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religion_n	witness_n	world_n	write_v	39	3	4.8405	4	false

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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A37035	A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the series of the several prophecies contained in that book, deduced according to their order and dependance on each other; the periods and succession of times, at, or about which, these prophecies, that are already fulfilled, began to be, and were more fully accomplished, fixed and applied according to history; and those that are yet to be fulfilled, modestly, and so far as is warrantable, enquired into. Together with some practical observations, and several digressions, necessary for vindicating, clearing, and confirming many weighty and important truths. Delivered in several lectures, by that learned, laborious, and faithfull servant of Jesus Christ, James Durham, late Minister of the Gospel in Glasgow. To which is affixed a brief summary of the whole book, with a twofold index, one of the several digressions, another of the chief and principall purposes and words contained in this treatise.	Durham, James, 1622-1658.	1658 (1658)	Wing D2805; ESTC R216058	1,353,392	814

about it but with preparation and order which things are certainly mentioned for imitation that these who pray for grace to do Gods will on earth as it is done in heaven may take this as a patern especially such as are instrusted to be Heraulds and do sound His trumpets 1. They are set apart and designed for this office so should Ministers they should look well they be designed for this office and have their calling clear as these seven Angels were separated from others to this work 2. Trumpets are given them that is they are furnished with gifts whomsoever He designeth for an office in His house He furnisheth them and giveth trumpets to all whom He calleth to sound 3. When they have gotten trumpets they will not blow while He command to sound it is not gifts that warrant men to Preach but they must have particular orders when to do it The Word must be taken from his mouth when where and how He shall order it 4. They are prepared advised and warrie in going about the work when they are called to sound Gods giving of gifts and orders to exercise them is not enough except men prepare themselves for the work and be advised and warry in going about it as Paul to Timothy 2 Tim. 1.6 Stir up the gift that is in thee c. 5. They are diligent and faithfull in their execution when they have gotten orders and are prepared although the message be heavy faithfulnesse and diligence is a good property of a Minister of Christ 6. They keep an orderly way of proceeding in discharging their duty every one in their station and not in a confused way so it becometh Ministers and Ministers being resembled to Angels and their giving of warning to the sounding of the trumpet Their office and duty may be thus pointed at here Lastly Sounding of a trumpet implieth distinctnesse 1 Cor. 14. and statelinesse and power in the manner of carrying their commission giving alarm convinceingly and plainly which notably agreeth to Ministers Followeth from the 7. vers and forward their sounding where there is in every trumpet 1. The sounding 2. The effect or consequent of the sounding and that is the judgement that followed 3. The object of the judgement the earth And 4. the extent fruit and effects of the judgement To understand more particularly this prophesie of the trumpets which is an hard place and needeth Gods speciall direction in it which we humbly desire we premit these considerations or observations which may in some things fix us in the opening of it 1. For its beginning rise and close it is cleared before to rise after the breaking of that little peace the Church enjoyed under Constantine and to close at Antichrists begun fall when he is brought to a height and the vials begin to be poured out 2. It is not only contemporary with but hath respect unto the prophesie of the beasts ' Chap. 13. and Chap. 11. vers 7. as also the rise and close of that prophesie of the beasts ' will fall under the same times and marches whereby it appeareth considering also Chap. 7.1 c. and what was said there they do most directly belong to the Church and that in Spirituall trials 3. Consider that the fifth trumpet looketh clearly to Antichrist and his discovery openly as appeareth by comparing vers 4. Chap. 9. with vers 8. Chap. 13. The same persons and by the same mark are keeped from the spirituall hurt of both as also that the sixth trumpet bringeth the Mahometans upon the back of that the Turks being raised as a scourge for the Idolatry of the former which are the first two great woes and the first four are lesser in comparison of these Now this discovery of Antichrist will be about the six hundred year or a little after the first four then must preceed that time and continue the state of the Church from the three hundred or thereby where the seal is closed till that time 4. Consider that the main drift is to discover that defection of the visible Church in declining by steps from purity in Doctrine and simplicity in Worship which endeth in