and that the number of these so fallen from the Beast is no lesse then seven thousand And this was the effect of the great earth-quake And in the earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven This remnant here spoken of are distinct from the Witnesses whether they be such as were for the Beast or others they are not of the Witnesses but were some that were affrighted at the Witnesses having a spirit of life from God put upon them and their standing upon their feet and therefore not of them but some others and they were not of the seven thousand neither because they are said to be the remnant or the residue So then the meaning of this clause is this that the raising up of the Witnesses in such an eminent manner to the shaking of great Babylon did so work upon the residue of people as were not of the Witnesses nor of the seven thousand as that either they were affrighted at it or had their mouths opened to glorifie God in it or both And thus it was in the year 1645. the generality of people both in the Kingdome and in others that either saw or heard of the great things God did for the Saints were either affrighted and amazed at it or else did glorifie God in working so wonderfully as he did for when God did worke so wonderfully and beyond expectation in giving victory upon victory and successe upon successe unto his people so as they seemed to be as them that dreamed I say when God did thus then the generality of people did admire and acknowledge God in it and give him the glory of it They glorified the God of heaven that had done such great things in such an unexpected manner and in so short a time And thus the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven Verse 14. The second woe is past and behold the third woe cometh quickly In the 8. Chapter at the 13. verse it is said That an Angel did flie thorow the midst of heaven saying with a loud voice woe woe woe to the inhabiters of the earth by reason of the other voices of the trumpet of the three Angels which are yet to sound And at the 9. Chapter in the former part of that Chapter there being a description of a great judgement of God upon wicked men such as had not the seal of God in their fore-heads at the 12. verse it is said One woe is past and behold there come two woes more hereafter And now upon the resurrection of the Witnesses which brings in such a great earth-quake at the same hour with it which gives such a terrible blow to Babylon and the Beast it is said in this verse That the second woe is past and the third woe cometh quickly So that there remaineth one great woe more to come upon the inhabiters of the earth And what this woe is which is to come now quickly upon the inhabiters of the earth wil be appears in the following verses of this Chap. as the taking off the Kingdoms of this world from the Beast and from all others to be subjected only to our Lord and his Christ for him to raign over them for ever and ever c. and now that the Witnesses are risen this is to be expected and that quickly and that to the great joy of all Saints and to the casting down of all their enemies that are implacable And thus much for the Explication of that part of the Chapter which at this time I intended to treat of I now come to draw some Deducations from it wherewith I shall conclude this Treatise The Application THese verses being thus opened many profitable Deductions doe arise there-from But I shall passe by some of them and be as brief as I may in others that are points fully and sweetly held forth by others in other Treatises because I shall take liberty to be more large in some things that are not as yet clearly held forth in print by any other that I have heard of Deduction 1. That Deduction that first in order arises from the first verse is a word of Comfort for all afflicted Saints and the word of Comfort for such is this That all their afflictions whatever they be are measured out unto them by their God who hath a tender love unto them and care over them in their affliction The Saints of God who are his Temple and the holy and beloved City we see here are measured out unto an afflicted sad condition and their afflictions come not at randome nor according to the will of their enemies no but they are measured unto affliction and their enemies could have no power over them but that they were by their God given unto the Gentiles to be troden under foot otherwise it could not have been possible for the Gentiles to have troden them under foot Now since it is Gods act towards his people it must needs be for their good and therefore Paul speaking of the afflictions and the sufferings that Saints undergoe speaks of it as their priviledge Phil. 1. 29. Vnto you it is given in the behalf of Christ not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his sake And the holy Ghost in the Prophesie of Micah speaks of the rod of affliction as of the food of the people of God Micah 7. 14. Feed thy people with thy rod the flock of thine heritage which dwell solitarily in the wood And as in Micah God is said to feed his people with his rod so he is said to comfort them with his rod for saith David Psal 23. 4. Thy rod and thy staffe they comfort me And therefore let Saints in an afflicted condition be comforted in this consideration That their affliction what ever it be is that which comes not by chance as men use to say nor according to the wils of men but their God hath dispenced it out unto them who doth it in great wisdome and great love and gives them out affliction as their priviledge as their food and for their comfort O therefore let poor souls in affliction be no more cast down and walk no more heavily nor goe mourning all the day long no more because of their afflictions but walk comfortably under afflictions because they come from a loving God who hath appointed them thereunto 1 Thes 3. 3. Deduction 2. In the second place it serves to enforme us That it is of God that enemies do rise up against the Saints for we see here that the Gentiles the mystical Babylonians were by God appointed to afflict the people of God to tread the holy City under foot before ever they had a being Now as God doth in love suffer his people to be afflicted So in wrath he usually gives up wicked men to be the instruments of afflicting his people For as the sufferings of Saints worke out for them a greater weight
