any adversity trouble them which is signifyed by hunger and thirst moreover also all causes of calamityes shal be driven farre away the Sūne shall not burne them neither shall there be any heat which shall bring scarsity the whole creature shall consent to further the happines of the holy people Here the things are set before us in fewe wordes for a tast which shal be declared more at large afterward 17 For the Lambe that is in the middes of the Throne shall governe them Now the cause is rehearsed of the former happines to every part of which it is distributed conveniently shall governe answereth to those wordes shall not hunger shall lead them to the lively fountaines of waters respecteth the thirst which he said should be sufferred no more and shall wipe away all teares hath regarde to the heate of the Sunne which he promiseth shall not be trobelsome afterward ¶ From their eyes The teares falling from the eyes Montanus hath 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as it were abiding in the eyes as if God by drying thoroughly the eyes should leave no faculty to weepe Isayah the teares from all faces ch 25.8 So then is the common type while the trumpets and viols endure that is even to the last ende About the beginning and proceeding of the Trumpets the number of the elect should be sealed about the ende there should be a more ioyfull more plentifull and more evident multitude which afterward under the viols encreasing every day at length should have their brethren the Iewes ioyned togither with themselves when there shal be a full happines at last so great as can be expected on earth which shall not be discontinued againe by any generall miseries of the times untill Christ himselfe shall come to iudgement This common type is to be declared by every member in those thinges that are behinde according to the severall mutations and notable events that shall happen this whose space CHAP. 8. AND when he had opened the seaventh seale there was silence in heaven about halfe an houre 2 And I saw the seaven Angels which stoode before God to them were given seven trumpets 3 Then another Angell came stood before the altar having a golden censer much odours were given unto him that he should offer with the prayers of all the Saints upon the golden altar which is before the throne 4 And the smoke of the odours with the prayers of the Saints wēt up before God out of the Angels hande 5 Afterward the Angell tooke the censer and filled it with fire of the altar cast it into the earth there were voices thundrings lightnings an earthquake 6 And the seaven Angels which had the seaven Trumpets prepared themselves to blowe the trumpets 7 So the first Angel blew the trumpet and there was haile and fire mingled with blood and they were cast into the earth and the third part of the earth was burnt the third part of the trees was burnt and all the greene grasse was burnt 8 And the seconde Angell blewe the trumpet and as it were a great mountaine burning with fire was cast into the sea and the third part of the sea became blood 9 And the third part of the creatures which are in the sea the livings things I say dyed and the third part of the shippes were destroyed 10 Then the third Angell blew and a great starre fell from heaven burning as a torche and it fell into the third parte of the rivers and into the fountaines of waters 11 And the name of the starre is called wormwood therefore the third part of the waters was turned into wormwood and many men dyed of the waters because they were made bitter 12 Afterward the fourth Angell blewe the trumpet and the third part of the Sunne was smitten and the third part of the Moone and the third part of the starres so that the third part of them was darkened and the third part of the day was darkened and likewise of the night 13 And I beheld and heard one Angell flying through the middes of heaven saying with a lowde voice woe woe woe to the inhabitans of the earth because of the soundes to come of the trumpet of the three Angels which shall blow Analysis THE cōmon type being declared the Silence which is proper to the seaventh seale remayneth Which of what it is is declared in the first ver Afterward he proceedeth to the following period of the trumpets which is cōprehended in the compasse of this and is distinguished into seaven trumpets the preparation of which is double common and speciall that cōsisteth first in the seaven Angels furnished with so many trumpets ver 2. Afterward in one other Angell who executeth the office of the High Priest as it appeareth from the furniture in respect both of the instrument and ende ver 3. and also of his ministery toward the elect ver 4. and against the enemyes partly by casting fire into the earth partly in raysing up from thence voices thundrings and great perturbation ver 5. The speciall preparation is of the seaven Angels making themselves ready unto the businesse appointed to them The Execution also hath likewise some thing comon to wit a warning by the blowing of the trumpets and also something speciall even the proper effect of every blowing of the trumpet which is distributed in the foure first lighter and the last three heavier They are handled in the rest of the chapter by their distinct articles At the first blowing of the trumpet there was hayle and fire ver 7. At the second a burning mountaine is cast into the sea ver 8. At the third a starre fell from heaven into the rivers ver 10.11 At the fourth the third part of the sunne was smitten ver 12. As touching the three last more grievous trumpets the preparation commō to them is had in ver 13. where the Angell flying through the middes of heaven denounceth with a mourning voice more horrible calamityes from them following Scholions 1 But when he had opened the seaventh seale Such then is the sixt the sevēth seale followeth whose effect which proceedeth from the opening is called Silence which sometime is used for any resting as why are yee silent in bringing home the King that is why doe yee rest 2 Sam. 10.11 Sometime it is opposed unto tumulte from whence the still waves of the waters Psal 107.29 Of which sorte is this silence made in Heaven that is in the Church on earth which often times is called of Christ the Kingdome of Heaven The space of this silence is about halfe an houre surely very shorth which should almost ende assoone as it should beginne In which is taught that the Church afterward shall enioy for a small time happy rest after that the open enemies should be driven away and that confortable Angel Constantine the great should arise from the East For this silence is ioined togither with that subduing
from them But by these meanes he will declare and manifest howe greatly wee ought to reverence his secrets 2 And J saw a strong Angell publishing There is a great dignity of the Prophesy from the certenty largenes scaling up but nowe a greater appeareth seeing the highnes thereof surmounteth every created Spirit For it is not of that kinde which the more prudent sorte of men can comprehende by any skilfull foreknowledg but wherein all must needes confesse their ignorance The which for to shewe he alludeth to the manner of Princes who in difficult thinges are wont by great rewards to provoke their subiects by the voyce of a Cryer to try their strength and there is almost none whoÌ„ in such businesse some small hope will not thrust forward to make tryall If so be that noe man cometh forth what is this else than an open confession of their imbecillity So the Angell is sent to enquire who is worthy to opeÌ„ the booke If noe man offereth himselfe let us acknowledge our owne impotency and the power of our Mediatour and togither also let us honour with due reverence these holy mysteryes for which cause God causeth in us this feeling of our owne want of power as of old in Adam before whoÌ„ ere he gave him a wife he set all creatures that noe fit helper being found he might make the more accounte of the wife given him ¶ Who is worthy He maketh not inquiry of the power and strength but of the deserte and worthynes For even all the creatures if they should coÌ„spire togither are able to doe nothing to wringe out perforce the things from God Whatsoever wee obtayne wee enioye it at his will and pleasure and by entreaty and the Lord being iust in giving his thinges regardeth their worthynes upon whom he bestoweth his benefits whom unlesse either their owne or an others iust dignity shall commende they can hope for noe good thinge from him But if a bare foreknowledge of future thinges shal be of so greate importance in what estimation is the knowledge of salvation to be had 3 And noe man was able A free confession of the creature that it is able to doe nothing herein Let them therefore looke to it who doe make her a patronesse for theÌ„selves in matters of greater moment Why then should wee mervayle if noe man understandeth any of these thinges not onely among the Gentiles although the most quickwitted of them but also not in the whole Kingdome of the Papists noe not that blasphemously unerring Pope himselfe with all his Seraphicall Doctours arrogating to them selves the victory of all knowledge learning prudence and wisdome These thinges surmount all humane sharpenes of witte least peradventure thou reiect rashly that which shall not please those our maisters And the distribution of thinges in heaven in earth and which are under the earth may be understood froÌ„ the proclaiming of the Angell he made enquiry who was worthy Therfore the inquisition perteined not to the Devils and soules punished for sinnes For what hope or shewe of worthynes could be here Therfore the thinges in Heaven are the Angels they in the earth Men living they which are under the earth are the Saints sleeping in their graves Whom he signifyeth in this manner by that one part which cometh neerer to our sense In which respect Iacob sayeth and I shall goe downe to my sonne mourning into the grave Gen. 37.35 In these alone their might be some question Therfore that place is to colde for to kindle a Purgatory ¶ Nor looke thereon for so hath Theod. Beza the common translation hath looke upon I should rather turne looke in For so the sentence encreaseth seeing this is greater then not to open The booke could not be looked in so long as it did remaine sealed whereupon the addition would be superfluous in this sense 4 J wept therefore It is a lamentable thing in deede that the Church should wante the gift of Prophecy But Iohn bewrayed his infirmity having forgot or at least wise not minding that nothing is so hidden that could be unknowne to our chiefe Prophet of which he would not teach his Church so farre as should be expedient for his Wherefore one of the Elders warning him that he should not weepe doth togither with gentlely reprove his ignorance or rather forgetfulnes as though it were a shamefull thinge for a teacher not to knowe that which the common sorte of the faithfull should not be ignorant of 5 Beholde he hath obtayned Many as it were contending but one obtayning the victory before the rest He seemeth to speake after the manner of the former proclamation wherby the thing was put as it were to a publike strife and tryall and in which Christ bare away the chiefe prayse yea the whole ¶ That Lyon of tâ—e A circumlocution of Christ the King fetched from Gen. 49.9 But what hath the Lyon to doe with seales Our sinnes did remove farre froÌ„ us all the mysteries of God Which when Christ hath by his mighty power abolished and conquered for ever the enemyes the Devill and death worthyly with this name as a badge of the victory he cometh forth to obtayne that for us which our enemyes kept away ¶ The roote of David So hath Th. Beza translated rightly the Hebrewe word to which the Greke worde answereth and is some time taken for a roote as is in Isaiah He groweth up as a tender plante before him and as a roote out of a dry ground chap. 53.2 But a roote properly groweth not out of the ground but that which springeth from the roote neverthelesse this in deede is such a roote that also togither it is the roote of David that is the fountayne and welspring from whence salvation and life flowe unto David so that nothing can be more significant then this word neither hath there bene at any time any roote besides of this kinde See Psalm 101.1 Mat. 22.43 c. 6 Then J looked and beholde betweene the Throne Word for word in the Greeke is in the middes of the Throne as before in chap. 4.4 c. The Lambe is in the middes of the Beasts and Elders to wit in the assembly of the faithfull in the middes of the Church ¶ A Lambe standing as though he had ben killed The Lambe is described by his triple offâ—â—e These wordes as thâ—â—gh he hath ben slame perteine to his Priesthood being eternall through the eternall power of his death Seaven hornes declare him to be a Kinge Seaven eyes which are so many Spirits and the taking of the booke shewe him to be the chiefe Prophete The skarre of a deadly wound is a token that he once dyed and teacheth that the Father doth give all things to his Church for the merite and through the beholding of it For this is it wherby our Priest once entring into the holy place hath obtained eternall redemption Heb. 9.12 And in that he hath once gat redemption for the
