was the riches of the Gentiles so their receiuing may bee much more the life of the world from death by so strange and wonderfull a change as shall make in a manner a new heauen and a new earth in which they shall haue greatly to reioice and bee glad When both sisters aswell the little sister which had no breasts as the other are spoken for and receiued That the Shepheard may be one and the sheepfold one When in that day there shall bee one Lord ouer all the earth and his name one This is that number innumerable Ch. 7. of al Tongs Nations Languages with Palmes in their hands clothed in longwhite roabes c. This is that Ierusalem from heauen wherin the heathen nor any vncleane thing shall enter no more which now shall bee perfectly adorned with such fulnesse of gracefull quiet state al being performed whatsoeuer the Lord by his seruants the Prophets had promised that shee hath as a Bride perfectly busked but to attend the last and full act of the marriage to enter into the marriage chamber and eternally inioy her spouse This goodlie state in grace vpon full ouerthrow of all troubles described most goodly Chap. 21. and 22 is the finishing of the mystery of God Chap. 10. When a Bride is perfectly â—usked and trimmed wanting none of her ornaments then nothing remaineth but the solemne acts of the mariage to enioy her Lord. So the reason of the speech is plaine from common vse 9 This her preparation that we may vnderstand it not to be of herselfe for the Lord will answer her before shee aske is shewed to bee in her attire Whereof is noted whence she hath it and what it is Shee hath it by free gift of the Bridegrome For what a Bride we are by nature see Ezechiel 16. and not onely is the garment giuen her but which is to be marked the putting on thereof is giuen her also as which shee can no more put on by her selfe then shee can purchase it What this garment is in shewed first figuratiuely and then in proper termes Figuratiuely it is fine linen pure and shining This linen hath two properties It is pure because Iesus Christ giuen vs of the father to iustification whom by the gift of faith we put on is pure spotlesse and vndefiled and maketh vs pure before God This is iustification of faith properly The second property is Shining for as it is spotlesse and pure so hath it a glorious lustre to shew that Christ is not onely put on to iustification but also to glorie and that in two respects One in that hee sanctifying vs wee shine here as lights in the middest of a froward generation shewing forth the vertues of him that hath called vs so glorifying God witnessing to the world our iustification and euen strengthning our own soules in the certainety of our election while wee declare our faith perfect by our workes euen as our works thereupon shine and are approued because faith worketh together with the worke For whatsoeuer is without faith is sinne and this is that iustification whereof Iames Chapter 2. to expresse both the word is plurall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other respect of shining is in that as we put on Christ to iustification and sanctification so also to full glory at length with himselfe our corruptible bodies being made conforme to his glorious body The Iewes first seeking to establish their owne righteousnes which is by the Law so like Adam and Eua making garments to themselues fell from the righteousnesse of God but now God turneth their hearts to prepare and trim themselues with the Bridegroome his gifts as was Rebeccha with the ornaments brought from her husband both giuen her and put on her counting all things losse to bee found in Christ that is not hauing their owne righteousnesse which is by the law but the righteousnesse of God which is by faith in Iesus which and application thereof are both the fâ—ee gift of God And the holy Ghost so coucheth the words as no place is left to cauillation For he sayeth not our Iustifications are the fine linnen but the fine linnen giuen vs is our iustifications 10 Thus was the song maruellous for strange forme and matter Now followeth the strange euent in the Apostle wherein come to be obserued the occasion and euent it selfe Albeit the whole matter and manner of the song occasioneth this euent yet most speciallie it followeth through the Angels singular care and manner of confirming Iohn in the greatnesse and truth of these matters euen therein implying that they are so wonderfull as men would hardely belieue that such things could come to passe Hee confirmeth Iohn by commandement and by affirmation The quality of the commandement giueth of it selfe to presume assuredly both some great and also a certainely determined case as which hee commandeth him to write both for regard of the matter as also for sure preseruation and lasting record therof as which most assuredly should fall out He commandeth to write one speciall point which yet implyeth all that they are blessed who are called to the Supper of the Lambes marriage VVhich blessednes as it