A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 1 · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
The ſumme of this chapter.
This booke ought to be more diligently ſearched into, and better knowne of all Chriſtians of what eſtate and degree ſoeuer, of Magiſtrates, of Miniſters, and people, then it is. Manifold are the reaſons to perſwade all Chriſts ſeruants to reade, heart, and carefully to ſtudie it.
THE verie title may greatlieReaſons mouing to reade and ſtudie this booke. moue. It is not the Viſion of Eſay, or of Obediah, but the Reuelation of Ieſus Chriſt. A more excellent title then all the Prophecies that euerwere… …, the title. before it▪ Many times faire titles prefixed to mens workes not anſwering to ſuch glorious titles yet doe intice vsus to take vp and reade, yea the very name of an Author maketh currant often times his labour, and ſhall this excellent title, and the name of Ieſus Chriſt, the Author hereof, be no inducement to vsus to take vp, and reade?
It is fore-fronted with admirable grace of authoritie,2 Reaſon, the authoritie. not any other treatiſe of the ſacred Bible hath ſo worthie a fore-ſpeech to begin it with, as this hath. It was giuen by God the Father, to his Sonne Ieſus Chriſt, who ſignified it by an Angell to Iohn; and this beloued Apoſtle, receiuing it by the aide of Gods ſpirit, hath written it at Chriſts commandement for vsus. Behold here the grace, the maieſticall authoritie of this diuine booke! ſhall not the careleſſe neglect hereof cauſe vsus to bee guiltie of too great prophaneſſe? weigh and conſider.
The words of this booke are the true ſayings of 3. Reaſon, the veritie, cap. 19. 9 and 21. 5. and 22. 6.God, they be true and faithfull, by the teſtimonie of God ſitting vponupon his throne, and by the witneſſe of his Angell. The louelove therefore of the truth, ſhould moue all the louers of this truth, to ſtudie the ſame.
The booke was reuealed for this end, to be ſhewed4. Reaſon, the end, cap. 1. 1. and 22. 6. to the ſeruants of Chriſt; it was vnſealed for that purpoſe, therefore the ſeruants of God ſhould thankfully receiue it, and care to learne what herein he would hauehave them to know that they may not be guiltie of neglecting the grace offered from ſo high and excellent a Maieſty, much leſſe contemne the ſtudie thereof, as ſome doe too irreligiouſly.
Ieſus Chriſt giueth a commandement to eueryevery5. Reaſon, Chriſt a commandement, cap. 2. 7 11. 17. 19. and 3. 6. 13. 2…. and 13. 9. one that hath an eare to heare, to hearken what the ſpirit of God ſaith vntounto the Churches; and to ſhew how earneſt Chriſt Ieſus is, to hauehave all his people acquainted with the things reuealed in this booke, this his charge he repeateth eight times, as the quoted places ſhew.
A bleſſing is pronounced vponupon the reader, hearer,6. Reaſon, a bleſſing, cap. 1. 3. and 22. 7. and doer of the things written in this booke; if wee beleeue this to be a true ſaying, and that wee iudge it any thing worth to be bleſſed, let vsus reade, heare and ſtudie to keepe the things here foretold.
Such as keepe the ſayings of this booke, are fellow-ſeruants7. Reaſon, companion with Angels; cap. 22. 9 with the holy Angels, for ſo ſpeaketh the Angell of God himſelfe vntounto Iohn, ſo much account doe they make of them that become obedient to Gods will herein.
The excellencie of this booke is ſuch, as neither8. Reaſon, the excellencie of this booke, cap. 5 man nor Angel, none in heauen, earth, or vnderunder the earth was found worthie ſo much as to looke into this booke, till Ieſus Chriſt went and tooke it out of his Fathers hand to open it vntounto vsus.
The benefit of this booke ſo much concerneth9. Reaſon. the profit of it, cap. 5. 8. 9.-14. the good of the whole Church, as, when Chriſt had preuailed to open it all the creatures of God, men and Angels ſang praiſes vntounto him therefore.
The bleſſed Apoſtle Iohn could not but weepe10. Reaſon, the Apoſtles deſire, chap. 5. 4. for feare that this booke ſhould hauehave bin kept cloſe from him, and from the Church; ſuch an earneſt ſpirit was in him to know thoſe things which wee neglect to know.
