Gospel going forth Rev. 14.15 should bring in a great Harvest to God and mightily increase the number of the Witnesses Shall see their dead bodies The word in the Greek doth import Rationem habere they shall have some cover over them as make their enemies affraid to proceed to great cruelties against them their enemies happily would starve them and their families but their friends will feed them their Enemies would banish them totally destroy them bury them under ground but the friends of the Witnesses will not suffer their persons nor names to be so dealt withal And their Enemies may see their interest so great in the hearts and affections of the people kindreds and tongues as may give some check to their violence for the wound being yet fresh and affayrs not well setled happily their Enemies would be loth to make them desperate or at least it may so come to pass by the secret favour and endeavour of some great person or persons things shall not be so carried against the Witnesses as there shall be no hope of a Resurrection Three days and an half i. e. three years and a half but here is to be noted the time here to be computed is not the killing but the time they shall iye dead and without life after they are killed but how long the war lasts Quam diu entem bellum ipsum durabit quantu â—â—que tempus dabitur prophetis interficiendis non nisi vaticinii complementum docebit Mede and how long time shall be given for the killing of the witnesses the fulfilling of the Propehcy will best tell us Verse 10. And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce ever them and make merry and send gifts one to another c. Of the manner of sending gifts in great rejoycings see Ester 9.19 20. They joy now they are rid of and avenged of these Witnesses who vexed and troubled their consciences As upon the news of the French massacre which begun on Bartholmew day a Jubilee was proclaimed at Rome the Cardinal of Lorain gave a thousand crowns to the messenger and the Pope caused the massacre to be painted in his Palace So no doubt such an eminent civil slaughter in Protestant Churches must needs fill all the Popish world with rejoycings and longs of triumph the Bestian party then accounting the day theirs and that they have obtained a compleat victory Further note the Beasts or Beastian parties triumph for three days and a half must necessarily be computed and estimated not from the end of the slaughter in all the Churches but from the slaughter that shall be in that Church wherein the Prophets shall be last slain Neither can we imagine it to be otherwise unless we should furmise the slaughter of the Prophets to end in all the Churches at once which to be done in so many several States and Nations at once is hardly possible But this joy of the Inhabitants of the earth i. e. the Antichristian world is but short for v. 14. there is a wo Trumpet co Antichrist and all his Creatures and Confederates and all the enemies of the Saints threatning the last and worst of woful destructions to them Wo saith Christ to them that laugh for they shall weep Thus much of the War against killing and the lying dead of the Witnesses Now of their Resurrection Ascention and the consequents thereof in the 11th and following verses Verse 11. And after three days and a half the Spirit of life from God entered into them c. Here beginneth now the third Period Period 3. where the enemies of the Gospel are quelled and therewith doth break forth the true peace and tranquillity of the Church When these three days or three years and a half come to an end then also together therewith do expire the forty two months of treading the holy City under foot ver 2. The 120 and 60 days of the Witnesses prophecying in sackcloth vers 3. The 1200 and 60 days of the woman in the wilderness chap. 12.6 the forty two months of the Beast and his blasphemies c. 13.5 The times time and half a time which is 1200 and 60 days of the Beast with ten hornes speaking great words against the most High and wearing out the Saints mentioned in the book of Daniel chap 7.21.12.6 But to come to the Text After three days and a half the spirit of life c. Such as the death of the Witnesses was such will be their resurrection from the dead viz. a restoring them to their former state and that not so much by any endeavour of their own or by any humane help as by the finger of God who is wonderful in all his works So much is intimated in these words The Spirit of life from God shall enter into them We have such an expression concerning the lews in the Captivity of Babylon I will put my Spirit within you and ye shall live and I will place you in your own land The same will befall he slain Witnesses God will lend them an unexpected help by such means as never entred into any mans mans thoughts God will revive them again And they stood upon their feet i.e. they appear again in the publick Congregations not as hearers onely but as Masters of the Assemblies and take possession of their places and publickly exercise their ministerial Office they are unbound and loosed from their grave-cloaths as Luzarus was when he came forth and stood upon their feet they are delivered from the bonds and cords and heavy yokes of humane laws and constitutions that killed them and kept them dead and hindred their resurrection And great fear fell upon them that saw them i.e. as there was great joy and exultation among the Beastian party at then killing and lying dead so there will be great terror when they shall fee this resurrection of the Witnesses to their former places and functions then will there be a lively example set before us of that which is written in the book of Wisdom chap. 5. Verse 12. And they heard a great voyce from heaven soying Come up hither That is The Witnesses are not onely restored to their former place and station but they are raised up to some higher degree of honour for so saith Mede their being taken up by a cloud into heaven signifies See Dan. 7.13 Isa 14.13 and 19. They shall be called up by the supreme Magistrate to higher honor and esteem then before And they ascend up to heaven i.e. they enter into their publick charges in the Church heaven and perform their ministry with great authority And their enemies beheld them i.e. they that did so before rejoyce at their sufferings wherein is verified concerning them what is threatned Jer. 50.11 to 13. Verse 13. And the same hour there was a great earthquake and the tenth part of the City fell and there were slain in the earthquake the names of men seven thousand At what time the Witnesses or Prophets ary
body of this Prophecy now in order to this ponder and weigh advisedly two things First The Scope or Intent of the Book Secondly The Synchronisms or the contemporaneousness of the Prophesies therein how the Visions therein run parallel one with another and what an acurate harmony and sweet consent there is among them in respect of time First Eye and observe intentively the scope of the Book that is the common time and Period whereunto all the particular Prophecies and passages in the Revolation do joyntly run and wherein they do ultimately determine For this is the Pole-stâ—â— and compass we must steer by the chief mark or white which must be aymed and levelled at in interpreting this whole book and all the mysterious visions therein contained Like an accurate Archer therefore keep the eye of thy judgement fixed stedfastly on the Scope that so far as possible thou shoot not wide not short nor over Now the Scope or intent of the Revelation 1. Parts of the book is more generally to make known to the Apostle John and by John to the Churches the present things that then were when the Revelation was given and the future things that should be afterwards from Johns time to the end of the World as the title of the Book intimates Rev. 1.1.1.19 2. More particularly Jesus Christ intends in this Book to declare the future condition of the Christian Religion and Churches of the Gentiles especially the European Churches the remaines of the Roman Empire and the Tyrannical dominion of Antichrist those singular subject matters of this book extending themselves in Europe peculiarly or as another learned writer expresseth it to the same purpose Christ intends in this book to describe the state of the Church in the New â—â—â—ament The Arocal vp is a