is purer theÌ„ the greennesse waxing to an hearbe For they that are first converted doe heare onely of faith and the way of salvation by Christ but waxing more growen they are wont to be corrupted and marred by the superstitions of their teachers Last of all the end nowe of those that were to be sealed approaching true citizens were chosen out from the middle regions as it were out of the Tribes of Beniamin and Ioseph For about the yeere a thousand two hundreth arose the Waldenses at Lion in Fraunce who making separation froÌ„ the Church of Rome professed a more pure doctrine with the losse of their riches and lives FroÌ„ hence did spring the Albingenses about the city of Toulouse who afterward were spread through all Germany and Bohemia whose lot did not fâ—ll neither about the furthest South nor to the utmost North part of the world but a middle place of dwelling was given them among their brethren I runne over these thinges briefly rather disâ—losing then throughly handling the matter but they that plainely perceive the History from these fewe thinges I knowe will admire and reverence the mervailous wisdome of God togither with mee 9 Afterward I behelde and loe a great multitude which noe man could number Wee have spoken of the sealed and comprehended them in a certen number the indefinite multitude can neither be declared by the number neither is sayd to be sealed not that any of the elect perteining to the king dome of God is in the meane while without the seale for this is necessary to every one of the faithfull as though there were a way opened for any man to goe to heaven without faith as a certaine great man of blessed memory seemeth to interprete mooved of a good affection but not very warily nor truly but because by reason of the huge multitude which should professe Christ openly and syncerely there should be noe neede of a privie marke of distinction wherby they might be discerned from other men For sealing belongeth to the Church lying hidde when a disordered multitude of superstitious and wicked men beareth sway in which there ar a fewe good men known to God regarded of him as in Ezech. 9.2.3 but where the godly worshippers are sufficiently manifest in their number multitude there is no use of this sealing These thinges therefore teach that after that darkenes wherewith for a time the Church should be oppressed it should rise up againe at length into the light furnished with very great multitude of true Christians which out of all nations should embrace the trueth and professe the same openly and without feare And this plentifull harvest began about the yeere 1300. at which time the sealing ceased Not that this huge multitude was apparent so suddenly at once but because the first fruites were brought forth with which continuall increase aâ— length should yeelde this great company not to be numbred as wee have shewâ—d in his place ¶ Of all nations not by every Tribe as before out of certen separated couÌ„tryes but from all in common Germanie Fraunce Britannie Italie c. For he alludeth to to the auncient manner of the Church As long as the time of sealing remained the elect were fewe as in time past the Israelites while they alone were the chiefe treasure of God above all nations of the world but after that time was ended then true Christians were in greater number as also the former people of God was encreased very greatly when the Gentils were taken into the Church Surely this repairing should be like to the first calling of the Gentiles even as wee knowe it came to passe after the Waldenses and Albingenses when many learned and faithfull men rose up who defending the trueth boldly gathered togither many lovers of true godlines ¶ And they stoode before the Throne gathered into the Church and acknowledging Christ truly as chap. 4.3.4 c. ¶ Clothed with white robes see chap. 3.4 and 6.11 ¶ And Palmes in their handes which cannot yeelde under any burden A fit marke of them who at length doe lift up their heades against the wills of all their enemies They should get the victory of Antichrist which afterward is sayd to get the victory of the Beast and of his image and of his marke chap. 15.2 By this one word he noteth their fight and triumphe 10 And they cryed with a lowde voice word for word and crying and so the verbe were must be understoode Also the participle is put collectively with the nowne multitude as before the participle standing The great admiratioÌ„ of Gods bounteousnes in restoring his Church should drawe from the Saints crying and showting for ioy who should not hold it sufficient to acknowledg the exceeding mercy of God with their accustomed voice Al though that crying may signify also a bolde professioÌ„ of the truth which durst scarse mutter in former ages but at leÌ„gth should despise the enemyes obtaine perfit boldnesse Wee our Fathers have seene with our eyes this thing brought to passe There is no maÌ„ which hath tasted of true godlines but he giveth God thaÌ„kes froÌ„ his heart for the light of his truth restored in these last times And although the Romish Antich doth gnashe his teeth togither for aÌ„ger yet we cesse not to praise boldly the great name of G. so as the world ringeth with the saints voices And why should not wee as ioyfull victours cry a loude who have palmes in our haÌ„des by the grace of God the neckes of our enemyes put under our feete God graunt that wee may extoll him alwayes with meet prayses for his infinite goodnesse least making small account of so unmeasurable grace wee bring upon our selves some lamentable trouble wherby the ioy of our triumphe may be distained 11 And all the Angels stoode see chap. 5.11 The auncient mirth of the Church shall returne at which the Angels shal be glad both themselves consenting to the ioyfull showting of the Saincts and also lauding God apart in their behalfe 12 And power and might that is let the prayse of power and might be given un to him For God sheweth a mervaylous power in delivering his Church The Saincts indeede doe beare Palmes but the victory is gotteÌ„ by the streÌ„gth of God alone Howe mercifull is our God who will have the paines to be his in consuming the enemyes and the triumphe to be ours 13 They which are arayed in longe robes Hitherto this multitude was described by those thinges which may be perceaved by the sense now he cometh to the more perfit instruction by communing with an Elder And first he convinced Iohn of ignorance wherby the knowledge received might be the more acceptable togither also teaching that the faithfull people whose person Iohn nowe representeth shal be as ignorant of the trueth of this type when the time of fulfilling it shall come as Iohn in this place untill they be taught of the learned Ministers after which
which perteineth to the Elect in this verse in respect of whom the smoke of the odours is said to goe up that is they were made partakers of the thing which they desyred so greatly The maner of speaking is taken from the same custome of the Leviticall Priest the similitude of whom he hath used hitherto Once every yeere the Censer was to be brought within the vayle that the cloude of the incense might cover the Mercy Seate which is upon the Testimony to the ende that the Priest should not die as wee reade in the booke of Levit. chapter sixeteenth twelve and thirtheenth verses Also Incense was to be burned every morning when the lampes should be kindled as in the booke of Exodus chapter thirty verses seaven and eight Whose thicke vapour ascending should pearse through the vayle and should perfume with a most sweete savour all the inward most holy place a visible signe of our prayers which doe penetrate the heaveÌ„s and by the sweete savour which they cast forth through Christ doe obtaine of God that which wee aske From whence the Psalmist saith Let my prayer be esteemed as incense before thy face Psalme hundreth and fourthy one second verse Therefore the smoke of the odours goeth up when our prayers coming before God doe obtaine for us that which wee asked according to his will And when the holy men desired that some way should be taken for the ending of that strife by a generall Councill proclaimed by these things is shewed that the thing was graunted them at length which they desired For Constantine seeing that he did try in vaine all other remedies appointeth a generall Councill at Nice he commaÌ„deth the Bishops to take publike horses and all to assemble at the day appointed Whom at last being gathered togither he most sweetly admonisheth touching the care that they should have to search out the trueth he with very great equity heareth the disputers against it finally he governeth the whole businesse with such gravity and wisdome that at length the wicked blasphemy being condemned by common consent the holy trueth prevailed By which fact of his surely the thicke cloude of the odours went up from the hande of the Angell before God when doubtlesse by his care paines diligence charges moderation of the whole businesse so wholesome a thing so much desired of all the godly was undertaken begun and brought to an ende Nowe he set a marke in the foreheads of the elect wherby they might be discerned from the base sorte of the ungodly Therefore Constantine is that Angell those odours given him which he should give to the prayers of the Saincts is the power to gather a generall Councill the Golden Altar is Christ himselfe in the middes of this holy company The thicke cloude of the odours going up is the whole matter brought to an ende most prosperously And this is that time untill which the foure Angels should keepe the truce of which wee have seen at the 7. chap. ver 1. ¶ With the prayers of the Saincts Prayers peradventure by the want of a participle not of the preposition with as if the perfit sentence were this And the smoke of the odours which were given to the prayers of the Saincts went up the word being repeated from the former verse where was that he should give to the prayers a thing very usuall with the Hebrewes to understand in the things that follow the verbe that was used before But by this reason the odours given should onely ascende and not also the other prayes of the saincts which also are odours as wee have seene in the fifte chapter at the eight verse Therefore by want of the preposition the sense seemeth better to agree Yet Theodorus bez have it with the preposition with and not with the of as the Common translation and the Iesuite who interpreteth it materially that the odours ascending were made of the prayers of the Saincts wheÌ„ it was sayd before that he should give to the prayers of the saincts But nothing that is giveÌ„ to a thing is made of the same thing to which it is giveÌ„ ¶ Out of the Angels hande Because he helde a Censer in his hande but which is as much as if he should say by the ministery of the Angel Constantine ministrâ—ng whatsoever was needfull for this matter 5 After the Angel tooke the Censer and filled it with fire of the altar The fact of the Angel as farre as it respecteth the wicked But the full Censer sheweth the greatnes of the evill the fire of the altar the kinde of it That was an excellent confession of the faith which the holy Councill published against Heresies which surely was like the coales of the altar which the fire falling froÌ„ heaven kindleth in the hearts of the Saincts upon which they may burne most sweete odours in calling upon one true God in three persons But this same fire cast into the earth that is this godly confession spread abroad every where by the Emperours proclamations into the wicked world or the Church at least in name for I told you that so the Earth signifyeth often times how great troubles raised it up forthwith Doubtlesse even as that fire caâ—t on the earth by Christ made all full of privie displeasures broyles while the godly with the heat of it wer enflamed with a desire of the truth but the wicked were set on fire with hatred and envie Luke 12.49 so this holy Decree a firebrand of the same heavenly fire raysed up a very great hatred in the contrary wils of men When the Trumpets were first given they fought one against an other onely with a dâ—ssenting of opinions but the evill encreased now by the remedy as cankers are wont For after this Councill came all maner of calamityes deceits and false accusations which being shewed here briefly by the voices thunderings and lightnings afterward are declared severally in the first truÌ„pete So therefore that which was holy and holsome to the godly turned to greater destruction and provoking to the wicked ¶ And there were thunders and voices Some bookes have voices and thunders Aretas onely thunders and lightnings omitting voices and earthquakes These thinges doe note generally what fruite of that CouÌ„cill should redounde to the wicked But thunders and voices seeme here to be two wordes for one thing to wit lowde thunders as Ier. 4.29 they shall goe into the very cloudes and clime up upon the rockes that is upon the cloudy rockes by reason of the height of them unlesse peradventure voices be the same thing here which they were in the 4. chap. 5 ver 6 And the seaven Angels which had The second preparation of the seaven Angell who nowe goe about the businesse of which before in the Trumpets that were given there was given some proofe For these thinges aâ—e spoken of the executing of the worke as likewise the wife of the Lambe is sayd to make her selfe ready at the very
