I know observe and approve Psalm 1.6 thy good works and thy labour 2 in the work of the Gospel in converting instructing and governing those whom thou art set over 1 Thes 5.12 1 Tim. 5.17 and thy patience and perseverance in it and under sufferings for it and how thou canst not endure or 3 bear with them which are evil in Life or Doctrine but castest them when they prove incorrigible out of the Church and thou hast tryed 4 them by the Gospel Gal. 1.8 1 John 4.1 by their Works Matth. 7.20 and by the Gift of discerning Spirits 1 Cor. 12.10 which say they are Apostles sent and commissioned to preach the Gospel and are not and hast found them liars or False Apostles Acts 20.29 30. and 15.1 24. 1 Cor. 15.12 2 Cor. 11.13 Gal. 1.6 1 and 2 Epist to Timothy 1 John 4.1 2 Labour also may here signifie a zealous and unwearied profession of the Gospel amidst the greatest Discouragements as the Word is taken 1 Cor. 15.58 3 These Words refer to the zealous Execution of Discipline for which the Church was at first very remarkable as appears from 1 Cor. 5. 1 Tim. 1.20 Tit. 3.10 2. John 10. 4 It appears from Scripture that there were many False Apostles foretold by our Saviour Matth. 24.11 and by the Apostle Paul in his Admonition to the Elders of the Church of Ephesus Acts 20.29 30. Who generally seem to have insinuated themselves into the good Opinion of the People by specious pretences of being Brethren and by creeping into their Houses and Assemblies unawares and privily and by communicating with them in their Feasts of Charity as appears from 2 Cor. 11.26 Gal. 2.4 1 Tim. 3.6 Jude 4.12 and from this place where they are said to pretend to be Apostles when they were not For the Hereticks seem to have acted more closely and subtily while the Apostles were living than afterwards which made i◠〈◊〉 task to try and detect them which yet the Apostolical Church did with great Zeal and Care by examining their pretences by the Doctrine they had received of Christ and by Gifts of discerning False Spirits as Clemens Romanus attests in his Epistle to the Corinthians And this place seems to determine this Succession of the Church to the Times of the Apostles the Pretence of being Apostles or Messengers sent and commissioned by God to preach New Doctrines being peculiar to that Age and made use of by Simon Magus and his Followers particularly by Cerinthus against whom John wrote his Gospel who pretended to New Revelations And it being not peculiar to Ephesus alone but to most other Churches we may reasonably conclude that by Ephesus is not understood that Church alone but the Church-State of the Apostolical Age which began on the Day of Pentecost next following the Ascension of our Saviour in the Thirty Third Year of our Lord about the Twenty Fourth Day of May as Bishop Pearson has stated the Aera of the Apostolical Church in his first Lecture on the Acts. From this place we may learn That strict care ought to be taken in trying and examining those who are to be sent to teach others and that the Canon of Scripture was setled by this Apostolical Church she having duly tried and rejected all other Pretenders to Apostolical Doctrines and that the first State of the Church was purely Apostolical 3 And yet thou hast born 5 Afflictions although thou canst not bear 5 with them which are evil and hast still patience 6 and for my Names sake i. e. for me and upon the Account of my Gospel hast laboured 6 in it and hast not fainted under it nor under thy sufferings for it Gal. 6.9 2 Thes 3.13 5 Such kind of Allusions are frequent in Scripture as Rom. 1.24 25 26 28. 6 This being a Repetition of what was said in the foregoing Verse seems to intimate that their Labour and Sufferings were Great and very Remarkable a Repetition sometimes denoting so much in Scripture 4 Nevertheless I have somewhat of 7 complaint against thee because thou hast left or 8 remitted and abated something of thy first 9 or former fervent and intense Love of me my Gospel and Kingdom 7 So the Phrase is taken Matth. 5.23 8 So this word is rendred by Grotius and Doctor Hammond and I think rightly And as Grotius thinks that Love and Desire may by way of Allusion be signified by the Word Ephesus so may also the Greek Word here made use of intimate some Remission or Coolness of their First Love by the same Figure which the Prophet Micah makes use of Chap. 1. 13 14. and which Grotius thinks the Apostle uses Rom. 1.17 28 29. where also in the 29th Verse there is a manifest Allusion to the Name Judah which signifies Praise Gen. 29.35 9 The First Love which the Prophet Jerem. 