Exposition on the Catholic Epistles, Revelation · Chapter 11
CHAP. XI.
AND there was giuen me a reed like a rod, and the Angell ſtood and ſaid, Verſ. 1.Ariſe and meaſure the Temple of God, & the Altar, and thoſe that worſhip in it. And the outer Court of the Temple caſt out, &c. What is figured out by this meaſuring, Queſt. 1 & the leauing out of the outer Court to be troden vnderunder foot by the Gentiles 42. months? Who are the 2. witneſſes that propheſie in ſackcloth, & what time is deſigned by their 1260. dayes? What are the miracles done by them, and the beaſt that killeth them? What time is meant by three dayes and a halfe, wherein their dead bodies ſhould lie vnburied? And what is their riſing againe, and being called vp into heauen? And laſtly, what is the great earthquake ſhaking the great city, ſo that the tenth part falleth, and ſeuen thouſand men are ſlaine, and what city is this called Spiritually Sodome and Aegypt, where the Lord was ſlaine?
Anſw. Theſe things are very obſcure, and therefore Interpreters are much diuided about them.Lyra. Lyra is the moſt abſurd, referring this to the feaſt of the dedication of the Temple, ordained by Pope Felix about ann. 525. as if he had beene figured out. Here Pareus telleth of ſome, that vnderſtand this literally of Ieruſalem and the Temple there, the reedifying of which is here figured out: but this cannot ſtand, becauſe not onelyonly the Court, but Temple, and Altar, and all are troden vnderunder foot of the Gentiles, neither ſhall this Temple or Altar euer be reedified againe.
The Papiſts generally grounding vponupon the opinion of the ancients, referre all to Antichriſts time,Irenaeus. Iuſtin. Martyr. Cyprian. Ierom. Baſil. Chrſoſt. &c. who they thinke is yet to come, and ſhall reigne three yeeres and an halfe, but Enoch & Elias ſhall reſiſt him, doing many miracles, &c. The conſent of antiquity, I confeſſe, may much moue, and is indeed to be regarded in matter of faith, when with one conſent they giuegive the ſenſe of any place of Scripture, which requireth not experience for the better vnderſtanding therof. But the things here ſet forth being of that nature, that they cannot be ſo well vnderſtood, till that in proceſſe of time the euent giueth ſome light to the propheſie, it is no derogation from the ancients herein to goe from them, eſpecially when by euident reaſon it appeareth, that they hauehave erred in their iudgement. And Bellarmine himſelfe conſenteth,Lib. 3. de P. R. cap. 5. that the Fathers hauehave erred much about the Antichriſt, becauſe they ſaw not the hiſtories of future times.Ieronym. in Malac. ad Minerium, & Alexandrum, cap. 4. Neither yet are the ancient Fathers for the comming of Enoch and Elias in perſon, for Ierome calleth them Iudaizers, who thinke that Enoch and Elias ſhall come againe in perſon: for he ſaith, The Iewes and Iudaizing heretikes thinke, that Elias ſhall come againe and reſtore all things; but to this Chriſt anſwereth, when being demanded about the comming of Elias, he ſaith, Elias indeed ſhall come, and if ye beleeue it, he is already come, by Elias meaning Iohn Baptiſt.
Moreouer, that this is an errour is plaine; 1. Becauſe it is impoſſible, Reaſ. 1 that any man ſhould effect ſo many things in ſo ſhort a time,The Antichriſt expected by the Papiſts confuted. as they ſay, Antichriſt ſhall doe, that is, bee receiued of all the Iewes for the Meſſiah, build the Temple in three dayes, ouerthrow the Turke, the Perſian, the grand Cham, and Preſter Iohn, kill the three kings of Aegypt, Libia, and Aethiopia, build vp Rome burnt with fire, and ſit there as a Monarch perſecuting the Chriſtian religion in all parts of the world.
2. Becauſe at the end of this time they ſay Antichriſt ſhall bee deſtroyed, Reaſ. 2 and from his death to the end of the world ſhall bee but fiue and forty dayes, and ſo the very day of iudgement ſhall bee knowne, contrary to the conſent of all Scripture.
3. Becauſe the things in this booke ſet forth are ſaid to bee ſuch, Reaſ. 3 as muſt ſhortly be done: now for ſo much as a great part of the booke is ſpent againſt Antichriſt, it cannot be, that his time ſhould be put off ſo long, or be ſo ſhort when it commeth, ſeeing it occupieth the greateſt part of this propheſie comprehending the whole time of the Goſpell. Yea, the Apoſtle Paul ſaith plainly,2 Theſſ. 2.7. that the myſterie of iniquity did then worke.
Laſtly, Antichriſtianiſme is a myſterie that is ſo couertly carried, that Antichriſt can hardly be diſcerned when hee is come,Bullinger. Fox. Pareus. Brightman, &c. ſo that many ſhall be deceiued which were not ſo, if he were a profeſſed enemy and had Enoch and Elias to fight againſt him. Our Diuines generally hold, that there is ſet forth a reedifying of the ſpirituall Temple of God, being ruined and almoſt r…zed to the ground by the fury and malice of the enemies thereof, as in the like figure, Ezech. 40. &c. is ſet forth the reedifying of the materiall Temple being deſtroyed by the Babylonians after their returne from captiuity. Euen as when one is ſet to meaſure ground for any building to bee ſet vponupon it, it doth argue an intention to build there. Now as the Temple of old did conſiſt of an houſe called the Temple and an Altar, and ſuch as came to worſhip there, ſo the ſpirituall Temple is deſcribed by way of alluſion to it, by theſe parts.
2. But touching the outercourt there is difference in the reading. Pareus following Luther, and the copies of Robert Stephanus, readeth it the inner Court, but Arethas the outer, and ſo Arrias Montanus, Oecumen. Auguſt. Beda, Tho. Aquin. Abbas Ioachim, Rupertus, Haimo, Beza, &c. But the difference in the ſenſe is nothing, the Court whether inner or outer is left vnmeaſured to figure out the power which the Gentiles ſhould hauehave there euen in the time of the repairing of the decayes of Gods Church, by oppugning errour, and teaching the truth. But what is meant by the Court is hard to determine. Some vnderſtand the Popiſh Clergy,Pareus. Bullinger. which together with the Pope hauehave apoſtatized from the truth, theſe are not to be meaſured but left out, as aliens from the grace of God; and fitly are they ſet forth by the inne Court, which was the Court of the Prieſts. Some vnderſtand all the Papiſts,Brightman. Forbs. Graſſerus. which by this figure are ſet forth to be more than the profeſſours of the truth, as the Court was greater than the Temple, and the city yet farre greater than it: ſo the Lord would hereby ſhew, that in the time of light for a long time the Pope ſhould hauehave the moſt followers ſtill. By treading vnderunder foot is meant their ſubiection to the Papacy, and the maintainers of Popery are called Gentiles, becauſe in their idolatries and ceremonies moſt like vntounto them.
