name and are content to be called his being so farre deceiued with his shew as yet they receiue neuer his Character as his mancipate slaues And yet moe haue the number of his name that is are counted and numbred to bee of his body who yet in effect neither haue his name nor his Character This hath deceiued men that they haue imagined the Character to be some other thing then of his name But as is cleare by this place his Character is of his name and they receiue his Character who so haue his name as they are characterized therewith and vpon his marke A speech from common vse Hereof it is that in Mount Sion all haue the Character that is all who are of the true Church elected according to the purpose of grace But as in the visible Church many haue the name of God moe haue the number that is are accounted Christians who yet are not of the number sealed so in Antichrist his Church are many hauing his name and moe hauing his number and so are tolerated to haue commerce and trade with men who yet neuer receiued his Character Therefore it is that the iudgement is denounced onely against those who worshippe him and receiue his Character and accordingly the Vials of wrath Chapter 16. are powred onely vpon these Who are here twise repeated that wee may bee wakened to aduert how here the holy Ghost teacheth vs not to iudge so hardly of all that follow the Beast as that eternall damnation abideth them but onely such as haue receiued his Character For no question but many haue beene and are still named his and counted of his number who learned neuer the deepenesse of Sathan as simple sheepe fallen into that slocke of his because they saw there the publike Ensigne and the Lambe his horns in semblance because hee brooked the holy City and Court of the Temple Euen like these two hundreth who in simplicity of heart followed Absolom from Ierusalem knowing nothing of his treason For we must consider what sort of enemy Antichrist is That hee is no fortaine inuader but an inward Traitor None directly fighting against the name and Ensigne of Christ but by pretence of the name and Ensigne deceiuing And sitting euen in the Temple of God as if a hid Traitor pretending the King his Masters seruice and commission would summon all true Subiects to follow him while hee were but minding vsurpation euen good Subiects might bee thus far deceiued as to follow the publike Ensigne till the treason were detected Further consider that the true Church in Antichrist his greatest preuailing was alwaies within his compasse within which all were euer accounted to bee his owne but yet were not As within the compasse of the holy City and Court of the Temple were the Temple and witnesses in it Chapter 11. besides as no way could bee to the Temple but through the City and Court so no way euer was or shall bee to become a member of the true Church but by comming through the visible Church wherein Antichrist fortie two moneths working and obtaining without controlment all behoued to ioyne to that body where was the Ensigne and seek in through the City and Court to com to the Temple Now no maruell though many in the passing through were taken in admiration of the City Court before they got sight of the Temple And the prouidence of God was wonderfull in this that in greatest corruption he reserued alwayes a sure way through Antichrist to the Temple the Sacrament of Baptisme in substance remaining and the doctrine of the Trinity abiding sound So thus all comming through him had his name or his nūber of whom yet many neuer receiued his Character but espying the pollution of City and Court stepped into the Temple Where still though quietly God preserued two Candlestickes and two Oliues till at length his impiety came to that height by murthering the Saints that it was said to them Come vp hither and so a visible separation was made not from the Church but from the thiefe and Traitor in the Church his mouth bewraying it selfe to bee the Dragons And certainely this holdeth true so as we neede not so much iangle with the Romans thereabout that the Church hath and euer shall bee visible because alwayes the common Ensigne is seene But this Ensigne the Traitor craftily tooke vpon him to beare and thereby deceiued Here is the fallacy that by aequiuocation they conclude if the Church hath alway beene visible then are wee the true Church Here more is added For albeit the church be alwayes visible yet the truth and true professors in it are not alwayes so For the witnesses were closed in the Temple the woman lurked in the wildernesse and the sealed ones were albeit singing yet vnseene and vnheard vpon Mount Sion Three distinct speeches vsed of the Spirit for great purpose The first to shew that howsoeuer the true Church was hid yet where shee was to witte within the compasse of the