preach the Doctrine of the Apocalyps to his particular charge and congregation for every Minister of the Gospell must shew unto his people all the counsâ—ll of God and keepe backe nothing as Paul testifieth that he did to the great comfort of his conscience But the doctrine of the Revelation is a part and parcell of the Counsell and Will of God therefore it must not be concealed or kept backe from the knowledge of the people of God And in these daies I thinke it not onely meete and convenient that it should be so but in truth absolutely necessary But now me thinketh I heare some men say What must this booke of the Apocalyps bee preached and made knowne to the common people alas what should they doe with it It is not for them to meddle with all It is not for their diet I answer and yet not I but the holy Ghost that this booke must be made knowne to all the servants of God For Saint John calleth it the Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him to shew unto all his servants It is plaine therefore that all the servants of God both men and women young and old rich and poore must be made acquainted with this Booke Moreover John is commanded by the God of Heaven to set downe all the visions which the Angell shewed him and to write them all in a booke and send them to the seven Churches of Asia that is to people of all sorts and conditions And therefore this Booke doth not onely concerne Preachers and deepe Divines but even all the Lords people whatsoever for it doth minister great comfort and strength of faith to all the people of God that live in this age But here the Papists object that this booke is full of darkenesse and obscurity and therefore not for the common people to meddle withall nay say they there are as many mysteries as words in it and therefore what should men trouble their heads about it But no marvaile though the Papists say so much for it is the wound of their Kingdome and the battery of their Babylon As for others both learned and Godly which in this point are almost of the same mind that they will not meddle with this Booke of the Revelation I cannot but marvell at it The modesty and humility of some very rare and reverend men for learning and great variety of gifts which notwithstanding scotch much at this Booke is greatly to be commended But if I were worthy to give them advice I would wish them in this behalfe to change their minde and to bee of another resolution for I dare avouch it that there is nothâ—ng in this Prophesie which study and diligence with prayer and humility may not overcome True it is indeed that the shell is thick and hard to break but being broken the kirnell is most sweet and pleasant If any be discouraged with the darkenes and obscurity of it let him harken to these reasons following First it is called a Revelation which is as much to say as an uncovering of things which did lie hid if it be an uncovering and revealing of things no doubt it may be knowne and seene into For revealed things are for us and our children If it be a Revelation how say some that it cannot be understood For it is contrary to the nature of a Revelation to be so darke that none can understand it But shall we say that the holy Ghost which is the spirit of truth hath given a wrong name unto it God forbid For if it hide matters or set them forth that it cannot be understood then it is not rightly called a Revelation If this Booke be so mysticall that it cannot be understood If the interpretation of it be uncertaine If the common people cannot bee taught to understand it How then should the holy Ghost Apoc. 1.3 Apo. 12.7 Blessed is he â—hat readeth the words of this Prophesie c. Let any man judge that hath common sense Can any man be blessed by hearing and reading those things which hee understandâ—th not I trow no. Then it followeth that this Booke may be understood and no doubt is understood of many and might be better understood of many moe if they would bend their wits and studies unto it Apoc. 22.10 The hâ—ly Ghost as is said before willeth and commandeth that the words of this Prophesie should not bee sealed up Whereby it is evident that hee would have them reade and made knowne to all Then I reason thus that which is open and unsealed may bee read and knowne But this booke is open and unsealed Therefore it may be read and knowne If men say the matters of this Prophesie are sealed and hid and God say they bee unsealed and open whether shall we beleeve men or God If any will reply and say wee feele and finde by experâ—ence that the words of this booke are hard to bee understood I answer that the fault is in our selves because we are so negligent in the search and study thereof For if we did wâ—th that humility and reverend care that ought to be in us search after the things revealed in this booke wee should finde that they bee not sealed up but lie open to be read and knowne True it is indeed that if any man light upon some peâ—ce and take it by it selfe hee shall finde it very darke But if he looke upon the whole course of matters through the booke and marke and observe diligently how things be iterated hee shall finde no such darkenesse as he feareth for there is a notable coherence of matters and course of times observed in this booke even from the first Chapter unto the last as God willing shall more fully and plainely appeare in the particular opening and interpretation thereof One great objection against this Prophesie is that the Fathers profesie it is full of mysteries and that they could not understand it If they could not understand it say some how shall wee understand it Is it not great arrogancy for for us to say wee understand it better then they did I answer noe For a man of meane learning in comparison may now in these daies more easily understand and expound this booke than the learned doctor and Fathers in ancient time The reason is this wee live in an age wherein the most of the things Prophesied in this booke are fulfilled Now the fulfilling of a Prophesie is the best exposition of it But as for the fathers they lived in a time wherein many of these things were not come to passe nor fulfilled and therefore more hard for them to interpret and understand for these things in this prophesie which are not yet fulfilled are hardest for us of this age to understand and resolve of But when a Prophesie is fulfilled it is an easie matter to say this was the meaning of the Prophet Some things in this booke were fulfilled before the dayes of the Fathers and some things in
