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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A20217	The ruine of Rome: or An exposition vpon the whole Reuelation Wherein is plainly shewed and proued, that the popish religion, together with all the power and authoritie of Rome, shall ebbe and decay still more and more throughout all the churches of Europe, and come to an vtter ouerthrow euen in this life before the end of the world. Written especially for the comfort of Protestants, and the daunting of papists, seminary priests, Iesuites, and all that cursed rabble. Published by Arthur Dent, preacher of the word of God at South-Shoobery in Essex.	Dent, Arthur, d. 1607.; Culverwell, Ezekiel, 1553 or 4-1631.	1603 (1603)	STC 6640; ESTC S117456	184,102	332

whom hee calleth the rest of the dead and hee saith these shall not liue againe meaning the life of God or the life of grace and whereas hee addeth vntill the thousand yeeres be finished he meaneth neuer or not at all for so the word vntill is often taken in the scriptures and it is sure that after the expiration of the thousand yeeres they did not liue the life of God and the life of the spirit For then the diuell was let loose vpon the world to worke his pleasure and to seduce with all efficacie of error and iniquitie Whereas it is said this is the first resurrection he meaneth the rising from sinne to the life of righteousnesse which was in the thousand yeeres of the gospells preaching and therefore hee addeth that he is blessed that hath part in the first resurrection c. and saith that all such shall raigne with Christ a thousand yeers Which is meant of the raigne of the faithfull euen vpon earth for the space of that thousand yeeres in which Sathan was bound but yet excludeth not their eternall glory in the heauens ver 7 And when the thousand yeeres are expired Sathan shall bee loosed out of his prison ver 8 And shall goe out to deceiue the people which are in the foure corners of the earth euen Gog and Magog to gather them together to battaile whose number is as the sand of the sea ver 9 And they went vp vnto the plaine of the earth and they compassed the tents of the Saints about and the beloued cittie But fire came downe from God out of heauen and deuoured them Now S. Iohn telleth vs that after the determination of the thousand yeeres Sathan shall be let loose vpon the world for their vnthankfulnesse and contempt of the Gospell to seduce and deceiue euen as much as euer hee did No maruaile therefore that the two great and monstrous heresies of Popery and Mahometrie did now beginne mightely to grow and increase in the world For what other thing can bee looked for after this letting loose of Sathan But wee are to obserue that as Sathan was bound by degrees through the ministery of Christ and his Apostles and their immediat successors so also he was loosed by degrees by the preuailing of heresies till the great Antichrist was hatched and brought into the possession of his cursed chaire For Sathan was not fully loosed till the yeere of our Lord 998. At what time Siluester the second came to bee Pope who was in league with the Diuell Stories doe report that at his death hee called for the Cardinals and confessed that hee had familiaritie with the Diuell and how hee had giuen himselfe vnto him body and soule so that hee might come to the papall dignitie After him succeeded sundry other Popes which were notorious monsters some of them murderers some poisoners some sorcerers some coniurers By whom the diuell was fully loosed all light of the gospell and true religion being in a manner cleane put out most abhominable Idolatrie all manner of villany spreading ouer the face of the earth therefore S. Iohn saith that Sathan being thus fully loosed hee went forth to deceiue the people which were in the foure corners of the earth euen Gog and Magog c. This seducing by Sathan heere spoken of is the same with that which is spoken Chapter 13. onely this excepted that this of Gog and Magog is more generall Wee reade there how all nations kindreds and tongues were made to worship the image of the beast and to receiue his marke but that is to bee extended no further then to those kingdomes which were subiect to the papacie But heere by these armies of Gog and Magog are vnderstood all the chiefe enemies of the Church in these last daies since the loosing of Sathan both open and secret both Turk and Pope for the Turk is an open enemie the Pope a more close enemie Gog signifieth couered Magog vncouered wherby is noted the Pope the Turk For the Pope cōmeth couered vnder the name of Christ and Christs vicar Peters successor c. But the Turk commeth vncouered for hee openly denieth and impugneth Christ Moreouer the names of Gog and Magog are heere set downe to note of what countries these chiefe enemies should spring to wit out of Scithia Siria Arabia Italy and Spaine For Magog was the sonne of Iapheth Gen. 10. ver 2. of whom came the Sythians Gog was the name of a great Captaine in the lesser Asia which built a