Church it will as we may conclude the relation of a particular person to God now by paralleling it with the particular relation between God and one of the Iews though it could not be extended to what is typicall and ceremoniall in that respect 4. The opposition maketh it clear Nations now become the Lords as formerly they were Antichrists that is they give now the profession of purity by a publick acknowledgement as formerly they gave it to the beast now they reject him and take Christ in his room but the first was done nationally 5. Nations become now the Lords as they were not His before for thus the opposition is to be understood also but that was in respect of the complex body the generality of them and if now the phrase be such a Nation is not the Lords because the generality and complex body do not publickly acknowledge Him Then oâ— the contrary a Nations becoming His must import His having His publick worship nâ—tionally among them 6. Nations now are to become His and to be admitted to the Church under the Gospel as they were formerly secluded before Christ came in the flesh Ps. 147. Thou hast not dealt so with every Nation c. but that which was peculiar to the Iews then from which other Nations were excluded was not in respect of particular persons of Nations for even many Gentiles were admitted with Israel to the Church but the difference was in respect of the collective body of other Nations none whereof were so admitted 7. We may consider this phrase of Nations and Kingdoms their becoming Christs here as it clearly respecteth the many promises and prophesies that went before of calling Nations to Him this is marked as the fulfilling of these promises whereby great things have been expected by the people of God and they cannot be looked on but as holding forth more ground of joy than can be gathered from the conversion of parts of Kingdoms Consider these two places the first is Rom. 10.19 cited out of Deut. 32.21 I will provoke them to jealousie by them that are no people and by a foolish Nation will I anger you Where two things are observable 1. That this provoking of Israel by a Nation is somewhat penall punishing them for their contempt when as it is Matth. 21.43 they shall see the Kingdom of God and their Nationall Church-state translated from them to another people and given unto a Nation who shall nationally be invested with their priviledges as ingrafted in their room 2. That the end thereof is to provoke them to jealousie when they shall see a whole Nation nationally owned of God which they esteemed to be their peculiar priviledge and acknowledged by Him in their room the calling of particular persons of Nations could not be so effectuall either to anger or provoke them seing that hath been common to all times The second place is Isa. 19. vers 18 19 23 24 25. where Egypt and Assyria are called the Lords people even as Israel is and that must be nationally considered 8. Take this place as including the re-ingrafting again of the Iews as no question it doth seing their incoming belongeth to the same time It is most probable-like that their Church will be nationall in the former respect 1. If we consider these expressions Rom. 11.26 All Israel shall be saved which is certainly in opposition to the parcels of them and singular persons whom God called and continued in His Church even when the body of them is broken off 2. They may be expected to be ingrafted into that estate they fell from for saith He Rom. 11. They shall be grafted in again but that estate was their nationall Church-state-relation and apparently had they received the Gospel they had continued a nationall Church to God and not lost their former priviledge though it had not continued to be typâ—call or peculiar to them Now this which they fell from was not from being priviledged with particular Churches for we may see by the Epistle to the Hebrews and Historie of the Acts that after their rejection there were particular Churches among them It would seem therefore that their ingrafting must be as broad as and of the same nature with their breaking off 9. This phrase The Kingdoms of this world are become the Kingdoms of our Lords is to be understood with respect to the commission given to the Apostles for calling in Nations and Kingdoms so that this is marked as the fruit and successe of that but that commission Matth. 28. Go disciple all Nations c. looketh to the body and generality of Nations it being a warrant to invit disciple and gather in a whole Nation and although sometimes in the event but some of Kingdoms and Nations are gathered in yet it cannot be said that upon supposition that a whole Kingdom or Nation should yeeld but they might be by this warrant received and admitted even as by this warrant indefinitly the call and offer is made to all the Nation in common And although not one should yeeld yet this commission and warrant sheweth it is neither inconsistent with the Gospel to call a Nation nor to admit them upon the former supposition 10. This phrase Kingdoms or Nations are the Lords must differ and seemeth expresly to be contradistinguished from that Chap. 5. Thou hast redeemed us out of all Nations Tongues Kindreds and yet that will take in some of Nations distributively this therefore must include more and considering that this speaketh of a visible Church-state and that of the Elect and Redeemed only there is reason that the expression should be more broad and apparently it relateth to that so that as our Lord will have His Redeemed gathered out of Nations and will take none universally for such yet to be a Church in which He will erect His Ordinances He will call Nations collectively considered For the second that by being the Lords here is meaned a speciall Church-state and relation to Him by visible profession and consequently that which we call a nationall Church doth belong to this time of the Gospels rising and Antichrists fall will be clear if we consider these particulars 1. that to be the Lords here is not to be His as all the world is for so were they alway this is some peculiar thing Nor 2. to be the Lords here is it to be His by saving Faith That will not agree to a whole Nation neither to the scope which is to shew a visible and publick Church-state and condition It is then to be His 1. by visible profession of Faith in Him and a publick Church-relation between Christ and them as Israel is often called His Nation Isa. 51.4 though all in it were not converts Now it is not only Israel but other Nations also that are ingrafted and come in their place Rom. 11.24 Again 2. to be the Lords it is to be His as once they were not His but Antichrists bearing his mark worshipping
him as Chap. 13. The opposition is clear they that were under the whore are now turned to Christ. 3. They are the Lords as Families and Cities in the Acts are said to be His but that is to be Churches as the Lord speaketh to Paul at Ephesus I have much people in this place that is a flourishing numerous Church to be converted here by thy Ministrie who being gathered become a Church Revel 2.1 and so a peoples being the Lords is their becoming a Church and therefore when a Nation is said to be the Lords it is equivalent as to say that Nation is a Church to the Lord as these in Ephesus are written unto Rev. 2.1 Out of all which may be concluded If it be all one to say that Nations shall be the Lords and Nations shall be Churches Then the Scripture doth assert nationall Churches in the dayes of the Gospel not only as consistent with the Gospels administration but as an evident commendation of it But the first is true from this place and therefore the last also for a Song is given to God for it There are some objections to be removed the first whereof is that there is no mention made of any nationall Church in the New Testament yea where sundry Families and Churches of one Nation are converted they are stiled Churches and not one Church so may it be here Answ. 1. It will not be safe in some things to stick literally to words so as none other may be admitted but what is expresly in the letter if the thing be written for the Church being then in its infancie it is no marvell that no whole Nations or Kingdomes were converted and so could not be called by that name seing that Magistrates who are prime parts were long after that the Churches enemies and though a minor part be called by Churches and not by the name of the Nation it is no marvell seing the Nation and Church were not of equal extent and in that respect the Church was not nationall Ans. 2. Yet the equivalent is in the New Testament two wayes 1. When many Churches in one City are called the Church of that City as Ierusalem Antioch Ephesus Corinth which were moe than one Congregation and may it not by the same reason be given to many Churches of a Nation as well compare 1 Corinth 1.2 with 14.34 it will be found that one Church had moe in it 2. It is equivalent when many Churches of one people are upon the matter counted as one and called one in the New Testament so the Hebrews are all when they are written to called one house Hâ—b 3.6 yet had many Officers Heb. 13.17 and the visible Church only is the object of writing and by Peter one flock 1 Pet. 5.1 2 3. and the Churches of Galatia are called one lump Chap. 5. and written unto in common to cut off them that troubled them and to prevent the growing of a rent amongst them which certainly sheweth us that Churches in one Nation have dangers common to them all which are not so to others and duties lying on them respectively and rents and strivings wherewith they peculiarly are bitten and devoured It sheweth also there was some peculiar unity to be rent some greater â—ye and union that made them as one lump to be in hazard and some ground giving them accuse to go unitedly about these duties which otherwise were impossible to them some way peculiar to them in that one Nation more than with others that were not of it Answ. 3. The Scripture expresly calleth the Churches of Iudea by one Church which apparently was that same with the Chuâ—ch of Ierusalem and having the same Officers for it is not like that all the Believers reckoned in Ierusalem dwelt in the town But it is clear 1. that Church which Paul persecuted was one Church Acts 8.3 but that was especially the Church of the Iews not a particular Congregation of them but all that called on Christs name Acts 9.1.2.14 wherever they were all of that way 9.21 especially Iews wherefore he hath Letters and Authority from the high Priest which reached not to Gentiles for the high Priest had not Authority over them and he entered in Synagogues to persecute yet that Church which he persecuted was the Churches in Iudea who upon his conversion from persecution are said immediatly to have rest Chap. 9.31 compare with it Acts 26.9 10.11 c. Yea from that we may argue The Church which Paul did persecute was one Church Chap. 8.3 But that comprehended all the Iews of that way and the Churches of all Iudea Samaria and Gaâ—ilie as appeareth vers 1 2 31. Chap. 9. Therefore they are one Church Or thus If the Churches of Iudea may be one there may be a nationall Church But they are one These who had rest by his conversion are the same who were troubled by his persecution for that Chap. 9.31 is mentioned as a fruit of Pauls conversion But these who had â—â—st are many Churches and these who are persecuted are but one Ergo these many are one and that one is many Take one other place Gal. 1. compare vers 13 22 23 25. There is one Church spoken of vers 13. there are Churches of Iudea spoken of vers 22. and yet both are one Therefore it must mean as much as the Church of Iudea These Churches of Iudea are many Churches to whom Paul was unknown But these Churches were these whom Paul persecuted say they vers 23. He that persecuted us that is Us the Churches Ergo that one Church whom he persecuted vers 13. was the Church of the Iews including the Churches of Iudea Neither will it be of force to say this maketh the Church nationall as it was proper to the Iews because for a Nation to be a Church differeth from making the Church nationall or proper and peculiar to that Nation which was the Iews priviledge beyond all Nations neither is it good reasoning persons are of such a Nation and stock Therefore of the Church as if it followed that seed be what they will it may be doubted if Israel was so But this is good reasoning Such a Nation have given and ingaged themselves to Christ Therefore they are a Church Again in that respect a City or Family is not more consistent with the Gospel to be a Church than a whole Nation for no particular City or Family have promises beyond others under the Gospel yet any City or Familie becoming Christians becometh a Church and all their Members are Church-members and what more is pleaded-for or can be denied unto Nations Neither can it be excepted that a Nation are many for many Professors are promised to Christ and is an evidence of His reign by their multitude as their purity or holinesse is another when joyned together Hence also secondly we may from the former grounds argue for the baptizing of children thus If whole Kingdoms and Nations may in a peculiar manner
and independent from any Civil Government 3. That this is a thing perpetually belonging unto the visible Church and was not temporary as peculiar to that time That there is an Authority implyed here the considering of these three will make out 1. If we consider what is commended in Ephesus and desiderated in the other two the very expressions and acts do bear forth an Authority As 1. That is commended in Ephesus That they cannot bear them which are evil but have tried false Apostles and have found them liars All which hold forth a judicial way of proceeding and trying which implieth a citing of such a party and witnesses for the discovering of such and such things according to the rule given to Timothie 1 Tim. 5.19 Against an Elder receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses for there can be no trial without witnesses there can be no witnesses without Power to call them and exact an oath of them that being the end of all strife which cannot be done without Authority The word added and hast found them liars doth confirm that it is a judicial finding after trial whereby they decide 1. In the general that such and such things are evidences of false Apostles and then in particular that such and such things are found to be in them and therefore that they are false Apostles which presupponeth this trial before they judicially pronounce than which nothing doth look more Judicature-like Which will be the more clear if we consider 1. That this trial and finding proceedeth from their zeal and not bearing with evil men and therefore cannot be a trial for private information 2. It 's a trial tending to the edification of the Church and the preventing of that snare amongst the people which no personal or private thing could effectuate 3. It 's a trial and finding opposite to what is reproved in Pergamos and Thyatira and so such a processe and sentence as rid that Church of them which no private or personal act could do 4. It 's a poceeding and tryall which relates to these directions which Paul giveth to Timothy and Titus as the coincidency of the matter scope and other circumstances do demonstrate such as 1. Receive not an accusation but before two or three witnesses which is the ground of that which followeth vers 20. Them that sin rebuke before all Now if that rebuke be an authoritative act as cannot be denied which yet is but the execution of the sentence that followeth the former triall then the triall it self must be judiciall and authoritative also and therefore so must this triall be here understood To say that this is a Ministeriall act and that that triall preceding is only the Ministers private act for his own clearing cannot be admitted for that tryall belongeth to many as after will appear 2. To whomsoever it be supposed to belong it inferreth an authority to try and so to conveen and examine otherwise that triall might be made ineffectuall and so the party wanting authority not to be chargeable with short-coming therein Or 3. This trial must be commended to Church-officers without Authority to effectuate it and so it will not be a mean suitable to the end 4. Ministerial trial and reproof will not be enough to gain the end and to make a corrupt Member to be no Member of such a Church which is the thing desiderated in Pergamos and Thyatira And considering the commendation of these Angels and Churches it is not like that they were defective in their personal aversnesse from and rebuking of these Errors and yet they are reproved as being defective which must infer that they came short in respect of that judicial trial and censure which is here commended in Ephesus as the considering of them will clear 2. Pergamos reproof vers 14. and 15. is Thou hast there them that hold the Doctrine of Balaam and them that hold the Doctrine of the Nicolaitans the fault is not that they approved that Doctrine or connived at it for they denied not the Faith and Aâ—tipas is commended as a faithful Martyre amongst them nor is it their fault that such lived in the Town or as other Heathens might did somtimes enter the Congregations nor is His quarrel only