first two For the voice of the Lord is mighty the voice of the Lord is glorious it breaketh the Cedars and maketh the wildernesse to tremble But in his Temple only men speake of his glory Psalm 29. This gracious dispensation incredible and vnseene to the world which could not therefore learne the song of praise thereupon was in the 11. Chap. expressed by two witnesses which for dispensing grace and light were two oliue Trees and two Candlestickes in the Temple while it seemed impossible that any such could bee Antichrist brooking City and Court and for force and power fire went out at their mouths and they did strike the earth with all manner of plagues Now these comparisons of the voice of waters thunder and harping as they expresse fitly what I haue told so in them is implyed a sure prognostick and argument of the next insuing estate in the Angels breaking forth and crying For albeit this sound of water thunder and harping the world in this lurking condition of the Church perceiued not yet they could not still remaine vnheard Who can restraine the breach of great waters what congealed cloude can keepe in thunder and excessiue ioy a heart of any thing can least hold vp Forth therefore this hid Church behoued to come The bellies made bitter with eating the little booke behoued to burst or breake out according as we see in the three Angels following who come forth like the swelling of Iorden like sonnes of thunder according as Christ Chapt. 10. preparing for this outbreake his roaring voice was seconded with seuen thunders and like the bursting out of a blythe heart which cannot hold vp a surfet of ioy 4 This second condition of the Church breaking forth hath the velitation or skirmish and a coincident case with it The velitation I call it so in comparison to the great battell in the seuenth trumpet and seuen vials thereof summarily proponed in the end of this Chap. and exponed largely thenceforth according to the first degrees of the light of the Gospell reuiuing is set downe in three Angels types of these Ministers whom God stirred vp to bee the first open contesters with Antichrist to the 12. verse The coincident case is in the 12. and 13. verses 5 The first ranke of Preachers are expressed by an Angel fleeing thorow the mids of heauen c. for open and swift course which notwithstanding was yet farre remoued aboue the perception of men of the earth whereof few vnderstood or imbraced the first warnings and light arrising it being but yet obscurely preached like as few vnderstood the warning of Antichristian darknesse comming on Chap. 8. and in respect of that Angel there it is that this is called an other Angel as who is the next vsing his forme See a contrarie dispensation to this which cleareth this sense Chap. 18. His doctrine is set downe first in generall and to whom he preached and secondly the speciall points thereof In generall it is an euerlasting Gospell euen that truth which was from the beginning and which when heauen and earth passeth away shall abide for euer the immortall seede and begetting to immortality So it is called against the calumnies of nouelty and in opposition to the doctrine of men Hee preacheth to them who dwell on the earth euen in Antichrist his darkenesse aboue whose reach it is lesse maruell that this first light was yet farre remoued as a fleeing flash thorow the mids of heauen He preacheth to all Nations Kinreds Tongues and Peoples who had worshipped the Beast and of whom by restored light of the Gospell an infinite number was now to be brought out of great tribulation to sing with Palmes in hand and hauing washed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe and to be made partakers of the first resurrection the thousand yeeres being expired Chap. 20. Now the hid ones beginne to breake out and the song vnheard to bee tuned vp loudlie in the eares of all the earth therefore this Angel is said to cry loude In his speciall doctrine is the substance thereof and his manner of teaching The substance is that all feare glory and worship bee giuen to God onely and that both for auoiding his iudgements neere to bee executed and because he is creator of all things A doctrine exceeding fite for that time His manner is to bee marked in that hee vrgeth onely true worshippe not bold yet to challenge directly the Antichrist as the succeeding Angell doth roundly but more the third so wisely and plainely as the Spirit sheweth the course and the accommodation of Story is euident Now as this was the first degree of the conflict with Antichrist so accordingly in the song of victory God is praised for these same points Chapter 15. 3. 6 The second Angell roundly denounceth the fall of Rome that spirituall Babell Sodome and Egypt and that because shee had not onely beene an Idolatresse her selfe but as Ieroboam made Israel to sinne shee is the mother of Whoredomes through the world making men drinke vp superstitious worshippe greedily as wine and so to be besotted therewith To the which God both gaue ouer the world iustly in his wrath that they who would not beleeue the truth should be taken with deceiueable illusions and for which now againe the world iustly feeleth the cuppes of the last wrath As hee gaue to Israel Kings in his wrath and tooke them away in his displeasure 7 The third Angell yet more vehemently toucheth neerer Warning all to leaue the Beast his worshippe and character either in worke or profession vnder paine of eternall damnation Wherein they against whome the iudgement is denounced are exactlie noted and twise set downe in the beginning and in the end of the denunciation for speciall purpose and the quality durance and continuance of their iudgement expressed In the quality of iudgement are two First as they dranke greedily the Whores Wine so get they to drinke the pure vnmixed wine of God his wrath and next they get it in the cup of his wrath God sometimes giueth a bitter cuppe to his owne children but as strong wine for mitigation is tempered with water or sugar so are all God his chasticements to his owne mixed with mercy but to the wicked is powred out mercilesse iudgement Next the Cuppe propined to the Saints is not the Cup of wrath but of loue and medicinall but the wicked drinke out of the cuppe of wrath Lord reproue mee not in thy wrath Psal 6. 8 Now this iudgement is denounced against such as worshippe the Beast and receiue his Character c. And they are twice repeated as I haue said wherein is no Tautologie but diuine wisdome for to make vs take vp a great point In the 13. Chapter all the Beast his followers haue his Character or his name or his number whereof as I shewed there the difference is ill obserued For many haue his
on the world which yet the sealed ones escape that by comparing wee may finde what a huge wisdome here in two words is comprised Now in all the story of old no such case occurreth but onely the deluge of Noah in all things semblable to this That was the onely generall plague wherewith euer at one time the whole world was punished and this darkenesse of Antichrist is a spirituall plague ouergoing once all the Christian world In that onely they escaped whom God sealed vp and inclosed in the Arke the type of his true Church here none escape but the sealed ones who are on Mount Sion with the Lambe while all the earth follow the beast That plague ouerwent the earth by opening the fountaines of the great depth Abyssi magnae Tehom Rabbah of the windows of heauen This by fall of a star from heauen opening the bottomles pit smoake bullering out therat ouergoeth all That by degrees grew till at length it ouerwent the highest mountaines fiue times three cubits this by degrees rose to ouerwhelme sunne and aire These waters preuailed ouer the highest mountaines fiue times thirty dayes that is fiue monethes this euill growing by degrees to a height shall haue a time of preuayling and obtaining place ouer all These waters preuailed not still but after an hundred and fifty dayes that is fiue monethes they beganne peece and peece to decrease til at length the earth was dried the Arke opened and the closed and sealed vp ones came forth and replenished the earth This euill after a time of preuailing ouer all shall abate and by the light of the Sunne of righteousnesse and wind of God his mouth by degrees bee consumed as by degrees it did grow and the true Church shall breake forth the Tabernacle