this booke Secondly the time when he writ it Thirdly the place where he received it Fourthly the person to whom he writ it Fiftly the end and use of his writing this Prophesie Lastly the authority of it As touching the first it is agreed upon amongst the soundest Divines that John the Apostle or Evangelist John the Disciple whom Jesus loved was the Author and Instrument of penning this Prophesie as hee himselfe testifieth Apo. 22.8 Apo. 1.19 saying I am John which saw these things and heard them And hee received a commandement from Jesus Christ which hath the keyes of hell and death that hee should write the things which hee had seene and heard and set them all down together in a booke Now we all know that the testimony of John is of great weight Apo. 1.11 though he be but a man for he is such a man as is firmely to be beleeved in all that he speaketh He is an Apostle an Instrument of the holy Ghost and so guided by the Spirit of God that he speaketh and uttreth nothing that is his owne He was well known and approved For we must consider that what an Apostle did utter he did utter it as the instrument of the Spirit which cannot erre For the Prophets and Apostles did not write the holy Scriptures as they were men onely but as they were the immediate and certaine instruments of the holy Ghost of purpose chosen and set apart to pen and publish the holy bookes of God This Saint Peter confirmeth saying 2 Peâ— 1 Verse 21. Prophesie came not in old time by the will of man but holy men of God spake as they mere moued by the holy Ghost The Apostle Paul also affirmeth the same touching his Gospell which saith Gal. 1.12 Hee was not after man neither received hee it of man but by the revelation of Iesus Christ Therefore when his our Apostle saith I am Iohn which saw these things and heard them he gives us to understand that he was both an eye and an care-witnesse He bringeth not matters which he hath heard by uncertain report hee delivereth this Booke to the Churches they which received it at his hands did know him to bee a most faithfull servant of the Lord even a great Apostle which delivereth not any thing but that which hee had received of the Lord and therefore he testifieth â—hat he saw and heard all the things which â—e hath written in this booke Moreover he â—estifieth of himselfe that he was called and authority by Iesus Christ to write this Prophesie and did nothing herein of his owne braine For saith hee I John heard behind me a great voice as it had been of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega the first and the last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it unto the Churches Heere we see how Iohn is called by Alpha and Omega that is Jesus Christ to write this doctrine of the Apocalyps But may some man say was not John cald before was he not one of the Lambs 12. Apostles had he not many years executed the office of the Apostleship must he now have a new calling and a second calling what needs he being an Apostle to bee called and authorised againe To this I answere that this matter now in hand was a new worke and therefore requires a new and speciall calling It is a strange revelation and therefore requires a new authority to meddle in it For in this Prophesie God dealeth with John as hee did with the old Prophets For when he would foreshew unto any of them especiall matters he called them by glorious visions as wee may reade what a goodly vision Esay had what a vision full of glory Ezechiel and Daniel had even in majesty like unto this of John Thus then it is to bee considered Iohn now is as one of the old Prophets to foreshew things to come therefore the Lord appeareth unto him in a vision and calleth him thereunto as he appeared unto them and called them Let this then suffice for a reason of Johns now calling to his new Worke and office And thus much touching the first circumstance Now followeth the second circumstance which is the time when Iohn received this Prophesie which is noted to bee upon the Lords day It is the day which S. Paul to the Corinthians calleth the first day of the weeke in which the Churches did meete for the holy exercises in Religion which is also evident because he sayth they came together to breake bread Now the observation of a seventh day is of divine institution Acts 20.7 even from the beginning It is naturall morall and perpetuall for God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it We are therefore to thinke that although Iohn now in his exile was absent in body from the Church assemblies yet he was present with them in spirit commending them most earnestly unto God in his holy prayers and meditations and therefore it is sayd that he was ravished in the Spirit upon the Lords day So we read that the like befell unto Daniel when he was prisoner in Babylon the like befell unto Ezechiel who was taken by the Spirit in the visions of God Act. 10.10 and carried to Ierusalem the like to Peter the like to Paul But the speciall reason of Iohns ravishment in the spirit at this time was that thereby he might be made more fit and capable to receive and understand all those great mysteries and heavenly visions which now should be shewed unto him And withall let us observe that all men are alwaies most capable of heavenly things when they are most in the Spirit For God doth evermore most reveale himselfe to such as are most in prayer reading and meditation and to such as make greatest conscience to spend his Sabaoths Christianly and religiously according to his great commandement And let us alwayes be sure of this that the more fervent and zealous we are in religious duties the more familier acquaintaince wee shall find with God and he will at all times be the more open-harted unto us and will hide nothing from us that may be for his glory and our good For such as are much in heavenly contemplation he doth reckon not amongst his servants Ioh. 15.15 but amongst his dearest friends to whom he will make known all things that he hath heard of his Father But now let us proceed to the third circumstance The third circumstance is the place where Iohn received this Prophesie and that is set downe to bee the Isle of Pathmos which as the Geographers write is a little desart Island lying in the Aegean Sea wherein it is reported that Iohn the Apostle was banished by the Emperour Domitian about the yeare of our Lord 96. and there received and writ this Booke of the Apocalyps where note by the way that there is no place so obscure or vast wherein a Godly minde may not aspire up vnto heaven
