Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 6
¶ The syxte Chapter.
THe syxe first seales of the booke being opened by the lābe, so many secrete misteries of Gods will a…e reuealed to the Church, the victorie of the Gospell, murder, famine, pestilence, ye complaintes & consolatiō of the martyres, and lastly an earthquake, which shoulde shake the whole worlde.
Vers. 1.
And I saw when the lambe had opened one of the seales and I heard one of the beastes say as it were thunder come & see.
WHatsoeuer God hath decreed with him selfe, concerning the ordering and disposing of thinges in the world & principally in the Church, the same is far remoued from the knowledge of men, excepte the lambe which is the son of God, vouchsafe to open the same vntounto vsus, which doth not onelyonly reueale the secreates of thinges to come, but also he sheweth vntounto vsus the inuisible God himselfe, Iohn the 1. chap. After therefore that ye lambe, to whome this office doeth onelyonly belong as we hauehave learned in the former chap had opened one of the seals s. Iohn heard a voice vttered by one of the 4. beastes, as the voice of thunder whiche geueth him leue to beholde, this voice although it were vttered vp one of the 4. beastes, yet it is known to bee the voice of God him self, whose seruaūt onelyonly ye Aungell was for it is not lawfull to anye creature to geue leue of him selfe eyther to approche neare or to beholde anye thinge in the diuine misteries of God: it was like thunder that it might wake and sterre vp al his sences to attentatiō and diligent consideratiō, for we ought to shake of the drowsenes fyxed in mannes nature if we will come … to the beholdinge of Gods mysteries.
Verse. 2.
Therefore I beholde and lot there was a white horse and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crowne was geuen vntounto him, and he went forth conqueringe that he might ouercome. &c.
THe openinge of this firste seale, to the comforte of the godly describeth vnderunder the figure of a white horse, and of him that sat vponupon him, the victorye of the Gospell spreade ouer the whole worlde. For the white horse signifieth the ministery of the gospell, ouer which Christ hath the ruling euen as one that sitteth vponupon an horse, by whose ayed, the heauenlye doctrine is caried with wōderfull swiftnes ouer the face of the whole earth, so that wtin few yeares after ye ascension of Christ, ye base & contible cō pan… of the Aposteles, spreade abroad ye doctrine of ye gospell into all regions of the worlde. The whitenes of the horse describeth the ministery of the gospell to be most beautifull, suche as it is in it selfe not suche as it semeth vntounto the worlde, for beutifull are the feet of them yt bringe the glad tidinges of peace of them that declare good things. Ioyfull and happy therefore is ye comminge of this horse chiefly when he beareth such a one vponupon his backe. For by him that sitteth vppon the horse, we muste vnderstande Christ him selfe, or ells the doctrine of the gospell, which should be spread into al partes of ye world, by the ministery of the word. He is armed with a bow, which showteth far, and perceth depe. that he might signifie that his force shoulde with swift course he sent forth into the vttermost borders of the earth, and enter eue vntounto the depest secreates of the heart. Lastly he hath a crowne geuen vntounto him, whiche is a signe and token of the kingdome and victory which he shall get in the world, in spite of Sathan … all his ministers. Because the full tyme was come in which he that sat vponupon the horse shoulde shewe forth his strength, in deliuering the Church out of the …awes of sathan, he setteth forward and whether soeuer he goeth, he getteth the victory, neither is he sent forth of God to any other ende, then that he mighte gette a noble victory ouer Gods ennemies. This truely oughte to be a comfort, and as a spurre to the ministers of the gospell, that they shoulde not fainct vnderunder there burthen, neither by cowardlynes leue ther campe, if they were perswaded, that the doctrine which they preach, shall suerly get the victory, in spite of the deuill and all other ennemies. For in vaine doeth all the wickednes of the worlde labour to hinder his course, or to ouercome him, whome God him selfe hath purposely sent forth already crowned, not to a doubtfull battaile, but to a certaine victory. And this figure doeth represent the primitiue Church, a that fyrst age, in which the white horse cleare frō all spottes of peruerse & wicked opinions, caried ye doctrine of y• Gospell through the whole world.