2.2 calls the Kindness of Youth and the Love of Espousals is usually very fervent but is wont soon to cool and abate in the best of Men. And accordingly the Church at first when as Hierom speaks the Blood of our Lord was warm and the Faith of the New Converts was Fervent was very Zealous in all its Duties and Offices as appears from the Acts of the Apostles particularly from Chap. 2 41-47 and Chap. 4 31-37 where we have a perfect Pattern of the First Love of the Apostolical Church in the Church of Jerusalem especially in their having all things common and calling nothing their own And yet in a very short space as soon as the Number of the Disciples and with them the Church-Revenue was multiplied there arose a murmuring of the Graecians against the Hebrews even in the Infant-Church as we read Acts 6. occasioned by the Pride of the Hebrews as Bishop Pearson has shewn in his Third Lecture on the Acts wherein as also in the Behaviour of Ananias and Saphira there are early Tokens and Types given of a Declension in the Church which proceeded so far as to this matter even in those First Times of the Gospel that Paul tells the Philippians Chap. 2. 21. of his Epistle to them supposed to be written about A. D. 59 or 62. that all Men sought their own and not the things of Jesus Christ For not only Demas forsook Paul out of Love to this present World but Mark grew weary of the Labour of the Gospel and went not with Paul and Barnabas to the work Acts 15.38 and Peter himself for fear of the Jews was guilty of Dissimulation Gal. 2.11 12. And the Galatians had generally departed from the True Notions they had received of Christian Liberty and a Working Faith Gal. 5.1 6 7. and were grown very remiss in their Acts of Charity Gal. 6.9 And the Churches mentioned in Scripture are frequently reprehended for great Enormites so that it is no wonder that the Churches in After-Ages proved guilty of them the Love of many waxing cold betimes as our Saviour foretold Matth. 24.12 and Paul complained 2 Tim. 1.15
which it came to be called the third part whereupon the Grecian Monarchy was cast to the ground it 's very Seat and Power becoming thereupon Roman Constantine (b) Cave's Introduct to the Lives of the Fathers vol. 2. pag. 13. Rycaut's Pref. to the Lives of the Popes commanding by a Law that it should be called New Rome and having Peopled it with the best Families he could draw from Old Rome and the Inhabitants of it being called Romans 13 Here is implied that the fourth Empire Subdued all the rest and bore Rule over all the Earth after it had Subdued the Grecian Monarchy which stood in competition with it according to what was foretold by Daniel chap. 2. 39 40. 7 7 19 32. 14 This refers to the Persecutions which fell upon the Christian Church by the Instigation of the Devil and his Instruments in the Roman Empire especially to their last and most cruel Effort in the ten Years Persecution under Dioclesian when the Woman was as it were teeming with a Glorious Church State in a Christian Empire which was brought forth under Constantine as a short Specimen and imperfect Representation of the Kingdom of Christ as hath been shewn on chap. 7 9.-17 5 And yet notwithstanding all his opposition Psal 2. she brought forth a 15 Manchild i. e. Christ reigned then as King and Lord of his Church and there was on Earth a lively and manly representation of him and his Kingdom for a short time Psal 2.7 8. Is 9 6.66 7 8. Acts 4 23.-30 who was to rule all Nations with a rod of Iron i. e. was to have an universal Kingdom Psalm 2 8-12 and her Child was caught 16 up unto God and to his Throne i. e. Christ and his Kingdom were advanced and his Church was in a State typical of his glorious Kingdom which yet not long continued Psal 110.1 15 Here the Kingdom of Christ is plainly set forth in Expressions chiefly taken from the second Psalm which contains a Description of it as all Interpreters agree And by the Man-child is meant 1. Christ himself who is said to be brought forth or born because he at this time obtained as King of his Church a Conquest over Paganism and a great increase to his Kingdom whereby he was begotten in the Phrase of the Psalmist Psalm 2.6 7 8. that is the holy Child Jesus was manifested and declared to be Lord and King 2. The Church and Christian Empire under Constantine may be called the Man-child as Cyrus is called the Lord's Christ or Messias Isa 45.1 because he was a Type of Christ and as Christians are said to be Christ's Body and to have Christ formed in them Gal. 4.19 And if the Roman Empire it self may in some sense as Grotius has well noted on Dan. 7.13 be not unfitly called an Image or Type of Christ much more may the Christian Empire under Constantine who was a greater Restorer of Christ's Kingdom than Cyrus was be styled a Mystical Christ and be an Emblem of his Glorious Kingdom on Earth 16 Christ after his Resurrection which is called his Birth in Scripture was taken up into heaven as we also shall be caught up thither 1 Thes 4.17 where the same word is used insomuch that this Phrase is taken from Christ's Ascent into heaven and alludes to it And its import may be 1. That Christ was then actually King of the Roman Heathen Empire which he had newly conquered signified by his being caught up to the Throne of God whereby some Ascents of his Throne in the