and becomming Ministers of the Keyes of darkenesse and of Gehenna so great a smoake ouergoeth the whole face of the visible Church as all light therein is eclipsed And out of this darkenesse ariseth that huge mischief of Antichrist in the abominable army hellish head thereof for punishment whereof if so be they could haue beene cured the Mahometan armies are loosed from the East after they had beene a space in God his patience tied vp from their first ranging now againe with Turkish furie to make desolate both by sword and poysonable doctrine the third part of the Earth This sixth euill and second great woe working no repentance but rather further induration in Antichristian workes Chap. 9. A preparation is for Antichrist his full recurelesse certaine and neere approaching ouerthrow Christ in a sort returning with the weapon of his warfare the little booke now open and the bold and powerfull preaching thereof setting thereto fit instruments who by diligent study of scriptures are inablâ—d to preach the Gospell widelie Chap. 10. And being instructed with faculty thereto by assistance of Christ they apply the right rule of examination and thereby find that Antichrist hath long obteined the place and title of the visible Church The true Church all the while larking within the compasse thereof and being secretly intertained with a hid but powerfull dispensation of grace by few vnknowne and albeit afflicted Ministers yet preaching long without great bloodshed till at â—ength Antichrist perceiuing them to apply the rule they are for a space cruelly murthered and barbarously intreated euen with applause thorowout all Antichrist his domination but God stirring vp others in the same spirit who vigorously oppose themselues a visible separation by diuine warrant is made from Antichrist his fellowship and contagion feare taketh him and his followers great commotions ensue thereupon and his Kingdome is in a part weakened This farre preparation and beginnings of his fall hauing wrought on euen in the height of the sixth euill and second great woe vpon men of the Earth then the seuenth Trumpet soundeth to his vtter fall by seuen Vials which it yeeldeth of the last Wrath. The summary effect whereof in a preconceiued ioy vpon the signe giuen is in a gratulatory song of the Church denounced in the end of the 11. Chapter Before the particular explication whereof for more cleering the reason of so huge a ioy of the Church and the equitie of so determinate a iudgement against the enemies according to that cleere sight which the Tabernacle of Testimony now opened in Heauen yeeldeth to God his seruants of the enemies and their dealings a large narration thereof is incerted and thereafter their great and iust destruction summarily aboue denounced is exponed at length Both which parts of story the holy Ghost setteth forth vnder the names of two great signes seene in Heauen The first in the 12. 13. and 14. Chapters the other to the end of the narration The first signe is double in the party assailed and the assailer the assailed party is the Church in her first seed and in her seed of succeeding times The assailing enemy against boâ—h is the Diuell that old Serpent but in different manner Against the Primitiue Church or first seed directly in open rage by his instruments thereof the Roman Emperors first labouring to keepe downe the Church from rising next cruelly persecuting her being raised thirdâ— being restrained from open persecution through that protection the Church got by Constantine the Great Whereby as by wings she was freed from his open rage labouring to drowne her by that inundation of barbarous Nations which neuerthelesse in God his wise disposing prouidence turned to the defacing of that persecuting Empire Yet so as in the time the true Church by degrees passed to the Wildernesse whereto the wings gaue occasion and lurking there was fed as was Israel and Elias no more any true visible face thereof appearing then those three yeeres and an halfe of famin in the daies of Elias or the same space when Antiochus Epiphanes abolished the daily sacrifice and set vp the abomination of desolatioÌ„ in place therof Ch. 12. Satan highly incensed for his misgiuing endeuors against the first seed tak th occasion of this flight of the Church to the Wildernes to bring in roome the Beast of his working and authority by him to make warre against the Church in her seed of succeeding times This Beast is the same kingdom of Rome but vnder the pontificality by lying signes wonders and false pretence of Christ his power so bewitching the world as through voluntary submission of the â—en of the earth thus deceiued the kingdome of Rome vnder it recouereth that ancient glory lustre estimation subiection of Prouinces which it had lost in the deadly wound it got in the fall of Caesars all the earth wondering and following the Beast Chap. 13. All the time of this preuailing euill euen in the greatest height thereof Christ had still his true Church first lurking and albeit not perceptible to the world yet inioying the presence of her head hauing powerfull and plentifull dispensation of grace from him and worshipping him heartily and truly Secondly by degrees breaking out and contesting with Antichrist in great suffering and much bloodshed to the 14. verse of the 14. Chapter Where the Story falling in againe to the same point of time and matter whereat for incerting this interiected narration at blowing of the seuenth Trumpet Chap. 11. it had left off what there in a gratulatory song was summarily denounced the summary execution thereof is here propounded so to bring in the large narration of the effect of the seuenth Trumpet in the seuen Vials thereof to the end of the 14 Chapter This summary proposition is at length handled in the 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. and 20. Chapters and thereupon the gracefull estate of the Church shewed Chap. 21. and 22. And this whole matter is that other great signe seene in heauen hauing the greatnesse of the errand and the disposing of the instruments for execution thereof Chap. 15. The execution in seuen degrees first by discouerie of the filthinesse and hypocrisie of the Beast his characterized followers their persons are despised Secondly their common worship becommeth ahominable Thirdly euen their grounds and chiefe Doctors are seen corrupted deadly and therewith in God his iustice because they had been bloudy murtherers of the Saints they in their course get bloud to drinke Fourthly the still waxing light of the Gospell as the Sunne discouering their darke works burneth them vp with indignation and despite 5. Thus Antichrist his kingdome becommeth contemptible losing much of the wonted lustre and magnificence to the great torment of their minds they euen gnawing their tongues for sorrow Sixthly Peoples tongues and Nations falling from the obedience thereof it is left naked and weake whereby a way is prepared for the Esterne kingdomes and most specially the Iewes sparsed amongst them
this is that prerogatiue which the Lambe hath the third point which I shewed was to bee obserued in the Elder his information in these words Hee hath obtained c. And great reason is there why his slaughter should bee of such merite For the onely begotten sonne of God died and none tooke his life from him but hee willingly gaue it as who had power to lay it downe and take it againe The effect and fruit of his slaughter is our Redemption which is amplified first by that which buying implyeth albeit not put here expresly that is our wretched state from which hee redeemed vs for Redemption of necessity presumeth bondage and miserable was our bondage Secondly to whom wee are redeemed to God Thirdly by what price neither gold nor siluer nor any corruptible thing no bloud of Goates or Bullockes but by his owne that is God his bloud Fourthly is the large extension of his benefit euen to all peoples kindreds tongues and nations not as that of the Paschall Lambe in Egypt to Israel onelie Neither thus for that all of all peoples c find the fruit but the elected of all Therefore it is said thou hast redeemed vs out of all c. The fift and last point amplyfying the effect of the slaughter is to what condition estate wee are redeemed euen to be Kings and Priests to raigne euen here vpon earth where we haue the kingdome of grace vnder hope of that of glory Now by all these consider if his slaughter be not of great worth why hee onely should obtaine to take the booke c. and therefore alone to haue the praise of it In all this song and tenor of it are diuers infallible Arguments that these foure beasts bee no Angels but Saints redeemed as this whole type is euidently of the Church militant and not of any state in heauen 7 Thus was the song of the foure beasts and twenty foure Elders the Angels in course sing the next part in whom are notable three things Their place their number and their song Their place is about the throne beasts and elders for two respects one of protection and defence The Angels of the Lord pitch round about them who feare him as ministring Spirits for the good of the Elect. The other respect is in the Church and by the Church to behold and learne the manifold wisdome of God For they desire to looke in these thinges And this is one maine point of the mysterie of godlines that God in the flesh is seene of Angels To whome the Church for God his wonderfull dispensation in and towards her is the clearest looking glasse of God his infinite wisdome Whereupon that reason is brought by Paul for women their modest carriage in the church For the Angels This should much stirre vs to a carefull beholding of that whereby euen the Angels are made wise and to a deepe consideration of our dignity and care of our wayes whom God hath made looking Glasses to the Angels Their number first is set downe indefinite in the word many Next in a definite but huge number to shew innumerable Angels and God the onely Lord of hostes all set for defence of his Church for both their place and number consider the story of Elisha and his seruant In their Song is shewed their earnest affection to the Lambes praise as which they sing with a loud voice Next is the Lambe his worthinesse to receiue all praise whereof they giue him seuen points as he hath seuen horns and eyes First power or authority for hee hath all in heauen and earth With authority are requisite riches These hee hath as who is abundantly rich towards all that beleeue is the riches of God in vs and onely hath gold tried by fire to enrich the poore Now authority and riches without wisdome are but the weapons of mischiefe in the hands of a foole But hee hath also all wisdome with wisdome strength so as nothing is lacking to him or can let him to performe what him pleaseth therefore of all to bee honoured in all things to haue the glory of all things to report the praise Next to the Angels all Creatures sing their part of whom a perfect enumeration is put as verse 3. and in their song they affirme what the Angels had sung before them This they haue singular that to the Lambe they ioyne him who sitteth on the throne to shew that they are one and their praise one That singing of praise is attributed to vnreasonable and insensible Creatures it is the ordinarie frame of Scripture speech to shew that all things in their owne kind praise God and that not onely for that the glory of God Creator and Administrator of all is in them set forth but also for that after a sort they reioice for the redemption of the sonnes of God hoping therby to bee freede from the vanity whereto they are subiect through the sin of man and vnder which they groan together with vs. The last passage is sung by these who first raised the song wherin as the angels ioined him who sitteth on the throâ—e with the Lambe so these to shew the vnity and that in praising both they praise but that one eternall liuing God they giue all praise to him who liueth for euermore Now in this course and order of singing wee haue to obserue that as the benâ—fite belongeth first and properly to the beasts and elders that is the Church so they beginne the song The Angels who gather matter of praise out of beholding the church succeed in singing Hereupon all Creatures in their kind reioyce for certainely this type hath a true relation the Church lastly closeth the song to shew that as from them it ought to be ginne whereby all the rest may magnifie God so the singing of the rest should serue the Church for a new vpstirring to insist in his praise And truely it is a great shame that all both Angels and other Creatures should ioy at our good and wee remaine senselesse and that the very senslesse creatures should groane vnder the burden of our sinne longing for our full redemption and wee bee nothing moued And a huge sinne is it in place of raising the song of God his praise and stirring all both Angels and other Creatures to the same duty when we marre all that heauenly melody grieue the good spirit of God contrist the Angels who ioy at the conuersion of one sinner and in place of gladnesse make all both senselesse and sâ—ikelesse Creatures to groane for griefe of ingratitude CHAP. VI. THe generall introduction was in the two preceding Chapters hence is the story of speciall euents prophetically foretold and that by proponing the same vnder goodly and conuenient types of all which as they are closed vp from the knowledge of all creatures the sealed book in the right hand of God was the type like as the reuelation
enemies should still increase and that to such degree of crueltie as in God his iustice required their speedy and finall destruction which neuerthelesse should bee delayed for a time but so as the rage of persecution being mitigated the Church should become of great account euen before men Therefore in this fifth Seale is put the cry of Soules against cruelty not that here it beganne but for the hight whereto the enemies were come now therein as also a reason of God his patience in such measure of wrong was needfull And further hearts are hereby wakened to see the equity of the great plague in the sixt Seale when God in a great degree performeth the promised vengeance albeit then fully it shall bee executed when vpon powring out of the seuenth Viall they shall bee absolutely destroyed who destroyed the earth and the kingdomes of the world shall become our Lords the rest of Saints being slaine by the beast euen the rest of the womans seed Chap. 12. 17. and 13. 7. and 14. 12. 9 The sixth type vpon opening of the sixt Seale 〈◊〉 a great Earthquake the darkning of the sunne and moon the fall of starres the departing of heauen and remouing of mountaines and Ilands from their places the speech opening the signification is the Kings of the earth great men rich men chiefe Captaines mighty men bond-men and free-men should haue such commotion and alteration of state carrying such imprinted sense and cleare sight of Christ his wrath and vengeance as they should bee filled with desperate terrour so sore a iudgement comming on them as in a sort the state of the world should bee ouerturned these who were as the Sunne Moone and Stars for glistering shew in their Kingdomes wealthes honours commandements and great roomes being darkened and falling from their places all their glory and honour compared to Heauen euanishing as a scrole rolled vp such as seemed most closely hedged about as Ilands being driuen from their places and who appeared to bee setled as mountaines yet remouing Which plague should bee so much the more grieuous as no condition of men bond or free should escape it all feeling such desperate terror and sorrow as felt these Isai 2. as had the Israelites at the destruction of Samaria Ose 10. and as Christ foretold should betake the Iewes at the destruction of Ierusalem Luke 21. Neither is this type to be drawne to any other or extended to any further sense To take it of the last consummation is ridiculous ignorance the seuenth Seale as yet not opened and yeelding more then foure times as much story both for time and euents in time as all these six preceeding and to extend it to the decay of the visible Church is impertinent as which matter is handled properly in the seuenth seale and six trumpets thereof For albeit that in this Prophesie both before and hereafter starres be put for Pastors of Churches and the eclipsing of Sunne and starres for darkening of spirituall light and fall of starres for falling of Pastors from the truth yet here where that matter is not handled and where the holy Ghost so plainely ioyneth the interpretation wee ought not iumble so distinct matters and the frequent vse of these same Allegories in the Prophets for euents of this same kind might haue taught so much Isai 13. verse 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. and 14. 12. and 24. 19. 20. 21. 23. and 34. 40. Ezechiel 32. 7. 8. Ioel 2. 30. 31. 10 Now for right accommodation of Story to these Seales wee must flie two extremities wherein many Interpreters falling breed to themselues great difficulties and darken cleare matter The first is of these who tying themselues to more strait rules of interpretation theÌ„ the holy Spirite hath laid to them will needes haue these seuen Seales as also the Trumpets and Vials to bee so many knots or periods of time exactlie cutted within which the accommodation of each is to bee sought whereas they are no knots of time but types of distinct matters and the whole matter comprehended in seuen Seales whereof the seuenth affording the trumpets vials hath the matter of foure times alse much time as all the former sixe sheweth the weakenesse of this coniecture yea the effects of them are seene clearely to bee often of one time the former holding out long after the beginning of the next The other extremity is of these who well perceiuing the absurdity of the first neglect in the accommodation all consideration of distinct time so iumbling Seales Trumpets and Vials to the confusion of all order and light of Story which in this Prophesie is most orderly set downe with special relation to distinct euents Then let vs hold this rule that these sixe Seales haue the story of the first sorrowes as Christ calleth them Mathew 24. 8. as the seuenth Seale hath both the second sorrowes in the sixe Trumpets and the last wrath in the seuenth by seuen Vials Thus farre then wee haue to respect time in accommodation of these Seales that albeit they shew such ordinary iudgements whereby God at all time hath punished and will punish the contempt of his grace yet here they haue a speciall relation to the first time from the writing of this Prophesie to the ouerturning of the state of the Roman Empire so far forth as might make way to the succeeding more dangerous euill in the seuenth Seale and sixe Trumpets thereof Now as these beginnings of Sorrowes so called and of Christ himselfe recorded in the same order which here is set down fell out in diuers places Mathew 24. 7. 8. So also in diuers times of that first time now and then here there yet alwayes in this order that first the white horse goeth out after the Sword Famine Pestilence and noisome beasts God his foure great plagues Ezech. 14. 21 sometimes seuerally sometimes ioyntly as God saw it expedient fitting his iudgements to the growth of induration against that persecuting estate till at length all the glory and face almost of that wicked Empire was ouerturned And these are the proper euils of that first time for that albeit in succeding ages God hath inflicted them on the world yet neither in such degree as then neither for any degree thereof vpon the world thereafter come they in account in respect of heauier woes theÌ„ they 11 How the preaching of the Gospell went forth conquering to ouercome maugre all opponents besides the successe preceding this Reuelation it had after Domitian who now letted it with all his might a great propagation as in story is cleare and whensoeuer by persecutors it was crossed immediately the red horse and his great sword in God his iustice commeth forth in bloudy warres partly with forrainers but most tragically of the Caesars amongst themselues whereof the Stories are knowne and too long here to bee repeated 12 Now famine ordinarily euer accompanieth or ensueth hard vpon Warres but these times had as strange bloudshed so vncouâ—h examples
