and put by way of Apposition plainly refer only to the things which are and shall be which are here said to be the Mystery or mystical meaning of the seven Stars which therefore are not referred to as being not themselves the Mystery but the things which were to be mystically explained in the following Epistles And from hence also we are plainly given to understand that the Subject Matter of these Epistles is Mystical and not barely Literal and that they concern things future as well as the present 32 Here is explained what is meant by Stars and Candlesticks whose further mystical meaning as they relate to Churches then in being and to future Successions of them and their Pastors is largely delivered in the following Epistles 33 The Ministring Spirits which attend on God are called Angels in Scripture from their being employed as Messengers in his Service and therefore by the Angels of the Churches must be meant the Pastors of them which are here clearly distinguished from the Churches themselves from their like Office of delivering God's Messages to the People and putting up their Prayers unto him Upon which Account the Jewish Priest is called The Messenger or Angel of the Lord of Hosts Malach. 2.7 where Angel that I may observe this by the way is evidently taken collectively as Dr. Pocock on the Place confesses for the Succession of the whole Jewish Priesthood comprehended there under the common Name of Levi their Father and spoken of as one Person because they were all of the fame Stock and all separated to the same Function And as they are upon this Account called Angels so are they called Stars from their Office of enlightning or instructing others By Angels therefore in this and the following Chapter is meant the Evangelical Ministry represented by Angels as all other Ministerial Agents are in this Prophecy because the present World is subject to Angels under Christ the Head of them and the Angel of the Covenant Whereas the World to come that is the Kingdom of Christ at his last coming as the Apostle speaks Heb. 2.5 is to be ruled by Christ and his Saints and is not to be in subjection unto Angels 34 It is here said That the seven Candlesticks are or signifie seven Churches for so it is in the Greek not the seven Churches which might seem to have determined them to the seven in Asia The Epistles are indeed to be sent to the seven Churches of Asia ver 11. But the mystical meaning of them is not here said to belong to the Angels or to the Seven Churches of Asia only but to Seven Churches and to the Angels of them from whence it is plain that they are prophetical relating to Seven Successions of the Vniversal Church See Mr. * Book 1. Disc 52. and pag. 905. Doctor Moor's Exposition of the Epistle to the Seven Churches Mede CHAP. II. The Text. UNto the Angel or Evangelical Ministry Chap. 1. 20. of the Church of Ephesus that is now planted there and of that Period 1 of the Church which is mystically represented by it write these things saith he that holdeth the Seven Stars in his Right Hand who walketh in the midst of the Seven Golden Candlesticks i. e. Christ the Light of the World who is more immediately present with them to enlighten guide and support them Chap. 1. 13 16 20. Annotations on CHAP. II. 1 This I shall hereafter endeavour to make out to be the principal if not only drift of these Epistles from such Characters and Arguments as shall arise from the Text it self Very good Interpreters and particularly Grotius on Revel 1.11 have thought that the several Successions of the Church here represented are intimated in their very Names according to a way of Allusion made use of in Scripture as well as in Heathen Authors For thus the God of Ekron whose True Name is thought to have been Baal zebachim or the Lord of Sacrifices is called in derision Baal zebub or the Lord of Flies and Belzebul or the Dunghil God And the Prophet Micah 1.14 15. manifestly alludes to the Names of Cities calling Achzib a Lie as if its Name were derived from Cazab which in Hebrew signifies to Lie and the City Mareshah is threatned to be disinherited in allusion to its Name and Adullam is called the Glory of Israel perhaps says Doctor Pocock on the Place from its Situation its Strength or its Beauty or some other Reason probably taken from its Name as the others are although now unknown And such Paronomasia's or Allusions may be more frequent in Scripture than we think for by reason of our Ignorance in the Premitive Language and of the Story and Circumstances of the Places whose Names are alluded to 2
I know observe and approve Psalm 1.6 thy good works and thy labour 2 in the work of the Gospel in converting instructing and governing those whom thou art set over 1 Thes 5.12 1 Tim. 5.17 and thy patience and perseverance in it and under sufferings for it and how thou canst not endure or 3 bear with them which are evil in Life or Doctrine but castest them when they prove incorrigible out of the Church and thou hast tryed 4 them by the Gospel Gal. 1.8 1 John 4.1 by their Works Matth. 7.20 and by the Gift of discerning Spirits 1 Cor. 12.10 which say they are Apostles sent and commissioned to preach the Gospel and are not and hast found them liars or False Apostles Acts 20.29 30. and 15.1 24. 1 Cor. 15.12 2 Cor. 11.13 Gal. 1.6 1 and 2 Epist to Timothy 1 John 4.1 2 Labour also may here signifie a zealous and unwearied profession of the Gospel amidst the greatest Discouragements as the Word is taken 1 Cor. 15.58 3 These Words refer to the zealous Execution of Discipline for which the Church was at first very remarkable as appears from 1 Cor. 5. 1 Tim. 1.20 Tit. 3.10 2. John 10. 4 It appears from Scripture that there were many False Apostles foretold by our Saviour Matth. 24.11 and by the Apostle Paul in his Admonition to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Acts 20.29 30. Who generally seem to have insinuated themselves into the good Opinion of the People by specious pretences of being Brethren and by creeping into their Houses and Assemblies unawares and privily and by communicating with them in their Feasts of Charity as appears from 2 Cor. 11.26 Gal. 2.4 1 Tim. 3.6 Jude 4.12 and from this place where they are said to pretend to be Apostles when they were not For the Hereticks seem to have acted more closely and subtily while the Apostles were living than afterwards which made i◠〈◊〉 task to try and detect them which yet the Apostolical Church did with great Zeal and Care by examining their pretences by the Doctrine they had received of Christ and by Gifts of discerning False Spirits as Clemens Romanus attests in his Epistle to the Corinthians And this place seems to determine this Succession of the Church to the Times of the Apostles the Pretence of being Apostles or Messengers sent and commissioned by God to preach New Doctrines being peculiar to that Age and made use of by Simon Magus and his Followers particularly by Cerinthus against whom John wrote his Gospel who pretended to New Revelations And it being not peculiar to Ephesus alone but to most other Churches we may reasonably conclude that by Ephesus is not understood that Church alone but the Church-State of the Apostolical Age which began on the Day of Pentecost next following the Ascension of our Saviour in the Thirty Third Year of our Lord about the Twenty Fourth Day of May as Bishop Pearson has stated the Aera of the Apostolical Church in his first Lecture on the Acts. From this place we may learn That strict care ought to be taken in trying and examining those who are to be sent to teach others and that the Canon of Scripture was setled by this Apostolical Church she having duly tried and rejected all other Pretenders to Apostolical Doctrines and that the first State of the Church was purely Apostolical 3 And yet thou hast born 5 Afflictions although thou canst not bear 5 with them which are evil and hast still patience 6 and for my Names sake i. e. for me and upon the Account of my Gospel hast laboured 6 in it and hast not fainted under it nor under thy sufferings for it Gal. 6.9 2 Thes 3.13 5 Such kind of Allusions are frequent in Scripture as Rom. 1.24 25 26 28. 