Mesech he meaneth Arabia and by Tubal Italy and Spaine noting thereby the countries and kingdomes from whence the great persecuters of the Church from the return out of the captivity of Babylon untill the coming of the Messias should arise for assuredly their enemies were collected of divers nations but served chiefly under the Princes of Asia the lesser of Syria and of Scythia Now then to conclude Gog and Magog in Ezekiel are put for the Princes of those countries which were the chiefe Captains in gathering great and mighty armies unto battel against the children of Israel after they were come out of the captivity of Babylon And the Prophet there in one summe under the armies of Gog and Magog comprehendeth all the enemies that fought against them from time to time after the captivity unto the coming of Christ And now for the application of this unto the enemies of the Church under the Gospel wee must first note that through this booke the figures and phrases of speech are taken out of the Law and the Prophets Now therefore when the Lord would set forth in one summe all the enemies of the Church which Satan mustereth after the time of his loosing out of prison before the coming of Christ to judgment there is no one place more fit to set forth all these armies then those armies of Gog and Magog and therefore the names even Gog and Magog are here brought in to set forth these huge armies of the Turk and of the Pope and of all the enemies of the Church in these last dayes which should gather themselves to battell being in number as the sand of the sea as Saint John saith yea did cover the whole face of the earth with their multitudes and compasse the tents of the Saints about and the beloved citie that is did make warre against the Church and people of God which in comparison of them were but as a few tents or some little citie But mark what followeth and consider the issue of the battell The holy Ghost saith expressely that fire came downe from God out of heaven and devoured them which doth plainely shew that the armies of Gog and Magog though never so huge shall be destroyed by the fire of Gods wrath Now from this I gather that as the armies of the Pope shall goe downe still more and more as formerly hath been shewed and as experience in many yeeres good successe both in Ireland Netherland and against Spain also hath partly proved Gods most holy Name be praised so also the armies of the Turk shall be overthrown so far forth as they fight against the true Church or at least be so kept back that they shall not be able to compasse the tents of the Saints as we see and feel this day God be thanked And the Divel that deceived them Verse 10. was cast into a lake of fire and brimstone where the beast and false prophet are and shall be tormented even day and night for evermore Here is set down the Divels doom to wit that he shall be cast down into the infernall pit as well worthy both for his seducing all nations and stirring up the armies of Gog and Magog against the Church even to rooâ— it up if it were possible Therefore Saint John telleth us that forasmuch as hee is the authour of all mischiefe and he that hath set all the rest a work therefore both hee and his instruments the beast and the false Prophet Gog and Magog shall all drink of the same cup of Gods eternall wrath and be all thrown down together into one close prison which is that gaping gulfe and infernall lake that burneth with fire and brimstone for ever Lo then what shall be the end of the Divell the Turk the Pope the Emperour the King of Spain the Cardinals and all other the Divels instruments which here on earth have persecuted the Church and compassed the tents of the Saints and the beloved city Now after all this in the five last verses Saint John entreth into a lively and cleere description of the last judgment first noting the terror and majesty of the Judge himself Verse 11. in this that from his face both heaven and earth fled away that is no creature shall be able to endure his angry countenance in that day and yet withall setting downe the purity and uprightnesse of his judgment and judgment-seat calling it a white Throne And after this the generall citing and personall appearing of all men before him of what degree estate or condition soever For both death and hell Verse 13. sea and grave did deliver up their dead and all without exception came to judgement and the bookes of their consciences were opened for every mans work is ingraven upon his conscience as it were in letters of brasse or with the point of a diamond as the Prophet speaketh Jer. 17.2 Verse 12. And they were judged of those things which were written in the books according to their works and according to the testimony of their own consciences Verse 14. And death and hell that is all the heires of death and hell even all the society of reprobates both Papists Atheists and all unbeleevers yea whosoever were not found written in the book of life Verse 15. were cast into the lake of fire which is the second death Now here I would have it diligently observed that the holy Ghost hath three severall times in this book described the last judgment to wit in the latter end of the eleventh chapter in the latter end of the fourteenth chapter and now in the latter end of this chapter And moreover I would have the order and causes of these descriptions well weighed For in the eleventh chapter having before described the kingdome of the Pope and the Turk with their overthrow and also the preaching and prevailing of the Gospel in these last dayes hee cometh to describe the last judgement In the fourteenth chapter having set downe that the everlasting Gospel should bee plentifully preached in this last age and the overthrow of Babylon immediately following forthwith hee proceedeth to the description of the last day In this chapter having before concluded of the utter overthrow of Rome and of the beast and false prophet of Gog and Magog and all adversary power at length he proceedeth to this description of Christs second coming which wee have heard of And out of all this I do gather that the utter overthrow of the Pope and all his adherents shall be in this life a little before the coming of Christ to judgment CHAP. XXI AS wee have heard before the utter overthrow of the beast and the false prophet and all their adherents and also of the everlasting condemnation of the Dragon that old Serpent which set them all awork So now in this chapter we are to hear of that most happy and blessed estate which the faithfull shall dwell in for evermore so that the maine drift of
