victory to wit noting that the Lord wil ouercome a farre off because men with a Bow vse to strike a farre off their enemies without any labour euen so would the Lord doe in the execution of his iudgements In the opening of the second Seale there appeareth a red Horse which together with the sword that was giuen him that sat thereon signifieth the great bloudshed that should come on the world by fighting of one nation with another or of nations within themselues as oft times it commeth to passe Then the third Seale is opened whereupon appeareth a black Horse which noteth great famine to come vpon the earth because that famine vseth to make men looke blacke as the holy Ghost interpreteth and declareth it afterward namely when he saith that the man that sat on that Horse had Ballances in his hand noting that they should not eate and drinke as much as they listed but they should haue their meate and drinke giuen by measure as it commeth to passe in the time of dearth A measure of Wheate The word vsed in the originall signifieth such a measure as containeth the eight part of a Strike of Corne the price is said here should be a penny to wit of Romane money being between foure and fiue pence with vs which then was the stipend of a dayes labour signifying that a man should be constrained to bestow that in bread alone which should serue him and his houshold both for bread and all other kinde of sustenance noting thereby the grieuousnesse of the dearth Whereas it is said that they should not hurt the Wine or Oyle It signifieth that it should be as deare as the bread should be and therefore hee counselleth them to take heede that they vse it not ill either by mispending it wastfully or else selling it ouer-deare and therfore would not haue them to set too great a price of it thereby to oppresse the poore buyers but that they should sell as they might noting therby a dearth of all other things as well as of bread After is set forth the opening of the fourth Seale where there comes a pale Horse noting Death which is he that sits vpon him and this shall befall to the wicked And Hell is said to follow him not Purgatory as the Papists dreame signifying that Hell accompanieth the death of the wicked to wit those that disobey Gods commandements And this death commeth not onely by the meanes of famine alone and the sword alone as in the former Seales hath appeared but by them ioyned together and other meanes ioyned with them as namely the euill Beasts Which teacheth vs as we may also see in the fourteenth of Ezechiel that when particular afflictions profit vs Ezech. 14. 13. 15. 17. 19. 21. nothing at all and when by particular iudgements we cannot be brought to repentance then the Lord must needs send manifold iudgements yea hee will ioyne them all together as in that place of Ezechiel and he will adde more vnto them as here he addeth the wilde beasts vnto the famine and sword Afterward followeth the fift Seale where there is no mention of any voice calling vnto him to stirre him vp as before for no doubt the Apostle was well prepared to heare whatsoeuer And here it seemeth the Apostle rendreth a reason of the iudgements to come namely that it was by reason of the cry of the soules of the Saints which were slaine for the truth on the face of the earth And these hee saith are vnder the hollow of the Altar which Heb. 13. is interpreted to be Christ and therefore they are in the custody of Christ These Soules cry for vengeance saying How long Lord holy and true c. Which teacheth vs what is the exercise of the soules departed being slaine for the truth to wit they cry for vengeance and iudgement not that they doe it for desire of reuenge for their owne deaths nor hauing any regard to themselues and the iniuries they haue receiued as our corrupt nature being vnregenerate vseth But as their owne words declare it is for the glory of God which appeareth in that they call him Lord which is as if they should say as thou art Lord ouer all so shew thy selfe to be and be not Lorded by them but manifest thy selfe to haue power ouer all and shew thy selfe one that will repay their rebellion against thee In that they say holy and true they desire that herein he will expresse himselfe to be holy and true in doing that which is right concerning reuenge against the wicked as hauing promised reuenge In that they say how long This they doe in regard of the care not onely of themselues but that they haue of the oppressed children of God on earth Not that there is any such care that hindreth their felicity but onely a desire of the helpe and deliuerance of those on earth as also of the consummation of their felicity This doth not confirme that opinion of the Papists that the Saints in heauen doe know the particular estate of men on the earth but this onely they haue remaining of that generall knowledge of the will of God which they had euen before their dissolution which they loose not thereby yet they see no further into mens actions then by that knowledge they did before Now these are bidden to stay till their fellow seruants should be accomplished that is till the number of the Elect be fulfilled and accomplished and then should their glory be perfected Lastly it is spoken of the sixt Seale therein are contained terrible things of Earth-quakes the rowling of the heauens the falling of the Starres like Figs from the Fig-trees when they are full ripe the Sunne darkened c. This sheweth the execution of the vengeance of God on the wicked at the prayers of the Saints departed So that wee see that the children of God did not take it as a full execution of iudgement vntill the last day when the Sunne should thus be changed c. And then by reason of the wrath of the Lambe the wicked should be glad to hide themselues from the sight of God and the Lambe and desire the mountaines to fall vpon them where the Lord teacheth vs that at the cry of the Children of God all this should be executed on the wicked Apoc. Cap. 7. 1. And after that I saw foure Angels stand on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure windes of the earth that the windes should not blow on the earth neither on the Sea neither on any tree c. BEtweene the declaration and manner of the execution of the iudgements to come on the world as a snare to betrap them here is this story interlaced containing the argument of the mercies of God in sauing the Godly as before in the former Chapter were set downe the arguments of his iudgement and iustice on the wicked First Iohn saith that he saw foure Angels holding the foure windes They are
some doe imagine any particular Country of Germany England c. saying that as the Gospell came out of the East into the West so it shall returne out of the West into the East and then say they these West Countries falling from the truth shall set themselues against the Church which thing can haue no allowance at all from hence But here onely is meant those most bitter enemies of the Church which being stirred vp by Sathan shall come with all might and malice that can be and shall fight against the Church compassing about it to destroy it But it is said the Church shall haue victory and that by Christ for fire that is the wrath of God shall come downe from heauen and consume them After he saith that the Diuell is taken for hauing spoken before of the Whore of the Beast and of the false Prophet he now sheweth what shall be done to the Diuell who was last to be destroyed and it is said that he was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone there to be tormented with the Beast and the false Prophet for euermore The second part of the Chapter is of the description of the last iudgement where first it is said there was a white Throne which of what matter it shall be no man knoweth yet seeing Christ is man as well as God he shall haue no doubt a royall and reall place wherein he shall sit most euidently His glory is further expressed in that the heauens and the earth shall flye away from before his face and shall passe away and shall burne with fire 2 Pet. 3. Then shall the dead be raised vp and all both great and small shall be summoned before God The Bookes were opened that is the Bookes of euery mans conscience shall be laid open and disclosed wherein is nothing but guiltinesse of conscience to condemne euery one Notwithstanding there is another Booke open which is the Booke of life to wit the Booke of Predestination which euery one shall be iudged by as he is elect or reprobate yet so as that election and reprobation doe not take away workes for it is said they shall be iustified or condemned according to their workes for they that are elected to life are also elected to sanctification the reprobate contrariwise The iust haue reward not for their good workes sake but according to their good workes wrought and that not before their calling conuersion and regeneration but which afterwards were done in faith and this onely for his owne mercie and promise sake in Christ The wicked are condemned according to their workes and for their workes sake their name being not found in the Booke of life Lastly it is said that death hell were cast into the lake that is were swallowed vp in immortality there being now no more danger of death hell Apoc. Cap. 21. 