against these Nicolaitans themselves but against the Angel of the Church because they had them in their society as Members with them and had not cut them off and seing this cutting off is such a thing as made them cease to be Members of that body and relateth to that which Paul wisheth to the troublers of the Church Gal. 5. and commends to Titus Chap. 3. Him that is an Heretick reject c. it must imply an Authority and Power without which this cannot be done this un-Membering or un-Churching of a Person being a censure of highest concernment and that same which we call excommunication It followeth then that this Church had that Power and ought to have executed it against these corrupt Members seing her failing therein doth make her reprovable If it be said here that this doth imply no Authority and Power but what is common to all Societies by the Law of Nations and Nature such as companies of Chirurgians Wrights and such like have in excluding men from their own Society which yet is no distinct Authority but subordinate to and derived from the Magistrate We answer 1. That even these Societies in these things act by Authority however it be derived and so the Argument holds that the exclusion of Members from Church-communion doth imply an Authority and what is said of the necessity of such a thing by the Law of Nature and Nations doth confirm the same for if every Society be furnished for the maintaining of it self by the Law of Nature so must also the Church be except we say that it is more defective than other Societies Beside even such Societies could not do such a thing were not priviledges granted them by Authority for that end 2. We answer That although the argument hold in the general that there is an Authority necessary yet will it not prove it to be dependent in the Church as in these Societies it is For 1. The derivation of Authority from the Magistrate to these Societies is clear for such and such Societies have that Power because it is granted to them by the superiour Magistrate and others want it because it is not granted them but I suppose none will plead for a derived Power to the Church from the Magistrate in this place yea the greatest opposers of Church-government do acknowledge that it is not derived from him as Lâ—d Mol. pag. 654. There is no reason therefore that Church-government should be subordinate to Magistracie as other Societies are which she exerces as they speak by a proper right and divine without delegation Iure proprio divino non delegato 2. The Magistrate may enter by his Authority such and such persons to the rights and priviledges of
could their Authority have never reached to the formal removing of them as in civil cases was hâ—nted Thirdly To make out the Argument we say that this distinct independent Power here mentioned is a thing that agreeth to the Church in all Ages and conditions and is not peculiar to any one time as suppose because the Church wanted Christian Magistrates at this time it had been lawful to exercise Authority independent from them which in other cases where the Magistrate is Christian is not to be granted Therefore we say 1. That which is attributed to these Churches here agrees to them as Churches and therefore to all Churches at all times for the duties are common and the hazards are common to Churches at all times Therefore this remedy of Church-discipline must be perpetuall also it being the cure that is appointed for such a disease And that often repeated word He that hath ears to hear let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the Churches doth speak in all ages to the end of the World alswell as then 2. If all other directions exhortations c. in these Epistles be perpetuall and binding to the Church to the end of the World then this must be so also and there can be no reason given why this is to be accounted temporary more than the other especially considering that Christs sending of this Revelation is for the good of His Servants unto the end of the World and that especially is aimed at in these Epistles as the forcited close doth confirm It must then be injurious to Christs mind to scâ—ape out so much as concerneth Government as not belonging to His Church for so many ages 3. If the grounds requiring the exercise of this power in the Churches during this time be perpetuall agreeing to all ages Then it is not to be astricted to the time of the Churches being under heathen Magistrates alone But the ground are perpetuall for that is not because the Magistrate is a heathen but that the person offending may be brought to repentance and the seducing of others may be prevented Now these ends are perpetuall which the Church is to study in all times and seing Church Authority and Government is here holden forth as a mean appointed by Jesus Christ for attaining of these ends It must therefore be of perpetuall use to the Church also Although these Truths be clear from the Word yet there are some things which are partly exceptions partly objections insisted on by Adversaries which we shall speak a little to as the nature of our intended purpose will permit A forcited Author pag. 545. doth confidently undervalue all Arguments to this purpose and denieth all distinctnesse of Government in the Church by any Power distinct from that of the Magistrates and to maintain it doth 1. assert That all sort of Power whatsoever is supreamly in the Magistrate whether Heathen or Christian by that place Rom. 13.2 he heaps up with many bigg words several absurdities that accompany as he alledgeth that opinion of a distinct Church-government which he calleth invidiously the building of an Empire within an Empire Yet 3. He granteth that where the Civil Magistrate taketh not on him the care of the Church and maintaineth it not in that case by the Law of Nature and Nations the Church cometh to have an Authority or somewhat equivalent in the place of that whereby she is qualified for the ordering of what concerneth her Members during that case of such a Magistracie allanerly and denyeth any other Authority to have been in the Church during the time that these Epistles were written but what was by voluntary confederacie and association of Members amongst themselves and therefore saith That they had and exercised no lesse Authority during that time in Civil things for which end he maketh use of that place 1 Corinth 6.1 2. c. In reference to all which we say 1. That Authority cannot be denied here however it be derived seing it is a Power to Excommunicate and Exauthorate Officers and Members which they assume as he speaks pag. 654. Yea a Power equivalent to that of the Magistrates because it 's a Power adequate for the time to this end of governing the Church pag. 545. And therefore we say if this confederating or up-making of this Government be a thing jure called for and necessary to be done for this end it is the thing which we assert also and in respect of the particular circumstances that is what places or persons are to associate together is to be regulated by Christian prudence but if it meaned of a voluntary association and confederacie such as trades and crafts use in their Societies as that alone which is the ground of this Power This we altogether deny Because 1. If that confederating be called for by the Law of Nature Then it is not voluntary and free And this Authority is not grounded meerly upon voluntary confederating because as it is not arbitrary to a converted Christian to be Baptized or not so being Baptized it is not arbitrary to him whether to joyn with the Church or not And being joyned submitting to its Government is a necessary duty to him And it becometh not Authority to him because he submits to it but he is to submit to it because it is Authority and therefore supposing that these false Apostles or Iezebel or the Nicolaitans had never consented to subject themselves to the Discipline of these Churches as by their taking such names of Apostles and Prophets to themselves it 's like they did never yet notwithstanding had these Churches Authority over them and it was their duty to submit unto them 2. It 's granted that the Authority that the Church hath in such a case is equivalent to what the Magistrate hath and might exercise and if it be not equivalent to this then the Church of Christ under such Magistrates would not be so perfect as to their Church-state and wel-being as otherwayes which cannot be said without wronging the wisdom of God as if he had left His Church destitute of inward Power when she had least outward Protection but if it be such a Power it cannot be arbitrary and meerly grounded upon the confederacy but must be authoritative upon an other account and may authoritatively enjoyn one to confederate And so confederating is not the ground that constituteth the power but a mean making way for the exercise thereof 3. If it were asked What evidence or proof could be given of such voluntary confederating in the Churches for that time It would be hard to show that universally in all the Churches there was such formall compacting actually agreed upon and yet that there was Government and Authority in them all is evident 4. Suppose confederacies to have been yet could they never have constituted an Authority and Government distinct and independent from the civil supream Power especially while the supream Power opposed the same as supposing to keep the similitudes proponed
corrupt these and would neither amend them themselves nor suffer others to do so and this separation is necessary and called for by that command Come out of her my people Chap. 18 and without this there had been no communion kept with that which was the true Church of God who although for a time she did live in that Babylonish captivity was yet never of that communion and both these to wit that there were ever some such who kept the foundation and did reject the Popish inventions and that they in so far joyned not with them and so had not fellowship with Antichrist and his works of darknesse but did reprove them we suppose is clear from what is already said Neither ought the Papists to think this strange that we apply such distinctions to the Church under the true Antichrist considering that they use the same in reference to the time of their forged Antichrist who say they shall overrun the Church and by Idolatries and violence cover the face thereof yet shall there be a true Church who shall not be locally seperated from Him and His followers but in respect of their adhereing to the former purity and so by them the question where the true Church during that time is to be is answered thus It is under Antichrist but not of that defection His Church is the company of these that shall not decline from their former purity the true Church are the few here and there that shall retain it And thus generally they expound the woman fleeing Chap. 12. which to them also belongeth to that time to be no locall mutation of the Church but a decay of her conspicuousnesse and beauty by the defection of the great part and the overspreading of Antichristianisme and the Remists do illustrate it thus that as now in England the Church may be said to be fled in respect of what it was and the publick face of things yet as there are in it many true professors who are not of that Church but adhere to the Romish So say they will it be in Antichrists time and may not now that same be more rationally said of the true Church even in these times and places where Popery hath covered the publick face of all The second objection may be cleared also from what is said That we have not our Ministrie and Ordination from Antichrist more than we have the Word and Sacraments from him although through their hands the Lord did conveigh them to us but we have these from the Lord whose Ordinances they are and to whom we are obliged for purging them from antichristian corruptions and transmitting them pure to us which Antichrist would never have done Neither can it be thought strange that we should have Ordination and Ordinances transmitted to us through Antichrists reign considering that there were such even in his time Now we must either deny that any such were during that long time which is absurd and contrary the scope here or we must say that it is more impossible for us to continue Ordination and Ordinances in a distinct separate way from Antichrist as we through Gods goodnesse have them now and not to be obliged to him for them or not to have them derived from him Than it was to the Ministers and Church that lived while he was in his height For if we say that their Ordination and Ordinances were antichristian then shall we have no Christian Church if we say they were Christian though sometimes coming through impure hands because they separated what was antichristian from them so that may be said here also and so it is We therefore apply these distinctions here and say that we may consider our Ordination materially in it self or complexly in respect of its additionals and the former Church in respect of the multitude who declined or the few that keeped their garments and were not antichristian If we consider Ordination and Ordinances materially so we have them from the true Church and Prophets that were during Antichrists reign and our Church succeedeth them and although it descend by the Church under Antichrist yet is not antichristian more than she was antichristian as is said Again if we consider Ordination complexly in which sense only it is antichristian so we have not Ordination derived to us from her because we have none such at all It is not enough to make Ordination and Ordinances antichristian that they be so or by such transmitted as the former instance of the Church in that time and what is formerly said doth clear but that they be transmitted as such complexly Now these are not as such transmitted to us Therefore cannot be called antichristian Beside this we may draw some conclusions from this Song the first whereof is this That a National Church is not only not inconsistent with the flourishing estate of the Gospel in the world but is concomitant with it yea is a manifest proof of it and a great ground of rejoycing to Gods people and of praise to Him For clearing and confirming whereof we may consider 1. That by Nations and Kingdoms here is meaned the generality and body of such Kingdoms and Nations 2. That by being the Lords here is meaned a speciall Church-state and relation which two being made out it will consequently appear that what we call a Nationall Church which is the combination of a Nation as one unto God doth well suit the time of Antichrists fall and of the Gospels flourishing The first to wit that by Kingdoms here or Nations Chap. 15.4 are not to be understood some few of a Kingdom or Nation but the generality and body of them may appear 1. From the scope which clearly is this to set out the largenesse of the extent of the flourishing of the Gospel or the inlargement or wonderfull extent of the Church after Antichrists begun ruine If it were but some few there would be no such ground of praise nor no such difference from what was before even then some of Nations and Kingdoms were the Lords 2. Kingdoms becoming His is to be understood as the like phrases used of Cities and Families their becoming His but that doth import not only some of such a Family or City but the whole or generality of them as instances will clear See what is said of Lydda and Saron Acts 9.35 which certainly is more than can be said of other Cities where yet He might have many therefore it must be so here 3. These Kingdoms become His as once the Kingdom and Nation of the Iews were His in a peculiar manner for this seemeth to relate to the Lords manner of calling the Jewish Nation and as they were His so shall these Nations be His seing no other so clear parallel can be given of expounding here a Kingdom becoming the Lords so Israel is called His Nation Isa. 51.4 It is true this will not hold in typicall and ceremoniall things but in things common and essentiall to a Nationall