efsectuateth this great point To wit by signes and wonders which were permitted him to doe and thereby to deceiue the earth wherein he seemed to match Moses and Elias in master points That whereto by all this deceite hee induceth the earth and men thereof is to make vp the image of the Beast which had the deadly wound and liued Which he worketh so luckily that hee giueth spirit and speech to the Image and obtaineth thereto worship of Nations vnder paine of death and subiection to receiue the Beast his marke in worke or profession as his proper good and and vnder paine of confiscation of goods and interdiction of all humane commerce that all of all estates rankes and conditions should receiue his marke or beare his name or at least be accounted of his number so making vp the whole body and frame of his Kingdome Which in respect of the number of his name comprehending all the sorts of his followers will appeare to any who is not indued with heauenly wisdome to count it so large so faire so perfectly and proportionably builded and stablished as he will vndoubtedly bee ouercome thereby And yet who is wise to count it will find it to be but a man his number and none of God his building And the number to be counted is 666. 4 That these beasts are the state of Rome all sound Interpreters agree But in what time and of what policy there is great disagreement That which hath bred greatest difficulty in accommodation is because that the two Beasts heere set foorth are taken of all men to bee diuers or at least of diuers time and condition whereas they are both one And are heere distinctly and diuersly set downe by the spirit onely for cleere explication as in the deduction shall be made plaine The common opinion that the first Beast is the heathen state of Rome vnder persecuting Emperours and the second the Popedome cannot consist with the cleare notes of this first Beast proper to Popedome The first note is the attire of his heads and hornes Rome in the persecuting Emperours as they were the ministers of Satan his open wrath is noted by seuen heads and tenne hornes of the Dragon but so as the heads onely are crowned The hornes that is the Prouinciall gouernments vnder them and wherein was their strength hauing no Crownes because the roiall and soueraigne gouernment was then onely in the heads of the state so designing the Emperours of that time But this Beast heere hath his hornes Crowned to shew that the proppes of his power are crowned Kings as Chapter 17. is exponed plainely that they are Kings which had not as then receiued a Kingdome Whereby is manifest that the tenne hornes as they are crowned were not in Iohn his time neither this beast as it hath crowned hornes The beast indeed was before in the fiue heads who were fallen he was not in the state heere described for he was to rise out of the bottomlesse pit and yet euen then he was in the state of the sixth head that is the Caesars by curing of whose deadly wound in the Pontificalitie erected the Popedome afterward became the liuely image that is the state of Rome vnder the Popes a liuely image of the state of Rome before And therefore in distinct consideration The Pontificality is the eight head of the Beast and yet one of the seuen And whereas the former heads were crowned now the heads arise to a higher presumption hauing hornes crowned to attire themselues with the name of blasphemy 2. Thess 2. 5 The next note heere proper to the Popedome is that the Dragon hath giuen him his power throne and authority The Dragon in his openrage vsed Emperours but for the Ministers of his furie but the Popes are the Vicars of his power and therefore are properlie the Sonne of perdition King Apollyon and the Angell of the bottomlesse pit whose comming is in all effectuall working of Satan For albeit the Dragon bequeateth not vtterly his Kingdome yet finding that his open rage had not the desteined successe hee substracteth himselfe in a sort and substituteth this viceroy of his kingdome the most effectuall promoouer of darkenesse that euer was Satan offered to Christ this bargen but was repulsed heere he findeth his Merchant who accepteth of it and both himselfe worshippeth and maketh all the world to worshippe the Dragon That the Popes haue Satan his throne in a peculiar manner is plaine by their practise and by their challenge Their practise for that it is not onely as of all the former heads or other tyrants whatsoeuer instruments of Satan his rage to subdue to themselues bodies goods and states of men to dispose thereof at their pleasure but hee further will impire ouer the conscience and all his administration as the proper angell of the bottomlesse pit is to plunge men in darkenesse Wherein the Dragon as almost in all things is an Ape of God his dealing For as God hath giuen to Christ his throne and authority all power in heauen and earth for conquering a kingdome to him so hath the Dragon giuen all his power to his annointed Antichrist the man of sinne for setting forward his kingdome of darkenesse Their challendge also argueth this For albeit great Monarches for the largenesse of their dominion are said to haue the kingdomes of the earth and the Romans to magnifie their Empire would call it Imperium orbis terrarum yet neuer King or Monarch challenged euer any further right then either by apparent iust title hee might claime or by Armes he had subdued But the Pope challengeth right ouer all as whereof hee may dispose at his pleasure And that yee may cleerely discerne the Dragons mouth he onely of all men since the beginning of the world stoutly affirmeth All the Kingdomes of the world are mine and I giue them to whom I will 6 The third note here put is the time of his working 42. mouethes The very time of Antichrist his obtaining place in the visible Church Chap. 11. of the Temple closed and witnesses preaching in Sackcloath and of the womans abode in the wildernesse Chap. 12. An infallible argument that heere Antichrist is described 7 The fourth note is clearest of all For as the description of the Beast his heades and hornes sheweth him to be the Romane state or Kingdome so heere a speciall note is giuen whereby to discerne of what time policy state and condition of Rome this Beast is to bee taken namely in the state of the wounded head cured againe And because this beingshortly touched might be obscure therefore to make it plaine a speciall vision is giuen of the curer and manner of the cure whereby this Beast in this state is made vp so as if it may not be esteemed absolutely the fame which it was before the deadly stroke yet at least it is a liuely image thereof The Curer is a Beast like the Lambe and simply pretending his power in
for discerning the kingdome fiue hauing ere then fallen and two not as yet risen The second beast is put onely for cleare explication of the condition nature quality and working of this last head considered a part and by it selfe and how this great worke of quickning that mortally wounded kingdome or beast is wrought by it so as vnder it the Beastreuiueth and now howsoeuer for discerning the kingdome all the heads be mentioned commeth only to bee considered in that state and respect in which for great diuersity from the former condition before the wound yea and before the the cure this head is in a sort a different beast as hauing this singular in shape that it is like the Lambe in working that it doth by signes and wonders in condition that the beast vnder it is rather an image of the former then the same and yet a liuely image therefore called the eight head and one of the seuen In which respect but seuen heads are attributed to the beast albeit in number there be eight That the first riseth out of the sea and the second out of the earth it is but to note the different manner of rising of the last head and state vnder it from the rising of the Beast in all his former conditions and heades They both in their distinct manner of rising haue this common that they are from below For albeit the earth and sea in degree of account with other creatures as the fountaines sunne moone starres Chap. 9. and. 16. according to the effects wrought in them and that wherof they in these degrees are the types are to bee taken so as agreeth with the course of the mystery as in these places is declared Yet when Sea and Earth are set in opposition to heauen as heer and Chapter 10. when the Angell descending from heauen for ouerthrow of this beast setteth his feet on the sea and earth whence in distinct consideration the beast ariseth And Chapter 12. reioyce O heauens woe to the Inhabitants of sea and earth then things arising from sea and earth must bee taken as Christ speaketh to the Iewes Yee are from below I am from aboue And euen the foure beasts in Daniel whose whole ferity cruelty fraud and destroying power is in this one whom in the beginning of his seuenth Chapter hee seeth rise out of the sea are said in that same chapter verse 17. to arise out of the earth as all one thing except that as the earth sheweth the origine to be earthly and from below so the sea sheweth their rising to bee of the troubles tossings and alterations of the earth whose commotions are compared to the stormy sea and according to this to shew the peaceable and calme estate of the Church vpon vtter destruction of this Beast it is saide Chapter 21. that there was no more sea Then this second Beast is said to rise out of the earth not onely for that it was from below for so is the whole beast first last throught the star falling from the heauen chap. 9 But because this last head howsoeuer the beast or kingdome of Rome considered absolutely riseth out of the sea in the particular consideration thereof by it selfe and apart arose in a farre different manner from all the former which all arose by great commotions and sensible alterations but this last head arose slily subtlely and almost insensibly by slow degrees as things that grow through the earth and so became head of that Kingdome which vnder it is the beast going to destruction See Steuchus against Valla. Paulatim imperare incipiebat religio habenas imperij caperâ— ius suum acquirere nihil subitum nihil tumultuarium Where the second beast is said to worke before the first beast it is not to bee taken for impudent or violent vsurpation but according to the Phrase of Scripture as Iohn Baptist to goe before Christ And this is onely for clearenesse of explication of him and his manner who maketh the Image as trauelling with all sedulous endeauour by lying signes to conciliate authority honour and submission to that state vnder himselfe as head thereof Neither hereupon must wee thinke the second beast working to bee an other from him before whom hee worketh except so farre as the spirit so will distinguish betwixt the Kingdome wholly and absolutely and this last head peculiarly considered in comparison to the former and as after a deadly wound hee quickneth so that state again as hee procureth to it worship of Nations In one word the first beast is the Kingdom of Rome vnder the Pontificality the second beast is the Pontificality wonderfully quickning the wounded beast to that estate therfore Chapter 17 but one beast euen this first is put and called the eighth head so euidently telling vs that both are one and the same except in consideration as I haue said According to this it is that hereafter the beast is distinguished from the false Prophet not that they are two as many fondly imagine but onely to take vp so the State and Kingdome as the false Prophet is heade therof so the false Prophet as he is head of that state See vpon Chapter 17. Sect. 11. 18. and 19. Sect. 27. These two beasts then are to expresse one and the same state euen Antichrist in his Kingdome and in himselfe head thereof both for condition and time For from the Pope his first degree of rising hee neuer got any such crossing as for which it might bee said of him that hee should abide a short space Chapter 17. For euen in the most miserable times of Rome by the Gothes hee not onely retained his old got account but was still labouring to aduance the credite of his Chaire as his supercilious dealings in these selfe times with forrain Churches sufficiently proueth And whatsoeuer hinderance bee had by Gothik tiranny from rising to the height hee after attained to it is too weake a ground to say of him that hee abode a short space thus to make him both the seuenth and eight head against cleare Text which maketh the seuenth to bee soone gone and if such had beene the meaning of the holy Ghost he might much both clearelier and easier haue called him the eight and seuenth then the eight and one of the seuen thus clearely implying which of the seuen hee meaned to wit that whose deadly wound by his arising hee cuâ—ed and made vppe thus so liuely an Image of the beast as hee may iustly therefore be counted one and the same with it that is with the sixth whome for glory account worship of Nations and Monarchike state hee resembleth liuely and the Kingdome vnder him the Kingdome then The mistaking of the seuenth head maketh all the errour and in such light of Storie agreeing fitly with this Prophesie it is wonder that all should haue erred This is certaine that Caesars are the sixth head that which then was and before which fiue Kings Consuls Dictators Decemuirs
righteousnesse now so shining as in place of glorifying God by repentance and acknowledging of their errors and workes of darkenesse they as the Children of darkenesse and hating the light whereby their workes are reproued boile in despitefull rage and are burnt vp with enuie and malice as were the Pharisies at Christ his cleare doctrine and euident myracles and that Stephen hauing his face like the Sunne And they blaspheme God in blaspheming his truth and true Church speaking euill of the way of righteousnesse their desperate rage still increasing as the light groweth because induration in impenitency is a common effect of all these plagues In that showsoeuer God hath his owne single ones to pull out of that Kingdom yet the body is not reclamable but must goe to destruction Compare this with the fourth Trumpet The light of the Gospel is a plague and torment to the reprobate world as the two witnesses Chapter 11 were a vexation Here the first effect of this Vial is rage the second blasphemy 7 The first is on the throne of the Beast that is on his Kingdom as the next words interpret and as the whole frame of Scripture speech euinceth The throne of Dauid is for his Kingdome The Throne is established for the Kingdome is established Satan his throne Chap. 2. 13. for his kingdome The first effect heere of is their kingdome loseth the glory lustre pompe and wonted estimation and becommeth contemptible Whereupon the secundarie effect followeth in them of desperate sorrow expressed by a gesture of men extremly grieued Gnawing their tongues and obdnration in impenitency and blasphemy theirâ—ores by the light of the sunne being more and more laid open and thereby their sorrow augmented For their workes see Chapter 9. And withall consider what a wise and iust retribution As by falling from heauen to the earth and from being starres of light to become ministers of darkenesse they opened the bottomlesse pit and let out darkenesse by the smoake thereof eclipsing all true light and so erecting the kingdome of darkenesse So heere by the cleere arising light of the sunne of righteousnesse all the earthly and worldly account of their Kingdome becommeth contemtible and is darkened And as by the doctrine of darkenesse they like Scorpions stinging men tormented their consciences so the light opâ—ned and discouering their treachery tormenteth them with anguish and sorrow This effect both first and secondary we see already in great part but shall yet see more For albeit these plagues heere haue their owne degrees for order of working yet still the former hold on with the subsequent till all together in the ende bring finall destruction 8 The sixth viall is notable in many circumstances It is poured on Euphrates the effect is drying the waters thereof This effect is for a speciall end that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared Against this effect and apparent sequell thereof a great endeauour is shewed and the euent thereof The endeauour is of the principals Dragon Beast and false Prophet by their instruments a pestilent broode and well resembling their origine foule spirits and spirits of Diuels so is their qualitie Their dealing is to goe to the Kings of the Earth strangers from heauen whom they may perswade importunely cronting like frogges night and day in their eares Their force of perswasion is by working signes thus to shew them to bee fase Prophets seducing The ende of this their endeauour is to gather these earthly Kings together in their purpose to vphold their tottering Kingdome now threatning a fall and to impede the apparant effect to which this Viall maketh preparation but which God shall turne to an other fine then they purpose euen to be glorified in their iust destruction as the euent prooueth Now both in respect of the great danger to be deceiued and misled by these frogs and of the great day of God his wrath to come on them so much the more perrilous as it should come like a thiese in the night warning is giuen to watch and hold the true faith whereby putting on Christ and girding him to vs as with a golden girdle we be not found naked and so ashamed but blessed through our garment The euent of all this their busie trauell is expressed in this that they gathered them to a place called in Hebrue Armageddon 9 Now because for the most part the effect and sequels of this Viall are yet to come in seeking the accommodation we must walke warily as the light of holy writ may leade vs. Euphrates properly is that great Riuer whereon Babylon properly so called did stand and wherto it serued for beauty commodity and fortification It was also the march bordering Dauid his kingdome on the East separating and in a manner debarring the Easterne peoples therefrom To both these considerations in this allusion the spirit hath respect In the 51. of Ieremy prophecying the destruction of Babylon hee threatneth that he will dry vp her waters Thence hither to the destruction of the mysticall Babylon the speech is brought In the next Chapter the whore Babylon is said to sit on many waters Which are interpreted Kings Nations Peoples and Tongues To shew in great dominion and authority great dignity and strength The drying vp then of her waters is the decay of her authority dominion glory and power by the substraction of these from her obeience in whom was her strength and fortification Euen that same which Chapter 17. is expressed by eating her flesh and making her naked Thus fitly for this respect and yet more for the second the drying of Euphrates is heere mentioned in a depth of wisdome to shew how that Riuer bordering the kingdome of Dauid on the East and set betwixt the Easterne Kings and the blessed land being dried vp the Kings of the East should therethrough haue easie accesse thereto the debarring impediment being remoued The sense is As Antichrist his rising was the occasion of darknes and defection from the Gospell to Mahometisme in the East and of the obstinate abiding of Iewes who are most part in the East and whom specially heere the spirit pointeth at as the euent cleareth in their infidelity and as the greatnesse and power of Antichrist still debarreth both from embracing the Gospell as Euphrates flowing ouer all his bankes and so letting all free passage to the Kingdome of Dauid both Iewes and Mahometans through the superstition idolatry and corruption of the Romish Church abhorring Christianity so now her waters being with the heat of the sunne of righteousnesse dried vp an open way shall bee prepared for them to receiue the Gospell I know how some from the story of Cyrus and Darius King of the East diuerting the course of Euphrates and so surprising Babylon thinke this allusion taken to shew how mysticall Babylon shall in like manner be destroied by Easterne Kings But the spirit of God fetcheth nothiug from Xenophon or Herodotus but all his allusions
