A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, Part 4 · Chapter 6 · Notes 6
Notes vponupon Chap. 9.
Ver. 1. A ſtarre: is here a Paſtor or Biſhop, or great Clergie-man ſet out, for a ſtarre is an Angell of the Church, chap. 1. 20. yet not to be taken for one man perſonally, but the generall type of ſuch as be heere vnderſtood. Fall: ſo it is an Apoſtaticall Churchman. Falling is to be taken in the worſt part in this booke, it may bee an alluſion to Eſai. 14. 12. This falling or great apoſtaſie, grew vp by the former euils mentioned in the other Chap. as ſo many ſteps to this, which is the firſt of the three woes ſpoken of before. From heauē to the earth: that is, frō the heauenly ſtate of the true Church, to a worldly ſtate among earthly Chriſtians. This ſtarre is not that mentioned in chap. 8. 20, for they are vnderunder ſeueral Trumpets, and are alſo one before another: moreouer that falleth vponupon riuers and fountaines, this on the earth; that is limited to a third part, this is without limitation; the difference is great in other particulars, to ſhew they are not one and the ſame: for if they had, Iohn would not hauehave ſaid a ſtarre, but that ſtarre; neither would hee hauehave ſaid I ſaw, which is euer vponupon ſome thing not mentioned before, as may be obſerued in all the places where the ſpeech is vſed, chap. 6. 1. 2. 5. 8. 9. 12. chap. 7. 1. 2. 9. chap. 8. 2. 13. and ſo elſewhere.
Key: This is a ſigne of gouernment, Eſai. 22. 22: ſo this Apoſtaticall Biſhop, obtained to hauehave power and authoritie in the earthly Church: but this key is the key of the bottomleſſe pit; by this cannot be meant properly hell, for all the words are figuratiue: Starre, Heauen, Earth, Key, and ſo the reſt following, in verſ. 2. 3. &c. Againe, this booke being a propheticall hiſtorie of things here to be done on earth, wee muſt needes here finde things done by men, and among men; it were very abſurd to take it then for hell it ſelfe, for it breeds no Locuſts, that can come out thence to hurt men heere in this world; neither hath any earthly man power to open or ſhut that place. Therefore theſe words of the bottomleſſe pit are added to ſhew, that the power which this Apoſtaticall Churchman hath, is a helliſh and a deſtroying power and iuriſdiction, according to his name Apollyon, in the height of this his dominion and rule, verſ. 11, and is a miniſter of the kingdome of the Diuell and darknes.
Verſ. 2. The opening of the bottomleſſe pit, is the vſing of his key and authoritie to cauſe thoſe enſuing euils to bee, which are of the diuell, and as it were from hell, for the depth of the impious miſchiefes thereof, leading to vtter perdition. This ſtarre falling to the earth, hath then his key heere in earth, to note an earthly condition; here is a pit, noting perill and miſchiefe within this earth, vntounto which this ſtarre hath fallen; and it is bottomleſſe, to ſet out the depth of the helliſh policie of this accurſed power, not to bee ſounded, nor the bottome thereof to bee found out of men, for Antichriſtianiſme is a myſteria.
Smoake: This is of a moiſt and earthie matter very hurtfull to the eyes, and cauſing obſcuritie, taking away the light, that wee cannot ſee, which is the effect of the ſmoake here; ſo hereby is meant ſpiritually, whatſoeuer, as ſmoake, darkeneth the light of truth, as errors, hereſies, inuentions of men, humane traditions, will-worſhip, ſuperſtitious obſeruations, Decrees and Canons, inhibiting the cleere ſhining foorth of the light, and ſuch like. The ſmoake cannot be the darknes it ſelfe, but is the cauſe of it, the words of the text diſtinguiſh them.
Verſ. 3. Locuſts: Theſe are, after the ſtarre is fallen, and after that his authoritie is obtained, and put in execution. The pit maketh the ſmoake, and the ſmoake breedeth theſe Locuſts, who with the ſtarre are vpō the earth, ſo as they hauehave their whole dependencie from the ſtarre; which being the apoſtaticall Biſhop of Rome, theſe muſt needes be his Romane clergie. By Locuſts cannot be vnderſtood the Saracens; firſt, for that theſe Locuſts ariſe vponupon the fal of a great Churchman, are vnderunder his power, and are let out to the earth by him. What Churchman once in heauen, that is, in the true Church, were euer the Saracens vnderunder? Againe, theſe are bred of that ignorance and darknes, which came ouer the light of the Church, in which they were; but not ſo, the Saracens. Thirdly, theſe hauehave no power allowed to kill, but to torment people, and that only the caſt-awaies; when the Saracens made horrible ſlaughters of all ſorts. Laſtly, theſe Locuſts liuely paint out vntounto vsus the popiſh Clergie, by which deſcription is foretold, what they ſhould be, and what now the world hauehave found them to be, as the particulars doe ſhew.