walk to all Gods Commandments though they attain not to perfection therein holinesse becometh Gods house for ever Psal. 93.5 and is a good character of a childe of God 2. We may understand it in opposition to the antichristian Church who during this time spend their devotions in obedience to traditions and commandments of men whereby as Christ saith of the Pharisees they did make void the Commandments of God By this we may see that vows fastings peregrinations adoration of crosses and the like though never so many with never so much devotion and seeming piety will never prove one to be of the seed of the true Church whereas the simple sincere practice of clear commanded duties will sufficiently evidence the same The second character is and they have the testimonie of Iesus Christ that is they are not only legall in their practice but the Mediator in all His Offices is acknowledged by them this also is to be understood first simply that they bear testimonie to Christ by believing in Him as it is 1 Ioh. 5 and have His approbation in the same 2. It is also to be understood in opposition to the corrupt multitude who in effect denie Christ to be come in the flesh by their Meats Purgatory resting upon good Works and the like of these whereby they give not their testimonie to Christ nor have it in the profession that is proper and suitable to true Professors nor will be found therein approven as having the same before God in a word they are such as have respect both to Law and Gospel giving each of them their own due This was fulfilled when the devil set himself by the bringing forth of Antichrist to publick view to make havock of the Church the history whereof followeth in the next Chapter more particularly Concerning the unity of the Catholick visible Church THis Woman being the Church and frequently mentioned we may consider her a little and we will see that there is a Catholick visible Church in the dayes of the Gospel also That the Church is here intended is certain that it is the Church visible in this and in the former Chapter is also undeniable it is her purity and defection that is described it is she that fleeth it is she that hath prophets it is she that is more or lesse visible it is she that is persecuted by the Dragon and by Antichrist it is she that is set on by the floud of error it is she that travelieth and bringeth forth seed that will lay down their lives for the testimonie of Christ the whole scope and strain runneth on this to set forth the state and condition of the visible Church as we gather from this and the close of the former Chapter That this Church is one we may make it out in these three considerations 1. The Jewish Church and the Gospel-church materially and in essentiall things are one it is that same stock from which they were broken off into which the Gentile Gospel-church was ingrafted it is that root sap and fatnesse which we now partake of that they fell from as Rom. 11. Yea when the Iews came to be grafted in again the stock and Church is the same it is to their old Church-state that they are again restored If then the Jewish Church-state and the Gentiles be one yea the Jewish Church-state before their fall and after their recovery be essentially the same on this ground Then the Kingdoms or Nations becoming the Lords doth take in the Iews re-ingrafting who now have had the vail long on their faces and the Temple shut upon them for then that Temple shall be opened and materially they shall be entered to the substance of their ancient Priviledges and Covenant although the administration thereof be changed This is here clear for this woman vers 1. is grafted in the Jewish stock Rom. 11. and becometh Christs Bride and continueth so to the end the same woman This consideration doth shew how warrantably we may make use of the experiences of these ancient Believers plead their generall and essentiall priviledges to us and ours and build on the morall grounds of their policie and the administration of this Covenant and Ordinances amongst them seing we are one Church with the same essentiall Covenant and Priviledges although some things ceremoniall were adjoyned to them 2. The Gospel-church before Antichrist during his reign and what followeth is still one Church this followeth on the former and is clear in that instance of the Iews who are to be ingrafted in that same root that the believing Gentiles succeeded unto before Antichrist arose so the Temple is the same when it is shut Chap. 11. vers 1. and some few closed up in it with the Temple that is open vers 19. out of which many do come Chap. 15. The woman also that travaileth vers 1 2. and bringeth forth and fleeth to the wildernesse is still the same woman Spouse to Christ and Mother to His seed during that time and also after the expiring of these dayes This consideration sheweth the continuance of the Church and Ordinances and how that series is not interrupted by Antichrists sitting down in the Temple 2 Thess. 2. but it continueth to be the Church notwithstanding and after his removall is to be acknowledged for the same Church that it was before he did set himself down therein 3. There is an unity amongst all Professors in all parts of the world that live in the same time they all are of this one Church and there is one integral Catholick Church that is made up of them all for 1. there is in all the world but one Heaven and Kingdom of Heaven that is the visible Church as there is on Earth or World distinct from it and it cannot be said there are two there is but one Temple as there is but one Ark that in darknesse all are shut up in and which when liberty cometh is but that same Temple opened and is still one though it be enlarged to receive moe And as all Professors in a Nation become one nationall Church as hath been said so all professing Nations do become one Catholick Church by the same grounds proportionably followed for now they become His not only severally but conjunctly and these have their nationall unity as being parts of that whole with a subserviencie thereunto There is in all the world but one Woman when she travaileth there is an unity and conjunction for delivery as there was common hazard and so all Professors and Churches did joyn in Prayers Judicatures c. for this end There is but one Spouse to Christ the visible Church therefore is it either not Christs Spouse nor married to Him or there must be a Catholick visible Church which is married to Him by the same Gospel-band every where for to say that Christ had many Spouses would sound monstruously and not answer the analogie of that onenesse that is between Christ and His own Church
multitude of Professors and liberty to be worshipped so do they by partaking joyntly of all these in and with Christ. So to reign with Christ differeth 1. from reigning simply 2. from Christs reigning with them as if He took share with them No but He admitteth them to share with Him 3. It differeth from Christs reigning in them which is meerly spiritual and alway continual This is in an outward enjoying of the Ordinances visible as fellowship invisible and a freedom in these and their reign is more or lesse according as Christs is Therefore must necessarily consist in enjoying such things as these by which He reigneth 2. The good condition of the Church and Saints ver 5. is set down by the sad condition that all the rest of the world were in All that time they lived not again and that it might be known what life they lived not again it is added This is the first resurrection not the second which is common both to good and bad Dan. 12.1 2. There are three things in the first part of the verse to be cleared 1. Who these rest of the dead are who are opposed to these who lived ver 4. In a word It is the successors of of these heart enemies and persecuters who had still a succession of the like in the world They are all by nature dead that live in the world Eph. 2. But some continue so 1 Tim. 5. as the widow that is dead while she liveth and Matth. 8. let the dead bury their dead So here they are accounted the rest of the dead even all who are opposed to the successors of the Martyrs as all contradistinguished from the Martyrs who formerly were dead but now live 2. It is said they did not live that is enjoy the former happy condition of the Church or did not come to that way of persecuting the Church actively as they had done before and were to do after these thousand years In which tyrannizing over the Church consisted the life of their predecessors the persecuters as these that are Saints now died in their predecessors the Martyrs so contra these wicked did live and reign in their predecessors the persecuters while the Church was martyred but now are as dead men bound up and restrained from acting that life in a great measure as if they were not living and thus it seemeth to consist with their living after the thousand years are past which is not as if they were converted but letten loose again to their old exercise these that were hypocrits before vent now their enimity more and wicked men formerly restrained now aim to bring-under again Christs Church 3. From this we may expound what is said till the thousand years expire as the tearm of their deadnesse for 1. it is not bodily rising again for yet the resurrection is not come nor spirituall rising again for the number of Saints is rather fewer after this resurrection and the thousand years are past than moe but as there is a life of grace and of the Saints so is there a life of corruption and of the wicked and wickednesse which may for a time be restrained Now after the thousand years wickednesse and wicked men live that is do break out in their enimity against the Church to persecute again by Gog and Magog as if personally they were risen and persecution that was almost seeming to be dead is revived Thus seing Satans binding hath a tearm and the Saints reign a tearm it is suitable also that the death of these wicked men here understood have a tearm also which can be no otherwise than this Hence these three are still observable 1. Satans loosing the Saints dying and the persecuters living before the thousand years 2. Satans binding the Saints living and the persecuters dying during that time not simply but in part so after the thousand years Satan is loose again the Church in hazard again and her good condition interrupted and so the persecuters they get life and heart again which is like that healing of the wound Chap. 13. of the head of the beast not in the same person but in a successor with the same principles and the giving life again to the image of the beast vers 13 14. and so the Saints their living and dying will answer well to the persecuters dying and living If any object that these dead are supposed to be dead before the thousand years Ans. Observe for clearing it his manner of comparison for the world preceeding that time is as it were divided in these two Martyrs and confessors keeping themselves free and persecuters both these are spoken of as dead Again the Church or generation succeeding during these thousand years are looked upon as the raising again of that former generation now saith he The difference between this generation and what went before shall be so great that men would think that all the former Martyrs and honest Christians were brought to life again they shall be so many But for the persecuters that lived in their times they shall not appear so as they formerly did during that time in which respect they are said to be dead and not to rise because once they were numerous and now it is not so and though this cannot universally as yet be said yet in this and other Nations blessed be God If it be asked what hath become of former sincere Christians It may be answered they are living again in their successors But if it be asked what is become of the Pope and open persecuters that once prevailed here It may be said they are dead and not arisen but are in their graves and by Gods blessing may not that which in so great part is fulfilled in some Nations be in due time extended to others and so here the rest of the dead importeth no more but that they are found in a dead state during these thousand years and that they do not again recover what they lost by it till these thousand years were expired and thus they are rather supposed to be living before it and interrupted by it which again they recover in their successors Gog and Magog when it is finished and this we conceive doth answer the scope This is called the first resurrection It is 1. applied to spirituall living again Ioh. 5. 23 c. and is opposed to sinfull death or death in sin and so resurrection to glory is distinguished from it Thus all Saints at all times rise as they are made to believe and this is personall and cannot be fecluded here 2. Resurrection is taken oftentimes as of Churches and Nations as Rom. 11. of the Iews in-coming and conversion and Ezek. 37. whenas the Church spreadeth so as if a Nation were born in one day Isa. 66. or as if all the former Saints which were lost as to men were again like Rachels children restored as it is Ier. 31. vers 15 16 c. This is after an eclipse when visibly the Church
suiteth well and best with the scope as taking in all 3. Because all those steps of victories belong to the vials and are one continued and pursued victory from its beginning to its close Neither secondly do we exclude but include the Churches happy and flourishing condition on earth not only for the former reasons whereby it is clear they cannot be separated but also because of its scope which is to shew the Churches estate here in time and the other characters of its being subsequent immediately to the sealed company as succeding to them as also its being contemporary with the vials in their rise and progresse confirm this For the third Question What is the reason that the temporal and flourishing condition of the Church-militant is set down under such noble expressions as agree to the Church-triumphant Ans. 1. Because it is one continued victory the begun happinesse and flourishing condition of the Church and their happy condition in Glory hereafter being divided in so many parts and Heaven is the last longest and fullest part of it 2. Because it is ordinary in this Book to describe and stile the Church-militant by Heaven and the Beauty and Glory of the Church by that of Heaven the happinesse of the Church here by the happinesse of Heaven hereafter 3. The expressions of the Prophets speaking of the Gospels flourishing or of a flourishing estate of the Jewish Church after the captivity are thus large as Isa. 25.8 and 35.10 and 47.10 and 51.11 which expressions may be borrowed as many other from the Prophets in this Book and are both to set forth the excellent estate of the Church in it self during that time and also being compared with its former obscure condition it is like heaven in respect of what it was 4. The outward judgement on persecuters Chap. 6. was described by hell and the last judgement the one being to them the beginning of the other so upon the contrary this happy estate of the Church is described by heaven in opposition thereto as is suitable More particularly the words hold out the begun happinesse of the Church here after Antichrists begun fall and her growing in that happy condition never to be so darkened again as formerly till it be perfected in heaven The consolation hath two parts as we shew before 1. What Iohn saw and heard from vers 9. to vers 13. 2. A more particular explication of the former from vers 13. to the end The generall description of what Iohn saw and heard hath two parts suitable to Chap. 4. and 5. One is of the redeemed Church preceeding The second is of the Angels going alongst with them The former vers 9 10. The latter vers 11.12 The first of them is set out in these three circumstances 1. In the order as they stand After this I beheld and lo a great multitude to put difference betwixt one thing and another in time yet immediately following it the meaning is when the former strait of the Church was over and the hidden ones keeped secret under Gods stamp I saw a great multitude come out and publickly avow and professe Christs Gospel 2. They are described by their number it was great and innumerable not to God who hath them all written by name in His Book known to Him are all from the beginning 2 Tim. 2. the Lord knoweth who are his But 1. It was a great multitude in it self that no man could number as the stars and sand of the sea are called innumerable and Abraham's seed 2. Comparatively or in comparison of the little number that was before under Antichrists dominion that might have been within mens reckoning but this was hugely beyond it 3. They are described from their extent of all Nations Kindreds c. in opposition to the former paucity of Tribes which might be in one Kingdom when the Church was as shut up now there shall be an enlargement as observable as at the Gospels first spreading to point at the spreading that the rise of the Gospel should have after Antichrists begun ruine it should be such as was after Christs Ascension 4. They are described from the place where and the postour wherein they stood they are before the Throne of God and they stand there 1. Before the Throne that is in the Church here they are brought in that were strangers before and in Heaven they shall be compleated hereafter for we understand the Throne here as Chap. 4. as representing either the place of Glory or Gods favourable presence to His Church 2. They stand there which pointeth at two things First Their dependence on God and Christ they stand as servants attending their Master as vers 15. presenting themselves before Him after their victories Secondly Their publick owning and acknowledgeing of Him for their victory and liberty Thirdly They stand in white robes well adorned and palms in their hands with white robes a signe of Glory Chap. 3.4 and a sign of innocency Chap. 14.4 and victory 19.8 having a more beautifull luster upon them than before with palms in their hands a signe of victory and joy in a full measure suitable to these who had gotten their heads above all difficulties Mat. 21.8 5. They are described from their work and exercise which is set down vers 10. in the matter and in the manner 1. In the manner they cry out with a loud voice To shew 1. the good reason they had to blesse Him 2. The goodwill and heartinesse they had to do it 3. The publicknesse of their profession and the spreading of it whereas the Song of the hundred fourty and four thousand was secret none could learn their Song Chap. 14. this is publick and avowed they care not who hear their Song 2. The matter of their Song is in few words but very materiall In generall it is to ascribe to God the glory of their victory as to the author of it and to Christ as Mediator as the great mean and procurer of it It taketh in the rise progresse and perfecting of their happinesse spiritual and temporall it is all Salvation and Salvation from all things that may hurt His people More particularly this Salvation is ascribed to God as the fountain and efficient cause in whose Counsel the work of salvation bred and was concluded and it is ascribed to Christ as the meritorious cause and procurer of it To point out 1. That their Salvation is in Him and belongeth to Him 2. That their Salvation is no where else to be gotten Isa. 43.1 and 21. appropriateth it to God so as it excludeth all others 3. It is an attributing not only Salvation in the general to God but this same particular delivery from Antichrists sin snares his idols and ignorance Psal. 3.8 4. It is the giving or ascribing the Glory to Himself alone and so an acknowledging of the freenesse of it that is was for no deserving or worth in them 5. Christ is joyned with God because all Grace and
