of them as he did of the Waldenses Hussites Huguenots Professours in Germany Netherlands Ireland England c. He hath laid about him lately to purpose Besides those seas of Christian bloud shed by the Turk since the thousand years expired Verse 8. Gog and Magog That is Pope and Turk saith Aretius the Pope a covert enemy to Christ the Turk an overt Ezek 38. 35. or open enemy as Gog and Magog signifie These are set forth by Ezekiel as the last enemies of Gods people before Shiloh came and presently after their utter overthrow the state of the City and Temple is notably described So after the Pope and Turk in that last great battle at Armageddon routed and foiled the new Jerusalem is in the following Chapters excellently pourtraied and depainted that being a speciall type of this Verse 9. And they went up As a sloud Ezek. 8.9 16. And compassed As resolved that none should escape them Ps 118.11 12. 2 King 6.14 15. 35.1 The camp of the Saints The Church militant And the beloved City The new Jerusalem Cap. 21.2 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The dearly beloved of Gods soul Jer. 12.7 or Gods dearly beloved soul as the Septuagint render it For present the Turk is the bridle that holds in the Pope with all his followers from any universall proceeding against the Protestants who herein are greatly advantaged above them in that their opposites lie between them and the Turk or in that their countreys coasting so much as they do toward the North as Denmark Swethland c. are out of his way Spec Eurâ—p and no part of his present aim Italy is the mark he shoots at And when once he shall rise against the true Church fire from heaven shall devour him Verse 10. And he devil This Mr Brightman interprets of the Turk called here the devil because instigated and set awork by the devil Albeit another learned Expositâ—ur is of opinion that by the fall of the Beast and conversion of the Jews the Turks and other States of the East shall be brought to imbrace the Gospel being first taught thereto by some notable foil What to think of this I know not but cannot but like well of Diodates note upon the fourth verse of this Chapter that in all this prophecy it is better and more sure to expect and stay for the explication by the event then to give it without any certain ground And shall be tormented 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Gr. Racked the devil and the damned have punishment without pity misery without mercy sorrow without succour crying without comfort mischief without measure torments without end and past imagination For ever and ever This is as another hell in the midst of hell and forceth them to cry 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Woe woe as if they should say 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Not ever not ever Lord. Whereto conscience answereth as an eccho 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 ever ever Hence that dolefull 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Woe and alas for evermore Verse 11. And I saw a great white throne A lively description of the last Judgement to shew that henceforth since the last great battle the new Jerusalem should have no disturbance till Christ comes to judgment From Whose face the earth c. To shew either his terriblenes or their renovation 2 Pet. 3. 12. Rom. 8.21 Verse 12. Small and great It is the common opinion that men shall rise again in that tall and goodly stature of body wherein Adam was created or at least in that vigour of age that a perfect man is at about 33. years old each in their proper sex And hereunto some think the Apostle alludeth Ephes 4.13 But M. Brightman holds that in the resurrection every one shall appear in that stature in which he departed out of this life and that the contrary opinion doth manifestly contradict this Scripture 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And the books were opened The books of conscience saith Origâ—n of the Scriptures saith Augustine of both say I for according to law written shall the Judge passe sentence the conscience either accusing or excusing The book of life That Gods elect may be seen and known God neither needeth nor useth books to judge by but this is spoken after the manner of men Mordecais name was registred in the Chronicles of Persia Tamâ—rlane had alwaies by him a Catalogue of his best servants and their good deserts Turk â—ist 22â— which he daily perused Verse 13. And the sea Those that perished in the waters and those whose ashes were scattered upon the waters as John Husses whom after they had burnt they beat his heart with their staves and cast his ashes into the river But there is a substance of the Saints bodies preserved by a secret influence from Christ their head and their dust is precious Verse 14. And death and hell There shall be an utter end of all evils and enemies nothing left to disquiet the Church She shall see them afar off as Lazarus did the rich man and be able to say of them as she did of her accusers Joh. 8. they are all gone Verse 15. And whosoever As those Priests were cashiered that could not prove their pedegree Ezr. 2.62 63. CHAP. XXI Verse 1. And I saw a new heaven NEw for form and state but the same as afore for matter and substance as an old garment translated is called a new one and as who so is in Christ is a new creature Passed away i. e Where purged from their vanity and defilements And there was no more sea i. e. Trouble and tumult The sea is of it self restlesse and oft tossed with storms and tempests Isa 57.20 As for the element of water it shall remain probably as earth air and fire doc Andreas thinks there shall be no more sea Verse 2. The holy City The Church in glory saith Diodate The Church wayfaring and warfaring saith Brightman whose interpretation of this text Nititur conjecturâ optabili magis quâm opinabili saith Pareus As a bride adorned c. Bishop Ridley the night before he suffered invited his hostesse and the rest at Table to his marriage for said he to morrow I must be married Some other Martyrs went as merrily to die as ever they did to dine Verse 3. And I heard a great voice To confirm the vision left it should be thought a delusion Behold the tabernacle His specially presence both of grace and glory is with his elect See Ezek. 37.27 28. He will dwell with them He will ind well in them 2 Cor. 6.16 See the Note there The enjoyment of God is heaven it self therefore God is called heaven I have sinned against heaven Verse 4. And God shall wipe away As mothers do their childrens tears Sorrow and sighing shall flee away Baâ—a shall be turned into Berachah sighing into singing misery into majesty as Qu. Elizabeth was exalted from a prisoner to a Princesse and as our Henry 4. was
in April both wholsome roots and poisonable discover themselves Macar Hom 12. which in the winter were not seen so at the day of judgement good and evil actions The things done in his body That is Bernard the just reward of those things In die judicy plus valebit conscientia pura quam marsupia plena Then shall a good conference be more worth then all the worlds good And this was that that made Paul so sincere a Preacher and so insatiable a server of God as Chrysostome calleth him Whether it be good or bad Wicked men shall give an account 1. Debonis commissis Of goods committed to them 2. De bodis dimissis of good neglected by them 3. De malis commissis of evils committed 4. De malis permissis of evils done by others suffered by them Itaque vivamus saith the Oratour Cic. 4 in Ver. Let us so live as those that must render an account of all Verse 11. Knowing therefore the terrour c. What a terrible time it will be with the wicked who shall in vain tire the deaf mountains with their hideous out-cries to fall upon them c. We perswade men To slee from the wrath to come to repent and be converted that their sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come Act. 3.19 We speak persuasively to this purpose but it is God only that perswades Verse 12. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Which glory in appearance Gr. In the face Hypocrites as they repent in the face Mat. 6.16 so they rejoyce in the face not in the heart Their joy is but skin-deep it is but the hypocrisie of mirth they do not laugh but grin their hearts ake many times when their faces counterfeit a smile Their mirth is frothy and flashy such as smooths the brow but fils not the brest such as wets the mouth but warms not the heart Verse 13. It is to God i. e. When to the world we seem mad of pride and vain-glory yet then we respect only Gods glory It is for your sakes i. e. For your learning that we are more modest and sparing in commending our Apostleship It is a good rule Quicquid agas propter Deum agas Doe all for Gods sake Verse 14. The love of Christ c. As reward hath an attractive and punishment an impulsive so love hath a compulsive faculty This love of Christ had so closed in S. Paul so hemmed him in 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and begirt him round that his adversaries reported him a mad man as vers 13. he erred in love toward his sweet Saviour and even exhaled his blessed soul in continuall sallies as it were and expressions of his dear affection to the Lord Jesus Then were all dead All the body suffered in and with Christ the head and so are freed by his death Heb. 2.9 as if themselves in person had died Verse 15. Should not hence forth Servati sumus ut serviamus The redeemed among the Romans were to observe and honour those that ransomed them as parents all their daies Verse 16. No man after the flesh i. e. We esteem no man simply the better or worse for his wealth poverty honour ignominy or any thing outward See jam 1.9 10 11. Thomas Wats Martyr spake thus at his death to his wife and children Wife and my good children I must now depart from you Act. and Mon. fol 1450. therefore henceforth know I you no more but as the Lord hath given you to me so I give you again to him whom I charge you see that ye obey c. Though we have known Christ As possibly Paul might have known Christ in the flesh for Jesus of Nazareth was a Prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people Luk. 24. 19. Austin wished that he might have seen three things Rome flourishing Paul preaching Christ conversing with men upon earth Bede comes after and correcting this last wish faith yea but let me see the King in his beauty Christ in his heavenly kingdome Paul was so spiritualized that he took knowledge of nothing here below he passed thorow the world as a man in a deep muse or that so looks for a lost jewell that he overlooks all besides it Verse 17. Is a new creature Either a new man or no man in Christ All things are become new The substance of the soul is the same the qualities and operations altered In regeneration our natures are translated not destroied no not our constitution and complexion As the melancholy man doth not cease to be so after conversion only the humour is sanctified to a fitnesse for godly sorrow holy meditation c. so of other humours 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Verse 18. And all things are of God He is both authour and finisher of our faith the God of all grace the Father of all lights c. And hath given to us the Ministery He hath taken this office from the Angels those first preachers of peace Luk. 2.10 14. The Angel told Cornelius his praiers were heard in heaven but for the doctrine of reconciliation he refers him to Peter Act. 10. Verse 19. That God was in Christ c. As the salt-salt-waters of the sea when they are strained thorow the earth they are sweet in the rivers so saith one the waters of Majesty and Justice in God though terrible yet being strained and derived thorow Christ they are sweet and delightfull Verse 20. Embâ—ssadours for Christ And therefore sacred persons not to be violated on pain of Gods heavy displeasure Do my Prophets no harm As though God did beseech you Gods grace even kneels to us En flexanimam Suadae medullam Who can turn his back upon such blessed and bleeding embracements Verse 21. To be sin for us That is a sin-offering or an exceeding sinner as Exod. 29.14 So Christ was 1. By imputation for our sins were made to meet upon him as that Evangelicall Prophet hath it See Aug. Enchirid c. 41. Isa 53 6. And secondly By reputation for he was reckoned among malefactours ibid. And yet one Augustinus de Roma Archbishop of Nazareth was censured in the Councel of Basil for affirming that Christ was peccatorum maximus the greatest of sinners Christ so loved us saith one that he endured that which he most hated to become sin for us he was made sin passive in himself to satisfie for sin active in us and the want of that which was more worth then a world to him the sense of Gods favour for a time Ama amorem illius c. saith Bernard Who knew no sinne That is With a practicall knowledge with an intellectuall he did else he could not have reproved it We know no more then we practise Christ is said to know no sin because he did none That we might be made c. As Christ became sin not by sin inherent in him but by our sin imputed to him so are we made the