Verſ. 7. Firſt theſe Locuſts are like horſes prepared vntounto battell, that is, they goe out with ſtrength, fierce courage, and ready bent to attempt whatſoeuer they ſhall bee put vntounto; ſuch hauehave been the Romane Clergie, like luſtie, fed, ſtrong and fierce horſes, ready to ruſh vponupon all, that did but mutter againſt them and their authoritie. Secondly, on their heads were as it were Crownes of gold: This noteth out both their immunities from Kings, (as being ſubiects to none, except to their owne king, the Angell of the bottomleſſe pit) as alſo their vſurped authoritie; for Crownes note authority, which they alſo got, commanding and ruling, euen as KingsBy Crowne ſome hold the round ſhauing of the crowne of the head: the anointing of the head is a crowne. Leuit. 21. 12. for a time; yet their Crownes were but as it were of gold, they were not truly Crownes of gold, that is, their authoritie was but counterfeit, not true and lawfull indeed, onelyonly like to gold, that is, which carried a ſhew of lawfull authoritie, but in very truth counterfeited and falſe. Such as was, in the ſhew therof, ſo like gold, as the blind world could not then, in the ſmoakie darkneſſe of thoſe times, ſee & rightly iudge of, becauſe they wanted Gods word, the true touchſtone to trie gold by. It is here by the way worthie our noting, that the type of the true Church-men in the foure beaſts are not crowned (chap. 4.) but theſe Locuſts muſt domineere. Thirdly, Their faces were as the faces of men: Here is noted their hypocriticall ſhew of curteſie and humanitie; but they were nothing leſſe then they pretended to bee, that is, they made ſhew to be gentle, louing, full of curteſie by bowing and becking, that by theſe means and fawning inſinuations, they might allure the peoples harts vntounto thē.
Verſ. 8. Fourthly, They had haire as the haire of women: This noteth their effeminatenes, their luſt, and wantonnes in themſelues, and withall their carnall allurements to ſpirituall idolatrie, as women doe by their haire intice to corporall filthineſſe. Fifthly, And their teeth were as the teeth of lions. This ſheweth their ſtrong deuouring of their prey. Where they ſet their teeth, that could not be gotten from them. How they got lands and liuings, and preyed vponupon the eſtates of men, the world can witneſſe, and the ſignes, where they ſet their teeth, yet remaine among vsus? They are of a deuouring nature, Deut. 28. 38. 2. Chron. 7. 13. for Locuſts are moſt belly, and therefore inſatiable. Sixthly, They had breaſt-plates of iron: They were ofVerſ. 9. daring ſpirits, being hardned as iron in their harts, in their vnmercifull deuourings, and are armed ſtrongly with their kings power, as with a corſelet of iron, ſo as they were without feare of any; and what durſt they not doe? and who durſt reſiſt them, or offer violence to any of them? for they were all alike, and all armed alike, how differing ſo euer in themſelues. Seuenthly, They had wings, to paſſe with more ſpeed, and to get vp aloft, the ſound whereof was as the ſound of chariots of many horſes running to battell: This ſetteth out the great feare they wrought in al places where they came, for the noiſe of chariots and horſes is terrible, as appeareth 2. King. 7. 6. 7, which made the Syrians leaue al that they had, to the King of Iſrael and his people; and ſuch effect this their ſound wrought in mens harts, to make them to leaue all to them and their king, for ſafetie of their ſoules, as they fooliſhly and fearfully imagined. Eightly, They had tailes like vntounto Verſe 10.Scorpions, and there were ſtings in their tailes: Tailes are aſcribed to all the Locuſts, without diſtinction, and alſo to hauehave ſtings all of them in their tailes; therefore by tailes cannot be meant any particular ſort of them. Tailes ſometime are put for the baſe and contemptible ſort, as in Deut. 28. 13. 44. Eſai. 9. 