Selected quad for the lemma: religion_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
religion_n	king_n	prince_n	queen_n	3,203	5	6.8163	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A86457	An exposition, or, A short, but full, plaine, and perfect epitome of the most choice commentaries upon the Revelation of Saint John. Especially of the most learned and judicious authors, as Bullinger of Helvetia, Francis Iunius, Thomas Brightman, Aug. Marlorate, Aug. de Civitate dei, but especially (among many) the excellent and learned David Pareus. With severall remarkable notes, observations, and doctrines very profitable. / As it was for the most part delivered by way of commentary in the parish-church of Sutton-Valence, Kanc [sic]. By Hezekiah Holland Anglo-hibernus, Minister of the Gospell at Sutton-Valence.	Holland, Hezekiah, fl. 1638-1661.	1650 (1650)	Wing H2426; Thomason E606_1; ESTC R5543	143,079	206

years more for the City to be trod down and so many years remain for the two witnesses to preach against Antichrist Vers 3. And I will give power to my two Witnesses and they shall prophesie Some have thought Christ and the spirit or annoynting were these witnesses but Christ makes them distinct from himself saying I will give to my two Witnesses Also Christ nor the Spirit can't be killed as these were Christ was to die but once lastly the Revelation is an history though mystical and in this particular almost literally fulfilled as shal appear Here also is a plain allusion to Zerubbabel Zach. 4. ver last who brought literally Israel out of captivity with Ioshua Nehem. 12.1 Zach. 3. and 4. And are called annointed ones Now certainly the first Kings States and chiefly Ministers of the Gospel who endeavoured to bring Gods People out of Antichrists spiritual thraldome are here to be understood being a plain allusion to the history of Zerubbabel and Joshua as will appear John Husse and Hierome of Prague were the first witnesses olive trees and candlesticks of Reformation in Bohemia and thereabout who in their successours prophesied or preached a thousand two hundred and sixty days Of which anon Not indeed as if the witnesses should ever quite give over preaching before the last day in their successors but because chiefly they should manifest their testimony when Antichrist was exalted and trod down the Church in a most violent cruel manner Certainly notice may be taken that since Hierome of Prague John Husse and others began to witnesse the truth of the Gospel against Antichrist the truth hath increased farre and near Thus whiles Antichrist trod down the Church most they witnessed most earnestly and shall do till the burning of Rome as will appear in this chapter to a diligent Reader After which as Antichrist will with weakned strength survive so shall the witnesses powerfully to the end But most notice is to be taken of the first fourty two moneths and the thousand two hundred and sixty days being all one as shall appear Now if any yet object that annointed ones will not agree with Kings or Ministers of the Gospel I answer that neither Ioshua nor Zerubbabel were as we read of annointed yet Conductors of Israel from Babylon Nehem. 12.1 and called annointed Zach. 4. last Now certainly every minister of Christ nay every true Christian is annointed with the spirit 2 Cor. 1.21 but enough Only note that the first witnesses had the spirit and power was given them in a peculiar manner to oppose Antichrist and therefore are called the olive trees By the two witnesses therefore we are not to understand the two testaments who though they do testifie of Christ yet can't be said to be killed properly and restored to life by two therefore a sufficient company of witnesses we are to understand alluding to Moses and Aaron who also by their successors should preach and maintain the truth of Christ after the Court of Priests was departed from the Church to Paganism and idolatry and Antichrist had troden underfoot the holy city They shall prophecy Thus Iohn in the two Witnesses doth prophecy again A thousand two hundred and sixty dayes Here is the same time allowed to the witnesses to Prophesie and to Antichrist and his Gentiles to tread down so that the beginning of the treading down the Church and the Prophecying of the witnesses was at the same time for though Christ raised up two faithfull witnesses that is some more then ordinary towards the time of the Gentiles treading down and taking full possession of the Church yet he never from the first beginning to tread down left himself without some witnesses Berengarius Scotus Wickliffe nay the very Romish Bishops and Emperours have complained of the tyranny of Popes after Boniface the thirds usurping Thus the witnesses time of Prophecying is not yet expired nor shall be till the Gentiles give over treading down