lector arenam Liba neu â—icco rade profunda pede Hic sulcanda via est huic te duce numine oportet Etpoteris placiâ—ae credere tutus aquae The Summe of the Booke THis Booke is that written record of the things in Vision heard and seene by Iohn in Patmos which according to the commandement giuen him hee sent to the seuen Churches of Asia Whereof it is that besides the inscription in the first three verses the whole is an Epistle hauing a salutation to the ninth of the first Chapter a valediction in the last verse of all and the body of the matter in the rest This body hath for the most part a propheticall narration to the sixt of the last Chapter and thence the generall conclusion The narration hath two parts the first is of things which partly then were and partly were also to bee done thereafter And this part hath first a goodly vision of Christs presence operation and dispensation in and towards these seuen Churches and which in common concerneth them all And secondly a particular accommodation thereof to each one according to their proper condition good or euill or mixed at that time In which respect this part is said to be of things which were then existent as it is also of things to be done thereafter because of the future good or euill promised or threatned The second part of the narration is of things which were to be done thereafter concerning first and properly the whole militant Church Like as the whole euents thereof were to fall out after the time of this trance how soeuer for cleering the working on of these euents some circumstances and beginnings are in one or two places deduced higher And this second part hath a generall introduction to the speciall Storie Chap. 4. and 5. and the story of speciall euents thenceforth The introduction hath two parts first a goodly type of the true Church militant according to that constant and inuariable condition shee euer holdeth in all her changes wrestlings sufferings victories kythings and eclipses For expressing accordingly of all which as diuers and conuenient types thorow this Prophecie are taken so alwaies in all cases this of the Throne Beasts and Elders euer holdeth thorow all This constant condition hath God his constant presence as King and Lord fixing his habitation and ruling in the midst of his Church her gracefull state herethrough as which is a royall priesthood to him his generall and constant dispensation to this end terrible for her and gracious towards her and her dutifull worship of him againe Chap. 4. In the second part of the Introduction is shewed by whom and in whom it is that shee hath all this presence protection and graces and specially thus artificially to bring on the story of speciall euents by whom it is that she hath this singular benefit of this reuelation The dignitie whereof is shewed first in the retired eminencie of the matter and secondly in the worthinesse of the Person reuealer Chap. 5. The speciall storie is thence of which the abstruse secrecie locked vp in God his counsell as by a sealed Booke in God his right hand it was figured so the manifestation thereof to vs is typically expressed by opening of the seales in which the whole Story being comprehended six of them opened yeeld also many types of these first sorrows wherewith God plagued the world for reiecting the Gospel I hâ— seuenth yeeldeth 7. Trumpets whereof the first six haue the second euils and the seuenth vpon induration against all former punishment affordeth seuen vials of the last wrath for full and recurelesse destruction of the enemies and the Church her constant gracefull and quiet state thereupon The beginnings of sorrowes are first the powerful preaching of the Gospell in it selfe properly the first blessing yet to the world â—adly impugning that which must Conquer and Ouercome becomming the sauor of death is the first and mother plague begetting bloudy warres strange famines greeuous pestilences and not some beasts God his foure great plagues seuerally and iointly Against all which notwithstanding the rage and induration of enemies still groweth and that to so huge and cruel effusion of the bloud of Saints as in God his iustice cried for no lesse then the full and finall destruction of that afflicting state Which neuerthelesse in God his wise dispensation is reiourned till the accomplishment of the rest of Martyrs in that honour of suffering And that the Church might attend this the more patiently she getteth in the time relaxation from open persecution and the sufferings of Martyrs become honourable Thereafter that bloudy state through inuasion of barbarous and vncoâ—th nations suffereth such strange alteration as the whole face thereof is turned and it receaueth a deadly wound so farre as might make way for the succeeding huge mischiefe in the seuenth Scale Chap. 6. Before the opening whereof to a particular manifestation of the euils therein for more cleering of the matter and in a diuine artifice to imply that this second mischiefe was hatching euen in time of the first sorrowes a summary view of the whole sequell thereof is giuen in a deadlie euill to ouergoe all the face of the visible Church worship and professors therein Against which the care of Christ for preseruing his true Church is shewed and her double condition first vnder and in time of the mischiefe by a mystical number of sealed ones and of whome and how that number is made vp to the ninth verse and secondly her condition victorius ouer the euill as the same condition is offered to Iohn his perception first by seeing and hearing and secondly by information to the end of the seuenth Chapter For particular explication of that which in the seuenth Chapter was summarily portended the seuenth Seale is opened and yeeldeth seuen Trumpets as also many signes giuen of diuers degrees of iudgements whereby God was as it were to charge vpon the World these in coÌ„parison are lighter or heauier The first foure are lighter first through cold showers of selfeloue and fierie contention mixed with crueltie in the visible Church followeth a destruction in part of true spirituall life and religion both in weake and in such as appeared strong Christians Secondly through the fire of ambition amongst Church-men a corruption in part of the common worship and a death in superstition Thirdly through hereticall prauity arising vpon despitefull pride bitternesse and presumption of great knowledge the very grounds and chiefe Doctours are poisonablie infected to the death of many therein Fourthly darke ignorance and a decay in part of true light and learning both in diuine and humane sciences Chapter 8. Now these foure lighter euils were but alse many steppes to the fift and first of three great woes in the fift Trumpet When not in part onely but through the fall of great Pastours from Heauen to the loue of the Earth and thus losing the Key of knowledge and of the Kingdome of Heauen
to come into the obedience of faith In which perilous case of their kingdome the Dragon Beast and false Prophet bestirre themselues and iointly bend their whole malice power and deceit by their emissarie false Teachers to seduce the Kings of the earth in their quarrell against the true Church But for such a mighty foile to both the seducers and the seduced as shall make at length the long blinded Iewes turning to the faith to concelebrate the victory 7. This miserable euent in the enemies prognosticated against all their busie indeauors in the sixt Viall is now in the seuenth fully executed with so strange a commotion alteration and ouerturning of the state of the earth by so vncouth plagues as was not since the beginning of the world At all which notwithstanding that Antichristian body deuoted to destruction still obstinately blasphemeth Chap. 16. This so huge a destruction so summarily in the seuenth Viall deliuered is henceforth more largely and cleerely exponed according to that grouth of light which that time shall bring with it laying open to the view of the Earth the parties destroied and the manner measure and euents of their ouerthrow These are the Whoore Chap. 17. and 18. The Beast and false Prophet Chap. 19 and the Dragon for an absolute victorie Chapter 20. Of the Whoore is shewed who shee is and by whom shee shall be destroied The Whore is the City of Rome borne vp to be a Lady of Kingdomes and a mother harlot corrupting the Earth with spirituall fornication by the pontificality the eight and last sort of soueraigne heads ouer-ruling that state and with whom it shall fall for euer Her destruction shall bee by these selfe same Kingdomes and States who before deceaued with her had beene speciall props of Antichrist his power but at last espying the abhominations thereof fall from him and become instruments of God his iust indignation against the Whore Chap. 17. The greatnes certainly instant performance equitie of her irreparable ruin is Rhetorically amplified Chapter 18. Whereupon and the conioined fall of Antichrist her aduancer by the sword of his mouth who iudgeth and fighteth righteously whose name is that word of God is ministred to the Church such matter of ioyfull praise as stirreth also at length God powerfully turning their hearts the Iewes to ioine in the concelebration of the same victory Chap. 19. The Dragon Satan who by Constantine his conuersion and Christianity by lawes established had beene bound vp from open rage a thousand yeeres all which time howsoeuer the most part of the World through Antichrist his preuailing deceit were dead in superstition and blindnes yet the true Church who receiued not his character liued the life of God being partakers of the first resurrection and Christian religion was in account is therefore againe let loose to practice open cruelty and thereto stirreth all his forces from all quarters But yet by the power of the Gospell preuailing maugre all his endeauours the rest of men who haue long laien dead in blindnes and error rise also the first resurrection there is a new face of a world all enemies being so ouerthrowen as the Church hath a most gracefull and quiet state for that Satan is now taken againe this second time and so as hee neuer getteth any liberty hereafter either by errour to deceiue or persecution to disturbe the Church her quiet hee being now not onely bound vp for a thousand yeeres as that first but so as his destruction now begunne holdeth on till that full point it shall haue in the last iudgement and the Church her raigne hereupon shall accordingly not be for a thousand yeeres onely as at the first but for euermore hauing now performed in her and to her whatsoeuer rested foretold by the Prophets vnaccomplished for her gracefull and quiet state and her enemies full destruction here and in that the mystery of God is fulfilled shee hauing no more to expect but the comming of her Lord for translating her to glory From the sixth verse of the 22. Chap. is the conclusion of the Booke wherein for procuring to this prophecie due regard and carefull obseruation it is commended from the truth and fidelity of the matter which is from God by a glorious dispensation and ministry deseruing credit from the neere approaching performance of things prophecied and from the perfection thereof in this that it closeth vp the Canon so as no more is to be expected either for light or manners but hearts to be erected in earnest wish and attentiue expectation of our Lord his comming Euen so come Lord Iesus DIuinus quidquid vates contexerat altis Sphingibus hic dextré Forbesius referat Sic sibi promeruit nomen per saecula foelix Qui simili expendit pauca talenta modo Andreas Aidius Scoto-Britannus Ad patrem suum colendissimum Patricium Forbesium à Cothari de pererudito eius in Apocalypsin Commentario Iohannes Forbesius filius VAtibus haec olim sanctis imperuia Ioua Innuit Isacidis quisque Propheta suis Post vatum Deus haec etiam tunc aspera nato Fulminis ostendit caetibus ille Asiae Presbyteri Deus haec patefecit peruia tandem Patricio varijs gentibus indepatent Peruia nulla via est talis sine Flamine Sancto Quo duce teste libro hoc inuia nulla via est Ingentem veteres amplam Zebedeia proles Obtinet hinc laudem Forbesiusque suam Pectus ob haec tacitae pertentauere Sionis Gaudia quae prae se vate canente tulit Hinc etiam Ionias Hilarauit Apostolus vrbes Oblectauit enim littera missa viros At duce Patricio lector pius intime noscens Gestit exultat laetitiaque fremit Propter aquas vitreas ignitas mosis Agni Turbae tenens palmas nobile cantat epos Diuinum a quo lux numen super ardua tollens Forbesij per quem nomen in alta ferens Hinc tua progenies noua pectore gaudia voluit Dum te chare pater Nestora quisque cupit Nestor eris nec Nestor eris sed corpore quanto Mens prestat tanto Nestore maior eris Victa cadunt ictu annorum collapsa putrescunt Corpora at ingenijs stat sine morte decus Esto quidem arctatam vinclis suspirantem Admeliora animam liberet inde Deus Quantaque terricolis tua per spicientia praebet Gaudia caelicolis mens tua tanta ferat Te tamen haud triplicis venturi terminus aeui Finiet aut lucem nox ruitura tuam Daedala sed magni dum stabit machina mundi Ingenij viues per monumenta tui Te monstrante micat primoque oriente relicto Ardua caelorum Phosphorus vsque petit Donec protulerit vultus splendore decori Aeternum aeternus Phaebus ab axe diem Tum clarus multis in milibus aera carpens Te sistes album Principis ante thronum Indeque cum Christo clamore per astra secundo Coelica tendentem turma sequetur ouans Ad Papam
any bloud in the third part of the sea would haue liued become dead in hereticall prauity The verity and accommodation hereof is more then cleare as principally in Arrius so in all the other Arch-heretikes of that time men more learned then holy and more quicke then modest like blazing Comets corrupting the truth of doctrine in a great part And therefore for the full perfection of euill in this kind when not onely the third part but wholy al both earth Sea fountaines shal be burnt turned into bloud and made bitter and al light eclipsed the like type is vsed in the fift Trumpet but with this notable difference that that starre falleth to the earth and so breedeth the mischiefe 9 The fourth Trumpet bringeth a darkenesse in part vpon Sunne Moone Starres day and night A kindlie degree of euill to follow on the former and there withal noting yet a higher degree of Apostasie and aduancement of the mystery of iniquitie as the heauenly lightes are aboue fountaines and riuers This is the type of darke ignorance comming on the world first in a great part The former euils arose more vpon contention pride and bitter despite then vpon ignorance while men either not aduerting or maliciouslie miscarried they tooke place but now together with these commeth also grosse ignorance in a great part darkening all true knowledge Christ is our sunne whom wee behold in the true light of his Gospell whereof when the third part is darkened so farre is our sunne darkened to vs. The Moone and starres are they in whose hearts God so shineth as they are able to make the light of the knowledge of God to shine in the hearts of others in the face of Iesus The day is that light thus ministred from our sunne by these starres wherein we walke who are children of the day and not of the night For starres here must bee considered more as receiuing light from the sunne they dispense it to vs then for that they shine in the night And here the night signifieth that light which naturall men who are not children of the day but of the night yet haue in humane sciences liberall arts in comparison to the light of the Gospell but a night of darkenesse whereof now by this Trumpet came a great decay as in story is more then manifest Now as these euils are said to worke but on the thirde part in each kind to shew that the first degrees came on but in part so as first the loue and life of God abode in the most part of the Church as in the second degree yet the most part worshipped purely and in the third held still the Orthodox faith like as now in the fourth yet continued great measure of learning both in diuine and humane sciences Whereas in the next Trumpet al falleth to the height of euill and a totall and common Apostasie is set downe And therefore for preparation to it a heauie warning is giuen of a triple woe But this warning is by an Angell flying through the middest of heauen and so farre remoued from the perception of earthly men it being so farre and obscurely deliuered as few were capable thereof or aduerted it see Chapter 14. and 18. 1. Diuers learned and godly men of whome this Angell is the type saw the mischiefe comming on through these euils more and more preuailing and gaue warning of it euen Gregory Bishop of Rome saw so much and made him say Rex superbia prope est quod dicinefas est Sacerdotum est paratus exercitus and vbi est ille Antichristus qui appellationem vindicabit vniuersalis Episcopi cui Sacerdotum exercitus paratus est ad assectandum cum prope est in foribus Hee did hit very right for within little more then three yeeres after him his owne successor Boniface the third tooke to himselfe the title of Vniuersalis Episcopus which all the succeeding Bishops retaine and so by sufftage of a most famous Bishop of Rome they are that Antichrist CHAP. IX FOllow the heauier woes denounced in the fourth Trumpet to fall on the earthly sort on whome are all these iudgements from which the sealed ones are exempted Of these three the first is in this fift Trumpet euen that huge mischiefe of Antichrist to which height of iniquity the former euils were al 's many steppes The other two woes following in the 6. and 7. Trumpets are the consequences in God his iust indignation of this great woe the one for punishment to prouoke repentance in the 6. Trumpet which being ineffectuall to conuersion vpon obstinate impenitency verse 20. 21. the seuenth Trumpet bringeth the third great woe and last wrath to Antichrists vtter destruction 2 In this euill are the origine whence it ariseth and the euill it selfe the origine is first and secundarie arising of the first The first is the fall of a great star from heauen to the earth the type of Pastors of great marke falling from being heauenly to becom earthly from the true state of Saints to the state of the world and to the loue thereof from light to darkenesse from the keyes of the kingdome of heauen to the keyes of the bottomlesse pit Now as this fall was not in one instant or point of time nemo repente fit turpissimus but by degrees so is it not to be taken of one man personally but is the generall type of that euill wherein Pastors falling they became ignorant and ministers of darke ignorance out of which arose the mischiefe of Antichrist and his poysonable Armie the euill is the loue of the earth where through cometh this change of Keyes by an Apostasie and falling away of these who had beene starres of heauen and ministers of light as hauing the keyes of the kingdome of heauen to bee the ministers of other Keyes euen these of Gehenna This is that succession and these are the Keyes the Church of Rome and Bishoppes thereof so much bragge of as this whole prophesie euinceth clearely The secundary origine of the euill is darkenesse arising through this fall and change of Keyes and that in a strange degree for this darkenes is not in part as that of the fourth trumpet but it eclipseth all light actiue and passiue sunne and aire Christ is our sunne whose beames lighten our spirituall aire whereby wee both walke in light and draw in a pure breath for intertainement of our spirituall life This by this darkenesse of the bottomlesse pitte which arose through that pastors falling to the loue of earthly things lost the key of knowledge and became Ministers of darkenesse is wholy eclipsed so as all the face of the visible Church is darkened and common life in it corrupted The euill of the third Trumpet was by fall of a great starre but that fell in the fountaines and riuers so making them in a part bitter but here the desire of riches and loue of the earth maketh all erre from the faith 3
on the world which yet the sealed ones escape that by comparing wee may finde what a huge wisdome here in two words is comprised Now in all the story of old no such case occurreth but onely the deluge of Noah in all things semblable to this That was the onely generall plague wherewith euer at one time the whole world was punished and this darkenesse of Antichrist is a spirituall plague ouergoing once all the Christian world In that onely they escaped whom God sealed vp and inclosed in the Arke the type of his true Church here none escape but the sealed ones who are on Mount Sion with the Lambe while all the earth follow the beast That plague ouerwent the earth by opening the fountaines of the great depth Abyssi magnae Tehom Rabbah of the windows of heauen This by fall of a star from heauen opening the bottomles pit smoake bullering out therat ouergoeth all That by degrees grew till at length it ouerwent the highest mountaines fiue times three cubits this by degrees rose to ouerwhelme sunne and aire These waters preuailed ouer the highest mountaines fiue times thirty dayes that is fiue monethes this euill growing by degrees to a height shall haue a time of preuayling and obtaining place ouer all These waters preuailed not still but after an hundred and fifty dayes that is fiue monethes they beganne peece and peece to decrease til at length the earth was dried the Arke opened and the closed and sealed vp ones came forth and replenished the earth This euill after a time of preuailing ouer all shall abate and by the light of the Sunne of righteousnesse and wind of God his mouth by degrees bee consumed as by degrees it did grow and the true Church shall breake forth the Tabernacle of Testimony shall bee opened in heauen and these 144000. hid ones shall become a number innumerable with palmes in hands And as Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist bearing the reproch of barrennes hid her selfe fiue Monethes thereafter to appeare with big bellie so in this preuailing euill of Locusts and their King Abaddon the true Church as barren shall lurke fiue monethes that is for a time to breake forth thereafter big with child Of these who should bee preachers of repentance from Antichristian workes and forerunners of the Lord his last comming as Iohn was of the first Finally as the waters of Noah was such an euill as neuer shall come againe and thereof the Rainebow made a Seale so the darkenesse of Antichrist once dispelled shal neuer againe ouergoe all for hee must goe to destruction And for this it is that agreeably thereto the great Angell comming to his ouerthrow in the next Chapter hath the Rainebow about his head Now weigh what plenty of light and depth of wisdom lye hid in these two words of fiue monethes which the spirit repeateth twice of purpose to waken our negligence to take it vp Of the other times wee shall speake in the owne place 6 This was the generall note of their limitation Now follow the properties of these Locusts whereby they are able to vexe first they are like horses not common horses but prepared to battell lusty fâ—d strong and fierce ouer comming all opponers Hereto they are strengthned by vsurped spirituall authority expressed in Crownes which are neither vpright in forme nor matter With this is ioyned hypocrisie for they look like men who measure their affaires by iudgement as full of reason and humanity For simulate modesty and simplicity and for force of alluring inticements they haue haire like women with faire and flattering speeches deceiuing the hearts of the simple and prouoking to spirituall fornication But vnder this they are cruell deuourers as hauing teeth of Lyons deuouring widdowes houses vnder colour of long prayers whiles within they are rauening Wolfes They are armed against all inuasion hauing priuiledges and immunities from all secular power shaking their tippets on Kings as being onely subiect to their King Abaddon Now al these make their inuasions terrible to the greatest they being therefore like horses and chariots rushing to battell and it is well knowne how the contesting with them hath often brought Princes to the pinche of their estates and their daily treasonable bloody attempts and suggestions against the liues of Princes proue this clearely All this is effectuate by the stings in their railes that is their poisonable doctrine The ancient and honourable man is the head and the false Prophet teaching lies is the tatle Isai 9. 15. 7 Thus is the Armie Their head is described from his state and his name agreeable thereto his state is that he is their King euen setting himselfe vp against the great King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Thess 2. the quality of this his Kingdome is shewed in that hee is the Angell of the bottomlesse pitte that is the Diuell his Lieuetenant for to him the Dragon giueth his throne and great authority Chap. 13. Hee is the man of sinne His name fit for such a King is destroyer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both for destroying the faith of others and for that hee goeth to destruction Chapter 17. Paul calleth him accordingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee goeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chapter 17. 11. It is wonder in so clear consent of scripture how any learned could doubt who here is described Hee is so called both in Hebrew and Greeke to shew that hee shall bee no proper head of Iewes or of Gentiles but a common deceiuer of both Iew and Gentile professing Christianity and whom at length both Iewes conuerted to the faith and Gentiles shall know and call the Antichrist when the place of his foile shall bee called in Hebrew Armageddon for euen in this that hee shall bee so called in Hebrew is implyed a prophesie of the conuersion of the Iewes as in the same sense Chap. 1. with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is put Amen in Hebrew 8 This is the first great woe now said to bee gone the second to come anone in respect of their description here not that for euent in time this woe was fully past before the beginning of the next as is euident by the end of this Chapter where after the description of the sixt Trumpet the impenitency of men still continuing in Antichristian works is shewed so as the first woe holdeth on all the time of the second and this second woe had his beginning soone after the open beginnings of the first God so punishing sinne by sinne according to the growth and induration of men in the first impietie giuing the more free scope to the second till desperate obstinacie bringeth on the last woe and finall wrath for as the woe is not said to come till the height thereof at least in such degree as wherefore it may iustly bee esteemed the soarest iudgement in the time albeit in some degrees it hath beene working on before so the next woe comming
