this is that prerogatiue which the Lambe hath the third point which I shewed was to bee obserued in the Elder his information in these words Hee hath obtained c. And great reason is there why his slaughter should bee of such merite For the onely begotten sonne of God died and none tooke his life from him but hee willingly gaue it as who had power to lay it downe and take it againe The effect and fruit of his slaughter is our Redemption which is amplified first by that which buying implyeth albeit not put here expresly that is our wretched state from which hee redeemed vs for Redemption of necessity presumeth bondage and miserable was our bondage Secondly to whom wee are redeemed to God Thirdly by what price neither gold nor siluer nor any corruptible thing no bloud of Goates or Bullockes but by his owne that is God his bloud Fourthly is the large extension of his benefit euen to all peoples kindreds tongues and nations not as that of the Paschall Lambe in Egypt to Israel onelie Neither thus for that all of all peoples c find the fruit but the elected of all Therefore it is said thou hast redeemed vs out of all c. The fift and last point amplyfying the effect of the slaughter is to what condition estate wee are redeemed euen to be Kings and Priests to raigne euen here vpon earth where we haue the kingdome of grace vnder hope of that of glory Now by all these consider if his slaughter be not of great worth why hee onely should obtaine to take the booke c. and therefore alone to haue the praise of it In all this song and tenor of it are diuers infallible Arguments that these foure beasts bee no Angels but Saints redeemed as this whole type is euidently of the Church militant and not of any state in heauen 7 Thus was the song of the foure beasts and twenty foure Elders the Angels in course sing the next part in whom are notable three things Their place their number and their song Their place is about the throne beasts and elders for two respects one of protection and defence The Angels of the Lord pitch round about them who feare him as ministring Spirits for the good of the Elect. The other respect is in the Church and by the Church to behold and learne the manifold wisdome of God For they desire to looke in these thinges And this is one maine point of the mysterie of godlines that God in the flesh is seene of Angels To whome the Church for God his wonderfull dispensation in and towards her is the clearest looking glasse of God his infinite wisdome Whereupon that reason is brought by Paul for women their modest carriage in the church For the Angels This should much stirre vs to a carefull beholding of that whereby euen the Angels are made wise and to a deepe consideration of our dignity and care of our wayes whom God hath made looking Glasses to the Angels Their number first is set downe indefinite in the word many Next in a definite but huge number to shew innumerable Angels and God the onely Lord of hostes all set for defence of his Church for both their place and number consider the story of Elisha and his seruant In their Song is shewed their earnest affection to the Lambes praise as which they sing with a loud voice Next is the Lambe his worthinesse to receiue all praise whereof they giue him seuen points as he hath seuen horns and eyes First power or authority for hee hath all in heauen and earth With authority are requisite riches These hee hath as who is abundantly rich towards all that beleeue is the riches of God in vs and onely hath gold tried by fire to enrich the poore Now authority and riches without wisdome are but the weapons of mischiefe in the hands of a foole But hee hath also all wisdome with wisdome strength so as nothing is lacking to him or can let him to performe what him pleaseth therefore of all to bee honoured in all things to haue the glory of all things to report the praise Next to the Angels all Creatures sing their part of whom a perfect enumeration is put as verse 3. and in their song they affirme what the Angels had sung before them This they haue singular that to the Lambe they ioyne him who sitteth on the throne to shew that they are one and their praise one That singing of praise is attributed to vnreasonable and insensible Creatures it is the ordinarie frame of Scripture speech to shew that all things in their owne kind praise God and that not onely for that the glory of God Creator and Administrator of all is in them set forth but also for that after a sort they reioice for the redemption of the sonnes of God hoping therby to bee freede from the vanity whereto they are subiect through the sin of man and vnder which they groan together with vs. The last passage is sung by these who first raised the song wherin as the angels ioined him who sitteth on the throâ—e with the Lambe so these to shew the vnity and that in praising both they praise but that one eternall liuing God they giue all praise to him who liueth for euermore Now in this course and order of singing wee haue to obserue that as the benâ—fite belongeth first and properly to the beasts and elders that is the Church so they beginne the song The Angels who gather matter of praise out of beholding the church succeed in singing Hereupon all Creatures in their kind reioyce for certainely this type hath a true relation the Church lastly closeth the song to shew that as from them it ought to be ginne whereby all the rest may magnifie God so the singing of the rest should serue the Church for a new vpstirring to insist in his praise And truely it is a great shame that all both Angels and other Creatures should ioy at our good and wee remaine senselesse and that the very senslesse creatures should groane vnder the burden of our sinne longing for our full redemption and wee bee nothing moued And a huge sinne is it in place of raising the song of God his praise and stirring all both Angels and other Creatures to the same duty when we marre all that heauenly melody grieue the good spirit of God contrist the Angels who ioy at the conuersion of one sinner and in place of gladnesse make all both senselesse and sâ—ikelesse Creatures to groane for griefe of ingratitude CHAP. VI. THe generall introduction was in the two preceding Chapters hence is the story of speciall euents prophetically foretold and that by proponing the same vnder goodly and conuenient types of all which as they are closed vp from the knowledge of all creatures the sealed book in the right hand of God was the type like as the reuelation
for discerning the kingdome fiue hauing ere then fallen and two not as yet risen The second beast is put onely for cleare explication of the condition nature quality and working of this last head considered a part and by it selfe and how this great worke of quickning that mortally wounded kingdome or beast is wrought by it so as vnder it the Beastreuiueth and now howsoeuer for discerning the kingdome all the heads be mentioned commeth only to bee considered in that state and respect in which for great diuersity from the former condition before the wound yea and before the the cure this head is in a sort a different beast as hauing this singular in shape that it is like the Lambe in working that it doth by signes and wonders in condition that the beast vnder it is rather an image of the former then the same and yet a liuely image therefore called the eight head and one of the seuen In which respect but seuen heads are attributed to the beast albeit in number there be eight That the first riseth out of the sea and the second out of the earth it is but to note the different manner of rising of the last head and state vnder it from the rising of the Beast in all his former conditions and heades They both in their distinct manner of rising haue this common that they are from below For albeit the earth and sea in degree of account with other creatures as the fountaines sunne moone starres Chap. 9. and. 16. according to the effects wrought in them and that wherof they in these degrees are the types are to bee taken so as agreeth with the course of the mystery as in these places is declared Yet when Sea and Earth are set in opposition to heauen as heer and Chapter 10. when the Angell descending from heauen for ouerthrow of this beast setteth his feet on the sea and earth whence in distinct consideration the beast ariseth And Chapter 12. reioyce O heauens woe to the Inhabitants of sea and earth then things arising from sea and earth must bee taken as Christ speaketh to the Iewes Yee are from below I am from aboue And euen the foure beasts in Daniel whose whole ferity cruelty fraud and destroying power is in this one whom in the beginning of his seuenth Chapter hee seeth rise out of the sea are said in that same chapter verse 17. to arise out of the earth as all one thing except that as the earth sheweth the origine to be earthly and from below so the sea sheweth their rising to bee of the troubles tossings and alterations of the earth whose commotions are compared to the stormy sea and according to this to shew the peaceable and calme estate of the Church vpon vtter destruction of this Beast it is saide Chapter 21. that there was no more sea Then this second Beast is said to rise out of the earth not onely for that it was from below for so is the whole beast first last throught the star falling from the heauen chap. 9 But because this last head howsoeuer the beast or kingdome of Rome considered absolutely riseth out of the sea in the particular consideration thereof by it selfe and apart arose in a farre different manner from all the former which all arose by great commotions and sensible alterations but this last head arose slily subtlely and almost insensibly by slow degrees as things that grow through the earth and so became head of that Kingdome which vnder it is the beast going to destruction See Steuchus against Valla. Paulatim imperare incipiebat religio habenas imperij caperâ— ius suum acquirere nihil subitum nihil tumultuarium Where the second beast is said to worke before the first beast it is not to bee taken for impudent or violent vsurpation but according to the Phrase of Scripture as Iohn Baptist to goe before Christ And this is onely for clearenesse of explication of him and his manner who maketh the Image as trauelling with all sedulous endeauour by lying signes to conciliate authority honour and submission to that state vnder himselfe as head thereof Neither hereupon must wee thinke the second beast working to bee an other from him before whom hee worketh except so farre as the spirit so will distinguish betwixt the Kingdome wholly and absolutely and this last head peculiarly considered in comparison to the former and as after a deadly wound hee quickneth so that state again as hee procureth to it worship of Nations In one word the first beast is the Kingdom of Rome vnder the Pontificality the second beast is the Pontificality wonderfully quickning the wounded beast to that estate therfore Chapter 17 but one beast euen this first is put and called the eighth head so euidently telling vs that both are one and the same except in consideration as I haue said According to this it is that hereafter the beast is distinguished from the false Prophet not that they are two as many fondly imagine but onely to take vp so the State and Kingdome as the false Prophet is heade therof so the false Prophet as he is head of that state See vpon Chapter 17. Sect. 11. 18. and 19. Sect. 27. These two beasts then are to expresse one and the same state euen Antichrist in his Kingdome and in himselfe head thereof both for condition and time For from the Pope his first degree of rising hee neuer got any such crossing as for which it might bee said of him that hee should abide a short space Chapter 17. For euen in the most miserable times of Rome by the Gothes hee not onely retained his old got account but was still labouring to aduance the credite of his Chaire as his supercilious dealings in these selfe times with forrain Churches sufficiently proueth And whatsoeuer hinderance bee had by Gothik tiranny from rising to the height hee after attained to it is too weake a ground to say of him that hee abode a short space thus to make him both the seuenth and eight head against cleare Text which maketh the seuenth to bee soone gone and if such had beene the meaning of the holy Ghost he might much both clearelier and easier haue called him the eight and seuenth then the eight and one of the seuen thus clearely implying which of the seuen hee meaned to wit that whose deadly wound by his arising hee cuâ—ed and made vppe thus so liuely an Image of the beast as hee may iustly therefore be counted one and the same with it that is with the sixth whome for glory account worship of Nations and Monarchike state hee resembleth liuely and the Kingdome vnder him the Kingdome then The mistaking of the seuenth head maketh all the errour and in such light of Storie agreeing fitly with this Prophesie it is wonder that all should haue erred This is certaine that Caesars are the sixth head that which then was and before which fiue Kings Consuls Dictators Decemuirs
