Prelections Upon Revelation, Chapter 8
¶ The eyght Chapter.
THere remaineth behinde as yet the openinge of the seuenth seale which being opened there, are more greiuous calamities, then as yet hauehave bene hard of to be sent forth into the worlde. When as the kinges moste terrible or rather the tyranny of antichriste is described.
Afterward his ruine is fore tolde and lastly the signes of Christ comminge to iudgement do appeare.
Verse. 1.
And when he had opened the seuenth seale, there was silence in heauen about the space of halfe an hower, and I saw the seuen Aungells standing before God, and to them were geuen seuen trumpets. &c.
BEcause the greatest matter that euer hapened, & most worthy due consideration, were made manifest in the openinge of y• seuenth seale, his mind was to be prepared to ye diligent making of ye same, with a rare & vnaccustomed maner. There is silence therefore made in heauen as it were for ye space of halfe an ower in wt space whilest all thinges were silent, the Apostell shoulde sterre vp his minde to the diligent consideringe, what misterye shoulde be reuealed to the Church in the opening of the seuenth seale, which he now saw opened. Moreouer whē as his minde was holden in suspense half an hower in ye waiting for of those thinges which should follow, he coulde not but diligentlye print in his minde the things which so desirousely he had waited for to know. But this silence may be also referred to the deliberation of God, for Princes and wise men are accustomed when as they will decree or pronounce any thing, concerning great matters and waightie affaires, to hauehave some silence in the meane time that they maye not seme to hauehave done it, but with great deliberation not that the counsels of God are prolonged with doubtfull consultatiōs according to the maner of the counsels of men, but bycause he would prepare our minds to the diligent consideration of his workes an… woordes, by suche signes as it were by aides: if therefore we will vnderstand those thinges which are reuealed in the opening of this seale, let vsus bring minds altogether, void of worldly troubles, and casting of the cares of all other thinges for a time, let vsus giuegive our attendance onelyonly to this, that we may diligently receyue those things which the holy ghost hath spoken. I know that this sylence is diuersly and farre otherwise expounded of others, & some do fly to vaine and vnproffitable speculations: But this interpretation whiche I hauehave broughte, as it is the playnest, so it semed most conuenient and fit to the purpose.
Vers. 2.
And I saw seuen Aungells which stoode before God and to them were giuen seuen trumpets. &c.
ALl this preparation is set forth to expresse the greatnesse of the thinge, first there came forthe seuen Aungels into the presence of god, they stād a certayne while as it were waiting what seruice god wold cōmaūde thē, afterward there are deliuered into there handes seuen trumpetes, yet they doe not straitway sound the same, but they waite for the will of God in all thinges. All these do after a sorte prouosticate and foretell the heuinesse of Gods iudgements which should shortlye after be made manifest. But the number seuen, of the Angels, as otherwhere so also heare, doth represent the whole felowship of them, which are all cōtinually most redely prepared, to the obediēce of god, although as it semeth good to his infinite wisedome, he apointeth now these, now those to the executing of diuers businesses. But here the Aungels are apointed to be trūpetters, which is bicause they are ordeyned to publish ye iudgementes of god in the world. For as it is the manner of kinges and Emperours and alwaies hath bene, to publish to the people there decrees, especially perteyninge to warres, with the sound of a trompet: so God hath described vnderunder a like figure the iudgements which he hath prepared against his enemies and despisers of his Gospell, when they are to be made manifest in there times. And the seuen trumpetes, do signifye all the reuelatiōs of Gods iudgements, like as the number of seuen is vniuersall, and signifieth fulnesse in the writinges of the prophets. When as therefore seuen Angels go forth with so many trumpets, there is ment, that all the kinds of punishmentes, which were included in the seuen seales, are to be repeated in this last seale. No meruail therefore, if our mindes with so great preparation, be stirred vp to diligent marking. Moreouer if we shall gather the duetie of the doctors and teachers of the Church, by the Aungels that sound the trumpets, we shall not doe contrarie to reason. And the analogie leadeth vsus to the same, when as there office also is to be declarer of gods iudgmēts. For god hath not bene accustomed to send famouse plagues into the world, but first mē were admonished of the same by prophetes and teachers, that all pretence and cloke of ignorance might be taken from the wicked and if any be curable, they might repēt frō there errours, by which being seduced they wandred oute of the way, and so escape the euils hanging ouer them.