wee will pray for you So that labouring to hide other mens sinnes they shall wholly forget their owne And o grievous thing they will receive anie thinge from vagabonds pilferers extortioners theeves and robbers by the high waies from church-robbers usurers adulterers Heretiques Shismatiques revolters harlots bawdes of Noble men periured merchants corrupt iudges souldiers tyrants and such as live in trades contrarie to the lawe of God They are perverse and wicked embracing the persuasion of the Devill the sweetnesse of sinne an easie and delicate life and a certaine abundance of thinges even unto eternall damnation All these things shall appeare manifestly in them all everie daie they shall growe more wicked and more hardened in their heartes And when their fraude shal be founde out and their naughtiâ—esse then gifts shall cease and they shall goe about to houses hungrie like ravening dogges their countenances cast downe upon the grounde and their neckes made short as doves that they maie be satisfied with bread Then the people shall prosecute them with an outcrie woe be to you wretches children of sorrow the world hath deceived you the Devill hath ruled you hitherto by his power you have a fraile flesh and hart utterly without wisdome and unstable wavering mindes and eyes delighted with much vanity and folly your idle paunches have coveted dainty dishes of meate and your feete have ben swift to wickednesse Remember the time when you were openlie blessed but secretlie envious abroad poore but rich at home curteous in shew but in verie trueth great flaterers false traitours perverse back biters holie Hypocrites supplaÌ„ters of the trueth iust beiond measure proude unchast unconstant teachers delicate Martyrs confessours desirous of much lucre gentle but false accusâ—rs religious but covetous humble but yet proude mercifull but shamelesse liars pleasant flatterers peaceable persequutours oppressours of the poore bringing newe sects invented of your selves counted mercifull but knowne by experience to be wicked lovers of the world conspiratours drunkards ambitious patrons of wickednesse robbers of the whole earth unsatiable preachers men pleasers beguiling simple women sowers of privie grudges Of whom Moses that excellent Prophet spake well in his Songe a people without councell and understanding Oh that they would knowe that they would understand and consider their latter ende Yee have built indeede on high and when it was not graunted you to rise higher yee have fallen downe togither even as Simon Magus whom God cast to the grounde and smote with an huge blowe so at length you have ben throwne downe from your false doctrine naughtinesse lyes slaunders villanies out of the cloudes unto the verie earth Then the people speaketh to them get yee hence you teachers of abominations destroiers of the trueth brethren Shunamites fathers of heresies false Apostles who counterfaited the life of the Apostles the followers of whom you have ben in noe sorte You are the children of iniquitie wee will not follow your maner of courses For pride and arrogancie have deceaved you and unsatiable covetousnes hath wrapped in her snares your erring mindes And after that yee would clime higher then was meete and reasonable by the iust iudgement of God yee have fallen downe headlong into eternall shame and reproch These thinges Hildegardis foretolde about the yeere 1146 three skore yeeres before the begging fryers were bred whom notwithstanding shee painteth out so cunningly and lively that shee may seeme not so much to have foretolde a thinge to come as to have reported a thing past Who can describe more clearly the beginning and disposition of these Locusts Who can speake more plaine of their destruction even of us who have seen the thing declared to be true by the event Neither onely treated shee of those which should spring up next after her age but also of the Iâ—suites of our time and the other company of vile persons of that sorte which doth annoy in these dayes For all these Locusts belonge to the same pit are of the same manners and shal be in the same destruction 12 One woe is past The first of the three more grievous For the second followeth in chap. 11.14 as it hath ben observed before that one with the Hebrewes is as well a nowne of order as of number in chap. 6.1 This woe is past not because noe remnants should remaine when the next trumpet should come after the other but because the heate of it should be much cooled againe so as it wanted but a little but that it might seeme to have bâ—n utterly quenched For this Angell of the bottomelesse pit shall not be abolished wholly togither with all his servants before the bright comming of the Lord 2 Thes 2.8 There is the same meaning of this word chap. 11.14 For the veâ—ation of the sixt trumpet should not vanish away altogither forthwith at the first sounding of the seventh but should tarie after that for some longe time But the space of this trumpet is of sixe hundred yeeres and more to wit from the yeere 406. unto the yeere one thousand three hundreth and fiftieth or there about 13 Then the sixt Angâ—ll blâ—we the trumpet Nowe the sixt trumpet followeth and thâ— sâ—coâ—â— woe of which first is declared the commandement secondly the Execution In that is to be considered the Authour the Administratour and the meaniâ—g of the commandement it selfe The Authour is one voice from the foure hornâ— of the golden Altar Wee have shewed at chap. 8.3 what manner of altar this is Properly it signifyeth Christ in whom by whom onely our prayers doe please God as once was shadowed out by the golden Altar of incense set before the vaile upon which alone it was lawfull to burne the holie incense This Altar had foure hornes upon which onelie once a yeere reconciliation was to be made of Aaron and with the blood of the sâ—câ—ifice for sinne in the day of reconciliations Exod. 30.10 For albeit the daylie prayers were sweete and had also a good savour the incense of which was dayly offerred on the altar yet these yeerly prayers which were made upoÌ„ the hornes of the altar were most fervent of chiefe moment But it is to be observed that the voice which is heard coming from the hornes of the altar is not a praying but a commanding voice saying loose those foure Angels From whence this voice is not of the faithfull praying but rather of Christ hearing their prayers For therefore it is made from the hornes of the altar both that hee may teach that this voice is an answere given to the supplications of the saincts and also that wee may knowe that by him alone is obtained that which wee aske by whom in whom onely wee offer up our prayers to God Therefore when the godly desire earnestly that God would provide for his Church being troubled this of loosing the 4 Angels cometh from the hornes of the altar that while they should handle the stiffe enemies of syncere religioÌ„ according to
that so as those landes being given over every one went their way home Finally all the families of the Turkes whether of their owne accord or compelled by force submitted themselves to that one family of the Ottomans By which meanes the Turkes being free from all feare of the enemy behind them about Euphrates neither having any before them that could set against them sufficient forces renewed their assault against the Romanes whom in short time they overwhelmed wholly as it were with a deluge ¶ Bounde at that great river Euphrates So called properly that famous river of Armenia running to the West part of Mesopotamia where the Turkish nation abode many yeeres before it entreprised this warfarre 15 Were therefore loosed The execution of the commaundement lighting upon the yeere 1300 by one consent of all History-writers when their domesticall dissentions being appeased and all consenting to the Empire of the Ottomans they might freely bende themselves with all their power to enlarge their boundes and some time at length creepe out of their narrow straightes Howe longe time this power given to the Turkes should continue is declared in the next wordes prepared at an houre a day a moneth and a yeere which so exact description perteineth to the conforting of the godly whom the Spirit would have to knowe that this most grievous calamity hath her set boundes even to the last moment beyond which it shall not be continued Which indeede seemeth to be the space of three hundred ninetie and sixe yeeres every severall day being taken for a yeere after that manner which wee interpreted the monethes before But the yeere set downe here simply is meant to be the common and usuall Julian yeere of three hundred three skore and five dayes and some fewe houres All which time counted from the yeere one thousand three hundreth shall ende at leÌ„gth about the yeere one thousande sixe hundreth ninetie sixth which is the furthest bound of the Turkish name as also other scriptures by a merveilous consent doe proove unto which nowe to run is not permitted unto mee but a fit occasioÌ„ shall be given at an other time if God will In the meane time wee must knowe that the power of the Turkes shall not remaine whole unto this ende but shall threaten their ruine before or about fourty yeeres before that last destruction of them shall come but of this matter at some other time more at large ¶ To slay the third part of men Not without cause doth he make mention of the power granted to kill because more blood should be shed by these Angels then by any enemyes before spoken of A great number were killed of the Saracenes and the Romish Antichrist is wholy berayed with the blood of the Saincts as after chap. 17.4.6 But the slaughters made by them were none in comparison of these neither therefore doe come into any account The rage of the fierce enemie is limited with the boundes of the third part as wee have seene that it hath come to passe in the East partly in Asia partly in Europa from whence it is not to be feared that it shall be extended much further And surely it is kept backe by the force of the same prohibition wherby the violent waves of the sea are kept by the limites of a small sende For what barre is there in the West to stay them when the Christian Princes endevour one an others destruction Albeit there may be granted an excursion beyond those boundes for a small time to punish some men as wee have observed in the Sarden Church chap. 3.3 16 And the number of the horsemen was of the armies of a horseman for of horsemen unlesse peradventure it be set partitively as though he should say and the number of the armies of that of horsemen was two thousand hundred thousand I heard also the number of the armies of footemen which things need not to be stood upon considering that any may easily gather froÌ„ so great a nuÌ„ber of them that these were almost infinite The Comp. the K. bible reade of an horse A certeÌ„ olde copy hath of horses ten thousand times ten thousaÌ„de The word two being put out which Aret the Com transl hath The Interpreter of Aret. the Com. declare this number by the parts twentie thousaÌ„de times ten thousands which Th. Be. in the whole translateth two thousande timâ—s an huÌ„dred thousand In the clause following the Compl. the K. bible doe omit the copulative read by Ar. the Com. transl Beza hath it by a rational coniunctioÌ„ for I heard the number of them as if the number expressed perteined to the whole army which yet is referred expresly to the army of horse men but the indefinite number of the rest of the armies should have respect unto that of footmen unlesse peradventure all the hosts are of horsemen because of the swift increase wherby the Turks should waxe stroÌ„g as also is signifyed in the verse following But these are smaller things yet not to be neglected Wee understand that their armies shal be exceeding greate And in many expeditions it hath ben knowne for certen that the Turkâ— alone did bring moe souldiers into the battell then all the Christian Princes ioyned togither 17 And more over I sawe the horses Such is the number of the hosts their disposition is declared in this verse Which of what sorte it is is shewed froÌ„ the horses from the armour of the sitters on them from Lions heads of the horses and from that which cometh out of their mouth They are Horses in their alacrity and promptnesse to warre as before ver 7. The habergeons of the sitters on them are firie of Iacinth and of brimstone altogither of the same qualitie of which that is which cometh out of the mouth of the horses which breath out fire smoke whose colour is of Iacinth brimstone which three ar the instruments of killing men as after shal be said Seeing then they are armed with these three on their breasts it is even as if he should say that they ar armed sâ—rely with the destructioÌ„ of meÌ„ as who suppose that all their safety defeÌ„ce lyeth in slaying of other How lively doe these things pourtray the Turkish Empire which is susteined with no other holde theÌ„ tyraÌ„ny But further the firie habergeons ar cleare to all men eveÌ„ as the fire caÌ„not be hid Which is another marke by which properly this route may be challenged to belong to the Turkes not to the Saracens or Romanes For the Turkes doe vexe with opeÌ„ warre neither is there any of the ChristiaÌ„ name but he may behold a farre of their hostile minde in their habergeoÌ„s breasts The Saracens also were noisome but they invaded as it were by skippes unexpected flying upoÌ„ meÌ„ privily as craftily as they could Also the Romish Locusts so deceived with their vaine shewes doe yet deceive that they whoÌ„ they kill caÌ„not