because it cutteth them so neere the bone Moreover it may not be omited that God is called the Lord God of the holy Prophets which proveth that this Prophesie is of equall authority with the Prophesies which were of old in as much as the same God is the Author of it And this Book is to be held in the same account with the Books of Moses and of the Prophets for all things contained in it shall as certainly be fulfilled in their times as theirs were In Esay in Jeremy in Ezechiel in Daniel and in the rest we finde many things which the Lord shewed by them long before they came to passe Even so there bee many things fore-shewed and fore-prophesied in this Booke which in their time shall be assuredly fulfilled Nay we see and know that many things here fore-told are already fulfilled and some things are come to passe even in these our dayes He that shall look into the times that are past since this Prophesie was given shall finde that all things have fallen out agreeable to the Prophesie of this Booke And surely if there were none other thing to perswade us touching the authority thereof this might suffice that every thing hath fallen out just and jumpe as the Prophesie did fore-shew It is our great negligence that wee doe not cleerly see so much And I doe humbly entreat all the people of God to looke more diligently and narrowly into it in all time to come And thus much as concerning the circumstances Now as concerning the Booke it self it may very fitly be divided into three visions as it were into three generall parts The first vision is contained in the three first Chapters The second vision is contained in the next eight Chapters following from the fourth to the twelfth Chapter And the last vision is contained in all the Chapters following from the twelfth to the end As concerning the first vision my purpose is not to stand much upon it because it is plain and easie to understand and because it containeth no Prophesies of things to come but only openeth the present state of the Church at that time and also because I have already touched the summe of it in handling the circumstantiall points I will therefore content my self with a very briefe opening and resolution of it beginning at the first Chapter CHAP. I. The summe of the first Chapter THe first Chapter containeth foure principall things The Title of the Book The salutation of the Churches The manner of Johns calling to receive this Prophesie The description of Christ the person that called him The Title of the Book is set downe in these words The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave him It containeth three things First the Author of the Booke which is Jesus Christ receiving it from God the Father Secondly the end and use of this Booke Ver. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. which is to shew unto all the Servants of God the things which must shortly bee done Thirdly the singular fruit and benefit which the Church shall receive by it in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie c. The salutation is in these words John to the seven Churches which are in Asia Grace be with you and peace c. It containeth a description of the Trinity or three Persons in the Godhead The Father is described of his eternity namely to be Hee which is which was and which is to come The Holy Ghost is described of his divers gifts and operations and therefore is called the seven Spirits which are before the Throne or which proceed from the Throne but S. John speaketh here of the holy Ghost according to the vision shewed him in the fifth Chapter where Christ is said to have seven eyes which are the seven Spirits of God sent into all the world Of the which afterward Jesus Christ is described of his three great offices of King Priest and Prophet and also of his glorious power and eternity First touching his Kingly office he is called the Prince of the Kings of the earth that is King of Kings for he is King of Sion He is a King to rule and governe his Church He must reigne over the house of Judah for ever Hee must reigne over all his enemies and in the middest of his enemies even till hee have trode them all under his feet And this benefit wee have by it that we are made Kings in him in this life to reigne over our corrupt affections and after this life to reigne as crowned Kings for ever with him in infinite glory and endlesse felicity Secondly touching his Priest-hood Ver. 5. he is said to love us and wash us from our sinnes in his bloud For he is our only high Priest which by his owne blood hath once entred into the holy place and obtained eternall redemption for us Hee onely it is Heb. 9.12 which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God to purge our consciences from dead workes to serve the living God Heb. 9.14 So then by vertue of his Priesthood and sacrifice we are reconciled unto God have free accesse unto the Throne of Grace and are made Priests in him to offer us spirituall sacrifices acceptable to GOD through him Verse 6. For he hath made us Kings and Priests unto God even his Father Thirdly Veâ—se 5. concerning his Propheticall Office he is called that faithfull witnesse For He is said to Pilate John 18.37 For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the World that I might beare witnesse unto the Truth And the Apostle saith Hee witnesseth under Pontius Pilate a good confession Tim. 9.13 So then Jesus Christ is one of those three great witnesses which beare record in Heaven Jesus Christ is the Prince of Prophets even that great Prophet that should come into the world through whom all the counsells of God are revealed to us He is that only begotten Sonne which is come downe from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne unto us whatsoever he hath received of his Father Hee both by his Doctrine Life and Miracles hath borne witnesse unto the truth and by the vertue of his Propheticall Office the whole will of God is made knowne unto us For GOD hath sent him as the great Prophet to instruct the world in Righteousnesse and hath revealed himselfe to us in him and therefore he is called the Image of GOD the brightnesse of his Glory Col. 1.15 Heb. 1.3 and the ingraven forme of His Person And therefore Hee said to Philip Hee that hath seene Mee hath seene my Father also John 14.7 And if you had knowne Mee you should have knowne my Father also Mat. 11. â—7 And againe No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and hee to whom the Son will reveale him Thus we see that Jesus Christ is that faithfull witnes and Prince