Prophefie of the destruction of the Roman Empire not only as Heathenish but as Christian when as it were it was paganised again and persecuting the Church Mr. Thomas Goodwin in his Sermon before the Parliament 1645. and also the things that shall come to pass in the Roman Empire or the fourth Monarchy under which the Church of God doth subsist and that in divers remarkable Periods of events Now this description comprehends three Periods or three sorts of times The first Period containes the time of the Dragon the time in which the seven Crowns stood upon the seven heads of the Dragon Rev. 12.3 when the Dragon himself under the heathenish Emperors was publiquely adored and worshiped but the Christians banished persecuted and put to cruel death till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial Seat whereby the raign of the Dragon came to an end for he throws down all both Idol-worship and Princes that upheld it So the Dragon was cast out of the Church Heaven the whole Empire turning Christian though as one well said the Devil did not thâ—â— turn Christian for he stirred up thâ—â—â—â—rian Christian world to persecute the Orthodox Christians as much as Heathen Rome had done yet notwithstanding the Church prevailed was built up and triumphed until after the death of the good Emperor Theodesins at which time the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his Host his residence and seat with his great authority unto the beast with ten horns that rose out of the Sea Cap 13.1 2. The second period comprehends the time of Antichrists raign Period 2. or the time in which the Pope of Rome as the Antichrist and enstalled Leiutenant of the Dragon Blasphemeth God and his name and persecutes his Saints for the space of 1200 and 60 days Rev. 13. Which God hath permitted as a scourge to Arrian Rome when the Dragon was overcome and cast out of the Church Heaven he did cast out of his mouth Water as a flood after the Woman Rev. 12.15 i.e. he stirred up the Septentrional Nations to invade the Roman Empire So Brightman Deed. Piscator I unius intending thereby to root out and destroy the Church but the earth swallowed up the flood in regard these Nations embruned the Christian faith Some by the flood understand Heresies especially Arrianism overflowing the Christian world and so interprers the earth to be the multitude of Christians mer in general Councels who defending the true faith overthrew and drank up these heresies as dry ground drinketh up water remaining in the Roman Empire and erected several Kingdomes in it Seeing then the Dragon saw that he could not maintain the Heathenism wherein be was openly worshipped and served he resigneth to the Beast which riseth up out of the Sea Rev. 13.7 and is ridden and governed by the great whore of Babylon Rev. 133. c. that is to the Antichrist who in the time of these wars doth creep out in the Roman Empire his power and his seat and great authority Cap. 13. vers 2. And so makes him his Vicar and Lieutenant by giving over to him his Seat and Residence the City of Rome and the whole Roman Empire whence it came to pass that about the time the Bishops of Rome began to seek to have the primacy and preeminence both in Church and State as Innocentius the first did in the year say some 402. others 406. The Dragon doth resign to his Lieutenant 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The Dragons delegate or Inostirute Râ—â— his whole host for in this sence the seventy Interpreters do use this word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 as Exod. 14.14 and 15.4 as Mat. 24.29.30 The Host of the Dragon are his Angels or Devils So Mede and the Idols in which the Dragon and the Devils are worshipped and served by the heathen These Idols the Anti-Christian Popedome hath received and worshipped under the name of Saints the Dragon and his Vicegerent as hereof the Text speak's Cap. 13.3 4. The whole earth did wonder at the beast and they worshipped the Dragon that gave power unto the Beast and they worshipped the beast The Dragon doth give also to him great authority and makes him a head over great countries whereof David did prophecy Psa 110.6 The time of his Lieutenantship shall continue forty two Months i.e. one thousand two hundred and sixty years Vpon this follows the third Period which bringeth Statum Ecclesiae tranquillum Period 3. as the pure so the peaceable and quiet estate of the Church upon earth Seeing at the found of the Trumpet of the seventh Angel the seventh plague or the third we do come upon the Roman Empire and at the same time the seventh Viol of Gods wrath is poured out â— wherewith the enemies of the Church are wholly cut off and destroyed yea even the Devil himself shut up in the bottomless pit Rev. 20.1 2 3. therefore there can nothing but a true and constant peace ensue whence it is that the Church of God rejoyceth with great joy with a great voyce saying as Rev. 11.25 The Kingdomes of this World are become the Kingdomes of our Lord and of
his Christ and he shall reign for ever and ever and v. 17. She giveth also thanks to the Lord God Almighty because he hath taken to him his great power and reigneth Now unto these three Periods The scope of the Revellation or times the whole body of the Revelation of St. John and the parts of it are directed For the Son of God describeth in this Revelation the State of the Christian Church and the things befalling to the Roman Empire in relation to the Church in a three fold manner First By seven Epistles Cap. 2.3 Secondly by a Book Scaled Cap. 4.5 6 7. Thirdly By a little Book open Cap. 10. and so following He doth also appear to John every time in another shape First In the likeness of a Son of man who suffereth in the first Period i. e. in his Members Rev. 1.12 I saw one like to the Son of man in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks Secondly By his horns and eys which are 7 is noted the absolute perfection of his power wisdom all for his Church against his enemies As a beast in the shape of a lamb having seven horns and leven eyes chap. 5.6 which doth fight in the second period Thirdly As a mighty strong Angel cloathed with a cloud cap. 10. who in the third period hath all things put under his feet and reigneth First In the likeness of a Son of man in the midst of the seven candlesticks cap. 1. vers 12 13 14 15. These Epistles are by Christ not onely intended to those particular Churches named but to all the Churches wâ—h then were elsewhere in the world which should be in all ages till his 2d comâ—ing He declareth the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles for though these seven Epistles seem primarily and immediately to have respect to the state of the Church then present to the state of the seven Asian Churches especially Yet secondarily mediately and Analogically they have respect to other following Churches as it were adumbrated and resembled by them Yea Mr. Brightman goes further and makes them to contain in them Prophesies touching the future state of all the Gentile Churches and so makes all these Epistles as well prophetical in respect of the future Counterpane Churches as historical in respect of the present Antity â—e Asian Churches So then I say Christ declares the condition of the Church in general by seven Epistles whereof the first and second belong to the first period viz. Ephesus and Smâ—rna The third fourth fifth sixth and seventh to the second period And the promises cap. 2 and 3. to the third period For then those promises made to the Church conflicting with her enemies and overcoming them as that chap. 2.7 I will give to eat of the tree of life in the midst of the Paradise of God parallel to that Rev. 22.14 and cap. 2.3 He shall walk with me in white parallel to that Rev. 7.9 13. and 19.8 and that chap. 2.26 To him that overcometh I will give power over the nations and he shall rule them c. and that cap. 3.21 I will grant to sit with me upon my throne parallel with Rev. 20.4 All which promises relating to the graceful and peaceful estate of the Church after her deliverance from her enemies by their just ruine and destruction shall be accomplished Secondly Christ appeareth to John as a beast in the shape of a Lamb with seven horns and seven eyes and openeth the book sealed the secret and hidden decree of God and intimateth thereby