15, but then the Head is of one ſort, and the Taile vnderſtood of another, and not both attributed to the ſame things, as is here, and in verſ. 19. Tailes are the hindermoſt part and furtheſt from the ſight of thoſe, which behold and look vponupon the fore-parts; and therfore as the fore-parts of theſe Locuſts hauehave been ſet out, and thereby their properties, ſo here is noted to vsus by Tailes that, whereby they doe play the Scorpions, and ſting men vnwitting to them at the firſt. This is the power they hauehave, and this is the end of their comming foorth, euen to play the Scorpions with their tailes, (verſ. 3.) ſtinging men therewith, and ſo grieuouſly tormenting them, (verſ. 5.) as they ſhall bee thereby weary of their liues, verſ. 6. So the plague and miſchiefe, which theſe Locuſts bring, is chiefly by their tailes, that is, their laſt (but worſt) act, which is their popiſh & Antichriſtian doctrine; for this is common to them all, and may bee called a taile, for the baſenes and filthineſſe therof. It hath alſo the nature of a Scorpion, for as the Scorpion is firſt earthy, ſo is their doctrine, earthly mens inuentions: ſecondly, poyſonfull, ſo is this doctrine, as poyſon infecting their ſoule, with ſuperſtition, will-worſhip, idolatrie, lying equiuocations, deceits and periuries, alſo with heatheniſh practiſes, yea helliſh attempts, trecheries, treaſons, and rebellions. Thirdly, as ſome doe write, the Scorpions poyſon is white; ſo this Antichriſtian doctrine to the ignorant and beſotted people is white, that is, ſeemeth pure and good, though it bee poyſon indeede vntounto the ſoule. Fourthly, the Scorpion when he would ſtrike, turneth himſelfe ſomewhat round before hee can doe it; ſo this doctrine of the beaſts, before it can bee made to bee receiued, muſt come circularly about, by pretended antiquitie, conceited vniuerſalitie, and fained conſent, that it might enter more deeply into weake hearts. Laſtly, a Scorpion hath a ſting which woundeth deadly; but women (as one writeth) ſooner then men, whom yet alſo theyBartho. Angl. lib. 18. cap. 96. greatly hurt, but eſpecially when in the morning the Scorpions come out of their holes: ſo this Antichriſtian doctrine, deadly woundeth weake women, who ſooner, as Eue, receiue the Serpents falſe perſwaſion, then Adam. As now our preſent daies ſhew vsus by experience, ſo doth it ſome vnaduiſed men, at the firſt broaching, as it were the morning thereof, till they hauehave found out y• poyſon. To conclude, it is a ſtinging doctrine tormenting the beleeuers by an vncertaine hope of ſaluation, by fire of Purgatorie, by ſeeking heauen in their owne righteouſnes, &c. Ninthly, And their power was to hurt men fiue moneths. The Romiſh Clergie is to do hurt, this is the end why they are, for they bee a plague of the fifth Trumpet. Theſe Locuſts had their time limited fiue moneths. Now this time is called fiue moneths, by a proportionable ſpeech fitting to the Locuſts, which liue the hotteſt monethmonth of the yeere; for a little cold either killeth them, or maketh them to lie as dead. Tenthly, They hauehave a king ouer them. Wherein though they differ from naturall Locuſts, Prou. 30. 27, yet doth this agree well with our popiſh Locuſts, who hauehave (Antichriſt) this Angel of the bottomleſſe pit ouer them, who as a Monarch and Soueraigne King, maketh lawes, preſcribes rules, orders, and ordinances, to be without all exception obſerued, vnderunder that great penaltie, euen the perill of mens ſoules; for he doth and will ſit, as God, in the Temple of God. 2. Theſſ. 2.
Verſ. 11. And they hauehave a king ouer them: This king is the ſame which before is called the ſtarre, for he is the Angell of the bottomleſſe pit: to the ſtarre fallen was giuen the key thereof, the Locuſts came out from vnderunder his authority, his vſing of the key brought them foorth; yea the pronoune demonſtratiue pointeth out that which was before, for the words are, That Angell, of the bottomleſſe pit: now hitherto no mention hath been made of any one hauing to doe with the pit, but the ſtarre. That ſtarres authoritie was for deſtruction, as the execution of it ſheweth, in opening the pit and letting out ſmoake to cauſe ſuch darkneſſe, and there-out ſuch Locuſts to come to doe ſuch miſchiefe; and therefore may by his authoritie ouer the Locuſts be their king, and by the euill thereof be well called Abaddon and Apollyon deſtroyer. If any ſtumble at the Angell, chap. 20. 1, who hath the key of the bottomleſſe pit alſo, and ſhall thinke (perhaps) that he may be the king here. I anſwere, that that is a good Angel deſcending, not as this, falling from heauen: and he commeth to binde vp the Dragon from doing miſchiefe; but this king is Abaddon, a bad one indeed, a very deſtroyer, Apollyon, euen as Apollo, the heathen Diuell of Delphos.