citie and named it after his owne name Gogkartah that is the citie of Gog. And it is put in the prophesie of Ezechiel for the whole region of the lesser Asia and Siria Whereby the prophet did foretell that the great enemies of the Church should arise out of those coasts As in very truth they did for out of Egipt Scithia Siria and the lesser Asia did spring vp Ptolomeus Silencus Antigonus Cassander and the rest of Alexanders posteritie which vexed and oppressed the Iewes by the space of 294. yeeres euen vntill the comming of the Messias at what time the deuided Greeke empire was ouerthrowen and translated to the Romanes Furthermore it is to bee noted that the prophet Ezechiell saith that Gog is the chiefe prince of Mesech and Tuball By Mesech hee meaneth Arabia and by Tuball Italy and Spaine noting thereby the countries and kingdomes from whence the great persecutors of the Church from the returne out of the captiuitie of Babylon vntill the comming of the Messias should arise For assuredly those enemies were collected of diuers nations but serued chiefely vnder the princes of Asia the lesser of Siria and of Scithia Now then to conclude Gog and Magog in Ezechiell are put for the princes of those coūtries which were the chiefe Captaines in gathering great and mightie armies vnto battaile against the children of Israell after they were come out of the captiuitie of Babylon And the prophet there in one summe vnder the armies of Gog and Magog comprehendeth all the enemies that fought against them from time to time after the captiuitie vnto the comming of Christ And now for the application of this vnto the enemies of the Church vnder the Gospell wee must first note that through this booke the figures and phrases of speech are taken out of the law the prophets Now therefore when the Lord would set foorth in one summe all the enemies of the Church which Sathan mustereth after the time of his loosing out of prison before the comming of Christ to iudgement there is no one place more fit to set foorth all these armies then those armies of Gog and Magog therefore the names euen Gog and Magog are heere brought in to set foorth these huge ar●ies of the Turk and of the Pope and of all the enemies of the Church in these last daies which should gather thēselues to battaile being in number as the sand of the sea as S. Iohn saith

and by the vertue of his Propheticall office the whole will of God is made knowne vnto vs. For God hath sent him as the great Prophet to instruct the world in righteousnesse and hath reuealed himselfe to vs in him and therefore hee is called the Image of the inuisible God the brightnesse of his glorie and the ingrauen forme of his person And therefore hee said to Philip Hee that hath seene mee hath seene my Father also And if you had knowne mee you should haue knowne my Father also And againe No man knoweth the Father but the Sonne and hee to whom the Sonne will reueale him Thus then wee see that Iesus Christ is that faithfull witnesse and Prince of Prophets in whom the will of God and all the counsels of his Father are reuealed vnto vs. The manner of Iohns calling to receiue this Prophesie is set downe in these wordes vers 9 I Iohn euen your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdome and patience of Iesus Christ was in the I le of Pathmos for the word of God and for the witnessing of Iesus Christ vers 10 And I was rauished in the spirit on the Lords day and heard behinde mee a great voice as it had bene of a trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega vers 11 that first and that last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it vnto the seuen Churches which are in Asia c. Now out of these three verses fiue things are to be obserued First that Iohn is commaunded by the voice of Christ which he heard behinde him as loude as a Trumpet to write and record the visions which he sawe and being so written and recorded to commend them to all the Churches for the common benefite and vse thereof So that herein Iohn doth nothing of himselfe nothing of his owne braine but all things by special warrant and authoritie from Iesus Christ that Alpha and Omega which doth call him and authorize him to this great businesse which now he is set about Secondly Iohns rauishment in spirit to the ende he might be made more capable of all these heauenly visions which were shewed vnto him Thirdly his great humiliation whereby also hee was fitted to receiue and vnderstand these great mysteries For God will guide the meeke in iudgement and teach the humble his wayes yea his secrets are with them that feare him Therefore although Iohn was a great Apostle and had seene wonderfull visions yet hee is not thereby puft vp with pride and conceit of himselfe but in the greatest humiliation of his soule calleth himselfe a brother and companion of all the faithfull vers 9 but specially of such as patiently suffer for Iesus Christ and his kingdome Fourthly the time when Iohn was called which was the Lords day Fiftly and lastly the place where he was