seventh Chapter may very fitly be divided into three parts First it sheweth that as God did most fearefully punish the World with visible and sensible Judgements as we have heard before So now he would set upon them with invisible and spirituall plagues which are of all other most grievous and intolerable Secondly it sheweth the state and condition of the Church militant here in earth as before was shewed under the opening of the fift Seale Verse 2 3 4 c. the state of the Church triumphant in the Heavens namely that it is sealed and set in safety from all dangers Thirdly it sheweth the blessed and happie estate of all Gods elect and their fervent prayses and zealous worship of God who thus mercifully did provide for their security in the middest of greatest perils and extremities Ver. 10 11 c. And after that I saw foure Angels stand on the foure corners of the earth Verse 1. holding the foure windes of the earth that the windes should not blow on the earth neither on the sea neither on any greene tree These foure Angels are Angels of darknes or foure divels which is proved by this reason that they hold the 4. winds from blowing on the Earth that is stoppe the course of the Gospell which is a spirituall plague They are sayd to stand upon the foure corners of the Earth because power was given them to plague not some one or two Countries but the Universall World both East West North and South The blowing of the winds doth very fitly represent the preaching of the Gospell and that heavenly inspiration and breathing of the Holy Ghost which goeth with it Wind is so taken Joh. 3. where our Lord Jesus sayth The wind bloweth where it listeth c. So is every man that is borne of the Spirit And againe in the fourth of the Cantic in these words Arise O North and come O South and blow on my garden that the spices thereof may flow out Where it plainely appeareth that the Church craveth the inspiration of the Spirit that her fruits may abound For what can be meant by these winds which she wisheth to blow upon her garden but the breathings of Gods Spirit and Word It followeth then that if the blowing of the winds in the Scriptures do signifie the breathing of Gods grace and holy Spirit that the stopping of the winds by a reason of the contraries doth here signifie the stopping of the same and the deprivation of all heavenly blessings So that it is cleare that a spirituall plague is heere represented which also is the more apparant because heer is such a speciall proviso and care had for the Churches safety that it might not be infected with this spirituall contagion Now all this doth plainely fore-prophesie not only the stopping of the course of the Gospell but even the utter taking of it away from the World for their great contempt thereof and the horrible murthering and massacring of all the true professors of it according as it came to passe afterward in the prevailing first of Heresies and afterward of the Popish and Mahometish Religion as in the two next Chapters following shall plainely appeare And I saw another Angell come up from the East Ver. 2.3 which had the Seale of the living God and he cried with a loud voyce to the foure Angels to whom power was given to hurt the earth and sea saying Hurt ye not the earth neither the sea neither the trees till we have sealed the servants of God in their foreheads This Angell is Jesus Christ who by the Prophet is called the Angell of the covenant That Angels do represent and sustaine â—he person of Christ their head is so common and usuall a thing in the Scriptures that I sâ—â—ll not need to stay in it That this Angell is Christ it doth â—â—â—nely appeare by the things heere â—â—â—ibuted unto him which can agree to â—o â—â—her First in that he hath the Seale of â—â—e living God which is the Spirit of adoption to set upon all the elect for he is thâ—â—â—ely keeper of this great Seale and â—â—is privy Seale He onely hath authority to set it upon whom he will Secondly because he is said to come up from the East that he is the only Sun of righteousnesse which ariseth upon his Church every morning and with his bright beames expelleth all darknesse from it According to that of Zacharias in his propheticall song Through the tender mercy of our God Luke 1.70 the day spring from on high hath visited us Thirdly because he holdeth a soveraignty and command over the Divâ—ls for he chargeth them heere to stay their hands from doing any hurt till he had provided for his elect Whereas it is said verse 2. that power was given to these Divels to hurt the earth the Sea and trees that is the number of Reprobates we may note that the divels have no absolute Power but only by permission as appeareth in this that they could neither â—ouch Job nor enter into the heard of Swine without licence Job 1. Whereas it is said Verse 3. â—ill we have sealed the servants of our God in their foreheads it doth plainely shew that the punishment of the wicked are deferred till provision be made for the Elect. The floud came not upon the old World till Noah and his family were received into the Arke The Angels destroyed not Sodom till Lot was set in safety The plaguing Angell spared the first borne of Egypt till the posts of the Israelites houses were sprinkled with the blood of the Paschall Lambe Ezec. 9. The sixe Angels sent to destroy Jerusalem are charged to stay the execution till the servants of God were marked in their foreheads All these examples do manifestly declare what tender care the Lord in all ages hath had of his owne people that they might be delivered and set in safety in the midst of all extremities Even so heere we see that God is very carefull that his owne children might not be infected with those damnable heresies which now already upon the stopping of the course of the Gospell began to be hatched and afterwards did spring and grow up in the Church both thicke and three-fold Verse 4. And I heard the number of them that were sealed and there were sealed an hundred forty and foure thousand of all the Tribes of the children of Israel Of the Tribe of Judah were sealed twelve thousand c. Now John heareth the number of them that were sealed and he reckoneth up the whole Church militant consisting both of the Jewes and Gentiles He saith that of the Church of the Jewes there were sealed 144000. Wherein he putteth a certaine number for an uncertaine and a definite number therewithall also for an indefinite for his meaning is not that there were just so many and neither moe nor lesse sealed but this number doth arise of 12. times 12. in that he saith of every
