Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 7
The seuenth Chapter.
THe blessed rest of the soules departed out of the bodie, is described before in the openinge of the fyfte seale, that is the state of the triumphante Churche in heauen, now is semed conuenient, that it should bee declared in this Chapter, whiche doth perteyne to the opening of the sixte se…le, what should be, the state and condition of the Church militante in earth. For the same being preserued and kept out of the greatest affliction of all which heretofore hath happened and signed with the seale of the liuinge God deliuered out of the calamities and miseries of this life, at length is taken vp with those that went before into the same degree and state of blessednesse.
Vers. 1.
☞ And after that. &c.
AFter this terrible earthquake, which altogether drawe away slouthfulnesse and dilicacie from the wicked Princes of the world and all the champeons of Sathans garde whiche being greatly amazed with terrour of winde, they rather wished any kinde of death then that they would be drawne to the tribunall seat of the angrie Iudge: Ihon might meruail what shoulde become of the Churche of Christ. Hee is admonished therefore by this vision, that not one of the whole number of the faithfull whome God hath predestinate to eternall life can be brought from the constant confession of the true faith either by the cruell tormentes of the persecutours or by the subtill & priuie deceites of heritiques, and false deceyuers, although neuer so great stormes of persecutions fall vponupon them.
I sawe foure Aungells stande on the foure corners of the earth holding the foure windes of the earth, that the voices should not blow on the earth neuer on the sea neither on any tree. &c. It pertayneth not greatlye to vsus to knowe wether they were good or euill Augels, for God as it semeth god vntounto him selfe executeth his iudgementes bothe by good and euill Aungels. For ā euil Aungell broughte in the plague in the time of king Dauid. A good Aungell also ouerthrewe the armie Sennacheri… with a mightie great slaughter. Although I doe incline to the Iudgement of those which contend that euill Aungels are vnderstoode in this place. Howesoeuer it be, it is thought good to the iust iudgment of God, to take awaye almost altogether oute of the world, the free preachinge of the gospell, which before sownded in the whole earth. And the metaphore of the winde, doth very fitly agree: for the word being taken awaye the force of the holy ghost, whiche sheweth him selfe forth in the preachinge of the gospell, is restrained and holden backe, that he shoulde not blow vponupon the earth nor vponupon the sea, neither vponupon any tree. For that whiche holsome and seasonable windes are to the worlde, the same is the holy ghoste, to the Churche. The mistery of the word therefore beinge taken out of the worlde, the Church must nedes suffer a sore decaye and deminishinge. And here no doubt is signified the greateste defection and departing almost of the whole world, from the pure doctrine of the gospell, such as happened in those miserable times, when the pestilente doctrine of Mahomete inuaded all Asia and Affrica, the popishe drosse dayly receiued great increase in Europe. And it is verye lyke, that here is noted that generall Apostasie, whiche Saincte Paule foresaw shoulde goe before the reuealinge of Antichrist 2. Thessal. 2. chap. which is plainely described in the openinge of the seuenth seale.
Verse. 2.
And I saw an other aungell ascende from the rising of the sunne which had y• seale of the liuinge God, and he cried wt a loud voice to y• 4 angels, to whom power was geuen to hurte the earth and the sea. &c.
I agree with them which vnderstand Christ to be signified by this aungell, to whom those things, which are shewed to Iohn in y• vision, concerning this angell, do properly belonge. And it is so vsuall in the scriptures, that the angels doe beare or represent the person of there lord and head Christ, that I wil not tary in it. But as concerning this present place, y• which is here spoken, doeth truly agree to oure sauioure Christ, that he ascended from the rising of the sunne, who Zacharie in his songe almost with the same wordes magnifieth rising and springing from an highe. For he is the sunne of righteousnes, before whose risinge as well in the greater world as in the lesse which is man, nothing is found but most thicke darckenes. He is sayed in this place to hauehave ascended from the rising of the sunne, that by his brightines he mighte bring some comforte and consolation, to the godly, for we herd before yt the sunne was darkened in the world, as though it had put on a sacke clothe of heare. But that is applied to the sight of the wicked & of hipocrites, for Christ ascending from the rising of the sunne to the Church his spouse, doth illuminate the same with the most pleasaunt & brighte beames of his gloriouse light. Furthermore Christ hath yt holy seale of the liuing God, that is the euerliuing, & from whome all life doth flow, which sealeth with the holye spirite all those whom the heauenly father the founteyne of life, hath elected & chosen to eternall saluation, and whō he hath redeamed by his death, and restored, by his resurrection into newnes of life. Lastly with great aucthoritie he restraineth the force of the 4. Aungels, to whome it was graunted that they might hurt the earth and the sea, that they should not touch anye thinge at all vntill he had placed the seruaunts of God in safetie. This place doth most clearly shew, that God doth neuer so grieuouslye shew forth his wrath against the world; that he should caste away the eare he hath ouer his Children.