in sackcloth is expired First It may be some cannot receive it because they look for farther judgements to come upon this Kingdome wherein outwardly the Saints may suffer also because of the great provoking sins of this Kingdom as drunkennesse and adulteries and oaths and their entering into so many Covenants concerning religious things for which they have no sufficient warrant now in the times of the Gospel and the oppressions of the poor and meaner sort of people and the great neglect of doing justice generally c. Now to these I say That it is true that if God should deal with this Nation according to its demerits then indeed no other could be expected but an utter desolation of it that it might either swim in bloud or burn with fire untill it were consumed But First I desire you to consider That God hath a very great number of his dear Saints in this Kingdom in whom he delights and for whose sake he may and I had almost said will spare this Kingdome and spare the Cities and Towns and Counties where they are for if God would have spared Sodome for ten righteous persons we have a great ground of hope that he will spare London yea all England from a generall devastation and desolation having thousands of righteous persons in London and in all England a very great number And how many plots of wicked men wherein they endeavoured the ruine of this Kingdome hath God blasted Having such a great number of his precious jewels in it And secondly What though hâ—ere be in this Kingdome many that are great enemies to Jesus Christ yet God can by his Covenant of Grace bring many of them in to the obedience of Christ and make them of persecutors to become eminent Saints and call those his people that were not his people And why should we doubt whether he would do so since these are the times wherein he hath promised to do so and hath already begun to doe it But Thirdly If it be so that some are hardned to destruction and they are never quiet but still are plotting against the just to ruine them yet know they shall not prevail over the Saints but in opposing them shall ruine themselves Zech. 12. 3. as appears in the following Discourse Secondly Doubtfull thoughts may be in others that yet the Saints may be overcome because they see they have so many enemies abroad and at home and they are speaking great words and are still plotting against them To such I say Let them suppose that there were none that did dare to make any opposisition at all in this Kingdome but that all things went smoothly on in the hands of those that are carrying it on and if they could then beleeve that indeed God would not have his Saints in this Kingdome to be troden under foot by the Beast any more Then let them have the same faith to beleeve it now as knowing it is as easie with God to carry on this work over the mountains as over the plains and he will make the great mountain to become a plain before Zerubbabel before his people Zech. 4. 7. He can command those that are preparing warre against them to sit still and proceed no farther and put a fear upon them or if they doe goe on yet he can make it to come to nothing and to be the most effectual way to lay them lower and to raise his people higher Now if any particular man would be as sure of safety as all the Witnesses in generall are then if he be a man in any publike imploiment let him according to his place oppose the Beast and act for the welfare of all that wish well to Sion and doe justice unto all from the highest unto the lowest and be more forward to act for the meanest then for the highest Let him suppose the condition of the meanest man that seeks to him for just things to be his own condition and act for him as hee would be dealt with himself were he in that condition for thus relieving of the poor and distressed ones is most acceptable to the Lord of Sabbath and in so doing I am confident it will go well with him however it go with others Again If he be a private man let him also in his place wish well to Sion and oppose the Beast so shall he also prosper in the prosperity of Sion And now Reader who ever thou art if thou dost receive any benefit of any kinde by reading the ensuing Discourse whether of encouragement consolation information or quickning I beseech thee to return all the glory of it to the most High to whom alone it is due who for that end made use of so weak an instrument in whom if thou be a friend to the Lord Jesus Christ I am Thy friend 〈◊〉 serve thee M. Cary. Revel Chap. 11. from Vers 1. to 14. Verse 1. AND there was given me a reed like a rod and the Angel stood saying Rise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein 2. But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given unto the Gentiles and the holy City shall they tread under foot fourty and two months 3. And I will give