wherin a Dragon was painted thrust thorough with a dart and layd under his and his peoples feete see Euseb upon the life of Constantine in the third oration leafe 137. a. 9 And that Dragon was cast into the earth That is beiond the boundes of the true and holy Church not onely among the prophane nations but also all other people altogither without true godlines howsoever peradveÌ„ture they pretended a shewe of it and are marked with the names of Christians That which is here called the heaven and the earth was in the former chapter called the Temple and the Court. In that the Church lay hid in this the Gentiles ruled a people who because of their vicinitie did take to themselves the name of the Church Therefore the Devill being cast unto the earth he is thrust out togither with his Angels into this court having receaved power to vexe the whore who lately exercised all his strength against the true spouse 10 And J heard a great voice The Song of triumphe of the Saincts celebrating God for his great benefit which first of all is declared by those things wherein the benefit it selfe consisted in this verse afterward it is set forth by his causes ver 11. by his effects ver 12. The benefit it selfe in respect of men is safety the tyrants being destroied who did labour to satisfy their hatred with the destruction of the Christians in respect of God it is the glory of his might of the Kingdome and power of Christ For then his power doth appeare when he utterly destroyeth abolisheth his enemies Also his visible Kingdome is seen after a sort when he placeth godly Princes in the governement of the common wealth from hence likewise the power of Christ was much declared which before seemed weake being so troden under soote by the enemyes neither punishing them according to their deserts But Christ now by taking unto him the Kingdome declared sufficiently that the former want of punishement and sufferance came not from imbecillity but onely from patience In respect of the Devill this benefit was a iust reward of his ungodlines who coÌ„tinually accuseth the godly before God But we must observe that the servants are noted with the same names wher with the Pâ—â—â—câ— himselfe is named because there is an equall good will to hurt in both although hiâ— power be greater But this accusation are those taunts reproches railings with which the spitefull enemies overwhelmed the Saincts continually obiecting unto them the suppers of Oedipus incests adultery mutuall lusts murders conspiracies against Princes pestilences famine burnings and whatsoever publike calamity there was of which and the like things the auncient History is full Surely the children learned of their father the Devill that auncient false accuser so as it is not to be wondered at if wicked men doe excell in the same arts 11 But they overcame Who The Angels of Michaell for now the streÌ„gth of the souldiers is commended the praise of the Emperour being celebrated in the former verse But as touching the causes of the victory the principall is the blood of the Lambe the instrumentall is the synceritie of the faith and a very great constancy even unto death The blood of the Lambe is the fountaine of all the benefits which the elect enioy either in this life or in the life to come For his sake alone God both delivereth his people from all the miseries of this life and at length will make them ioyfull with eternall felicity The integrity of faith is shewed in the next wordes by the word of his testimony that is by the truth of the Ghospell which they professed freely boldly Before it was alwaies called the testimony of God or of Iesus as in ch 1.2.9 ver c. here it is called the testimony of themselves which kinde of speaking neverthelesse commeth to the same ende For it doth not respect the subiect of which but in which In the last place is their constancy because they esteemed more of the truth and faith in Iesus then of their owne life It seemeth to be a comparative speach as if he should say they loved not their soules even unto death more then God But this last member of the comparison is wanting uÌ„lesse perhaps they loved not be put for they despised But even so the force of the comparison remaineth to with they despised in comparison of the truth This is a notable constaÌ„cy of the Saincts that by no tormeÌ„ts they could be remooved froÌ„ faith in Christ For which cause at leÌ„gth God gave uÌ„to them the reward of victory But observe how this soÌ„g of tâ—iumphe addeth those things which were wanting to declare the coÌ„dition of the first Church we have seen by the description of the woman that shee was famous for souÌ„dnes of faith purity of actions sincerity of the teachers also we have understood that she was destitute of a pâ—tron for because that in great sorow and griefe shee brought forth a sonne Adde to al these from this triumphant song that the enemies of the truth heaped all reproches upon the Saincts they used a great violence to their power yet the faithfull could not be remooved eveÌ„ with the losse of their life froÌ„ their holy profession wherby it came to passe that those times were made famous by almost an infinite number of most couragious Martyrs 12 Therefore reioice yee heaven c. The fruict of this benefit is the ioy of the Saincts the sorrow of the wicked For why should not they triuÌ„phe having attained safety seeing the glory of God so notably amplified But many calamities doe remaine true but these shall not touch the Saincts whome God hiddeth in his tabernacle And therefore he seemeth to say yee which dwell in them because this is heaven that the temple or tabernacle wherein the Church lyeth hid from whence at length it shall goe into the holy mountaine to an everlasting habitatioÌ„ before in chap. 11.7 c. 2 Cor. 5.1.2 c ¶ Woe to the inhabitans c. The effect in respect of the wicked is a very great sorrow for these are the inhabitans of the earth and the sea And from heÌ„ce may be confirmed this metaphoricall signification of these wordes For if the earth be properly taken the Devill should be in like sorte trobelsome to all the Saincts who dwell togither with the wicked and unseparated Moreover who are the inhabitans of the sea besides men The Devill doth not spit out his poison upon the whales Neither doe good and bad men dwell togither lesse in Ilands then in the continent land Thus therefore we doe distinguish that the inhabitans of the earth are every wicked multitude either of Heathen or Christians who have onely a counterfait shew of religion But the inhabitans of the sea are the Church men as they call them who profer to their false Christians grosse foule saltish and bitter doctrine which doeth rather bring to the
the same Adonikam afterward in Nehemiah are numbred sixe hundred three score seaven in the 7. chap. ver 10. The rest of the names 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Aretas in the later writers 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and the like partly are not the names of any man or at the least not of a people partly nothing was to be feared from them to whose knowledge soever they should come Romiâ—th or Romagnus Romane come nighest of all but the fourth property reiecteth this also which could not be of force inough to recover the favour of the Beast The Grecians willingly acknowledged themselves to be Romanes and of a long time boasted of this name Constantinople was commonly called New Rome yet in the meane time they were greatly hated of the Beast untill at length they did shew their consent with the Latines and yeelded the Primacie to the Latine Pope Therefore all accounts being cast I thinke that Lateinos is the name which the Spirit here biddeth us to number Which is a name whose letters after the account of the Grecians doe accomplish this number and unto which all the other properties doe agree and so much the more because from the Apostles times it hath ben extended to us and the event hath so confirmed it that it is now more cleare then the light at noonetyde which was darke before For so Ireneus in his 5. book chap 29. against heresies But saith he the name Lateinos conteineth the number sixe hundred threescore and sixe and it is very like to be true because the most substantiall Kingdome hath this name for they are Latines who now doe raigne But wee will not boast of this Such are his wordes As though this were not the opinion of him alone but he had received it froÌ„ another but from what other man is it likely then from Polycarp whose scholar he was and he Iohns scholar Such therefore are these Beasts whose lively image wee see in the Romane Pope who according to the plaine interpretation of the wordes the events of the times and agreablenes of all things so fitly without any violence casteth himselfe into every part of this first paterne and that even to the least appearances and likenesses that I thinke the very Papists themselves cannot doubt any more who is Antichrist And thus farre coÌ„cerning the Dragon and the Beast according to the consideration of knowledg encreased which should come under the blowing of the seventh trumpet for Hitherto doe the thirteene Centuries extend ending in the yeere 1300. to wit in the number of the name of the Beast that is a little after that the matter was brought to a point with the Grecians who submitted themselves to the Latine Pope with which number of his name the Spirit also coÌ„cludeth this Prophecy of the Beast shewing a very great consent of the issue in every part CHAP. 14. THEN I beheld and loe a Lambe stood on mount Sion and with him an hundreth fourty and foure thousande having his fathers name written on their fore heads 2 And I heard a voice from heaven as the sounde of many waters and as the sounde of a great thunder and J heard the voice of Harpers harping with their harpes 3 And who did sing as it were a new song before the throne and before those foure Beasts and those Elders and no man could learne that song but those hundreth fourty and foure thousande to wit those which were bought from the earth 4 These are they which are not defiled with women for they are virgines these follow the Lambe whither soever he goeth these are bought from men being the first fruites to God and to the Lambe 5 And in whose mouth was founde no guile for they are without spot before the Throne of God 6 Then I saw an other Angell flying in the middes of heaven having an everlasting Ghospell to preach to them that dwell on the earth and to every nation tribe and tongue and people 7 Saying with a loude voice feare God and give glory to him for the houre of his iudgement is come and worship him which made heaven and earth and the sea and the fountaines of waters 8 And there followed an other Angell saying it is fallen it is fallen Babylon that great Citie because shee gave the wine of the wrath of her fornication to drinke to all nations 9 And the third Angel followed them saying with a loude voice if anie man shallworship the Beast and his image and receave his marke in his forehead or in his hande 10 The same shall drinke also of the winne of the wrath of God of the pure wine I say which is powred into the cuppe of his wrath and he shal be tormented in fire brymstone before the holy Angels and before the Lambe 11 And the smoke of their torment shall ascende evermore neither shall they hav anie rest day and night which worship the Beast and his image and whosoever receiveth the printe of his name 12 Here is the patience of the Saincts here are they that keepe the commandemeÌ„ts of God and the faith of Iesus 13 Then I heard a voice from heaven saying unto mee write blessed are the dead which dye for the Lords sake from henceforth even so saith the Spirit for they rest from their labours and their workes follow them 14 And I looked and beholde a white cloud and upon the cloude one sitting like unto the Sonne of man having on his head a golden crowne and in his hande a sharpe sickle 15 And an other Angell came out of the Temple crying with a loude voice to him that sate on the cloude thrust in thy sickle and reape for thy time is come to reape for the harvest of the earth is ripe 16 Then he that sate on the cloud did thrust his sickle on the earth and the earth was reaped 17 Then an other Angell came out of the Temple which is in heaven having also a sharpe sickle 18 And an other Angel came out from the Altar having power over the fire and cryed with a loude voice to him that had the sharpe sickle saying thrust in thy sharpe sickle and gather the clusters of the vineyard of the earth for her grapes are ripe 19 Then the Angel did thrust in his sharpe sickle on the earth and cut downe the grapes of the vineyard of the earth and cast them into that greate wine presse of the wrath of God 20 And the wine presse was troden without the citie and blood came out of the wine presse unto the horses bridles by the space of a thousand sixe hundred furlongs Analysis VVEE have spoken of the thinges done by the enemies it followeth in this chapter concerning the vertue of the citezens declaring what was the condition of the true Church since the time that the battell was ended in heaven the Dragon cast foorth into the earth chap. 12.9 and the Beast began to come out of the Sea chap. 13.1 Which
gentle mercifull and comfortable principalities One setting like to the Sonne of man is a certen chiefe man placed in this high degree of dignity The ambiguity of which phrase hath carryed away some Interpreters into a contrary opinion Cōmonly it is wont to be taken of Christ but by prefixing the articles of which here are none Furthermore seeing this like to the Sonne of man doth nothing but at the commandement of an other it cannot agree unto Christ he is therefore a man of our state and condition whose forme being represented to Iohn resembling the Image of a future man worthyly is said to be like to the Sonne of man The golden crowne noteth his Kingly dignity which is of a larger dition then a Magistrates of a city The sharpe sickle in his hande sheweth a faculty and readinesse to cut downe VVee shal see the application straight way after the unfolding of the generall matter and sense of the type 15 And an other Angel An other beside the three former and the fift in number from him sitting in a cloude this cometh out of the temple a citizen and as is likely a Minister and Pastour of a purer Church whose office is not so much to reape with his owne handes as to stirre up him that sitteth on the cloude to the labour both by the faculty given him of God and also by the opportune ripenesse of the corne Hereupon he biddeth him to put in his sickle and reape For now the time to reape is come The thing being attēpted before obtained no ioyfull issue because yet the time was not fitte but now God would prosper their godly endevours It is to be observed seeing that this Angell commeth out of the inner temple not the exteriour court which partition was made in the eleventh chapter that the Spirit is yet employed in a more full declaration of the same time to wit of the Church lying hid and shut up in a narrow place as wee have shewed at the first verse of this chapter 16 Then he that sate on the cloude thrust in his sickle on the earth The thing is put in executiō and wanteth not successe the corne falling of his owne accord before the sickle through the great ripenesse of it The word earth was taken before commonly in the worse part In which signification it may note that those who before were inhabitans of the earth that is members of the earthly Church which is very farre off from the true and heavenly shal be gathered now at length into the bundels of the more pure corne in this harvest or if the harvest be onely of the reprobate so as that these alone are cut downe with the sickle the meaning of the vision commeth to the same ende but that former sense is more naturall For it declareth that at length there should arise confortable Princes and Magistrates who by the persuasion and exhortation of godly Ministers should gather from Antichristian superstition their subiects