was so great for his Church being in her ward-shippe and minority then much more now being come to her ripenesse and full age If then it was lesse glorious then much more now being farre more glorious Therefore now unto us he foretelleth by his servant John what shall be the estate of the Church unto the end of the world and therefore Blessed is he that heareth and readeth this booke sith it foretelleth of the Churches affliction in this age by the whoore of Babylon and of the full end and determination thereof It sheweth justly and precisely what the Church hath suffered since the Apostles time in severall ages and what it shall suffer and also how all the enemies thereof shall shortly bee troden under foote What can be more joyfull or comfortable to all the people of God then to know afore-hand that Babylon shall fall Rome shall downe Antichrist the great persecutor of the Church shall bee utterly confounded and consumed in this world notwithstanding all plots and policies crafts and devices to the contraâ—y notwithstanding all forces and armâ—es cunningly contrived and raised up against the Chuâ—ch by Seminary Priests Jesuites Pope Cardiâ—all and King of Spaine For all these in this age do very busily bestirre them and ransacke all corners of their wits to repaire the ruines of Rome and to make up the breaches which are made in the walles of Babylon their great City But alas all in vaine for it shall fall It shall fall it shall as Dagon before the presence of the Arke doe what they can spite of their hearts maugre their beards it shall without all hope of recovery For hath the Lord spoken it and shall it not come to passe or any word of his ever fall to the ground Sith therefore the Jesuites and Secular Priâ—sts do so fiske about and croake in every corner as greatly fearing the fall of their Babylon and the drying up of their Euphrates it stands us all in hand to bee of resolute for Christ as they are for Antichrist and as studious to uphold the Kingdome of God as they are to uphold the kingdome of the divell And for this purpose it is very requisite and necessary that all the Lords people should bee acquainted with this Booke and armed against them with the things revealed in this Prophesie For this booke is a most precious Jewell which God hath bestowed upon his Church in this last age and it is great pitty that all the servants of God are not better acquainted with it especially in these times for now in this age is and shall bee the very heat of the warre and brunt of the battle betwixt Papists and Protestants betwixt God and Belial betwixt the armies of Christ and the armies of Antichrist Now this Prophesie layeth all open and plainly telleth us what shall be the issue and successe in the day of battell which side shall have the victory and which side shall goo downe And therefore very needfull it is that it should be expounded againe and againe and all the Lords people made throughly acquainted with it For in this age wherein we live this Prophesie can never be enough opened and beaten upon that all good Protestants may bee armed with it against future times even as it were with an armour of proofe Saint John plainely telleth the people of his time even the Churches of Asia that they should be blessed by reading and studying this Booke because they should thereby bee fore-warned and fore-armed against many eminent troubles and future dangers For saith he The time is at hand that is to say some things were even then to bee fulfilled For some matters foretold in this booke did begin to bee fulfilled even presently after they were shewed unto John for the Mystery of iniquity did even then begin to worke The Church in the Apostles time had her conflictes The Tenne great persecutions began even then to bee raised up Heresies shortly after began to spring and sprout Afterwards by degrees the great Antichrist did aproach toward his cursed seat And after all this Saint John foretelleth how hee should take possession of his abhominable and most execrable seat and sea of Rome How hee should raigne and rule for a time as the Monarchy of the world How hee should prevaile against the Church and make warre against the Saints How he should raigne but a short time and afterward come tumbling downe as fast as ever he rose up and decrease as fast as ever he increased Therefore Blessed is he saith S. John that diligently readeth and peruseth this booke that thereby he may foresee all these things and be armed against them For as the heathen man saith Levius laedit quicquid previderis ante Foreseeing dangers doe least hurt Now to apply all this to our times I say they are twice happy that are studious and painefull in searching out the true sense and meaning of this Prophesie that thereby they may be strengthned against all the assaults of the Papists our professed enemies and the enemies of Gods Church and