Vers. 3.
And an other Aungell came and stoode before the altare hauing a Golden censer. &c.
THis Aungell doth represent Christ, which is not an Aungell by nature, but by office, and Malachie the prophete calleth him the Angel of the couenaunt. For when as ye most dangerouse persecution of all, was at hand, vnderunder the tyrannye of Antichrist, which is reuealed in the opening of the seuēth seal… Christ commeth forthe into the presence of God, beinge the head and preseruer of his Church, as one that woulde defende the same, against the daungers which were at hand. Whereby both the greatnesse of the perilles is expressed, as though now necessitie required that the presente helpe of Christ shoulde be with them, and as it were to prouide them in doubtefull matters: and also the singuler louelove of Christ towards his, and the especiall care he hath ouer them, which when troubles aproche neare, is readie prepared and present to defend thē before god, and by continuall intercessions to commende the cause of the Church to his fatherly mercy. And Christ is here broughte in exercising the office of an highe priest, (which he hath without succession) when as he is placed at the altar. Whereby hee can saue for euer those that come vntounto God through him, liuinge alwaies for this ende, that he may make intercession for them. Hebrewes chap. 7. Which is notablye described vnderunder this figure. For he standeth at the altar, not that he may againe offer vp sacrifice propitiatory, bycause there is no oblation for the forgeuenesse of sinne without the shedding of bloud. For this sacrifice being once finished, by which eternall redemption is obteyned, we nede not to hauehave it repeated. But when as he is entred into the holy of holiest that is into heauen, he offerethe vp incense in the presence of God, which are the praiers of the sainctes vponupon the golden altare of the incense. For this figure doth allude to the custome of the priestes of the old law, which dayly entring into the sanctuarie, did offer vp incense vppon the golden altar of incense. Exod. 30. Which now the vailes & separations being taken away & the priesthoode translated to Christ onelyonly, is remoued into the holy of holiest into which Christ him selfe hath once ascended.
And much odoures was giuen vntounto him. &c. The continuall prayers of the godly which they offer vp to god through Christ, are odoures or incense, as in the 5. chap. Vers. 8. And he saieth much, bycause when afflictiō doth prouoke, the studie of praying is more feruent in the faithfull, whiche when matters are quiet and pacified, is relented. And this is that pure incense which Malachie in the 1. Chap. of his prophecie, foretolde should be offered vp through the whole earth euen from the sunne rising to the setting thereof.
That he should offer with the prayers of all sainctes vponupon the golden altar which is before the throne. &c. To this end much incense, (which are the praiers of the sainctes) is offered to Christ, yt he might giuegive an incense of thē vponupon ye golden altar which is before the throne. That is, yt by his intercessiō which is the mediatour & aduocate of the Church, the prayers of the sainctes might deserue to be herd of the maiestie of God. This place teacheth verie playnly, that we nede none other mediatoures of intercession with God, then this one Angel, which is Christ, for he alone offereth vp to God ye praiers of all saincts, & promiseth that his father shall performe vntounto vsus, whatsoeuer we shall aske in his name. Moreouer whē as none either Angel or Sainct, can chaleng this priestly office of Christ wtout great sacriledge: it foloweth y• no Aungell or Sainct (this one Aungel of ye couenāt being excepted) can offer vp incense vponupon the golden altare which is before the throne of God.
Vers. 4.
And the smoke of the odours with the prayers of the Sainctes, went vp before God out of the Aungels hand. &c.
THe effecte of this oblation is declared, that the prayers of the Sainctes being offered as incense by Christ, are a sacrifice of swete smell in the presence of God. When as therefore prayers are directed to God with liuely and feruent faithe in Christ, they can not but be heard for Christes sake, which maketh them acceptable to God.
Vers. 5.
And the Aungell toke the censer and filled it with fire of the Altar and cast it into the earthe. &c.
