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Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
water_n	aaron_n	antichrist_n	spiritual_a	16	3	8.5599	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

ages as Luther have thus spiritually undone and devoured poperie and the beast severall Kingdomes of late in some measure being enlightened and Antichrist there destroyed by the witnesses and faithfull Ministers of Christ notwithstanding all the plots armes threatnings of the Adversaries So then as the witnesses have as it were weapons so they are not carnall but spirituall Vers 6. These have power to shut heaven that it rain not c. Alluding to the Ministery of Elias 1 King 17.1 this is not to be taken literally for then there should be no rain during Antichrists kingdom which according to the letter is false Spiritually the witnesses by the power of the keyes shut heaven so that the raine of grace doth not mollifie the hearts of opposers and contemners either the spirituall rain of the Cospel comes not to them or works not upon they trusting in merits pilgrimages masses thus the word hardens accidentally though it soften the heart of the Elect. Here also may be thought on the imprecations of the Saints against the utter enemies of the Church as Antichrist which with God is of great force They have power over waters to turne them into blood c. Alluding to Moses and Aaron turning the waters of Egypt into blood So when the spirituall Pharaoh of Rome kept the Church in spirituall bondage God raised up witnesses as Mofes and Aaron to gain home his people but upon Antichrists refusall the witnesses by their sighes teares prayers procured great famines pestilences which have been common upon the adversaries for the contempt of the word thus also the witnesses spiritually smite the earth with plagues Where observe the reason and cause of great punishment by famine plague war was contempt of the word and witnesses thus the word and witnesses accidentally bring miseries Vers 7. Moreover when they have finished their testimonie c. The preaching of the Gospel is called a prophecy and a testimony of Christ and the Truth Which when the witnesses shall have finished for before Antichrist shall not overcome them and then only them not their testimony for the Gospel cannot perish the beast arising out of the bottomlesse pit out of which the locusts came chap. 9. v. 3. and Antichrist or the Pope too shall make war with them and kill them the war here is by disputations in behalfe of Antichrists Sermons branding the witnesses as hereticks seducers by councels condemning the witnesses by excommunications and buls cursing and casting them out by force by fire and faggot and the like not by the word of truth for so the witnesses shall kill Antichrist and the Locusts or the goodnesse of the cause Thus Jerom of Prague was overcome and Wickcliffes bones were taken up and burnt so was John Husse destroyed after he had prophecyed even literally 42 moneths for from the first time he began to maintain Wickcliffes opinions being Anno. 1412. to his martyrdom were precisely say his friends 1260 dayes or two and forty moneths Now though some famous witnesses were put to death suddenly after their finishing their testimonie and so the beasts treading down the holy city to be a time larger then that of the witnesses whereas the text gives both the same space of 42. moneths or 1260. dayes remember that the two witnesses in their successours revived and prophecyed again vers 11. So God has not lest himself without a witnesse to this houre nor will not till the Peast ceaseth to tread under foot the holy city or give over tyrannising at least Vers 8. And their dend bodies shall lye in the street of the great city c. This must not be quite taken literally for the bodies of the witnesses were burnt and needed no buriall but as the Church of Rome is the great city consisting of many Kingdomes and is spiritually called Sodom because of her uncleannesse among the Clergie and other sins and as Rome is spiritually called Egypt in respect of the spirituall slavery she keeps the people as Egypt did Israel and in respect of the thousands of Idols of Rome like that most Idolatrous Egypt and as Rome spiritually crucified Christ not because Pilate a Roman and the souldiers did it though that is somewhat but because Christ is recrucified at Rome and in the Idol of the Masse where they of Rome say they crucifie him daily as being say they bodily present but especially because she spiritually crucifies Christ in his members and is as wretched and as ready to do it as Ierusalem that literally did it So spiritually their carcases lie unburied that is their names are cursed and exposed to shame their books burnt condemned and not suffered to be bought their friends abused and their very houses made jakes Thus the great city or Church of Rome is in respect of her Idolatry tyranny over the people darknesse in the matters of saving faith obstinacy in matters of obedience to the witnesses and word contempt of God and