had accesse at their solemn times and this allusion holdeth forth that as the inner court being compared with the outer was small and as many had accesse to this which were not admitted to the former so during this time the number of true worshippers shall be few though the multitude of nominall Professors shall be great because the Lord will set apart some few to himself and disown the rest even as if under the Old Testament he had appointed the outer court to be divided from the inner the greater part had been rejected but the better part reserved so shall it be in the Gospel-church at that time some few like the Temple shall be ordered and set aside for himself and the visible body of Professors left out without any such speciall care which leaving or casting out we conceive to be the same as not to be sealed and so taken notice of by God Chap. 7. And this measuring will be sound to belong to the same persons who are sealed The second allusion of measuring respecteth that vision Ezek. 40.41 c. And it may signifie 1. the Lords putting a difference amongst Professors of that time and that profession will not be sufficient to make men passe but they must be tried and put to the touchstone and that the Lord will do so 2. It holdeth out the Lords setting apart of some for himself in opposition to others who are neglected thus the land was to be measured Ezek. 47.18 and for this cause Israel is often called the rod of Gods inheritance Psal. 74. 2. Ier. 10.16 c. as measured by to him in opposition to all other Nations 3. It signifieth a care and special oversight of the Lords in reference to these in the Temple beside others as if he were building and preparing a house for them even like a little Sanctuary to rest in during that time Thus measuring of the Temple here is opposed to the casting out of the outer court to the Gentiles which is not to be measured or so taken notice of by the Lord and this agreeth with that Chap. 12.14 of providing a place for the woman i.e. the Church during the same time And lastly this measuring of the Temple is opposed to the opening of it Chap. 15. And opening of it there being to be understood of an enlarged estate of the Church and bringing of the Gospel to open light This here must signifie a secret retired state of the Church wanting that splendor and visibility of Ordinances which it had before this time and which after the seven trumpets sounding it was to have A third allusion is unto Daniels prophesying of Antiochus his making desolate of the materiall Temple Dan. 7.13 and so the meaning will be That as the Church of the Iews and their Sanctuary was tread upon during such a time under Antiochus so shall the visible face of the Church be abused and overrun by Antichrists followers during his tyranny over the same Yet still will the Lord preserve a remnant as in that former case Vers. 1. Now it will be easier more particularly to clear the words Wherein there is 1. Something done 2. Something said And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod. A reed is used in measuring either to find out the quantity of a thing or the regularity of a thing or for the dividing and setting apart of it It is given to Iohn not only to signifie the smallnesse of that number which should be set apart for God for as numbering importeth fewnesse so measuring doth smallnesse and the regularnesse of their worship beside all the rest of the world but to shew that the Church during this time was not to be reckoned by the multitude but that the rule behoved to be applied for discerning of it and these who were furnished by a measuring reed should find it out and none other That which is said may be taken up in these three 1. What he should measure 2. What he should not measure 3. Why His direction what to do is Rise and measure the Temple of God and the altar and them that worship therein The Temple here is that which we called the Court of Priests where the altar stood it is opposed to the outer Court in the following Verse These that worship therein point out true worshippers who rest not in the outer Court with the multitude to whom they are opposed vers 2. but like Priests to God they worship him in the Temple where the altar is signifying the continuance of the prescribed worship in opposition to the will-worship of others particularly their continuing to make use of Christs sacrifice which is signified by the altar which the multitude did not enquire for These are to be set apart after they are tried and found for God Himself The second part of the direction is what should not be measured and that is the Court without the Temple leave or cast it out and measure it not saith He by which is understood the visible face of the Christian Church which in respect of externall Professors is like unto the outer Court during the Jewish service This not measuring of it implieth a slighting and misregarding of it and not setting it apart as the former as the following words do clear 3. The reason of this is for it is given to the Gentiles and the holy city shall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths Where 1. the state of the outer Court is set down to be given to the Gentiles 2. The height and continuance of their tyrannie is expressed the holy city shall they tread under foot fourty and two moneths By the Law Gentiles were inhibited the congregation and assembly of the people in this outer Court so this giving to the Gentiles must suppose a profaning of the visible Church and corrupting and mixing of publick Ordinances and Worship even as admission of Gentiles to the outer court would have been under the Law for which Paul was complained of Acts 21. By Gentiles is to be understood not properly Pagans for they are not capable to possesse the visible Church and to partake its name for it continueth to be the outer Court even while it is given to them and is tread on by them Beside as was hinted the time of their treading of it will fall under the time of Antichrists sitting in the Temple of God and therefore it must be understood of his vassals and followers They are called Gentiles in this respect that although they seem to bear the name of Christians and so did not destroy but possesse the outer Court and retain the name of the Christian Church yet in respect of their defection from the purity of the Gospel and of the superstitious and idolatrous worship propagated by them they are rather to be accounted Gentiles than Christians in which respect their head Antichrist Chap. 13. is said to have a name of blasphemy even as the Pagan heads had
not because of any worth that is in them or for their own sake But 1. for His sake and for His Authority that sendeth them 2. For the event of their word which will certainly come to passe and that more terribly and as certainly as ever any temporall judgement was brought on by Moses or Elias Fear to come in tops with this word it is a sword with two edges and will kill these who oppose and do not submit unto it LECTURE III. Vers. 7. And when they shall have finished their testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Egypt where also our Lord was crucified 9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth FRom the seventh Verse he proceedeth to describe the Churches estate in the condition of her Ministers The first step whereof i.e. their prophesying in sackloth contemporary with the Gentiles treading the holy City under foot is past now follow other two steps further 1. What was the low condition they were brought unto and the beasts prevailing over these witnesses killing and murthering them to vers 12. The last step is their Resurrection and the making of them and their testimonie and the state of the Church more glorious and visible than before Their low condition is set out 1. in their death 2. What went before it vers 7.8 And 3. in what followed after in the enemies insulting vers 9 10. set forth in severall circumstances The first circumstance whereby this is set out is the time of their killing vers 7. When they have finished their testimonie or were about to finish their testimonie for it is within the term of Antichrists height that this is done what was called prophesying before is called their testimony here because for that end they were to testifie and preach It is called their testimonie to set out that peculiar task which God had given them as their work and earand that behoved to be done and ended even as it is said of Iohn that he finished his course Acts 13 â—â— and so Paul speaketh of himself 2 Tim. 4 7. Thus was it with Christ He preached about three years and an half who was the true witnesse and could not be impeded till his hour came and his testimony and work given him was finished Ioh. 17. More particularly it will be found to be about the expiring of the fourty two moneths which is one with the beasts coming to an height for as we shew before these Prophets prophesying is contemporary with the beasts reign their putting on sackcloth and mourning is occasioned by his rise and so beginning together they go on in an equal length and therefore must end together that is at the beasts begun fall when they begin to put off their sackcloth But the question thence riseth 1. How can it be said that their testimonie is finished and they are killed and reproached when Ministers testifying is a continuing work And 2. how can it be said that the beast prevaileth more against the witnesses now at the beginning of his fall than in the time of his reign For answer 1. Consider That though now moe witnesses have appeared against Antichrist whereby it cometh to passe that these two witnesses are about to finish their testimony and as it were to go off the stage because God had now provided many for that task yet the period of Antichrists absolute tyranny is not at a close as we will find afterward And the Lord wisely made His Church somewhat more visible before that so this great act of his cruelty might be the more discernable and that thereby marches might be the more clearly rid betwixt the period containing his height and that which immediately followeth wherein is contained his decay and ruine 2. Consider these two witnesses testimony may be said to be finished when the manner of their testifying is finished or changed That is either 1. when their number is encreased and God giveth moe witnesses by bringing some others in their tour Or 2. When they then testifie more publickly and boldly who were before hid and scarcely discerned as the Church while she was in the wildernesse now they appear and openly avow their Doctrine and give a publick visible testimony Or 3. When their sackcloth is something altered and that contempt and reproach that was upon honest Ministers is somewhat diminished and they begin to get countenance it may be by some great persons or Princes their testimony may be said to be finished though not simply yet in some respect for this testimony of theirs seemeth to be especially intended as a check against Antichrists reign when all the world should be going after him Now after such a long time the Ministers step out more publickly to cry down Antichrist he is irritated and fighteth and warreth against them and by his discerning them better now than before he cometh at them with outward cruelty more And God having guarded His own testimony and made the world more sensible of these evils by their publick appearing and suffering in His righteous judgement and deep wisdom He permitteth Antichrist to prevail that this testimony may be sealed by suffering and bloud in which the sufferers are overcomers as it is Chap. 12.11 and Christ getteth no lesse testimony and victory in that The second circumstance is the party by whom they are killed it is the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit to wit Antichrist or the Pope compare this with Chap. 13. and 17 18. It is a beast making war with the Saints there and here who will be found guilty of their bloud First He is called the beast as these in Dan. 7. and 8. are called 1. For his power and greatnesse 2. For his cruelty and inhumanity Secondly He is said to come from the bottomlesse pit to wit out of hell So his Doctrine came from thence Chap. 9.1 he is called the angel of the bottomlesse pit and cometh after the working of Satan whatever he pretend Thirdly He is said to be ascending in the present time 1. to shew his propinquity that in its first steps he was beginning to work 2 Thess. 2. 2. That he rose insensibly and as it were by degrees till he was on his seat and there is but one beast mentioned here because these two Chap. 13. are indeed but one and the same The third circumstance is in the degree of this in three expressions to wit make war overcome and kill them Quest. What was
his finall overthrow but is immediately to follow that time when all Nations worship him See further Chap. 6. Lect. 1. The second objection is that before the seventh trumpet blow the beasts Kingdom is said to be shaken with a considerable ruine which say some must belong to the vials some whereof therefore must contemporate with the sixth trumpet Answ. What we have said in the exposition will abundantly clear this in a word the sixth trumpet hinteth the turn which the seventh doth consummate and it sheweth that immediately upon the back of the witnesses killing there succeeded a glorious face of a Church in comparison of what was which being compared with the application formerly given will bear out this that the Lord turned Antichrists highest fury against His Church and witnesses to be the occasion and mean of furthering his own ruine and bringing of His Church to some footing which we acknowledge to belong to the sixth trumpet and maketh way for the opening of the Temple in heaven which was before shut out of which the Angels with the seven vials do proceed which sheweth that there is some shaking of Antichrists kingdom antecedent to the vials as well as to the seventh trumpet even as much as belongeth to the sixth trumpet for the first of them supponeth a visible Church-state and some victory over Antichrist to be begun From all which the contemporating of this seventh trumpet with these seven vials doth the more evidently appear which we have insisted the larglier upon because it is a main pillar that supporteth the series laid down Chap. 6. and doth make the connexion clear here although we professedly spoke of it before To come particularly to the words then the sum and scope of these following Verses is by anticipation to give a little view what the vials expresse more fully from Antichrists begun ruine to its close and this is brought in here for the confirmation and consolation of Gods people that before he insist in the particular explicatory prophesie of the Churches trials from the beast in the Chapters following they may have a hint of the happy outgate following it and it doth lay open a full view of the Churches militant condition to her close before he again begin to deduce it from its beginning This happy outgate is three wayes expressed 1. by a heavenly proclamation of good news vers 15. 2. by an excellent song of thanksgiving vers 16 17 18. 