power unto my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie a thousand two hundred and threescore days clothed in sackcloth 4. These are the two Olive-trees and the two candlesticks standing before the God of the earth 5. And if any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth and devoureth their enemies and if any man wil hurt them he must in this manner be killed 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not in the daies of their prophecy and have power over waters to turn them to bloud and to smite the earth with all plagues as often as they will 7. And when they shal have finished their testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make war against them and shall overcome them and kill them 8. And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city which spiritually is called Sodom and Aegypt where also our Lord was crucified 9. And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three daies and an half and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them and make merry and shall send gifts one to another because these two Prophets tormented them that dwelt on the earth 11. And after three daies and an half the Spirit of life from God entered into them and they stood upon their feet and great fear fell upon them which saw them 12. And they heard a great voice from heaven saying unto them Come up hither And they ascended up to heaven in a cloud and their enemies beheld them 13. And the same hour was there a great
apprehensions neither to faith nor peace nor joy nor strength but have seemed to be as unbelieving as carnal and as fleshly as ever walking heavily for a long time And that Word which hath been sweet to others that at the same time heard it hath been as nothing to them That word which hath raised the heart and strengthened the faith and inflamed the love of others hath seemed to have no effect upon them and thus some have continued weeks months nay years together and if they have had any reviving it hath been but as a morning dew and yet at last when the Fathers appointed time was come wherein he hath raised them up to joy and peace in believing and given them life vigour and strength then hath the Spirit brought to their remembrance the things which they heard many years before and then have they been wonderfully overcome and taken with it and it hath brought forth fruit abundantly in them Therefore Saints you that say you finde little or no effect the word hath upon you for the present be not thereby discouraged but goe on to reade and to hear the word still for it is a means which is often blessed to many But thirdly Is it so that it is a blessed thing to reade and hear the Word so as to keep it Then it serves to exhort all as to hear and reade the Word so to look beyond it in the frequent hearing and reading of it waiting for the coming in of the Spirit for the blessing is not pronounced upon the hearers of the Word only but such as hear it and keep it and hear it and doe it and then shalt thou hear the Word so as to keep it when the Spirit comes along with it Therefore when thou comest to hear the Word doe not rest upon the bare hearing of the Word but expect the coming of the Spirit and that thou maiest thus doe consider that there are frequent presidents in Scripture That in the hearing of the Word the Spirit hath been given as you have it Act. 10. 44. While Peter yet spake these words the holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the Word And in the second of the Acts at the 41. verse we finde that there were three thousand souls converted at the preaching of Peter And when Philip went down to Samaria and preached the Word there were by his preaching many converted both men and women as appears Acts 8. 12. There are severall other passages in the Acts to this purpose And Gal. 3. 2. saith the Apostle Received you the Spirit by the workes of the Law or by the hearing of faith Whereby it appears That the Spirit was received by the hearing of the word of faith and therfore it is that the Apostle cals the Ministery of the Gospel The ministration of the Spirit 2 Cor. 3. 8. Therefore let all be encouraged in the hearing of the Word to wait for the Spirit whereby they may not be forgetfull hearers but doers of the Word and be blessed in so doing Vse 4. And in the last place it serves to encourage all Saints to be frequent in reading of and meditating upon the book of the Revelation for there is a blessing particularly pronounced upon them that read or hear and keep the things that are written therein therefore let none be discouraged from reading those things that are written in this book because they are so hard to be understood and are more darke and mysterious than most places of Scripture It is true they are so but to encourage us to be frequent in reading of it notwithstanding the mysteriousnesse of it the holy Ghost hear pronounces a particular blessing to it which is a speciall encouragement to incite us to the reading of it And there is also another encouragement in these words For the time is at hand And now if we be desirous to be informed of the things that concern the present time then let us look diligently into the book of the Revelation for this word The time is at hand hath held true and doth and shall hold true in all ages and times even until the glorious appearing of Jesus Christ to judge the quick and the dead when all shall appear before the judgement seat of Christ for there hath been no age since the delivery of it in which it might not be said The time is at hand that is The time is come