Albeit it bee the laſt booke of the Bible, it is11. Reaſon, the paines of other. thought yet to bee the firſt that euer receiued any mans expoſition, as a booke thought moſt neceſſarieBale his Preface to the image of both Churches. to be knowne of Chriſtians. The exāples therefore of former and later Diuines, firſt and laſt taking paines to comment hereupon, ſhould make vsus that come after them, and hauehave their helpes before vsus, to be ſtudious herein.
It as much belōgeth vntounto vsus now liuing as it did12. Reaſon, it concerneth vsus. vntounto others in times paſt, and as it ſhall vntounto thoſe which are to come after vsus; for it concerneth the whole Church to the worlds end, the ſtate whereof is fully ſet foorth through her whole courſe vponupon the earth, till all be fulfilled and this tragicall Comedie bee ended, the great and laſt Acts whereof are ſhortly to come vponupon the world; at the finiſhing whereof the Plaudite ſhall be giuen to Chriſt by the voyce of a great multitude, as the voyce of many waters, and as the voyce of mightie thundrings, ſaying, Halleluiah, the Lord God omnipotent Chap. 19. 6.reigneth.
The matter of the booke may moue to the ſtudying13. Reaſon, the matter of this booke, which is foure-fold. thereof, which is foure-fold, Dogmaticall, Morall, Hiſtoricall, Propheticall. Dogmaticall is that which ſerues to ſtrengthen our faith in the points of our Chriſtianitie the particulars whereof are many. I. Concerning the whole Trinitie, chap. 1.Dogmaticall points. 4. 5. II. Of Chriſt for his humanitie, chap. 1. 13. Diuinitie, chap 2. 18. his power and properties plentifully ſet downe in many places chap. 1. 5.-7. 13.-16. chap. 2. 1. 8. 12. 18. and 3. 1. 7. 14. beſides other places, ſpeaking of his Omniſcience, chap. 2. 23. and 5. 4. 5. His care for the Church, chap. 7. 17. and 1. 9. 10. 11. and 10. 2. and 14. 1. and 12. 7. His ſoueraigne power ouer all chap. 19. 16. and 17. 14. and 1. 5. ouer Angels, chap. 1. 1. His victorie ouer his enemies chap. 1…. and 17. 14. and 19. 20. and his righteous iudgement chap. 18. 14. and 19. 7. III. Of Angels who are obedient to Chriſt, chap. 1. 1. and 22. 6. They are for the Church, reioycing with it, chap. 5. and compaſſing about it, chap. 4. They are the fellow-ſeruants and brethren of the Prophets and Saints, chap. 22. 9. They refuſe to be worſhipped, chap. 19. 10. and will hauehave God be worſhipped, they are innumerable, chap. 5. IV. Of the Church, ſhewing what ſhe is, a woman glorious, 12. 1. the Spouſe of Chriſt chap. 21. 2. 9. the new Ieruſalem, chap. 21. 1. the holy Citie, chap. 11. 2. Here is noted her attire, chap. 19. 8. her Crowne, chap. 12. 1. her footſtoole, chap. 12. 1. her Defender, chap 12. 7. and 14. 14. her Miniſters, chap. 11. the body of which ſhe conſiſteth, chap. 4. 14. and 17. 14. Whence they be, chap. 5. 9. and 19. 4. their raiment, chap. 19. 14. and their Guide, chap. 14. Alſo whom ſhe ſerueth, chap. 5. 12. 14. and 19. 7. and 4. 11. and how long, chap. 7. 15. Eue… …eſus Chriſt day and night, cap. 5. 12. 14. and 19. 7. and 4. 11. who therefore giueth her conſtancie, chap. 12. 11. victorie, chap. 12. 11. and great rewards, chap. 2. 7. 17. and 3. 10. with vnſpeakable comforts, chap. 7. 15. 16. 17. V. Of the kingdom of darkneſſe, & the enemies of the Church, of the Diuell, chap. 2. and 12. 9. and 20. 11. of his grand inſtruments, the beaſt and falſe prophet cap. 13. and their practiſes againſt the Church, chap 11. and their vtter ouerthrow by Chriſt in the end, chap. 19. 20. and 20. 10.