which it is that the world feeleth all this wrath That story therefore was in the 12. 13. and thus farre in this 14. Chapters Wherein is no idle repetition of what appeareth before set downe For the consideration is much diuers in that whatsoeuer before the 12. Chapter was spoken of the enemies or their dealing was to shew how by them the world and worldly sort in God his iustice were punished The case of the Church sparingly touched so farre as might shew her to bee free from these euils euen in the midst of them which were poured on the world for her hard intertainement And what in the eleuenth Chapter seemeth wholly agreeable for time and condition with that which hithertils in this Chapter is said of the Church in her two declared states yet hath a farre distinct consideration from this In that there the witnesses first in the Temple next in their warre with the Beast slaughter rising againe going vp to heauen and terrour of their enemies thereupon with the fall in a part of the Antichristian kingdome are put as plagues on the world and men thereof whom they first plagued next tormented and vexed after terrified and in part ouerthrew For the Gospell to whom it is not the sauour of life is the greatest iudgement that commeth on the world But from the beginning of the 12. Chapter to this place the enemies are handled as by them the Church is exercised First fighting and preuailing to Satan his deiection and exaltation of the first seede Yet so as through Satan his rage but aided thereto with the two wings of that great Eagle the true Church at length fleeth to the wildernesse and there lurketh Wherethrough the Beast comming in place obtaineth and deceiueth all except these who on mount Sion inioy the presence of the Lambe Who at length by degrees breake foorth and albeis in much suffering yet still fight till at length by him who sitteth on the white cloude the iudgemeuts of God are made manifest The story of the eleuenth Chapter and of this are for time and matter the same but the consideration and respect of handling much different Which is yet for course and order in so diuine an artifice led on as heere the story falling in againe to the same point from which for inserting this narration it was since the eleuenth Chapter broken off of that which from the 15. verse of 11. the Chapter at the sound of the seuenth Trumpet was vpon preconceiued ioy denounced heere from the foureteenth verse of this Chapter to the ende the execution is summarily proponed Exceeding fitly so falling in to the large explication of the seuenth trumpet in the subsequent Chapters 11 This summary execution is declared by two comparisons One of the Haruest the other of the Vintage From Ioel 3. In both are to be considered the Actors and their actions The Haruest hath two actors and so hath the Vintage The actiōs of both Actors both in haruest vintage are that the one worketh furnished with conuenient instrument the other stirreth to the work Which in the Haruest is reaping the haruest of the earth in the Vintage the cutting downe of the Grapes casting them in the winepresse treading c. The arguments whereby the inciters stirre the executers is the readinesse of both for reaping and cutting downe Thus by similitudes familiar in the Prophets for such iudgements the destruction of the enemies of the Church is expressed who in God his wrath as an vncleane thing without the Citie are destroied with so huge a slaughter as all the earth is filled farre and deepe with their blood by Hyperbolike speech expressing the greatnesse of the plague and as to the holy City so also alluding to the Land of Canaan which is in length 160. furlongs as witnesseth Rabbi Menahen vpon Genesis fol. 60. For clearing heereof the Actors and their distinct actions must be diligently aduerted so much the more as to the obscuring of all the Prophesie this place is widely mistaken In them are to bee noted their properties their doing and their order of doing for course of time to be carefully obserued In the haruest hee that worketh being accordingly furnished with fit instrument by all hi◠notes is vndoubtedly Christ the Lord of the haruest For he is one like the sonne of man which in all this Prophesie is put but in one other place and that for Christ he fitteth as a Iudge on a white cloude both for eminency and maiesty as also by the whitenesse to shew the clearenesse purenesse of his iudgements which Now were to be made manifest Chap. 15. 4. The first flying Angell foretold that they were neere now Christ is cleerely to shew himselfe by shewing hence The signe of the sonne of Man in heauen The speech is from Isai 19. 1. Behold the Lord rideth on a swift cloude Hee hath with a sharpe sikle a crowne to shew him to be the Lord both of Haruest and Vintage For he not onely gathereth the Saints but also the Tares in bundles and treadeth the Winepresse of God his wrath and in both he conquereth ouercometh Chap. 6. The other comming out of the temple is the type of Saints faithfull ones whose habitation is in the Temple out of which they are now bold to step out and be seene and perceiuing the ripenes of the Haruest whereto it was not yet come in the fifth Seale and therefore this execution craued of them then was delaied and yet not being able in that weake estate of the Gospell reuiuing for so great a worke therefore it is that this Angell hath no sikle they beseech the Lord of the haruest to put too his hand and Haue mercy on Sion For the time to haue mercy for euen the ful time is come The haruest of the earth is ripe and the rest of the Saints slaine Neither is this thus expressed as if euen then or at any time Christ did not worke by instruments but to shew the beginnings such as in respect of the greatnesse of the worke and little humane aide it was in a sort Christ his owne arme which helped him But in processe of time by the powerfull progresse of the Gospell hee getteth to himselfe ministers of executing his wrath euen out of the Temple furnished with conuenient weapons And to expresse this in the Vintage the Actor commeth out of the Temple hauing a sharpe sikle as Christ betime got himselfe and daily raiseth of his owne faithfull ones fit instruments inabled and furnished with power to execute his iust iudgements against the enemies To doe to her as shee hath done to vs and to render her double For this it is that this second Actor hath these different notes from the first He sitteth not he is not crowned and he commeth out of the Temple So then this Angell is the generall type in this summary proposition of that same whereof the seuen Angels are in the
image of the Beast 18 The third proper note and token is this Beast goeth to destruction For vnder this last head that state and Kingdome must be vndone for euer and shall not bee as in the fall of the former heads when in the next succeeding it held place but this head shall so fall as with him he shall draw that state to eternall ruine In which respect it is said Chapter 19. that the Beast and false Prophet are both taken and cast into the fire Thus for a most cleare opening of all this Prophesie the Holy Ghost heere in this Chapter hath ioined the Beast Head and Whoore and exponed so euidently in a huge wisdome To make vs see that what Chapter 13. hee spake of two beasts what through the booke hee speaketh distinctly of the Beast and the VVhoore Babylon of the Beast and false Prophet is all but for cleare explication of Antichrist VVhat a King hee is of what Kingdome of what time and manner of working cleering the Kingdome by the head and both Kingdome and head by the head City of their power with euident and infallible notes to take vp the right time and condition of all So as the Romans mocking our incertainety as they thinke whether the Beast the VVhoore or the falfe Prophet bee Antichrist bewray but their owne ignorance or malice or both For the Beast is Antichrist but so and then as and when the head is a false Prophet vnder presence of the Lambe his power making Rome the VVhoore and bewitcher of the world In which respect the false Prophet is the Beast the eight head and one of the seuen And thus the Beast is onelie Antichrist as the Beast is the eight head euen the false Prophet And the false Prophet is Antichrist but as he is the Beast that is head of the kingdome of Rome And Rome is the VVhore but as she is borne vp by this Beast the false Prophet How plainely the holy Ghost telleth this take vp in this argument 19 That soueraigne policy ruling in and ouer the City situated one seuen hils and in Iohn his daies bearing rule ouer Nations which in number and order is the eighth head or soueraigne policie after the fiue fallen before Iohn the sixth then ruling and a seuenth to come but soone to euanish which eight head recouereth to the state hee ruleth the luffâ—e estimation and subiection of Prouinces which by a deadly wound in one of the former heades it had losed thus reerecting if not the same properly yet a liuely image of the decaied state and for this respect as he is the eight in course so is hee in a sort one of the seuen heads and is peculiatlie the Beast and which soueraigne pollicie and eight head peculiarly the Beast worketh all as a Porphet and vnder pretence of Christ his power and thus induceth the Kings of the earth voluntary and with free and vnanime consent to submit their Crownes vnto him so procuring to his seat such account and credit as the whole earth drinketh her superstitious and idolarrous worship wherethrough shee becommeth a great and mother harlot And which eight soueragne policy or head shall bee the last head of that kingdome for that in the fall thereof that state shall be destroied for euer That souerainge policy oâ— head is the Antichrist 20 But the Pontificality is the soueraigne policy or head thus for place order and number in succession manner and effect of working heere peculiarly called the Beast and which as hee is from the bottomlesse pit and angell thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so he and with him that state goeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ergo c. Wee speeke not of coniecture but as it is written I beleeued and therefore I spake Wee beleeue and therefore speake 2. Cor. 4. 13. CHAP. XVIII THe great Whore was described in the former Chapter Her iudgement followeth in this shewed by three heauenly voices in each whereof the same is magnifickly amplyfied by the certainty the instant performance greatnesse and equity thereof And peculiarlie in the last by that her ruine is irreparable The first voice is to the 4. verse The second to the 21. And the third to the end 2 In the first voice are the person denouncer and the point denounced The denouncer is an Angell remarkeable for gesture and dignity His gesture is that hee commeth downe from heauen His dignity in that hee hath great authority which is cleared by the effect in that all the earth was lightened with his glorie At the second degree of the out-breake of the light of the Gospell from vnder Antichristian darkenesse Chapt. 14. an Angel denounced the same which this doth but that did flee thorow the midst of heauen that is albeit swiftlie and in the publike view of men yet the cleare perception of what he denounced was farre remoued aboue their reach the preaching of the Gospell not hauing then for cleare euidence the authority which since it hath and daily more and more shall obtaine through the Angel no more fleeing farre aboue as these Chap. 14. in the reuerting and that Chapt. 8 in the last degree of decay of light but now in plenty of glorious light as it were comming downe from the heauen and lightning the earth with a neer and euident sight of that which before was reuealed but farre oft This Angel then is the type of the cleare light and powerfull ministery of the Gospell now in a neere degree both shewing clearely and working powerfully Antichrist his fall The ministers of lightâ— are of Christ the true light called the light of the world and their ministerie is glorious euen glorified as concerning the exceeding glory For how beautifull on the Mountaines are the feete of them that preach good tidings c. The description of this denouncing Angel implyeth not only the certainty of what hee proclaimeth as from heauen and with great authority and euidence but also the instant performance thereof in that he commeth downe in such aboundance of glorious light as Babel can stand no longer no more then could Sodome after the Angel his downe-comming to see iâ— For Babel the glory of Kingdomes shall bee as the destruction of God in Sodome and Gomorrha Therefore the point denounced albeit it bee the same in substance which Chap 14. was threatned yet here it commeth in another degree of cleare manifestation certaine performance in the perswasion of hearers and neere approaching execution God now beeing to passe by her no more for shee is come in remambrance before him 3 Of this denounced point is shewed also the greatnesse and equity The greatnesse in these words and she is become c. So to shew a horrible desolation such as should not onely make her waste and solitarie but also detestable and abominable as are ghostly and Elphrish places full of Panike terror and the ordinarie retrait of all these things which both flee humane society