wife and all this by papall dispensation The Papists themselves write with detestation that in Rome a Jewish maid might not be admitted into the Stews of whoredome Espenc de continen l. 3. cap. 4. unlesse she would be first baptized That one should have his father wise Ethelbald King of West-Saxons with great infamy marrying his fathers widdow Judith enjoy'd his kingdom but two years and a half Daniel hist of Ergl 1 2. Verse 2. And ye are puffed up And yet ye are puffed up so Piscator reads it viz. with your spirituall gifts and your brave teachers whereas you have more cause to be cast down for your other mens sins now made yours because unlamented by you And have not rather mourned That any of you should incur the censure of excommunication at which time they did anciently fast and lament Verse 3. Have judged already c. q. d. I by mine Apostolicall authority do excommunicate him And yet how fiercely doth learned Erassus contend with Calvin and Beza about Excommunication denying the Church any such power Verse 4. With the power of our Lord Promised Matth. 18.18 19 20. This makes it to be a heavy case to be rightly excommunicated Indeed it may fall out that Jonas shall be cast out of the ship when Cham shall be reserved in the Ark. Your brethren that hated you that cast you out for my names sake said for a pretence let the Lord be glorified but he shall appear to your joy and they shall be ashamed Isa 66.5 When the sentence of Excommunication began with In â—omine Domini to be read against a certain Martyr he cried out as well he might You begin in a wrong name And another of them Act. and Mon. sol 1862. together with his five fellow-sufferers did formally excommunicate their persecutours Verse 5. To deliver such an one to Satan That he may learn not to blaspheme that is not to cause others to blaspheme or speak evil of the good way of God for his stagitious courses Verse 6. Your glorying is not good It is the height of wickednesse to glory in wickednesse as Lamech Gen 4. and Alexander Pheraeus who consecrated the Javelin Plato wherewith he had slain Polyphron Protagoras boasted that he had spent fourty years in corrupting of youth Mark Antony vomited out a book concerning his own ability to eat and drink much Joannes a Casa Act. and Mon. 1517. Dean of the Popes chamber wrote a Poem in commendation of his own beastly sin of Sodomy And Stokesly Bishop of London in King Henry 8. time lying at point of death rejoyced Ibid. â—025 boasting that in his life time he had burned fifty heretikes that is good Christians A little leaven leaveneth c. One spoonfull of vinegar will soon tart a great deal of sweet milk but a great deal of milk will not so soon sweeten one spoonfull of vinegar Verse 7. As ye are unleavened viz In part sanctified Every new man is two men Many a one that is merry in company hath a shrew at home so have the best their inward troubles The comfort is that God overlooks our involuntary infirmities and accounts us unleavened when yet there is much still to be purged out The leper when his leprosie began but to heal was pronounced clean because then he went on still to heal and his leprosie to shale off Verse 8. Let us keep the feast The benefits we receive by Christ should crown the Kalendar or our lives with continuall feastivals Yea make us everlastingly merry at our convivium juge of a good conscience Diogenes could say Plut. That a good man keeps every day holy-day And the Jews were bound to rejoyce at all their feasts Eat therefore thy meat with joy and drinke thy wine with gladnesse sith God now accepteth thy works Eccles 9.7 Verse 9. Not to company with fornicatours Dion Chrisostome saith 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That Corinthus was the most luxurious and lascivious City in the world Lib. 8. Strabo saith that Venus had a most stately Temple there that was kept by above a thousand beautifull curtisans Another saith that it was the brothel-house of Greece and a most filthy Mart-town of abominable lusts Molin Anat. Arâ—â—inianis Verse 10. Yet not altogether c. Here he lets them know that in that former Epistle not extant now he meant not that they should wholly sever themselves from those wicked that are yet without the Church for that they cannot do but from profligate professours discinct Christians that they may be ashamed Verse 11. Not to keep company Gr. Not to be mingled with them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 The rivers of Peru after they have run into the main sea yea some write 20. or 30. miles they keep themselves unmixed the salt water so that a very great way within the sea men may take up as fresh water Abbots Geog. 331. Blunts voy p. 10. as if they were near the land So at Belgrade in Hungary where the Danuby and Sava two great rivers meet their waters mingle no more then water and oil c. We must so converse with the wicked as that we commingle not by holding any needlesse society with such no not with him that is called a brother but belies his profession Yet still must we perform to such though excommunicated offices of charity naturall and civill duties as those of parents toward their children of children toward their parents and the like Verse 12. Them also that are without These come not under the verge of Church-censures Revel 22.15 Verse 13. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Therefore put away Gr. Ye will put away q. d. I hope you will though hitherto ye have not Soft words and hard arguments do soonest prevail Especially when we reprove or admonish not in our own but in Gods words as here the Apostle doth out of Deut. 13. Some warmth must be in a reproof but it must not be scalding hot Aegros quos potus fortis non curavit ad salutem pristinam aqua tepens revocavit saith Gregory They that could not be cured with strong potions have been recovered with warm water CHAP. VI. Verse 1. Goe to law before the unjust ALl unbelievers are 1. Void of Christs righteousnesse imputed 2. Of true civill righteousnesse as being self-seekers in all 3. They oppresse the Saints and draw them before the judgementâ—â—ats Jam. 2.6 And not before the Saints Christians first brought their causes before the Bishops to be judged And hence grew their power as Paraeus noteth which the Christian Emperours first would not and afterwards could not take away from them This raised Papacy and Prelacy to such an height they would be Princes as well as Bishops Verse 2. Shall judge the world That is The wicked called the inhabitants of the earth and of the sea Revel 12.12 in opposition to the Burgesses of the new Jerusalem Phil. 3 20. And let this comfort
for Oxen He doth doubtlesse Jon. 4.11 he preserveth man and beast He heareth the young ravens that cry to him only by implication Doth he not then much more take care for men for Ministers Verse 10. Should plow in hope Of Maintaining his life by his labour which is therefore called she life of our hands because it is upheld by the labour of our hands Ludit qui sterili semina mandat humo Propert. Verse 11. Is it a great thing c. Do not we give you gold for brasse Cast we not pearls before you Alexander the great gave Aristotle for his book de Natura Animaliâ—m 800. talents which is 800000 Crowns at least Theodorus Gaza translated that book into Latine and dedicated it to Pope Sixtus The Pope asked him Interrogavit asinus paâ—a quanti ornatus constaret c Joh. Manâ— loc com 572. how much the rich outside of the book stood him in Gaza answered fourty crowns Those fourty crowns he commanded to be repaid him and so sent him away without any reward for so precious a piece of work How well might the poor old Grecian sit and sing Heu malè nunc artes miseras haec saecula tractant Spes nulla ulterior c. Juven Satyr 7. Verse 12. If others be partakers If your ordinary Pastours c. For the false Apostles preached gratis as some gather out of 2 Cor. 11.12 partly to draw more Disciples and partly to bring an odium upon the Apostle if he should not doe the like Verse 13. Live of the things of c. Yea they lived plentifully and richly as appears by the liberall gift of those Levites for Passeover-offerings 2 Chron. 35.9 Verse 14. Even so hath the Lord Note that so saith one that is As they of old lived at the Altar by tithes so Ministers now How else will men satisfie their consciences in the particular quantity they must bestow upon the Ministers The Scripture speaks only of the tenth part Verse 15. Better for me to die To be hunger-starved then to do any thing to the prejudice of the Gospel Affliction is to be chosen rather then sin Job 36.21 Quas non oportet mortes praeeligere Epist 3. saith Zuinglius What death should not a man chuse nay what hell rather then to sin against his conscience Daniel those rather to be cast into the Lions den then to bear about that lion in his own bosome The Primitive Christians thought it farre better to be thrown to lions without then to be left to lusts within Ad leonem mâ—â—â—â—â—uam lenoneÌ„ 1 citul Potiùs in ardentem rogum insiluero quam ullum peccatum in Deum commisero said a good man once I will rather leap into a bonefire then wilfully commit any wickednesse The Mouse of Armenia will rather die then be defiled with any filth Pintus in Dan. â— If her hole be besmeared with dirt she will rather choose to perish with hunger then be polluted Such was Paul here and such we ought all to be Verse 16. I have nothing to glory of My glorying is that I preach it gratis and thereby stop an open mouth a Cor. 12.16 17 18. give them the lie that falsly accuse me that I make a prize of you Yea woe is unto me It was death for the high-Priest to enter the Tabernacle without his bels Preach man preach thou wilt be damned else said one to his friend Be instant or stand over the work in season out of season See Jacobs diligence gen 31.40 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And Pauls Act. 20.20 Verse 17. I have a reward Yet not earned but of free grace God crowning his own works in us He was a proud Papist that said Coelum gratis non accipiam Vâ—ga I will not have heaven for nought And he another that said Opera bona mâ—râ—atura regni coelest is Good works are the price of heaven Bellarm. God will cast all such merit-merchants out of his Temple But if against my will Virtus nolentium nulla est God will strain upon no man All his servants are a free people Psal 110.3 All his souldiers voluntiers They flee to their colours as the Doves to their windows Isa 60.8 Verse 18. What is my reward then My merces mundi all that I have here That I abuse not i. e. Mâ—lch Adam pag. 359. That I make no indiscreet use of it Non opes non gloriam non voluptates quaesivi said holy Melancthon Hanc conscientiam aufero quocunque discedo I never sought wealth honour nor pleasure This my conscience tels me whatever becomes of me Verse 19. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 quia 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 That I may gain the more The Greek word for gain signifieth withall the joy and delight of the heart in gaining It signifies also craft or guile such as is that of the fox which when he is very hungry after prey and can finde none he lieth down and feigneth himself to be a dead carcasse and so the fowls fall upon him and then he catcheth them So must a Minister deny himself to gain his hearers Verse 20. And unto the Jews c. Not in conforming to their impieties but 1. In the use of things indifferent 2. In mercifull compassion toward them To them that are under the law Though not Jews borne yet proselytes as the Ethiopian Eunuch Cornelius c. Verse 21. Naz. That I might gain them A metaphor from merchants Qui 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Who are never weary of taking money St Paul harps much upon this string out of a strong desire of winning soules to God Ministers must turn themselves into all shapes and fashions both of spirit and speech to gain souls to God Verse 22. To the weak Not pressing upon them the austerities of religion but condescending and complying with them as far as I could with a good conscience That I might save some This is the highest honour in the world to have any hand in the saving of souls Let all of any ability put forth themselves hereunto and if they have not fine manchet yet give the poor people barly bread Act. and Mon 1453. or whatsoever else the Lord hath committed unto them as Bucer bad Bradford Verse 23. That I might be partaker i. e. That I might be saved together with you For the bell may call men to the Church though it self never enter The field may be well sowed with a dirty hand the Well yeeld excellent water though it have much mud Noah's builders were drowned and the sign that telleth the passenger there is wholsome diet or warm lodging within may it self remain in the storms without See 1 Tim. 4.16 Nihil turpius est Peripatetico claudo Verse 24. Know ye not The Apostle argueth from their profane sports yet approveth them not As neither doth the Lord patronize Uâ—ury Mat. 25 27. Injustice Luk 16.1 Theft 1 Thess 5.2 Dancing Mat. 11.17
Greek imports 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Hebrais ut Exod. 8.14 Cartwright Whereupon an Expositour noteth Ordinatim res in Ecclesia faciendae Order must be observed in the Church CHAP. XV. Verse 1. And wherein ye stand A Military term as Martyr noteth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Satan overthroweth the faith of some 2 Tim. 2.18 and by this very engine wherewith he assaulted these Corinthians ib. So that the Apostle was fain to make Apology v. 19. to make a barricado Verse 2. By which also ye are saved Eternall life is potentially in the word as the harvest is potentially in the seed or as the tree is in the kernell or sience Jam. 1.21 If ye keep in memory Helimiteth the promise of salvation to the condition of keeping in memory what they had heard Tantum didicimus quantum meminimus said Socrates Many have memories like nets that let go the fair water retain the filth only or like sives that keep the chaff let go the corn If God come to search them with a candle what shall he finde but old songs old wrongs c. not a promise or any sword of God hid there for things of that nature they are like Sabinus in Seneca that never in all his life could remember those three names of Homer Vlisses and Achilles But the soul should be as an holy Arke the memory like the pot of Mannah preserving holy truths Verse 3. First of all Christ is to be preached with the first as being the prora puppis of mans happinesse Joh. 16.14 It is the office of the holy Ghost to take of Christs excellencies and hold them out to the world What then should Ministers the mouth of the holy Ghost do rather Verse 4. According to the Scriptures Which both fore-shewed and fore-shadowed it in Adams waking Isaac's reviving as it were from the dead Josephs abasement and advancement Samsons breaking the bars and bearing away the gates of Gaza Davids being drawn out of the deep Daniels out of the den Ieremies out of the dungeon Ionas out of the belly of hell Mat. 12.39 c. Verse 5. Seen of Cephas Adam died and we hear no more of him But Christ shew'd himself after death in six severall apparitions for our confirmation Verse 6. Above five hundred The number of beleevers then were greater then some would gather out of Act. 1.15 Those 120 may seem to have been Chieftains such as that any one of them might have been thought meet to succeed Iudas in his Apostleship Verse 7. Seen of Iames This is not mentioned in the Gospel as neither that of Peter v. 5 Verse 8. One born out of due time Quasi malo astro abortus adversante natura coactus One that deserved to be rejected as that forlorn Infant Ezek. 16.4 5. Verse 9. I am the least of the Apostles Not come to my just bignesse as one born out of due time and not without violence Not meet to be called True humility as true balm ever sinkes to the bottom of the water when pride like oil ever swims on the top Verse 10. I laboured more abundantly See 2 Cor. 12.23 Rom. 15.19 George Eagles Martyr in Q. Maries daies for his great pains in travelling from place to place to confirm the brethren was sirnamed Act. and Mon. fol. 1823. Trudge over the world Might not St Paul have been fitly so sirnamed Not I but the grace of God So those good servants Luke 19.16 Not we but thy talents have gained other five and other two c. Let God have the entire praise of all our good Verse 11. So we preach and so ye beleeved A happy compliance when the hearers affections and endeavours doe answer the affections and endeavours of the preacher as here and at Ephesus Act. 20 31-37 When people deliver themselves up to the forme of doctrine Rom. 6.17 and are cast into the mould of the Word Verse 12. No resurrection More then that of regeneration Math. 19.28 that estate of the Gospel called a new heaven and a new earth 2 Pet. 3.13 the world to come Heb. 2.5 that resurrection already past ◠Tim. 2.18 that first resurrection Revel 20.5 Verse 13. Then is not Christ risen But of Christs resurrection there were many both living and dead Witnesses as the earth-quake empty grave stone rolled away cloathes wrapt up c. Verse 14. Then is our preaching vain Never was there any such imposture put upon the world as Christianity if Christ be yet in the grave Verse 15. False witnesses of God For they might safely say with Ieremy Lord if we be deceived thou hast deceived us Verse 16. Then is not Christ raised And so Gods decree is cassated Act. 13.33 with Psal 2.7 Verse 17. Ye are yet in your sins Rom. 4.25 If he had not been let out of prison our debt had remained upon us But God sent his Angel to roul away the stone as the Judge sends an officer to fetch one out of prison and to release him And this is the strength of our Saviours reason Ioh. 16.10 The Spirit shall convince the world of righteousnesse that I am Jehovah their righteousnesse because I go to the Father which I could not have done unlesse you were acquitted of all your sins Verse 18. A sleep in Christ The Germanes call the Church-yard Godsaker because the bodies are sowed therein to be raised again The Greeks call them 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 sleeping-houses The Hebrews call the grave Bothchaijm the house of the living Iob cals it the Congregation-house of all living Job 30.23 As the Apostle cals heaven the Congregation-house of the first-born Heb. 12.23 Verse 19. Most miserable Because none out of hell ever suffered more then the Saints have done Verse 20. The first fruits c. As in the first-fruits offered to God the Jews were assured of Gods blessing on the whole harvest so by the resurrection of Christ our resurrection is ensured Verse 21. By man came also c. Gods justice would be satisfied in the same nature that had sinned Verse 22. Shall all be made alive The Saints shall be raised by vertue of the union with Christ to glory the wicked shall be dragged to his tribunall by his Almighty power as a Judge to be tumbled thence into hell-torment Verse 13. At his coming As in the mean time their very dust is precious the dead bodies consumed are not so destroied but that there is a substance preserved by a secret influence proceeding from Christ as a head Hence they are said to be dead in Christ who by rotting refineth them Verse 24. Delivered up the Kingdome Not his essentiall kingdome as God but his oeconomicall as Mediatour Verse 25. Till he hath put And after too but 1. Without adversaries 2. Without any outward means and ordinances Verse 26. That shall be destroied It is already to the Saints swallowed up in victory so that they may say to it as Jacob did to Esau Surely
and permit only Quiristers to sing lest the musick should be marred But the Apostle biddeth every Saint to sing And Nicephoriâ—s writeth Hist Eccles l. 3. sap 37. that the Christians of his time even as they travelled and journeyed were wont to sing Psalms Tatianus also faith That every age and order among the Christians were Christan Philosophers yea that the very virgins and maids as they sat at their work in wool were wont to speak of Gods Word With grace in your heart This is the best tune to any Psalm Verse 17. Do all in the Name By the warrant of his word and with an aim to his glory Verse 18. Wives submit your selves Inferiours are ordered before superiours to teach them to do duty before they expect it Love descendeth duty ascendeth In the Lord Though the husbands will be crooked so it be not wicked the wives will is not straight in Gods sight if not pliable to his Sed liberum arbitrium pro quo tantopcrè contenditur viri amiserunt uxores arripuerunt faith an Authour Verse 19. Husbands love your wives He faith not Rule ever them Subdue them if they will not submit but love them and so win them to your will make their yoke as easie as may be for they stand on even ground with you as yoke-fellows though they draw on the left side Yet is she thy companion and the Wise of thy covenant Mal. 2.14 He therefore that is free may frame his choice to his minde but he that hath chosen must frame his heart to his choice Vxorem vir amato marito pareat uxor Conjugis illa sui cor caput ille suae And be not bitter against them Nothing akin to Nabal to those Caldeans a bitter and furious Nation or to that star Rev. 8.11 called worm wood that imbittered the third part of the waters The Heathen when they sacrificed at their marriage-feasts