Antichrists height and also consider it as it is penall every step of their sin and defection being in Gods righteous judgement penall including in it some Spirituall plague and carrying alongst with it or on the back of it some temporall judgement on the world and exercise or triall on the Godly especially under Antichrist 5. Consider that it doth not so much point at particulars either of things or persons as to shew the generall state of the Church in these successive times by whatsomever instruments or events of all sorts having influence on her declining and especially as they make way for Antichrists growth by weakening the Church or shaking the Empire which being the main scope is more clearly insisted on in the 11. Chap. and in the vision Chap. 12 13 and 14. therefore may they in part be of a mixed nature as they stand in reference to this scope 6. It is observable That as in all the other changes of periods so in this the overturning of the visible Church is compared to the overturning of the world and plaguing the Earth Sea Rivers Sun Moon c. There are three worlds mentioned which successively are defaced by the three principall prophesies of this Book 1. The heathen world it is overturned together Chap. 6. and under the sixth seal 2. To it succeedeth the Christian world when Religion hath liberty and the countenance of the Romane Authority this is defaced successively under the trumpets by that worlds declining to be Antichristian and by his getting Authority and Power on his side and bringing the Church witnesses and Saints low This Popish or Antichristian world is destroyed under the vials in the the same expressions of Sea Earth c. All which states of the Church in the Empire are compared to different worlds and their overturning or defacing to the changing of the world while it is only the Church or Religion in the world which suffereth change 7. If we will look to the trumpets as the effects follow them and to the vials and their effects There is a great suitablnesse between them in all The first trumpet is on the Earth and so is the first vial poured out on it the second on the Sea the third on the Rivers in both so the fourth on the Sun The fifth trumpet bringeth out Antichrist as on his throne the fifth vial is poured out on the seat or throne of the beast the sixth trumpet louseth the four Angels at Euphrates the vial drieth up that River whereby it appeareth that God destroyeth Antichrist in that same method he grew and cleareth His Church as she was in severall steps darkned obscured and troubled that as Antichrist brought in a new counterfeit Church or World by degrees overturning what was before So shall he be destroyed And therefore as the

doth immediately succeed to that time and that the vials which begin to be powred out upon the Kingdom of the beast do immediately follow this his height and begin the change which doth also evidence that this change must be reckoned from the begun fall of Antichrist and so consequently his height and dominion during these fourty and two moneths must be antecedent to this 2. For its rise we will find it immediately to follow upon the back of the Heathenish persecution under the seals and to be reckoned from the sixth seal as immediately knit to it for this trial of the Church during these fourty and two moneths under and by Antichrist doth begin with the trumpets and immediately succeedeth to the former trial she had by Heathenish persecution Therefore during the sixth seal before the seventh be opened Chap. 7. provision is made against Antichrist by sealing the Elect as it were marking and setting a part some few to be keeped clean from his corruption which sealing being especially against Antichrist and so sollicitously to be gone about before the seventh seal be opened or any of the trumpets found it doth evince this that we are to reckon the beasts rise and so the beginning of these fourty and two moneths from the close of the sixth seal and opening of the seventh or a little before it doth also confirm this that the beast and the number sealed Chap. 7. in reference to him are wholly contemporarie but that sealing contemporateth with the beginning of the seventh seal which succeedeth to the sixth and continueth with the beast to the end of the sixth trumpet as that Learned Author Mede part 2. Synchron 1. doth demonstrate Again the same thing is clear from Chap. 12. for the Churches flying to the wilderness and continuing there for 1260. dayes is the very same trial having the same rise and close with the beasts dominion and the Prophets prophesying in sackcloth Now from vers 6. and 14. being compared with what goeth before we will find that immediately this flying of the Church to the wildernesse is upon the back of the Heathenish persecution and the Dragons waiting to devour her and immediately she getteth civil Authority on her side From which grounds we gather 1. That the close of these fourty and two moneths of Antichrists absolute tyrannie will fall in Anno 1559. or thereby in which year by publick Authority in a Diet of the Empire at Ausburg the liberty of Reformation and Religion was established and the free profession thereof without any prejudice to mens estates