the things befalling the Roman Empire Mede divides the Apocalyps from the fourth chapter to the end of the book into two Systemes of prophetical Visions the one containing the fate of the Empire from cap. 4.1 to 10. and 8. yea to cap. 12. ver 1. the other of the Church from cap. 12.1 to 22.6 both begining from one Epocha viz. the second in such sort as the first as by comparing c. 4.1 with 10.8 Hence the second prophesie seems nor to be subsequent or sâ— bordinate to the first but coâ—ordinate thereto These two series of prophesies seems to be plainly intimated Rev. 10.11 Thou must prophesie again before many peoples nations and tongues q. d. thou hast prophesied once already by vertue of the vision of the seven seals and seven trumpets now thou must prophesie again a second time by vertue of the little book thou hast eaten up under which the Church is built up and preserved cap. 4 5 6 7 8 9. and distinctly how things shall be carried both in the Political and Ecclesiastical State and first in the Political State And that both in the first second and third period In the first period which by opening the first six seals is performed cap. 6. where in the first five seals is set forth the condition of the Church under the Heathen Emperors but in the sixth the full of Heathenism under the Christian Emperors from Constantine the great until the death or after the death of Theodosius is prefigured In brief the meaning of the first six seals is this That Prince of unspotted righteousness the rider of the white horse with his arrow and his bow in his hand aimeth at something of high importance and it is no less then what he promiseth his followers at their lowest ebb Luk. 12.32 Fear not little flock for it is your fathers good pleasure to give you the Kingdom and he hits the mark in the sixth Seal where the Pagan Empire is shattered to the purpose by Constantine turning Christian But to adorn the course of time till then by some prophetick Remarks the Riders of the Red Black and Pale Horses are brought in as also most concerningly the cry of the souls under the Altar whereby is denoted especially the reign of Dieclesian and that ten years unparalleld persecution then commencing which fifth Seal the rescuing of the Empire into the hands of Christ by the subversion of the Pagan power doth immediately succeed and is matter of the sixth Seal figured out by proper prophetical expressions as of a great earthquake the eclipse of the Sun and Moon and falling of the stars which Mr. Mede interprets to be when by Constantine the Great and his Sucessors there was such a mighty change and subversion of the Roman Heathenish affairs signified here by the great earthquake wherein all the heathenish gods were shaken from their heaven their Priests rejected and for ever deprived of their revenue their Idol Temples broken pulled down burnt demolished throughout the whole Roman world and the Emperors Kings and Potentates endeavouring to succour their indangered gods themselves subdued frighted put to flight at last none daring to defend their Roman Heathenish Religion so terribly crushed and fallen This is the first complement of Christs victory over the Roman heathenish Empire the foundation whereof Christ laid in the first Seal For the particular accommodation of events to the
of Christ called by that name whereby multitudes of those people and other true Christians were destroyed for seventy years together first intended against the Saracens after turned against the Christians that would not worship and submit to the beast besides the destroying of ten hundred thousand of them in France if Peronius may be beleived many thousands since slain by the Popes Champions in Germany where Charles the fifth made woful slaughter especially at Magdeburge by the Popes appointment and what bloody work hath been made in Germany since for forty years together by the Emperor I need not relate Not to speak of the many thousands slain in France Ireland and England besides those many more that have died for Religion by the bloody inquisition by the hands of the Hangman 3â—â—o in the Low-Countries by the command of the Duke De Alva 800. here in Queen Maries days c. hence the beast is said to make himself drunk with the blood of the Saints Note here with Master Mede that this killing by this war of the Beast is of another kind and differs from that against the Witnesses Cap. 11. his words are these The War which the beast wageth against the Saints universally is one and the war which he shall wage against the Witnesses towards his end when the Witnesses shall finish their testimony is another and this is manifest from the different issue and event of both these Wars the first war of the beast is very prosperous for by it he obtaines power over kindreds tongue and Nations Cap. 13.7 but the other is fatal to him and precedes his ruine and downfall 2. And as his cruelty and tyranny is partly seen in persecuting the Saints so partly also by subduing all to his power except the elect And all that dwell on the earth shall worship him whose names are not written in the book of life vers 7 8. This is amplified by a conclusion drâ—â—n from hence which is both monitor and consolatory Monitory to atteâ—â—â—nd consider well who adore the beast If any have an ear to hear let him hear vers 9. Consolatory to the faithful not worshipping the Idolatrous Beast notwithstanding all his cruelties inflicted to this end they are comforted from Gods just revenge and retaliation of their Imprisonment and butcheries upon the beast He that leadeth into captivity shall go into captivity and he that killeth with the Sword must be killed with the Sword they are also comforted from the eminency which will appear in their faith and patience waiting on God till he thus avenge them of the beast here is the patience and faith of the Saints vers 10. I come now to the fift concurrent time under this second period That is the beast with two hornes at the same time The false Prophet beasts or the Pope of 〈◊〉 and his Clergy was the Author of nothing for the Nation that ten horned beath whereby the power of the Dragon was revived by a new Idolatry and Tyranny brought in after the likeness of the former Mede And the Pope and his Clergy together do Institute this false Prophet Beast or false Church Beast 〈◊〉 drives a trade with his pedling wares v. 11. to the 18. This is the second beast viz. the two horned beast or false Prophet the reviver and restorer of the ten horned beast which seems evidently to be the Roman Antichrist viz. the Papacy or the Pope and his Clergy so all interpreters do most unanimously interpret this beast Pareus Mede Piscator Diodate Forbes Now in the Vision of this beast note his rise his character his power and acts First his Rise not so noble as the former beast out of the Sea of Worldly Dominions but more base out of the earth a low and mean condition of things or not out of the Sea of Armies and people striving in wars as formerly but out of the earth silently without all noyse as the grais or Plants silently rise And I saw another beast come out of the earth 2. His Character The Character of the beast is laid down in this three-fold resemblance 1. He resembles the Lamb in his horns i. e. his power And he had two hornes like the Lamb the Lamb had seven hornes denoting his perfect power Rev. 