3. by a type or vision vers 19. All which are but generally hinted without mentioning any particular because that is reserved to be done by the prophesie of the vials The general proclamation is There were great voices in heaven saying The kingdoms of this world are become the Lords and his Christs and he shall reign for ever where we have to consider 1. the news 2. whence they come The news have two branches one is concerning the present happy change The kingdoms are become the Lords and the other is concerning the continuance thereof He shall reign for ever By Kingdoms of this world we understand not all Kingdoms but some or many called Kingdoms in opposition to persons or families or parts of Nations Now the body of Kingdoms and Nations are brought in as is expresly said Chap. 15.4 parallel to this All Nations shall come and worship before thee They are called Kingdoms of this World to shew that such Nations as formerly did not acknowledge God should now submit to Him The scope is to shew the increase of the Gospel after Antichrists begun ruine in opposition to the former paucity that was in the true Church They are said to become the Lords and His Christs in opposition to what formerly they were they were His by creation but were not of His Church nor did not acknowledge His Christ as Head but owned another master now they become the Lords by speciall acknowledging of Him and they become His Christs by the profession of faith in Him alone In a word this their becoming His now is to be a pure Church to Him such as no Nation formerly were and as once the Iews were His in a peculiar manner Beside this is expounded Chap. 15.4 All Nations shall come and worship before Him by giving their professed subiection to Him It is said He shall reign for ever this is not only to shew the perpetuity and eternity of Christs Kingdom in it self as it is expressed Dan. 2. That of His Kingdom there shall be no end for even under Antichrists height of tyrannie this was true our Lord Jesus had a Kingdom then but this reigning relateth to His visible continuing of a Kingdom in the world such as he seemed not to have immediatly before this as may be gathered from vers 17. In a word Christ hath now taken on Him to have a visible Kingdom in the world and that shall continue without such an universal eclipse by Antichrist or any other to the end These news are proclaimed by great voices from Heaven which may be understood either properly of the joy in Heaven and praise which God getteth there for the conversion of one sinner much more for the conversion of Nations or which especially we rest in figuratively of the visible Church which is just now constituted and the witnesses set therein they before this spoke silently now with confidence and boldnesse they cry and praise the rather we conceive this to be the voice of the witnesses and faithfull Ministers because in the Song following we find only mention made of the Elders and yet it is not like that the Ministers or beasts were silent who Chap. 4. and 5. use in their thanksgiving to go before the Elders this therefore is like to be from them it being one of the delightsomest messages of the Ministers of the Gospel Isa. 52.7 to say unto Sion thy God reigneth 2. The event of this trumpet is set forth in the thanksgiving Song of the four and twenty Elders where 1. their posture is set down next their praise By Elders as on Chap. 4. was shown are represented the Believers who now also having got to seats again and a visible profession which was not heard-of during Antichrists reign and the Temples measuring and the womans being in the wildernesse they do also publickly acknowledge this mercy and praise for it and by falling down before Him acknowledging their having that settled condition from Him and that humility and reverence is no lesse requisit for praise in a prosperous condition than it is for prayer under adversity The subject of this Song pointeth at two particulars in the event of this trumpet 1. Gods taking to Himself a Kingdom for His peoples good 2. His pleading against His enemies and executing justice upon them In the first vers 17. they begin with Gods title Lord God Almighty which art and wast and art to come it was spoken of before and is here applyed to shew 1. that God rightly taken-up is the ground of
praise for deliverances as well as the ground of Faith and Prayer under straits And 2. to shew a suitablnesse in Gods work to Himself this being a proof that He was indeed God Almighty c. And 3. this sheweth the right way of thanksgiving which is to be led in by the consideration of Gods works to have right impressions of His own excellencie and also suitable expressions of these This word we give Thee thanks implyeth not only the duty of a people for spirituall mercies But 1. it supponeth an excellencie in the work 2. A majestie in the Worker 3. An acknowledgement of His Hand and Grace in the performing of it 4. A reckoning of themselves obliged to Him for it 5. A heartinesse and chearfulnesse in the expression of this The first ground of their praise is because thou hast taken to Thee Thy great Power and hast reigned which doth imply 1. that in the time of Antichrists full domineering the Lord seemed not to reign having had His Power obscured by that tyrannie 2. That the Lords having a Church in the world especially in any flourishing condition is the great evidence of His Power and Government in the world and a notable effect thereof and that it ought to be exceeding refreshfull to Gods people when He exerciseth His Power for having of a Church in the dayes wherein they live that they may see Him glorified in the flourishing of His Ordinances The second part of their praise relateth to the work of Justice against enemies vers 18. This work of Justice is five wayes amplified and set forth 1. In the nature and height of it and thy wrath is come God sometimes seemeth to oversee wrongs but He hath a time of calling to a reckoning when wrath will not be delayed as is threatened by the Angel Chap. 10. 2. It is amplified in respect of these on whom it came and the Nations were angry the world was in tops with Christs Church having hatred against His people even then seasonably God trysteth the vengeance and that not on particular persons only but on Nations 3. The greatnesse of this work is set forth by the low condition of these that were to be delivered they are called dead as being appointed to death and so accounted amongst the men of the world which looketh to the reviving of the Prophets formerly spoken of and to that Resurrection of the Professors Chap. 20. as impossible and improbable it being no lesse Power to bring the Church through that desperate-like condition she was under than to raise the dead The last two amplifications of this judgement are the universality and equity of it It s universality is expressed in that it is called the time of judgement wherein small and great shall be called to a reckoning It is said the time is come to shew Gods appointing of times and periods even before they come and that every event is beautifull in its season and ought to be welcomed by Gods people in His time The equity and justice of His proceeding is two wayes expressed 1. His keeping promise to His own That thou shouldest give reward to thy Servants the Prophets and to the Saints and to them that fear thy name small and great This recompense of Grace is called a reward 1. Because God hath knit it to His promise and tied Himself by Grace to the performing of it 2. Because He accounteth Himself bound by the right He hath given them to it 3. Because He alloweth it in liew of the former sufferings and afflictions which they lay under the Prophets are first named to be recompensed because both their work and suffering is greatest Then all His Saints follow even small and great there are none who endeavour faithfully to keep their garments clean how mean soever their parts be and obscure their place be that shall misse of the recompense when Gods time of rewarding cometh and this looketh particularly to the suffering Prophets formerly mentioned vers 4 5 c who are now vindicated when God maketh it appear there is a reward for the righteous and a God that judgeth in the earth as Psal. 58. and it is this judgement which principally is related unto 2. It is expressed in the equity of His proceeding toward His enemies they destroyed or corrupted the earth here God meeteth them in their own measure which is particularly marked in the powring out of the vials Chap. 16.5 6. This work of Justice doth not principally relate to the last judgement as the scope doth clear but to the Lords vindicating His people from Antichrists tyrannie thus expressed for the reasons given Chap. 6. where His vengeance on the heathenish persecuters is set down In sum it is as if they had said We thank Thee for this dispensation whereby thy wrath is manifested upon Antichrist and Thy goodnesse to Thy people and as Moses sang to the praise of God Exod. 15. after the delivery from Egypt so now do we for Thy deliverance from spirituall Egypt vers 8. on which consideration Chap. 15. their Song is called the Song of Moses and of the Lamb also which doth confirm the co-incidencie of this trumpet with these vials The third way whereby this event is expressed is by signs vers 19. pointing at the same scope to wit the spreading of Reformation increase of knowledge and wrath against enemies The first is expressed in two one of them being the effect of the other 1. And the Temple of God was opened in Heaven there is no Temple properly in Heaven Chap. 21 22. but here is meaned the visible Church the allusion is to the manner under the Old Testament in times of universal corruption and defection such as that of Ahaz was to whom in severall things Antichrist may well be paralleled then the Temple was shut and the Ark was not seen Again in the time of Reformation such as the dayes of Hezekiah were the first step was the opening of the Temple 2 Chron. 29.3 and the people had again accesse to the publick service so here in Antichrists time the Temple is shut the service of God is dishaunted and in Gods secret way the Temple is measured by for a few and the testimonie is sealed up to the Disciples now the dayes after the witnesses reviving shall be as the dayes of Hezekiah the Temple shall be opened and there shall be a publick pure profession of the Gospel The second expression is And there was seen in His Temple the Ark of His testament the Ark was in the most holy and the seeing of it importeth a greater increase of knowledge We may consider it two wayes which will agree in one either 1. as it was typicall of Christ so it signifieth that Jesus Christ who under Popery was obscured by superstitions multitude of Mediators merit of works c. and was scarce discernable to people now not only is the Temple door opened but as it is Isa. 25.6 the vail is drawn by
be Churches to Christ under the Gospel and it be Christs glory to have it so Then are many children to be baptized But the former is true Ergo c. The consequence will appear by considering these two 1. That under Nations becoming the Lords children must be comprehended and be His also 2. That by becoming His visibly in a Church-state and relation there is an actuall right to the Sacrament of Baptism as a visible badge of that relation For the 1. we say if Nations be Christs Then children must be His they are a great part of every Nation and are included under all the former acceptions yea although it were but some of all sorts in a Nation yet even in that sense children could not be excluded no Nation will be His if children be not His. 2. These Nations come in the room of the Iews but their children were a great part of that Church 3. Nations there take in the Iews re-ingrafting in what they fell from but they and their children were broken off Beside if the Iews had not their children restored to Covenant with them it might seem that in that respect their priviledges were lesse by Christs coming than formerly 4. Nations here are to be understood in reference to the promise Gen. 12. In thy seed shall all Nations be blessed and if children cannot be secluded there but that blessing must be understood to reach them why should they be excluded here or in that commission Mat. 28. to go and baptize Nations seing that is the promulgation of the fulfilling of the former promise and must be expounded by it 5. When judgements are threatened on Nations or when it is said that Nations shall be brought to judgement it doth ever comprehend the children with the rest and by what reason then can they be excluded here in this priviledge And if this be granted then will their Baptism be easily evinced for to be the Lords here is not to be restricted to being His by Faith savingly as is said but looketh mainly to being His by a visible profession discriminating them from others who are not His and how can that be without Baptism or is there any other discriminating seal for children or can they be His as members of His visible Church and neither be baptized nor have right to it Again we may thus argue If Nations be to be discipled and baptized Then are children to be baptized and that by vertue of that command and commission Matth. 28. But the former is true Nations are to be baptized Ergo. That which needeth to be made out here is that under Nations children are to be included and that in that commission which may be thus evinced If under every consideration of a Nation children are to be included then they must be included here also For we cannot conceive of a Nation as considered either collectively in singulis generum or distributively n generibus singulâ—rum But children must be considered as a prime constituent part as may be seen in all the former acceptions of Nations that are mentioned children are included in them all and we say must be included in this very commission Go teach all Nations and baptize them 1. Because this commission respecteth particularly Gods promise to Abraham Gen. 12.3 that in his seed that is in Christ not only the Nation of the Iews that should come of him should be blessed but all Nations and this commission is as if the Apostles were told now that that is to be fulfilled and the partition is taken down as was said to Abraham when the Gospel was preached to him Gal. 3.8 and so as was promised then that the blessing that was to come by Christ should not be confined to one Nation but should be extended to many now accordingly is it fulfilled we must therefore expound Nations here as it is in the first promise but in that promise under all Nations must be understood children otherwayes we must say that children have no right to the blessing by Christ and that His purchase hath no influence on making any of them blessed which is absurd And if the blessing be derived to them by Christ it must be derived to them as they are contained in that promise and so as they are included under that collective expression Nation that being the great Charter of their title and if under that title the inward blessing be derived why may not the externall initiating seal and priviledge and certainly by this collective it would seem that many moe are to be admitted to Baptism than to the Lords Supper there being no such warrant given in such expressions for that as for this Children then must be included in it 2. By this commission all Nations are to be taken in as the Iews were formerly for by this the Jewish priviledge is not lessened but the partition is declared to be removed and other Nations with them to be admitted to share of these priviledges which the Jewish Nation formerly did peculiarly enjoy But that extended to children This therefore must also do so 3. If by this commission one might baptize a whole Nation and enchurch them Then must the children be so also for the Nation were not a baptized Nation if children were not so But the former hath been formerly cleared that this doth warrand Ministers as they are called to preach to any Nation and upon their submission to the Gospel to baptize them also and although the effect followed not alway yet upon supposition that it do this is a warrant as hath been said Lastly If all disciples ought to be baptized and if such who are capable to be Church-members ought to be sealed and that by vertue of this commission Then ought children to be sealed these two are knit together disciple them as the word is and baptize them and none can deny this consequence but children of believing parents are disciples and are capable to be Church-members This ariseth from what hath been said thus If a Nation may be enchurched to God Then children are capable to be Church-members children being a prime part of a Nation as hath been said But a Nation may be the Lords and a Church and Disciples to Him Therefore may children be so also and therefore ought to be baptized Concerning the constituting of true Churches by Reformation out of such as have been corrupt THirdly from this it followeth that a people or persons renouncing the abomination of Antichrist and accepting of and submitting to the Truth and Ordinances of the Gospel doth ipso facto constitute them Churches of Christ or Members thereof and is sufficient as to essentialls to make them to be accounted so This is clear here for that these Nations do become the Lords doth say that they are Churches to Him yet is there no other way conceivable how they become His but that the witnesses are taken up to Heaven and publick preaching is again restored the Temple is opened