must bee restrained to the effectuall calling many being called who are not chosen so here the Angell will stirre Iohn and all Christians in Iohn his person to the consideration of a singular blessednesse of this time through the great efficacy of the voyce from the Throne and obedience wrought thereby in them who first refused and no doubt of the Orient by and with them A blessednesse was commanded to be written Chapter 14. but that was of suffering wherein they were euen blessed Here the case varieth For now all shall suffer who come not to the Lambe his Supper and shall bee made a Supper to the foules of Heauen verse 17 Now the teares shall bee wiped from the eies of Mourners and the destroyers of the earth shall bee destroyed The Heathen were angry now the Lord is angry in his course which if it kindle Blessed are all that come to him Now they who did slay with the sword are slain by the sword and the Captiuers are captiued For now God taketh his kingdome by the euident ouerthrow of his enemies and exaltation of his Church hauing his name written euen on his garment and thigh So blessed in effect are they who come to the supper of the Lambe his marriage The Angell next confirmeth Iohn by affirmation that these words of God are true Thus wakening vp Iohn to consider rare matter whereof hee so earnestly affirmeth that the words are true and for assurance of their truth that they are of God or God his words 11 Now besides the song in it selfe wonderfull this care of the Angell to confirme Iohn and waken vp his spirits by so singular a commandement and so peremptory an asseueration so rauisheth the heart of the Apostle
with excessiue ioy of so good newes that hee was for a notable document of humane infirmity in so great an Apostle about to haue worshipped this Angell Which attempt how vnlawfull it is in it selfe and how vnpleasant to the Angell First his interdiction well sheweth in such haste and concise forme of speech as commonly men vse vpon care to preuent some instant and detestable euill When feare and solicitude â—uffer not to speake at length or a full sentence 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Next hee strengthneth his interdiction with strong reasons one taken from his owne condition to whom this worship was offered as which was not capable thereof being but a seruant and not onely his left some prerogatiue might be imagined in the Apostle to stay that which of an other mighthaue bin offered but euen a fellow seruant of his brethren who had the testimony of Iesus his greatest honour and chiefe scope of al his seruice being Christ and his knowledge to minister the same without which he were nothing and therefore albeit of different nature from Iohn and other Christians yet in condition and end of calling but their fellow-seruant they hauing the spirit of Prophesie as he had The other reason is from the person of him who onely is to bee worshipped and serued according to the law alleadged by our Lord against Sathan Now it might probably appeare that herein yet some further thing were implyed For this Angell being the type of these ministers who shall bee the shewâ—◠〈…〉 paâ—sators of this huge meaâ—ure of powerfull lig◠〈…〉 〈◊〉 for so wonderfull effects and Iohn here baâ—â—â—g the person of common Christians of that time 〈◊〉 may seeme that the rare and excellent graces of the Ministers who shal then bee furnished with a golden 〈◊〉 would so farre miscarrie weake Christians in admiâ—â—tion of their gifts and working as to attribute 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vnto them if their owne fidelity and holinesse 〈◊〉 not lâ—t it And as this giueth vs to expect yet goodly things so herein is a close warning of humility in the one and circumspectnesse in the other to giue all glory to God But hereof I dare determine nothing fearing still to bee curious in so diuine an Argument wherein I haue choosed rather to hold vp coniecturall suggestions then appeare vnreuerently to handle such mysteries 12 Thus wee haue heard the song of Saints first vpon the Whoreâ— destruction and next more mightily and of moe intended higher vpon preception of full victorie ouer the other enemies and the Church her graceful state thereupon which so rauished the Apostle as hee had almost miscarried Now are the other victories shewed and goodly state of the Bride thereupon And first through the rest of this Chapter is the foile of the Beasâ—bearer vp of the Whore and no question but now highly chafed with her fall 13 In the victory ouer the beast are the description of the parties and the euent of the battell The party victorious is magnifickly described first in his person army weapons of war and his working by them and next in his Herauld His person by great properties and many agreeable to his many and great names First his comming forth declareth him a heauenly personage for hee is from thence Of great maiesty comming forth in abundance of light as to whose outmarching the heauens are cast wide open