Cloathed in sack-cloth Either because they prophecyed to gain men to repentance sackcloth and ashes or because they mourned and were in bitternesse for the miseries of the Church intimated by sack-cloth or because they were poor and contemptible in the worlds eyes not clothed with silk as the Romanists Vers 4. These are those two Olive trees and the two Candlesticks To wit mentioned Zach. 4. meaning Jehoshua and Zerubbabel who brought the people from captivity Where observe these two witnesses have some allusion to these two as to Moses and Aaron sufficient witnesses against Pharaoh and so by two witnesses a sufficient company are meant to whom Christ gave to wit power to prophecy that is courage and ability to teach his truth and oppose Antichrist when the holy city was much trod under by Antichrist and his Gentiles Christ raised up his two witnesses John Husse and Ierom of Prague to prophecy against these Gentiles and after their martyrdom God stirred up Luther Melancthon Zuinglius Calvin and others to witnesse his truth But observe the dignity of these witnesses they are Olive trees and Candlesticks the Candlestick bears up light by which darknesse is expelled so the witnesses bear the true light and bear witnesse of the true light Then an Olive is alwayes green bringing forth wholesome fruit so the Ministry of the witnesses is efficacious and lively and the oyle of the spirit or the holy anointing comes upon Gods people by it perchance hence may be observed that Emperours Kings and Princes called son of oyle out of zeal to God might be witnesses reformers of Religion and nursing fathers to the Church Zerubbabel Zach. 4 a Prince is called an Olive in this sense and an anoynted one then as Zerubbabel a civil Magistrate rebuilded the Temple and city so God raised ud faithful Princes and Magistrates as witnesses of his Truth in every age of late Standing before the god of the earth Here the dignity of the witnesses is set forth who though vile in the worlds eyes yea in sack-cloth that is poor neglected contemned yet are acknowledged by the god of the earth who therefore will regard them prophecying on earth Vers 5. If any man will hurt them fire proceedeth out of their mouth c. This fire is spiritually to be understood the word is a hammer and a fire in Jeremy 23.29 Nay and his Ministry is compared to fire Jer. 5.14 Behold I will make my words in thy mouth as fire and the people as chaffe The fire is light and consumes so the word of the witnesses shall detect the dark abominations of those that hurt them opposing their prophecy they shall confound the Idols and Purgatory of Antichrist and refute his lyes Thus the two witnesses shall spiritually devour the Adversaries though otherwise they shall slay the witnesses Here is an allusion to the fire procured by Moses and Elias Numb 16. 2 Kings chapter 1. thus the Gospel has prevailed over those that laboured to hinder it Thus be killed The witnesses of late

and invisibility in respect of her former lustre for the first three hundred yeares which was by degrees as the Eagle flyes not at once for the woman was a great while flying into the Wildernesse even from a little after Constantine to Phocas the usurper who set up Antichrist None whether Church Kingdome or person is corrupted at once but by little and little Vers 15. And the serpent cast out of his mouth water as a floud c This floud I understand not to be those Nations Goths Vandals Almans who as a deluge came about this time to destroy the very name and faith of Christ and to carry away the woman nor by earth do I understand them though their earthly religion swallowed up persecution by embracing Christianity for this helped not the woman but drove her farther into the Wildernesse for the faith was most corrupted by Arrius and other damnable hereticks when they embraced it so they were for the most part Arrians or Nestorians because John had treated of the Dragons persecuting the woman before therefore here by the floud I understand the most wretched heresies now reigning vomiting out of the Dragons mouth for the Doctrine of the Gospel coming out of Gods mouth is compared to streames of water Joh. 7.38 and so heresies may be well said to be a floud considering their violence and impurity for a floud washes the banks and draws all corruption into it Now in this Age was Arrius against the Son Macedonius against the Holy Ghost Nestorius against the truth of Christs Person Vers 16. Yet the earth opened her mouth and swallowed up the floud c Alluding to the old history of the earths swallowing up Corah and his Company Num. 16. or to the earth swallowing up the floud which destroyed the World In sum God used some extraordinary meanes to destroy this floud by which the Dragon thought to destroy the rest of the womans seed that is those retired righteous