6 This being a Repetition of what was said in the foregoing Verse seems to intimate that their Labour and Sufferings were Great and very Remarkable a Repetition sometimes denoting so much in Scripture 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat of 7 complaint against thee because thou hast left or 8 remitted and abated something of thy first 9 or former fervent and intense Love of me my Gospel and Kingdom 7 So the Phrase is taken Matth. 5.23 8 So this word is rendred by Grotius and Doctor Hammond and I think rightly And as Grotius thinks that Love and Desire may by way of Allusion be signified by the Word Ephesus so may also the Greek Word here made use of intimate some Remission or Coolness of their First Love by the same Figure which the Prophet Micah makes use of Chap. 1. 13 14. and which Grotius thinks the Apostle uses Rom. 1.17 28 29. where also in the 29th Verse there is a manifest Allusion to the Name Judah which signifies Praise Gen. 29.35 9 The First Love which the Prophet Jerem. 2.2 calls the Kindness of Youth and the Love of Espousals is usually very fervent but is wont soon to cool and abate in the best of Men. And accordingly the Church at first when as Hierom speaks the Blood of our Lord was warm and the Faith of the New Converts was Fervent was very Zealous in all its Duties and Offices as appears from the Acts of the Apostles particularly from Chap. 2 41-47 and Chap. 4 31-37 where we have a perfect Pattern of the First Love of the Apostolical Church in the Church of Jerusalem especially in their having all things common and calling nothing their own And yet in a very short space as soon as the Number of the Disciples and with them the Church-Revenue was multiplied there arose a murmuring of the Graecians against the Hebrews even in the Infant-Church as we read Acts 6. occasioned by the Pride of the Hebrews as Bishop Pearson has shewn in his Third Lecture on the Acts wherein as also in the Behaviour of Ananias and Saphira there are early Tokens and Types given of a Declension in the Church which proceeded so far as to this matter even in those First Times of the Gospel that Paul tells the Philippians Chap. 2. 21. of his Epistle to them supposed to be written about A. D. 59 or 62. that all Men sought their own and not the things of Jesus Christ For not only Demas forsook Paul out of Love to this present World but Mark grew weary of the Labour of the Gospel and went not with Paul and Barnabas to the work Acts 15.38 and Peter himself for fear of the Jews was guilty of Dissimulation Gal. 2.11 12. And the Galatians had generally departed from the True Notions they had received of Christian Liberty and a Working Faith Gal. 5.1 6 7. and were grown very remiss in their Acts of Charity Gal. 6.9 And the Churches mentioned in Scripture are frequently reprehended for great Enormites so that it is no wonder that the Churches in After-Ages proved guilty of them the Love of many waxing cold betimes as our Saviour foretold Matth. 24.12 and Paul complained 2 Tim. 1.15
on Gal. 4.25 29. the Corrupt Party hath stood most upon its Purity Honour and Preheminence and hath Persecuted and Despised the pure one Now the Church of Smyrna comprehending that Succession of the Church in which the great Persecutions happened and in which a Crown of Life was at last given them at the Empires becoming Christian The Blasphemy here reprehended refers chiefly to the latter State of that Succession when Honours and Riches Flowing into the Church corrupted the purity of their former poor and suffering condition and the reverence at first innocently paid to Martyrs and the introducing of Pagan Rites by degrees under pretence of winning the Heathens gave a great encrease to the growing Apostasy iniquity under the covert of a Mystery i. e. of Piety Religion and well meaning Zeal making daily progress in the Church until it arose to an Antichristian Synagogue or Congregation of a prevailing party amongst them Which phrase is made use of in opposition to the Title given the Jews in the Old Testament who are called Numb 31.16 The Congregation or Synagogue of the Lord which the corrupt party of this Succession had forfeited by its Antichristian or Satanical Innovations as the Jews also did upon their Apostasy under Jeroboam 2 Chron. 11.15 who are thereupon said to have Sacrificed unto Devils or Satan And it is worth Observation that the last degeneracy of the Jewish Church when as it appears from the Gospels it became a Satanical Synagogue consisted chiefly in vain Traditions in Affecting Titles Honours and Prehemency in neglecting the Spiritual Service of God and in expecting a present Worldly Kingdom of the Messias instead of a Future Heavenly State of it and of the Kingdom of God within us consisting in inward Righteousness and Peace and lastly in Cruelty and Persecution and in casting out of the Synagogue of the Lord the true and faithful Servants of Christ. Now in whatsoever Age of the Church there may be found such a Temper and Spirit Prevailing so much may it be said to have of the Synagogue of Satan in it Much of which was visible in this succession in the strifes amongst Bishops about the Superiority and the Prehemenency of their Sees in their rash Censuring and Excommunicating one another for slight Matters as appears evidently in the Behaviour of Pope Victor in the Oppositions made in this period to the Doctrine of the Antient Chiliasts and in the introducing a great number of Ceremonies Rites and Customs into the Church to bring over the Jews and Pagans to the Christian Religion 10 Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer For behold the Devil 22 shall by evil Men as his Instruments cast some 23 of you who have the courage not to deny me into prison i. e. various and grievous Tortures and Persecutions that ye may be tryed fully whether ye be perfect and entire James 1.2 3. 1 Pet. 1.7 and you shall have Tribulation that is one most notable Persecution 24 ten days of years Be thou faithful unto the suffering of death and I will give thee a crown 25 of Life i. e. Freedom from Persecution Rewards and Honours 22 Persecutors do the Devils Work Eph. 2.2 and to him Justin Martyr frequently attributes the Pagan Persecutions because they were promoted and set on by his Instigation 23 For many fell away in the Times of persecution 24 Days in Prophetick account are frequently put for Years as is evident from Numb 14.34 Ezek. 4.6 and Dan. 9.24 where the Days of the Seventy Weeks are understood by most Interpreters of Years For a Day being the First and most Natural Measure of Time depending upon the constant and most known Revolution of the Sun is put in all Languages and particularly in the Hebrew to express indefinitely a length or continuance of Time as the Days of Herod signifie in Scripture the Time of his Reign and is limited to some certain continuance by circumstances or according to the Will of Him who makes use of it as it is by God in Scripture restrained to signifie a Prophetical Year as is evident from the places I have quoted against which Grotius has Objected nothing material as Dr. Moor has fully proved in his Mystery of Godliness Book 5. Chap. 15. Now the last and greatest Persecution of the Church under Diocletian lasting according to all Chronologers exactly ten Years It is evident that this place must refer unto it especially if we consider that the Vision of the Souls under the Altar which is Contemporary with this Succession immediately preceeds the great Earthquake or change of Things under Constantine and that no Example could be brought by Grotius or Dr. Hammond of a ten days Persecution in the Times to which they limit this passage and that Ten does not denote in Scripture a short time when put indefinitely but is always put for one of a long continuance it being as it were the plentitude of simple Numbers as is evident from Numb 14.22 Job 19.3 1 Sam. 1.8 Eccles 7.19 