sticke fast to the everlasting truth of God knowing for a certainty that the sonnes of Belial shall not long prevaile Apo. 9.11 The date of their raigne is almost out and the time draweth on apace wherein both they and their King Abbadon shall bee laid in the dust But I will now proceed to a new reason to prove that this Booke of the Revelation ought not to be concealed but openly preached and published to the whole Church of God in this age My reason is taken out of the 22. Chapter of this Booke verse 10. in these words Seale not the words of the Prophesie of this Booke for the time is at hand Here is a flat commandement from God that this Booke and Doctrine of it may not bee sealed up that is to say kept close from the knowledge of Gods people but it must lie alwaies unsealed that all men may open it reade it and see what is in it for it is a borrowed speech taken from sealing of Letters For we all know that wooing Letters are sealed none may open them or reade them but onely those whom it doth concerne but if they bee of purpose left unsealed then any man may reade them without danger So the Lord willeth and commandeth that this Booke of the Revelation should of purpose bee left unsealed that all the people of God might reade it study it and know it If any man doubt whether the Metaphor of sealing be thus taken in the Scripture let him reade the places quoted in the Margent and in all those places hee shall finde it taken in this sense Whereby it doth evidently appeare that the mind and meaning of God is that this Booke should bee proclaimed and published in all the Churches And upon this ground Esa 29.11 Dan. 1â— 9 Apoc 4 1. Apo. 10.4 I hold that every Minister of the Gospell standeth bound as much as in him lyeth to
of Prophets in whom the will of God and all the counsels of the Father are revealed unto us The manner of Johns calling to receive this Prophesie is set downe in these words I John even your brother Ver. 9 10 11. and companion in tribulation and in the Kingdome and patience of Jesus Christ was in the I le of Pathmos for the Word of God and for the witnessing of Jesus Christ And I was ravished in the Spirit on the Lords day and heard behinde me a great voice as it had beene of a Trumpet saying I am Alpha and Omega that first and that last and that which thou seest write in a booke and send it unto the seven Churches which are in Asia c. Now out of these three verses five things are to be observed First that John is commanded by the voyce of Christ which he heard behinde him as loud as a Trumpet to write and record the visions which he saw being so writen and recorded to commend them to all the Churches for the common benefit and use thereof So that herein John doth nothing of himselfe nothing of his owne braine but all things by speciall warrant and authority from Jesus Christ and that Alpha and Omega which doth call him and authorize him to this great businesse which now he is set about Secondly Johns ravishment in spirit to the end he might be made more capable of all these heavenly visions which were shewed unto him Thirdly his great humiliation whereby also he was fitted to receive and understand these great mysteries For God will guide the meeke in judgement and teach the humble his wayes Psal 25. yea his secrets are with them that feare him Therefore although John was a great Apostle and hath seene wonderfull visions yet he is not thereby puft up with pride and conceit of himselfe but in the greatest humiliation of his soule calleth himselfe a brother and companion of all the faithfull Ver. 9. but specially of such as patiently suffer for Iesus Christ and his Kingdome Fourthly the time when Iohn was called which was the Lords day Fiftly and lastly the place where he was called which was the I le of Pathmos as formerly hath been shewed The description of Christ the Person that called Iohn to this new office is set downe in the next five Verses following wherein the excellent glory of Christs Person is described First Ver. 13 14 15 16. from the place where Christ did appeare unto him Secondly from the severall parts and members of his royall Person Thirdly from his provident care over his true Ministers and all his faithfull people Touching the place where Christ in a vision did appeare to Iohn he saith it was in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes For saith hee I turned backe to see the voice that spake with me and when I was turned I saw seven golden Candlestickes and in the middest of the seven Candlestickes one like the Sonne of man c. The seven golden Candlesticks are interpreted by Christ himselfe in the last Verse of the Chapter to be the seven Churches The Churches are said to be of gold because Christ delighteth in them as we doe in gold he valueth every true member thereof as we doe gold for every beleever is all glorious within every true Christian is very faire and beautifull every regenerate man is as gold even as most pure gold It is said afterward that Christ walketh in the middest of the seven golden Candlestickes Ver. 11.13 that is Hee is alwayes present with His Church to feed it governe it defend it and comfort it The Prophet saith that Christ hath seven eyes which goe through the whole world whereby is signified his watchfull providence for his Church for he is alwayes looking out for the good of it to defend and protect it against all adversary power Which thing was figured in the Rammes skins wherewithall the Arke was covered to defend it against all violence of winde and weather Even so the mercifull protection of Christ as it were the continall covering of his Church As touching the parts and members of his royall Person he is described of his head and haire of his face of his