One hath a ſingular opinion by himſelfe touching this Court and theſe Gentiles, for hee vnderſtandeth the Turkes, Fox.and the nations ſubiect vntounto them, theſe are left out, becauſe when the Church ſhould be reedified in theſe latter dayes, this reedifying ſhould not extend vntounto them, but they ſhould be vnderunder the heathen Turkes. For mine owne part, I am much affected with this laſt, but ſo as that I thinke the Papiſts are not to be excluded, who keepe a great part of the Chriſtian world vnderunder their ſuperſtitions alſo, as the Turke doth vnderunder his; wherefore I reſolue that both are here meant, the Turkes are Gentiles, becauſe out of the Iſrael of God; the Papiſts are Gentiles, becauſe idolatrous and ſuperſtitious like the Gentiles. They together then tread vnderunder foot the court of Gods houſe, by holding vnderunder the greateſt part of the world, which formerly hath beene Chriſtian, euen ſtill in theſe dayes of light, the one in the Eaſt, the other in the Weſt.
3. Touching the time of two and forty moneths ſome vnderſtand a ſhort time,Bullenger. Pareus, &c. Centur. Mag. deburg. Iunius. but indefinite. 1. Some vnderſtand the time when the outer Court ſhould thus be troden vnderunder foot, by the Pope, and ſo they count from the beheading of Iohn Baptiſt, reſoluing theſe moneths into dayes, 1260. and reckoning them for yeeres vntounto Boniface the eight, ann. 1294. out of which foure and thirty being deducted, being the age of Chriſt, not long before whom Iohn ſuffered, there will remaine 1260. 2. One reckoning theſe moneths by dayes,Brightman. and taking the dayes for yeeres, not according to the Iulian account, whereby two and forty moneths make 1278. dayes, but according to the Aegyptian, falling ſhort in this ſumme eighteene dayes of the Iulian, will hauehave the time accounted ſo much ſhort of 1260. as it exceedeth by the Iulian account, and ſo vnderſtandeth here 1242. Iulian yeeres, which time hee beginneth in the dayes of Conſtantine, ann. 304. and extendeth it to the Councell of Trent, ann. 1546. All this time the outer Court was troden vnderunder foot through the hereſies that preuailed, and the two witneſſes the old and new Teſtament propheſied in ſackcloth, but then they were killed by the authorizing of one corrupt tranſlation onelyonly, and falſifying their Expoſitors, who had anciently giuen life vntounto them by their ſound expoſitions. 3. Another vnderſtandeth the time of the Turkes tyrannizing,Fox. from Ottoman to the laſt that ſhall be, which he reckoneth by Sabbaths of yeeres, making eueryevery month ſuch a Sabbath, as Daniel doth a weeke, and ſo the whole ſumme of yeeres 294. But experience ſheweth this to be but a coniecture, becauſe the Turkiſh tyranny continueth ſtill, it being now farre paſt the time thus calculated. For Ottoman was ann. 1300. vntounto which adde 294. and it will amount but to 1594. As for that of Brightman, it were to bee wiſhed that it were ſo, for according to his account, we ſhould ſoone bee deliuered both from Turke and Pope, who I feare hauehave a longer time to continue than he imagined. But here is both a difference of eighteene yeeres, and the two and forty moneths of the Popiſh Gentiles doe not thus agree, much part of this time the Church being put to it, and the Scriptures wronged by the A…rians and other Heretikes, and not by this Antichriſtian ſect, who are not obſerued to hauehave gotten ſuch an head till about Ann. 600. Of the ſecond opinion there is leſſe probability, ſeeing it is not ſet downe when this treading vnderunder foot ſhould be, but how long it ſhould endure. And as for the firſt expoſition, it were ſtrange that no certaine time ſhould be meant here, being meaſured out thus by ſo many moneths and dayes, when as both in Daniel and Ieremie, and other Prophets, it hath alwaies beene found that a certaine number named, hath noted out a certaine time.Pareus mentioneth this as being followed by ſome, and moſt approued by himſelfe, if a certaine time be here determined. There is another expoſition therefore onelyonly remaining, whereby ſo many yeeres are meant as there are daies in 42. moneths, that is, as the Spirit of God immediatly directeth vsus, 1260. according to the Egyptian account, reckoning thirty daies to a monethmonth, for by this account it is moſt probable alſo that the Lord would hauehave vsus goe, becauſe Egypt is afterwards here mentioned. The time then of the Turkes tyranny muſt be 1260. yeeres, and as Turke and Pope hauehave the ſame beginning and continuance, for Hiſtory ſheweth that they beganne together, and as 42. moneths ſetting forth thus long a time, are here iointly aſcribed to the Gentiles treading the Lords holy City vnderunder foot, ſo Chap. 1….42. are particularly aſcribed vntounto the Pope. Now the time of both their beginnings is notoriouſly known to be ann. 606. then Mahomet broched his Alchoran, and Boniface the third obtained of Phocas to be vniuerſall Biſhop. If then we reckon from hence, by adding to 1260. the end of their time will fall out, ann. 1866. The Locuſts were a plague but of fiue moneths, but by theſe the Church is exerciſed more than foure times double thus much, onelyonly the comfort is, the Temple, &c. is meaſured, to ſignifie the preſeruation of the Church, eſpecially after the opening of the Booke, ſo that there ſhall ſtill be certaine Nations ſo defended from them, as that the truth ſhall be there maintained during this whole time. The Lord Ieſus, vnderunder whoſe Banner we fight, and for whoſe honour we ſtand, ſuffer not his Temple to be any more by Pope or Turke inuaded or leſſened in the number of thoſe that worſhip in it, till the full time of the deſtruction of theſe deadly enemies ſhall come, and of the Lords taking of all the Kingdomes into his owne hands, but rather increaſe this number, taking pity vponupon the infinite multitude of poore ſeduced ſoules, and giuegive vsus all faith and patience whatſoeuer he hath appointed vsus to ſuffer for his truth, and if the time of this affliction be yet appointed thus long to come, he ſhorten it for his Elects ſake,Mat. 24. as he promiſed to doe touching the time of the ſiege of Ieruſalem.