Here is shewed that this image of the beast was not a dead image but a living image for Antichrist put a spirit into it that is life and power and great authority insomuch that this image could speake and not only speak but speak with great authority and terror so as whosoever would not worship this image that is submit himself to the Popish Hierarchie should be put to death But may some man say How did this image speak I answer by the Popes Clergy For the Romish rabble of Cardinals Abbots Monks Priests Friars and all that cursed corporation were the very breath life and spirit of this image I mean that the life-bloud of their externall regiment did lie in the execution thereof by the Clergy as it were in certaine arteries and veines For what was their outward form of government without this cruell execution of their stinging Clergy-men but as a dead image without life But when Antichrist had once consecrated and erected his Romish Priesthood then did hee put life into his image which before he had caused to be made and erected Then we do plainly see that the Popish Hierarchy is not a bare resemblance of the old Roman policy to stand as a picture on a wall but hath a spirit put into it by the false prophet and speaketh with such power and terrour in all kingdoms that it causeth all to be put to death that will not submit themselves unto it and fall down and worship the beast Who knoweth not this that as many in the countries as would not imbrace Popery and the old Roman tyranny the Popish Clergy their Inquisitors and other Officers did condemne them in their Courts as hereticks schismaticks and delivered them over being condemned to the secular power to be put to death Vers 16 17. And he made all both small and great rich and poor bond and free to receive a mark in their right-hand or in their foreheads And that no man might buy or sell save hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name Antichrist is not content to murder and massacre in all countries which wil not worship the image of the beast that is stoup to his government and authority but he will go yet a step further and will have all sorts of people brought in bondage unto him as his marked servants For as men use to set a brand upon their sheep and other cattel and to ear-marke them that it might openly and manifestly appeare to whom they appertaine so doth Antichrist this Romish beast cause all men in all kingdoms to carry in open view his mark or brand whereby all men see that they doe appertain unto him It is here said that all the vassals of Antichrist of what degree estate or condition soever must receive this mark in their right hand or in their forehead that is they must openly professe and practise the worship and religion of the beast For the forehead is put for the profession and the right hand for the action so that in one of them at the least every man must openly declare that he acknowledgeth the Pope of Rome to be lord of his faith Moreover it is added That no man might buy or sell save hee that had the marke or the name of the beast or the number of his name the meaning is that no man might traffique in the world or have any doings amongst men nay hee might not be suffered to live except hee had the mark of the beast in his forehead or in his right-hand that is unlesse he did professe and practise the worship the religion laws decrees of the Pope For the marke of the beast is put for his worship religion lawes decrees regiments and policy Moreover the Popes vassals have not only his mark upon them whereby they may be known but also the name of the beast for they must be named after him even as children bear the name of their fathers and must be called of the Pope or Papa Papists And not only so but also they have another privie mark upon them and that is the number of his name which is Latinos or professors of the Latine religion Latine kingdome and Italian Church as shall by and by appear Now then to grow to conclusion and to make a brief recapitulation of all things here spoken concerning the second beast which is Antichrist Let us consider what increasings and proceedings he hath made as it were by degrees First although hee hath two horns like the Lambe that is Civill and Ecclesiasticall power yet hee speaketh like the Dragon that is he bendeth all his power and authority words and works for the Divell Secondly hee doth as much as the first beast could do in the service of the Dragon Thirdly he causeth the first beast to be worshipped that is established the substance of his religion Fourthly hee maketh the image of the beast that is addeth a forme to the substance Fifthly he putteth life into his image by his Clergy Sixthly he will have his image worshipped and yeelded unto on pain of death Lastly he will have all men of all conditions to wear his livery and to receive his mark as it were his hired and covenant servants Here is wisdome Verse 1â— Let him that hath wit count the number of the beast for it is the number of a man and his number is six hundred threescore and six Now last of all the holy Ghost telleth us that it is a very high point of wisdome and understanding to count the number of the beast and requireth a sharp and pregnant wit and withall telleth us that it is the number of a man that is such as a man endued with Gods Spirit may find out Then wee are incouraged to search into it sith it is within the compasse of mans reach It is no impossible thing If therefore we could find out his name we would desire no more then the field were won for his name would discover him and descry him to all the world and quite stop the mouthes of the Papists so as they should never have any thing more to say For if Saint John had said expressely and in plain termes that the Popes of Rome are this second beast and the very Antichrist himselfe then the Papists had beene put to perpetuall silence all matters quasht and all controversies ended betwixt them and us for ever But here the holy Ghost doth not tell us his name plainly but mystically as many other things in this booke that the worldlings which should fulfill them might be blinded whilest the eys of Gods elect are opened to see into the truth of all these matters Well to come to the point S. John doth only here set down the numerative letters of the beasts name Hee wrote in Greek and hee only setteth downe three Greek letters or characters which in Greek numeration make six hundred sixty six Now further we are to note the