Verse. 3.
And when he had opened the seconde seale I hearde the seconde beaste sayinge come and see. &c.
LEast we might suppose that all thinges shoulde ioyfully goe forward accordinge to these happy beginninges, the opening of the seconde seale doeth shewe, that the doctrine of the gospell shoulde be receiued with the wicked hatred and malice of sathan and the world. Touching that he is called to behold by the voice of the seconde beast, we maye learne to vse oure selues soberlye and modestly in searchinge oute the misteries of God, that we couet not to know more, then the Lord doth vouchsafe to reuele vntounto vsus. Moreouer that he might more diligently consider all ye seueral of this vision, it behoueth that to eueryevery one he shoulde be styrred vp with a new calle, for suche is the weakenes of our nature that except we be very often prouoked to meditate and consider those things which God hath reueled vntounto vsus, nothinge is more redy then that the same shold fall … slip out of our mindes.
Vers. 4.
And there went oute another horse that was red, and power was geuen him that sat there on, to take peace from the earth, and that they shold kill on another, and there was geuen him a great sword.
IT is certainely sure that the gospell of it selfe is the doctrine of peace, not onelyonly betwene God and men, but also to men among them selues. For what other thinge doth the gospel teach then that we should rest by true faieth in God our father, which is reueled vntounto vsus by the death of Christe, and that we shoulde embrace righteousnes and peace with men which are oure brethren. But it cōmeth to pas by ye wickednes of men and ye crafte of sathan, that whē this holsom and peaceable doctrine is reiected, men do cruelly rage among them selues, with murthering and slaughters, and god him selfe sendeth tumults and vprores of warre, that he may take vengeaunce vponupon the wicked despicers of his worde, which is here plainely expressed vnderunder the figure of the red horse, and sathan sittinge vponupon him. For the red horse doeth signifie the cruell and bloudy purpose of Sathan, by which he striueth euen at once vtterly to roote oute all the professors of the gospell, except his cruelty shoulde be bridled by the vnchaungeable decree and purpose of God. Hereof it commeth to pas, that the gospell beinge once preached, there arise horrible commotions, slaughters, and tumults. But Gods diuine prouidence doth so moderate all these thinges, that by these temptations he trueth his children, he suffereth his aduersaries to flea and murther one another. And this is it which Iohn saieth that power was geuen to this rider, to take peace from the earth, that mē might rage and war cruel among them selues with killing and murthering & for a token of the same power, he receiued a great sword. This is that sword, which Christ affirmeth he came into the world to send. This worthy to be noted yt the deuil him self although he burne with cruell hatred against the godly, yet he can worke nothing against them, but so much as there mercifull father doth graunt. Also for the reuenge of the death of the godly, yt the lord doth turne the sword of the enemies through there owne bowels. For we scarce reade at any time, yt crueltie was vsed against the godly, but yt there bloude was reuenged, is greater bloudshed of the persecutours. And this semeth to be the figure of the Church, which Sathan assalted with open violence vnderunder the Romane emperours, euen to the time of Cōstantine the great, for in that space Sathan wrought innumerable slaughters of ye holy martyrs vnderunder Domitiane, …ra…ane Antoninus, Decius, Dioclesian, Maxentius, Licin…s, & other cruell tyrants. But god throughly reuenged there death, when infinitie thousandes of them which became ministers of Sathans madnes in persecuting the Church were dayly consumed, either by forren warres, or ciuill seditiōs, & the Emperours also thēselues, proconsuls, and gouernours of prouinces, by poisoning, by treasons, by tumults, and often times murdering them selues, did beare the due punishment of there crueltie. And yet his course was not hindered, nor his victory disgraced, which sitting vpō the white horse went forth that he might cōquer & ouercome. But rather amōg these bloudy swordes, & sore woūdes, his victory appered much more gloriouse.
