the great River 21 Euphrates i. e. hindered by Divine Restraint and the Providential course of things from making any considerable Progress in the parts of the Roman Empire beyond that River 19 The Bad as well as Good Spirits which God makes use of are called in Scripture Angels which in this Book are put to denote the Men and Instruments used by and under them in their executing the Commands of God And because there is great Reason to believe as I shall shew hereafter that the Turkish Potentacy is meant in this place which immediately followed the Saracenical I shall therefore endeavour to give you a brief Account of its Original and Progress The Turks called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 by (a) Lib. 4. pag. 232. Mela 1. ult Plin. 6 7. Herodotus and Turcae by Mela and Pliny are by all Accounts a Northern People called therefore The King of the North Dan. 11.40 as the Saracens are The King of the South because they lie Southward of Palestine They were Orignally Natives of Tartary which is called Turchestân by the Eastern Writers and is a Countrey of a vast Extent reaching from the River Volga to the extreme East consisting of Two sorts of Tartars the Eastern or Mogul Tartars lying above China beyond the Mountain Imaus or Emodus and the Western Tartars on this side Imaus whose Language is different from the former and from these latter came the Turks as appears from their Language the Ground of which is Tartar and those Tartars also which inhabit the lesser Tartary upon the Black or Euxin Sea called the Crim Tartary or Tartaria Precopensis from a great Dike near which its Chief City stands Crim signifying a great Bank with a Ditch in the Tartar Language as Precop does in the Polish who were originally of the same Race with the Turks although they are now a mixt people because their Prince is by Compact to succeed the Grand Signior upon defect of Heir Male which the Turks would not have consented to if they had not been of the same Line Now the Turks made their Excursions from all parts at first some of them from beyond a Tanais where those Turks seem to have lived who sent an Embassy to Justin Junior and were employed by Heraclius against the Persians when he sailed through the Euxin Sea into Georgia and by degrees into Armenia but the greatest and most Famous Body of them came from Mawaralnà hra or the Regions beyond the River Oxus and from that part of it above the Caspian Sea which is particularly denominated from them Turchestân the Chief Seat whereof is Samarchand from whence they were called into Persia and not from Armenia as Abul-Pharajai and Elmacinus both testifie who make frequent mention of them and their Kings long hefore their setling in Persia They at first fell into Chorasân a Countrey lying betwixt Persia and India and ravaged some parts of (b) Petav. Rationar Tempor 9 7. Persia about A. D. 625. and afterwards (c) Abul-Phar pag. 115 116. assisted the Persians against the Saracens about A. D. 643. About (d) Sabellic Ennead 9. lib. 2. A. D. 800. they made great Incursions through the Portae Caspiae which is a narrow Passage near Derbent which signifies in the Persian Language a streight betwixt Mountains called by the Turks Demir Capi or the Iron Gate near the Caspian Sea betwixt Armenia and Persia and is part of that vast Ridge of Hills at least 1500 Miles long which runneth from West to East from Armenia to India where the Branches of it run several ways one great one of them separating the hithermost Tartary from that above China or the Mogul Tartary and is called Imaus these Hills receiving different Names in the different Counteies through which they run sometimes being called Mount (b) Nicephor Bryenn pag. 21. Du Cange in Not. ad Calcem Cinnami pag. 299. Excerpt e Legat. pag. 106. ed. Paris Leunclav Histor Mussulm pag. 22 23. Elmacin pag. 332. Abul-Phar pag. 222. Abul-Pheda per Gravium Knoll's History of the Turks Taurus sometimes Mount Caucasus and near Tartary Imaus Through this Natural Barrier of Nations there is a Narrow Passage which the Turks passed and possessed themselves of the Northern part of Armenia called perhaps from them Turcomania From whence and about the same time some of them went and settled in Caramania in Asia Minor anciently called Cilicia whilst others of them who were Stipendiaries to the Saracenick Chaliphs prevailed mightily at Bagdâd betwixt the Year 863. and 900. insomuch that although they had been often slain in great Numbers and were driven out of Chorasana they yet Rallied their Forces under Tugrol or Togrul-Beg (a) Du Cange ad calcem Cinnami pag. 300. called Tangrolipix and by several other Names by the Greeks who came from the Countries beyond the River Gihon or Jihun which is the same with Oxus as (b) Pag. 222. Du Cange ibid. Abul-Pharajai distinctly affims and passed that River and not Araxes which divides Armenia from Media except those Two Rivers are confounded by the Greeks as Du Cange thinks This great Captain together with