Furthermore seeing that the things referred to in this Prophecy being for the use of the whole Church ought to be illustrious parts of History and not References to something not Transmitted unto us with which shift Grotius puts off his Reader what more Notable part of History could be referred to than that of the ten Years Persecution which gave Date to the Aera Martyrum and is a most famous Character of Time exactly answering in its ten Years Duration to the Prophetical way of Accounting a Day for a Year and fit to be made use of by the Holy Ghost in Transmitting so remarkable a Period of the Church down to after Ages 25 A Crown denotes Regal and Triumphal Honours and a Crown of Life is opposed to the Deaths and Martyrdoms they had before Suffered And hereby is plainly set forth the Freedom from Persecution they Enjoyed under Constantine at the end of the Tenth Persecution which according to the Accurate Computation of Mr. Pagi in his Critical Annotations upon Baronius began Feb. 23. A.D. 303. and ended June 13th A. D. 313. when the famous Epocha was Instituted of the Churches Freedom from Persecution mentioned by Eusebius in his Chronicon and by the Author of the Alexandrian Chronicon From which Time we may date their Crown of Life Constantine daily proceeding to advance and secure the Church which enjoyed great Freedom bating only some short Persecutions particularly that under Julian until it came to its highest pitch of External Peace and Honour under Theodosius the Great who died at Milan A. D. 395. on Jan. 17. or Feb. 24. after he had given Paganism its deadly Blow by his Famous Defeat of Argobastes and Eugenius A. D. 394. 11 He that hath an Ear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches Verse 7. And He i. e. that person who overcometh the Persecutions and Evils of this Church-State and perseveres unto the End in the Precepts of the Gospel
on the parallel places in the Gospel 16 An Expression taken from Isa 22.22 where Eliakim a Type of Christ as his very Name imports signifying one raised or setled by God has the Key of the House of David given him whereby is denoted Christ's Government over his Church a Key being an Ensign of Government and David's House Family or Court being a Type of the Church especially as it shall be in the New Jerusalem the City of David or the Messias who is the Great King of it 8 I know thy Works to be perfect before God behold and 17 let it be noted and remarked I have set before thee or given thee an open 18 door i. e. a hopeful occasion and means of freely and effectually propagating the Truth and a prospect of better things and greater Liberty and no man although they shall often attempt it can be able to shut it or hinder you of this Liberty but it shall continue accompanied with great efficacy notwithstanding your many Adversaries until my coming for thou hast a little outward 19 worldly strength Force and Power to protect and countenance thee and yet for all that hast kept 20 my Word or Gospel as to Faith and Practice purely and entirely and hast discharged thy Office faithfully and hast not denied my Name 21 by entertaining any degrees of Anti-Christian Corruptions which bear not my Name or were not instituted by me but hast openly avowed and professed my Name as sole King and Law-giver of my Church 17 Behold is a Particle denoting the importance of the thing to be delivered 18 This is the true Import of the Phrase for which see and compare Hosea 2.15 Acts 14.27 1 Cor. 16.9 2 Cor. 2.12 Colos 4.3 And from this and what follows we may take notice that this Church although often denied Liberty of Preaching the Gospel in which sense Grotius understands the shutting of the Door here mentioned should yet enjoy it in despight of all opposition and never have it wholly shut against them and that this open Door should afford them a Prospect and a hope and confidence of enjoying a more perfect State of things 19 By Strength cannot here be understood inward and spiritual strength or Zeal and Courage to propagate the Truth with all Boldness and Success for that was great in them and they have a high Character and Commendation given them for it by our Saviour But by Strength must be understood outward humane Strength Advantages and Authority in respect of Birth Power Reputation for Learning Riches or the like in which the Might of this World consists 1 Cor. 1 25-28 but especially Countenance and Protection from the Secular Powers of which they had but little as having been in a patient afflicted Condition and under Restraints as appears from Vers 8 10. 20 To keep Christ's word denotes their faithful preaching and professing the Gospel and their strict adherence to it which is called keeping the Charge of the Lord in the Old Testament which Ministers are to do in their own Persons as appears from Ezek. 44.8 where in a Vision of the New Jerusalem when this Philadelphian State comes to its perfection those Priests are reprehended by God who kept not the Charge of his holy things but set keepers of them in his Sanstuary for themselves 21 By Name here seems to be meant the Name written on his Vesture Rev. 19.16 viz. King of Kings and Lord of Lords that is Supreme Disposer of all the Kingdoms of the World and sole Governour of his Church which is his Kingdom And this strict adherence of this Church to the Word or Commandments of God only is opposed to the departure of the Sardian and Ephesine Succession from what they had received and heard 9 Behold I will 22 make them who are of the part of the 23 Synagogue of Satan and by them I mean those which say they are Jews or Pure Primitive Christians and are not but do lye by such false pretences Behold I will make them by my providence and inward convictions to come and Worship before thy Feet i. e. to shew 24 the greatest honour and submission unto thee learn of thee and joyn in Communion with thee although in an inferior degree of esteem and to know i. e. be convinced and acknowledg that I have Loved thee as my pure and undefiled Church Cant. 6. 4 9. and have shewn it by preserving thee notwithstanding all their endeavours to the contrary 22 In the Greek it is I give the Present for the Future as is usual and them is added as a necessary Supplement and the Words supplied as they ought to be may be very well rendred thus Behold I will give unto thee them of the Synagogue i. e. I will bring them or fetch them in and present them unto thee 23 By the Synagogue of Satan is meant as has been shewn on Chap. 2.9 those who in the Smyrnaean Succession introduced Blasphemous or Idolatrous Doctrines and Practices into the Church under pretence of Judaism or Israelitism that is pure and primitive Christianity and therefore by Consequence here must be meant some of the Reformation that Interval or Succession being here described who lie and deceive others by the same false pretence not into Satanical or Antichristian Blasphemy or Idolatry but Defilements Verse 9. that is Corrupt Additions to God's Worship which are called Defilements or impure Mixtures by the Prophet Ezekiel Chap. 43.8 and Lyes Prov. 30.6 Isa 29.13 But yet we are to take notice that they are not called The Synagogue of Satan but They or Them of the Synagogue to signifie that only a Prevailing Party amongst them were defiled and that their Errors were not Idolatrous as theirs were who are reprehended in the Epistle to the Church of Smyrna called therefore The Synagogue of Satan but corrupt or defiled and false or lying Additions which yet were not so much their own Inventions as taken up by them from Antiquity whence they are called not The Synagogue but Of the Synagogue as being of their party and Imitators of them under pretext of Conformity to the Ancient Synagogue of the Smyrnaean Succession which first introduced those Corruptions 24 All which may be implied in this Phrase to lye prostrate at ones Feet being the highest Act of Honour and Submission amongst the Eastern Nations for so Joseph's Brethren which may be no unfit Type of what is here foretold Gen. 42 6.44.14 who had been the Authors of his Afflictions came and bowed down before him to the ground when he was exalted to be the Chief Governour in Aegypt and it being also a Custom for Scholars to sit at the Feet of their Masters to Worship at their Feet may denote their learning of them and joyning with them in their Worship but as in an inferiour degree of Knowledge and Esteem according to the Expressions of the Prophet Isa 60.14 from whence this place seems to be taken And the words also may be
