some doe imagine any particular Country of Germany England c. saying that as the Gospell came out of the East into the West so it shall returne out of the West into the East and then say they these West Countries falling from the truth shall set themselues against the Church which thing can haue no allowance at all from hence But here onely is meant those most bitter enemies of the Church which being stirred vp by Sathan shall come with all might and malice that can be and shall fight against the Church compassing about it to destroy it But it is said the Church shall haue victory and that by Christ for fire that is the wrath of God shall come downe from heauen and consume them After he saith that the Diuell is taken for hauing spoken before of the Whore of the Beast and of the false Prophet he now sheweth what shall be done to the Diuell who was last to be destroyed and it is said that he was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone there to be tormented with the Beast and the false Prophet for euermore The second part of the Chapter is of the description of the last iudgement where first it is said there was a white Throne which of what matter it shall be no man knoweth yet seeing Christ is man as well as God he shall haue no doubt a royall and reall place wherein he shall sit most euidently His glory is further expressed in that the heauens and the earth shall flye away from before his face and shall passe away and shall burne with fire 2 Pet. 3. Then shall the dead be raised vp and all both great and small shall be summoned before God The Bookes were opened that is the Bookes of euery mans conscience shall be laid open and disclosed wherein is nothing but guiltinesse of conscience to condemne euery one Notwithstanding there is another Booke open which is the Booke of life to wit the Booke of Predestination which euery one shall be iudged by as he is elect or reprobate yet so as that election and reprobation doe not take away workes for it is said they shall be iustified or condemned according to their workes for they that are elected to life are also elected to sanctification the reprobate contrariwise The iust haue reward not for their good workes sake but according to their good workes wrought and that not before their calling conuersion and regeneration but which afterwards were done in faith and this onely for his owne mercie and promise sake in Christ The wicked are condemned according to their workes and for their workes sake their name being not found in the Booke of life Lastly it is said that death hell were cast into the lake that is were swallowed vp in immortality there being now no more danger of death hell Apoc. Cap. 21. 1 And I saw a new heauen and a new earth for the first heauen and the first earth were passed away and there was no more Sea c. VVEe haue heard heretofore of the straits of the Church militant being in warfare in this present world subject to many troubles and persecutions yet being defended and protected by God was not ouercome by any of them Now followes the state of the Church triumphant after this world And first here Saint Iohn sets forth the state of all the world then of the Church Euen as Moses in the Booke of Genesis describes first the beginning and creation of the whole world and then sets downe the condition and state of the Church The state of the world is declared in the first verse in that it is said there was a new heauen a new earth that is the heauens being partly corrupted and darkened by sinne and hauing lost somewhat of their glory they had before shall not onely haue that former but a better glory then the first so likewise should the earth and the sea also for in that it is said the Sea shall be no more it is not to be vnderstood that it should not afterwards be but that it should not then be the same that now it is namely raging tempestuous and disturbed as now wee see it to be but it should be still and quiet the waters and the fishes remaining still yet without roaring swelling and that distemperature which now it hath As for the Church it is described generally in the first seauen Verses particularly in the rest of the Chapter as also in some of the next In generall hee compares the Church to a braue Spouse prepared and trimmed for a King Christ being her Husband signifying the glory and beautie of the Church of God for as in the dayes of the solemnizing of marriage Brides vse to goe beyond their ordinary custome and kinde of apparell so the Church is now decked and beautified with full and perfect glory Secondly it is compared to a City comming downe from heauen that is a beautifull City hauing all her honour glory and good frame of building not from her selfe but from God not as the Cities which are builded by men but as one that is builded by God himselfe for as earthly Cities builded by men receiue their title from them so this City being built by God hath her name also from God Neither is