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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
earth_n	praise_n	praise_v	sing_v	3,149	5	9.2140	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A07348	Ecclesiastica interpretatio: or The expositions vpon the difficult and doubtful passages of the seuen Epistles called catholike, and the Reuelation Collected out of the best esteemed, both old and new writers, together with the authors examinations, determinations, and short annotations. The texts in the seuen Epistles of Iames, Peter, Iohn and Iude are six and forty. The expositions vpon the Reuelation are set forth by way of question and answer. Here is also a briefe commentary vpon euery verse of each chapter, setting forth the coherence and sense, and the authors, and time of writing euery of these bookes. Hereunto is also annexed an antidot against popery. By Iohn Mayer, B. of D. and pastor of the Church of Little Wratting in Suffolke.	Mayer, John, 1583-1664.	1627 (1627)	STC 17731; ESTC S112551	448,008	564

times being brought in speaking to tell of a Lion and of the root of Dauid according to the Prophesies that then went of him but when he appeareth to Iohn it is most fit that hee should appeare as a Lambe bearing a signe of being killed because he was so lately crucified and by the name of a Lambe he was spoken of by the Prophet of the new Testament Iohn the Baptist There are many reasons rendred why he was spoken of as a Lion and as a Lambe He was called a Lion first Ioh. 1.29 for his strength in ouercomming all his enemies secondly for his principality whereby he is King of all as the Lion is of the beasts thirdly for his courage whereby hee feareth nothing but maketh all afraid of him fourthly for his vnderstanding euen in his child-hood as the Lion alone of all beasts that haue clawes seeth as soone as he is whelped And whereas it may seeme strange that a Lion is spoken of for the opening of a Booke for which such a creature is vnfit one resolueth it well that sinne and the Deuill hindring from the sight of the mysteries of God Brightman a Lion of power to breake the force of these is fitly mentioned because this hindrance being taken away the seales that kept them fast in closed are as it were loosed The root of Dauid he is called according to Esay 53.2 whereas he is said to be a branch out of the root Esay 11.1 because although he be but a branch according to the flesh for so much as he came of Dauid yet hee is a root according to his Diuinity Rupertus Pannonius whereupon Dauid and all the godly are borne by faith partaking of his grace as of sap comming from him and consequently of saluation by him He is called a Lambe because he was offered vp in sacrifice for our sinnes at what time as a Lambe is dumbe and complaineth not so he opened not his mouth Orig. Hom. 24. in Num. He is in the midst of the Throne because taken vp to the same glory with God in his humane nature he standeth to set forth his resurrection Hee hath seuen hornes to shew his kingly power for hornes set forth strength and Kings seuen being a number of perfection that he hath the power of all Kingdomes Seuen eyes set forth the fulnesse of spirituall light comming from him as all Expositors agree If it shall seeme strange that Christ should appeare as a Lambe with seuen hornes to declare his kingly power seeing the Lambe is a weake creature and hath little strength in the hornes I answer that it was necessary he being set forth as a Sacrifice for our sinnes whereby they were taken away being otherwise an obstacle to the perception of diuine mysteries hornes in great number should be ascribed vnto him to declare his might yet remaining when hee had suffered lest his enemies should contemne him as a weakling And although two hornes which Lambs vsually haue were vnfit to set forth this yet seuen hornes doe fitly set forth an extraordinary Lambe mighty beyond the nature of that beast And the seuen eyes answer to the seuen Seales so that he hath eyes enow to see what is vnder euery seale Note that sinne hindreth from vnderstanding the mysteries of God they must be first expiated or else the Booke of God will still remaine sealed it is in vaine to diue into the knowledge of these things for an vnregenerate person that hath no part yet in the sacrifice of this Lambe whereby only his sinnes may be done away Quest 2. The Elders are said to haue Harpes and golden Vials full of odours which are the prayers of the Saints What Saints prayers are meant here the Saints in Heauen haue no need to offer prayers for themselues bee not these then our prayers and if they be is not here a ground to entreat them to further vs in our prayers seeing they must needs know what we pray otherwise they cannot offer the odours of our prayers And why doe they addresse themselues thus to celebrate the praises of the Lambe vpon the taking of this book to open it Ans The popish sort will haue their presenting of our prayers before God here vnderstood or at the least the prayings of the Saints in Heauen for vs which if it be so then they are Mediators of intercession and to be sought vnto by vs. Our Writers on the other side will haue nothing else but the praises of the Lambe which follow in this Chapter vnderstood because a thanksgiuing is a kinde of prayer It is most cleare that the prayers of Gods people vpon earth are not meant because they are odours in the golden Vials of these glorified Elders something proceeding from them and the ●est