Plut. praec cojug used to cast the gall of the beast sacrificed out of doors Verse 20. In all things Vultu saepè laeditur pietas See the Note on Eph. 6.1 Verse 21. Provoke not your children See the Note on Ephes 6.4 Lest they be discouraged Dispirited 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 and thorow despondency grow desperate in their resolutions Verse 22. Not with eye-service See the Note on Ephes 6.5 6. Fearing God That hath power to cast body and soul to hell Fear him more then you do your masters that have power over the flesh only Verse 23. Do it heartily as to the Lord This is to make a vertue of necessity whiles in serving men we serve the Lord Christ going about our earthly businesses with heavenly mindes with not only an habituall but an actuall intention as much as may be of glorifying God in all Verse 24. Thereward of inheritance And so be made of servants sons whose it is to inherit For ye serve the Lord Christ Whiles godlines runneth thorow your whole lives as the woof doth thorow the web and you seek to approve your selves to Christ in all your actions and emploiments Verse 25. But he that doth Wrong Be it but by not doing right to poor servants which in those daies were bond slâ—ves Note here saith an Interpreter the Apostles candour he was not of the â—umour of Lawyers that seldome speak much but for great men or when they may have great gifts c. CHAP. IV. Verse 1. That which is just and equall SEe they must both to the well chusing and the well using of their servants Ye also have a master Eccl. 5 8. There be higher then they and wherein they deal proudly God is above them Exod. 18.11 Verse 2. Continue in praier Constant and instant in it wait upon it 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 lay all aside for it as the word signifieth Act. 6.2 while praier stands still the trade of godlinesse stands still And watch in the same Against dulnesse of spirit drowsinesse of body satanicall suggestions secular distractions c. With thanksgiving Have your thanks ready for you are sure to speed Verse 3. Withall praying also for us See the Note on Eph. 6.19 By the word a door is opened into heaven Verse 4. As I ought to speak As every sound is not musick so neither is every pulpit-discourse a Sermon Verse 5. Walk in wisdom Neither giving offence carelesly nor taking offence causâ—esly Redeeming the time Opportunities are headlong and must be timously laid hold on or all 's lost See the Note on Eph. 5.16 It is said of Hooper the Martyr that he was spare of diet sparer of words and sparest of time Act. and Mon. fol. 1366. Ibid 1â—74 Ibid 1457. Latimeâ— rose usually at two of the clock in a morning to his study Bradford slept not commonly above four hours in the night and in his bed till sleep came his book went not out of his hand He counted that hour not well spent wherein he did not some good either with his pen tongue or study These Worthies well weighed what a modern Writer hath well observed That they that lose time are the greatest losers and wastfullest Prodigals For of all other possessions two may be had together but two moments of time much lesse two opportunities of time cannot be possest together Verse 6. Seasoned with sale Of mortification and discretion even our common communication must be so seasoned as we pouder most those meats that be most apt to putrifie and as upon our uncomely parts we put the more comelinesse Verse 7. All my state shall Tychicus See the Note on Eph. 6.21 Verse 8. And comfort your hearts See the Note on Eph. 6.22 Verse 9. With Onesimus a faith full Once unprofitable but now profitable faithfull and beloved Philosophia non 〈…〉 â—ed abscondâ—t DE Elta jejun cap. 12. Plato went thrice to Sicily to convert Dionysius and lost his labour Polemo of a drunkard by hearing Xenocrates became a Philosopher But Ambrose faith well of him Siresipuit à vino fâ—it semper tamen temulentus sacrilegio If he repented of his drunkennesse yet he continued drunk with superstition Pauls convert proved better a faithfull preacher and a beloved brother Verse 10 Marcus sisters son to Barnabas Hence Barnabas stood so stiff for him against Paul his faithfull fellow traveller Act. 15.37 See the Note there Naturall affection swaies over much with some good men as it did with Eli and perhaps with Samuel 1 Sam. 8.1 3. Verse 11. These only are my fellow-workers S. Paul complains of fickle and false friends that forsook him in his distresse as Demas 2 Tim. 4 16. 2 Tim. 4.0 that like Jobs friends proved miserable comforters and as the brooks of Tema which in a moisture swell in a drought fail Or as the river Novanus in Lombardy that at every Mid-summer Solstice swâ—lleâ—h and runneth over the banks but in mid-winter is clean dry Howbeit Marcus Aristarchus Onesimus Onesiphorus and some few others stuck to him
Christ will come shortly to see what work we make in this kinde As the manner of some is It was then it was afterwards and is still in these siding and separating times The Donatists made an horrible rent for the life of Ceciliaâ— So did divers other for the pride and profanenesse of Paulus Samosatenus But never was there any schisme so causlesse and senslesse as that of our modern Sectaries Verse 26. For if wo sin wilfully Against the grace of the Gospel despising and despiting it as those that fall into the unpardonable sinne Some good souls by mistakes of this text have been much afflicted as Master John Glover Other odious Apostates have utterly despaired Others of the Ancients have unworthily cashiered this Epistle out of the Canon because of this passage There remaineth no more sacrifice For sins against the law though against knowledge there was an atonement Levis 6.1 though it were for perjury abut for this sin against the Gospel that repudiates the remedy there 's no sacrifice abused mercy turns into fury Verse 27. Fearfull looking for Though judgement be not speedily executed yet it is certainly to be expected Winter never rots in the air or dies in the dams-belly as they say Could but men fore-see what an evil and a bitter thing sin is they durst not but be innocent Verse 28. He that despised i. e. He that with a high hand violated it or fell into any capitall crime and it came to light died without mercy As for those hainous offences that not being discovered and sufficiently proved came not under the Judges cognizance the Lord for the easing of mens consciences and for the saving of their lives appointed they yearly feast of expiations Levit. 16.29 Verse 29. Who hath trodden under â—oot Respecting him no more then the vilest and filthiest dirt in the street or the most abject thing in the world as Ambrose expounds it he disdains to receive benefit by Christs propitiatory and expiatory sacrifice he would not if he might he is so satanized The bloud of the Covenant That is The bloud of Christ whereby the Covenant is sealed the Church purchased the attonement procured and heaven opened for our more happy entrance Where with he was sanctified By externall profession and by participation of the Sacraments An unholy thing Gr. A common profane thing as if it were the bloud of a common thief or unhallowed person yea or of a dead dog In the Passeover they sprinkled the door and lintell with bloud but not the threshold to teach them that they must not tread upon the bloud of Jesus as they do in an high degree that sin against the holy Ghost And hath done despite c. Spitting at him their hellish venome persecuting and blaspheming his immediate effect work and office and this out of desperate malice and desire of revenge without any colour of cause or measure of dislike One that had committed this sin wished that his wife and children and all the world might be damned together with him Verse 30. I will recompence And if God will avenge his elect Luk. 18.7 How much more his Son and his Spirit Verse 31. It is a fearfull thing For who knoweth the power of his anger even according to thy fear is thy wrath Psal 90.11 A melancholy man can fancy vast and terrible fears fire sword racks strappadoes scalding lead boiling pitch running bell-mettle and this to all eternity yet all these are nothing to that wrath of God which none can either avoid or abide Verse 32. But call to remembrance q. d. You cannot utterly fall away as those above-mentioned for as much as you have given good proof already of the reality of your graces After ye were illuminated Till they had a sight of heaven they could not suffer but no sooner out of the water of baptisme but they were presently in the fire of persecution Verse 33. Made a gazing stock Gr. Set upon a theater 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 take it either properly or metaphorically both befell Christians See I Cor 4.9 Ye became companions of them Sympathy hath a strange force as we see in the strings of an instrument â— Sibbâ— which being plaid upon as they say the strings of another instrument are also moved with it After love hath once kindled love then the heart being melted is fit to receive any impression Two spirits warmed with the same heat will easily solder together Verse 34. For ye had compassion Gr. Ye sympathized See the Note on ver 33. And took joyfully The joy of the Lord was their strength as it was theirs Act. 5.41 who took it for a grace to be disgraced for Christ The spoiling of their goods If a Heathen could say when he saw a sudden shipwrack of all his wealth Well fortune I see thou wouldst have me to be a Philosopher should not we when called to quit our moveables say well I see that God would have me to lay up treasure in heaven that is subject neither to vanity nor violence Knowing in your selves Not in others in books c. but in your own experience and apprehension in the workings of your own hearts That ye have in heaven When we lose any thing for God he seals us a bill of exchange of better things of a double return He will recompence our losses as the King of Poland did his noble servant Zelâ—â—slaus having lost his hand in his wars he sent him a golden hand Verse 35. Cast not away your confidence Sith it is your shield and buckler Eph. 6.16 but if battered with temptations beat it out again Demosthenes was branded with the name of 〈◊〉 One that had lost his bucklen Verse 36. For ye have need of patience Whereas they might object But where is this recompence you tell us of Oh saith he You have need of patience to wait Gods time of recompence Good men finde it oft more easie to bear evil then to wait till the promised good be enjoyed The spoiling of their goods required patience but this more then ordinary That after ye have done the will of God viz. By suffering it and long-suffering till he reward it Verse 37. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 For yet a little while Tantissùm tantidùm adhuc puâ—iâ—lum A little little little while Gods help seems long because we are short Now the just shall live by faith In the want of feeling he shall rest upon God in the fail of outward comforts as the believing Jews were to do in the Babylonish captivity Habak 2.4 quoted here by the Apostle though with some variation of words But if any man draw back Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Steal from his colours run from his Captain revolt from Christ turn renegado relinquishing his religion as did Julian Lucian and other odious Apostates My soul shall have no pleasure Christ hath no delight in dastards turn-coats run-awaies He will not employ them so far as to break a pitcher