This ſtarre and king is the Pope of Rome, and none other, in all things they agree. The Biſhop of Rome was a ſtarre in heauen, it cannot be denied, but is the ſtarre fallen, as before I hauehave proued, by his differing (yea contrary) doctrine to Saint Paul, writing to the Church of Rome in his time. This ſtarre is become earthly, ſo the Pope; this got a key, ſo the Pope bragges of a key, though he would not hauehave it to be this key of the bottomleſſe pit, as it is indeede: a King alſo hee will bee; for what Churchman euer wore a Crowne, but he? or euer tooke vponupon him to vſurpe authoritie ouer Kings, but he? He is a murtherer of ſoules, a murtherer of bodies, a deſtroyer of the Church of Chriſt, and an ouerthrower of his true worſhip; for the things (for which the next woe vnderunder the ſixth Trumpet came) noted in verſ. 20. 21, aroſe from this Apoſtaticall ſtarre, this helliſh king, (who hath power to commaund, and to doe what he liſt) and from his ſmoakie Locuſts.
Verſ. 13. Heere is the next woe and terrible plague, from Chriſt, vponupon the wicked idolatrous Antichriſtians. The iuſt cauſe of this great woe is ſet downe in verſ. 20. 21. a corporall puniſhment, after the ſpirituall, which was vnderunder the fifth trumpet; and thoſe two verſes ſhew againſt what kind of perſons this ſixth plague came out from Chriſt, for the good of his Church. This plague is the plague of Turciſme, following vponupon the Antichriſtian Apoſtaſie. The words ſhew this to bee a plague of warre, the armie infinite, euen a Turkiſh power, as ſtories tell vsus, raiſed vp to ſcourge a wicked & idolatrous people, and ſuch as did apoſtate from the true Church, by the wickedneſſe of the angell of the bottomleſſe pit, and his Locuſts.
Verſ. 14. Looſe: Therefore heere is neceſſarily implyed, that they were at liberty once, but reſtrained till now, the word is ſo to be taken, chap. 20. 7. The ſtory of the Saracens and the Turkes, will ſhew this firſt liberty, then the reſtraint or binding, and now liberty againe. Foure Angels: not diuels and euill ſpirits, though (no doubt) diuels may be in ſuch inſtruments, but hereby men are to be vnderſtood; for this is a propheticall narration, of ſuch things as are to bee done heere by men; howſoeuer alſo diuels may be among them, and in them. Againe, theſe Angels are heads and chiefetaines of the armie, which were raiſed vp to fight, and by warre to kill men; therefore theſe muſt be iudged to be of the ſame nature that the armie is of; that by Angels may bee vnderſtood men, but ſuch men as are ſent out to execute Gods will, whether in good or in euill, is plaine in chap. 14. and 16. Foure: they are ſaid to be, not for ſuch a certaine number, either of chiefe heads, as ſome would hauehave them; for no ſuch certaine number can be found out, or of ſo many nations, but for that it is a competent number (as in chap. 7. 1. chap. 4. 6.) for all occaſions. The great riuer Euphrates: which was once the bounds of the Romane Empire that way, is that famous riuer that did runne nigh the City Babylon, in Chaldea, and here is mentioned, to ſhew from whence, and from what part of the world this great armie ſhould ariſe, euen from about Babylon, and the countries bordering vponupon Euphrates; whence they got free ſcope, in Gods iuſt iudgement, to deſtroy a third, that is, a great part of men, in Aſia, Africa, and ſome part of Europe, where God was diſhonoured by all manner of impious and vnrighteous dealing, as the verſes, 20. and 21. doe ſhew.
Verſ. 16. Two hundred thouſand thouſand, it is almoſt an innumerable multitude, as ſuch great numbers do imply, cap. 5. 11. Dan. 7. 10. The adding of Iohns hearing the number, is onelyonly to ſhew that certainly, how incredible ſoeuer it ſeems to men, the armie ſhould bee exceeding great. Horſemen: theſe are onelyonly named, becauſe they are the greateſt ſtrength of an armie; (not that the Turke commeth into the field onelyonly with horſemen, as wee well know) as alſo to note the ſwift courſe of the Turkiſh power, in their hoſtile inuaſions, fierce and vnreſiſtable.