A greater degree of light then hitherto hath been mentioned so as the signe of the son of man is clearly seen in heauen Oh that thou woldest breake the heauens and come downe His administration at this time in Antichrist his full ouerthrow shall bee in exceeding great euidency of light and power 14 Hee sitteth on a white horse for fidelity and truth and namely for these points of his administration wherin his fidelity and truth are now specially to bee shewed in iudging and fighting for all which respects he rideth and on a white horse according to the state of a Iudge and triumphing glory of a victorious VVarrious He is also a faithfull and true witnesse Chapter 1. And a faithful High Priest Hebr. 3. But here hee is to shew his fidelity and truth in iudging and fighting Now the time of his redeemed is come and the time of the dead that they bee iudged and such destroyed who destroy the earth In all which hee both iudgeth and fighteth righteously for he is pure when hee iudgeth and iust when hee speaketh This indgement is not that last and generall but here the speciall of these enemies of his Church is meaned whom he is now to ouerthrow so as they shall neuer bee any more able to trouble Sion but their ruine shall hold on till at last they be for euer adiudged to endlesse torment Hee rode on a white horse from the first outgoing of the Gospell to conquere Chapter 〈◊〉 and to deiect the Dragon from heauen Chapter 12. when hee and his Armie fought to that effect but this is the last and noblest act of his riding for the Dragon and his Vicars vtter destruction 15 Now to iudge righteously is requisite not onely a righteous disposition but also a wise heart to discerne for often Iudges who are in mind set to doe righteously yet ignorantly giue wrong iudgement But no such thing can befall him whose eyes are as a flame of fire Pure piercing purging and searching hearts and reines from whom nothing can bee hid for euen the darkenesse is light before him And as for iudging so also for fighting as Rabsace though prophane yet pertinently sayeth in that Counsell and strength are for the warre This Captaine then who seeth the thoughts of his enemies before they bee hatched in their hearts hath no perill to bee deluded or circumuented with stratagems or as often befalleth otherwise expert warriours through want of intelligence to slippe opportunities If Elisha by a ray of the light of this Captaines flaming eies was able to discouer and so disappoint what the King of Aram consulted in his secret Cabinet what may this Lord doe who formeth the heart 16 With wisdome hee hath also great authority as hauing on his head many Crownes Both for that hee is King of Kings and also for his many victories specially in this his last warre Which how peculiarly is respected his Crownes are all on his head For hee standeth not by crowned hornes as the Beast but all his authority and strength is in himselfe and of himselfe and hee in this his strength power now commeth to take the Crowne from the head of the King of Ammon to set it on Dauid his head The Beast now must forgoe his Triple Crowne Christ his proper honour wherewith hee hath blasphemously attired his head 17 Being thus able to see all and of authority to conquere all hee hath yet a name written which none knoweth but himselfe And this name is so much the more maruailous and hath the more cleare note of his
were happy but vpon defect hereof they are taxed that hauing a name that they liue they are dead that their works are not perfect in Christ his sight Howsoeuer among them God hath his number whose hearts and liues are answerable to their profession To whom is promised that they shall walke with Christ in white And the rest are warned to repent and watch least he come vpon them in an howre that they know not 10 Philadelphia hath an open dore set before her into which to enter for any humane aide shee is of little strength but what Christ openeth none shal be able to shut and what he shutteth none shall be able to open so that at the feet of this Church notwithstanding her little strength yet the enemies are faine to bow and giue their names And hereupon shee hath the promise to be established as a pillar not to goe out any more and that on her Christ will write his name c. So as to haue this honour permanent to bee Christ his true Church that new Ierusalem from heauen which shall neuer be moued 11 In Laodicea they thinke themselues so setled gifted and strengthned as they become secure and vainely presumptuous This bringeth in a cold indifferency in matters of God his worship men becoÌ„ming Luke warme and neither cold nor hot the very next sexe to plaine Atheisme Christ for soueraigne medicine against this euill calleth vp to his true riches wisdome banquet and hope of his throne whereto we attaine by fighting and ouercomming as did our Head CHAP. IIII. THe second part of this propheticall narration is henceforth to the 6. of the last Chapter of things to fall out after the time wherein