Touching the two witneſſes, verſ. 3. of whom it is ſaid, I will giuegive vntounto my two witneſſes, and they ſhall propheſie, I ſee no reaſon why Beza ſhould reade as he doth, I will giuegive it vntounto my two witneſſes, as if he meant to giuegive the City vntounto them: for the ſenſe is plaine, as moſt agree, I will giuegive the gift or ſpirit vntounto them, and they ſhall propheſie. The greateſt doubt is, who are meant by theſe two witneſſes? I hauehave already touched the common tenent of the Papiſts, holding them to bee Enoch and Elias, but this needeth no refutation, both for that the time of 1260. daies, whereby are meant ſo many yeeres (according to the expoſition already giuen of the two and forty months being the ſame time) doth not agree, as experience ſheweth, the greateſt part of this time being expired and Enoch or Elias not yet heard of: and alſo becauſe it is plainly againſt the reuealed will of God to ſend any from the dead to preach to the liuing, as the Lord ſheweth in the Parable of Diues and Lazarus, when Diues made requeſt that Lazarus might beſent to warne his fiue brethren liuing, Abraham denieth this requeſt,Luk. 15. and the ground of his deniall is, If they will not beleeue Moſes and the Prophets, neither will they beleeue if one riſe from the dead againe. If it be ſaid Enoch and Elias neuer died, but are preſerued aliue for this purpoſe, the Author of the Epiſtle to the Hebrewes confuteth this: for hauing reckoned vp many faithfull perſons, amongſt whom Enoch was one,Heb. 11.13. he concludeth, All theſe died in faith, &c. He confeſſeth indeed, that Enoch ſaw not death, becauſe he ſuffered not the ſeparation of ſoule and body, but was extraordinarily changed, as the faithfull ſhall be at the laſt day: yet according to our vſuall phraſe, whereby we ſay of the dead, hee is departed out of this life, he is rightly ſaid to hauehave died. And if this kinde of change in the propriety of ſpeech will not beare this word dying,1 Cor. 15. for we ſhall all be changed, but not all die; yet it is as ſtrange for them, being ſo long agoe departed hence to come againe in perſon, as if men ſhould come from the dead againe, which ſhall neuer be.
Laſtly, the deſcription of theſe two doth not agree to Enoch and Elias, but rather to Moſes and Elias, who in their times did ſuch miracles as are here ſet forth,Mat. 17. Verſ. 2. and theſe two are alſo ioyned together in the transfiguration of Chriſt vponupon the Mount, and Moſes is oftentimes ſaid to be one that did witneſſe of Chriſt, and the Scriptures are they that teſtifie of me. Ioh. 5.39.Which Scriptures being reſolued into their parts, are called Moſes and the Prophets,Luk. 16. a moſt famous man amongſt whom was Elias, and therefore well by him may bee vnderſtood all the Prophets. Reiecting therefore that of Enoch and Elias, Brightman. Beda. Tyconius.as a vaine fable, I hold with them that by theſe two witneſſes vnderſtand the holy Scriptures conſiſting of Moſes & the Prophets as they were of old, vnderunder which the Euangeliſts and Apoſtles writings come alſo, as an exegeſis, or illuſtration of them. For theſe witneſſes muſt bee well knowne anciently, as the words doe imply; and in taking theſe to bee the Lords two witneſſes, we doe but follow the plaine euidence of the Word of God, aſcribing perſons thus to the two parts of holy Scripture. And conſequently, they which ſincerely and rightly preach Moſes and the Prophets (for ſo much as they doe but act the ſame perſons) may well bee vnderſtood by theſe two witneſſes alſo. And thus wee ſhall ioyne together two different expoſitions of thoſe, who vnderſtand by theſe two the holy Scriptures, as hath beene already ſaid, and of thoſe that vnderſtand ſome few perſons that hauehave giuen teſtimony to the truth in all the parts of this whole tract of Turke and Pope,Bullinger. Graſſerus. Pareus. Fulke, &c. who of late time hauehave bin much increaſed in number, but yet may well goe vnderunder the name of two witneſſes, becauſe all euer repreſent but two, Moſes and the Prophets, ſeeing they hold, and preach, & ſet forth none other thing but what they held and taught.Fox. There are that particularly apply this to Iohn Huſſe and Ierome of Prague, who were ill intreated by the Councell of Conſtance three yeeres and a halfe, and being killed, had their dead carcaſes for a time throwne out into the ſtreets, but they were reuiued againe, as it were, when the Bohemians ſtood couragiouſly for the truth by them maintained, which was greatly preiudiciall to the City of Rome; the tenth part thereof thus falling, and 7000. ſlaine, that is, many vpheld in an idle courſe of life by the Pope, in Monaſteries, and other pretended religious places, being thus turned out and loſing their liuelihood whereupon their life conſiſted. According to this expoſition two and forty moneths are counted a ſeuerall time by themſelues, of the Turkes tyranny, theſe 1260. daies, another ſeuerall time conſiſting of iuſt ſo many daies, and the three daies and an halfe a third ſeuerall time, ſo ſhort as the words ſound. There are alſo wonderfull iudgements reckoned vp which fell vponupon their enemies in this time of their trouble, ſo that the Hiſtory doth notably agree vntounto this Text. This, I confeſſe, hath much affected me, and I would willingly hauehave imbraced it, for ſo the reſt of the doubts here might eaſily hauehave beene reſolued. But ſeeing the two and forty moneths are by the ſame Expoſitor reſolued into 294. yeeres, in which hee hath failed, as hath beene already ſhewed; I cannot ſee how 1260. daies can bee vnderſtood preciſely of daies, this being the whole time in all likelihood before ſet forth by two and forty moneths: for why ſhould Gods witneſſes mourne 1260. daies onelyonly of this time, there being the ſame cauſe of mourning all the whole time for the holy City ſo many yeeres trodden vnderunder foot. Againe, although the Bohemians ſtood manfully for the truth and did ſomewhat preuaile, yet they were ſuppreſſed againe, and the whooriſh City flouriſhed till Luther, who gaue a farre greater blow vntounto it.