into the true Church and the syncere profession of wholesome doctrine but should drive away the contrary impiety and the practisers thereof out of their coasts Such white cloudes were Saxonie Misnia Hassia Prussia the free cities Strasburge Zurich Berne Geneve Basill c. They that sate on these cloudes were Frederike of Saxonie Mauritius Philip the Lantgrave Ioachimus of Brunswike Albert of Brandeburg Princes The Senate of Zuriche of Auspurge of Berna of Geneva and the rest The Angel comming out of the Temple is Iustus Ionas Philip Melancthon Nicolas Amstorfius Iohn Dulcius which wer persuaders of Frederik Duke of Saxonie for to abrogate the private Masse and to beginne reformation Likewise Zuinglius Bucer Capito Blaverus and the other holy men in their places The sickle put on the earth are the handes of Princes and Senatours of cities put foorth for the amending of corruptions to wit when the Masse was abrogated at Wittenberg in the yeere 1521. the Idoles Images and Altars being taken away out of the whole dominion of the Tigurines in the yeer 1523 and more over a few yeeres after when there came a more perfit reformation the day and yeere of superstition abolished were written on pillars with letters of Golde When in all the places above rehearsed the reapers did bend to the worke stoutly striving who might doe best in cutting downe wicked superstition and in pulling up darnell by the rootes for which before they were not able to see the corne they did so beare sway in the whole fielde This harvest was begun about the yeere 1521 was hotely applyed by the space of tenne whole yeeres next after and more it folowed Luther by and by who a little before the reformation was begū thought it needfull for feare of the Emperours proscription to hide himselfe in a more secret place While he then lay hid an other Angel tooke this office upon him to exhorte him that sate upon the cloude to thrust in his sickle on the earth by taking away Idolatry and gathering together the godly as handfuls into holy assemblies as hath bene declared Neither is this an allusion like to be true but such an application as the regard of the time requireth necessarily The Church lay hid yet in the tēple as is manifest by the Angels which come out from thence But about the ende of the limited time of a thousand two hondreth and threescore yeeres should be the harvest vintage following to which moreover the last place is given in this Prophecy because after all the former thinges were finished these also should be performed in their time And all these thinges most fitly agree to that application which I have brought neither shall any by searching out finde either any other Angel or harvest also that every thinke may agree necessarily with themselves 17 And an other Angel So was the harvest the vintage followeth as it is wonte But this is proper to the wicked as that was to the godly For the Saincts are well compared to wheate and corne the profitablest thinges and most necessary thinges which by the solidnesse of their fruite resemble fitly the soundnesse of good men who are more profitable for their use then goodly in outward shew But the full and swelling dainties of grapes doe most aptly declare the present felicity of the wicked The Harvest belonged to Germany and brought us to the yeere 1520 this vintage is proper to our England so wonderfully agreeing to the things here done both in the course of time cōgruēcy of all the matter that it is not to be doubted but that the Spirit pointed with the finger to these grapes Which that we may perceive more easily every thing is to be cōsidered apart There is both a preparation also an execution of this vintage That belōgeth to 2 Angels ver 17.18 ioined togither in labour as those in the harvest which in like sort doe thūder with a double crash The executiō is done first by pruning the vine
which he so marvelously defendeth against so many enterprises of the adversaries But the Papists eyes cannot peirce this smoke wherfore theâ— weary themselves in vayn fighting against God But because smoke signifieth also wrath the Temple filled with smoke teacheth that God testifieth his presence with manifest arguments of his indignation against the enemies whom now he wil vexe with continual torments which out of the Temple and Church of God shal dayly fal upon their heads ¶ And no man was able to enter into the Temple This sheweth the condition of the rest what it should be in the mean time while these plagues crushed down the enemies To weet they should remayn without the Temple not able to enter in for smoke as Moses could not enter into the Tabernacle of the congregation whiles the cloud was upon it Evod. 40.35 Alike therfore in some sorte shal be the condition of the Church when it is restored as it was when it lay hidd As long as the Temple was shutt the saincts pitched their camp in mount Sion the Lamb being their Captayn no man could learn the song which they sang chap. 14.3 It belonged to a few elect into whose number none of the rest of the world could joyne himselfe Even so when the Temple is opened although the Church be much more noble and conspicuous yet shal not al betake them selves unto the bosome therof until the seven plagues be fulfilled Which is first to be understood of the Iewes whose ful caling shal not be until the vials be poured out Ful I say because during the plagues ther shal be some beginning but not an absolute perfection before they be altogither past For Rome drives theÌ„ from entring in which when it shal be taken away then the Iewes and other nations many al impediments being removed shal flow even with strift unto the Church and shal thenceforth continue the faithful nourissons of the same For we see that al ar not by this smoke quite shut out of the Temple Seven Angels come out from thence which should not come forth but to execute their office wherupon the rest of the Saincts abide therein This smoke therfore hindred not al the elect of the Gentils from entring in but the Iewes and ful number of the Gentiles onely CHAP. 16. AND I heard a great voice out of the Temple saying to the seven Angels Goeye and powr out the seven vials of the wrath of God upon the earth 2 And the first Angel went and powred out his vial upon the earth ther came a noysom greevous soar upon the men which had the mark of the Beast and which worshiped his Image 3 And the second Angel powred out his vial upon the sea and it became as the blood of a dead-man and every living sowl died in the sea 4 And the third Angel powred out his vial upon the rivers and upon the fountayns of waters and they became blood 5 And I heard the Angel of the waters saying Iust art thou O Lord which art and which wa st and which shalt be because thou hast judged these things 6 For they shed the blood of the Saincts and Prophets and thou hast given them blood to drink for they are worthy 7 And I heard an other Angel from the altar saying even-so Lord God almighty true and just ar thy judgments 8 And the fourth Angel powred out his vial on the Sun and it was given unto him to torment men with heat by fyre 9 And men boyled-hott with great heat blasphemed the name of God which hath power over these plagues and they repented not to give him glory 10 And the fift Angel powred out his vial upon the throne of the Beast his kingdome became dark and they gnawed their tongues for payn 11 And blasphemed the God of heaven for their paynes and for their soars and repented not of their works 12 And the sixt Angel powred out his vial upon the great river to weet Euphrates the water therof was dryed up that the way of the Kings that come froÌ„ the East might be prepared 13 And I saw three unclean Spirits like froggs coming 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 Divils working signes which goe unto the Kings of the earth and of the whole world to gather them to the battel of that great day of God almighty 15 Behold J come as a theef Blessed is he that watched and keepeth his garmeÌ„ts least he walk naked and men see his shame 16 And he gathered them togither into a place called in Hebrew Armagedon 17 And the seventh Angel powred out his vial upon the ayre and ther came a great voice out of the Temple of heauen from the throne saying It is doon 18 And ther were noises and lightnings and thonders and ther was a great earthquake such as was not since men were upon the earth even so great an earth-quake 19 And the great city was rent into three parts and the city of the Gentiles fell and that great Babylon came in remembrance before God to give unto her the cup of the wine of the feircenes of his wrath 20 And every I le fled away and the mountayns wer not found 21 And a great hayl as of talent weight fel out of heaven upon men and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the hayl for the plague therof was exceeding great The Analysis HITHERTO hath been the common type now foloweth the special execution distinct with the parts therof in this chapter and then more at large continued in the rest folowing The execution is commanded ver 1. then the parts ar set down both the common the effect of the work and the event and the particular seven distinct vials according to the maÌ„ner of the former periods for those seven notable plagues wherwith the enemies are to be smitten The first of them is powred out upon the earth ver 2. The second upon the Sea ver 3. The third upon the rivers ver 4. whose secondary event is a twofold testimony first of the Angel of the waters ver 5. 6. secondly of the Angel from the altar ver 7. The fourth is powred upon the Sun ver 8.9 The sixt upon Euphrates of which ther is also a twofold event first the drying up of the waters ver 12. secondly a preparation to warr wherof ther be three princes authors and as many Ministers froggs ver 13.14 Then a warning given to the elect ver 15. and the gathering of the enemies into the place Armagedon ver 16 The seventh is powred out upon the ayre whos 's first event is a ful end ver 17. the second noyses lâ—ghtnings eartquake Also the destruction of the enemies ver 19.20 of cities of nations and of men in the beginning of the 21. ver and a hayl of talent weight causing
danger have often tryed and other Princes also by their owne proper peril have by this time learned But though these things were not seing they ar bound by oath to the Bishop of Rome whoâ—e most feirce defenders they undertake to be they are worthily guilty of the bloud of al the Saincts which the Pope hath shed in so great abuÌ„dance So Christ condemneth the Iewes then present of the death of Zacharie whom their ancestors killed many yeres before because they allowed the same things that their Fathers which had wrought that mischeif Mat. 23.35 ¶ And thou hast giveÌ„ c. As Tomyris did to Cyrus To giv onâ— blood is to give one to death as I will give thee the bloud of gealousie and wrath that is I will cause thee to be cruelly killed as they that are slayn in the heath of wrath and gelousie Ezech. 16.36 By which it appeareth that the fountayns rivers are men as we interpreted at the first unto whom the murder of the saincts is attributed whom they agayn must make amends with their owne bloud 7 And I heard another from the altar The second testimony is of an Angel from the Altar 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 properly is an altar of slaine Sacrifices sometime the altar of incense as chap. 8.3 because it is likewise a signe of Christs death Theod. Beza translateth it out of the Sanctuary which doth not sufficiently expresse the force of the sentence Perhaps he so turned it because of the preposition 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which for the most part is of place and of that which conteyneth any thing which might seem not to agree unto an altar but a like place before wher an Angel came 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 from the altar chap. 14.18 may open the meaning of this VVe shewed that this maner of speach belongs unto them which ar killed for Christ which have a place given them under the altar chap. 6.9 Therfore this Angel is one of that flock which sufferring calamitie for Christs name dooth by his sentence approve the fact of killing the Iesuites and for that cause celebrateth in like sorte the justice of God Even as it is manifest to have fallen out in the yere 1586. April 4. when the States of Holland and of the other Provinces confederate with them did decree that none of the bloudy sect of the Iesuits or that then was a student with the professors of it whither he were born within the confederate Provinces or a forreyner should creep into those provinces eyther by sea or by LaÌ„d under payn of hostility and losse of his life By which decree they give their verdict against those ungracious men and subscribe to the sentence erst giveÌ„ by the Angel of the waters in England And who seeth not them lying under the altar who so many yeres suffered so many and horrible things of the cruel Spaniard for the profession of Christ Although they now by use have learned that ther is more confort in these calamities then in al Spanish deynties which in time past they injoyed when they wanted the holy truth the while VVerfore you noble Hollanders cleave stil with perfect harts to him by whose defense you have hitherto been kept safe Beware of the Romish wiles doo not so deal as that now by hearkning to Popish Sinons your constancy past avayl you nothing save to let you have tryall of your new feigned freinds to be noysome foes Think yee that the Catholik King could be more addicted to the Antichristian religion theÌ„ the Prelate and late Cardinal of the same VVould he more desire to take Christ from you then this man Take heed be not dismayed with fear of any peril though al men should forsake you The time is short stand stil and behold the salvation of Iehovah which he wil work for you within these few yeres But what doo I I could not chuse but by the way to warne in a word my brethren that are in danger I come againe to the matter Two yeres before that decree was made by the