here meant in that it comes downe from heauen that it should be in earth but onely that it is altogether heauenly Afterward the state and blessednesse of it is set forth in that God shall dwell in it continually as the Scripture testifieth that he shall more fully remaine and dwell with them then before for as it is said in the Scripture that in this life hee will Dine and Sup with them so now it is said he shall abide with them for euermore Then is set forth what they shall haue by the dwelling of God with them namely all happinesse first in that they shall drinke of the Well of life that is should receiue all pleasure and al comfortable good and desirable things Secondly God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes that is all things naught grieuous corrupt and painefull shall be taken from them And albeit to flesh and bloud this may seeme a strange thing and altogether impossible and incredible in regard of these miseries we now are in and of our sinfulnesse and wretchednesse yet to take away that infidelity of ours it is said that God himselfe speaketh it and bids Iohn write that all things shall be new for he will make all things new howsoeuer now they be troublesome and old And in that he biddeth Iohn for the further comfort of the Church of God to write that all old things are done and that new things are come and in that he saith that to him that thirsteth he will giue of the water of life and that he which ouercommeth shall inherite all things yet hee so saith it that none shall haue it without holinesse of life for as for
the time shall not be distinguished by it we shall not be directed by the light of it for God himselfe shall be our Sunne God shall be our light for euermore Apoc. Cap. 12. l. And there appeared a great wonder in heauen A woman cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone was vnder her feete and vpon her head a crowne of twelue Starres c. HEre in this Chapter is set downe a description of the Church of which it is said there was a great signe noting the great estimation that God hath of his Church which his great estimation of it is set forth in that shee is said to be cloathed with the Sunne which is the most glorious creature declaring and expressing her exceeding glory in the sight of God Shee had the Moone vnder her feete signifying her rule and authority ouer all the things below that are subiect to change in that she onely hath receiued of God power to subdue them and shee doth of right possesse them the wicked are vsurpers Vpon her head shee had a Crowne of twelue Starres shewing her Queenely Maiestie shee being the Spouse of Christ as also her victory ouer all her enemies It is said shee trauelled her trauell is meant of the Church of the Iewes of whom this is testified in the Euangelists the 9. of the Acts of the Apostles how great resistance there was against our Sauiour Christ against the Apostles the rest what great and grieuous persecutions they then sustained for the Gospell-sake in the beginning of the primitiue Church because they went about to beget to bring and to draw Children vnto God out of the seede of Abraham Afterward another great wonder is seene to wit a great Dragon namely the Diuell compared to a Dragon and called the great Dragon because of his great strength and exceeding fiercenesse for such is the strenght of a Dragon as that he is able to gripe with an Elephant He is described to haue seauen heads and ten hornes by seauen heads noting his great wisedome knowledge and vnderstanding of things as also it signifieth his wit and subtiltie to resist the Church and to make more mischiefe against the seauen Churches that is all the Churches of God And his tenne hornes signifieth his will and power to doe much hurt to them His Crownes signifie his victory in preuailing against the world to wit ouer those whom God hath not ordained to saue whose names are not written in the Booke of life and for this cause he is called the Prince of the world because he hath the greater part of the world vnder his obedience What his tayle he ouerthroweth many Starres noting that there are many like vnto Starres in outward shew being graced with notable gifts and being as it were lifted vp to heauen by the knowledge they had and the notable profession they made of God hauing some feeling also being yet not Sealed are by the tayle of the Dragon that is by small power and light temptations pulled backe from the same and fall from the faith After he saith He stood before the Woman noting that he setteth himselfe very fiercely and sharpely against the woman that is the Church and Children of God whose names were written in the Booke of life And therefore hee is said to wait on the woman first to hinder her that shee should not bring forth and then to deuoure them at the least when they were brought forth that is when they haue beene called and made profession of the truth and are made members of Christ by faith euen