visible where Antichrist ruled and where Sathan his throne was The second to shew that albeit shee lurked yet she was fed as was Israel in the wildernesse and Elias in the dayes of famine The third that in that great preuailing of Antichrist when all the earth followed the Beast yet she was stablished on Mount Sion so as against her the gates of hell could not preuaile The true Church is in some sort euer vlsible though not in her selfe yet in her infallible Ensignes as who seeth the Citie and Court hee seeth in a sort the Temple because albeit hee see it not distinctlie yet seeing the City and Court hee is certaine that the Temple is there So seeing the visible Church within whose compasse though no eye see them yet God hath his true worshippers one seeth also the true Church For within the Church are truth and lies Christ and Antichrist and either of them now and then obtaine in it and hold place communiter in toto but neuer vniuersaliter in singulis From the Apostolike times as witnesse Paul and Iohn Antichrist was in the Church but hee appeared not some ages after In his time hee riseth and obtaineth all the holy City and Court of the Temple erecteth a throne in Pergamus and domineth as Iezabel in I hyatira Truth is hid and true Professors till the noise of many waters the voyce of thunder and sound of well tuned Harpes breake out of Sion and the Temple and the woman returne from the wildernesse It is a great Sophisme to conclude from the Church visible to the Church absolutely or true Church or againe from these to that or to reason a toto communiter ad vniuersum singulariter Albeit Antichrist was commonlie acknowledged of all yet neuer vniuersally of each one For he neuer set his foot in the Temple nor vpon Mount Sion The Romans presse sore vpon vs to shew who in former ages haue been of our Religion
most deare It is a booke for the certainety of things registred in God his booke Psal 139. according to the manner of men who carefully put in Register that whereof they would haue the record abide sure For properly God hath no booke but is his owne booke It is copiously written in that the inside of the roll for bookes must bee vnderstood according to the manner of that time not suffising to containe the whole it is written also on the backe and this sheweth besides the certainety of the matter so carefully and amply recorded the speciall prouidence of God in al the particular cases of his Saints as whose wandrings are counted teares are registred and haires are numbred It is sealed with seuen seales to shew the abstruse secresie as perfectly closed vp which the number of seuen implyeth 3 Now besides this condition of the matter in it selfe the retired eminency thereof is declared also by the imbecility of all creatures to attaine thereto proued by a most sure argument euen experience which is heere set out after the manner of men in that all beeing by publike edict prouoked to the opening of the booke all come short of it Which first euent of imbecility of all Creatures is more cleared by a second euent in the Apostle who thereupon mourneth a sore mourning Here then are to bee obserued the Herauld the tenor of the Proclamation and the double euent aforesaid The Herauld is a strong Angell hauing a strong voice such as becommeth the Herauld of a great King for making all Creatures heare him And euen herein is implyed an amplification of the imbecility of creatures as which all are prouoked and haue lawfull warning The tenor of the Proclamation is Who is worthy to open the booke loose the seuen Seales thereof shewing as a free essay offered to all yet that to atchieue it was required great worthinesse The first euent is the insufficiencie of all creatures whereof according to the ordinary maner of Scripture is put a perfit enumeration of those in heauen in earth and vnder the earth neither Saint nor Angel being found worthy of this work And their weaknes is amplified in that al were so far from the worthines of taking and opening the booke as none were able to looke vpon it The iudgements of God are so great a depth Vpon this first euent followeth a second in Iohn who hauing beene called vp to heauen to see such things as afterwards were to be fall the Church hee is at the first brought almost to despaire of seeing ought whereupon in a holy albeit infirme affection hauing forgot on whose breast hee had leaned as zealous of the Church her good and hartely sorry she should remaine depriued of so great benefit hee mourneth and mourneth much an affection now rarely found in any And certainely so long as for obtaining ought out of God his hand for our comfort wee looke to any creature wee shall reape but mourning till wee see him who onely is worthy to bring vs grace from the father 4 The second great argument of the dignity of