that with them truly is found all the bloud shed vpon the earth Chap. 18. 24 CHAP. X. AS the sixth Seale besides the own proper effect gaue a preparation to the seuenth by a summary view of the whole effect thereof in the seuenth Chapter so here the sixt Trumpet besides the proper woe of it in the four destroying Angels from Euphrates and their Armies of desolation in the end of the last Chapter maketh way now in this and a good part of the next Chapter to the effect of the seuenth Trumpet and last woe which impenitency now iustly bringeth on Now all this preparation euen to the blowing of the seuenth Trumpet Chapter 11. 15. albeit it be to cleare the way yea and hath some no small beginnings of that great woe which by the seuenth Trumpet is fulfilled yet it is comprehended vnder the second great woe according to their distinction by Trumpets because euen in the height of this second great woe these degrees towards the last were working So wisely and artificially is the course of this Prophesie led forward and parts thereof clearely coupled together This preparation then for Antichrist his iust and full ouerthrow vpon obstinate impenitency against the punâ—shment from Euphrates is by a magnifike description of that great partie who foileth him and of the meanes of his victory The party is Iesus Christ heere typically setforth as alwaies throughout this Prophesie not according to the veriry of his person but to expresse his operation in this worke His meanes of victory are the little booke opened and the bold and powerfull preaching thereof and that for Finishing the mystery in the full ouerthrow of the enemies and perfecting the Church in all grace heere as a prepared Bride for her husband whereto hee fitteth â—pt instruments who by diuine motion studying diligently the Scriptures preach euery where the Gospell So as by the true rule rightly applied the true Church of God is discerned from the false and light growing Antichrist his kingdome is in a degree shaken and beginneth to fall and in the seuenth Trumpet is vtterly and for euer destroied 2 Wee haue then in this Chapter the comming of the great personnage performer of this worke and the end of his comming For effectuating wherof prophecy is restored This great persoâ—nage is that stronger one then Satan who foiled him and now after a sort returneth to ouerthrow the beast of his power the Angell of the bottomlesse pit king Apollyon In this personage are to be obserued whence he commeth the forme of his person and his actions Hee commeth from heauen as the aduersary came out of the bottomlesse pit not in propriety of speech as if he personally descended but that he who through antichrist his darkenesse was not seene now againe sheweth himselfe As God is said often in Scripture to depart or hide and againe to shew himselfe The glorious and magnifike forme of his person is shewed in a note of diuine maiesty that he is clâ—athed with a cloude Luke 2â— At the erecting of the tabernacle a cloud filled it So also Salomon his Temple The Lord hath said he will dwell in the cloud Hee gaue his presence to Israel in the wildernesse in a pillar of a cloud Hee maketh the cloudes his Chariot and he went vp in a cloude Secondlie he hath the Rainebow about his head as he whose presence bringeth peace the raies of his face imprinting the seale of peace in the darkest soâ—le and most clowdy conscience The shining of the Sunne against a cloud maketh the Rainbow So Christ whose face shineth like the Sun in his strength Chap. 1 being clothed with a cloud hath conueniently a Rainebow about his head His flesh is the vaile couering his Deity whereof the manefestation therin maketh our peace But heere specially hath hee the Rainebow about his head as comming now to dispel the great deluge of Antichristian darkenesse which shall neuer againe ouerspread the face of the Church more then the waters of Noah shall the earth giuing thus a sure pledge of serenity Chapter 9. Section 5. Thirdly his feet haue two notes They are pillers and they are fire The first for stable firmnesse and solide strength wherein hee now commeth both to stablish his Church in peace and to tread downe all his enemies The fire sheweth with light and purity dispelling darkenesse and purging all vncleannesse yet fiery affliction conioined in this conflict with Antichrist against all which notwithstanding his Church should stand stable as the Pillar of truth He hath fourthly in his hand a little booke open This is the weapon of his victory It is little in comparison to Antichrist his great booke of humane Traditions vnwritten Verities Apocriphe Scriptures Decretals Canons and manifold Legends all ioined and equalled by them in their practise at lest with this booke It is open for that cleere vnderstanding of holy Scripture which now Christ should bring whereas in Antichrist his darkenesse the same was buried in ignorance which with them is the mother of deuotion it being held capitall for common laicke men to read Scripture in vulgar tongue 3 The actions of this great personnage thus furnished are in his gesture and in his voice His gesture is that he set his right foot on the Sea and his left foot on the Land as he who hath power ouer all creatures Who stablisheth the mountaines by his power and appeaseth the noise of the Seas the noise of the waues thereof and the tumults of people Psal 65. His right foot is set on the Sea as whose rage is most terrible and the left on the earth to shew that he is sufficiently furnished with all strength and accordingly vttereth it as for the party opponer is requisit In the 13. Chapter to expresse Antichrist his estate two beasts arrise the one out of the Sea the other out of the Earth These he commeth to vndoe and conueniently therefore setteth his feet in this manner So is his gesture His voice is a loud cry Wherein as the little booke is the weapon of his warfare so the vse and welding of it is heere expressed to wit Preaching Whereof to shew the boldnesse his voice is compared to the reoaring of a Lion And to expresse the power and that perfect accompanying the bold Preaching of the Gospell now restored seuen thunders are said to speake As at the going out of the Gospel in the first seale the first beast hauing the face of a Lion Spake like thunder So now at reuiuing of the Gospel to Antichrist his ouerthrow it shall be accompanied with boldnesse and perfection of of power The great Angell comming downe to fight for Sion and the hill thereof Isai 31 4. Now consider that Christ is heere described according to his vertue working in his seruants whose voice if it be his is bold and powerfull If their voice be as it ought the eccho of his cry it will be like thunder For thunders
speake as he roareth and except he roare no thunder vttereth any voice His sheepe know his voice and not the voice of a stranger All this is to shew that the ministery of the Gospell through the power of Christ accompanying it shal consume Antichrist to powder That notable things were vttered by these Thunders Iohn his readinesse to write argueth cleerely From which hee is staied by commandement not to write but to seale and close vp what they had spoken Wee must be sober and contented with what it pleaseth God to open as not able at all times to receiue al things I doubt not but now in cleere manifestation of Antichrist these thunders haue beene and are still thundering that openly which heere for the time was sealed vp But for this time their speeches haue beene as I thinke so plaine as Christ thought not meete to put in register For these mysteries are as it becommeth so deliuered that the wise in time shall vnderstand them but the wicked shall do wickedly To them things are spoken by parables that hearing they may heare and not vnderstand and seeing they may see and not perceiue That these speeches were vttered and yet closed vp was partlie for Iohn his particular information and strengthning As to such effect God in reuelations sheweth to his seruants of high imploiment sometimes more then in either lawfull or possible to vtter And truly I am of this opinion that none can be an able minister of the Gospell who for his owne both light and feeling hath not more then he can publish It is partly also for all readers and hearers of this Prophesie to exspect and aduert in their time these thundering speeches as to the praise of God we now doe cleerely For that heere Christ commandeth to seale them vp and that heereafter in this Prophesie which is but one continuall trance they are vttered I neither see any reason of it nor any place yeelding any probability that so it is 4 Thus is the great personage instructed with his weapon the word vnderstood and preached in all boldnesse and power The end of his comming thus instructed is to Finish the mystery of God and that without longer delay or protraction of time So as vpon the sound of the seuenth trumpet and in the daies thereof all shall bee accomplished whatsoeuer the Prophets had foretold either of the destruction of the enemies or the Church or of God his plentifull mercy and grace in her deliuerance and her goodly gracefull and peaceable condition thereupon For this is the mistery of God which in the daies of the seuenth Trumpet shall bee fulfilled Which trumpet as it hath begunne to blow long agoe and praised be our God we see the effect of it in good degrees aduanced so how long it shall blow God onely knoweth This alwaies is certaine that Antichrist his destruction already begunne shall hold on to euerlasting woe neither shall he recouer strength As also the increase of light and grace towards the Church shall continue till Antichrist being ouerthrowne and the Iewes ioâ—ning to the faith she inioie a gracefull and peaceable state heere as a Bride prepared for her husband This to be the minde of the Holy Ghost the whole course of this prophesie sheweth euidently And the many goodly promises of the Prophets gathered together in the Church her description Chap. 21. and 22. proue cleerely that therein is the mystery of God fulfilled according as hee foretold By his seruants the Prophets Now the things in this Chapter and to the 15. verse of the next hauing such congruity of argument with that of the seuenth Trumpet and last woe as whereof they are not onely the preparation but euen such great beginnings yet notwithstanding they are deliuered vnder the sixth trumpet and second great woe Because albeit it be true that these Trumpets no more then the seales or Violâ— be put for knots and periods of time exactly cutted but for distinguishing diuers matters yet thus farre in them time must be looked to that they fall out in course after other as they are heere ordered by the spirit For though the euill of the sixth Trumpet was euer in time of the fifth and the euils of both fifth and sixth Trumpets hold on in some degree in the beginning yea a good space of the seuenth yet the world felt first the fifth Trumpet and woe thereof whereupon the sixth Trumpet and second great woe insuing albeit the first woe ceased not yet when the world felt most the second as in the height of it beeing then the most sensible plague all euils and punishments whatsoeuer of whatsoeuer kinde are ioyned with the greatest woe in the time And thus is it that albeit these beginnings of Antichrist his fall heere and to the 15. verse of the next Chapt. agree in argument with the matter of the seuenth trumpet yet because these beginnings first degrees fell out in the greatest height of the second woe and were yet of no such weight or measure as the worldly sort and Antichrist feeling a heauier woe vpon them did so much regard therefore they are put vnder the second woe and sixth trumpet But when these small beginnings grow on so farre as Antichrist and the worldly sort following him become first afraid Chapt. 11. 11. and vpon the seene danger of his kingdome already begunne to fall then falleth to count light of the other woe in respect of this then is the seuenth trumpet saide to blow and the second woe to bee past the third now comming in place And this order of deliuery which the spirit vseth as it is exceeding artificious and pleasant so being well aduerted it bringeth great light and satisfaction Now because this end of this great Angel his descending seemeth incredible Antichrist and his kingdome being so strongly setled as the ouerthrow thereof appeared impossible the great Whore presuming thereupon to sit still as a Queene and to see no mourning therefore that the promise may bee the moâ—e sure it is confirmed by an oath Wherein for instruction are to be obserued the swearer his gesture the forme of oath and the point sworne 5 As we haue heard the end of this great Angel his descent so is shewed how this end is effectuate And this is by fitting and preparing fit instruments thereto who are stirred vp by diuine instigation to take the little booke from him only in whose hand it is open to eat it vp receiuing in their hearts all God his words c. Ezech. 3. 10. This eating hath a double effect in the eaters of sweetnesse and delight in the mouth and of bitternesse in the belly that so they may be meete for that effect set downe in the last verse where is the interpretation of all this signe Shewing in Iohn who here is the type of these whom Christ shall thus and to this end stirre vp that for raising againe the true light of
the Gospell and by the powerfull and wide preaching thereof gathering of his Church and defeating darkenesse hee will raise first in mens harts a loue of knowledge and of the booke of God who thereupon by his motion shall study the same most diligently as eating it with appetite and shall finde in studying it exceeding sweetnesse and spirituall ioy to their soules and letting it as it were downe in their stomachs and filling their bellies with it they shall bee so filled as not able to containe it they must burst foorth though the preaching thereof beget them of the world great trouble and many teares For all this frame of speech see Ezech. 2. and 3. and Ierem. 15. and 20. and withall obserue herein the distinct degrees of a true inward calling whereof none can be lacking in the true minister of Christ First a loue of God and of the knowledge of his word begotten in the heart by diuine motion 2 A heart to pray for light 3 A diligent and carefull study of Scripture 4 A sweet delight and taste found therein of spirituall ioy to their owne soules Now all these any good Christian may haue but to make a Pastor thou must also find the last that is bitternesse of belly The accommodation of this is so cleare in story of these whom God thus first stirred vppe to the loue of learning and by whom the true light both of diuine and humane sciences was restored so as Antichrist was discouered and noted for the man of sinne that it needeth not here to be inlarged Reade the story and accommodations of Writers on this place CHAP. XI HEere the effect in some degree is shewed of that which typically was spoken of Iohn in the last verse of the former Chapt. in that the little booke being eaten giueth to the eaters a faculty to discern the true Church from the false by assistance and instigation of the great Angel who giueth it And this is by applying the rule and measure thereof sound and straight as a reede strong apt and maniable as a rod and as Aaron his rod which deuoured the rods of the Inchanters whereby the body of the true Church is found to bee small as the Temple in comparison of the Court and City and hid as the Temple wherein none entred but the Priests as a small center in the midst of a large circumference and closed vp within it The Ministers in number few beeing but two the smallest of numbers and yet sufficient for witnessing of a truth In calling witnesses and of diuine things being Prophets and standing before God In condition afflicted as doing it in sackecloth in much heauinesse and many teares In this condition yet hauing great and diuine power towards the Temple dispersing plentie of grace as oliues and true light as candlestickes and outward hauing vengeance in readinesse against all disobedience as Elias and Moses hauing nor vsing against their enemies no armour but spirituall and that for the space of a 1260. daies al the while the Gentils occupy the Court and holy City and tread them vnder foot that is all the time Antichrist possesseth the name and title of the visible Church defacing and downe treading therein true worshippe which therefore is cast out and hath not with God the account of his true Church now-onely closed vp within the Temple The frame of speech is from the Iewes Temple thereby to expresse the condition of the Christian Church vnder and within the compasse of Antichrist vsurping the title and glorying in multitude and visibility who therefore after the same frame of speech hath with his false Church the name of Gentiles obtaining a good space the whole City Court of the Temple euen that beast who worketh 42. moneths Chapt. 13. All which time God had his owne Church albeit small and not seene of men euen within the bowels of the Antichristian vsurpation as the Temple is within the City and Court. Which true Church hee intertained in the life of God by a hidde but powerfull dispensation of grace of a secret vnknowne and small number of true Ministers Whose state and condition in course of time and Antichrist his opposition is threefold First they prophesie long and powerfully and albeit in sackcloth yet without bloudshed beeing hid in the Temple Secondly the Angel of the bottomelesse pit King Abaddon smelling them out they are openly murthered and cruelly and barbarouslie intreated euen with applause and congratulation of the world in all parts of the Antichrist his power the great City so as they seemed to bee vtterly vndone and extinguished and the earth and earthly men thereupon reioysed as freed of them who by the light reprooued their darke workes and thus tormented them not as the Locusts tormented men Chap. 9. But as Elias and Micheas did Ahab Ieremias the Land and Amos Israel Thirdly the spirit of life from God which neuer can be killed for the truth can neuer be bound raiseth them that is others hauing the same spirit and power who stand vp on their feet that is stoutly and vigorously set themselues to fight against Antichrist so as hee shall then beginne to be affraid and his former great mirth shall be troubled and that so much the more when hee and his sectators shall see to their great both griefe and feare these few hid afflicted slaine mocked ones of whom they thought they had beene rid for euer by diuine calling called vp to heauen that is separated from the fellowship and all communion with Antichrist and his earthly sort to bee with account protection acknowledged and seene the true Ministers of God his true Church which now from vnder Antichrist his darkenesse vnder which it lay vailed as the Temple within the Court shall become visible in a degree euen to the enemies Whereupon immediately ensueth a great commotion and stirre so as a part of Antichrist his kingdome falleth and the power thereof is much impaired by ouerthrow of a great number and conuersion of others And thus way is made to the seuenth trumpet wherein not a part but all Babel falleth an eternall fall 2 Consider now how distinctly and clearly â—heere Antichrist his whole dealing in the diuers degrees thereof and the true Church her case all the while is euen painted out before the eies of any that is not blinde So great light commeth by the little booke eaten and rod applied The first of the three conditions was of the Church before this time of application of the rod but the measuring and finding it out is of this time The other two conditions come now vpon this applying of the rod by such as through eating the little booke were inabled thereto which Antichrist perceiuing they are killed and lie dead c. And as for course of time and story this Chapter is orderly put so also exceeding pertinently for order of matter For where by the restoring of prophesie in the last Chapt.