〈◊〉 6. This Beast had two hornes like him though not equal to him Some think hereby the beast Hypocritically imitates Christ in his meek Lamb-like power as Diodate Some by the two horns understand the double power of binding and loosing So Mede or the secular and Ecclesiastical power or sword Usurped by the Pope Some by the two hornes like the Lamh understand the Law and the Gospel Voice out of the wilderness wherewith the Lamb doth save and kill but as concerning the use and force of the hornes the spirit saith they were therein so contrary to the Lamb that when they did open either to touch the Law or preach the Gospel they spake and taught like the Dragons Doctors and like the Priests of Jupiter Teaching and Preaching to the Children of the World that they ought to Worship the God of Heaven as the Dragons Priests had taught their Fathers to worship the Gods of the Heathen The power of the first beast did consist in Idolatrous worship saith Mede which power was given him by the Dragon Voyce out of the wilderness Therefore in the second place he is said to resemble the Dragon in her voyce And he spake as the dragon vers 11. i. e. by his doctrine and decrees he patronizeth Idolatry and persecuteth the Saints as the Dragon did in the former beast Thirdly He resembles the first beast in the exercise of his power And he exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him i.e. he causeth his new Christened Cesars to set up a race of sycophantical high and princely priests who under a colour of practising the affairs of the Lamb should cunningly clap Jupiters coat upon the Lambs back and bestow all the rites add ceremonies of Jupiter and his Idols upon Christ and so by turning Jupiters worship into Christianism he might turn the worship of God into Paganism and Idolatry and that so he might at least prophane and desolate the true worship of the true God whose Majesty and truth of Deity they could no way blemish And for the better success in this their project should cause to be erected throughout all Kingdomes and Nations certain Covents and swarms of ungodly and prostituted Clarks by avouching and maintaining against all commers that the Pope in Peters Successor and that the Supremacy his Caesars and his Kings gave him is the very Keys of Heaven and Hell that his Throne and Seat is Peters Chayr and Sea Apostolick and that the execrable forme of Jupiters Worship wherein his Bride and Caesars delighted is the very true Worship of God which the Lamb and Apostles delivered Should I say by these mists leger-demains and new editions of old Idolatry established
and subjection to the Father and the Lamb. 4. vers 2. The voyce from Heaven as the voyce of many waters and as the voice of a great Thunder and the voyce of Harpers harping with their Harps ver 2. signifies their pure Gospel-worship described by the numerous multitude of the Heavenly singers whereunto these 144000. conforme themselves resembled to waters thunders harpers 5. vers 3. The new song they sing is either a new Gospel song since Christs coming opposite to the old before Christs comming or new in respect of new conferred benefits under the Gospel among which this preservation of his 144000. from Antichristian defilements was no small one the Scripture is wont to call for new songs for new mercies Here by song we may understand all Gospel-worship by a Synecdoche the part for the whole And during the Beast Dominion none could worship the Lamb purely without Idolatry upon earth but those that were redeemed from the earth that is bought by the blood of Christ and brought out of Popery from Antichrists earthly Church Cap. 12.12 6. And where it is said They are not defiled with women vers 4. vers 4. and to follow the lamb c. is signified their spiritual chastity not being guilty of spiritual whoredome and Idolatry and their constant attendance upon the Lamb in all states and places and their peculiar relation to God and the Lamb they being peculiar fruits to him redeemed out of the prophane mass of the Idolatrous world is expressed in the latter end of this fourth verse 7. And Lastly it is said of them vers 5. In their mouth was no guile and that they are without fault before the Throne of God which notes both their integrity and innocency their integrity In their mouth was found no guile Some Greek Copies read no lye Idols in Scripture are called lyes and Idolaters Lyers Isa 28.15 Ier. 16.19 it seems to note their freedom from Idolatry and they did not Hypocritically profess and pretend to be Christians and yet Idolatrously adore the beast Finally their innocency in Gods account is annexed as a reason of the former And they are without fault before the throne of God vers 5. The Seventh and last concurring time in the Angels prophesie of things that shall come to pass in the Ecclesiastical State Cap. 10. See before relating to the second Period Is The Whore of Babylon i the Popish Hierarchy ruling and riding the Beast with ten horns i.e. the Princes and Potentates which adhere to the Papacy at their own chusing and liking Cap. 17. Cap. 17. ver 3. I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet-coloured beast full of the names of blasphemy having seven beads and ten borns And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour and decked with gold c. vers 4. where the Whore of Babylon is described 1. By the monstrous beast whereon she sits cruel and bloody noted in her colour full of Antichristian Idolatries most opprobrious and reproachful to God noted in her names of blasphemy and besides seven-headed and ten-horned so that it is the very same beast formerly described cap. 13. 2. By her luxurious and meretricious array and ornaments And the woman was arrayed in purple and scarlet colour like the beast she sate on and deeked with gold and precious stones and pearls By her whoredoms she had obtained all these costly deckings and for winning the greater credit and custom to her whoredoms she was thus gaudily and thus glitteringly attired Popery is a sumptuous gaudy and glittering Religion 3. By her intoxicating cup whereby she amorously allures and enchants her lovers to spiritual lewdness with her having a golden cup in her hand full of abomination and filthiness of her fornication vers 4. An allution to the custom of Whores Joseph Mede who in golden cups are wont to give amorous draughts to their Lovers to provoke and to enflame their love and lust Now what Religion in the world hath outwardly more specious curious golden pretences but inwardly more abominable cursed Heresies Blasphemies Superstitions Idolatries shewing gold without deadly poison within 4. Her whores name Touching which note 1. Where it was wrtten viz. on her forehead intimating she was an eminent notorious whore indeed And upon her forehead was a name written Tertullian De pudicit Sen. Cont. 2. Lib. 1. vers 8. An allusion to the ancient custom of Stews and Brothel-houses that on or over the doors of their Cells and Chambers were wont to write the names of the Whores as Tertullian Seneca and others intimate But if the Whore was famous indeed her name and praise was written not only on her cell but on her forehead 2. Her name it self describing in great part her nature Mystery Babylon the Great the Mother of Harlots or Fornications and Abominations of the earth v. 5. This name shows 1. that this Whore is Babylon not proper but mystical Babylon 2. That this mystical Babylon is the Mother and most notorious authour of all the abominable Idolatries those spiritual whoredoms in the whole world This can intend no other but Rome 5. Her extreme cruelty bloody tyranny against the Saints emphatically expressed being drunk therewith she had swallowed so much vers 6. This Metaphor from drunkenness denotes the height and extremity of her bloodiness witness Anchrists butcheries of the Saints under the names of Waldenses Albigenses Leonists Wicklivists Hussites Lutherans Hugonites c. condemned and destroyed by Antichrist because they would not drink of Romes whorish cup. All Ecclesiastical Histories and Martyrologies since Antichrists rise and reign fully declare this Whores bloodiness especially in her Spanish Inquisition See Foxes Acts and Monuments Especially consider the late Irish massacres designed and acted by bloodthirsty Papists to the utmost of cruelty in Ireland 1641. as may be seen in Doctor Jones his Remonstrance of the state of the Rebellion in Ireland And in the Declaration of the Commons of England assembled in Parliament touching the rise and progress of that Rebellion ordered to be published July 25. 1643. This causeth in John great admination at the strangeness of the Vision of the Whore in the latter end of vers 6. And when I saw her I wondred with great admiration Which gave occasion to the Interpretation of this Vision more clearly And the Angel said Wherefore didst thou marvail Rev. 17.7 The City or Whore of Rome is said to sit upon a Beast viz. the fourth Beast mentioned in Daniel which is the Roman Monarchy And what City or people hath so ridden the Roman Empire as Rome hath done They that suffer themselves to be thus ridden by her are Abettors and Supporters they are Peoples Multitudes Nations and Tongues over whom this proud City reigns The Catholick Roman Church they are commonly called by themselves but by the holy Ghost The Beast on which the woman sit Vsher Rev. 17.18 in his Sermon before King Charls on Ephes
