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 â—â—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. â— 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. 1â— 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 1â— Heb.
of The holy Ghost did well foresee this practise of Sathan and therefore bringeth the moe reasons for the confirmation therof If the credit and authoritie of this booke should neuer haue bene impugned there needed not any such special confirmatiō But now God be thanked there is no question or controuersie concerning the authoritie of this Prophesie It is receiued as authenticall by the common consent of all the Churches Almost all the auncient Fathers do acknowledge it to bee Canonicall The new writers doo with one voice giue their consent approbation vnto it The Papists themselues do acknowledge it to bee the sacred vndoubted word of God though of al scriptures they cannot endure it should be medled withall because it cutteth them so neare the bone Moreouer it may not be omitted that God is called the Lord God of the holy Prophets chapter 22. verse 6. which proueth that this Prophesie is of equall authoritie with the Prophesies which were of olde in as much as the same God is the Author of it And this booke is to be held in the same account with the bookes of Moses and of the Prophets for all things contained in it shall as certainly be fulfilled in their time as theirs were In Esay in Ieremie in Ezechiel in Daniel and in the rest we find many things which the Lord shewed by thē lōg before they came to passe Euē so there be many things foreshewed fore-prophesied in this booke which in their time shal be assuredly fulfilled Nay we see and know that many things here fore-tolde are already fulfilled some things are come to passe euen in these our daies Hee that shall looke into the times that are past since this Prophesie was giuē shal finde that all things haue fallen out agreeable to the Prophesie of this booke And surely if there were none other thing to perswade vs touching the authoritie thereof this might suffice that euery thing hath fallen out iust and iumpe as this Prophesie did foreshewe It is our great negligence that we do not clearely see so much And I do humbly entreate all the people of God to looke more diligently and narrowly into it in all time to come And thus much concerning the circumstances Now as concerning the booke it selfe it may very fitly be deuided 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 4. to the 12. Chapter And the last vision is contained in all the Chapters following from the 12. to the ende As concerning the first vision my purpose is not to stand much vpon it because it is plaine and easie to vnderstand and because it containeth no Prophesies of things to come but onely openeth the present state of the Church at that time also because I haue alreadie touched the summe of it in handling the circumstantiall points I will therefore content my selfe 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 booke The salutation of the Churches The maner of Iohns calling to receiue this Prophesie The description of Christ the person that calleth him The Title of the booke is set downe in these words The Reuelation of Iesus Christ which God gaue him vers 1 It containeth three things First the Author of the booke which is Iesus Christ receiuing it from God the Father vers 1.2 Secondly the end and vse of this booke which is to shewe vnto all the seruants of God the things which must shortly be done vers 3 Thirdly the singular fruite and benefite which the Church shall receiue by it in these words Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare the words of this Prophesie c. vers 4 The salutation is in these words Iohn to the seuen Churches which are in Asia Grace bee with you peace c. It containeth a description of the Trinitie or three persons in the God-head The Father is described of his eternitie namely to be he which is which was and which is to come vers 4 The holy Ghost is described of his diuerse gifts and operations and therefore is called the seuen spirits which are before the Throne or which proceed from the Throne but S. Iohn speaketh here of the holy Ghost according to the vision shewed him in the fift chapter where Christ is said to haue seuen eyes which are the seuen spirits of God sent into all the the world Of the which afterward vers 5 6. Iesus Christ is described of his three great offices of King Priest and Prophet and also of his glorious power and eternitie vers 7.8 First touching his kingly office hee is called the Prince of the Kings of the earth that is vers 5 King of Kings for he is King of Sion He is a King to rule and gouerne his Church Hee must raigne ouer the house of Iudah for euer Hee must raigne ouer all his enemies and in the middest of all his enemies euen till he haue trode them all vnder his feete And this benefite we haue by it that we are made Kings in him in this life to raigne ouer our corrupt affections and after this life to raigne as crowned kings foreuer with him in infinite glorie and endlesse felicitie Secondly touching his Priest-hood vers 5 hee is said to loue vs and wash vs from our sinnes in his bloud For hee is our onely high