the rest of his Brethren of the Family of the (c) Elmacin lib. 3.7 pag. 331. Abul-Phar 226 227. Leunclav Histor Musul pag 69 Niceph. Bryen pag. 21. Du Cange ubi supra Seljukidae who began to be Famous about A. D. 1038. being called into the Assistance of the Persians at last conquered them taking Ispahan about A. D. 1050. and having embraced Mahometism the Religion of that Countrey they proceeded so far as to conquer Bagdad A. D. 1055. and to put an end to the Empire of the Saracens in those parts Betwixt the years (d) Du Cange ad Calcem Cianam pag. 316. Histor Byzant illustrat pag. 354-358 1070 and 1080. they made great progress in Asia Minor some of the Family of the Seljukidae who came thither from Persia fixing their Imperial Seat at Iconium who are from thence called the Sultans of Iconium and are distinguished from the other Turkish Sultans who Reigned in Asia the Great whose chief Seats were in Persia where Tangrolipix * Elmac. pag. 342. died A. D. 1063. and at Bagdad But the (a) Tyrius de Bello sacro lib. 5. 6. Abul-phar pag. 242. Christians in the Holy War about A. D. 1097. having broken their power in those parts and what through the Divisions which arose amongst the Sons of Cutlumuses (b) Abul-phar pag. 245 290 312. the Cousin German of Tangrolipix and the first who made considerable Inroads into Asia Minor about A.D. 1108 We hear little considerable of the Actions of these Sultans until their Credit and Power came to be advanced by Sultan Aladdin Caicobad who was made Sultan A. D. 1219. and died about A. D. 1236. In the mean time the Eastern Turkish Empire mightily encreased especially under the Arms of Saladin (c) Abul-phar pag. 264-276 Fuller 's Holy War lib. 2. Chap. 35
propagated from the Twelve Apostles as the Israelitish Church was from the Twelve Patriarchs And the Number 144000. is a square Number arising out of Twelve the square Root of it denoting the Apostolical Doctrine to be the Root Twelve times Twelve Thousand amounting to One Hundred and Forty Four Thousand and Foundation of the Church and that the pure Church is a square Body because 1. It can admit of no other Foundation than that of the Apostles as this square Number can admit of no other Root than Twelve that is it can be produced by no other Number multiplied into it self which is what is meant by a square Root in Arithmetick 2. Because the Church is to be built in all After-Ages upon this Doctrine multiplied by it self only as the square Number arises from the Root multiplied into it self And this is not to be accounted a groundless Fancy but is no small part of the Knowledge of the Eastern Nations in which Solomon and Moses were skilled who were wont to wrap up Mysteries in Hieroglyphicks and Numbers that they might be hid from the Vulgar and known only by Persons fitted and capacitated for them and at suitable Times and Opportunities it not being convenient that some Truths should lie exposed to all and at all Seasons And accordingly it hath pleased God for the same Reasons and that Humane Search and Diligence might be exercised and encouraged to make use of the same way of Concealment to shew that all Humane Knowledge is to be subservient to Divine and to his Church Whereupon he hath made frequent use of the Number Twelve in things pertaining to his People and the Church the Patriarchs being Twelve the Tribes Twelve the Gates of Jerusalem Twelve and the Apostles Twelve and the Measures of the New Jerusalem being adapted to this Number for the Reasons before hinted and for others which we shall have a fitter occasion to mention hereafter See the Notes on Chap. 1.20 and 20 4. By these sealed ones are meant a pure Apostolical Church preserved from the time of Constantine under the Calamities of the Empire and during the continuance of the Apostasy so as to be Witnesses against it but in a hidden and concealed Condition For 1. They are said to be sealed that is preserved as we have shewn but in a hidden Condition as the Law is commanded to be bound up and sealed Isa 8.16 and the Words of Prophecy to be closed up and sealed Dan. 12.4 9. And the Church is said to be a Spring shut up and a Fountain sealed Canticl 4.12 of which the Seven Thousand which God had reserved to himself in secret and had preserved from the Idolatry of Baal 1 Kings 19.18 are a Type 2. This sealing immediately follows the Downfall of Paganism under Constantine at the opening of the Sixth Seal in the former Chapter whereby is signified that some great danger was then near that Christ should seal and secure his True Church so soon after their Delivery from Persecution And the History of those Times clearly testifie that the True Spirit of Christianity soon decayed upon the Peace Honours Priviledges and Prosperity which the Church then enjoyed and that the excessive Veneration they had for Saints and Martyrs gave Rise to the Apostasie upon which the pure Church became sealed that is shut up and concealed and a stop was put to its appearance in that true