frō the Prophets with whō it is ordinarily in this sense 7 Now against this woman according to the old warre proclaimed in Paradise is set in apparance a very vnequall match but that Michael fighteth the battell This aduersary is Satan for so the spirit interpreteth verse 9. Hee is a great Dragon for great malice force and subtilty He is red for his cruell and bloudy disposition as who was a murtherer from the beginning Hee hath seuen heades and tenne hornes the armes of Rome because of this the Diuell his fury against the Primitiue Church the Emperours of Rome were the instruments and executors And therefore to shew Rome in that state of persecuting Emperours the heades are crowned for an euident distinction of Rome then from Rome thereafter in the beast The heads and hornes are put in both that we may know what state the spirit designeth but by the different note of these heades and hornes To take vp the different time and condition in time Against the Primitiue Church the Diuell albeit working by Rome is made the direct enemie because then Christianity was directly oppugned and open rage practised against the name of Christ Heathenisme and worship of Diuels plainely maintained From which open dealing and licentious murthering Satan being tyed vp afterwards by power of the Gospell hee dealt more couertly by the beast of his authority vnder name and profession of Christianity and pretence of Christ his power deceiuing men of the world till after a thousand yeeres the reuiued light of the Gospell breaking out a fresh and discouering the deceit of the beast hee is so chafed as hee falleth to murthering of Saints In which respect the Dragon is said to be loosed the second time Chap 20. and thereby the beast falling to open murther becommeth of his colour Chapter 17. Of these heades and hornes see vpon the 13. and 17. Chapters 8 This Dragon then imployeth head and taile that is cruelty and lies for hee was a lier and murtherer from the beginning By his taile that is by his alluring deceit whether effectuall error or deceitfulnesse of honours riches and worldly lusts hee insinuateth himselfe amongst these who seeme shining starres of heauen and draweth them to fall from light and grace and to become earthly such as goe out of the Church that is heauen but were not of it Marke alwaies that Satan his first attempt against the Church is with his taile amongst the starres Thus he stirreth his taile With his heads that is his power and force hee setteth himselfe first against the childe to deuoure him in the bearing Whereby the fury and rage of Satan by the Romane Emperours to keepe the Church of Christ from rising is signified notwithstanding whose malice and cruelty the childe and a man childe alluding to the story of Aegypt and also for that as Christ was in person and as the paschall Lambe and other expiatory sacrifices of the flocke so all Christians in Christ Iesus are consecrated as males for perfection of strength and spirituall vigor is borne that is the Church is brought foorth to the partaking of the honour first proper to Christ and in him to all his members To rule all Nations with a rod of iron Chapt. 2. 27. And not onely thus brought foorth but in euident presence and power of God ruling in and amongst them established here in earth against all Satan his fury and visibly separated to God from the rest of the world becomming Kings and Priests to God in Christ so as according to Christ his owne prediction the sonne of man was seene come in his Kingdome with power by his Church raised in the world The throne as the iron rod is first and properly Christ his right but it is also the honour of the Saints in him to whom hee giueth a Kingdome as he hath receiued one of the father and to whom he giueth to sit in his throne as he ouercame and sitteth in his fathers throne For euen here we sit with him in the highest places So the taking vp of the childe is the erection of the Church amongst men visibly in that same sense that the two Witnesses were bid come vp hither Chap. 11. And the casting of the Dragon from heauen is all one thing with this For the exalting of the childe is the deiecting of the Dragon from heauen and the deiection of the Dragon is the vptaking of the child Satan is said to be in heauen when so by lies and error he hath preuailed in the visible Church as no apparant or very small face thereof is seene Like as the Church is in the earth euen where Satan his throne is when it is so compassed with error and ignorance as it appeareth not till it be said come vp hither that is till God by purity of worship and open profession thereof make his true Church visibly separated from the contagion of the worldy sort And euen in this case Satan is deiected from heauen and sent amongst his owne earthly ones He is said to fight in heauen when by slight and might he laboreth to keepe downe so the true Church as it can not bee discerned from his company and is deiected thence when truth openly in the Church is maintained so as he can haue no place for dominion but amongst the children of disobedience For beeing cast out of men hee goeth madlings in the swine of the world and shut out of God his house he furiously mistrāmeth his owne putting forth his rage where hee may seeing hee cannot where hee would Woe to the Inhabitants of the earth This is it which maketh that where euer the Gospell is purely preached there immediately by Sathan are raised stirres and tempests For while hee brooketh all peaceably hee is at ease but when that stronger commeth who spoileth his house then hee chafeth and becommeth mad in his Instruments This euent Christ in these same words foretelleth so as we need not doubt of the right sense Now is the iudgement of this world now shall the Prince of this world bee cast out And in another place speaking of the effect of the Gospell truely preached I saw Sathan fall from the heauen like lightning 9 This victory is by Michael and his Angels fighting in heauen that is by Christ who is Michael our Prince and the Angels of the Churches Apostles and faithfull Pastors fighting by the powerfull preaching of the Gospell against Sathan his Ministers of darkenes heathen Philosophers heretikes and all such for Christianity is a warfare against Principalities and powers against beasts wherin we must all fight the good fight of faith and striue for that victory which standeth in saluation of the elect from God in Christ and in the foile of Sathan and that by the bloud of the Lambe apprehended by true faith in the word of Iesus his Testimony with perseuerance and a ready offering of liues for his
honour 10 Now Sathan so deiected in rage that thus against all his endeauors the Church riseth setteth himselfe to cruelly persecute the same For except in distinct considerations the woman and child are all one but that the holy Ghost will thus expresse how Sathan first by craft and cruelty laboured to destroy the Church in the rising that it should not spread whereof misgiuing and shee multiplying wonderfully hee inforceth still thereupon ragefull persecution The first and second both are more then cleare in the persecuting Emperours and state of the Church in that time Now this second endeuour against the Church is eluded and the woman retired from his fury but yet so as shee goeth to the wildernesse this is to shew how by the protection maintenance of Constantine the Great and his Successors becomming Christians and who according to the Phrase of the Prophets are called that great Eagle as the doubled Article 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and Constantine his peculiar surname 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 proue clearely this open and furious persecution was stayed the soules receiuing long white robes Chapter 6. but yet so as the great honour and riches wherewith as with wings hee vpon good intention endowed the Church as an occasion to make her flie to the wildernesse all true and sincere religion by degrees decaying in the visible Church And so by Sathan his craft who now is bound vp a thousand yeers the beast stealeth in and sitteth in the Temple of God The true Church in the meane time lurking in the wildernesse as Elias in the time of famine and no more any face of true worshippe appearing then was in Israell that while or then when the dayly sacrifice was remoued and the abhomination of desolation erected in place thereof for a time times and halfe a time Now this flight was not in an instant but by long and yet sensible degrees And therefore wee haue an other degree of Sathan his fury against the woman after he seeeth her so furnished with wings as he being now chained Chapter 20. could no more persecute openly or come at her Hee casteth a great floud out of his mouth after her to drowne her in her flight This must bee a filthie floud which springeth from so foule a fountaine Hereby then is meaned not onely that inundation of barbarous Nations which in Sathan his intention no doubt were set forth to drowne the woman but also all these poisonable heresies whereof vpon this restraint he spued out an Ocean both which by God his prouidence turned to the destruction and punishment of the earthly sort For the bloody Romane Empire was ouerturned by these Nations and the wicked of the worlde poisoned with these heresies Thus then Sathan misgiuing of all his attempts against the woman and her first seed and finding so little successe in open dealing from which also hee is now bound vp hee prepareth a beast of strange working to deceiue the world and to make warre against the seed of succeeding times Whereof Chapter 13. So as the whole summe of this Chapter is this Sathan seeing the Primitiue Apostolike Church by the cleare light of the sunne of righteousnesse ministred by the Apostles whereby all borrowed spotted transitory light was trod vnder like to bring Nations to the obedience of faith and so to bring forth a church in the world as hee who had long miscarried all men was now by the light of the Gospell to be deiected from his place hee vseth all both craft and violence to impede the successe of the Gospel and notwithstanding it is so fruitfull through Christ his power and endeauour of faithfull Ministers that the sonne of man commeth in his Kingdome with power and Sathan is dethroned This maketh him in ragefull despite not onely to raise terrible broiles in the world to the earthes great woe but to enforce also cruell persecution against the Church against which shee is armed with that great Eagle his wings so as Sathan is restrained from open rage His next endeauour therefore against her thus protected is by inundation of barbarous nations and poisonable heresie to drowne her but this the Lord turneth on the world yet so as the Church goeth to the wildernes and lurketh Where-through the Beast in the next Chapter stealeth in to occupie City and Court Chap. 11. CHAP. XIII THus was the open rage of the Dragon against the Woman her first seed now followeth his couered dealing against her seed of succeeding times by the Vicar of his power described in this Chapter from his quality that hee is a beast origine that hee riseth out of the sea and earth in distinct consideration shape exceeding monstrous hauing seuen heades and ten horns as had the Dragon but other wayes busked as hauing his hornes crowned and on his head the name of blasphemy in body like a Pard footed like a Beare and mouthed like a Lion Besides this hee hath for right discerning of him two notes of great marke The first is his great power and authority as Vicegerent to Sathan in his power throne and authority The second is that one of his heads hauing beene deadly wounded was cured againe where-through all the world astonished at the beast of so great maiesty and vnmatchable power worship him and the Diuell his aduancer 2 These two notes and effect thereof thus summarily proponed are from the fift verse throughout the chapter exponed more largely and first this his authority practised in two mischieuous effects the one of speaking blasphemies and the other of doing what hee list vncontrolled This double authority is cleared first by the time thereof forty two moneths and next by the practise of it his speaking of blasphemies against God his Church and members thereof In his doing are noted what it was making warre against whom the Saints with what successe that hee ouercame them Thirdly how largely this power was extended Ouer euery Tribe Tongue Nation Through al which he obtaineth that al follow and worship him â—he elect onely excepted a case so dangerous and fearefull as a warning is Epiphonematically set downe to all of attention and therewith a consolation vpon two reasons First that according to the generall law of God his iustice whereby euery oppressour is oppressed and the slaier slaine this beast should come to destruction Next that it pleased God thus to trie the faith and patience of his Saints 3 His second note of his deadly wound cured againe how it was is shewed by a new vision of an other Beast rising from the earth in all outward semblance like to the Lambe and pretending simplie his power but that his speech was like the Dragons This Beast his actions and end thereof are first summarily proponed in that he did all that the first beast could doe before him and to this end that all the earth might worship the first Beast in the state of the cured wound Then is exponed how he
two hornes like to his but speaking like the Dragon Heere two hones like the Lambes are not put for any answerable number of Kings but to shew a humble and simple pretence of the Lambe his power not out wardly of that ferity and strength of the Beast like a Pard footed like a Beare and mouthed like a Lion For that to the Lambe Chap. 5. we attributed seuen hornes and seuen eies was to shew his perfection of power and wisdome Heere the Lambe is put according to the naturall verity of such a beast so to expresse liuely the simulate hypocrisie and affectation of simple humility in this Beast so masking himselfe while yet vnder this pretence he but animates againe the beast with seuen heads and tenne hornes c. That so vnder himselfe the eight head in number and order and one of the seuen that is the sixth by cure of the wounded head the beast that was in the fiue heads fallen before Iohn his daies and in the sixth head was euen then in his time but was not in the condition heere meaned might arise in the owne time out of the bottomelesse pit and deceiuing the world by the cup of fornication may perish for euer The meanes how hee worketh this cure are by deceit of signes and wonders 2. Thess 2. The manner of cure is that by these signes and wonders the world is induced to make vppe the image of the Beast which had the deadly wound and liued And this is nothing else but that the Kings and States of the earth should so submit themselues to the Popes of Rome by signes and force of the cup of fornication bewitching them and faining of himselfe to bee the Lambe his Vicar whereas hee is the Dragons as the state of Rome which in ouerthrow of the Caesars had receiued a deadly wound should rise to the same or greater dignity then it had in the Emperors and the kingdome thereof reerected in the pontificality should bee as it were a liuely and speaking image of the beast before it was wounded and all men should worship al 's farre or more the Popes as they had the Emperours the Beast that is the kingdome or state of Rome becomming in the head cured againe that is in the Pontificality al 's famous and wonderfull as it was before the wound And in this respect the Pontificality is both the eight head in number and order of that kingdome or beast and also is one of the seuen as in which the sixth head is reuiued or rather the kingdome which in the sixth head got a deadly wound according as Chap. 17. the Beast hath his denomination from the eight head For cleare vnderstanding of all this matter reade that Chapter The sixth head was wounded when by incursion of Barbars many greate and famous Prouinces were taken from the Empire Yet more deepely when not onely Italie was trode vnder foot but Rome it selfe was spoyled and burnt by Athalaricus after by Athaulphus and their Gothes miserably rifled by Gensericus and his Vandales The wound yet was more deepe when Odoacer and his Heruls flew Augustulus and seised vpon Italie fourteene yeres But then it became deadly when the Emperour and Senate dispairing to keepe Italie and Rome any more willingly bequeathed them to Thcodoricus who thereupon defeating Odoacer was receiued in Rome as their lawfull Prince Where he raigned by himselfe and his successors Ostrogothes in peace and flourishing state many yeeres This deadly wound Iustinian afterward by the valor of Belisare and Narset laboured to haue cured but it auailed not by new inuasions the wound still remaining deadly But the Popes by signes and cup of fornication bewitching euen all these Kings who had risen by the fall of the Empire to submit their crownes to them and that dignity and glory which Rome had lost by fall of the Empire the Popes recouering the same to it by the authority of the Apostolike seat and keies of Peter then the image of the Beast was so made vp as for liuely resemblance it seemed to haue spirit and speech Euen in a manner to be the same and so getteth worship and slauish subiection of the world For the liuelinesse of this image reade the donation of Constantine and Steuchus in defence of it His words are these Euerso Imperio nisi Deus Pontificatum restituisset futurum erat vt Roma nullo tempore excitata ac restituta inhabitabilis posthaec faedissima boum porcorumque futura esset habitatio At in Pontificatu etfi non illa veteris Imperij magnitudo species certe non longe dissimilis renata est qua gentes omnes ab ortu occasu haud secus Romanum Pontificem venerantur quam omnes Nationes olim Imperatoribus obtemperabant And thereafter to shew the resemblance An non amnia quae Romae quondam profana erant sacra effect a sunt quemadmodum omnia Templa deorum facta sunt Eoclesiae sanctorum ritus item profani coperunt esse ritus sacri Nonne Pantheon Templum omnium idolorum effectum est Templum sanctae virgiris nonne in Vaticano Templum Apollinis vbi condita erant corpora Apostolorum conuersum est in Ecclesiam ipsorum Apostolorum vt superius demonstratum est totque alia This made Prosper to say Sedes Roma Petri quae pastoralis honoris Facta caput mundo quicquid non possidet armis Relligione tenet And Roma per Sacerdotij Principatum amplior facta est arce religionis quam solio potestatis But this seemeth greatly to withstand our interpretation that heere are put not onely two beasts but also hauing diuers origine the first from the sea the second from the earth Whereby some learned men seeing that clearely the Pontificality was meaned in both were brought to thinke the same to be in them differently expressed as it is to be taken vp in diuers times and conditions in time and so esteeme the Popedome to bee both the seuenth and eight head Chap. 17. But as in this in my iudgement they haue mistaken so this difference imposeth no necessity to thinke so For the vision of the second beast is onely brought for more cleare explication of that last note of the Beast â—ouching the eure of the wouÌ„ded head In the first beast the Antichrist is expressed but so as we may take vppe of what kingdome and state hee is head namely of the kingdome of Rome And therefore in the beast that kingdome is so painted foorth to vs as to know it rightly she hath all her heads attributed to her which ruled in her from her first rising to her last fall yet so as here the beast is to be considered onely in the condition and state of the last head arising by cure of the deadly wound As to the Dragon all the heads were attributed to make cleare what state he wrought by yet so as his rage then is considered onely in the sixth head He hauing seuen but