eyes of his voyce of his feet of his garments and of his girdle As concerning his head and haire they are said to be as white as wooll and in snow which signifieth his great wisdome and knowledge to performe all things in his Church for wisdome and knowledge for the most part doe accompany white heads and gray haires His face shineth as the Sun in his strength Which signifieth that Christ is the same to his Church that the Sunne is to the World For as the Sun lightneth the whole World with his brightnesse so Christ with the brightnesse of his face enlightneth his whole Church His eyes are like a flame of fire that is exceeding bright and piercing into all places yea the very heart of men for nothing is hid from his sight with whom we have to doe Hee hath Eagles eyes to foresee all dangers intended and plotted against his Church that he may in due time prevent them His voyce is compared to the sound of many waters because it should sound throughout all the World by the preaching of the Gospell Waters is expounded Chapter 17. verse 15. of multitudes nations and tongues Christs voyce therefore is like many Waters because his voice should goe through many Countries and Kingdomes His feet are compared to fine brasse to signifie both the perfection of all his wayes and also his mighty power to tread downe all his enemies He is clothed with a garment downe to the ground to signifie that hee walked as King and Priest in the midst of the 7. golden Candlesticks For Kings and Priest in old time did weare long garments especially in the execution of their offices He is girded about the paps with a golden girdle For as Kings and Priests did gird their garments close unto them lest otherwise they might be hindred in the execution of their offices so Christ girdeth himselfe close to his businesse for he is no idle beholder of the state of his Church but one that continually worketh out the good thereof Concerning his provident care over his faithfull Ministers he is said to carry them in his right hand for he had in his right hand seven starres Ver. 16. Ver. 10. that is the Ministers of the Churches As Christ saith The seven starres are the Angels that is the Ministers of the seven Churches Ministers are compared to Starres because they should shine as bright Starres in this darke world both by life and doctrine Christ is said to hold them in his right hand because he alwayes defended them against the malice and fury of the World which of all others is most outragiously bent against them and their favorites But let men take heed of over-bold presuming to pull the Stars out of Christs right
matters John did very intentively fixe his eies upon the Lambe being now about to open and unclaspe the first Seale of the booke and all on the sudden he was admonished and stirred up by one of â—he Cherubins that he should draw neere and come up and take knowledge of these great â—nd important matters which were now to be revealed unto him And to the end that he might be throughly awaked and stirred up to attention in so waighty matters it is sayd that the voice of the Angell which spake unto him was like the voice of a thunder So that thereby Iohn was throughly rouzed fitted and prepared to receive these heavenly visions verse 2. Therefore I beheld and loe there was a white horse and hee that sate on him had a bowe and a Crowne was given unto him and he went forth conquering that he might overcome Iohn keeping his eye steady upon the Lambe having now opened the first seale doth in a vision see a white horse c. By this white Horse is meant the Ministery of the Word of God and the first preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles and the successors in the Primitive Church The white horse is taken in this sense in the nineteenth Chapter of this Prophesie where our Lord Jesus being upon this white Horse beateth downe all his enemies before him For who is able to resist his word and the ministery of it In the first Chapter of the Prophesie of Zachary our Lord Jesus purposing to build up his Church being in a very ruinous estate after the captivity is brought in by the Prophet on horse-backe both for the reedifying of his Church and also for the punishment of the Babilonians his enemies and the enemies of his people In the 45. Psalme the Church the Spouse saith thus to her beloved Husband Christ Gird thy sword upon thy thigh Psal 45. O thou mighty one the sword of thy glory and comely beauty and with thy comely beauty ride on prosperously for the businesse of truth and of meek righteousnesse c. Now in all these places of the Scripture we do plainely see that when Christ goeth about either to preach his Gospell or build up his Church or to be revenged on the enemies thereof he is brought in on horsebacke And this doth strongly confirme and warrant this exposition seeing it is not any imagined sense or new device of mans braine but such a sense as other places of Scripture will very fully beare out Moreover if we do seriously consider and deepely weigh the purpose and intendment of the holy Ghost in all this it will not a little helpe and further this exposition For the chiefe scope and drift of all is to describe the state of the Church from the Apostles time to the end of the World For this Prophesie serveth to shew unto John the things that must shortly come to passe Now we all know by blessed experience that the first estate of the Church did consist in the preaching of the Gospell by Christ and his Apostles and therefore this must needs be understood of that time and estate of the Church For Jesus Christ is he that sitteth upon this white horse that is by the Ministery of his Gospell he conquereth and subdueth the Nations under him There may be three