this reuelation is the worthy personage by whom it is reuealed to whom God gaue it Chap. 1. And of him are to bee obserued two things First his performing of that wherein all creatures had succumbed and secondly the euent and effect following thereupon In the performer are first Iohn his knowledge of him and next the fact performed Iohn his knowledge is first by information and secondly by sight In the information are the occasion the informer and what he informeth The occasion is Iohn his mourning whereof the informer would comfort him For it is most true that as holding our eies on creatures we can reape but sorrow so till in conscience of our owne wants and felt experience of the vanity of all refuge to any creature wee learne to mourne and mourne much we finde no solid ioy either for peace of conscience or light of reuelation Our diuels are not cast out but by praier and fasting Daniel had then greatest reuelation when he had bene in heauinesse three weekes of daies The informer is one of the elders Now wee must consider whereof these twenty foure elders are the type and what personage Iohn heere beareth which duly weighed wee shall not maruell how this sonne of thunder is informed of one of the elders Iohn heere is the type of one entring in heauen to know God his secrets Now heauen and the twenty foure elders are the type of God his true Church as hath beene cleared As then the true Church is the pillar and stable seat of truth so without it is neither saluation nor any true knowledge for God is knowne in Iuda Hereby then is signified that all true knowledge of Christ is in his Church The information hath first a dehortation from mourning secondly a designation of the singular personage and thirdly his prerogatiue to performe the dehortation as it is grounded on the comfort hee was to shew him so hath it this vse that true light bringeth euer true ioy The designation of the person performer is by two titles 1 That Lion of the Tribe of Iuda 2 That root or syour of Dauid In these are to be obserued first the titles and next whence they are brought He is a Lion but with this note that he is of Iuda Satan is a Lion and a roaring Lion that Lion whom Sampson rent out of whose mouth Dauid pulling his sheepe killed him but this Lion of Iuda taketh the prey and none is able to rescue it whom when he lyeth downe who dare stirre him vp Hee is the root or syour of Dauid by Iuda and Dauid to shew the true Messias promised of their seed These titles are brought the one from Genes 49. the other from the 11. of Isaiah the one from Moses the other from the Prophets They haue Moses and the Prophets saith Abraham in Parable thither Christ sendeth the Iewes for true knowledge of himselfe So then the elders informe but out of Moses and the Prophets to shew that as onely in the Church true knowledge is to bee had so no voice should there be heard but of the Scriptures Search the Scriptures for they beare witnesse of mee The third point whereof the elder informeth Iohn is the prerogatiue of this great personage to performe And it is set downe in this one word hee hath obtained to open the booke c. of which more heereafter in the song This farre knowledge Iohn getteth by information the other degree of knowledge is by sight wherein the ordinary degrees of true illumination for stablishing of a soule in certainty of truth heere in great wisdome set downe are carefully to be marked The first is the information of the Church and authority thereof as Augustine calleth it Opportunum inquirendi exordium In which respect hee saith in another place and in the person of one ignorant
sweet raine of healthâ—ome doctrine and spirit of Christian lenity the fire of contention and frosty hailestones of destruction ruled all Yea so farre heerein were the Bishops carried one against other as it is monstrous what malice falshood and cruelty they practised so as in the times of Constans Constantius and Valens the fire and haile were mixed with bloud This made still a decay of true religion both in small and great 7 Vpon sounding of the second trumpet a mountaine of fire is cast into the Sea whereupon the third part thereof becommeth bloud c. Mountaines in Scripture are put for high and proud States Then a burning mountaine is the fire of ambition as the first was of contention For albeit contention ariseth of pride yet at first the debate was not directly for prerogatiues and places as now in this second euill is meaned Remember alwaies as I touched Chap. 6. Sect. 10. and 15. that so these euils are ordered for course of time as both the first holdeth on with the succeeding and the succeeding in time of the formers height is begun to worke This is cast in the Sea whereas the first was on the earth to note a decay in a higher degree then the first as the sea is a higher and purer Element then the grosse earth The first decay was of religion in the hearts and liues of men This second is in the ordinary worship which in great part now becommeth corrupted and thereby a great part both of common professours and Pastors become dead in superstition The creatures liuing in the Sea are common Christians The ships are the occupiers therein designing Church-men as is plaine Chap. 18. where shipmasters marriners and occupiers in the Sea bewaile the fall of the Whore The first death was different from this That was in life and manners obiected to the widowes 1. Tim. 5. and to the Church of Sardis Chap. 3. 