called which was the I le of Pathmos as formerly hath bene shewed The description of Christ the person that calleth Iohn to this new office is set downe in the next fiue verses following wherein the excellent glorie of Christes person is described vers 13 First from the place where Christ did appeare vnto him Secondly from the seuerall parts and members of his royall person vers 14.15 vers 16 Thirdly from his prouident care ouer his true ministers and all his faithfull people Touching the place where Christe in a vision did appeare to Iohn hee saith it was in the middest of the seuen golden Candlestickes For saith hee I turned backe to see the voyce that spake with mee and when I was turned I sawe seuen golden Candlestickes and in the middest of the seuen Candlestickes one like the sonne of man c. The 7. vers 12 vers 13 golden Candlesticks are interpreted by Christ himselfe in the last verse of this Chapter to be the seuen Churches The Churches are saide to be of golde because Christ delighteth in them as much as we do in golde he valueth euery true member thereof as we do golde for euery beleeuer is all glorious within euery true Christian is faire and beautifull euery regenerate man is all as golde euen as most pure golde It is said afterward that Christ walketh in the midst of these seuen golden Candlestickes that is he is alwaies present with his Church to feed it gouerne it defend it comfort it The Prophet saith that Christ hath seuē eies which goe through the whole world whereby is signified his watchfull prouidence for his Church for hee is alwaies looking out for the good of it to defend and protect it against all aduersary power whatsoeuer Which thing was figured in the Rammes skinnes Badgers skinnes wherewithall the Arke was couered to defend it against all violence of winde and weather Euen so the mercifull protection of Christ is as it were the continuall couering of his Church As touching the parts and members of his royall person hee is described of his head and haire vers 13.14.15 of his face of his eyes of his voice of his feete of his garments and of his girdle As concerning his head and haire they are said to be as white as wooll and as snowe vers 14 which signifie his great wisedom knowledge to performe all things in his Church for wisedome and knowledge for the most part do accompany white heads and gray haires His face shineth as the Sunne in his strength Which signifieth that Christ is the same to his Church that the Sunne is to the world For as the Sunne lighteneth the whole worlde with his brightnesse So Christ with the brightnesse of his face lighteneth his whole Church His eyes are like a flame of fire that is exceeding bright and piercing into all places yea the very harts of men for nothing is hid frō his sight with whom we haue to do He hath Egles eyes to foresee all dangers intended and plotted against his Church that he may in due time preuent them His voice is compared to the sounde of many waters because it should sounde throughout all the world by the preaching of the Gospell Waters is expounded Chapter 17. verse 15. of multitudes nations and tongues Christs voice therefore is like many waters because his voice should goe through many countries and kingdomes His feete are compared to fine brasse to signifie both the perfectiō of all his waies and also his mightie power to treade downe all his enemies He is cloathed with a garment downe to the ground to signifie that he walketh as King and Priest in the midst of the seuen golden candlestickes For Kings and Priests in olde time did weare long garments specially in the execution of their offices He is girded about the pappes with a golden girdle for as Kings and Priests did gird their garments close vnto them least otherwise they might be hindred in the execution of their offices So Christ girdeth himselfe close to his businesse for he is no idle beholder of the

state of his church but one that continually worketh out the good thereof Concerning his prouident care ouer his faithfull Ministers he is said to carry them in his right hand for hee had in his right hand seuen starres that is vers 16 vers 20 the Ministers of the churches As Christ saith the seuen starres are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seuen churches Ministers are compared to starres because they should shine as bright starres in this darke world both by life and doctrine Christ is said to hold them in his right hand because he alwaies defendeth them against the malice fury of the world which of all others is most outragiously bent against them and their fauorites But let men take heed of ouer bold presuming to pul the starres out of Christs right hand least they smart for it The world is very busie this way they thinke to wring them out of his hands but alas poore soules they are not able he holdeth them too fast who can pull them out of his right hand If they continue bold and busie this way they may hap at last take a beare by the tooth and peraduenture pull an olde house vpō their heads An