Laſtly, Pareus rela…eth an opinion of ſome, who thinke that in the laſt times there ſhall be ſtirred vp two famous Doctors in the ſpirit of Elias, in whom this ſhall bee accompliſhed: but according to this, the time ſhould not be yet begunne, and the phraſe here doth plainly make againſt it, in that he ſaith, I will giuegive vntounto my two witneſſes, not I will ſtirre vp two witneſſes, as it muſt hauehave beene ſaid if it had beene thus meant. I conclude therefore, that by theſe two witneſſes are to be vnderſtood the holy Scriptures anciently conſiſting of two parts, together with the faithfull Preachers and adherers vntounto them. Theſe hauehave neuer beene wanting all this time of 1260. yeeres of Turke and Pope, as for ſo much of this time as hath beene yet expired. For euen in the daies of Boniface, who vſurped this antichriſtian ſupremacy ouer all, or immediatly after, when Columbanus and Gallus were ſent out as his Legats, ann. 617. to bring other Churches to the obedience of the Roman, two Councels were called, one in Bauaria, and another in Matiſcon vnderunder King Lotharius, Anent. annal. Baiorum lib. 3. Vincent. Balaeus.in all likelihood to ſtop their proceedings. For of ſuch Councels Writers make mention, but what was done is paſſed ouer in ſilence. Not long after, Ardanus, a Biſhop of the Northumberland, oppoſed himſelfe, and after him ann. 670. Fannanus and Colmanus, then Adelbertus, Gallus, Clemens, Scotus, and Samſon Scotus, ann. 714. and with them Virgilius, and Sidorius, &c. who ſo deſireth to ſee more of the witneſſes of the truth, may looke into my Catechiſme vnderunder the title, The Church is Catholike, or into Catalogus teſtium veritatis. Thus the Lord hath euer had his witneſſes hitherto, and wee doubt not, but as Antichriſt ſhall conſume more and more, ſo their number ſhall hence forward rather increaſe than be diminiſhed. Whereas theſe witneſſes are further called Two Oliues and Candleſtickes, verſ. 4. the ſame phraſe almoſt is found touching Iehoſhua and Ierubbabel, Zach. 4.11. vntounto which place therefore it is generally held that it is alluded. Golden Candleſticks the Churches were called before, chap. 1. and therefore the ſame appellation is giuen to theſe witneſſes for holding out the light of truth. And Oliues they are for their participating with the Lord Ieſus, the true Oliue, Rom. 11.
5 Touching their miracles, they are the very ſame which were wrought by Moſes and Elias: Exod. 5.for Moſes turned the waters into bloud, and ſmote the earth with many plagues in Egypt; 2 King. 1.and Elias deſtroyed his enemies by fifty in a company with their Captains by fire from Heauen,1 King. 17. and at his prayer the Heauen was ſhut vp from raining three yeeres and a halfe. But how theſe things are performed by the holy Scriptures, and the Preachers of the truth againſt Turke and Pope there is great queſtion It ſeemeth to me to be ſpoken onelyonly by way of alluſion, and that the meaning is nothing elſe, but (as before at the ſounding of the Angels fire rained downe and waters were turned into bloud, chap. 8. ſetting forth ſuch terrible iudgements as were executed vponupon Egypt, as hath already beene expounded) ſo here the wicked enemies of the truth are terrified by commemorating what Moſes and Elias did to the confuſion of their enemies, for they may bee well aſſured to drinke of the ſame cup, whoſoeuer they be at any time that dare to oppoſe the truth and to perſecute the Preachers of it, though no ſuch viſible miracles bee wrought, as then, yet ſtrange iudgements being executed to their deſtruction, as hereby many enemies of Moſes and Elias were deſtroyed. This Fox doth particularly apply to the iudgements executed vponupon the enemies of Iohn Huſſe and Ierome of Prague, but it may be obſerued that there hauehave beene many remarkable iudgements at ſundry times againſt the Papals for their tyranny againſt ſuch as hauehave withſtood their ſuperſtitions: for which I referre the reader to other Hiſtories, leſt I ſhould dwell too long vponupon this place.Brightman. Gorran. Some ſay, that fire commeth out of the mouth of the Scriptures, becauſe they denounce fire and brimſtone againſt the wicked which ſhall indeed come vponupon them. And the waters are turned into bloud, in that they are carried away with errors, becauſe they receiued not the truth. And the Heauens are ſaid to be ſhut from raining, in that there was a long time ſo little dew of heauenly Doctrine diſtilled from the lips of learned Preachers, becauſe there were no ſuch.Pareus. Or becauſe the enemies of the truth were void of all dew of grace whereby they ſhould hauehave been mollified, ſtill continuing hardened in their ſuperſtition. And by the fire going out of their mouthes is to be vnderſtood the conſuming of corrupt Doctrines, as of ſtubble by fire through the ſetting forth of the truth. And for the waters turned into bloud, wars and plagues & other iudgements waſting ſo many people ſince that hereſie was oppoſed may be vnderſtood; and they may be ſaid to turne the waters into bloud, becauſe it was an effect of their preaching the truth.Bullinger. Bullinger vnderſtandeth altogether the denouncing of iudgement and condemnation: for the wicked reſiſters of the truth ſhall bee deſtroyed by fire, Heauen is ſhut againſt them that they cannot enter there, and whereas they might hauehave reaped comfort by the truth preached if they would hauehave embraced it, ſet forth by waters; their waters are turned into bloud, becauſe this is turned into their deſtruction, and all this theſe two witneſſes are ſaid to doe becauſe they denounce them, and they follow vponupon their preaching, according to that of the Apoſtle,2 Cor. 2.16. We are a ſweet ſmelling ſauour in thoſe that periſh of death vntounto death. Here is no great difference from that which I hauehave already ſaid, for all agree that iudgements are here ſet forth following vponupon the oppoſing of the truth preached, but that ſome referre them only to ſpirituall, ſome to temporall, and ſome to both: to which I ſubſcribe, holding that the fire comming out of their mouthes is the fire of hell threatned by them to the wicked; the ſhutting vp of the heauen, famines; the turning of water into bloud, warres; the ſmiting of the earth with plagues, ſtrange diſeaſes. Let the Reader conſider, and follow which of theſe he pleaſeth. But certaine it is, that the literall ſenſe is not to be held; for then men ſhould Chimera-like vomit fire out of their mouthes to deſtroy ſuch as were neare vntounto them, and then there ſhould be no raine all the time of this propheſying, and of the Gentiles treading the Court and holy City vnderunder foot: a very vnlikely thing, when as Antichriſt muſt (as they ſuppoſe that follow the letter) leade ſo great armies to deſtroy Chriſtians.
