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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86457	An exposition, or, A short, but full, plaine, and perfect epitome of the most choice commentaries upon the Revelation of Saint John. Especially of the most learned and judicious authors, as Bullinger of Helvetia, Francis Iunius, Thomas Brightman, Aug. Marlorate, Aug. de Civitate dei, but especially (among many) the excellent and learned David Pareus. With severall remarkable notes, observations, and doctrines very profitable. / As it was for the most part delivered by way of commentary in the parish-church of Sutton-Valence, Kanc [sic]. By Hezekiah Holland Anglo-hibernus, Minister of the Gospell at Sutton-Valence.	Holland, Hezekiah, fl. 1638-1661.	1650 (1650)	Wing H2426; Thomason E606_1; ESTC R5543	143,079	206

expound it though some have anciently supposed this Book to be forged by the Heretick Cerinthus because seemingly favouring the errour of the Millenaries though it be indeed full of divine testimonies of Christs divine nature and no way favours that Millenary errour as will appear in the progresse if the objections of Hereticks and others had presently been beleeved we should long since have had little or nothing entire in the whole Scripture Among all Commentators Pareus who borrowed much of Brightman and Bullinger by his own Confession but especially of Anonymus upon whom he seemes sometimes to be but a large Commentary most affects me yet sometimes I borrow light of a seemingly lesse glorious torch then his This book is a Prophesie as Mr Goodwin observes it out of Mr Mede of the destruction of the Romane Empire either as heathenish in the whole or else Christian yet persecuting in both the parts of it East and West The Book is tragi-comedy which begins with a kingdom given to be won by conquest Rev. 6. and ends with the Coronation of a King and the Marriage of his Bride and all between is but the removing of all such lets and impediments namely of the Roman Monarchy and all other kingdomes which that was broken into so far as they stand in the way and possesse the roome of that kingdome which is to beset up When Christ first began the whole world then worshipping Idols he sets upon conquering the whole Romane Empire as it was heathenish and the worship of Satan and Idols in it and in three hundred yeares he dispatcheth that and throws down all both Idoll worship and Princes that did uphold it And then when the whole Empire was turned Christian yet the devill as one ewll said did not turne Christian but under the name and profession of Christ he stirreth up the Arrian Christian world to prosecute the Orthodox Christians as much as heathenish Rome had done but Christ takes further vengeance for this persecution under both these Heathenish and Arrian Rome it was the cry of the bloud of the Saints slaine under both that brought on them the vengeance that followed see Chap. 6. vers 10.11 The Empire having been afore divided into two parts the Easterne all which now the Turk possesseth and the Westerne this in Europe he fals first on the Westerne Europian part breaking that by the incursion of those barbarous nations * Which the foure first Trumpets did sound forth as M. Goodwyn affirms Rev. 8. the Goths and Vandals then for the Easterne part of the Empire although his revenge was slower yet he reserved them for the forest vengeance that could befall the Christian world the Conquest and Tyranny of the * The 6. Trumpet sounded forth this ch 9.13 Saracens first afterwards the Turks Thus here is an end of the Romane Monarchy under the Emperours in the whole and in the parts of it The Westerne part in Europe was by occasion of the Goths invasion broken into seven Kingdoms which though helping the Woman against the floud of Arrian persecution yet through Satans seducing of them they set up the Beast or Antichristian Rome And these altogether did joine to make us as great a war against the Saints in Ch. 13. as the Heathens and Arrians had done and so Christ in a manner was as far off his Kingdome as at first The next counterplot of Jesus Christ is to overcome these Kingdomes so you find Rev. 17.14 They shall make war with the Lamb and the Lamb shall overcome them for he is Lord of Lords and King of Kings and they that are with him are called chosen and faithful Thus far he Which generall methodicall division I in the general like and allow of though in particular I have shewed upon Chapter eight that the first foure Trumpets did not signifie the incursion of those Nations Goths and Vandals neither indeed came they to help the Woman but to destroy her though they embraced her faith when most corrupted of which more in order and place See Chap. 12. I desire the Reader to remember that though the Revelation may seeme to be one continued Vision yet indeed it is not one nor revealed at one time but seven as so many sights exhibited to John in the Spirit John was not once only but oft times ravished in the Spirit neither saw he all in one place but some things in Patmos some things in