thirdly and lastly her Topical Denomination The Holy Ghost so clearly indigitates and as it were names her that he that runs may read and not mistake That this Whore is Rome the known Motropolis and Royal Seat of the Roman Empire Ribera in Cap. 17. Bellarmin l. 2. de pont Rom. Cap. 2. Papists themselves confess And the Woman which thou sawest is that great City that reigneth over the Kings of the Earth This is that beast that goeth to perdition or Destruction Of which Destruction God causeth her to be First Forewarned cap. 14. vers 6. and following verses Which premonition is described in the Vision of three Angels It is called the everlasting Gospel in opposition to those innovations and traditions of men under which the Churches of Christ had laboured a long time Vide Mr. Bridge his Sermon on Rev. 14.8 i.e. Evangelical Ministers preaching the everlasting Gospel against the Beast and Beast-worshippers 1. The first Angel exhorts all that had given their names to Christ by profession to consider how Gods judgements were now inflicted upon the Heathenish Idols and Idolaters and therefore to worship God the Creator onely and purely ver 6 7. This Angel learned Mede interprets of the Council of Constantinople in the East consisting of Three hundred thirty seven Bishops wherein the worship of the Virgin Mary and invocation of Saints was opposed 720. And of Frankford Synod in the West under Charls the Great consisting of about 300 Bishops 790th year of our Lord which damned both the worshipping of Images and also the second Council of Nice that established it Others interpret it of divers in England Pareus Brightm as Killington Langland especially Wicklife about Anno 1371. and of divers in Bohemia John Husse Hierom of Prague 2. The second Angel the first Angels doctrine being despised denounceth Babylons irrevocable ruine from that time forward till it be consummated for their obstinacy and impenitency in Idolatries The substance of the Angels doctrine is a commination of Babylons fall with the reason of it vers 8. Babylon is fallen it is fallen i.e. she is now fallen initially and shall fall totally and finally This Angel Mede interprets of the Waldenses and Albigenses who first of all other renounced Romish Idolatries and many followed them which falling off from Rome was the laying of a foundation from Babylons fall till it should be utterly ruined 3. The third Angel going beyond the former warneth all the Worshippers of the Beast what horrible vengeance hangs over their heads and would fall upon them if they persist still in following and worshipping the Beast and not renounce him And the third Angel followed him saying with a loud voyce If any man worship the beast and his Image and receive his mark c. the same shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God c. vers 9 10 11 This Angel thinks Brightman and Mede was M. Luther with his associates and Successors who so vehemently opposed Papal doctrine and superstition whereupon followed the eminent Reformation of the German and other Churches Luther saith Pareus left this Fatidical verse behind him Pestis eram Vivens moriens er mors tua Papa O Pope I was thy plague while I had breath And though I dye yet I will be thy death Parens thinks this Angel to be understood of Luthers succession to the end of the world from Anno 1546. because no fourth Angel follows but Christ sitting on his white throne of judgement Secondly As Babylon is forewarned so her punishments and plagues are not onely threatned As the seals brought in judgements upon the Pagan world Trumpets on the Christian world as ruled by Christian Emperors so the seven last vials are poured out upon the Antichristian world Cotton on the Vials These seven plagues are compared to the plagues of Egypt as Sores Blood Darkness Frogs Thunder and Lightning And in the pouring out of these vials understand nothing but meer divine wrath no mercy runs out of the vials Further note As the seven Trumpets were sounded to the ruine of the Roman Empire so the seven Vials are poured out to the ruine of the Beast and to the gradual ruine of the Beast they all tend For every Vial is a degree to the Beasts destruction who as he rose so he shall rall by degrees but gradually inflicted which dreadful judgements and the actual inflicting of them are represented under vials and the pouring forth of these vials which vials are full of the wine of that wrath of God poured out without mixture Rev. 14.10 This we have in Chap. 15 and 16. Thirdly When no reformation doth follow as did not for in pouring out of the Vials it is said cap. 16. vers 9. They blasphemed the name of God c. but repented not to give him glory so vers 11. they blasphemed God because of their plagues but repented not of their deeds God passeth sentence upon her and destroyeth her which destruction is briefly touched upon chap. 17. but is largely and pathetically described cap. 18. Whereupon in the third Period follows the description of the great joy and triumph of the Church over the total ruine and destruction of her enemies Period 3. chap. 19. and the desired peace and tranquillity of the Church In this 19. Chapter is set down the victorious triumphs and gratulations of them in heaven i.e. the Church Saying Hallelujah Salvation and honor and glory and power unto the Lord our God ver 1. And that 1. For the judgement of the great whore justly executed upon her vers 1. for her wicked Idolatries and persecuting cruelties against the Saints vers 2. 2. For the Dominion of Christ Hallelujah for the Lord God omnipotent reighneth vers 6. Parallel to that in Rev. 11. to 18. 3. For the marriage of the Lamb vers 7. ver 7. Let us be glad and give honour unto him for the marriage of the Lamb is come c. whose marriage garments are freely given her by Christ verse 8. And all the marriage guests which are called to the marriage Supper of the Lamb vers 8. are pronounced blessed vers 9. And because this victorious Triumph and gratulation of the Church is for the total ruine and destruction of her enemies therefore as in the former part of the Chap. John speaks of the judgement of the whore so in the latter part of the Chap. he speaks of the judgement of the beast and false prophet together with their Armies of Adherents warring against the Lamb and his Army These Adversaries are all mustred together under the sixt Viol in Armageddon Rev. 16. 13 14 16. now the seventh Viol the exposition whereof is yet continued describes the event of the battel in Armageddon Cap. 19.11 to the end viz. the beast and his adherents are entrapped and ensnared easily and suddenly royled by Christ the Beast and the false Prophet are both taken as wild beasts in
with his horn so the Dragon i.e. the Heathen Empire had done before them while they were his born Rev. 12.3 that is propugn himself and oppugn his adversaries for this hath been Antichrists course all along to push down and to gore even to death for the most part all those that opposed his Idolatries and Heresies in all nations by those horns i.e. by the Kings and people of those Nations who have given their power and strength to the beast Rev. 17.13 and who do generally continue it to the Beast with one mind and consent Which have received no Kingdom as yet For when the Apostle wrote there was no such Kings in rerum natura or existent in the world as the King of France the King of Spain c. These Kingdoms were then horns of the Dragon i.e. Provinces of the Empire and therefore in the description of the Dragon chap. 12.3 the Crownsare not said to be upon the horns i. e. upon the Kingdoms who had then no Kings of their own but upon the Heads i. e. upon the Imperial head at Rome As for instance this land Britain was in the Apostles time a Province or Kingdom but it had no King of its own and so no Crown that was upon the head of the Emperor at Rome and he had supreme power over this Island but when as these Kingdoms became the horns of the beast they came also to have peculiar Kings of their own England had and hath its King and France its King And to go on in the description of the Beast the Crowns are not said to be upon the heads but upon the hornes And upon his hornes ten crowns Rev. 13.1 But received power as Kings