shrike horribly Act. 16.29 Mar. 6.49 Their hearts ake and quake within them and shall any man mock at Gods menaces Verse 20. But wilt thou know Interrogatio docturientis saith Piscator A question made by one that is desirous to teach Verse 21. Justified by works sc Declarativè in foro humano but not before God Rom. 3.2 It is saith that justifieth the man but they are works that justifie faith to be right and reall saving and justifying Verse 22 Wrought with his works Or Was a help to his works and was her own midwife to bring them forth of her self into the open light Heb. 11.17 Was faith made perfect That is Declared to be operative and effectuall Verse 23. And it was imputed See the Note on Gen. 15.6 on Rom. 4.3 and on Gal 3.6 The friend of God A very high stile If Eusebius held it such an honour to be the friend of Pamphilus and Sir Fulk Greevill Lord Brook to be friend to Sr Philip Sidney causing it to be so engraven upon his tomb What is it to be the friend of God And yet such honour have all the Saints Verse 24. By works a man is justified Declaratively as by faith apprehensively by God effectively Verse 25. The Messengers Gr. The Angels so Luk. 7.24 Act. 12.15 See the Notes there Verse 26. As the body c. Yet is not charity the soul of faith but the vitall spirit only CHAP. III. Verse 1. Be not many masters MAster 's of opinions that boldly obtrude upon others their own placits and will not have them disputed or debated Praesat inâ—â— Sent. Est ipsissimum Dei verbum Hosius Such are the Sorbonists who rejoyce to be called Magistri notri Parisienses our Masters of Paris Bacon the Carmelite was called Doctor resolutissimus because he would endure no guessing or may be 's The Popes parasites perswade the people that what interpretation soever he gives of Scripture be it right or wrong it is without further triall to be received as the very word of God Verse 2. For in many things c. This is Euphormio Triste mortulitatis privilegium the sad priviledge of man-kinde as one phraseth it to have leave to offend sometimes Every Pomgranate hath at least one rotten grain within it said Crates 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And it is the honour of God alone to be perfect saith Plato Hierom pronounceth a curse upon him that shall say that the fulfilling of the whole law is impossible to any But Patres legendi eum venia Hierome was out in this and too blame A perfect man That is A prudent man Ps 37.30 31. Verse 3. That they may obey us Horses assâ—s camels elephants God in great wisdome for the use of man hath made without galls that they might with the more ease be made tame and serviceable Verse 4. Whither soever the governour Johnston de Nat. constant Peterent coelum navibus Belgae si navibus petiposset saith one Verse 5. Boasteth great things Gr. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 It doth magnifically lift upit self as an untamed horse doth his head It exalts it self and exults of great things It walketh thorow the earth and faceth the very heavens Psal 73.9 It can run all the world over and bite at every body being as a sharp rasour that doth deceit that instead of shaving the hair cutteth the throat Psalms 52.2 Verse 6. A world of iniquity A new found world Not a city or a countrey only but a world of iniquity a sink a sea of sin wherein there is not only that Leviathan but creeping things innumerable The course of nature Gr. Psâ—l 104.46 The wheel of our nativity Their breath as fire devoureth Isa 33.10 And it is set on fire of hell That is of the devil called elswhere the gates of hell as the holy Ghost on the other side set on sire the Apostles tongues with zeal that flame of God Cant 86. Act. 2.3 Evil speech is the devils drivell a slanderer carries the devils pack Verse 7. For every kinde of beasts c. See the Note on Heb. 2.7 Verse 8. But the tongue c. Where then are our Justiciaries with their pretended perfection Davids heart deceived him Psal 39.1 I said I will look to my waies I will bridle my tongue But presently after he shews how soon he brake his word My heart was hot c. and I spake with my tongue Pambus in the ecclesiasticall history could never take out that one lesson read him out of Psal 39.1 An unruly evil There be but five vertues of the tongue reckoned by Philosophers But there are 24. severall sinnes of the tongue as Peraldus recounteth them The Arabians have a proverb Cave ne feriat lingua tua collum tuum Take heed thy tongue cut not thy throat An open mouth is oft a purgatory to the master Verse 9. Therewith blesse we God And so make our tongues our glory Therewith curse we men Yea the best of men as Coâ—e and his complices fear not to object to Moses the meek with one breath pride ambition and usurpation of authority Verse 10. Out of the same mouth As it did once out of the mouth of Pope Julius the second who in the battle of Ravenna on Easter-day between him and the French as he sate by the fire reading of his praiers Annal Gallic and having news of the defeat he slung away his book saying Sit ergo gallus in nomine diabolorum The devil take the French Is not this that mouth that speaketh great things and blasphemies Rev. 13.5 Verse 11. Doth a fâ—untain send forth The fountain or rather the botch of sensuall and sinfull pleasure doth Sin is a bitter-sweet 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 the poison of aspes which first tickleth and then killeth All creature comforts are dulcis acerbitas saith one Tertull. Amarissima voluptas saith another Principium dulce est at finis amor is amarus Leata venire Venus tristis abire solet Verse 12. Both yeeld salt water and fresh That is strange that is reported of the rivers of Peru that after they have run into the main sea yea some write 20 or 30 miles Abbots his Geog. they keep themselves unmixt with the salt water so that a very great way within the sea men may take up as fresh water as if they were near the land But that is as sure as strange that an eye witnesse reporteth of the Danuby and Sava two great rivers in Hungary that their waters meeting mingle no more then water and oyl Blunts voâ—age p. 10. so that near the middle of the river I have gone in a boat saith mine authour and tasted of the Danuby as clear and pure as a well then putting my hand not an inch further I have taken of the Sava as troubled is a street-channel tasting the gravel in my teeth Thus they run 60 miles together c. Verse 13. Who is a
mala mist a bonis sunt bona mista malis Denying the Lord that brought them Or Freed them viz. from their former idolatries and enormities Vt verbum 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 frequentius significat saith one Or that bought them as they conceited and others charitably imagined but it proved otherwise as appeared by their apostasie Verse 2. Aâ—â— de civ Del. The way of truth shall be c. The ancient Christians were generally hated and hooted at by the Heathens for the heretikes-sake who were also a kinde of Christians as Austin complaineth And Epiphanius addeth that many Pagans refused to come near the Christians to joyn with them in any good exercise Improbis scelestorum illcrum factis consternati as being offended at the unclean conversation of divers heretikes the Priscillianists especially whose doctrine was Jura perjura secretum prodere noli Verse 3 With feigned words Covetousnesse in never without a cloak and flattering words 1 Thess 2.5 for a colour as what wool is so course but will take some or other colour Seducers pretend the glory of God and good of souls to their worldly and wicked practices Phil. 3.18 19. Verse 4. If God spared not the Angels Though but for one sin only and that in thought only It sprang from the admiration of their own gifts it was confirmed by pride and ambition it was perfected by envy stirred by the decree of exalting mans nature above Angels in and by Christ Some say it was a transgression of some Commandment in particular not expressed as Adams was Verse 5. Bringing in the floud And so burying them all in one universall grave of waters Verse 6. And turning the Cities Burying them likewise in the dead sea after that he had rained down hell from heaven upon them See my Notes upon Genesis 19.24 25. Making them an ensample Hanging them up in gibbets as it were that others might here and fear Verse 7. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Vexed Gr. Labouring under it as under an heavy burden and as much tortured as if he had been set upon a rack as it is verse 8. Verse 8. In seeing and hearing Every sinfull Sodomite was a Hazael to his eyes a Hadadrimmon to his heart Vexed his righteous soul Guilt or grief is all that the good soul gets by conversing with the wicked Verse 9. The Lord knoweth how He hath waies of his own and commonly goeth a way by himself such as we think not of helping them that are forsaken of their hopes Peter if any man might well say The Lord knoweth how to deliver his for he had been strangely delivered Act. 12. Verse 10. But chiefly See the Note on Heb. 13.4 That walk after the flesh That is The harlot as filthy dogs follow after a salt-bitch so the harlot is called Deut. 23.18 Act. and Mon. fol 7 51. The Helvetians had an old custome in their towns and villages that when they received any new Priest into their Churches they used to premonish him before to take his Concubine lest he should attempt any misuse of their wives and daughters To speak evil of dignities Here we have a lively picture of the Popish Clergy Aretine by a longer custome of libellous and contumelious speaking against Princes had got such an habit that at last he came to diminish and disesteem God himself How boldly and basely doth Baronius bellow against the King of Spain his Soveraign And he defends himself against another Cardinall reprehending his fiercenesse thus An imperious impetuous he should have said zeal hath no power to spare God himself Verse 11. Which are greater in power viz. then the mightiest Monarch Dan. 10.20 and are therefore called principalities and powers 1 Pet. 3.22 Mighty ones Isa 10.34 See 2 Thess 1.7 Exod. 12.23 27. 2 Sam. 24.15 2 King 19.35 This is all for our comfort they being our guardians See my Common-place of Angels Verse 12. As naturall bruit beasts Some men put off all manhood fall beneath the stirrop of reason and are beastialized yea satanized Speak evil of the things Dare to reprehend what they doe not comprehend dispraise sound doctrine Verse 13. To riot in the day-time See the Note on 1 Thess 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 5.7 The word here rendered riot comes of a root that signifies to break for there is nothing that doth so break and emasculate the mindes of men as rioting and revelling Luxury draws out a mans spirits and dissolves him Spots they are Blots of goodnesse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 botches of Christian society Verse 14. Having eyes full of adultery Gr. Of the adultresse As if she were seen sitting in the eyes of the adulterer Plutarch Kign pucillam pacillam o utâ— significat The wanton Greek was said to have his eyes 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Non virgines sed meretrices not maids but minions Archesilaus the Philosopher told a young wanton Vitijs nobis in animum per oculos est via Quinul Nihil interest quibus membris cinaedi sitis posterioribus an prioribus The leper was to shave his eye-brows to teach us to take away the lust of the eyes Levit. 14.9 And that cannot cease to sinne Though they have made many Covenants with God promises to men So Pro. 19.19 They break all as easily as Samson did the new ropesâ— Exercised with covetous practices Which they constantly follow as the Artificer doth his trade Verse 15. The wages of unrighteousnes The Mammon of unrighteousnes wages of wickednes Lucra injust a putes justis aequalia dâ—mnis Dum peritura paras per malè parta peris Verse 16. The dumb Asse speaking The Angel some think spake in the Asse as the devil had done in the serpent Who now can complain of his own inability and rudenesse to reply in a good cause D. Haâ—â—'s contempl when the dumb Asse is enabled by God to convince his master There is no mouth into which God cannot put words and how oft doth he chuse the weak and unwise to confound the learned and mighty Verse 17. These are wells c. Not fitted nor filled with wholsome doctrine but as the brooks of Tema Job 6.17 in a moâ—sture they swell in a drought they sail The river Novanus in Lombardy at every Mid-summer solstice swelleth and runneth over the banks but in mid-winter is clean dry So these Verse 18. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Great swelling words Gr. Bubbles of words full of winde big swoln fancies sesquipedalia verba Swenckfeldius the heretike bewitched many with those big words ever in his mouth of Illumination Revelation Deification the inward and spirituall man c. Faith he said was nothing else but God himself in-dwelling in us And have we not those now that tell their disciples they shall be Christed Godded c Through much Wantonnesse As Hetserus and Monetarius the Anabaptists Joh. Manl lcc com 321. 490 who corrupted many matrons whom they had drawn to their