Vers. 3.
Hurt ye not the earth, neither the sea, neither the trees, vntill we hauehave sealed the seruauntes of our God in there forehedes. &c.
HE commaundeth them that they hurt not the earth, nor the see, nor the trees, before that he shal by the setting on of his seale destinguish and seuer the seruauntes of God, from the wicked and hypocriticall. Here the punishmentes of the vngodly are deferred. while there is prouision made for the elect. The floud came not before Noah with his family had entered into the arcke. And the Aungels witnes that they can doe nothing to y• citie of the Sodomits, except Lot were first brought forth into safetie. The angell spared the first borne of ye Egyptians so long, vntill the postes of the Israelites were sprinckled with the bloud of the paschal lambe, a little before nighte. And there is the like thing in the 9. Chapter of Ezekiell wheras the sixe armed men were sente forth to destroye the citie of Ierusalem, they are commaunded to followe the man clothed with the linnen garment, hauing the inckehorne of a scribe at his gyrdle, whōe God sent before to set a marke in ye forehead of those, which did morne for all the abominatiōs which were cōmitted in the citie. Those whome this first did not marke, he committethe to the other to bee slaine. But they are signed in this place, not that they should be kepte free from pestilence or murder, but that beinge deliuered from eternall deathe, they might be knit & ioyned to God & Christ there deliuerer. And there are none signed besides the seruants of God. And this is also moreouer to be noted, that they receyue the print of the seale in there foreheads, to this end, yt as they are the seruantes of God, so they may also be knowne of all men to be such, neither that they should be ashamed, wheresoeuer neede shall require, to confesse whose doctrine and religion they professe. And although they are signed in there harts by the holy ghost, yet the print & figure of the same seale apearethe in there foreheades, when as with the harte we beleue to righteousnes, & with the mouth we confesse vntounto saluation.
Vers. 4.
And I herd the number of them that were sealed, and there were sealed and hundred and foure and fortie thousande of all the tribes of the Children of Israell. &c.
THe number of the electe is certeyne to God, so that one of them can not perishe whome Christ hath taken vnderunder his protection, for this foundation of God shall alwaies stande vnmouable, hauinge this seale: the Lorde knoweth who be his: and lette him departe awaye from vnrighteousnesse, whosoeuer nameth the name of the Lord. The number truely of the elect is great, and greater then men wold thinke. The elect in dede are not many if we compare them with the infinite mylions of the reprobate, but when a man woulde thinke that there remayne verie fewe and almoste no true worshippers of GOD at all, yet Christ hathe his Churche. There were seuen Thousande that is manye thousandes of the Israelites, (when as Elias beleued hee was alone) whiche had neuer departed from God to the wicked worshipping of Baale. And whē we might thinke the nation of the Iewes almost taken out of the world, by the horrible persecutions and calamities, which chanced after the opening of the four seales: S. Iohn heareth an hundred and foure and forty thousand of those that were signed of all the tribes of Israell. This nū ber is cōposed of twelue thousand, twelue times repeated, the nū ber of twelue signifieth yt gathering together oute of yt miseable dispersiō, into one body of Christ & his Church which was foū ded in 12. patriarchs, & afterward being fouly dispersed, was gathered together by ye 12. Apostels, which were the preachers of Christ. And Christ wold signify the same thing by the seuēty and two Disciples sente forth throughoute the whole region, when this nūber of so many elders instituted by Moses, was counted famouse among them, and it might plainlye enoughe admonish the Iewes, that the Messias was come, which wold gather together again into one bodie, the wādering & straying Iewes and the Israelits dispersed ouer the whole world. We are caught here, that there remayneth a bodie of ye Churche, to God, althoughe the members bee seperated one from another with neuer so long distance of place, so that they hold the holy bond of vnitie in Christ there head. For wheresoeuer the dead carcas is, thether will the Eagles be gathered. Matth 24.