reasons alledged why this Horse is sayd to be of a white colour First because the Doctrine of the Gospell which was preached by Christ and his Apostles was pure and sincere being without all spots and blots of errour and heresie For the white colour in the Scripture doth signifie purity sincerity innocency joy glory and beauty Secondly because the doctrine of Christ and his Apostles was full of joy and comfort As it is sayd of Samaria after Philip had set the Gospell abroach there that there was great joy in that City Thirdly because the Ministery of Christ and his Apostles was very glorious and beautifull as it written How beautifull are the feet of them which bring the glad tydings of peace c. And againe with thy comely beauty ride on prosperously Psal 45. for the businesse of truth c. If any man demand a reason of Christs sitting on horse-backe and riding forth on horse-backe I answer that it doth fitly represent that marvellous swiftnesse wherewith the light of the Gospell should be carried and spred not only throughout all Judea Samaria and Galile but also throughout all the Kingdomes of the world For it is not a wonder to consider how swiftly and as it were on horse-backe and also how far over the heathen nations within a few yeares after Christs ascension the doctrine of the Gospell was preached and of multitudes imbraced He rode forth indeed prosperously and swiftly upon this white Horse even the Ministery of the Gospell for the businesse of truth and of meeke righteousnesse and his right hand wrought fearfull things as saith the Psalmist Moreover it is here said that Jesus Christ hath a bow in his hand And in the 25. Psal from whence it seemeth all these phrases and speeches are borrowed he is said to have sharpe arrowes in his hand whereby he pierceth the heart of his enemies Now his bowe and arrowes do signifie the piercing power of the Gospell whereby the World hath been subdued unto Christ For all the arrowes of the Gospell which Christ shooteth out of his bowe which is even the tongue of his Ministers do stick in the hearts of men yea they pierce into all the secret places of the soule For the Ministery of the Gospell is lively and mighty in operation sharper then any two-edged sword and entreth through Heb. 4. even unto the dividing asunder of the soule and the spirit of the joynts and the marrow and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart Heere is yet further mention made of a Crowne which was given unto Christ and that he went forth conquering that hee might overcome This Crowne signifieth the victory which he getteth over the World with his bow and arrowes For the Psalmist saith By thy sharp arrowes in the hearts of the Kings enemies thâ— people shall fall vnder thee We reade in the second of the Acts of the Apostles that 3000. of the Kings enemies were at once shot thorow with this bowe and these arrowes and did fall under him We read of many other at other times and in other places For the Apostle saith plainly 2. Cor. 10. that the weapons of our warrefare are not carnall but spirituall mighty through God to cast downe holds casting downe the imaginations and every high thing that is exalted against the knowledge of God and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ Thus we see how Christ and his Apostles and all their true successors riding upon this white Horse which is the Ministry of the Gospell have gon over all the world conquering and overcomming I am not ignorant that some do
might is Christ as appeareth by the description of him and by all the consequents following Mat. 24. for he is said to be cloathed with a Cloud which signifieth his great glory and Majesty For he shall come in the clouds of heaven to judge the world that is with great pomp and glory The Raine-bow was upon his head which signifieth the covenant of peace with his Church as before Chap. 4. verse 3. His face was as the Sunne which signifieth comfort and deliverance to his Church and the dispelling of all the smoake of the bottomlesse Pit as the Sunne Scattereth and driveth away the thick mists His feete are pillers of brasse which signifieth that he should tread downe all his enemies under his feet 1 Cor. 19. both Pope and Turke For he must raigne till he have destroyed them all The Pope along time kept all the Kings of Europe in awe The Locusts were of great power The Turkes prevailed exceedingly But what are they all to this mightie and glorious Angell Christ What is their power to withstand him What can Abaddon the King of the Locusts do against this mighty King of Sion What can the Turkes most terrible Horses and Horse-men doe against this Angell which sitteth upon the white Horse Alas alas they are able to do nothing They must all be trodden down under his feet of brasse ver 2. And he had in his hand a little book open and He put his right foot upon the Sea and his left upon the earth This little Booke signifieth the Bible It is called little in respect of the great and huge volumes of Popish bookes though in it selfe it be large It is sayd to be open that all men might looke into it because it had been shut a long time before even during all the time of the darkning of the Sunne and Aire by the smoke which came out of the bottomlesse pit But although it was long shut up in the time of Popery and lay buried in a strange tongue yet now it is opened and publikely preached unto all the servants of God And all this no doubt is to be understood of Luthers time and all the times ever since the Gospell was spread abroad after the great darkenesse For some hundred yeares agoe it was hard to finde an English Bible but now God be thanked there are thousands to be found in the hands of Gods people And therefore the things here