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
and our men but busie themselues more then is needfull the holy Ghost hauing so plainely foretolde the case And how common doe wee see in our daylie experience of particular Churches that things will by custome or tyranny so obtaine as none are found to resist while yet in the meane time great numbers not only disallow but euen hold themselues pure there from Here who would aske the succeeding age what had beene the estate then hee could find nothing but that all had erred because the common Records beare but what obtained in the time no Record remaining of these who though for feare they durst not contest yet misliked and mourned for the iniquity And if perhaps they did vtter any thing which to the posterity might haue carried testimony of their mind the same being smothered by them who violently possessed and disposed of all I haue no doubt but in euery age euen in the greatest height of darkenesse diuers haue not onely been enemies thereof both children and ministers of light but euen haue beene in their time knowne to the godly then Albeit to enquire the succeeding ages of their story it is ridiculous and wee but fashe our selues vnnecessarily to haile therein the cord of contention with the aduersaries hauing otherwise so cleare and solide answeres furnished vs by the holy Ghost to close their mouthes Yea the Antichrist his prerogatiue and his long and peaceable obtaining in the visible Church dismayeth vs so little as thereupon wee build a sure argument that there all the time was the true Church For hee is a proper sore of the body of the Church And as such a pestilent boile or leprosie which can bee in no other but a man his body albeit the whole body should bee so couered that nothing could bee seene but the boile or leprosie yet euen thereby the beholder is assured that there is a man his body because that soare can befall none other So by Antichrist who is a proper euill and sitting no where else but in the Church wee discerne and perceiue clearely where the true Church hath beene and still in great part is For euen before the last fall of Babell the Lord his people are exhorted to come out of her In the visible Church the truth hath alwaies beene but so a long time as the Booke of the Law was within the Temple before Iosias Now then the obiection of the Romans whereby they labour so much to shake vnstable soules is more then ridiculous where was your Church before Luther what became of all our Fathers to which we answere Our Church was euen where Satans throne was And of our Fathers wee iudge well as who howsoeuer they receiued the Beast his name or at least the number of his name yet might haue beene free from receiuing his Character and so out of the danger of this sentence of eternall fire If they had eies to see and hearts to vnderstand this Prophesie they would bee confounded in that wherein they glorie most and ashamed to obiect to vs that which most approueth our cause 9 Thus was the velitation The case coincident is terrible persecution The weight whereof is cleered by a warning verse 12. and a consolation vers 13. The warning together with the weight declare against whom this heauy persecution is intended to wit the Saines and those who keepe the commandements of God and faith of Iesus The weight is shewed in this that their shall bee need of Christian patience as which shall be greatly exercised and that the triall shall bee such as the constant keepers of God his commandements and faith of Iesus shall finde wherein to be prooued This the phrase of speech sheweth as that Chap. 13. Heere is wisdome Now this warning implieth cleerely the party persecuter to be the Beast to whom was giuen To make warre with the Saints and to ouercome them Chap. 13. 7. who thereupon got the same warning there verse 10. And seeing that the remnant seed of the woman against whom the Dragon was to stir vp warte Chap. 12. 17. are described by the same titles Of keeping the commandements of God c. This warning heere giuen hath also this end to waken vs vp to consider the speciall time and heate of that warre their foretold to bee then when Antichrist beeing chaffed with these three Angels made all Europe to feele cruell fires and bloody massacres whereof the memory is yet recent That so the rest of them who should be killed for Iesus being fulfilled Chap. 6. 11. finall and full vengeance may come on that bloody state The weight of this persecution is yet further amplified by the consolation giuen against it Which besides the substance thereof is notable in many circumstances Of the deliuery from heauen the commandement how to receiue it in that it should not onely be heard but also written as worthy of lasting record of double asseueration and that by the holy Ghost The substance of the consolation is Blessed are the dead that hencefoorth die in the Lord. The reasons are They rest from their labours and their works follow them Our daies heere are but a shadowe and in them euen our strength is but labour and sorrow all wherein a man seeketh happinesse vnder the sunne beeing but vanity and vexation of spirit from whence to remoue in the Lord and enter into our rest is a great blessednesse in so farre as our labour is not in vaine in the Lord but great is our reward in heauen Now howsoeuer all men goe naked out of this world as naked wee come and nothing of all our great labour and works goeth with vs. Yet as euery one shall be indged and receiue according to that which hee hath done in the flesh good or euill so euery soule carieth with it an instamped sense of the workes done in the flesh so as either a speaking and selfe accusing guiltinesse followeth a man or then as by grace he hath beene inabled to make his election sure by good workes in this life so shall the testimony of peace in his conscience follow him For There is no condemnation for them which are in Christ Iesus which walks not after the flesh but after the spirit 10 From the 14. ver is the third part of this Ch. Wherein is the summary proposition of the full ouerthrow of the enemies which at length in the subsequent Chapters is explaned Now heere the course of this Prophesie is carefully to be marked for a great light through all The iudgements of God first and second vpon the worlde were in the sixe Seales and sixe Trumpets of the seuenth To the 15. verse of the 11. Chapter there the seuenth Trumpet soundeth and the last wrath is denounced Before the particular declaration whereof that the iustice of God therein might the better appeare it was requisite that the Historie of these enemies to be destroied in their dealings against the Church should be cleered for