spiritual Glory which it shall have under Christ's Kingdom for its degenerating by degrees into a Satanical Synagogue For sealing denotes also the Hindrances and Lets which Christ's Kingdom has met with by its being over-powered by the Apostasie which at last advancing to a Throne wholly covered and hid it in an obscure and sealed State no Church being at last visible but the Apostatized one 3. It appears from the Third Verse that the time of this sealing lasted from Constantine until the sounding of the first Trumpet i. e. until the Irruptions of the barbarous Nations after the Death of Theodosius the Great during which time the Apostolical Church was under a continual sealing i. e. it s Visible State was daily obscured and covered until at last by the destruction of the Empire and the rise of the Apostasy upon it it was closely sealed up in an invisible State 5 Of the 10 Tribe of Judah 11 were sealed twelve thousand Of the Tribe of Reuben 12 were sealed twelve thousand Of the Tribe of Gad 13 were sealed twelve thousand 10 The Number of each Tribe is particularised and determined to shew that the Members of God's pure Church are not chosen casually and at all Adventures but are determined by God and that out of every Tribe or part of the Catholick Church And the Numbers of each Tribe are equal viz. Twelve Thousand to each to shew that each particular Church is to be Apostolical in the profession of the entire and perfect Doctrine delivered to them and that they are to be firm and stable in themselves which is the (a) See the Notes on Chap. 20.4 Mystical signification of a Cubical (b) Dr. Moor's Cabbala Nicom Gerasen Arithmet Theolo apud Photii Biblioth pag. 459. Number such as the Chiliads or Thousands are out of which each Tribe consists 11 It is the Opinion of Mr. Mede that the Nature Qualities and Circumstances of the pure Church are included in the true Scripture-import and mystical meaning of the Names of the several Tribes which I shall therefore in submission to his Opinion insist upon more particularly because there is good ground in (c) Micah 1.14 Matth. 2.23 Rom. 2.29 Scripture for such Mystical Allusions taken from Names Judah is placed first because the Government was given to him in David and Christ came of that Tribe which for the Generality kept to the publick Worship of God and the Rightful Kingly Succession when the others had cast it of Hos 11.12 1 Chron. 5.2 Heb. 7.14 His Name signifies Confession or Praise Gen. 29 35.49 8. whereby is signified that the pure Church ought to pay a Eucharistical Service of Praise and Thanksgiving to God and confess him openly and publickly in his Worship 12 Reuben is the next because although he lost his Birth-right for defiling his Father's Bed Gen. 49.4 1 Chron. 5.1 yet he shewed great Courage together with Gad in that Noble Resolution they made of passing over Jordan ready Armed before their Brethren Numb 32. The Name signifies See the Son whom God out of his (a) Joseph Antiq. 1.19 Mercy sent when he saw and had a respect unto our Afflictions Gen. 29.32 Whereby is intimated that the Church ought to look up unto Christ in their afflicted State as God did upon them in their desperate Condition when he sent his Son to redeem them 13 Gad signifies a Troop as is plain from Gen. 30.11 compared with Gen. 49.19 called so because that being situated on the Borders of the Countrey it was to be always ready in Arms and so
4.19 Salaho Ddin who took Aegypt from the Saracenick Chalifs about A. D. 1169. where the Turkish and Circassian Mamlucs i. e. Slaves or Servants afterwards bore sway for about 275 years as Dr. Pocock informs us in his Supplement to Abul-Pharajai But on a sudden A. D. (d) Abul-phar p. 280-368 1202. there arose a New Empire in the World the Mogul-Tartars or Tatars called so from a (e) Bizar de reb Perfic River in that Countrey of that Name falling in upon the Eastern Empire of the Turks and making Incursions as far as Asia Minor which the Arabians call Rumaea and at last taking Bagdad A. D. 1258. whereby the Dynasty of the Arabian Mussulmen was transferred unto the Kings of the Mogul-Tartars according to Abul-pharajai which Empire nevertheless lasted not long in those parts for it was broken by mutual Discords about A. D. 1335. where Dr. (a) Supplem ad Abul-phar pag. 1-6 Pocock places the end of that Dynasty nothing considerable being performed by them until the Time of Tamerlan Timur Lenc who died A. D. 1404. Since which time they have contained themselves within their own Eastern bounds and have not carried their Arms into the Western parts This great and terrible Invasion gave occasion to the Rise of the (b) Annal. Turcici Pandect Turcic Histor. Musulman per Leunclav Pocock Supplem ad Abul-phar pag. 41-53 Ottoman Turks who being beaten out of Asia by the Mogul-Tartars and hearing of the Fame of the Sultans of Iconium began their March from the Province of Mahan in the Dominions of the Persians towards Asia Minor A. D. 1214. under the Conduct