other reason why Christ is said to holde the 7. starres in his right hand is because he worketh by them and their ministrie as an Artificer with his toole in his right hande The things which Christ hath done by these instrumēts are glorious and admirable For by the ministery of the Gospell he hath cōuerted many sinners saued many soules then the which nothing can be more honorable wonderfull and therfore the word of God which is the Ministers weapō is compared to a sharpe two edged sword vers 16 which came out of Christs mouth Now vnto all this may be added that Christ saith he was dead but now aliue because hee died and rose againe And also that he saith Hee had the keyes of hell and death that is authoritie and power ouer hell and damnation For he hath absolute power to open and shut binde and loose and therefore it is written chapter 3.7 He hath the key of Dauid which openeth and no man shutteth and shutteth and no man openeth All this setteth forth the great power glory of Christs person and all aimeth at this marke end to commend vnto vs the authoritie of this booke because it commeth from a person of so great dignitie excellēcy Last of all it remaineth to shewe how Iohn was affected with this vision wherein Christ did so gloriously appeare vnto him vers 17 for he saith When I sawe him I fell at his feete as dead Wherein hee sheweth how greatly hee was amazed and daunted with the sight of Christs most glorious personage Hee was striken with such an astonishment feare that there was almost no life or spirit left in him and all this was to humble him euen to the ground in as much as by it he findeth his owne weakenesse and imperfection not capable of such a sight so farre as to endure it It was no doubt profitable or rather necessary that this holy seruant of God should thus be humbled and made fit to receiue this reuelation with the greater reuerence from his great Lorde and maister And also it maketh much for our profit as appeareth in that euery part of this vision is rehearsed in the Epistles to the Churches But to conclude Iohn being thus humbled and cast downe in himselfe is comforted and raised vp by Christ who laid his right hand vpon him and willed him to feare nothing For saith he I am the first and the last vers 17 and am aliue but I was dead behold I am aliue for euermore In which wordes hee dooth greatly cheare vp Iohns heart and telleth him plainely that this might and terrour of his person is bent onely against the wicked enemies of his Church nothing at all against the friends thereof but contrariwise that all this power and glorie might and maiestie is wholy and altogether for the good of his Church Wherein wee may all clearely see and knowe to our great comfort that the same arme of God which casteth down the wicked raiseth vp the godly the same power wich woundeth them healeth vs the same hand which destroieth them saueth vs the same might and maiestie wich hurteth them helpeth vs. For whatsoeuer is in God is wholly for his and wholy against those that are none of his And thus much concerning the first Chapter CHAP. II. and III. I Haue thought good to handle these two Chapters together and in a generall and compendious maner to set downe the most speciall matters contained in them both not meaning to insist vpon euery particular both because these two chapters are plaine and easie to vnderstand also because they haue bene sufficiently beaten vpon by many These two Chapters doo generally containe seuen Epistles written to the seuē Churches of Asia wherein the present estate of the Churches of Asia is very liuely described and in them the state of all other churches then militant vpon the face of the earth Euery one of these seuen Epistles containeth foure things First an Exordium or entrance into the matter Secondly a generall proposition Thirdly a narration Lastly a conclusion The Exordium or entrance of euery Epistle containeth two things namely the person to whom the Epistle is written and the person from whom the Epistle is written The proposition is one the same in all these Epistles contained in these words I know thy workes The narration containeth the matter of each Epistle and cōsisteth of commendations and discommendations of admonitions reprehensions threats and promises The conclusion of euery Epistle is one and the same in these words Let him that hath an eare heare what the spirit saith to the Churches First concerning the person to whom these Epistles are sent he is named in the beginning of euerie Epistle To be the Angel of such a Church By this word Angel he meaneth not the inuisible spirits which we call the Angels of heauen for the things attributed to these Angels can in no wise agree to the inuisible spirits as to be Angels of seueral churches to be neither hotte nor cold to leaue their first loue to repent and amend and sundry such like attributes throughout all these Epistles But by the word Angell he meaneth the Minister or Pastor of euery church which therefore is called an Angell because he is the Minister of God as the word signifieth As also because euery faithfull Minister ought to be receiued and regarded as an Angell of God as the Apostle witnesseth of the Galathians that they receiued him as an Angell of God yea as Christ Iesus And he giueth many admonitions in his Epistles to this effect for hee would haue all faithfull and painfull Ministers to be greatly reuerenced and had in double honour to be acknowledged had in singular loue for their workes sake to