one hour with the beast The Roman Empire was by little and little so divided that Anno. 403. some hornes appeared i. e. The Kings and the beast began their raign together now the Kings and Kingdomes began to arise above 400. years after Christ when the Empire began to be destroyed Clavis Apoâ—alypt Histories do not speak much of them under the name and notion of Kings till after 400. years or about 410. but the truth is Histories are very confused and no wonder for those were times of strange confusion The beast is said to begin with them at one and the same time or as the word may be interpreted the first hour the word in the Greek Text that signifies one signifies also first and so it may may be interpreted the beast began to rise the very first hour the Kings began to rise rather then the first hour after they were risen for therein is a difference of many years it being almost 60 years from the first breaking of the Empire before the ten Kingdomes were set up in it That the word that is here translated one is used also to signifie first For two or three years we must not pinch much it is hard to make an exact account so as there be no mistake as to time Modicum non curat nec prator nec propheta we may see in many instances as Luk. 24.1 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 which is word for word one day of the Sabbath or week but it is generally rendred and so the meaning is the first day of the week the women came to the Sepulcher Now if the Kings and the beasts begun their raign together so long since as between 400. and 410. then is this Earthquake which is to ruine him and them also if they persist in his service Dan. 2.44 45. Rev. 19.18 19. near at hand Quest What reason have we to think that the Pope about that time began to be the great Antichrist Answ For answer we are to know there are two particular characters of the Beast as some Divines observe out of the Text the former the cause of the latter viz. 1. Blasphemy for he is full of the names of Blasphemy Rev. 17.3 by which understand Heresie and Idolatry 2. Cruelty for he is ascarlet-coloured beast and makes war with the Saints Rev. 13.7 but both these flow from a higher principle which is as I may say proprium quarto modo and a more convertible character of the beast and that is his primacy or supremacy This supremacy hath in it two things that make it up one is a clayming authority over the consciences of men and so over their faith and worship 2. the extending of his power to all Churches and Nations I will not say these two are the same things nor that they issue from one and the same root but surely this I may say they are neer a kin and have their roots not far asunder because they are generally still found in one and the self-same person That both these meet in the grand Antichrist will appear First He arrogates authority over the soul So much I take to be intimated in these words of Daniel speaking of him Dan. 7.25 He shall speak great words against the most high and think to change times and Laws that he shall arrogate power to himself to change Gods Laws as in coyning and altering Articles of faith appointing worship for God c. high words great words against Godâ— 2 Thes 2.4 He as God sits in the temple of God shewing himself that he is God how doth he do that viz. by Lording it over the consciences of Gods people as if he were God and thereby deprives Christ of one of the principal flowers of his Crown which is to have dominion over the faith see more for this Rev. 13.5 6 15 16. Secondly the great Antichrist is to extend his power at least presumptively and intentionally where he cannot do it actualy over all kindreds tongues and Nations Rev. 13.7 It is Antichristian to claym such authority The Title of Pontifex Maximus renounced by Gratian and Theodosius after him was after the death of Theodosius the first taken up by the Pope who holds it to this day So that what ever the Ropes name be Poutifex Maximus is his ordinary stile Cotton on Rev. 13. vers 16. though but over one man or one Church It is more Antichristian to claym such authority over many Churches more Antichristian to claym this Authority over whole Provinces still more Antichristian to claym it over many Princes and Kingdomes but yet all these do not amount to the grand Antichrist Why because there may be a greater But now he that claims such Soveraignty over all the Churches in the World is the grand Antichrist indeed for there can be no greater Now this the Pope doth yea that he may be sure to challenge as large a dominion as Christ hath he doth not onely arrogate authority over all the World but also in Heaven and Hell where Christ hath power yea in purgatory where Christ hath no power He that will but look upon the sentence condemnatory of Pope Leo the tenth in his Bull against Luther will find this true wherein he doth not labour to convince
Saint John which do relate to our present times especially in the 11. Chap. and in Chap. 16. in the Description of the pouring out of the Vials of Gods wrath This 11. Chap. is the heart and kernel of the whole Book The eleventh Chapter goes through all the three Periods of times before mentioned and is as it were an abridgement of the whole Revelation It is declared unto John how things shall come 〈◊〉 the Christich Church In the first Period verse the first Period 1. In the second Period verse 9.10.11 Period 2. In the third Period from verse 11. to the end Period 3. Vers 1 In the first Period vers 〈◊〉 thus writeth John 〈…〉 And there was given unto me a Read like unto a Rod and the Angel 〈◊〉 saying Wise and measure the Temple of God and the Altar and them that worship therein Here he gathering and building of the Christian Church is commanded unto John under the measuring of the Jewish Temple 〈◊〉 Jerusalem the length whereof not 60. Cubits breadth 20. height 120. which Cubical number of the Dimensions of the Jewish Temple hold of â—â—th of the mystical Temple the number of the New Testament the number of them that are sealed which is 144,000 By which is meant the regular purity of the Church and Religion at the first which is set forth under the particular vision or mystery of measuring the inner Court of the Temple situate immediately next the holy of holies where God dwelt between the Cherubins Intimating that the Primitive Church and Religion therein immediately next unto Jesus Christ and his Apostles was exactly examined by and conforme to the measuring reed of the written word of God and therefore singularly pure and holy The Church was then gloriously beautified and cloathed with the sun of righteousness Cha. 12.1 had the moon under her feet despised all earthly and worldly things and raigned over the works of darkness and she had upon her head a crown of twelve Stars the Apostles and the wholesome Doctrine of the same Chap. 12.2 But though this was a time of great purity yet it was a time of great persecution under which the Church was built up at that time then the Dragon under the Heathen Emperors raged against the Church the Christians were persecuted banished and put to cruel deathe killed like Sheep appointed to the slaughter hence not onely the Temple but also the Altar is said to be measured and them that worship therein i.e. in the inner Court where the Altar of burnt Offerings stood where the Priests did Sacrifice called Thysiasterium Hereby the holy Ghost meanes the Christian Church should be exposed to afflictions and persecutions suffer many grievous forments and tribulations therefore he â—â—â—seth the suffering and miseries they should undergo to be measured out to them whereby he setteth certain bounds to the Tyrants beyond which they cannot go and when they are come so far then must vengeance overtake them hence it is that the sacrificed souls of the Martyrs who were slayn for the word of God and testimony of Jesus and lye under the Altar as slaughtered Sacrifices cry with a loud voyce to the lord holy and true for vengeance Rev. 6. vers 9 10. yet under all these persecutions they did worship i. e. serve â—o daâ— with purity so with perseverance so the end they did stick close to him in all sorts of persecutions even to the yeilding up and sacrificing of their bodies and lives Now the persecution of this pure Apostolical Church continued 300. years till at last Constantine the