Morall matters concerning vertue and vice,Morall matters in this prophecy. this booke is plentifully ſtored with. Here be precepts affirmatiue impoſing vponupon vsus duties of vertuous liuing, preſſed by exhortations thereunto; neither want heere promiſes of reward and due praiſes for well doing, for incouragements therein, chap. 2. 3. and 22. 14. 15. and 14. 13. and 20. 6. The example, illuſtrating theſe precepts, is the Spouſe and Church of Chriſt, euen the elect, choſen, and faithfull, whoſe louelove to the truth, feruent zeale, ſtrong faith, rare conſtancie, admirable patience and other moſt excellent Chriſtian vertues, are here left vsus for our godly imitation. On the other ſide, here be negatiue commandemēts forbidding all vicious liuing, with manifold diſſwaſions from the ſame. Here the offender is reproued, and the impenitent threatned with deſtruction, chap. 2. and 3. and 14. 10. 11. and 21. 7. 8. Neither doe here want examples to explaine the ſame. Are not here to be found the authors of al miſchiefe, both within and without the Church? Here may wee reade of the Diuell and the Dragon, chap. 12. of the firſt and ſecond beaſt, the falſe prophet, chap. 13. of the filthie Nicolaitans, deceitfull Palaamites, bewitching Ieſabel, chap. …. the deuouring Locuſts, chap. 9. and ſeducing ſpirits of diuels, cap. 16. The whole booke is ſpred ouer with ſtore of examples, yea it may bee as a faire table, in which is pourtraied and drawne out to the view of the eye, liuely pictures of the vertuous, and vicious; of the good and bad, of Elect and Caſt-awaies; and of ſuch as go the way of life to glorie euerlaſting, or the way of death to endleſſe paine.
Hiſtoricall is the matter concerning the ſtate ofHiſtoricall matter. the Church, from the daies of Iohn in Patmos hitherto, now aboue fifteene hundred yeeres. In the reading whereof (as farre as we conſider the things to be fulfilled) we may ſee how in Iohns daies, when he did write this Reuelation, Satan had began to ſowe his tares among the Lords wheate, ſending foorth falſe Teachers of all ſorts, to breed hereſies, to raiſe contentions, to intice to Idolatrie, and filthineſſe, and in a word, either to ouerthrow vtterly, or at leaſt greatly to hinder the holy profeſſion of Chriſtian religion. Of theſe things may wee reade in cap. …. and 3. to be ſound in the particular Churches. But Satan not herewith contented, being full of miſchiefe and inueterate malice againſt the true Church, raiſed vp bloodie perſecutions againſt all Chriſtians by cruell heatheniſh Tyrants, who put to death infinite innocents: which wicked outrage and crueltie, Chriſt Ieſus auenged vponupon the heads of theſe miſcreants to the full (of this we may reade chap. 12. and 6). And in time raiſed vp a Chriſtian Emperour, by whom was expelled the Dragons heathen power from ruling ouer the Church, and through whoſe embracing of Chriſtianitie, there became a world of Chriſtians; among whom the elect, faithfull, and true people of Chriſt were happily preſerued, albeit Satan aſſaied once more by a flood of nations, a barbarous people in this outward furie and rage, to hauehave deſtroyed the remnant of the Church, chap. 12. But at the length finding his force to be of no force, he turned his courſe into ſubtill fraude, and ſo wrought, that hee bred his grand-child, that Antichriſt and Pope of Rome the Dragons ſubſtitute; who after deadly ſchiſmes, damnable hereſies, (he falling as a ſtarre from heauen, apoſtating from the truth through Gods permiſſion, and Satans power ſecretly working in and by him) led (through the thick ſmoake of darke ignorance) the Chriſtian world captiue againe into heatheniſh waies, into heretical doctrines and idolatrous courſes; and became ſo great, that whoſoeuer would not ſubmit themſelues to his yoke, were not ſuffered to liue; (of this we may reade, chap. 8. and 9. and 13.) and vnderunder this ſpirituall yoake of bondage liued the true Church troden vnderunder foote a long time, (cap. 11.) mercifully yet protected by the Lord Ieſus, (chap. 7. and 14.) vntill the time came that Antichriſt muſt be reuealed; then the Lord gaue his word vntounto his ſeruants & ſent them foorth to preach, (cap. 10.) who (though they indured great and bloodie perſecutions) yet preuailed againſt the beaſt, Chriſt plaguing his enemies, and making ſucceſſefully powerfull the labour of his ſeruants, by whom hitherto hee hath gotten the victorie, and alſo now begun to poure foorth the vials of wrath againſt that Antichriſtiā ſtate, which is fallen into a deadly conſumptiō. Of theſe things thus fulfilled, as the matter of Hiſtorie, may wee reade in chap. 7. and 11. and 14. and 15, and ſome part of the 16. Chapter.