his restraint albeit of that time as by substituting the Beast of his authority by deceitfull hypocrisie and efficacie of error to worke that from performing whereof in open rage hee was then bound vp might well bee presumed yet hath beene reserued to this place to giue vs in one view his whole story Which consisteth in that rage Chap. 12. From which beeing heere in some consideration bound vp for a time he is againe let loose and his endeauours thereupon are here declared so farre from his intended successe as he is taken the second time and destroied for euer 2 In his first restraint come to bee considered the surenesse end and degree thereof The surenesse is cleered in the person apprehender and manner of fermance The apprehender is God â—â—s minister an Angell instructed with authority as comming from heauen with power to execute as hauing the key of the bottomlesse pit and a great chaine All spoken after the manner of men This Angell falleth not from heauen to earth as that great starre Chapter 9. but commeth downe as he Chapters 10. and 18. And accordingly hath the key of the bottomlesse pit for a farre different end from that this comming to inclose the Prince of darkenesse being himselfe the minister of light whereas that great starre falling from the ministrie of light to become the minister of darknesse he openeth the botomlesse pit to let out darkenesse The Dragon is heere described by these same names and property of seducing Nations which are giuen him in the 12. Chapter in the first degree of this his first foile towards this first captiuity when by Michael his valour hee was cast from heauen Which the holy Ghost doth of purpose to leade vs know that this first binding is from that rage So wisely and plainely the spirit teacheth vs to couple together the parts of this prophesie Now Christ is hee properly who treadeth downe the head of that serpent who onely is that stronger then the strong one comming in binding him and spoiling his house as who onely hath come to lose the workes of Satan and onely hath the keies of hell and death But according as he giueth gifts to men and worketh by his ministers of whatsoeuer calling who in his light and strength aduance the Kingdome of light and bring downe that of darkenesse his ministers thus instructed by him and to this ende are also binders of the Dragon Of whom this Angell is the generall type 3 The manner of fermance to shew the surenes thereof is after the manner of men set forth in inclosing shutting and sealing as was the caues mouth on Daniel and the Sepulchre of Christ 4 The end of his restraint is That he seduce not the Nations c Which ende how it is and how farre to be vnderstood the degree of his restraint now and his endeauour vpon his next loosing will make cleare 5 Thus we haue the surenesse and end of the Dragons restraint Now followeth the degree thereof cleering the end as I haue said The degree is that this his captiuity is not absolute but in a speciall consideration This is shewed by the time thereof state of men in that time and what this state is The time is not for euer as in his next taking but for a thousand yeeres which being expired he was to bee losed againe The denunciation of which sad euent is mitigated with a consolation that it should be but for a short space euen that three daies and a halfe wherein the witnesses were killed and lay vnburied Chapter 11. For thencefoorth by degrees the Dragon is againe comprehended till he be made fully fast in eternall chaines 6 The state of men during this first restraint sheweth it also not to be absolute in so farre as hee shall bee bound but to a few being still loose towards the most part This is cleered by declaration of the seuerall condition of both and first of these to whom hee is bound Wherein are two their condition in this his restraint and who they are that haue this condition Their condion is expressed first in figuratiue speech of Thrones and Sitters hauing iudgement accordingly giuen them and next in proper termes that they liued and raigned with Christ these thousand yeeres Who they are that are in this estate and condition is shewed in two sorts First The soules of them who were beheaded for the word of God c. Secondly They who worshipped not the Beast c. The state and condition of the contrarie sort is that during these thousand yeeres they lay dead and liued not Now how great this number is and how small in comparison thereto is the former is cleere by the 13 Chapter where all the earth follow the Beast and receiue his Character name or number except these 144000. sealed ones Chap. 7. in mount Sion with the Lambe Chap. 14. And consequently in what respect and to whom the Dragon is said during this space to bee bound 7 The third point shewing yet further the strict consideration of Satan his restraint is the explication of this state and condition of both sorts of men what this life and raigne of the one is and what is the death of the other To wit that this life and raigne are not to bee taken for this naturall life or any wordly dominion neither yet for that euerlasting and glorious state which the Saints in Soule and body after the last indgement inioy in heauen this being their state during the thonsand yeeres and called the first resurrection As neither is the death of the other to be vnderstood of the naturall death of the body by seperation of the soule therefrom or of the eternall death of both in Gehenna as wherein the world lying dead a thousand yeeres thereafter riseth from it to haue part in the first resurrection and consequently of blessednesse But this life and raigne in respect of the soules beheaded is their honourable commemoration and rising from vnder these horrible slanders calumnies whereby the honour of their sufferings was maliciously by Satan eclipsed euen that same thing which by long white robes was signified Chapter 6. In respect of these who Worshipped not the Beast c. This life and raigne is the first resurrection whereby men here by the word and spirit are begotten to the life of God in Christ and freed from the bondage and death of Satan and sinne being vindicare in the liberty of the sonnes of God and so made Kings and Priests to God in Christ Iesus And the death of the rest who rise not this first resurrection is that death in sinne ignorance idolatrie and induration wherein all men lye naturally depriued of the life of God like those widowes who being aliue yet were dead and like Ephraim who was dead in Baal From which death who so riseth not to be pertaker of the first resurrection shall be accursed foreuer and subiect to the power of the
and becomming Ministers of the Keyes of darkenesse and of Gehenna so great a smoake ouergoeth the whole face of the visible Church as all light therein is eclipsed And out of this darkenesse ariseth that huge mischief of Antichrist in the abominable army hellish head thereof for punishment whereof if so be they could haue beene cured the Mahometan armies are loosed from the East after they had beene a space in God his patience tied vp from their first ranging now againe with Turkish furie to make desolate both by sword and poysonable doctrine the third part of the Earth This sixth euill and second great woe working no repentance but rather further induration in Antichristian workes Chap. 9. A preparation is for Antichrist his full recurelesse certaine and neere approaching ouerthrow Christ in a sort returning with the weapon of his warfare the little booke now open and the bold and powerfull preaching thereof setting thereto fit instruments who by diligent study of scriptures are inablâ—d to preach the Gospell widelie Chap. 10. And being instructed with faculty thereto by assistance of Christ they apply the right rule of examination and thereby find that Antichrist hath long obteined the place and title of the visible Church The true Church all the while larking within the compasse thereof and being secretly intertained with a hid but powerfull dispensation of grace by few vnknowne and albeit afflicted Ministers yet preaching long without great bloodshed till at â—ength Antichrist perceiuing them to apply the rule they are for a space cruelly murthered and barbarously intreated euen with applause thorowout all Antichrist his domination but God stirring vp others in the same spirit who vigorously oppose themselues a visible separation by diuine warrant is made from Antichrist his fellowship and contagion feare taketh him and his followers great commotions ensue thereupon and his Kingdome is in a part weakened This farre preparation and beginnings of his fall hauing wrought on euen in the height of the sixth euill and second great woe vpon men of the Earth then the seuenth Trumpet soundeth to his vtter fall by seuen Vials which it yeeldeth of the last Wrath. The summary effect whereof in a preconceiued ioy vpon the signe giuen is in a gratulatory song of the Church denounced in the end of the 11. Chapter Before the particular explication whereof for more cleering the reason of so huge a ioy of the Church and the equitie of so determinate a iudgement against the enemies according to that cleere sight which the Tabernacle of Testimony now opened in Heauen yeeldeth to God his seruants of the enemies and their dealings a large narration thereof is incerted and thereafter their great and iust destruction summarily aboue denounced is exponed at length Both which parts of story the holy Ghost setteth forth vnder the names of two great signes seene in Heauen The first in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters the other to the end of the narration The first signe is double in the party assailed and the assailer the assailed party is the Church in her first seed and in her seed of succeeding times The assailing enemy against boâ—h is the Diuell that old Serpent but in different manner Against the Primitiue Church or first seed directly in open rage by his instruments thereof the Roman Emperors first labouring to keepe downe the Church from rising next cruelly persecuting her being raised thirdâ— being restrained from open persecution through that protection the Church got by Constantine the Great Whereby as by wings she was freed from his open rage labouring to drowne her by that inundation of barbarous Nations which neuerthelesse in God his wise disposing prouidence turned to the defacing of that persecuting Empire Yet so as in the time the true Church by degrees passed to the Wildernesse whereto the wings gaue occasion and lurking there was fed as was Israel and Elias no more any true visible face thereof appearing then those three yeeres and an halfe of famin in the daies of Elias or the same space when Antiochus Epiphanes abolished the daily sacrifice and set vp the abomination of desolatioÌ„ in place therof Ch. 12. Satan highly incensed for his misgiuing endeuors against the first seed tak th occasion of this flight of the Church to the Wildernes to bring in roome the Beast of his working and authority by him to make warre against the Church in her seed of succeeding times This Beast is the same kingdom of Rome but vnder the pontificality by lying signes wonders and false pretence of Christ his power so bewitching the world as through voluntary submission of the â—en of the earth thus deceiued the kingdome of Rome vnder it recouereth that ancient glory lustre estimation subiection of Prouinces which it had lost in the deadly wound it got in the fall of Caesars all the earth wondering and following the Beast Chap. 13. All the time of this preuailing euill euen in the greatest height thereof Christ had still his true Church first lurking and albeit not perceptible to the world yet inioying the presence of her head hauing powerfull and plentifull dispensation of grace from him and worshipping him heartily and truly Secondly by degrees breaking out and contesting with Antichrist in great suffering and much bloodshed to the 14. verse of the 14. Chapter Where the Story falling in againe to the same point of time and matter whereat for incerting this interiected narration at blowing of the seuenth Trumpet Chap. 11. it had left off what there in a gratulatory song was summarily denounced the summary execution thereof is here propounded so to bring in the large narration of the effect of the seuenth Trumpet in the seuen Vials thereof to the end of the 14 Chapter This summary proposition is at length handled in the 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. and 20. Chapters and thereupon the gracefull estate of the Church shewed Chap. 21. and 22. And this whole matter is that other great signe seene in heauen hauing the greatnesse of the errand and the disposing of the instruments for execution thereof Chap. 15. The execution in seuen degrees first by discouerie of the filthinesse and hypocrisie of the Beast his characterized followers their persons are despised Secondly their common worship becommeth ahominable Thirdly euen their grounds and chiefe Doctors are seen corrupted deadly and therewith in God his iustice because they had been bloudy murtherers of the Saints they in their course get bloud to drinke Fourthly the still waxing light of the Gospell as the Sunne discouering their darke works burneth them vp with indignation and despite 5. Thus Antichrist his kingdome becommeth contemptible losing much of the wonted lustre and magnificence to the great torment of their minds they euen gnawing their tongues for sorrow Sixthly Peoples tongues and Nations falling from the obedience thereof it is left naked and weake whereby a way is prepared for the Esterne kingdomes and most specially the Iewes sparsed amongst them