1 And I saw a new heauen and a new earth for the first heauen and the first earth were passed away and there was no more Sea c. VVEe haue heard heretofore of the straits of the Church militant being in warfare in this present world subject to many troubles and persecutions yet being defended and protected by God was not ouercome by any of them Now followes the state of the Church triumphant after this world And first here Saint Iohn sets forth the state of all the world then of the Church Euen as Moses in the Booke of Genesis describes first the beginning and creation of the whole world and then sets downe the condition and state of the Church The state of the world is declared in the first verse in that it is said there was a new heauen a new earth that is the heauens being partly corrupted and darkened by sinne and hauing lost somewhat of their glory they had before shall not onely haue that former but a better glory then the first so likewise should the earth and the sea also for in that it is said the Sea shall be no more it is not to be vnderstood that it should not afterwards be but that it should not then be the same that now it is namely raging tempestuous and disturbed as now wee see it to be but it should be still and quiet the waters and the fishes remaining still yet without roaring swelling and that distemperature which now it hath As for the Church it is described generally in the first seauen Verses particularly in the rest of the Chapter as also in some of the next In generall hee compares the Church to a braue Spouse prepared and trimmed for a King Christ being her Husband signifying the glory and beautie of the Church of God for as in the dayes of the solemnizing of marriage Brides vse to goe beyond their ordinary custome and kinde of apparell so the Church is now decked and beautified with full and perfect glory Secondly it is compared to a City comming downe from heauen that is a beautifull City hauing all her honour glory and good frame of building not from her selfe but from God not as the Cities which are builded by men but as one that is builded by God himselfe for as earthly Cities builded by men receiue their title from them so this City being built by God hath her name also from God Neither is here meant in that it comes downe from heauen that it should be in earth but onely that it is altogether heauenly Afterward the state and blessednesse of it is set forth in that God shall dwell in it continually as the Scripture testifieth that he shall more fully remaine and dwell with them then before for as it is said in the Scripture that in this life hee will Dine and Sup with them so now it is said he shall abide with them for euermore Then is set forth what they shall haue by the dwelling of God with them namely all happinesse first in that they shall drinke of the Well of life that is should receiue all pleasure and al comfortable good and desirable things Secondly God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes that is all things naught grieuous corrupt and painefull shall be taken from them And albeit to flesh and bloud this may seeme a strange thing and altogether impossible and incredible in regard of these miseries we now are in and of our sinfulnesse and wretchednesse yet to take away that infidelity of ours it is said that God himselfe speaketh it and bids Iohn write that all things shall be new for he will make all things new howsoeuer now they be troublesome and old And in that he biddeth Iohn for the further comfort of the Church of God to write that all old things are done and that new things are come and in that he saith that to him that thirsteth he will giue of the water of life and that he which ouercommeth shall inherite all things yet hee so saith it that none shall haue it without holinesse of life for as for
were before were grieuous and especially of the darkening of their vnderstandings yet these that were to ensue should be farre more grieuous and terrible And therefore wee should be stirred vp to a more diligent obseruation and consideration of them Apoc. Cap. 9. 1. And the fift Angell blew the Tumpet and I saw a starre which was fallen from heauen vnto the earth and to him was giuen the key of the bottomlesse pit THe former iudgements in the Chapter going before are especially concerning the things which appertaine to men these which here follow concerne the persons of the men themselues And first after the blowing of the first Trumpet it is said there was a Starre fallen from heauen By Stars is meant as the holy Ghost interpreteth in the first Chapter the Ministers of the Word who vnlesse they be vpholden by the hand of God they fall from their holinesse of life and integrity wherein they should liue To this Starre is giuen power ouer the keyes of the depth that is of Hell signifying that to the Bishops of Rome this power was giuen who before were sometimes as cleare starres and shining lights in the Church of God euen in the time of the Apostles and long after being persecuted for the truth yea many of them being martired but at the length by ambition they fell from God and became exceeding euill And vnto them the Lord gaue this power not as they say and arrogate to themselues to doe what they list in heauen and hell but so much onely ouer hell as is granted them as namely in that from thence they drew out by the procurement of Sathan many wretched and abhominable things to the great offence fall and ouerthrow of many To him was giuen power to draw out smoake from hell as from a Furnace so that the Sunne was darkened thereby great darkenesse is caused ouer all the earth As before in the former Chapter in part the third part of heauen being onely darkened so now it is in whole and altogether darkened And this noteth that great blindnesse and ignorance which should come vpon all the earth by that man of Rome Out of this smoake there came Locusts signifying that by reason of this ignorance there should arise in the world many Deceiuers of diuers sorts which should be sent amongst men for the punishment of the sins of the earth which should deceiue them and leade them into errors as namely the Monkes the Fryers and such like vermin as it hath since come to passe which could not haue so greatly preuailed neither haue had such credit except there had beene so great ignorance They are set downe and expressed by Locusts in regard of the great number and multitude of them comming together by troupes as appeareth by their practise wheresoeuer they be or haue beene for they vse to liue in great companies together which is yet contrary to the profession of Monkes whose names are giuen them of solitarinesse as wee haue seene in this Land in their Abbies Fryers c. They had power giuen them Shewing that by reason of the sinnes of men God in his righteous iudgement giues them power to hurt and deceiue And yet hereby comfort may arise vnto the children of God that they can hurt no more then God enioynes them for they haue power onely to hurt Men the Corne the Wine and the Fruits of the earth they cannot hurt Which sheweth that in the time of Popery there should bee plenty of all those nothing hurt of the greene things as of the hearbs the grasse the corne c. Which confuteth that which is commonly alledged of the Papists who count their worship to be good because in the time of Massing as they call it all things were cheape and there was so great plenty of all outward things And indeed by this it appeareth that it must needs be so for otherwise they could not haue beene such as Saint Iohn speaketh of heere Againe in that they hurt men it is onely of those that haue not receiued the Marke of God in their foreheads And againe this hurt is not in regard of their liues by taking away their liues but this hurt they did them was in their Conscience by reason of terrour for they were stung by them as with Scorpions in that they tooke away from them the knowledge of God leauing in them the sting of an euill Conscience Their power being thus limited he after commeth to describe the fashion of these Scorpions to wit First that they were as Horses prepared to battell signifying that they were altogether ready prompt and fit for all manner of mischiefes they listed according as God vsed them in his iust iudgement Secondly They had Crownes signifying that they should conquere and preuaile and prosper in that they were sent for and which they went about Thirdly They had faces like men noting that they should be crafty and subtile to bring their deceits delusions to passe and that they should be apt to abuse men and lead them into errour Fourthly Their haire like womens shewing their effeminatenesse in regard of their faces the shearing of their beards and their long haire on their heads and especially their effeminate and filthy manners in that they were womanish filthy and vncleane hauing no manly manners any wayes Fiftly Their teeth like Lyons signifying their greedinesse and cruelty The time of their continuance to sting is fiue moneths that is according to the account in the second Chapter and as Daniel also expoundeth it whom Iohn Chap. 2. 10. also followeth in this numbring is for the space of an hundreth fifty yeares euery day in the moneth being counted for a yeere Which is thought to be in the time of Hildebrand called Gregorie the seauenth which was to begin when Sathan was let loose after that a thousand yeeres after Christ was runne out and which beginning then ended in the time of Gregorie the ninth in whose time they had gotten the authoritie of the Sword which the blast of the sixt Angel setteth forth which the blast of the fourth Angel sheweth they would not haue during the hundred and fifty yeeres otherwise called fiue moneths They were harnised with habergions as of iron noting that by their priuiledges and prerogatiues they were so defenced that none could almost touch them by any occasions as the Bishop must haue about sixtie witnesses against him to accuse him otherwise hee is not to be conuinced the Priests must also haue a great number of Accusers and they must not be iudged by any Maiestrate of the Temporality but by one of the Clergie The noise of their wings like the noise of Charriots signifying their great pompe which appeareth by their sumptuousnesse in riding with many Horses and troupes of men attending on them which make a great noise and rushing wheresoeuer they come so as euery one may heare and behold them contrary to the practise of our Sauiour Christ who is
Beast was the same but in other families as is said before Then it is said here is the minde that hath wisedome that is here is matter wherein those that are wise should occupie their wits and vnderstandings After he declareth what the seauen heads are to wit seauen hils namely that place where the City of Rome is situated and amongst all writers both Latine Greek which speake of it it is called the City of the seauen hils and none but it is so named in any either old or new Latine or Greeke Author And therefore howsoeuer the Papists would post it ouer to Constantinople where the Turke is as hauing thirty hils yet that was of no account in the dayes when this was written Againe that was neuer gouernour of the world as this is called and as it was in those dayes The seauen heads haue another exposition giuen them by the Angell to be seauen Kings that is seauen Gouernours and Emperours of the City whereof it is said fiue are fallen that is were dead one was then that is Domitian who at that time had banished Iohn into Pathmos and he that was to come was the next after Domitian and he should indure but a small time and therefore those that liued in those dayes might easily see the truth of it And this therefore set forth thus that men prouing and seeing this to be true might giue the more credit to the rest And the Beast that was and is not that is is not of the same sort as he was being now changed by another family is the eight to wit in number which was the seauenth also for hee was admitted by the seauenth while the seauenth was aliue for the other being aliue this eight in his dayes was chosen Emperour and was ioyned in gouernement with him as was the custome of Kings when that Kingdomes were doubtfull the Kings tooke their Successors whom they would to haue raigne next in their roome and would in their owne life establish them in their Kingdomes as did Dauid with Salomon who while he yet liued setled