of Solyman-Shahum to one of whose Sons he himself being drowned at the passing of Euphrates Aladin Sultan of Iconium assigned a Portion of Land near the Mountains of Armenia From which small beginnings they raised themselves by their Valour and the Favour of Aladin to such a heighth that A. D. 1299. (c) Dr. Pocock Supplem pag. 42. Othman commonly called Ottoman Solyman's Grandchild took the Name of Sultan and so enlarged their Dominions that his Son he himself dying A. D. 1325. took Brusia formerly Prusa a City of Bithynia either that Year or very soon after and made it the First Seat as Hadrianople was afterwards and Constantinople is now of the mighty Ottoman Empire which (d) Leunclav Histor pag. 78 85 93. succeeded the Aladinian Sultany after it had been established in Asia Minor about Ninety Years Since which time their History is so well known that I shall not further insist upon it having brought it down to the Times here mentioned viz. their most Famous passing the River Euphrates and that at a time as (a) Narrat Turcic pag. 41. Camerarius has very well noted when Ecclesiastical Authority had advanced it self above the Civil and Divisions and Superstition had much encreased amongst Christians Now the Cause why this great Empire should be Characterized by Four Angels bound in the River Euphrates and afterwards loosed is a thing worthy our disquisition and it may perhaps be for these Reasons 1. Because that the Kingdom of the Turks was divided into Four Proefectures or Principalities whilst they were bound in the River Euphrates that is had made no Incursions into those Western parts which are bounded by that Famous River For so we are expresly told in the Relation (b) Excerpt e Legat. inter Histor Byzant pag. 106-108 of an Embassy from the Scythian Turks to Justin Junior about A.D. 570. where the Turkish Embassadours being asked hy the Emperour concerning the State of their Kingdom tell him that the Chief Power was indeed solely in their King Disabulus but that their Kingdom was divided into Four 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 or Principalities 2. At their most memorable passing the River Euphrates they were under the Command of Four (c) Pocock Supplem pag. 41 42. Captains viz. Solyman (d) Leunclav Hist pag. 86. Shahum and his Three Sons and upon the death of Solyman who was drowned in the passing of that River a circumstance not altogether to be disregarded they were again under Four Commanders viz. Otrogules and his Three Sons of whom Ottoman was one who upon their being loosed by having power from God to pass the River Euphrates laid the Foundations of that mighty Empire All which are no obscure Circumstances but most notable and most famous passages of their History the Number of Four Illustrious Families being so remarkable amongst them that (a) Pandect Turcic pag. 411. Paris edit ad calcem Chalcondyl Leunclavius hath a particular Chapter about 3. They are not only remarkable for (b) Leunclav Hist 86 87. pag. Four Chief successive Families viz. the Seljukian Aladinian Oguzian and Ottoman but if Mr. Mede's Observation prove true they were actually divided into Four Tetrarchies or Sultanies whilst they were bound in Euphrates And lastly Because the Spirit of God in delivering Prophecies which are on purpose dark and aenigmatical may allude to many passages and circumstances in one and the same Type and Figurative Expression some less known and obvious than others to excite men's Industry why may not the Turkish Potentacy be signified by Four because of the Vniversality of its Conquests described Dan. 11 40-45 Four as Dr. Moor observes standing for a Note of Vniversality in the Cabbalistick Mysteries especially in the Graecian Monarchy which it was more immediately designed to kill or destroy For as the Horns of the Altar from which the Voice comes Vers 13. are Four to signifie the Vniversal Extent of Christ's Church so are there here Four Angels loosed to shew that this Woe was to fall Vniversally upon the Grecian Church and Monarchy described in Daniel Chap. 8.8 by Four Notable Horns towards the Four Winds of Heaven For the Turkish Empire as that Judicious Historian Mr. (c) Turkish History in the Preface and pag. 981. Knolls has observed hath brought fatal mutations not upon Christendom only but the whole World having under its Command the chief and most Fruitful parts of Europe Africa and Asia and having fixed it self almost altogether even in the self same Kingdoms Countries and Regions as belonged to the Greek Empire For although the Third of the Earth and of Men be the Symbol of the Grecian Empire yet in respect of its Vniversality it may also be represented by the Number Four 20 To bind is to hinder and restrain as appears from Rev. 20.2 and that by secret Impulses and Instincts as the Word is taken Acts 20.22 And from hence we may learn That the Bounds of Empires and their progress are from God as are also the Providential Seasons in which he lets loose Barbarous Nations to chastise Christians 21 A great River upon which the Old Babylon the Type of the Antichristian City stood it was the fatal Boundary of the Roman Empire and was so oftentimes to the Turks they making but small Advances beyond it except in Asia