Prophesied of are fulfilled in our daies for we live under the opening of the seaventh Seale and the blowing of the sixth Trumpet and the powring foorth of the sixth Viall as here doth partly appeare and shall God willing bee made more manifest when we come to the sixteenth Chapter Now we are diligently to obserue that as the opening of this Booke and the preaching of the Gospell by Luther and his successors hath dispersed the former darknesse and beaten down Popery so also hath it driven backe the Turke and taken from us all feare of him which in former ages was the terrour of the World for since men have looked into this book repented of their Idolatry and turned unto God with all their hearts the Turke and his power hath not been feared especially in these parts where the Gospell is preached For God in his mercifull providence towards his Church hath diverted his power another way and set him a worke else where So that if men cannot be brought to beleeve that God raised him up as a scourge for Idolaters and a plague for Idolatrie and other soule sinnes according to the words in the former Chap. where it is said They repented not of the workes of their hands c. yet when they see that at the opening of the Booke of God and forsaking Idolatry the feare of him is removed let them beleeve it What can be more plaine than that this open Booke in the hand of the Angell hath delivered us from the Pope and from the Turke A most happy opening of this blessed booke More it is said that he put his right foot upon the Sea and his left on the Earth The setting of Christs right foot upon the Sea signifieth that he is ruler of the Sea and standeth as firmely upon the Sea as upon the Land The setting of his left foot upon the Earth doth signifie that he is Lord of the Earth and true heire to all things in it And cryed with a loud voice verse 3. as when a Lion roareth and when he had cryed seven thunders utterd their voyces This crying with a loud voice like the roaring of a Lion doth signifie the manifestation of the wrath of Christ against all his enemies for now he beginneth to roare against them as a Lion when he is hungry roareth for his prey Therefore now both the Scorpion Locusts and the fierce Horses and horsmen are like to goe to the pot By the seven thunders which uttered their voyces is meant those perfect and exquisite judgements which now were to be inflicted both upon the Kingdome of the Pope and the Turke We have heard before that seven is a perfect number in this book and that thunder is put for the thundring of Gods wrath and all such broiles and plagues as follow thereupon and this is the reason of this interpretation verse 4. And when the seven thunders had uttered their voyces I was about to write but I heard a voice from Heaven saying unto me Seale up these things which the seven thunders have spoken and write them not It should seeme these seven thunders did so speake as they might be understood for John was about to write the things which they spake thinking that they were uttered for that end and purpose that he should deliver them in writing to the Churches But he receiveth a commandement to the contrary for he is willed not to write them but to conceale them untill the appointed time But some man may say Why were they uttered seeing they must be concealed and kepâ— close I answer it was not in vaine for first though the particulars be not expressed what the thunders speake yet here we are taught that there remaine most fearfull Judgements against all the oppressors of the Church which Christ hath thundred out with terrour against them And when the time determined is come they shall be seene and understood but in the meane time they be sealed up and kept close according to that of Job Why should not the times be hid of the Almighty so as they which know him should not perceive the times appointed of him and that of Daniel These things are Sealed up untill the time determined And the Angell which I saw stand upon the sea and upon the earth lifted up his hand to heaven verse 5. And sware by him that liveth for evermore ver 6. which created heaven and the things that therein are and the earth and the things that therein are and the sea and the things that
as it were a little before the blowing of the seventh trumpet which presently hereupon is sounded as in the next verses appeareth many should repent and give glory to God The second woe is past behold Vers 14 15. the third woe will come anon And the seventh Angel blew the trumpet and there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and he shall reigne for evermore Now cometh the third the last and the greatest woe which is the woe of eternall death upon all the ungodly both in their soules and bodies for ever in the last judgment The second woe was Turcisme and this third wo is the last judgment For it now followeth that the seventh Angel bloweth the last trumpet as our Lord Jesus sware before that when the seventh Angel should blow the trumpet there would be no more time Chap. 10.6 Therefore when we see all things fulfilled which do belong unto the sixth trumpet it remaineth that we should every hour expect and look for the blowing of the seventh trumpet and the end of the world For the holy Ghost telleth us that when the kingdome of the Pope and the Turke shall fall and the Gospel be preached in many nations and kingdomes that then the third woe will come anon that is the last judgment followeth presently upon it Now at the blowing of this seventh trumpet there were great voyces in heaven saying The kingdomes of this world are our Lords and his Christs and hee shall reigne for evermore These voyces in heaven are triumphing voyces of Gods elect who doe exceedingly rejoyce