his Sonne in the Kingdome taking him as it were and ioyning him in societie with him and setting him by him as it were on the Throne Hauing thus expounded the seauen heads hee comes to tell what is meant by the tenne Hornes which are said to be tenne Kings which had not as yet receiued their power which should ioyne with the Beast to wit should not raigne there where the Beast did but should onely lay their power and authority with his but while he had the ciuill authority alone in the rule of the Emperour as also afterward when the Pope arising should ioyne the spirituall iurisdiction with the temporall gouernement and these tenne Kings it is said should ioyne with this Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall Beast By these tenne it is no great matter whether wee vnderstand a certaine or vncertaine number but it seemeth rather to note an vncertaine number Howsoeuer it were true it is that these the Beast should ioyne with him to take his part to wit they should giue their power to him to ride and runne at his pleasure And these fight against the Lambe who should ouercome them by the power of his word for hee must needes being King of Kings and Lord of Lords and therefore cannot but breake those Hornes that set themselues against him for they receiue of him and hold but of license their Kingdomes from him The Waters are plainely expounded by the Angell to be the great multitudes of people and diuers Countries that should be subiect to that City and Church of Rome Further he declares that as there was a time that the Kings of the earth should ioyne themselues with the Beast to maintaine it so time should come that those Kings and Gouernours as they had suffered themselues to be as it were trodden on by the Beast and to be subiect to the Whore so they should fight against the Beast and against her and most bitterly venter themselues in fight against her yea they shall eate her flesh that is be in mortall hatred with her to consume her and should burne the Harlot that is destroy her vtterly and so punish her as a Harlot for burning was the vsuall death for a Harlot Lastly in that hee saith the woman is the great City that had dominion ouer the Kingdomes of the earth hee sheweth plainely that it is the City of Rome seeing there was no such great Monarch as that since the time of Iohn but onely Rome and Shee was euen then the chiefe Citie in the world Apoc. Cap. 18. 1. And after these things I saw another Angell come downe from heauen hauing great power so that the earth was lightened with his glory c. THe Prophet hauing entred into the description of the City of Rome as of the spirituall Babilon doth on that occasion dispute what shall be done of her for notwithstanding the destruction of the Beast should come before and the ouerthrow of the City should follow yet the ouerthrow of the City is handled in the first place of the Beast is set after vnto the end that he might more fully set down the destruction and notable ruine of the same And first hee declareth the destruction of the City and that it may haue the more authority the Angell that describeth it is said to come from heauen declaring the certainety thereof namely in that this message came from heauen euen from God himselfe and therefore the City of Rome should certainely be destroyed and razed vtterly from the face of the earth And this authority is more fully set forth in that the Angell is described to haue come with such glory that the earth was enlightned therewith and therefore that should be a most euident and vndoubted matter which also appeareth in the mightinesse of his voice Hee saith it is fallen and the second time it is fallen which repetition hee vseth first to raise vp men from their drowsinesse which cannot at the first conceiue of Gods iudgements nor consider them as they ought and therefore they must haue diuers repetitions of the same thing concerning the iustice of Gods iudgements Secondly to shew the certainty of it as before Chap. 14. 8. According as Ioseph interprets Pharaohs dreames of the seauen leane Kine which did deuoure the seauen fatte and the seauen thinne eares of Wheate that did consume the seauenfull that they both did signifie one thing and that the dreame was therefore doubled to shew that that which was signified thereby should certainly come that speedily Euen so the repetition of the denouncing of these iudgements is for this cause namely as to waken the drowsinesse of man so to shew the certainty and speedinesse of the iudgements to be executed Then is set forth the state of this Babilon the City of Rome in that it is said it should become an Habitation of Diuels and of vncleane Birds signifying the great desolation of
it according as it is the vse of the Prophets who to expresse the exceeding desolations of any place say that those Birds which flye most farre from all resort of men as the Shrike-Owle and the Pelican c. should continue there To Diuels noting that those places that haue bin abused to the dishonour of God are giuen by Gods iust iudgement to be not onely desolate but euen haunted of Diuels themselues as wee see oft times it commeth to passe in Abbyes and such like superstitious houses The cause is set downe to wit by reason of the persecution of the Saints and her pride who vaunted of her riches and good estate saying that shee was Queene and should neuer be Widdow that is should neuer be desolate but should alway haue her louers and maintainers to take her part And a principall cause is this that she had played the Harlot through her Idolatrie with the Princes of the earth Then he setteth downe the markes of her destruction both which goe before and which come after Before that God would giue his children that were there warning before whereby they might know of it that so they might come forth lest they should fall in that great destruction as before we heard hee did to the Saints in Ierusalem by giuing them warning to auoide from thence which they did flying into the City of Pella in the wildernesse The markes following the destruction generally the lamentation of the friends of the City of Rome and principally the Kings of the earth when they shall see the smoake of her mount vp to heauen by smoake is meant the continuall remembrance of that destruction for albeit after it is said by the Angell that threw the stone into the Sea that it should neuer be remembred any more hee meaneth not that it should be cleane forgotten to haue beene but onely so forgotten as it should neuer haue place again by which it might be remembred like as it came to passe in Sodom howbeit the memory thereof should otherwise be perpetuall Afterward is reported more particularly the lamentation of the Merchants which had serued for the pleasure of her by Land and by Sea The Merchants by land which had serued her with sine meates purple silke gold siluer precious stones c. for their Vestiments namely for the apparell of their Priests Prelates Cardinals c. which vsed to be most gorgeous and costly And they should also bring to her soules of men that is bond-slaues meeting with that which should come to passe be performed of the Church of Rome as we see experience of Then the Merchants by Sea the Ship-masters and Ship-men also make their lamentation ouer her For the more certainty of this destruction of the City there is brought in an Angell taking a great stone and casting it into the bottome of the Sea saying that in like manner Babilon that great City should be throwne downe with violence and should be found no more noting that it should be so vtterly destroyed that it should neuer be recouered neither should it be built any more neither should the light of a Candle be seene in it neither the voice of a Bridegroome heard therein signifying that it should not be againe inhabited of any because shee had deceiued all nations and because in her was found the bloud of the Saints and Prophets Apoc. Cap. 19. 1. And after these things I heard a great voice of a great multitude in heauen saying Hallelu-iah saluation and glory and honour and power be to the Lord our God c. THe Apostle hauing spoken of the destruction of the City of Rome noted by the name of an Harlot he now comes to set forth the destruction of the Beast and of the false Prophet which are the vngodly Emperours and the Popes succeeding in that power hauing gotten not onely ciuill iurisdiction but Ecclesiasticall power also ioyned therewith And first of al before he handleth that he bringeth in all the children seruants of God praising magnifying God for the notable works he had shewed vpon the earth And herein especially doe the Angels Saints of God in heauen the Saints in earth magnifie and praise the Lord namely for the iudgement and destruction of the Whore which is the City of Rome The causes of her destruction are set downe to be first because she had made all the Kings of the earth and their people to goe a whoring after her filthy abhominations And secondly for that shee had murthered the Saints of God After that they had sung this song of thankesgiuing for that mercy receiued in the destruction of the City of Rome the Lord calleth them and citeth them as it were by a voice from the Throne to a further thankesgiuing for the mercies to come in the destruction of the Beast and of the false Prophet and for particular benefits which the Church it selfe was to be partaker of and therefore he doth call all the seruants of the Lord by name as it were which did feare the Lord both small and great to praise the Lord. Then he shewes how this voice was obeyed in that he saith there was a voice as of a great multitude and like the voice of many waters and like the noise of a thunder which signifie both the consent and zeale and earnestnesse of the Saints in praising God Which teacheth vs that we are so to beleeue and be assured of Gods promises and mercies to come as that wee doe praise him for them as for those which we haue receiued and as if wee had receiued them already The mercies for which they praise God are two first the marriage of the Church to the Lambe because the Church in this life being made the Spouse of Christ yet separated in part from him shall at length inioy and haue the full fruition of Christ and of his glorious presence And also for that she is arrayed with pure fine linnen noting either the righteousnesse of Christ wherewith she is cloathed or else that sanctification which being in part begun in this life in Gods children shall be perfected in Gods kingdome when that spirituall marriage of Christ with his Spouse shall be celebrated And further it is shewed that such is the happinesse of the Church of God in this marriage that not onely the Bride and the Bridegrome shall be partakers of his happinesse as vsually commeth to passe in our marriage feasts the married persons onely not the guests being counted happy but also those are blessed and happy that are bidden to this feast for by the Bride is to be vnderstood in generall the Church vniuersall by the persons called is meant the particular persons in the Church Another cause of thankesgiuing for the things to come is in regard of the iudgement vpon the wicked and the execution thereof And first he saith to execute this hee seeth Christ comming with his army hee being the chiefe for as the Beast gathers his