The Propheticall matter (if we conſider the bookPropheticall matter. from and in the time when Iohn wrote) was the moſt of the matter contained in it, and therefore called a prophecie, chap. 1. 3. but now paſſing ouer that which is fulfilled, as hiſtoricall, only that part, and ſo much of the booke as remaineth yet to come to paſſe, is propheticall; fore-telling the vtter ruine of Rome, and Romiſh Hierarchie, with al the enemies of the true Church of Chriſt, as alſo after that, the moſt happie condition of Gods people freed from their enemies, for which they ſhall reioyce and ſing. Which things are recorded in ſome part of the chap. 16. in the whole: 17. and 18. and 19. and 20. and 21. and 22. chapters. Thus briefly as I could, hauehave I laid open the matter of this booke, ſtill to perſwade, to the diligent reading of the ſame.
THE OBIECTIONS THAT MAY be made to hinder the ſtudie of this booke.
I. Obiect. This booke is vnpleaſing, and there is no delight in the reading thereof.
Anſw. A godly mans delight is, to meditate in Gods Booke, for therein hee findeth pleaſure and ioy. That the words of this booke are the ſayings of God, faithfull and true, wee hauehave heard; what cauſeth it to be ſo vnpleaſing then? But to ſatisfieThis booke affoords as much delight to an vnderſtanding Reader, as any part of Scriptare. It is full of all varieties. thee herein, this booke to an intelligent reader, will affoord as much delight, as any other booke of Scripture whatſoeuer, it is full of variety, for all ſorts and conditions of men. To them that delight in hiſtorie, or in the knowledge of future predictions, here is a propheticall hiſtorie, and an hiſtoricall prophecie, for them from Iohns dayes to the worlds end. Heere the Linguiſt hath the Originall text, and plentie of Hebraiſmes for his ſtudie. Heere are tropes and figures for the Rhetorician, variety of numbers for the Arithmetician: the naturall Philoſopher may diſcourſe of the Lambe and Lion, of the Leopard, the Beare, and the Dragon, of Frogs and Locuſts, of Horſes, and of Eagles; alſo of thunder and lightening, haile, and earthquakes. The Aſtronomer may ſhew his skill of the heauens, ſunne, moone, and ſtarres. Here be ſtrange and rare pictures for the moſt cunning Apelles that euer was, of Chriſt, of his Church, of the Dragon, the beaſt, and falſe prophet, of the holy Citie and Temple, and of what not through the whole booke? Is any skilfull in mettals? Here is for him gold, ſiluer, braſſe, and iron. Art thou a Lapidarie? behold pearles and precious ſtones; the Iaſper, the Sardine, the Emerauld, and Carbuncle, the Saphir, Chalcedonie, Sardonix, Chryſolite, and Berill, the Topas, the Chryſopraſus, the Iacinct, and the Amethiſt. But what need I to run on in particular inſtances thus? ſeeing this book is full of ſimilitudesIt is adorned with ſimilitudes fetched almoſt from eueryevery thing. fetched from eueryevery thing: from heauen, ſun, moone, and ſtarres: from the rain-bow, windes, haile, thundering, and lightening; from the ayre, fire, water, ſea, riuers, fountaines; from the earth, and earth-quakes, Ilands, and mountaines; from foules, fiſhes, beaſts, and creeping things; from Angels, and men; from trees, graſſe, greene hearbs; from wild wilderneſſes, and Cities inhabited; from warre hoſts, and armies the ſword and battell, horſes and Chariots, with triumph and victorie; from high callings, Princes, Kings, Prieſts, & Prophets, Merchants, and ſea-men; from thrones, crownes, and ſeates; from muſicke, and muſitians, pipers, trumpetters, harpes, viols, and ſound of voices; from rayment, long robes, golden girdles, fine white linnen purple, ſilke, and ſcarlet; from veſſels of thin wood, iuorie, braſſe, and