The Whole Revelation of John in Two Treatises, Treatise 2 · Chapter 20
CHAP. 20.
THE ARGVMENT.
There being onelie two ſpeciall kingdomes enemies to God, the one Papiſticke, a coulloured enemie, the other Mahometicke, a profeſſed enemie, and having in the thirde, fourth, fift, and ſixt trumpets or vials, exponed and prophecied orderly, the eſtate and and increaſe of the Mahometike kingdome. And in manie of theſe chapters latelie paſt, hauing deſcribed the Romane and Papiſticall kingdome, now in this chapter S. Iohn ſheweth, that after a thouſand yeares of peace, granted to the Romane and Papiſticall Empire, in the ende the Deuill is looſed to ſtirre vp moſte cruell warres betwixt theſe two mightie kingdomes, Papiſticall and Mahometicke, in the reuenge of the blood of holie martyrs ſhead in the meane time: and how afterward, men beginne to reuiue and ariſe from the blind errours and deadlie ſleepe of Antichriſtianiſme. And laſt, how by Gods trueth, theſe godleſſe kingdomes, ſhall be extinguiſhed, and Chriſt ſhal come to iudge all men according to their demerits.
Hiſtorical application. 1 NOwe it pleaſed the the merciemercy and providēce of God, by his holy Spirite, and heauenlie Angels, to reſtrain the tyrannical power and vniverſall rage of Sathan.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 1 ANd I ſawe an Angel deſcē ding from heauen, who had power of God, to open and cloſe the myſteries of hell, & to reſtrain by his hand, the power of the Deuil, in the chaines of Gods feare.
The Text. 1 ANd I ſaw an Angel come downe from heauen, hauing the key of the bottemleſſe pit, and a great chain in his hand.
Hiſtorical application. 2 So that after the continual and ſucceſsiue tyran ny of heathen Roman Emperours, and laſt of Diocletian, who in one monethmonth ſlew 17000. martyrs, aroſe at length the firſt publike Chriſtian Emperour, Conſtantine the great, about the yeare of Chriſt, 300. from which time to the dayes of Pope Boniface rhe 8. and of Ottoman the great, & firſte Emperour of Mahometans, An. 1300. euen the ſpace of a thouſand yeares, the Deuil and his raging tyrantes of this world, were reſtrayned from that high degree of vniuerſall tyrannie, that they both before and after vſed.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 2 And hee foreſhewed mee, howe God had appointed to take that oldea dragon and venemous ſerpent, euen the deuill, that odious Sathan, & ſhuld reſtrain him in bondage b a thouſande yeares.
The Text. 2 And hee tooke the dragon, that olde ſerpent, which is he deuill & Satan, and hee bounde him a thouſande yeares.
Hiſtorical application. 3 For God ſo dantoned them, and abaſed the power of Sathan, that he might wel ſtir vp particular and provinciall warres, but vniuerſall warres among the people & whole nations of the world, that is to ſay, betweene Monarch & Monarch there was none raiſed during all theſe 1000. yeares, and after theſe thouſand yeares, ending in An. 1300. it pleaſed God to permit Sathan, by his inſtruments, ſo raiſe vp moſt terrible and vniuerſall warres for a ſeaſon.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 3 And ſhoulde depoſe him from his c higheſt tyrā nicall power, to his loweſt eſtate; and in ſuch wiſe ſhuld he be reſtrained and incloſed, and the cloſure ſo cōfirmed of God, that he ſhould d no further ſtir vp deceitfully the Heathen nations to vniuerſal e warfare, til theſe thouſand yeares were expired, and thē ſhuld the deuil be loſed to ſtirre vp great wars among thē for a ſeaſon.
The Text. 3 And caſt him into the bottomles pit, and he ſhutte him vp, and ſealed the doore vponupon him, that he ſhould deceiue the people no more, till the thouſand years wer fulfilled, for after that hee muſt be looſed for a litle ſeaſon.