being exactly conform as was clear in the 8. Chap. doth confirm this The Serpent is said to cast this floud out of his mouth which importeth 1. that the originall of all error is from the devil the father of lies And what kind of waters can these be that proceed out of such a mouth this is to make men loath all declinings from Truth for the devil hath as it were disgorged himself by sending abroad such a thing 2. It importeth a suddennesse in the rise and a vehemencie in the driving on of such errors that he did not only spew these out of his mouth but he did cast them with a kind of violence and force Lastly It sheweth also his malice that throweth such flouds after a fleeing woman This agreeth well also according to the former application under the first four trumpets unto the primitive errors which indeed were like a floud and were most violently carried on to the great hurt of the Church This letteth us see how impetuous error will be for a time and what height in the justice of God it may come unto 3. It is said to be casten after the woman which doth not only import his lavelling it at her and his seeking thereby to infect the Ordinances and the Mother that bringeth forth and the true Spouse of Jesus Christ for the rest of the world he doth not much value them But also it doth import 1. That the woman was moving And 2. that he took the advantage of her moving as it were to carrie her the more easily away before she could settle this is clear from the fourth thing which is his design to wit that he might cause her to be carried away with the floud It is not said that he might drown her with the floud but that with such errors he might drive her from Truth and stedfastnesse therein and carry her away in that floud with the rest of the unstable world and so in a word that he might undo her that she should be no Woman and no Church We conceive the event to be answerable in these two 1. The Church by temporall pomp and grandour and multiplying of ceremonies and such like did begin the flight of the true Church and did someway by that declining obscure her 2. When spirits were grown somewhat carnall and had fallen from their former simplicity then the devil took advantage to raise up abominable errors and did drive them on impetuously intending thereby to destroy all and involve the few that keep their garments clean in these abominations which two are clear in story as hath been formerly said In the 16. vers we have the remedy and covert provided against this storm whereby the devils design is disappointed it is said And the earth helped the woman and the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the floud which the Dragon cast out of his mouth In the generall this seemeth hard to be expounded or applied yet we must follow the simple scope and strain of the allegorie which is this that as the devil casteth out errors like flouds to carrie away the Church as proper flouds of water do carrie things before them so the Lord doth provide means to drain and drie up these flouds of errors as effectually as the earths opening of its mouth will soon dry up a floud And it being somewhat certain what the flouds are it will be safest to look to the means which in the event were made use of for the restraining of these abominations The verse hath two things 1. The mean or instrument of the womans help and the earth helped the woman 2. There is the manner how the earth administereth this help she openeth her mouth and swalloweth up the floud which the Serpent had cast out of his mouth By earth here we cannot understand the world as contradistinguished from the visible Church because there is no way conceivable of their helping the woman against errors Neither in the event will any thing of that be found Truth for these Goths and Vandals that invaded the Empire did altogether befriend the Arians and were enemies to the pure Church We must then by earth understand the visible Church at that time which was declining from the simplicity of the Gospel and becoming earthly in her services and administrations as we heard Chap. 7. she is called the earth which the wind was to blow upon That it must be so understood here to wit of the declining visible Church as contradistinguished from the pure Members therein these things will clear 1. Because it must necessarily be understood of the visible Church and yet it is expresly contradistinguished from the woman and her seed that comprehendeth the pure Members Therefore by earth here must be understood that part of the visible Church which was declining fast from its purity 2. There is no way of applying of the earths opening its mouth and drinking up of that floud but to understand it of that declining Church as is said 3. The event also will clear it as somewhat was said Chap. 8. and what we may now hint will further evidence Lastly There is no other thing will suit the allegorie as the application will make appear If it be asked how the visible Church can be called the earth during the first four trumpets Answ. 1. We must not have respect only to the first four trumpets but to the whole period of all the six and therefore as the woman is contradistinguished from the visible Church and said to be hid for the space of 1260. dayes because her low condition came to a height in that time though for a time she wanted not liberty even so in opposition to that the declining part of the visible Church during that time is called earth because in that period her earthlinesse came to a height although for a time it was but advancing And upon this ground Antichrist and his followers are said to tread the outter Court Chap. 11.2 3. during all that whole period though for a considerable time he came not to a height And this answer must be admitted otherwise there is no agreeing of these prophesies which speak of the whole period as at its height when notwithstanding they have many degrees to passe before they come to that â— That visible Church may be called the earth because of its earthly pomp and grandour having great titles contests for precedencie ample temporall governments in her officers and such like whereby she looked more earthly-like in her carriage and proceedings than the first primitive Church which appeared clothed with the Sun and in a heavenly frame in the beginning of the Chapter 3. She may be called the earth that helped the woman because of the countenance that oftentimes she had of civil Magistrates and the concurrence that was between the then visible Church and the Magistrates at that time for the suppressing of errors 4. It may be said the earth helped the woman because
of the generall concurrence of multitudes of all Nations within the visible Church which being compared with the few single ones might be called by this name It is here to be adverted that when we speak of the earths concurring to help the woman during that time that it is not to be suppoâ—ed that many of the good Emperours and ancient Fathers are to be accounted of this declining Church as it is contradistinguished from the woman for though they be distinguished yet they are not separated in place but as hath often been said they might be in one Councel and yet fall under this contradistinction Beside the visible Church at that time is not denominated from any honest persons that were in her but from her generall â—endencie to earthlinesse in worship during this period as is said Also we will find this necessity of distinguishing many of the womans seed that lived under Antichrist from being a part of his Church even in the darkest time The second thing in the verse is the manner how this part of the visible Church helpeth the true Church The earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the floud which the Dragon cast out of his mouth By earth we understand as is said the declining part of the visible Church which in end became antichristian And among other reasons why she is called the earth here we conceive this is one because that declining Church was to preserve the Truth in reference to these four primitive errors even in its most earthly temper and in its lowest degree of declining by which the Doctrine of the God-head and of the Person of our blessed Lord Jesus hath been preserved for the benefit of the womans seed even amongst their corrupt Writers Also this exposition of earth will answer the allegory well for as the earths drinking up of flouds is the ordinary way whereby they are â—â—swaged So the visible Church her opening of her mouth that is by serious exhortations in preachings disputes in writings determinations in Synods and Councels and such like is the ordinary and approven mean of restraining error and preserving Truth It is said The earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the floud which the Dragon câ—â—â—â—ut of his mouth This swallowing doth not imply any affection and love to that floud foâ—â—he doth not kindlily drink it But it importeth 1. an indignation at it 2. a haste and speediness in concurring for drying up the same 3. a ridding of marches in some full and eminent manner for the vindicating of these Truths In the former verse the devil is called the Serpent because he was carrying his design closely here he is called the Dragon because his design cometh to be discovered It is not said that the earth did swallow up the floud which the Dragon did cast after the woman but simply the floud that he cast out of his mouth the reason of this is because the earth that is the declining Church when indeed materially she was helping the woman the pure Church yet had she no discerning of that distinction but was only provoked with indignation against these abominable errors though as to the event the Lord made good help to His true Church out of the same Now to consider the application of this in the event we will find it fully agreeable to this prophesie 1. When the devil raised up four grosse abominable errors immediately after the Churches obtaining of peace there was a generall concurrance of the plurality of the visible Church and Officers thereof for discovering confuting and condemning the same and censuring the abettors thereof thus they are the first heresie to wit that of Arius which denied the eternity of the Godhead of the Son was condemned by the first famous Councel at Nice during the reign of Constantine the great and by his concurrence The second error of the Macedonians who denied the personality of the holy Ghost was condemned by the second generall Councel which was the first at Constantinople this was convocated by Theodosius the great The third error of Nestorius who divided Christs Natures and asserted him to have two Persons as well as two Natures was condemned by the third famous generall Councell at Ephesus under Theodosius the second A fourth principall fundamentall error was that of Eutyches who on the contrary of Nestorius did confound the Natures of Christ and assert Him to have but one Nature as he is but one Person this was under Martianus the Emperour Now considering that in the event there is such a generall concurrence of the whole Church even when there were failings and a decay in many things this may well look like the earths drying up of the floud and be a part of the fulfilling of this prophesie especially if we consider in the second place that these Truths were not only maintained during the first four trumpets while the Church was not altogether out of sight for the last error is cast out after the woman as well as the first which importeth her to have had some visibility all that time but in her most declining times she hath keeped these Truths concerning the Godhead of the Son the personality of the holy Ghost the personall natures of our blessed Lord Jesus were still keeped pure in the time of the greatest darknesse of Popery In Gods providence the antichristian Church being constrained to acknowledge these four generall Councels and these particular Truths maintained in them in opposition to the former errors yea laying aside their curiosity many of their corrupt Schoolmen have done well to this purpose wherefore here we would advert 1. That their keeping pure these fundamentall Truths in that Church is a thing especially designed of God and cometh to passe by His providence and being foretold as to Him it could not be otherwise 2. We may advert and gather here that the antichristian Church is not in every fundamentall point of Christianity to be corrupt for in particular it is prophesied of her that she shall keep these Doctrines pure and not receive the floud of the first impetuous errors for the earth here is that same earth upon which the wind bloweth Chap. 7. and hurteth with Antichrists delusions and the same earth or world which in the Chapter following is said to worship the beast 3. We may enquire after the reasons why the Lord thinketh good to make use of that Church for preserving of these Truths First One reason is clear in the Text that thereby the woman that is the pure Church not only during the first four trumpets when things were not altogether corrupt as was said but also under the fifth and sixth might be fed and these most necessary and fundamentall Truths might be preserved for that end and for preventing her being overmastered or ensnared by these errors for it is like had not these Truths been generally acknowledged as determined by the Church many moe even of the Elect had been in hazard by the subtilty
Euphrates which beside what is said is confirmed 1. from the end wherefore it is dryed up to wit the Iews restoring and however we take their restoring as is said nothing more hindereth it than the Turks standing the Pope being now down especially if the restoring them to their own Land be understood that cannot be without this preceeding furtherance and the removing of this impediment out of their way 2. The fulnesse of the Gentiles goeth alongst with if it do not preceed the Iews calling and can that fulnesse be and the Turks possesse so many Nations where the Gentiles had Churches and where there is so much joy in the Church Chap. 19. and so much wrath generally on Christs enemies in the end thereof It cannot be thought that either of these can be and the Turks be free 3. It followeth natively by comparing the order and method of the vials with the trumpets This is clear in all That what plague cometh on the Church by the trumpets the contrary good cometh by the vials and what advantage Antichrist got by the one he losseth by the other Now it is certain that as by the fifth trumpet Antichrist rose and these Turks before bound at Euphrates were loosed by the sixth as a plague following Antichrist on the Christian world So by the fifth vial Antichrist is put from his seat and therefore in order by the sixth the Church should be next freed of that enemie which Antichrists rise to the throne brought on especially considering that the expressions are so like other in the sixth trumpet they are loosed as if Euphrates were overflowing all banks here again by the sixth vial that overspreading is restrained and dried which must be a drying up suitable and apposit to that loosing which was before in the sixth trumpet Beside there is no other application probable for to apply this to Cyrus his taking of Babylon as if he had been a King from the East his coming from the North will not suffer it Ier. 50.41 42 43. Or to call these Easterns heathen Nations or Turks to be made use of to destroy Antichrist cannot be for these vials are poured out by some from the Temple and Kings that formerly whored with the whore will have a main hand in her overthrow Chap. 17. Or to apply it to the weakening the Popes revenues which as a River strengtheneth him no question he being formerly put from his throne and these Kings turned to hate him his coffers will be empty before this sixth vial come Neither do these prepare so the Iews way nor speaketh it formally such accession to the Church as the other which is clear to be understood here from Chap. 19. There are two chief Objections to be removed The first is That these vials bring wrath on the beast as the effects of them and he is the object they pour their plagues upon but neither the in-coming of the Iews nor down-bringing of the Turks toucheth him or affecteth him Answ. 1. Though the beast be the chief object yet not the only object especially in these last two vials all other enemies Kings of the earth and Nations are also plagued as is clear comparing what followeth with Chap. 19.2 In all these vials two things are joyned together the standing and spreading of Christs Kingdom and the decreasing of Antichrists and these two proceed together what bringeth Antichrist down advanceth Christs Kingdom and what advanceth His Kingdom darkeneth Antichrists and though directly it strike not on Antichrist yet consequentially it doth for all Christs followers are Antichrists enemies 3. It is not simply the Jewish Nation their conversion and the Turks overthrow that are spoken of here but it is the Iews conversion and union with the Gentiles in pursuing Antichrist now discovered and therefore first here â—alled the false prophet and the Turks now apparently as united with Antichrist it being like that he is among the chief of the Nations or Kings of the earth which he addresseth unto and so both the Iews conversion and Turks ruine will be of great concernment and a heavy stroke to the Pope Obj. 2. Can such a great accession stand with that Chap. 15. that none would enter the Temple till these plagues were ended Answ. 1. It cannot be meaned that no growth should be of the Church from the beginning of the vials till all were closed for then there should never any be for they close the last judgement and yet every vial hath a new accession to the Church and some victory over Antichrist 2. The meaning of that place then is 1. none were able to stand to interceed for these who were to be plagued but necessarily and inevitably they were poured out and no intercession was admitted 2. None entered of these creatures devoted to Antichrist and his destruction they continued hardened to the last even after Rome is destroyed and the Popes abolished yet some remainder there is to the very last vial All which should stir us up heartily to pray for these things that sometimes will be so good news to the Church that in due time the Lord would perform it and hasten it So far may we be warranted from this place LECTURE V. Vers. 13. And I saw three unclean spirits like frogs come out of the mouth of the Dragon and out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet 14. For they are the spirits of devils working miracles which go forth unto the Kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God Almighty 15. Behold I come as a thief Blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments lest he walk naked and they see his shame 16. And he gathered them together into a place called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon FRom vers 13. to vers 17. followeth the third effect of this vial to wit the last great expedition of Antichrist for his support now after Romes fall or at least the shaking of that dominion hugely and before his ruine It may either be called a third effect following on or occasioned by the former two To wit the first appearance of the Iews enimity against him and the Turks decay Or these verses may more fully explicate the manner how Euphrates that is the Turks dominion was dried up to prepare the Iews way it was by the beasts engaging them for him who then by the battell of Armageddon were ruined both together and an excellent state of the Church both of the fulnesse of the Gentiles and in-calling of the Iews followed whereupon these praises Chap. 19. are by anticipation set down before the battell however the effects are the same This expedition in this Chapter beside the event of it Chap. 19. is set out in five things 1. In its authors the Dragon Beast and false Prophet 2. It s speciall agents three spirits 3. Their task to gather the Kings of the earth And 4. the