in which some part or other of it hath been fulfilling for at the time when this Revelation was given to John then was fulfilling that which is spoken concerning the seven Churches and soon after that which was to be done in the opening of the seals began to be fulfilled which is not yet fully accomplished and about four hundred year after Johns time began that to be fulfilled which is spoken of concerning the rising of the beast and what is revealed concerning the actions of the beast and the pouring out of the viols upon the beast hath been since that and now is a fulfilling and what is spoken concerning the totall ruine of the beast and the happy deliverance of the Saints and the glorious state of the Church after deliverance shall be hereafter fulfilled So that still it might and now and hereafter it may be said of the prophecy of this book The time is at hand therefore it concernes us to be frequently looking into it and diligently to observe the things that are written therein And now since the following Discourse is on a part of the book of the Revelation let these two motives which here you have to stirre you up to the reading of the whole book as that it is a blessed thing and it concerns the present time incite you to the reading and the serious consideration of what is herein delivered concerning the exact accomplishment of some of the things contained in this book which comes now to be spoken of AN EXPOSITION VPON Part of the eleventh Chapter OF THE REVELATION The Exposition of the first Verse And there was given unto me a reed like unto a rod IN the 21. Chapter of this book at the 15. verse when the holy City was put into a delivered enlarged raised condition there is mention made of a golden reed wherewith it was to be measured But here is not a golden reed but a reed like unto a rod importing that it is a chastized and afflicted depressed low condition into which it was at this time to be put and that it was indeed so appears in what follows And the Angel stood saying This Angel chap. 10. 1. is thus described And I saw a mighty Angel come down from heaven cloathed with a cloud and a rain-bow was upon his head and his face was as it were the Sunne and his feet as pillars of fire This description resembles that which is given of Jesus Christ Chap. 1. 15 16. by which it appears That this Angel here spoken of is Jesus Christ It is
strangers to it such as were a far off as such as were enemies to the Temple and would have the Temple ruined and laid wast But note though the difference between Jewes and Gentiles since the daies of the Gospel be taken away and the Gentiles as well as the Jewes may now be of the Church of God if they be built upon the Lord Jesus yet the word Gentiles is heer used to expresse those that were not of the Church nor of the Temple but would have the Temple ruined And as the Babylonians of old had the Temple for a while given unto them So now Jesus Christ gives his spirituall Temple into the hands of these Gentiles the mysticall Babylonians for a while And the holy City This title the holy City we finde in Scripture is first given unto the City of Jerusalem the City wherein the materiall Temple was scituate as appears Matth. 37. 3. where it is said at the death of our Saviour That the graves were opened and many bodies of the Saints which slept arose and came out of the graves after his resurrection and went into the holy City and appeared unto many Which City it is evident was the City of Jerusalem And indeed Jerusalem was then accounted a City more holy then others because it was the place wherein men ought in a more especiall manner to worship God And therefore saies the woman of Samaria Ye say in Jerusalem is the place where men ought to worship And our Saviour doth not contradict this for indeed it is out of all contradiction that Jerusalem had been the place where men ought to worship for God had placed his name there and there he would be worshiped because the Temple was there wherein was his speciall presence So that in this respect Jerusalem was once a more holy City then others But when the cause was taken away the effect ceased when Jerusalem ceased to be the place where men were enjoined to worship God and God had removed his special presence from the Temple then Jerusalem was no more holy then another place And because that Jerusalem was to cease to be the place of worship and the holy place therefore it is that our Saviour Iohn 4. 21 23. saith The hour commeth when ye shall neither in the mountain of Samaria nor yet at Jerusalem worship the Father but the true worshippers shall worship the Father in Spirit and in truth for the Father seeketh such to worship him As if he had said Jerusalem shall not be the place of worship men shall not worship God there for if men doe perform Jerusalem worship that is worship with that worship that hath respect to an outward place it shal be accounted as no worship no men shall not worship in Jerusalem but such as worship the Father must worship him with an inward Spiritual worship and in truth that is in the Son in the Spirit and in the Son and such the Father seeks to worship him such he is now a seeking out both of Jews and Gentiles and such worship is most pleasing unto him So that Jerusalem had once the title of the holy City It was once the place wherein God was worshipped but it is now ceased to be so But secondly This title The holy City is given in Scripture unto that City of which that Jerusalem of old was a figure and that is the Saints and people of God who are all citizens of the holy City And therefore Paul writing to the Saints at Ephesus saith he Ephes 2. 