marble; yea heere is mention of Cinamon, odours, oyntments, frankincenſe wine, oyle, fine flower and wheat, of the vintage and harueſt; a very world of particulars is mentioned in this booke: ſo as if the heauen or the earth, or any thing in either of them, either of nature, or art may intice a reader, this booke may allure him to the ſtudie hereof. And beſides allHere be pleaſant alluſions to the ſtate of the ancient people of God vnderunder the Law. theſe, heere the Chriſtian by alluſions may behold the ſtate of the old and ancient people of God vnderunder the Law, their Kings, Prieſts, Elders, Temple, Arke, Tabernacle, Altars, ſeruice and worſhip, and alſo Ieruſalē the holy Citie: as if in mentioning of theſe, Iohn were Iudaizing & leading vsus againe to the old Law aboliſhed▪ And the Iewes (if now God would open their eyes) may ſee in their owne ceremonies, Citie, Temple, Prieſts, Altars, and incenſe; in their Kings and Elders, the glorious ſtate of the Chriſtian Church, certainly eſtabliſhed by the blood of their promiſed Meſſias, … bleſſed Sauiour. Great herefore is the delight and pleaſure, which may bee had in reading and ſtudying of this booke.
II. Obiect. Albeit it may hereby … indeed… to be pleaſant, and to affoord deligh… … ſo great variety of things herein mentioned, yet the profit will be littled perhaps not worth the labour which a ſt…dious reader would beſtow vponupon it.
Anſw. The booke is as profitable as pleaſant,This booke is as profitable as pleaſant. and more too: indeed, the benefit of this booke being vnfolded and made knowne, is more then by pen can be ſet downe, or by the tongue bee vttered.
I. We may ſee by this, all things falling out, in,The firſt benefit of this booke. with, or againſt the Church of Chriſt, from the day of the reuelation hereof vntounto the worlds end, to hauehave been by God fore-determined. So as nothingChap. 1. 19. and 4. 1. and 5. 1. hath, doth, or heereafter ſhall come to paſſe by chance, by policie of the Church, by the ſubtiltie of the enemies; but onelyonly according to the good will and pleaſure of God, guiding and ordering all things, in all circumſtances, by the ha…d of his prouidence, in diuine wiſedome, to the glory of his name, and good of his Church. This will cauſe patience, quietneſſe of ſpirit, & a ſubmitting of our wills vntounto Gods will, in all the Churches changeable courſes, whether in ebbing or flowing, riſing or falling, in peace, or vnderunder perſecution; and neuer to feare the enemie, who can do nothing, but what is fore-ordained.
II. Wee hauehave heere a booke of Martyrs, ſhewingThe ſecond benefit. Chap. 2. 13. and 6. 9. 11. and 11. 3. 7. 8. and 12. 11. Chap. 9. & 12. and 13. and 14. and 16. and 17. and 18. and 19. and 20. the ſufferings of the godly, their zeale, and patience, and tribulation; their oppoſing of the aduerſaries, their death and martyrdome; with all the enemies, policies, and cruelties, and Gods reuengefull hand vponupon them for the ſame. The conſideration whereof may affoord vsus examples worthie our imitation in the one; and in the other, cauſe of thankfulneſſe to God, taking his peoples part: and to be couragious, and confidently bold in the Lords quarrell ſtill againſt theſe enemies, as the godly before vsus hauehave been.
III. We heere may learne, who were the enemiesThe third benefit. cap. 12. and 13. and 9. and 11. and 17. 18. 19. 20. of the Church, who now be, and hereafter ſhal be, with their nature, courſes, intendments, and practiſes, from their vpriſing, to their fall and vtter ruine; by which wee may learne truly to diſcerne them, to ſtand againſt them, to watch, and ſtand continually armed in the defence of the truth to preuent their miſchiefes.