or civil priviledges was enacted for though before that time Religion was practised in many places of the Empire and other Kingdoms of the world yet was there immediatly before that so great an eclipse in Germany England and other places that we cannot reckon the witnesses to have ascended to Heaven before this 2. Neither before this time was there publick Authority for the profession of Religion but profession was a crime mens liberty and priviledges were restrained by it the Protestant Princes Commissioners were not admitted to the Councel of the Imperiall Chamber which after that this pacification was concluded by Ferdinand was remeaded Again it is most usuall to count the change of periods in the visible Church by the change of events in the Empire and also to account these from its authoritative conclusions as we will see in the close of the first period of Heathenish persecution and Satans casting from Heaven reckoned Chap. 12. following Beside it is not inconsiderable that about this time Religion was again established in Britain by Queen Elizabeths coming to the Crown Queen Marie having begun her reign Anno 1554. and continuing in it for five years and some odd moneths died the same year Also it was revived in Scotland the year before as it was in France at the entry of Charles the ninth his reign Anno 1560. 2. We gather that the rise of this fourty and two moneths reign is to be reckoned from the year three hundred or thereabout when the Heathenish persecution ceased and liberty was brought to Christianity as was formerly cleared Chap. 6. This upon the former grounds must be acquiesced in for timing the rise of the Churches flight and Antichrists under-hand working whatever objection arise from the application it self as being too soon yet that flight of the Churches being the second period of her condition and succeeding immediately to the first must be contemporated with the trumpets And now having thus fixed its rise and close we may gather the duration thereof which being supposed to be from Anno 300. or thereabout to Anno 1560. or thereabout it will extend in whole to us to 1260. years And although at first we did not think it convincing to build the account of so many years upon the number of so many dayes for the reasons formerly mentioned yet considering that this definit number is five times mentioned under the same exact account though in diverse expressions which seemeth purposly to point out one particular definit number beside others and considering that the event answereth this or cometh neer to it upon the former suppositions We think in this place it is not unsafe to account dayes for years seing by the former characters of its rise and close it is indeed found to comprehend so many years And although at first as is said we durst not lay the weight of this simply upon the number of dayes yet being expounded materially by these foresaid characters to signifie so many years as that is more plainly interpreted Ezek. 4. we think it is not unsafe to yeeld to the light of the former reasons in this beyond what at the entry we were convinced of that the time is definit here as also in any other place where the like grounds can be given from the Text for demonstrating of the time without laying the weight upon the particular number alone There are two objections to be removed Object 1. That this reckoning seemeth to begin the Kingdom of Antichrist too soon while the Church enjoyed great outward liberty and much purity also And therefore it cannot be said that she was tread upon or did flee while she continued to be in so good a condition Answ. This objection doth not arise from the Text but from the seeming difference of the event in the application and if it appear by the series of this prophesie that the Church is no sooner delivered from Heathenish persecution but she fleeth to the wildernesse and hath wings given her for that end There is no seeming reason can have weight against that 2. In the Scripture periods of time are counted from the main or last part of them as when it is said to Abraham Gen. 15.13 four hundred years thy children shall be strangers in a land that is not theirs and shall be afflicted four hundred years yet being compared with other Scriptures we will that the continuance of the children of

Israel in Egypt was not so long beside that for a time while Ioseph lived they were not afflicted but well entertained 3. It is often the manner of reckoning used especially in this Book to reckon a whole period of the Churches estate from what is most predominant in it as for instance three great periods of the visible Church are reckoned successively to each other in this Book The first under the seals is reckoned a time of persecution under Heathens and the Church Chap. 13. is said to travell all that time although there were many and considerable long intervalls of peace Again under the vials Christ and His Saints are said to reign although Antichrists Kingdom and profanity continue long very high in the world yet is it called the time of his reigning and of Antichrists down-coming because from the beginning of that period it tendeth to that scope so here the first six trumpets being accounted one period