which it is that the world feeleth all this wrath That story therefore was in the 12. 13. and thus farre in this 14. Chapters Wherein is no idle repetition of what appeareth before set downe For the consideration is much diuers in that whatsoeuer before the 12. Chapter was spoken of the enemies or their dealing was to shew how by them the world and worldly sort in God his iustice were punished The case of the Church sparingly touched so farre as might shew her to bee free from these euils euen in the midst of them which were poured on the world for her hard intertainement And what in the eleuenth Chapter seemeth wholly agreeable for time and condition with that which hithertils in this Chapter is said of the Church in her two declared states yet hath a farre distinct consideration from this In that there the witnesses first in the Temple next in their warre with the Beast slaughter rising againe going vp to heauen and terrour of their enemies thereupon with the fall in a part of the Antichristian kingdome are put as plagues on the world and men thereof whom they first plagued next tormented and vexed after terrified and in part ouerthrew For the Gospell to whom it is not the sauour of life is the greatest iudgement that commeth on the world But from the beginning of the 12. Chapter to this place the enemies are handled as by them the Church is exercised First fighting and preuailing to Satan his deiection and exaltation of the first seede Yet so as through Satan his rage but aided thereto with the two wings of that great Eagle the true Church at length fleeth to the wildernesse and there lurketh Wherethrough the Beast comming in place obtaineth and deceiueth all except these who on mount Sion inioy the presence of the Lambe Who at length by degrees breake foorth and albeis in much suffering yet still fight till at length by him who sitteth on the white cloude the iudgemeuts of God are made manifest The story of the eleuenth Chapter and of this are for time and matter the same but the consideration and respect of handling much different Which is yet for course and order in so diuine an artifice led on as heere the story falling in againe to the same point from which for inserting this narration it was since the eleuenth Chapter broken off of that which from the 15. verse of 11. the Chapter at the sound of the seuenth Trumpet was vpon preconceiued ioy denounced heere from the foureteenth verse of this Chapter to the ende the execution is summarily proponed Exceeding fitly so falling in to the large explication of the seuenth trumpet in the subsequent Chapters 11 This summary execution is declared by two comparisons One of the Haruest the other of the Vintage From Ioel 3. In both are to be considered the Actors and their actions The Haruest hath two actors and so hath the Vintage The actiōs of both Actors both in haruest vintage are that the one worketh furnished with conuenient instrument the other stirreth to the work Which in the Haruest is reaping the haruest of the earth in the Vintage the cutting downe of the Grapes casting them in the winepresse treading c. The arguments whereby the inciters stirre the executers is the readinesse of both for reaping and cutting downe Thus by similitudes familiar in the Prophets for such iudgements the destruction of the enemies of the Church is expressed who in God his wrath as an vncleane thing without the Citie are destroied with so huge a slaughter as all the earth is filled farre and deepe with their blood by Hyperbolike speech expressing the greatnesse of the plague and as to the holy City so also alluding to the Land of Canaan which is in length 160. furlongs as witnesseth Rabbi Menahen vpon Genesis fol. 60. For clearing heereof the Actors and their distinct actions must be diligently aduerted so much the more as to the obscuring of all the Prophesie this place is widely mistaken In them are to bee noted their properties their doing and their order of doing for course of time to be carefully obserued In the haruest hee that worketh being accordingly furnished with fit instrument by all hi◠notes is vndoubtedly Christ the Lord of the haruest For he is one like the sonne of man which in all this Prophesie is put but in one other place and that for Christ he fitteth as a Iudge on a white cloude both for eminency and maiesty as also by the whitenesse to shew the clearenesse purenesse of his iudgements which Now were to be made manifest Chap. 15. 4. The first flying Angell foretold that they were neere now Christ is cleerely to shew himselfe by shewing hence The signe of the sonne of Man in heauen The speech is from Isai 19. 1. Behold the Lord rideth on a swift cloude Hee hath with a sharpe sikle a crowne to shew him to be the Lord both of Haruest and Vintage For he not onely gathereth the Saints but also the Tares in bundles and treadeth the Winepresse of God his wrath and in both he conquereth ouercometh Chap. 6. The other comming out of the temple is the type of Saints faithfull ones whose habitation is in the Temple out of which they are now bold to step out and be seene and perceiuing the ripenes of the Haruest whereto it was not yet come in the fifth Seale and therefore this execution craued of them then was delaied and yet not being able in that weake estate of the Gospell reuiuing for so great a worke therefore it is that this Angell hath no sikle they beseech the Lord of the haruest to put too his hand and Haue mercy on Sion For the time to haue mercy for euen the ful time is come The haruest of the earth is ripe and the rest of the Saints slaine Neither is this thus expressed as if euen then or at any time Christ did not worke by instruments but to shew the beginnings such as in respect of the greatnesse of the worke and little humane aide it was in a sort Christ his owne arme which helped him But in processe of time by the powerfull progresse of the Gospell hee getteth to himselfe ministers of executing his wrath euen out of the Temple furnished with conuenient weapons And to expresse this in the Vintage the Actor commeth out of the Temple hauing a sharpe sikle as Christ betime got himselfe and daily raiseth of his owne faithfull ones fit instruments inabled and furnished with power to execute his iust iudgements against the enemies To doe to her as shee hath done to vs and to render her double For this it is that this second Actor hath these different notes from the first He sitteth not he is not crowned and he commeth out of the Temple So then this Angell is the generall type in this summary proposition of that same whereof the seuen Angels are in the
opposed to things aboue earthly or vnstable things to things heauenly and permanent so in this place as also in the first Trumpet it must bee taken as the order of arising degrees in comparison requireth for the first and lightest degree of iudgement as the earth is the lowest and lourdest of elements as the earth is taken in the first verse all the Vials are powred on the earth because all are on the earthly Antichristian Kingdome in this other sense of the earth the first particularly is powred thereon The effect thereof is that the filthinesse loose life hypocrisie auarice pride symony and other vices of the Clergy and Church of Antichrist breake out to the view of the world long blinded as filthy boiles The allusion is to the sixth plague of Egypt where-thorow the Enchanters were no more able to stand before Moses This was the first degree of the fall of Rome when God to make them detestable discouered their sores so as these enchanting bewitchers were confounded and could no longer abide the light The accommodation of Story is most cleare where by numbers their auarice pride and hypocrisie is highly exclamed against Few daring yet challenge their doctrine and worshippe yet their persons thus falling first in contempt it made way to the next Cup. Now as in the first Trumpet contention and selfe loue ioyned with cruelty like fire and haile mixed with bloud cast on the earth made the first great degree to Antichrist his rising by burning vp all true loue life and holy zeale of religion so the first open degree of his fall is by the cup of wrath powred on the earth euen the discouery of their hypocrisie and filthinesse whereby they were seen to bee void of all true Religion 4 The second Viall maketh a higher degree in that not onely the persons who worshipped the Beast and receiued his Gharacter are for their silthinesse odious but now euen their common doctrine and ordinary worshippe becommeth vile and corrupted as bloody worsum deadly to all that drinke thereof and abhorred of men who in the cleare glassie Sea before the throne perceine the stinking rottennesse of this Asphaltites How after the contempt of the persons for their abhominable filthinesse next all their worshippe and doctrine of pardons reliques indulgences holy water crossings soul-Masses pilgrimages processions inuocation of Saintes baptizing of bels magicall coniurations forged miracles foolish Legends of lies and the rest of that sea of rotten bloud beganne to stinke in the noses of men is more then euident their whole worshippe and common schoole Diuinity now standing as the Sea of Sodom Compare this Viall for kind and degree to the second Trumpet 5 By the third Viall their riuers and fountaines of waters are turned into bloud When by Moses the floud and al stanks ponds of Egypt were turned into bloud for thereto in this and the former Viall the spirit alludeth the Egyptians digged to themselues wels to drink of When in the dayes of Ahab through parching drought all other waters failed hee and Obadiah seeke to the riuers and fountaines So the common Sea of Popish worshippe and doctrine becommeth vile the last refuge for preseruing the liues of their Beasts is their riuers and fountaines whereby their Sea is inriched and which by kind should bee more cleare and sweet But these are also made bloud that in two respects Their riuers fountains are their great and learned Doctors and grounds whence these as riuers carry waters as frō springs to sweeten if it were possible that rotten sea But howsoeuer in some outward degree they apeare to haue some more freshnesse yet they are but bloud and to drinke of them it is deadly They labour much to excuse and maske the grosse rottennesse of their sea and to sweeten it with eloquence aide of Arts and Philosophy and yet all is bloud They busie themselues to bring warrands from the Fathers but almost all from that third part of that ancient sea which in the second Trumpet was made bloud and from these fountaines riuers which in the third Trumpet were for the third part made bitter and mortall And what cleare sweet water might both from Scripture Fathers be brought for cure of their Sea they by false glosses wrested interpretations cuttings and caruings turne all into bloud The second respect in which their riuers and fountaines are said to become bloud that wee should not misse to take vp the Angell executer praiseth God his iustice therein and another from the Altar a sure testimonie from Christ himselfe confirmeth his saying And this double testimony both of the executers and ministers of the Altar true Pastors encouraging to execution so warranteth the equity of this point that men need not bee remisse or stayed with any faint doubts from executing this iust worke And certainely the Spirit in this double proclamation of God his iustice herein seemeth in diuine wisdome to haue foreseene and foreshewed the faintnes of men in this so approued an errand The point is because their riuers and fountaines euen their head-Clergie men entertainers nourishers and vpholders of all that stinking sea haue beene bloody murtherers of the Saints and Prophets and occasioners of all bloud-shed in the earth the Whore Chapter 17. being drunke with the bloud of Saints and all the bloud of the earth being found in her Chapter 18. Therefore the Lord in his iustice now giueth them bloud to drinke euen measure for measure And the Cuppe that shee filled to vs shee now tasteth in her course Wherein is performed what for consolation was spoken Chapter 13. If any kill with a sword he must be killedby a sword The performance of this wee haue in some measure seene and dayly see in such Countries wherein the Lord hath raised the light of his Gospell while their continuall conspiracies and tteasons against the states and liues of Princes compell men otherwise but preposterouflie pittifull and for all this double denounced warrant of the equity of the worke but too slow to giue them the due recompence of their bloudy practises But the effect hereof will bee still more and more perceiued For there will be no end of their tragicall attempts till that bloudy state be destroyed for euer These are the Martyrs the Church of Rome can glorie of Here a diuiue artifice of the spirit is not vnworthy the marking that as in expressing the first suffetings of the church by the dragon Chapter 12. who giueth his power throne authority to the Beast allusion was to the condition of the olde Church in Egypt so here in the first degrees of finall wrath allusion is to the plagues there Like as in the Chapter 15. vpon preception of the last degree the song of Moses was sung at the glassie sea 6 The fourth Viall is on the sunne whereby the beast his marked ones are plagued the cleare light of the Gospell shewing Christ the sun of
was that Chapter 13. of them who admire and follow the Beast and that hereafter verse 8. but no the lesse hauing mixed with it some such infirmity as required a wakening of him from a vanishing astonishment wherein many lie benummed in these our dayes who yet wonder not the first wondring This effect of the vision occasioneth the Interpretation First of the Beast who is summarily described ver 8. and after more plainly exponed in the interpretation of the heads and horns His summary description is by his stable and yet variable condition which in those who are not written in the booke of life worketh such admiration as was that Chapter 13. This Beast then in some sort and respect had beene before that time wherein Iohn seeth him and in some respect and condition was euen then albeit not as it was before neither as it should be thereafter and was yet to come in a different respect condition from either And as it was yet to come which is the condition and time wherein here it is to bee taken and considered it hath two remarkeable notes One is that it should arise out of the bottomlesse pitte which albeit in some sort it may bee said of all wicked powers yet it is in a singular manner proper to Antichrist Chapter 9. and 13. the Vicar of the Dragon his kingdome the Angell of the bottomlesse pitte the aduersary the man of sin and sonne of perdition His other note is that hee goeth to destruction whereof hereafter 8 This description so obscurelie proponed as in a ridle the Angell most clearely openeth in the interpretation of the heads and hornes so as it is maruell why any should seeke after any other sense of the Angels words then that which himselfe giueth 9 First then the heades are both seuen hilles on which the woman sitteth and also seuen Kings The first is so cleare a note of Rome as Grammarians know it and both are put here iointly for cleare demonstration what state hee pointeth at as also to shew that the heads of that state as they are Kings must onely bee taken of such as alwayas held that City and not of such as are or were heades in bare title neither abiding in that City nor making it great and glorious by their power such as were the Grecian Emperours after the fall of the westerne Empire And much more ridiculously since the Kings of Germany bearing the title of Romane Emperours while they haue not one foot within Italy yea of all Princes who now domine within the compasse of the olde Romane dition brooke the smallest portion thereof and whatsoeuer either now be or before was the Title of other yet seeing the Beast bearing vppe the woman maketh her glory and grandeure none can bee esteemed for heades now but these by whome shee retaineth her credite lustre and pompe Neither are Kings here to bee taken for so many persons but for so many kinds of soueraign gouernments in course ruling that state according to the knowne frame of Hebrue speech Now in exponing these seuen Kings hee doth interprete the former darke speech and leadeth vs euen by the hand to the time and that state and condition of Rome in time which here properly is the Beast bearing the Whore 10 The Beast had been in a sort in the fiue heades who were fallen It was euen then in respect of the policy at that time ruling but as the Beast here is discribed and specially to bee vnderstood that is as by him Rome becommeth the great whore hee was yet to come The fiue fallen were Kings Consuls Dictators Decemuirs and Tribunes Caesars the sixt head ruled in Iohn his dayes A seuenth was to come which notwithstanding is not the Beast or head making this beast as here it is set downe For that head was soone to euanish but the eight head in number and which in a sort is one of the seuen hath here peculiarly the name of this beast 11 Of this head three things are noted First that hee is the eighth in number and order Secondly that yet in a sort hee is one of the seuen to shew how notwithstanding that eight are here counted it standeth yet true that the Beast had but seuen heads Not that it was one and the same properly but for viue resemblance Chapter 13. As making vp the image of the Beast by cure of the deadly wound and bringing kingdomes prouinces in al 's great subiection to Rome by the cup of fornication thus bearing vp the Whore as did earst the former heads by force of Armes so it is both the eight and in a sort the sixt wherein the Beast had got a deadly wound which this head cureth For the liuely resemblance in Monarchie state lawes rites vestments c. Read the donation of Constantine and Steuchus in defence of it This eighth head then is the Pontificality by which Rome is extolled and borne vp to be a Queene and Lady of Kingdomes bewitching the world and because in the summarie speech he had said that the Beast was to come and seeing seuen heades had onely beene attributed to the Beast whereof none of the sixe could be hee as he is here proponed lest hereby we should thinke that of necessity the next head after Caesars being the seuenth behoued to bee this Beast the Antichrist the Angell in great wisdome and plainnesse pulleth vs from that thought in shewing that one was then to come who yet was not hee for that should soon bee gone but the eighth and last should bee this Beast I shewed on the 13. Chapter that the seuenth head was the Kingdome of the Ostrogothes to whose King Theodoricus the Emperour of the East with aduise of Senate willingly bequeathed Rome and Italy sacro texit velamine in Signum reiab imperio concessae and who of the Romans was receiued as their lawfull Prince and by himselfe and his Successors raigned ouer it many yeeres during which was both peace and friendshippe betwixt them and the Emperours of Constantinople all the dayes of Zeno Anastasius and Iustinus The third note of this eighth head called peculiarly the Beast bearing the Whore is that hee goeth to destruction And in this hee is also singular from all former heads who albeit they all did fall yet the beast in some sort remained For the State and credite of the Kingdome abode in some degree in the subsequent heades But this eighth head shall draw that whole state with him to vtter and euerlasting ruine and this is that which Chapter 19. is meaned where it is said that the Beast and false Prophet are taken and both cast in the Lake Whereupon many fondly imagine that the Beast and false Prophet bee two diuers But this is it which the spirit would shew vs that the false Prophet who is the head shall so fall as the body of the state and Kingdome shall perish with him For none shall bee able to