Vers. 5
And when he opened the third se…le I heard the third beast saying come and see, then I beheld and …o a blacke horse and he that sat on him had balaunces in his hand.
HE had nede of a new admonisher that he might diligentlye print in his mind the misterie of the third seale. And it was on this sort, when men waxed werie of heauenly foode, God sendeth hunger and famine among them, that they may suffer there deserued punishmentes for despicing his gospell. There appeareth therefore a blacke horse, carying the sorow & grie…e of famine into the world, yt they which will not acknowledge ye happy victory of him yt sat vpō the white horse going before, shold he miserably afflicted of the sturdy & cruell sitter vpō the black horse. This horsemā carieth a paier of balāce yt he may beliuer to mē for there sustenāce bred & water by weight, by which we reade that the scarcite of things, & famine is signified, as in Leuit. 26. Ezekiel 4. and …. When the Lorde threateneth that ten wemen shall bake together in one ouen, and shall deliuer forth bread by weight, and the Lord doth denounce by ye Prophete, that the Israelites shall take for there sustenaunce bread and water, by weight and measure. But here he foretelleth not so muche the scarcitie of corne and victualles, as that wofull scarcitie and hunger of the worde of God, which Amos sayeth shall come vponupon the world for the contempt of the same.
Vers. 6.
And I hearde a voice in the middest of the 4. beastes say: A measure of wheat for a penie, and three measures of barly for a peny, and oyel and wine hurt thou not. &c.
LEast he should thinke this famine to be the most bitterest of all the plagues, he heareth an oracle out of the middest of the 4. beastes, that this punishment shallbe tollerable, as that which should not bring vtter destruction. For he proclaymeth one measure called Chenix of wheate for a penye, and three of the same measures of barly for a peny, and that there shall be no scarcitie of wine and oyel. Chenix was a measure of wheat and barly, so much as should suffice a seruaunt, for one daies sustenaunce. The old interpretor dothe translate it two pownde, Budeus foure pounde, Pollux writeth that it weieth but thre pounde. Ezechiel in Chap. 4. doth alow for the sustenaunce of one man for a day twentie sycles, that is one pound of bread, and the sixt parte of a hin of water. And the Romane peny comed vnderunder Domitiā was almost as much as 7. of our pence. And at that time they did work for a penie a day. When as therefore euerie daies labour shold be spent for there breadcorne of wheat▪ he signifieth that the scarcitie should bee great, but yet such as might be borne, seing there should be greater plentie of barly, and no scarcetie of wine and oyle. And this figure semeth to represent the state of the Churche, after it had taken roote in the world, but chiefely after the peace graunted thereto by constantine when as besydes the horrible herisyes which did openlye defyle and corrupte the doctrine of Christ, many other traditions of men and vnproffitable cerimonies crepte in, by which a great famine of sincere and pure doctrine which is the spirituall meate of the soule, was brought into the Churche, and yet not so great, but that there was sufficiente of necessarie food, to the keping of eternall life. For although they suffered the penurie of pure wheatē bread, yet there was barly bread, which they might vse although not for so pure nurishment, yet for necessarie food. Notwithstanding in the meane time, there wanted not matter of spirituall ioye and gladnesse, (whiche is figured by the wine and oyel) to the godlye, which holding the onelyonly foundation of there faith, whiche is Christ, hauehave obteyned remission of sinnes, peace and quietnesse of conscience, through the benefite of the same Christ.
Vers. 7.
And when he had opened the fourth seale I hearde the voice of the fourth beast say come and see. &c.
THe fourth seale being opened, he is admonished by the voice of the fourth beast to come nerer and to behold the thing more certenlie and throughlye.
Vers. 8.
And I looked and behold a pale horse and his name that sat on him was death, and hell followed after him, and power was geuen vntounto him ouer the fourth parte of the earth, to kill with sworde, and with hunger and with death, and with the beastes of the earthe. &c.