heaven some things at the seashore some things in the Wildernesse Note the Revelation sayes Pareus out of Augustine speakes the same things after a diverse manner the former Visions are for the most part more obscure the latter bring clearer light to the darknesse of the former if one rightly observe them sayes Pareus for example in the second Vision the black horse denotes the Church made black with heresies after Constantines time the pale horse having death sitting on and drawing hell after him the Church sick even unto death towards Antichrists rising In the third Vision by the sounding of the third fourth and fifth Trumpets the same state of the Church is indeed represented yet more especially the declining corruption and lastly the Apostacy of the Sea of Rome plainer Some Visions represent the foure conditions or the foure acts of the Church to wit of its flourishing and groaning under Roman Tyrants till peace brought in by Constantine 2. Of the Church raigning and rioting under Christian Emperours till the rising of the Westerne Antichrist Boniface third Pope of Rome and of the Easterne in Mahomet six yeares after 3. Of the Church trodden upon and oppressed by Antichrist especially the Westerne till the measuring of the Temple which began to be effected by the Two witnesses John Husse and Ierome of Prague who were slain by the Beast in the Councel of Constance Anno 1414. and thence untill Luther by whose Ministry the measuring of the Temple hindered through the tyranny of Popes began to be continued Anno 1517. The fourth of the Church reformed from Popery and of the declining of Papacy to endure till the end Some Visions represent not the entire but only the two * The 2 3 4 and 7. Visions containe the 4. Acts or estates of the Church the 5. and 6. Visions are more particular containing the 7. last plagues and the judgment of the Whore latter conditions of the Church Thus the most excellent Pareus It is safest expounding the Revelation by the Revelation one thing explaining another yet much of this Book the Lord hath yet reserved in his own power yet this latter age hath had better help of experience then that of the Fathers many things being fulfilled which they dived not into The fourth Actor condition of the Church with its accomplishment is secret Because the seventh Trumpet hath not yet sounded Neither is the seventh Viall yet poured out into the aire a great part also of the third Act is reserved unto posterity which in time shall see

were as is most remarkable to wit by Kings Consuls Dictators Decemvirs which lasted but two years Tribunes Emperors Popes Now no Kingdome can shew such seven mountains and seven Kings but this Rome the now seat of Antichrist Five are fallen To wit the former five now reckoned One is To wit Emperours Domitian then raigned who banished Iohn One is not yet come To wit the Pope for though there was a Bishop of Rome then yet he did not Lord it or use any Papal jurisdiction thus Brightman but according to him the seventh must be Antichrist being however but part of the eighth as will appear the seventh is the Government by Constantine and Christian Emperours for now the face of the Empire began to be new and another in some sense for he left the mountains of Rome and went to the East to wit Byzantium calling it after his own name Constantinople or the City of Constantine Thus he remained a short time to wit at Rome the ninteenth yeer of his reign departing thence to Byzantium neither in some sense did the seventh Government continue long being swallowed up by Popes in the West and Turks in the East Vers 11. The Beast that was and is not even he is the eighth The seventh was but part of him Constantine and his successors removing from Rome the Popes seeing the Emperours even weary by reason of warres and incursion of Barbarians began to begge and after to usurpe Kingly authority at Rome which was the old seat of the Empire Thus the Beast that was In Johns time in Monarchical power of five Kings And is not Neither an Ecclesiastical nor secular Monarch in Johns time to wit in the Pope Even he is the eighth To wit regiment consisting of an Ecclesiastical and Civil Monarchy as Priest and Caesar And is of the seven Heads to wit or Kings borrowing power of them he is not one of the seven heads but of them as exercising himself all the power that had been in the seven Kings or Governments whether Priestly as the Romane Emperours had done for they were called after Augustus the greatest Priests or Kingly Thus the seventh King was not Antichrist but the Christian Emperours who made way many wayes for him And goeth into perdition He hath been going apace a good while ever since the Witnesses began chap. 11. to prophecy and will suddenly arrive at his Armegeddon Verse 12. And the ten horns which thou sawest are ten Kings Horns are not the heads but something of the heads Now as these horns grew out of the heads in the text so those Kings whether more or lesse it matters not for by ten many are understood who receive power with the beast in one houre and afterwards