Historians have observed the Reformation was remarkably preserved by many strange Accidents amidst the unaccountable Humours of a Cruel and Vain-glorious Prince As by the Intrigues of Woolsey for the Papacy and his missing of it which if he had obtained no doubt says Fox the Authority of that See had never been exterminated out of England By the Sollicitations of the Emperour with the Pope the Easiness of the Pope to grant the Bull and again his Stiffness in denying it but especially by his rash and precipitate Sentence against the King and that contrary to the ordinary Forms of proceeding in his own Courts which if they had observed the Breach betwixt them had been made up the King's Submission arriving at Rome but Two Days after the Sentence given But as our late Ecclesiastical Historian judiciously observes God in his wise and unsearchable Providence had designed to draw other great Ends out of this Rupture and therefore suffered them that were most concerned to hinder it to be the chief Instruments of driving it on The unprosperous proceedings of Q. Mary and the strange Preservations of Q. Elizabeth together with other remarkable Instances of God's Providence in the Times of Persecution are largely insisted upon by our Laborious Martyrologist at the End of his Third Volume which I shall not therefore mention as neither the secret (a) Cardin. Bentivol History of the Wars of Flanders page 6. Correspondencies betwixt Philip the 2d of Spain and the King of France for the Extirpation of Protestantism discovered by William Prince of Orange the Measures (b) Mezeray page 651 653. taken for exterminating it by the Spaniards and French at a Treaty wholly defeated by the sudden Death of Henry the Second the Effect which the French (c) Mezeray page 651 653 957. Massacre met with contrary to the Design of those who contrived it whereby it was turned rather to the strengthening and security of the Protestants than their utter Ruine as it might have done to omit the Defeat in Eighty Eight the Gunpowder Treason and the later Deliverance fresh in our Memories for which I refer the Reader to a Sermon preached by Bishop Burnet before the Queen on July the 16th 1690. 5. The Reformation was an appearance of the Kingdom of Christ as it cleared up the True Notion and Nature of his Spiritual Kingdom in the Souls of Men by instructing them in the Nature of Faith and of Justification by Christ's Merits to which as Mr. Fox (d) Vol. 2. page 80. hath judiciously observed the Success of the Reformation was very much owing those Doctrines having been mightily obscured by a wrong Notion of good Works and the Doctrine of Merits one of the most Fundamental Errors of Popery And it very much also contributed to this End by stripping Religion of much of its vain Pomp and unedifying Ceremonies which do not promote true inward Piety but distract the Mind which being of a limited Capacity cannot well attend at once to two Objects of so different a Nature as sensible and intellectual ones are For the External Pomp of Religion and its gawdy Ornaments are very contrary to the Simplicity of the Gospel in which only Two External Rites and those very plain and simple ones were instituted viz. Baptism and the Lord's Supper Christian Religion consisting chiefly in the heart and Affections and in Externals as they conduce to inward Holiness according to what our Saviour hath told us concerning his Kingdom Luke 17.20 that it cometh not with observation that is is not (a) See Grotius on the place and Hammond attended with Pomp Splendor and Riches but is a Spiritual (b) Rom. 2 19. and 14.17 Kingdom in the Heart and Spirit consisting not in Meats and Drinks but in Righteousness and Peace and Joy in the Holy Ghost Whereupon the (c) Sleidan page 53. Mezeray page 948 957. Reformation retrenched much of the superfluous Riches of the Church which are apt to corrupt the best mens minds and lessened much of the Secular Grandeur Preheminence and Superiority Titles and Honours of the Clergy whereby the Church becomes too like a worldly Kingdom Whereas Christ plainly declares that his Kingdom is not of this World John 18.36 and (d) Matth. 20 20-28 Luke 22 24-30 forbids his Apostles all secular Jurisdiction and the Affectation at least of Titles of Honour and Authority Lastly It was an appearance of the Kingdom of Christ as it shook and made a breach in that of Antichrist which it is at last utterly to break in pieces consume aed destroy Dan. 2 44.7 26. And this it did after a most signal manner by drawing of many Kingdoms and Princes from the Antichristian Corruptions of Popery But as the Reformation was an Appearance of Christ's Kingdom so it must be confessed that it was but an Imperfect one by reason of the sealing up or putting a stop to those things which the Seven Thunders uttered which would otherwise have produced Christ's Kingdom in Glory and have broken in peices the Kingdom of Antichrist And that such a stop was put to its Efficacy will appear from these Considerations 1. Because the Reformation was not attended with Miracles which our (a) Matth. 12.28 Luke 10 9.11 20. Saviour makes to be a certain Sign of the coming of his Kingdom And if it were the Sign of its first coming have we not reason to expect that it shall be so of its Second But this Gift cannot be expected whilst Antichristianism prevails so mightily in the World whose encrease was the Cause of the Cessation of Miracles in the Church which lasted for a considerable time as hath been shewn by the Learned Mr. Dodwell in his Dissertations on Irenaeus and Cyprian beyond the Infancy of the Gospel and the first propagation of it for which Age therefore they could not only be designed and gradually decreased as the Errors and Corruptions of the Church encreased 2. According to the Parables of our Saviour Matth. 13. concerning his Kingdom the Enemy soon sowed Tares in it whilst men slept which choaked and perverted the Word of the Kingdom at first preached in many things and the Men which it gathered of every kind bad as well as good brought in a mixture of their own sins and infirmities into it For not only (a) Mezeray page 948. Camden Elizab. page 26. Fox 's Martyr Vol. 3. page 105 442 537. Politicians and wicked Worldlings carried on their private Designs which the Reformers here in England complained much of as to the point of Sacriledge but the Good Men who most effectually promoted it had their Weaknesses and Infirmities (b) Sleidan 21 43. passim Luther and (c) Adam Vit. Calv. page 109 See Calvin's Answer to Officium viri pii Calvin although extraordinary Persons and of great Piety were both Men of very warm Tempers and were sometimes too violently transported and the latter is thought to have had a too