Touching the beaſt out of the bottomleſſe pit, that killeth them when they hauehave finiſhed their teſtimony, and expoſing their dead bodies in the ſtreets of the City, ſpiritually called Sodom and Egypt, where the Lord was killed three daies and a halfe, here is ſuch a world of darkneſſe yet, as that it is moſt hard to reſolue what is meant hereby. It is agreed by all, that Antichriſt is this beaſt afterwards more amply deſcribed,Chap. 9.11. and many will hauehave the King of the Locuſts called Abaddon or Apollyon, whom alſo they take to be Antichriſt, to bee the ſame, and that he is here ſpoken of, as already well enough knowne by his preceding deſcription. I grant that this beaſt is the ſame there deſcribed, but as I ſaid vponupon that place, ſo I hold ſtill, that the generall great Antichriſt, the Deuill, is meant by Apollyon and Abaddon, and not a ſucceſſion of Antichriſtian men, for their oppoſing of Chriſt in his truth, called that Antichriſt. And ſo here the beaſt comming out of the bottomleſſe pit is the Deuill in his inſtruments, whatſoeuer they be that impugne the truth, whether Mahumetans or Papals: for both fight againſt and kill the ſeruants of God for giuing teſtimony and ſtanding to his truth, and becauſe herein they follow the Deuills inſtigation and doe his worke, he is ſaid to doe it, for hee doth it in them vſing their hands and weapons thus to fight and to deſtroy. When any inſtrument of the Deuill is ſpoken of in particular, he is ſaid to come vp out of the Sea or out of the earth, as chap. 13. and not out of the bottomleſſe pit, as in this place.
Touching the time it is ſaid, When they ſhall finiſh their teſtimony, he ſhall make warre, Pareus.&c. This is well reſolued by thoſe which hold, that howſoeuer he ſhall oppoſe them all the time of their propheſying, yet he ſhall not preuaile to kill them till they hauehave finiſhed the worke for which they were ſent, namely, to giuegive teſtimony to the truth. For it cannot be imagined, that theſe inſtruments of the Deuill would permit quietly the witneſſes of the truth ſo long a time as was before ſet downe, viz. 1260. daies, but ſo ſoone as euer they began to propheſie, theſe beginne to fight againſt them, although the Lord, for whom they ſtand, will not ſuffer them to bee ouercome and ſlaine, till they hauehave fully ended that worke for which he ſent them. So that this is not to be vnderſtood, as it may ſeeme at the firſt, to be done at the end of the fore-deſcribed time of a 1260. daies, but within the compaſſe of this time, as each witneſſe hath finiſhed his teſtimony which hee was ſent to giuegive. And therefore it is to be noted, that he ſaith not when the time of their propheſying ſhall be expired, but when they ſhall finiſh their teſtimony. The whole ſucceſſion then of witneſſes is to be vnderſtood by theſe two, who are all this time, their office being done, ſome martyred after other ſome to the end of the time intimated in the 1260. daies. Some applying all this paſſage another way, vnderſtand by the finiſhing of their teſtimony the end of the whole time,Brightman. Fox. which is vnreaſonable and diſcrepant from all types and deſcriptions of the Antichriſtian rage. For in all numbrings, both here and elſewhere, there is an admirable conſent about three myſticall yeeres and an halfe, ſometime called 42. moneths, ſometime 1260. daies, ſometime three daies and an halfe, ſometime a time, times and halfe a time, that Antichriſtianiſme ſhould buckle with and preuaile againſt the truth: but after this time ended, there is not a ſyllable of any more hoſtility, ſo that if this be taken of ſome time after theſe three yeeres and an halfe ended, murdering and killing muſt be expected ſtill; this ſtorme being quite blowne ouer, which is far from the Lords meaning, who hath expreſſed moſt plainly the contrary. Elias his ſhutting of the Heauen was alſo three yeeres and an halfe. Antiochus Epiphanes his cauſing of the daily ſacrifice to ceaſe three yeeres and an halfe, the time of Chriſts preaching here three yeeres and an halfe, an Antitype or Parallel to which is all the time of the Antichriſtian rage, and of the witneſſes propheſying in ſack-cloth. And hereby it appeareth further, that no two particular men are meant here, becauſe thus Antichriſts time muſt be ſomewhat longer than the allotted two and forty moneths, for otherwiſe hee could not kill them after his teſtimony finiſhed, which they are giuing all this time, nor inſult three daies and an halfe ouer their dead bodies. But the foreſaid Authors conceiue another meaning of this place, as hath beene already ſhewed.Fox. One ſaith, that the time of the Councell of Conſtance is here meaſured out, which was three yeeres and an halfe, at the end of which, the two famous witneſſes of the truth, Iohn Huſſe and Ierome of Prague were ſlaine, being vildly intreated all that time, and had their dead bodies caſt out vnburied, according to the Letter, for three daies and an halfe; their enemies all this time triumphing for their victory, but hearing of the conſtancy of the Bohemians in cleauing to their doctrine, they were ſtricken with feare, as if they had beene reuiued againe.Brightman. The other expoundeth it of the time from Conſtantine the great till the Councell of Trent, at which the holy Scriptures were put downe, whereas the Papals had great ioy for a time, this was done, ann. 1546. and certaine moneths, and ann. 1550. the Magd…burgians ſhewed ſome life and ſpirit againe, oppoſing the ſaid Councell, and ſo manfully behauing themſelues, that the enemies were put into great feare. I hauehave already ſhewed my reaſons why I cannot conſent to either of theſe expoſitions.Sleid. l…b. 22. It is threeſcore and ten yeeres agone and vpward ſince the Councell of Trent, and much longer ſince the Councell of Conſtance, and yet the Court of the Temple is trodden vnderunder foot by the Gentiles, and great Maſſacres hauehave beene in France and England, and other places in this time, ſo that if this were the meaning, it ſhould alſo hauehave beene ſet forth how the Witneſſes of God had beene put to death againe and againe ſince that time, whereas the next thing that followeth is the ruine of the City, and the transferring of Kingdomes to the Lord: certainly, the Court and holy City ſhould thus long agone hauehave ceaſed to hauehave beene trodden vnderunder foot, and not hauehave continued in this afflicted eſtate as they doe ſtill. As for their expoſing of the dead bodies in the ſtreet, verſ. 8, 9. for the ſpace of three daies & an halfe, Bullinger. Pareus. Fox.they reſolue it wel that apply it vntounto the vſage of the dead bodies of many of Gods faithfull ſeruants at ſundry times, which they hauehave not ſuffered to be interred, as the dead bodies of Iohn Huſſe and Ierome of Prague, the dead bodies of thoſe that were maſſacred in Paris, when they had made the poore Proteſtants ſecure vponupon a marriage, & the bodies of ſuch generally amongſt them as hauehave not by auticular confeſſion, by penance and extreme vnction reconciled themſelues vntounto them before their death, for they deny them all Chriſtian buriall. The time of three daies and an halfe, as all conſent, is put for a ſhort time, and the rather is this ſhort time thus ſet forth to keepe Analogy with the other deſcriptions of this time, halfe a myſticall weeke of dayes with halfe a myſticall weeke of yeeres. This then is the very ſame time with the two and forty moneths, and 1260. daies, but varying in word, as beſt befitteth the keeping of dead bodies vnburied. The ſenſe is, that in the time before ſet forth by 42. moneths and 1260. daies as the faithfull ſhould be killed, ſo they ſhould be kept vnburied in greater deteſtation.Brightman. Brightman contendeth, that this muſt needs be a different time, but he taketh for granted, which I cannot yeeld, that by that paſſage going before, when they hauehave finiſhed their propheſie, &c. is meant the finiſhing of their whole time. But ſeeing it is clearely meant another way, as I hauehave ſhewed already, there is no ſuch neceſſity to make three daies and an halfe a diuers time, but another deſcription of the ſame time, wherein their cruelty ſhould not be determined in killing only, but in expoſing the dead bodies of the faithfull vnburied.