image of the Beast 18 The third proper note and token is this Beast goeth to destruction For vnder this last head that state and Kingdome must be vndone for euer and shall not bee as in the fall of the former heads when in the next succeeding it held place but this head shall so fall as with him he shall draw that state to eternall ruine In which respect it is said Chapter 19. that the Beast and false Prophet are both taken and cast into the fire Thus for a most cleare opening of all this Prophesie the Holy Ghost heere in this Chapter hath ioined the Beast Head and Whoore and exponed so euidently in a huge wisdome To make vs see that what Chapter 13. hee spake of two beasts what through the booke hee speaketh distinctly of the Beast and the VVhoore Babylon of the Beast and false Prophet is all but for cleare explication of Antichrist VVhat a King hee is of what Kingdome of what time and manner of working cleering the Kingdome by the head and both Kingdome and head by the head City of their power with euident and infallible notes to take vp the right time and condition of all So as the Romans mocking our incertainety as they thinke whether the Beast the VVhoore or the falfe Prophet bee Antichrist bewray but their owne ignorance or malice or both For the Beast is Antichrist but so and then as and when the head is a false Prophet vnder presence of the Lambe his power making Rome the VVhoore and bewitcher of the world In which respect the false Prophet is the Beast the eight head and one of the seuen And thus the Beast is onelie Antichrist as the Beast is the eight head euen the false Prophet And the false Prophet is Antichrist but as he is the Beast that is head of the kingdome of Rome And Rome is the VVhore but as she is borne vp by this Beast the false Prophet How plainely the holy Ghost telleth this take vp in this argument 19 That soueraigne policy ruling in and ouer the City situated one seuen hils and in Iohn his daies bearing rule ouer Nations which in number and order is the eighth head or soueraigne policie after the fiue fallen before Iohn the sixth then ruling and a seuenth to come but soone to euanish which eight head recouereth to the state hee ruleth the luffâ—e estimation and subiection of Prouinces which by a deadly wound in one of the former heades it had losed thus reerecting if not the same properly yet a liuely image of the decaied state and for this respect as he is the eight in course so is hee in a sort one of the seuen heads and is peculiatlie the Beast and which soueraigne pollicie and eight head peculiarly the Beast worketh all as a Porphet and vnder pretence of Christ his power and thus induceth the Kings of the earth voluntary and with free and vnanime consent to submit their Crownes vnto him so procuring to his seat such account and credit as the whole earth drinketh her superstitious and idolarrous worship wherethrough shee becommeth a great and mother harlot And which eight soueragne policy or head shall bee the last head of that kingdome for that in the fall thereof that state shall be destroied for euer That souerainge policy oâ— head is the Antichrist 20 But the Pontificality is the soueraigne policy or head thus for place order and number in succession manner and effect of working heere peculiarly called the Beast and which as hee is from the bottomlesse pit and angell thereof 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so he and with him that state goeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Ergo c. Wee speeke not of coniecture but as it is written I beleeued and therefore I spake Wee beleeue and therefore speake 2. Cor. 4. 13. CHAP. XVIII THe great Whore was described in the former Chapter Her iudgement followeth in this shewed by three heauenly voices in each whereof the same is magnifickly amplyfied by the certainty the instant performance greatnesse and equity thereof And peculiarlie in the last by that her ruine is irreparable The first voice is to the 4. verse The second to the 21. And the third to the end 2 In the first voice are the person denouncer and the point denounced The denouncer is an Angell remarkeable for gesture and dignity His gesture is that hee commeth downe from heauen His dignity in that hee hath great authority which is cleared by the effect in that all the earth was lightened with his glorie At the second degree of the out-breake of the light of the Gospell from vnder Antichristian darkenesse Chapt. 14. an Angel denounced the same which this doth but that did flee thorow the midst of heauen that is albeit swiftlie and in the publike view of men yet the cleare perception of what he denounced was farre remoued aboue their reach the preaching of the Gospell not hauing then for cleare euidence the authority which since it hath and daily more and more shall obtaine through the Angel no more fleeing farre aboue as these Chap. 14. in the reuerting and that Chapt. 8 in the last degree of decay of light but now in plenty of glorious light as it were comming downe from the heauen and lightning the earth with a neer and euident sight of that which before was reuealed but farre oft This Angel then is the type of the cleare light and powerfull ministery of the Gospell now in a neere degree both shewing clearely and working powerfully Antichrist his fall The ministers of lightâ— are of Christ the true light called the light of the world and their ministerie is glorious euen glorified as concerning the exceeding glory For how beautifull on the Mountaines are the feete of them that preach good tidings c. The description of this denouncing Angel implyeth not only the certainty of what hee proclaimeth as from heauen and with great authority and euidence but also the instant performance thereof in that he commeth downe in such aboundance of glorious light as Babel can stand no longer no more then could Sodome after the Angel his downe-comming to see iâ— For Babel the glory of Kingdomes shall bee as the destruction of God in Sodome and Gomorrha Therefore the point denounced albeit it bee the same in substance which Chap 14. was threatned yet here it commeth in another degree of cleare manifestation certaine performance in the perswasion of hearers and neere approaching execution God now beeing to passe by her no more for shee is come in remambrance before him 3 Of this denounced point is shewed also the greatnesse and equity The greatnesse in these words and she is become c. So to shew a horrible desolation such as should not onely make her waste and solitarie but also detestable and abominable as are ghostly and Elphrish places full of Panike terror and the ordinarie retrait of all these things which both flee humane society
was the riches of the Gentiles so their receiuing may bee much more the life of the world from death by so strange and wonderfull a change as shall make in a manner a new heauen and a new earth in which they shall haue greatly to reioice and bee glad When both sisters aswell the little sister which had no breasts as the other are spoken for and receiued That the Shepheard may be one and the sheepfold one When in that day there shall bee one Lord ouer all the earth and his name one This is that number innumerable Ch. 7. of al Tongs Nations Languages with Palmes in their hands clothed in longwhite roabes c. This is that Ierusalem from heauen wherin the heathen nor any vncleane thing shall enter no more which now shall bee perfectly adorned with such fulnesse of gracefull quiet state al being performed whatsoeuer the Lord by his seruants the Prophets had promised that shee hath as a Bride perfectly busked but to attend the last and full act of the marriage to enter into the marriage chamber and eternally inioy her spouse This goodlie state in grace vpon full ouerthrow of all troubles described most goodly Chap. 21. and 22 is the finishing of the mystery of God Chap. 10. When a Bride is perfectly â—usked and trimmed wanting none of her ornaments then nothing remaineth but the solemne acts of the mariage to enioy her Lord. So the reason of the speech is plaine from common vse 9 This her preparation that we may vnderstand it not to be of herselfe for the Lord will answer her before shee aske is shewed to bee in her attire Whereof is noted whence she hath it and what it is Shee hath it by free gift of the Bridegrome For what a Bride we are by nature see Ezechiel 16. and not onely is the garment giuen her but which is to be marked the putting on thereof is giuen her also as which shee can no more put on by her selfe then shee can purchase it What this garment is in shewed first figuratiuely and then in proper termes Figuratiuely it is fine linen pure and shining This linen hath two properties It is pure because Iesus Christ giuen vs of the father to iustification whom by the gift of faith we put on is pure spotlesse and vndefiled and maketh vs pure before God This is iustification of faith properly The second property is Shining for as it is spotlesse and pure so hath it a glorious lustre to shew that Christ is not onely put on to iustification but also to glorie and that in two respects One in that hee sanctifying vs wee shine here as lights in the middest of a froward generation shewing forth the vertues of him that hath called vs so glorifying God witnessing to the world our iustification and euen strengthning our own soules in the certainety of our election while wee declare our faith perfect by our workes euen as our works thereupon shine and are approued because faith worketh together with the worke For whatsoeuer is without faith is sinne and this is that iustification whereof Iames Chapter 2. to expresse both the word is plurall 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The other respect of shining is in that as we put on Christ to iustification and sanctification so also to full glory at length with himselfe our corruptible bodies being made conforme to his glorious body The Iewes first seeking to establish their owne righteousnes which is by the Law so like Adam and Eua making garments to themselues fell from the righteousnesse of God but now God turneth their hearts to prepare and trim themselues with the Bridegroome his gifts as was Rebeccha with the ornaments brought from her husband both giuen her and put on her counting all things losse to bee found in Christ that is not hauing their owne righteousnesse which is by the law but the righteousnesse of God which is by faith in Iesus which and application thereof are both the fâ—ee gift of God And the holy Ghost so coucheth the words as no place is left to cauillation For he sayeth not our Iustifications are the fine linnen but the fine linnen giuen vs is our iustifications 10 Thus was the song maruellous for strange forme and matter Now followeth the strange euent in the Apostle wherein come to be obserued the occasion and euent it selfe Albeit the whole matter and manner of the song occasioneth this euent yet most speciallie it followeth through the Angels singular care and manner of confirming Iohn in the greatnesse and truth of these matters euen therein implying that they are so wonderfull as men would hardely belieue that such things could come to passe Hee confirmeth Iohn by commandement and by affirmation The quality of the commandement giueth of it selfe to presume assuredly both some great and also a certainely determined case as which hee commandeth him to write both for regard of the matter as also for sure preseruation and lasting record therof as which most assuredly should fall out He commandeth to write one speciall point which yet implyeth all that they are blessed who are called to the Supper of the Lambes marriage VVhich blessednes as it must bee restrained to the effectuall calling many being called who are not chosen so here the Angell will stirre Iohn and all Christians in Iohn his person to the consideration of a singular blessednesse of this time through the great efficacy of the voyce from the Throne and obedience wrought thereby in them who first refused and no doubt of the Orient by and with them A blessednesse was commanded to be written Chapter 14. but that was of suffering wherein they were euen blessed Here the case varieth For now all shall suffer who come not to the Lambe his Supper and shall bee made a Supper to the foules of Heauen verse 17 Now the teares shall bee wiped from the eies of Mourners and the destroyers of the earth shall bee destroyed The Heathen were angry now the Lord is angry in his course which if it kindle Blessed are all that come to him Now they who did slay with the sword are slain by the sword and the Captiuers are captiued For now God taketh his kingdome by the euident ouerthrow of his enemies and exaltation of his Church hauing his name written euen on his garment and thigh So blessed in effect are they who come to the supper of the Lambe his marriage The Angell next confirmeth Iohn by affirmation that these words of God are true Thus wakening vp Iohn to consider rare matter whereof hee so earnestly affirmeth that the words are true and for assurance of their truth that they are of God or God his words 11 Now besides the song in it selfe wonderfull this care of the Angell to confirme Iohn and waken vp his spirits by so singular a commandement and so peremptory an asseueration so rauisheth the heart of the Apostle
Greatnesse that being written as both a sure and permanent name and also exposed to bee read yet none knoweth it but himselfe And what is he not able to doe who seeing and by matchlesse authority ouerruling all yet is set aboue the reach of all his state counsels and wayes being knowne to himselfe onely as whereof no flesh is capable So insearchable are his wayes and his iudgements past finding out according as in consideration of one speciall euent of this his iudging and fighting at this time Paul exclameth and the sealed Booke no creature was able to looke on 18 That none imagine these to be idle Titles in name onely hee is also a practised warriour and now specially come forth to shew how mighty hee is to saue For this his garment is dipt in bloud euen the bloud of his enemies to note a huge slaughter Hee is now to tread the Wine-presse of God his wrath He hath long looked if any would helpe but there was none to helpe none to vphold therefore his owne arme now shall helpe him and his owne wrath sustaine him the day of vengeance is now in his heart and the time of his redeemed is come And accordingly as he who speaketh iustly and is mighty to saue hee is called the word of God Not onely for that hee is that word which was in the beginning with God and was God but also and here specially because hee is that true one who speaketh and performeth as who both speaketh iustly and is mighty to saue For this redde garment and name agreeable to it See Isai 63. and weigh the place 19 Such is the Captaine of the Lord his hoast The inhabitants of the earth following the Beast Chapter 13. Wondered and in wonder exclamed Who is like the beast who is able to fight with him Heere I thinke hee hath his match and more But these earthly ones see not the Heauens and so goe on blindfolded to their owne destruction His army is in his owne Liuery Hee needeth no armie but his army hath need of him For he is their glory their strength their armour their victory and all In his strength they fight and ouer come They are all horsed as who for dignity are Iudges and warriours like their Captaine They are also faithfull and true in and by him They are all kinges and priestes clothed in pure and shining silke This is a blessed Captaine who conformeth all his followers in glory and dignity to himselfe Alexander was foolish to glorie in his Argyraspides here is a Captaine of high note In opposition to the earthly ones on the other party they are called the host of heauen where there conuersation is euen while they are in the world but not of the world 20 The weapon of this great Captaine whereby he worketh and fighteth is the sword of his mouth With it he smiteth the Heathen enemies of his Church treaders downe of the holy City crushing them in peeces with an iron Mace And hee treadeth the winepresse of God almighty Heere now the treaders are troden downe Thus with mouth and hand hee fighteth and with feet downe-trampleth all How so strange effects of bloud-shed and ouerturning the whole state of the earth are attributed to the sword of his mouth is cleare Chapt. 14. 17. 18. where an Angel armed with a sickle commeth out of the Temple and is stirred to cut downe the grapes of the earth by one comming from the Altar hauing power ouer fire And Chapt. 15. where the Angels of the last wrath receiue their Vials from one of the foure Beasts and come to execution out of the Temple like as the voice commanding it is from the Temple By the breath of this Lord his mouth Antichrist must bee consumed 21 This his fighting to the foile of all his foes maketh him yet a name The King of Kings and Lord of Lords This he was at all times And euen from the day of his ascention was alwaies seene of his owne crowâ—ed with glory and honour God hauing exalted him aboue all name that is named so as all knees must bow and euery tongue confesse him to bee the Lord. Yet hee getteth this name at this time in a speciall manner written on his garment and thigh So as now it becommeth manifest to the view of all his power and strength kything clearely in this victory and wonderfull sequels of it This is that same which in the song was said the Lord God almighty hath raigned And Chapt. 11. The kingdomes of the world are our Lord his and his Christs This is his sitting on a white cloude Chap. 114. euen the manifestation of his iudgements Chapt. 15. 4. Rome in great derision when they crucified him set ouer his heade in three Languages This is the King of the Iewes And the Iewes counting it scorne and high disgrace to haue him called their King intreated the alteration of the words in that he so called himself But now by the finall and euerlasting ouerthrow of the Kingdome of Rome and by conuersion of the Iewes to mourne for him whom they pearced hee shall gloriously manifest himselfe and bee acknowledged not onely King of the Iewes but also King of Kings and Lord of Lords This name hee hath written on his garment as great Kings and high Captaines haue their imperiall garments whereby they are discerned On his thigh not so much for that ordinarily the sword weapon of the victory is girded on the thigh but for that in Scripture speech a man his strength is placed commonly in his losnes and thighes now it is his owne strength that helpeth him and therefore it was a token of subiection and seruitude to put the hand vnder the thigh Which custome Aben-Ezra witnesseth to haue continued still amongst the Indians and Ethiopians till his time And therefore his name is also written on his thigh because all the world now haue to put their hands vnder it and sweare him homage This Captaine wrestling with Iacob to make him know he was his Lord and that all his strength was of him hee did strike him with a note of infirmity in the thigh 22 Thus was the description of the great Captaine of the heauenly host in himselfe his armie armour and manner of fighting Now followeth his herauld or trumpet Who is remarkeable for his standing place and for the tenor of his proclamation Hee standeth in the Sunne To note exceeding great light now of the Gospell and preaching therof wherein the preachers should clearely see and confidently proclaime Antichrist his ruine For great measure of light the Apostolike Church in the woman Chapt. 12. was clothed with the Sunne Wee see to the praise of God and euidence of this Prophesie light already growen in great degree as no doubt but for this sight and great effect it shall yet grow more so as the light of the Moone shall bee as the light of the Sunne