Romanum idem Apoc. cap. 13. verse 2. commentarij in id caput sectionibus 1. 2. 5. QVis renuat diadema tuo submittere sceptro Nam merito in terris diceris esse Deus Cui sua mundi huius Deus imperiumque thronumque Tradidit vafris vincere posse dolis Ad ciues Romanos idem Apoc. cap. 17. verse 16. Sect. 14. cap 18. vers 8. 21. 22. 23. Sect. 8. 14. QVid gelidae torpent dextrae salientia pulsat Cordapauor mutat pallidus or a tremor Non Elephante vehens Pyrrhus non feruidus oris Currit ab hesperijs Hanibal arma ferens An quiae terribilis magis est Cotharistius heros Qui Romaman cipiti coelitus ense quatit Ad Iesuitas idem Apoc. cap. 16. vers 13. 14. sect 8. 9. VOsne estis triplici ranae de gutture iussae Obstrepero regum corda ciere sono Quis iubet ergo sacrum praetendere nomen Iesu Num fucata gerens cornua fronte fera Quid ruitis veluti stimulis furialibus actae Spesne Orci in vestro totalabore sita est Ad Papistas omnes idem Apoc. 7. vers 10. sect 7. ADeo nostro veluti perenni Fonte promanans ab eius Agno Lux salutaris fluit atque pleno voluitur alueo Ad Authorem commentarij idem Apoc. cap. 16. vers 9. 10 sect 6 7. NOn Troas flexit Nereus non regia Virgo Exitium patriae vaticinata suae Maternum est soboles si sit Troianarebellis Diuinisque minis consilijsque tuis Ad Iudaeos idem Apoc. cap. 9. vers 11. sect 7 cap. 16. vers 16. sect 10. cap. 19. vers 2. 3. 4. 6. sect 4. SAncta sanctorum soboles parentum Quae dementra proh dolor Fascinans vestros animorum ocellos Messiam prohibet sequi Scilicet promptos simulans Abaddo◠Agni cornua territat Ergo cum magnis petit Armageddon Vis Papistica copijs Per Perathaeum via siccaeoïs Fietregibus alueum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sine fine quando Ibit dirus 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Omnis Abrami canet Halleluiah Laetans progenies boni Voce clamantes alacri Halleluiah Gentes gaudia proferent Halleluiah ter quater Halleluiah Tota Ecclesia concine◠AN EXQVISITE COMMENTARIE VPON THE REVELATION OF SAINT IOHN CHAPTER 1. 2. 3. THis Booke is the third part of the Euangelike Story and hath the condition of the Church from the Aopstolike times till the finishing of the mystery It is for the most part Propheticall and accordingly vttered in a stile agreeable to the maiesty of so high mysteries which were reuealed to the beloued disciple and in goodly and conuenient types in one continuall trance exhibited with commandement of sending a writen record thereof to the seuen Churches of Asia and vnder their names the whole militant 2 Of this it is that besides the inscription in the first three verses the whole is an Epistle whereof the salutation is to the 9. of the first Chapter The valediction in the last verse of all The rest is a narration of things heard and scene to the 6. of the last Chapt. Whence is the generall conclusion 3 These things for their distinct time end and maner of reuelation are two and accordingly the parts of narration The first is of things which are and which shall come heereafter that is which both in propriety of story then were existent according to the constitution of these seuen Churches trewlie expressed and for their particular instruction and yet so as the things to come are therein also reuealed for that the promises or threatnings to and against each according to the good or euill praised or taxed in them are future and for that in these seuen Churches the holy Ghost hath in great depth of wisdome so liuely paterned the diuers cases that may befall as none euer hath beene or in any age shall bee which in one of these as in a liuely example may not clearely read her owne cause and learne wisdome Wherethrough it is that this first part of narration in the first three Chapters for end and manner of reuelation differeth from the second in that albeit in some respect the first be of things to come and for instruction of the whole Church yet it is properly of things then existent and first for the vse of particular Churches whereas the second thorow the rest of the booke is only of things which must bee done heereafter and whose vse is first and properly for the whole militant Church and therefore to the perception thereof Iohn behooued to goe vp to heauen Chap. 4. 4 Before the first part is a goodly and glorious vision of Christ not acording to the proper verity of his person but according to his presence and operation in and towards his Church and in speciall regard of these seuen of Asia and therefore commonly concerneth them all as we see that from it are taken these properties and attributes which are fit to expresse his particular dispensation towards each and seuerally applied as in them he worketh 5 The Church of Ephesus is commended in that shee hath such a presence of Christ so painefull powerfull zealous watchfull patient and constant a ministry that albeit the mystery of iniquity was working and false teachers were busie to aduance it yet they were so watchfully marked and mightely resisted that errour was borne downe and truth helde place but so as at length through falling from the first loue a step was made to Apostasie And therefore she is warned to repent and doe the first workes vnder paine of remoouing the Candlesticke 6 In the Church of Smyrna errour and lies did so farre preuaile as heretikes durst blast of the name of the true Church and depise the pouerty and abiect state of true professors yea cruelly persecute and blaspheme the way of truth 7 Pergamus is praised that albeit shee dwelled where Satan his throne was yet she kept God his name but hauing this note of weakenes that albeit they kept themselues pure yet Idolatry and spirituall fornication was tollerated by them euen the doctrine of Balaam and Nicolaus Against them and their followers the Lord fighteth with the sword of his mouth 8 Thyatira is praised for her workes and loue and seruice and faith and patience and that her workes are more at the last then at the first But hath this note of infirmity that albeit she dranke not of Iezabel her cup nor committed fornication with her yea and was waxing in loue and workes thereof yet shee had not either the knowledge or the courage to challenge her whoredome as shee ought but euen tolerated that Whore whom God will cast into the lake of fire and brimstone euen the bed of torment as also hee threatneth that hee will cast into great affliction that commit fornication with her except they repent and kill her children with death 9 In the Church of Sardis if they could remember what they haue receiued and heard they
of scarsity which the godly who were men for that is all the man Eccles 12 13. â—oted to bee in punishment of the Gospell reiected See Tertullian in his Apology and to Scapula and Cyprian contra Demetrian 13 As induration grew and cruelty against the Gospell how God sent out all his foure great plagues on these persecutors consider the tragicall time of Antoninus surnamed the philosopher a most bloudy persecutor and the record thereof in story Ab Armis nusquam quies erat perque omnem Orientem Illiricum Italiam Galliamque bella feruebant terra motus non fine interitu ciuitatum inundationes fluminuns lues crebrae locustarum Species agris infestae prorsus vt nihil prope quo summis angoribus anteri mortales soleant dici seâ— cogitariqueat quod Antoniâ— imperante non seuierit The times of Gallus and Volusianus were more miserable and yet more that of Valerianus and Galienus but most of all that of Maxentius Maximinus and Licinius all these foure plagues raging mightily their Stories will make any Reader agast and comparing therewith these praedictions to wonder at God his both wisdome and iustice 14 Now all these plagues working no amendment but stirring them to further rage against christians whom they tooke to bee causers of all these euils the fiercenes of persecution was more intended Dioclesian set himselfe to roote out Christianity his Collegue Herâ—uleus no lesse bloudy Hereupon a great and loud cry of martyred soules ascendeth which till the appointed time of full vengeance obtaine long white robes Thus God in some degree had comforted them before by imprinting his terror in the hearts of cruellest persecutors The Edict of Traiaâ— spake for them when he was forced to put forth that no Inquisition should bee made for Christians much more the Edicts of Adrian and Antonius Pius who vnder paine of death commanded that none should bee delated for Christianitie except guiltie of some other crime Antonine the Philosopher whom no Apologie could mitigate yet in the Marcoman wars is conuinced of Christ his power when in confession that hee and his Army were saued at the prayers of Christians hee called that Legion Fulminatrix the terrors affrighting so Dioclesian and Maximianus as wearie of Massacring Christians being ouercome by their constant sufferings they bequeth their states and seeke secret corners wherein to hide themselues what was it else but a quiet confession of Christians innocency Maximinus at his tragicall end setting himselfe to blaspâ—eme Christ yet is forced to confesse him and to acknowledge himselfe iustly punished for persecuting the Saints Licinius is faine to connterfet Christianity But then it was that the soules got the long white robes when Constantinus embracing Christianity by publike edicts Christian Religion is approued and established and heathen worship abrogated The Church so becomming glorious and of high account and all former horrible accusations now seene and knowne to the world to bee lies At this point of time Satan is bound a thousand yeeres seats are set vp and they sit on them Chapter 20 The commemoration of Martyres was alwaies honourable amongst Christians and laudably of them vsed at first howbeit it turned afterward to foule Idolatry but that the heads of that same bloody state should submitte themselues to Christ his name and the Church thereupon to haue so goodly free and peaceable state as wee see ensued that was indeed to receiue long white robes 15 The promised vengeance yet behoued to come vpon that bloody Empire whiâ—â— in the sixth seale commeth in a high degree when the whole state thereof is shaken and in a manner defaced by the Gothes and other barbarous nations whose names had beene till then not heard of who occupying the fairest and goodliest Prouinces of the Empire erecting new kingdomes and states and changing the names of countries euery part almost receiuing new inhabitants altered as it were the face of the world and eclipsed the glory of that pompous and bloody Empire And this out of all doubt is meaned by the sixt seale and is that deadly wound which the beast getteth in his sixth head which wound beeing afterward cured that state in the cured head continueth the enemy and murtherer of Saints the rest of the brethren albeit in an other sort till for the full finall and recurelesse ouerthrow thereof we expect a greater earthquake then this or any since the beginning of the world by powring out the seuenth V all of the last wrath That some enterpret this seale of these sturres whereby the heathen persecuters were deiected about Constantines time who preuailing against them maâ—e at it were a new face of an Empire by abrogating heathenisme it hath no conuenient analogy with this type and lesse cleare accommodation to the signification heere set downe by the spirit The slaughter and deiection of diuers Emperours from their states so long as in the succeeders the Empire retained the lustre and strength as in Constantine it was more confirmed and enlarged was no such vncouth or strange thing in that state which was but a very stage of Tragedies as that in such speeches as the spirit vseth in this type it should haue beene expressed It is true that the coincident case of Christianity established and heathenisme abrogated was a great and vncouth thing but which in all mens confession cannot by these speeches of darkening the sunne and fall of starres c. bee signified For that aduancement of Christianty was in the fifth seale by long white robes expressed whereby the soules were the more patiently to attend the vengeance promised which is heere in a great measure but then fully shal be executed when the rest of the brethren euen the rest of the womans seed against whom the Dragon maketh warre by the Vicar of his throne being slainâ— the kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords and all both first and last dead shall be iudged and aduenged by the finall ouerthrow of that bloody state which first and last is the murtherer of Saints Which now in this sixth seale receiueth a deadlie wound but hauing it cured againe in the eighth head therefore called one of the seuen recouereth glory and worship of nations and holdeth on the aduersary still till out of the tabernacle of testimonie open in heauen at the seuenth trumpet seuen ministers of the last wrath come against it whereof the last bringeth a greater earthquake then this to vtter destruction of that state for euer That which hath ledde exceeding learned men in this errour of accommodation both heere and in other parts of this Prophecie is that wrong conceiued ground whereof I spake before that these seales and trumpets are sections of time and finding that at the opening of the seuenth seale such effects ensue as are anterior in time to this fall of the Westerne and great weakening of the Easterne Empire they drawe backe the accommodation But as the euils of the sixe seales which