Romanum idem Apoc. cap. 13. verse 2. commentarij in id caput sectionibus 1. 2. 5. QVis renuat diadema tuo submittere sceptro Nam merito in terris diceris esse Deus Cui sua mundi huius Deus imperiumque thronumque Tradidit vafris vincere posse dolis Ad ciues Romanos idem Apoc. cap. 17. verse 16. Sect. 14. cap 18. vers 8. 21. 22. 23. Sect. 8. 14. QVid gelidae torpent dextrae salientia pulsat Cordapauor mutat pallidus or a tremor Non Elephante vehens Pyrrhus non feruidus oris Currit ab hesperijs Hanibal arma ferens An quiae terribilis magis est Cotharistius heros Qui Romaman cipiti coelitus ense quatit Ad Iesuitas idem Apoc. cap. 16. vers 13. 14. sect 8. 9. VOsne estis triplici ranae de gutture iussae Obstrepero regum corda ciere sono Quis iubet ergo sacrum praetendere nomen Iesu Num fucata gerens cornua fronte fera Quid ruitis veluti stimulis furialibus actae Spesne Orci in vestro totalabore sita est Ad Papistas omnes idem Apoc. 7. vers 10. sect 7. ADeo nostro veluti perenni Fonte promanans ab eius Agno Lux salutaris fluit atque pleno voluitur alueo Ad Authorem commentarij idem Apoc. cap. 16. vers 9. 10 sect 6 7. NOn Troas flexit Nereus non regia Virgo Exitium patriae vaticinata suae Maternum est soboles si sit Troianarebellis Diuinisque minis consilijsque tuis Ad Iudaeos idem Apoc. cap. 9. vers 11. sect 7 cap. 16. vers 16. sect 10. cap. 19. vers 2. 3. 4. 6. sect 4. SAncta sanctorum soboles parentum Quae dementra proh dolor Fascinans vestros animorum ocellos Messiam prohibet sequi Scilicet promptos simulans Abaddo◠Agni cornua territat Ergo cum magnis petit Armageddon Vis Papistica copijs Per Perathaeum via siccaeoïs Fietregibus alueum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sine fine quando Ibit dirus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omnis Abrami canet Halleluiah Laetans progenies boni Voce clamantes alacri Halleluiah Gentes gaudia proferent Halleluiah ter quater Halleluiah Tota Ecclesia concine◠AN EXQVISITE COMMENTARIE VPON THE REVELATION OF SAINT IOHN CHAPTER 1. 2. 3. THis Booke is the third part of the Euangelike Story and hath the condition of the Church from the Aopstolike times till the finishing of the mystery It is for the most part Propheticall and accordingly vttered in a stile agreeable to the maiesty of so high mysteries which were reuealed to the beloued disciple and in goodly and conuenient types in one continuall trance exhibited with commandement of sending a writen record thereof to the seuen Churches of Asia and vnder their names the whole militant 2 Of this it is that besides the inscription in the first three verses the whole is an Epistle whereof the salutation is to the 9. of the first Chapter The valediction in the last verse of all The rest is a narration of things heard and scene to the 6. of the last Chapt. Whence is the generall conclusion 3 These things for their distinct time end and maner of reuelation are two and accordingly the parts of narration The first is of things which are and which shall come heereafter that is which both in propriety of story then were existent according to the constitution of these seuen Churches trewlie expressed and for their particular instruction and yet so as the things to come are therein also reuealed for that the promises or threatnings to and against each according to the good or euill praised or taxed in them are future and for that in these seuen Churches the holy Ghost hath in great depth of wisdome so liuely paterned the diuers cases that may befall as none euer hath beene or in any age shall bee which in one of these as in a liuely example may not clearely read her owne cause and learne wisdome Wherethrough it is that this first part of narration in the first three Chapters for end and manner of reuelation differeth from the second in that albeit in some respect the first be of things to come and for instruction of the whole Church yet it is properly of things then existent and first for the vse of particular Churches whereas the second thorow the rest of the booke is only of things which must bee done heereafter and whose vse is first and properly for the whole militant Church and therefore to the perception thereof Iohn behooued to goe vp to heauen Chap. 4. 4 Before the first part is a goodly and glorious vision of Christ not acording to the proper verity of his person but according to his presence and operation in and towards his Church and in speciall regard of these seuen of Asia and therefore commonly concerneth them all as we see that from it are taken these properties and attributes which are fit to expresse his particular dispensation towards each and seuerally applied as in them he worketh 5 The Church of Ephesus is commended in that shee hath such a presence of Christ so painefull powerfull zealous watchfull patient and constant a ministry that albeit the mystery of iniquity was working and false teachers were busie to aduance it yet they were so watchfully marked and mightely resisted that errour was borne downe and truth helde place but so as at length through falling from the first loue a step was made to Apostasie And therefore she is warned to repent and doe the first workes vnder paine of remoouing the Candlesticke 6 In the Church of Smyrna errour and lies did so farre preuaile as heretikes durst blast of the name of the true Church and depise the pouerty and abiect state of true professors yea cruelly persecute and blaspheme the way of truth 7 Pergamus is praised that albeit shee dwelled where Satan his throne was yet she kept God his name but hauing this note of weakenes that albeit they kept themselues pure yet Idolatry and spirituall fornication was tollerated by them euen the doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaus Against them and their followers the Lord fighteth with the sword of his mouth 8 Thyatira is praised for her workes and loue and seruice and faith and patience and that her workes are more at the last then at the first But hath this note of infirmity that albeit she dranke not of Iezabel her cup nor committed fornication with her yea and was waxing in loue and workes thereof yet shee had not either the knowledge or the courage to challenge her whoredome as shee ought but euen tolerated that Whore whom God will cast into the lake of fire and brimstone euen the bed of torment as also hee threatneth that hee will cast into great affliction that commit fornication with her except they repent and kill her children with death 9 In the Church of Sardis if they could remember what they haue receiued and heard they
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
the true Church of God worshipping him in truth 9 Thus is the victory now their gracefull state hereupon is shewed in a freedome from all euill and affluence of all good and that through God his presence and protection and the Lambe his gracious dispensation set out in so goodly a manner as many thinke the things here promised to bee of the Kingdome of glory but here in magnifike termes the goodly state of the Church is expressed according as for plenty of light peace shee shall bee vpon the destruction of Antichrist and all open enemies heâ—e in the Kingdome of grace no description of the glory to 〈◊〉 reuealed in heauen which neither the eye can see nor the eare heare nor heart of man conceiue and in heauen is no such dispensation of the Lambe as here is noted who then shall surrender the Kingdome to his Father that God may bo all in all As in Antichrist his preuailing the state of God his Church was shewed in the 144000. and the Church victorious ouer him now discouered and going to destruction in the number innumerable and their victorious gesture so here the goodly state of the Church now free of all inuasion or bondage and hauing plenty of light and quiet state is magnifickly expressed and yet but in such frame of speech as is ordinary in the Prophets for such cases This state of the Church is largely handled in the end of this booke as the first in the hid and sealed ones is in the sixe trumpets and the victory in the seuenth and seuen Vials thereof Now as I haue said according to the phrase of the Prophets these blessings are set forth vnder things corporall and amplisied each by remouing the contrarie euill They shall not hunger for the Lambe shall feed them they shall not thirst for hee shall leade them to the fonntaines of waters they shall feele no burning for God shall ouershadow them c. the ouershadowing is from the cloud in the wildernesse for the leading and feeding see and weigh Psal 23. a profession of these graces which the man of God felt See Iohn 4. 