to it and their robes were thus white because they were dipped in the blood of the Lambe Then hee answereth to the other question viz. who they be namely Those that stand alwaies before the Throne that is in the presence of God to serue him with praises for euermore being such as are deliuered from all euils and from all teares that is all sorrowes griefe shall be taken away and they shall be led to the sweet waters and tender grasse and continually deliuered and preserued from all perils Apoc. Cap. 8. 1. And when he had opened the seauenth Seale there was silence in heauen about halfe an houre THe Apostle S. Iohn doth recontinue his purpose begun in the fift Chapter being omitted in the sixt and seauenth Chapters for these two Chapters were put in for the comfort of Gods children and to preserue them against the troubles afterwards to befall Now he commeth to the opening of the seauenth Seale whereat there was silence in heauen for the space of halfe an houre signifying that all the Saints and Angels were amazed at the opening of it marueiling at the Iudgements which followed it more then at the other wonders which before were receiued albeit they also were very marueilous The like speech is vsed in Iob for when his friends comming to visite him saw what a miserable case he was in they were so appalled thereat that they could not speake to him for three dayes This is to set forth vnto vs the wonderfulnesse of the iudgements contained in the opening of the seauenth Seale After this is a preparation vnto the Iudgement to come vnto the sixt Verse where it is said that Trumpets are giuen to the seauen Angels that is to a perfect and competent number fit for such a worke and for the executing of that seruice ouer all the world Then he speaketh of another Angell viz. another in nature as being both God and man another in office as being the Angell of the euerlasting Couenant And he is said to stand before the Altar that is in his office of Mediation betweene his Father and his Church And therefore it is after said that to him was giuen sweet Odors that is there was in him things acceptable to God to wit his perfect obedience wherein was an acceptable receiuing and perfuming of the praiers of the Saints vnto God So that we see that God accepteth of our prayers at the hands of Christ which at ours he will not By the Censor in his hand hee alludeth to the custome of the Priests in the ceremoniall Law In that hee taketh coales from the Altar and casteth them on the earth it signifieth the denouncing of his iudgements against the wicked on the face of the earth shewing that as he is the meanes of mercy vnto the Godly so hee is the executioner of the iudgement on the wicked At the greatnesse of which his iudgements there were Voices and Thunders and Lightnings and Earth-quakes Afterward followeth the execution of the iudgments wherof foure Trumpets of iudgements are sounded in this Chapter performed by the foure first Angels The first Angel bloweth his Trumpet then it is said there was hayle and fire mingled with blood and these did destroy the trees and euery greene thing By this he seemeth to allude vnto that in the ninth of Exodus where it is said that in one of the Plagues of Exod. 9. 24. Egypt was Haile mingled with Fire the like is here mentioned but in this place there is an addition of blood noting that all should be consumed namely that there should not onely be a destruction of the trees and greene things but of the men also which came to passe euen among the Egyptians for those that were in the fields were consumed by the tempest After in the second place it is said that the second Angell did blow his Trumpet whereupon there was a mountaine burning with fire cast into the Sea being set on fire by the wrath and anger of God signifying the iudgements to be executed on the Earth and then vpon the Sea Seeming to allude to that place in the Psalme where the Prophet saith that though the Psalme 46. 2. Mountaines should fall into the midst of the Sea yet I will not be remoued And this iudgement should be executed vpon the Sea on the Fishes and also vpon the Ships so that not onely the Earth but euen the Sea should haue iudgements executed vpon them At the blast of the third Trumpet it is said that a starre fell from heauen into the third part of the fresh waters and Riuers signifying Gods iudgements vpon them also whereupon the third part of men died The name of this Starre is Worme-wood from the effect to wit the bitternesse which it should cause in the fresh waters Where wee see albeit the certainty of the time is not knowne nor any set time wherein this shall be effected yet the Lord doth sometimes poyson and infect the Aire sometimes the Earth and sometimes the Sea and Waters whereby infection ariseth to man and hereby it is said that the third part of men should dye that is the liues of many men should be shortened And these all seeme literally to be vnderstood sauing that the Mountaine and the Starre which fell into the waters doe signifie that the heauens should be so infected that they also by their infectious disposition should corrupt and infect the waters and thereby cause death to men The fourth Angell hauing blowne his Trumpet it is said that the third part of the Sunne of the Moone and of the Starres was darkened which seemeth to be meant of the spirituall darkenesse should be vpon the Earth For hitherto the Plagues that haue beene set downe haue beene corporall to wit either pertaining to the things of the nourishment of the bodies of men or vpon the bodies themselues those that follow in the rest of this and the next Chapter seeme to be vnderstood of the spirituall Plagues of the soule that the light thereof in the middest of men should very much be darkened for I cannot see how those words concerning the darkening of the Sunne and Moone and the Starres can literally be vnderstood but rather by some Allegory because in the next Chapter verse 2. it is spoken of the darkenesse of the Sunne that it was altogether darkened noting the depriuation of all the light and knowledge of the soule And therefore this is to be vnderstood of the darkenesse of the minde through want of knowledge by taking away of the truth in part as appeareth by the histories for since that Popery came in by meanes of Antichrist Sathan had wonderfully darkened the light of the Gospell yea euen before Antichrist was at his full height Then hee setteth downe that he saw an Angell flying through the middest of heauen which cryed with a loud voice Woe Woe Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth for the plagues which were to come for albeit those that
haue heard that is said to be a Booke noting that it was of a greater volume this is said to be a little Booke namely of a lesser volume Againe in that it is said to be in the hand of God the Father this is in the hand of God the Sonne The reason is for that there is a more vniuersall gouernment of the world by God the Father considered by himselfe alone then betweene Christ and the World as he is ioyned with the office of Mediation which concerneth the Church And againe there is a more simple and immediate gouernement of Christ in his Church then of the Father Another difference is this in that it is said this Booke is open the other was shut which sheweth vs that through Christ onely these things are made manifest vnto vs for without his mediation all things in the will of God are hid and shut vp from vs that wee cannot know them For as the Deitie of God is considered in the three Persons wee can haue no participation of any good thing from the same but as Christ is the Mediator betweene God and vs all things which concerne vs are opened vnto vs yea the knowledge of all things wee are to know and therefore if hee come betweene vs and God then the things of our God shall be opened and reuealed vnto vs. His feet like two pillars of fire this is to shew his strength and power The pillars declare his steadinesse fire signifieth piercing and therefore where his power setteth there it cleaueth hard Whereby is set downe the incomparable vertue and power of Christ And whereas one foot is set on the Sea and the other on the Land it setteth forth vnto vs his full authoritie ouer all and that he is in all places in regard of his Godhead This doth not proue the being of Christs naturall body in many places at once for he did not set his feet of his naturall body at this time on the Land and Sea neither can it be in diuers places for then it leeses the nature of a body The right foot on the Sea This is said after the vse of the Scripture by his right foot meaning a greater measure of his strength that seeing the Sea is a most vnruly and raging creature he sets his right foot vpon it noting vnto vs that Christ as he ruleth all so euen those things more especially which are most vnruly and that which needeth most power he vseth most to the subduing and gouerning of it This is to teach vs not to feare at the great rage of the troubles that are in the world but to know according as they are more grieuous and as they doe increase so the Lord will ad more helpe and encrease his strength the more to the asswaging of them and when the earth beginneth to turmoile then will he set his left foot on it and when the Sea beginneth to rage then will he set his right foot vpon it And as in generall so in particular troubles we are to receiue notable comfort for if more grieuous sorrowes and afflictions doe assaile vs yet the Lord hauing his right foot on them all shall bee quiet and still with vs againe After he is described by his voice whereby hee declareth his terriblenesse that howsoeuer otherwise he was described to be like a Man yet because mans voice was too weake to expresse the force of it hee compares it to the voyce of a Lyon to strike the more terror and feare into our hearts According as it is said If the Lyon roare shall not the Beasts of the field tremble How much more when Christ speakes and thunders out his iudgements shall not wee which are filly Lambs nay not so much in respect of Christ as Lambs to the Lyon be afraide and if our Sauiour Christ shew forth the tokens of his wrath against sinners by denouncing and threatning iudgements against them should not wee tremble and be terrified for our sinnes After that he had thus extended his voice S. Iohn saith he heard