his messengers and judgements notwithstanding the pure water of life is become puddle to them and other judgments meant by the waters turned into blood called spiritually or allegorically Egypt Vers 9. And they of the People tongues shall see their dead bodies c. To wit all those that adhered to Antichrist should applaud their King Abaddon and see with joy the dead bodies of the Saints cast forth as dung into the street in the fore quoted sense Three days and an half If the Popish Councel of Constance where many of several nations met be the kin●ed and people that rejoyced over the witnesses as our Iohn Fox thinks then by three days and an half may be understood three years and an half for so long that Councell sate Now days sometimes signifie years as Ezek. 4.6 each day for a year However the witnesses shall be exposed to reproach but for a short time this is for the comfort of the Saints and in the first place for Iohn that he might not be troubled Ver. 10. And the inhabitants of the earth shall rejoyce over them c Meaning those servants of Antichrist called inhabitants of the earth as having nothing to do with Heaven 'T is bad to do ill worse to rejoyce in it Now behold 't is come to passe in a strange manner that men in killing them shal tink they do God service 'T is said during the Antichristian councell of Constance publick shows and feasts were kept at the burning of Martyrs And the Romish locusts when they condemne a Saint to the fire use to feast gratulate each other and send presents one to another Well Lazarus saw Dives in hell in torment in the Parable The reason follows Because these two Prophets tormented the inhabitants of the earth The word Prophet here is taken in a large sense sometimes in Scripture to prophecy is to interpret here 't is to preach c. Here remember what Ahab said to Elijah thou troublest Israel when he was the troubler of Israel Indeed the little book

new song then being the serving and celebrating the name of God is to be learned by Gods children imperfectly here perfectly hereafter Note the harpers beasts and 24 Elders are all before the throne therefore partakers of the same glory and all follow the Lamb because redeemed from the earth to wit by the efficacious blood of the Lamb. Vers 4. These are they who are not defiled with women for they are Virgins c Marriage does not defile though Jerome was against it extolling Virginity being the means to keep men undefiled and Gods own ordinance these harpers were a very great multitude who are called waters therefore now 't is improbable they should be all reall Virgins but Virgins are those not polluted whether in wedlock or single life who especially have not been defiled with spiritual fornication with the whorish woman chap. 17.2 These are opposed to the inhabitants of the earth who are defiled but the harpers are holy and follow the Lamb Christ Whether so ever he goes c The servants of Antichrist wondred and followed the beast chap. 13. these the Lamb and serve him night and day Hence observe after the resurrection there will be motion in heaven and now is in its kinde Secondly all the Saints are to be where Christ is according to his prayer therefore all the Saints follow the Lamb a like and pertake of equall glory of which largly already These be the first fruits to God that is holy for so were the first fruits in the Law and bought and redeemed from among men so are all the Saints as well as these therefore this is but a priviledge common to all the Saints of heaven Vers 5. And in their mouth was found no guile for they are without spot before the throne of God To wit now in heaven for now they are without fault having washed their robes by faith in the blood of the Lamb before the throne to wit Gods Majesty in heaven the being before the throne is the cause of their blisse Vers 6. And I saw another Angel flee in the midst of heaven An Angel for many Angels who represent Preachers of the Gospel And now another state of the Church is to be looked for This Angel is conceived to be Wickliffe Professour at Oxford who Anno 1371. preached the everlasting Gospel against Antichrist He writ many volums which came to other nations and people to read to him many witnesses were raised suddainly Midst of heaven shews the imperfection of the doctrine at first not quite heavenly nor quite earthly men see not so clearly at first when Reformation begins Having an everlasting Gospel Because it cannot perish but in Wickliffes successours continued So the word sowed cannot returne in vaine in a state it continues here and in heaven for ever 'T is a folly for Antichrist to strive to suppresse it To preach to the inhabitants of the earth c. Sworne vassals to Antichrist Therefore at first the successe could not be imagined to be great for the task was very hard The substance of his preaching was that God might have the glory not the beast nor his image Because the houre of his judgement is come to wit of his giving understanding grace and judgment of the truth or rather because the day of the great