of the Saints in Heauen euen as the incense offered by the Priests vnder the Law was a sweet fume kindled by them that offered it But whether they were properly prayers petitioning for something or praises it is a question Forbs Brightman Some will haue this a representation of the Church vpon earth singing and offering vp the sweet odours of prayer but this cannot stand because things in earth are brought in praising the Lambe afterwards Neither can I see how the following praises should bee meant by the prayers of the Saints for that was the song which they sung to their Harpes from which the odours in their Vials are a distinct thing It must needs then be yeelded that Prayers are here properly to be vnderstood and the prayers of these foure and twenty together with all the rest of the Saints in Heauen for the Church vpon earth And so it cannot be denied but that they intercede for vs only their intercession is for vs all in generall not knowing the particular case of any seeing as the Prophet saith Abraham knoweth vs not Esa 63.16 Israel is ignorant of vs. And therefore to apply our selues to them in our praying that we may be holpen by their mediation as we are directed to doe vnto Christ is absurd and superstitious yea for so much as this honour belongeth to Christ only it is from him derogatory and so in a high degree impious It is comfort enough to vs in respect of the Saints in Heauen that they beare still an intire loue towards vs and by soliciting the Lord for vs seeke to further our happinesse and that their prayers in this kinde are gratefull as odours and so are all our owne godly prayers Also comming out of golden Vials that is hearts purified and made precious by Faith For their disposing of themselues to these praises after the taking of this sealed Booke to open the reason is plaine it is no small part of blessednesse to vnderstand the mysteries of God herein contained this blessednesse wee cannot attaine vnto but by the Lambe that hath died for vs wherefore when the Booke of these mysteries commeth to the opening there is great reason

that the vertues of this Lambe should be thankfully commemorated It is called a new song in respect of that in the former Chapter there are the praises of the creation which was of old here the praises of the redemption which was new Quest 3. Vers 9. And wee shall reigne on the earth How shall the Saints reigne vpon earth or how is it that being Kings in Heauen they ioy in thinking vpon a future reigning here Answ Forbs Brightman Some vnderstanding all of the Church militant say That reigning vpon earth is nothing else but being in the Kingdom of grace whilst we liue here Others vnderstanding it of the Saints in Heauen Bullinger Pareus say That the reigning vpon earth shal be when at the last day the Iudge descending they shall come together with him in great glory and shall appeare to be the Kings and Priests of God with Christ iudging this wicked world Arethas Mat. 5. Others againe vnderstand by earth that new earth which is promised to the meeke when it is said Blessed are the meeke for they shall inherit the earth And vnto this as the most probable doe I subscribe for there shall be a new Heauen and a new earth Chap. 21.1 and here shall the godly reigne in glory not as the Chiliasts and Turkes hold liuing in earthly pleasures for that is grosse neither is it to be thought that such pleasure is affected by such as are heauenly and spirituall but after the consummation of all at the Day of Iudgement the Saints shall reigne in another world which in allusion to this consisting of Heauen and Earth is called a new Heauen and a new Earth Or else consider whether it may not be vnderstood of the vpper hand which the Christian Religion should get of all false religions when Emperours and Kings should become Christian for being all of one mysticall body when the Christian Church getteth the principality the Saints in Heauen may reioyce to foresee it and say We shall reigne vpon earth that is our company which belong vnto the Lambe and admire and praise him as we doe And it was no small comfort to know this then when as all Empire and dominion was in the hands of heathen men and persecutors it must needs cheare vp the heart greatly to vnderstand what power Religion should haue ouer the Thrones and Scepters of this world and the ancient seruants of God may well be said to reigne vpon earth also because their dictates and instructions are generally receiued and obeyed vpon earth Quest 4. Vers 13. And I heard euery creature in Heauen and in earth vnder the earth and in the sea and all in them saying blessing and honour c. What are the creatures vnder the earth and how doth euery thing speake the praises of God when as all cannot speake Answ Ribera The Papists will haue the soules in purgatory meant by those vnder the earth some the Deuills who are compelled to giue glory to Christ But the best exposition is of the creatures which dwell in subterranean places for both they that are without and within the holes of the earth are called vpon to praise God Psal 148. and doe praise him and the Lord Iesus Christ in their kinde by whom a restauration of the world is attained when the faithfull shall be glorified as is declared Rom. 8.21 and for this cause they serue his prouidence which is their praising of him It is generally signified hereby what a consent there is amongst all things which are in expectation of benefit from Christ in celebrating his praises that we