CHrist promiseth that his father will geue the holy spirite to those yt aske it importunatly, which whē he also procedeth frō the sonne, after great perfume stirred vp wt prayers of the sainctes, is sent downe into the earth, in the shape & likenes of fire taken from the heauenly altar, whose fiery force, or if anye thinge be more pearsinge then fire, is perceiued in the Preachinge of the woorde, in constancie of faithe, in inuincible patience, and other Heauenlye giftes of his. And the great abundance of the same spirite is signified by the fillinge of the censer for in Isay chap. 6. one of the Seraphins taking a burning cole with the tongues touched therewith the lippes of ye prophete, that the vnworthines of his sinnes beinge taken awaye, he mighte bee meete to declare the message of God. But here the great golden censer, in which the prayers of the sainctes are offered, is filled with fire, and is cast into the Church, wandering as a straunger in earth, according to that saying of Christ I came to sende fire into the earth. Luke 12.
And there were voices and thunderinges, and lightnings and earthquake. &c. The holy ghost can not be in the world but that he will rebuke the same of sinne, of righteousnes, and of Iudgement, and then doe those tumults arise, that heauen and earth seme to be mingled together, but in the meane time it is well prouided for the Church, that against the moste grieuouse persecutions of Antichrist hanging ouer her, she being strengthened with Gods ayed, shall not be ouerwhelmed with any raging tempestes of aduersitie.
Vers. 6.
And the seuen Aungels hauing the seuen trumpetes prepared them selues to blow the trumpetes. &c.
AFter that prouision was made for the safegarde of the Churche, least it shoulde faint vnderunder so great a burthen of euills, the seuen Aungels do straitway prepare themselues to sounde there trumpets, whereby we maye easelye gather, that they were stayed before, so long as Christ made intercession for the safetie of the Church, & with his giftes might arme the faithfull to beare all aduersities whatsoeuer. Whiche thinge although he do continually, yet it was enough that it shoulde be shewed once in a vision.
Vers. 7.
So the first Aungell blew the trumpet, and there was hayle and fyre mingled with bloud, and they were cast into the earth, and the thirde part of trees was burnt, and all greene grasse was burnte. &c.
WHen as euerie one of Gods Iudgementes is reuealed, an Aungell blowing a trumpete goeth before, and after foloweth the visione which openeth the whole matter. The sounding therefore of the trumpete is a signe that God will open some thing which oughte to bee receiued of men with due reuerence & attention. And he noteth by these figures the procedinges and increase of the tyrannie of Antichrist, which by the iust iudgement of God hee shall obtayne through… the whole world. As S. Paul writeth in the 2. to the Thessal. 2. Chap. That they which receyued not the louelove of the trueth, that they might be saued, should be deceyued with lies that they might be damned. The like Allegories he vseth in the opening of the seales and will vse in the powringe out of the vials Chap. 16. When he vnderstandeth that the sentence of God doth perteyn to the whole bodie of Antichrist and euerie parte thereof: hee reckeneth vp therefore the earth, the plantes, the sea, the fluds, the heauen, the ayer, and all thinges that are therein, that nothing may seeme to remaine whole or vntouched. These thinges therefore I hauehave forewarned, that we should not to curiously seeke subtile and curiouse expositiōs in euerie worde, when we vnderstand that it is the maner of the prophete, and also often vsed in this vision, when as hee will describe anye generall calamitie, to reherse all the partes of the world after this manner. There folowed (sayeth he) after the sounding of the trumpet of the first Aungell, haile, which when it vseth to beate downe the fruites of the trees, and the corne of ye earth, is wont to bring in great famine and scarcitie of corne & victuals. But here faileth not onelyonly haile, but also flames of fire together therwith, & the bloud mingled with the s…me maketh the plague more horrible. For if the haile leaue any thing not …ast downe, the fire consumeth it, or els the bloud corrupteth & rotteth it, wherevpon he sayeth, yt the thirde parte of the trees & euerie greene herbe was burned. It is declared in the sixte Chap. In the opening of the sixte seale, yt there was giuen power to death to sley the fourth part of men, with sword, with, famine, with pestilence, and with wilde Beastes: But here at the sowndinge of the Trumpettes, it is foreshewed that the thirde part shalbe afflicted. And there is signified onelye the dearthe of victuals, as that Chenix of wheate shoulde be sould for a peny, but here is described a meruailouse gret scarcitie, when as euerie greene herbe is burnt vp. Whereby it is gathered that these calamities should be greater then those, for the third part is greater then the fourth parte, and the scarcitie of victuals is more grieuouse thē the dearnes of ye same. Except perhaps he alludeth to the third parte of the world, bycause in Europe which is estemed to be the third parte of the worlde, the tyrannie of Antichrist chiefely rageth, the wante of true and sincere doctrine, which through the traditions of mē, and vnprofitable ceremonies, although not altogether wicked in the first institution, by long continaunce of time was broughte into the Church, whiles that the greater part of men was bent to defend the ordinances of the elders, rather then to kepe the commaundemēts of Christ him selfe. Here vponupon it was necessarie that a most greuouse famine should be brought into the Church. For ye soules of men excepte they be dayly fedd & nourished with the iewce of Gods worde, waxe dry & wither euen like vntounto those herbes vponupon which blasting winde hathe blowen, or whith to much parching heate hath burned vp. We may also in this place not vnfitlye vnderstande, diuers other plagues comming all together, as by the hail famine, by the fire pestilence, by the bloud warre, as histories do testifye, that all these euills did vehemently rage in the world, in the beginning of the Romane tyrannie. But when as the two latter do immediatly folow again, the former interpretation liketh me best: in the meane time I deny not but that the godly ought to be admonished by those bodely calamities, of what sorte that kingdome of Antichrist shold be, which with such vnluckie signes and tokens begonne to be spread abroade.