The place is ſaid to be the ſtreet of Sodome and Egypt, Verſ. 8.ſpiritually ſo called, where our Lord was crucified. Here the Papals triumph, as if by no meanes the Pope could be counted an inſtrument from the bottomleſſe pit, killing the Lords Witneſſes, and expoſing their bodies without buriall; ſeeing it is plaine, they thinke from hence that theſe things ſhall be done at Ieruſalem and not at Rome: for Ieruſalem is the great City where Chriſt was crucified, and which the Prophets were wont to vpbraid by the name of Sodome and Egpyt, for their vncleanneſſe and idolatries there. But who ſo ſhall attentiuely conſider the whole paſſage here, ſhall eaſily finde that by Ieruſalem muſt be vnderſtood neceſſarily a farre larger place than that City, ſeeing that vponupon the entrance of this propheſie, that which ſhall be trodden vnderunder foot by the Gentiles is called the holy City, which no man can deny to be the Chriſtian Church in all parts of the world, whereof that holy City was a type, and therefore according to the vſuall phraſe of holy Scripture it is ſet forth by that name. This then being taken for granted, the ſame propheſie ſtill continuing about that which ſhould befall the ſeruants of God in this City, being a long time at the will of their enemies, it cannot with any probability be denied, but that this ſpirituall Egypt and Sodome where the Lord was crucified, is the ſame holy City of the vniuerſall Church deſtined yet to the treading vnderunder foot of the Gentiles, this being one moſt tyrannous act executed by them to expoſe the murthered bodies of Gods faithfull ſeruants vnburied euen here. But this Church becommeth firſt another Sodom for vncleanneſſe, an Egypt for idolatries, and yet is old Ieruſalem for crucifying and putting to death the Lord Ieſus in his members. This great City then is the vniuerſall Church, before called the holy City, trodden vnderunder foot by wicked enemies, not in reſpect of all the parts, for the Temple and the Altar are exempted, but in reſpect of thoſe parts which are oppreſſed by the enemies of the truth, both Turke & Pope, and chiefly the Pope, whoſe iuriſdiction is moſt infamous for vncleanneſſe, and therfore called Sodom, and for idolatry, being therefore called Egypt, and for murthers, being therefore here ſet forth by a Periphraſis, Where the Lord was crucified. Ieruſalem I grant, is properly the City where our Lord was crucified, but ſeeing all that hath beene ſaid hitherto of the place is allegoricall, this cannot be in any reaſon taken properly but allegorically alſo; the City where our Lord was crucified, that is, Ieruſalem, imbrued in the moſt innocent bloud, for the Roman Church ſo full of innocent bloud; Ieruſalem another Sodom and Egypt, for the Roman Church a very Sodom and Egypt for the vncleanneſſes and idolatries, as much reig…ing here as euer they did in thoſe two curſed places. Our Diuines doe all generally in effect ſay the ſame: for they agree vponupon the popiſh Church here meant. But that ſome apply it vntounto Rome, Brightman.as from whence the authority to crucifie Chriſt was deriued, and ſo the great City where the Lord was crucified ſetteth forth the Roman Empire, for which cauſe it is not only called Sodom, a City; but Egypt, a Country and whole dominion, which is now vnderunder the Pope, as it was then vnderunder heathen Emperours.Pareus. Bullinger. Some repeating the word ſpiritually, ſay that it is meant where the Lord was crucified ſpiritually in his members, neither can it be meant properly of Ieruſalem, becauſe all nations and tongues ſhall ſee theſe dead bodies, which could not be in one City; againe, this is doubtleſſe the ſame City ruling ouer the Nations, afterwards more amply deſcribed, which the learned amongſt the Papiſts themſelues cannot deny to be Rome.