Iohn had this reuelation and concerning first and properly the whole militant Church 2 In this is first the preparation of the Apostle to the perception of these mysteries and then the things reuealed The preparation is in the first and beginning of the 2. vers of this Chap. and is by sight by inuiting voice and the euent of both in Iohn 3 In the first besides the thing which he seeth are two circumstances of time and the seer his disposition The time is after the perception of the former things wherein no intermission is to be imagined but onely the order of manifestation noted all being but one continuall trance vpon one and the same Lord his day The seer his disposition is that he yet looked shewing a holy desire and earnestnesse not resting in things already seene but intending still his eies to see more Which disposition beeing in sobriety and sincere affection is neuer fruitlesse in any That which for preparation Iohn seeth is an open doore in heauen a signe of an entrie opened vnto him to the sight of heauenly things which neither are earthly nor of earthly mindes comprehended Thus Iohn Baptist saw the heauens opened so did Stephen the first Martyr Iacob vpon such a sight called Lâ—z Bethel the house of God and gate of heauen and the Lord most plainely shewing what by this frame of speech is meant when hee would tell of a more plentifull dispensation and sight of heauenly things hereafter saith he yee shall see the heauens open 4 In the inuiting voice are two what the voice was euen one and the same of a trumpet which first spake to him Chap. 1. And next what the voice vttered wherein is the commandement and end thereof The commandement is Come vp hither whereby is required in Iohn and all hearers and readers hereof a rising aboue themselues from the earth and all earthly affections to enter at the doore opened by God to see his secrets For as God his true Church consisteth of such as are not of the world so neither is God his dispensation towards them neither their gracefull state thereby to naturall and worldly men perceptible And heereof it is that throughout this Prophesie heauen in opposition to the earth is taken for the state of the true Church as the earth is for the worldly sort The end of the commandement is that he might shew him things which must bee done heereafter which sort of things are most difficile to know and yet we must desire to vnderstand But the Lord doth nothing but that he reuealeth to his seruants the Prophets 5 The euent in Iohn cleereth the end of the commandement This euent is he is rauished in spirit not as if this were an other trance the former being past but to shew a further intending of spirit and degree of rauishment now requisite for perception of more hidde and retired matters then were the former which were first properly of things then in earth existeÌ„t concerned particular and visible Churches whereas the things following are not only future but concern first and properly the whole militant which with the eies of faith we must behold as also her condition And this is to all flesh impossible to whom God openeth not heauen yea and whom he bringeth not vp and to whom he sheweth not the same when they are come thither For in these matters before we enter in the Lord his Sanctuary wee are but beasts Psalm 73. 17. 22. 6 This is the preparation The things offered to Iohn his perception follow thorow the rest of the booke and haue two parts For as the whole concerneth chiefly the state of God his Church and God his administration in grace towards her and wrath against her troublers so before the story of speciall euents is put in this and the next Chapter a goodly vision of the generall condition of God his Church and his administration for and towards her As we see in the beginning of the prophesie of Ezechiel the like vision of God his generall administration in the world and as before the first part of this propheticall narration a vision was put to shew the operation of Christ in his Church The first part then of the two is in this and the next Chapter and may well be called a generall introduction to the speciall story The other part hath the story of speciall euents to the 6. of the last Chapter 7 In the introduction are first a goodly type of the Church militant as in and against all troubles it hath and euer shall stand stable through God her King in the midst of her resident and his generall dispensation towards her gratious and for her terrible in this Chapter And next his particular dispensation of this present reuelation and things therein for her instruction and comfort the excellent dignity of which particular benefit is by many arguments shewed in the 5. Chap. And both these are here for great vse The first for stablishing the heart of Iohn and all Christians against the manifold dangers wrestlings decaies and apparent eclipses of the Church in the course of the subsequent story by setting downe in type such a state thereof as whereto alwaies at least with the eie of faith wee