may doe likewise CHAP. VI. HEre is shewed how the Lambe beginneth to open the Seales in order and what followeth vpon the opening of each of them by such things as appeared future euents concerning the Church of God being emblematically set forth as the opening of euery Seale succeedeth one another and after the Seales follow the Trumpets Eullinger Forbs Brightman Ly●a Antonin Ambros lib. adulterinus Fox and after the Trumpets the Vials so some will haue the euents hereby set forth to succeed one another in order in diuers ages to the end of the world And some begin the computation from the beginning of the world by the seuen Seales vnderstanding the seuen ages Some from the foure Monarchies of the Assyrians Medes and Persians Grecians and Romans which they will haue set forth by these foure horses which beginnings cannot stand because Iohn is not taken vp to see things past but to come by which reason also that opinion reckoned vp by Andreas is confuted expounding the first Seale of Christs Birth Andreas ex Methodio the second of his Baptisme the third of his Miracles the fourth of his Arraignment the fift of his Buriall the sixt of his Descent c. The rest which speake more probably beginne the time at the Apostles going out to preach the Gospell in all nations and so apply euery thing to some notable accident as one happened after another from age to age Yet because at the opening of the sixt Seale mention is so plainly made of the last day of Iudgement as that it is but a wresting of the words to expound it any other way and againe at the sounding of the seuenth Trumpet it is so confidently affirmed that time was no more chap. 11. and the time is said to be come of iudging the dead vers 18. which cannot be meant but of the day of Iudgement and againe Chap. 14. the Vintage is cut downe and the Wine-presse trodden and againe Chap. 20. the dead arise and come to iudgement I cannot see how that computing of all things in order to the end can stand because the day of Iudgement which is last of all commeth so often in the way There are therefore that beginning the time at the propagation of the Gospell abroad in the world make diuers periods in these visions holding that within euery period most notable things which should happen to the end of the world are set forth Parcus in the first more obscurely and in euery following period more plainly and yet not alwaies the same but if any thing of note hath beene omitted in the former it is supplied in the periods following neither is euery one so vniuersall as another for some set forth the estate of the Church persecuted by Tyrants flourishing vnder Christian Emperours persecuted by Antichrist shaking off his yoke as the vision of the seuen Seales of the seuen Trumpets of the woman with childe cloathed with the Sunne and of the Angell binding the Dragon being afterwards loosened againe but some set forth that part of the estate of the Church only which was in Antichrists reigne and ouerthrow as the seuen Vials and the vision of the great whore and her destruction And vnto this as being most without exception doe I subscribe the rather because S. Augustine long agoe gaue some light to this method saying

hereafter CHAP. XIV AND behold a Lambe standing vpon mount Zion Quest 1 Vers 1. and with him an hundred forty and foure thousand hauing his Fathers name written on their foreheads c. Who are these and to what time is this to be referred What is that musicall voyce which commeth from heauen and the new song sung there which none could learne but these one hundred forty and foure thousand And what is meant by saying that they are virgins and follow the Lambe and that they are the first fruits vnto God and that no guile is found in their mouth c. Answ I will not delay the Reader much here with diuersity of expositions for this place as I take it is parallel to that in the seuenth Chapter so that as there after much violence and bloud-shed of the seruants of God spoken of before it is added as a comfort that of euery tribe were sealed twelue thousand making vp all together this number of one hundred forty and foure thousand In calling him the Lambe he taketh vp the speech vsed Chap. 7.8 All worship the beast whose names were not written in the booke of life of the Lambe which stood fast vnto the truth of God notwithstanding the danger of those persecuting times solikewise here after the beasts bloudy proceedings against all that would not worship him spoken of in the fore-going chapter this comfort is added that the Lambe Christ Iesus all the time of Antichrists reigne standeth vpon mount Zion that is is vigilant ouer his Church to preserue it from perishing and hee hath still with him euen in these times of greatest streights and hundred forty and foure thousand followers that is many thousands thorowout the twelue tribes of his whole Church dispersed ouer the world set forth thus in allusion to the old Church of God vnder the Law And these followers of his are vnmoueable as mount Zion that is most fixedly adhering to his truth for so the firme standing of the faithfull is described by the Psalmist saying Psal 125.1 They that trust in the Lord shall be as mount Zion that can neuer be remoued And they haue Gods name in their forehead to set forth their constant confident professing of the truth of God all superstitions of Popery which are a marke vpon the forehead of those that follow the beast being vtterly abandoned And as after the sealing there an infinite