Hollanders when the French King Henry the 4 was wounded by Iohn Castell a Iesuite who had decreed to kill him this worthy sentence was uttered in the Session of the great Chamber both against this Castell and the whole hierd of Iesuites namely that all the Priests of the College of Clermont and all others that wâ—re addicted to the foresayd societie should as corrupters of youth troublers of the publik tranquilitie enemies of the King and Queen depart within three dayes after the proclamation of this Edict from Paris and other cities and places where they held their Colleges and within fifteen dayes folowing get them out of the whole Realm And if they did not but were found any where after the time prescribed they should be punished as guilty of high treason c. A holy and wholsome decree but ô Father of mercies rear up I beseech thee thyne altar among them that the Roman Antichrist being quite abandoned they may injoy with the rest of thyne elect the syncere worship of thy name 8 And the fourth Angel powred out his vial upon the Sun Hitherto have bin these times wherin now we live for unto this vial have our ages come the other foure ar by us to be looked for so that the serching of them out is the more difficult Notwithstanding we trusting in his guidance alone by whose conduct we are come hitherto and being holpen by the light of those that ar passed which we have drawn from the former explication doo hope that we shal bring somwhat which may be profitable for the illustration of them that are to come The proper force of this vial is turned upon the Sun wherof ther is a tow fold event first a power given to the Sun to scorch men by fire in this verse secondly a very great heat of men blasphemie and obduration in the 9. verse As touching the Sun the borowed speech is like the former For the same men complayn of the greatnes of this heat which felt the former calamities as in the next verse and they blasphemed the name of God which hath power over these plagues But if it be understood of any Sun-burning properly how dooth it afflict the bad more then the good seing both of them dwel togither on earth and the one sort ar no more covered from the force of the heavenly bodyes then the other But ther is no other Sun to be thought of then the vial which is powred out upon it which we have shewed to be caled so rather for similitude than for any respect of proper nature Let the usual signification therfore of this word remayn wherby it denoteth the holy Scriptures with whose light the dark minds of men are no lesse illustrated then the eyes of the body are with the beames of the Sun Vpon these is this vial to be powred not for to hurt them as the former vials did the earth sea
and of iron and of marble 13 And of cinnamon and odours and oyntment and frankincense and wine oyle and fine floure and wheate and beasts and sheep and horses and charets and servants and soules of men 14 And the fruits that thy sowl lusted after are departed from thee and al things that were fatte and excellent are departed from thee neither shalt thou finde them anie more 15 The Marchants of these things I say which were made rich by her shall stand a farr off from her for fear of her torment weeping and wailing 16 And saying alas alas that great citie that was clothed in fine linnen purple and skarlet and gilded with gold and precious stones and pearles for in one houre so great richesse are come to desolation 17 And everie shipmaster and all the troupe that converseth in shippes and mariners and whosoever traffike on the sea shal stand a farr off 18 And they shal crie seing the smoke of her burning and shal say what citie was like unto this great citie 19 And casting dust on their heads they shal crie weeping and wailing and saying alas alas for that great citie wherin were made rich al that had shipps on the sea by her costlinesse in one haure is made desolate 20 O Heaven reioice of her aend ye Holy Apostles and Prophets for God hath punished her to be revenged of her for your sakes 21 Then a certain mightie Angel tooke up a stone like a great milstone cast it into the Sea saying with such violence shall Babylon that great Citie be cast and shal be found no more 22 And the voice of harpers and musicians and of pippers and trumpeters shal be heard no more in thee and no craftesman of whatsoever craft he bee shal be found anie more in thee and the sound of a milstone shal be heard no more in thee 23 And the light of a candle shal shine no more in thee and the voice of the bridgrome and the bride shal be heard no more in thee for thy marchants were the great men of the earth and with thine enchantments were deceived al nations 24 And in her was found the blood of the Prophets and of the Saincts and of all that were slaine upon the earth The Analysis HITHERTO what and of what sort is the throne of the Beast as it were the first sprinkling of the fift vial now foloweth a more copious powring out ioyned with the verie ruine of the throne Which we distinguish into those things which goe before the destruction and the things which follow it those that goe before are performed by the ministerie of three Angels two of which declare the ruine by bare word The first a glorious Angel ver 1 more succinctly ver 2 3. The second namelesse more fully both in exhorting the godly to fly out of Babylon ver 4.5 and also in stirring up the ministers of this destruction to use deserved severitie ver 6.7 afterwards in describing partlie the mourning of wicked Kings ver 9.10 of marchants ver 11.12.13.14.15.16 of Watermen and mariners ver 17.18.19 partly the ioy of the godly ver 20. Such is the ministerie of the two Angels The third beside his word useth also a signe which both is propounded ver 21. and also expounded summarily in the same verse severally in ver 22.23.24 Hitherto the things that goe before the ruine that which followeth is a thankesgiving which the Saincts performe chap. 19.1 2. 3 4. Scholions 1 And after these things J saw an Angel come down In destroying the Citie of Rome God wil manifest to the world his admirable long suffring who beside al his former warnings so many and so divers cometh not to the last destruction before three Angels be used by whose voice men should be warned to avoid the plague coming violently upon it The first of these is an Angel descending from heaven that is some excellent and singular mā who shal come suddenly and not looked for even as things which fall down from heaven The things which are borne with us give some shew of themselves before they wex ripe but things that come from heaven may be present in a moment without anie perceiving taken before they come So in the tenth chapter and Angel came down from heaven of a sudden when many couragious deffendours of the truth were risen up of whom before there was no suspicion VVhich thing other places cōfirm which may be taken from the former interpretation This Angel seemeth that by a sudden converting to the truth he shall manifest to al men that he cometh from heaven Such was that coming down in the tenth chapter where men brought up in superstition became suddenly nourrissons of true godlines This Angel hath great power But to what end For no excellent great acte of his is mentioned it may be he is that man to whom is committed wholly the throwing down of this throne who shal not so much bring a new Propphecy concerning the ruine of Babylon as shew himselfe prepared to performe the verie thing which the divine oracles prophecied often should come Thirdly the earth is lightened with his glory because evē they which are strangers from the true Church shal honour and admire the glory of his godlinesse and excellent maiestie He shal be wel reported off even of them that are without as speaketh the Apostle The like use of words in the things past doth give us this knowledge of this Angel though yet to come VVhich is the onely way to pearse into these things otherwaies hidden from us But it is to be observed that this Angel as farr as it seemeth shal not come forth by and by after that manifestation of the throne which we have spoken of in the former chapter but at length after some certain and meet time set between And therfore this vision is divided from the former by that usual stile in writing of a distāce of time somwhat farther of and after these things I saw 2 And he cryed out mightily 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in strength that is strongly valiantly and vehemently The Complutent edition and the Kings Bible have 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 with a strong voice so also Aretas but the sense is al one This mighty crying out signifyeth the efficacy and immutability of the things to be done as Aretas noteth Although peradventure no such denuntiation to be made in words is not to be expected but even the very attemting of the thing shall stirre up in the mindes of men that opinion as if they did heare this voice sounding in the eares of men But seing this crying out is of one Angel to whom the businesse is committed as is like of destroying and burning Rome it may confirme somewhat that which we have sayd in the former chapter that some one of the tenne hornes to whom the rest of the multitude is figuratively adioyned not that whole number shal bring upon it this last desolation He cryeth out
fornication and hath avenged the blood of his servants shed by her hands 3 And againe they said Halleluja and the smoke of her rose up for evermore 4 And the foure and twenty Elders and the foure Beasts fel downe and worshipped God that sate on the throne saying Amen Hallelujah 5 Then a voice came out from the throne saying prayse our God all ye his servāts and ye that feare him both small and great 6 And I heard like a voice of a great multitude and as the voice of many waters and as the voice of strong thundrings saying Hallelujah for the Lord that God our almighty one hath raigned 7 Let us be glad and reioyce and give glory to him for the marriage of the lambe is come and his wife hath made her selfe readie 8 And to her was given that she should be arrayed with pure fine linnen for the fine linnen is the righteousnesses of the Saincts 9 Then he said unto me write blessed are they which are called to the Lambes supper And he said unto me these words of God are true 10 And I fell before his feete to worship him but he said unto mee see thou doo it not I am thy fellow servant and one of thy brethren which have the testimony of Iesus Worship God for the testimony of Iesus is the Spirit of Prophesie 11 And J saw heaven open and behold a white horse and he that sate upon was called faithfull and true and he iudgeth and fighteth righteously 12 And his eyes were as a flame of fyre and on his head were many crownes he had a name written that no man knwe but himselfe 13 And he was clothed with a garmēt dipt in blood and his name is called THE WORD OF GOD. 14 And the hosts which are in heaven followed him upon white horses clothed with fine linnen white and pure 15 Out of his mouth went a sharpe sword that with it he should smite the Heathen for he shal rule them with a rod of yron for he it is that shall treade the wine-presse of the fiercenesse and wrath of Almighty God 16 And he had upon his garment and upon his thigh a name written THE KING OF KINGS LORD OF LORDS 17 And J saw an Angel stand in the Sunne wWho cryed with a loud voice saying to all the foules that did flie by the middes of heaven come and gather your selves togither unto the supper of the great God 18 That ye may eate the flesh of Kings and the flesh of Tribuns and the flesh of mighty men and the flesh of horses and of them that sit on them and the flesh of all free men and boundmen and of small and great 19 And J saw that Beast and the Kings of the earth and their hosts gathered togither to make battell against him that sate on the horse and against his army 20 But the Beast was taken and with him that false Prophet that wrought miracles before him wherby he deceived them that received the Beasts marke and them that worshipped his Jmage These both were alive cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone 21 And the remnant were slaine with the sword of him that sitteth upon the horse which commeth out of his mouth and all the foules were filled full with their flesh The Analysis HITHERTO have bin the things which goe before the destruction or are joyned togither with it now those things which follow it This is a thankes giving in the foure first verses and that is twofold One of the multitude without difference both for the iust punishments taken of the whore ver 1.2 and also repeated againe because of the eternity of the same punishment ver 3. The other is of the Elders and Beasts ver 4. And thus farre is the more full declaration of the fift viall There remaine yet two the sixt to be powred out upon Euphrates and the seventh into the ayre That former is handled in the rest of this chapter even unto the 20. verse This last is cōtinued from thence to the conclusion of the whole booke There wer two parts of that former in chap. 16. The drying up of Euphrates and preparation to warre Likewise two parts of the declaration are propounded after the same manner We have shewed that that drying up did signify the calling of the Iewes which is described in this place first by a provoking to praise God and by the ioy of the freinds of the bridgroome ver 6.7 then by the preparation for the marriage ver 8. Furthermore by the certenty of the thing which therfore he commandeth to be written and registred the truth wherof he confirmeth partly from the principal authour ver 9. partly from himselfe the minister a glorious and holy Angel ver 10. The preparation for warre first is of the Saincts whose Captaine is Christ himselfe of whō a divers forme is expressed and divers names applied to those divers shapes All which notwithstanding ar referred either unto righteousnes in iudgment or to fortitude in warre as is shewed in the ende of verse 11. Therfore he commeth to iudgment furnished both sitting upon a white horse and by a fit name called faithful and true ver 11. and also with flaming eyes and an unknown name ver 12. He cometh forth to the battel both himself clothed with a bloody garmēt called the word of God ver 13. And also a great army following him ver 14. and having ordinances of warre ver 15. Whose name fit for this shew is King of Kings c. ver 16. And in such wise is the Captaine The Souldiers are gathered togither by the voice of an herald standing in the Sunne and promising certaine victory ver 17.18 The army also of the enemyes is assembled ver 19. declared now onely in a word the preparation wherof hath already bin spoken off sufficiently in chap. 16.13.14.15.16 Such is the larger declaration of the sixt viall the which proceedeth no further than the preparation of the warre The seventh followeth partly consisting in the destruction of the enemies partly in the happinesse of the Church after they are destroyed The enemies are two the Western Beast and Eastern Dragon of his destruction it is spoken in the two other verses of this chapter both of the Prince himselfe ver 20. and also of his souldiers ver 21. Scholions 1 And after these things J heard a voice These first verses we refer in the Analysis to the fift vial the ruine of Rome by which it is declared how ioyful an argumēt of praising God her destructiō shall ministet to the saincts The Angel exhorted them to reioyce before in chap. 18.20 And now the thing being brought to passe all the godly shall triumph earnestly But seeing this executing followeth the destruction it must needs be that either this throwing of the milstone into the sea is the very destroying of the city or that the manner of destroying of it is altogither concealed which yet notwithstanding