the voices of seauen thunders and those not such as were confused but there was a discerneable and plaine speech in the voice of the thunders Now Saint Iohn as he was before commanded being ready to write the things which were spoken by the thunders is notwithstanding bidden to Seale them vp that is to keepe them close as being matters of secrecie for God of his good will was content to shew them and make them knowne to him for his particular comfort which he will not haue be reuealed vnto others Herein wee see how God disposeth of his word viz. some he reuealeth vnto his Seruants some hee keepeth hid in his owne euerlasting counsell To teach vs that seeing God hath kept many things of his to himselfe which he hath not reuealed vnto vs that therefore we should not dispaire in our troubles but seeing hee hath reserued secret to his owne counsell euen many things which concerne the speciall good of his Church and the singular comfort of his children wee are therefore rather to be stirred vp by prayer to come vnto him to intreate him that he would gouerne all things to the good of his Church Againe that is here further to be considered which Iohn speaketh else-where that wee are not able by reason of our carelesnesse and dulnesse of vnderstanding to attaine in any measure to the true knowledge of the meaning of this Booke how much lesse if greater matters had beene written downe nay rather wee would haue beene quite driuen backe from it And therefore this is to teach vs to be diligent in the searching out of those things he hath already set downe leauing to meddle as many foolishly and madly doe with those things that God hath hidden in his secret will And seeing we are so backward slacke and dull in the seeking out of those things which wee haue wee should haue beene much more carelesse of them if all the other had beene set downe After it followeth what our Sauiour Christ said to wit that hee swore wherein is set downe first the manner of taking his oath and then the oath it selfe The manner of the oath of our Sauiour Christ is first in his gesture in that he lift vp his hands to heauen which was the manner of taking an oath in those times and therefore he is here after this sort represented Then is set downe the Person by whom hee sweareth viz. by God described by his owne nature that he liueth for euermore and of his effects viz. of creation of heauen earth and all things therein His oath it selfe is this that after those things which were to be done vnder the seauenth Trumpet and the seauenth Seale were fulfilled there should be time no more that is there should not be distinction of time by the day and yeare as we vse now to count according to the course of the Sunne and of the Heauens This is done first for the declaring vnto
send them to the darknes of hel to their deeper condemnation So that here we see the Word hath a contrary effect in regard of the godly and the wicked And therefore it is compared in the first Chapter to a two edged Sword which on the one side cutteth and healeth to life and on the other side woundeth and killeth to death According as the Apostle saith in the Epistle to the Corinthians We are the sauour of God vnto your saluation that beleeue vnto others vnto condemnation By this deuouring then of their enemies is meant the destroying and conuincing of those that would not yeeld vnto their preaching to their further destruction and deeper condemnation Where wee see that the Prophet here setteth forth that howsoeuer the Ministers of God should haue great strife in those dayes and grieuous enemies yet they should not preuaile against the truth These should haue power to shut the heauens to make the heauens brasse that it should not raine in the dayes of their Prophecie to restraine the fruit of the earth to turne the waters into bloud c. Where hee alludeth partly to the Ministery of Elias at whose prayer the earth was barren and there 1 Kings 17. was no raine for the space of three yeares And partly to the Ministery of Moses who brought bloud in al the land Exod. 7. 17. of Egypt by turning the water into bloud signifying that where the Ministery of the word in the denouncing of iudgements was contemned there the Lord would send Plagues and Pestilence and Flouds and such like vpon them In that which remaineth of the sixt Plague there is first set forth that the two Prophets these two Oliues and Vines should make an end of their Ministery and the Beast should ouercome them Before it was said that at their pleasure and at their owne liking they ouercame others and restrained the dewe of heauen and did execute and bring to passe whatsoeuer they had to doe by the direction by the word and will of God Here now it is said that after the accomplishing of their worke and finishing of their testimony the Beast ouercommeth them To teach vs that the Lord doth so maintaine his Ministers and seruants that vntill they haue finished and accomplished the worke of their Ministery which he hath appointed them to execute they shall not be hurt by Sathan or any of his Ministers or wicked Instruments Which may be a singular comfort to the Ministers and children of God that howsoeuer they be hated of many men in the world yet they shall haue no power to hurt them till the time God hath limited them be expired And here wee are also to consider that in regard of their Ministery these two Prophets did ouercome but in regard of their liues onely they are ouercome herein had their enemies leaue to hurt them they were able to doe nothing else vnto them The time of this appeareth by limitation of this one thousand two hundred and sixty yeares to befall about the dayes of Boniface the eight who was a wretched and cruell persecuter of the Saints of God for by the account of the history it selfe it fals iustly on the one thousand two hundred and sixty yeare after Christ the very yeare of that Beast Boniface who after he had killed the Saints of God would not suffer their bodies to be buried which thing the history particularly witnesseth making mention that the bodies also of the Saints were carried about the City of Rome in triumph and might not be suffered to be buried After it is said that the wicked ones in the token of their ioy make great feasts and sent presents one to another which manner of speech seemeth to bee taken from the Booke of Hester wherein commandement is giuen that for their victory and deliuerance a Feast should be celebrated for euer And of this also the history maketh mention that in regard of their ioy and gladnesse for the destruction and death of Gods Seruants and faithfull Martyrs there was a Feast of Iubily celebrated which afterward they continued wherein also as much as in them lay they did annihilate the comming of Christ who gaue an end of all these ceremonies And this is said to be done in the great City spiritually called Sodome and Egypt where the Lord was crucified whereby the Apostle most plainely describeth Rome as being the greatest City then in the world there being none at that time for fame and greatnesse to be compared to it In that it is called Sodome and Egypt it is spiritually as he saith to be vnderstood It is called Sodome in regard of the filthinesse and abhominations therein by reason of their Sodomitrie their whoredomes and abhominable vncleannes of men with men and all manner of all other such like wretchednesses Egypt in regard of the persecutions of Gods Children alluding to the persecutions whereby the Egyptians kept the Children of Israel in bondage The place where Christ was Crucified to wit Ierusalem so called and attributed to Rome in that Rome brags of it selfe as Ierusalem did to be the most excellent professor of Christs religion the onely Sion the Church and beloued of the Lord albeit indeed it be nothing lesse nay it is rather hated of God as Ierusalem was crucifying the Lord Iesus So that these things doe notably agree with Rome the great City that Sodomiticall persecuting Church yet pretending to be the true Church of God After it is said that their bodies lying three dayes and an halfe that is three yeares and a halfe vnburied that is a mocking-stocke and triumphed-ouer by the wicked they are then raised vp by the Lord to wit not those that were slaine but others in their spirit As Iohn is said to be Elias because he came in the spirit of Elias as it is said to wit with the same boldnesse and zeale that Elias did They are taken into heauen that is separate themselues from the rest of the Sonnes of men which were wicked and worshipped the Beast going into such places where they might serue the Lord. Then followeth immediately a fearefull Earthquake by which the great City was shaken and the tenth part of it ouerthrowne The second Woe being past the third insueth which followeth after the blast of the next Agell The last Angell blew the Trumpet which shall be fulfilled at the dissolution of the world in the latter day when all shall be raised from the dead when all the Kingdomes of the world are committed into the hands of Christ then shall be the accomplishment of his Kingdome when hee shall giue reward vnto his seruants the Prophets to his Saints and to all that feare his name and shall render destruction vnto his enemies and then shall hee giue vp his power vnto his father and God shall be all in all And after this there shall be time no more Then we shall haue Sunne no more that is we shall haue no neede of the Sunne