of which I spake but now who withdrew themselves from the Idolatry of Rome These are described to be such as have the testimony or Gospel of Jesus whereby and the bloud of the Lamb they are said to overcome vers 11. for the Gospel brings faith that laies hold on Christ by which all the Saints overcome Thus we have seen what a furious Creature the devill is against us and how he makes use of his short time which he knows is so seeing the signes of the last times are fulfilled and fulfilling this should teach us to make good use of out short time which hastens as the weavers shuttle Vers 18. And I stood upon the sand of the sea To wit ready to behold the Beast arising out of the sea as Chap. 13. or to denote the dangerous and sandy condition of the Age of Antichrists arising able to destroy if it were possible the very elect Mat. 24.24 CHAP. XIII Act. 3. Vision 4. Vers 1. And I saw a beast rise up out of the sea c THis Vision depends on vers 17. of Chap. 12. as one with it the act describes the Dragons war there mentioned and Antichrists arising mentioned Chap. 11.7 by the beasts ascending out of the bottomlesse pit and agreeing with Dan. 7.8 11. of the little horne speaking blasphemies meaning Antiochus or Antichrist himself of whom Antiochus was a Type Now it is usual in Scripture to set forth Empires by beasts as Dan. 7. where the Assyrian Persian Grecian Roman Empires are so described rising out of the sea vers 3. that is out of Nations Tongues People over whom they reigne and from whence they arise answerable to Rev. 17.15 This beast arises out of the sea here and out of the land ver 11. yet the same one according to the last verse here is wisdome to count the number of the beast in the singular number and that because of Antichrists double forme as King and Priest having the sword of Paul and key of Peter as the whorish Church or queen Chap. 18.7 17.3 and false Prophet Chap. 16.13 clothed with the spoiles of the Roman Empire and pretended Vicarship of Christ or as a Tyrant and seducer Let then the Papists feigne an Antichrist to themselves to be begotten of a Jewish woman of the Tribe of Dan by some evill spirit to reigne three yeares and an halfe and to fulfill literally all things spoken Antichrist in this Book we have found the man sitting in the Temple of God even for God Out of the sea To wit the bottomlesse pit out of which the Locusts came chap 9 3. and chap. 11.7 out of which the beast ascended yet John saw the beast arising out of the sea in the Vision noting the Popes arising out of the sink of hell by the meanes of Phocas the intruder thus the Sea of Rome is the sea of the beast or perchance that floud of the Dragon is the sea out of which Antichrist arose Now though Councils and Bishops of Rome condemned Arrius yet through the Devils enticements they set up Antichrist as chiefe Priest and King of Bishops though for a long while the Bishops of Constantinople and Alexandria were his Corrivals Nay to that height by degrees he arose that he would not be present at any Easterne Council but by his Legates or Embassadours lest the Emperour being present he should be forced to give him place Having seven heads and ten hornes c This Beast is very like the Dragon but that the Dragon wore his Crowns on his heads this on his hornes by hornes strength is noted who these horne be Rev. 17.9 12. makes known to wit ten Kings and the seven heads are seven Mountaines of Rome for she was built upon so many to which chapter I defer the interpretation of this place Blasphemy The Beast will not weare his hornes himself but his ten hornes or vassal-Vassal-Kings shall on his own head is blasphemy not openly written yet plaine enough for all his Religion and Doctrines are such against God and Christ Vers 2. And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard c. The word in Greek signifies a she-Leopard which hath a speckled skin and very odoriferous swift and subtile Thus the Beast is something like a monster compounded of a Leopard a Beare and Lyon The Church of Antichrist is spotted as the Leopard being a mingle-mangle of diverse Heresies Superstitions Idols Traditions consisting of several Orders Sects Clergy men it is very odoriferous full of the sweet smels of honour riches it is very swift for after the world was perswaded that Rome was the seat of Peter that sea of Rome quickly swallowed up all it is crafty so Antichrist is a false Prophet full of cunning deceits gaining home much riches by this meanes Now hee is like a Beare in the feet her feet are flat large by which the stability and firmenesse of Antichrists Kingdom is noted this Creature hath sharpe nailes which it fastens into the ground and so goes more firmly Now