and triumph that the kingdome of Satan and Antichrist is overthrown and that the kingdome of God and of Christ is set up and shall stand for evermore For now all adversary power being overthrown Christ doth deliver up a peaceable kingdom to his Father as it is written Then shall be the end 1 Cor. 1.15 24. when he hath delivered up his peaceable kingdome to God the Father For hee must reigne over the Church militant till he have trod downe all his enemies under his feet and when the Son of God hath subdued all things to himselfe then shall hee be subject to his Father as hee is the Mediator of the Church and yet reign with his Church triumphant for evermore Then the four and twenty elders which sate before God on their seates fell upon their faces Verse 16. and worshipped God Saying Wee give thee thankes Verse 17. O Lord God Almighty which art which wast and which art to come for thou hast received thy great might and hast obtained thy kingdome These four and twenty elders do signifie all the elect both of Jewes and Gentiles Chapt. 4. as wee have heard before which all in most suppliant manner doe worship the onely everlasting God even in the Church triumphant and doe greatly rejoyce and give all praise and glory unto him because now he hath received the kingdome the power and the glory both Pope and Turk and Emperor and all his enemies being subdued under his feet Verse 18. And the Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets and to the saints and to them that fear thy name and to small and great and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth Now he mentioneth the wrath and vengeance which is to be powred forth upon all the wicked at the last day and also the reward of the godly For whereas he saith The Gentiles were angry and thy wrath is come and the time of the dead that they should be judged the sense and meaning is that all the profane enemies of the Church which had their time in which they were angry with Gods people and in their wrath did afflict and vexe them very sore should now be judged and condemned in Gods wrath for now the day of his wrath and vengeance is come wherein hee will destroy them that destroyed the earth and seemed to carry all before them and where also he will give a full recompence of reward to all his faithfull worshippers both small and great both preachers and professors of his Gospel Then the Temple of God was opened in heaven Verse 19. and there was seen in the Temple the ark of his covenant and there were lightnings and voyces and thundrings and earth-quakes and much haile This is a further amplification of that which is set down in this former verse For now hee saith that the Temple of God should be opened in heaven that is an open door and passage should be made through Christ for all the elect to enter into Gods everlasting kingdome and reigne with him and his Angels for evermore By the arke of the Covenant is meant Christ who is said here to be seen in the Temple or kingdome of glory because through his mediation onely in whom the covenant of peace is established with his Church the twenty four elders are made partakers of their crownes and enter in with him and his Angels into the everlasting Temple made without hands and eternall in the heavens But on the contrary here is said that there were lightnings thundrings c. that is most horrible vengeance and wrath powred down upon all reprobates in hell-fire for evermore For when it shall be said to all the faithfull Come yee blessed c. then also shall it be said unto all unbeleevers Goe ye cursed into hell-fire c. Now for warrant of this exposition of the last verse that the Temple in heaven is to be understood of the kingdome of glory look chapter 15. verse 5 6 8. chapt 16. verse 1. The reason hereof is that as the doors of the Temple of Jerusalem being set open Gods people entred in and worshipped so the everlasting gates of the new Jerusalem and celestiall Temple being set open by Christ all the elect do enter in and worship God without wearinesse even as the Angels for evermore That the ark of the covenant is taken for Christ see 2 Sam. 6.2 Psal 78. vers 61 62. This ark of the covenant that is Christ is here seen in the Temple because Christ hath already taken possession of heaven as Mediator and Head of the Church and now doth set open the kingdome of heaven to all beleevers that through him they may have free accesse thereunto as it is written that through him onely we have an entrance unto the Father Eph. 2.28 That by thundrings lightnings earthquakes hail is meant that horrible vengeance and wrath which is powred forth upon all the ungodly see Psal 11. verse 6. Let this briefly suffice to satisfie the conscience of the reader And thus much concerning the second vision contained in these eight chapters going before wherein we have heard all things expounded that doe belong unto the opening of the seven seales and