sometimes Types of them And from these Words we may observe 1. That the Witnesses represented in and by John had already prophesied and were still to prophesie And 2. That the Spirit hath here given by the mentioning of his prophesying again an apt Transition to what was to be delivered concerning the Witnesses in the following Chapter who are to Prophesie in Sackcloth And 3. That the Reformation represented in this Chapter was an Apperance or prophetical Representation of the Kingdom of Christ altho very imperfect because it is said that John was to prophesie again whereby is intimated that he had prophesied just before and that the Kingdom was under a delay and so consequently in Prophecy and not fullfilled 16 By this Phrase the Subjects of the Babylonian Kingdom are described in (a) Chap. 2 37.4 1. Daniel which was an Emblem of the Antichristian CHAP. XI The Text. 1 AND there was given unto me by the Angel a reed like unto a measuring rod i. e. a perch or Pole made of a reed Ezek. 40.3 and the Angel i. e. Christ chapt 10.1 5. 1 stood near or before me and presented himself unto me saying rise 2 i. e. use all possible exactness and diligence for it is a thing worthy of it Ezek. 40.4 and 3 measure i. e. enclose and secure for the peculiar lot and inheritance of God the Temple 4 of God i. e. the pure Church of God and the Altar 5 i. e. the pure Worship of God and them that Worship therein 6 in secret and under the Divine Security and Protection Annotations on CHAP. XI 1 He is not represented as standing upon the Sea as before Chap. 10. and therefore perhaps he might stand as he does in the place of Ezekiel here alluded to Chap. 40.3 in the Gate of the Temple or rather at the Altar of Incense as an Angel is represented standing in a Vision which Synchronizes witâ— this Chap. 8.3 And it is the Opinion of a Worthy Person that the Angel in both Visions is Christ who is here said to have stood 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 had stood viz. in that former Vision Contemporary with this with the Incense of his Name and Intercession and had then commanded whilst he was at the Altar that the Temple should be measured and the Worshippers secured which answer to the Hundred Forty and Four Thousand who were sealed about the same time Chap 7. 2 So the Word signifies Gen. 31.17 Josh 1.2 Luke 1.39 and in several other places of Scripture with which Sense of the Word the vehement Charge given by this Angel to Ezekiel on the like Account is very agreeable Ezek. 40.4 3 Israel is called in Scripture Deut. 32.9 Psalm 16.5 6.74 2. Jerem. 10.16 the Reed the Line and Cord of God's Inheritance from the Manner of Dividing Lands amongst them And to measure signifies to make an Allottment of a particular possession and to enclose and secure it while others lie neglected and in common Thus the Temple is measured Ezek. 40. and the Land of Israel Ezek. 47.18 and Jerusalem Zach. 2. and to leave out i.e. of the Enclosement and to measure not are of the same import in the following Verse 4 The (a) See Middoth ex edit L' Emper. Pag. 190. Maimonid de Aedific Templi per Viel Temple properly so called as distinguished from its Outward Courts and Apartments consisted of the Sanctuary or Holy Place called also more peculiarly The Temple and of the Holy of Holies by which the pure and holy Church of God is signified of which the Temple was a Type 5 By the Altar is here to be understood the Altar of Incense called sometimes simply 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Dr. Hammond confesses on Rev. 6.9 because that only stood within the Temple or Holy Place the other Altar for Burnt Offerings being placed before the Porch in the Inner Court of the Lord's House And hereby Prayer of which Incense is an Emblemâ— and the pure Worship of God is denoted the Altar of Incenâ—â— as Dr. Hammond has noted on Matth. 23.35 from Philo being to be seen by no other but only by the Priests that are Clean. 6 That is in the place where the Altar stood just before the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Temple strictly so called which is most properly the space betwixt the Table and the Candlestick although 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may very well here be referred to 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the Temple Now the Temple being covered whereas the Courts were open and secured with Gates Veils and High-Walls from the sight and approach of the people hereby is very appositely signified the secret and retired Members of Christ's Church secured by God during the time of the Apostasy who are the same with the sealed ones before mentioned Chap. 7. Whereupon the Temple when God's pure Worship is restored is represented as open whereby it also appears that to measure and to open are opposite and that it signifies Retiredness and Concealment For the Description of the Temple and the further meaning of these and the following passages see besides Josephus and the Books before quoted Dr. Lightfoot of the Temple Dr. Hammond on Matth. 23.35 Luke 23.45 Eph. 2.4 Rev. 6.9 and Dr. Pocock on Joel where he has given us a Scheme of the Temple from a MSS. of Maimonides thought by him to be as ancient as the Authors own times 2 But the 7 Court which is without the Temple i. e. the Visible Church 8 leave or cast out as prophane with Disgrace and Ignominy and measure it not i. e. secure it not for it is given or hath 9 been given and delivered by the Justice of God for swerving from the true measure of his Laws Ezek. 43 10-12 unto or into the hands and power Dan. 7.25 of the 10 Gentiles or Paganiziâ—â— Christians and the Holy 11 City i. e. the whole Visible Churcâ—â— shall they tread under Foot i. e. possess it Isa 1.12 and use it prophanely and contemptuously Dan. 10 11.13 Isa 28 3. Luke 21.4 1 Maccab. 1. Forty 12 and Two Months of Days which are Years 7 All the open space without the Temple is called as Grotius notes and as I find the Word to be used in the Jewish (a) Middoth cap. 1. Sect. 4. L' Emper. in locum Mishna The Court consisting of Three open Areas or Courts whereof the two outermost are called 2 Chron. 4.9 the Great Court and the Outward Court by Ezekiel where the Men and Women met in separate Partitions and the Third Court is called the Court of the Priests and the Inner-Court reaching from the Court of the Men to the Vestibulum or Porch of the Temple in which the Altar of Burnt Offerings stood All which Space or Area is here meant by the Court which is without the Temple for so it was and the Court of the Gentiles or the Fourth and Outermost Court added by Herod cannot be here understood because it was always
was before as to Outward Church Priviledges and Profession which is the visible Life of a Church 8 And their dead Bodies i. e. these Churches anathematized and suppressed shall lie unburied in the 30 Street of the great City i e. their Censures against them and suppressing of them shall be Publick Open and Notorious through the whole Extent and in the most conspicuous places of the Antichristian Jurisdiction which 31 spiritually i. e. in a mystical sense 1 Cor. 10.4 is 32 called by the Spirit of God in this Prophecy 33 Sodom for its Spiritual Uncleanness by Idolatry and Aegypt for its Tyranny and its innumerable Superstitions and Idolatries 34 where also or in which great City our Lord Christ was crucified 30 By Street in Scripture is meant the Broad Open and publick places of Concourse as the Word is used Matth. 5.6 and Esther 6.9 Whereby is intimated that some Churches in the most Conspicuous and Eminent Places of the Roman Territories which is the City concerned in these Visions and is called the (a) Chap 14 8.17 18 18 10. great City should be persecuted and anathematized by the Apostasy and that the Devastations made upon the Witnesses should be publick and in open view and that they should be capable of being raised and restored contrary to what the wicked are threatned with Job 18.17 that their remembrance shall perish from the Earth and they shall have no name in the Street 31 From hence it clearly appears that what is here delivered is to be understood in a Metaphorical sense by way of Mystical Allegory which was common then amongst the Jews and which the Sacred Writers especially the Apostle to the Hebrews makes frequent use of 23 Or is in a Spiritual and Mystical Sense for to call and to be are frequently used promiscuously in Scripture Although I presume the meaning of this place given in the Paraphrase to be the truest for as Gog was prophesied of by the Prophets under the Names of Edom Moab Leviathan and the other Chief Enemies of God and of the Jewish Church as the Prophet Ezekiel expresly declares Chap. 38.17 So are the Idolatrous Enemies of the Christian Church prophesied of under the Names of Aegypt Babylon and the like in this Book and in the Old Testament 33 Thus Jerusalem is called Sodom and Gomorrah Isa 1.10 34 Christ was crucified at Jerusalem which is here mentioned 1. To shew that this Slaughter of the Witnesses was to be under the Jurisdiction of the Romans Jerusalem being then under their Dominion and our Saviour being Crucified by their Authority Upon which account his Suffering under Pontius Pilate and his Crucifixion which was a Roman Punishment are mentioned in the Creed 2. Rome is called Jerusalem because it succeeded the (a) Mori Oper. Theol. 