had more when Antichrist was at the highest Vers 16. And the ten horns which thou sawest upon the Beast c. Meaning ten Kings of the West of which already shall hate the whore when God shall put it into their hearts The occasion of these horns of the Beasts hating the Beast and Whore was the Lambs victory convincing them of the truth God be thanked all kingdomes Spain and Italy excepted more or lesse hate the whore and oppose Idolatry Shall make her desolate By leaving the great City and with their Kingdomes and Dominions turn to Christ And make her naked Detect her abominations by confession writing and keeping back her gold riches pearle c. that should adorn her And shall eat her flesh Her flesh here is her annuities riches rents possessions wherewith she was fatted which they shall imploy upon their own territories Churches and several better uses And shall burn her with fire Rome to wit the nest of Antichrist and whorish Seat So that the Pope shall flie to some of the Kings of the earth for shelter as the Spaniard perchance who may be called one of the Kings of the earth contradistinct to the Kings of the East and may joyn with the other named Kings of the earth to his destruction now Antichrist is not thus to be quite ruined though his Palace be but in the succession of Popes shall live some where or other till Christs coming to judgement 2 Thes 2.8 whose brightnesse shall destroy him and the remaining Kings of the earth Vers 17. For God hath put it into the Kings hearts They were ready enough else to have continued in idolatry with Antichrist so that God must have the glory Here England Germany in part Scotland Swethland and other places recovered from Antichrist and hating him may be thought on once of the ten Kings Obj. What is putting into their heart and how it is done Answ God moves the heart of them by his divine cooperating spirit effectually so that it cannot but act yet leaves it free because the divine determination hinders not the judgement of reason about choosing or refusing note God put it into their hearts first to do his will or pleasure in executing his mind for the Beast as chap. 13. to agree and give their Kingdome to the Beast of which largely vers 13. of this chapter fighting with their might for his spiritual Empire Vntill the Words of God were fulfilled That is his decree touching the rising of Antichrist in this book and in the Apostles often Now he hath altered their minds convinced their consciences and they do his Will in executing his judgements upon the Whore after she was at the height and the Word of God was fulfilled that Antichrist should sit in the Temple of God or in the Church for God and oracle and after the Worshippers had admired after the Beast The Lord put it into more of their hearts to their salvation Amen Ver. 8. And the woman which thou sawst is that great City which reigneth over the Kings of the earth To wit Rome for no other city in Johns time mark it had dominion over the Kings of the earth to whom they were tributary but Rome And thus the Church of Rome at her height held all and ruled all either by the sword or under pretence of Religion note God by his revealed Will grace coworking put it into these kings hearts to fulfil his will formerly God put it into their hearts to do his will in serving the Whore The action and motion materially is from God always the forme or obliquity of the action is from Satan and mans corrupt nature in which and by which God hath a secret working and end If a man ride well upon a lame horse the going or action is good as from the man the lamenesse is from the horse so the action in the Kings when they were for the Whore is from God the lameness and pravity of it serving the Whore is from their corruption by which however God wrought his pleasure The summe is the Angels or Preachers and Kings shall divert Euphrates of Rome the Preachers noted by Angels having made Rome weak in part and odious before then the three unclean spirits gather the Kings of the earth to helpe her but her former Vassals shall many of them hate her and burne Rome yet the Pope with the Kings that are left shall be gathered to battle against Christ and these converted ones but the bloody feild of Armageddon or the day of judgment shall overtake them CHAP. XVIII The sixth Vision continued Act 2. Vers 1. After these things I saw another Angel come down from heaven TO wit after the sight of the woman upon the Beast another Angel for this book is as a Trage-comedy where several persons come in as Actors here Angels signifie no Preachers as formerly the Angels bid but are real Angels one perchance Christ publishing future events to John they come from heaven and so do the judgments upon Babylon Having great power All the Angels are great in power how great in power is God then whose servants these are it notes the greatnesse of the matter in hand to wit great Romes overthrow who is not invincible And the earth