Hiſtorical application. 4 Now in the beginning of theſe 1000. yeares, a newe kinde of ſupreame gouernment, and judiciall authoriſtart vp, to wit, the Papiſticall gouernment, by Pope Sylveſter the firſt, in An. 315. to whom, and whoſe ſucceſſors, Conſtantine gaue both kingdome and judicial power ouerall Chriſtian Churches, this at length came to that tyrannie, that they martyred al thoſe that trulie profeſſed Chriſt, and preached the word of God, and all that reuerenced not that Romane ſeate, nor theſe counterfeit Emperours, or images of the Empire, whom they inaugurated, neither were marked with Chriſme, or croſſes on their foreheades or handes, for euen then was there a latent and inviſible Church, that liued priuily as true Chriſtians, triumphing and raigning ouer theſe Papiſticall abuſes, during all theſe thouſand yeares.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 4 At this time he let me ſee, that there ſhould be f new ſeats, and ſupreame authorities erected, and theſe that were erected in authoritie, ſhuld hauehave judiciall power giuen them, ſo I perceiued many, whō they had judged, martyred, and cō demned to death, for bearing the teſtimony of Ieſus Chriſt, & for profeſsing the true word of God, and which did not reverence the Antichriſtian Empire, nor the coūterfet Emperors therof, neither had profeſſed his ſuperſtitious markes, or born the ſame on their forheads, or in their hands, & theſe liued & raigned as true Chriſtians, g during all theſe 1000. years.
The Text. 4 And I ſaw ſeates: & they ſat vponupon them, and judgment was giuen vntounto them, and I ſavv the ſouls of them that wer beheaded for the witnes of Ieſus, and for the word of God, and which did not worſhippe the beaſte, neither his image, neither had taken his mark vponupon their foreheds or on their hands, & they liued and raigned with chriſt a thouſande yeares.
Hiſtorical application. 5 But the reſt, I mean the whol outward viſible church lay whollie as dead, and corrupted with Papiſticall errours, and began not to bee raiſed vp nor quickened by the word of life, till after the yeare of God, a thouſande three hundred when that al theſe thouſande yeares were outrun, and then began mo and moe to riſe dayly from their former Antichriſtian errours: this riſing from Antichriſtian errours, is the i firſt reſurrection, that goes before the reſurrectiō of the dead.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 5 But the reſt of the people, that lay h dead in Antichriſtian errours, aroſe not therfrō, to imbrace the worde of life till theſe thouſande yeares were runne out: this riſing from Antichriſtian errours, is the i firſt reſurrection, that goes before the reſurrectiō of the dead.
The Text. 5 But the reſt of the ded men ſhall not liue againe, vntill the thouſand yeares be finiſhed: this is the firſt reſurrection.
Hiſtorical application. 6 Happie is he and bleſſed that riſeth trulie from theſe errors, and ſo is participant of that firſt reſurrection, for vponupon them the ſecond death, which is the death of the ſoule, ſhall hauehave no power, but they ſhall become Prieſts and Sacrificers of their pure & holie prayers vntounto God and his Sonne Chriſt Ieſus and ſhal raigne with him ſpiritually, the k thouſand yeares of the great Sabboth, which is to ſay, for euer and euer.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 6 Happie is he and bleſſed that riſeth trulie from theſe errors, and ſo is participant of that firſt reſurrection, for vponupon them the ſecond death, which is the death of the ſoule, ſhall hauehave no power, but they ſhall become Prieſts and Sacrificers of their pure & holie prayers vntounto God and his Sonne Chriſt Ieſus and ſhal raigne with him ſpiritually, the k thouſand yeares of the great Sabboth, which is to ſay, for euer and euer.
The Text. 6 Bleſſed & holy is he, that hath part in the firſt reſurrection: for on ſuch the ſecōd death hath no power: but they ſhall bee the Prieſtes of God and of chriſt, and ſhal raigne with him a thouſand yeare.
Hiſtorical application. 7 But theſe former 1000. yeares being expired in An. 1300. euen that very yeare Pope Boniface the 8. beginning the firſt Iubelie, was clothed the one day in his Popelike pontificall, and the next day in an Emperours Robe royall, and bearing before him two ſwords, ſaying, Ecce duo gladii hîc, therby hee vindicated to himſelfe both the ſpirituall and temporall impire ouer all the quarters of the earth: on the contrary parte, was Ottoman the great, who aſpiring to be Monarch, was crowned that ſame year Emperour ouer al the four nations Mahometās.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 7 And whē the l former 1000. years ſhal be m outrun, the deuil ſhall bee looſed of his foreſaide bondage,
The Text. 7 And when the thouſande yeares are expired, Sathan ſhall be looſed out of his priſon.