Priest which by his owne bloud hath once entred into the holy place and obtained eternall redemption for vs. Hee onely it is which through the eternall Spirit offered himselfe without fault to God to purge our consciences from dead workes to serue the liuing God So then by vertue of his Priest-hood and sacrifice wee are reconciled vnto God haue free accesse vnto the throne of grace and are made Priests in him to offer vp spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through him vers 6 For hee hath made vs Kings and Priests vnto God euen his Father Thirdly concerning his Propheticall office hee is called that faithfull witnesse For hee said to Pilate vers 5 For this cause was I borne and for this cause came I into the world that I might beare witnesse vnto the truth And the Apostle saith Hee witnessed vnder Pontius Pilate a good confession So then Iesus Christ is one of those three great witnesses which beare record in heauen Iesus Christ is the Prince of Prophets euen that great Prophet that should come into the world through whom all the counsels of God are reuealed vnto vs he is that only begotten son which is come downe from the bosome of his Father and hath made knowne vnto vs whatsoeuer he hath receiued of his Father Hee both by his doctrine life and miracles hath borne witnesse vnto the truth
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
by cruel lawes and decrees to receiue and embrace the same So this second beast is nothing better thē the first nay in truth a great deale worse vers 13 And he did great woonders so that hee made fire to come downe from heauen on the earth in the sight of men vers 14 And deceiued them that dwell on the earth by the signes which were permitted him to doo in the sight of the beast saying to them that dwell on the earth that they should make the Image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue These two verses do containe two special things The one is the false fained miracles of Antichrist The other is the cursed effect thereof Touching the first which is the woonders and miracles which Antichrist should worke it is here said that he should make fire come downe from heauen as Elias did The meaning whereof is not that the Popes could indeed cause fire to come downe from heauen as Elias did but in the opinion of the blind world they seemed to haue as great power as euer had Elias For partly by counterfeit miracles and partly by some strange things done by the power of Sathan the seduced world hath verily beleeued that the Pope and his clergie had as great power to worke miracles as euer had Elias Touching the second thing which is the effect of these woonders It is here sayd that the inhabitants of the earth that is Papists and Worldlings were grosselie deceiued and deluded by them euen by those lying woonders which were permitted him to doo in the sight of the beast that is in the face and open view of the Empire According as the Apostle foretolde that the comming of Antichrist should be by the effectuall working of Sathan with all power and signes and lying woonders and in all deceiueablenesse of vnrighteousnesse among them that perish c. But concerning the Popishe counterfeit signes and woonders it is needelesse to write beeing so wel knowne to al men as they are and so common and notorious in al stories ver 14 Saying to them that dwel on the earth that they should make the image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue Now Antichrist hauing gotten the world vnder him by his counterfeit miracles dooth lay his commandement vpon thē to make the Image of the beast Now what is here meant by the image of the beast is somewhat hard to discusse some thinke that by the image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue is meant the repairing and the restoring of the decaied estate of the empire by the Popes to his ful strength and vertue We doe read that the state of the empire vnder Nero Otho Galba and Vitellius was weak feeble in comparison of that which it was before vnder Augustus Tiberius Claudius We doo reade also that the Gothes and Vandales made horrible rents and dissipations in the Romane empire We doe further reade that the empire was deuided and rent in peeces so that there was the emperour of the East the emperour of y e West yea at last the empire of the West fel quite downe so that for the space of three hundred yeares and more there was no Emperour of the West vntill the Bishop of Rome Leo the third made Charles the Great the king of France Emperour Then was the empire of the West againe erected and in time grew to as great an height vnder the dominion of the Popes as euer before yea and farre greater Now I say some do take this restoring of the decayed estate of the Empire by the Popes to his former strength and power to be the making of the image of the beast which had the wound of a sword and did liue But for mine owne part I cannot be of that opinion and my reason is that the restoring of the decaied estate of the empire to his former condition was the setting vp of the beast himselfe for the empire is the beast and not the Image of the beast for we must needes graunt that the beast and the image of the beast are two seueral things But the Popes in