IV. Wee may heere ſee Chriſts preſence euerThe fourth benefit. cap. 1. 13. and 14. 1. and 4. and 5. and 7. cap. 11. 17. 1. and 19. 1-21. and 21. and 22. with his Church, his care to teach them, and to preuent their deſtruction in a world of miſchiefes, ſafely carying them through all the flouds of euils (with which earthly mindes were ouerwhelmed) and ſending them ſafe (as the Iſraelites) to the ſhore, there to behold the vtter deſtruction of all their enemies. This will ſtrengthen our faith, encreaſe our ioy, comfort our hearts in a ioyfull expectation, and keepe vsus conſtant vntounto the end.The fifth benefit. cap. 17. and 13. and 18.
V. Hereby may we ſee, if wee will ſee the cleere light at noone day, that Rome (not heatheniſh, but profeſſing Chriſt) is Babylon, the Pope, that Antichriſt, & falſe prophet, vnderunder the name of Chriſt, to be the very enemy of Ieſus Chriſt, & that ſtar fallen from heauen, whoſe Egyptian cruelty, ſodomiticalcap. 13. and. 19. and 9. practiſes, and Heatheniſh Idolatrie, ſorceries and deceits, hath brought vponupon the Chriſtian world,cap. 11. 8. and 9. 20. 21. and 18. 23. the furious and helliſh rage of the Turkiſh power, as a plague, in his wrath, for this Romiſh iniquitie. This ſhould cauſe all Chriſtians to deteſt Pope and poperie, and ſuch as yet remaine vnderunder his iuriſdiction, to get out quickly from vnderunder that whoriſh gouernment, and bloody ſtate; and wee, thatCap. 9. 14. 21. hauehave eſcaped, ſhould bee moued heereby to ſing praiſes vntounto God for euer.
VI. By this booke may we, the reformed Churches,The ſixth benefit. the true members of Chriſts Church, know our happie eſtate, and what is our dutie, what God commandeth vsus to doe, for the furthering of our promiſed future happineſſe, in endeauouring the vtter ruine of that curſed ſtate of Antichriſtianiſme: Kings are to warre againſt her with theCap. 17. 16. ſword, and to burne the whore with fire: The Prophets, into whom is come the ſpirit of life from God, are to fight againſt the ſame with the word,Cap. 11. 11. ſword of the ſpirit; and by the power of inſtruction and prophecie, to giuegive vntounto the Angels inſtruments of wrath, the vials full of the wrath of God, to poure vponupon that ſtate the plagues due, forCap. 13. 7. the blood of the Saints and Prophets, ſhead by the ſame. All the flocke of Chriſt, elect, called and faithful, which ſtand on the Lambs part are to pray for her ruine, and to reioyce at her deſtruction.Cap. 17. 14. with 19. 1. 2-7. This ſhould make vsus keepe the words of this propheſie, which is, in our places, to ſeeke the fulfilling thereof, and to bring that to paſſe which isCap. 1. 3. propheſied of vsus, ſo ſhall wee bee bleſſed; it is our dutie to fulfil all righteouſneſſe, as Chriſt ſpeaketh, who did carefully fulfill all the words of ScriptureMat. 3. 15. and 4. 14. and 2. 4. and 2. 4. and 26. 54. prophecying of him, as the writings of the Euangeliſts eueryevery where doe ſhew; therefore let vsus take heed, leſt we will be luke-warme and careleſſe, and the Lord ſpew vsus out of his mouth. If wee will not fulfill the words, and keepe the ſayings of this prophecie, to be bleſſed, let vsus feare to bee curſed;Cap. 22. 7. according to that threat of the Prophet; Curſed is he that doth the worke of the Lord negligently.Ier. 48. 10.