Hiſtorical application. 8 And ſo from this forth the deuill ſtirred vp betwixt theſe two pretended Monarches and their ſucceſſors, moſte terrible warres, by ſuche vniuerſall multitudes and inumerable Armies, as hath not bene heard of before.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 8 And ſhal paſſe out to deceiue the people that dwell in al the arthes, or foure quarters of the countries of n Gog and of Magog, euen ſtirring vp the one againſt the other to battel, & ſhall gather them in number, as the o ſea ſand.
The Text. 8 And ſhall go out to deceiue the peo- which are in the four quarters of the erth euen Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battel, whoſe num ber is as the ſand of the ſea
Hiſtorical application. 9 And their chiefe skirmiſhes and battelles, were fought beſides the landes of Chriſtians, in Europe and in Aſia minor, and thereabout, wher God had firſt plāted his holie Citizens, euen theſe ſeuen Churches that Saint Iohn writeth vntounto: But (God willing) at lēgth ſhall theſe Papiſticall and Mahometane kingdomes, both enemies to God, be deſtroyed by the power & force of Gods word.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 9 And they ſhal gather together in the plain of the earth, toward and about thoſe cuntries, p cities and dwellings, where Chriſtians, and Chriſts holie citizens had made their reſidence: but at length by the fiery tongues of the Apoſtolike doctrin & flāming fire of Gods word from heauen, ſhall both Gog & Magog be ouercome.
The Text. 9 And they went vp into the plaine of the earth, which compaſſed the tentes of the Saintes about, and the beloued cittie: but fire came downe from God out of heauen, and deuoured thē.
Hiſtorical application. 10 And Sathan, that gret deceiuer of the world ſhall be caſt into hell fire eternallie, wher alſo all the godles Romane and Mahometicke Emperours, and other wicked Princes, together with al falſe Prophets Papiſticals, Mahometickes, & others, ſhall terriblie bee tormented day and night for euermore,
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 10 And the deuill that ſhal deceue thē & ſtir thē vp to warfare ſhal be caſt into the eternal flame of Gehenna, where alſo the gret Emperors of the earth, & the falſe Antichriſtian Prophets ſhalbe tormēted day & night for euer more.
The Text. 10 And the deuil that deceiued them, was caſt into a lake of fire & brimſton, wher the beaſt and the falſe Prophet ſhall bee tormented euen day and night for euermore.
Hiſtorical application. 11 When Chriſte in his maieſty ſhal come to judgment, for then certainlie ſhal heauen and earth bee renewed.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 11 For I ſaw that at this time ſhuld the true & ſincer juſtice ſeat of God appear and Chriſte our juſt judge ſitting therō, at whoſe preſence this heauen & earth ſhall then vtterly q melt away, and all thinges be renewed
The Text. 11 And I ſawe a greate white throne, and one that ſat on it, from whoſe face fled away both the earth and heauen, and their place was no more found.
Hiſtorical application. 12 And we are ſure that then the ſecond and laſt reſurrection ſhould be, wherein generally all men ſmall and great, that euer died, ſhall riſe againe, and appeare befor that juſtice ſeate of God, and the r regiſter books of all mens conſciences be opened vp, and laid abroad, and the great r regiſter of God his predeſtination, and booke of life ſhall bee opened and made patent, and the dead ſhall be judged according to theit ſ workes, written and regiſtred in their conſciences.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 12 And we are ſure that then the ſecond and laſt reſurrection ſhould be, wherein generally all men ſmall and great, that euer died, ſhall riſe againe, and appeare befor that juſtice ſeate of God, and the r regiſter books of all mens conſciences be opened vp, and laid abroad, and the great r regiſter of God his predeſtination, and booke of life ſhall bee opened and made patent, and the dead ſhall be judged according to theit ſ workes, written and regiſtred in their conſciences.
The Text. 12 And I ſaw the deade, both greate & ſmal, ſtand before God, and the books wer opened, & an other book was opened, which is the booke of life, & the deid wer judged of thoſe thinges whiche were written in the bookes, according to their works.
Hiſtorical application. 13 And the waltering world, by his raging ſeas and ſtormie tempeſts inveighing againſt our fleſhe, ſhall render againe all that hauehave died by it, and the deuill by his deadly and deſperate greifes, and infernall temptations of the minde, ſhall render againe all that hath dyed by him, and eueryevery man ſhal be iudged accorto his workes.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 13 And the waltering world, by his raging ſeas and ſtormie tempeſts inveighing againſt our fleſhe, ſhall render againe all that hauehave died by it, and the deuill by his deadly and deſperate greifes, and infernall temptations of the minde, ſhall render againe all that hath dyed by him, and eueryevery man ſhal be iudged accorto his workes.