hate the Whore are those who sprang out of the seventh Beast or Christian Caesars and Emperours in place of whom succeeded the Emperour and several kings of the West as Spaine and her King The beast then though he devoured the seventh head yet he exercises all his authority under the name of Christs Vicar and general Bishop suffering the Emperour to keep the name Who have received no kingdome yet To wit when John writ the Revelation but since But receive power That is shall receive power One houre with the Beast Though God be the doner of Kingdomes yet these ten Kings through the wicked means of the Beast obtained their Kingdomes for his rashnesse translated the Greek Empire unto the French but God by his secret just working ordered it as in the translation of the ten tribes 1 Kings 12.24 With the Beast or from the Beast For here the spirit seems to point at the Popes creating Kings Emperours as Leo did These Kings then raigned by the Popes favour As Kings Noting their dependency on the Pope whose vassals they are holding their kingdomes as farmes from him having the name of Kings though it may be well said in all the Popish dominious Antichrist only reigns whom these Kings obey rather then reign One houre That is as they received the faith by degrees for they were Barbarians who received these Kingdomes which belonged once to the Christian Emperours so they raigned accordingly with the Beast or the successours of the Beast by one houre a strict time is not noted England France Spaine Germany by degrees raigned with the Pope and by his leave being once all Papistical one houre Vers 13. These have one mind All had their kingdomes in some sense from the Beast offering up their kingdomes to be ruled spiritually by him acknowledging his supremacy for the defence of which our witty otherwise Sir Thomas Moor lost his head in England had one mind all Popelings to be of one mind is not commendable but only in thee truth Thus even at onetime all the Kingdoms of the West compared to horns because springing out of the seventh head of Christian Emperours either received their power from the Beast as tributaries really or acknowledged his superiority Having all one mind Nay and prayed all in one tongue viz. the Latine Though these Kings might have private differences among themselves yet when the Popes matters were a foot they wonderfully agreed in the prosecution of them Giving him their power Help and Aid to advance Idolatry and Superstition Here observe how these inhabiters of the earth wondred after the Beast as chapt 13. Admiring and Reverencing the Popes and Idolatry of Rome Vers 14. These shall make warre with the Lamb They by consequence make warre with Christ who defend the false Vicar of Christ and his Idol-worship This warre the Kings began with the Lamb as soon as they received their kingdomes above eight hundred years and shall be most cruelly prosecuted by the Kings of the earth gathered to Armageddon by the enticement of the three impure spirits after the spiritual Euphrates of Rome is diverted by Christian Kings and States observe then many of these ten Kings shall give out Being overcome by the Lamb Convinced by the truth and hate the whore the rest shall with the kings of the earth continue the warre against the Lamb till the last day Yet he shall oveecome them Not only finally then but before even before the ten Kings gave out partly by the word gaining and winning ground Partly by the couragious sufferings of the Martyrs For the Leader is Lord of Lords they that are Partners in the fight are 1. Elect. 2. Called 3. Faithful therefore through Christ Conquerours Christ being God and King of Kings is sure enough to conquer Kings and Kingdomes the house of Saul decreases and the Kingdome of our David increaseth daily Vers 15. And he said to me the Waters which thou sawest where the woman sitteth are People Nations Multitudes That is they represent People Nations thus the Chaldaean army Jerem. 47.2 is called the Waters of the North. Waters are raging and unconstant so are People and multitudes Rome in Johns time had many nations under her so hath the whore now and

the gathering together the Kings of the earth into Armageddon the burning of the whorish woman the desolation of Babylon the event of the Goggish war More then the beginning we have seen and further shall see E. H. The Errata of moment are these CHap. 1. page 2. line 10. Alcasar should be set in the margin against that line l. 13. read changeable causes for unchangeable cause ch 3. p. 30. l. 6. after doth r. not l. 26. for spiritual r. spirit ch 8. p. 54. l. 31. r. Bishops successors ch 9. p. 66. l. 30. for eye r. use ch 9. l. last for withdraw r. wrath ch 10. p. 72. l last after locusts r. doctrine ch 11. p. 83. l. 37. for shew r. flew ch 12. p. 88. l. 11. for of Christs birth r. at Christs birth AN EXPOSITION OR A short but full plaine and perfect Epitome of the most choice Commentaries upon the REVELATION Of Saint JOHN Especially of the most learnedly judicious DAV PAREVS CHAP. 1. Vision 1. Vers 1. The Revelation of