in the earth when they overcome the world by faith and subdue Satan and sin by the power of grace Now where it is said that John saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus c. It is to be understood of those which in the time of the persecuting Empire and growing of the Papacie were slaine for the truth For the second beast which is the dominion of Popes reigned not in those thousand yeers in the which Satan was bound but yet did grow by degrees towards their height and used great tyranny against the servants of God before Satans full loosing The Chiliasts or Millinaries doe fondly gather from this Scripture that after the overthow of Antichrist the Lord Jesus would come and reigne with the faithfull here a thousand yeers upon the earth and that in this time that Christ did so reigne as a great and glorious King upon the earth his subjects should enjoy all maner of earthly pleasures and delights This foolish error is confuted by the words that follow in the text as wee shall see afterwards Whereas hee saith The rest of the dead shall not live again It is to be understood of such as were spiritually dead that is such as despised the Gospel which was preached those thousand yeers and were not thereby revived and quickned unto eternall life but did still remain as men dead in sinnes and trespasses Therefore the meaning of Saint John is that as in the thousand yeers many that heard Christ and his Apostles and their successors were raised up from the death of sin to the life of righteousnesse so many others were not quickened by their doctrine but still dwelt in their sinnes whom hee calleth the rest of the dead and hee saith These shall not live again meaning the life of God or the life of grace And whereas he addeth untill the thousand yeeres be finished hee meaneth never or not at all for so the word untill is often taken in the Scriptures and it is sure that after the expiration of the thousand yeers they did not live the life of God and the life of the Spirit For then the Divell was let loose upon the world to work his pleasure and to seduce with all efficacy of error and iniquity Whereas it is said This is the first resurrection hee meaneth the rising from sin to the life of righteousnesse which was in the thousand yeeres of the Gospels preaching and therefore he addeth that he is blessed that hath part in the first resurrection c. and saith that all such shall reigne with Christ a thousand yeers Which is meant of the reigne of the faithfull even upon earth for the space of the thousand yeers in which Satan was bound but yet excludeth not their eternall glory in the heavens And when the thousand yeers are expired Vers 7.8 Satan shall be loosed out of his prison And shall goe out to deceive the people which are in the foure corners of the earth even Gog and Magog to gather them together to battell whose number is as the sand of the sea Verse 9. And they went up unto the plain of the earth and they compassed the tents of the Saints about and the beloved city But fire came downe from God out of heaven and devoured them Now Saint John telleth us that after the determination of a thousand yeares Satan shall be let loose upon the world for their unthankfullnesse and contempt of the Gospel to seduce and deceive even as much as ever he did No marvaile therefore that the two great and monstrous Heresies of Popery and Mahometry did now begin mightily to grow and increase in the world For what other thing can be looked for after this setting loose of Satan But we are to observe that as Satan was bound by degrees through the Ministry of Christ and his Apostles and in their immediate successors so also he was loosed by degrees by the prevailing of Heresies till the great Antichrist was hatched and brought into the possession of his cursed Chaire For Satan was not fully loosed till the yeare of our Lord 998. At what time Silvester the second came to be Pope who was in league with the Divell Stories doe report that at his death he called for the Cardinals and confessed that hee had familiarity with the Divell and how hee had given himself unto him body and soule so that he might come to the Papall dignity After him succeeded sundry other Popes which were notorious monsters some of them murtherers some poysoners some sorcerers some conjurers by whom the Divell was fully loosed all light of the Gospel and â—rue religion being in a manner cleane put out and most abominable idolatry and all manner of villany spreading over the face of the earth and hereof Saint John saith that Satan being fully loosed hee went forth to deceive the people which were in the foure corners of the â—arth even Gog and Magog c. This seducing by Satan here spoken of is the same with â—hat which is spoken chap. 13. onely this exâ—epted that this of Gog and Magog is more generall Wee read there how all nations â—indreds and tongues were made to worship â—he image of the beast and to receive his mark but that is to be extended no further â—hen to those kingdoms which were subject â—o the Papacy But here by these armies of Gog and Maâ—og are understood all the chiefe enemies â—f the Church in these last dayes since the loosing of Satan both open and secret both Turk and Pope for the Turk is an open enemy the Pope a more close enemy Gog signifieth covered Magog uncovered whereby is noted the Turk For the Pope cometh covered under the name of Christ and Christs Vicar Peters successor c. But the Turk cometh uncovered for hee openly denyeth and impugneth Christ Moreover the names of Gog and Magog are here set downe to note of what countries these chiefe enemies should spring to wit out of Scythia Syria Arabia Italy and Spaine for Magog was the son of Japheth Gen. 10. ver 2. of whom came the Scythians Gog was the name of a great Captaine in the lesser Asia which built a city and named it after his own name Gogkartah that is the city of Gog and it is put in the Prophecie of Ezekiel for the whole region of the lesser Asia and Syria whereby the Prophet did fore-tell that the great enemies of the Church should arise out of those coasts And in very truth they did for out of Egypt Scythia Syria and the lesser Asia did spring up Ptolomeus Seleucus Antigonus Cassander and the rest of Alexanders successors which vexed and oppressed the Jewes by the space of 294. yeers even untill the coming of the Messias at what time the divided Greek Empire was overthrown and translated to the Romans Furthermore it is to be noted that the Prophet Ezekiel saith That Gog is the chiefe Prince of Mesech and Tubal By