of Testimony shall bee opened in heauen and these 144000. hid ones shall become a number innumerable with palmes in hands And as Elizabeth the mother of Iohn Baptist bearing the reproch of barrennes hid her selfe fiue Monethes thereafter to appeare with big bellie so in this preuailing euill of Locusts and their King Abaddon the true Church as barren shall lurke fiue monethes that is for a time to breake forth thereafter big with child Of these who should bee preachers of repentance from Antichristian workes and forerunners of the Lord his last comming as Iohn was of the first Finally as the waters of Noah was such an euill as neuer shall come againe and thereof the Rainebow made a Seale so the darkenesse of Antichrist once dispelled shal neuer againe ouergoe all for hee must goe to destruction And for this it is that agreeably thereto the great Angell comming to his ouerthrow in the next Chapter hath the Rainebow about his head Now weigh what plenty of light and depth of wisdom lye hid in these two words of fiue monethes which the spirit repeateth twice of purpose to waken our negligence to take it vp Of the other times wee shall speake in the owne place 6 This was the generall note of their limitation Now follow the properties of these Locusts whereby they are able to vexe first they are like horses not common horses but prepared to battell lusty fâ—d strong and fierce ouer comming all opponers Hereto they are strengthned by vsurped spirituall authority expressed in Crownes which are neither vpright in forme nor matter With this is ioyned hypocrisie for they look like men who measure their affaires by iudgement as full of reason and humanity For simulate modesty and simplicity and for force of alluring inticements they haue haire like women with faire and flattering speeches deceiuing the hearts of the simple and prouoking to spirituall fornication But vnder this they are cruell deuourers as hauing teeth of Lyons deuouring widdowes houses vnder colour of long prayers whiles within they are rauening Wolfes They are armed against all inuasion hauing priuiledges and immunities from all secular power shaking their tippets on Kings as being onely subiect to their King Abaddon Now al these make their inuasions terrible to the greatest they being therefore like horses and chariots rushing to battell and it is well knowne how the contesting with them hath often brought Princes to the pinche of their estates and their daily treasonable bloody attempts and suggestions against the liues of Princes proue this clearely All this is effectuate by the stings in their railes that is their poisonable doctrine The ancient and honourable man is the head and the false Prophet teaching lies is the tatle Isai 9. 15. 7 Thus is the Armie Their head is described from his state and his name agreeable thereto his state is that he is their King euen setting himselfe vp against the great King 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 2. Thess 2. the quality of this his Kingdome is shewed in that hee is the Angell of the bottomlesse pitte that is the Diuell his Lieuetenant for to him the Dragon giueth his throne and great authority Chap. 13. Hee is the man of sinne His name fit for such a King is destroyer 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 both for destroying the faith of others and for that hee goeth to destruction Chapter 17. Paul calleth him accordingly 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 hee goeth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Chapter 17. 11. It is wonder in so clear consent of scripture how any learned could doubt who here is described Hee is so called both in Hebrew and Greeke to shew that hee shall bee no proper head of Iewes or of Gentiles but a common deceiuer of both Iew and Gentile professing Christianity and whom at length both Iewes conuerted to the faith and Gentiles shall know and call the Antichrist when the place of his foile shall bee called in Hebrew Armageddon for euen in this that hee shall bee so called in Hebrew is implyed a prophesie of the conuersion of the Iewes as in the same sense Chap. 1. with 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 in Greeke is put Amen in Hebrew 8 This is the first great woe now said to bee gone the second to come anone in respect of their description here not that for euent in time this woe was fully past before the beginning of the next as is euident by the end of this Chapter where after the description of the sixt Trumpet the impenitency of men still continuing in Antichristian works is shewed so as the first woe holdeth on all the time of the second and this second woe had his beginning soone after the open beginnings of the first God so punishing sinne by sinne according to the growth and induration of men in the first impietie giuing the more free scope to the second till desperate obstinacie bringeth on the last woe and finall wrath for as the woe is not said to come till the height thereof at least in such degree as wherefore it may iustly bee esteemed the soarest iudgement in the time albeit in some degrees it hath beene working on before so the next woe comming
twelue by twelue Yea which is more take what multiplier thou wilt thou shalt neuer raise it vpon twelue It cannot bee deuided nor quartered in twelues and possibly thou shalt neuer reduce it to equal sides So as it neither riseth on the foundation much lesse keepeth it neither in frame or figure is it any way like to the New Ierusalem In summe heere is wisdome by true rule of Apostolike doctrine the reed giuen Iohn Chap. 11 to measure count weigh and examine the whole frame doctrine building and body of the Antichristian Church and so how faire a shew soeuer it hath to deceiue fooles yet by true wisdome to finde it all but the worke of a Man The very conscience whereof maketh them flee so much this rule of examination But the holie Ghost telleth vs what is wisdome 11 That this number 666. is choosed rather then any other number where others may bee found hauing the defect obserued in it to represent the state and condition of Antichrist his body besides the fear perfection of the number before touched and euen of the Romans themselues highly esteemed Boniface 8. praefat in sextum Decretal The speciall purpose heere of the holy Ghost is to allude according to his manner to the fourth Chapter of Daniel Where by Nebuchadnezzar King of Babel an Image is erected which vnder paine of death hee will haue all peoples Nations and tongues to fall downe and worship Which Image had of breadth 6. cubits and of height 60. Thence hither the allusion is brought from Babel and her King properly to spirituall Babel and her King from that Image of the first Babel to this mysticall image of mysticall Babell which all vnder paine of being killed c. must worship Yet to shew the greatnesse and prerogatiue of this image much exceeding that of Nabuchadnezzars in bignesse glory and worship of Nations and specially to keepe the analogy against the other number 144. as that of Nabuchadnezzar had six and tenne times sixe to make sixty so this hath tenne times 60. to make 666 in all CHAP. XIIII IN the 12. Chapter was the Dragon and estate of the Church in his open rage against her and her first seed In the 13 is the Beast of his authority the Antichrist and his strange successe by hypocrisie Now in this Chapter is the estate of the Church and her other seed of succeeding times first lurking and hid vnder Antichirst to the sixth verse next breaking out and wrestling with him in mâ—ch suffering to the 14. verse and lastly in his ouerthow victorious to the end 2 In the first of these three cases the Church her state is described First from her Head and Captaine the Lambe her place Mount Sion the true habitation of God and place where his honour dwelleth euen the mountaine vnmouable amongst mountaines her number 144000. Whereof in the end of the last Chap their badge and marke euen their adoption to haue the Lambe his Father whereto they are sealed by the holy spirit of promise wâ—th heart beleeuing and mouth confessing vers 1. Next the heauenly dispensation of grace toward this his fellowship is noted according to the three degrees of operation which the word of God hath in the hearts of his own which are expressed by a threefold comparison The sound of many waters the noise of great thunders and sound of harpes harping verse 2. Thirdly their worship returned to God is singular in spirituall ioy knowen and approued of him and performed in the vnity and fellowship of his true Church through the ministerie of the word made vnto him a royall Priesthood in the midst whereof hee alwaies sitteth King and Lord which Church as it remained vnknowen to the world the time of Antichrist his absolute preuailing so their worship was perceptible to none but these secret sealed ones whom God of his speciall grace had bought with his owne bloud out of the world verse 3. to bee a holy and chaste spouse to himselfe for none are sealed of Dan Chap. 7. by true faith cleauing onely and alwaies to the Lambe and following none other keeping the liberty whereto God had made them free and not seruing men singled from the world to be a peculiar people holy vnto God and Christ Iesus verse 4. euen true Israelites like Nathaniel and in Christ and his righteousnesse accepted and approued of God verse 6. This is the state of the Church closed in the Temple Chapter 11. Lurking in the wildernesse Chapt. 