THis pale horse which carieth death vponupon his backe. signifieth the plague and other pestilent dyseases, whiche by the iust iudgemente of God doe slea men for the contempte of the Gospell. And after death followeth hell, that it should not be thought to be a pestilence of the bodies onelyonly, but that with eternall death of the soule and tormentes of hell doe follow after. And truely hell alwaies followeth the death of the bodie, excepte in those onelyonly, to whome the stinge of death is broken, and the victorie of hell spoiled and taken awaye, by the deathe of Christ. And least it might be thought, that pestilence onelye should deuoure the reprobate, he hereth that there was power giuen vntounto him, to destroy the third parte of men with sword, famine, pestilence, and teeth of wilde beasts. with these 4. kindes of punishments God being angrie, doth strike, as Moses witnesseth in the 26. chap. of Leuit. Whereby wee gather that the condition and state of those times shalbe verie miserable, this terrible thretening shalbe fulfylled. Suche as those times were when the empire of Rome was spoiled and wasted faire & wide by the Gothes, Hunnes, Vandalles, and other barbarouse nations. For histories doe testifie, that there were neuer more manifeste examples of Gods vengeaunce, then in those miserable times, whē all places were filled with murderings, burninges, famishment, pestilence, and beasilye cruelties of barbarouse people. What meruail, if then the pure doctrine of Christ almost driuen out, and cōdemned in many places were sylent, wheras before it florished wonderfully, if heresies, peruerse, and wicked opinions, and traditions of men did then receaue so great strength? when by the iust iudgement of God the mindes of men must be bewitched with lies and falsehood, for neclecting the truth: if the Churche smitten & shauen with the persecutions of pagans & heretiques was greatlye deminished and brought into a straight and narow Rome? But against all these calamities & miseries the mindes of the faithfull ought to hauehave bene armed, that they shoulde not faint in such sturdie stormes of temptations, but holde and keepe an vndefiled and constante profession of there faithe euen to the ende.
Vers. 9.
And when he had opened the fyft seale, I saw vnderunder the altar the soules of them that were killed for the worde of god and for the testimonie which they maynteyned. &c.
THe opening of the fifte seale declareth the state of the faithfull after they are departed this life. For when as they beinge oppressed with infinite calamities, were all the daye long as shepe apointed to the slaughter, this doubt mighte rise in the minds of the godly, what good or euill may come to them after death? when all there life they are intreated after a wretched manner, and afterwarde by the Barbarouse crueltie of there enemies they are diliuered vp & put to most bitter death. Christ taketh away this scruple or doubt, when as he sheweth, that those which were slaine for the worde of God, and the testimonie of the Gospell, which they alwaies boldly and frelye professed, do after this wretched life, inioye blessed tranquillitie in heauen and do looke and waite for iust reuenge vppon there wicked enemies. And the soules of those that were departed out of this life are placed vnderunder the altar, that is, they rest vnderunder ye defence of Christ, which is made to god, for them, the priest, altar and sacrifice, and they them selues also are offered vp in earth by martirdome for a sacrifice of acceptable & swete smell. Ve…e fitly therefore rest is assigned vntounto them in heauen vnderunder …he altar. But as concerning the place in which the spirites and soules of the sainctes are placed, none other thing is here sign…ed by the altar then that whiche in the 16. Chap. of …. Luke, is men… by the bosome of Abraham, and in the 23. Chapter by paradise.
Vers. 10.
And they cried with a lowde voice saying how long tariest thou Lorde holy and true to iudge and auenge our bloud on them that diuell on the earth. &c.