Touching their riſing againe, whereupon a great feare fell vponupon thoſe that ſaw them, verſ. 11. and their being called vp into Heauen, and aſcending in a Cloud their enemies beholding it, verſ. 12. Some vnderſtand hereby other men of the ſame zealous ſpirit that they were of which were ſlaine,Bullinger. whom God ſtirreth vp to abate the ioy and to ſtrike new terrour into the Antichriſtian Sect, who are finally receiued vp into Heauen at the laſt day in the ſight of their enemies, the Kingdome of Antichriſt being firſt much ruined by their meanes, great warres being ſtirred vp called an Earth-quake, by which many thouſands are ſhine, here called 7000. and the ſtate in a great part commeth to ruine, here ſaid to bee the tenth part of the great City, whereupon men ſuruiuing, who were formerly deluded, returne vntounto God, giuing all glory to him alone, not making others partners with him any more, as in their ignorance they had before done. With this conſenteth Pareus, Pa….but that he will hauehave their aſcending to bee the honour and eſteeme which the Teachers of the truth come into when their true doctrine is againe reuiued, and preuaileth by meanes of ſuch as God ſtirred vp in the roome of thoſe that were formerly ſlaine by the enemies of the truth; for thus Iohn Huſſe and Ierome of Prague being killed, and their tenents condemned for hereticall, liued againe in Luther and Melancthon, and Caluin, &c. and were highly honoured and eſteemed of together with their doctrine, as alſo theſe and other their ſucceſſors maintaining the ſame, wherby great terrour was ſtricken into the Papals, and that ſtate being much ruined, many were turned to the truth.Brightman. Brightman will hauehave this aſcending to be of their doctrine, concerning which, a decree was made by Ceſar Ferdinand, and other Princes,Sleid. lib. 26. that the Religion of the Auguſtane confeſſion ſhould bee free for all men, ann. 1555. ſept. Calend. Octobris. Hereupon followed a great change in the ſtate, called here an Earth-quake, the Pope loſeth a great part of Germany the tenth part of his reuenue, and the religious loſe their meanes whereupon their life depended. But theſe are ſaid to be but 7000. the generall loſſe, the fall of the tenth part of the City, becauſe this loſſe by the ſupreſſing of ſuperſtitious houſes was not ſo great, extending but to particular perſons, as the vilifying of the Pope, for hereby the ſtate in generall was greatly ſhaken. For mine own part I conſent with theſe learned Authors in that wherein they all agree, that by the two Witneſſes reuiued, is not meant properly the raiſing againe of two particular perſons, Enoch and Elias. as the Papiſts hold: for this hath beene ſufficiently confuted already, but the ſtirring vp of others in the roome of ſuch witneſſes of the truth as hauehave been ſlaine during the reigne of Antichriſt. Yet I doe not thinke that this is to be brought within the compaſſe of the 1260. daies, as already accompliſhed, but that this ſhall be in the laſt declination of Antichriſtianiſme, at what time the enemies of the truth ſhall hauehave no more power to perſecute and deſtroy as yet they hauehave. For within the compaſſe of that time of their power as any hauehave beene ſtirred-vp, they hauehave not ſtood ſtill as affrighted hereat, but they hauehave eft ſoones prepared for their ſuppreſſion (though many (thankes be God) in ſuch Nations, as wherein the liberty of the truth hath beene maintained, hauehave beene out of their Gunſhot.) Neither hauehave their preparations been in vaine, for they both hauehave and ſtill doe daily kill many. And therefore I cannot ſee how any time already paſt can agree to that which is here figured out, here being no intimation of any more oppoſition & deſtruction, but of fearing and fainting on the Antichriſtian part till they come to ruine. In my poore iudgement therefore, here is ſet forth what ſhall bee at the end of the halfe weeke before deſcribed by two and forty moneths, and by 1260. daies, making halfe a myſticall weeke of yeeres, and three daies and an halfe being (as all know) halfe a weeke, for ſo the Text preciſely ſaith, at the end of the three daies and an halfe. And what ſhall be then? Verily an exaltation of the truth, no where to bee trodden vnderunder foot any more. In the time of the Gentiles power, when ſome witneſſes are ſlaine, others are raiſed vp, but for ſo much as they are alſo impugned and many of them ſlaine, I vnderſtand the whole ſucceſſion of witneſſes by the two who were made Martyrs ſome after other ſome. But when this tragicall time ſhall be ouer, they ſhall be raiſed vp, not to be ſought againſt and to fall any more, but to terrifie the aduerſaries, to propagate the truth, & finally to be made partakers of the kingdome of Heauen, here ſignified by their being called vp and aſcending in a cloud, a ſpeech plainly alluding to that of the Apoſtle,1 Theſ. 4.17. We that are aliue ſhall be caught vp together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the aire, and ſo ſhall euer bee with the Lord. Now this aſcending is ſubioined immediatly after their being raiſed vp, and before the fall of the great City, not for that theſe things ſhall be done in this order (for then ſome, which ſee that fall and repent, ſhould bee conuerted at the day of iudgement, which is no time for that) but the Argument touching the exaltation of the faithfull is proſecuted together to the laſt, according to the vſuall manner of Scripture, ioyning all things touching one and the ſame Argument together, though happening at diuers times, and then commeth in that of the iudgement of enemies. It is therefore to be vnderſtood, that the ſeruants of God ſhall preuaile and the true Religion ſhall flouriſh, whereat feare ſhall come vponupon the enemies, neither ſhall they hauehave power to make reſiſtance any more, but in ſtead of being murthered as in times paſt, they ſhall to their comfort ſtand in expectation of the great Day of the Lord, when they ſhall be taken vp in the Clouds and euer remaine in bliſſe with the Lord. And thus their aſcending is alſo vnderſtood by Bullinger and Fox. Bullinger. Fox.After this it is proceeded to the iudgements againſt the aduerſaries when the truth ſhall be thus exalted, a great Earthquake ſhall ſhake the great City, there ſhall be a wonderfull commotion in the world, they which are for the truth taking courage vntounto them, and aſſaulting the contrary part of the Papals and Mahumetans, and then their hearts failing them for feare, being vnable any longer to withſtand the force of the Orthodox, the tenth part ſhall fall away from that City whereof they held before, becomming profeſſors of the truth,Heſt. 8.17. as in the daies of Mordecai men became Iewes for feare, and of thoſe which yet harden themſelues 7000. that is, a great multitude ſhall be ſlaine,Ioſ. 10.11. God fighting againſt them, as hee did ſometime againſt the Canaanites. The reſidue ſeeing this ſhall relent, and acknowledging their errors embrace the truth, thus giuing glory to God,Ioſ 7. as once Ioſhua bade Achan giuegive glory to God and tell the truth. All which they ſuffered before could not make them that ſuruiued repent, as was ſhewed Chap. 9. v. 20. ſo that here it being ſpoken of them in another phraſe, their repentance muſt needs be intimated, and in this particular moſt Interpreters agree. The whole drift of St. Auguſtine, de Ciuitate Dei, is to ſhew that here hauehave alwaies beene two Cities, the City of God and of the Deuill; this city of the Deuill comprehendeth the whole ſtate of the Gentiles in the preſent ſenſe, a Cataſtrophe whereof ſhall be when the two and forty moneths appointed are ended, no profeſſed enemies to the truth bearing rule in any place being any more after this fatall blow to bee found: but as there is one God, ſo there ſhall be one Religion all ouer the world. There will bee perhaps ſome peruerſe ſectaries ſtill being frozen in the dregs of ſuperſtition till the glorious comming of the Lord to iudgement, which cannot then be farre off, and of this remainder it may bee that the Apoſtle ſpeaketh,1 Theſ. 2.8. that the Lord will deſtroy by the brightneſſe of his comming. And thus hauehave I by the grace of God gone thorow this long, darke, and obſcure way: let the learned conſider & iudge, and if I hauehave erred herein, I ſhall willingly vponupon demonſtration of ſuch error retreat; but if nothing of moment can be obiected, let vsus ſtand in a comfortable and aſſured expectation of this iſſue, glorious to the now deſpiſed and miſtermed witneſſes of the truth, but terrible to the aduerſaries that now for a time triumph ouer the dead, and ſubdued to their luſts. The day of the bitter enemies to the truth ſhall not laſt alwaies, the time of their Sunne-ſet ſhall come ſhortly, and then it ſhall gloriouſly ariſe to vsus neuer to goe downe any more till the comming of the Sunne of righteouſneſſe to glorifie vsus with heauenly glory for euer. And in all this there is no contradiction to the Lords prediction of the ouer-ſpreading of ſinne at his comming, as in the daies of Noah and Lot: for when one religion is externally imbraced by all, all are not by and by reformed according to the ſame, but rather truſting to the forme of godlineſſe, moſt ſhall giuegive themſelues ouer to licentiouſneſſe, louing the darknes in the midſt of this light, till the Lord come vponupon them as a theefe in the night to their vtter vndoing and confuſion. For by the conſent of all Hiſtorians, Chriſtians neuer were ſo licentious as in the time of peace and freedome from perſecution of enemies, which maketh that which I hauehave ſaid the more probable, and ſo free from any note of contrariety to other paſſages of holy Scripture.