the time shall not be distinguished by it we shall not be directed by the light of it for God himselfe shall be our Sunne God shall be our light for euermore Apoc. Cap. 12. l. And there appeared a great wonder in heauen A woman cloathed with the Sunne and the Moone was vnder her feete and vpon her head a crowne of twelue Starres c. HEre in this Chapter is set downe a description of the Church of which it is said there was a great signe noting the great estimation that God hath of his Church which his great estimation of it is set forth in that shee is said to be cloathed with the Sunne which is the most glorious creature declaring and expressing her exceeding glory in the sight of God Shee had the Moone vnder her feete signifying her rule and authority ouer all the things below that are subiect to change in that she onely hath receiued of God power to subdue them and shee doth of right possesse them the wicked are vsurpers Vpon her head shee had a Crowne of twelue Starres shewing her Queenely Maiestie shee being the Spouse of Christ as also her victory ouer all her enemies It is said shee trauelled her trauell is meant of the Church of the Iewes of whom this is testified in the Euangelists the 9. of the Acts of the Apostles how great resistance there was against our Sauiour Christ against the Apostles the rest what great and grieuous persecutions they then sustained for the Gospell-sake in the beginning of the primitiue Church because they went about to beget to bring and to draw Children vnto God out of the seede of Abraham Afterward another great wonder is seene to wit a great Dragon namely the Diuell compared to a Dragon and called the great Dragon because of his great strength and exceeding fiercenesse for such is the strenght of a Dragon as that he is able to gripe with an Elephant He is described to haue seauen heads and ten hornes by seauen heads noting his great wisedome knowledge and vnderstanding of things as also it signifieth his wit and subtiltie to resist the Church and to make more mischiefe against the seauen Churches that is all the Churches of God And his tenne hornes signifieth his will and power to doe much hurt to them His Crownes signifie his victory in preuailing against the world to wit ouer those whom God hath not ordained to saue whose names are not written in the Booke of life and for this cause he is called the Prince of the world because he hath the greater part of the world vnder his obedience What his tayle he ouerthroweth many Starres noting that there are many like vnto Starres in outward shew being graced with notable gifts and being as it were lifted vp to heauen by the knowledge they had and the notable profession they made of God hauing some feeling also being yet not Sealed are by the tayle of the Dragon that is by small power and light temptations pulled backe from the same and fall from the faith After he saith He stood before the Woman noting that he setteth himselfe very fiercely and sharpely against the woman that is the Church and Children of God whose names were written in the Booke of life And therefore hee is said to wait on the woman first to hinder her that shee should not bring forth and then to deuoure them at the least when they were brought forth that is when they haue beene called and made profession of the truth and are made members of Christ by faith euen then is hee ready most strongly to assault them to ouerthrow if it were possible the foundation of their faith Where hee compareth the Diuell to an enuious Mid-wife opposing him to a good Mid-wife for as she is carefull to helpe the woman in trauell and to saue the Childe so the Diuell contrariwise is ready to hinder and hurt the Church and to destroy her seede Whereas the Church is said to bring forth a Man-Childe it is first meant of Christ and then of his members and seruants in the beginning of the Church whom now hee hath ioyned vnto him in his kingdome but principally it is to be vnderstood of Christ that valiant one who albeit hee was stung on the Crosse by the Serpent yet euen thereby hee ouercame and after was taken vp to heauen and had victory triumphing ouer the diuell ouer sinne and ouer all his enemies and the enemies of the Church Then it is said there was a battell in heauen by heauen he meaneth the militant Church of God vnder the Gospell which is the part of Gods kingdome for the kingdome of God which is begun euen in earth The principall in this battell is first Michael to wit Christ and with him his Angels namely the godly Saints with the good Angels on the one side and on the other side the Dragon with his Angels namely the wicked spirits and wicked men But the godly ouercome the Dragon and his Angels the meanes whereby they ouercome is through the bloud of the Lambe which is their principall armour being such as that albeit they themselues were killed notwithstanding by reason hereof they were made conquerours and were now receiued into the kingdome of heauen and Sathan is throwne out of the kingdome Which thing when Sathan saw as namely that now he had lost all his aduantage as it were and that hee could haue nought to doe with them any more they being now triumphing in the kingdome of God hee waxeth mad as it were and rageth against the earth more fiercely then before And hereupon the Elders and the rest of Gods Children in heauen are brought in reioycing at this victory and saying peace in the heauen that is to the Children of God that were then deliuered but woe to the earth that is to the inhabitants of the earth because that they should haue much to doe and suffer great trouble for seeing Sathan by the constant induring of those that had giuen their liues in the defence of the truth perceiued that hee had got such a foile he therefore rageth against those that remaine and for this cause it is said woe to them on the earth not that they should perish but onely should bee greatly afflicted through the malice of Sathan and his instruments Now then it is said that hee persecuted the woman that is the Church in persecuting the Church she hath a place appointed her in the Wildernesse whither she flyeth for one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes the time we haue heard before to haue beene during the space of the hard dealing with the two Prophets wherein they prophecied which wee shewed to containe so many yeares By this flight of the woman into the Wildernesse for one thousand two hundred and sixty dayes set downe in the sixt verse and the persecution whereby the Dragon pursued her that space is meant those persecutions in generall which followed against the whole Church during the
gaue speciall authority vnto them commanding them to poure out their Vials That they came forth of the Temple it noteth their full authority and strength to doe that worke they were called vnto and also that the iudgements which they executed were irreuocable And whereas the Vials being giuen them before yet they would not poure them out before they were commanded more particularly it sheweth the great and singular obedience of the Angels One would haue thought that hauing the Vials once giuen them they should presently haue proceeded to execution but they would not till they had speciall commandement Teaching vs not to doe any thing without speciall authority commission and commandement from God Euen as a sword being committed into the hand of a Souldier by the Captaine generall hee is not to smite before he be commanded to fight and before the Trumpet be sounded to battaile so though a man haue excellent graces giuen him yet he is not to execute any function especially publiquely before he receiue a particular warrant and calling from God thereunto Sampson though hee had strength giuen him that he was able to haue defended the Israelites and reuenged them of their enemies yet he could not take vpon him the gouernement of the people before the Lord had called him vnto it In like manner the Ministers of the word albeit they haue neuer so notable gifts of Knowledge Vtterance c. yet they are not in any case to intrude themselues into the Ministery vnlesse they haue a particular calling from the Lord. These Angels are bidden first in generall to cast their Vials vpon the earth that is on the whole frame of all the Heauen Earth Sea and all in them in the execution yet some are more specially commanded to be poured on the earth because these iudgements are intended against the wicked on the earth The first Angell is said to haue poured his Viall vpon the earth whereupon there fell an exceeding great sore of Biles on them that had the marke of the Beast and which worshipped his Image The Plagues of this Chapter haue great agreement with the Plagues set downe in the eight and ninth Chapters they being like in the matter of the plagues so also in the number the difference is that these were headed with more fierce tokens of Gods wrath and with a more heauie indignation because those were executed on all the earth not on the Persons onely these on the Persons and that on the principall offenders onely namely on the worshippers of the Beast So that here wee see the Lord executes his iudgements by degrees first by Biles not killing them but vexing them outwardly if happily thereby they might be brought to repentance The second Angell poured his Viall on the Sea whereupon the colour of it was turned so that it looked like black blood of death So that God proceeded in iudgement they not profiting hee now goeth on forward to punish with death The third Angell poured his Viall on the fresh waters to declare that God left notes of his wrath on all the creatures of the world so that the earth and waters themselues being thus iudged did beare witnesse of their sinnes against them On these two latter executions the Angels of the Waters take occasion to acknowledge and confesse that Gods iudgements against the wicked are true and holy and iust as after followeth For as they had shed the bloud of Gods Saints so their bloud also was shed and they are faine as the Egyptians did to whom they were alluded to drinke of the bloud of the Riuers for so say they are they worthy as before hauing taken delight in the bloud of the Saints Another Angell that is the third Angell which was in the Sanctuary doth approue that which the other two had confessed for their office was ouer the Waters noting that the Angels of God haue their particular places of gouernment wherein they execute their functions enioyned them of God And lest the wicked should seeme to thinke that God was too sharpe and seuere in iudgement against them therefore not onely the Angels of the Waters that is of the fresh and salt waters doe acknowledge that the sinnes of those wicked men had deserued this and more and therefore the iudgement was iust insomuch as that they might see their very sinnes in the same as it were in capitall letters but euen also that other Angell out of the Sanctuary doth affirme that which these two had said and acknowledgeth Gods righteous iudgement herein The fourth Angell casts his Viall on the Sunne noting that the iudgement was not onely on the earth but in the heauen by the distemperature thereof through the intemperate weather as namely the extreame heat which should proceed from it which should scorch the earth and the men that were in it wheron should come dearth famine c. And here the Euangelist notes that these worshippers of the Beast whether they had receiued the marke of the Beast vpon the foreheads that is were open professors of the worship of the Beast or receiued it in their hands that is were priuate fauourers of the Beast and his Idolatries namely whether they did openly or priuately or any way yeeld to the Idolatry of the Beast of Rome yet they repented not signifying that whereas as yet Gods iudgements were in his hand to remoue them if they repented or to double them if they did not repent They notwithstanding for all these degrees of Plagues doe still continue obstinate yea they proceed to blaspheme God so farre are they from repenting and glorifying God And hitherto it seemes God began with the common people for as in his Plagues he vseth to begin first with his Church then with the wicked so in the wicked hee begins first with the lower and inferiour sort and then followes with the more grieuous and principall offenders The fift Angell poures out his Viall on the seate of the Beast which is to be vnderstood of the Church of Rome whereupon followes darkenesse to wit anguish and trouble and paine which appeared in that they are said to bite their tongues as the malignant and enuious persons vse to doe who being troubled or crossed any way will for anguish vexe themselues more The sixt Angell poures out his Viall on the Riuer Euphrates viz. that defence wherewith this spirituall Babilon is enuironed and compassed about for by Babilon is vnderstood Rome for as in Babilon the children of Israel were kept both in spirituall and bodly seruitude so by the sinnes and Idolatries of the Church of Rome it hath beene shewed that the Church of God should be tormented with spirituall bondage And this Riuer Euphrates was a riuer which compassed and defended Babilon from their enemies and therfore by Euphrates here seemeth to be meant the fort strenght and munition of the City and Church of Rome Whereas then he poureth his Viall vpon Euphrates whereby it was dried vp it noteth that the