1. This is of another kinde obiected to Ephraim by the Prophet When Ephraim spake there was trembling but he is dead in Baal The allusion is to Exod. 7. 19. c. When the waters are healthsome all things in them liue Ezech 47. The loue of riches and honor is the root of all euill which while men lust after they erre from the faith To this euill Constantine his preposterous zeale to indew the Church with riches and pompe much helped As the voice then vttered if their stories say true did verifie Hodie seminatum est virus in Ecclesia The common saying is well knowen Ecclesia peperit diuitias filia deuorauit matrem And that of golden Bishops and treen Chalices and golden Chalices and treen Bishops This fire of ambition was much kindled in the hearts of Pastors before the Councell of Nice they beginning to sauor thereof as saith Eusebius before Dioclesian his time but there was laid a ground of ambitious contention by ordering the seates and prerogatiues of Patriarchs Ante Concilium Nicenum ad sedem Romanam paruus habebatur respectus saith Aeneus Syluius eftsoones a Pope What shamefull digladiations followed about dignity and priority of place what bitter contentions about limits of Diocesses would make any sound hearted christian blush for shame to reade them Iulius Bishop of Rome albeit topping a good cause yet seeking therein the aduancement of his owne seate is so checked by the Bishops of the East as faine to yeeld to time saith Sabelliâ—us the whole sway and maiesty of religion remained with the Bishops of the East till Phocas the Emperor restored it to Rome It is shame to heare how Leo Bishoppe of Rome otherwaies a learned and wiseman did chafe at the act of the Councell of Chalcedon in fauours of the Bishop of Constantinople How hardly did the Bishops of Rome take it that it should be inacted in Affricke that no appellation were made to them what a stirre they made thereabout impudently bold to falsifie the act of the Nicene Councell for maintenance of their ambition till by authentike copies from Greece their fraud was detected and they but too meekly admonished to beware they labored not to bring into the Church famosum typhum seculi The contentions of the Bishops of Rome and Rauenna of Milain and Papia would euen amongst secular Princes bee counted detestable The Patriarch of Constantinople first vsurping the title of vniuersall Bishop is worthily taxed of Gregorie Bishoppe of Rome Thus then while men were ambitiouslie seeking themselues and carelesse of religion corruption entred into the worshippe in manifold rites and superstitious ceremonies as euen diuers godly men in that same time heauily regreated 8 Vpon the third blast falleth a great starre c. Stars are Pastors of Churches This great Starre is the type of great and learned Pastors men of high account yea and of great shining but who fall from the heauen from the truth and true Church and so their shining which ought to haue beene cleare gentle and comfortable light becommeth like a burning Torch noting fiery contentions and burning despite as a blazing flame in place of a pleasant calme cleare light 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Rom. 2. 8. For this disposition in it selfe and working the like in others This starre hath the name of Wormewood as being in the gall of bitternesse and making bitter Simon Magus is said to bee so Act. 8. 23. the Holy Ghost in that one Arch-Heretike shewing the common disposition of all as full euer of contentions and burning despite which manner the Church of God hath not The effect here wrought is that this starre falling in the riuers and fountaines the third part c. Here is yet a higher degree of corruption working on to the great euill For Riuers and Fountaines are in a degree of purity and subtle Nature aboue the Sea as the Sea is aboue the earth Now as there may bee a decay of Religion in the hearts and liues of men which is the burning of grasse and trees the ordinary worshippe yet abiding pure and vnmixed with superstition so may both Religion in men decay and great corruption enter in the ordinary worship the sea becoÌ„ming in a part bloudy and yet the fountaines and