was lightned with his glory This notes that he was a glorious messenger from heaven 2. That the judgement of Rome shall be publike and open Vers 2. He cryed with a loud voyce saying It notes 1. That the inhabitants of the earth and worshippers of the Beast shall not plead ignorance for so the Gospel hath long cryed down Rome and threatned her destruction 2. It notes the stupidity of Rome lying in pleasure though her judgments were at door Babylon is fallen is fallen c. As in Esay 21.9 concerning the literal Babylon it notes the certainty of its destruction therefore 't is doubled The Angel chap. 14.8 who proclaimed its ruine did it as a Preacher by the Gospel battering that spiritual City which about Luthers time began to decay and decrease in honour and greatnesse Here the destruction of the City of Rome is foretold by a heavenly Herauld because she rejected the former warning the Gospel-truth and killed the witnesses this Babylon is Rome having seven heads or governments sitting on seven mountains making drunk the Kings of the earth with her fornication being the seate of Antichrist and which in Johns time ruled over Nations And is become the habitation of Devils See Esay 13.16 to 22. or of Satyrs it was formerly Satans dwelling place being a Kingdome of Idolatry and Antichrists seat but now this notes its utter desolation as that place of Esay shews This Angels Proclamation belongs to the time a little before Romes destruction and is not yet come And the hold of every foule spirit Noting the apparitions of Devils to be there after its destruction not only Fairies and Satyrs And cage of every unclean and hateful bird As Kites Owles Vultures Ravens This

notes the utter desolation of Rome and her stately Palaces and Temples before the end of all things for Satyrs and Devils appear in Deserts and wild places and these birds inhabit ruinous Towns and Castles such as Rome must be and a just punishment upon her Idols and Temples hell is the Devils hold properly so that this shall be a fearful place where the Pope Cardinals Bishops and Clergy sinned and feasted luxuriously now Devils shall dance commonly Vers 3. For they have drunk of the wine of the wrath of her fornication c. All Nations have that is many Nations all Christendom and more Now here spiritual fornication is meant because she is a City chap. 17. vers last with whom the Kings here mentioned could not commit literal fornication 't is called wine because pleasing to corrupt nature as all sin all heresie is and enticing overtaking one as wine unawares called wrath because it causeth Gods wrath So here is the true reason of Romes desolation her damnable Idolatry so that the place is justly punished for the sin committed therein And the Merchants of the earth To wit Cardinals Bishops and the like who only have leave to trade in holy wares of Masses Indulgences Pardons Peter-pence spiritual riches and soules of men vers 13. which old Rome never traded with Are waxen rich By most unlawful means which brings a judgment as spiritual whordom damnable Idolatry deceit thus heaping up riches living by this means delicately luxuriously dishonestly for by this means these spiritual Merchants called Princes of the earth vers 23. could buy any temporal merchandise of common Merchants Now certainly all things are vendible at Rome any sin to be forgiven for money by the spiritual Merchants Vers 4. And I heard another voice saying come out of her my people that ye be not partakers of her sins c. So Jerem. 51.6 45. 1. Here is commission to separate from Rome in heart and bodily and any thing that is Antichristian 2. God hath and ever had a people in Babylon though at least spirituall captives yet elected and to be saved 3. The means of salvation is to be laid hold on and to flie to the Word and Christ to wit out of Babylon 4. If we partake not of the sins of Babylon nor of her punishments shall we lest we partake of her sins and of her plagues 5. Because our corrupt natures are easily enticed to sin fly out of her Indeed travellers who really are not for Rome must uncover the head and bow the knee by force at Masses which is too much connivence even adoration therefore be not there fly out of Babylon lest God be angry and ye partake of her plagues Vers 5. And her sins have reached unto heaven Abels blood and the Sodomites sins called to heaven in a metaphor for vengeance Sin is of a crying nature especially spiritual whoredom noted by her sins being of a more wicked and heinous nature then ordinary And God hath remembred her iniquities Fully to punish them otherwise God remembred Rome before though he for many reasons forbore her The Jesuites confesse that Rome shall be wasted by ten Kings before the coming of Antichrist pray examine why she is to be wasted because of her Idolatry therefore Antichrist that