any bloud in the third part of the sea would haue liued become dead in hereticall prauity The verity and accommodation hereof is more then cleare as principally in Arrius so in all the other Arch-heretikes of that time men more learned then holy and more quicke then modest like blazing Comets corrupting the truth of doctrine in a great part And therefore for the full perfection of euill in this kind when not onely the third part but wholy al both earth Sea fountaines shal be burnt turned into bloud and made bitter and al light eclipsed the like type is vsed in the fift Trumpet but with this notable difference that that starre falleth to the earth and so breedeth the mischiefe 9 The fourth Trumpet bringeth a darkenesse in part vpon Sunne Moone Starres day and night A kindlie degree of euill to follow on the former and there withal noting yet a higher degree of Apostasie and aduancement of the mystery of iniquitie as the heauenly lightes are aboue fountaines and riuers This is the type of darke ignorance comming on the world first in a great part The former euils arose more vpon contention pride and bitter despite then vpon ignorance while men either not aduerting or maliciouslie miscarried they tooke place but now together with these commeth also grosse ignorance in a great part darkening all true knowledge Christ is our sunne whom wee behold in the true light of his Gospell whereof when the third part is darkened so farre is our sunne darkened to vs. The Moone and starres are they in whose hearts God so shineth as they are able to make the light of the knowledge of God to shine in the hearts of others in the face of Iesus The day is that light thus ministred from our sunne by these starres wherein we walke who are children of the day and not of the night For starres here must bee considered more as receiuing light from the sunne they dispense it to vs then for that they shine in the night And here the night signifieth that light which naturall men who are not children of the day but of the night yet haue in humane sciences liberall arts in comparison to the light of the Gospell but a night of darkenesse whereof now by this Trumpet came a great decay as in story is more then manifest Now as these euils are said to worke but on the thirde part in each kind to shew that the first degrees came on but in part so as first the loue and life of God abode in the most part of the Church as in the second degree yet the most part worshipped purely and in the third held still the Orthodox faith like as now in the fourth yet continued great measure of learning both in diuine and humane sciences Whereas in the next Trumpet al falleth to the height of euill and a totall and common Apostasie is set downe And therefore for preparation to it a heauie warning is giuen of a triple woe But this warning is by an Angell flying through the middest of heauen and so farre remoued from the perception of earthly men it being so farre and obscurely deliuered as few were capable thereof or aduerted it see Chapter 14. and 18. 1. Diuers learned and godly men of whome this Angell is the type saw the mischiefe comming on through these euils more and more preuailing and gaue warning of it euen Gregory Bishop of Rome saw so much and made him say Rex superbia prope est quod dicinefas est Sacerdotum est paratus exercitus and vbi est ille Antichristus qui appellationem vindicabit vniuersalis Episcopi cui Sacerdotum exercitus paratus est ad assectandum cum prope est in foribus Hee did hit very right for within little more then three yeeres after him his owne successor Boniface the third tooke to himselfe the title of Vniuersalis Episcopus which all the succeeding Bishops retaine and so by sufftage of a most famous Bishop of Rome they are that Antichrist CHAP. IX FOllow the heauier woes denounced in the fourth Trumpet to fall on the earthly sort on whome are all these iudgements from which the sealed ones are exempted Of these three the first is in this fift Trumpet euen that huge mischiefe of Antichrist to which height of iniquity the former euils were al 's many steppes The other two woes following in the 6. and 7. Trumpets are the consequences in God his iust indignation of this great woe the one for punishment to prouoke repentance in the 6. Trumpet which being ineffectuall to conuersion vpon obstinate impenitency verse 20. 21. the seuenth Trumpet bringeth the third great woe and last wrath to Antichrists vtter destruction 2 In this euill are the origine whence it ariseth and the euill it selfe the origine is first and secundarie arising of the first The first is the fall of a great star from heauen to the earth the type of Pastors of great marke falling from being heauenly to becom earthly from the true state of Saints to the state of the world and to the loue thereof from light to darkenesse from the keyes of the kingdome of heauen to the keyes of the bottomlesse pit Now as this fall was not in one instant or point of time nemo repente fit turpissimus but by degrees so is it not to be taken of one man personally but is the generall type of that euill wherein Pastors falling they became ignorant and ministers of darke ignorance out of which arose the mischiefe of Antichrist and his poysonable Armie the euill is the loue of the earth where through cometh this change of Keyes by an Apostasie and falling away of these who had beene starres of heauen and ministers of light as hauing the keyes of the kingdome of heauen to bee the ministers of other Keyes euen these of Gehenna This is that succession and these are the Keyes the Church of Rome and Bishoppes thereof so much bragge of as this whole prophesie euinceth clearely The secundary origine of the euill is darkenesse arising through this fall and change of Keyes and that in a strange degree for this darkenes is not in part as that of the fourth trumpet but it eclipseth all light actiue and passiue sunne and aire Christ is our sunne whose beames lighten our spirituall aire whereby wee both walke in light and draw in a pure breath for intertainement of our spirituall life This by this darkenesse of the bottomlesse pitte which arose through that pastors falling to the loue of earthly things lost the key of knowledge and became Ministers of darkenesse is wholy eclipsed so as all the face of the visible Church is darkened and common life in it corrupted The euill of the third Trumpet was by fall of a great starre but that fell in the fountaines and riuers so making them in a part bitter but here the desire of riches and loue of the earth maketh all erre from the faith 3
that with them truly is found all the bloud shed vpon the earth Chap. 18. 24 CHAP. X. AS the sixth Seale besides the own proper effect gaue a preparation to the seuenth by a summary view of the whole effect thereof in the seuenth Chapter so here the sixt Trumpet besides the proper woe of it in the four destroying Angels from Euphrates and their Armies of desolation in the end of the last Chapter maketh way now in this and a good part of the next Chapter to the effect of the seuenth Trumpet and last woe which impenitency now iustly bringeth on Now all this preparation euen to the blowing of the seuenth Trumpet Chapter 11. 15. albeit it be to cleare the way yea and hath some no small beginnings of that great woe which by the seuenth Trumpet is fulfilled yet it is comprehended vnder the second great woe according to their distinction by Trumpets because euen in the height of this second great woe these degrees towards the last were working So wisely and artificially is the course of this Prophesie led forward and parts thereof clearely coupled together This preparation then for Antichrist his iust and full ouerthrow vpon obstinate impenitency against the punâ—shment from Euphrates is by a magnifike description of that great partie who foileth him and of the meanes of his victory The party is Iesus Christ heere typically setforth as alwaies throughout this Prophesie not according to the veriry of his person but to expresse his operation in this worke His meanes of victory are the little booke opened and the bold and powerfull preaching thereof and that for Finishing the mystery in the full ouerthrow of the enemies and perfecting the Church in all grace heere as a prepared Bride for her husband whereto hee fitteth â—pt instruments who by diuine motion studying diligently the Scriptures preach euery where the Gospell So as by the true rule rightly applied the true Church of God is discerned from the false and light growing Antichrist his kingdome is in a degree shaken and beginneth to fall and in the seuenth Trumpet is vtterly and for euer destroied 2 Wee haue then in this Chapter the comming of the great personnage performer of this worke and the end of his comming For effectuating wherof prophecy is restored This great persoâ—nage is that stronger one then Satan who foiled him and now after a sort returneth to ouerthrow the beast of his power the Angell of the bottomlesse pit king Apollyon In this personage are to be obserued whence he commeth the forme of his person and his actions Hee commeth from heauen as the aduersary came out of the bottomlesse pit not in propriety of speech as if he personally descended but that he who through antichrist his darkenesse was not seene now againe sheweth himselfe As God is said often in Scripture to depart or hide and againe to shew himselfe The glorious and magnifike forme of his person is shewed in a note of diuine maiesty that he is clâ—athed with a cloude Luke 2â— At the erecting of the tabernacle a cloud filled it So also Salomon his Temple The Lord hath said he will dwell in the cloud Hee gaue his presence to Israel in the wildernesse in a pillar of a cloud Hee maketh the cloudes his Chariot and he went vp in a cloude Secondlie he hath the Rainebow about his head as he whose presence bringeth peace the raies of his face imprinting the seale of peace in the darkest soâ—le and most clowdy conscience The shining of the Sunne against a cloud maketh the Rainbow So Christ whose face shineth like the Sun in his strength Chap. 1 being clothed with a cloud hath conueniently a Rainebow about his head His flesh is the vaile couering his Deity whereof the manefestation therin maketh our peace But heere specially hath hee the Rainebow about his head as comming now to dispel the great deluge of Antichristian darkenesse which shall neuer againe ouerspread the face of the Church more then the waters of Noah shall the earth giuing thus a sure pledge of serenity Chapter 9. Section 5. Thirdly his feet haue two notes They are pillers and they are fire The first for stable firmnesse and solide strength wherein hee now commeth both to stablish his Church in peace and to tread downe all his enemies The fire sheweth with light and purity dispelling darkenesse and purging all vncleannesse yet fiery affliction conioined in this conflict with Antichrist against all which notwithstanding his Church should stand stable as the Pillar of truth He hath fourthly in his hand a little booke open This is the weapon of his victory It is little in comparison to Antichrist his great booke of humane Traditions vnwritten Verities Apocriphe Scriptures Decretals Canons and manifold Legends all ioined and equalled by them in their practise at lest with this booke It is open for that cleere vnderstanding of holy Scripture which now Christ should bring whereas in Antichrist his darkenesse the same was buried in ignorance which with them is the mother of deuotion it being held capitall for common laicke men to read Scripture in vulgar tongue 3 The actions of this great personnage thus furnished are in his gesture and in his voice His gesture is that he set his right foot on the Sea and his left foot on the Land as he who hath power ouer all creatures Who stablisheth the mountaines by his power and appeaseth the noise of the Seas the noise of the waues thereof and the tumults of people Psal 65. His right foot is set on the Sea as whose rage is most terrible and the left on the earth to shew that he is sufficiently furnished with all strength and accordingly vttereth it as for the party opponer is requisit In the 13. Chapter to expresse Antichrist his estate two beasts arrise the one out of the Sea the other out of the Earth These he commeth to vndoe and conueniently therefore setteth his feet in this manner So is his gesture His voice is a loud cry Wherein as the little booke is the weapon of his warfare so the vse and welding of it is heere expressed to wit Preaching Whereof to shew the boldnesse his voice is compared to the reoaring of a Lion And to expresse the power and that perfect accompanying the bold Preaching of the Gospell now restored seuen thunders are said to speake As at the going out of the Gospel in the first seale the first beast hauing the face of a Lion Spake like thunder So now at reuiuing of the Gospel to Antichrist his ouerthrow it shall be accompanied with boldnesse and perfection of of power The great Angell comming downe to fight for Sion and the hill thereof Isai 31 4. Now consider that Christ is heere described according to his vertue working in his seruants whose voice if it be his is bold and powerfull If their voice be as it ought the eccho of his cry it will be like thunder For thunders