12. And heere stablished on mount Sion while all the world follow the Beast 3 Now to cleare the threefold comparison put ver 2. The voice of the Lord is compared to many waters for the vnresistable force and admirable noise breeding wonder to thunder for terror and power shaking all to the douce sound of harpes for the worke of peace and ioy in the conscience By which three is signified that as the Church lurking in time of Antichrist his absolute preuailing had the presence of the Lambe so howsoeuer vnseene of the world she had also plentifull dispensation of spirituall graces from heauen Which the spirit heere expresseth by these three according to the three degrees of operation which the word of God hath in the hearts of men For first it falleth to mens eares as the sound of many waters a mighty great but a confused sound and which commonly bringeth neither terrour nor ioy but yet a wondering and acknowledgement of a strange force and more then humane power This is that effect which many felt hearing Christ when they were astonied at his doctrine as teaching with authority What manner doctrine is this neuer man spake like this man This effect falleth euen to the reprobate which wonder and vanish Habak 1. 5. Acts 13. 41. and whose hearts are conuinced hearing the word that it hath more then humane force euen like the noise of many waters But as the first hearing of the roare of waters is most admirable and the more one is acquainted therewith the lesse hee heareth it as these at the Catadupes of Nilus so in whom the word worketh but this first effect his eares waxe duller and duller as daily experience proueth The next effect is the voice of thunder Which bringeth not only wonder but feare also not only filleth the eares with sound and the heart with astonishment but moreouer shaketh and terrifieth the conscience And this second effect may also befall a reprobate as Felix Act. 24. The third effect is proper to the elect the sound of harping while the word not onely rauisheth with admiration and striketh the conscience with terror but also lastly filleth it with that sweete peace and ioy which none feele but they whose hearts thereupon againe as well sounding harpes are tuned vp to sing a new song vnto God And albeit the first two degrees may be without the last yet none feele the last who haue not in some degree felt both the
name and are content to be called his being so farre deceiued with his shew as yet they receiue neuer his Character as his mancipate slaues And yet moe haue the number of his name that is are counted and numbred to bee of his body who yet in effect neither haue his name nor his Character This hath deceiued men that they haue imagined the Character to be some other thing then of his name But as is cleare by this place his Character is of his name and they receiue his Character who so haue his name as they are characterized therewith and vpon his marke A speech from common vse Hereof it is that in Mount Sion all haue the Character that is all who are of the true Church elected according to the purpose of grace But as in the visible Church many haue the name of God moe haue the number that is are accounted Christians who yet are not of the number sealed so in Antichrist his Church are many hauing his name and moe hauing his number and so are tolerated to haue commerce and trade with men who yet neuer receiued his Character Therefore it is that the iudgement is denounced onely against those who worshippe him and receiue his Character and accordingly the Vials of wrath Chapter 16. are powred onely vpon these Who are here twise repeated that wee may bee wakened to aduert how here the holy Ghost teacheth vs not to iudge so hardly of all that follow the Beast as that eternall damnation abideth them but onely such as haue receiued his Character For no question but many haue beene and are still named his and counted of his number who learned neuer the deepenesse of Sathan as simple sheepe fallen into that slocke of his because they saw there the publike Ensigne and the Lambe his horns in semblance because hee brooked the holy City and Court of the Temple Euen like these two hundreth who in simplicity of heart followed Absolom from Ierusalem knowing nothing of his treason For we must consider what sort of enemy Antichrist is That hee is no fortaine inuader but an inward Traitor None directly fighting against the name and Ensigne of Christ but by pretence of the name and Ensigne deceiuing And sitting euen in the Temple of God as if a hid Traitor pretending the King his Masters seruice and commission would summon all true Subiects to follow him while hee were but minding vsurpation euen good Subiects might bee thus far deceiued as to follow the publike Ensigne till the treason were detected Further consider that the true Church in Antichrist his greatest preuailing was alwaies within his compasse within which all were euer accounted to bee his owne but yet were not As within the compasse of the holy City and Court of the Temple were the Temple and witnesses in it Chapter 11. besides as no way could bee to the Temple but through the City and Court so no way euer was or shall bee to become a member of the true Church but by comming through the visible Church wherein Antichrist fortie two moneths working and obtaining without controlment all behoued to ioyne to that body where was the Ensigne and seek in through the City and Court to com to the Temple Now no maruell though many in the passing through were taken in admiration of the City Court before they got sight of the Temple And the prouidence of God was wonderfull in this that in greatest corruption he reserued alwayes a sure way through Antichrist to the Temple the Sacrament of Baptisme in substance remaining and the doctrine of the Trinity abiding sound So thus all comming through him had his name or his nūber of whom yet many neuer receiued his Character but espying the pollution of City and Court stepped into the Temple Where still though quietly God preserued two Candlestickes and two Oliues till at length his impiety came to that height by murthering the Saints that it was said to them Come vp hither and so a visible separation was made not from the Church but from the thiefe and Traitor in the Church his mouth bewraying it selfe to bee the Dragons And certainely this holdeth true so as we neede not so much iangle with the Romans thereabout that the Church hath and euer shall bee visible because alwayes the common Ensigne is seene But this Ensigne the Traitor craftily tooke vpon him to beare and thereby deceiued Here is the fallacy that by aequiuocation they conclude if the Church hath alway beene visible then are wee the true Church Here more is added For albeit the church be alwayes visible yet the truth and true professors in it are not alwayes so For the witnesses were closed in the Temple the woman lurked in the wildernesse and the sealed ones were albeit singing yet vnseene and vnheard vpon Mount Sion Three distinct speeches vsed of the Spirit for great purpose The first to shew that howsoeuer the true Church was hid yet where shee was to witte within the compasse of the visible where Antichrist ruled and where Sathan his throne was The second to shew that albeit shee lurked yet she was fed as was Israel in