Iesus Christ .. THE Word Revelation or Apocalypse signifies the unfolding of a secret T is called a Revelation for two reasons First because we need the knowledge of it Secondly it shews the divine authority of it for the title answereth the title of the ancient Prophets as the vision of Isaiah so the Revelation of John Of Jesus Christ which God gave him God may be said to give it to Christ as he was man nay as God for the father is the fountaine of the Godhead So Christs wisedome is from the father by an eternal generation it shews Christ to be God because it belongs to God only to reveal secrets Isa 41.23 now t is Christ office to reveal to his People the Will of his father His servants To wit Christ This proves Christs divine nature because all the faithfull are his servants Which must shortly come to passe therefore this book doth not treat of things then past as some would perswade but things to come Must come shews the unchangeable decree of God Also secondary causes as the malice and rage of Satan and his instruments against the Church though unchangeable causes if not hindred by the over-ruling Power of God bring forth necessarily an effect Shortly That is shall begin suddainly to take effect though the things herein mentioned were not in a very short time to be all performed for many hundred years are past already and yet many things are not come to passe yet the time is short in respect of the age of the world already past or in respect of eternity Alcazar or God with whom a thousand years are but as one day And signified it by his Angel God gave him the Revelation not to keep for himself but to shew it to his servants now is expressed the faithfulnesse of Christ in executing his charge committed to him of God And he sent This proves Christs Divinity in that he commands the Angels and they obey him This is Pauls argument of the Deity of the Son Heb. 1.6 His servant John Christ takes notice of nay doth register the names of his servants Poor Lazarus is mentioned when the rich mans name is buried in Oblivion only there was a certain rich man Happy are his servants whom he hath graven unto their comfort be it spoken on the palmes of his hands not on iron but flesh not on his back parts but his hands not the back of them but the palmes of his hands Vers 2. Who bare record of the Word of God That is of Christ the Word note three things 1. That the Penman was one that writ of Christ 2. That 't was Iohn who in the entrance of his Gospel says In the beginning was the Word to wit Christ 3. That Iohn wrote his Gospel before he wrote the Revelation who bare Record of the Word And of the Testimony of Iesus Christ the doctrine of Christ the death and martyrdome of Christ for Iohn stood by and saw him crucified And of all things that he saw to wit now in visions also he alludeth to a place in his Gospel where he says he that saw it bare record and his record is true Vers 3. Blessed is he that readeth because by reading comes faith and observance also he commendeth the reading of this book to all men And which heare those then that cannot read may be blessed let them procure others to read to them this and other books of the Scripture especially explained And keep the things reading and hearing without observance will availe little yet it may be both a means to remove what may hinder our happinesse and to direct us in the right way of attaining the same Of this Prophecie This shews it is from God for all Prophecie is of him 2 Pet. 1.20 it may also the sooner stirre up our hearts to feek the knowledge of this book for men do covet to know the things to come See my little book called A glimpse of Christs love p. 14. concerning a Prophet and Prophecie in part For the time is at hand The time of the beginning of the performance The time both of the fury of the adversary and the deliverance of the Church this should stirre up in us a diligent care to read this Prophecie for the knowledge of good and evill at the doore ought not to be neglected Vers 4. Iohn to the seven Churches gathered in Asia the lesse by the preaching of the Word chiefly by Paul to whom Iohn dedicates and sends his book because the first Vision directly concerns them Grace he to you and Peace by grace understand the free love of God in pardoning sin by peace chiefly that of conscience but also all temporal blessings included in that word peace he is to reprove these to whom he wisheth thus well it teacheth that reproofe should be the effect of love not of malice From him which is which was and which is to come that is from the father alluding to that name in Exod. 3. I am which is because the father is from none which was because he was before all time in eternity which is to come because he shall come to judge the world by the Sonne the Sonne also is one with his father was for in the beginning was the Word is to come to judge immediately the quick and the dead yet I rather understand this of the father because by the seven spirits before the throne is meant the holy Spirit as Christ is expressed in the next verse From the seven Spirits before the throne the holy Spirit is called seven because he is perfect in working for seven is used for a perfect number in this book In my quoted book pag. 43. I proved that by Angels excelling in strength arch-angels are meant Psal 103.20 the rather because the ordinary Angels are meant in ver 21. yee his host Also I affirmed that by seven spirits ch 3. v. 5. happily these angels may be meant but in