hel-hounds against all such as set the Gospel abroach whereby their Babylon began to shake For at the first when the Gospel began to peep forth they did despise it as a thing which they could easily suppresse but within a short time they found that neither by excommunication wherewith in former times they had even as it were with lightning and thunder caused kings and nations to tremble neither by force of wars and bloudy slaughters neither by any skill in learning nor by treacheries they could any thing prevaile but that the Gospel did still more and more lay open their filthinesse and shame then did they become and so do they continue unto this day even as mad-men in sorrow and rage which the holy Ghost expresseth in saying Chap. 16.11 that they gnawed their tongues for sorrow and blasphemed God c. whereby it is evident that the beast and all that received his mark are full of fiery hatred and malice and cannot tell which way to be revenged For the more they strive the more they lose Faine would they have Popery restored to his ancient credit and dignity and they devise what they can to bring it about but it will not be For their kingdome waxeth darker and darker weaker and weaker and that is a dagger unto them and a griefe of all griefe which maketh them gnaw their tongues and gnash their teeth for sorrow Chap. 16.11 But yet for all this they repented not of their works saith Saint John and therefore God is more incensed against them and causeth the sixth Angel to powr out another viall upon the great river Euphrates and the water thereof dryed up as wee have heard Now then observe carefully Note this and note it diligently that the frogs came forth upon the darkning of the kingdome of the beast and the drying up of their Euphrates For who knoweth not the Pope and his complices perceiving the weakening and diminishing of their kingdom have sent out these Jesuits and seminary Priests into all parts of Europe to repair the ruines of Rome if it were possible and this is one circumstantiall reason to prove these three frogs to be understood of the Jesuites But let us proceed to open the whole description of the holy Ghost that it may yet more plainly appear First Chap. 16.13 these frogs are called unclean spirits because they are the very limbs of the Divell full of all filthinesse and uncleannesse Secondly they are called spirits because they come out of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false prophet Thirdly they are called three in number being in truth neerer three thousand because they proceed out of three severall mouthes the Dragon the beast and the false prophet that is the Divell the Roman Empire and the Papacy three horrible monsters three terrible bug bears which with one consent conspire together against the Gospel to uphold their Babylon and to stop the leak of their Euphrates Now these three frogs are said to come out of the mouth of the Dragon the beast and the false prophet because they come with the very minde and message of the Pope and the Roman Empire and so consequently with the very mind and spirit of the Dragon For they are the very breath of the Pope and the spirits of the Divels as like him as if they had been spit out of his mouth They are sent on the Divels errand and the Popes embassage into all countries and kingdomes and are taught their lesson what they shall say and instructed what they shall doe and what courses they shall take with men both kings Nobles and the meaner sort and for this cause the holy Ghost saith they came out of the very mouth the very heart and the very bowels of the Pope and of the Divell And although these Jesuits and seminary Priests are called of the favourites Catholick Doctors The holy Ghost calleth the Jesuits the spirits of Divels Chap. 16.14 holy Fathers c. yet the holy Ghost saith flatly they are the spirits of Divels working false and fained miracles and with great efficacy of error deluding and deceiving the simple and blind multitude We see then that the holy Ghost in all this description doth plainly note out the Jesuites and seminary Priests for to whom can these things here spoken of agree but onely to them And do not wee which live in these dayes sensibly see and discern the fulfilling of all these things Surely wee cannot but see and feel them unlesse wee be wilfully blind and do of purpose blind-fold hoodwink our selves But the holy Ghost goeth yer further and doth more fully and as it were demonstratively point them out unto us describing them by their office which is to go unto the kings of the earth Verse 14. and of the whole world to gather them to the battell of that great day of God almighty Who is ignorant that the Jesuites and seminary Priests are sent out to all Kings and Nobles of the whole world that favour them and their proceedings Are they not croaking in corners thick and threefold in all parts of this land Are they not practising of treacheries and treasons against our most gracious King and the whole state Are they not plotting the destruction and subversion of this Church common-wealth Nay as the holy Ghost saith the chiefe end of their coming abroad is to solicite gather the kings of the earth unto battell against God against Christ and against all true professors of religion The battell betwixt them is here called The battell of the great day of God almighty that is that battell wherein the Almighty God will have the day and goe away with the victory For it followeth The Jesuites by their crafty perswasions shall bring the popish kings and their armies to a place where they shall be destroyed that the Jesuites and seminary Priests did prevaile with the seduced kings of the earth so far as to gather them together to a place which in Hebrew is called Armageddon that is to say a place where they shall be destroyed and that with such an horrible slaughter that the place shall take a name thereof For it was an usuall thing among the Hebrews to call the place where any famous thing fell out by a name which did report the same to all posterity as Kibroth Hataavah Numb 11. the graves of Concupiscence Hamon Gog Ezek. 39. the multitude of Gog and divers such like And so here Armageddon the destruction of an army because the kings of the earth and their armies which shall fight against the Church at the instigation of the Jesuites shall come to a place where they shall have a notable overthrow This word Armageddon may fitly be derived of two Hebrew words that is to say Cherem which signifieth destruction and Gedudh which signifieth an army that is the destruction of an army or as some say and that very judicially it may come