Vers. 8.
And the second Aungell blew: and as it were a great mountayne burning with fire was cast into the sea and the thirde part of the sea tourned to bloud. &c.
AT the sounding of the second trumpet which admonished that the second iudgemente of God should be made manifest, there semed to fall into the sea as it were a meruailouse great mountayne burning with fire. A horrible sight no doubt and full of terrour, and truely there neded such a wonderfull signe to the describing of the kingdome of Antichrist, which foloweth immediatly after the want of spirituall food. For this great mounteyne doth signifye the kingdome of Antichrist, as it is vsuall in the prophetes that kingdomes, and commune wealthes are signified by mountaynes, as in Isay & Daniele. By the sea which is a gathering together of many waters, the holy ghost vnderstandeth in this booke, the infinite multitude of people deuided into diuers nations, kindreds and tongues. This whole mountayne burneth with deuouring fire, what soeuer shall come nexte to hand, for like as fire corrupteth and consumeth into ashes the matter which is put vntounto it, euen so the pestilent moren of Antichrist doth eate vp, rauen, and deuoure all thinges. And although it be cast into the sea, yet it is not quenched, but turneth the third parte of the sea into boyling bloud. And this plague is sent into the world of God in his wrath, bycause it wold not esteme the most fruitfull mount Sion that is the kingdome of Christ. Therefore the worlde is compelled to beare the most sharpe and bitter tyrannie of Antichrist, which had refused to beare the most swete and pleasant yoke of Christ.
Vers. 9.
And the third parte of the creatures which were in the sea died the liuing thinges I meane, & the third part of shipps were destroyed.
WHen as the world stobornly refused eternall life offered by Christ, it can not flie the most bitter death which by ye kingdome of Antichrist is brought vpō verie manie. And here may be obserued the quantitie, qualitie, & effect, of the Antichristian kingdome. The quantitie is noted, in that it is compared to a verie great mountaine, whiche is so muche the worse, as it is spread the broder, as when the papistes do bragge & boast that the borders of there dominiō are stretched forth vntounto the ends of the world, & of the firmamēt. The qualitie is described that like deuouringe fire it burneth, destroyeth, and wasteth all thinges, although those brawling hyerelings cry out neuer so loud, that without this mountayne there is no saluation. The effecte is declared, in that it turneth the third parte of the sea into bloud. And how much bloud he hath shedde by diuers kindes of torments, & especially by fire (yt we may omit the times that are past) our age that we now liue in doth see, & our owne eyes doe dayly testify the same vntounto vsus. Moreouer wee will not declare what warres, and how cruell he hath stirred vp in the ages past. But in our age, what tumults he hath raised vp in France, in Germanie, in Spaine, and in Flanders, who is there thorow out all Europe which knoweth not? and in England, what he hath practised and wroughte euen this present yeare that we write these thinges, I would to God it were as ready to be auoyded, as it is easye to remember it. That rightly hee maye bee sayed to hauehave destroyed the thirde parte of them that dwel in the sea, & the third part of shippes by which we may vnderstand townes or cities. But at length this fiery mountayne shalbe cast into the fiery lake. Which all godly hartes do wish to be done most spedely.
Vers. 10.