13. and 6. 27. c. It is maruaile how men acquainted with the ordinary stile of Scripture should haue drawne this to any other sense but hereof more vpon the 21. and 22. Chapters This state is in these few words expressed Chapter 19. The Bride is prepared And accordingly in all her goodly ornaments shewed to Iohn Chap. 21. CHAP. VIII THe sixth seale being opened first was exhibited the proper euent thereof in the end of the sixth Chapter and in the seuenth Chapter a summarie view giuen for strengthning hearts against the terrour thereof of the whole matter of the seuenth seale which heere now is opened and speciall euents thereof declared through the rest of all this propheticall narration Of these wee haue first a generall preparation and next the perticular execution The preparation hath an incident effect immediatly following vpon the opening of the seale which is Silence about halfe an houre To shew an attent expectation of great things whereto well the portending of them in the former Chapter might haue erected the mindes And the waiting for rare or fearefull euents worketh a silent attendance When the wise speake then all keepe silence and when the Lion roareth all the beasts of the forrest hold their peace Besides this great things commonly come foorth with processe and preparation And truly God who is slow to wrath is in a sort forced to poure out heauie indignation 2 After this incident effect is the preparation in the ministers and in the orderer of the whole errand The ministers are described by their nature Angels Quality ministering Spirits as who stand before God Luke 1. And instruments of ministration Trumpets In the instruments are noted two things First that they are trumpets and secondly that they are giuen to them That the instruments are trumpets it sheweth that their ministry in this ensuing matter is to be sounders of the alarume and giuers of the figne for inuasion of the world by each woe as al 's many armies of him who is Lord of hosts as also that they are denouncers that of great and weighty matter For Trumpeters are messengers of great things and but for great personages In this also is implied that the end of their ministry and of these iudgements denounced and executed is to waken vp the dead world to repentance or make it inexcusable against finall wrath See the end of Chapter 9. Therefore when the world is not wakened with Trumpets it feeleth iustly full cups of wrath tumbled out That these Trumpets are giuen to the Angels it sheweth them to doe nothing without special warrant and mandate 3 Thus are the ministers the master and orderer of the errand is described by his office and his actions His office that he is an Angell for that is heere the name of office and not of nature And this angell differeth farre from the other seuen for he is the Angell of the couenant cleerely by all his notes He standeth as the other seuen for hee also in some respect is a minister but hee hath a particular stand which is at the Altar as High Priest He is furnished also with an instrument but which is proper to the Priest and belonging to the most holy place to wit the golden Censer He hath also somewhat giuen to him but a rare gift that is Many odors whereby all the praiers and of all Saints is acceptable For by him we offer vp sacrifices to God In the fifth Chapter the praiers of Saints are called Odors and heere the odours are distingushed from the praiers onely to shew how it is and in whom that they are odors that is acceptable to God These odours are said to be giuen him according as he acknowledgeth all things to be giuen him of the Father as he who is both sealed and sanctified and as mediator hath receiued the spirit without measure This is by allusion to the Leuiticall ministrie and not to the Masse 4 His actions are two one of gracious dispensatioÌ„ another of wrath as hee who is both the propitiation for Saints trcader of the winepresse of Gods indignation both an elect precious stone and a stone of offence And our consolation heerein is great that to him all iudgement is committed His action of grace is the offering vp of the Saints praiers and making the gratefull smoke of them goe vp before God through his odors and this hath a double consolation first that God alwaies in the midst of wrath remembreth mercy and is neuer so carried in wrath to poure out heauy indignation on the sinful world but that the louing care of his elect commeth first in place secondly that the praiers of Saints haste on indgement on the world while they send vp sighes and groanes for God his dishonour a great incouragement to prav If Israel had
it might bee presumed that no true Church could bee before seeing that where no prophesie is the people perish and this doubt might greatly trouble the resolution of a godly soule for clearing this doubt and shewing how alwaies euen in the midst of Antichristian darkenesse when no such thing appeared to the eies of men yet the rodde rightly applyed made the applyers to see that God alwaies had a true Church in which was a dispensation of grace though vnseene And this Church breaking out first in few and outwardly weake persons albeit it receiued so hard entertainement by Antichrist as it seemed euen vtterly extinguished in the rising yet still it preuailed by euident degrees till manifestly at last the Temple was opened in heauen and the Arke of the Testimony seene The accommodation hereof sheweth it self and the two last cases are so much the more cleare as they were seen and are of recent memory To cleare the first state and secret dispensation of grace and light when it appeared impossible a speech is taken from Zacharie and hauing allusion to the Temple of Ierusalem as hath all this Allegory For as light in the Temple by burning lampes of the Candlesticke was ordinarily entertained through bringing in oyle dayly to keepe them burning so the Temple being closed and not onely the City but euen the Court of the Temple except through which no passage was thereto being possessed and trod downe so long of the Gentiles it might appeare impossible that any light could hee preserued in the Temple thus closed and compassed Therefore in this estate God compareth the Ministers of grace to two oliue trees growing vp by the sides of the Candlesticke within the Temple and letting drop from their branches oile in the lamps Oh how sweetly the spirit expresseth that which the foolish world can neuer learne while still they cry where was your Church Neither by an Armie neither by strength but by my spirit saith the Lord. 3 For more clearing of this matter as before Chapter 9. in the time of fiue Monethes the state of the Locusts and their working was much cleared so here to the whole rage of Antichrist during which the Lord had still his owne witnesses a time is attributed that by comparing the places and cases from which this time is taken and to which the holy Ghost here purposely allâ—â—â—th wee may learue great wisdome And to leade vs hereto wee haue not onely the like time but also the like speeches the spirit as it were pointing to vs whither hee will haue vs to goe The time then attributed to Antichrist his whole