then is hee ready most strongly to assault them to ouerthrow if it were possible the foundation of their faith Where hee compareth the Diuell to an enuious Mid-wife opposing him to a good Mid-wife for as she is carefull to helpe the woman in trauell and to saue the Childe so the Diuell contrariwise is ready to hinder and hurt the Church and to destroy her seede Whereas the Church is said to bring forth a Man-Childe it is first meant of Christ and then of his members and seruants in the beginning of the Church whom now hee hath ioyned vnto him in his kingdome but principally it is to be vnderstood of Christ that valiant one who albeit hee was stung on the Crosse by the Serpent yet euen thereby hee ouercame and after was taken vp to heauen and had victory triumphing ouer the diuell ouer sinne and ouer all his enemies and the enemies of the Church Then it is said there was a battell in heauen by heauen he meaneth the militant Church of God vnder the Gospell which is the part of Gods kingdome for the kingdome of God which is begun euen in earth The principall in this battell is first Michael to wit Christ and with him his Angels namely the godly Saints with the good Angels on the one side and on the other side the Dragon with his Angels namely the wicked spirits and wicked men But the godly ouercome the Dragon and his Angels the meanes whereby they ouercome is through the bloud of the Lambe which is their principall armour being such as that albeit they themselues were killed notwithstanding by reason hereof they were made conquerours and were now receiued into the kingdome of heauen and Sathan is throwne out of the kingdome Which thing when Sathan saw as namely that now he had lost all his aduantage as it were and that hee could haue nought to doe with them any more they being now triumphing in the kingdome of God hee waxeth mad as it were and rageth against the earth more fiercely then before And hereupon the Elders and the rest of Gods Children in heauen are brought in reioycing at this victory and saying peace in the heauen that is to the Children of God that were then deliuered but woe to the earth that is to the inhabitants of the earth because that they should haue much to doe and suffer great trouble for seeing Sathan by the constant induring of those that had giuen their liues in the defence of the truth perceiued that hee had got such a foile he therefore rageth against those that remaine and for this cause it is said woe to them on the earth not that they should perish but onely should bee greatly afflicted through the malice of Sathan and his instruments Now then it is said that hee persecuted the woman that is the Church in persecuting the Church she hath a place appointed her in the Wildernesse whither she flyeth for one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes the time we haue heard before to haue beene during the space of the hard dealing with the two Prophets wherein they prophecied which wee shewed to containe so many yeares By this flight of the woman into the Wildernesse for one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes set downe in the sixt verse and the persecution whereby the Dragon pursued her that space is meant those persecutions in generall which followed against the whole Church during the
of this should make them blessed which did heare it and keepe the things herein contained Further it is commended in regard of the time wherein it was deliuered to Iohn to wit when he was exiled for the Gospell sake into the I le of Pathmos which argueth that it was a notable thing seeing it was to be a matter of great comfort to him in such a distresse And more particularly that it is said to be reuealed on the Lords day wherein God vseth to deliuer more excellent things concerning his will and counsell then at other times And as the Sabbath giueth commendations and credit and authority vnto the Reuelation so this Reuelation also giueth authoritie to the Sabbath And first Iohn beginneth with a Salutation that it might draw attention and be the more accepted of the hearers In the salutation hee wisheth Grace and peace from the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost The Father is set out to be Hee that was is shal be that is euerlasting The holy Ghost is set down next by the name of seauen Spirits as hauing relation vnto the seauen Churches making as it were a conformity of the Spirit with those seauen Churches hereafter mentioned wherein his Mistery most especially lay The cause wherefore he did chuse seauen Churches and no other number it is for the number of perfection for seauen is a perfect number and therefore he saith the holy Ghost is as seauen Spirits to poure out his grace effectually in all the Churches because he is as effectuall in all as in one for his strength is not diuided And by seauen Churches he also vnderstandeth all the rest Next the holy Ghost is set downe the Sonne of God The reason why the