Then the thirde Aungell blew, and there fell a great starre from heauen burning as it were a tortch and it fell into the thirde parte of Riuers and into fountaynes of waters. &c.
THe third Aungell sownding his trumpet, the Prince and head of this fiery mountayne fell from heauen in the likenesse of a great starre burning as a torch. In time past the byshop of Rome shined in the heauen, bewtifull to beholde with the beames of heauenly doctrine, but after that he had by litle and litle degenerate into a strange and vsurped gouernement (of which defection the auncient writers cōplayned more then a thousand yeares ago) he begun to fall from heauen towards the earth, till at the length, for the establishing of his pride and tirannie, hee poisoned and infected all the puere doctrine with his owne inuentions, and so in the ende he fell into the thirde parte of the riuers and fountaynes.
Vers. 11.
And the name of the starre is called wormwood therefore the third part of the water was turned into wormewood and many men died of the waters bycause they were made bitter. &c.
THis Starre taketh his name of the effect, bycause with so great bitternes of his poisō, he infecteth the pleasant springes of pure doctrine, that he makethe the waters into whiche he shall fall deadlye poison, so that as manye as shall drinke thereof excepte a spedy remedie against poison be taken shold perish with euerlasting death. And the waters are called bitter which this starre doth poyson. Not accordinge to the sense and iudgement of the flesh, to which they seme to hauehave the tast rather of hony then of wormewood. But to the spirite of god, which searcheth all thinges by his sharpe iudgement, this bitternesse is found oute. Which all the godly do easely acknowledge, which are drawne from the pestilente drinkinge of this doctrine, that there is no tast of heauenly and spirituall swetenes in poperie, but a mere bucherie of conscience, and all thinges most bitter, when anye of them is but a little stirred vp & wakened out of the slepe of securitie (in which the most part of them are drowned) and pricked with the sense & feling of there sinnes. Wee may learne heare, that no drop of this bitter water, that is of the papisticall doctrine, is to be mingled with the pure Gospell of Christ, least that it should tast of this pestiserouse and poisonfull bitternes.
Vers. 12.
And the fourth Aungell blew the trumpet, and the thirde parte of the sunne was smitten, & the third part of the moone, and the third part of the starres, so that the third parte of them was darckened, and the daye was smitten that the third parte of it could not shine, and the night likewise. &c.
WHen as sound doctrine was corrupted with the pestilence deuises and inuentions of men, what could remayn sound in the Church? The third parte of the sunne, the moone, & the starres was smitten with thicke mist and darckenes, to those especially which dwell in this third part, in which ye kingdom of Antichrist bare all the swaye. Hereof by the iust iudgmente of God, ye foule ignorance, euen as it were a darcke cloud was sent into ye eyes of those, which were willingly blind in ye light of knowledge & vnderstāding. Hereof the third part of the day loseth the lighte▪ the sunne being darckened, the nighte also is darckened likewise in the third part, the moone and the starres losing there light, so yt there appeareth no sparcke of the lighte to expell and driue away the darckenes. And to be short, a most thicke cloud of ignoraunce which tooke away a great parte of the heauenly light, couered the world. And one wee m…ruaill if the papistes glorye and boast that ignoraunce is the mother of there religion? seing that this darckenesse wente before that great and horrible defection which is afterwardes declared.
Vers. 13.
And I beheld and herde an Aungell flying through the middest of heauen, saying with a loude voice, wo, wo, wo, to the inhabiters of the earth bycause of the sounds to come of ye trumpets of the thre Aungels which were yet to blow. &c.
ALthough assuredly the iudgementes of God are horrible, which were hetherto reuealed with the sound of the foure trumpetes, yet there remayne much more greater & greuouser behinde. Whiche vndoubtedly are so terrible, that is behoueth vsus to be stirred vp with a new admonition to the diligent consideration of the same, Saincte Iohn therefore saw a certayne Aungell flying in the middest of heauen, that he might aswell be herd of the heauen, as of the earth, whome he herd with a loude voice cryinge wo thre times, to the inhabitantes of the earthe, for the seuere sharpenes of those iudgementes whiche were yet to be reuealed at ye soūding of the other thre trūpets. Here excepte we weere as dull as stones, the waight of Gods iudgements wold driue away all drowsinesse from vsus, & stirre vsus vp to the reuerent receyuinge of the same, that beinge deliuered oute of so miserable calamities, we maye serue him for euer.