hath deceived all nations Then let the matter be referred to the judgment of any indifferent man to determine and set downe what punishment sorcerers and inchanters are worthy of especially spirituall sorcerers and inchanters Besides all this the holy Ghost saith Chap. 18. â— that Rome is the habitation of Divels and the hold of all foule spirits and a cage of every unclean and hatefull bird What thinke you is like to come of an habitation of Divels What trow yee will be the end of a shoale of foule fiends and a company of most ugly monstrous hel-cats What is like to become of a cage of howlets ravens and vultures yea a nest of vipers toads snakes adders cockatrices and all the most stinging serpents and venemous vermine in the world What will be the end of pild Priests filthy Friers mangy Monks rogning Jesuites Are not these a cage of unclean birds What do they study what do they plot what doe they practise every day but seditions perjuries murthers conspiracies treacheries and all manner of villanies If I had no other reasons to perswade me that Rome shall fall and come to a miserable end yet this onely would make mee so to think that these villanous Jesuites do teach and conclude in their cursed conventicles that it is not only lawfull but also meritorious to murther any Christian Prince that is not of their catholick religion Oh monstrous villains O most hideous hel-hounds have not these monsters suborned divers desperate caitifs to embrue their hands in the bloud of Christian Princes How many have been their plots How desperate have been their practices to murther and poyson our late Queen Elisabeth the French King and our most gracious and late Soveraigne King James and other Christian Princes But can such proceedings prosper can such courses be blessed can a man be established by iniquity No no let them know for a certainty that God will crosse and curse all such divelish proceedings as hitherto hee hath done his most holy name be praised But if any man list to know more of the practices and proceedings of Jesuits let him read M. Doctor Sutcliffe his answer to Parsons Ward-word a book worthy to be read and known of all men But now to grow to a conclusion of this point and to wind up together all the reasons and causes of Romes ruine thus I do determine that forasmuch as Rome is the great whore Chapt. 1.17.2 with whom have committed fornication the kings of the earth forasmuch as Rome hath made all nations drunk with the wine of her fornication forasmuch as Rome hath deceived all nations with her inchantments forasmuch as Rome is a den of divels and a cage of unclean birds forasmuch as Rome hath shed the bloud of the Apostles Num. 14.24 Martyrs and Saints forasmuch as Rome hath murthered the Son of God therefore it shall at last come to most miserable destruction being that Chittim which in the end must needs perish for what punishment what paine what torture what torment can be enough for this damnable whore which hath committed such execrable and most outragious villanies Be it therefore known unto all men by these presents that Rome for all her monstrous and prodigious sins shall fall still more and more and come to a fearfull destruction even in this life But some man may say What shall become of Rome and of all her friends after this life Ch. 14.9 10 11. Saint John answereth that if any man worship the beast and his image and receive his mark in his forehead or on his hand the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God and hee shall be tormented in fire and brimstone before the holy Angels and before the Lamb. And the smoke of their torment shall ascend and they shall have no rest day nor night which worship the beast c. Here is sentence of eternall damnation passed upon all the friends of Rome O that all Papists would consider this in time and think with themselves what a wofull thing it is to be a Papist for they and their kingdome must goe down in this life and in the life to come they must be tormented in hell-fire for ever For Saint John saith flatly that all Papists shall be cast into the great wine-presse of the wrath of God Chap. 14.20 where they shall be strained and tryed till bloud come out of the wine-presse unto the horses bridles by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs And again hee saith Chap. 19.20 that the beast and the false prophet were taken alive and cast into a lake of fire burning with brimstone Let all men therefore take heed how they joyn with the Papists for wee see what shall be their end both in this life and the life to come Therefore let all Gods people come out of Babylon and hasten out of Sodom lest they be wound up in their judgements Let all wise men practise the policie of the Gibeonites who when they saw that Joshua did so mightily prevaile against the Canaanites and beate downe all before him did very politickly provide for their owne safety and by subtill means enter into league with Joshua and the Israel of God So let all that have any care of their owne salvation speedily forsake Babylon which otherwise will fall upon their heads and flye to Zion which shall stand fast for evermore And thus having reduced all the five following Chapters to prove these foresaid points I will proceed unto the twentieth Chapter for there is almost nothing of any moment or difficulty in the 15 16 17 18 and 19 Chapters but it hath been already opened and expounded CHAP. XX. SAint John having in the former Chapters plainly and plentifully set down the utter overthrow both of the beast and false prophet that is the Roman Empire and the Papacy doth now in this Chapter set forth the condemnation of the Dragon their grand Captain which set them all on work For there hath as yet been no motion of him which hath been the beginner and raiser up of the rest and the great worker of all mischiefe therefore now cometh his judgment and condemnation Now because he hath been a more generall worker and his mischiefe hath extended larger then the kingdome of Antichrist therefore in this twentieth chapter there is an history of him set forth by it self First how he seduced the nations before the coming of Christ afterward how Christ at his coming bindeth him by the light of his Gospel from seducing the nations and so holdeth him shut up for the space of a thousand yeeres in which the Church did greatly flourish and many were raised up unto the spirituall life But when the thousand yeers were expired Satan was let loose and went forth again to seduce and by the great Antichrist and the Turk gathered innumerable multitudes into his armies to fight against the Church which armies are called Gog and Magog
