A Key of Knowledge to Open Revelation, To the reader – Table of contents
TO THE CHRISTIAN Reader, a louer of truth, all friendly well-wiſhes.
FRiendlie Reader, albeit I hauehave giuen ſome reaſon of my omitting to ſpeake of the three firſt Chapters of the Reuelation, for that they ſeeme to all not to need any great labour to explane thē, and are vſually taken in hand of moſt that preach out of this prophecie; and alſo becauſe Maſter Perkins, a learned and reuerend Diuine, hath very largely commented thereupon; which I ſuppoſed might hauehave giuen al ſatisfaction, touching my omiſſion of them: yet by conference with ſome, I perceiue that men reſt not ſatisfied, but deſire to be informed in ſome particulars, and eſpecially touching an opinion of Maſter Brightmans, which is this, that the ſeuen Churches mentioned in the firſt chapter, verſ. 11, and ſeuerall Epiſtles written vntounto them in chap. 2. and 3, are ſo many types repreſenting and containing the vniuerſall condition of the whole Church of the Gentiles. Now what may bee thought of this, is the thing which many ſtand in queſtion of. Some will hauehave thē ſo, and are fully of his mind; ſome do vtterly reiect the ſame, as a fooliſh fancie, a conceit without ground or reaſon. I will not contend with either, neither will I preſume to be an Arbitratour betweene them, to iudge of either, or to take vponupon me to giuegive either ſatisfaction; for in this I hold my ſelfe farre too weake, the point not ſo eaſie to bee cleered, and mens foreſtalled iudgement moſt hardly to be reformed: only I will (as I hope I may without giuing iuſtly either ſide offence) ſet downe what I thinke hereof, with my reaſons; and ſo leaue the matter to the indifferent iudgement of eueryevery one, to allow or diſallow, as vponupon good reaſon they ſhall like beſt, without vncharitable contention, which from my ſoule I hate and deteſt.
What Maſter Brightman hath held, Iunius before him in a few words ſaith as much; In the number of ſeuen, the Iun. Com. on cap. 1. verſ. 13.ſlat (ſaith hee) of the whole Church of Chriſt militant here vponupon earth, is repreſented. And Graſſer ſaith, that theIn his Plagae Regiae by potheſis. Apoſtle in the Epiſtles ſhadoweth out a moſt generall tincture of the Antichriſtian infection. And to me the opinion ſeemeth probable (for otherwiſe will I not ſay of it) and my reaſons be theſe: I. Becauſe the number of ſeuen is kept here, as elſewhere in this prophecie repeated 37 times; and is a number of perfection, ſeuen put for all of that, whereof the number is giuen: as here ſeuen Churches, for all the Chriſtian Churches; ſo ſeuen ſtars, all the Angels of the Churches; ſeuen ſpirits, all the manifold graces of the ſpirit. And from this number, Iunius in his Comment. ſaith, that it ſignifieth to vsus perfectly and Iun. on cap. 1. verſ. 4.generally the Church of Chriſt that is conuerſant here below. And it may ſeeme likely that the number of ſeuen Churches (ſeeing there were moe beſides) was obſerued of the Lord for further purpoſe, then to note out the preſent ſtate onelyonly and no more. II. Becauſe at the end of eueryevery Epiſtle, though Iohn bee commanded to write to the Angell of that Church, and in him to that flocke; yet the exhortation is, to heare what the ſpirit ſaith to the Churches, and ſo by one, teaching all thoſe whereof that is a type: or if you will, ſo by one, all the ſeuen, and by them the whole vniuerſall Church. III. The things mentioned in the Epiſtles, (to wit, the alluſions to the old time, in theſe words, Iewes, Synagogue, doctrine of Balaam, and Ieſabel, not mentioned ſo in other Epiſtles, nor ſound to be in any other Churches, to whom any other of the Apoſtles did write) may ſeeme to intimate hereby, that ſome other thing is intended, then the diſcouerie only of theſe Churches preſent ſtate. So in like manner, the predictions of ten daies perſecution to Smyrna (which Expoſitors are forced to ſtretch further then Smyrna, when they apply the hiſtorie to the text), biddeth vsus in this Church ſo to conſider it in affliction, as it alſo may type out a more