free in civilibus or the Governour that were the head should have no power over them and so one Empire in one bodie and many Kingdoms in distinct bodies cannot be one Neither can the second be said that that change on the Provinces or Kingdoms here called horns is an other beside this for there are but two states of these Nations one then present while they were subject to that temporall head the other to come in which they are to have Dominion of themselves There is not again two states of their becoming Kings but one and the denying of the one inferreth the other Thus the horns are either uncrowned that is subject to the Roman Empire or they are crowned that is have gotten a Kingdom according to this prophesie But they are not now in the first state Therefore they must be taken in the last consideration And as there is no head or Government interveening among the supream Governments set our by heads So must there be no interveening state of these Kingdoms admitted betwixt what then was and the fulfilling of this whereby their future state is set out Arg. 2. If the Kings now in being have the very characters mentioned here Then they must be the fulfilling of this prophesie But in event they answer it in all things Ergo. 1. There are now many Kings which were not in Iohns time 2. They are arisen out of the old Provinces of the Roman Empire 3. They are under another head and Governour than was then in Iohns time and so contemporary with that which was to come 4. They have all joyntly given their strength to be serviceable to the power that is the seventh head which was then to come 5. They have been making for a long time in all their Dominions war with the Saints Therefore this must be fulfilled seing all things prophesied have directly come to passe Arg. 3. It may be made out thus If the last Government of Rome be come which is called the eight or seventh Then this prophesie is fulfilled for they that is the last Government of Rome and these ten Kings are contemporary together They receive power one hour with the beast and give it to him and therefore the making out that any of them is come is the making out that both are come But it is cleared before and is clear also in it self that he is come thus If that Government or Governour of Rome be come to whom the separate Kings that refuse temporall subjection to the Emperour shall give joyntly their power and strength upon another account Then the seventh and last Governour of Rome is come for that beast which they give their power unto is the beast which Iohn saw in the vision which vers 11. was then is not but was to come But truth and experience telleth us that another Governour sitteth now at Rome than sat in Iohn's time unto whom these Kings have given their power Therefore the last Governour must be come and so this pophesie which is contemporary with it must be fulfilled Arg. 4. This prophesie must either be fulfilled or it is to be fulfilled But not the last Therefore the former If these Kings or Kingdoms be to arise they must either rise out of the Kingdoms that now are separate or out of that which is called the Empire But neither of these can be Not the first beside that there is no warrand to expect a second revolution of those Kingdoms after the first which this would infer I say secondly they must arise to be in this consideration horns to the beast and Kings which were not Kings before Now all these Provinces having had this long time Kings cannot then be looked on as the subject out of which these to come must arise Beside if there were a twofold arising of Kings out of the Empire and the one not distinguished from the other the arising of these ten Kings would not be a distinguishing character to discern this beast and so to make him known by his horns which yet is the scope here And therefore this character of ten Kings can agree to no other state or head but this last No◠2. can it be out of the bounds of that now called the Empire for 1. there is not that extent of dominion as to furnish ten Kings especially to make such a great dominion as Antichrists is supposed to be of all People Tongues and Nations 2. If it were no broader then Antichrists might and power by his horns would be no greater than what is now the Empire 2. It appeareth that such must be Kingdoms in this state as were Provinces before the horns are the same or near the same uncrowned and crowned But Germany was never moe Provinces than one or at most two as was France and Spain Therefore there is no proportionablnesse here to make ten crowned horns out of that which was but one or at most two before Beside our reasoning is not only that there are now so many Kings but so many who act as horns to an other power as the Provinces were wont to do and they are not horns to these called Emperours They must therefore be so to another head and if so then this prophesie is fulfilled The manner of fulfilling must be looked in these steps 1. Constantine after the heathens are cast down removeth from Rome and leaveth that seat void so after that he is not to be accounted an head as is said on Chap. 13. 2. After that anno 412. and 455. the barbarous Nations Goths and Vandals did over-run the western Empire and seven times take Rome by this the Empire is distracted and severall Provinces are either now become Kingdoms by the continuance of these Nations in them or by others assuming supream power over them without dependance on the Emperour 3. During which time this last head driveth his design of exalting himself and making an image of that Empire which was fallen 4. By the means mentioned Chap. 13.12 c. all these Kings are brought to worship that beast and receive his mark more or lesse as he arose till he came to that height to dispose of Kingdoms ratifie elections under the title of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Carion observeth unto which in time they came generally to submit and accordingly possesse many of their Kingdoms 5. When God had discovered him to be the Antichrist some of these who once had given their power to him have withdrawn it and we are to wait and pray for the fulfilling of this more as the former of giving their power to him hath been already fulfilled Out of what is said we would draw three sorts of uses 1. From this lay down some conclusions and the first is if this prophesie be fulfilled then Antichrist is come and not to be looked-for to come for if the horns be there is the head and if the head be then is the beast the one is not without the rest But that is verified
and the state of the world then she is a city that ruleth over them vers 18. The first expoundeth that ver 1 of many waters The second her judgment which he undertook The third pointeth her out as it were with the finger Other circumstances of colour c. are clear from the scope and need no interpretation Therefore are omitted The woman which is called a City ver 18. hath her seat on many waters ver 1. that is not on flouds saith the Angel but they are peoples multitudes nations and tongues that is many and diverse Nations and a large dominion She is said to sit on these not as she sat in a peculiar manner on the seven hills But 1. by commanding and ordering these It is called ver 18. a ruling over the kings of the earth 2. By her gathering treasures and store from these whereby the pomp and greatnesse of that City is supported 3. She maketh use of them for upholding of her pomp and this is applyed to a City because her rulers that sit in her did so command and it was by their commanding and ruling that this affluence did redound to her and because the speciall supream Court sitteth there as it is said of Babylon that she dwelleth on many waters Ier. 51.13 which is expounded in part in the following words by her abounding in treasures People and Nations are compared to Waters 1. In that they are of a flowing changeable unstable nature like water Gen. 49. And 2. in that they are an unsure though a promising-like ground to build a State upon Babylon hath these that is many Nations for her foundation The second character is the ruine of this whore which is set forth in these three things vers 16. and confirmed by the anticipating of an objection ver 17. 1. This ruine is set out in the degrees and greatnesse of it They shall hate her make her desolate naked and eat her flesh and burn her with fire which words shew not only indignation at her in the instruments but hold out the particular steps it should proceed by 1. To hate her the love and respect that once they bare to her shall now be turned to hatred as is ordinary after lusts as in Amnon to his sister Tamar 2. They make her desolate and naked that is discover her shame and withdraw their former supply whereby she was supported in her pomp 3. By executing judgments in a most vindictive and horrible manner eating her flesh and burning her with fire which importeth her utter ruine 2. This ruine is set out by the actors in it to wit the ten Kings formerly described and set out by ten horns even those who once committed fornication with her and did partake in her sin These or some of these as it is said of the thieves that were crucified with Christ they cast the same in His teeth i.e. one of them shall be the performers of this judgment for some of them continue to lament her ruine Chap. 18. 3. The time when they shall do it is implyed to be after they had given their power a long time to the beast and committed fornication with this whore they shall begin to withdraw from her and perform this execution on her This is gathered 1. from the series of the story These ten Kings first when they got Kingdoms gave their power to the beast and make war with the Lamb at that time they love the whore and do sin with her But afterward they change and withdraw for it is not done in the time of their giving power to the beast for they cannot give their power to the beast which supporteth the whore and make desolate the whore that the beast supporteth at one time Neither do they fight with the Lamb and whore at one time but when God draweth them from their first practice of adoring this whore with whom at first the Kings did commit fornication then this is done 2. It is drawn from the 17. verse wherein these Kings in giving their power to the beast are limited unto that time in which God shall have performed His Word of this whores deluding the world and then He who put that agreement in their hearts to the one is to make the alteration and change to the other The confirmation of this or the anticipation is ver 17. where it may be objected How can these Kings be instrumental in her ruine Are they not slaves to the beast and hath not the beast and she one standing so that who sustaineth the one must also sustain the other Or how can it be expected that they who have been so long and so much drunk with her fornications shall after this abandon her The Angel removing the objection addeth a confirmation thus It is true they shall give their power joyntly to the beast but 1. that is not forever but till Gods Word be fulfilled which is the word of the great spiritual delusion that was to come 2 Thess. 2. during Antichrists height and his continuation for so long a time but no longer when that is fulfilled the case will alter as the word untill Gen 49.10 implyeth the removing the Scepter from Iudah then so this untill importeth a change when the prophecies foresaid are fulfilled 2. That giving of such a joynt power willingly is not by accident nor is it of it self ordinary for so many Kings to give their power to an other but saith he even this is of God who in His secret wisdom and justice that He may bring about what He hath determined on an unthankfull world and might punish both Kings and others that received not the Truth and received it not with love 2 Thess. 2. Thus far He gave up and shall give up these Kings to that delusion so to do till His spiritual plagues be at an end And He that made them so extraordinarily do the one can and will make them also do the other And therefore as we have seen the one part fulfilled to wit Gods putting it in their hearts thus to agree to be his slaves so may we be confirmed to expect the other and take the one as a pledge of the other though it be unlikely that is that the ruine of Antichrist and Rome then which is the object of the fifth vial shall be by that part of the World Kings and Nations over which he longest had his dominion By which it is clear 1. that Romes fall is by such Kings or those who by Gods providence shall be Rulers in these parts it is not unlikely also of these races or lines that have been deluded because in that Gods power who swayeth Kings to love or hatred as He pleaseth Prov. 21.1 is most remarkable thus and their remembrance of their former delusion wakeneth that hatred most 2. It is clear alio that that ruine is after their partaking of her sin 3. That sinning with Antichrist is a spiritual plague and judicial stroke from the Lord. And