Vers. 5.6.7.8.
Of the tribe of Iuda were sealed twelue thousand, of the tribe of Ruben were sealed twelue thousand. &c.
HE counteth it not enough to reherse the whole number of those that were sealed, except he should also number out of euerie particuler tribe, twelue thousande of those that were signed. Whiche thing hee dothe for this cause, least anye thinge of the promises of God, whiche yet remayned most famouse and cleare, concerninge the restoring of the commune wealth of Israell, mighte seeme to fayle. Not that it is necessarye that an equall number shoulde to bee taken oute of eueryevery tribe, but bycause the number of twelue, noteth perfection, and it shewethe that the number of the electe is determinate withe GOD, likewise as the multitude of Souldiours is knowne to there Captayne, which that he may know the certayne number of them the better and that order may be kepte, deuideth and distributeth his whole armie into ensignes or standerdes, which Christ doth here. Otherwise there is no difference or prerogatiue of tribes in the first election. For the order of the ensignes is otherwise distributed here, then of Moses in the 2. Chapter of the booke of Numbers although the priuilege of Iuda kepte, for the misterie of our redeamer and head, for Christ came of the Iewes. But it causeth some to meruaile, why the tribe of Dan shold be altogether omitted & left out of this rehersall. The aunciēt writers supposed by the Prophecie of Iacobe that Antichrist shoulde hee borne of that tribe, and therefore it was not to be reckoned among the elect tribes, which is to weake and vaine, and it brought forth mō strouse fables concerning Antichrist, when as the woordes of Iacobe sound no such matter Gene. 49. But onelyonly, that like as serpentes do set vponupon men vnwares, so the nature of this tribe should be suche that by subtilties and deceytes it shoulde ouercome the enemies. The simplest and plainest cause, whye one tribe was omitted, is this, that there might be place for the tribe of Leuy, which was not to be left oute of that rehersall, for the notable Misterie therein conteyned, For when as it had no inheritaunce in Canaan the lande of promise (because the lord was there portion) now the priesthood being translated to Christ, the holy ghost would plainly expresse, that the tribe of Leui also is admitted to the partaking of the heauenly inheritaunce, although that amonge the rest it had no part in the earthly omision, but of so great a nūber of Iewes whiche are here rehersed we may gather that misterie which Paule toucheth in the 11. Chap. to the Rom. That blindenesse is partly happened vntounto the Iewes vntill the fulnesse of the gentiles become in and then all Israell shalbe saued.
Vers. 9.
And after this I behelde, and so a great multitude which no man could number, of all nations, kindered, people, and tongues. &c.
IN the first place are numbred those that were signed of Israel which is the first begotten of God, and after follow the gentiles in there order, whiche as the Iewes are aboue them in dignitie of time, so likewise they are aboue them in multitude and number. A great multitude, (saith he) which no man could number, but yet not of an vncerteyne number but whiche is knowne to God, and can not be comprehended of men, out of all nations, kindredes, people and tongues, God is no acceptor of persons but of euerie nation those that louelove him, & work righteousenes, are accepted of him. For in Christ Iesus there is neither Iew, nor gentile, Scithian or Barbarian, but those whome God hath chosen he hath called, whōe he hath called he hath sanctified, whome he hath sanctified, hee hathe glorified. We se here what a wounderfull great companye of the faithfull, by the meruailouse counsell and prouidence of God besydes all hope of man, is escaped out of so great waues of persecutions. And where as we thought the Church to be almost destroyed, yet great remnantes of the same to be preserued by the helpe of God. We maye learne heare that the Churche is not to be soughte with the bodelye eyes, neither the multitude thereof to be measured by the Iudgemente of the sences. For if the Church should alwaies florish in the eyes of men, there had bene no neede that the mindes of the godly should be confirmed by this vision, againste that temptation by whiche the whole Church should seeme to be vtterly ouerthrowne, when all thinges apeared full of slaughters, herisies falshoodes, defectiōs, that sound rocke, which is promised shal stand against hell gates▪ which was no where seene with mans eyes.