Continent which lay Eastward of them and by Sea whatsoever lay to the West Continent as well as Sea Which way of Speech is to this day Observed by the Chinese who upon that account call all the World except Tartary Si Yam or the VVestern Sea from whence Siam a Countrey in the Indies takes it's Name as being Situated towards the Sea Westerly of China And therefore by this action of our Saviour seeing that in all other Places of Scripture the Earth is mentioned before the Sea may be Intimated that the Gospel which was now almost extinguished in the Eastern parts by Mahometism Should appear First in its Purity and Strength in the Sea or the VVestern Parts of the World signified by the mention of the Sea in the First Place and by Christ's putting his right Foot upon it the Strongest and the Honourablest of the two Which came to pass at the Reformation foretold in this Vision as shall beshewn hereafter And that there sbould be in the latter Days which Doctor Pocock (a) On Hosea 3.5 Pag. 618. extends from Christs First to his Second Coming some Wonderfull and Amazing motion of the People of God from the VVest is evident from Hosea 11.10 Where the Prophet foretells that the Lord shall roar like a Lion an Expreson which very Remarkably Answers to the Roaring and Thundring in this Vision and that thereupon or then the Children shall tremble from the VVest or from the (b) Dr. Pâ—cock on the Place Sea as the Word in the Hebrew Signfies that is from the VVestern Parts and from Remote and Distant Countreys and even the uttermost parts of the Earth which is encompassed with the Sea Which strange motion or conversion is to come to pass near Christ's Second Coming which Dr. Pocock asserts to be a Received Opinion as to the Jews in his Kingdom which was to have appeared when Christ set his Right Foot upon the Sea if the Thunders the Effect of the Lord 's Roaring had not been sealed that is if a stop had not been put to the Efficacy of them for Christ's Kingdom when it comes in its full force will prevail to the placing of the Jews in their Houses Verse 11. and to the bringing in the fulness and perfection of the Gentiles 3 And cried with a loud Voice i. e. proclaimed his Right as when a Lion 8 roareth i. e. terribly and with Majesty Isa 31.4 Amos 3.8 Joel 3.16 Prov. 20.2 and when he had cryed seven Thunders 9 uttered their Voices declaring the appearance of his Kingdom 8 Christ called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah Rev. 5.5 is here understood whose Roaring denotes as Dr. Pocock has shewn upon Hos 11.10 the Efficacious power of the preaching of the Gospel resembled to the Voice of a Lyon because of its calling Christians together to partake of it and its Promises as the Lyon does those of its own kind to partake of the prey and because it is accompanied with a Terror and an Awe and extends it self to the uttermost parts of the Earth with great power as the Voice of a Lyon is terrible and loud And hereby also as appears from the Texts I have quoted is signified the Anger of God when he appears for the Vindication of his Kingdom against the Enemies of it 9 Thunders as I have before shewn on Chap. 6 1.8 5. signifie the Power and Efficacy and signal Appearances of Christ's Kingdom which Seven the Number of Perfection peculiarly denotes and which Hannah prophesied would be exalted by the Lord's Thundering out of Heaven 1 Sam. 2.10 4 And when the seven Thunders had uttered their Voices I was about to write that which they had uttered and I heard a Voice from Heaven saying unto me 10 Seal up those things which the Seven Thunders uttered and write them not i. e. conceal them as things which are to come to pass hereafter and hinder them from coming immediately into Effect Dan. 8 26.12 4 9. 10 Here Sealing and Writing are plainly opposed Writing signifying the bringing of the Vision into Effect and Sealing the delaying of the Acccmplishment of it as I have shewn on Chap. 5.1 So that here is a plain stop put to the Kingdom of Christ insomuch that his Roaring did not prevail to make the Children come trembling from the West 5 And the Angel which I saw stand upon the Sea and upon the Earth lifted up his hand to Heaven the Throne of God in the posture and manner of Swearing Gen. 14.22 Dan. 12.7 6 And swore by him that liveth for ever and ever who created Heaven and the things that therein are and the Sea and the things which are therein i. e. by the Eternal Omnipotent God who created all things and therefore can alter them and their Times and Seasons that there should be such time 11 no longer as that which the Prophet Daniel foretold Chap. 7 25.12 7. 