recouering the empire to his pristinate estate set vp the beast againe and therfore not the image of the beast Therefore the image of the beast cannot be vnderstood of the restauration of the decaied estate of the empire Besides this it is here said that the inhabitants of the earth had a great hād in making of this image But the inhabitāts of the earth bare smal sway in the recouering and erectiō of the empire For therein the Popes were al in al after it came into their hands Therfore this cannot be vnderstood of y e Empire but of some other thing let vs then diligently search out what may be the true meaning of this place It must needes be graunted that by the beast which had the wound of a sworde and did liue is meant the recouered estate of the empire as before vers 12. and by the image thereof I vnderstande the forme of gouerment for an image doth signifie a likenes a similitude a figure or forme of a thing And as in all ciuil and ecclesiasticall regiments there is both a substance and a forme a matter and a manner so here vers 12 hauing before set downe that Antichrist had erected the substance and matter of the old Romane tyranny now he sheweth that he should also set vp the image and forme of the same For before ver 12. it is said that Antichrist this secōd beast caused the world to worship the first beast that is to receiue and imbrace the lawes worship and religion of the olde heathenish Romane tyrants as before hath bin shewed and now here is added that hee did not content himselfe with causing the inhabitants of the earth to worship the old beast in the substance of his religion but also he laieth commaundements vpon them to make his Image that is to erect an externall forme of Ecclesiasticall gouernment after the verie patterne and forme of the gouernement of the old Empire yea so like it that it is called the verie image of the same For as the forme of gouernement vnder the old Emperours was cruell and tyrannicall and altogether bent against the Church so the forme of Ecclesiasticall gouernement vnder the Popes was cruell and tyrannicall and altogether bent against the Church and therefore heere it is called the Image of it for it is as like it as it can looke Then it followeth that Antichrist hath set vp that externall forme of worship which the Idolatrous Romans of old vsed and that he hath renewed the persecuting Empire not onely in substance of matter but also in forme of gouernement and therefore I conclude that the Popish Church-policie and externall regiment is the verie Image of the beast Heere the inhabitants of the earth are said to make the Image of the beast
grown to such an height and ripenesse do deserue some fearefull vengeance and that God hath a iust controuersie against vs as sometimes he had against Israel because there vvas no mercie nor truth nor knowledge of God in the land but swearing lying killing stealing and whooring and bloud toucheth bloud and therefore saith God the land shal mourn c. But yet I hope for his couenant sake for his great mercies sake for his names sake for his glory sake and for his Church sake he will be gratious and fauorable vnto vs not bring vpon vs that vēgeance which our sins haue deserued or at leastwise though he correct vs as indeed he hath iust cause we may iustly feare it yet he will doe it in mercie for our amendment and not in wrath to our destruction as he saith by his Prophet I will not vtterly destroy thee but I vvill correct thee by iudgement and not vtterly cut thee off But howsoeuer it shall please the most wise God to deale with vs yet this I say and am perswaded of that Poperie shall neuer bee established againe in this kingdome my reason is because the euerlasting Gospell caried abroad by the Angell that flieth in the middest of heauen shall spread still more and more throughout all the kingdoms of Europe chapter 14.6 as appeareth Chap. 14. ver 6 for otherwise how shal Rome fal how shal the Iewes euer be conuerted how shall fire come downe from heauen and deuour both Gog and Magog chapter 20.9 as the holy Ghost foretelleth shall come to passe and as we shal heare more anon Moreouer Saint Iohn telleth vs plainly that in these last dayes the Gospell shall bee preached to many people and nations and tongues and to many kings And further he saith that in this age wherein wee liue many shall renounce Idolatry repent and giue glorie to the God of heauen But some man may say how proue you that this kingdom is one of them which S. Iohn speaketh of and which he meaneth wherein the gospell shall be preached vnto the end of the world I answere that it is prooued out of the 17. chapter of this prophesie where the holy ghost telleth vs flatly that those ten kingdomes of Europe which had a lōg time ben the ten hornes strength of the beast chapter 17. verse 13 being of one minde had giuen their power authority vnto the beast should now in these last daies rise vp against the whore of Babylō make war against her hate her make her desolate But this kingdome is one of those ten hornes ver 16 and one of those ten kingdomes which a long time had giuen her power authoritie vnto the beast Therefore as this kingdome hath happily begun to hate the whore and to make her desolate and naked so