and Antichrists tyrannie being the most prevalent event under them and his rise being long working under ground before it came to a height even from the Churches first outward peace if not before we conceive upon these grounds it is not unsuitable to Scripture or this Book to reckon Antichrists rise from the beginning of that period wherein he riseth cometh to his height and reigneth which is during the prophesie of the trumpets For this also more may be seen Chap. 12. and 13. The second Object is That even according to this reckoning there will not be found 1260. years seing Constantin's publick peace will be about the year 310. and it would seem that some years would be allowed for the witnesses killing that followeth after the 1260. dayes and goeth before the settling of Religion by Authority which is their lifting up to Heaven For Answer we say 1. It will not be unsuitable to comprehend the witnesses killing within the 1260. dayes for it being the lowest step of their sackcloth and the highest step of the beasts tyrannie or at least of his successe against them it may well come in as the consummating of their trial and last act of his absolute supream tyrannie and it must be so otherwise Antichrist will reign longer than fourty and two moneths if he kill them not for that time Therefore some render these words when they shall be about to finish their testimonie and go off the stage then he shall kill them which agreeth well with the Greek 2. If Antichrists rise should be reckoned during the sixth seal and so supposed to preceed a little the first trumpet that giveth the allarm upon his approaching appearance the odds will not be so considerable as to mar this calculation though by the number of eight or ten years of so many it doth not jump especially if we consider that the Scripture in the reckoning of years striketh not so upon the particular time but taketh some definit number neer unto it as if we will compare Gen. 15.13 and Exel 12.41 Acts 7.6 Gal. 3.17 In some of these places the reckoning is 400. years in others 430. Beside however they be reckoned the beginning of them must preceed either the Israelits coming to Egypt or their afflicted condition in it seing Gal. 3.17 these 430. years are reckoned to interveen between Gods Covenanting with Abraham long before his posterity came to Egypt and the giving of the Law after their deliverance from it However if the periods of its rise and close hold there is the lesse cause to differ in the particular account of the years For verifying the event according to this exposition given these things are to be made out that the Pope whom we take to be Antichrist hath tread upon the Church and that his followers have possessed the title of the visible Church during that time which we may the lesse insist in because it is gloried in and boasted of by his followers and as Bellarm. alleageth lib. 3. de pontif cap. 2. before the Pope was pointed at as Antichrist by us he universally flourished but since that time did never grow but decrease and lost many Kingdoms reckoned there by him Beside it is evident from story that though Antichrists height be not reckoned so far up yet that he came to tread all under his feet during that period experience through the world can bear witnesse thereof The second thing will not need much clearing either to wit that the true Church was few and in a great part latent and where it was discerned ever persecuted That which especially is to be made out is 1. That though they were few yet was there ever some Church and witnesses keeped pure from Antichrists abominations untill Reformation was restored in the Christian world And 2. that about that time of the Reformations springing up the Professors and Witnesses of this Truth were brought exceeding low for a short time to their exceeding great contempt before the world and to the exceeding great joy and insulting of the Popish party which yet continued not long but ended with a more full authoritative settling of Religion than formerly it had The first to wit that there was still a Church and witnesses during Antichrists height may appear from these considerations 1. If we consider the particular catalogue of witnesses which God raised up one after another to witnesse against the corruptions of that time whose names and testimonies are particularly recorded by severall Writers particularly Illyricus catolog testium veritatis Cent. Magdebur Foxe book of Martyrs Alstedii chronologia testium Usheru● de successione Ecclesiarum Christianarum and sundry others And if so much be known we may gather much more indeed to be considering the darknesse of these times and the great propension there was to suppresse all that tended there away 2. It is made out by Master Foxe White in his Way to the true Church Iewel Usher and others that Britain received not the Gospel from Rome and that in England there hath been alwayes some opposing his errors untill the time of Reformation came 3. This may appear by the confession of adversaries They grant that the Calvinists now are the same called Waldenses and Berengarians before but these they say have been ever most dangerous to the Church of Rome 1. Because it is of longest continuance being from the time of Sylvester who lived in Constantine the great his time yea from the time of the Apostles themselves say some of them 2. Because it was more universal and almost in all the earth 3. Because it hath a great shew of piety having a good life before men and believing all things well concerning God being only blasphemers of the Church of Rome as Reinerius contra Haereticos cap. 4. affirmeth Inter omnes sectas quae sunt aut fuerunt non est periculosior Ecclesiae Dei quam pauperum de Lugduno tribu● de causis 1. Quia diuturnior quidam dicunt quod dur averit à tempore Sylvestri quidam dicunt