destruction of enemies and Church her victory is largely exponed and in the twenty one and twenty two as touching her gracefull and peaceable state thereupon 2 The first wonder or signe is double according as therein the enemies inuaders and partie assailed are expressed The party assailed is the woman and her seed first and last The assailing enemy is the Dragon by himselfe openly and by his Lieutenant the beast of his power couertly Against the woman and her first seede is set the Dragon directly in this Chapter Against her in her other seed the beast of his power throne and authority in the next Chapter This is that warre proclaimed in Paradise In this Chapter are first the description of the parties by their habit and disposition to doe Secondly the euent which maketh way to the next enemy in the next Chapter The party assailed is the woman in habit clothed with the Sunne treading the Moone crowned with twelue Starres In disposition of present endeuour big with child trauelling pained and crying through paine The assailing party for habit is a great redde Dragon hauing seuen heads crowned tenne hornes and a taile His endeauour to doe is he casteth stars from heauen with his taile and standeth before the woman to deuoure her child with his heads 3 The euent hereof is according to the ordinary forme of Scripture first Summarilie proponed in the 5. and 6. verses And next thenceforth more largely cleered And this euent is double The childe is borne and exalted and the woman flieth In the summarie proposition of this double euent the childe his quality dignity and exaltation to high estate is proponed and the womans flght by the place whither her condition in it and time of this her condition is described 4 Hauing thus summarily in the 5. and 6. verses proponed this double euent he sheweth after how it fell out and by what meanes And first how it came that the childe so narrowly watched and by so strong an enemie yet not onely escapeth but is exalted to great honour This of the childe commeth by a great battell in heauen wherein are the Captaines of either side their Armies and the euent of the conflict The Generall Captaine of the one side is Michael his Armie are his Angels The Captaine and Army opposite are the Dragon and his Angels The euent of their conflict is the Dragon is foild and the degree of the foile is that he and his Angels are so deiected as they haue no more place in heauen This is cleared by two contrary effects The one in the heauenlie Citizens of ioy the other in the Dragon of rage The ioy of the heauenly Citizens is set foorth in their song of victory which victorie is amplified by the greatnesse cruelty subtiltie maliciousnesse enmity and peruerse diligence of the Dragon who is ouercome by the noblenesse of the victorie for the price of it by the Souldiers constant suffering to attaine it which endeareth it the more and lastly by the miserable condition of the earthlie sort through this his foile Thus is declared how the child escaped and was exalted Next is shewed how the second part of the generall euent that is the womans flight did come The Dragon his rage for his foile and misgiuing endeauour against the Childe stirreth him to peisecute the woman Thereupon shee flieth being healped thereto by the meanes giuen her of two winges Of that great Eagle And her flight heere as before in the summarie proposition is cleered by the place of her retrait her condition there and the time thereof This rage of the Dragon against the woman hath two degrees The first is hee persecuteth her wherethrough shee is brought to flie by the meanes giuen her of the winges The second degree is his endeuour for her ouerthrow in her flight the floud cast out against her This double rage is eluded the first by the wings the second by the helpe of the earth which swalloweth the flood This generall euent of all this misgiuing endeauour against childe and woman worketh in the Dragon increase of rage whereby he is stirred to make warre against the rest of her Seede Against these hauing misgiuen in his open dealing against her first seede he stirreth vp that beast whose rising and working to behold Iohn standeth on the Sea shoare 5 I haue ioined together and at length the resolution of this Chapter the mistaking whereof in my iudgement hath marred all the accommodation heere and much obscured all the rest of this Prophesie The right accommodation shall yet bee the more cleare if wee obserue after what manner in this Prophesie the holy Ghost describeth the enemies of the Church and whence the whole frame of speech in this Chapter is taken First then the course of the Church her sufferings and her enemies by whom is framed to the course of the old Testement wherein the first great enemie was Phaaro The second great foe was Babel and these Beastes in Daniel Of which the last extreme enemy was Gog and Magog euen the Kings of Syria and of them most of all Antiochus Epiphanes To these their enemies and the old Churches sufferings by them that heere in the story of the Christian Church her foes and sufferings the Spirit alludeth it is most cleare To moue vs to compare and finde not onely light heere but to see also that these former were stamps of greater things to come Now all the speech of this Chapter is from the state of the Church in Egypt which in her infancy there was as a woman big with childe and crying through cruell burdens Pharao that great Dragon euen that great Leniathan first wrought wisely with them as with his taile and next stood cruelly ready to deuoure all her Male Children But Michael fought for them and in the blood of the lambe they ouercame and all the first borne of Egypt are slaine The Church flieth as carried vpon Eagles winges to the wildernesse where she is fed with Manna In her flight the Dragon Pharao minded to haue drowned her in the redde Sea but the earth helped her for earthlie Pharao and his earthly Army dranke vp that floud And all this is to make vs vnderstand by conformity of case that here the first great enemie and sufferings of the Christian Church in her infancy are set forth 6 The woman is the Primitiue Apostolike Church glorious in the cleare light of the sunne of righteousnesse whom she put on for her wisdome and iustification Treading all borrowed spotted changeable transitory and light things vnder foot glorying onely in the light ministred by the twelue Apostles which is her crowne Shee is big with childe of all peoples whom she was begetting to God through obedience of faith in Christ For her great troubles and sufferings she is said to be in trauelling and to cry of paine trauelling in birth of all nations till Christ should be formed in thē The speech is
frō the Prophets with whō it is ordinarily in this sense 7 Now against this woman according to the old warre proclaimed in Paradise is set in apparance a very vnequall match but that Michael fighteth the battell This aduersary is Satan for so the spirit interpreteth verse 9. Hee is a great Dragon for great malice force and subtilty He is red for his cruell and bloudy disposition as who was a murtherer from the beginning Hee hath seuen heades and tenne hornes the armes of Rome because of this the Diuell his fury against the Primitiue Church the Emperours of Rome were the instruments and executors And therefore to shew Rome in that state of persecuting Emperours the heades are crowned for an euident distinction of Rome then from Rome thereafter in the beast The heads and hornes are put in both that we may know what state the spirit designeth but by the different note of these heades and hornes To take vp the different time and condition in time Against the Primitiue Church the Diuell albeit working by Rome is made the direct enemie because then Christianity was directly oppugned and open rage practised against the name of Christ Heathenisme and worship of Diuels plainely maintained From which open dealing and licentious murthering Satan being tyed vp afterwards by power of the Gospell hee dealt more couertly by the beast of his authority vnder name and profession of Christianity and pretence of Christ his power deceiuing men of the world till after a thousand yeeres the reuiued light of the Gospell breaking out a fresh and discouering the deceit of the beast hee is so chafed as hee falleth to murthering of Saints In which respect the Dragon is said to be loosed the second time Chap 20. and thereby the beast falling to open murther becommeth of his colour Chapter 17. Of these heades and hornes see vpon the 13. and 17. Chapters 8 This Dragon then imployeth head and taile that is cruelty and lies for hee was a lier and murtherer from the beginning By his taile that is by his alluring deceit whether effectuall error or deceitfulnesse of honours riches and worldly lusts hee insinuateth himselfe amongst these who seeme shining starres of heauen and draweth them to fall from light and grace and to become earthly such as goe out of the Church that is heauen but were not of it Marke alwaies that Satan his first attempt against the Church is with his taile amongst the starres Thus he stirreth his taile With his heads that is his power and force hee setteth himselfe first against the childe to deuoure him in the bearing Whereby the fury and rage of Satan by the Romane Emperours to keepe the Church of Christ from rising is signified notwithstanding whose malice and cruelty the childe and a man childe alluding to the story of Aegypt and also for that as Christ was in person and as the paschall Lambe and other expiatory sacrifices of the flocke so all Christians in Christ Iesus are consecrated as males for perfection of strength and spirituall vigor is borne that is the Church is brought foorth to the partaking of the honour first proper to Christ and in him to all his members To rule all Nations with a rod of iron Chapt. 2. 27. And not onely thus brought foorth but in euident presence and power of God ruling in and amongst them established here in earth against all Satan his fury and visibly separated to God from the rest of the world becomming Kings and Priests to God in Christ so as according to Christ his owne prediction the sonne of man was seene come in his Kingdome with power by his Church raised in the world The throne as the iron rod is first and properly Christ his right but it is also the honour of the Saints in him to whom hee giueth a Kingdome as he hath receiued one of the father and to whom he giueth to sit in his throne as he ouercame and sitteth in his fathers throne For euen here we sit with him in the highest places So the taking vp of the childe is the erection of the Church amongst men visibly in that same sense that the two Witnesses were bid come vp hither Chap. 11. And the casting of the Dragon from heauen is all one thing with this For the exalting of the childe is the deiecting of the Dragon from heauen and the deiection of the Dragon is the vptaking of the child Satan is said to be in heauen when so by lies and error he hath preuailed in the visible Church as no apparant or very small face thereof is seene Like as the Church is in the earth euen where Satan his throne is when it is so compassed with error and ignorance as it appeareth not till it be said come vp hither that is till God by purity of worship and open profession thereof make his true Church visibly separated from the contagion of the worldy sort And euen in this case Satan is deiected from heauen and sent amongst his owne earthly ones He is said to fight in heauen when by slight and might he laboreth to keepe downe so the true Church as it can not bee discerned from his company and is deiected thence when truth openly in the Church is maintained so as he can haue no place for dominion but amongst the children of disobedience For beeing cast out of men hee goeth madlings in the swine of the world and shut out of God his house he furiously mistrāmeth his owne putting forth his rage where hee may seeing hee cannot where hee would Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth This is it which maketh that where euer the Gospell is purely preached there immediately by Sathan are raised stirres and tempests For while hee brooketh all peaceably hee is at ease but when that stronger commeth who spoileth his house then hee chafeth and becommeth mad in his Instruments This euent Christ in these same words foretelleth so as we need not doubt of the right sense Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world bee cast out And in another place speaking of the effect of the Gospell truely preached I saw Sathan fall from the heauen like lightning 9 This victory is by Michael and his Angels fighting in heauen that is by Christ who is Michael our Prince and the Angels of the Churches Apostles and faithfull Pastors fighting by the powerfull preaching of the Gospell against Sathan his Ministers of darkenes heathen Philosophers heretikes and all such for Christianity is a warfare against Principalities and powers against beasts wherin we must all fight the good fight of faith and striue for that victory which standeth in saluation of the elect from God in Christ and in the foile of Sathan and that by the bloud of the Lambe apprehended by true faith in the word of Iesus his Testimony with perseuerance and a ready offering of liues for his