Pilate in part and deferres the rest untill the day of judgment Vers 16. And the number of the armie of horse men were two hundred thousand thousand Noeting the Turkish forces to consist of horsemen especially of which one Emperour of the Turks can bring forth more to a battle then all Christian Princes joyning together 400000. is common And I heard the number of them John having named the number of the Turkish horse noteing what an innumerable armie the Turks sometimes draw into the field least it might seem incredible affirmes he heard the number of them to put all men out of doubt I well remember that living in the University of Ireland a gentleman that newly came from Scandrown or Alexandreta told me he saw the Turkish army march by to recover Badget or Babylon and that the army was above a week marching by consisting of fifteen hundred thousand men with which he recovered Bagdet from the Persian By which however I may guesse thus much that the Turkish forces are incredible many Vers 17. And thus I saw the horses To wit in the Vision otherwise neither are horses in heaven nor such a number in one army in earth Xerxes came nearest They that sate on them had breast-plates c. This Nation of Turks carries not so much harnasses of steel for they come light into the field the readyer to assault fight or flye if occasion be as strength of nature for the breast-plates here mentioned note the inward courage of the Barbarians for their breast-plates were of fire jacinth and brimstone noteing their fiery cruell natures jacinth is in colour like fire and brimstone is easily kindled so are those Barbarians quickly incensed and provoked to warre where by fire they make great desolation And the heads of the horses were as the heads of lyons The Lyon is a generous strong cruell beast It notes the swiftnesse and valor of the Turkish horse in which they most confide and hope for victory The Locusts teeth were Lyons but these horses heads are such because the Locusts deal more secret the teeth being covered with the lips but these Barbarians are more open breathing nothing but war and destruction professedly And out of their mouthes proceeded fire and smoake and brimstone Out of the mouthes both of horse and rider noteing the feircenesse of their war-horses but chiefly this is to be applyed to the rider Brightman applyes this to the Turks guns out of which come fire smoake yet perchance the savage hydeous cryes of these Barbarians which they eye before they begin battle to terrify the adversary may bee understood by fire So their blasphemies against Christ may be meant by smoake which proceeded out of their mouthes as by brimstone may be meant the stinking sulphureous doctrine of that wretch Mahomet wherewith millions of souls are and have been destroyed Vers 18. By these were the third part of men killed Great has been the Turks successe many Kingdomes and Nations have they devoured and though the Christians have given them many defeats witnesse brave Scanderbeg Hunniades King of Hungaria and the Venetian 1571 yet finally by multitude they prevailed They have conquered the third part of our cities Provinces Kingdomes Churches and Armies The holy war of which see the sweet tongued Mr. Fuller destroyed many hundred thousands of the Turkish men yet they through sundry accidents slew many more hundred thousands of Christians and at last went away victorious Vers 19. For their power is in their mouth and in their tailes How they kill with their mouth is said vers 17. now they kill with their tailes the tailes are behind by which the retreats of the Turkes are noted either wounding and killing by deceit and fraud by lying in wait for poor Christians or by perfideousnesse though they oft keep their promises or by wounding with their arrowes upon a retreat fighting backward as the Parthians of old who were most feared when they turned their backs Either then by serpents tailes we may understand their deceit and fraud or their shooting headed arrowes and perchance poysoned upon their retreat The retreats of the Turks are cunning and dangerous compared to heads therefore and to serpents tailes Vers 20. And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues The sins of the Eastern Churches as Idolatry that mother of mischeif caused this loosing of the four Angels bound formerly by Euphrates Now if God so punished these shall he spare Romes Idolatry but shee 'l say she worships not the Image but the party expressed by it Answ And truly when Israel worshipped the calfe Exod. 32. and said this is thy God O Israel which brought thee out of the land of Egypt vers 4. can I think they were such calves