notwithstanding the rage and fury of the World ver 11.12.13 in persecuting them to death God should not only receive their soules to glory but also raise up others endued with the same spirit which should preach professe and witnesse the same truth constantly and continually even unto the end of the World Lastly it sheweth ver 14. c. that after the preaching of the Gospell some good time in this last age the seventh Angell should blow the trumpet and the world should end And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod and the Angell stood by saying Arise verse 1. and measure the Temple of God and the Alar and them that worship therein Here Jesus Christ giveth a reed unto John like unto a rod and hereupon he is commanded by an Angell to goe about the measuring of the Temple the Altar c. By this measuring with a reed like a rod is signified the restoring and building up of Gods house which now was greatly ruinated and runne into decay through the long prevailing of Popery Measuring with a reed is taken for the building up of Gods Church after the decaied estate thereof both in Ezekiel Zachary and this Prophesie John in the persons of all faithfull Ministers hath this measuring rod given him because the Church was to be restored and built up by the Ministers and Ministery of the Gospell The thing to be measured is the Temple the Altar and them that worship therein This is an allusion to the legall worship whereby our spirituall worship is represented For by the materiall Temple is meant the spirituall Temple or Church of God By the Altar of stone is meant the spirituall worship By them that worship therein with carnall sacrifices is meant all the true members of the Church which worship God in spirit and truth Now then both the Church the true worship and worshippers were all to be measured repaired and built up by Ministry of the Word which all were decayed and almost laid waste by the Popes tyranny But the Court which is without the Temple cast out and measure it not verse 2. for it is given to the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under their foot two and forty moneths John is here forbidden to measure and build up the Court which is without the Temple Whereby is meant all Heretickes Hypocrites worldlings and all such as have a place in the Church but are not of the Church This phrase of speech is taken from the old shadowish worship as the rest before For in the Temple of Jerusalem there was an outward Court which was common to all good and bad the holy place which was proper to the Priests and Levites and the holy of holiest or most holy place where none might come but the high Priest only Here is a reason added why the Lord God refuseth all Papists and Hypocrites and all such as belong to the outward Court only and it is this that this outward Court is given unto the Gentiles that is to all false Christians and counterfeits in religion which are members of the visible Church but have nothing to do with the invisible These are compared to Gentiles in two respects First in regard of prophanesse for they are as prophane as the Heathen Secondly in respect of persecuting the truth for Hypocrites and Atheists are as forward in persecuting the people of God as the Heathen Emperours which persecuted the Church by the space of 300. yeares All comes in this that when the Church should be gathered and built by the preaching of the Gospell God would have all Papists Atheists and Hypocrites shut out Moreover here is the second reason yeelded why the outward Court should be cast out and not measured to wit because they should tread the holy City under foot forty and two moneths that is they should persecute the Church all the time of Antichrists raigne For forty two moneths in this Verse and 1260. dayes in the next Verse and three dayes and a halfe Verse 9. and time times and halfe a time in the twelfe Chapter the foureteenth Verse and 1260. dayes the twelfe Chapter the sixth verse do signifie all one thing which is the short raigne of Antichrist for these moneths these dayes and these times do every one of them make three yeares and an halfe For who knoweth not that forty two moneths make just three yeares and an halfe and that 1260. dayes maketh even so much also and by time he meaneth a yeare bytimes two yeare and by halfe a time halfe a yeare Now the reason why Antichrists raigne is numbered by dayes moneths and halfe times and all amounting but to three yeares and a halfe is to note the short continuance thereof for the comfort of the Church as appeareth more fully and plainely in sundry places of this Prophesie where it is set down in plaine words that Antichrist should raigne but a short time for what is five or six hundred yeares in comparison of eternity But here the Papists do shew themselves most sottish and ridiculous in that they would gather from hence that the Pope is not Antichrist for say they Antichrist shall raigne but three yeares and an halfe but the Pope hath raigned many yeares therfore the Pope is not Antichrist Now to answere the proposition of their argument taken from this place First it may be answered that this place is not to be understood literally but mystically as many other things in this booke Secondly here is a certaine number put for an uncertaine a definite number for an indefinite which also is usuall in this booke as we heard before concerning the sealing of the Tribes of every Tribe 12000. which maketh 144000. Now no man is so mad as to thinke there were just so many sealed and neither more nor lesse Thirdly here is an allusion to Daniels weekes and other propheticall computations wherein somtimes a day is put for a yeare a weke for seven yeares as in Daniels sevens and a moneth for thirty yeares So then I conclude that it is extreme folly to interpret this place litterally The curious and frivolous interpretations of this place and such like in this booke by some writers I do of purpose omit as matters untrue unsound and unjudiciall for I only in this book seeke the sense that is and not the sense which is not as hath been said before verse 3. But I will give power unto my two witnesses and they shall prophesie 1260. dayes cloathed in sackcloth Having set down how Antichrist and his company being those Gentiles which possesse the outward Court should tread downe the holy Citty that is the true Church of God for a short time now he commeth to shew that even in the height and pride of the Popes power and governement yet the Church was not utterly extinct God did never utterly forsake it but in all ages and at all times God raised up one or other to withstand