granted by the same reverend Authors that the ruine of Antichrist is begun and Therefore this prophesie must be fulfilled also Otherwise we must say that this begun ruine and his height can consist together 2. It is objected That the fall of this tenth part of the City is the same with the overturning of the seat of the beast under the fifth vial Chap. 6. But that is not yet fulfilled Therefore neither this prophesie Ans. This objection is grounded upon an unwarrantable supposition For 1. the City here spoken of is not properly the beasts seat or Rome it self but the dominion thereof as it is expounded by that same Learned Author upon vers 8. preceeding 2. The expression here of a falling of a tenth part thereof doth evidently and manifestly differ from that totall overturning prophesied of by the fifth vial it being certain that the overturning of the tenth part is here to set forth a partiall and so a begun overthrow distinguished from a totall overturning threatened by the fifth vial and therefore cannot be understood of the same event But here the rise and beginning of that ruine is hinted at which is perfected by the seventh trumpet and vials following The ground of this their mistake proceedeth from this that they make the vials at least the first six to be contemporary with the sixth trumpet and not to be comprehended under the seventh For clearing this therefore beside what is said in the preface Chap. 6. and afterward on the seventh trumpet and vials whereby is held forth the successive dependence of the first vial upon the blowing of the seventh trumpet We shall further adde A fourth reason to the former three That act of killing the witnesses is the very last part of the height of the reign of Antichrist for he reigneth during the 1260. dayes preceeding which is the time of their prophesying in sackcloth and insulteth and rejoyceth in a most eminent way when these witnesses are killed Therefore cannot that be contemporary with any of the vials which do succeed to Antichrists height and successively carry on his ruine seing therefore it is granted by all that Antichrists ruine by the vials is begun and it cannot be denied but Antichrists triumphing over the witnesses is as it were the last part and very Crisis of his uninterrupted tyrannie and so inconsistent with his decaying Kingdom It must therefore be esteemed to preceed the vials and so to be fulfilled And therefore this being the last act of the sixth trumpet wherein Antichrist is at his height and seing the vials each after other carry on his ruine it cannot be thought that any of them much lesse the first six can contemporate with it 5. It may thus appear If the vials expresse a different estate of the Church to wit its flourishing and Antichrists weakening from that which the fifth and sixth trumpet expresseth to wit Antichrists height and the Churches low condition Then they cannot contemporate together but the one must be supposed to preceed the other But this is true that they hold forth different estates of the Church as the exposition of them will clear Therefore cannot fall in one time 6. We may add that by the same Learned Author the time of Antichrists full reign and the Prophets prophesying in sackcloth are demonstrated exactly to be contemporary having one beginning and continuance and the expiring of either of them will prove the expiring of both and infer the killing of the witnesses which is immediately upon the back of both Now the time of Antichrists absolute dominion being expired as is said it must also follow that the other two events in the prophesie to wit the Prophets prophesying in sackcloth and their killing must be fulfilled also Again if these 1260 dayes be accounted for so many years and the beginning of them to contemporate with the opening of the seventh seal and first trumpet as the same Learned Author doth assert Then it will follow that they must be ere now expired for we have formerly cleared the first trumpet and opening of the seventh seal to begin about the three hundred year or thereby and therefore these dayes cannot be running according to these principles till now yea from that first Author these things are clear 1. That the witnesses prophesying the womans flying Antichrists reigning and the treading of the outer Court by the Gentiles do contemporate and that with the first six trumpets 2. That the womans travelling her bringing forth and the lifting of her childe to Heaven Chap. 12. do contemporate with the first six seals 3. He maketh Chap. 12. that taking up of the childe to Heaven to be fulfilled in Constantin's reign and