for discerning the kingdome fiue hauing ere then fallen and two not as yet risen The second beast is put onely for cleare explication of the condition nature quality and working of this last head considered a part and by it selfe and how this great worke of quickning that mortally wounded kingdome or beast is wrought by it so as vnder it the Beastreuiueth and now howsoeuer for discerning the kingdome all the heads be mentioned commeth only to bee considered in that state and respect in which for great diuersity from the former condition before the wound yea and before the the cure this head is in a sort a different beast as hauing this singular in shape that it is like the Lambe in working that it doth by signes and wonders in condition that the beast vnder it is rather an image of the former then the same and yet a liuely image therefore called the eight head and one of the seuen In which respect but seuen heads are attributed to the beast albeit in number there be eight That the first riseth out of the sea and the second out of the earth it is but to note the different manner of rising of the last head and state vnder it from the rising of the Beast in all his former conditions and heades They both in their distinct manner of rising haue this common that they are from below For albeit the earth and sea in degree of account with other creatures as the fountaines sunne moone starres Chap. 9. and. 16. according to the effects wrought in them and that wherof they in these degrees are the types are to bee taken so as agreeth with the course of the mystery as in these places is declared Yet when Sea and Earth are set in opposition to heauen as heer and Chapter 10. when the Angell descending from heauen for ouerthrow of this beast setteth his feet on the sea and earth whence in distinct consideration the beast ariseth And Chapter 12. reioyce O heauens woe to the Inhabitants of sea and earth then things arising from sea and earth must bee taken as Christ speaketh to the Iewes Yee are from below I am from aboue And euen the foure beasts in Daniel whose whole ferity cruelty fraud and destroying power is in this one whom in the beginning of his seuenth Chapter hee seeth rise out of the sea are said in that same chapter verse 17. to arise out of the earth as all one thing except that as the earth sheweth the origine to be earthly and from below so the sea sheweth their rising to bee of the troubles tossings and alterations of the earth whose commotions are compared to the stormy sea and according to this to shew the peaceable and calme estate of the Church vpon vtter destruction of this Beast it is saide Chapter 21. that there was no more sea Then this second Beast is said to rise out of the earth not onely for that it was from below for so is the whole beast first last throught the star falling from the heauen chap. 9 But because this last head howsoeuer the beast or kingdome of Rome considered absolutely riseth out of the sea in the particular consideration thereof by it selfe and apart arose in a farre different manner from all the former which all arose by great commotions and sensible alterations but this last head arose slily subtlely and almost insensibly by slow degrees as things that grow through the earth and so became head of that Kingdome which vnder it is the beast going to destruction See Steuchus against Valla. Paulatim imperare incipiebat religio habenas imperij caperâ— ius suum acquirere nihil subitum nihil tumultuarium Where the second beast is said to worke before the first beast it is not to bee taken for impudent or violent vsurpation but according to the Phrase of Scripture as Iohn Baptist to goe before Christ And this is onely for clearenesse of explication of him and his manner who maketh the Image as trauelling with all sedulous endeauour by lying signes to conciliate authority honour and submission to that state vnder himselfe as head thereof Neither hereupon must wee thinke the second beast working to bee an other from him before whom hee worketh except so farre as the spirit so will distinguish betwixt the Kingdome wholly and absolutely and this last head peculiarly considered in comparison to the former and as after a deadly wound hee quickneth so that state again as hee procureth to it worship of Nations In one word the first beast is the Kingdom of Rome vnder the Pontificality the second beast is the Pontificality wonderfully quickning the wounded beast to that estate therfore Chapter 17 but one beast euen this first is put and called the eighth head so euidently telling vs that both are one and the same except in consideration as I haue said According to this it is that hereafter the beast is distinguished from the false Prophet not that they are two as many fondly imagine but onely to take vp so the State and Kingdome as the false Prophet is heade therof so the false Prophet as he is head of that state See vpon Chapter 17. Sect. 11. 