Heavenly Places or Advancements of his Kingdom may be signified in which he was installed and inaugurated at his Ascension when he was caught up into Heaven 2. Hereby may be signified also the advancing of the Christian Religion to the Imperial Throne as Christ was advanced at his Ascension to the Throne of his Father at his Right Hand Psalm 110.1 But as Christ was of a sudden taken up in a Cloud out of the sight of the Apostles whilst they were looking on him Acts 1.9 so may also hereby be signified the short space of the continuance of the Roman Christian Empire Rev. 17.10 answerable to Christ's being seen of the Apostles only for Forty Days Acts 1.3 and the sudden depravation of Religion by a growing Antichristianism upon its advancement by Constantine whereby in a short time the true Primitive and Apostolical Christianity was obscured and could not be seen pure and unmixt which as (a) And on John 1.1 Grotius has noted on the place may be signified by being caught up to God those things being said in Scripture to be with God which are invisible and appear not unto Men. 6 And 17 or but yet it was not long before the Woman or Church thus delivered from Persecution and advanced in the Christian Empire * fled into the Wilderness 18 i. e. was in a secret and obscure state and condition in the midst of the encreasing Apostasy where she hath a place prepared by God i. e. she is secured by him that they 18 should feed her there or that she should be nourished and preserved there after a wonderful manner a thousand 19 two hundred and threescore days i. e. Years See chap. 11. 2 3. 17 When Christ was caught up to God and the Heavenly State he designed became thereupon invisible the Church soon retired into the Wilderness i. e. into an obscure and invisible State too as being bereft of that Presence and Power of Christ which was necessary to advance it into that perfect and heavenly State which his Kingdom requires Here the Flight which was after the War in Heaven is mentioned before it by a Prolepsis or Anticipation frequent in (a) Grot. in Gen. 1.27 Ecclus 48.1 Scripture and in this (b) See Pererius on the Revelations Grot. on Rev. 21.2 Prophecy the Holy Spirit being wont to hasten to the chief point it is about and to mention what intervenes of lesser consequence afterwards as is manifest from the History of the Creation where Paradise which was planted on the Third Day is not described until afterwards in the second Chapter and the full and particular Relation of the Creation of Mankind but briefly touched upon in the first Chapter is deferred unto the second which Figure is here observed to shew that the Man child Christ's Kingdom was not to succeed upon the Glorious Pre appearance of it Verse 5. and that the Church the Woman was to be in an obscure condition and that immediately after her Delivery and that she was presently to prepare for her Flight she being not to appear in Visible Glory until 1260 Years after it * So the Children of Israel went up in haste out of Aegypt Exod. 12.31 33 39. 18 This Type is taken from the Children of Israel's sojourning in the Wilderness after they had escaped out of the hands of Pharoah who is expresly called Psalm 74.13 14. Isa 51.9 the Dragon or Crocodile lying
it being remarkable that Antichrist Christ's Counterfeit and Opposite has also a Coming Times and a Kingdom assigned him in Scripture in Opposition to the Coming Times and Kingdom of Christ 8. The manner of the Destruction of this Man of Sin is described by the Apostle 2 Thes 2.8 in Terms so agreeable to those made use of in Dan. 7. and the (b) Chap. 17 8 11. 19. 21. Revelations with reference to the Little Horn the Beast and the False Prophet that it cannot well be denyed but that they are the same 9. The Apostle also further expresly declares that this Man of Sin which was not to be revealed or appear openly until the taking away of the Roman Empire was yet in his Conception in the Womb at the (a) Supposed most commonly to be written about A. D. 57 or 58. See above pag. 302. Time of his writing the second Epistle to the Thessalonians aptly expressed by (b) 2 Thes 2.7 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 it hath received its beginninng or is in preparation to enter and disclose it self to the World Hammond on the place and on Gal. 5.6 the then actual workings of the Mystery of Iniquity called so because of its Contrariety and Opposition to the Mystery of Godliness which it undermined by secret and mysterious Operations and Workings of Satan in Lying Wonders and strong Delusions by Hypocritical Pretences of promoting Christianity by departing from the Simplicity of the Gospel and Apostolical Traditions and taking pleasure in Unrighteousness for Interest 's sake as the Apostle plainly asserts 2 Thes 2.7 9 10 11 12 15. 1 Tim. 4.2 3. 2 Pet. 2.3 3. 