his admission to the Empire as also that the womans flying and wildernesse-condition which to him speaketh out a freedom of the Church to Religious exercises though abused by her to much defection and idolatry as was in the people of Israels wildernesse-estate after their delivery from Egypt doth take in the whole estate of the Church from the close of Heathenish persecution immediately till the seventh trumpet blow And seing both these will fall about the 300. or 310. year It followeth that this prophesie in sackcloth must begin then also and so cannot be continuing till now To be more particular in the application thereof we think that conceit or dream of the Papists expounding all so literally of an Antichrist who shall come of the Tribe of Dan and that shall reign just three years and an half sitting in Ierusalem and building that Temple and the two witnesses of Enoch and Elias This dream invented by them to keep their Pope from being apprehended as the true Antichrist this I say is not worth the insisting on to refute as being so contrary to the frame of the prophesie past and also of that which followeth concerning the beast Chap. 13. for certainly this trial being so long as the great part of the Revelation is spent on it and so many things to be done under it it cannot be performed in so short a time In the application of it we shall 1. see what generall characters may be drawn from the Text for helping us to fix the time 2. See how the application may be made out In the first we intend not to be peremptory yet these things may be concluded concerning it according to the grounds formerly laid 1. It is clear that the end of these fourty and two moneths of the witnesses prophesying in sackcloth and Antichrists tyrannie is discernable being so clearly evidenced by the witnesses laying by their sackcloth their death and glorious appearance again in a settled and secure condition This certainly will fall in about the time that Religion was reformed and the Popes tyrannie in a great part discovered and rejected The fourty and two moneths then must be acknowledged immediately to preceed this time of Reformation This also will be confirmed if we consider that the sounding of the seventh trumpet

Vers. 4. His carriage is set out in two things 1. He hath a tail that is power and flatteries to perswade with temporall allurements and by these two he prevaileth to draw Ministers and others who ought to be lights from their heavenly posture to an earthly subjection This alludeth also to Dan. 8.10 where the casting down of the Saints is expressed so 2. His other practice is to wait for the childe to devour it in a word he leaveth no mean unassayed to destroy all professing Christians that bear Christs name and to keep them that they should never win to any outgate or comfortable condition as Pharaoh did to the children of Israel and Herod to Christ seeking to destroy them immediately at their birth so that none should sooner be a professed Christian but he was liable to the hazard of the Dragons Laws This now is an unequal encounter yet behold the event is happy the childe is born and keeped safe and the woman fleeth how this came to passe that a weak woman and a childe are keeped from a watching cruell Dragon is afterward cleared to wit by Michaels fighting and taking her part Vers. 5. The event hath three steps 1. The womans delivery and the childs description 2. The childs exaltation 3. The womans fleeing vers 6. By this delivery in generall is set out not only her bringing forth of Believers or Professors but such a delivery as one bringing forth a man-childe is said to have Ioh. 6.21 a comfortable delivery and which in place of crying giveth her a Song afterward as vers 10. for she had children before but had not her pains taken from her and was not at freedom to bring forth without the enemies watching The childe is described most for her comfort and with respect to our Lord Jesus Christ. It is mysticall Christ 1 Cor. 12.12 who in His Members is brought to a flourishing condition and His Church set at liberty from persecution and some of her sons exalted to Heaven to an honourable condition from which Lucifer is said to fall Isa. 14.12 This shortly is fulfilled when after Heathenish persecution for three hundred years had prevailed Christians were advanced Constantine being made Emperour and Christianity was established by a Law That thus the delivery Childe and Heaven to which he is taken are to be understood will appear in these 1. This is the delivery which is the ground and subject of this Song vers 10. Now is Salvation and the Kingdom of our God c. that is a full evidence of Gods reigning delivering them from these persecutions and giving them liberty But that is this delivery 2. Such is the childes taking to Heaven as is the devils casting from Heaven for these are opposed But that is the spoiling of him of the Authority of the Emperours which he abused before now he hath not the Throne as in the Church of Pergamos Chap. 2. vers 13. but Laws and Authority are for Christians 3. It is as the witnesses were taken to Heaven Chap. 11.12 that was by a publick authorized Church-condition and state after Antichrists persecution so here