judgment is at hand of which anon Vers 8. And another Angel followed saying with a loud voice c. The rest of Vers 7. being plain I omit This is conceived to be Luther to whom many witnesses were joyned Babylon the great City is fallen it is fallen c. That is shall suddenly fall and assuredly fall Now the Caldean Babylon is not here meant but that which then ruled over nations 2. That which was to be the seat of Antichrist 3. That defiled all nations with fornications but this was Rome plainly Neither did heathenish Rome ever make merchandise of souls but Popish Rome chap. 18.13 A most plain argument that not heathenish but Popish Rome is here meant also this Rome I mean the whole Antichristian Church has more kept the people of God in bondage then heathenish Rome But I speak to Beleevers therefore will use no more arguments here is fallen twice said to note the certainty of it That great City To wit Rome or the Church of Rome which in this Angels time began to fall in many places as Germany Saxony Because she made all nations drink You see Rome is the mother of spiritual whoredomes Of the wine of her fornication So called first because Idolatry is more pleasing to mans corrupt nature then the true worship of God 2 Because one may soon be drunken and overcome by it 't is a bewitching sin Of the wrath of her fornication So called because it brings Gods judgments and wrath Vers 9. And the third Angel followed them saying with a loud voyce c. To wit the successours of Luther as Bullinger Calvin Zanchius who with a loud voyce that is couragiously forbad the worshipping of the beast upon pain of Gods wrath As Vers 10. The same shall drink also They that love the wine of Idolatry must pledge in the wine of Gods wrath without mixture without allaying with water that is without mercy Of his indignation and anger To wit in the seven Vials of which in order And hee shall bee tormented This should dehort from Idolatry The Verse being plain for brevity-sake I passe Vers 11. And the smoake of their torment To wit the smoak of the fire of their torment ascended it seemes hell is below For ever and ever See Drexelius of eternity Concerning the beast Image mark and name is already spoken Now to vers 13. is easy and comfortable Vers 13. Blessed from henceforth are the dead which dye in the Lord. Not only from the houre of death but from the preaching of the three Angels for now Reformation teaches purgatory is a lye Now men beleeve the truth henceforth men die in the truth in the Lord for the Lord That is for his cause there is no salvation then to them that are not in Christ Hence learn is there such torments for Antichrist Here then is good ground for the Saints patience a while under tryal Are they blessed that depart in Christ then death 's not the end of all The death of the body under tyrants hurts not the soul of the Saints Lastly it is infinitely more comfortable dying since the Reformation by the three Angels then in the days and Church of Popery blessed be God but enough till vers 14. Vers 14. And I looked and behold a white cloud Behold the great day and Christ on the cloud Now the Saints shall henceforth be perfectly happie and the good works of all their former life which are said to follow them not goe before them as the cause of glory shall through mercy and grace crown them for ever Yet perchance that verse may be taken thus write to wit for the Saints comfort and as a

chap. 17.16 Why may not Kings of the earth to their destruction strive to help her before by a secret judgment And great Babylon came into remembrance before God c. God thought on her before but now at the appointed day payeth the old debt fully Great Babylon and the Cities of the Nations are distinct you see So Constantinople is not meant by Babylon but the Cities of the Nations comprehend that and all other heathen Kingdomes That City which trampled under foot the holy City and Witnesses is remembred Vers 20. And every Island fled away and the mountains were not found These things shall literally come to passe at the last day when the great earthquake shall happen so that the wicked shall have no hiding place Vers 21. And there fell great haile as of a talent weight out of heaven upon the men God plagued Egypt and destroyed the Canaanites with great haile and hailstones Josh 10.11 and by it is noted Gods terrible judgments against the wicked and vassalls of Antichrist noted by men A Talent Being a hundred pound weight notes the greatnesse of the judgment Now I know not but these things may in some sort come literally to passe at the last day when Earth Sea or Islands Aire or Haile nay and fire all the Elements shall conspire against the cursed and wicked Yet they blasphemed God because of the plague of the haile c. I confesse I was long of the opinion that the judgment-day was not here treated of 1. Because men shall subscribe to that judgment as being convinced 2. Because they seemed to live impenitently on earth and blasphemously notwithstanding the judgments which should beget fear and repentance