causes men to commit by counsel from the Dragon this great abomination is come O Jesuites see the cause of your Cities ruine is your beloved Idolatry and Fornication Ver. 6. Reward her even as she hath rewarded you reward to sin is due which the godly shall in time see done to Rome when she is wasted at what time they are bid to reward her that is to rejoyce at her punishment being Christs great enemy for they are not to reward her otherwise neither need they for God is said to have done it in her overthrow by the Angel before the godly are bid to reward her or rejoyce The Saints approving Christs judgement at the last day is called their judging the world So the godly's rejoycing here is called their rewarding Babylon Reward yee Ye of the ten Kings who are converted and against Rome ye Preachers also teach that she is to be rewarded so private revenge is not here thought on And give her double according to her works c. That is a very sore and sufficient reward of punishment for so the word double is used Esay 40. vers 2. comfort Jerusalem to wit after her captivity because I have rewarded her double for her sin that is abundantly enough thus Rome is to be rewarded yet according to her works as she hath afflicted the Saints so she shall be sorely afflicted the Lord remembers his peoples miseries and tormentors to return both double the one of joy the other of punishment O Ireland how canst thou escape Vers 7. How much she hath glorified her self and lived in pleasure c. Saying she was Christs only Spouse the Catholique Church the Apostolique Sea the Pope Christs Vicar condemning all the Saints for Hereticks calling her self the head of all Churches a Queen by so much sorer punishment she shall be afflicted as by a law of equality Now never was such a boasting Church as Rome Saying I sit a Queen Not only in her heart but in her Sermons writings and actions I sit Noting her pride and security as if she were unmoveable A Queen Noting her self-confidence and usurping authority above all Churches Thus Antichrist exalteth himself 2 Thes 2.4 above all that is called God whether Angels or Magistrates for both are so called Thus in a parenthesis the sons of God or Judges great men Magistrates took the daughters of men being faire or ravished them taking them by force being mens sons of power and without controul and gyants were gotten Apostates for so the word in Hebrew may be rendred Gen. 6.2.4 from God and Religion then arose God not blessing those unlawfull courses of marriages which occasioned the flood Thus Magistrates are called Gods above whom Antichrist exalteth himself as above Emperours Kings Churches and Councils as is noted I am no widow As by a Queen is noted the pride pompe riches state power of Rome So by her being no widow is meant her being Christs supposed Spouse for so she calls her self and her extraordinary boasted of honour and pomp which abounds at Rome and that perswades them there that God loves them as Ephraim boasted foolishly Hos 12.8 I have found me out much riches when indeed Christs Church is denominated from her affliction Esa 54.11 O thou afflicted and riches and pompe are more companions of the wicked Job 21. to vers 15. I shall see no sorrow This is Romes language Yet many Kingdomes and people have revolted from this proud harlot so her sorrow increases and some of the ten Kings have long since begun to hate her Vers 8. Therefore shall her plagues come in one day death and sorrow c. That is suddainly swiftly She delighted in pleasure

the overcommers chap. 2.28 as is expounded he being the morning starre Vers 17. And the Spirit and the Bride say come That is the Spirit in every Saint sayes come Every Saint having the Spirit longs after Christ so David Psal 42.2 As the heart pants after the water brookes that hot and therefore dry or thirsty creature so doth my soule after thee O God And the Bride or Church longs after Christ to be fully gloryfied by him and to live ever with her husband the Church Militant Cant. 8. vers last cals for Christ saying be like the Roe that nimble creature and come in haste The coming of Christ is fearfull to the wicked but the regenerate long for him Let him that heareth say come As the Bride doth Truly the reading and hearing this book will make every spiritual man say come Lord Jesus such sweetnesse is here Let him that is a thirst come That is the qualification required in the commers come to me for redemption salvation glory if athirst for a thirsty man is fit to drink of the fountain of water of life Now he that is athirst is he that has the Spirit crying to Christ to come to perfect him and the Church in glory And whosoever will Being qualified and a thirst none else can come these the father draweth Let him take the water of life freely Being a thirst and drawen by the Father The