riuers that is the Scriptures and interpretation thereof abide sound as experience teacheth how many abuses will creepe in with custome take place while yet both the word and interpretation thereof is vncorrupted The teachers who are also Wels and Riuers bringing waters to the common Sea teaching more purely then is the practise in ordinary worshippe But when not onely corruption entreth in the common worship but euen the Scriptures are corrupted with false glosses and hereticall interpretations the fountaines being poysoned and the riuers which should carrie douce waters to purifie the common Sea bringing thither bitter waters and turning the sweet water of life to bee like these of Ierico of Mara then is the euill growne to a high and dangerous degree and their multitudes who for
righteousnesse now so shining as in place of glorifying God by repentance and acknowledging of their errors and workes of darkenesse they as the Children of darkenesse and hating the light whereby their workes are reproued boile in despitefull rage and are burnt vp with enuie and malice as were the Pharisies at Christ his cleare doctrine and euident myracles and that Stephen hauing his face like the Sunne And they blaspheme God in blaspheming his truth and true Church speaking euill of the way of righteousnesse their desperate rage still increasing as the light groweth because induration in impenitency is a common effect of all these plagues In that showsoeuer God hath his owne single ones to pull out of that Kingdom yet the body is not reclamable but must goe to destruction Compare this with the fourth Trumpet The light of the Gospel is a plague and torment to the reprobate world as the two witnesses Chapter 11 were a vexation Here the first effect of this Vial is rage the second blasphemy 7 The first is on the throne of the Beast that is on his Kingdom as the next words interpret and as the whole frame of Scripture speech euinceth The throne of Dauid is for his Kingdome The Throne is established for the Kingdome is established Satan his throne Chap. 2. 13. for his kingdome The first effect heere of is their kingdome loseth the glory lustre pompe and wonted estimation and becommeth contemptible Whereupon the secundarie effect followeth in them of desperate sorrow expressed by a gesture of men extremly grieued Gnawing their tongues and obdnration in impenitency and blasphemy theirâ—ores by the light of the sunne being more and more laid open and thereby their sorrow augmented For their workes see Chapter 9. And withall consider what a wise and iust retribution As by falling from heauen to the earth and from being starres of light to become ministers of darkenesse they opened the bottomlesse pit and let out darkenesse by the smoake thereof eclipsing all true light and so erecting the kingdome of darkenesse So heere by the cleere arising light of the sunne of righteousnesse all the earthly and worldly account of their Kingdome becommeth contemtible and is darkened And as by the doctrine of darkenesse they like Scorpions stinging men tormented their consciences so the light opâ—ned and discouering their treachery tormenteth them with anguish and sorrow This effect both first and secondary we see already in great part but shall yet see more For albeit these plagues heere haue their owne degrees for order of working yet still the former hold on with the subsequent till all together in the ende bring finall destruction 8 The sixth viall is notable in many circumstances It is poured on Euphrates the effect is drying the waters thereof This effect is for a speciall end that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared Against this effect and apparent sequell thereof a great endeauour is shewed and the euent thereof The endeauour is of the principals Dragon Beast and false Prophet by their instruments a pestilent broode and well resembling their origine foule spirits and spirits of Diuels so is their qualitie Their dealing is to goe to the Kings of the Earth strangers from heauen whom they may perswade importunely cronting like frogges night and day in their eares Their force of perswasion is by working signes thus to shew them to bee fase Prophets seducing The ende of this their endeauour is to gather these earthly Kings together in their purpose to vphold their tottering Kingdome now threatning a fall and to impede the apparant effect to which this Viall maketh preparation but which God shall turne to an other fine then they purpose euen to be glorified in their iust destruction as the euent prooueth Now both in respect of the great danger to be deceiued and misled by these frogs and of the great day of God his wrath to come on them so much the more perrilous as it should come like a thiese in the night warning is giuen to watch and hold the