721 728 Synagogue in its Carnal Hypocritical and Persecuting Temper and is a City that killeth the Prophets and Witnesses of Christ as Jerusalem of old was wont to do 3. Our Saviour is said to be Crucified at Rome because he is crucified there in his (b) Matth. 25.40 45. Acts 9.4 Members to whom whatsoever is done he imputes as done to himself Whereupon he asked Saul why he persecuted Him when he persecuted his Disciples And because the Apostacy Reigns there which sin is particularly called the Crucifying of Christ afresh and the putting him to an open shame Heb. 6 4-8 9 And they or some of the People and Kindreds and Tongues and Nations who shall be disposed to attend to and take notice of this matter shall see or diligently consider their dead Bodies i e. the deplorable and ruinous State of these desolate Churches three days and an half see num 37. and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in 35 Graves i. e. to be buried in utter Oblivion and to be in an irrecoverable condition out of all hope of being restored Ezek. 37 11-14 Hos 6.2 35 The same Metaphors that are here made use of are also used in the same sense by Ezekiel Chap. 37 1-14 and by Hos 13.14 where by dry bones in an open Valley and by dead bodies in Graves is meant a hopeless condition without the least expectation of Recovery 10 And they that dwell upon the Earth i. e. the more sensual and earthly part of the Kingdom of the Beast shall rejoice over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another as in time of publick Joy Hest 9.19 22. Nehem. 8 10-12 because these two Prophets 36 tormented by their Reproofs denouncing of Judgments contrary Life and Conversation and the progress of their Doctrine amongst the people Hos 6.5 Judg. 16.6 Jon. 4.9 them that dwell on the Earth i. e. the Antichristian People 36 As the Prophets and particularly Elijah one of the Witnesses of the Jewish Church are said to trouble wicked Kings and People 1 Kings 18.17 18.21 20. 11 And after three 37 days and a half the Spirit 38 of Life from God entred into them i. e. they were wonderfully revived Ezek. 37.5 8 9 10 13 14. Hos 6.2 and they stood 38 upon their feet i. e. were in a posture of Service and Defence and appeared with Courage and Readiness to perform their Duty Ezek. 2 1-3.37 10. and great fear 39 fell upon all them which saw them revived so wonderfully to the Joy of their Friends and the Consternation of their Enemies 37 It is observed by the Lord Napeir that besides the Common Prophetical Day which is taken for a Year in Prophecy There is also a great and extraordinary Day in Scripture which signifies not a Year but any Time to be determined by Circumstances as the Word Day is used in the Day of the Lord and in Man's Day Now if Day signifie Time in Scripture it may very well (a) Lord Napeir on the Revel Prop. 1.15 Mori Oper. Theol. pag 179. and his Appendix to Dan. pag. 284-293 signifie so in this place where it seems to be necessary that Three Days and an half should be brought to comport with Three Times and a half 1260 Days and Forty Two Months All which being of the same signification there seems to be no reason but that the Three Days and a half should be of the same Nature too especially if we consider that the Woman in the Wilderness which is the Church or Witnesses collectively taken from whom it differs only in Notion as the Body doth from its Members hath Three Times and a half allotted her as well as 1260 Days to which there must be something porportionable in the Times of the Witnesses which are her Seed and are coaeval with her and the Three Days and a half are of the same Extent with 1260 Days and Three Times and an half if you account the Days for Years and then again resolve those Years into Days denoting so many Years But for the clearer stating of this Matter it is to be observed that here is a plain Allusion to the time of
which it came to be called the third part whereupon the Grecian Monarchy was cast to the ground it 's very Seat and Power becoming thereupon Roman Constantine (b) Cave's Introduct to the Lives of the Fathers vol. 2. pag. 13. Rycaut's Pref. to the Lives of the Popes commanding by a Law that it should be called New Rome and having Peopled it with the best Families he could draw from Old Rome and the Inhabitants of it being called Romans 13 Here is implied that the fourth Empire Subdued all the rest and bore Rule over all the Earth after it had Subdued the Grecian Monarchy which stood in competition with it according to what was foretold by Daniel chap. 2. 39 40. 7 7 19 32. 14 This refers to the Persecutions which fell upon the Christian Church by the Instigation of the Devil and his Instruments in the Roman Empire especially to their last and most cruel Effort in the ten Years Persecution under Dioclesian when the Woman was as it were teeming with a Glorious Church State in a Christian Empire which was brought forth under Constantine as a short Specimen and imperfect Representation of the Kingdom of Christ as hath been shewn on chap. 7 9.-17 5 And yet notwithstanding all his opposition Psal 2. she brought forth a 15 Manchild i. e. Christ reigned then as King and Lord of his Church and there was on Earth a lively and manly representation of him and his Kingdom for a short time Psal 2.7 8. Is 9 6.66 7 8. Acts 4 23.-30 who was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron i. e. was to have an universal Kingdom Psalm 2 8-12 and her Child was caught 16 up unto God and to his Throne i. e. Christ and his Kingdom were advanced and his Church was in a State typical of his glorious Kingdom which yet not long continued Psal 110.1 15 Here the Kingdom of Christ is plainly set forth in Expressions chiefly taken from the second Psalm which contains a Description of it as all Interpreters agree And by the Man-child is meant 1. Christ himself who is said to be brought forth or born because he at this time obtained as King of his Church a Conquest over Paganism and a great increase to his Kingdom whereby he was begotten in the Phrase of the Psalmist Psalm 2.6 7 8. that is the holy Child Jesus was manifested and declared to be Lord and King 2. The Church and Christian Empire under Constantine may be called the Man-child as Cyrus is called the Lord's Christ or Messias Isa 45.1 because he was a Type of Christ and as Christians are said to be Christ's Body and to have Christ formed in them Gal. 4.19 And if the Roman Empire it self may in some sense as Grotius has well noted on Dan. 7.13 be not unfitly called an Image or Type of Christ much more may the Christian Empire under Constantine who was a greater Restorer of Christ's Kingdom than Cyrus was be styled a Mystical Christ and be an Emblem of his Glorious Kingdom on Earth 16 Christ after his Resurrection which is called his Birth in Scripture was taken up into heaven as we also shall be caught up thither 1 Thes 4.17 where the same word is used insomuch that this Phrase is taken from Christ's Ascent into heaven and alludes to it And its import may be 1. That Christ was then actually King of the Roman Heathen Empire which he had newly conquered signified by his being caught up to the Throne of God whereby some Ascents of his Throne in the Heavenly Places or Advancements of his Kingdom may be signified in which he was installed and inaugurated at his Ascension when he was caught up into Heaven 2. Hereby may be signified also the advancing of the Christian Religion to the Imperial Throne as Christ was advanced at his Ascension to the Throne of his