multitude are brought in with white robes and palmes praising God with whom the Angels ioyne making a most sweet consent it being a representation of the ioyfull condition in heauen of such as haue suffered for Christ in this world but now are triumphing there that the languishing spirits of such as are yet militant vpon earth might be recreated the more cheerefully to beare the terrible brunts of hottest persecutions who were before set forth by the sealed ones so here is an intimation of an infinite multitude already reioycing in heauen in that he saith that hee heard the voyce as it were of many waters and of a great thunder and of harpers which sung a new song for these speeches may well set forth an infinite multitude whose noise is as the noise of great waters and great thunders but this seemeth to be spoken of their congregating together to this heauenly harmony which is performed as it were by harpes and singing of a new song that is a most rare and excellent song of the praise of God and of the Lord Iesus Christ which song the faithfull here doe learne but none else because none but they doe praise God all others magnifie the beast but these by their praising of God from honest and sincere hearts sanctified by the truth begin euen now to come into the quite of heauen to which they and none but they shall be vndoubtedly ioyned at the last praising God for their deliuerance perfected as now they doe for the fountaine and beginnings hereof the Lord Iesus Christ and his spirituall graces and the ioy of the holy Ghost resulting here-from whereby they doe euen now as it were sit together in heauenly places And as there an Angell is brought in questioning with Iohn and telling him who these were and of their perfect holinesse through the bloud of the Lambe set forth by white robes washed therein and of the Lambes being in the midst of them and leading them forth to the waters of life so here Iohn is directly informed that these one hundred forty and foure thousand of the Church militant are most excellent and worthy persons all immaculate and vnspotted before God both for that he imputeth no sinne vnto them being iustified by faith in the bloud of the Lambe and for that they haue kept themselues virgins vnto God not hauing committed fornication with the beast by idolatry who is afterwards called also the great whore and haue a simple honest heart like Nathaneel who is said to be without guile so that they could not be blamed either for the common vice of others by fornicating in such manner nor for hypocrisie and double dealing in professing the truth as aiming at some sinister end or by yeelding in shew vnto those idolatries thinking that as long as their hearts were right they might in shew be such for the safeguard of their liues These were not too blame any of these wayes for they were ready in giuing witnesse to the truth to lay downe their liues And they are said to be redeemed from the earth and from amongst men to note the power from whence they were inabled vnto this in what a most happy condition different from other men they are when others as men of the earth perish at the destruction of the earth and earthly things these are by the Lambe deliuered and made partakers of that fulnesse of ioy that makes their fellow seruants who went into heauen before to play and sing in such an admirable harmony And these are led forth by the Lambe for they follow him whither soeuer he goeth they follow him in suffering and they follow him into glory that where he is they may alwayes be Napier Pareus Brightman Fox c. That this is parallel to that in Chap. 7. most consent and it setteth forth the number of such as were not carried away with the common streame of corruptions preuailing in the time of Popery and the Lord Iesus appeareth most significantly as a Lambe because he yet suffered his enemies in their persecuting but he standeth to shew his vigilant care ouer his Church Arethas Some thinke that this is a diuers thing from that in Chap. 7. there being set forth the sealed amongst the Iewes here the sealed amongst the Gentiles some hold Alcasar that the faithfull vnder the persecuting Emperours are set forth but all things so fitly agreeing and this comming immediatly after the description of the beast as a thing contemporanean with him I can see no ground of such opinion It is

a notable place for satisfying that question Note what became of the Church all the time that the Pope preuailed if the Roman Catholike Church bee not the true Church As in the dayes of Elijah there were seuen thousand scattered thorowout the tribes of Israel who were vnknowne 1 King 19. so in these times there were many thousands some in one countrey and somein another that did distaste the idolatries and superstitions of Rome preserued by the care of the Lambe when the roaring Lion the Deuill deuoured most Touching this company with the Lambe and the harpers whose musicke is heard and the found in heauen as of many waters there are some that vnderstand the seruants of God vpon earth by them all Bullinger Napier Fox the multitude of whom is set forth by the voyce of many waters their bold threatning of iudgements against sinne by thunder and their ioy in the middest of trouble by singing and playing vpon harpes that new song of redemption by the bloud of Christ set forth in the Gospell not an old song such as was wont to bee sung vnder the Law though this song be also to be applied vnto the Saints in heauē And one more