iustly cause the worlde to smart for it and make them with sorrowe inough to feele the punishment of the Gospell reiected And whē he had opened the fourth seale vers 7 I heard the voice of the fourth beast say Come and see And I looked and beholde a pale horse vers 8 and his name that sate on him was Death and hell followed after him c. This pale horse signifieth the pestilence and other contagious diseases which God most iustly brought vpon the world for the contempt of the Gospel and the murthering of Christe and his Apostles and as I noted before out of the scriptures that when God commeth either in mercy or iudgement he is said to come on horsebacke to note his expedition and swiftnesse both in the one and the other so as before Christ is vppon the white horse the diuell vpon the red horse famine vpon the black horse so here death and hell are said to be vpon the pale horse for pestilence and death maketh men looke pale but being dead hee saith hell followed For assuredly hell doth alwaies followe the death of the bodie excepting those onely whom Christ hath deliuered from hell and damnation by the power of his death Thus then it is the redde horse with blood the blacke horse with famine the pale horse with pestilence haue power giuen them ouer the fourth part of men to murther kill and slea as all stories doe shewe that for the reiecting of Christ and his Gospell these plagues were carried as it were on horsebacke ouer a great part of the worlde Now as touching this famine and pestilence which fell out vpon the opening of the third and fourth seales they are to bee referred vnto those times especially wherein the Hunnes Gothes and Vandales and other barbarous nations which were the wasters of the world did waste decaie the Romane Empire both farre and neare Wherevppon grew this famine scarsitie and pestilence and straunge diseases heere spoken of about some 300. yeares after Christ and somewhat more And when hee had opened the fift seale I sawe vnder the Aultar the soules of them that were killed for the word of God and for the testimonie which they maintained c. Heere is discouered the state of the Martyrs after this life and the condition of the spirits of all iust and perfect men For whereas it might bee demaunded what became of all those heapes and multitudes of men which were slaine for the testimonie of Iesus in the tenne great persecutions it is here answered that they were vnder the Aultar Iohn in a Vision seeth them vnder the Aultar That is vnder the mercifull protection of Christ in heauen who for them and for vs all was made both Aultar Priest and Sacrifice This Aultar Christ is afterward called the golden Aultar which is before the throne of God chapter 8.3 So then it is cleare that the soules of the Martyrs were with Christ in glory For hee saith to his disciples Where I am there shall you be also And in an other place he saith If I were lift vp from the earth I will drawe all men vnto me that is all beleeuers Then it followeth that the soules of these iust and righteous men were in Paradise and in Abrahams bosome which is the very port and hauen of saluation For although the persecuting Emperours and other tyrants of the earth had power to kill theyr bodies yet had they no power ouer theyr soules as our Lorde Iesus affirmeth vers 10 And they cryed with a loude voice saying How long Lord holy and true doest thou not iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell vpon the earth Here wee see plainely that the soules of the Martyrs doo very vehemently crye for vengeance vpon these cruell tyrants which shead their bloud Moreouer they crie for it speedily and seeme to be impatient of delay But it is to be obserued that they doo not this in any hatred or priuate desire of reuenge in respect of any wrong or crueltie shewed to them but in a very loue and burning zeale of the Kingdome and glory of Christ and whatsoeuer desire they haue it is wholy to that ende Wherefore they are here vnder a figure brought in crying for vengeance rather to expresse what iudgement of God tarrieth for the cruell persecutors then to shewe what minde they beare towards them For it is indeede their cause that cryeth for vengeance And as Abels bloud so theyr bloud cryeth aloude in the eares of the Lorde of Hoastes for reuenge Moreouer wee may not imagine or gather out of this loude crying of the Martyrs in heauen that they haue any disturbance impatience disquietnesse or any discontentment there But this they do in a feruent desire of that fulnesse of glorie which they assuredly hope for and looke for in