10 It is evident from Scripture that Satan had great success in the early Times of Christianity in perverting and seduceing Men from the Purity Truth and Simplicity of the Gospel as appears from the Complaints of the Apostles and from the many Heresies and Antichrists then in being from whence the Apostle John concludes 1 Ep. 2.18 that it was then the last Time and that the Grand and Notorious Antichrist the Head of the Apostasy should take his Original from those many Heretical Autichrists which were then in being and that as hath been before observed in the latter Times of those last Times which seems plainly to be the sense of those words of the Apostle To which progress of the Mystery of Iniquity many things then contributed as hath been before observed on Chap. 2. 4. brought about by the Justice and Providence of God for the punishment of those who would willfully perish and would not receive the Love of the Truth that they might be saved 2 Thes 2 10.16 To which Particulars may be added the early Ambition of some who stretched themselves beyond their own Measure Line or Rule that is beyond the particular Districts to which the Apostles had confined the Exercise of their Power which was otherwise unlimited of whom the Apostle Paul complains 2. Cor. 10.12.18 who also seems to intimate (a) 1 Cor. 15 9-11 2 Cor. 11.5 Gal. 2 1-12 as if the People thought that James Peter and John had an Authority over him because of their Gifts Age and Conversation with Christ to which Opinion also the Apostles themselves might occasionally and by accident contribute who strove for Superiority whilst their Lord was with them and were not afterwards infallible save in what they did by the immediate assistance of the Holy Ghost as appears from what the Apostle Paul blames in the Conversation of Peter Gal. 2. So early so secret so plausible and so powerful might the Temptations and Occasions be to the introducing of the great Apostasy God (b) Nec periclitor dicere ipsas quoque Scripturas sic esse ex Dei voluntate dispositas ut Haereticis materias subministrarent cum legam Oportere Haereses esse quae sine Scripturis esse non poslunt Tertull. de Prescript cap. 39. in his Just Judgments sending strong Delusions and permitting all deceiveableness of Vnrighteousness to work upon them who willfully delude themselves and take pleasure in Vnrighteousness 2 Thes 2. 11. It is evident from History that the Workings of this Mystery of Iniquity were more visible in the following Ages to which many things contributed As 1. The (a) Euseb Hist. 4.22 Chamier de Antichr 16.8 where he largely shews how Antichristianism was promoted by Heresies Heresies which soon prevailed and corrupted the Church upon the Death of the Apostles 2. The Greek (b) Col. 2. It is confessed by Learned Romanists that several Pagan Customs were introduced especially in Constantine's Time to win the Gentiles Baron ad an 312. art 94. ad an 324. art 79. Gregor M. lib. 9. ep 71. Polyd. Virgil. Proaem ed 5. ultimos libros de rerum inventor Philosophy and Customs brought into the Church by the converted Heathens and many Jewish Customs and Notions taken from the (c) Confessed frequently by Grotius in his Notes on the New Testament and by Mr. Dodwell particularly Append. ad Praelect pag. 660-671 Essens whereby the (d) Ammian Marcellin lib. 2. sub fin Testes Verit. Spanhem summa Histor Eccles sparsim Gregor M. lib. 7. Epistolorum fatetur se in rebus Liturgicis ab Apostolorum consuetudine discessiste Simplicity of the Gospel was by degrees corrupted which was at first simple and plain in its Doctrine and Worship as Protestant Authors generally shew and as appears from several Popish Authors particularly Platina in the Lives of the Popes who shews in each Life what Customs each Pope introduced 3. An early (e) This is notorious and confest frequently by Dr. Ham. in his Defence of Episcopacy modelling of the Church according to the Form of the Civil Government in the Empire which was one chief occasion of the many Quarrels amongst the Bishops about their Sees and of their aspiring to a Worldly Dignity suitable to the places of their Residence from whence came Patriarchs into the Church which are confessed to be an Vsurpation by Bishop (f) Parker of the Govern of the Ch. pag. 289. Du Pin. de Antiq. Eccles Disc Parker and the Learned Sorbonist du Pin and other Ecclesiastical Subordinations confessed by Learned Dr. (a) Of the Pope's Supremacy pag. 191 in 4◠Barrow to be only Humane and Prudential Constitutions 4. The Strifes (b) Cypr. de Lapsis pag 123 124. Origen T. 1. pag. 71. 113. 142. 246. 441-444 ex edit Huet Euseb Eccles Hist 8. 1 2 13. Socrat. 7.11 sparsim Sozom. 7.7 28 29. Sulpit. Sever. sub fin Grot. in Matth. 20.28 Ambition and the too general Degeneracy of the Manners of the Clergy much complained of by Ancient Authors although God was pleased all along to raise up Great and Good Men who were Ornaments to the Church and witnessed against and opposed the overflowing Corruptions in Doctrine and Manners 5. The Encrease of (c) See Pufendorf 's history of the Popedom Rycaut 's Preface to the Lives of