particularly vnderstādeth the noise as of many waters Brightman of the teaching of the Doctors that liued in the time of the womans first beginning to be in the wildernesse such as Augustine Ambrose Ierom c. who made a confused noise like to that of many waters not distinctly setting downe the points of faith the noise of thunder of Wickliffe Iohn Husse Ierom of Prague Luther c. who stirred vp men in diuers parts as the cracking thunder and the harpers singing of the reformed Churches after obtaining a liberty of the true religion in Heluetia Sueuia Geneua c. where God was praised for the light breaking out amongst them Lyra. One telleth a tale of an hundred forty and foure thousand Monkes slaine by the Hagarens in Syria and Antioch about the end of Heraclius his reigne Ribera Some vnderstand such a number of the Iewes which shall be conuerted when Antichrist shall come or part Iewes and part Gentiles But Pareus is of the same minde and agreeth with this our exposition distinguishing the company with the Lambe and those of whom the noise is heard and indeed to vnderstand it otherwise is to confound things distinguished seeing after the hundred forty and foure thousand spoken of vpon mount Zion with the Lambe this noise is heard from heauen and these vpon earth still learne their song which none else could doe because as none but the faithfull haue the Spirit of God and feele that ioy which is in the grace of God so none but they can produce the true effects of this ioy by heartily magnifying Gods holy Name Heartily to praise God then being affected with his mercy in Christ Note is a propriety of such as belong vnto Christ the praises of others are but the harsh sounding of the instruments of an orall voyce without the grace of the consent of the animall voyce wherein onely is life and sweetnesse Touching the description of these hundred forty and foure thousand Bullinger Tossanus Pareus Fox Aug. non polluerunt se m●l cribu● l. ●●●u●ciau●rāt carnal cupiditat bus nec adhascrunt idolis d●js alients l●ae●●●ius aut ei●ori●us sed sunt virgines spirituales quorum spoasus Christus est These haue not defiled themselues with women c. most of our new Writers consent to that which hath beene said that whoredome committed with the great whore is specially meant from which they haue beene free though some apply it vnto chastity also in respect of the body both in the single and married estate And not onely our new Writers but the ancient Fathers vnderstand spirituall pollution by idolatry here as Augustine saying They haue not defiled themselues with women that is they haue renounced carnall concupiscences neither haue they cleaued to idols to strange Gods heresies or errours but are spirituall Virgins whose husband is Christ And Ambrose saith vpon that speech of the Apostle I haue prepared you for one man that I might present you a pure Virgin vnto Christ He will haue them to be virgins in faith such as Iohn doth describe being with Christ in the Reuelation where he saith these are they that haue not defiled themselues with women It is most absurd to hold here with the Hieracite a sort of Heretikes of old who condemned marriage as ioyned with pollution and many Popish Writers now adayes that apply this vnto votaries that leade a single life and therefore one of them Alcasar being ashamed of this Alcasar consenteth with vs that they are the Virgins here meant who haue not corrupted themselues by an inordinate affection towards the creature And indeed if Virgins properly vnderstood should be meant many absurdities would follow thereupon 1. None of the Patriarkes could be followers of the Lambe because they were all married as were diuers of the Apostles also 2. Gods owne ordinance should be an hindrance to the following of the Lambe 3. All that are truly religious must needs be single because all that are redeemed and saued are here set forth c. It is the praise of those that haue beene separate from Popish abominations they as pure virgins are of the society Note and make the Spouse of Christ others that are corrupted by error haue nothing to doe with him no more than impure with pure darkenesse with light Belial with God Touching their following of Christ whithersoeuer he goeth it is well expressed further by some Bullinger Brightman that if hee will haue them goe after him to the losse of their goods of their good name yea of their life by any kinde of most cruell death yet they are ready thus to follow him They are a first fruits vnto God that is most holy and but a few in comparison of the great multitude that shall come in as the truth shall further inlarge it selfe Antichrist being more and more consumed and confounded euen as the first fruits of corne are consecrated vnto God and are but a little quantity in comparison of the whole crop This allegory is most significant to set forth the small number of those that shall be saued and their praise before going Note which is also their happinesse serueth notably to shew the Christian resolution of this number they are ready bent to follow Christ thorow the greatest troubles and worldly miseries so that if any will be a follower of him but onely so farre forth as may stand with his ease profit or preferment he is excluded out of this number Quest 2. And I saw another Angeli flying thorow the midst of heauen Vers 6 c. hauing an eternall Gospell to preach to all the inhabitants of the earth and to euery nation tongue and people c. What is set forth by this Angell and