efsectuateth this great point To wit by signes and wonders which were permitted him to doe and thereby to deceiue the earth wherein he seemed to match Moses and Elias in master points That whereto by all this deceite hee induceth the earth and men thereof is to make vp the image of the Beast which had the deadly wound and liued Which he worketh so luckily that hee giueth spirit and speech to the Image and obtaineth thereto worship of Nations vnder paine of death and subiection to receiue the Beast his marke in worke or profession as his proper good and and vnder paine of confiscation of goods and interdiction of all humane commerce that all of all estates rankes and conditions should receiue his marke or beare his name or at least be accounted of his number so making vp the whole body and frame of his Kingdome Which in respect of the number of his name comprehending all the sorts of his followers will appeare to any who is not indued with heauenly wisdome to count it so large so faire so perfectly and proportionably builded and stablished as he will vndoubtedly bee ouercome thereby And yet who is wise to count it will find it to be but a man his number and none of God his building And the number to be counted is 666. 4 That these beasts are the state of Rome all sound Interpreters agree But in what time and of what policy there is great disagreement That which hath bred greatest difficulty in accommodation is because that the two Beasts heere set foorth are taken of all men to bee diuers or at least of diuers time and condition whereas they are both one And are heere distinctly and diuersly set downe by the spirit onely for cleere explication as in the deduction shall be made plaine The common opinion that the first Beast is the heathen state of Rome vnder persecuting Emperours and the second the Popedome cannot consist with the cleare notes of this first Beast proper to Popedome The first note is the attire of his heads and hornes Rome in the persecuting Emperours as they were the ministers of Satan his open wrath is noted by seuen heads and tenne hornes of the Dragon but so as the heads onely are crowned The hornes that is the Prouinciall gouernments vnder them and wherein was their strength hauing no Crownes because the roiall and soueraigne gouernment was then onely in the heads of the state so designing the Emperours of that time But this Beast heere hath his hornes Crowned to shew that the proppes of his power are crowned Kings as Chapter 17. is exponed plainely that they are Kings which had not as then receiued a Kingdome Whereby is manifest that the tenne hornes as they are crowned were not in Iohn his time neither this beast as it hath crowned hornes The beast indeed was before in the fiue heads who were fallen he was not in the state heere described for he was to rise out of the bottomlesse pit and yet euen then he was in the state of the sixth head that is the Caesars by curing of whose deadly wound in the Pontificalitie erected the Popedome afterward became the liuely image that is the state of Rome vnder the Popes a liuely image of the state of Rome before And therefore in distinct consideration The Pontificality is the eight head of the Beast and yet one of the seuen And whereas the former heads were crowned now the heads arise to a higher presumption hauing hornes crowned to attire themselues with the name of blasphemy 2. Thess 2. 5 The next note heere proper to the Popedome is that the Dragon hath giuen him his power throne and authority The Dragon in his openrage vsed Emperours but for the Ministers of his furie but the Popes are the Vicars of his power and therefore are properlie the Sonne of perdition King Apollyon and the Angell of the bottomlesse pit whose comming is in all effectuall working of Satan For albeit the Dragon bequeateth not vtterly his Kingdome yet finding that his open rage had not the desteined successe hee substracteth himselfe in a sort and substituteth this viceroy of his kingdome the most effectuall promoouer of darkenesse that euer was Satan offered to Christ this bargen but was repulsed heere he findeth his Merchant who accepteth of it and both himselfe worshippeth and maketh all the world to worshippe the Dragon That the Popes haue Satan his throne in a peculiar manner is plaine by their practise and by their challenge Their practise for that it is not onely as of all the former heads or other tyrants whatsoeuer instruments of Satan his rage to subdue to themselues bodies goods and states of men to dispose thereof at their pleasure but hee further will impire ouer the conscience and all his administration as the proper angell of the bottomlesse pit is to plunge men in darkenesse Wherein the Dragon as almost in all things is an Ape of God his dealing For as God hath giuen to Christ his throne and authority all power in heauen and earth for conquering a kingdome to him so hath the Dragon giuen all his power to his annointed Antichrist the man of sinne for setting forward his kingdome of darkenesse Their challendge also argueth this For albeit great Monarches for the largenesse of their dominion are said to haue the kingdomes of the earth and the Romans to magnifie their Empire would call it Imperium orbis terrarum yet neuer King or Monarch challenged euer any further right then either by apparent iust title hee might claime or by Armes he had subdued But the Pope challengeth right ouer all as whereof hee may dispose at his pleasure And that yee may cleerely discerne the Dragons mouth he onely of all men since the beginning of the world stoutly affirmeth All the Kingdomes of the world are mine and I giue them to whom I will 6 The third note here put is the time of his working 42. mouethes The very time of Antichrist his obtaining place in the visible Church Chap. 11. of the Temple closed and witnesses preaching in Sackcloath and of the womans abode in the wildernesse Chap. 12. An infallible argument that heere Antichrist is described 7 The fourth note is clearest of all For as the description of the Beast his heades and hornes sheweth him to be the Romane state or Kingdome so heere a speciall note is giuen whereby to discerne of what time policy state and condition of Rome this Beast is to bee taken namely in the state of the wounded head cured againe And because this beingshortly touched might be obscure therefore to make it plaine a speciall vision is giuen of the curer and manner of the cure whereby this Beast in this state is made vp so as if it may not be esteemed absolutely the fame which it was before the deadly stroke yet at least it is a liuely image thereof The Curer is a Beast like the Lambe and simply pretending his power in
first two For the voice of the Lord is mighty the voice of the Lord is glorious it breaketh the Cedars and maketh the wildernesse to tremble But in his Temple only men speake of his glory Psalm 29. This gracious dispensation incredible and vnseene to the world which could not therefore learne the song of praise thereupon was in the 11. Chap. expressed by two witnesses which for dispensing grace and light were two oliue Trees and two Candlestickes in the Temple while it seemed impossible that any such could bee Antichrist brooking City and Court and for force and power fire went out at their mouths and they did strike the earth with all manner of plagues Now these comparisons of the voice of waters thunder and harping as they expresse fitly what I haue told so in them is implyed a sure prognostick and argument of the next insuing estate in the Angels breaking forth and crying For albeit this sound of water thunder and harping the world in this lurking condition of the Church perceiued not yet they could not still remaine vnheard Who can restraine the breach of great waters what congealed cloude can keepe in thunder and excessiue ioy a heart of any thing can least hold vp Forth therefore this hid Church behoued to come The bellies made bitter with eating the little booke behoued to burst or breake out according as we see in the three Angels following who come forth like the swelling of Iorden like sonnes of thunder according as Christ Chapt. 10. preparing for this outbreake his roaring voice was seconded with seuen thunders and like the bursting out of a blythe heart which cannot hold vp a surfet of ioy 4 This second condition of the Church breaking forth hath the velitation or skirmish and a coincident case with it The velitation I call it so in comparison to the great battell in the seuenth trumpet and seuen vials thereof summarily proponed in the end of this Chap. and exponed largely thenceforth according to the first degrees of the light of the Gospell reuiuing is set downe in three Angels types of these Ministers whom God stirred vp to bee the first open contesters with Antichrist to the 12. verse The coincident case is in the 12. and 13. verses 5 The first ranke of Preachers are expressed by an Angel fleeing thorow the mids of heauen c. for open and swift course which notwithstanding was yet farre remoued aboue the perception of men of the earth whereof few vnderstood or imbraced the first warnings and light arrising it being but yet obscurely preached like as few vnderstood the warning of Antichristian darknesse comming on Chap. 8. and in respect of that Angel there it is that this is called an other Angel as who is the next vsing his forme See a contrarie dispensation to this which cleareth this sense Chap. 18. His doctrine is set downe first in generall and to whom he preached and secondly the speciall points thereof In generall it is an euerlasting Gospell euen that truth which was from the beginning and which when heauen and earth passeth away shall abide for euer the immortall seede and begetting to immortality So it is called against the calumnies of nouelty and in opposition to the doctrine of men Hee preacheth to them who dwell on the earth euen in Antichrist his darkenesse aboue whose reach it is lesse maruell that this first light was yet farre remoued as a fleeing flash thorow the mids of heauen He preacheth to all Nations Kinreds Tongues and Peoples who had worshipped the Beast and of whom by restored light of the Gospell an infinite number was now to be brought out of great tribulation to sing with Palmes in hand and hauing washed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe and to be made partakers of the first resurrection the thousand yeeres being expired Chap. 20. Now the hid ones beginne to breake out and the song vnheard to bee tuned vp loudlie in the eares of all the earth therefore this Angel is said to cry loude In his speciall doctrine is the substance thereof and his manner of teaching The substance is that all feare glory and worship bee giuen to God onely and that both for auoiding his iudgements neere to bee executed and because he is creator of all things A doctrine exceeding fite for that time His manner is to bee marked in that hee vrgeth onely true worshippe not bold yet to challenge directly the Antichrist as the succeeding Angell doth roundly but more the third so wisely and plainely as the Spirit sheweth the course and the accommodation of Story is euident Now as this was the first degree of the conflict with Antichrist so accordingly in the song of victory God is praised for these same points Chapter 15. 3. 6 The second Angell roundly denounceth the fall of Rome that spirituall Babell Sodome and Egypt and that because shee had not onely beene an Idolatresse her selfe but as Ieroboam made Israel to sinne shee is the mother of Whoredomes through the world making men drinke vp superstitious worshippe greedily as wine and so to be besotted therewith To the which God both gaue ouer the world iustly in his wrath that they who would not beleeue the truth should be taken with deceiueable illusions and for which now againe the world iustly feeleth the cuppes of the last wrath As hee gaue to Israel Kings in his wrath and tooke them away in his displeasure 7 The third Angell yet more vehemently toucheth neerer Warning all to leaue the Beast his worshippe and character either in worke or profession vnder paine of eternall damnation Wherein they against whome the iudgement is denounced are exactlie noted and twise set downe in the beginning and in the end of the denunciation for speciall purpose and the quality durance and continuance of their iudgement expressed In the quality of iudgement are two First as they dranke greedily the Whores Wine so get they to drinke the pure vnmixed wine of God his wrath and next they get it in the cup of his wrath God sometimes giueth a bitter cuppe to his owne children but as strong wine for mitigation is tempered with water or sugar so are all God his chasticements to his owne mixed with mercy but to the wicked is powred out mercilesse iudgement Next the Cuppe propined to the Saints is not the Cup of wrath but of loue and medicinall but the wicked drinke out of the cuppe of wrath Lord reproue mee not in thy wrath Psal 6. 8 Now this iudgement is denounced against such as worshippe the Beast and receiue his Character c. And they are twice repeated as I haue said wherein is no Tautologie but diuine wisdome for to make vs take vp a great point In the 13. Chapter all the Beast his followers haue his Character or his name or his number whereof as I shewed there the difference is ill obserued For many haue his