VII. By this booke may all we Proteſtants ſee,The ſeuenth benefit. Cap. 10. 11. how farre we hauehave preuailed by the little booke in the Angels hand, giuen vntounto Iohn, for the recouery of Chriſts flocke, from vnderunder the generall Apoſtacie;Cap. 11. and. 14. 6. 7. 8. 9. how forcible the preaching of the Goſpell hath been hitherto againſt the beaſt, and the whore ſitting thereupon; how the time of Antichriſts deſtructiō is very nigh at hand, ſo as we hauehave no need to feare the riſing vp thereof any more; but ratherCap. 10. 6. 7. and 17. 8. 11. and 19. 20. certainly to expect the vtter ruine and deſolation thereof. This ſhould cauſe vsus to reioyce in the preaching of the Goſpell, to ſeeke to maintaine and further it, by all poſſible means, not fearing any of the plots or attempts of the enemies, our popiſh aduerſaries. For by the Angels oath the Church isCap. 10. 6. 7. to proſper, and the enemies are no more to encreaſe, but to be vnderunder the vials of Gods wrath, as they now are, and ſhall bee, till they bee conſumed. The words of the book is plaine for this. And now aboue fiftie yeeres God hath giuen vsus experience hereof: and eueryevery day ſhall the Church of God finde the verity of the Angels words more and more: for the ſeuenth trumpet hath blowne, the euents contained vnderunder it, ſhew it to the ſimpleſt that ſhall obſerue that which is in the tenth, and eleuenth chapters of this heauenly Reuelation.
VIII, By this booke are wee foretold of futureThe eighth benefit. Cap. 16. 18. euils yet to come vponupon the world, the like was neuer before, and that at the pouring out of the ſeuenth viall, which ſhould make eueryevery one of vsus watchfull, that in the dayes of tentation we periſh not. Yet for the conſolation of Gods people, letCap. 19. and 21. and 22. them know certainly this, that all ſhall turne to the good of Gods Church, the euils ſhall light vponupon the wicked, but the Lords people ſhall in the ende find peace, euen heere, and ſhall ſing praiſes to the Lambe, and to him that ſitteth vponupon the throne, for euer and euer. And thus we ſee the ſingular and vnſpeakable profit of this heauenly prophecie, the words whereof are faithfull and true.
III. Obiect. Bee it that it be pleaſant and profitable, yet it is not a booke of that neceſsity, as we need to bee ſo carefull to ſtudie it.
Anſw. How neceſſary it is for vsus to be wel acquaintedThis booke is moſt neceſſarie to be knowne. with this booke, the firſt reaſans giuen to reade it, and the manifold profit comming hereby to Gods Church, ſhew ſufficiently to eueryevery indifferent man. Our dread Soueraigne, whoſe learned pen hath proclaimed open warre to Antichriſt, in his Highneſſe meditations vponupon chap. 20. verſ. 7, 8. 9. 10. ſaith thus: As of all bookes, the holy Scripture His Maieſties meditations on Reuel. 20.is most neceſſary for the inſtruction of a Chriſtian, ſo of all the Scriptures, the booke of the Reuelation is most meet for this our laſt age, as a prophecie of the latter times. How can it be but neceſſary, when indeed the matter therein concerneth vsus ſo neerly? If we doe iudge our ſelues to be the Church of God, and his ſeruants, whoſe it is chiefly to know the things heerein contained, and to endeauour to fulfill them.
IV. Obiect. But many great ſchollers, and in no meane place, thinke it not ſo neceſſarie, but leaue it as an obſcure booke not to be medled-with.
Anſw. Why they leaue it vntouched, theſe great ſchollers beſt know in themſelues; but to their opinion, as a booke not ſo neceſſarie (as they ſay) for all now to vnderſtand, I oppoſe, I. the authoritie of God, and the words of this booke, from whence the former reaſons are wholly fetched. II. TheQui auguſtiſſimis ſacroſanctae hujus prophetiae coruſcat donis, quibus omnes omnium aetatum interpretes longo poſt ſe interuallo reliquit. Bullinger in his Preface to the Reuel. In his Dedicat. Epiſtle before his Com. vponupon this booke. authority of our gracious Soueraigne, One hardly matchable for his knowledge in this booke, (as Eglinus a learned man affirmeth) who hauing ſtudied it, ſpeaketh according to veritie and ſound iudgement, from the booke it ſelfe. III. The authoritie of learned men, Bullinger, Meyerus, and others; yea, I oppoſe the painfull labours of all the learned (both old and new) that hauehave written vponupon this booke, as a ſufficient confutation of their idle and ill conceit, againſt the moſt neceſſarie vſe of this booke to the whole Chriſtian world.