rage is forty two monethes all one with the 1260. dayes of the two Witnesses prophesying to shew that all that time God had them and continually therefore is the time counted by dayes and all one with the time times and halfe a time of the woman her abode in the wildernesse Chapter 12 all alike making vp halfe a weeke of yeeres or three yeeres and a halfe And thus the spirit counting one and the same time by all the spaces of time yeeres monethes and dayes to shew euidently that the yeeres are of monethes and both yeeres and monethes are of dayes as also that the dayes are properly to be taken it is wonder how learned men could haue so farre mistaken them Now in all the Scripture wee shall not find a condition of the Church with any circumscription of time answerable in condition and points of Antichrist his dealing here pointed at that is wherin the true worship is so defaced as in place thereof a false worshippe is erected and truth trod vnder foot but the two here alluded to as in the speeches brought hither from both is more then manifest of treading vnder the holy City prophesying in sacke killing with fire shutting of heauen that it raine not c. The one is of the time of Elias his lurking and famine vpon Israel three yeeres a halfe when God his worshippe was ouerthrowne his Prophets killed and worshippe of Baall erected no true Church appearing to bee left in Israel euen to the Prophet who yet all the while tormented the aduersaries no rain comming but at his word The other is that of remouing the dayly sacrifice by Antiochus Epiphanes and the abhomination of desolation set vp in place thereof for a time times and halfe a time Dan. 7. 25. so long our Sauiour vnder great affliction and contempt preached in the dayes of his flesh euen halfe a weeke and was â—ast out of the Synagogue the Priests Scribes and Pharisees all the while obtaining the name and account of the true Church To the second condition of these witnesses in this whole rage of Antichrist are attributed three dayes and a halfe that is halfe a weeke of dayes as the whole is of yeeres onely to keepe thus the allusion to the halfe weeke but so as therein to imply this consolation that howsoeuer the whole time of Antichrist were long which yet should haue an end as had these miserable times of Iezâ—bel and Antiochus and that all that long time the true witnesses should bee in affliction and heauinesse yet that time of cruell and open murthering and barbarous ferity should bee but short as is halfe a weeke of dayes in comparison to half a week of yeeres And this in story is most cleare For as their cruell and open murthering beganne with the reuiuing and new breaking out of the Gospell what time Sathan was loosed the second time Chapter 20. And the beast became of his colour Chapter 17. So as the truth preuaileth by increase of light they are faine to relent though nothing in malice and rage which groweth more and more they euen blaspheming and gnawing their tongues for sorrow yet from vnbrideled libertie in murthering the Saints in this degree To the last condition is attributed no circumscription of time because it is the beginning of that victory to the Saints fall to Babell which shall haue no end of time For right vnderstanding of these times see more Chapt. 9. Sect. 5. as likewise for this that here is said The second woe is past see there Sect. 8. Now here is well to bee considered that what in this Chapter is shewed of Antichrist his rage against the Church and her suffering by him is here handled but by the way and not of purpose to shew that Story which commeth in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters but onely so farre as was requisite for clearing the story of the witnesses how the world is plagued by them which is here the scope of the spirit See vpon Chap. 14 Sect. 10. 4 Thus was the sixth Trumpet and the second great woe followeth the seuenth to which we see how faire a way is made in the sixth to make vs vnderstand that euen in time of the second woe and greatest height thereof by the Mahometanes let loose againe from their binding this last woe was working in such
frō the Prophets with whō it is ordinarily in this sense 7 Now against this woman according to the old warre proclaimed in Paradise is set in apparance a very vnequall match but that Michael fighteth the battell This aduersary is Satan for so the spirit interpreteth verse 9. Hee is a great Dragon for great malice force and subtilty He is red for his cruell and bloudy disposition as who was a murtherer from the beginning Hee hath seuen heades and tenne hornes the armes of Rome because of this the Diuell his fury against the Primitiue Church the Emperours of Rome were the instruments and executors And therefore to shew Rome in that state of persecuting Emperours the heades are crowned for an euident distinction of Rome then from Rome thereafter in the beast The heads and hornes are put in both that we may know what state the spirit designeth but by the different note of these heades and hornes To take vp the different time and condition in time Against the Primitiue Church the Diuell albeit working by Rome is made the direct enemie because then Christianity was directly oppugned and open rage practised against the name of Christ Heathenisme and worship of Diuels plainely maintained From which open dealing and licentious murthering Satan being tyed vp afterwards by power of the Gospell hee dealt more couertly by the beast of his authority vnder name and profession of Christianity and pretence of Christ his power deceiuing men of the world till after a thousand yeeres the reuiued light of the Gospell breaking out a fresh and discouering the deceit of the beast hee is so chafed as hee falleth to murthering of Saints In which respect the Dragon is said to be loosed the second time Chap 20. and thereby the beast falling to open murther becommeth of his colour Chapter 17. Of these heades and hornes see vpon the 13. and 17. Chapters 8 This Dragon then imployeth head and taile that is cruelty and lies for hee was a lier and murtherer from the beginning By his taile that is by his alluring deceit whether effectuall error or deceitfulnesse of honours riches and worldly lusts hee insinuateth himselfe amongst these who seeme shining starres of heauen and draweth them to fall from light and grace and to become earthly such as goe out of the Church that is heauen but were not of it Marke alwaies that Satan his first attempt against the Church is with his taile amongst the starres Thus he stirreth his taile With his heads that is his power and force hee setteth himselfe first against the childe to deuoure him in the bearing Whereby the fury and rage of Satan by the Romane Emperours to keepe the Church of Christ from rising is signified notwithstanding whose malice and cruelty the childe and a man childe alluding to the story of Aegypt and also for that as Christ was in person and as the paschall Lambe and other expiatory sacrifices of the flocke so all Christians in Christ Iesus are consecrated as males for perfection of strength and spirituall vigor is borne that is the Church is brought foorth to the partaking of the honour first proper to Christ and in him to all his members To rule all Nations with a rod of iron Chapt. 2. 