strength and fort of Rome was hereby greatly abated and as it were taken away The reason of this is rendred namely that their might be way made for the Kings of the East who should come for the aide and reliefe of this Beast of Rome for whereas by this Iudgement and by these Plagues they should haue turned vnto repentance yet they would not but in their distresse would make rather all friends they could to be at one with the Kings of the earth and vse all meanes of reconciling themselues vnto them and ioyning to themselues the Kings which were from farre making them their defendants and maintainers And whereas it is said that from the Dragon that is from Sathan from the Beast that is from the Empire from the Prophet that is from that man of Rome the Pope are sent forth three spirits It noteth that when they should see themselues thus destitute made naked and depriued of their defences and safeguards which they had before there should be a certaine number of false Prophets raised vp by the Pope and his adherents which should stirre vp and solicite the Kings to ioyne to the Church of Rome These Prophets are compared to Frogs partly because of their loud voice and of that great noise which they should make and whereby they should be continually crying in the eares of the Princes which thing wee see effected by the Monkes Fryers and the rest of those cursed Prophets who are alwaies perswading those whom they would haue to ioyne themselues vnto them by these arguments by defending their holy Father the Pope of helping their holy Mother the Church c. thereby stirring them vp against Christ and his seruants Partly also these false Prophets are compared to frogs by reason of their great multitudes wherein they come And here Christ comforteth and vpholdeth his Seruants and warneth them to take heed to themselues that howsoeuer the Beast with his Prophets thus proceeded and made themselues strong by ioyning to them the Princes of the earth yet hee saith hee will come vpon them as a Thiefe namely at vnawares to them And therefore hee admonisheth the Children of God to watch and keepe vpon them their cloathes and their armour lest hee comming in the night should finde them naked both to their shame and to their destruction they being naked to his iudgements alluding to a Souldier who being naked and without Armour when the enemie commeth must needs be slaine And as they gather the Kings for their assistance so he also gathereth great companies together and the place he gathereth them to is Harmageddon signifying the mountaine of destruction which was the place where Iosiah was slaine and a great ouerthrow was giuen to the Israelites by the King of Egypt which fearefull and grieuous ouerthrow the wicked bragged at and vsed to obiect it against the people of God which here he seemeth to aime at as if hee should say that they should bragge no more against the Church of God because they had so sore an ouerthrow at that time for which there was so great a lamentation as it is said that there was neuer the like heard for euen as that place was a place of destruction to them so this should be to these enemies of God The seauenth Angell poures his Viall on the Aire then there is said to come a voice from the Temple which was the voice of God the effects whereof were wonderfull for it is said that there followed in heauen most fearefull thunders lightnings and voices in the earth a great Earth-quake whereby the earth trembled and shaked which is said to be so fearefull a one as neuer was before Which noteth the fearefull maiestie and terror of God against his enemies and his mightie power whereby hee is able to scatter and to destroy them The words which the Voice vttered are these It is done to wit the consummation of the victory of Christ ouer his enemies the parts whereof are expressed some in the words following to the end of this Chapter and the rest follow in the other Chapters Then in the next words it is said that the victory of Christ is in part wrought by the Earth-quake the effects whereof are first that the great City was shaken to wit Rome called the great City by way of excellencie in that it was counted the greatest in the world being the greatest in account in fame and estimation according to our vsuall custome who call the most famous and chiefe City by the name of The City And it is not onely shaken and many Houses throwne downe but also it is diuided into three parts that is their power is scattered the City being diuided and rent into many peeces by the Earth-quake and not onely this City but many Cities of other Nations and the Isles also to wit other Countries are hereby ouerthrowne and the Mountaines were not found which vseth to come to passe in great Earthquakes their power likewise and strength being taken away Afterwards it is said that there fell great Haile-stones like Talents vpon men and these come when by the Earth quake they were terrified and scared out of their doores for when they were dislodged of their Houses and all refuge then the Lord poured out his iudgements on them to breake their heads the denouncing whereof before could not breake their hearts such was the Haile which fell on the Egyptians that whosoeuer were without the doores should be killed therewith but here the Lord dealeth more seuerely for first he driueth them out of their Houses from all refuge and then poures the Hayle stones vpon them the effect hereof in them is that they blasphemed God by reason of the greatnesse of the Hayle Apoc. Cap. 17. 1. Then there came one of the seauen Angels which had the seauen Vials and talked with mee saying vnto mee Come I will shew thee the damnation of the great Whore that sitteth vpon many waters c. OF the things that were reuealed in the last Vial that which followeth is a part Wee haue already heard of the summe of Christs iudgements on the City and the men thereof Now the Prophet proceedeth to declare the contents which further ensue of that Viall First he saith that an Angell which was one of them that poured out the Viall came to tell Iohn what should befall the Harlot Which teacheth vs that the selfe same Angels that are Executioners of Gods iudgements vpon the wicked are also Ministers of Gods mercie for the comfort of his Children He expounds the iudgement of the Harlot which is the Whore of Rome who is called a Harlot in regard of her abhominations and whoredomes especially spirituall in her Idolatries as also bodily in her beastly fornication that City being the very puddle and sinke of all filthinesse and vncleanenesse She is called the great Harlot because all the Kings of the earth should goe a whoring to her especially by committing spirituall fornication which is Idolatry And
all the people also of their Nations and all the inhabitants of the earth should also take part in her filthy abhominations and therefore Shee must needs be a notable Strumpet with whom all the Princes of the world with their people and subiects must commit adultery vncleanenesse and all kinde of villany In that Iohn was carried againe by the spirit into the Wildernesse is meant that albeit hee had receiued all these things which were reuealed to him before by the spirit yet for the further assurance of the things now to be deliuered he saith that he is carried againe in the spirit that is hee is lift vp by a more singular hand of God that he might the more notably vnderstand and attend by the speciall direction of Gods spirit to the things now to be reuealed And he saith he saw a woman sit vpon a Beast By the woman is meant the City of Rome the Beast signifieth first the Emperours only which were ciuill gouerners and secondly the Pope which tooke vpon him both ciuill and ecclesiasticall gouernement so that vpon this Beast shee is said to fit and therefore whereas he saith he sees the Harlot sitting on the Beast it is meant that the honour of the City and Church of Rome was to be maintained and vpheld by the Emperours the gouernours ciuill and by the Pope which had both Ciuill and Ecclesiasticall authority for both these are in this place set downe to be but one Beast The Beast is said to be coloured like Scarlet signifying either he was aduanced to great honour or else nothing his crueltie in murthering the Saints but this thing afterward Saint Iohn more notably setteth downe in that the Whore her selfe is said to be red with the bloud of the Saints noting that as this was her Liuery so the chiefest colour wherin this Church and this Beast delighteth is Scarlet as appeareth by their vsage for they vse to weare this that they might be knowne to be bloudy and cruell It is further said that this Beast is full of names of blasphemie it is meant that whereas before it was said that the first Beast had a name of blasphemy that is was very cruell very blasphemous when he first rose out of the Sea which was verified by the example of Caligula and others that tooke on them the honour of God yet this doth farre exceede him for he is full of the names of blasphemie viz. blasphemous throughout signifying an high degree of blasphemie He speakes also of the Harlot her selfe whom hee saith to be arrayed in Purple and Scarlet signifying that she was clad royally purple being a most costly and Princely apparell her Scarlet bedecked with gold precious stones and Pearles note the exceeding great riches of that Church of Rome Then followes that which shee did viz. Shee had a cup of Gold in her hand but within full of abhominations and filthy whoredomes and fornications noting that without she had a gorgeous shew was beautifull to behold but within full of al vncleanenes as our Sauiour Christ said of the Pharisies that they cleanse the out side