The Text. 13 And the ſea gaue vp her dead, which were in her, & death and hel deliuered vp the dead, which were in them: & they were iudged, eueryevery man according vntounto their workes.
Hiſtorical application. 14 And the t infernal ſpirits and damned Deuils, who are as death and hell it ſelfe, ſhal be caſt in the burning flame and vnquenchable fire thereoff: this is the ſecond and euerlaſting death.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 14 And the t infernal ſpirits and damned Deuils, who are as death and hell it ſelfe, ſhal be caſt in the burning flame and vnquenchable fire thereoff: this is the ſecond and euerlaſting death.
The Text. 14 And death & hel wer caſt into the lake of fire: this is the ſecond death.
Hiſtorical application. 15 And whoſoeuer is not contained in the regiſter of Gods mercifull predeſtination, & booke of life, ſhall alſo be caſt in with them in that eternall and vnquencheable fire.
Paraphraſticall expoſition. 15 And whoſoeuer is not contained in the regiſter of Gods mercifull predeſtination, & booke of life, ſhall alſo be caſt in with them in that eternall and vnquencheable fire.
The Text. 15 And whoſoeuer was not found writtē in the booke of life, was caſt into the lake of fire.
Notes, Reaſons, and Amplifications.
a The former parte of the hiſtory of this Dragon Sathan, is to be found in the twelfth chapter hereof: to the which, this chapter is to be ſubjoined.
b To wit, a thouſand yeares of the 1260. years, that the church abode latent and inviſible, as at more length is opened in our 34. Propoſition.
c This deepe wherein Sathan is nowe cloſed, is not as yet the deepe pit, and endles paine of Gehenna, for as yet, he is but retained in the chaines of darknes, till the latter day, when he ſhall be damned aeternally to the deepe of hell (2. Pet. 2.) But this hell or deepe, called in Greeke foreign, and in Latine abyſſus is ſometime taken for the depth of the earth, or of waters locallie: as Pſal. 105. … Sometime for lowe eſtate and baſe degree, as both here, and …oc. 17.8. where the imperial beaſt riſeth out of this hel or deep, …d goeth thereafter to decay, but out of hell there is none that riſeth, ſpecially, no Emperour or mankinde: wherefore in this text (abyſſus meaning but a lowe degree and baſe eſtate) the Deuill is but thirled and reſtrained from his vttermoſt tyrannie, and not at this time bound in Gehenna: for as all the ſcriptures teſtifie, he hath euer had and ſhall hauehave to the worlds end that freedome & libertie to go tēpting mankind, ſeeking as a rageing Lyon whome he may deuoure: read further hereupon in our 35. propoſition.
d It is ſaid in the Apoc. 12. (wher the former part of this hiſtorie is ſet out) that the Church of God ſhal be perſecuted and chaſed into the deſert by this Dragon, & made inviſible 1260. yeares: and therefore now alluding to that, hee ſaith here, that Sathan is bound, that he ſhall not ſedu e anie farther: to wit, anie farther than is ſaid already in that 12. chapter: and ſo in this chapter hee is not reſtrained ſimplie from perſecution, and from all manner of ſeduction, ſuch, as particular warres, and martyrdomes, and ſowing of hereſies, but from ſtirring vp of vniuerſall warres, as is prooued in the ſaid 35. propoſition.
e Sence Chriſts daies to this day, the Churche of God wanted neuer either ſchiſmes or perſecution: therefore, this bondage of Sathan for a 1000. yeares, is only (as is ſaid) from ſtirring vp of vniuerſall warres, as is prooued in the ſaid 35. propoſition.
f Becauſe the iudgement ſeat, and judiciall throne of Chriſt followeth ſhortly, verſe 11. and that with him his elect ſhal ſit (Apoc. 2.26.27. and note x thereof, and Apoc. 3. verſe 21. and note f thereof.) Therefore this throne and authoritie that here is erected, appears not to be of the elect ſoules, but rather vponupon the cō trary part to be the throne of the Antichriſtian beaſt, who here doth martyr theſe Saints of God, that raigned againſt antichriſtianiſme theſe thouſand years profeſsing Chriſt in this world, & ſhal therfore eternally reign with Chriſt in his throne herafter ver. 11.