27. And not onely thus brought foorth but in euident presence and power of God ruling in and amongst them established here in earth against all Satan his fury and visibly separated to God from the rest of the world becomming Kings and Priests to God in Christ so as according to Christ his owne prediction the sonne of man was seene come in his Kingdome with power by his Church raised in the world The throne as the iron rod is first and properly Christ his right but it is also the honour of the Saints in him to whom hee giueth a Kingdome as he hath receiued one of the father and to whom he giueth to sit in his throne as he ouercame and sitteth in his fathers throne For euen here we sit with him in the highest places So the taking vp of the childe is the erection of the Church amongst men visibly in that same sense that the two Witnesses were bid come vp hither Chap. 11. And the casting of the Dragon from heauen is all one thing with this For the exalting of the childe is the deiecting of the Dragon from heauen and the deiection of the Dragon is the vptaking of the child Satan is said to be in heauen when so by lies and error he hath preuailed in the visible Church as no apparant or very small face thereof is seene Like as the Church is in the earth euen where Satan his throne is when it is so compassed with error and ignorance as it appeareth not till it be said come vp hither that is till God by purity of worship and open profession thereof make his true Church visibly separated from the contagion of the worldy sort And euen in this case Satan is deiected from heauen and sent amongst his owne earthly ones He is said to fight in heauen when by slight and might he laboreth to keepe downe so the true Church as it can not bee discerned from his company and is deiected thence when truth openly in the Church is maintained so as he can haue no place for dominion but amongst the children of disobedience For beeing cast out of men hee goeth madlings in the swine of the world and shut out of God his house he furiously mistrāmeth his owne putting forth his rage where hee may seeing hee cannot where hee would Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth This is it which maketh that where euer the Gospell is purely preached there immediately by Sathan are raised stirres and tempests For while hee brooketh all peaceably hee is at ease but when that stronger commeth who spoileth his house then hee chafeth and becommeth mad in his Instruments This euent Christ in these same words foretelleth so as we need not doubt of the right sense Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world bee cast out And in another place speaking of the effect of the Gospell truely preached I saw Sathan fall from the heauen like lightning 9 This victory is by Michael and his Angels fighting in heauen that is by Christ who is Michael our Prince and the Angels of the Churches Apostles and faithfull Pastors fighting by the powerfull preaching of the Gospell against Sathan his Ministers of darkenes heathen Philosophers heretikes and all such for Christianity is a warfare against Principalities and powers against beasts wherin we must all fight the good fight of faith and striue for that victory which standeth in saluation of the elect from God in Christ and in the foile of Sathan and that by the bloud of the Lambe apprehended by true faith in the word of Iesus his Testimony with perseuerance and a ready offering of liues for his
may looke in the midst of most desperat calamities The other againe endeareth the particular gift and should greatly stirre to study as whereof with good reason it was said in the beginning Blessed are all that read and obserue c. 8 In this type of the Church in this Chap. her gracefull state is shewed first in the presence of her King euen God himselfe dwelling and ruling in the midst of her secondly in her dignity which she hath of her Lord thirdly in God his dispensation for and towards her fourthly in her dutifulnesse againe to her Lord in al true worship and hearty praise 9 God is described from his office and from his nature His office in that as onely King Lord and Head of his Church he ruleth therein and steadfastly fixeth his habitation in the midst thereof as which he hath chosen to be the place of his feet euen the mountaine wherein hee delighteth to dwell yea wherein hee will dwell for euer This is shewed by one onely throne set in heauen and one onely sitter thereon the other thrones being in the circle but His onely in the center His nature more to our capacitie then as it is in it selfe incomprehensible is shadowed by three iewels all of great worth a Iasper Sardine and Smaragde the Smaragde hath this singular that â—t is diffundit in manner of a Rainebow about the throne Now albeit I am perswaded that the perfit knowledge of the natures and vertues of these iewels would giue a sight of some analogy to God his nature so farre as earthly and senselesse things may expresse him to whom nothing is like and that some thing also might be pretily spoken hereof yet in so high a matter beeing my selfe in expert in the nature and qualities of pretious stones I dare not be bold and what others perhaps vpon more knowledge deliuer I rather it bee sought in themselues then I should speake in such matters vpon any man his credit This seemeth certaine that heerein the holy Ghost giueth vs to take vp the trinity of that one who accordingly after of the beasts is praised thrice holy Wherein as the Father by the Iasper and Sonne by the Sardine so the holy Ghost by the Smaragde is signified Whose singular note of beeing diffundit about the throne as a rainebow hath a sweet analogy both to his procession and name particularly giuen him by the Lord of Comforter Neither is this to bee esteemed a vaine speculation because in this same Chap. the holy Ghost is set out in seuen burning lamps and the Sonne at length in the next for the consideration is much diuers and no lesse necessary for a distinct vnderstanding of the persons as in them and each of them one and the same deity subsisteth according to their inward relation so sitting in the throne and for the knowledge of them according to the outward oeconomy or dispensation towards vs. For hereafter in this Chap. the holy Ghost is described more according to his graces and vertue in vs then in the former consideration and the Sonne in the next Chapt. is described as Christ and Mediator betwixt God and man in the first consideration both being one with the Father sit in the thron in the second for expressing God his outward dispensation of grace in the Mediator by the spirit of sanctification they are described before the throne 10 Thus is the presence of God the King of his Church Now her goodly and graceful state herethrough is set out in the type of twenty foure elders whose place number and dignity are to bee obserued Their place is round about the throne noting their attendance open sight and easie accesse Confer with this whole type the forme of the campe of Israel Nomb. 2. Their number is twenty foure for all elect for this is the type of the true Church according to the purpose of grace who are of Israel his twelue and Israelites indeede and who are builded on the foundation of the lambe his twelue Apostles for these are the first borne written in heauen to whom we all come For as none had lot of inheritance in Canaan who could not deduce his pedigree from one of the Patriarchs so the new Ierusalem is builded on twelue foundations bearing the names of the twelue Apostles This Church is larger then that of Israel properly And as of Christ and his Church Dauid and his state was a type so accordingly hee not onely