the wildernesse and Elias in the dayes of famine The third that in that great preuailing of Antichrist when all the earth followed the Beast yet she was stablished on Mount Sion so as against her the gates of hell could not preuaile The true Church is in some sort euer vlsible though not in her selfe yet in her infallible Ensignes as who seeth the Citie and Court hee seeth in a sort the Temple because albeit hee see it not distinctlie yet seeing the City and Court hee is certaine that the Temple is there So seeing the visible Church within whose compasse though no eye see them yet God hath his true worshippers one seeth also the true Church For within the Church are truth and lies Christ and Antichrist and either of them now and then obtaine in it and hold place communiter in toto but neuer vniuersaliter in singulis From the Apostolike times as witnesse Paul and Iohn Antichrist was in the Church but hee appeared not some ages after In his time hee riseth and obtaineth all the holy City and Court of the Temple erecteth a throne in Pergamus and domineth as Iezabel in I hyatira Truth is hid and true Professors till the noise of many waters the voyce of thunder and sound of well tuned Harpes breake out of Sion and the Temple and the woman returne from the wildernesse It is a great Sophisme to conclude from the Church visible to the Church absolutely or true Church or againe from these to that or to reason a toto communiter ad vniuersum singulariter Albeit Antichrist was commonlie acknowledged of all yet neuer vniuersally of each one For he neuer set his foot in the Temple nor vpon Mount Sion The Romans presse sore vpon vs to shew who in former ages haue been of our Religion
righteousnesse now so shining as in place of glorifying God by repentance and acknowledging of their errors and workes of darkenesse they as the Children of darkenesse and hating the light whereby their workes are reproued boile in despitefull rage and are burnt vp with enuie and malice as were the Pharisies at Christ his cleare doctrine and euident myracles and that Stephen hauing his face like the Sunne And they blaspheme God in blaspheming his truth and true Church speaking euill of the way of righteousnesse their desperate rage still increasing as the light groweth because induration in impenitency is a common effect of all these plagues In that showsoeuer God hath his owne single ones to pull out of that Kingdom yet the body is not reclamable but must goe to destruction Compare this with the fourth Trumpet The light of the Gospel is a plague and torment to the reprobate world as the two witnesses Chapter 11 were a vexation Here the first effect of this Vial is rage the second blasphemy 7 The first is on the throne of the Beast that is on his Kingdom as the next words interpret and as the whole frame of Scripture speech euinceth The throne of Dauid is for his Kingdome The Throne is established for the Kingdome is established Satan his throne Chap. 2. 13. for his kingdome The first effect heere of is their kingdome loseth the glory lustre pompe and wonted estimation and becommeth contemptible Whereupon the secundarie effect followeth in them of desperate sorrow expressed by a gesture of men extremly grieued Gnawing their tongues and obdnration in impenitency and blasphemy theirâ—ores by the light of the sunne being more and more laid open and thereby their sorrow augmented For their workes see Chapter 9. And withall consider what a wise and iust retribution As by falling from heauen to the earth and from being starres of light to become ministers of darkenesse they opened the bottomlesse pit and let out darkenesse by the smoake thereof eclipsing all true light and so erecting the kingdome of darkenesse So heere by the cleere arising light of the sunne of righteousnesse all the earthly and worldly account of their Kingdome becommeth contemtible and is darkened And as by the doctrine of darkenesse they like Scorpions stinging men tormented their consciences so the light opâ—ned and discouering their treachery tormenteth them with anguish and sorrow This effect both first and secondary we see already in great part but shall yet see more For albeit these plagues heere haue their owne degrees for order of working yet still the former hold on with the subsequent till all together in the ende bring finall destruction 8 The sixth viall is notable in many circumstances It is poured on Euphrates the effect is drying the waters thereof This effect is for a speciall end that the way of the Kings of the East may be prepared Against this effect and apparent sequell thereof a great endeauour is shewed and the euent thereof The endeauour is of the principals Dragon Beast and false Prophet by their instruments a pestilent broode and well resembling their origine foule spirits and spirits of Diuels so is their qualitie Their dealing is to goe to the Kings of the Earth strangers from heauen whom they may perswade importunely cronting like frogges night and day in their eares Their force of perswasion is by working signes thus to shew them to bee fase Prophets seducing The ende of this their endeauour is to gather these earthly Kings together in their purpose to vphold their tottering Kingdome now threatning a fall and to impede the apparant effect to which this Viall maketh preparation but which God shall turne to an other fine then they purpose euen to be glorified in their iust destruction as the euent prooueth Now both in respect of the great danger to be deceiued and misled by these frogs and of the great day of God his wrath to come on them so much the more perrilous as it should come like a thiese in the night warning is giuen to watch and hold the true faith whereby putting on Christ and girding him to vs as with a golden girdle we be not found naked and so ashamed but blessed through our garment The euent of all this their busie trauell is expressed in this that they gathered them to a place called in Hebrue Armageddon 9 Now because for the most part the effect and sequels of this Viall are yet to come in seeking the accommodation we must walke warily as the light of holy writ may leade vs. Euphrates properly is that great Riuer whereon Babylon properly so called did stand and wherto it serued for beauty commodity and fortification It was also the march bordering Dauid his kingdome on the East separating and in a manner debarring the Easterne peoples therefrom To both these considerations in this allusion the spirit hath respect In the 51. of Ieremy prophecying the destruction of Babylon hee threatneth that he will dry vp her waters Thence hither to the destruction of the mysticall Babylon the speech is brought In the next Chapter the whore Babylon is said to sit on many waters Which are interpreted Kings Nations Peoples and Tongues To shew in great dominion and authority great dignity and strength The drying vp then of her waters is the decay of her authority dominion glory and power by the substraction of these from her obeience in whom was her strength and fortification Euen that same which Chapter 17. is expressed by eating her flesh and making her naked Thus fitly for this respect and yet more for the second the drying of Euphrates is heere mentioned in a depth of wisdome to shew how that Riuer bordering the kingdome of Dauid on the East and set betwixt the Easterne Kings and the blessed land being dried vp the Kings of the East should therethrough haue easie accesse thereto the debarring impediment being remoued The sense is As Antichrist his rising was the occasion of darknes and defection from the Gospell to Mahometisme in the East and of the obstinate abiding of Iewes who are most part in the East and whom specially heere the spirit pointeth at as the euent cleareth in their infidelity and as the greatnesse and power of Antichrist still debarreth both from embracing the Gospell as Euphrates flowing ouer all his bankes and so letting all free passage to the Kingdome of Dauid both Iewes and Mahometans through the superstition idolatry and corruption of the Romish Church abhorring Christianity so now her waters being with the heat of the sunne of righteousnesse dried vp an open way shall bee prepared for them to receiue the Gospell I know how some from the story of Cyrus and Darius King of the East diuerting the course of Euphrates and so surprising Babylon thinke this allusion taken to shew how mysticall Babylon shall in like manner be destroied by Easterne Kings But the spirit of God fetcheth nothiug from Xenophon or Herodotus but all his allusions