the consummation of all things when both their soules and bodies shall be ioyned together And long white robes were giuen vnto euery one vers 11 and it was said vnto them that they should rest for a little season vntil their fellow seruants their brethren which should be killed euen as they were were fulfilled These white robes do signifie that honour glory and dignitie wherevnto not onely the Martyrs but also all other faithfull beleeuers are aduanced in the chambers of peace for so white robes are to bee vnderstood in sundrie other places of this booke And this doth plainely proue that the Martyrs were now in glory with Christ Now as concerning the answere to their complaint and crie it was this that they should be content and haue patience for a little season for the time remaining to the ende of the worlde was but as a day with God and as a moment in comparison of eternitie and the reason of the delay is yeelded which is this that there were numbers of others their bretheren in the worlde which should bee martyred and slaine for the truth as well as they vnder the great Antichrist of Rome and the bloudie Turke at and vpon the opening of the sixt and seuenth seale And therefore in consideration that the most wise God had decreed and fore-determined with himselfe in his most secret and hid counsell to bring multitudes of others to glory by the same way and meanes that they themselues were brought that therefore in the meane time beeing so short a time they should rest satisfied and contented And hereby the way we see what staieth the comming of Christ vnto iudgement namely this that the number of his Martyrs and Saints and all such as he hath chosen vnto life are not yet accomplished vers 12 And I behelde when hee opened the sixt seale and loe there was a great earthquake and the Sun was as black as sackcloath of haire and the Moone was like bloud vers 13 And the starres of heauen fell vnto the earth as a figge-tree casteth her green figges when it is shaken of a mightie winde vers 14 And heauen departed

the mightiemen and euery bond-man and euery free-man hidde themselues in dennes vers 16 and amongst the rockes of the mountaines and said to the rockes and mountaines vers 17 fall on vs c. the sense and meaning of all is this that these visible iudgements should bee so horrible and extraordinarie that all sorts of men then liuing vpon the face of the earth should euen wish themselues buried quicke or that they might runne into a mouse-hole or awger-hole to hide themselues from the wrath of the Lambe For being both outwardly terrified with these sensible iudgements and inwardly griped and tormented with the furie of their owne consciences they were at no hande able to endure it CHAP. VII THis chapter dooth wholy appertaine vnto the opening of the sixt seale It sheweth generally how God in the middest of all the broiles which happened vnder the opening of the sixt seale yet did preserue his church and mercifully prouide for his owne people This seuenth chapter may very fitly bee deuided into three parts First it sheweth that as God did most fearefully punish the world with visible sensible iudgemēts as we haue heard before so now he would set vpon them with inuisible and spirituall plagues which are of all other most grieuous and intollerable vers 1 Secondly it sheweth the state and condition of the Church militant here in earth as before was shewed vnder the opening of the fift seale the state of the Church triumphant in the heauens vers 2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9 namely that it is sealed and set in safetie from all daungers Thirdly it sheweth the blessed and happie estate of all Gods elect vers 10.11.12.13.14.15.16.17 and their feruent praises and zealous worship of God who thus mercifully did prouide for their securitie in the middest of greatest perils and extremities vers 1 And after that I saw foure Angels stand on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure winds of the earth that the windes should not blowe on the earth neither on the sea neither on any greene tree These foure angels are angels of darknesse or foure diuels which is proued by this reason that they holde the foure windes from blowing on the earth that is stop the course of the Gospell which is a spirituall plague They are said to stand vpon the foure corners of the earth because power was giuen them to plague not some one or two countries but the vniuersall world both East West North and South The blowing of the windes doth very fitly represent the preaching of the Gospell and that heauenly inspiration and breathing of the holy Ghost which goeth with it Winde is so taken Ioh. 3. where our Lord Iesus saith The wind bloweth where it listeth c So is euery man that is borne of the spirit And again in the 4. of the Cantic in these words Arise ô North and come ô South and blowe on my garden that the spices thereof may flowe out Where it plainly appeareth that the Church craueth the inspiration of the spirit that her fruites may abound For what can