manner and restrained from all sorts of Mischief but because he was to be let loose after the thousand years therefore he is said to be only shut up in the bottomless pit and is not cast into the Lake until afterwards when he is made utterly uncapable of any manner of power or Action against God and his Kingdom for the least season and that to all Eternity And here end the first Triumphs and Conquests of Christ in his Kingdom which begins with the reducing of his Enemies viz. Antichrist the Wicked Nations and the Devil so as to make them his Footstool whom his Father had been subduing for him from his Ascension as is evident from Psalm 110.1 1 Cor. 15.25 5 The duration of this Season is no where determined in Scripture and therefore cannot be positively assigned only if the Tradition of the seven Thousand Years duration of the World prove true it must comprehend that space of Time which will be found wanting to compleat the 7000 Years after the Expiration of the 1000 Years of Christ's Kingdom 4 And I saw 6 Thrones i. e. solemn and glorious preâ—arations for Rule and Judgment Dan. 7.9 and 7 they i. e. the Saints of the most High who come with Christ Chap. 19.14 Dan. 7.13 18 21 22 26 27. Zech. 14.5 1 Thes 4.14 sat 8 upon them i. e. were invested in a Regal and a Judicial Office and 9 Judgment i. e. Power of Governing Sentencing and Punishing was given unto them who sat on the Throne by God and Christ Dan. 7.22 27. and I saw the separate 10 souls of them or of the Persons that we e beheaded for the Witness of Jesus and for the Word of God i. e. the Souls of the Martyrs under the Pagan Emperour of Rome Rev 6.9 10 11. and 11 I saw also the 12 Souls of them which had not worshipped the Beast neither his Image neither had received his Mark upon their foreheads or in their hands i. e. the Faithful Witnesses killed by Antichrist Chap. 6 11. 11 7. 13 15 16. and they i. e. all these Saints and Martyrs 13 lived again in Spiritual and Heavenly Bodies 1 Cor. 15 42-50 and 14 reigned with 15 Chr st a 16 thousand Years 6 This Representation is taken from Dan. 7.9 in allusion to the (a) Mede's Works p. 762. Grot. in Matth. 19.28 Thrones or Seats of the Jewish Consistory or rather in the Opinion of (a) Mede's Works p. 762. Grot. in Matth. 19.28 Grotius to the ancient Custom of the Jews amongst whom the Princes of the Tribes were wont to sit with the King ih publick Assemblies And accordingly This Court of Christ's Kingdom and Grand Assizes of the Day of Judgment is represented as having many Thrones as 1. The Throne of God the Father Dan. 7.9 2. The Throne of Christ in which he was enstated Dan. 7.13 14 upon the Judgment passed upon Antâ—ehrist to shew that Christ's Glorious Kingdom begins not until after that Judgment and Destruction as in this Prophecy the Thousand Years do not enter until after the Battle of Decision which is also called a Judgment Chap. 19. 3. Many Thrones of Saints Dan. 7.10 18 22 26. where the Saints are called The Judgment and are said to he set in Judgment and many Thrones to be set down pitched or erected as the Word ought to be translated at the 9th Verse which Thrones do not belong to the Angels who are not represented as sitting but standing as Ministring and Assisting Spirits 1 Kings 22.19 Is 6.1 Dan. 7.10 7 By a diligent compare of Dan. 7.13 18 c. with Rev. 19.14 17. and this Verse it will plainly appear that the Saints those Armies of Heaven who come with Christ in the Clouds to Judgment are the They here referred to the very They Dan. 7.13 where the like Phrase is used who come with the Son of Man upon the Clouds of Heaven to whom Thrones a Kingdom and a Judicatory are ascribed in (a) Matth. 19.28 Luke 22.30 1 Cor. 6 1-4 Scripture over the Wicked Angels and the World and who have here Thrones given them as a Reward for their Attendance upon Christ in the foregoing Battle to whom alone yet the Victory is ascribed Chap. 19.21 8 To sit upon a Throne denotes in Scripture a continuance in an undisturbed possession of Soveraignty and Dominion with a Right of Judicature as Expositors of the Creed have shewn on the Article concerning Christ's sitting on the Right Hand of the Father 9 This Word signifies Rule and Government in Scripture as well as a Judicial Power Gen. 15 14.19 9.1 Sam. 4.18 Psalm 72.1 2. 