are to holy writ As this speech is plainely from Ieremy And the Prophets who in respect of Media by whose forces specially Babel was taken denounce her ruine from the North shew the weakenesse of that coniâ—cture And this Prophesie cleereth euidently that her destruction shall be by Westerne Kings euen the hornes of the Beast who hauing long drunke of her cup and giuen their Kingdomes to the Beast at last haue their hearts turned by God to hate the Whore eate her flesh make her naked and burne her with fire and so shall make way for the Kings of the East that is whole States that particular persons be not thought heere to bee designed as were the Sages who at the natiuity of Christ vpon sight of his star came from the East to worship him whil Priests and Phariseis abode in blindnesse which by Babels fall the cleare starre of Christ shall bring to bowe vnto him Whereat Herod and all Ierusalem shall bee troubled As their endeauour heereupon well sheweth Now heere a great wisdome and delightfull congruity in the order of God his working is to be obserued and admired By Antichrist his vsurpation and darkenesse preuailing on the fifth trumpet as by the swelling of Euphrates the East was alienated debarred from the Kingdome of Dauid God in his iustice losing thereafter in the sixth Trumpet from Euphrates these Armies of desolation poisoning error So heere in the fifth Viall the kingdome of Antichrist becomming darke and contemptible and in this sixth Viall all beauty strength and fortification being dried vp the East shall come againe to the Gospell and Iewes â—epent from their obstinate blindnesse and induration God thus wonderfully and to the high praise of his wise grace bringing a more ioâ—full effect from Euphrates in Antichrist his fall then hee brought a heauy woe in his rising And consider how wonderfully heereupon the case varieth In the sixth Trumpet out of the mouthes of these destroiers from Euphrates came Three things Fire Brimstone and Smoake By which three the third part of men were destroied Here to disturbe al 's ioifull an effect from the East â—uâ— Of the mouthes of the Dragon Beast and false Prophet three foule spirits euen spirits of Deuils That is men led with the spirit of Satan lyers and murtherers like their Father and accompanied with the effectuall deceiuablenesse of his working authorised by Antichrist his state and in speciall by the false Prophet head thereof are sent abroad as crouting froggs to bestirre themselues Who these are the state of our time and practise of Iesuites and Seminary Priests compassing Sea and Land specially busie about Kings maketh more then manifest They beginne to see their waters drinking in and Euphrates earst so great a riuer now running in a narrow channell and this setteth them madlings a worke Besides their origine they haue a speciall note of distinction whereby to discerne them that they are workers of miracles so to shew them false Prophets to whose begetting authorizing and setting a worke all the power of the kingdome of darkenesse Dragon Beast and false Prophet haue iointly bended all their malice force and intising hypocrisie as to the last puffe of Satan his mouth and of the Vicar of his throne for vnderpropping Babilon But shee can not be cured For the Beast goeth to destruction Heere the Beast and false Prophet are distinguished as the first and second Beast Chap. 13. That heere may bee shewed a ioyned endeauour of the head and whole body of the state See vpon the next Chap. Sect. 11. 18. and vpon the 19. Sect. 27. 10 The vnlucky euent of this their endeauour to themselues and happy to the Church specially these to whom by this viall the way is prepared is shewed in these words that they gathered them to a place called in Ebrew Armageddon Wherein much matter is comprised and offered to our consideration partly in the name of the place but specially in that it is so called in Hebrew The place is Armageddon a word composed of Har a Mountaine and Mageddon a plot of ground in the of lot Manasse famous in Scripture for two notable euents the one of great ioy the other as sorowful The first is in the 5. of Iudges where a great victory is obtained against Iabin and Sisera at the waters of Mageddo when the Kings fought and were swept away This was so noble a victory to the Church as the Psalmist maketh it the measure of his wish against the enemies The other al 's mournfull is when Iosias by Necho is slaine at Mageddo Whereupon to the Iewes insued most bitter mourning To both these euents the spirit heere alludeth yet with this remarkable point of difference that where the first of them was at the waters the second in the valley of Mageddo Heere the place is Armageddon that is the mountaine of Mageddon This difference is purposelie put of the spirit to shew that the enemies heere should bee in some great indeauour against the Church of God in all the old Testament bearing the name of a Mountaine Not onely for God stablishing her against all assailers and for her eminencie but also in respect of her type in Mount Sion and land of promise which is a land of Mountaines and for the Church her abode therein called of Daniel Hartsebikadosh This is the Mountaine of Mountaines wherein the Lord will destroy death and thresh Moab as straw is threshed in Madmena in which the Lord will destroy all that rise against her Heerein then is implied that this great destruction of Antichrist and his aiders by perswasion of the frogges shall bee in a high enterprise against the true Church as God foiled Gog vpon the Mountaines of Israel And the King of the North entring in the pleasant Land and planting the Tabernacles of his Palace in the glorious and holy Mountaine Now as for this their purpose causing their destruction the place is called Har a Mountaine So to expresse a double euent of this their enterprise it is called Megiddon by allusion to the two stories before mentioned To that in the 5. of Iudges to shew that the same shall befall all these enemies assembled by the frogges which did befall Iabin and Sisera at the waters of Megeddo And thereupon such a like song of ioy to the Church as is that of Deborah and Barak To the other story of Iosias slaughter the allusion is to shew that vpon this victory should arise such a mourning and that proper to the Iewes as they had for the slaughter of Iosias in the valley of Mageddo but of a much different kind Euen that mourning whereof Zachary prophecieth in his 12. Chapter When by this victory the way beeing prepared for them to come and see him whom they pearced they shall bee sorry for him as one is sorry for his first borne and when in that day there shall bee a great mourning in Ierusalem as the mourning of
world So as who seeme best fenced and hedged from all perill as Ilands and who seeme strongliest stablished in greatnesse strength as Mountaines shall flee away and bee so vndone as they shall bee found no more And so it is no maruell that this alteration shall bee conioyned with terrible plagues and iudgements vpon the wicked like haile from heauen of a Talent weight who notwithstanding remaine indured against God and blaspheme still 13 The effect of this earth-quake is declared to bee on the state of Antichrist and his aiders vnder the names of the great City diuided in three the Cities of Nations falling Wherein great Babel is now remembred and rewarded The Nations did tread vnder foot the holy Citie Chapt. 11. And heere their Cities fall In the streets of the great City God his Prophets they murthered vnburied and mocked three daies and a halfe Heere that great City is diuided in three And so that bewitching Babel whose fall was denounced Chap. 14. now commeth to ruine For by all these that one state is meaned but that with her fall shall be conioined the fall of many great kingdomes and all the face of the earth shall be altered Which besides the reason of her greatnesse is yet the lesse wonderfull for this that with her fall shall come on the conuersion of the Iewes and orient with them and apparantly by them The subsequent Chapters wherein this is more amply set foorth maketh the matter cleare Now what particularly is meaned by renting of the great Citie in three till the euent declare it I dare say no more but that apparently it sheweth the ouerthrow and dissipation of all the strength of that State which consisted in the ioyned power counsell and working of three The Dragon Beast and false Prophet verse 13. Or if heereby the holy Ghost will giue vs to take vp such an vtter exterminion as is shewed Ezech. 