large explication Chapter 15. As is most cleere by comparing the Angell stirring this to execution with that one of the foure beasts furnisher of the Vials to the seuen Angels Chapter 15. This last inciter hath this common note with the former two Angels that he commeth out of the Temple but this he hath singular that he came from the Altar So then he is a minister of the Altar by allusion still to the Temple and Legal worship Next he hath power ouer fire as Christ who came to send fire in the earth as the two Witnesses Cha. 11. and Elias out of whose mouthes fire proceeded to deuoure their aduersaries and who had power to plague the earth with all manner of plagues al 's often as they would as hauing vengeance in readinesse against all disobedience Now then as by the Angell out of the Temple armed with the sikle are expressed heere generally and summarily in this summary propositiō all faithfull Christians of whatsoeuer calling instructed with power from God to execute his wrath against the enemies which executors are more largely expressed in the seuen Angels Chapter 15. So this comming from the Altar is the type of true pastours by whose plaine and powerful preaching the other are informed and stirred to consecrate their hands to the Lord. Euen to serue Babel as shee hath serued vs. As accordingly Chapter 15. The seuen Angels receiue the vials of wrath from one of the foure beasts Of whom Chapt. 4. CHAP. XV. HEnce is the story of the last wrath for finall destruction of the enemies to the peace of the Church that the kingdoms of the world may be Gods and Christs Vpon obstinate impenitency against sixe trumpets Chapt. 9. 21. The fulfilling of this wrath was sworne to come in the daies of the seuenth trumpet Chap. 10. Vpon sounding of the seuenth trumpet summarily denounced Chap. 11. And summary executing thereof proponed Chap. 14. in the end Whereof here the larger narration hath the executers Chap. 15. Their execution in order Chapt. 16. Cleared more largely Chapters 17. 18. 19. and 20. Whereupon the gracefull condition of the Bride victorious is magnifickly set downe Chapt. 21. and 22. This whole matter is that other great signe seene in heauen to distinguish this part of story from the preceding in the last three Chapt. called also a signe in heauen This is that which Mat. 24. is called the signe of the sonne of man For hee and his iudgements now are made manifest As not inconueniently the other might be called the signe of the Dragon 2 In this Chapter from the beginning to the fifth verse is set downe the greatnesse of the erand thence to the end the disposing of the instruments for execution thereof the greatnesse of the matter is first summarily proponed in this that hee saw a signe a great yea a maruellous signe and in heauen That Chap 12. was a great signe but this is both great and wonderfull euen the signe of the sonne of man in heauen This great wonderfulnesse is shewed in the Ministers Angels their number seuen their imployment to bee executors of God his last wrath for finishing of the mysterie Chapt. 10. For his spirit would no longer striue with men vers 1. Next in the effect and end of their worke to the 5. verse Which are the destruction of Antichrist that the Saints victorious ouer him may praise God and by the greatnesse equity and truth of his iudgements manifested all men may feare glorifie and worship him who onely is holy For expressing of this effect and end the Church and her condition in and vpon this execution to follow ioyfully vpon sight of the instruments prepared precōceiuing the certaine euent is set down in the victory and song thereof In the victory are the meanes whereby and the party ouer whom The meanes are a glassie Seamingled with fire the pure word of God mingled with the vertue of the holy Ghost Chap. 4. The victory is ouer the Beast his image his marke and number of his name to shew it now full and perfit In their song are first the quality that it is a song of praise for a maruellous deliuerance and ouerthrow of a great enemie such as Moses vpon such a case did sing at the red Sea Exod. 14. Secondly it is in praise of the Lambe through whom they obtaine this victory and in whom the Father is glorified and not in praise of Moses who is the seruant of God Heb. 3. 3. Chapt. 22. 9. and 19. 10. Thirdly their disposition is noted in that they haue the harpes of God giuen by him for his praise that is well tuned hearts filled with ioy and loue in conscience of his benefits and bursting out in thanksgiuing For hee onely putteth a new song in the mouthes of his seruants Lastly the tenor of their song is in two the praise of God his works and waies and the sequell therof The praise of his workes is that they are great and maruellous according whereto hee hath a competent title Lord God almighty The praise of his waies is that they are iust and true and competently thereupon he hath the title of King of Saints In infinite authority and power yet to hold euer a iust and true way is a great praise Now the sequell hereof is that he onely be feared glorisied and worshipped of all And that for two reasons First because he onely is holy and not the Beast who sacrilegiouslie busketh his head with that blasphemie Next his iudgements are now made manifest to all so as who before worshipped and wondered after the Beast as hauing none equall or able to fight with him now in his iust and manifest ouerthrow may know and praise God only holy For Christ now sitteth on a white cloude iudging him Compare this 4. verse with the 7. of Chap. 14 and see what wisdome 3 Before wee enter in the second part in the disposing of the instruments for this great execution the interpretation giuen of the glassie Sea mingled with fire is to be cleared 4 That the glassie Sea is the type of the pure word and pure worshippe according thereto see vpon the 4. Chap. Heere the allusion is to that storie Exod. 13. and 14. When Moses and Israel with him hauing past the red Sea standing on the shore thereof and seeing Pharao and his host drowned therein they praise God singing the song of Moses c. Of this allusion while men marke not narrowlly all the points of conueniencie the place is diuersly mistaken Some taking this Sea mingled with fire to be but the type of great troubles thorow which the Church now hath escaped according to the speech Psalm 66. Thou hast brought vs thorow water and fire But this is not all whereto heere the spirit will lead vs. Others take it for the treasure of meanes which God hath euer in readinesse as before his throne to destroy his enemies But this is too generall For
close the count of these thousand yeeres the end heere mentioned and degrees of the Dragon his restraint doe clearely lead vs. Wee must not thinke that Sathan in an instant was eyther tyed vp from his rage or againe in a precise point of time let loose But both fell out by degrees From the first out going of the Gospell hee beganne in some degree to bee bound as hee complaineth of Christ that hee had come to torment him before the time And as the Gospell preuailed hee was still the more made fast But seeing the end here specified of his binding and the condition of the Church heere described vpon his restraint Make euident that this his Captiuity is not absolute but in some speciall consideration and the degrees here mentioned shew that then his vptying is to bee counted when in that consideration he is perfectly made fast as taken shut vp locked on sealed we haue to take vp that point of time when according to this end he was fully fastned I shewed before on the 12. Chapter that the Dragon his proper rage is taken for open and cruell persecuting of Christians from which he was then fully tyed vp when by Constantine his conuersion to the faith open persecution ceased and Christianity was by lawes established the Church became glorious in the eyes of all men the soules of Martyres got long white robes and seates were set vp and the Saints did sit on them c hauing iudgement giuen them For both the commemoration of Martyrs was honourable and the estate of the Church flourishing in peaceable and goodly condition and glorious account And albeit in the meane time Sathan was working by his Lieutenant the Beast whom vpon this his restraint from open rage hee sent forth then in the first sensible degrees to deceiue by false semblance and who from this point of time mightily preuailed though at first by slow scarse perceptible degrees as rising out of the earth in bringing Nations to make vp the image of the Beast which at the end of these thousand yeeres came to the top of impiety yet they liued and raigned all the while who receiued not his Character The end then here mentioned of the Dragons restraint that hee should not seduce c. must not bee taken absolutely for hee was neuer busier seducing nor with greater successe then during these thousand yeeres but seducing here must be vnderstood according as wee see hee worketh vpon his lousing againe when hee falleth to that same kinde of seduction from which first hee was bound vp that is to seduce Nations to compasse the Tents of Saints and the beloued City Euen to set them againe vpon violent and furious persecution by sword and fire as he was a murtherer from the beginning and as in that men most bewray themselues to bee the children of their father the Diuell From this rage hee was bound vp when by the two wings of that great Eagle the woman escaped to her place from the presence of the Dragon he beeing chained from comming at her now extolled with wings And the degrees here set downe of binding inclosing shutting vpon and sealing shew euidently that the count is to be taken vp from the full and perfect point of his Captiuity For from that time hee had no louse chain for open rage In Iulian he was not so much loused as biting the chain Who besides his short abode neuer durst fall directly to murthering of Christians the persecutions of Constantius and Valens were partiall heates vnder profession euen that bloud that was mingled with haile and fire Chapter 8. 10 Now as wee haue the point of time of his perfect fermance which is the 300. yeere of Christ or therby so this leadeth vs to the point of his loosing the 1300. yeere or thereby and the conueniency of story is cleare for although as by degrees hee was fastned so by degres hee was loosed againe yet wee shall find as at the first point the full degree of his binding so at this time him fully loosed In the Pontificality of Gregory the seuenth he had a long chaine which yet was further raxed in that of Vrban the second and his Successors kindlers of that tragicall and superstitious warre for recouery of Ierusalem But for the end here spoken of open cruelty against Saints hee was fully loused in the Pontificality of Boniface the eighth and his successors from whose times haue beene bloudy persecutions and cruell rage Then the woman beganne to returne from the wildernes the witnesses to steppe out of the Temple the little booke eaten to giue hearts and eyes to apply the reede and so to discerne the Temple from the Court then the first of these three Angels Chapter 14. beganne to breake out through the midst of Heauen and the other two in course followed so as then they were blessed who died in the Lord and then was the patience of Saints The Beast his mouth then being perceiued and so the semblance of the Lambs horns no more able to beare him out the Dragon behooued come againe in roome to maintaine his owne throne to represse by rage what by hypocrisie could not be kept downe Then the two witnesses lay slaine in the streetes of the great City all Nations being seduced to slay them and reioyce ouer them Then the Beast which was carst spotted like a Pard becommeth of the Dragons colour and the Whore born vp by him is drunke with the bloud of Saints from that time what cruell murther of Christians was vnder the odious names of Waldenses Albingenses Fraterculi Beghardi c. And since what fiers what bloud sheds what monstrous complots for extirpation of the truth haue beene practised is too well known 11 In this rage though for a time the Dragon deborded yet praised bee God by successe of the Gospell and fire from heauen hee is in making fast the second time in an euerlasting chaine Therefore it is said that hee should be loused but a short space For they are faine to relent of their open murthering and burning are now in God his iustice getting measure for measure 12 The time then of these thousand yeeres is from the first open and sensible steppes of the mystery of iniquity working on to the quickning of the Beast which fell together with this binding vp of the Dragon to the toppe of that impiety when it came to the highest degree And this is the onely time in all this prophesie to bee taken definitely because of Antichrist his whole working which was in way euen from the Apostolike times first by hid and insensible and next by open steppes towards the height from which height againe as by degrees it arose so by degrees it must vanish no precise or exact time could be set downe but yet to giue vs sufficient clearenesse the holy Ghost putteth the time from the first beginning of open working to the