second Person is set after is first because the Scripture is wont to set that in the last place which it vseth to intreate longest of now therefore the Apostle Saint Iohn being here principally to speake of our Sauiour Christ setteth him in the last place In the Salutation he wisheth grace vnto the Churches with the fruit thereof which is peace which are set downe by their end to wit that God might be glorified Christ is here described by his offices first in that he is called the faithfull Witnesse signifying that hee is a Prophet to testifie the truth to his people Secondly he is described by his Priest-hood in that he is called the first begotten of the dead shewing thereby that he was offered vp in sacrifice for his Church and was risen from the dead Thirdly by his kingdome in that he is called Prince of the Kings of the earth that is he to whom all power belongeth and to whom all Princes are subiect as of whom they receiue their Scepters Afterward the Apostle shewes that he did not set downe this Reuelation by himselfe but by the calling of Christ and therefore bringeth in the author of his calling which was Christ whom he setteth downe by his comming in the clouds which he saith shall be so glorious that euery one shall see him and that this authority may be more effectuall he bringeth in Christ speaking in his owne person saying I am Alpha and Omega And lastly the Apostle bringeth in himselfe describing himselfe to be a Brother that is a member of Christ and one that waited for deliuerance by him And againe that hee was a Labourer in the Church and therefore was persecuted for the Truths-sake for which cause hee was now driuen into the Isle of Pathmos And heere hee saith hee was rauished in the spirit and heard a voice as of a Trumpet In that he saith he was rauished in the spirit he signifieth that his minde was withdrawne from all worldly cogitations and was addicted and bent vnto those holy meditations which it pleased the Lord to minister vnto him Where we see that hee with-held himselfe from all other things to the end hee might better attend vpon all good occasions to learne any thing concerning the will of God Which teacheth vs in holy exercises especially which concerne the will of God to separate our selues from any thing that may hinder vs or withdraw our mindes from the same and more principally ought the Ministers so to doe when they are to be occupied in the study of the word of God and in deliuering the will of God vnto the people And hee looked to see the Voice Not that the voice could be seene but he looked from whence it should come and who should speake it Then hee sheweth what hee saw which is the preparation of the two Chapters following that which he saw was seauen Candlestickes which note the seauen Churches for the Candlestickes are of Gold signifying the glory and puritie of them so that wee see that albeit the Church in the world seemeth to be contemptible yet with God it is most precious Afterward the Apostle doth notably describe Him whom he saw and first by his apparell in that hee had a long Garment noting that hee was a great Councellor for amongst the Iewes Councellors vsed to weare such manner of Garments This noteth that Christ is infinitely wise and therefore able to giue counsell to his Church Secondly his paps girded noting that as he is wise so he is ready to helpe his seruants speedily with his counsell A similitude taken from the custome of those Countries of the East who when they would make hast in doing any thing they would gird vp their Cloathes to their breasts lest they should be any hinderance vnto them that they might more speedily doe that they went about His head white declaritg his grauity as gray haires are signes of age His eyes flaming that is piercing and entring into the hearts of men laying open and seeing all things whatsoeuer though neuer so secret His feete Brasse shewing his power and maiestie as being able to tread his enemies and all that is contrary to his will or that opposeth it selfe to him in peeces vnder his feete After follow his effects and first by his voice which is said to be like the sound of many waters setting down thereby the maiestie of his voyce noting how terrible Christ is to his enemies Then hee is said to haue seauen Starres in his hand which signifieth the Ministers who are the lights of the Church And whereas they are said to be in his hand it noteth that the Ministers of the Word are in the custody of Christ being vpheld maintained and gouerned by him Out of his mouth went a sharpe two-edged sword Which is his Gospell And whereas it is said to haue two edges it declareth the double vertue of the word of God which either cutteth and healeth vnto life or woundeth to death His face shining as the Sunne either setting forth the fulnesse of his Maiestie or else his enlightning of the earth with the light of the Gospell like as the Sunne with his beames Afterward Iohn saith that he fell downe at the sight hereof which he did partly in