as to think this Idol-calf brought them out of that land doubtlesse they were not such sots they saw the powerfull hand of that God on Egypt on the Sea and they see this is the work of their own hands but they thought to expresse that God by this calf or oxe yet how displeased is God with them nay the learned Jews have a saying that no punishment ever happened to them in which there was not an ounce of the golden Calfe grounding on Exod 32. ver 34. Neverthelesse I will remember to visit this sin upon them Yet repented not of the works of their hands The end of Gods judgments is not for destruction but instruction and amendment of life Vers 21. Neither repented they of their murther c. Here I observe that the Eastern Churches were addicted to strange sins as sorceries impurity of life living many unmarried I mean of the Clergy Sacriledge for the Clergy under specious pretences did devoure widowes houses yet repented not O Rome look to thy own self for thy neighbours house is fired and thou lyest impenitent though guilty of the same sins truly you may expect the foure Angels to kill the third part of you since you thus provoke God to withdraw CHAP. X. Act. 2. Vision 3. Vers 1. And I saw another mighty Angel come down from heaven HEre in this Act are comforts for the godly under so long continued afflictions as the fifth Seal contained the comforts of the Martyrs under the Altar in respect of the evils of the foregoing seales so this chapter belonging to the sixth Trumpet doth containe consolations against the evils of the foregoing Trumpets which I have already mentioned in the preceding chapters This mighty Angel is Christ whom John saw in a Vision descending from heaven not by a local motion but by the presence of his Spirit and special help to relieve the afflicted condition of his Church Thus Christ has promised to be with his Church to the end Clothed with a cloud This notes the majesty of Christ for God in old time oft appeared to the people in a cloud So then Christ clothed with the cloud of our flesh is not here meant because his birth is not here treated

then in the general shall be ever safe Mat. 16. the gates of hell shall not prevail against her yet particular Churches as Corinth Rome may erre and fall away as experience shews Having the Moon under her feet By it is shewed the variable condition of the Church here below sometimes shining in full light sometimes scarcely to be seene but rather here is noted the Churches despising and trampling underfoot all sublunary vaine and perishing things possessing Christ by faith And a crowne of twelve starres on her head She professeth the faith of the twelve Apostles who are compared to bright starres which is a crowne as it were to her head thus the Church is a crowned Queen and the faith an adorning Vers 2. And she being with child cryed c. Alluding to women who beare not without paine nor bring forth without sorrow the Virgin Mary not excepted See my Glimps of Christs love page 16. The Papists cannot tell how to beleeve that this place any way concerns the Virgin Wel the Church cannot bring forth her fruit of Christ without crying labour sorrow the propagation of the Church ever was with great troubles cares cryes thus Saint Paul travelled in birth with the Galatians chap. 4.19 tyrants make the Churches paine the greater Vers 3. And there appeared another signe a great Dragon having seven heads c. Because he is an old Serpent who has devoured other Serpents and so becomes a Dragon Red Notes his cruel bloodthirsty nature persecuting the Church This Dragon is the Devil ver 9. the crowned heads of the Dragon are Kings Emperours Tyrants as Herod Nero Domitian for seven is taken for many By hornes strength is meant by them Governours Captaines are meant as Pilate Festus Now ten notes a great many the Dragon differs from the Beast chap. 13. the description of each makes it appeare yet this Dragon begot that Beast and are somewhat alike Vers 4. And his taile drew the third part of the starres c. Now followes the action of the Dragon he by his taile that is by cunning flattery and insinuation for Dogs fawne with their tailes drew or enticed many teachers of the Church compared to starres to leave their heavenly function and to fall to humane traditions and earthly cares yet I rather by the Dragons tail understand under several tyrants many long persecutions for the Dragons taile is his strength wherby many at least seeming starres fell to the worship of Satan Nay some faithful teachers too for a little season here are things noted first yet not many yeers after performed Esay says the Prophet that tels lyes is the tayle chap. 9.15 Now perchance by Dragons taile false-teachers and hereticks as Arrius may be noted who drew many from the faith Now by this Dragons meanes that starre chap. 8.10 chap. 9.1 fell to the earth I mean the Romane starre and Arrius And the Dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered c. Like a hungry Wolfe before the fold to devoure the Sheep Peter cals him a roaring Lyon intimating his hungring after a