distributed all the Priests singers and porters of the Temple in twenty foure orders but also the King his seruants monethly were twenty foure thousand Such a diuine harmony is in the word of truth Now the dignity of these is first in their venerable and respectfull maiesty through the image of their Lord and ripe knowledge beeing no more children but all Senators Secondly they are all Kings by their thrones and crownes of gold For there are thrones set for iudgement the thrones of the house of Dauid Thirdly they are all priests as clothed in long white robes 11 In this Church the dispensation of her God in her is twofold The one terrible against her enemies for her protection the other gracious towards the saints The first is expressed by lightnings thundrings and voices comming out of the throne as in Scripture commonly his terror in iudgement is by these expressed At the giuing of the law God gaue out his terrour in a mount that could not bee touched in blacknesse darknesse sound of trumpet and in voice of words which they who heard besought they should heare them no more But specially when his iudgements are set forth in deliuery or auenging of his Church thus they are described Psalm 18. and 46. and almost euery where This is the more to be aduerted for the oft occurring of these words in this Prophesie and alwaies in this sense His lightnings are his swift consuming punishments compared to arrowes Psal 18. His thundring is his horrible terror as blacknesse darkenesse and tempest with which thunder ordinarily is ioyned His voice is his fearefull rebuke when he speaketh in displeasure Psalm 2. and 9. 5. the Lord speaketh fearefull things in his wrath but hee will speake peace to his people Psalm 85. For wee are not come to the mountaine which cannot be touched nor to the sound of words c. but to the bloud of the Couenant that speaketh good things Now these are said to come out of the throne for that as he sheweth saluation out of Sion so is he zealous for her and all men heere-vpon feele either mercy or wrath as they are of her or fight against her For in the palaces of Ierusalem God is knowne for a refuge Psal 48. 61. There is he great there hee breaketh the Bow the Speare the Shâ—eld the Sword the battell He is terrible out of his holy places He roareth out of Sion and vttereth his voice from Ierusalem This protection made Dauid
enemies should still increase and that to such degree of crueltie as in God his iustice required their speedy and finall destruction which neuerthelesse should bee delayed for a time but so as the rage of persecution being mitigated the Church should become of great account euen before men Therefore in this fifth Seale is put the cry of Soules against cruelty not that here it beganne but for the hight whereto the enemies were come now therein as also a reason of God his patience in such measure of wrong was needfull And further hearts are hereby wakened to see the equity of the great plague in the sixt Seale when God in a great degree performeth the promised vengeance albeit then fully it shall bee executed when vpon powring out of the seuenth Viall they shall bee absolutely destroyed who destroyed the earth and the kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords the rest of Saints being slaine by the beast euen the rest of the womans seed Chap. 12. 17. and 13. 7. and 14. 12. 9 The sixth type vpon opening of the sixt Seale 〈◊〉 a great Earthquake the darkning of the sunne and moon the fall of starres the departing of heauen and remouing of mountaines and Ilands from their places the speech opening the signification is the Kings of the earth great men rich men chiefe Captaines mighty men bond-men and free-men should haue such commotion and alteration of state carrying such imprinted sense and cleare sight of Christ his wrath and vengeance as they should bee filled with desperate terrour so sore a iudgement comming on them as in a sort the state of the world should bee ouerturned these who were as the Sunne Moone and Stars for glistering shew in their Kingdomes wealthes honours commandements and great roomes being darkened and falling from their places all their glory and honour compared to Heauen euanishing as a scrole rolled vp such as seemed most closely hedged about as Ilands being driuen from their places and who appeared to bee setled as mountaines yet remouing Which plague should bee so much the more grieuous as no condition of men bond or free should escape it all feeling such desperate terror and sorrow as felt these Isai 2. as had the Israelites at the destruction of Samaria Ose 10. and as Christ foretold should betake the Iewes at the destruction of Ierusalem Luke 21. Neither is this type to be drawne to any other or extended to any further sense To take it of the last consummation is ridiculous ignorance the seuenth Seale as yet not opened and yeelding more then foure times as much story both for time and euents in time as all these six preceeding and to extend it to the decay of the visible Church is impertinent as which matter is handled properly in the seuenth seale and six trumpets thereof For albeit that in this Prophesie both before and hereafter starres be put for Pastors of Churches and the eclipsing of Sunne and starres for darkening of spirituall light and fall of starres for falling of Pastors from the truth yet here where that matter is not handled and where the holy Ghost so plainely ioyneth the interpretation wee ought not iumble so distinct matters and the frequent vse of these same Allegories in the Prophets for euents of this same kind might haue taught so much Isai 13. verse 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. and 14. 12. and 24. 19. 20. 21. 23. and 34. 40. Ezechiel 32. 7. 8. Ioel 2. 30. 31. 10 Now for right accommodation of Story to these Seales wee must flie two extremities wherein many Interpreters falling breed to themselues great difficulties and darken cleare matter The first is of these who tying themselues to more strait rules of interpretation theÌ„ the holy Spirite hath laid to them will needes haue these seuen Seales as also the Trumpets and Vials to bee so many knots or periods of time exactlie cutted within which the accommodation of each is to bee sought whereas they are no knots of time but types of distinct matters and the whole matter comprehended in seuen Seales whereof the seuenth affording the trumpets vials hath the matter of foure times alse much time as all the former sixe sheweth the weakenesse of this coniecture yea the effects of them are seene clearely to bee often of one time the former holding out long after the beginning of the next The other extremity is of these who well perceiuing the absurdity of the first neglect in the accommodation all consideration of distinct time so iumbling Seales Trumpets and Vials to the confusion of all order and light of Story which in this Prophesie is most orderly set downe with special relation to distinct euents Then let vs hold this rule that these sixe Seales haue the story of the first sorrowes as Christ calleth them Mathew 24. 8. as the seuenth Seale hath both the second sorrowes in the sixe Trumpets and the last wrath in the seuenth by seuen Vials Thus farre then wee haue to respect time in accommodation of these Seales that albeit they shew such ordinary iudgements whereby God at all time hath punished and will punish the contempt of his grace yet here they haue a speciall relation to the first time from the writing of this Prophesie to the ouerturning of the state of the Roman Empire so far forth as might make way to the succeeding more dangerous euill in the seuenth Seale and sixe Trumpets thereof Now as these beginnings of Sorrowes so called and of Christ himselfe recorded in the same order which here is set down fell out in diuers places Mathew 24. 