rage of Antichrist An hundred fourty and four thousand The same that were sealed Chap. 7. all the holy Martyrs confessâ—urs believers Having his Fathers name His father and their father Exod. 28.38 his God and their God this was written on their fore-heads as Holines to the Lord was upon the high-Priests Verse 2. As the voice of many waters The Word of God called here a voice from heaven hath saith an Expositour three degrees of operation in the hearts of men 1. It works wondering as the sound of many waters and acknowledging of a strange force and more then humane power Mar. 1.22 23. Luk. 4.32 M. Forbes Joh. 7.46 2. It works not only wonder but fear as thunder doth thus it wrought in Felix and may do in any reprobate 3. In works in the elect peace and joy it makes musick in the soul far sweeter then that of harpers 1 Pet. 1 8. Verse 3. A new song See the Note on Chap. 5.9 But the hundred c To whom alone it was given to understand the mysteries of Gods kingdome Others could not skill of it From the father i. e. From the Antichristian rout and rabble These dunghill-cocks meddle not with that jewel the joy of faith but speak evil of that they know not Verse 4. Which were not defiled with women Which have not moiled themselves with fornication corporall or spirituall as those Israelites Numb 24. by Balaams counsell and as Papists at this day seduced by those effeminate locusts Chap 9.8 As for their shavelings that plead this text to prove marriage a defilement let them hear the Apostle Heb. 12.4 and another almost as ancient Siquis coinquinationem vocet commixtionem legitimam Ignatiuâ— habet inhabitatorem draconem Apostatm If any call lawfull marriage a defilement that man hath a devil dwelling in him These are they which follow the Lamb As the sea-mans needle doth the North-pole or as the hop in its growing winding about the pole follows the course of the Sun from East to West and can by no means be drawn to the contrary chasing rather to break then yeeld These were redeemed For royall use See Vers 3. Being the first fruits Separated and sanctified unto him from the rest of the world Verse 5. And in their mouth Children they are that will not lie Isa 63.8 neither is a deceitfull tongue found in their mouth Zeph. 3.13 They will rather die then lie The officers of Merindoll answered the Bishop that moved them to abjure that they marvelled much that he would go about to perswade them to lie to God and the world affirming that they punished their children very sharply when they took them with a lie even as if they had committed a robbery for the devil is a lier Act. and Mon. fol. 86â— c. For they are without fault 1. By Imputation 2. By Inchoation Verse 6. And I saw another Angel This is held to be John Wicliffe who wrote more then two hundred volumes against the Pope and was a means of much good to many The Lady Anne wife to King Richard the second sister to Wencesâ—ans King of Bohemia by living here was made acquainted with the Gospel whence also many Bohemians coming hither convey'd Wicliffes books into Bohemia whereby a good foundation was laid for the following Reformation In the midst of heaven Not in fastigio coeli in the height of heaven as some render it but alow rather and as it were in the mid-heaven because of the imperfection of his doctrine when it was first divulged Having the everlasting Gospel The ancient truth no new Doctrine A Gentleman being asked by a Papist Where was your Religion before Luther answered In the Bible where yours never was Verse 7. Fear God Let one fear drive out another as one fire doth another the fear of God the fear of your fellow-creatures who draw you to diolatry For this it is that the second Commandment is the first with punishment Give glory to him By confessing your sins and amending your waies See Josh 7.19 Jer. 13.16 For the hour of his judgement is come The judgement that he will exercise upon Idolaters and their mawmets as once in Egypt See Joh. 12.31 Act. 17.30 31. Act. 14.15 Buâ—bolâ— And the fountains of waters Quantum miraculi sit in admiranda illa fluminum perennitate nemo credo philosophorum satis explicare hactenus potuit saith one Verse 8. And there followed another Angel Martin Luther with his book de captivitate Babylonia which when Bugenhagius first read he rashly censured for the most pestilent book that ever was written But upon better deliberation he retracted his former sentence and became a means to convert many others Of the wine of the wrath Of the intoxicating enraging wine that sets men a madding after her Nam Venus in vinis ignis in igne furit There is a story of Walter Mapes sometimes Arch-deacon of Oxford who relating the Popes grosse simony concludes his Narration thus Sit tamen Domina materque nostra Roma baculus in aqua fractus absit credere quae vidimus Rome had ravished this man out of his wits Verse 9. And the third Angel Understand by this third Angel all the Reformers and Preachers of the Gospel after Luther to the end of the world If any man worship See Mr Perkins his Treatise A Papist cannot go beyond a reprobate And receive his mark He saith not this of those that have the name or the number of the Beast For we doubt not but many were carried away by him as those 200 were by Absolom in the simplicity of their hearts 2 Sam. 15.11 knowing nothing of his treason Verse 10. Of the wine of the wrath of God Wine for wine God delights to retaliate and proportion as he that said Fumos vendidit fumo pereat Without mixture viz. Of mercy with which God usually moderateth the cup of believers afflictions See Jam. 2.13 They only sip of the top of Gods cup Illud tantùm quod suavius est limpidius Reprobates drink the dregs In the presence of the holy Angels Who shall be not spectatours only but executioners also as once at Sodome In the presence of the lamb Notwithstanding their Agâ—â—â— Dei's and other superstitious trumperies Verse 11. And the smoke of their torment Vtinam de gehenna ubique dissereretur saith Chrysostome Would to God men would every where think and talk more of hell and of that eternity of extremity that they shall never else be able to avoid or to abide Surely one good means to escape hell is to take a turn or two in hell by our daily meditations Verse 12. Here is the patience See Chap. 13.10 The beast being thus declared and declaimed against will rage above measure hold out therefore faith and patience Verse 13. Avoice from heaven That voice of Christ Joh. 5. 24. 8.51 Write Blessed are the dead Though by the Pope accursed and pronounced damned heretikes Which
as holy Priests With golden girdles Here an Interpreter gives this note M. Bernard That they which are leud and vicious though never so wise politike rich and valiant shall not be Gods instruments to plague Antichrist and his kingdom This their priestly apparel sheweth also how that these Angels come forth in the Churches cause and for her sake without any other by and sinister respect Verse 7. And one of the four beasts The faithfull Pastours by their divine discourses of the pure worship of God the intolerable tyranny of Antichrist c. stirre up the spirits of Gods servants to set them selves against that man of sinne and to execute upon him the judgement written This honour have all his Saints Psal 149. ult Seven golden vials Vessels of large content but narrow mouths they pour out slowly but drench deeply and distill effectually the wrath of God Full of the Wrath of God Filled out of the cup of his wrath mentioned in the former Chapter Verse 8. And the Temple was filled This shews that God graciously approves and miraculously protects the reformed Churches See Exod. 40.34 35. 1 King 8.10 So he did the Hussites in Bohemia All Germany was up in arms against them Actum jam de Hussitis videbatur Verùm Germani nondum viso hoste Panico terrore perculsi diffugerunt saith the Historian And when things seemed to be in a desperate condition the Germans smitten with a panick terrour fled all away before they had looked the enemy in the face How wonderfully is Geneva preserved in the midst of many mighty enemies What should I speak of Rochel relieved and Leiden rescued both from heaven We of this Nation have lately seen as much of Gods glory and power in our Temple as ever did any Till the seven plagues No Anticristian could understand the end of the present plagues till eaten into a better minde Vexatio dat intellectum CHAP. XVI Verse 1. Go your waies A Proof of the divine calling of the Ministers of the Gospel Pour out the vials See the Note on Chap. 15.7 Vpon the earth Upon Antichrist and his adherenrs Roma facta est ex aurea ferrea ex ferrea terrea said one of her own favourites Verse 2. And the first went They went not all at once Note the patience of God waiting mens return unto him Verse 2. Vpon the earth Antichrists foot-stool his branded slaves A noisome and grievous sore The French disease say some the devils disease say others viz. Spite and envy at the Reformation wrought in Bohemia Germany England c. upon the discovery of the Papists hypocrisie and filthines Verse 3. Vpon the sea The Popish Councel called a Sea from the concourse thereunto from all parts that of Trent especially with their deadly decrees making the traditions of the Church the rule of faith c. Died in the sea As the fishes of Jordan do as soon as they fall into the Mare mortuum and as the fishes in the river Nilus did when the waters thereof were turned into bloud Verse 4. Vpon the rivers c. The persecutours and impostours the Jesuites especially who have lately added twelve new Articles by the authority of Pope Pius 4. raised out of the Councel of Trent and added to the Nicen Creed Seâ— these â— Arâ—ic in thâ— epâ—st prâ—fix 〈◊〉 B Iewels works to be received with others as the true Catholike faith to be believed by as many as shall be saved And those that receive them not are