11 Time in general here called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is divided by Daniel into several distinct 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is appointed Times or Seasons which he calls Time Times and the Dividing of Time or a part that is an half of Time which Distribution is also used in this Book Chap. 12.14 By Time is meant in Daniel the most signal and perfect part of the appointed Times and seasons viz. a Year as appears from Dan. 4.16 and 11.13 where Times plainly signifie Years By Times absolutely put must be meant Two Times or Two Years because it is the Dual Number i. e. the next Plural Number to Time or One Year and then by consequence by The Division or cutting off or Half of Time must be meant Half a Year as I think all Interpreters agree Now The Prophetical Day being put for a Year in Scripture the Prophetical Year must by consequence be put for a Year of Prophetical Days that is a year of years consisting of as many years as a Year doth of Days viz. of Three hundred and Sixty Years in round and equal Numbers according to the degrees of a Circle and then (a) 360 a Time 720 Times 180 half a Time 1260. Times must be Two Years of Years i.e. Seven hundred and Twenty Years and the half Time must be half a year of years that is One hundred and Eighty Years all which amounts to Twelve hundred and Sixty Years Rev. 11 3.12 6. Now Christ's Oath here having a clear reference to Daniel 12.7 by no more Time must be meant no more such Time or of the same Nature with the Times there given to Antichrist which were to cease and no more time to be except when Christ's Kingdom appeared which is the import of the following Verse when there should be Time indeed but of a quite different Nature dated and reckoned from the glorious Reign of Christ and not from the Abominations and Servitude of Antichrist and ending in that which is not so properly Time as the completion and perfection of it Eternity For
their Waters justly turned into Blood for making that Element the Instrument of their Bloody Design against the Israelitish Infants Ex. 1.22 11 And blasphemed 17 the God of Heaven by whose Command these Plagues were inflicted because of their Pains and their Sores or fiery Ulcers and Torment of 17 Mind and Body Verse 2. and repented not of their deeds as being given over to a Reprobate Mind Verse 9. 17 17 The extream Torment they were under affected their Minds and Consciences and made them blaspheme God and gnaw their Tongues as Men in the greatest Rage imaginable For in this Vial there is an Allusion to the thick and palpable Darkness with which God plagued Aegypt Exod. 10 21-23 wherein Men sate still for several Days together in a most disconsolate condition vexed (a) Psalm 78.49 VVisd 17. and tormented with great Terrors from their own affrighted Consciences and the Evil Angels 12 And the sixth Angel poured out his Vial upon the great River 18 Euphrates and the Waters thereof were dried up i. e. all manner of Impediments were removed Isa 11 15. Jerem. 50 38.51 32 36. Zech. 10.11 that the way of the Kings 19 of the East i. e. of those Living Saints who are to Reign with Christ in his Kingdom Isa 41.26 Rev. 21.24 might be prepared i. e. that all things might be 20 prepared for the Jerusalem State in the New-Earth See the Three last Chapters 18 In this Verse there is an Allusion to the Exploit of Cyrus who dreined the River Euphrates when he took Babylon as had been foretold by the Prophet (b) Chap. 50 38.51 32 36. Vid. Grot. in loc Isaiah 41.26 Jeremiah and to those passages of the (c) Is 15.15 Zech. 10.11 where by the Tongue of the Egyptian Sea is meant the Bay of the Mediterranean Sea which lies next to Egypt and by the River not Euphrates which has not Seven Streams but Nilus which by so many Mouths empties it self into the Mediterranean Prophets where the Return of the Jews into their own Land is described in the like Expressions 19 Here also is an Allusion to Isaiah 41.2 25.46 11. where it is foretold that one should be raised up from the North and come from the Rising of the Sun to call upon or (a) Ezra 1 1 2. proclaim God's Name meaning thereby Cyrus who by his Mother's side was of Media which lies North from Judea and by his Father was a Persian whose Countrey lies exactly Eastward of the Holy Land And although Arabia be sometimes called the East in (b) Judg. 6.3 Job 1 3. Scripture and the Arabs the Children of the East for Job was a King in Arabia as Dr. (c) Itiner Mundi pag. 72 73. Hyde hath fully proved yet it was in respect of (d) Mede 's VVorks pag. 476. Egypt where the Jews had learnt that Form of Speech Arabia lying Southward of Palestine Now Cyrus was a Type of Christ and therefore by the Kings of the East may in proportion be here meant those Saints who as so many Messiahsses or Anointed Kings and Priests by which Name Cyrus is called in Scripture shall Reign with Christ who is expresly said to come from the East Chap. 7.2 20 An Expression used Isaiah 40.3 Malach 3.1 Matth. 