But upon second and better thoughts I finde that the cursed raging of hell-hounds against God is here expressed after the great day who though they shall at the sight of the judge cry mountaines fall one us yet despairing and convicted in conscience of the justice of the sentence shall never cease with their mouth 's however to pour out blasphemies against God as if he were unjust and unmerciful because of the haile or eternall torments of hell Thus ends this Vision with the world CHAP. XVII Vision 6. Act. 1. Vers 1. And there came one of the seven Angels which had the seven Vials and talked with me c. EIther that Angel which poured out his Vial upon the seat of the beast or the last who by his Vial raised the earthquake to the destruction of all and talked with me saying come hither behold the readinesse of these ministring spirits to do any good to the Saints and with what joy they are imployed about things for our consolation what familiarity between them and the Saints noted in that expression he talked with me saying come hither And I will shew thee the damnation c. not any longer nakedly describe the beast but set forth plainly the beast and whore before thy eyes yet in a vision The judgment Not only the temporall upon the city but eternall of which anon Of the great whore that sitteth upon many waters Not Jezabel chap. 2. but doubtlesse Rome an insatiable strumpet Now by whoredom not common fornication is noted for she is a City but spirituall fornication viz. apostacy from God perfideousnesse Idolatry The true Church is Christs Bride and Spouse he is married to her in faithfulnesse righteousnesse judgment Hos 2.19 and her Apostacy is spirituall fornication and whoredom oft in Scripture See Ezekiel 16.9 25 26. Vers 2. With whom the Kings of the earth to wit committed fornication She enticeth them pretending her being the only Catholique Church and Spouse of Christ to receive her superstition and Idol-worship bewitching them as Dalilah did Sampson so that they have made themselves and kingdoms tributaries and slaves to this whore of Rome Not only Kings but inhabitants of the earth Sworne vassals of Antichrist and enemies of the Gospel commit this fornication with a whore None of the Saints whose names are written in heaven are finally thus overtaken 'T is compared to wine 1 Because of its specious pretences of holinesse 2. Because it bewitches and besots mans corrupt nature and even makes him drunk of the waters in vers 15. Wine is sweet but proves deceitfull So Idolatry is to mans corrupt nature but brings wrath and judgment at last Now the Act begins Vers 3. And he led me away in the Spirit John then was not in one continued extasy but severall times in the Spirit neither saw he all in one place but formerly in heaven now in the wildernesse the fittest place to see a Church that was a wildernesse Formerly Iohn saw a chast matron in heaven clothed with the Sun now a whorish woman riding upon a beast in the wildernesse Behold he talked that of succession of most venerable Popes called a whorish woman in the wildernesse And I saw a woman sitting upon a Scarlet coloured beast c. It is much women usually are afraid of cruel beasts but this woman rides on one The woman signifies the Church as is noted chap. 12. v 1. the whorish woman notes the adulterous Church her scarlet notes her Kingly Majestick power giving laws to all for Kings and Emperours weare scarlet The Beast is the Empire of Rome with whose spoils she is adorned Thus as a whore she is an adulterous Church having usurped power as a Beast or Monarch she hath a temporal sword and command as is noted chap. 13. yet but one Antichrist Full of blasphemies Or blasphemous doctrines See chap. 13.6 against God his Tabernacle and them that dwell therein Having seven heads and ten horns So t is the same breast or Antichrist chap. 13. who had seven heads and ten hornes ver 1. deceiving the men of the earth as this doth ver 2. by which I oft noted Antichristian vassals are meant of the heads and hornes anon Vers 4. And she was arrayed in purple The Beast was in scarlet so they be alike yet attired both in scarlet and purple It followes And decked with gold precious stones and pearles Noting the riches and pride of the Roman Church which are to be seen in her Churches Altars Idols Robes Palaces or noting how her attire is like a Queen as she boasts her self to be chap. 18. v. 7. I sit a Queen Thus as some reall whore she adornes her self to entice her lovers to fornication This also her scarlet and wine one being delightsome the other pleasing and sweet note for under most specious pretences of being the Catholique most holy Church Christs Spouse and Peters seat she bewitcheth the Kings of the earth and Inhabitants thereof And had a golden cup in her hand Read the description of the whore in Prov. 7. By this cup all Romes glorious pretences are meant to entice people as that her Orders Sacraments Ministers succession are only right That she is the Queen of Churches the Pope the father of fathers and only cheif shepherd