7. 8. So also in diuers times of that first time now and then here there yet alwayes in this order that first the white horse goeth out after the Sword Famine Pestilence and noisome beasts God his foure great plagues Ezech. 14. 21 sometimes seuerally sometimes ioyntly as God saw it expedient fitting his iudgements to the growth of induration against that persecuting estate till at length all the glory and face almost of that wicked Empire was ouerturned And these are the proper euils of that first time for that albeit in succeding ages God hath inflicted them on the world yet neither in such degree as then neither for any degree thereof vpon the world thereafter come they in account in respect of heauier woes theÌ„ they 11 How the preaching of the Gospell went forth conquering to ouercome maugre all opponents besides the successe preceding this Reuelation it had after Domitian who now letted it with all his might a great propagation as in story is cleare and whensoeuer by persecutors it was crossed immediately the red horse and his great sword in God his iustice commeth forth in bloudy warres partly with forrainers but most tragically of the Caesars amongst themselues whereof the Stories are knowne and too long here to bee repeated 12 Now famine ordinarily euer accompanieth or ensueth hard vpon Warres but these times had as strange bloudshed so vncouâ—h examples
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
that with them truly is found all the bloud shed vpon the earth Chap. 18. 24 CHAP. X. AS the sixth Seale besides the own proper effect gaue a preparation to the seuenth by a summary view of the whole effect thereof in the seuenth Chapter so here the sixt Trumpet besides the proper woe of it in the four destroying Angels from Euphrates and their Armies of desolation in the end of the last Chapter maketh way now in this and a good part of the next Chapter to the effect of the seuenth Trumpet and last woe which impenitency now iustly bringeth on Now all this preparation euen to the blowing of the seuenth Trumpet Chapter 11. 15. albeit it be to cleare the way yea and hath some no small beginnings of that great woe which by the seuenth Trumpet is fulfilled yet it is comprehended vnder the second great woe according to their distinction by Trumpets because euen in the height of this second great woe these degrees towards the last were working So wisely and artificially is the course of this Prophesie led forward and parts thereof clearely coupled together This preparation then for Antichrist his iust and full ouerthrow vpon obstinate impenitency against the punâ—shment from Euphrates is by a magnifike description of that great partie who foileth him and of the meanes of his victory The party is Iesus Christ heere typically setforth as alwaies throughout this Prophesie not according to the veriry of his person but to expresse his operation in this worke His meanes of victory are the little booke opened and the bold and powerfull preaching thereof and that for Finishing the mystery in the full ouerthrow of the enemies and perfecting the Church in all grace heere as a prepared Bride for her husband whereto hee fitteth â—pt instruments who by diuine motion studying diligently the Scriptures preach euery where the Gospell So as by the true rule rightly applied the true Church of God is discerned from the false and light growing Antichrist his kingdome is in a degree shaken and beginneth to fall and in the seuenth Trumpet is vtterly and for euer destroied 2 Wee haue then in this Chapter the comming of the great personnage performer of this worke and the end of his comming For effectuating wherof prophecy is restored This great persoâ—nage is that stronger one then Satan who foiled him and now after a sort returneth to ouerthrow the beast of his power the Angell of the bottomlesse pit king Apollyon In this personage are to be obserued whence he commeth the forme of his person and his actions Hee commeth from heauen as the aduersary came out of the bottomlesse pit not in propriety of speech as if he personally descended but that he who through antichrist his darkenesse was not seene now againe sheweth himselfe As God is said often in Scripture to depart or hide and againe to shew himselfe The glorious and magnifike forme of his person is shewed in a note of diuine maiesty that he is clâ—athed with a cloude Luke 2â— At the erecting of the tabernacle a cloud filled it So also Salomon his Temple The Lord hath said he will dwell in the cloud Hee gaue his presence to Israel in the wildernesse in a pillar of a cloud Hee maketh the cloudes his Chariot and he went vp in a cloude Secondlie he hath the Rainebow about his head as he whose presence bringeth peace the raies of his face imprinting the seale of peace in the darkest soâ—le and most clowdy conscience The shining of the Sunne against a cloud maketh the Rainbow So Christ whose face shineth like the Sun in his strength Chap. 1 being clothed with a cloud hath conueniently a Rainebow about his head His flesh is the vaile couering his Deity whereof the manefestation therin maketh our peace But heere specially hath hee the Rainebow about his head as comming now to dispel the great deluge of Antichristian darkenesse which shall neuer againe ouerspread the face of the Church more then the waters of Noah shall the earth giuing thus a sure pledge of serenity Chapter 9. Section 5. Thirdly his feet haue two notes They are pillers and they are fire The first for stable firmnesse and solide strength wherein hee now commeth both to stablish his Church in peace and to tread downe all his enemies The fire sheweth with light and purity dispelling darkenesse and purging all vncleannesse yet fiery affliction conioined in this conflict with Antichrist against all which notwithstanding his Church should stand stable as the Pillar of truth He hath fourthly in his hand a little booke open This is the weapon of his victory It is little in comparison to Antichrist his great booke of humane Traditions vnwritten Verities Apocriphe Scriptures Decretals Canons and manifold Legends all ioined and equalled by them in their practise at lest with this booke It is open for that cleere vnderstanding of holy Scripture which now Christ should bring whereas in Antichrist his darkenesse the same was buried in ignorance which with them is the mother of deuotion it being held capitall for common laicke men to read Scripture in vulgar tongue 3 The actions of this great personnage thus furnished are in his gesture and in his voice His gesture is that he set his right foot on the Sea and his left foot on the Land as he who hath power ouer all creatures Who stablisheth the mountaines by his power and appeaseth the noise of the Seas the noise of the waues thereof and the tumults of people Psal 65. His right foot is set on the Sea as whose rage is most terrible and the left on the earth to shew that he is sufficiently furnished with all strength and accordingly vttereth it as for the party opponer is requisit In the 13. Chapter to expresse Antichrist his estate two beasts arrise the one out of the Sea the other out of the Earth These he commeth to vndoe and conueniently therefore setteth his feet in this manner So is his gesture His voice is a loud cry Wherein as the little booke is the weapon of his warfare so the vse and welding of it is heere expressed to wit Preaching Whereof to shew the boldnesse his voice is compared to the reoaring of a Lion And to expresse the power and that perfect accompanying the bold Preaching of the Gospell now restored seuen thunders are said to speake As at the going out of the Gospel in the first seale the first beast hauing the face of a Lion Spake like thunder So now at reuiuing of the Gospel to Antichrist his ouerthrow it shall be accompanied with boldnesse and perfection of of power The great Angell comming downe to fight for Sion and the hill thereof Isai 31 4. Now consider that Christ is heere described according to his vertue working in his seruants whose voice if it be his is bold and powerfull If their voice be as it ought the eccho of his cry it will be like thunder For thunders