19. Ye are no more strangers and forreigners but fellow citizens with the Saints and of the houshold of God And that Jerusalem of old was a figure of this Holy City appears Hebr. 12. 22. and Gal. 4. 26. where the Saints are called by the name of Jerusalem only they are differenced from the material Jerusalem in that they are called The heavenly Jerusalem and Jerusalem which is above Now that this Heavenly Jerusalem which is compacted of Saints and Sanctified ones and therefore must needs be a Holy City I say that this Spirituall Jerusalem hath this title The holy City given to it doth appear Revel 21. 2. And I John saw the holy City new Jerusalem comming down from God out of Heaven prepared as a bride adorned for her husband Who is the spouse the bride that is adorned for her husband Jesus Christ but his Saints They then are the new and heavenly Jerusalem they are the holy City And the holy City shall they that is the Gentiles fore-spoken of tread under foot To be trouden under foot by an enemy is the highest kinde of insultation of an enemy over a people that possibly can be for what greater contempt and scorn and envy can an enemy expresse then by treading a person or a people under feet And yet this is the condition the Church was put into which is spoken of in the prophesie of Isaiah Chap. 51. 23. where it was said that those enemies that afflicted the Saints Said to their Souls bow down that we may goe over and their bodies was laid as the ground and as the streets to them that went over And this is the condition which the holy City the Temple of God his precious Saints are here also appointed unto even to be trod under foot to be depressed and greatly persecuted to be bowed down under the feet of their enemies to be made as the ground and as the street to them to goe over Querie But now before I proceed any further the Querie will be What those Gentiles are in particular to whom the Temple and the holy City was to be given and by whom they were to be trodden under foot For as Jerusalem and the Temple of old were given to the Babylonians in particular so the question is now Who the particular enemies are to whom the Temple and the holy City now are delivered For though the holy City hath many enemies yet she is not given to them all Answ I Answer Though in this Chapter there be no other description of them but only this the Gentiles yet we have a large description of them in three severall Chapters of this prophesie which descriptions as they lie I shall here incert The first is Rev. 12. 3. 4. And there appeared another wonder in Heaven and behold a great red Dragon having seaven heads and ten horns and seven Crowns upon his heads and his tail drew a third part of the Stars of Heaven and did cast them to the earth The second place in which the enemies of the Saints to whom they are given for a while are described is Rev. 13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8. verses which is as followes And I stood upon the sand of the Sea and saw a Beast rise up out of the Sea having seven heads and ten horns and upon his horns ten Crowns and upon his head the name of blasphemy And the Beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard and his
that had a spirit of life from God put upon you in the year 1645. whereby life was put into all the Witnesses and whereby you were inabled to act like living men men that had a life from God in the overcoming the Beast and his adherents in this Kingdom and seeing you have been instruments of defending that cause ever since I say seeing God hath honoured you so as to make you such eminent instruments of this great worke and the hearts of all the Saints in England are generally knit unto you and the eyes of all the Saints in England are upon you most Noble General and Worthy Commanders here is I say special encouragement for you to goe on still to improve the power that God hath given you for the same end for which it was given you viz. The suppressing of the Beast and defending all the Saints and servants of Jesus Christ in this Kingdome and to goe on having the honour of Jesus Christ and not your own and publike good more then private ends in your eye and in your heart to endeavour to cause justice and righteousnesse to abound in this Kingdome and this is your encouragement that in so doing as you have alwaies been since 1645. So you shall ever be conquerours in all the battles you fight and overcomers of all the enemies with whom you encounter no weapon that is formed against you shall prosper nor no enemy shall be able to stand before you yea though all the people of the Earth should be gathered together against you yet you should be but as a burthensome stone unto them and all that burden themselves with you should be broken in pieces And thirdly Here is speciall encouragement for all the Saints in England in generall to be of good courage not to fear the menaces or threatnings of any enemy for no enemy shall ever any more prevail over them Now what I say for the encouragement of the Parliament and of the Generall and chief Commanders of the Army in particular and of all the Saints in England in generall is clearly grounded in the Scripture and therefore is it unquestionable and to be received and observed of the Parliament Army and Saints in England Indeed if I should declare any thing to you and tell you that I had it by vision or revelation and it were not apparent in Scripture I know no warrant you had to receive it or to have any confidence of it For as Paul speaking of the day