great came to the Imperial seat whereby the reign of the Dragon came to an end the Dragon was cast out of the church-Church-heaven Rev. 12. This regular purity of the Church ordered according to the Scripture rule and standard continued till after the death of Theodosius it continued till the beginning of the 42. months when the Devil left his shape of a Dragon and resigned his host with his residence and seat and great authority unto the beast with ten hornes See before p. 10 11. when it rose out of the Sea Rev. 13.1 Vers 2. But the Court which is without the Temple leave out and measure it not for it is given to the Gentiles and the holy City they shall tread under foot forty two months Here in this verse and verses following the second period is set down viz. under the Antichristian Vicar in two Synchronismes or concurrences of times First the Gentiles tread the Holy City under foot 42. months Secondly The two witnesses prophecy in sackcloth 260 days To begin with the first where begins the Churches Apostacy from her primitive Apostolical purity which is set forth under the particular vision of the outward Court of the Temple further distant and remote from the holy of holies signifying the Church succeeding the Primitive Church in the following ages should not be in Religion so regular and conforme to the Canon and measuring reed of Gods word as the primitive Church but should grow irregular and exorbitant in gentilish idolatrous worship Prophaning it as if heathenisme were again revived for heathemish Idolatry by Popery is brought in again The Heathens worshipped Saturn Jupiter Juno Venus c. in the Popish Religion Mary Peter Paul George are set up in stead of these and called upon in time of distress so there is but little difference between them Here more particularly let us consider 1. A prophetical direction to leave out the outward Court or holy City and nor to measure it the outward Court and holy City seem to be all one the latter exegetical to the former For the outward Court was the Place for the holy City or the people of Israel to meet for divine worship yea in the wilderness the Tabernacle having but one court into which ordinarily it was not lawful for any to enter into but the Priests and Levites there was no outward Court but the tents of Israel or the Holy City So these words outward Court and holy City mutually explain one another So then by the outward Court here is to be understood the outward worship and service of God which consisted in the outward appearance and a company of superstitious ceremonies whereof God takes no notice but rejecteth it leave it out measure it not saith the Angel 2. We have a reason of this direction for it is given to the Gentiles c. i. e. this outward Court or holy City unmeasured is given to the Gentiles i. e. It was to be left out or cast out as prophane and that which God will make no account of yea to be given to the Gentiles to be trodden under foot 42. months i. e. it shall be given or left by Gods just dispensation to the Gentiles vix to them that exercise Gentilish Idolatrous Worship the event whereof should be treading under foot the holy City as the Gentiles trod Jerusalem under foot hostilly
Egyptian bondage and restorers of Gods true worship in the Wilderness The two witnesses shall exercise the power of Moses and Aaron whence Learned Mede collects the power of the Witnesses figured in this type not to belong to all the days of their sackcloth prophecy but onely to the end of their Prophecy viz. the pouring out of the Vials As Moses and Aaron immediately before and at their bringing of Israel out of Egypt turned those waters into blood and smote them with ten sore plagues So towards the Period of these two Witnesses Prophecy when the Christian Church under their conduct as it were of Moses and Aaron shall now begin to be rescued from the Antichristian bondage and Tyranny of the Beast the Vials of Gods wrath like Egyptian plaguen shall come upon the beast and his Gentilith worshipers the plague of the first Vial being a noysome grievous sore the second and third blood the plagues of the rest greater and more greivous to he inflicted upon the beast and his party or the Gentiles treading down the outward Court and holy City the interpretation whereof I refer till I come to Cimp 〈◊〉 It is enough here to note this last power of the Witnesses to belong to the pouring out of the Vials Vers 7. And when they shall finish their Testimony the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomless pit shall make War against them And shall overcome and kill them Hitherto of the gift and power of the Witnesses It followeth now that I speak of the sate or the various consequents and events of their prophecying expressed in this verse wherein these Witnesses become singularly conform to Jesus Christ who preached about forty two moneths i. e. three years and a half was then slain by the Roman Governour lay dead three days three days after rose again with a great earthquake and forty days after ascending into Heaven a cloud receiving him But to give some light into the Text Then they shall finish their testimony Translators and Interpreters have been mistaken in rendring these words thus When they have or shall have finished their testimony 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to think that this killing should not begin till the 1200 and 60 days should be expired because by this means the Witnesses should remain in Sackcloth and the woman in the wilderness beyond the time appointed and also the fourth beast should continue to blaspheme longer then 42. months to all which not onely the plain text but also the swearing of the Angel Dan. 12.17 and the great Oath of the Son of God Rev. 10.6 are contradictory Therefore the words must not be rendered in the Perfect-tence when they have finished or in the Future Perfect tence when they shall have finished but in Future simplici cum Finituri sunt When they shall finish their testimony So Claverius in his first Apotalyptical dawning page 124. and Mede in his Commentary upon the Revelation reads the words When they shall finish i. e. when the 1200 and 60 days shall draw towards an end And when now part of the Christian world shall repent of their Gentilish Idolatries and reforme and the Witnesses for joy shall begin to lay aside their mourning weeds though yet they were not past the danger that was prophecyed should come That seven-headed beast of Rome in the course of his last head of which see before Chap. 13. disdaining and scorning the prevalency of these mourning Witnesses by their Prophecying shall make war against them overcome and kill them First then to speak of the Witnesses finishing their Testimony I agree herein with Mr. Mede that the mourning Witnesses began to finish the Testimony of all the former Witnesses from the beginning of the reformation of the Reformed Churches and so on to the begining of the beasts war against them preceding the killing of them His words are these speaking of the Witnesses finishing their Testimony and of the War and slaughter of them quorum primum inquit de testium planctu finiri caepto ab initio Ecclesiae reformatae huc usque continue factitatum est c. In the beginning then of the reformation of the Reformed Churches this finishing began Now this reformation began in Germany in the raign of the Emperor Charles the fifth by Luther and his Associates Luther began the finishing of this Testimony by Sermons writings disputations whereby he discovered and detected the lyes and frauds of Antithrist as Moses did the Cheats and falsehoods of Jannes and Jambres the Egyptian Sorcerers which Doctrine of Luther Charles the fifth laboured by all means to suppress by conventions decrees and edicts but Luther and his Associates being backed and assisted by the Duke of Saxony the Lantgrave of Hesse and other Princes in Germany the Magistrates of Fellow Witnesses withstood these Edicts and decrees and answered to them in every point Entred into a Protestation against them Protestation And of this Protestation the Princes and all that adhered to them were called Protestants which name is now given to all them that in their Doctrine swerve from the Church of Rome League and Covenant Afterward being sorely for this threatened by the Emperor the Protestants entred