not designing any one particular person as the head of impiety a perfect and vnrecouerable destruction of them both both in God his iustice and for the Churches full security was requisite To the Reader HEere should haue followed the like Commentary vpon the two last Chapters 〈◊〉 vpon the former but for some speciall reasons they are omitted Vse that which heere thou hast with an vpright heart and giue glory to God A TABLE CONTAIning the most notable things in this booke A Rule for right Accommodation of Story to the seuen seales of this booke 41 The wrong ground whereby men marre the Accommodation 46 How farre time must bee lookt to in the Accommodation 89 The Aire 170 Our Altar Christ 37. 60. 81 The Ambition of the Romane Bishops 65 Angels are about the Church for two respects to protect her and to learne wisdome by her 29. 30 Angels are not to be worshipped 210. Angels put for the name of office not of nature 59. The Angel of the couenant 50 59 Antichrist his beginning 70 Whence and in what manner hee arriseth 118 119. 120 175. The mischiefe comming by him compared with the floud of Noah 77. His name 79. The number of his name 124. What sort of enemie he is 137 140. That he is the Pope 113 183 185. Acommon deceiuer of alboth Iewes and Gentiles 80. How he hath not power to slaie men and yet with him is found all the blood shed on the earth 72. 84. How farre he did preuaile 139. How to iudge of his followers 136 137 141. The first and second degrees of his fall 157. The third degree of his fall 158. The fourth 160 The fift wherein is a wise and iust retribution 161. The sixth 163. His destruction irrecouerable and vtter ruine 78 89 165 177 218. His vnexpected foile 218. His irrecouerable fall compared with the fals of the Beasts in Daniel 219. Armageddon 165 Christ his Arrowes kill all but differently 34 A diuine Artifice of the spirit 160 The Attire of the Bride 208 B BArbarous nations ouerturners of the Romane Empire although Satan his intention in spewing them out of his mouth was farre other 110 A great Battell in heauen 103 108 Why men are named Beasts 123 That the first Beast is the state of Rome not vnder the persecuting Emperours as the common opinion is but of the same time and condition with the second Beast that is vnder the Popedome it is prooued by foure cleere notes of the first Beast proper to the Popedome The first note 113. The second the third and the fourth note cleerest of all 114. How the same Antichrist to wit the Popedome is set fourth in both the Beasts 118. 121. What reason the Beast and false Prophet be distinguished seeing they are but one 121. 177. 178 â—18 What the wound in the sixth head of the Beast was and the curing of it 116. 117. In what respect but seuen heads are attibuted to the Beast albeit in number they bee eight 118. 176. Who is the seuenth head of the Beast 122. 177. The Beast is the eight head and one of the seuen to wit the sixt 116. 122. 176. Who the Beast is 123. 178. His seuen heads 175. How he had beene and then in Iohn his daies was and how hee was to come and what bee the Kings called his Heads 176. The hornes of the Beast 179. Why to this Beast is attributed not only hornes as to that in Daniel 7. but further also heads 179 The Beast in comparison set against Christ 217 Beasts throne and elders 20. 202 Christ his garment dipt in Blood 214 Pope Boniface the eight 231 The Bookes opened in the last iudgement 235. 236 The Bride her preparation 206. Her attire 207. 208 C THe degrees of a true inward Calling to the ministry 91 The length of the Land of Canaan 144 The Captaine of the Lord his Host 214 His power to doe all things 213 The Character of the Beast 124. 136. 219 Christ in diuers respects is both God sitting on the throne and also the Lamb standing betweene the throne and the Beast and Elders 13. He is dispenser of all both mercy and wrath 60. His comming downe from heauen 85 He is Lord of Sea and Land 87. Hee commeth in his Kingdome with power 107. 110. His garments dipt in blood 214. He is our Garment 162 The Church her constant gracefull state in the presence of God in her 12. In her goodly state heerethrough 13. In God his dispensation terrible for her 14. And gracious towards her in three graces 15. Her happinesse by this state 20 Without the true Church is neither saluation nor any true knowledge 24 The true Church preserued euen vnder Antichrist 53. 71 Her case vnder him 93. 137. And it is shewed in three distinct speeches 138 The Church her enemies and sufferings after what manner they be described in this Prophecie 104 The primitiue Church her habit and her trauelling in birth 105. Her flight to the wildernesse 190. Why she is called a mountaine 166 The Church her estate in the last daies 261 That the last two Chapters of the Reuelation must bee vnderstood of the Church militant 264 The Roman Clergy 70. 196 Their properties 78 A Cloud a note of diuine maiesty 86 A delightful CoÌ„gruity in the order of God his working 164 Conscience the twofold state thereof the intollerable torment thereof comming by Popish Doctrine 72. 73 Constantine the great 44. 109 Contention set foorth by fire the effects thereof 62 How it was among the Churchmen 63 The Course of the Reuelation 32. 101. 142. 153. 232 And of the Trumpets 61 The Artifice thereof noted 84. 90. 100. 101 The Cry of soules of Martyrs 37 The Dragon his Crownes are vpon his heads but the Beast his vpon his hornes 113 Christ hath many Crownes 213 The Cup. 135. 136 D THe Day of Iudgement shall come on a secure world 169 Death of two kinds 64 Of a third kiâ—de 67 Death first and second 223 224 To Dye in the Lord. 142 Desire of further kâ—owledge 49 The threefold Dignity of God his Saints 14 Dioclesianus a cruel persecuter 43 What Disposition is requisite for the perception of Diuine Mysteries 173 A Doore open in heauen 9. How wee must enter thereat and the necessity and fruit of entring 10 Our Doore to God is Iesus Christ 259 The Dragon who and of what time he is 105 His binding and to whom he is bound 222. 228 E THat great Eagle 109 The Earth in opposion to heauen for the earthly sort 10 For the place of the visible Church 49 The Earth in an other third sense 156 The loue of the Earth the effect thereof 70 A great and strange Earthquake 170 The East a pleasant discourse vpon the comming of the Angel from the East 50 The occasion of the falling away of the East from the truth and their conâ—ersion againe 163 To Eate the word of God 91 To Eate the flesh of the