THe blessed spirites wishe and desire that the glorie of God may be extolled aboue all thinges, they are here therefore brought in by a figure called prosopopeia taking it greuously that the iudgement of God was so longe deferred: that vengeance was not yet taken vpō the bloudy enemies of Christ & his Church. But it is not so much here expressed in what kind of affection they are endued, as it is described, what there persecutoures hauehave deserues. That we should not either imagine those to be lost which giuegive there liues for the glorie of Christ, or thinke that the wicked shall alwaies preuail in there wickednes. They cry with a loude voice, that they seme to be touched with an earnest desire of reuenge. How long o Lord. &c. They do not expostulate or quarell with God, as thoughe hee were vniuste vntounto them, in that hee deferred there reuenge in long, but accordinge to the manner of the godlye they poure forth there complaintes into his bosome. For when they call him holye and true, they signifye that hee neither can nor will suffer any thing, which is not in all pointes agreable to his righteousnesse and trueth. For it is not agreable to the iustice of God, that hee shoulde alwaies suffer the iniuries done to the godly to be vnreuenged and it is contrarie to the truth of his worde, that wicked men should scape vnpunished, of whome he hath promised so often that he will take due punishemente vponupon them for there wicked and heynouse offences.
Vers. 11.
And long white garments were giuen to euerie one of them.
WHite garmentes are signes of dignitie, wherewithe Christ extolleth the soules of them, which hauehave not refused valiantly to suffer deathe for the testimonie of his Gospell. For although they do not as yet inioye the full and perfecte ioy of happines (suche as shalbe giuen them after the restoring of bothe bodie and soule) yet they liue & raigne with there head Christ in heauen, inioying happie and blessed tranquillitie, but yet so that they carefully vnderunder hope, do waite for the restoring of the bodies, and the time of the last iudgment. And this dignitie commeth vntounto them onelyonly by Christ, as we shall heare in ye next chapter folowing, of those that hauehave wasshed there garmentes in the bloude of the lambe.
And it was sayed vntounto them that they should rest for a little season vntill the number of there fellowes and brethren and of them that should be killed as they were, were fulfilled. &c. They are commaunded to rest in this quietnes, and to beare patiently for a litle time the deferring of the last iudgement, that the whole number of them whome God hath lykewise ordeyned to the glory of martyredome, should obtaine with them the same palme and praise of victorie. Whereby it is euidente, that althoughe almoste infinite thousande martyres whiche suffered vnderunder those tenne famouse persecutions, that yet there remainethe a great number of the godlye, whiche are reserued and kept and shall suffer the like thinges, in the openinge of the sixt & seuenth seales. Moreouer the time is called short, although it last many hundred yeares after, because the Lord hath apointed the ende and termes of the same, which if we hauehave respecte to the euerlastinge comfort and consolation, ought to seme very short. For what equallity or proportion is there of that which hath an ende, with that which is infinite? Neither are our sufferinges to be estemed if they be compared to the glorye that shall follow. Moreouer we vnderstande by this place yt can none promote or preferre them selues to the glorye of martyredome, but he which is apointed and ordeyned of God for the same worke. Lastly we are sufficiently instructed by this vision, yt the soules of those that are departed do not slepe withoute any sence or felinge of happines, when with a loude voice they desire reuenge they praise and magnifye God, are clothed in white garmentes are commaunded to waite and abide for the victory of there fellowes and brethren.
Verse. 12.
And I behelde when he opened the sixt zeale and loe there was a great earth quake, and the sunne was blacke as sackecloth made of heare, and the moone waxed euen as bloud. &c.
THe openinge of the sixte zeale setteth forth a terrible earth quake and also diuers wonderouse thinges of heauen. Christ prophesied in the 24. chap. of Mathew, that there shalbe famine, and pestilence and great earthquakes in many places al which things, as also they are foretolde to come by this vision, so if they be vnderstood without figure, as Christ himself testifieth, they are onelyonly the beginniges and as it were the foretellinges of sorowes, and truly there cronicles are full of many great earthquakes in diuers and sundry nations and cuntries, which as Il graunte that they were sygnes of euilles shoulde followe, so I doubte not but that by the earthquake here are forshewed great alterations and chaunges of empire and religion, which should follow almost through the whole world. suche as were when the wicked pestilence of mahomet preuailed in the world through the sarasines, and sodenly spread ouer the whole empire of the cast and at length the turkes succedinge oppressed ye greatest part of the west also. Then truely Christ the sonne of righteousnesse suffered a great eclipse, when the pure doctrine of the gospell was darkened almost to all whiche semed to bee lyke sackeclothe of heare to them, whose eyes the brightnes of this worlde had so tied and bounde that they were blinde euen in the cleare and broad dayly light. For Christ himselfe suffered not any part of his owne glory to be deminished: whiche was euen then also the lighte of the worlde and the sonne of righteousnes, to the faithfull although they were very few, but that he semed to be so to the wicked multitude, when as most sharp and cruell persecution raging, verie few durst truely and boldly professe him. The moone that is the church which boroweth here light of the sunne, that is of Christ, is not onelyonly (the sunne beinge darkened) depriued of hir light, but also throughe the horrible slaughters & calamities is all ouer couered with bloudye colloure.