18. and 19. Sect. 27. These two beasts then are to expresse one and the same state euen Antichrist in his Kingdome and in himselfe head thereof both for condition and time For from the Pope his first degree of rising hee neuer got any such crossing as for which it might bee said of him that hee should abide a short space Chapter 17. For euen in the most miserable times of Rome by the Gothes hee not onely retained his old got account but was still labouring to aduance the credite of his Chaire as his supercilious dealings in these selfe times with forrain Churches sufficiently proueth And whatsoeuer hinderance bee had by Gothik tiranny from rising to the height hee after attained to it is too weake a ground to say of him that hee abode a short space thus to make him both the seuenth and eight head against cleare Text which maketh the seuenth to bee soone gone and if such had beene the meaning of the holy Ghost he might much both clearelier and easier haue called him the eight and seuenth then the eight and one of the seuen thus clearely implying which of the seuen hee meaned to wit that whose deadly wound by his arising hee cuâ—ed and made vppe thus so liuely an Image of the beast as hee may iustly therefore be counted one and the same with it that is with the sixth whome for glory account worship of Nations and Monarchike state hee resembleth liuely and the Kingdome vnder him the Kingdome then The mistaking of the seuenth head maketh all the errour and in such light of Storie agreeing fitly with this Prophesie it is wonder that all should haue erred This is certaine that Caesars are the sixth head that which then was and before which fiue Kings Consuls Dictators Decemuirs
here a speciall treasure is meaned of the meanes whereby as Antichrist is ouerthrowen and drowned so God his Church is saued And this is the treasure of the pure word of God and power of his spirit mingled therewith For we must all be begotten of the word and of the spirit and be baptized with water and with fire And by this word and spirituall vertue thereof must Antichrist bee foiled As in the red Sea the people of Israel were baptized 1. Cor. 10. wherein Pharao was drowned And as Israel was baptized vnder the cloude which to them was a pillar both of a cloud and of fire of refreshment and light but to the Aegyptians a pillar of darkenesse In which respect the red Sea wherein and the pillar vnder which they were baptized were types of the true word and spirit whereby the true Israel of God are begotten to immortality and the enemies ouerthrowen So by allusion thereto the Churchâ—victorious ouer Antichrist and that great City which spiritnally is called Aegypt is said to stand at a glassie Sea mingled with fire that is in the cleare light of the word mingled with the vertue of the holy Ghost whereby they are victorious and furnished with the harpes of God but Antichrist therein is drowned 2. Thess 2. From this Sea they labor to diuert vs to cisternes of their own digging which are full of bloude But heere is our victory and wisdome whereby to count the number of the Beast his name and so to ouercome him his image his character name and number The Sea of the Fathers in a third part is bloud Chapt. 8. So as thence wee may if wee bee not wise to discerne draw death al 's well as life The Sea againe of the Church of Rome in latter state is all bloudy worsum Chap. 16. This Sea hath this different note from that Chapter 4. that this is mingled with fire The fire is there also but set out in seuen burning lampes distinct from the Sea heere the fire is mingled therewith and that of purpose to leade vs to take vp a great point of wisdome in the diuersity of God his dispensation in this last cleare light of the Gospell for Antichrist his ouerthrow from that first in the Apostolike times for casting the Dragon on the earth At the first going out of the Gospell to conciliat thereto the more credit and to shew plainly whence the vertue accompanying it came there was then a distinct dispensation of the spirit in outward visible signes as clouen tongues and fire extraordinary effects and operations as gifts of tongues healings and working of miracles and by a singular and visible manner of donation as imposition of hands of the Apostles But in this last reuiuing of the Gospell the word should be cleare and pure as at the first and accompanied with the force of the spirit yet the dispensation donation and operation of the holy Ghost should not bee in that manner but should bee mingled with the word the spirit and vertue thereof accompanying the preaching of the Gospell yet so as no visible or distinct symbol thereof should bee as at the first for now the preachers are feated by swallowing of the little booke Chapt. 