true faith whereby putting on Christ and girding him to vs as with a golden girdle we be not found naked and so ashamed but blessed through our garment The euent of all this their busie trauell is expressed in this that they gathered them to a place called in Hebrue Armageddon 9 Now because for the most part the effect and sequels of this Viall are yet to come in seeking the accommodation we must walke warily as the light of holy writ may leade vs. Euphrates properly is that great Riuer whereon Babylon properly so called did stand and wherto it serued for beauty commodity and fortification It was also the march bordering Dauid his kingdome on the East separating and in a manner debarring the Easterne peoples therefrom To both these considerations in this allusion the spirit hath respect In the 51. of Ieremy prophecying the destruction of Babylon hee threatneth that he will dry vp her waters Thence hither to the destruction of the mysticall Babylon the speech is brought In the next Chapter the whore Babylon is said to sit on many waters Which are interpreted Kings Nations Peoples and Tongues To shew in great dominion and authority great dignity and strength The drying vp then of her waters is the decay of her authority dominion glory and power by the substraction of these from her obeience in whom was her strength and fortification Euen that same which Chapter 17. is expressed by eating her flesh and making her naked Thus fitly for this respect and yet more for the second the drying of Euphrates is heere mentioned in a depth of wisdome to shew how that Riuer bordering the kingdome of Dauid on the East and set betwixt the Easterne Kings and the blessed land being dried vp the Kings of the East should therethrough haue easie accesse thereto the debarring impediment being remoued The sense is As Antichrist his rising was the occasion of darknes and defection from the Gospell to Mahometisme in the East and of the obstinate abiding of Iewes who are most part in the East and whom specially heere the spirit pointeth at as the euent cleareth in their infidelity and as the greatnesse and power of Antichrist still debarreth both from embracing the Gospell as Euphrates flowing ouer all his bankes and so letting all free passage to the Kingdome of Dauid both Iewes and Mahometans through the superstition idolatry and corruption of the Romish Church abhorring Christianity so now her waters being with the heat of the sunne of righteousnesse dried vp an open way shall bee prepared for them to receiue the Gospell I know how some from the story of Cyrus and Darius King of the East diuerting the course of Euphrates and so surprising Babylon thinke this allusion taken to shew how mysticall Babylon shall in like manner be destroied by Easterne Kings But the spirit of God fetcheth nothiug from Xenophon or Herodotus but all his allusions
the Gospell and by the powerfull and wide preaching thereof gathering of his Church and defeating darkenesse hee will raise first in mens harts a loue of knowledge and of the booke of God who thereupon by his motion shall study the same most diligently as eating it with appetite and shall finde in studying it exceeding sweetnesse and spirituall ioy to their soules and letting it as it were downe in their stomachs and filling their bellies with it they shall bee so filled as not able to containe it they must burst foorth though the preaching thereof beget them of the world great trouble and many teares For all this frame of speech see Ezech. 2. and 3. and Ierem. 15. and 20. and withall obserue herein the distinct degrees of a true inward calling whereof none can be lacking in the true minister of Christ First a loue of God and of the knowledge of his word begotten in the heart by diuine motion 2 A heart to pray for light 3 A diligent and carefull study of Scripture 4 A sweet delight and taste found therein of spirituall ioy to their owne soules Now all these any good Christian may haue but to make a Pastor thou must also find the last that is bitternesse of belly The accommodation of this is so cleare in story of these whom God thus first stirred vppe to the loue of learning and by whom the true light both of diuine and humane sciences was restored so as Antichrist was discouered and noted for the man of sinne that it needeth not here to be inlarged Reade the story and accommodations of Writers on this place CHAP. XI HEere the effect in some degree is shewed of that which typically was spoken of Iohn in the last verse of the former Chapt. in that the little booke being eaten giueth to the eaters a faculty to discern the true Church from the false by assistance and instigation of the great Angel who giueth it And this is by applying the rule and measure thereof sound and straight as a reede strong apt and maniable