Verse. 13.
And the starres of heauen fell vntounto the earth euen as a fygge tree casteth of her vntimely fygges when she is shaken of a mighty winde. &c.
THe doctors and teachers, which in the sincere doctrine of ye Gospell semed to shine as the starres in heauen, and other professors also, now ouercome with calamities, and oppressed with miseries, doe fall downe to earthly thinges: they forsake Christ and his Church and imbrace this presente worlde. And least they may seme to be few which shall doe this, he sheweth that ther shalbe innumerable, which no otherwise thē vntimely fygges do fall from the fygge tree when it is shaken of a vehement and mighty winde, euen so together and as it were wt one violent motion, many, & at length almost all, shall fall frō the confession of the heauenly doctrine to the drosse and corruption of this world.
Vers. 14.
And heauen departed a way as a scrole when it is rolled together and all mountaines and Islles were moued out of there places. &c.
THe doctrine of ye gospell being taken frō among thē which was wont to open heauen, the verie sighte also of the heauen it self is taken from the eyes of men. The similitude of the scrole rolled together doth expresse the sodaine taking awaye of the same. The mountaines also and the Isles which were wont to be refuges and places of safegard in such calamities, are not free them selues from the same terrible motiōs, so that there apeareth no cōfort at all to wretched and miserable men eyther in heauen or in earth.
Vers. 15.
And the kinges of the earth and the great men and the riche men, and the chiefe Captaines, and the mightie men, and euerie bonde men and euerie free man, hidde them selues in dennes and in rockes of the hilles. &c.
THese proude despisers of the holsome doctrine, which geuing them selues to riote, and vaine pleasures, hauehave neclected the true worship of God, whether they bee kinges, or wether they be great men, rich men, or chiefe captaines, potentates or mightie men, with all there traine, both free and bound, shall now beare the punishmente of there impietie, when as for feare of the euils hanginge ouer them, they shall fearefully hide them selues in the dennes and holes of the mountaynes.
Vers. 16.
And they sayed to the hilles and rockes fall on vsus and hide vsus from the presence of him that sitteth on the throne and from the wrath of the lambe. &c.
NOw they which hetherto hauehave carelesly despised God, being pricked with the furies of there owne conscience, doe at length acknowledge these calamities to be sent vponupon them frō God being angrie. They do not so much flye death, which they desire to be vponupon them for euer, but the sight of him that sitteth vponupon the throne, and the wrath of the lambe, whiche is iudge both of the liuing and dead: what thē are the tormentes of hell when the horror and feare of iudgement is so great? and we may note that the wrath of the lambe which is so gentle to his friendes, is terrible to his enemies, although in time past he offered vp him selfe to the Iewes to be slayne.
Vers. 17.
For the great day of his wrath is come and who can endure it. &c.
NOw they confesse that the time is come in which they shall be punished for there wickednesse, and that it cannot be auoided, but that they must needs feele the seueritie and sharpenesse of the lābe which no mortall creature is able to beare. Let vsus therefore kisse the sonne while he offreth himselfe vntounto vsus easy to bee pleased, that beinge free from these euils, we maye liue blessedly with him for euer.