10. no miraculous operations finallie no donation but such as with the word and by the word preached the spirit should worke in the Saints So as miracles in these last times are no notes of true preachers And this diuersity of dispensation is exceeding wise and requisite for the times At the first the Gospell was not onely to bee opened to the world lying in darkenesse but also confirmed to be from God Now it hath that credit with all but beeing buried in ignorance was to bee cleared Neither must wee take this so as if at first the preaching of the Gospell had wanted that accompanying vertue For euen then it was not in words but in power and was mingled with fire No doubt but Iohn his doctrine and baptisme had with it the vertue of the spirit in those that beleeued for faith is the effect of this fire And out of all question Apollos had the spirit in some good measure when hee knew but the baptisme of Iohn And these Samaritanes who by the preaching of Philip receiued the Gospell and were baptized had the spirit before the downe-comming of Peter and Iohn But at the beginning were ioyned the visible symboles donation and miraculous effects of the holy Ghost to procure reuerence and credit to the Gospell and to shew whence commeth all spirituall vertue to faith or conuersion and the outward healing of diseases to lead vs to know the power of the word and spirit in the quickning and life of the inward man and curing spiritual diseases of the Soule Neither must wee imagine that now the spirite is so tyed to the word as who euer heareth it receiueth necessarily the spirit For many heare whom it profiteth nothing because it is not mixed with faith but the gift of the holy Ghost is now no other way dispensed but by the word preached wee feeling the force thereof but neither seeing whence it commeth nor whither it goeth So whatsoeuer spirit one pretend without the word it is the spirit of errour 5 Now how these Ministers of the last wrath are feated and prepared to this great execution is shewed from the fifth verse to the end And first whence they are 2. How disposed 3. Wherewith instructed and by whom 4. By what power it is that so great a worke is effectuate They come out of the Temple of the Tabernacle of Testimony in heauen now opened that is out of the true Church militant this is implyed in the word Tabernacle now made patent and visible This first note sheweth both what they are and of what time They are members of the true Militant Church who by the light of the Gospell the Church being reformed and opened are stirred to the worke For God turneth the hearts of Kings who earst gaue their Kingdomes to the Beast and were his hornes to hate now the Whore and eate her flesh Chapter 17. For her fall shall not be by Kings of the East or Mahometans but by reformed Christians whereof wee see already good degrees praised be the King of Saints This note also pointeth the time of this execution to be in the dayes of the seuenth Trumpet according to the Oath Chapter 10. Vpon the sounding of which Chapter 11. followed the opening of the Temple in heauen and cleare sight of the Arke of the Testimony and thereupon lightnings thundrings c. Now here these seuen Angels Ministers of God his last wrath come forth of the Temple opened and goe to execution Thus the spirit by cleare notes leadeth vs to couple rightly the course of this Prophesie Which from the beginning hath so plaine a way as all being comprehended in seauen Seales sixe thereof bring the first sorrowes the seuenth opened yeeldeth seuen trumpets
world So as who seeme best fenced and hedged from all perill as Ilands and who seeme strongliest stablished in greatnesse strength as Mountaines shall flee away and bee so vndone as they shall bee found no more And so it is no maruell that this alteration shall bee conioyned with terrible plagues and iudgements vpon the wicked like haile from heauen of a Talent weight who notwithstanding remaine indured against God and blaspheme still 13 The effect of this earth-quake is declared to bee on the state of Antichrist and his aiders vnder the names of the great City diuided in three the Cities of Nations falling Wherein great Babel is now remembred and rewarded The Nations did tread vnder foot the holy Citie Chapt. 11. And heere their Cities fall In the streets of the great City God his Prophets they murthered vnburied and mocked three daies and a halfe Heere that great City is diuided in three And so that bewitching Babel whose fall was denounced Chap. 14. now commeth to ruine For by all these that one state is meaned but that with her fall shall be conioined the fall of many great kingdomes and all the face of the earth shall be altered Which besides the reason of her greatnesse is yet the lesse wonderfull for this that with her fall shall come on the conuersion of the Iewes and orient with them and apparantly by them The subsequent Chapters wherein this is more amply set foorth maketh the matter cleare Now what particularly is meaned by renting of the great Citie in three till the euent declare it I dare say no more but that apparently it sheweth the ouerthrow and dissipation of all the strength of that State which consisted in the ioyned power counsell and working of three The Dragon Beast and false Prophet verse 13. Or if heereby the holy Ghost will giue vs to take vp such an vtter exterminion as is shewed Ezech. 