as a rod and as Aaron his rod which deuoured the rods of the Inchanters whereby the body of the true Church is found to bee small as the Temple in comparison of the Court and City and hid as the Temple wherein none entred but the Priests as a small center in the midst of a large circumference and closed vp within it The Ministers in number few beeing but two the smallest of numbers and yet sufficient for witnessing of a truth In calling witnesses and of diuine things being Prophets and standing before God In condition afflicted as doing it in sackecloth in much heauinesse and many teares In this condition yet hauing great and diuine power towards the Temple dispersing plentie of grace as oliues and true light as candlestickes and outward hauing vengeance in readinesse against all disobedience as Elias and Moses hauing nor vsing against their enemies no armour but spirituall and that for the space of a 1260. daies al the while the Gentils occupy the Court and holy City and tread them vnder foot that is all the time Antichrist possesseth the name and title of the visible Church defacing and downe treading therein true worshippe which therefore is cast out and hath not with God the account of his true Church now-onely closed vp within the Temple The frame of speech is from the Iewes Temple thereby to expresse the condition of the Christian Church vnder and within the compasse of Antichrist vsurping the title and glorying in multitude and visibility who therefore after the same frame of speech hath with his false Church the name of Gentiles obtaining a good space the whole City Court of the Temple euen that beast who worketh 42. moneths Chapt. 13. All which time God had his owne Church albeit small and not seene of men euen within the bowels of the Antichristian vsurpation as the Temple is within the City and Court. Which true Church hee intertained in the life of God by a hidde but powerfull dispensation of grace of a secret vnknowne and small number of true Ministers Whose state and condition in course of time and Antichrist his opposition is threefold First they prophesie long and powerfully and albeit in sackcloth yet without bloudshed beeing hid in the Temple Secondly the Angel of the bottomelesse pit King Abaddon smelling them out they are openly murthered and cruelly and barbarouslie intreated euen with applause and congratulation of the world in all parts of the Antichrist his power the great City so as they seemed to bee vtterly vndone and extinguished and the earth and earthly men thereupon reioysed as freed of them who by the light reprooued their darke workes and thus tormented them not as the Locusts tormented men Chap. 9. But as Elias and Micheas did Ahab Ieremias the Land and Amos Israel Thirdly the spirit of life from God which neuer can be killed for the truth can neuer be bound raiseth them that is others hauing the same spirit and power who stand vp on their feet that is stoutly and vigorously set themselues to fight against Antichrist so as hee shall then beginne to be affraid and his former great mirth shall be troubled and that so much the more when hee and his sectators shall see to their great both griefe and feare these few hid afflicted slaine mocked ones of whom they thought they had beene rid for euer by diuine calling called vp to heauen that is separated from the fellowship and all communion with Antichrist and his earthly sort to bee with account protection acknowledged and seene the true Ministers of God his true Church which now from vnder Antichrist his darkenesse vnder which it lay vailed as the Temple within the Court shall become visible in a degree euen to the enemies Whereupon immediately ensueth a great commotion and stirre so as a part of Antichrist his kingdome falleth and the power thereof is much impaired by ouerthrow of a great number and conuersion of others And thus way is made to the seuenth trumpet wherein not a part but all Babel falleth an eternall fall 2 Consider now how distinctly and clearly â—heere Antichrist his whole dealing in the diuers degrees thereof and the true Church her case all the while is euen painted out before the eies of any that is not blinde So great light commeth by the little booke eaten and rod applied The first of the three conditions was of the Church before this time of application of the rod but the measuring and finding it out is of this time The other two conditions come now vpon this applying of the rod by such as through eating the little booke were inabled thereto which Antichrist perceiuing they are killed and lie dead c. And as for course of time and story this Chapter is orderly put so also exceeding pertinently for order of matter For where by the restoring of prophesie in the last Chapt.
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