invitation is generall Isa 55.1 Hoe all but note the qualification that thirst come ye to the waters but note God worketh in us to will and do Phil. 2.13 whosoever commeth then God draweth Vers 18. For I testifie This depends upon vers 7. blessed are they that keep the words of this Prophecy now he threatens those who any way corrupt or abuse it Sure Antichristian falsifyers of the truth are here meant For I also testify or testifie together sayes the Greek Because the Angel had spoken now Christ confirmes the Angels testimony witnessing also with the Angel Vnto every man that heareth Not the Pope excepted If any man shall adde By false interpretations as 2 Peter 3.16 adulterating the Text. Let the Papists take heed how they mingle traditions and lyes with the Text. Vnto him God shall adde the plagues To wit not only the seven last plagues but to be cast into the lake of fire and brimstone for ever with the dragon and false Prophet chap. 19 20. O Arrius and Engedinus where are ye O Popelings and Hereticks take heed Vers 19 If any man shall take away from the words of this Prophecy God shall take away his part out of the Book of life c. To the adders he will adde plagues to the takers away he sayes hee 'll take away his part out of the book of life That is what part he seemes to have or will utterly condemne him one day Indeed they may be said to take away from the Book that deprave it allow not of it sleight it or the like The overcommers were promised choyce rewards in the seven Churches these deprayers shall have no share with them nor with the glorious Bride in heaven Some have denyed Saint James his Epistle some this book through mistake not malice being otherwise true Christians and are not to be comprehended here Luther doubted of James many ancient Christians through weaknesse of the authority of this most Divine book on whom I dare not doubt but God had mercy But note not only the integrity but perfection of Scripture is hence proved since nothing is to be added away then with traditions the written word is perfect and only to be followed to salvation Deut. 4.2 Moses gives the same command let no man adde by which it is plain the holy Scriptures of the Old-Testament were full enough and perfect to salvation Now our Saviour not John takes this passage from Moses and other things in this book are taken from the Prophets everywhere To note the perfect agreement of the New-Testament and Old and also to shew how this Book sayes my Pareus is a summe of holy Scripture Well we must not depend upon Revelations but the written Word By this Christ proved himself and his death to his disciples Luke 24.27 see my Glimps of Christs Love pag. 57. Vers 20. He that testifieth these things saith surely I come quickly c. They be the words of Christ not of Iohn who testified and revealed this Prophecy to Iohn being the true and faithfull Witnesse chap. 3.14 who promises to come quickly to confute those who make a mock of his coming to judgment 2 Pet 3.2 3 4. and to stirre us to patience and watchfulnesse And truly if when Iohn writ this book Christ promised to haste then now he is even at the door many Jews are daily converted the Gospel much spread Antichrist manifested and spiritually killed by the Witnesses forsaken by the Kings of the earth or many of them nay and Christ has powerfully reigned by the Reformation of many Kingdomes in matters of Religion We expect to hear of Romes literall desolation but the utter ruine of Turke and Pope we expect not till the seventh Viall be poured out into the aire or the seventh Angel sound at the last day other things are most fulfilled and we hope God for the Elect sake will hasten his coming Surely I come 'T is an asseveration confirming his promised coming to comfort the godly and to stir them up to watchfulnesse and patience in well doing and ill suffering Vers 21. Even so come Lord Jesus Sayes Iohn after all the most joyfull glorious things in the Prophecy the Beast and Dragon in the Vision cast into the lake of hell longing for the consummation of glory Indeed Christ is the good Ahimaaz 2 Sam. 18.27 that brings true and good tydings here in this life but cheifly hereafter of perfect redemption which all the creation groanes for and perfect glory for the Elect. Or Iohn may be understood to desire Christ to hasten Antichrists destruction to hasten comforts to Syon and lastly to come to judgment to condemne the Dragon and Beast and deliver the Saints redeeming their bodies out of their graves consummating them in glory Thus the Spirit in all the Saints teaches to long after Christ and say come Lord Jesus come quickly even so Amen Hanc epitomen praecipuorum Commentariorum supra Revelationem JOHANNIS unàcum annotatiunculis quibusdam feliciter peregi 30 Martii 1650. Ann aetat meae 31. Trinitati gloria sempiterna Amen FINIS