power whatsoeuer can winne it or wrest it out of his hand nor can be partaker of it vnlesse hee himselfe will giue it This Booke is written within and without signifying that the multitude of the plagues which were to come on the world were so many that the Booke could not containe them The subiect of these plagues vpon whom they should be executed is the world according as the Psalmist speaketh Lord poure out thy wrath vpon the Gentiles In that it is sealed it noteth that it is separate from all men and Angels so that none could attaine to the knowledge of it but God himselfe According to that which the Apostle speaketh who hath beene his Councellor Rom. 11. 34. that is who hath beene partaker of Gods counsell In the Gospell of Saint Iohn Christ answereth The Sonne hath reuealed it which came out of the bosome of his Father After hee heareth the voice of a strong Angell which saith Who can open the Booke Who is worthy to do it Which sheweth that the Angels themselues stoope to looke into these iudgements that is haue an earnest desire to behold the things of the Church and the misteries of God concerning the same as the Apostle Peter saith In that there was none found that could open the Booke no not so much as looke vpon it It sheweth that none can haue so much as the least measure of knowledge thereof Then Iohn wept for that none was found worthy It teacheth vs that when wee see our ignorance of those things which concerne vs wee are to weepe and be grieued at the same especially in those things which concerne our saluation After it is said one of the Elders comforted him bidding him not to weepe for the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah had performed this so called by reason of his courage through which hee had ouercome all lets which might hinder the reading of it namely sinne and this he had taken away by his death and so had obtained this fauour at Gods hand for vs. The root of Dauid That is the cause and creator of Dauid and the begetter of his faith in regard of his God-head as in other places hee is called the seed of Dauid in regard of his man-hood which proceeded of the linage of Dauid After he is represented in another forme that is to say of a Lamb that had been slain as it seemeth bloudy which appeared in the midst of the Throne And he is said to haue seauen horns seauen eyes which are the seauen spirits that is the holy Ghost which is his spirit proceeding from him By his eyes meaning his infinite knowledge wherby he seeth into all things By his seauen hornes is signified his infinite power And he commeth to his Father taketh the Booke of his Father to open it and to vnloose the seales who would giue it to none else Then followes the effect of this his taking the Booke to wit a Song of thankesgiuing First of the chiefe and principall Angels who say that the Lambe onely is worthy to receiue this honour as to haue the Booke and to open it And as the foure Beasts being principall of the Angels and the Archangels begin so also the Elders which were the principall of the Church doe ioyne with them in praysing Christ And after as the chiefe of the Angels and of the Saints begin so the rest of the Angels follow euen thousand thousands viz. all the other Angels And in their Song they praise the Lambe attributing to him all Power and Riches and Wisedome and Strength which are causes and then the effects thereof Honour and Glory and Praise that all these belong vnto him Then followeth the praise and thankesgiuing of the rest of the Church and of all the Creatures which praise first God the Father for vouchsafing to giue the Book vnto his Son secondly God the Sonne for obtaining it at his fathers hands Lastly the chiefe Angels the foure and twenty Elders are brought in saying Amen to the thankesgiuing of the inferiour Angels and of the rest of the Creatures As they began the Chapter so they as it were make an end and answere to the rest in prayses shewing vs that they neuer cease continually to sound forth the praises of God Apoc. Cap. 6. 1 After I beheld when the Lambe had opened one of the seales and I heard one of the foure beasts say as it were the noyse of thunder Come and see HAuing heard before in the former Chapters of the preparation to the declaring of the things to come he now speaketh of the things themselues that were to follow and he speaketh of them as of great Misteries And first it seemeth in this Chapter is shewed to the Apostle rather a warning what things are to befall then any declaration of the befalling of those Iudgements as the execution of the things themselues set downe in the eight and ninth Chapters doe manifestly declare And also it appeareth because in the seauenth Chapter as it is familiar with the Scripture before the things doe come he sheweth matter of comfort to the Children of God to prepare arme them against those iudgements to be executed So here in this