this mountaine called great and hie which is set in the highest toppe and height of other mountaines Therfore whatsoever excelleth in dignity on earth the excellency of this Church shall passe it In this mountaine shal be seen the beauty of this city as if her cityzens dwelling within the walles should pereeive most plainly her reverend and divine worthines which cannot be so manifest to them that dwel farther off in remote countreyes And many Iohns that is godly and holy men leaving their places of abode shal flee unto this mountaine not that being superstitious they may visit holy places but that face to face they may behold the glory of the Lord and enioy being present the gladnesse of the saints For can any thing be more longed for then to be conversant with them which shal worship Christ most purely and most holily according to his ordinance alone and with most fervent affections It shal be certenly an excellent patterne of our felowship with the holy Angels But it is sufficient to touch these things in a word least I may seeme to some men to delight my selfe with a sweet dreame But let us observe that if these things should be spoken of the saints countrey after the last iudgement no Olypus would be high ynough to shewe it manifestly 11 And he shewed mee that great city This city is great and most ful of citizens hitherto it hath bin alwayes contained within a smal number of men now first of al called great her boundes being inlarged and increased with a ful multitude It shal be farre more glorious in this respect seing that the more common good surmounteth it selfe But beside these shee is holy and commeth downe out of heaven from God Of which things we have seen before This is a new thing that shee is adorned with the glory of God that is that shee hath the presence of God manifested in her by a certaine glorious beauty as it is declared in those things that follow To this ende the temple before was filled with smoke after the old manner of appearing in the tabernacle and temple but now there shal be an other way God shal give a more cleare shew of his maiesty then ever before this time either with the Iewes or Christian Gentils Moreover also it hath a light which is like to a stone most pretious c. What is this light Not any brightnesse with which the city shineth by her owne purity although of it selfe it shal be most beautiful but a light which is conveyed into it from an other For so Phoster signifieth to weet such a thing as sendeth forth light from it selfe as the Sunne Moone Starres candle torch the like Therfore the Grecians translate these wrds of Gen. 1 16. tous duo Phosteras tous megalous those two great lights And also Paul Phainesthe hos Phosteres shine yee as starres Phil. 2.15 Therfore the Phoster of the city is that which giveth light to the city the which light shee draweth frō an other and hath it not naturally From whence then is it ministred From the very glory of God for these thinges depend on the next before going as though he should say I sawe the City having the glory of God which glory of God being the light of it was like a stone most pretious c. which interpretation is affoarded by the 23 verse after where the office of lighting the city is given to the glory of GOD. But why is this light like to a stone most pretious and not rather like to the Sunne or Starres Because perhaps the light of the Sunne doth burne and blindeth the eyes rather more agreable with an overthwart looking upon it then a direct The shinning of the stone is altogither harmelesse very much grateful and pleasant yee the more that one looketh upon it the more agreable it is in which respect it representeth most excellently the pleasantnesse of the divine knowledge For the nature of this is to recreate and cherish the fainting soule even with the onely sight of her beauty but yet much more if any with a serious contemplation doth fixe the eyes of his minde upon her The light and glorious brightnesse of al other thing as of the Moone and of the Starres is overwhelmed by the bright-shining beames of a greater light The brightnesse of a stone compareth with the sunne neither is diminished but increased by the beame therof even as there is not any glory so great that can darken the glorious maiesty of God The things which are lightsome with us as torches lampes candles alwayes stand in need of some matter wherwith fire is kept burning otherweise they would be turned by and by into darkenesse the sparkling brightnesse of a stone is naturaly ingendred in it which hath no need of any outward helpe but shineth alway by his owne flame so as it representeth before our eyes the eternal light of the most High God in this respect also But the Kind of stone is also expressed For it is like a Iasper stone cleare as Chrystall The Iasper is a most noble Iewel both for antiquity and for variety The likenesse to cleare shining Chrystal describeth a certain kind of it which shineth through most purely darkened with no colour Therfore the Iasper like Chrystal is that kind of Iasper which is commonly called Aerizula resembling the most cleare ayre Here it noteth the most excellent glory of God shining in this city which no spot of earthly filthinesse doo make darke as it is wont to come to passe where any humane invention is patched to Gods ordinances 12 Jt had beside a wall Now he expoundeth the matter particularly first the things which belong to the forme of the wall which is great and hie that is long broad and hie firme on every part The description wherof had bin superfluous if it should belong to the heavenly city to be expected after the last iudgemēt which al know wel inough to be set free from al danger But the celestial Hierusalem on earth which we have seen tossed with very many stormes from her first beginning even unto this day hath had need of this defence and fortification of walles least any should feare the same thing touching this city which he knoweth to hav happened to the same in former times But this forme hitherto belōgeth to the whole wall The parts are the gates and foundations The gates ar notable for their number the watch the names written upon them in this verse then for their most cōmodious situation in the thirteenth verse which al ar so described that they may declare a most ready way into this city which no impediment shal hinder Hereunto first of al the twelve gates have respect that an entrance be prepared for every tribe apart to to the ende that it may be more free and ready For the same purpose are the twelve Angels being the watch who doo waite at the gates to open them and to
them which keepe the wordes of this book Worship God 10 After he said unto mee seale not the words of the prophecy of this book for the time is at hand 11 He that hurteth let him hurt still and he that is filthy let him be filthy stil and he that is iust let him be iustifyed stil and he that is holy let him be holy still 12 And behold I come quickly and my reward is with mee to render to every one as his worke shal be 13 J am Alpha and Omega the beginning and the ending the first and the last 14 Blessed are they that doo his commaundements that they may have right to the tree of life and may enter by the gates into the city 15 But without shal be dogges and enchanters and whoremongers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever loveth and maketh lies 16 J Iesus sent my Angel to testify these things unto you in the Churches J am the roote and that generation of David that bright and morning starre 17 And the Spirit and the bride say come and he that heareth saith come and let him that thirsteth come and let him that will receive of the water of life freely 18 For I testify there withall unto every one that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book if any man shall add unto these things God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this book 19 And if any man shall take away of the words of the book of this prophecy God shal take away his part out of the book of life and out of the holy city and from those things which are written in this book 20 He which testifyeth these things saith ye I come quickly Amen Even so come Lord Iesus 21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you al. Amen The Analysis THVS farr the two first outward arguments wherby the glory of this city is set forth the two last follow the aboundance of things necessary continuance The first handleth two things which comprehende all other plenty the most pure water proceeding out of the throne ver 1. and the tree of life ver 2. whose fruite is described and how many foulde it is partly in the kinde for thete are twelve fruits partly in the time bearing every moneth and how profitable which appeareth from thence that also the leaves are for the health of the Gentils ver 2. and thus much of the aboūdance the continuance is declared by remooving of the corrupting causes ver 3. and by setting downe of the preserving causes ver 3.4 5. And hitherto hath bin a prophetical narration both of special things and also of common things to the whole Church There foloweth the conclusion of all the Revelation and of the Epistle partly consisting in a confirmation partly in a salutation The confirmation first takes in hand a recounting and collecting of things before spokē that being put as in a patterne ūder one view they might have greater force for credit And this recounting is cōtinued even to the eighteen verse relating the authour of the Revelation ver 6. the happines of the keppers ver 7. the ministers ver 8.9 a publishing commanded wherby ther should be a free examination ver 10. with an answer of a secret obiection ver 11. the upright nature of the revealer ver 12. eternall ver 13. the thing revealed ver 14.15 the plaine testimony of Iesus ver 16. and lastly the desire of the Spirit and bride ver 17. Every one of which apart is of great weight to establish the authority of this Prophecy but al togither are very much greater Next Iohn of his owne part addeth some new thing when he uttereth certain destruction to them which shall corrupt this prophecy never so little ver 18.19 then testifying his most earnest desire of a speedie finishing ver 20. The salutation lastly concludeth the whole Epistle with a praier ver 21. Scholions 1 Afterward he shewed mee That wholesome fruite dooth more declare the excellent glory of this city which not onely the citizens but also forreiners doo receive Wherunto also apperteine this river and tree of the which both they drinke and also are fedde unto life both which the Angel sheweth to Iohn For he saith he shewed mee But who is he that shewed That sevēth Angel which manifested the city to him in the former chapter ver 9.10 and therfore neither as yet are we come to the heavenly blessednes of the saincts after the last resurrection when we shal not use Angels or any other masters But as touching the water it is not some litle fountaine but a river neither corrupted and troubled as Nilus but flowing with most pure waters as Kidron Gallirrhoe making glad the citie of God Psal 46.5 Furthermore it is a river of water of life not onely because of the continuance for it runneth alwayes with new waters as is the water of a fountaine or spring which also in the Scriptures is called living but because it bringeth life to the drinkers Iohn 4.14 The river is shining as Chrystall farre exceeding the clearnes of the fountaines Lastly it proceedeth out of the throne of God and of the Lambe which it hath for chiefe fountaines and to which againe as a companion it doth leade or rather being a forerunner goeth before as a streeme to the sea In Ezechiel the same flood issueth out of the temple altar chap. 47.1 But in this new Ierusalem there is no temple as hath bin spoken in chap. 21.22 therfore the throne of God is set in the place thereof Whether it runneth here is no mention but the Prophets plentifully teach it namely towards the East from the South side of the altar first towards Galily and into the plaine then the waters come to the Sea and by emptying themselves into the same sea the waters therof are healed Ezech. 47.1.8 So in Ioel there shal issue forth a fountaine from the house of the Lord and shall water the valley of Shittim chap. 3.18 That is the plaine of Moab where the Israelites committed whordome with the Moabitish wemen Numb 25.1 Zacharie also There shal be saith he in that daie waters of life going forth out of Ierusalem part of them to the East sea and parte of them to the uttermost sea which shal be both in somer and winter chap. 14.8 This river is the most fruitfull doctrine of Christ which shall flowe forth towards the East because the people watered with the moisture hereof shall grow and at last true life shall budde forth For every living creature that creepeth whersoever these rivers come shall live and there shal be a very great multitude of fishes for by the comming of these waters thither they are cured and live whersoever this river commeth Ezech. 47.9 For this Prophet and Iohn speake of the same things and times of the state and condition of the Church in earth as those things which in so many places we have