prey 1 Pet. 5.8 First when Christ was literally born he fought to devoure him by Herod when the children suffered for him before he for the children and ever since he strives to devour Christ the manchild in his members by Tyrants Hereticks Antichrist This Act answers to the first foure Seals concerning horses chap. 6. and to the Trumpet concerning the fire mingled with blood the burning mountain the starre falling containing the time from the birth of Christ to the rising of Antichrist Now follows comfort in act the second being answerable to the fifth Seal of the soules being under the Altar chap. 6 9. and to the Angel standing on sea and land chap. 10.2 Vers 5. And she brought forth a manchilde who was to rule all nations c. The Sexe notes strength thus Christ is the mighty God Who doth feed that is rule all nations with an iron rod. as Psal 2. that is with a powerful Scepter the nations with an iron rod but his People with his word or as Psal 53. in green pasture as a shepheard not a tyrant Is the devil a dragon So then remember Christ is that strong manchild who by his power and iron rod defends himself in his members whiles here below Note by the womans bearing a son many sonnes nay multitudes of sons are signified who first beleeved And he was caught up unto God c. Christ litterally and the Saints spiritually are caught up into heaven that is defended and protected and after death as the witnesses are caught up or ascend to heaven out of the danger of the Dragon his heads or horns Vers 6. And the woman fled into the wildernesse c. Here that is said to be done first which was not done till afterward to wit when the Dragon was cast to the earth and the woman had wings ver 13. To which place I referre the Reader for the interpretation of this verse Vers 7. And there was warre in heaven c. After the manchilde was caught up to heaven and before the scattering of the Church John in the vision saw the warre in heaven and it signifies how Christ ascending overcame Satan destroying his Kingdome bringing to the Saints eternal safety Brightman applies this to Constantines suppressing the enemies of Christianity which in part may hold But doubtlesse this war began before Christ is Michael in this place for the Angels can't be said to be any other Michaels though perchance Iohn saw one Angel as Commander of the rest in the Vision Christ and Satan fought in the temptation bloody sweat passion when our Michael overcame as Sampson by his death but especialy by his resurrection and ascension though the whole mystery of our salvation is here shadowed out he destroyed the Dragon and to this houre in some sense the battel from heaven lasts with the Dragon This Vision was to comfort the Church in her miserable persecutions seeing at last her Michael prevailed and she in him now though in the Vision more Angels fought noting perchance how all his members must fight against Satan yet Christ doubtlesse trod the Winepresse alone Isa 63.3 Vers 8. And prevailed not c. Christ sits triumphing in heaven and in his Church in great measure at this day therefore there is no room for Satan there I beheld him as lightning fall from heaven says Christ the preaching of the Gospel and Christs death cast him out and destroyed his Kingdome Thus Christ entred the strong mans house or kingdome and spoiled it Matth. 12.29 perchance here is some allusion to Satans first casting out of heaven Vers 9. That old Serpent called the devil and Satan c. he is called old because of a long standing even before the fall A serpent because of his craftinesse and poyson of sin wherewith he infects the nature of man A divel because an accuser and slanderer of the

Law where the Sun of light is prophecyed never to set fully till the second comming of Christ ch 60.20 but not onely of this spiritual Kingdom nay vers 19. speaks as the place now in hand as if there should be no use of Sun nor Moon hereafter Vers 24. And the nations that were saved shall walk in the light of it Thus much for the building and glory now of the Citizens somewhat They shall enjoy the glorious presence of God who is the light of the city Iohn having spoken of the city could not conveniently but mention citizens who are indeed the very city or part of it the Patriarchs Prophets and Jewish nation or the elect of them are the rest But this must be taken according to the order of the vision and city first and then inhabitants And Kings of the earth do bring their glory thither Not the Kings of the earth who stand for the Beast of which often But Kings converted in the time of the Gospel of which see Esay 60. at large To which passage here is an allusion though it were in the time of the spiritual Kingdome of Christ partly fulfilled now these Kings brought their power and honour to Christs spiritual Kingdome when they were converted and upheld the same and they bring their honour to the city above when their abode is forever above being consummated in glory praising honouring lauding God and Christ for their salvation for ever and ever So these Kings are not such as bring