g Although during theſe 1000. years & more, the true Church lurked in the wilderneſſe (as Apoc. 12.6.14. is ſaide) yet was not that Church ſo inviſible, but the Dragon in the Antichriſts perſō in all ages, eſpied ſome of the children of the true latent Church, and martyred them: as both here, and Apoc. 12.17. is mentioned. So this confirmes our former aſſertion, where wee ſay, the Deuill here is not ſimply bound, but in a maner, as we prooue in our ſa… 35. propoſition. Moreouer hereof is gathered, that ſeeing (by this text) they that worſhipped not the Antichriſtian beaſt, his image, or marke was perſecuted a 1000. yeares, therefore neceſſarilie the Antichriſt raigned a 1000. years at the leaſt: & conſequently, theſe who ſuppoſeth him to raign but three years and an half, ar deceiued, as is prooued in our 16. Propoſition.
h The former martyrs and profeſſors being the inward and inviſible Church (Apoc. 11.1.) Theſe whole remanent here ſpoken off, are the vtter court and viſible pretended Church called in that chapter Gentiles, that is Idolatrous Ethnickes, and Iohn there ve. 2. is forbidden to account or regard them: for here ſaith he, they ly all deade and drunken in Antichriſtian errors, for the ſpace of a 1000. yeares: and ſo indeed from the daies of Pope Sylueſter the firſt, to the daies of Pope Boniface the eight: that 1000. yeares the ſeat of Rome hauing no match nor encounter, ſuffred neuer any to be ſeen vouchable or viſible of the true Church: but there about, and from thence foorth ſuch hote warres fell betwixt the empyre of Rome and the Mahumeticke empyre, that vnawares, diuers true profeſſors openly and vowably did ariſe and ſtart vp, ſuch as Iohn de rupe ſciſſa ann. 1240. Gulielmus de Sancto amore anno 1260. Arnoldus de villa noua & Petrus Caſsiodorus Italian anno 1302. Dantes Aligherius and Gulielmus Occham anno 1321. Franciſcus Petrarcha 1374. Ioannes Wicklevus anno, 1390. Ioannes Huſſe & Hieronymus de Praga Bohemians and martyrs anno 1415. And then did ariſe by their doctrin a viſible reformed Church in Bohemia, and thereafter be Luther in Germanie, and ſo euer moe and moe viſible Churches and publike teachers ar riſen from Papiſticall and Antichriſtian errors, euen to this day: and all theſe were ſometime dead in theſe former Antichriſtian errors, but (praiſed be God) are now reuiued by the ſpirit of God in this firſt reſurrection.
i That there be two reſurrections, and two deaths, and what they be is plaine in the ſcriptures. The firſt reſurrection, is the riſing from errors, of which ſaith Salomon. Prou. 24.16. Seuen times in a day falleth the iuſt man, and yet riſeth againe: and this firſt reſurrection is cheifly meant, from antichriſtian errors, as here, and in Daniel 12.2. wherein ſaith he, many ſhall riſe, &c. whereas the ſecond reſurrection is the general reſurrection of the dead where… …ot onelyonly many, but euen all, ſhall ariſe againe: as to the two deathes they are alſo plaine. The firſt, is the death of our fleſhlie bodies here, which the ſcriptures call oft a ſleep: the ſecond death, is the endles dying of body and ſoule in hell fire eternallie, reade hereof, Apoc. 2. ver. 11. and note k thereof.
k After our exemption (here ſpoken of) from the ſecond death, and after our aeternall kingdome and prieſthood with Chriſt, this reigne of 1000. yeares in this place, cannot be temporall or definite: for by the grounds of Chriſtian religion, that reigne is aeternall, how then here a thouſande yeares is taken for aeternitie, yee may conſider by the compariſon of the ſix daies of labour, & the Sabboths reſt with the ſix thouſand yeares, that we muſt labor in this world, and thereafter hauehave eternall reſt, whereof we hauehave ſpoken in our 14. propoſition, and yee ſhall finde, that although eueryevery day of weeklie worke daies meaneth (according to 2. Pet. 3.8.) 1000. yeares definitely: yet the Sabboths 1000. yeares repreſents aeternitie. And ſuch like doubtles though the other 1000. yeares of this chapter ar definitly to be taken for a 1000. common years: yet theſe 1000. yeares of our reigning with Chriſt, after wee are freed from the ſecond death, muſt infinitely be taken for aeternity and for the eternall Sabboth. Where note, that by this text literally and definitely taken, reſulted the great errour of Cerinthus, and his ſecte of Chiliaſts or Millenaries, who thought our raign with Chriſt to be on earth, and temporal for a 1000. yeares, and wee then againe to die, and ly dead another 1000. yeares, and ſo about by viciſsitudes, as did of old the Platonicks, and of new in a maner the Origeniſts. Further, ſome alſo by the miſtaking of this text, ſuſpected the authoritie of this whole Reuelation: but to the true Chriſtian conceiuer hereof, both is the authoritie of this booke confirmed, and the hereſie of the Millenaries refelled.