it would look otherwise exceeding mad and irrational-like to consider what slavery many Kings Emperours c. have been put unto by Popes if the Lords righteous judgment be not considered which sheweth the rise of this delusion 4. That the Lord hath a special hand in executing spiritual plagues as well as bodily This as here it is set down is sinfull and the Elect are keeped from it vers 8. and it is called committing fornication spiritually yet the Lord putteth it in their hearts There is more here than a bare permission He giveth up to a reprobate mind Rom. 1.26 those that abuse natures light and so to delusion 2 Thess. 2. those who abuse the light of the Gospel which is as a plague inflicted by His justice and till it be at an end there is no off-bringing of these Kings untill He do it who putteth them on This His will is fulfilled 1. In punishing the world by this Antichristian whore till she be at an height 2. In punishing her in both which these Kings are instrumental and He over-ruleth them in both but diversly in the last which is good He formally inclineth them to it and effecteth it In the former which is evill 1. in His providence He not only suffereth such objects and temptations as induce to that slavery to occur but actively bringeth about many things in outward dispensations which being of themselves good are yet stumbled on by them in their corruption so as they are furthered thereby in this enterprize 2. He withdraweth grace courage or means to oppose that tentation and so they yeeld 3. He over-ruleth their blindnesse and corruption so as to accept of and follow this tentation rather than another and suffereth it to come to such an height and at such a time and not at any other 4. As they would not be subject to Him so He giveth them up and judicially as that slavery is a punishment hardneth them and dementeth them in that subjection as Nebuchadnezar was put to live with beasts and giveth them up to the hand of that delusion as to an executioner of His justice till what He intended be accomplished If it be objected that this to give their power to the beast is sinfull and therefore cannot be attributed to God Hugo Card. answereth That it is pleasing to God not of it self but by reason of its consequents to wit the many advantages that He bringeth out of their malice The last thing whereby the woman or whore is described is by her present dominion It is saith the Angel that great city that beareth rule over the Kings of the earth Where 1. this woman is that is representeth a City or Town literally and properly so even as in the Angels exposition borus are Kings heads are Hills and Candlesticks are Churches Chap. 1. c. for the Angel being now to close the characters he giveth the clearest last thereby to difference this city from all others which is the scope 2. It is that great city that city which for greatnesse power splendor and dominion was then eminent amongst all the cities of the earth from which others in all places thought it a priviledge to be called citizens especially in Iudea to wit Rome stiled alway with the epithet Great or that Great c. pointing out a singular city known for eminency to be so 3. It is more particularly characterized by its present condition It is the city that ruleth in the present time not only over Provinces and common subjects as vers 15. but over Kings deposeing forfeiting making and unmaking at their pleasure Kings and Tetrarchs and that not any great city but that city which most singularly was acknowledged to be so which words set out some city eminent for a present large ample and soveraign dominion beyond ordinary in this time when Iohn wrote which by these characters joyned with the former and the Angels scope which is to make this whore known to Iohn maketh evident that Rome is hereby designed being that city which in its Governours and by its Authority then ruled over all the world aâ—t was called for its greatnesse orbu Romanus See Luk. 2.1 2. Augustus commanded all the world to be taxed At this time sent they Armies through Europe almost all and a great part of Asia and Africa as they did their Proconsuls Governours and Legats in their name for the Empire after Augustus untill Trajan was in its greatest height during which time to wit in Domitians dayes that pieceeded Trajan Iohn saw this vision At that time they used to put up Kings and transfer Kingdoms as they did Herod the great Math. â— and Herod the Tetrarch Luk. 3. Agrippa Act. 24. beside what is recorded in humane histories So that no King about them durst declare an heir or successor but by their consent or prosecute any war but as they permitted But sometimes they would make a word make the greatest Kings desist as C. Popilius Laenas his word to Antiochus lying at Alexandria when he had required him to cease from that war in name of the Romans and when Antiochus said he would advise he drew a line about him and commanded him to answer before he passed it which he did and removed From what is said we conceive it clear that all these characters do evidence Rome to be this city and that it cannot be a city figuratively taken for a multitude of wicked The adversaries ut supra have confessed it Lect. 1. For it is called a city in the Angels interpretation which must be properly taken it is qualified by such circumstances as difference it from other cities and pointeth it out to be properly applyed as a distinct city from other Nations of the wicked over whom she commandeth and so must be Rome 2. That by this apostasie or whore causing others to drink of her fornications also is understood the grand apostasie or falling away under Antichrist 2 Thess. 2. or the antichristian Kingdom at least the chief seat thereof cannot be denied seing it is the most singular defection that was then to come such as Antichrists is and such a defection as is supported by this beast whom all adversaries acknowledge to be Antichrist Therefore that defection is corruptly applied by Bellar. to the Iews rejecting of Christ which preceeded Paul's writing of that for 1. he speaketh of it as a falling away yet then to come otherwise his argument that the day of Judgement was not so near because that was not come would be of no force 2. He speaketh of it as a falling away which supponeth them once to have had the profession of Christianity 3. He extendeth it to be universall upon all that received not the profession of the Truth but received not the love of the Truth 4. That it hath speciall relation to Rome his expressing the Roman Empire as that which then letted and that under an obscure name doth evince and what can that delusion then else be but
I saw heaven opened and behold a white horse and he that sat upon him was called faithfull and true and in righteousnesse he doth judge and make war 12. His eyes were as a flame of fire and on his head were many crowns and he had a name written that nâ— man knew but he himself 13. And he was clothed with a vesture dipt in bloud and his name is called The word of God 14. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed in fine linen white and clean 15. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword that with it he should smite the nations and he shall rule them with a rod of iron and he treadeth the wine-presse of the fiercenesse and wrath of Almighty God 16. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS 17. And I saw an angel standing in the sun and he cried with a loud voice saying to all the fowls that flie in the midst of heaven Come and gather your selves together unto the supper of the great God 18. That ye may eat the flesh of kings and the flesh of captains and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all men both free and bond both small and great 19. And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth and their armies gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse and against his army 20. And the beast was taken and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast and them that worshipped his image These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone 21. And the remnant were slain with the sword of him that sat upon the horse which sword proceeded out of his mouth and all the fowls were filled with their flesh THe last part of the Chapter followeth from ver 11. to the end wherein the last part of the sixth vial of the battell of Armageddon mentioned Chap. 16. is more fully set down 1. In the preparations for it 2. In the event of it The first is to vers 14. The other to the end The preparation of the beast was more fully set down Chap. 16. Therefore it is but touched here and the Lambs order and Army who are the other party are more insisted on I saw heaven opened This is preparatory to the vision that he might the more clearly discern it but that is not all hereby it would appear is now set out a more flourishing estate of the Gospel after the Lambs marriage for by a white horse this was signified Chap. 6. and by the opening of Heaven and the Ark Chap. 11. it was signified also This would then hold forth a flourishing Church able to send out Armies at least of spiritual fighters for Christ against His enemies The preparations upon the Lambs side are more particularly set down 1. By the description of the Captain 2. Of an Angel as an Herauld denouncing the War or rather foretelling the victory ver 17. he insisteth most on the Captain for He is of most concernment in the War and cannot easily be described The properties given Him are of two sorts 1. Such whereby he is someway tied in his proceedings to His Word 2. Such wherein He is absolute and He hath a name answering both as a description There are four names given to Him that divide this description Or take it as it lieth and 1. we have set down His own properties to ver 14 Then 2. His Army ver 14. and 3. His Weapons or Armour ver 15. He now rideth on His white horse as Captain being spotlesse in His way and manner of proceeding for which cause His first stile ver 11. is faithfull and true in keeping promise and Covenant to His People And then secondly it is added that in righteousnesse he doth judge and make war which implieth that there is a right end in His undertaking a right cause and a right manner of proceeding in it Two properties more are set down ver 12. His eyes were like a flame of fire importing searching omnisciencie and terrible Majesty as Chap. 1. He hath on his head many crowns not materially so but to shew His absolute soveraignty that He is an high and great and glorious King so that one crown or few crowns will not serve to describe His glory This is a great King above all kings as His name is ver 16. This also importeth many triumphs and victories over His enemies Answerable to this greatnesse He hath an inexpressible name that none can take Him up in the infinitnesse and greatnesse of His Essence and glory but Himself to creatures it is a mysterie and a secret as Iudg. 13.18 for no name can adequatly set out His perfections He proceedeth in the description of Him ver 13. as in a most conquering-like posture He was clothed with a vesture dipt in bloud it is like with the bloud of the former events of former vials or of this on Him He followeth the chase so hot when He once beginneth and appeareth so terrible and bloudy and yet conquering like one mighty to save Isa. 63.1 2. His name is here set down more plainly in a stile more usuall for Iohn to give Him and that is The word of God Ioh. 1. So Christ is called the Word First in respect of His person seing He doth expresse the character of the Fathers Person as clearly as the Word doth represent a mans secret conception within Heb. 1.3 Secondly in respect of His Offices because by Him God doth as by a word plainly make known the secrets of the Gospel before hid in Him In the 14. Verse His Armies are set out 1. These in heaven not only Angels and Saints glorified but such of the Church as ver 8. are arayed with such vesture The new married Iews and the beautified Gentiles are both stirred up to this employment They are named Chap. 17. called and faithfull who were with the Lamb they are the same here The Church now is more pure in worship and shining in holinesse and the most pure are most zealous in following of Him for this honour have all His Saints as Psal. 149. 2. They are called Armies for their multitude strength and discipline 3. They ride and that on white horses He hath all His Souldiers mounted as well as it were as Himself they share with Him as certainly of the victory as He doth overcome It is good being on the Lambs side and at His back But there is no word of a weapon amongst them all for they need none because He goeth foremost and fighteth and they but follow as a company in triumph It is to let see also it is not the Souldiers but the Captain and His weapons that get the victory for righteousnesse or fine linâ—n
Prophets were in sackcloth and the Church forced to flee It 's like it holdeth out a temporal freedom suiting with these ends and freeing them from the bondage they lay under before for if in suffering times Saints still reign spiritually Then that new engagement of Gog and Magog would not interrupt it and so it would be a reign not for a thousand years only but for the length of the world for so they still did reign Therefore it is not purely and only spirituall We shall more particularly speak of it according to these grounds in the Lecture following Only now from what is said we may gather as to the events that these cannot be expected from the text which both of old and of late men have been fathering wrongfully on this place as 1. That Christ should come to the earth personally and that all the Martyrs and Saints should reign a thousand years before the Resurrection and have all sorts of pleasure even unlawfull as drinking polygamie c. This was invented by Cerinthus and still counted an heresie by the Fathers even by these called Chiliasts or Millenaries by August de civit Dei lib. 20. cap. 5 6. Concerning the Millenaries errors about the thousand years see Euseb. Eccles. hist. lib. 3. cap. 22. where he sheweth Cerinthus his heresie who added sacrifices and ceremonies also A second error different from the former is That some professe to expect such a reign with Christ on earth yet so as not to enjoy carnal sinfull pleasures but lawfull delights wherewith they say the earth shall then abound of such an oppinion was Iraeneus Iustin Martyr Lactantius and many of the Fathers This flowed from Papias supposed to be an hearer of Iohn the Disciple which made his opinion the more to be received but he was not See Euseb. lib. 3. cap. ult He also fell into other faults by following tradition contrary to the Word which is a native consequent of that principle 3. There was another opinion allowing the Saints Resurrection and Kingdom before the last day on earth but abounding only in spiritual delights of such Augustin professeth himself once to have been and so it is like also were many of these Fathers called Chiliasts This was still accounted an error rather than an heresie but yet there is no such kingdom here Again neither do these opinions spring from this text As 1. that before the Resurrection which shall be general the Martyrs the text saith all Saints shall arise a thousand years and reign with Christ but in heaven This is Piscator's opinion on the place 2. Some bring not Christ down personally yet plead for a resurrection of the Martyrs and a reigning of them with the Saints on earth a thousand years before the end of the world as Alstedius doth in his Diatriba de mille annis Apoc. 3. Some go on more grosly and add to that that Christ in His personal presence which is not spoken of in the text is to reign with them on earth Thus Henry Archer and some others of late All these thwart with and are contrary unto the grounds formerly laid down 4. Others also that begin these years too soon or expect too great a temporal kingdom or an absolute universal freedom to come may see the groundlesnesse thereof from what is said LECTURE II. Vers. 1. And I saw an angel come down from heaven having the key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chain in his hand c. IT would follow that we should lay down somewhat more particularly to shew wherein this good and excellent condition of the Saints here spoken of consisteth as it is holden forth according to the preceeding grounds by which we may see it is no uncouth nor strange thing that is here spoken of though as the manner of this Book is the expressions be strange-like and this prejudice being once admitted that some peculiar mysterie and unheard off in any other place of the Scripture is contained here it hath occasioned the many mistakes about the meaning thereof In sum then we conceive this place to hold out a flourishing and good condition for some time of the Church-militant in the dayes of the Gospel in these six peculiarly agreeing to that time and going together opposit to six things wherein the low condition of the Saints consisteth 1. In pure Ordinances and an abundance of the knowledge of the Gospel for if that be a speciall thing wherein and whereby Christ doth reign on earth Himself this being the rod of His power Psal. 110. vers 2. It is suitable that this be the first thing of the Saints reign who reign with Him when He reigneth even as the Church is made to flee when the purity of Ordinances is obscured 2. It consisteth in the power of Ordinances upon Professors by bringing them out of the bondage of sin to the liberty of the sons of God which is to reign and to be free indeed And it would appear that much of this good condition must certainly be in that dominion over sin opposit to that naturall slavery and death by it under which the most part of the world lyeth Therefore is the word blessed and holy is he that is partaker of this resurrection ver 6. and for this they are called Priests unto God and opposed to the dead world ver 5. 3. It consisteth in the plurality and abundance of Professors their embracing this Gospel many Nations setting their face toward Zion and joyning themselves to the Lord. This Chap. 11. is given as a speciall evidence of Christs reign when the Nations become His and thus their reigning is opposed in respect of their multitude to the fewnesse of the sealed ones who were before Chap. 7. the two last parts being compared together when they were shut up in the Temple Chap. 11. ver 1. and 2. Then neither Christ nor they seemed to reign but when the Temple is again opened at the end of that Chapter then beginneth their dominion even as their former purity and light is opposed to the darknesse and errors that went before as Iudah is said to rule with God Hos. 11. ult in respect of Ephraims bondage in error 4. It consisteth in a visible bold publick profession of these Saints by a Church-state not only worshipping privately as when the woman fled to the wildernesse but openly as when the Prophets put off their sackcloth and are taken up to heaven when there are Nations together and the Temple open and Religion avowed and Discipline exercised Then they reign this is opposed to their former lurking 5. It is in outward freedom sometimes they are persecuted and are not free to bear office in military or civil imployments under heathens to buy and fell under the beast Chap. 13. Now either God giveth them favour in the eyes of Rulers or restraineth their malice by some counterballancing thing or turneth them to be worshippers of Him as He did Constantine Thus they reign when they