Religion authoritatively is established which never was before and Christians countenanced after Heathen persecution is over and seing it is usuall to the Scripture to call Magistrates gods it is not unsuitable to expresse their station and state above others by Heaven The property of the male childe His ruling c. we shew how it is to be understood Chap. 2.27 of Christ in His Members and it may be here to shew the great Dominion that our Lord Jesus should have in the world in Constantin's time when His Members should be exalted to a honourable condition called vers 10. the Kingdom of our God and the Power of His Christ in opposition to the usurpation of Satan in the seven headed-beast before and as was Chap. 11.15 in opposition to Antichrists Dominion for when the Church is up Christ exerciseth and manifesteth His Power in them so by this childe is not meaned Christ personally but such as keeped His testimonie vers 11. and ult Nor particularly Constantine but Christ mysticall whereof Constantine was but a Member and that outward Government of his but a little shaddow type evidence and effect of this great Dominion of the Lords and made use of by God to be the externall mean and cause of His Churches peace However this sheweth the case to be exceeding joyfull and different from what it was which being before the Churches flight to the wildernesse can be applied to no other time but that delivery aforesaid from under heathenish persecution and she being brought now to a glorious settled and quiet condition like a Heaven in comparison of the former The last part of the event the womans flight is set down vers 6. by way of anticipation as is clear the place of it being properly vers 14. It is so soon subjoyned for these reasons 1. To let see how soon on strait is on the back of another to the Church and specially to shew that Antichrists rise and the Churches decay in their beginning are contemporary with the outgate from the former trials and is as it were ●arked as a consequent of the former delivery for then as Platina writeth of a voice was poison sown in the Church and prosperity being abused to pride sooner defaced the Church than persecution 3. It is subjoyned to give a little view of the case of mother and childe together that the children of the Church readily are no sooner promoted but she is in a wildernesse-condition as it were decaying and declining much from that beauty and pure glory and visibility she was into before a sad thing that the childrens prosperity often banisheth the mother and obscureth her beauty seldom hath greatnesse and temporall prosperity zeal and self-denying singlenesse dwelt long together and it is the last and not the first wherein her native beauty doth consist This consideration of this Verse we leave till vers 14. Only now by fleeing we are not to understand a locall mutation of this Church from one place to another but from this forth a decay of the former beauty of it that whereas there was in Rome and other places glorious Churches before and the Bishops were Martyrs as all in Rome were before Sylvester and Constantin's time now that is by degrees vailed by pride pomp hypocrisie heathenish and antichristian dressings that the few that remained the true Church are as it were Chap. 11.1 closed up in a secret corner of the Temple while the multitude possessed the Court that to wit the Temple is called the place prepared of God and there is she fed by the witnesses with the true Word of God while the world are swollen with pride traditions and superstitious inventions And so the P●●●phets prophesying and the Churches staying in the wildernesse to be fed are of equal duration 1260. dayes which Verse being so near subjoyned to the former giveth a

ministring spirits for the good of the heirs of salvation and are also at our Lord Jesus His command and also His members in the Church Militant especially his Ministers who did fight on Michaels side for vers 11. they are such who overcome by the Lambs bloud their own sufferings and His word which agreeth not to Angels properly so called Thus Christ and his followers make one side for all the Armies in heaven follow him Rev. 19. On the other side are the Dragon and his Angels he wanteth not such as take orders from him We understand here also not only spirits but wicked men Emperours Judges Souldiers c. who are afterward said to be with him cast out of Authority and respect this is in allusion to the devils casting out of heaven Here is insinuated some order amongst the devils whereof there are many legions to prosecute their designe and though all be spirits and devils yet may there be amongst them an order some higher some lower some leading others giving obedience all concurring for supporting their work and Kingdom of darknesse without which Christ saith their Kingdom would not stand which order if it may be called so may stand till the last Judgement when there shall be no more work for devils of this kind and it may be continue in some respect as it serveth to promove Gods design of punishing the reprobates in which they are some way Gods executioners If any ask how these parties so different did fight Answ. The Dragon their pursuer he fought 1. by edicts