l Though in the former verſes by the laſt note 1000. yeares, is there prooued to meane aeternitie: yet theſe thouſand yeares here ſpoken of, are the ſame 1000. yeares literally & definitely ſpoken of in the verſes, 2.3.4. and 5. for al theſe 1000. yeares are ſpoken of thinges temporall, while we are yet in this worlde, and agreeth hiſtorically with theſe ſame 1000. yeares that begins about the yeare of Chriſt 300. and ends in the yeare of Chriſt 1300. as is prooued in our 34. propoſition, but yeares, times, and numbers ſpecified of the world to come (as verſe 6.) muſt meane aeternitie, ſeeing after the latter day, there ſhall be no day, yea no year, time nor numerall diſtinction thereof, but aeternitie without meaſure, Apoc. 10.6. And therfore be ſure this preſent text here, is the progreſſe & large deduction of that looſing of Sathan, which was but ſummarly touched, and forewarned in the end of the third verſe, and ſo this looſing is all one with that looſing.
m This text doth confirme our former aſſertion, whereby wee affirme Sathans bondage theſe thouſand yeares, to be only from raiſing of vniuerſall tyrannie and warres: for proofe now whereof when here he is looſed, he raiſed now vniuerſal warres, by enanimating of Gods publike enemie Magog, with his Princes of the Orient, againſt Gods latent enemy, & Antichriſt Gog, with his whol Princes of the Occident: and ſo came it to paſſe that very laſt yeare of theſe thouſand, euen the year of God, 1300. that Pope Boniface the 8. chalenged to himſelfe in his triumphant Iubelie, the double Monarchie, both ſpirituall and temporall, ouer the whole worlde. And contrarilie, that ſame yeare, Ottoman the great, was crowned the firſt Emperour of the Mahometans: & ſo from thence forth betwixt theſe, and their ſucceſſours, there followed out continuall and vniuerſall warres of the whole Orient, againſt the whol Occident, by armies of innumerable people.
n That Gog is the Roman and Papiſtick Empire, and Magog the Mahometicke Empire, read and conſider the 32. Propoſition.
o The Mahometick horſmen onlie of this armie, being (Apoc. 9.16) reckoned to two hūdred thouſand thouſand horſmen, no maruell though here both the Armies, Mahometicke & Papiſtick, yea, both horſemen and footmen thereof, be more comparable to the ſea ſand, than to any definite number: further concerning this matter, read Apoc. 9.16. and note h thereof.
p Conſider the progreſſe of Ottomans warres, and his ſucceſſors Emperors of Mahometanes, and ye ſhall find the greateſt part of all their battels, both inteſtine, and alſo againſt the Popes forces, to hauehave bene fought among Chriſtians, and Gods holy Citizens. For Ottoman fought, and did win Bithynia, and much of the coaſte ſide at Pontus Euxinus in the country of Aſia minor, where theſe ſeuen Churches lay, that Saint Iohn writeth to. Then Ottomans ſonne Or…s fought amongſt the Graecians, and in diuers Chriſtian partes … Europe, and conquered Pruſia. Then Amurathes their thirde Emperor, made great conqueſt in Europe about Conſtantinople, and fought many battels thereabout: and ſo foorth, with their ſucceſſours, who neuer reſted, making all their battels among the Chriſtians in Aſia minor, Bulgaria, Walachia, Seruia, Boſna, Croatia, Illyria, Hungaria, Epirus, Peloponneſus, and at length, in Spaine and Italie, with marueilous ſucceſſe, in ſo much that Mahomet, their ninth Emperour ſubuerted the two Chriſtian Empires of Conſtantinople and Trapezo…da, and wan twelue Chriſtian kingdomes, with two hundred Chriſtian Cities, beſide diuers Ilandes, as yee ſhall finde lib. 3. Romanorum Principum Ioan. Baptiſtae Egnatii, and in other hiſtories.