Queſt. 2. And the ſeuenth Angell blew his Trumpet, Verſ. 19.and there were great voices in Heauen, ſaying, the kingdomes of the world are become our Lords, Verſ. 17, 18.&c. What is meant by this, and in that the foure and twenty Elders in praiſing God doe further ſpeake of the anger of the Gentiles, and the time come of Gods anger, and of iudging the dead, and rewarding the godly. And laſtly, what is figured out by the opening of the Temple in Heauen, and the Arke of the teſtimony appearing, and the Thunders, Lightnings, Voices,Verſ. 19. Earthquake and Haile concluding all?
Anſw. Some referring that which went before to the times of reformation in ſundry parts,Brightman, Forbs. vnderſtand by theſe voices the acclamations of praiſe in the reformed Churches, for diuers Kingdomes comming vnderunder the obedience of the Goſpell, as England, Denmarke, Sweuia, and diuers parts of Germany. And that the foure and twenty Elders are the multitude of the faithfull following the foure beaſts, the Paſtors who hauing ſtirred them vp doe more particularly commemorate the time of iudging the dead, meaning the Iewes, who hitherto lay dead in infidelity, but now ſhall be turned. The anger of the Nations is the Popes and Papiſts indignation, ſtriuing to take reuenge for this reuolt, excommunicating Princes and abſoluing ſubiects from the oath of allegiance, and mouing the Spaniard to come with his great Armado againſt England, ann. 1588. And now Heauen is opened and the Arke appeareth by the more cleere vnderſtanding of propheſies than in former times. But vntounto the wicked there is no comfort hereby, but matter of terrour ſet forth in the Thunders, Lightnings, &c.
Againſt this expoſition, maketh firſt the fluctuating eſtate of ſome kingdomes where the truth hath beene entertained, and the holding off of moſt hitherto, whereas the Lord is ſaid after the accompliſhment of this to reigne for euer, and not ſome kingdomes, but the kingdomes of the world are ſaid to become the Lords, by which all kingdomes in generall muſt needs be vnderſtood. Againe, it is plainly forced to apply the iudging of the dead to the calling of the Iewes, for howſoeuer the Iewes bee, as it were, dead hitherto, yet the phraſe of iudging the dead will not beare any ſuch ſenſe of comming in grace to any people, but rather with reuenge. And that which is oppoſed vntounto it of the reward of the godly maketh it more plaine, that by iudging muſt be meant calling to an account, and proceeding in iudgement againſt them.
Laſtly, it is contrary to the oath of the Angell, who ſweareth, Chap. 10. that time ſhall bee no more but when the ſeuenth Angell ſoundeth, ſo that to expound this vnderunder the ſounding of the ſeuenth Angell of things happening in this world, it ſtill continuing, I cannot ſee how it may be iuſtified. Some vnderſtand by this ſeuenth Angell the laſt order of Preachers,Gagnaeus, and ſome other Popiſh. after the ouerthrow of Antichriſt, who ſhall ſound out the comming of the Lord to iudgement, when all the world ſhall for euer be ſubdued vntounto him, the wicked being iuſtly condemned, and the godly graciouſly rewarded. But this trumpet is indeed the laſt trumpet, whereof it is ſaid, the Lord ſhall come with the ſound of a trumpet. For this is the time of iudging the dead, and wherein all kingdomes are ſubiected to the Lord, no man ruling any more, and Satans kingdome being at an end.Beda. Rupertus. Primaſius. Andreas. Aretas. Bullinger. Fox. Marlorat. Toſſanus. Alphonſus. Pareus, &c. The Gentiles were angry before, but now is the time of Gods anger. Fox. And therefore moſt Expoſitors agree in this, both ancient and moderne. After the fall and ſlaughter made in the great city before deſcribed, whereby Hereſie and ſuperſtition is reiected in all parts, none other notable change ſhall happen more till the Lords comming to iudgement at the laſt day, when iuſtreuenge ſhall be taken vponupon all enemies of the truth, who were angry and had indignation to ſee it lift vp the head, and deſtroyed ſuch as ſtood for it, and the godly ſhall bee rewarded according to all their ſufferings, whether they bee Prophets or Saints, and other men fearing God, whereby ſuch matter of ioy is miniſtred to all the heauenly company, that they breake out into acclamations of praiſes of the Lord, by whom theſe things are done. Then the Temple in heauen appeareth, and the Arke of the Teſtimony. The glory of that place which is yet vnſeene, and ſhut vp from all mortall eyes, (as the Sanctum Sanctorum with the Arke of old was, ſo as that none but the high Prieſt onelyonly entred once a yeere, and did ſee Aarons rod budded, and the pot of Manna preſerued) ſhall bee ſet open to all the children of God to enter and behold, and ſee as they are ſeene to their vnſpeakable and euerlaſting comfort, but to the wicked as before there were nothing but ſignes of terrour, thundrings, lightnings, earthquakes, &c. ſo now they ſhall feele theſe terrours to their euerlaſting woe, of which they heard before, but not beleeuing them, hardened themſelues ſtill in their euill wayes. Some by the Arke of the Teſtimony here vnderſtand the Lord Ieſus,Bullinger. Pareus. whom we ſhall then actually enioy, he appearing vntounto vsus in his glory, as he is; and by the Temple, the Church triumphant, the glory whereof ſhall then be laid open to all men. Some by the Arke vnderſtand Chriſts humanity, but there being little difference, I will not ſtand to contend:Beda. Primaſius. Rupertus. but by the happineſſe of that time, let vsus all be perſwaded to feare God, and patiently beare what the malice of this wicked world ſhall lay vponupon vsus, and the baſeneſſe of our preſent condition, for then we ſhall hauehave a full compenſation of moſt excellent glory, ſuch as hitherto hath not beene ſeene, yea which no mortall eye can ſee, or heart conceiue.