Chapter is contained a denunciation of the iudgements to come to passe on the wicked vnlesse there were speedy repentance as in the next Chapter a consolation to arme and strengthen the godly in that they should not be touched nor hurt with these iudgements And then last of all followeth in the eight and ninth Chapters the declaration of the very execution of the iudgements themselues In that he saith he heard one of the foure Beasts speaking to him as it were with the noise of a thunder it sheweth that though it were in the same vision yet hee is faine to be raised vp by this mighty voice of the Angell so that one stirring vp was not sufficient Which teacheth vs that in the same Sermon we are often to be raised vp if not by the Angell that is by the Minister yet by our selues We are as it were to renew our attention to receiue instruction reproofe correction or any other thing which the Lord would haue vs to know Come and see that is attend diligently and carefully with greater attention Not onely exhorting him to continuance but also to heare more fruitfully and profitably After that the first Seale is opened by the Lambe Christ the Apostle Saint Iohn saith he saw a white horse and a man sitting thereon In that he is said to sit on a white horse and to haue a Crowne giuen him it noteth victory By the Man is vnderstood the Ministers of the Sonne of God Christ Iesus sent forth to declare the iudgements of God to come vpon the wicked for the neglect of the word And whereas it is said for victory it signifyeth that the iudgements which they threatned should haue euent vnlesse they repented speedily The Bow which he hath signifieth the easinesse of the
to it and their robes were thus white because they were dipped in the blood of the Lambe Then hee answereth to the other question viz. who they be namely Those that stand alwaies before the Throne that is in the presence of God to serue him with praises for euermore being such as are deliuered from all euils and from all teares that is all sorrowes griefe shall be taken away and they shall be led to the sweet waters and tender grasse and continually deliuered and preserued from all perils Apoc. Cap. 8. 1. And when he had opened the seauenth Seale there was silence in heauen about halfe an houre THe Apostle S. Iohn doth recontinue his purpose begun in the fift Chapter being omitted in the sixt and seauenth Chapters for these two Chapters were put in for the comfort of Gods children and to preserue them against the troubles afterwards to befall Now he commeth to the opening of the seauenth Seale whereat there was silence in heauen for the space of halfe an houre signifying that all the Saints and Angels were amazed at the opening of it marueiling at the Iudgements which followed it more then at the other wonders which before were receiued albeit they also were very marueilous The like speech is vsed in Iob for when his friends comming to visite him saw what a miserable case he was in they were so appalled thereat that they could not speake to him for three dayes This is to set forth vnto vs the wonderfulnesse of the iudgements contained in the opening of the seauenth Seale After this is a preparation vnto the Iudgement to come vnto the sixt Verse where it is said that Trumpets are giuen to the seauen Angels that is to a perfect and competent number fit for such a worke and for the executing of that seruice ouer all the world Then he speaketh of another Angell viz. another in nature as being both God and man another in office as being the Angell of the euerlasting Couenant And he is said to stand before the Altar that is in his office of Mediation betweene his Father and his Church And therefore it is after said that to him was giuen sweet Odors that is there was in him things acceptable to God to wit his perfect obedience wherein was an acceptable receiuing and perfuming of the praiers of the Saints vnto God So that we see that God accepteth of our prayers at the hands of Christ which at ours he will not By the Censor in his hand hee alludeth to the custome of the Priests in the ceremoniall Law In that hee taketh coales from the Altar and casteth them on the earth it signifieth the denouncing of his iudgements against the wicked on the face of the earth shewing that as he is the meanes of mercy vnto the Godly so hee is the executioner of the iudgement on the wicked At the greatnesse of which his iudgements there were Voices and Thunders and Lightnings and Earth-quakes Afterward followeth the execution of the iudgments wherof foure Trumpets of iudgements are sounded in this Chapter performed by the foure first Angels The first Angel bloweth his Trumpet then it is said there was hayle and fire mingled with blood and these did destroy the trees and euery greene thing By this he seemeth to allude vnto that in the ninth of Exodus where it is said that in one of the Plagues of Exod. 9. 