be meant by these windes which she wisheth to blow vppon her garden but the heauenly breathings of Gods holy spirit and word It followeth then that if the blowing of the windes in the scriptures doo signifie the breathing of Gods grace and holy spirite that the stopping of the windes by a reason of the contraries doth here signifie the stopping of the same and the depriuation of all heauenly blessings So that it is cleare that a spirituall plague is heere represented which also is the more apparant because here is such speciall prouiso and care had for the churches safetie that it might not be infected with this spirituall contagiō Now all this doth plainly fore-prophesie not only the stopping of the course of the Gospell but euen the vtter taking of it away from the world for their great contempt thereof and the horrible murthering massacring of all the true professors of it according as it came to passe afterward in the preuailing first of heresies and afterward of the Popish and Mahometish religion as in the two next Chapters following shall plainly appeare And I sawe another Angell come vp from the East vers 2 which had the seale of the liuing God and he cried with a loud voice to the foure angels to whome power was giuen to hurt the earth and the sea saying Hurt yee not the earth neither the sea vers 3 neither the trees till wee haue sealed the seruants of our God in their foreheads This Angell is Iesus Christ who by the Prophet is called the Angell of the couenant That Angels do represent sustaine the person of Christ their head is so common vsuall a thing in the scriptures that I shall not neede to staie in it That this Angell is Christ it doth plainly appeare by the things heere attributed vnto him which can agree to none other First in that he hath the seale of the liuing God which is the spirit of adoption to set vpon all the elect for hee is the onely keeper of this great seale and this priuie seale Hee onely hath authoritie to set it vpon whom he will Secondly because hee is saide to come vp from the East that is hee is the onely sonne of righteousnes which ariseth vpon his Church euery 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 the day spring from an highe hath visited vs. Thirdly because he holdeth a soueraigntie and commaund ouer the diuels for he chargeth them here to staie their hands from doing any hurt till he had prouided for his elect vers 2 Whereas it is saide that power was giuen to these diuels to hurt the earth the sea and the trees that is the number of reprobates we may note that the diuels haue no absolute power but only by permission as appeareth in this that they could neither touch Iob nor enter into the heard of swine without leaue and licence vers 3 Whereas it is said Till we haue sealed the seruants of our God in their foreheads it doth plainely shewe that the punishments of the wicked are deferred till prouision be made for the elect The floud came not vppon the olde worlde till Noah and his family were receiued into the Arke The Angels destroyed not Sodome till Lot was set in safetie The plaguing Angell spared the first borne of Egipt till the postes of the Israelites houses were sprinkeled with the blood of the paschall Lambe The sixe Angels sent to destroy Ierusalem are charged to staie the execution till the seruaunts of God were marked in their fore-heads All these examples do manifestly declare what tender care the Lorde in all ages hath had of his owne people that they might be deliuered and set in safetie in the midst of all extremities Euen so heere we see that God

Alpha and Omega the beginning and the end the first and the last ver 14 Blessed are they that doe his commandements that their right may bee in the tree of life and may enter in through the gates into the citie For without shall bee dogges and enchanters and whooremongers and murtherers and Idolaters and whosoeuer loueth or maketh lies Heere is first an exhortation to publish and proclaime the knowledge of this booke to all people and in no wise to conceale it or keepe it close as formerly hath beene shewed in the epistle Heere is a further admonition that they which are vnrighteous should bee vnrighteous still c. Which is no allowance or encouragement granted vnto wicked men to continue in their euill waies but is rather a terrible threat if wee take all the wordes together in this and the next verse as if he should say if men will needes continue in their filthines yet certainely Christ will come shortly and reward them according to their workes Or else it may bee a phrase of speach which they call an ironicall concession as in another place the holy ghost saith to the young man Walke in the wayes of thine owne heart and in the sight of thine eies but know that for all these things God will bring thee vnto iudgement So likewise in other places After this heere is blessednesse pronounced vpon all such as keepe the commandements of God and it is said that there right is in the tree of life not meaning thereby that their keeping of the