not suffered to live amongst them This is worse then the six Articles in Henry the eighths time that whip with six cords as they cald it Verse 5. The angel of the Waters The same that poured forth his vial upon the waters vers 4 Thou art righteous God 's judgements are sometimes secret Justin l. 1. Val. Max. Act. and Mon. Camden See the Mirrour or Lookâ—â—â—-giassè both sor Saints and sinners set forth by my most loving and highly honoured friend M. San. Clark Pastour and Preacher of the Word at Bennet-Fink London unto whom not only Fâ—give thanks for his help in this publicatioÌ„ but also all the Churches that shall get good thereby alwaies just and so to be acknowledged We shall one day see the reason of all and say as Jehu did 2 King 9 36. Verse 6. For they have shed As Minerius that monster the cruell Duke of Alva bloudy Bonner the Guises and other of the Popes Champions Thou hast given them bloud to drink As Tomyris dealt by Cyrus the Parthians by Crassus the Romans by those Jews that cried out His bloud be upon us c. as our laws do by the Priests and Jesuites and those that receive them proceeding against such as are traitours to the State The putting out of the French Kings eyes who promised before with his eyes to see one of Gods true servants burned The death of Charls the 9 of France authour of the Parisian massacre by exceeding bleeding at sundry parts of his body who seeth not to be the just hand of God upon them This Charles beholding the bloudy bodies of the butchered Protestants in that execrable massacre and feeding his eye upon that wofull spectacle breathed out this bloudy speech Quam bonus est odor hostis mortui How sweet is the smell of a 〈◊〉 enemy and shortly after breathed out his accursed soul Inter horribilium blasphemiarum diras saith the Historian tantum sanguinis vim projiciens c. after the Beza had fore-warned him but in vain by that verse Tu vero Herodes sanguinolente time So Julian Attilas Felix of Wartenburg Henry 3. of France stabbed in the same chamber wherein he then being Duke of Aniou had contrived the French Massacre So let thine enemies perish O Lord. Talia quisque luat qualia quisque facit Verse 7. And I heard another That in the mouth oâ— two witnesses this truth might be established Let God be justified and every mouth stopped Out of the altar Under which lìe the souls of those that were slain for the testimony of Jesus Chap. 6. Verse 8. Vpon the Sun The Popes supremacy say some the Scriptures say others by the light whereof they are laid open to the world dancing naked in a net and yet not seeing their own nakednesse Act. and Mon. fol. 1657. as Mr Philpos Martyr told Chadsey and by the dint whereof Hâ—s 6.5 God smites the earth Isa 11.4 that is the consciences of these Popelings glued to the earth He even hews them by his prophets and slaies them by the words of his mouth Verse 9. 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 And men were scorched Or parched scalded roasted This is by accident in regard of the Scriptures for the Lord speaketh peace to his people and his word is good to those that are good Orig. in Num. Homil. 27. Mic. 2.7 But as Origen saith of devils so may we say of Papists there is no greater torment to them then the Word of
murders treasons thefts c. they easily dispense with but none of their Ceremonies Let God say they see to the breach of his own Law we will look to ours The mother of harlots The Church of Rome to this day delights to be stiled holy-mother-Church Holy she is in the sense that the Hebrens call harlots And such a mother as bastards have for their mother by whose name they are called the Father is seldome mentioned by them Verse 6. Drunken with the bloud c. Bishop Bonner delivered Richard Woodman with four more requiring of them to be but honest men members of the Church Catholike and to speak good of him And no doubt saith Woodman he was worthy to be praised because he had been so faithfull an aid in the devil his masters businesse for he had burned good Mr Philpot the same morning In whose bloud his heart was so drunk as I suppose he could not tell what he did as it appeared to us both before and after For but two daies before he promised us we should be condemned that same day that we were delivered yea and the morrow after he sought for some of us again yea and that earnestly Act and Mon. sol 1800. He waxed dry after his great drunkennesse wherefore he is like to have bloud to drink in hell as he is worthy if he repent not c. It is wisdom said a certain unknown good woman in a letter to Bonneâ— It is wisdom for me and all other simple sheep of the Lord to keep us out of your butcherly stall as long as we can especially seeing you have such store already that you are not able to drink all their bloud least you should break your belly Ibid. 1672. and therefore let them lie still and die for hunger c. Thus I kept the bandogs at staves end said Shetterden the Martyr not as thinking to escape them Ibid. 1521. but that I would see the foxes leap above ground for my bloud if they can reach it I wondered with great admiration All things are portentous in the Popedome What monsters were Pope John 12 and Hildebrand as Luitprandus describes the one Lib. 6. de 〈◊〉 gest in Europ In vita Hilâ—eb and Cardinall Benno the other both of their own side Tertia clâ—ssis continet Papas vel potius 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 saith Alstedius After the thousandth year of Christ there was no where lesse piety then in those that dwelt nearest to Rome as Machiavel observeth Verse 7. Wherefore didst thou marvel Nil admirari propè res est una Numici We wonder at things out of ignorance of the causes of them Hinc admiratio peperit philosophiam Alsted Chron. Disput derep l. 1 cap. 12. Verse 8. Was and is not Was before the time of this Revelatian in the Roman government which was afterward usurped by the Pope A thing that the first Bishops of Rome dreamt not of And yet Tertullian taxeth the rising ambition of the Popes in his time thus I hear saith he that there is an edict set forth Libide pudicitia and that very peremptory in these tearms Pontifex scilicet maximus Episcopus Episcoporum dicit Thus saith the high-Priest Bâ—ron Annal. Tom. 4. the Bishop of Bishops c. Odifastum illius Ecclesiae I hate the pride of that Church of Rome saith Basil Go into perdition Go not run by degrees not all at once He now takes long strides to ward the bottomlesse pit which is but a little afore him and even gapes for him There stands a cold sweat on all his limbs already Shall wonder Admiration bred superstition and illumination draws men off it Julius Palmer Martyr was a most obstinate papist all King Edwards daies and yet afterwards in Q. Maries time suffered most cruell death at the Papists hands at Newbury Act. and Mon. 1755 1756. for the most ready and zealous profession of the truth His words to one Bullingham walking in Pauls after his conversion were these Oh that God had revealed these matters unto me in time past I would have bequeathed this Romish Religion or rather irreligion to the devil of hell from whence it came Believe them not Bullingham I will rather have these knees pared off then I will kneel to yonder Jackanapes meaning the rood And yet is In regard of that imperiall power then extant which the Pope should afterwards take to himself Verse 9. Here is the minde q. d. Here is work for wise men to busie their brains codicibus about 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Sapientia est vel cordibus Seven mountains The Jesuites cannot deny but that Rome is here pointed at as being set upon seven hils So the ancient Rome was whereof the present Rome is but a carcase as retaining nothing of the old but her ruines and the cause of them her sinnes Verse 10. And there are seven Kings That is kindes of government Five are fallen Kings Consuls Dictatours Decemvirs Tribunes Oneâ—â— i.e. The Heathen Emperours And the other is not yet come scil The Christian Emperours A short space scil At Rome for Constantine soon translated the seat of the Empire to Bizantium calling it Constantinople and left Rome to be the Popes nest Zonaras Cedrenus Joh de co'umâ—â— in mari hist The Emperour Constans nephew to Heraclius and after him Otho had some thoughts to set up again at Rome but could not that so the kingdome of the Church fore-told by Daniel might there be seated saith Gâ—nebrard Geneb Chron. if he had said the kingdome of Antichrist fore-told here by John the Divine he had hit it Verse 11. He is the eighth viz. The Pontificality And is of the seven i.e. Shall exercise that monarchicall power that was before in the seven heads Verse 12. Are ten kings Of ten severall Kingdoms Naples Spain Portugall France Polony Bohemia Hungary Denmark Sweden and this of England which as it was the first of the ten that submitted to the Popes yoke so was it the first that shook it off again in Hen. 8. time Verse 13. These have one minde This is the unity or rather conspiracy of the Church of Rome The Spouse only is but one Cant. 6 9. Other societies are but as they clay in the toes of Nebuchadnezzars image they may cleave together but not incorporate one into another Verse 14 The Lamb shall overcome them 1. With a spirituall victory by a sweet subjection at least by a conviction of their consciences 2. With an externall victory as the imperialists in Germany the Papists here Verse 15. Are peoples Fitly called waters for their instability and impetuosity Verse 16. These shall hate As base fellows use to hate their harlots when they finde them false And shall make her desolate Shall deny to defend her And naked By denying her maintenance and laying her open to the world by their Remonstrances King Henry 8. Act and Mon. and the French King some
God Spâ—c Europ In hoc eorum omnis flamma est in hoc uruntur inâ—â—ndio Hence they burn up Bibles tanquam doctrinam peregrinam as strange doctrine Enâ—bir loc com cap. Eâ—â—les Hence they censure S. Paul as savouring of heresie and could finde in their hearts to purge his Epistles Eckius is not afraid to say That Christ did never command his Disciples to write but to preach only Bellarmine saith the Bible is no more then commonitorium a kinde of store-house for advice Hosius saith Ipsissimum Dei 〈◊〉 That the Popes interpretation though it seem never so repugnant to the Scripture is neverthelesse the very Word of God The Councel of Basil answered the Hussites requiring Scripture-proofs for such doctrines as were thrust upon them that the Scriptures were not of the being of the Church but of the well-being only that traditions were the touchstone of doctrine and foundation of faith And blasphemed the name of God The truth of God contained in the Scriptures What a devil made thee to meddle with the Scripture Act. and Mon. said Stephen Gardiner to Marbeck They tell us of divers that have been possest by that means and assure us that â—uâ— condemnation is so expresly set down in our own Bibles and is so clear to all the world that nothing more needs hereto then that we know to read and to have our eyes in our heads Alex. Cook at the opening thereof Verse 10. Vpon the scat of the Beast This City of Rome which was never yet besieged since it became the seat of Antichrist but it was taken and shall be again shortly to purpose And his kingdome was full of darknesse It appeared to be so as motes appear in the Sun-shine by the clear light of truth shining upon it A Scotish mist is here already fallen upon a piece of his Kingdome