24. Egypt was Haile mingled with Fire the like is here mentioned but in this place there is an addition of blood noting that all should be consumed namely that there should not onely be a destruction of the trees and greene things but of the men also which came to passe euen among the Egyptians for those that were in the fields were consumed by the tempest After in the second place it is said that the second Angell did blow his Trumpet whereupon there was a mountaine burning with fire cast into the Sea being set on fire by the wrath and anger of God signifying the iudgements to be executed on the Earth and then vpon the Sea Seeming to allude to that place in the Psalme where the Prophet saith that though the Psalme 46. 2. Mountaines should fall into the midst of the Sea yet I will not be remoued And this iudgement should be executed vpon the Sea on the Fishes and also vpon the Ships so that not onely the Earth but euen the Sea should haue iudgements executed vpon them At the blast of the third Trumpet it is said that a starre fell from heauen into the third part of the fresh waters and Riuers signifying Gods iudgements vpon them also whereupon the third part of men died The name of this Starre is Worme-wood from the effect to wit the bitternesse which it should cause in the fresh waters Where wee see albeit the certainty of the time is not knowne nor any set time wherein this shall be effected yet the Lord doth sometimes poyson and infect the Aire sometimes the Earth and sometimes the Sea and Waters whereby infection ariseth to man and hereby it is said that the third part of men should dye that is the liues of many men should be shortened And these all seeme literally to be vnderstood sauing that the Mountaine and the Starre which fell into the waters doe signifie that the heauens should be so infected that they also by their infectious disposition should corrupt and infect the waters and thereby cause death to men The fourth Angell hauing blowne his Trumpet it is said that the third part of the Sunne of the Moone and of the Starres was darkened which seemeth to be meant of the spirituall darkenesse should be vpon the Earth For hitherto the Plagues that haue beene set downe haue beene corporall to wit either pertaining to the things of the nourishment of the bodies of men or vpon the bodies themselues those that follow in the rest of this and the next Chapter seeme to be vnderstood of the spirituall Plagues of the soule that the light thereof in the middest of men should very much be darkened for I cannot see how those words concerning the darkening of the Sunne and Moone and the Starres can literally be vnderstood but rather by some Allegory because in the next Chapter verse 2. it is spoken of the darkenesse of the Sunne that it was altogether darkened noting the depriuation of all the light and knowledge of the soule And therefore this is to be vnderstood of the darkenesse of the minde through want of knowledge by taking away of the truth in part as appeareth by the histories for since that Popery came in by meanes of Antichrist Sathan had wonderfully darkened the light of the Gospell yea euen before Antichrist was at his full height Then hee setteth downe that he saw an Angell flying through the middest of heauen which cryed with a loud voice Woe Woe Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth for the plagues which were to come for albeit those that
said not to haue beene heard in the streets This is the first Woe the two other woes are to come The other Trumpet followeth to be blowne And first to declare the certainty of it hee saith there came a Voice from the corner of the Altar which was in the holy place which commanded that they should loose the foure Angels by foure is meant a sufficient and competent number as before wee haue heard to execute Gods iudgements And these are said to be bound in the Riuer Euphrates which was that Riuer that runneth through Babilon where the people of Israel were held in captiuity And it is vsed to set forth that spirituall captiuity of the Church of God whereby the Whore of Babilon keepeth in bondage both their soules and also their bodies Now these foure Angels the Executers and Ministers of Gods fearefull iudgements were prepared to goe at an houre at a day at a moneth at a yeare noting their readinesse and promptnesse to execute any iudgement that God sets them about yea though they should be sent forth for a whole yeare long they would be willing to doe it declaring that they did it without wearinesse Their effects be farre otherwise then the former for they haue authority to kill the bodies of men This seemeth to bee in the time of Gregory the ninth when the Church of Rome had gotten the Kings and Princes of the world and the Emperours to assist them and to take their part and therefore now those that would not worship the Beast and yeeld to their spirituall Whoredome and Idolatry should be killed and put to death by the wicked Magistrates whereas before they had not power to hurt the Bodies but only to sting the Consciences of men These are described to haue heads like Lyons noting that they were fierce and cruell Their Tayles like Serpents signifying their craft Which sheweth that the Church of Rome should promote her Kingdome both by violence and also by their craft and subtilty Lastly is set downe a conclusion wherein is shewed that for all these fearefull iudgements the people of the earth whereas they should haue feared and haue beene bettered by these iudgements and learned to turne vnto God by repentance yet they continued vnrepentant in their Idolatries Murthers Witchcrafts and all other their abhominable wickednesses Apoc. Cap. 10. 