10 From this place it may be observed 1. That these were the Souls of the very Martyrs whom he had seen before under the Altar Chap. 6 9-11 the same Expressions being used in both places 2. That they were particularly the Martyrs under the pagan Roman Emperours because they are said to have been beheaded which was a (b) Grot. in locum Roman Punishment 3. That the Soul is Immortal and sleeps not in its separate State because they cry with a loud Voice have Robes given unto them and are admonished to rest for a little season 6 9-11 11 These are distinguished from the former by the interposition of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or And and are evidently as appears from comparing this place with Rev. 6.11 the Witnesses martyred under the Reign of the Beast or Antichrist who were to fill up or compleat the Number of Martyrs and then to Live and Reign together with the Martyrs under the Pagan Emperours 12 Pareus supposes an Ellipsis in this place which may be thus supplied 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 c. although separate Souls are often spoken of in Scripture in the Masculine Gender Luke 16 19-31 13 They lived that is in their Persons in Bodies suited to the State of the Blessed Milennium for this cannot refer to the Souls here-mentioned which lived before as hath been already observed See also the Notes on the following Verse 14 This as well as almost all the other Expressions in the New Testament concerning the Great Day of Judgment is taken chiefly from Daniel who in the second and seventh Chapters of his Prophecy foretells that during the Times of the Fourth Kingdom evidently proved by several (a) Mede 's Works pag. 711. Dr. Moor'â— Sâ—â—ps Proph 2.13 Dr Gressener s Demonstr B. 2. 6-8 and the Append. Authors to be the Roman the God of Heaven should set up a Kingdom which from small beginnings or an Infant-State likned by Daniel to a (a) Mr. Mede 713 743 c. Stone should by a Divine and Supernatural Power increase so far that at last in the Days of the Ten Kings who are the Ten Toes of the Feet of the Great Image Dan. 2.43 44. it should become a Mountain filling the whole Earth that is a Vniversal and an Everlasting Kingdom after it had put an end to all other Kingdoms particularly that
agreeable to the pure and exact measure of God's Law whereas it was before left out as irregular and was not measured Chap. 11.2 and to measure the Gates thereof i. e. to declare who had right of access into it and the Wall thereof i. e. to shew and declare in what the defence and security of God's Church and Kingdom consists 17 The Temple Chap. 11.1 was measured by a Man but this City by an Angel that by a common Reed like a Rod this by a simple Reed but a Golden one to shew that this State which was the real accomplishment of Ezekiel's Visionary City and the full opening of the enclosed Temple was an Angelical State in which the Saints were Equal to Angels Math. 22.30 and that it was purged and purified as Gold in the Tryal of the Fire of the Last Day and that Christ had broken to peices the Heathen Nations by the Rod of his Power Psalm 2 9.110 2. and would now measure and rule by a Golden Reed as by a Golden Scepter the Emblem of Favour and Reconciliation amongst the Eastern Nations Esth 4 11.5 2.8 4. and would no more chastise and correct his Servants 18 The Temple only was measured before Chap. 11.1 2. and not the City but here there was no Temple Verse 22. and the whole City is measured in all the Dimensions of it to shew that the whole Visible Church was now Regular and Symmetral and was become a Living and Holy Temple unto God 16 And the City lieth foursquare to shew that the Church in Christ's Kingdom shall be 19 Universal a Body 20 well compact firm and immovable constant 21 perfect and always like it self in 22 perfect Peace and Repose and cannot receive the least 23 addition or diminution from what was once delivered unto it and the length is as large as the breadth i e. it was 24 exactly perfect and he measured the City with the Reed Twelve Thousand Furlongs to shew that it was perfectly 25 Apostolical and exactly agreeable to the measures of the Sanctuary of the Holy City 26 Jerusalem and wholly different from the Antichristian State of 26 Rome the 27 length and the breath and the heighth of it are equal i. e. it was 28 exactly agreeable with it self and entirely Apostolical in the whole and each part of it 19 Of which the Number Four is a Symbol taken from the Four Quarters of the World whereby the whole World is denoted in Scripture 20 Of which Nature are Buildings of Four square Stones and Armies drawn up in that Figure whence Quadratum agmen Corpus Quadratum and Turres Quadratae are used in Authors for strong Bodies and well compacted and firm Buildings and Armies and such ought the Church to be and shall be in Christ's Kingdom Isaiah 33 20. Psalm 78.69 Matth. 16.18 Heb. 12.27 28. Eph. 4.14 16. 21 Whence the Phrase Homo 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 concerning a Perfect Just and Constant Man as a Square Figure or Cube is every way like it self turn it on which side you please and so ought the Church to be always constant to it self in all its Doctrines not mutable and inconstant 22 As a solid Square Cube or Dy is a Figure the most stable of any other which throw it which way you will always settles it self at last upon its own Basis and remains firm because its Basis is broad and equal 23 As a Square is altered from its own Figure into another by the least addition to it or diminution from it and thus the Church when it takes from or adds to the Faith once delivered to the Saints looses that perfection in which it was built at first by God and becomes irregular Upon which and other Reasons a Four square Figure is much in use in Scripture it being the Figure of the (a) See on Chap 4.6 Encampments round about the Tabernacle and of the Divine Consessus in this Prophecy of the (b) Exod. 27. ◠Altar (c) Exod. 28.16 Breast Plate and the most (d) 1 Kings 6.20 2 Chron. 