Temple of God could no longer beare out the rod now being applyed to measure and his mouth found out whose it is by the Beast he maketh warre with the Saintâ— and ouercommeth them Falling to open and cruel murther the Dragon Beast and false Prophet all iointly bending their whole endeauours to seduce the Kings of the earth enemies of all sorts to compasse the tentes of Saints and beloued City The City and Court of the Temple trod vnder foot and occupied of the Beast albeit called holy for that the Temple was within them yet were cast out Here the Tents of Saints and beloued City are besieged The foure Angels from Euphrates were instruments of God his wrath against the world and for the sinnes specified Chapter 9. 20. 21. from which the sealed ones were free Here the endeauour of Gog and Magog is directly against the Saints Gog and Magog then are the instruments whatsomeuer of Sathan his last fury against the Church whom for vpholding of Antichrist or at least for keeping downe the full preuailing light oâ— the Gospell and gracefull state of the true Church he stirreth vppe of what Nation soeuer Turks or others 29 The whole course of this Prophesie framed to the dispensation in the old Testament and condition of the Church then openeth clearely the reason of the allusion This is certaine that in the condition of the Church of Israel as I haue said wee are not onely to looke vpon things in propriety but also to consider them as stampes of things to come Hereof it is that as all the deliuerances promised from their enemies and afflictions then had a further respect as the measure of their present deliuerances nothing answerable to the high promises easily brought the godly to consider and waite for better so also were their troubles and troublers types of other and more dangerous enemies and the destructions denounced against them which in the first properly taken were not seene fulfilled in the degree threatned raised the hearts of the faithfull to waite in the end for a more absolute victory and constant peace The first great affliction of Israel was in Egypt by Pharao that great dragon as Chapter 12. Itouched The next great affliction and captiuy was by Babel and these Beastes in Daniel Now after the peoples deliuery from Babel City and Temple being reedified the last cruell oppressing enemy and stayer of true worshippe before Christ his comming in the flesh was Gog and of Gog specially Antiochus Epiphanes as Daniel Ezechiel and bookes of Machabees shew clearely For the Romans were not long before Christ but drawne in as sequestres by the Iewes owne partialities whereto pride brought them after they had beene helped by a little helpe and albeit the stronger yet so farre suffered and maintained the liberty both of state and religion as at Christ his birth Herod was a mighty King and the state and religion for freedome from any forraine oppression flourishing Hence it is that as for expressing the first troubles and troubler of the Christian Church and her deliuery there from allusion is to Egypt c. And for expressing the next huge euill of Antichrist the allusion is to Babel and that in a Beast carrying a note of all the foure in Daniel so here to expresse the last enemies who after her comming out of Babel and Sion reedified shall be instruments of Sathan his last puft the holy Ghost alludeth to Gog and Magog For whose destruction as a great white throne was set vp that at the first comming of Christ the saints might get the Kingdome so here to shew that these last Ministers of Sathan his rage shall fall still to finall destruction in the Lord his last comming a great white throne is erected And as vpon the full ouerthrow of Gog and Magog Ezech. 38. and 39. Thereafter the state of City and Temple are set down most goodly so by allusion thereto here vpon the vtter foile ofher enemies the new Ierusalem is magnifickly described That of Ezechiel is of the state of the Church of Christ vnder the Gospell generally in relation to the Church before Christ and vnder the law This here in the subsequent Chapters is of the Church specially now victorious ouer these enemies and gracefull through the conuersion of the Iewes and Easterne Kingdomes to the faith enioying plenty of light and peace in relation to the Christian Church before in her wrestlings and sufferings by these enemies now ouerthrowne 30 By the course of this Prophesie it would appeare that first the Whore shall bee destroyed next that the Kingdome in the head thereof the false Prophet shall be done away and that thereafter Sathan for his last endeauour stirring vp Nations against the Church shall bee in these his instruments so absolutely foiled as the Church from thence shall enioy quiet state For whither things shall thus fall out in course or if thus by parte the ouerthrow of all the enemies be set downe to shew a perfect victory I dare not determine And if as possibly and very probably it may fall after the burning and sacke of the City of Rome by Christian Princes and next afteâ—â—he ruine of the Kingdome and head thereof the false Prophet that the Dragon by some residue of the Frogges shall stirre vp nations and perhaps of them the Turkes that so God may destroy all them who haue destroyed the Church yet wee see cleerely what shall be the euent For both the inward enemy and traitor the beast shall be destroied and all outward enemies who by Satan his instigation now madly furious that his time is so short shall rise against Sinn shall finde it a cup of poison The Turk hitherto hath been God his scourge against the world and false Christianity and therefore hath preuailed But if hee rise against the true Church fire from heauen shall deuoure him Yet that heere specially the Turkes are meaned I see no reason And as I can take vp the drift of the Holy Ghost in this Prophesie it would rather appeare and my heart inclineth so to thinke by the fall of the Beast and conuersion of Iewes thereupon to the faith that the Turkes and other states of the East shall bee brought to embrace the Gospel albeit perhaps first taught thereto by some noble foile For no question but as the euent of the seuenth Viall maketh cleere the whole estaâ—e of the earth shall suffer such alteration as was not since men first inhabited the same 31 Now for the different measure of iudgement vpon the Army and vpon their Captainâ— the Dragon whose iudgement is according to that of the Beast and false Prophet besides the reasons aboue touched vpon the end of the 19. Chapter wee must further consider that the Dragon is such an enemy as no foile of him can secure vs till he be sealed vp in euerlasting torment And for the Beast and false Prophet signifying a Kingdome and order of succeeding heads ouer it and
to place all his security in being in the Lord his Tabernacle where the Lord would place him on a rocke and where he would repose vnder the wings of the Lord. 12 The other part of God his dispensation is gracious in threefold graces as the first was in threefold iudgments The three graces are the spirit of sanctification the pure word of God and the faithfull Ministery thereof The type of the spirit of sanctification are seuen Lampes burning before the throne seuen for perfection of all graces burning both for illumination and purging power Lampes for this worke in our hearts in which hee infundeth and nourisheth the oile of grace to faith and loue our sound state wherein is compared by the Lord to wise Virgins hauing oile in their lamps and wee are warned to haue our lamps burning and that wee quench not the spirit They are said to be before the throne as Chap. 1. for the Spirit his ready and plentifull outward operation still ioyned with his two subsequent instruments in his owne children Sect. 9. 13 The second grace is the first outward meane of the spirit the pure word of God the type whereof is a glaâ—â—ie sea like to Christall It is before the throne as euer ioined in his Saints with the spirit and for that therein wee may see the glory of God with open face Isai 59. 21. 1. Cor. 3. That the word of God for the purging and refreshing vertue thereof is compared to water is euident by the ordinary speech of al Scripture Hereof the Lauer placed in the entry to the Tabernacle was a type to which in Salomon his Temple succeeded the brasen sea whence this here hath the name It is of glaâ—se for the calme stilnesse thereof for God his word is not as those raging waters which stirre vp mud and durt but like those still running waters by which Dauid was led Psal 23 And as the soft running waters of Siloam which refresh the City of God Psal 46. Therefore besides their stilnesse they are cleare as Christall much excelling that Sea in Solomon his Temple which was of Brasse both for the open and cleare sight for which it is also before the throne as I haue touched and also for that this Sea admitteth no mixture of any other Cisterne It is not mixed with bloud as that Chapter 8. much lesse with bloudy worsum as that Chapter 16. Finally it admiteth nothing except the fire Chapter 15. 14 The third grace and second outward meane of the spirit of sanctification is the faithfull Ministery of this Word for it pleaseth God to saue the world by the foolishnesse of preaching The type hereof are foure bodied wights translated in our bookes beasts through the pouerty of our tong which affordeth but one word for 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 They are called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in relation to the two former graces For albeit the spirit bee the spirit of life and life it selfe yet as wee see neither what way the wind commeth nor which way it goeth so know wee not the way of the spirit although wee feele the force of it And howbeit the word of God bee liuelie and of it as of an immortall seed wee are begotten to immortality yet it hath not that outward naturall and bodily life in it which men haue who minister the same who therefore are called liuing wights by their Ministery begetting in vs the life of God and so are our spiritual Fathers Gal. 4. 19. And this is the third great grace of God vpon his Church that hee hath giuen gifts to men and raised vp to vs Prophets of our Brethren In them are shewed first their properties common and singular and next their function Of their common properties the first is their place betwixt the throne and the Elders as Ministers dispensators of grace from God to theÌ„ as also for al their function whereof hereafter Thus placed their number is foure as sufficient to go to all quarters like these foure Ministers of God his generall prouidence and dispensation Ezech. 1. foure Chariots of Brasse Zach. 6. the 4 Angels Cap. 7. Their next coÌ„mon property is that they are full of eyes noting vigilancy and knowledge for they are Watchmen and should bee able to teach exhort rebuke improue and conuince For their place and calling whereby they haue to looke continually to the Throne to the Elders the Church and to themselues as placed for lights and examples to their flockes they are full of eyes before behind and within Act. 20. 28. 1. Tim. 4. 16. Their last coÌ„mon property is that each hath sixe winges in all answerable to the number of the Elders and so placed as all are for flight not as of the Seraphim Isai 6. in such sort as they can intend flight no where whether they haue not wings to carry them hauing wings round about as well as eyes to shew aswel as knowledge and care so promptitude and fitnesse to helpe diligently and minister a word in season to the weary to strengthen the weake to confirme the strong to raise them who are fallen to bind vp the broken hearted to beate downe the lofty to seeke what is loosed and bring home what is strayed The singular property of each is the first had the face of a Lyon shewing courage the second the face of a Bullocke noting patience and labour the third of a man for prudency the fourth of a flying Eagle to signifie as a contempt of base so a sharpe sight in heauenlie things as the Eagle soareth high and is able to looke in the Sunne at No one-day Now these are not here so attributed singularly to each as if they were vtterly depruied of the other properties which cannot consist with their vertues which euer draw all these together in some degree as these foure Ezech. 1. are described each to haue all the foure faces but here they are distinctly attributed to shew God his wise dispensation in his Ministers of grace so dealing aboundantly to all as yet his diuersity of graces is to bee seene in each one Further if we consider rightly since the Apostles who excelled in all the first succeeding Ministers of the Gospell were like Lyons for courage subduing all and taking the spoile none able to rescue it The next for bloudy persecution and constant suffering were bullockes The third for prudent spying out of Antichrist were men And therefore Chap. 13. to count the number of the beast is counted wisdome and the witty are inuited thereto and Chapter 17. the mind which hath wisdome findeth out who the beast is The fourth sort are of them who Antichrist being reuealed and knowne shall see as Eagles and soare vp to the beholding of the hid secrets of God his word when the Angell standeth in the sunne Chap. 19. as the dayly growth of knowledge in these and other misteries of the Kingdome giue not onelie
sure esperance but already great proofe Now this diuersity of gifts God giueth as hee findeth expedient and as they may best serue for his honour and good of his Church hee requireth the vse sometime courage sometime patient suffering sometime prudency in both sometime a deepe search of Scriptures and of the dealing of God as according hereto we see these foure to vtter themselues at the opening of the Seales Chapter 6. Consider alwayes how conueniently these eyed and winged wights are ioyned to the glassie Sea as the sea in Solomon his Temple was set on twelue buls and on the borders of the bases for the Caldrons were Lions Bulles and Cherubins the Cherubins for their face flight answering to both the man and flying Eagle in this place So sweet is the consent of Scripture Thus are their properties common and singular Their function is first described in generall and next from the speciall end thereof The generall is God his worship wherein are two things First their continuall diligence night and day in season and out of season waiting on nothing else for who is sufficient for these things see Paul his example Act. 20. Secondly is the function or worship it selfe wherin they kith such diligence which is they are publike Heralds of God his praise euen thereby teaching others to doe the same according to the speciall end we see hereafter whereto the forme is substantially framed For they ascribe to God all holinesse euen triple holinesse to that triple one Now if our God bee holy who sanctifieth vs that as he is holy wee may bee holy also this teacheth vs to study to our sanctification for holinesse becommeth his house Hee is onely Lord therefore to bee serued hee is God therefore to bee feared and as hee is not holy without authority but is Lord and God so hath hee not authority without power for hee is almighty so that we may and ought to put our whole trust in him alone and as hee hath all power so is hee constant and true as hee who is eternall and without shadow of changing who yesterday and to day and the same for euer is was and to come his holines is the more admirable as ioyned with absolute power and such a power as is not alterable his truth giueth assurance of his promises to repose thereon here is all Religion Thus is their function in generall The speciall end is to bee leaders of the Elders that is the Church in this same duty of publike worshippe and thanksgiuing by going therein before them This end is clearely shewed in that when the foure beasts gaue praise the twenty foure Elders fell downe following their very words as it were saying Amen to them and this is that fourth point which wee noted to bee in this Chapter the worshippe returned to God by his Church 15 Their worshippe is by outward gesture and by speech The gesture is threefold prostrating adoration and casting their Crownes all down to him that sitteth on the Throne and to none else in casting their Crownes confessing their vnworthinesse in themselues of that high honour whereto they are called Their speech hath the honour giuen to God and the reason thereof for God will haue all our worshippe and reasonable seruice to proceed of knowledge not as the Samaritanes who worshipped they knew not what The honour giuen to God is all whereof by signe they confessed themselues vnworthy The reason is for that hee created all things and that for himselfe as whereto no forraine cause but his owne will stirred him aboue which to search any cause is not onely grosse ignorance but presumptuous impietie And this reason concludeth strongly for hee of whom are all things for whom are all things ought onely of all things to receiue all honour 16 Thus haue we the type of the true militant church of Christ vpon earth but heauenly such as alwayes by powerfull protection and gracious dispensation of his Spirit Word and Ministery thereof hee hath preserued in the greatest power of darkenes which though the World cannot see nor learne their song yet the lightned by faith will perceiue and reioyce This sight made Moses to despise the pleasures of Egypt and chuse to be afflicted This made Dauid to make so great account of the Courts of the Lord as to make it the head of all his desire to dwell in his Tabernacle to behold his beauty Ierusalem is faire in situation the glory of the whole earth and City of the great King Glorious things are spoken of thee O City of our God Euen here wee are quickned together with Christ and raised together with him sit with him in the heauenly places This is the Church builded on a rocke against which the gates of hell preuaile not which though men haue often afflicted from her youth yet haue they not preuailed against her For the Lord her God is with her and the ioyfull shout of a King is in the middest of her Herefore it is that through all this Booke howsoeuer to expresse the diuers conditions of the Church in her speciall wrestlings sufferings eclipses victories diuers types are brought yet this of the throne elders and beasts in all her alterations still holdeth through all CHAP. V. THe first part of the introduction to the Story was in the fourth Chapter in a goodly type of the militant â—hurch and God his generall dispensation in her The second part is in this Chapter wherein is shewed in whom for whom and by whom it is that the Church hath all this presence protection and graces and in speciall for bringing on the second part in the story of speciall euents by whom and for whom shee hath this particular benefite of this Reuelation the great dignitie whereof albeit it appeareth sufficiently by that which in the former Chapter was seene it being from such a King as God to his owne Church yet here it is more plainely shewed in two great points The one is the retired highnesse of the matter surpassing the reach of all Creatures the second is the singular worth and prerogatiue of that personage by whome it is reuealed 2 The retired height of the matter is declared first by the naturall condition of it in it selfe and next by the imbecility of all Creatures in attaining thereto The condition of the matter is according to the manner of men set forth in foure circumstances 1. That it is in the hand of him that sitteth on the throne 2. It is a book 3. Copiously written 4. It is most surely sealed That it is in the hand of God not onely is shewed the eminency thereof but also that the whole case of his church and wrath on the world for her hard entertainement are directed by him as the worke of his owne right hand as also his carefull memory of it keeping the record therof in his right hand as men doe of these things they hold