commandements is the cause of their right in Christ but onely an effect or consequence For our good works doe not goe beefore as causes of our iustification but follow after as declarations of the same For by doing wee are not made iust in the sight of God but onely declared to bee iust in the sight of men And as for the keeping of the commandements wee doe it not in such perfection as Gods iustice requireth but in such measure as his mercie accepteth through Christ And heere the holy ghost saith that all they which haue a right in Christ which is the tree of life and indeauour to keepe the commandements shall enter in through the gates into the new Ierusalem but on the contrarie all the rout of reprobates whom hee calleth dogges enchanters whooremongers c. shall bee vtterly shut out as hauing nothing to do in this euerlasting citie their portion beeing allotted in the infernall lake ver 16 I Iesus haue sent mine Angell to testifie vnto you these things I am the root and the generation of Dauid and the bright morning star ver 17 And the spirit and the bride say Come And let him that heareth say Come and let him that is a thrift come and let whosoeuer will take of the water of life freely ver 18 For I protest vnto euery man that heareth the words of the prophesie of this booke If any man shall adde vnto these things God shall adde vnto him the plagues that are written in this booke ver 19 And if any man shall diminish of the wordes of the booke of this prophesie God shall take away his part out of the booke of life and out of the holy citie and from those things which are written in this booke ver 20 Hee which testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly Amen Euen so come Lord Iesus ver 21 The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ bee with you all Amen The authoritie of this booke is heere againe ratified from the person of him vvho is the author of it that is Iesus Christ vvho is heere called the root and generation of Dauid both because he is discended of the house of Dauid according to the flesh and also because the eternall kingdome vvhich all the prophets did foretell should spring out of the house of Dauid vvas indeed and in truth established in Christ vvho is our true Dauid and our righteous braunch and as it is heere said the bright morning starre vvhich hath most gloriously risen vpon the vvorld to dispell all darknesse and to bring the great and euerlasting light Moreouer heere is great protestation made in the eightene and ninteene verses of great plagues to bee inflicted vpon all such as shall adde any thing vnto this booke or take away any thing from it Which also maketh greatly for the confirmation of the authoritie of this booke for that to the which nothing may be added and from the which nothing may be taken away must needes bee absolute and perfect But this booke is such a one therefore this booke is absolute and perfect being a part of Gods euerlasting truth Last of all heere is set downe the feruent desire of the bride after the bridgrome for shee being inflamed with the spirit desireth him to come and make vp the match betwixt them that shee may bee ioyned to him in marriage celebrate the solemnization and liue together with him in the eternall triumph Which is the sence of these words the spirit and the bride say come and let him that heareth say come For it is proper and peculiar onely to the brid to heare waite and long for the comming of Christ And let him that is a thirst come That is all such as thirst after righteousnesse may truely say come sweet Iesus For they are allowed freely to drinke of the water of life The plaine menaing of all this is that the Church being directed by the holy ghost most vehemently prayeth and longeth for the comming of Christ that shee may haue her topfull happinesse and full fruition of all those super excellent things which are prouided and purchased for her through him And therefore to satisfie her desire Iesus Christ the heauenly bridegroome saith I come shortly To the which the bride saith Amen Amen Euen so be it Come Lord Iesus come quickly and make an end of these sinfull and conflicting daies that all thy deer ones may haue and enioy their long ●●ked for happinesse and felicitie in the heauens for euer and euer FINIS Apo. 1.3 Gen. 3. Gen. 15. Ier. 25. Dan. 7. Ezech. 38. Dan. 8. Dan. 9. Dan. 11. Apoc. 9 11. Esa 29 11. Dan. 12.9 Apoc. 4.1 Apoc. 10.4 Apoc. 1.1 Apoc. 1.11 Deut. 19. Apoc. 1. ● Apoc. 22 7. Apoc. 22.10 1. Cor. 2. Apoc. 22. verse 8. Apoc. 1. verse 19. Apoc. 1. verse 11. 2. Pet. 1. verse 21 Gal. 1. ver 12. Apoc. 1. ver 10.11 Esay 6. Ezech. 1. Dan. 10. Apoc. 1.10 1. Cor. 6.2 Act. 20.7 Dan. 7.2 Ezec. 3.12.14 Act. 10.10 2. Cor. 12.2 Iohn 15.15 Apoc. 1.9 Apoc. 1.1 Rom 15.4 2. Tim. 3.16 Mal. 3.6 Esa 46.10 Math. 24.35 Apoc. 22.7 Cap. 2. Cap. 3. Cap 7. Cap. 12. Cap. 7. Cap. 8. Cap. 15. Cap. 12. Cap. 1● Cap. 9. Cap. 18. Cap 19. Cap. 14. Cap 20. Cap. 21. Cap. 22. Cap. 1.1 Cap. 1.4 Cap. 1.9 Cap. 22.8 Heb. 9.12 Heb. 9.14 Iohn 18 37. 1. Tim. 6.13 1. Iohn 5. Coll 1 1● Heb.