3.3 And here it is to be noted that (e) Gen. 2 10-14 Euphrates was one of the Branches into which the River which watered Paradise was divided after it had passed through it It was also the (f) Gen. 15.18 Exod. 23.31 Deut. 1 4.11 24. Josh 1.4 2 Sam. 8.3 1 Kings 4.21 2 Chron. 9.26 Eastern bound of the Land of Promise to which David and Solomon extended their Dominion the Kingdoms thereabouts being Tributary unto them although the Jews never enjoyed a quiet Possession of them as proper Owners for any considerable time God (g) Fuller's Pisgah Sight 1.2 contracting their Borders for their Sins and at last scattering and carrying them Captive beyond this very River into the Dominions of the Assyrian and Babylonish Tyrants So that this River which at first was a Stream flowing out of Paradise became the Fatal Boundary of the Kingdom of the People of God over which they were carried Captive and a Sign of Enmity and Hostility to God's Church Babylon the Type of the Seat of Antichrist being seated on one Branch of it From which Observations we may conclude that by drying up the Waters of Euphrates that the Way of the Kings of the East might be prepared is signified 1. Preparations for removing of all Impediments and Obstacles whatsoever especially from Antichrist which may hinder the Kingdom of Christ whose Dominion is to be extended beyond that River unto the Ends of the Earth as the Psalmist hath plainly foretold Psalm 72.8 2. Here may also be intimated the near Approach of the New Earth described in the Three Last Chapters signified by the drying up that River whereon the Type of the Antichristian City was seated which was an hindrance to the Saints entring into and enjoying the Paradisiacal State of the New Earth of Christ's Kingdom In order to which also according to Dr. (b) Theory of the Earth 3.9 Burnet's Hypothesis the Rivers are to be dryed up that so no stop may be put to the Conflagration which is to burn up the Old Earth 13 And I saw three unclean 21 Spirits of Devils Verse 14 like Frogs 22 come out of the 23 mouth of the Dragon i. e. the Pagan Roe man Powers Chapters 12 and 13. and out of the mouth of the Beast i. e. the Antichristian King Chap. 13. and of the False 24 Prophet i. e. the Antichristian Hierarchy the other Beast Chap. 13.11 21 An Epithet frequently given in Scripture to the Evil Spirits to distinguish them from the Pure and Holy Spirit of God and they are called unclean because they tempt to and take delight in Sin which is Impurity and Vncleanness 22 Like the Frogs of Aegypt Exod. 8 1-14 who went up into the Houses of the Aegyptians and even into the Bed-Chamber of King Pharaoh and his Nobles Psalm 105.30 Whereby is elegantly set forth the Vile Original of the Devil's Angels and Emissaries born as it were out of the unclean Mud and Slime and sent to Negotiate and Solicite of which the Croaking of Frogs is a Symbol the Kings of the Earth into whose Bed Chambers and most private Retirements they insinuate themselves 23 They came out of their Mouths as Embassadours to speak in their Name and interpret their Mind and Designs And these Spirits of Devils came out of the Mouths of the Dragon Beast and False Prophet to shew that Satan had made use of them all along as his principal Agents out of each of whom they came to shew that all their several and distinct Interests were now to be joyned together at this great Battle and decisive Attempt 24 He is called the Other Beast Chap. 13. whilst the Beast was in his Infancy but
And from hence it appears as also from the solemn words Verse 17. It is done which are plainly taken from the same passage in Ezekiel that the Judgments upon those wicked Nations are here referred to and this may probably be that signal Vengeance which shall fall upon them upon the passing away of the Old Earth by which as by a mighty Tempest of Thunder Lightning and prodigious Hailstones reserved by God against this time of Trouble and this day of Battel and War as Job speaks Chap 38.22 23. in the same Words used in this Chapter and by Daniel Chap. 12.1 they shall be scattered into the Four Corners of the Earth where they are to remain under the Effects of God's Wrath often set forth in Scripture by such Tempests until the expiring of the Thousand Years CHAP. XVII The Text. 1 AND there came with Authority and Commission from God one i. e. the first Chap. 16.2 of the seven Angels which 1 had the seven Vials and talked with me after a more familiar manner saying unto me Come hither i. e. nearer unto me to receive more clear and intimate communications of Knowledge and I will shew or point out and demonstrate unto thee the Judgment i. e. the foul 3 guilt Sentence and Destruction of the great 4 Whore i. e. the gteat Idolatrous City and Church that 5 sitteth upon many Waters that is ruleth over much people Verse 15 18. Annotations on CHAP. XVII 1 To shew that this Woman was one of the Enemies of Christ's Kingdom upon whom the Vials are to be poured and withal the chief of them with whom all the others were to fall 2 As being now about to give him a more clear description of the