Father at his Right Hand Psalm 110.1 But as Christ was of a sudden taken up in a Cloud out of the sight of the Apostles whilst they were looking on him Acts 1.9 so may also hereby be signified the short space of the continuance of the Roman Christian Empire Rev. 17.10 answerable to Christ's being seen of the Apostles only for Forty Days Acts 1.3 and the sudden depravation of Religion by a growing Antichristianism upon its advancement by Constantine whereby in a short time the true Primitive and Apostolical Christianity was obscured and could not be seen pure and unmixt which as (a) And on John 1.1 Grotius has noted on the place may be signified by being caught up to God those things being said in Scripture to be with God which are invisible and appear not unto Men. 6 And 17 or but yet it was not long before the Woman or Church thus delivered from Persecution and advanced in the Christian Empire * fled into the Wilderness 18 i. e. was in a secret and obscure state and condition in the midst of the encreasing Apostasy where she hath a place prepared by God i. e. she is secured by him that they 18 should feed her there or that she should be nourished and preserved there after a wonderful manner a thousand 19 two hundred and threescore days i. e. Years See chap. 11. 2 3. 17 When Christ was caught up to God and the Heavenly State he designed became thereupon invisible the Church soon retired into the Wilderness i. e. into an obscure and invisible State too as being bereft of that Presence and Power of Christ which was necessary to advance it into that perfect and heavenly State which his Kingdom requires Here the Flight which was after the War in Heaven is mentioned before it by a Prolepsis or Anticipation frequent in (a) Grot. in Gen. 1.27 Ecclus 48.1 Scripture and in this (b) See Pererius on the Revelations Grot. on Rev. 21.2 Prophecy the Holy Spirit being wont to hasten to the chief point it is about and to mention what intervenes of lesser consequence afterwards as is manifest from the History of the Creation where Paradise which was planted on the Third Day is not described until afterwards in the second Chapter and the full and particular Relation of the Creation of Mankind but briefly touched upon in the first Chapter is deferred unto the second which Figure is here observed to shew that the Man child Christ's Kingdom was not to succeed upon the Glorious Pre appearance of it Verse 5. and that the Church the Woman was to be in an obscure condition and that immediately after her Delivery and that she was presently to prepare for her Flight she being not to appear in Visible Glory until 1260 Years after it * So the Children of Israel went up in haste out of Aegypt Exod. 12.31 33 39. 18 This Type is taken from the Children of Israel's sojourning in the Wilderness after they had escaped out of the hands of Pharoah who is expresly called Psalm 74.13 14. Isa 51.9 the Dragon or Crocodile lying
of the Saints and Martyrs mentioned in the Fourth Verse who are the Children of the Resurrection Luke 20.36 aand the dead in Christ that shall rise first whose Resurrection hereupon is called The First Resurrection i. e. the Resurrection of those who shall rise first at the beginning of Christ's Kingdom and who are to have a Second Resurrection as it may be called in the sense that (a) Grot. in Apocal. 20.5 word may be taken Lament 3.63 Heb. 11.35 when they together with the living Saints shall be caught up to be ever with the Lord in his Eternal Kingdom to which their first Resurrection to Glory is a preparative there being Four several Resurrections as they may be called in Scripture 1. To a Life of Grace and of the Divine Spirit here 2. Of separate Spirits with Christ 3. The Resurrection to a state of Glory in Christ's Thousand Years Kingdom 4. The State they are caught up to when they are united to God in an endless Life to all Eternity For as the Change the Living Saints are to undergo may be called a * Tertall de Resurrect cap. 41. qui ab adventu Domini deprehendentur in carne merebuntur compendio mortis per demâ—tationem expunctae concurrere cum resurgentibus Death so may their being caught up be called a Resurrection But because the Wicked (a) Dan. 12.2 Matt. 25.31 John 5.29 Acts 24.15 2 Cor. 5.10 shall rise at the same time with the Just and they both shall appear together at Christ's Tribunal therefore is their State here accounted for together with that of the Just and the Resurrection not mentioned until that be declared although it is not properly a Resurrection which word when it is used simply and absolutely as it is here signifies usually the (b) Luke 14 14.20 35 36. 1 Cor. 15. Resurrection of Life but a Death 6 Blessed in a most especial manner because he waiteth and cometh to the end of Times and the beginning of Christ's Kingdom Dan. 12.12 and holy for they also are of the Number of the Saints who are not perfect without them and shall at last be caught up with them 1 Thes 4.15 17. Heb. 11.40 1 Cor. 15.51 52. Isa 4.2 3. is 21 he i. e. they which are alive and remain unto the Coming of the Lord 1 Thes 4.15 17. Isa 4.2 3. that hath although but a part or share in the first Resurrection and not an entire possession of the whole Happiness and Glories of that blessed State of Life and Reign with Christ until they are caught up unto him 1 Thes 4.17 on such the 22 second Death in the Lake of â—ire and Brimstone Verse 14 15. Chap. 21.8 hath no power at all for they being the Living shall always live and having part in the first Resurrection to Life shall be found in the Book of Life Dan. 12.1 Ezek. 47.9 and the 15th Verse of this Chapter but they shall be Priests of God i. e. Holy and dedicated to his Service alone and of Christ enjoying the full benefit of his Redemption in White Priestly Robes of Righteousness washed in his Blood Chap. 1 16.5 10.19 8 9 and shall reign 23 with him a Thousand 24 Yeâ—rs i. e. shall enjoy a pure peaceable and glorious Church-State and be a Political Body upon Earth governing the whole World for a Thousand Years according to the Laws of Christ's Gospel by virtue of his Power and in relation unto and dependance on him Dan. 2. and 7th See Notes on Verse 4. 21 If the Sons and Children of the First Resurrection be the Saints and Martyrs who rise first and come with Christ in his Kingdom then the He or Body of Men as the Article so often signifies here mentioned must be the (a) 1 Thes 4.15 17 1 Cor. 15.51 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The We living or the Generation af Saints and Believers such as the Apostle was who shall be alive upon Earth at Christ's Coming and shall never have Died or fallen asleep in the Lord but shall have been kept (b) Isa 4.3 1 Pet. 3.7 alive and preserved as a Remnant therefore called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in the Judgment and Burning the Battle and Fire of the last Day because there are no other Saints mentioned in Scripture who can be said to be partakers of the Resurrection And they are properly said to have but a part in the first Resurrection because they shall only be changed at the first Resurrection when the Dead in Christ rise first but shall not have such spiritual and incorruptible Bodies and put on such Immortality as the Dead Saints raised to Life have at the very first moment of their Resurrection until they are caught up in the Clouds to meet the Lord in the Air so as to be ever with him 1 Thes 4.17 1 Cor. 15.52 Who are also here very remarkably placed in their due order according to Doctrinal Scripture viz. after the Resurrection of the dead Saints to life and the Resurrection of the dead Wicked to condemnation who rise together Whereas the living Saints are not caught up which may be called a Resurrection until afterwards 1 Thes 4.15 16 17. Which will appear more plain from a close and due consideration of what Doctrinal Scripture hath delivered concerning the Resurrection in which it is asserted 1. That Christ is the (a) 1 Cor. 15.20 23. First Fruits of them that sleep from whence it follows that the Saints raised may be very well meant by the Harvest Rev. 14.15 before which the First Fruits were wont to be offered under the Law 2. The Apostle asserts 1 Cor. 15.22 23. 