1. And I saw another mightie Angell come downe from heauen cloathed with a Cloude and the Rainbow vpon his head and his face was as the Sunne and his feet as pillars of fire c. VVEe haue heard after the Preface of this Booke the diuision of it into those things already executed and which were after to be executed Those which were to come are either touching the iudgement of God vpon the world or those things which more especially did concerne the Church Hitherto we haue heard of the world now the things that more especially belong to the Church doe follow to the which in this Chapter is as before a Preface wherein the holy Ghost prepareth and fitteth the Apostle Saint Iohn and in him all vs to the diligent hearing and obseruing of all those things which concerne the Church The whole drift of this Vision is to giue credit to the history following and this credit is drawne first from the Author of the prophecie which is Christ and secondly from the Instrument to wit Iohn In the first part that the thing it selfe might be the better esteemed the credit drawne from the Author is set forth by the glory and excellencie of him In the second part Iohn is set foorth by what meanes he came to this Prophecie and from whom hee receiued it to wit that hee had it by commandement from God the Father and from God the Son who commanded him to publish this history which after is set downe in this Booke For the first part he saith first he saw another Angell to wit as we haue heard before our Sauiour Christ being of another nature of other offices and of another glory then any other Angell as being the Angell of the Couenant that is hee in whose hand the Couenant is established betwixt God and his Church This Angell is said to come downe from heauen viz. not that Christ came downe bodily for the Scriptures say euidently that the heauens must hold him till the restoring of all things that is till the end of the world but here it was onely represented vnto Iohn in a vision For in that wee say that Christ is in heauen it is not that wee tye or lincke him there as the Papists charge and slander vs wrongfully for wee hold that as there is in the heauens infinit roome for him to execute his will so hee hath the heauen as an incomprehensible place and is not tyed and kept in as it were like a Prisoner but is at his owne pleasure to doe what he will himselfe And this which wee say is proued out of the word of God in the Acts Acts. 1. where we are taught that he must stay there till the latter day So that this sight was onely a representation of the minde wherin it was giuen to see Christ thus Strong a proper title vnto the Lord to be the strong God signifying that hee was the mighty God and therefore this Angell is of another nature then the other Angels Clad with a Cloud that is to set out the glory of our Sauiour Christ euen so in the last day hee shall come attended vpon compassed with the clouds A Rain-bow about his head the Rain-bow about his head seemeth to expresse and to note vnto vs the gracious countenance of our Sauiour Christ towards his Church for the Rain-bow in the Scripture is a signe of the fauour of God as it is in Genesis namely in that he will neuer drowne the world againe Or Chap. 4. 3. else to the further setting forth of his Glory and Maiestie for as before in the fourth Chapter wee haue heard that God the Father is described to haue had a Rain-bow about his Throne whereby the glory of the first Person in the Trinity was represented so that may be here noted of Christ in that he is said to haue a Rain-bow about his head and therefore Christ is of equall glory with his Father His face as the Sunne whereby his further glory is set forth in his excellent and al-seeing prouidence in that as the Sunne beholdeth all the earth so hee at one instant and with one eye as it were seeth all things on the face of the earth He had in his hand a little Booke open In this Booke Chap. 5. 1. is contained those things which were to follow and to come vpon the Church it selfe As in the fift Chapter wee haue heard of a Booke in the hand of God the Father which containeth the iudgements which were generally to fall vpon the whole world The difference betweene this Booke and that other is very plaine for first wee