condemning and inhibiting Christianity 2. By violence fire sword and all sorts of tortures pursuing them that professed it 3. By degrading them from places of respect spoyling them of their goods banishing them and leaving them obnoxious to all wrong and injustice without protection 4. By cruel calumnies lies and aspersions made and put upon Christians and on their meetings and Religion as the most vile creatures for adulteries gluttonies seditions c. as may be seen in the Apologies written for Christians defence and many other wayes he pursueth his old enmity Michael again and his Angels fought 1. by the clear and powerfull preaching of the Gospel that two edged sword that goeth out of his mouth whereby Satans Kingdom was exceedingly shaken 2. By publick Apologies and defences written for Christianity and Christians by Aristides Quadratus Iustin● Martyr Tertullian Cyprian Melito c. whereby the enmity of many Emperours and hot persecution was somewhat abated as is to be seen in the third seal 3. By patient and chearfull suffering vers 11. thereby giving a great defeat to him when God furnished His servants so that on-lookers would be forced to yeeld to that way 4. They fought by their prayers whereby notable effects for help were obtained and by their holy conversations whereby the enemies were often convinced of their innocency and beside these Michael he fought by filling their hands with other wars sometime stirring up some within sometime some without that diverted them as the Philistines did Saul from David sometime Michael fought also by visible terrours when Aurelianus had subscribed the decree by a terrible thunder he was so stricken with terrour as presently to revoke it and stay the persecution ere it began he fought evidently also by taking vengeance almost on all the bloudy persecuters as Nero Domitian Dioclesian c. At last also by raising and stirring up Christian Emperours and so putting Arms in Christians hands whereby they were imployed by him to execute vengeance on heathen worshippers and their gods as in Constantin's time where this first battell was ended and the childe taken up to heaven Thus have we heard the battell in its parties now see it further explained in its event which is set forth 1. By narration vers 8. and 9. 2. By way of song and congratulation vers 10 11. and 12. The narration is in more dark and figurative expressions the song or poeticall congratulation is more plain for praise ought to be clear and the songs in this Book help much to the understanding of it Therefore by it we are to expound the former The narration of the event aimeth at one thing to wit to set out Michaels victory which was hinted at vers 5. and the devils defeat which is more expresly named and insisted on here in four steps First The Dragon prevailed not more is implyed that is not only he gained not ground but he was also alwayes the further behind and so will all be that have Michael for their party and so will all the Churches trials end in her advantage and victory for so speaketh the first indiction of this war Gen. 3. betwixt two seeds This is a sure side to fight on The second is neither was their place found any more in heaven their place that is the devils place and these great mens rooms which they filled their grandour and authority was overturned exceedingly for the Scripture useth to expresse folks totall overthrow by this that their place is not discernable they are so clean swept away Psal. 37.10 Iob. 7.10.20.9 for here all was quite altered and they were casten out of heaven that is from Authority and respect and also from publick heathenish worship when Christianity became to be approven as it was more fully explained in the sixth seal Chap. 6. Their Temples were destroyed idols defaced and whereas the devil before was openly worshipped by them now he wanteth the estimation of a god-head and divinity when the Gospel discovereth him It is like Christs word I saw Satan fall from heaven like lightning that is from that estimation and respect or rule that he had amongst the people while in darknesse he sat on his throne from which he was cast by the preached Gospel so as he was never so openly and settledly admitted to such rule and respect again This allusion is to Satans first casting out of heaven and Lucifers Isa. 14. when God as it is Exod. 12. took vengeance on their gods 3. This is more fully set forth vers 9. in two steps 1. The place whereto he was cast and who he is It is to the earth as opposit to heaven 1. in respect of his throne in Idolatry and Temples he is cast down and put to contempt as the earth is sometimes taken 2. In respect of civil Authority he is cast from that to be among the common sort the supream magistracie being pulled out of his hand whereby he was said to have the throne 3. As the earth is opposed to the Church of Christ as well as to a Church-state he was put from treading on her and making her the seat of his war professedly as before he was now restrained from raging at his pleasure there though not altogether he doth not now openly on the throne reign but is cast down as it were amongst commons to endeavour by subtilty what before he assayed openly like a Serpent now he is put to