5. or 6. 12. Or if this diuiding in three hath relation to the order of destruction set downe in the subsequent Chapters in three degrees first of the Whore Chap. 17. and 18. next of the Beast and false Prophet Chap. 19. and thirdly of the Dragon Chapter 〈◊〉 CHAP. XVII WE haue heard the seuen degrees of the last wrath whereof the seuenth hath in few wordes so strange an effect summarily implyed as a larger manifestation thereof was necessary Which accordingly the Spirit giueth in the parties destroyed manner measure and euents of their ouerthrow 2 The parties destroyed are the Whore in this and the next Chapter The Beast and false Prophet Chapter 19. And lastly for an absolute victory the Dragon Chap. 20. Whereupon insueth the goodly and graceful state of the Church Chapter 21. and 22. 3 To the sight and perception of the damnation of the great VVhore Iohn is first exhorted and disposed by one of these Angels which had the seuen Vials 1. 2 and beginning of the third verse Secondly a vision is exhibited till neere the end of the 6. verse From thence to the end of this Chapter the vision is exponed by the Angell 4 In the action of disposing Iohn to the perception of these things are the Instrument and his endeauour The instrument is one of these seuen who had the Vials To shew that the time when the vials shold be a powring out would bring with it a more cleare knowledge of Antichrist and of the trumperie of this VVhore great by his power and credite and should waken vp and dispose men to see more euidently these things which before were but of few or then obscurely known Thus by degrees light groweth The Angell his endeauour to this end is two-fold in that both with voice he stirreth vp and carrieth Iohn in spirit to the wildernesse To let vs see that for perception of such things we are not onely to be wakened vp from our naturall dulnesse but must in a manner â—e separated from our selues and all common conuersation of the world which yet standeth not so much in the retreat of the body or retirednesse of place as in right disposition of spirit The Angell stirreth Iohn to perception by an argument from the great sight hee was to shew him the damnation of the great whore which according hee performeth in shewing the Whore this Chapter and her damnation Chap. 18. 5 The greatnesse of this Whore for further wakening vp of Iohn and vs in his person is yet amplified by 3. Arguments First her great Dominion in these wordes which sitteth on many waters So interpreted verse 15. therefore fitly is the decay of her estate called drying vp of her waters Chapter 16. 12. Ier. 50. 38. and 51. The second argument is from the persons with whom shee playeth the harlot First for quality great as being Kings next for number many as indifferently committing whoredome with all the Inhabitants of the earth thus being both a great and a common whore The third argument is her whorish and deceiuable perswasion like that Prouerbes 5. by her allurements subtlety deceiuing men as with wine and making them drunken so to dote more more on her as men drunken lust aye the more after wine till becomming altogether senslesse all true iudgement be stollen from them This is it which maketh all paines taken with superstitious Idolatries for their conuersion to bee vnprofitable as it is but folly to deale with a drunken man while his wine is on him This is that Babylon Chapter 14. against which the heauy wrath there denounced heere taketh full execution And for clearing the equity thereof it is most plainly heere opened what shee is and of what time and state 6 To Iohn thus prepared appeareth the vision of a woman sitting on a beast and properties of both Of the Beast his properties wee will speake in the Interpretation of the vision which the holy Ghost himselfe giueth The woman is glorious in all worldly pompe and royall magnificence whereby shee dazeleth the eyes of men shee is a most abhominable Harlot prouoking to detestable Idolatry and superstition and in place of the healthsome waters of life propining her owne traditions and deuises for stollen waters are sweet which in detestation thereof the holy Ghost here nameth by an abhominable name This shee doeth vnder faire pretenses deceiuing with a golden Cuppe Shee is an impudent professed Harlot and mother harlot of the world and yet with such deepe subtlety couering her practises as none shall read that which is openly written on her fore-head but the lightned by the spirit to finde out the mystery For shee is like that adulterous woman Prou. 30. 20. which eateth and wipeth her mouth and sayeth shee hath done nothing Finally shee is a cruell murtheresse of Saints Shee sitteth on the Beast as borne vp by him and hauing all this glory and bewitching power to deceiue onely through that credite and estimation which shee hath by the Beast her aduancer 7 This vision worketh in Iohn admiration yet not such as
fully waken them from their deadnesse and pull perfitly the vaile from their hearts pouring on them the spirit of mercy and compassion and taking from them their stony hearts that they may see him whom they pearced And this is called peculiarly the voice from the Throne to note God his powerfull working of their illumination and full conuersion at this point whereto their hearts by the victory of the Christian Church and praise offered to God therefore were in some good degrees before prepared and mollified So as now all the seruants af God all that feare him both small and great shall raise vp a song to God for multitude maiesty and noise admirable for exceeding great power and motion of spirit full of thundering for newnesse of matter passing ioyfull For raising of this great Halleluiah a strange order of working as would appeare is heere set downe For where it might seeme that according to the ordinary dispensation of all grace the voice should from the Throne haue gone first to the Beasts and Elders and from them to the multitude in a heauenly wisdome the first motion is from the multitude next from Beasts and Elders and lastlie from the Throne to shew this great worke as I haue shewed at last by God his owne power fully effectuall The order is from I say A voice soundeth from the City a voice from the Temple the voice of the Lord who recompenseth his enemies Then Sion before she trauelled brought foorth her children and before her paine shee was deliuered of a man childe Then The earth was brought foorth in a day and a Nation was borne at once Conferre diligently and espie deepe wisdome This voice is to all Gods his seruant to all that feare him both small and great the time of whose reward is now come when God destroieth them who destroied the earth Chapter 11. Now Rachel barren while Lea bare children shall breake foorth in the thousands of Manasse and tenne thousands of Ephraim So by this voice from the Citie from the Temple and lastly from the Throne euen from him Who fully recompenseth his enemies is raised for multitude of singers for manner and matter of song an Helleluiah of a wonderfull note While not onely a great multitude euen all the sernants of God small and great Iew and Gentile doe sing it but also their song is like the voice of many Waters and as the noise of great thunders not as these Cha. 14. which none heard but the sealed ones but such as shall fill the world with astonishment and make the heauens resound So sweetely and mightily shall the Harpes of them whose receiuing shall bee life from the dead bee tuned vp with vs Gentiles to praiseour common Sauiour 5 Thus for cleering the mystery heere implied hauing shewed the forme in the singers vncouth manner order and course of this whole song Now let vs returne and first consider the matter of all and then the euent in Iohn 6 The matter of the song in the first three Halleluiah and two degrees of singers is all one In the last Halleluiah last singers when all small great sing it is larger The song of the first singers hath two parts and accordingly to shew the rising of their affection the word Halleluiah is doubled The first part hath the speciall points of praise and reasons thereof The speciall points are Saluation glory honour and power c. Thus in ioyfull song professing that the onely praise of their saluation the onely glory that is the estimation and high account they haue God in as onely author of all their good all the honour that is all dutifull worship which according to that estimation and account they owe are due to him onely Lastly they acknowledge his onely power and strength in all their deliuerance and ouerthrow of their foes This song is the same in argument with that Chap. 7. Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe The reasons of this their praise are first generally giuen and next specially accommodare to the present matter The generall is that his iudgements are true and iust in relation to his promises and nature and accordingly in the speciall case heere meaned the truth of his iudgements is cleere in that the Whoore is iudged and destroied as he promised not onely to destroy her but also all that doe euill to the Sanctuary The iustice and equity is manifest in her sinne who was a great Whoore and therewithal the corrupter of the whole earth being both her selfe extremely sinnfull and inducing others to sinne next extremely cruell as in whom all the blood of the earth was found and who specially was drunken with the blood of Saints Now God is a requirer of blood and singulary of his holy ones whose death is precious in his eies This both truth and iustice of God in this speciall act of the Whoores damnation is yet more cleered in the second part of their song whereto they are stirred by the consideration of her euerlasting fall so as they neuer feare her deceit or cruelty any more And this raiseth their affection to a new Halleluiab so vpon the more cleare sense of the greatnesse of the benefit doubling the praise The foolish knoweth it not and the vnwise man vnderstandeth not that the wicked flourisheth as the grasse but hee shall bee destroied for euer 7 The second order of singers affirme the same matter in the word Amen and sing the same praise in Halleluiah 8 In the third order as the singers are moe and the note higher so is the matter of their song somewhat larger as which hath not onely relation to the iudgement of the Whoore as the former parts of the song but also to the subsequent story both of the enemies ouerthrow and gracefull state of the Bride thereupon both which are heere summarily celebrate and largely after through the booke exponed The first in this that now the Lord raigneth for they are destroied who vsurped the Kingdome The other in that the Bride is prepared The destruction of the vsurpers is hencefoorth in this and the next Chapter the Bride prepared Chapters 21. and 22. Heereupon all are of other mutually exhorttd to ioy and gladnesse aswell as to the praising of God for that The Lambe his marriage is come c. Wherein as there is huge matter of Gods praise so of exceeding ioy to themselues in their owne good from him This marriage contracted of old was come in a great degree when the Bridegrome came into the world but they who were bidden refused to come and amongst those who were brought in to the wedding one wanted a wedding garment and thereupon is cast out into vtter darkenesse euen the lake of fire and Brimestone But now at this point heere celebrated the marriage shall come in a nobler degree when God by a voice from the Throne shall turne their hearts who refused now to come in that as their casting of
from Christ his owne words I called the beginnings of sorrowes being taken whole and together are anteriour both in consideration and in time to the euill of the seuenth seale and sixe trumpets thereof as whereby are shewed the iudgements of God against the open rage of the Dragon in his ministers the Roman Emperours by all the degrees thereof till induration at length bringeth this ruine and as the the second great euill of the seuenth seale and sixe trompets thereof taken whole according to that height of mischiefe whereto it grew is posterior both in consideration and time to the former so in comparing parts the second in some first degrees of her grouth is before the full end of the first Heere is the deceit that men thinke the effects of the sixe seales must haue a full end before the opening of the seuenth vpon their forelaid preiudice For euen in the time of Satan his first open rage he was busie hatching the second euill the mysterie of iniquity working euen then albeit before it could be reueled or come to any great height that which with-held behoued to bee taken out of the way the sixt head behoued to be wounded deadly and the seuenth rising by the wound euanish in a short space that the eighth by cure of that deadly wound the beast which was and is not and yet is might bewhich all the world and perish in the cup of the last wrath So that Areth as saith fitly that this sixth seale maketh way to the Antichrist who though he was before this well farre aduanced yet the holy Ghost deliuereth his whoâ—e grouth in the seuenth seale thus distinguishing diuers cases and not preciselie cutting times And the next Chapter containing summarily the whole story of the seuenth seale before it bee opened for particular explication sheweth that as that mischiefe was in some degrees working on in time of the sixt seale so this Prophecie is penned for clearing of matter and not for calculation of times Albeit each euill considered in the height thereof and taken whole and together is deliuered according to their order in time 16 The summe then of all this Chapter is that the Gospell going forth in power should by Satan stirring the Empire of Rome against it so bee resisted as God in his iustice should punish that state with sending bloody both intestine and forraigne warres strange famines and grieuous pestilences seuerally and iointly and all his ordinary plagues Notwithstanding which they should stil so grow in cruelty against the professors of the Gospell as in God his iustice required no lesse then full and finall vengeance the patience of Saints being extreamly proued Which vengeance in respect that for good considerations in God his wise administration specially for fulfilling the sufferings of Saints and therein the cup of the enemies iniquity it was to bee for a space delaied left the Saints thereupon should be tempted aboue measure God gaue them in that time great relaxation from persecution and high account before men And soone after in such degree as in the time might witnesse his wrath euen to the consciences of the aduersaries indured against all the former iudgements hee powreth a great measure of indignation vpon that bloody staâ—e giuing it so a deadly wound CHAP. VII THe sixeseales opened exhibited the particular types of the first sorrowes The seuenth is to bring foorth so huge an euill as the heart of Iohn and all hearers and readers were to bee strengthened against the horror thereof Herefore it is that before the seale be opened to the manifestation of so many degrees of a detestable mischiefe in this Chapter a summary view is giuen of the rest of this Prophesie in a generall type of the euill arising of the prouident care of Christ to preserue to himselfe a Church vnder and in the midst thereof the victory of the Church ouer this euill and her gracefull state thereupon Thus not onely by a timous praeception of deliuerance from so dangerous a case fortifying hearts which otherwaies at long and particular explication thereof without this praemunition might haue fainted but also by this order of handling in proponing these things before the opening of the seuenth seale whereof they are the proper euents implying not obscurely that this second great euill was euen in time of the former sorrowes greatly aduanced 2 The mischiefe is shewed in foure ministers of indignation by their number place and action portending plainely that euill which at more length and particularly in the sixe trumpets is exponed Against which inconuenience vpon the world how Christ entertaineth his Church during the time of the euill is declared to the 9. verse From thence to the end of the Chapt. is first the Church her victory at length in the seuenth trumpet and seuen vials thereof declared and next her gracefull state thereupon which is amplie in the 21. and 22. Chap. inlarged heere both summarily proponed 3 The number of these ministers of indignation is foure for the foure corners of the earth See Chapt. 