vndoubtedly shee shall continue vnto the end of the world For if this kingdome and other kingdomes which now hate the whore doe not continue how shall shee bee made desolate and naked c Then it should seeme the beast shall reuiue and recouer himselfe againe and so S. Iohn shall be found a false prophet But God is true and all men are liers Saint Iohn shall bee found a true prophet and therefore these kingdomes of Europe which haue begun to hate the whore shal cōtinue neuer giue her ouer till as the holy ghost saith they haue eaten her flesh burnt her with fire that is till they haue vtterly deuoured her But heere it will be obiected that in the latter daies iniquitie shall haue the vpper hand I answere first that I finde no such place of scripture But this I find that our Lord Iesus foretelleth his disciples that very shortly after his death resurrection many seducers and false teachers should arise which should deceiue many and draw them away from the loue of the gospell and saith hee because iniquitie shall bee increased the loue of many shall bee cold But this speech of our sauiour doth not properly concerne our times But yet it must needes be granted that the wicked shall wax worse and worse the world shall not amend but still bee worse and worse chapter 14. ver 1 14 18. and grow to a greater height and ripenesse of sinne as appeareth in this prophesie Yet for all this wee must note withall that the number of true beleeuers in those last daies chapter 11. ver 1 ver 11. ver 13. shall bee very many as this booke doth also teach But it may bee obiected how can this geare stand together that in the last daies there shall bee multitudes and millions of reprobates and most wicked abhominable persons and yet withall a great increase of true beleeuers I answere that the world will bee alwaies like it selfe impious and vnbeleeuing But the church shall purely worship God and that with daily increasing euen vnto the end But now me thinketh I heare some man say what likelyhood is there of all this which you write touching the ouerthrow of Rome Doe wee not see that Rome is yet strong Doth not Italy Spaine the greatest part of France and Netherland and Germany stand for her defence Hath not the whore still many and great bearers and vpholders what likelyhood is there thē that euer she shal be brought so low as you speake of I answere that in this case we must not aske this question what likelyhood We must not consult with flesh and bloud Wee must not take counsell of humane reason For God is maruellous in his deuises and when hee hath once decreed and determined of any future euent he will compasse it by meanes far surpassing all humane reach and capacitie yea by such plots and deuises as mans wit could neuer haue once dreamed of For hee hath all meanes in heauen earth in his hands and is admirable in all his proceedings and therefore we may not aske this question what likelyhood or how can it bee or how can it possiblie come to passe What likelyhood was there an hundred yeeres past when Rome was in her height and all the kingdomes of Europe stood for her that euer she should haue been forsaken of so many of her old friends as at this day shee is What likelyhood was there that when the Pope could commaund the Emperor and all the kings of Europe and their kingdomes that euer hee should haue beene brought so low as at this day hee is God bee thanked What likelyhood was there that euer poore Martin Luther should stand out with the euerlasting gospell in his mouth against the Pope Emperour as it were the whole world yet dye in his bed in a good old age What likelyhood was there that Henry the eight of famous memory should renounce Rome oppose himselfe against the Pope and suppresse the Abbies Priories and Monasteries in this kingdome and take their lands and liuings into his owne hands Therefore I
haue heard before chapter 1.18 By the chaine in his hand is meant the doctrine of the gospell The time when Sathan was thus taken bound was when Christ first preached the Gospell and his Apostles after him to all nations The cause why hee was now bound and chained vp was for that hee had a long time seduced all nations and raigned as King and Lord ouer the Gentiles and greatly seduced the Iewes also The time of his imprisonment is set downe to be a thousand yeeres that is all the time frō the preaching of Christ and his Apostles vntill Gregory the seauenth other monstrous Popes which did let Sathan loose againe Which space of time is guessed by the learned to be a thousand yeeres or thereabouts But heere it is to bee obserued that this binding of Sathan is not to bee taken simply and absolutely as though Sathan was so bound and chained vp for this thousand yeere that hee could not seduce at all or doe no mischiefe at all after the preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles I say this is not to bee taken simply but afrer a sort that is that hee could not so generally and vniuersally seduce all nations as hee had in former time before the comming of Christ For otherwise it is well knowne that euen after Christs time hee did greatly persecute the Church bring in many errors and heresies and harden and blind many mens hearts but yet all this was nothing in comparison