Beast than he had as yet received 3 So the Word signifies sometimes in Scripture as Ezek 7.23 Rom. 5.16 1 Tim. 5.12 4 The People Cities and Churches which Apostatize from the True God to Idolatry are called Whores in (a) Isa 1.21 Nahum 3.4 Ezek. 23. Rev. 2.20 Scripture for breaking their Covenant with God to whom they were thereby espoused from whence it is evident that a Christian City must be meant in this Chapter and not a Pagan which cannot be said to be a Whore or an Apostate City because Pagan Cities having never acknowledged the True God or been espoused unto him cannot be said to Apostatize from him And we may observe that there is here a Double Article in the Greek 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to shew that this City was Eminent for Idolatry and that she had been before noted for it in this Prophecy that she had continued in it for a long time that her sin was great in it self and had been propagated through the large Extent of her Dominions whence she is called The Great Whore and The Whore as being the Chief and Metropolitan of the Idolatrous Cities and Churches the impudent Whorish Woman according to Ezek. 16.30 and Chap. 23. and the Jezebel Rev. 2.20 5 In Allusion to the situation of her Type Babylon which is called The Great City Dan. 4.3 and is described Jerem. 51.13 as dwelling upon many Waters that is situaated upon Euphrates which encompassed it and ran through it and the adjacent Countrey in Cuts and Rivulets 2 With whom i. e. by 6 whose sollicitations and example the ten Kings of the Earth verse 12. have committed spiritual fornication which is Idolatry Isa 23.17 and all the inhabitants or meaner people of the Earth i. e. of the Apostate Roman Empire have been drunk i. e. madly zealous and sottish y doteing Jerem. 51.7 with the wine of her Fornication i.e. her pleasing and intoxicating allurements to Idolatry 6 Or hereby may be signified that they Idolized her by worshipping her and calling her the Mother and Mistress of all Churches and attributing Infallibility to her as the Phrase is taken Jerem. 3.9 Ezek. 16 17.23 37. 3 So he i. e. the Angel carried me away in the Spirit chap. 1. 10. into the Wilderness 7 where the Woman the true Church was chap. 12. 6. and I saw a 8 Woman i. e. a City verse 18. and Church * sit on high and in an exalted state verse 9. upon a scarlet 9 coloured Beast i. e. the Roman Empire full of names or kinds of Blasphemies i.e. of all 10 manner of Idols and Idolatries and Idolatrous Titles and Offices having seven heads or successive forms of Government verse 9 10. and ten horns i. e. Kings verse 12. 7 The Wilderness was a proper place for him to see this Vision in 1. Because places of Retirement and Solitude are fittest for the Reception of Divine Illuminations and for Meditation and to signifie that a clear and distinct View of the Apostasy could not be taken but by one who had retired at some distance from it and from its bewitching pleasures and the Hurry and Noise which attended its City Church and Court 2. Because the Woman the pure Church being in the Wilderness he could best compare them and distinguish the one from the other 8 Churches and Cities are represented by Women in Prophecy (a) Isa 54.6 Jerrm 6.2 Ezek 16 30. and 23d Chap. as they are also in ancient Coyns and Pictures And although a City be here chiefly signified as is plain from Verse 18. yet because the Church is in the City and the foul and loathsome Crime of the City here reprehended is with relation to Church-Corruptions therefore that is to be understood and included in it * She sitteth on high on the Beast by which she is born up or exalted as Imperial Cities are by the Empires of which they are the Chief Seat 9 Scarlet Colour denotes Royal Authority as appears from Dan. 5. Matth. 27.28 and the Military Robe of the Roman Emperours was also of that Colour whereby is appositely signified the Tyrannical Cruelty of the Beast and that this Woman or City was seated in the Roman Empire and was the Imperial City of it 10 All which may be included in (a) See Chap. 2 9. 11 13. numb 45. Names of Blasphemies and is plainly fulfilled in the Numerous kinds of Idolatry and Idolatrous Offices in use under the Roman Antichristian Jurisdiction no other Beast being proper to carry a Whore or an Apostate Church but an Apostate one 4 And the Woman i. e. the Romish City and Church was arrayed in Purple 11 and Scarlet Colour i. e. arrogated to her self Imperial Power and Majesty and decked 12 with Gold and precious stones and Pearls i. e. was a pompous and worldly Church full of Pride and Riches having a golden Cup 13 in her hand i. e. tempting Baits and powerful motives ready at hand to entice worldly minds full of abomination 14 and filthiness of her fornication i. e. of abominable and loathsome Idolatry 11 Scarlet was the Habit of the Romans in VVar and Purple the Habit of the Emperours and Senate in Times of Peace as Grotius observes on the place whereby is signified that this was