4. their place the foure corners of the earth to shew an euill which in the height of it should ouergoe all as is cleere in the fifth trumpet and end of the 13. Chapter Their action is to hold the forue windes c. Windes when they are tempestuous are noysome but blowing temperately and mildly they bring a sweet influence of fertility to the earth and of purification both to sea and aire We liue by emitting and indrawing of breath and without wind all things would putrifie Hence in Scripture to signifie the influence of spirituall graces speeches are borrowed Ioh. 3. Act. 2. Cant. 4. Arise ô South and come ô North blow on my garden c. See Ezech. 37. 9. whence most cleerely this speech is in this sense The with-holding then of windes signifieth the restraint of spirituall life and grace The earth sea and trees are also typicall as is euident in the fifth trumpet Chapt. 9. where the maine point of this foreshewed euill taking execâ—tion the ministers thereof are interdicted hurting of these trees who had the seale of God on their fore-heads This frame of speech is also from the practise of enemies in extreme destructions As of Israel Iuda and Edom against Moab Marring euery good field stopping euery fountaine of water and felling euery good tree 2. King 3. 19. Destroying so the fields wherein the moysture whereby and the things themselues which in fields and by moysture doe grow The eaâ—th then is the place of the visible Church wherein are trees good and bad some bearing fruit some but leaues but as heere it is hurt by this plague it signifieth onely the earthly ones who are in it but not of it for the sealed ones are not of the earth but albeit in the earth yet the citizens of heauen The Sea is the common worship wherein men are ioyned pure or impure as it falleth through the lothsomenesse or deadlinesse of
the waters making accordingly the trees which grow thereby good or bad Trees are men of whom such as are planted in the courts of God are alwaies fresh and flourishing like these of paradise Christians good and bad are in Scripture so ordinarily called trees as it were a vaine thing to heape testimonies This euill then was to ouergoe the whole visible Church doctrine worshippe and professours therein 4 Against this danger the care of Christ is shewed ordering the state of his elected ones by imprinting on them such a marke with the seale of God as thereby they should escape the euill Herein come to be obserued the person actor and the number sealed The person is of great note as being an Angel but of singular quality euen the Angel of the couenant This is cleare by his notes and by his action His notes are two His comming vp from the East and hauing the seale of God In the first are notable the quarter whence he commeth the East and that he ascendeth therefrom He commeth from the East not onely as our day starre and Sunne of righteousnesse by frame of speech from naturall lights which all arise from the East and heere conuenientlie sheweth him to bee the light and life of his sealed ones when spirituall darkenesse should possesse all but this hath also a speciall allusion to the last Chapters of Ezechiel wherein the goodly state of the Church vnder the Gospell being described vnder legall types not only is the glory of the God of Israel seene enter into the Temple by way of the East and the forefront of the house noted to be towards the East and the land so diuided amongst the Tribes as one end of each portion should reach to the East but also at the east doore of the inner court of the Temple so situated as to each doore thereof men behooued ascend by degrees as this Angel ascendeth from the East none were permitted to enter or come foorth but the Prince All both Prince and people worshipped before that doore but the Prince onely went in and out thereat Neither might the people come in the Temple at all to worship but when the Prince was in the midst of them they came in together and went out together yet at the East doore none but hee And out of the East doore came the waters which did grow to a Sea All no doubt to shew that no light ought to come in God his house but the Prince his light neither any Doctrine flow from the Temple but his who onely entreth and commeth foorth at the East doore in his light all must walke and worship and therefore no entry but when hee entreth no worship but when hee is present as in whom and for whom onely it is accepted and from whom onely wee are to take the rule thereof His light riseth on all his owne children hauing all their portions reaching to the East That this Angel then commeth from the East it sheweth him to be the Prince that he ascendeth it noteth his cōming to be into his temple to bee life and light to his sealed ones in the midst of this darknesse euen that lambe vpon Mount Sion in the midst of those 144000. Chap. 14. when all the earth followed the beast Chapt. 13. Consider well for this state of Christ his Church and his manner of presence in it the 11. Chapt. His second note is that hee hath the Seale of the liuing God This seale he hath essentially as he is the Image of the inuisible God and ingraued character of the Father his person hauing life in himselfe as the Father hath life in himselfe And he hath this seale to seale others therewith giuing life to whom he will as the Father quickneth whom he will for him hath the Father sealed All faithfull haue this seale that is are sealed therewith But to haue it in this degree as therewith to be the sealer of God his Saints it is aboue the dignity of all creatures Hee onely is the Master of God his great Seale sealing all God his children with the holy Spirit of promise The foundation of God abiaeth sure and hath this seale the Lord knoweth wh are his And this also he sealeth vp in vs by his spirit of sanctification so as who call on the name of the Lord depart from iniquity Hauing this Seale wee need not feare any darkenesse of Antichrist for our annointing teacheth vs all things and the honour of our God so requiring wee haue our Seale in our foreheades ready to giue account of our hope to all that aske vs. 5 Thus are the notes of his person His Action is that he cryeth with a loud voice c. His loude crying sheweth the greatnesse of the mischiefe for preuenting whereof as men in such cases doe he is said to cry with a loud voice so bewraying care The Substance of his cry is in a commandement and the end thereof The commandement is not to hurt c till we haue sealed c. His commandement sheweth authority whereby he ruleth all things in heauen and earth both in mercy and iustice As our brother God is his God I go to your God and my God your father and my father Iohn 20. 17. The end of the commandement is that the seruants of God may bee in suretie through his Seale in their fore-head The speech is from the 9. of Ezechiel where vpon the destruction of Ierusalem Temple and all to ensue by the state of Babell such a type of caution is put for preseruation of such as mourned and sighed for the iniquities committed in that City so here a spirituall desolation and Captiuity being to come on the visible Church by mysticall Babylon the like Caution is prouided for the like sort The marking on the fore-head is put but according to the manner of men who imprint a conspectible mark on what they wold haue easily discerned from common so as the beholders cannot misse to see it Not that this Seale was perceptible to Antichrist or Ministers of his deceit and cruelty For the world saw not these sealed ones neither could learn their Song Chapter 14. 3. but as I haue said by this frame of speech to shew their sure protection by the prouidence of their God 6 In the number sealed consider of whom it is and what it is It is of all the Tribes of Israel that is of all true Israelites the Elect of God and Israelites indeede Gal. 6. 16. For properly it cannot here bee taken but the speech is from the Church of Israel and the ordinary manner of the Propheticall denunciations for as when the Church consisted onely of Israel properly the same was little in comparison to that time when by the Gospell the Gentiles ioyne thereto and as euen of the Church of Israel though their number were as the sea-sand yet but a remnant was saued euen so in time of Antichrist his darkenesse the true