of Christ saith to the Thessalonians Now we beseech you by the comming of the Lord Jesus Christ and by our gathering unto him that you be not soon shaken in minde nor be troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter as from us as that the day of Christ is at hand Let no man deceive you by any means for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first c. So may I say you have reason to beware that you be not soon shaken in minde or troubled neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter from any concerning any thing for which they doe not bring a word from the Scripture and let no man deceive you for you may be deluded and deceived if you receive any thing from any which is not according to what is revealed in the Scripture as the young Prophet was deluded by the old Prophet when he received that Doctrine which was contrary to the Word of the Lord which before he had received So may you if you should so doe Therefore if a Prophet or an Apostle or an Angel from heaven should bring any message which is not consonant unto the Word which you have already received in the Scripture you are not to be shaken in minde nor to be troubled by it nor to imbrace it But now the Scripture grounds upon which I doe for their encouragement declare and affirme That the Parliament and the Army in prosecuting the righteous cause of the Saints and that all the Saints of England in generall shall all overcome their enemies and go on victoriously hence forward are these First Because the Witnesses are raised from the dead The Spirit of life from God is entered into them and they do stand upon their feet Secondly Because England is fallen from Rome and is no more a tenth part of that great mystical Babylon Thirdly Because the one thousand two hundred and threescore years in which the Beast was to tread the holy City under foot did expire in 1645. Now the first of these grounds is evidently drawn from Scripture as appears in the explicatory part of this Discourse where it is evident That that great and considerable number of Saints in England and all reall Saints of Jesus Christ of whom it is said That the Beast should make warre against them and overcome them and that they should lie dead three years and an half the Spirit of life from God should enter into them and they should stand upon their feet to the fear of their enemies and to the glory of their God And it is evident that this which this Scriptrre hath said of them is punctually come to passe The Beast did make warre against all Saints in making warre against that great number of the Saints in England in the late warre the Beast did overcome them and kill them and they were mystically dead for three years and an halfe and as soon as the three yeares and an halfe were compleatly expired the Spirit of life from God entered into them a Spirit of life vigour and courage was put upon them and they did no longer lie as dead men but like living men they stood upon their feet to the fear and amazement of their enemies and to the glory of their God who had put such a Spirit of vigour and courage upon them And now upon this ground may all the Saints in England and those Worthies in the Parliament of England and their Army who have been instruments of bringing down the power of the Beast in England be encouraged to continue opposing the Beast and acting justly and righteously toward all and be assured God having put a Spirit of life upon them and made them to stand upon their feet they shall overcome every enemy that shall rise up against them and the enemie in no battle shall be able to stand before them nor give them one defeat but shall fall before them and bee cut downe as mowne grasse and the men of warre shall not finde their hands but turne their backs and flee before them for they shall now finde them living men such as have a Spirit of life from God put upon them The second ground upon which I affirme That no enemy shall be ever able to prevail over them is clear in Scripture For it is also evident in the Explicatory part of this Discourse That England is that tenth part of the Citie which the holy Ghost in this Scripture speaks of
earth-quake and the tenth part of the City fell and in the earth-quake were slain of men seven thousand and the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of heaven 14. The second woe is past and behold the third woe cometh quickly The Preamble FRom these verses I desire as the Lord shall enable me to declare that which God hath discovered to me For I hope that it may be as advantagious to others as it hath been to my own soul But though the publication of what appears to me in these verses be that which I chiefly aim at yet being prest in spirit to give forth some meditations from the Preamble of this Book which Preamble is contained in the three first verses of the first Chapter of this book of the Revelation I cannot but here insert it as a Preamble to the following discourse also though it may be it may not seem in the eyes of some so pertinent The three verses are as follows 1. The Revelation of Jesus Christ which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to passe and he sent and signified it by his Angel unto his servant John 2. Who bare record of the word of God and of the testimony of Jesus Christ and of all things that he saw 3. Blessed is he that readeth and they that hear the words of this prophecy and keep those things which are written therein for the time is at hand In these verses is contained these five particulars First The subject matter of this book Secondly The reason