Standing before the throne and before the lambe. &c. They which before were aliants & straungers from y• Church to whome there was no accesse open to God, now are citisius thereof, and the sonnes of God throughe the lambe, which takethe awaye not the sinnes of the Iewes onelye, but of the whole world, so that they may bouldly stand in the presence of God and of Christ, when as the wicked desired nothing more then to be hidde from the presence of him that sat vppon the throne, and from the wrath of the lambe, as we hearde in the Chapter going before.
Clothed with long white robes and palmes in there handes. &c. There aparell and decking eis here described, yt they are clothed in long white garmentes, which are tokens of dignitie and innocencie that they beare palmes in there handes they testifie and declare that they are conquerers of the world the …leshe, and the deuill, but because he speaketh more at large hereafter of there happinesse, lesse shall here suffice.
Vers. 10.
And they cried with a loude voice saying saluation commeth of our God that sitteth vponupon the throne and of the lambe. &c.
THere thanke…ullnesse is declared by the loudnes of there voice, that they cried out with loude voice, giuing worthie honour to God. But this is chiefly to be obserued, that there is one voice of all those that be saued, that they referre all there saluation that they hauehave receyued, wholly to God and Christ. Saluation (say they) to him that sitteth vponupon the throne of our God and to the lambe. These do attribute no parte of there saluation to there owne desertes, no part to workes of superarogation, no parte to creatures althoughe neuer so holye, but they ascribe all the glorie of the same beinge restored in God and Christ, this is the Catholique doctrine of y• Church, howsoeuer the Romane Antichrist condemneth it of heresye y• cause not heard, and persecuteth the professores of the same with fire and sword, and exquisite tormentes both by sea and lande.
Vers. 11.
And all the Aungels stoode round about the throne & aboute the elders and the 4. beastes, and they fell before the throne on there faces, and worshipped God saying, Amen. &c
ALthough the whole roote of the papists abhorre and detest this doctrine as hereticall & Scismaticall, yet it hathe for defenders euen infinite thousandes of Aungels, whiche about the throne of the elders & the foure beastes, do diligently waite vponupon the will and pleasure of God, as we hauehave learned in the 5. chap. these do alow with there consent, the triumphāt song of the blessed spirits. For after they hauehave yelded reuerēce to God, with due submission, which they are wont before they dare bring forthe any thing into his presence, first they testify there godlines in the approuing & alowinge the former song, saying Amen. Afterwarde that they maye satisfye there owne zeale, they expound the same sentence with many mo wordes.
Vers. 12.
Praise and glorie and wisedome and thankes, and honour and power and might, be vntounto our God for euer more. Amen.
TO this ende belongeth this heaping together of woordes that they may testifie ye by all meanes they ascribe all glory to God alone. Therefore they expresse the same thing with mo woordes all those are, praise and thankes geuing, honour and glorie, power & strength. For we can neuer attribute to muche to God in praises. And by this note or marcke we may descerne the true doctrine of God from that which is counterfere & forged, for that doctrine which feareth to giuegive to much to god, as the popishe doctrine doth, is altogether false and knoweth not the infinite Maiestie of God. For the papistes do flie and eschew this confession, that they shold ascribe all laude, glory, & praise, to God, least nothing should be left which they might attribute to S. Images, to there workes & other there profane toyes and trifles.
Vers. 13.
And one of the elders spake saying vntounto me, what are these that are arased in long white robes? and whence came they?
SAincte Ihon doth meruail secretly with him selfe at the usiber and gloriouse beautie of those, which after the sealeō Israelites …ame forth before y• throne. Yet he durst not aske whoe they were modestly waiting whether that should be reuealed vntounto him or not, by the permission of God. One of the elders therefore maketh aunswere not to the question but to ye doubt of Ihon familierly talking with him, and asking him, whether he knew well what they were, which were araied in long white garmentes and from whence they came.
Vers. 14.
And I sayed vntounto him Lord thou knowest accordinge to. &c.
IHon maketh aunswere according to his simplicitie, honorably (as the maner is of speaking to a noble personage) calling the elder Lord that he is ignorant, but yet hopeth that he shalbe instructed of him concerning the conditiō of them, whō he beleueth to know the same.