Verſ. 17. A deſcription of the warlike expedition of this furious, and (as I may ſay) infernall hoſt. Horſes cannot here bee properly meant in the type, ſuch as wee call horſes properly; for there were neuer any of ſo monſtrous a ſhape as theſe, whoſe head ſhould be Lions, and their tailes like Serpents, with heads at the end. Theſe therefore type out not horſes themſelues, but by the horſes, a part put for the whole, is to be vnderſtood the carryage and managing of the whole Turkiſh armie, and all war-like inſtruments, and hurtfull meanes, from the head to the taile, from the beginning to the ending. This Turkiſh power and forces therof, is likened to horſes, becauſe of the properties of horſes fitting thereunto (of which, in chap. 6. verſ. 2. before); they are ſtrong, Iob 39. 19. ſwift, Ier. 4. 13. careleſſe of any oppoſite, taking pleaſure in battell, not turning backe without the riders command, Iob 39. 22. And ſuch is the Turkiſh armie, ſtrong, ſwift, careleſſe of any enemies, yea taking delight in warre, neuer returning without their maſters command. The forefront thereof is like the heads of Lions, that is, fearfull and terrible to thoſe whom they come againſt, and of vndauntable courages, roring vponupon the prey before them, which they are ready to deuoure. Fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone, proceeded out of their mouthes; this is called (verſ. 19.) their power to kill; ſo this ſheweth to vsus their mercileſſe rage, as fire; their furie, as ſmoke; their cruell diſpoſition and readineſſe to be inflamed, to make an vtter deſolation, as brimſton: poured vponupon the places where they do come. For by fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone, is noted fearfull deſtruction, Geneſ. 19. 24. Iob. 18. 15. Pſalm. 18. 8. and 14. The middle of the hoſtile power differs nothing from the forepart; for ſuch as ſit vponupon the horſes, that is, which be managers of this furious raging and deſtroying hoſt, are armed with breaſtplates of fire, of Iacinct, and of brimſtone. Iacinct is put for ſmoke, of which colour it is, omitting the name of ſmoke, as not ſo fit for the breſt-plate: for it is meet to hauehave in allegoricall ſpeeches, in eueryevery part, a fit proportion of one thing with another: by naming only (of all the parts of armour) the breaſt-plate, which is before their breaſt and heart, it noteth their courage and prepared hearts, inflamed with rage to deſtroy all things before them, as with fire and brimſtone, that the ſmoke thereof like Iacinct might aſcend vp; as at the ouerthrow of Sodome. So as the fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone, which came out of the horſes mouthes, is no other thing, but that deſolation, and mercileſſe deſtruction by all warlike meanes, conceiued in the harts and breaſts of the Turkiſh commanders, and managed by them, to deuoure and conſume vp all where they come: of, and among which may the great Ordinance be reckoned, out of which commeth forth fire, ſmoke, and brimſtone, (gun-powder being made of ſalt-peter, coles & brim-ſtone), which deuouring Artillerie, tooke almoſt the beginning (as ſome auouch) with theſe Turkes; as a means in Gods iuſtice, to further their helliſh rage, in the deſtruction of men. For of all inuentions for murthering of men, and to make a ſpeedy riddance of mens liues, the like was neuer found out; which inſtruments of death the Turkes doe vſe with a more furious will to kill without mercy, and to get into their hands what places they aſſault, then any other nation; making them ſo huge and great, as is beyond credit to report, ſuch as 70. oxen muſt draw one of them, and 2000. men attend vponupon, as the Turkiſh hiſtory doth ſhew.
Verſ. 19. They had power in their tailes, which were like ſerpents, and had heads, and with them they doe hurt. By tayles, is meant the things that follow after, as tailes, which here are ſaid to hauehave power in them, which what elſe may it be, then the authority and gouernment gotten ouer thoſe places, where this helliſh armie hath obtained victorie. It is baſe, therefore called tailes, for ſo the word is vſed for baſe and vile, Deut. 28. 13. 44. It is yet not without order, and ſuperiority, ſo heads are taken, Deut. 28. 13. 44. Eſay 9. 14. And laſtly, it is tyrannicall, and therefore it is ſaid, that with them they hurt.
Theſe cannot be the popiſh clergie, which are vnderunder the fifth trumpet, noted by the locuſts: firſt, becauſe of the place Euphrates, whence theſe come, (verſ. 14.) farre from Rome. Secondly, for that theſe are a type of bloody, furious, and mercileſſe warriours, appointed to kill and ſlaughter men, verſ. 16-18. Thirdly, theſe are a corporall plague, to puniſh Idolaters, and other wicked men, verſ. 20. 21. whereas the Romiſh Clergie are a ſpirituall plague, and Idolaters, againſt whom this Turkiſh power came forth.