q Of this diſſolution of the heauen, the earth, and all the elements, read 2. Pet. 3.10. and next chapter hereof: So that by the Scriptures, apparantly heauen and earth ſhall be one habitacle of Gods Saints and holie ſeruantes.
r The booke of life and predeſtinate ſaluation, is effectuallie regiſtred with God in his merciemercy, whereof, although by faith the Spirite of God giueth our Spirit a feeling, yet the ſame is not effectuallie regiſtred in our conſcience, I meane our conſcience beareth no teſtimonie that we hauehave anie merite of life in vsus. But the other bookes of Gods juſt judgement, are indeed effectuallie regiſtred in our conſcience, which beareth the fearful record of all our iniquities, whereby the conſciences of the wicked doe teſtifie their owne damnation. Wiſ. 17.10.11. while as contrarilie, the regiſter book of Gods mercy exemeth the godly from their deſerued damnation, and promoteth them free lie to life euerlaſting.
ſ By workes here are we judged and juſtified, and not by faith onlie, as alſo Iames 2.24. teſtifieth, meaning hereby that of liuelie faith, and of the good workes that followeth therevpon man is juſtified, and not of that dead faith, that is by it ſelfe alone, with out any good workes: otherwiſe were the wordes of Paule (Rom. 3.28) expreſſe contrarie to this text, and to Iames, for ſaith Paule, We are iuſtified by faith, without the works of the Law, that is to ſay, not without good workes whatſoeuer, but meaning, that we are juſtified by liuelie faith, with ſuch ſmall good workes, as our weake nature will ſuffer that faith to produce, although it be without the preciſe workes that the Law requireth: and for confirmation of this interpretation, and vnion of theſe textes, yee … find both Iames and Paule agree in diuers places; that faith without workes is a dead faith, and ſerueth nothing to juſtification. And againe, they agree both, that all workes (howe good ſo euer they ſeeme) that proceed not from faith, are euill. And ſo it is all one to ſay with Saint Paule, We are juſtified by fruitfull faith, or faith that produceth good workes, although not the workes that the Law requireth, or to ſay with Iames, and here with Saint Iohn, we are juſtified by faithfull workes, ſeeing a working faith and faithfull workes are inſeparable, and none can hauehave the one without the other. So for concluſion, theſe workes, by the which here wee are judged, are to bee eſteemed good or euill, not in themſelues, or in ſo farre as they ſatisfie the Lawe (for ſo were all workes euill and imperfect) but in ſo farre foorth, as they hauehave or want faith adioyned with them, they are accounted good or evill onlie.
t To caſt death or hel, or ſuch vnliuelie thinges into this aeternall fire, cannot bee meaned here: But for as much as death and hell by Sathans procurement is brought vponupon mankinde, and ſo Sathan is authour thereof: Therefore metonymicé death and hell are taken for the Deuill and all damned Spirites. The like is mentioned in diuers places of the Scriptur, as in Eſay. 28.15.18. where by their league and band made with death and hell, is doubtleſlie meant, the giuing of themſelues ouer vntounto the Deuill and all inquitie, and in Eſay. 38.18, where, in ſaying, that hell and death ſhall not praiſe God; is meaned, that the Deuil and damned Spirites ſhall not praiſe God: and ſo in Oſee. 13.14. O death, I vvill be thy death, and O hell, I vvill be thy deſtruction, What els is this than the victorie of Chriſt ouer death and hell, by treading downe the head of Sathan, and caſting him into the eternal torment of death and hell, who hath bene the intiſer and onelie authour of death and hell. So then here (verſe 13.) the Deuill and his inſtruments vnderunder the tearmes of death and hell, doeth exhibite to iudgment all thoſe whome hee hath deſtroyed by his temptations, as the world is ſaide before (vnderunder the termes of ſea) to hauehave exhibited all that hauehave died by it, including betwixt them all that euer died, for all men either die by corporall griefe of bodie, or ſpirituall griefe of minde. So then here (verſe 14.) this death and hell, that … aeternallie caſt into the lake of fire, can bee no other than the deuill and damned Spirites, who intiſed man to death and hell, and therefore are caſten into that aeternall and vnquencheable fire of Gehenna, agreeing with verſe 10. preceeding.