of the divulgation of this book Thirdly The instruments of the divulgation of this book Fourthly The fruitfulnesse of those instruments in the divulging this book Fifthly The pronunciation of a blessing upon the persons that reade or hear the words of this book The first particular contained in these verses is the subject matter of this book and that it exprest in these words The Revelation of things that must shortly come to passe The word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ From whence this is the Observation Observ 1. That the whole book of the Revelation is a Revelation declaration or manifestation of the minde of God about the things which were to come to passe shortly after the revealing of it which Revelation is the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ This point being so evident and clear in the Text I shall not produce any further proofs of it because I intend brevity but immediately proceed to the Deductions which flow from it which are these If this book be a Revelation or Declaration of the minde of God about the things which were shortly to come to passe then it is our duty to observe how God hath brought to passe the things which he did pre-declare he would bring to passe that so we may glorifie God in his omnisciency in fore-seeing and fore-knowledge of all things and in his omnipotency in bringing the things to passe which he did fore-appoint to bring to passe that he can doe all things and nothing can hinder him from bringing all things to passe according to the counsel of his own will When Saints doe most diligently observe the works which God brings to passe according to what he hath pre-declared in his word then do they most answer the end for which God did before reveal these things which was that he might be admired and magnified by his people in bringing all things to passe according to his word shewing that he is God alone for none else can declare things to come as the eternal God doth But how can Saints have experience of this but by comparing his Word and works together Therefore it is the duty of Saints frequently so to do So much of the first Secondly Is this book of the Revelation the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ then we are hereby informed That it is warrantable for us to call that which is a Revelation of the minde of God the word of God We see John cals it so and why may not we I the rather speak of this because some have affirmed That nothing may be called the Word of God but Jesus Christ because it is a title the Scripture gives to him as John 1. 1. In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God And vers 14. The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory the glory as of the only begotten Son of God full of grace and truth And 1 Joh. 5. 7. For there are three that bare record in heaven the Father the Word and the holy Ghost and these three are one And Revel 19. 13. And he was cloathed with a vesture dipt in bloud and his name is called The word of God and the armies that were in heaven followed him upon white horses c. But let these know that though in these places that title The word of God is given to Jesus Christ he being the essential word of God which is the reason why this title is given to him Yet that the Spirit of God gives this title also to the Scripture to the written word the word which is the Revelation of the minde of God as appears here and in other places as Jer. 2. 1. Moreover the word of the Lord came unto me saying Go and cry in the ears c. And vers 4. Hear ye the word of the Lord O house of Jacob and all the families of the house of Israel And Jer. 7. 2. Stand in the gates of the Lords house and proclaim there this word saying Hear the word of the Lord all ye of Judah that enter in at these gates to worship the Lord. Thus saith the Lord of host the God of Israel amend your waies c. And Jer. 14. 1. The word of the Lord that came to Jeremiah concerning the dearth c. And Jer. 30. 1 2. The word that came to Jeremiah from the Lord saying Thus speaketh the Lord God of Israel saying Write all the words that I have spoken unto thee in a book And severall like passages to these we have as in Ezekiel 6. 1. and 7. 1. and 12. 1. and 16. 1. and Hos 1. 1. and 4. 1. And the like we have also in Joel Jonah Micah Zechary and the rest of the Prophets where it is clear That that which was the Revelation or manifestation of the minde of God concerning the waies in which he would have his people to walk or the things which he was about to doe whether of bringing a dearth upon a people or any other judgement or the doing of them good This title is given to it The word of God So that it is clear that this title may be given to the written Word the Scripture both by all the fore-cited places besides many others that might have been cited to the same effect and also in the text where this book of