5. or 6. 12. Or if this diuiding in three hath relation to the order of destruction set downe in the subsequent Chapters in three degrees first of the Whore Chap. 17. and 18. next of the Beast and false Prophet Chap. 19. and thirdly of the Dragon Chapter 〈◊〉 CHAP. XVII WE haue heard the seuen degrees of the last wrath whereof the seuenth hath in few wordes so strange an effect summarily implyed as a larger manifestation thereof was necessary Which accordingly the Spirit giueth in the parties destroyed manner measure and euents of their ouerthrow 2 The parties destroyed are the Whore in this and the next Chapter The Beast and false Prophet Chapter 19. And lastly for an absolute victory the Dragon Chap. 20. Whereupon insueth the goodly and graceful state of the Church Chapter 21. and 22. 3 To the sight and perception of the damnation of the great VVhore Iohn is first exhorted and disposed by one of these Angels which had the seuen Vials 1. 2 and beginning of the third verse Secondly a vision is exhibited till neere the end of the 6. verse From thence to the end of this Chapter the vision is exponed by the Angell 4 In the action of disposing Iohn to the perception of these things are the Instrument and his endeauour The instrument is one of these seuen who had the Vials To shew that the time when the vials shold be a powring out would bring with it a more cleare knowledge of Antichrist and of the trumperie of this VVhore great by his power and credite and should waken vp and dispose men to see more euidently these things which before were but of few or then obscurely known Thus by degrees light groweth The Angell his endeauour to this end is two-fold in that both with voice he stirreth vp and carrieth Iohn in spirit to the wildernesse To let vs see that for perception of such things we are not onely to be wakened vp from our naturall dulnesse but must in a manner â—e separated from our selues and all common conuersation of the world which yet standeth not so much in the retreat of the body or retirednesse of place as in right disposition of spirit The Angell stirreth Iohn to perception by an argument from the great sight hee was to shew him the damnation of the great whore which according hee performeth in shewing the Whore this Chapter and her damnation Chap. 18. 5 The greatnesse of this Whore for further wakening vp of Iohn and vs in his person is yet amplified by 3. Arguments First her great Dominion in these wordes which sitteth on many waters So interpreted verse 15. therefore fitly is the decay of her estate called drying vp of her waters Chapter 16. 12. Ier. 50. 38. and 51. The second argument is from the persons with whom shee playeth the harlot First for quality great as being Kings next for number many as indifferently committing whoredome with all the Inhabitants of the earth thus being both a great and a common whore The third argument is her whorish and deceiuable perswasion like that Prouerbes 5. by her allurements subtlety deceiuing men as with wine and making them drunken so to dote more more on her as men drunken lust aye the more after wine till becomming altogether senslesse all true iudgement be stollen from them This is it which maketh all paines taken with superstitious Idolatries for their conuersion to bee vnprofitable as it is but folly to deale with a drunken man while his wine is on him This is that Babylon Chapter 14. against which the heauy wrath there denounced heere taketh full execution And for clearing the equity thereof it is most plainly heere opened what shee is and of what time and state 6 To Iohn thus prepared appeareth the vision of a woman sitting on a beast and properties of both Of the Beast his properties wee will speake in the Interpretation of the vision which the holy Ghost himselfe giueth The woman is glorious in all worldly pompe and royall magnificence whereby shee dazeleth the eyes of men shee is a most abhominable Harlot prouoking to detestable Idolatry and superstition and in place of the healthsome waters of life propining her owne traditions and deuises for stollen waters are sweet which in detestation thereof the holy Ghost here nameth by an abhominable name This shee doeth vnder faire pretenses deceiuing with a golden Cuppe Shee is an impudent professed Harlot and mother harlot of the world and yet with such deepe subtlety couering her practises as none shall read that which is openly written on her fore-head but the lightned by the spirit to finde out the mystery For shee is like that adulterous woman Prou. 30. 20. which eateth and wipeth her mouth and sayeth shee hath done nothing Finally shee is a cruell murtheresse of Saints Shee sitteth on the Beast as borne vp by him and hauing all this glory and bewitching power to deceiue onely through that credite and estimation which shee hath by the Beast her aduancer 7 This vision worketh in Iohn admiration yet not such as