purpose by very small thinges and having a faire colour He would abhorre Idols in words as much as any other and would cry out that the honour which he commaundeth to be given to Jmages is farre from this ungodlines by such wordes deceaving the unskilfull and bringing them into this offence of which the Spirith speaketh 15 So thou hast c. The reddition of the similitude whose proposition is not spoken a word of Thus it should be full As once the Israelites had those that held the doctrine of Balaam so thou hast them that holde the doctrine of the Nicolaitanes In stead of the proposition he attributeth the doctrine of Balaam to the Pergamen Church because it was proper to his Antitype but from whence may be gathered the first part of the similitude But this poison of the Nicolaitanes had infected doubtlesse Pergamus ¶ Which J hate as before the comon translation is repent likewise And so he beginneth the verse following in this sense as I have warned the Ephesine Church so doe I admonish thee But this is weaker then if he did commaund simply repent 16 I will come against thee quickly and fight against them He threatneth a double punishement one against the Church it selfe against which he saith that he wâ—ll come quickly The other against the corrupters against whom he saith he will fight with the sworde of his mouth For wee may not thinke that he will come against the Church onely to take away those plagues destructions of men for this could have no feare but would be a thing to be chiefly wished but shee also must suffer the punishment of her negligence as they of their wickednes Therfore this violent breaking into the Church was a certen chastisement by warre or some such calamity as is manifest in the Antitype whose times were very troublous partly by the overflowing of the Northerne Barbarians partly by the Saracens whom the Devill armed against the seed of the woman after shee fled into the wildernes as we shall shew at the chap. 12. to which times these things perteine but here generally and obscurely shewed because this place suffered not any ampler light The other punishment is against the Balaamites against whoÌ„ he will use the sworde of his mouth For we must observe how he distinguisheth these from the Church of her he sayd I will come against thee then turning his speach to the Balaamites and J will fight saith he against them But what is it to fight with the sworde of his mouth Whether to inflict the punishments which he hath threatned in his word Certenly Paul saith that he had in readines wherewith to punish all contumacy 2 Cor. 10.6 And Ieremy is set of God over the nations and Kingdomes to root out and destroy c. chap. 1.10 For there is no weapon in the whole armory of the world so effectuall on both partes Wherfore seeing by the iudgement hereof all fornications and Idolatries are appointed to a iust punishment worthily may he say that he will fight with that sworde according to the rule whereof the pronounced iudgement is exercised But nowe when in an other place it is sayd of Antichrist that Christ shall consume him with the spirit of his mouth 2 Thes 2.8 which maner of speaking what force it hath we have learned by experience to wit that his errours convinced his lyes detected then his fraude and deceits set in the open light he shal be brought to destruction these wordes seeme to have the same meaning And certenly after that the Church was for a while scourged by those Norther Souther barbariaÌ„s Christ begaÌ„ to vexe those PerganieÌ„ impostours with the light of the truth for about the yeare 1120 arose certeÌ„ godly men which preached openly that Antichrist was come that the holy dayes Ecclesiasticall broken songs prayers for the dead pilgrimages oyle extreem unction the rest of that sorte were superstitious things Worke Trip. Henric. Mon. Thol To these were added in a short time after the Waldenses the Albingenses Parisienses who published a booke of the perils of the Church many other private men FroÌ„ theÌ„ce began this fight which was soft in the beginning terrible rather in the shaking of the sword then in wonding but after coming to a iust full battaile as after we shall see which hath fallen out prosperously to the godly hitherto by the grace of God but most unhappily to them that dwell at Rome in the throne of Sathan 17 He that hath an eare Let every one drowned in the Romish superstitioÌ„s give eare let him attende hearken in what account with God is that unmaried Vicar of Christ of what price is that famous much spoken of Rome that Chaire of Peter the piller of truth mother of the faith of all Churches to wit that chief Prelate that wicked Balaam the very city which is renowmed with the vaine praising of men the gate of heaveÌ„ is the very palace throne of the Devill Neither let any thinke that hatred doth wring these words from a man that is an adversary but let him compare the prophecy the event which if he shall see to agree in all things let him know that he is warned of the daÌ„ger not so much by the words of maÌ„ as by the H. spirit ¶ To him that overcometh I will c. The reward is threefould hiddeÌ„ MaÌ„na a white stone an unknowne name written upon it Every one of which fit the times in a wonderfull manner As for Manna it is the meat of the wildernes ministred froÌ„ God when there was no meanes to have other bread And in this Pergamen state when the company of the Nicolaitanes Balaamiticall ofspring that is Romane Jdolaters possessed all places the Church was conversant in a waste unpleasant terrible wildernes whether wee shall see the woman betake herselfe flying from the Dragon ch 12. But Christ feedeth the same with the meat of the wildernes as once the Israelites For he will not be wanting to his in the most hard times but bestowe aboundaÌ„tly the ioy of the Spirit wherby not onely they may be preserved in life but also be very glad as for the greatest ioyes Therefore this Manna is the same meate with the fruite of the tree of life in Paradise as hath bin observed afore ver 7. but the manner of ministring of it is divers there in a most chast pure and flourishing Church it was the fruit of the tree in the middes of the paradise of God here the truth being despised contemned trode under foot utterly opressed with most thicke darknes it is MaÌ„na the foode of the wildernes this meate should be hiddeÌ„ froÌ„ the world they should suppose theÌ„ famished who had fled into this wildernes as the Egyptians did thinke the Israelites for this cause would perish suddeÌ„ly But God did sustaine his extra ordinarily with this bread of Angels Yet there is this
difference betweene the Manna of the Pergamen people and that of the Israelites For this every way was spred rond about the tentes that was dispersed peculiarly to every one of the saints who did not dwell so thicke togither in so great number as the Jsraelites in their tentes but in certen rare dennes farre removed froÌ„ the eyes of the world From wheÌ„ce the Manna of these is hidden their 's manifest like to that which was gathered from the comon allowance of the people and by the commandement of God layd up in a golden pot which the people had no power to see afterward Exod. 16.33.34 Heb. 9.4 Which in a more excellent figure did shadow out the heavenly food For the other Manna being kept above one day was full of wormes this abode pure and incorrupt through all ages a lively and expresse image of the immortall foode Therefore this Manna doeth not ly openly about the tents in the waye of every one that will gather it up but is given from the golden pot as much as may be sufficient to maintaine life And certenly unlesse Christ by hidden meanes in those most corrupt times had provided for his they had bin utterly undone as touching their salvation ¶ And J will give him a white stone The second reward Aretas reporteth that such a stone was wont to be given to maister wrastlers striving on the theater But it is not likely that that custome is here regarded For that was onely to the entring of the fight and not to the rewarding of the overcomer In the playes called Olympiques that the champions should not run togither rashly they pulled stones out of a sylver pot and those on which they did fall being marked with the same letter for they wer two by two marked with the same characters were committed in the fight by the iudges neither doe I thinke that there was any other use of stones in playes In iudgements they were used to an other ende to wit to give voices In which thing they were divers according to the sundry lawes of the peoples sometime hollow and bored through by which they did condemne sometime full and solid by which they did absolve Some time also they were distinguished onely by the colour the black condamning the white contrariwise absolving So Vlpian on Demosthenes against Timocrate The stones sometime bored and not bored some time black and white To the same purpose the Scholiâ—ste of Aristophanes in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 But that of Alcibiades is famous who in the iudgement of life and death would not beleeve his mother least peradventure shee unwares should put a black stone for a white Plutarche in Apotheg of the King He doeth allude therefore to that manner of absolving in iudgements But wherfore now is there a second yea a third reward which in the former Churches was but one The use of the godly did so require For because those few and rare faithfull in so great a multitude of the ungodly were hated of all condemned of schisme errour heresy and I know not what wickednes an absolving stone is promised them That although they should be guilty by all mens suffragies on the earth yet they might knowe most surely that they are iudged guiltles before the heavenly tribunall How great a solace is this against the reproches of the world Be of good courage if God iustify who shall condemne Rom. 8.33 ¶ And in the stone a new name written A third reward He persisteth in the same custome of iudgements in some of which their names were written in the stones who came to be iudged Aristides being desired of an unlearned and one that knewe not who he was that he would write to him the name of Aristides in his shell he wrote his name into his owne banishement Plutarch in Apotheg of Aristides Here the like custome is shewed But the new name to be written in the white stone is the childe of God such as the faithfull perceive and acknowledg themselves to be by the testimony of the Spirit Rom. 8.16 Which also avayleth against the railings of the world to whoÌ„ they should be as the filth and ofskowring of all But why dost thou vexe thy selfe with thought of so great contempt seeing thou art with God in the honour of a sonne This name also is unknowne to all except to him that receaveth it For the world knoweth us not 1 Ioh. 3.2 Therfore their testimony is of noe account on what side soever But besides beholde the solitarines of those times wherein the elect were no lesse unknowne to the world then the way of salvation signifyed now by the hidden Manna Analysis Such is the Epistle to the Church of Pergamus Thyatira growing This to the Thyatirens is intituled also to the Angell then he declareth that he that sendeth is the sonne of God with fiery eyes and feete like fine brasse ver 18. The Narration prayseth the increase of Godlines ver 19. but reprehendeth for suffering of Jesabell whose naughtines he describeth first by the kinde of sinne ver 20. secondly by the hardning ver 21. and punishment which is notable both for the nature of the punishment it selfe which is divers according to the maÌ„ner of the delinquents For Iezabell her selfe is punished by the Bed They that committe fornication with her by great affliction ver 22. and her sonnes with death as also by an excellent testimony of all Churches of the iust and severe iudgement of God ver 23. To whom finally he annexed a counsell against this wickednes the way wherto he sheweth by gentle entreatie laying noe other burden upon them ver 24. requyring constancy ver 25. perswading therto by the reward of power over the nations vers 26.27 the morning starre ver 28. The conclusion ver 29. Scholions 18 And to the Angell of the Church of Thyatira Thyatira is so called as it were Thugatera as we have shewed at the first chapter A name well concurring with the thing For the godlines of this Church is growing as a daughter new borne which alway groweth up till shee hath attained to a full maturity In which respect it is opposed to Ephesus which being of full age the very first day or shortly after the further shee proceedeth as hasting to old age became weaker every day while at leÌ„gth the naturall heat being extinguished shee fell into the coldnes of death And here is the first bending from the North to wit Pergamus toward the south but further to the East being distant according to Ptolemy about foure score English miles The Antitype is the time from the yeare 1300. unto 1520. ¶ These things saith the sonne of God Now Christ maketh himselfe knowne by his name eyes feete every one of which doe appeare more clearly froÌ„ the Antitype of what sorte they are As touching the name now first of all it offereth it selfe not expressed before eyther in the things seen or heard in the first chapter