of that which hee had wrought in former ages when hee was euen as it were the god of the world and the Gentiles worshipped him as God as the Apostle teacheth that all the worship of the heathen nations was the worship of diuels And againe that God in times past suffered all the Gentiles to walke in their owne waies And then was Sathan a great prince indeede But now commeth a chaine for him For Christ preacheth the Gospell and sendeth foorth his disciples vvith power and therevpon saith I saw Sathan fall downe like lightning For the preaching of the Gospell beateth downe the kingdome of Sathan and sinne Moreouer it is to be noted that notwithstanding all Sathans power and might craft and subteltie yet this Angell vvhich hath the key of the bottomlesse pit doth apprehend him and shut him vp and seale the dore vpon him so that he cannot get abroad to seduce so generally as in former time But S. Iohn saith that after a thousand yeeres he must be loosed for a little season that is the time vvherein the great Antichrist should beare the sway vvhich vvas some 4. or 5. hundred yeeres For the Gospell did preuaile in some measure in the world a thousād yeeres after Christ the principles groūds of true religion cōtinued in the church vntil the ful loosing of Sathan though vvith many blotts corruptions and abuses For after the first six hundred yeeres the cleere sinceritie of the truth vvas much dimmed vvith errors and heresies but yet the maine grounds dyd remaine till the full expiration of the thousand yeeres Now vve know that the Gospell hath bene preached in these last daies aboue three score yeeres Therefore it followeth that the strength of Popery continued not much aboue 500. yeeres Which heere the holy Ghost for our comfort calleth a little season chapter 11.2 of vvhich vve haue heard before and therefore I doe heere omit it And I saw seates and them that sate vpon them ver 4 and iudgement was giuen vnto them And I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus and for the word of God and which did not worship the beast neither his Image neither had taken his marke vpon their foreheads or on their hands and they liued and raigned with Christ a thousand yeere But the rest of the dead men shall not liue againe ver 5 vntill the thousand yeeres be finished this is the first resurrection Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection For on such the second death hath no power ver 6 But they shal be the Priests of God and of Christ and shall raigne with him a thousand yeere Heere now is set foorth the state of the Church millitant for the space of the thousand yeere wherein Sathan vvas chained vp For it is sayd heere that the Church dyd grow and flourish yea and greatly exercise her power and aucthoritie during that time And therefore Saint Iohn saith that he saw seates and they sate vpon them and iudgement was giuen vnto them Whereby he meaneth that the Apostles and their successors had their chaires seates and consistories vvherein they did both preach the vvord and execute the Church censures as the Scribes and Phariseies beefore had sit in the chaire of Moises and I take it the latter part of the fourth verse is to be referred to the first clause to vvit that the Church dyd liue and raigne with Christ a thousād yeeres Which is not to be vnderstood of the Church triumphant as some doe take it all the rest of this fourth verse but of the flourishing estate of the Church militant during the time of Sathans captiuitie for all the faithfull do after a sort liue raigne with Christ euen heere in the earth when they ouercome the world by faith and subdue Sathan sinne by the power of grace Now where it is said that Iohn saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Iesus c. It is to bee vnderstood of those which in the time of the persecuting empire and growing of the papacie vvere slaine for the truth For the second beast which is the dominion of Popes raigned not in those thousand yeere in the which Sathan vvas bound but yet did grow by degrees towards their height and vsed great tyrannie against the seruants of God before Sathans full loosing The Chiliasts or Millenaries doe fondly gather from this scripture that after the ouerthrow of Antichrist the Lord Iesus would come raigne vvith the faithfull heere a thousand yeeres vpon the earth and that in this time that Christ should so raigne as a great and glorious king vpon the earth his subiects should enioy all manner of earthly pleasures and delights This foolish error is confuted by the words that follovv in the text as wee shall see afterward Whereas hee saith the rest of the dead shall not liue againe It is to bee vnderstood of such as were spiritually dead that is such as did despise the Gospell which vvas preached those thousand yeeres were not thereby reuiued and quickened vnto eternall life but did still remaine as men dead in sinnes and trespasses Therefore the meaning of S. Iohn is that as in the thousand yeeres many that heard Christ and his Apostles and their successors were raised vp from the death of sinne to the life of righteousnesse so many others were not quickened by their doctrine but stil dwelt in their sinnes
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