indeed the Lord Jesus Christ that doth order and dispose all things in and concerning his Church and all things in the world and therefore it is that all power is given unto him in heaven and earth Mat. 28. He is the King of the holy hill of Sion Psalm 2. And he must rule the Nations with a rod of iron and break them in peeces like a Potters vessel and he must raign untill he have put all his enemies under his feet Rise and measure The Lord Jesus doth not leave his people in the hand of enemies nor under the rod of the wicked in a carelesse manner as if he did not care how much they were given up to the hand of the enemies no but they are measured out to affliction and so far as they are measured out unto it so far shall they be under affliction and no farther So God measured Job to affliction All that he hath is in thy power only upon himself put not forth thine hand Job 1. 12. and again Behold he is in thine hand but save his life The wicked shall not goe a hairs-breadth beyond the measure Jesus Christ hath such a tender respect unto all his people in their sufferings that they shall have no more then need 1 Pet. 1. 6. Measure the Temple The word Temple in the old Testament is used only for that House that Solomon built in Jerusalem unto the Lord which was called the Temple of the Lord it being the place wherein God was in a speciall manner present and wherein he would in a speciall manner be worshipped But in the new Testament it is used first for the Church the Saints of God of which that Temple was a figure for as God was in a speciall manner present in that Temple so he is in a speciall manner present in his people And so we have it 2 Cor. 6. 16. For ye are the temple of the living God as God hath said I will dwell in them and walk in them and I will be their God and they shall be my people 1 Cor. 6. 19. What know ye not that your bodies are the Temple of the holy Ghost which is in you c. and thus the word Temple in the new Testament is used for the Saints as the Temple was a figure of them as they have a speciall presence of God in them Which is likewise spoken of Isay 66. 1 2. Thus faith the Lord the Heaven is my Thron and the Earth is my foot-stool where is the house that ye build unto me and were is the place of my rest for all these things hath my hand made and all these things have been saith the Lord but to this man will I look even unto him that is poor and of a contrite spirit and that trembleth at my word So that he that is of a poor and of a contrite spirit and trembleth at the word of God shall be the house the Temple of God As we have it also Isay 57. 15. But secondly The word Temple in the new Testament as it is used for those in whom there is a speciall presence of God so it is used to signify that means by which knowledge and instrustion is given out as the Temple of old was the place where people were to receive instruction and knowledge And in this sense it is used Rev. 21. 22. And I saw no Temple therein for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the Temple of it This is spoken of the new Jerusalem of that glorious state the Church shall be in when they shall be all taught of God from the greatest to the least Now the word Temple heer in the Text doth signify these Eirst It signifies the Saints of God as they are they in whom God in a speciall manner dwels And Secondly It signifies the Ordinances and means whereby knowledge is dispensed and instruction is received for it is the Saints that are as lights in the World and they both instuct the ignorant and edify one another especially when they are congregated assembled together to worship God according to his own will and to prophesy to edify one another The Temple of God and the Alter and them that worship therein It clearly appears in these words that the word Temple heer includes the Saints both as they are an habitation of God through the spirit and so are his Temple and as they are being assembled together the means of instruction and increasing knowledge and doe worship God aright For least the word Temple should not be full enough to expresse this it is added And the Altar which in the Temple was the place where they worshipped God and them that worship therein Not only the place of worship but the worshippers So that this takes in all Saints as they are a Temple as their assemblies are the place wherein God is worshipped and instruction is given and received and as they are worshippers as Saints worshipping God and possessing God Verse 2. But the Court that is without the Temple The Court is said to be without the Temple as of old the Court was without the Temple and was a more common place not so holy as any part of the Temple was so that the Court heer being without the Temple it is some outside thing it is no part of the Temple Now it being apparent that Saints onely are the Temple of God this Court heer mentioned though it seem to be neer the Temple yet is not the Temple is none of the Saints but some outside professors that seem to the outward eye to be near to Saints as the Court was near to the Temple yet they are not of that holy place they are but an outside they are without the Temple But the Court that is without the Temple leave out or cast out and measure it not Though Jesus Christ have a tender care of his Saints under affliction and they are measured out to the chastisement appointed to them yet hath he no such respect unto such as are not his Though they are professors Though they seem to be near the Temple yet if they be not the Temple though they do professe him yet if they do not possesse him as the Temple doth they must be left out cast out of the care of Jesus Christ But the Court that is without the Temple cast out and measure it not Jesus Christ will not own that as his and therefore it must not be measured For it It was the Temple and the Altar and them that worshipped therin that was measured out to chastisement So then it was it that was to be given unto the Gentiles by measure so that this word for it may be read thus for the Temple Is given unto the Gentiles The word Gentiles in the old Testament when the Temple was in its glory was used to expresse such as were not of the Church of God for the Israelites only were accounted the Church all others were looked upon as