1 Thes â—â— 16. that there shall be an Order observed in the Vivification or Resurrection of the Just to Immortality and Incorruptibility in which Sense the Apostle must be understood 1 Thes 4.16 where he says that the Dead in Christ shall rise first that is to Incorruptibility for otherwise if Resurrection be to be taken simply and absolutely the Just do not rise before the Vnjust nor are the living Saints changed after them but all of them rise together in the same moment 1 Cor 15.52 3. The Bodies (b) 1 Cor. 15.52 2 Cor. 5.4 1 Thes 3 13.4 14-17 2 Thes 1.7 Jude 14. of the Dead Saints are first raised and that incorruptible at the Descent of Christ from Heaven with a shout and being caught up into the Air are united to their Spirits and then they come or are brought along with Christ at his Revelation and Appearing in his Kingdom 4. The Living Saints are (c) 1 Cor 15.52 changed indeed at the same moment that the Dead Saints are raised but they are not caught up to an Incorruptible and Immortal State until afterwards as the Apostle expresly asserts 1 Thes 4.16 17. where he says that the dead in Christ shall rise first and that then or afterwards for so the word ought to be translated here as it is 1 Cor. 15.23
others is included Luke 24.49 by the Holy Ghost's coming upon them the knowledge of Times and Seasons was bestowed upon them by God which indeed it was not for them to know before of themselves and without the Spirit which alone knoweth the Secrets of God for which they were rebuked by our Saviour Acts 1 6-8 and not for supposing such a Kingdom and Restauration For in the first Sermon which the Apostle Peter made after the descent of the Holy Ghost Acts 3 19-26 he plainly makes mention of the Times and appointed Seasons of d Restitution or Restauration and Refreshment to Israel determining also the precise Time when this should come to pass viz. at the second Coming of Christ from Heaven foretold by all the Prophets when the sins of the converted Israelites were to be blotted out and they should have great comfort and refreshment from the presence of God by Christ's return referring to the Prophecy of Moses Deut. 18.15 18 19. where it is foretold that at the raising up or coming of Christ the Israelites shall hear or obey him in all things whatsoever he shall say unto them which perfect Obedience hath not been as yet paid unto Christ's Doctrine by them and therefore the Words must refer to some Second Coming when according to the Tenor of that and other places of Scripture the faithful Jews shall be restored comforted and rewarded and the Disobedient shall be destroyed from among the people Lastly The Apostle 1 Cor. 15 24.-29 plainly asserts that Christ shall have such a Distinct and Peculiar Kingdom to himself as that he may be said in the Exercise of it not to be subject to God the Father and God the Father during that Kingdom not to be all in all Which cannot be understood concerning him whilst he was upon Earth because he was then in a State of Humiliation and Sufferings being made lower then the Angels and having taken upon himself the Form of a Servant Phil. 2.7 8. Heb. 2.9 nor concerning him as he is now in Heaven because he is represented in Scripture in his present State as sitting on the Right Hand of God whereby is denoted his enjoying and possessing as the Son (c) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Acts 3.2 the same word used Acts 1.6 by the Apostles when they proposed this question to our Saviour of Man a Glory and Authority next to that of God the Father and the Exercise of his Regal Office as a Branch of his Mediatorship as in subjection and subordination unto him and as in expectation of having his Enemies subdued by the Father Psalm 110.1 Heb. 10.12 13. Nor can this be understood concerning the Kingdom of Eternity because then God will be All in All And although Christ must Reign in his Humane Nature to all Eternity yet that is not as Mediator but as God-Man (a) John 13 32.17 5 24. glorified with the Glory which he had with the Father before the World was in which State his Humane Nature is not to have a proper and peculiar Glory of it self but one in and with God from him and him alone And therefore this must be understood concerning some State of his Kingdom called 1 Cor. 15.24 The Kingdom in which Christ as Son of Man and Mediators shall appear to Reign so gloriously with such Evidences and Manifestations of Glory in and from himself as that he may be said not to be subject to the Father but to have a distinct Kingdom of his own although communicated from God the Father in which he Reigns freely and absolutely as King and net as a Vice-Roy limited by a Commission and which was not to be One with his Fathers Kingdom until all things become One in him when Christ's Mediatory Kingdom is to cease A Mediator not being a Mediator of One. Now if there be such a Kingdom and that Kingdom be not his Mediatory nor Eternal Kingdom what Kingdom can it be but that Glorious Kingdom we have been treating of which is to begin as the Apostle there intimates and shall be shewn hereafter at the Resurrection and is to end when all things are subdued unto the Son when he shall deliver up his Kingdom in which the Saints had been sanctified by him and prepared for Union with God according to the Tenor of that admirable Prayer of our Saviour John 17. the Pattern of his Intercession Q. E. D 15 It is no where expresly said in Scripture that Christ shall come down upon the Earth at the Day of Judgment but only that he shall appear in the Clouds (a) So 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 may be rendered compare Rev. 5.10 and Matth. 25.21 See Mr. Mather de Signo Filii Hominis and Dr. Homes Resurrect revealed 2.2 over the Earth in the lowest part of the Heavens into which be descends from the highest Heavens Judging the World and Reigning there with his Saints 1 Thes 4.16 17. 16 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Thousand Years which are to be understoood of a definite space of time as appears from the Epocha and Period assigned to this Line of Time which is dated from the binding of the Devil and ends in the loosing of him And the Thousand Years are to be understood Literally and not Prophetically reckoning each Day for a Year because all Prophetical Time will be at an end before the Blessed Millennium begins according to Christ's Oath Rev. 10.6 that Time should be no longer after the expiring of the 1260 Years the Times foretold by the Prophets Now if Propheticall Time be at an end before the Thousand Years enter then they must be Literally and not Prophetically understood in which sense if they were to be taken the Glory of the Divine State in which God is all in all would be deferred to so vast a length of Time as could not rationally be supposed But that this State is to last such a precise Number of Years seems to be plainly asserted by the Apostle Peter 2. Ep. 3.8 who discoursing concerning the Day of Judgment delivers this remarkable Axiom of which he charges those he wrote to to take special notice as of a thing very observable viz. That one Day is with the Lord as a Thousand Years and a Thousand Years as one Day In which place the Apostle answers an Objection which he foresaw would be made by some Scoffers in the last Days against the coming of Christ to dissolve this present World and make a New One and tells the that this should certainly come to pass at the Day of Judgment But least his meaning should be mistaken he says that by the Day of Judgment he does not mean a single ordinary Day but a Day in the mysterious Account and Reckoning of Almighty God who made all things in Number as well as in Weight and Measure and had ordained accordingly that a Day in his Account should be reckoned as a Thousand Years and a Thousand Years as One Day and therefore that the Day