And he sayed vntounto me these are they which came oute of great tribulation. &c. This elder declareth firste what they are & afterward whence they came. These are (sayth he) those which by the benefite of God are deliuered out of that horrible affliction which before was described should come▪ and nowe being free from all there laboures, they are receiued unto blessed rest vntill the day of resurrection, truely this semeth wonderfull and strang, that out of so great an earthquake whiche did shake all partes of the worlde, such a number could be saued, but that we may confesse the meruailouse counsel of God to be farre aboue the capacitie of our witte.
And hauehave enla…ged there long robes & hauehave made there long robes white in the bloud of the lambe. &c. He setteth forth two notes of dignitie to be cōsidered in there garments, the breath and the colour, they ought to acknowledge, to hauehave receyued both of them by the benefite of Christ. Large garmentes are the appareill of noble personages & mightie men. This largenes they go in the bloud of Christ, whiche hanged naked vponupon the Crosse that he might bewtifully cloth vsus. And they borowed there white colour, (which is as we sayd before a token of dignitie and innocencie) of the red bloude of the lambe which though it alwaies continue red, and as it were euen new … hath this meruailouse qualitie, that in washing …, it tourneth the purple colour of garmentes, in…o the whitenes of snow or wolle, according to that in the 1. Chapter of Iesay if your sinnes shalbe as red as scarlet they shalbe made as white as wolle, lastlye we muste note that all this whitenes is placed in there garmentes and not in there bodies, that we may acknowledge that they do not shine in there owne righteousnes, but that there vncleanes is couered with the innocencie of Christ, euen as with a large garment.
Vers. 15.
And therefore they are before the throne of God. &c.
NOt bycause they trust to there owne merites, but bycause beinge couered with the righteousnes of Christ they are beautifull to beholde, they dare come forth in to the presence of the throne of the immortall and euerliuing God. Truely the dignitie of this garment is meruailouse, bycause they do were it although they be priuie of there owne infirmitie, yet they are not afrayed to come into the presence of ye most iust iudge.
And they serue him day and night in his temple. &c. God doeth accepte free seruice whiche are clothed with the innocency of Christ, without which ornament the seruice of none canne please him, but he will expell them oute of his familye as vagabondes, and runnagates, which doe thrust any seruice vponupon him whiche they woulde hauehave to be accepted at his handes withoute Christ. But now there obedience is acceptable vntounto him, so that they serue him in his temple as holy preistes day and night, that is for euer, that they apply them selues to his holy worshippe as thoughe they had neuer bene prophane. We may learne here by what meanes we may offer vp in the Church reasonable seruice accepted of God, yt is if vnclothed of filthy garments of our flesh and hauinge put on the righteousnes of Christe, we come forth into his presence.
And he that sitteth on the throne will dwell amonge them. &c. It is not only accepted of God which his faithfull seruaunts doe, but he taketh vponupon him the office of a mercifull and liberall lord, when he on the other side becommeth there patrone and defendoure, and as the hen couereth her chickens, so God will kepe his seruaunts free from the inuasions of all euills.
Verse. 16.
And they shall hunger no more neither thirst any more neither shall the sun light on them neither any heate. &c.
ALthough so longe as they followed the warfare of Christ in earth, often times they suffered hunger, often thirst, & parthinge heate of the sun and other such kinde of aduersities, now beinge made free and losed from the bond of warfare, they feele no more such calamities neither any discommoditye at all and of ye place some do not amisse that the fier of purgatory is here vtterly quenched, whē as this Angell pronounceth, that ye godly shall fele no kinde of burninge heat after this life.
Verse. 17.
For the lambe which is in the middest of the throne shall fede them and shall leade thē vntounto the liuely fountaines of waters and god shall wipe awaye all teares from there eyes. &c.
THis is a reueng of the cause, because the lambe which hath redemed them sittinge in the middest of the throne equall to God his Father, hathe taken the care and charge of them, and and shall leade them to the perpetuall fountaines of liuinge waters which being satisfied, they shall not thirst for euer, and God himselfe also will wipe awaye all teares from there eyes, when from hencforth there shalbe no cause of sorow and mourning offered vntounto them, but they shall hauehave the fruition of perpetuall ioy worlde without end. Amen.