and what further service God hath for their and our armies to do against the Pope in Ireland or elswhere 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 we expect and pray God grant us good agreement among our selves and then much may be done abroad And they gnawed their tongues Being as mad with malice as Boniface the 8. was of discontent who being suddenly taken prisoner at his fathers house by Sarah Columnus his mortall enemy Turk hist 126. and brought to Rome laid up in the Castle of S. Angelo within 35. daies after most miserably died in his madnes renting himself with his teeth and devouring his own fingers Verse 11. And blasphemed the God of heaven As they did in 88 when the Spaniards gave out That Christ was turned Lutheran And as Faux the Gunpouder-traitour did when he told those that took him that not God but the devil had brought to light and to naught that desperate design Lonicer theatr histor Thus they set their mouths against heaven and their tongue walketh thorow the earth as if Augustus Caesar were dealing with some god Neptune or the three sons trying their archery at their fathers heart to see who can shoot nighest What an execrable blasphemy is that of John Hunt a Roman Catholike in his humble appeal to King James in the sixth Chapter of that Pamphlet See D Sheld mark of theâ— Beast The God of the Protestants is the most uncivil and evil-mannered God of all those who have born the names of gods upon the earth yea worse then Pan god of the clowns which can endure no ceremonies nor good manners at all And repented not This leopard Chap. 13.2 can never change his spots because they are not in the skin but in the flesh and bones in the sinews and most inward parts Tigers rage and tear themselves at the sound of a drum and at the smell of sweet spices so doe these savage Papists when called to repent Verse 12. Vpon the great river Euphrates i. e. Upon whatsoever yet hindereth the destruction of spirituall Babylon and the comming in of the Jews as the Turkish Empire c. That the way of the Kings Christians say some who are Kings in righteousnesse and come from the East or from Christ That day-spring from on high Luk. 1.78 Others understand this Text of the Jews who are most of them in the East dispersed thorow Turkie Tartary the ten Tribes especially and China Junius saith Tartars of Tothar a remnant or residue That which is called the land of Sinim Isa 49.12 may probably be meant of China which if it be the meaning there may be many of the Jews whose conversion we daily expect and pray for See Isa 11.15 16. Zach. 10.10 11. Verse 13. Three unclean spirits Spirituall fathers as the Papists call their Jesuites who seek to subject all to the Pope and the Pope to themselves being ultimus diaboli crepitus as one speaketh Arist denat animalium the last attempt of a daring devil These are the Popes Janizaries bloud-hounds vultures whose nest as Aristotle saith cannot be found Aristoph yet they will leave all games to follow an Army because they delight to feed on carrion Like frogs For their filthinesse impudency loquacity with their continuall brekâ—kâ—kex coax coax Come out of the mouth That is By the counsell and command by vertue of that vow of Mission whereby the Jesuites are bound to the Pope to go whither he shall send them about whatsoever attempt he shall enjoyn them Yea if their Governours command them a voyage to China or Peru without dispute or delay they presently set forward Hence haply they are called spirits Verse 14. The spirits of devils Or breathing devils Working miracles Lying wonders 2 Thess 2.9 Vnto the Kings of the earth The Popes Nuncio's Legats a latere and other emissaries stir up the spirits of Princes to embroil the world with wars for the upholding of his tottering greatnesse but all in vain The greatest impostors have ever been the greatest Courtiers The Arrians in their age and of them the Jesuites learned it And of the whole world Papists shall call in the help of forraign Princes out of Asia Africa America to suppresse the heretikes as they call them But with evil successe for they shall associate themselves only to be broken in pieces Isa 89. Exorientur sed exurentur Rev. 9 18. The mountain of the Lord shall be lifted up above all mountains These auxiliaries shall speed no better then those subsidiary Syrians 2 Sam. 10.18 19. Verse 15. I come as a thief Who gives no warning See the Note on Mat. 2.44 Blessed is be that watcheth The prophecy is here interrupted as Gen. 4.18 to fore-waâ—n and fore-arm the Saints Luke 12.37 8 43. they are three times said to be blessed that watch Verse 16. And he gathered God hath an over-ruling hand in that which the frogs of Rome do at the Courts of Kings and ordereth the disorders of the world to his own glory Called in the Hebrew Armageddon That is They shall receive a famous foil such as Sisera
did at the waters of Megidde Judge 5.19 Verse 17. Saying It is done What is done The mystery of iniquity is abolished and the mystery of God is fulfilled So Cicero when he had slain those of Catilines conspiracy he came to the people and said vixerunt they were alive but now the world is well rid of them Verse 18. And there were voices A description of the last judgement when heaven and earth shall conspire together for the punishment of the wicked See Mat. 24.2 Pet. 3. and 2 Thess 1.8 Verse 19. and the great City The whole Antichristian State Divided into three parts By the earth quake disjected and dissipated And the cities of the Nations That came to aid Antichrist And great Babylon Augustine and other Ancients do call Rome the Western Babylon and do so compare them as that Abraham was born in the flourish of the first Babylon Christ of the second The cup of the wine That wherein God delights as a man would do to drink a cup of generous wine Verse 20. Fled away Either swallowed up by the water or consumed by the fire Verse 21. A great hail Bigger then that which brained the Kings of Canaâ—n Josh 10. perhaps this shall be fulfilled according to the letter Howsoever the elements shall melt like scalding lead upon Antichristians and other Atheists and they shall answer for all with flames about their ears CHAP. XVII Verse 1. And there came THis and the following Chapters are set for explanation of the dark and difficult passages in the former in the three last vials especially One of the seven Probably the seventh And talked with me Familiarly as the Samaritesse with her countrey-men 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Joh. 4 42. or as the Master with his schollar I will shew unto thee Thou shalt not only be an ear but an eye-witnes Segniùs irritant animum demissa per aures Quà m que sunt oculis commissa fidelibus Horat. The judgement The damnation of her the destruction is reserved to the next Chapter Of the great whore The whore of Babylon more infamous and notorious Salust then any Thais Lais Phryne Messalina Orestilla cujus praeter formam nihil unquam bonus laudavit or Pope Joane Func com in Chronol of whom Funccius the Chronologer speaketh thus Ego Funccius non dubito quin divinitùs ita sit permissum ut foemina fiâ—ret Pontifex eadem meretrix c. I doubt not but that God therefore permitted a notorious harlot to be advanced to the Popedome and this about the very time when the Popes were most busie in subjecting the Kings of the earth and making them their vasâ—als that he might point out to men this whore here mentioned with whom the Kings of the earth committed fornication Verse 2. With whom the Kings As submitting their scepters to his keys and becoming his feudataries And the inhabiters of the earth So that she is not a noble whore only but a common strumpet prostituting her self to the meanest for their money as in the pardon office Have been made drunk Hence it is so difficult to convert Idolaters ther 's no dealing with a man that is drunk Whoredome and wine take away the heart Hoâ— 4. Of her fornication Both spirituall and corporall Sixtus Quintus lupanar utriusque Venerâ—s Romae condidit saith Agrippa decessit tubidus voluptate Verse 3. Into the wildernesse Whether the true Church fled Chap. 12. of which they must be saith one that can learn to know the Romish Church to be a Whore condemned of God I saw a woman See the Note on Verse 1. Sit upon Not going a-foot as Christ and the Apostles did but magnificently mounted as the Pope is ever either upon a stately palfrey Emperours holding his stirrop or upon mens shoulders England was once called the Popes asse for bearing his intolerable exactions Vpon a scarlet coloured beast The proper colour of the Court of Rome and it well serves to set forth their pomp and their hypocrisie Innocent the fourth gave a red hat to his Cardinals to shew them as he said that they should be ready to shed their bloud for the truth But that Painter was nearer the point who being blamed by a Cardinal for colouring the visages of Peter and Paul too red tartly replied that he painted them so as blushing at the statelinesse and sinfulnesse of his successours Full of names of blasphemy His head only before was busked with the blasphemy Chap. 13.1 now his whole body Thus evil men and seducers grow worse and worse deceiving and being deceived 2 Tim. 3.13 Verse 4. In purple and scarlâ—â— Clothing for Kings and Nobles over whom this whore domineers much more then the concubines did over the Kings of Persia And decked with gold Gr. Guilded with-gold 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 to note her hypocrisie and outsidenesse gold without copper within The Pope stiles himself the set vant of Gods servants but yet stamps in his coin That Nation and Countrey that will not serve thee shall be rooted out At the absolution of King John of England Daniels hist 8000 marks oâ— silver were presently delivered to Pandolâ—us the Popes Legate who trampled it under his feet as contemning that base matter but yet received it and sent away to Rome And precious stones and pearls Besides the rich stones that are in the Popes tripple crown of inestimable price and value he carries in his pantosse which he holds out to be kissed the picture of the crosse Heidâ—â—ld set in pearls and precious stones Vt plenis fancibus crucâ—m Christi dâ—rideat saith one Pope Sixtus quintus was wont to give to Tiresia his harlot pantosses covered with peatle Iâ—â— Re◠〈◊〉 He spent two hundred and threescore thousand crowns upon a Conduiâ— which he built for his pleasure and yet he brought in fifty hundred thousand crowns into the new treasury built by himself in the Castle of S. Angâ—â—â— At the coronation of Pope Leo X Vno eâ— lâ—e 1000000 aâ—â—orum 〈…〉 â—61 Ibid. a thousand thousand crowns are said to have been spent in one day Pope Paul the second was wont to sleep all day and spend whole nights in weighing monies and beholding jewels and precious pictures A golden cup full of abominations Gold if it be right they say discovers and expels poison Put poison into a cup of gold and it will hisse and send up certain circles like rain bows Hereby is signified saith an authour that God threatneth judgement and 〈◊〉 to those that pour poison into divine doctrine as the Pope doâ—h with his mad mixtures Verse 5. D. Iames of the coâ—r of Script Prelace Mystery This word Mystery is in the Popes mitre saith Brocard the Venetian and many more who have been at Rome and professe to have seen it The whole Antichristian state is a Mystery of iniquity 2 Thess 2.7 and is much conversant about mysteries Sacraments Ceremonies pompous rites c.