3.8 Holy Place under the Law as also of many things belonging to (e) Ezek. 41 21.42 20 c. Vid. Grot. in locum Ezekiel's Visional Temple 24 As that is a perfect Square whose length and breadth are equal whereas if they were unequal it would be a Parallelogram or a Long Square which is less perfect than a Square See Mr. Potter Chap. 28. 25 For Twelve signifies Apostolicalness from the Twelve Apostles and a Thousand is a Number of perfection See on Chap. 7 4.20 4. Here being also a Concurrence of Number and Measure viz. of the Number Twelve with the Twelve Thousand Furlongs the Measure of the solid Content of this City hereby may be signified that in this State there will be an exact Concurrence of whatsoever God hath required by his Rules and Laws to the perfection of Church-States as things are known to be exactly just and equal when they are not only the same they were at first in Number but are agreeable to the Standard Weight and Measure 26 26 To shew that this City is more peculiarly described in opposition to the Roman Hierarchy the Perimeter of the Cube 1200 Furlongs is the Circuit of Jerusalem the Holy City as the Perimeter of the Cube Twenty Five Thousand Furlongs which 25 is the Root of the Number of the Beast is the Circuit of Rome and to the Twelve Gates Angels Tribes Foundations in the New Jerusalem do answer Twenty Five Gates Pastors Parishes Cardinals c. in the City of Rome Dr. Moor on this place and his Mystery of Godliness 5.16 and Mr. Potter's Interpret of the Number of the Beast 27 Hence it appears 1. That this is an (a) Potter Chap. 28. Equilateral Square the most perfect and the most capacious of all such Figures whereby the Perfection and the Vniversal Extent of Christ's Kingdom may be signified 2. That the City it self (b) Potter Chap. 2 3 4 c. is measured 1200 Furlongs from whence it follows that it is of a solid Cubical Figure like a Dy having Three Dimensions and that its Measures are solid Measures whereby they are made to agree with Ezekiel's Measures by Mr. Potter because nothing can measure a solid Figure but a solid measure Whereby the Firmness and Solidity of this Church State is set forth and also that it (a) Dr. Moor's Paraphrase on the place cannot be a City litterally understood and signifies not Walls and Houses but Men because there can be no City of such a Figure 28 Whereas the Antichristian State and all Human Models of Churches are disagreeable in themselves from one another and the exact Scripture-Measure and Rule 17 And he measured the 29 Wall thereof an hundred forty and four (b) A Cubit is the Oldest the most common and most famous Measure amongst the people of God whence it is put by way of Eminence for a Measure in general Jerem. 51.13 and
in my Kingdom and thereby putting an end to Prophecy whose main scope and design was with reference unto it See on Chap. 1 8.21 6 14 Blessed 22 in Christ's Kingdom Dan. 12.12 See on Chap. 14.13 are they that (a) The King's M S. reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wash their garments do his Commandments i. e. are now found and appear to have kept them that they may have right by virtue of the Covenant of Grace and upon their appearing in the fine (a) The King's M S. reads 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is wash their garments white Linnen of Christ's Righteousness See on Chap. 19.7 8. to the Tree of Life i. e. to the incorruptibility of the new Jerusalem State verse 2. and many enter in through the Gates of the City i. e. be admitted into that State See on chap. 21.6 12 21. 15 For without this blessed State in the four corners of the new Earth see on chap. 20.8 are Dogs i. e. the Members of the Antichristian (b) A Dog is thought by the best interpreters to signify a Sodomite Deut. 23.18 Canes qui Supra cap. 21.8 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ut Hebrei exponunt id quod est Deut. 23.18 Grot. in Locum Sodom chap. 11.8 and those who are without the Covenant Matt. 15.26 Profane Bruitish and Persecuting Apostates Matt. 7.6 2 Pet. 2.22 and Sorcerers and Whoremongers and Murtherers and Idolaters and whosoever liveth and maketh a Lie i. e. all wicked Persons but especially the Antichristian Party to which these Characters eminently agree see on Chap. 21.8 27. 