into a League and Covenant to ayd each other in the Quarrel of Religion And not long after the Protestans drew up a Confession of their faith Confession of faith and presented it to the Emperor this is that Confession of faith that is called the Augustane Profession This finishing of the Testimony of the former witnesses thus begun was carried on by their example in other Cities and places abroad whence sprung up other reformed Churches as of Helvetia Sucvia Geneva France Holland Scotland and England last of all reformed The finishing then of the Testimony I conceive must be by the Magistrates and Ministers of some of these reformed Churches who shall give in their Testimony against the Churches Apostacy towards the latter end of the 1200 and 60 days For the finishing must be meant of the last Witnesses before the last battel of the Beast against them whereby he overcomes and kills them And it is likely the Witnesses of some of the reformed Churches last reformed conclude compleat and make an end of finishing this Testimony as the Witnesses of the first reformed Churches begun it Yea not onely by Witnessing against the Apostatical Church of Rome as they did but by giving the cleerest the fullest Testimony for truth and holiness against the errors and unholiness of Antichrist for Church purity against Church-corruptions and the Apostacy of the Church of Rome that ever was given this twelve hundred years So that these last Witnesses may be called the Finishing Witnesses that finish compleat and perfect the testimony of all the former Witnesses do it with so much light and convincing evidence and with so much heat in their testimony called fire in their mouths vers 5. as doth vex and torment their enemies and enrage them to a
the beast that is described Chap. 18 and 19. doth altogether precede the destruction of the beast and the False Prophet as is manifest in the Text. To sum up all in a word happily it may so come to pass that that first destruction of Babylon viz. of the City of Rome may be without any very great slaughter at least without the total destruction of the Citizens for though the City be utterly destroyed yet a great part of the Citizens may fly from the destruction of the City timely consulting their own safety or for some other cause which the event will make manifest and thus the doubt or scruple concerning the small number of the slain may be satisfied 2. And will yet more fully if we consider what number may be designed in the words names of Men. Names of men may be taken for eminent and renowned Men high and great persons cheif heads of Noble Families Names of men is as much as to say men of name An Hypallage frequent in Scripture as silver Shekels for Shekels of silver Levit. 5. the Law of righteousness for the righteousness of the Law Rom. 9. Riches of grace for rich grace Ephes 1. So names of men may here be put for men of name persons of great honor and dignity in opposition to men without name base and ignoble Persons Job 30. According to this interpretation which nothing can be said against Names of Men signifing high and great persons suppose they be of the Popish Ecclesiastical Order whom we call Church men by great names and titles distinguished from the inferiour Clergy if 7000 of these be slayn how many of a lower rank and order which the Holy Ghost would not so much as count or reckon Besides this there may another interpretation be given of Names of Men viz. Companies and Societies of men which are wont to be called by proper names as well as particular men as Cities Towns Parishes Villages Monasteries and Nunneries and what are these if we consider the Matter but names of men as the Roman name is put for the Romans themselves the Thebane Polity is called the Thebane name what is therefore the Names of those humane Societies whether they be either of Rome or in that they call the Church State be the 7000 in this great Earthquake to be slain i. e. subdued by the adverse power which the Scripture useth to call death but we must not rashly determine any thing in a thing to come the best commentary of a Prophecy is the fulfilling of it but I bring these things to shew that of these words a larger sense may be given then is commonly conceived When the word Name in Scripture doth not use to be restrained to one single signification neither are Names of men joyned together in any place of Scripture but in this neither is the word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Names taken simply for particular single persons but onely in two places Acts 1.15 Rev. 3.4 in other places it hath several significations It follows And the remnant were affrighted and gave glory to the God of Heaven i. e. the rest of the Bestian party are amazed and terrified and thereby compelled to acknowledge the just judgements of God which he hath poured out upon them and to confess their sins which to do is to give glory to God Vers 14. The second we is past and be bold the third we cometh quickly The Second we is past the meaning is this great Earthquake continues to the end of the second we or of the sixth Trumpet together with which is to be finished the Prophecying of the mourning Witnesses For after so great a Victory over the beast and their ascending up into the church-Church-Heaven with so great honour they put on their mourning weeds no more But now if this second wo or plague of the sixth Trumpet be the Turks from Euphrates flowing in upon and over-running the Roman Empire in times past as was interpreted Chap. 9. it cannot be but the passing away of this second wo must be the overthrow of the Turkish Empire the drying up of the waters of Euphrates at the end of the pouring out of the fifth Vial whereby way is made for the coming of the Kings of the east cap. 16.12 At which coming of the Kings of the East least there should be left too wide a space betwixt both Trumpets the seventh Trumpet seems to begin Hiatus And so the wonderful preparation of the beast and false Prophet to the Armageddon Battel Cap. 16.13 together with the event thereof at the pouring out of the last Vial vers 17. must be made to begin at the sounding of the seventh trumpet And truely it seems very congruous that the preparation to the Battel as well as the battel it self should appertain to the same Trumpet but here an objection must be removed out of the way viz. Object Whether the Beasts 42 months and the Witnesses 1200 and 60 days are one and the same terme but now these days of the mourning Witnesses ending at the passing away of the sixth trumpet plague or second we It may very well be asked why the months of the beasts may not be supposed to be longer when after this time so great a part of the beast still remaines not to be quite abolished till the beginning of the seventh Trumpet It may be answered Answ This may be either because at the calling of the Jews there called the Kings from the East a new kingdom begins Or because in the duration of the beasts reign there is an ey or respect chiefly to the Empire of the City of Rome but now this great Royal City of the Beast in this Earthquake is taken demolished So that the Beast from thenceforth shall have changed his form when he is driven from his Metropolis it can no longer be counted which is the signification of his other seven heads a seven-mountained Kingdom Behold the third wo comes quickly This begins at the sound of the seventh Trumpet Wherefore these words immediately follow Verse 15. And the seventh Angel sounded And the seventh Angel sounds a Jubilee and then there be great proclamations and acclamations in heaven Called by some Divines the wo-joy Trumpet that the kingdoms of the world are the kingdoms of Christ and whereas before the Devil Dragon and Beast and his horns reigned now Christ takes to himself his great power and reigneth for which the whole Church under the type of 24. Elders praise him though the Nations be angry as they ever are when Christ puts forth his just power Verse 15 16 17 18. He now gives reward unto his servants the Prophets c. and destroys them that destroyed the earth that is he ruines the wicked and Idolatrous generation of Antichrist who wasted his Church before ver 18. His tabernacle is now open in heaven and the ark of his testimony seen ver 19. i.e. Christ represented by the ark is clearly manifested before