now again their earthly honour to the Church militant for they are saved as well as the nations not to be saved implying their being in joy and safety Kings of the earth Some of the ten converted ones who when in heaven are not Kings but fellow-citizens Ver. 26. is much the same Vers 25. And the gates of it shall not be shut by day c Noting the security and peace and freedome from all dangers for we shut gates day and night in time of Warre or Siege but there shall be no danger now if in the day time the gates shall not be shut then never for there is no night being the glory of God shall expel darknesse by everlasting light This is an allusion to Esay 60. thy gates shall be open continually speaking of the Church militant under the Gospel to admit members to wit into the Church Gentiles and Kings and never shut as excluding none and here t is applyed to signifie the security and happinesse of the Church triumphant Vers 27. There shall in no wise enter in any thing that is defiled See vers 8. Expos on it Paul long since 1 Cor. 6.9 foretold as much Now Christ will judge according to the Gospel These places prove nothing against the Saints who have been overtaken in some sin and have washed themselves by faith in the blood of the Lamb but t is understood of them who make a trade of sinne CHAP. XXII The same Vision partly continued Vers 1. And he shewed me a pure river of water of life clear as Chrystall c. THese two last chapters concerning the Saints felicity answer to chap. 7 15. where the redeemed clothed in white robes praise God before the throne day and night that is for ever The pure river alludes to Ezek 47. or rather to Paradise watered by the river that came out of Eden Gen. 2.10 but that river drew corruption this is pure and water of life having no mixture of filth that came out of Eden this out of the Throne What more pleasant then a water behold not a fountain but a great river not rounding the wals of the city but running through the streets Let us entertain no earthly thought for God by this shews us glorious things in Ezek. 47. waters issuing out of the house of God or Temple is the doctrine of the Gospel flowing from Christ But in this place as also chap. 7. last the living fountains of water are to note the fulnesse of knowledge of God which the faithful shall have by the immediate Vision of God and the Lamb as also unspeakable purity and joy Now the comforts of the Gospel in this life and its doctrine is compared to water Iohn 7.37 Others say the river is the Holy Ghost proceeding from the Throne or God constantly refreshing the city of God Vers 2. And in the midst of the street of it and of either side Here follow the abundance of all things necessary for the Citizens Was there a tree of life Conferring and preserving life alluding to the tree in Paradise but that was not to be touched and this is common for all the Citizens There was but one the which that in Paradise typed See Rev. 2.7 where I expounded it to be Christ who is the bread of life Now the tree though but one with its boughs and roots reached both sides the river though the river was very broad noting how sufficient Christ is for all the Citizens Ezek. 47.7 to which here as an allusion speaks of many trees yet 't was but the same Christ conveyed many ways to the Saints therefore called many trees as the foundations were said to be twelve but here is but one Christ whom all enjoy alike Of the river c. The tree is in the midst of the street because barred from none by the River because always fruitful never decaying Bearing twelve manner of fruits I dare not say here is meant the Apostles doctrine who though they preached one Christ yet drew comforts from him several ways Nor will I mention the twelve articles of the faith all comforting But the tree notes Christ who monthly that is continually is bringing forth the fruits of joy and comfort to refresh the city of God the earnest whereof the Saints have in this world several ways So Christ in heaven alluding to the twelve moneths of an year brings forth twelve nay thousands of fruits of joy and comfort The leaves were for the healing the Nations Alluding to Ezek. 47. So that nothing of Christ but is most sweet and good not as if there were need of any Physick in heaven but to keep the Allegory of the tree ordinary trees loose their leaves Nothing of CHRIST but is profitable The Nations Chap. 21.26 who brought their glory to Christ as the Kings did by being converted and upholding his Kingdom and by being at last glorified by Christ and perfectly cured Vers 3. And there shall be no more curse c. What ever might hinder happinesse shall be removed as chap. 7.15 all tears shall be wiped away By curse we may understand not only that of the law which is nulled but the Anathema's of Antichrist also sin sorrow torment death which are destroyed Here may be intimated the curse of delivering over to Satan in this life because of sin in the Church but there above is purity and therefore no curse as Beza has it There shall be no curse because the throne of God shall