of the cup but are all filthy within which we see in the Church of Rome that without they haue most faire shewes to looke to but looke into them and into their actions there is nothing but vncleanenesse Shee had in her forehead a name written a Mistery signifying that the chiefe thing shee professeth is a Mistery namely that shee hath the Misteries and secrets of God yea shee professeth that all knowledge and vnderstanding of Gods will is shut vp onely in her breasts as in a closet and therefore say they the Pope can change the Articles of the faith yea that he can alter the Scriptures and make them no Scriptures and that he can make the Euangelists to be no Euangelists and those that are not to be She is called great Babilon because of the resemblance of that Babilon in the East to this in the West principally in regard of her great cruelty against Gods Children The Mother of Harlots that is the chiefe Harlot of all setting out her abhominable fornications both spirituall and bodily After in that she is said to be drunke with the bloud of the Saints is set forth her cruelty and barbarousnesse against the witnesses of Gods truth in that she is defiled bespotted and embrued with the bloud of the Saints As Christ is said to come out of Edom coloured with the bloud of his enemies noting thereby the reuenge he should take of the Edomites euen so the Whore of Babilon is dyed with the bloud of Gods children yea she is said to be drunke with their bloud as with drinke shewing that she makes no more account of shedding the bloud of the seruants of God then the drunken man makes of pouring in drinke or the fishes water Iohn wonders at her to wit not after that sort which those doe which follow after whose names were not written in the Booke of life but hee wonders after another manner namely at the strangenesse of the thing and at the strangenesse of her abhominations But the Angell askes him wherefore marueilest thou at it I will saith hee tell thee the mistery viz. the meaning of the Harlot and of the Beast And taking in hand to handle and declare the mistery of them both hee begins after the manner and custome of the Hebrewes with that which hee named last viz. the Beast and saith that he was and is not It is said he is not which hath been declared by the wound he receiued accomplished in the time of Nero after whose time the manner of gouernement in regard of the familie which then ruled was no more all that family being worne out and therefore the gouernement was ceased and yet notwithstanding should rise againe out of the depth out of the bottomlesse pit viz. out of hell by the subtiltie and pollicie of Sathan and his craftie instruments and should goe to destruction that is should for all this suddenly be destroyed and not haue a continuall gouernement And it is said that at the Beast all should wonder not as Iohn did but with an admiration of it the reason is because it was and is not and yet is that is albeit it should haue so many changes and alterations in that the Emperours should be so often put downe and slaine as appeareth by the histories and others raised vp neuerthelesse the gouernement should continue still wherfore the men of the world not knowing Gods prouidence in the ordering of these things should hereby be drawne with admiration of the Beast to cleaue vnto it considering that albeit hee had receiued so many wounds and so great pushes as it were to destroy him and ouerthrow him and yet did continue and was able to stand and thinking that it was by his own power they should therefore say who is like to the Beast So that wee see that this Empire which is here vnderstood by the
downe their drinkes so also by the Tree of life is expressed their meat not that there shall be in the Kingdome of heauen any corporall meate or drinke but onely noting a sufficiency and fulnesse of all good things which there Gods Children should haue In that the Tree of life bringeth forth fruit euery moneth to wit twelue times in the yeare and it bringeth forth also seuerall kindes of fruit it noteth all measure and kindes of delight being not onely plentifull but also full of all variety Euen as men vse to doe which making a feast will not content themselues with one sort of meat but will labour to haue what variety they can of most dainty meates that it may bring more delight vnto the guests so here it is noted that in Christ there should be all sufficiency and variety of pleasures and delights Saint Iohn here chooseth to set forth the ioyes of heauen by fruits rather then by Oxen and Fatlings as our Sauiour Christ expresseth it Matthew 22. because our Sauiour hath regard to vsuall marriages of Kings and Princes who vse against their Marriage-feasts to kill great store of Beeues and such like prouision the holy Ghost here in this place hath relation to that first kinde of liuing in the beginning in mans innocencie when he onely liued of the fruits of the earth The leaues of it are to heale the sores signifying that there could be no sicknesse there seeing they had health at their doores and that of the same tree whereof they had their meat They had no neede of light because God himselfe and Christ was their light which doth adde to that felicitie for as darkenesse in hell aggrauates the miserie of the wicked so contrariwise the fulnesse of light the godly shall haue doth augment their happinesse and more in that that light shall exceede the light of the Sunne And further to shut vp their ioy he saith one singular and notable comfort and felicity to Gods Children is to serue and worship God for howsoeuer now by reason of our corrupt nature it seemes a burthen and a trouble to worship God yet then it shall be one of our chiefest ioyes They stand in Gods presence that is haue most excellent priuiledges of Gods sauour and bee principall seruants vnto God as those are in most honour with Princes which are said to stand in their presence and attend vpon them in their Courts As Daniel is said to stand in the presence of the King so these shall stand in the Courts of God and haue the full fruition of his comfortable presence and therefore on the contrarie side the vngodly are herein accursed 2. Thessalonians 1. 9 in that they are shut from the presence of God to wit his gracious presence for otherwise all things whatsoeuer are in his presence Lastly they shall raigne and rule for euermore being ioyned with Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords Thus much of their comforts in the Kingdome of God Now followes the close of the Booke to giue more credit to it and to stirre vp others to looke more diligently into it and to regard to meditate and practise it more carefully Here then is set downe first the testimony of the Angell then of Iohn lastly of Christ himselfe Of the Angell who saith that all these things are faithfull and true which he proueth by the efficient cause which is God by the instrument to deliuer it to Iohn which was himselfe being sent of God and by the time which is that they shall shortly come to passe And therefore heauen and earth shall sooner passe then one of these shall fall to the ground By the testimony of Iohn which saith that it was hee which saw and heard these things and therefore could testifie of them whereupon hee taketh occasion to repeat his former fall for saith he such were the strangenesse of these things that when I saw them I fell downe and worshipped the Angell where hee confesseth his grieuous fault in worshipping the creature in stead of the Creator for which hee is reprehended of the Angell for drawing this vision to a wrong end and making a contrary vse of the same namely by worshipping him which was a Minister of God to wit an Angell who was his fellow Seruant and therefore not to be worshipped and hauing reprehended him for the abuse hee teacheth him the right vse and end of the same namely first that hee should hereby be stirred vp to worship God and secondly to manifest and testifie it to others And therefore hee biddeth him not to seale the words of this Prophecie noting that hee should shew and manifest it to the Church of God To the end that first they might keepe and practise the things therein contained Secondly that they might vnderstand the certainty of the things therein contained wherein hee meeteth with an obiection that might be made For might some say if they must come certainely why then should men trouble themselues about it in studying for the knowledge of the vnderstanding of that Booke especially seeing it is so hard and darkely spoken and that many would abuse the things of this Prophecie and wrest them to another end then the Apostle meant them being giuen in a stile so vnwonted as Peter 2. Pauls sayings are said to be hard But the Angell answeres that it must not be sealed vp but published And howsoeuer it may be some may take occasion to be wicked and carelesse by it yet Saint Iohn saith it makes no matter for that for though the wicked stumble at it yet it is giuen for the comfort of the righteous and for the Children of Gods sake and they shall profit and be bettered by it and made more iust by taking heed of these iudgements herein contained And for the wicked hee said if any will be euill let him be euill still And last of all hee saith that though it should not make either for the furthering of the wicked in their wickednesse or to further the godly in their godlinesse yet it is to be left vnsealed for the glory of God to manifest him to be true and his word true when all these things shall come to passe Then is Christ himselfe brought in speaking saying Behold I come quickly c. In which words of our Sauiour hee confirmeth also to vs the truth of this Prophecie and the testimony of the Angell his titles whereby hee is described are spoken of before Lastly hee shutteth vp the Booke with an execration against the wicked and a promise of blessing towards the godly And because Iohn was the last writer of the Scriptures and word of God it may well be referred vnto the whole new Testament and the old And hee saith Whosoeuer doth adde or take away let him be accursed For Saint Iohn seeing wicked men labour to corrupt the writings of the Apostles and holy men of God by adding detracting and changing as is the common practise in other writings of men of fame hee doth therefore meet with that corruption and addeth this curse vnto them that either adde any thing vnto it or diminish any thing here-from But some will obiect seeing Gods word cannot be corrupted wherfore then doth he goe about to forbid the corrupting of it It is answered howsoeuer the word of God cannot in any point be corrupted yet God would also haue the meanes vsed whereby hee would haue the same preserued by setting downe the threatnings of curse to the corrupters of it and promises of blessing to the keepers and preseruers of it FINIS