16 I Jesus have sent my Angel from the beginning (c) Chap. 1.1 of this Prophecy all along to this present conclusion of it to testify unto you John and all my other Servants chap. 1.1 these things in the Churches i. e. in or concerning the seven Successions of my Church see the Notes on chap. 1.4 and on chap. second and third I am the root and the off-spring of David i. e. the Messias proceeding from David as from a root to whom the Kingdom (d) 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 was Promised see on chap. 5.5 and the bright and morning Star which only dawned in the Church Succession of Thyatira but now shews in full brightness at the succession of my Kingdom see the Notes on chap. 2.28 17 And the Shirit speaking to and in the several Successions of the Church chap. 2. and 3. and makeing intercession for the Saints Rom. 8.26 27. and the Bride i. e. the Saints chap 19.7 8.21 2 say come Lord Jesus come quickly in thy Kingdom And let him that heareth and obeyeth the words of this Prophecy say joyning as in consort come Lord Jesus And (a) These are Christ's Words and are a kind of Antiphon◠in ths Divine Anthem or Sacred Dialogue wherein Christ in Answer to the Saints says as it were if you so desire my coming I will not be backward in inviting you let him say I that is a thirst come let him that is a thirst for the comforts and refreshments of the new Jerusalem State see on chap. 21.6 come And whosoever will or has a sincere desire for these times of full refreshments let him take the Water of Life freely for the incorruptibility of this State is of my free grace and favour chap. 21 6.22 1. 18 For I Christ verse 20. testify and declare (b) All this is frequently the import of the word Testifie in Scripture openly with the greatest earnestness zeal and holy Asseveration as with an Oath John 13.21 Rom. 1.9 Acts 18.5 unto every man of what (c) Nullo excepto pontifice vel concilio Paraeus in loc quality or dignity soever that heareth the words of the Prophecy of this Book that it is a Book of so great perfection and life that if any man shall (d)(d) Elegans est allusio in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Grot. in Loc. add unto these things contained in this Book of Revelations and by consequence to any other part of Scripture by 22 Traditions and rash (e) Rashly to be the Authority of a false Interpretation of Scripture is to take God's Name in vain in a high degree Mr. Mede This is the last authoritative Prophecy that is likely to come from Heaven to be a rule of Faith to the Church and whosoever shall go about to infuse any other expectations into men than usually are agreeable to these Visions God shall bring on him the Judgments here denounced against his greatest Enemies and so in like manner whosoever shall derogate from the authority of this Prophecy or occasion mens not receiving the admonition of Christ here contained in every part thereof God shall cast him off c. Dr. Hammond's Paraphr or wilfully false Interpretations God shall add unto him besides the retributions of his ordinary Justice and Wrath the dreadful plagues that are written in this Book 22 Here is a change of Persons and John speaks whose words plainly refer to the admittance and entrance of the Saints into the new Jerusalem State and therefore must have respect to the times after the Pouring forth of the Vials when the Wicked were shut out of the City 19 And if any man shall take 23 away as the Antichristian Party hath even the Scriptures themselves from the words or authority of this of Prophecy God shall take away his part and the Book of Life i. e. he shall not be found written in the Book of Life among the Living in the New Jerusalem and out of the Holy City from which he shall be debarred and excommunicated and from the Things promises and blessings which are written in this Baok 23 As the Antichristian Party hath done 20 He which testifies these things i e. Christ who is Truth it self saith surely believe it for it is a certain and infallible Truth I come quickly i. e. all my comings are unexpected and by Surprize I begin very suddenly after the date of this Vision to bring it into effect I hasten all things to an end in the just and due time and am now just upon coming to put an end to this and all other Prophecies being not slack in performing them as some men count slackness 2 Pet. 3.9 Amen saith John the beloved Apostle and Servant of Christ in the Name and Person of Angels and Saints his fellow Servants even so be it come Lord Jesus in thy Kingdom come quickly 21 The 24 Justifying Sanctifying and efficaciously operative Grace Proceeding from the undeserved Love Favour and Assistances of our Lord God Jesus Christ our Saviour and anointed Prophet Priest and King be with you all Churches and Saints to whom this great Prophetical Epistle is Written Amen So be it and so it will certainly be 24 This whole Book of Prophecies being as it were one entire Epistle Monitory to the Church of God throughout all Ages of the World it is concluded as it was begun according to the custom of the Apostles with the usual Form of Valediction in their Epistles AMEN AMEN COME LORD JESUS COME QUICKLY FINIS