generall ſtate of Gods Church. Likewiſe the prediction of the houre of tentation to come vponupon all the world, mentioned to Philadelphia, cannot concerne that Church in particular to hauehave that exemption from the ſame, more then the reſt of Chriſts Church then being in that houre of tentation, but as it is here a type thereof. Furthermore, why ſhould thoſe Iewes in Smyrna be ſuffered to grow to ſuch a height of wickedneſſe, and muſt be made to ſtoupe to no Church, but to the Angell and Church of Philadelphia? and why (I ſay) to this, and not to the other, or any of the reſt, but that they bee types of the ſeuerall times of the ſtate of Chriſts Church, as ſhall be ſhewed afterwards? IV. It is ſaid in the end of the Reuelation, after that all future things before ſpoken of, touching the whole Church of Chriſt, and of the kingdome of Antichriſt, to the full, that Ieſus Chriſt ſent his Angell to teſtifie theſe things to vsus in the Churches: which (as may ſeeme) can no otherwiſe be interpreted, but that theſe ſeuen Churches (for no other is mentioned in the whole prophecie) doe type out to vsus, what in the reſt of the Reuelation is foretold, touching the Churches future eſtate: which words, admitting this ſenſe, make the opinion cleere, that they ſet out the whole Church of Chriſt. V. Becauſe there is ſuch an anſwerablenes of the Antitype to the type in the ſeuen-fold ſtate of the Church, following ſo cleerely one vponupon another, as the beholding thereof may induce a man very much to entertaine this opinion. Which to ſee more apparently, we muſt firſt make a ſeuen-fold ſtate of Chriſts Church, as there be ſeuen Churches. Secondly, as theſe Churches are ordered and ſet one after another, as firſt Epheſus, next Smyrna, and ſo foorth of the reſt: ſo one ſtate of the Church followeth another, the firſt may bee called the Epheſine ſtate; the ſecond, Smyrnean; the third, Pergamine; the fourth, Thyatiran, and ſo foorth to the ſeuenth and laſt. Thirdly, that eueryevery Church is a type of that whole ſtate of the Church, whereof it is a type, and doth not type out any one particular Church, as Maſter Brigh…man would hauehave it in ſome, which I take to be herein his miſtake, as after I ſhall ſhew. Fourthly, Theſe Churches are types of the Chriſtian Church, as the ſame is troubled with Antichriſt in his breeding, riſing vp, height, the Churches knowledge of him, departing from him, and preuailing againſt him, as it is foretold alſo in the reſt of this prophecie. Fifthly, that in the Churches therefore, wee muſt take notice of two things: firſt of the ſame as it is the Church of God, with her graces and defects; and then next, of Satan his inſtruments in eueryevery of them: that ſo by the one, Chriſt and his Church may be typed out, and Antichriſt by the other; and the falſe Church may bee diſcerned in eueryevery ſtate, as farre foorth as they be mentioned together, which is apparently in the foure firſt Churches, but not in the three laſt. The foure firſt ſet out the ſtate of Chriſts Church, wherein and among whom Satan bred vp his eldeſt ſonne Antichriſt, till that falſe Church came to bee Ieſabel, that whore of Babylon; the three laſt ſet out the three-fold ſtate of the Church, come out of Babylon. For let it bee marked, and the Reader ſhall ſee, that in the foure firſt there is mention made of the inſtruments of Satan, practiſing euill, getting ſtrength ouer the godly; but not ſo in the three laſt, being not at all in them named, but only once for the ioy and comfort of the Church.
Theſe things thus being firſt conſidered of, I will, according to my poore abilitie, ſhew how theſe ſeuen Churches type out the ſeuen-fold ſtate of the whole Church of Chriſt, the Antitype anſwering fitly to eueryevery type. The firſt type is Epheſus, the Angell of which Church is commended for labour, patience, zeale, the vſing of his authoritie with boldneſſe and wiſedome againſt the wicked, and hating the deedes of the Nicolaitans, and yet at the length did decay in louelove. In this Church were ſuch as tooke vponupon them the name of Apoſtles, but were none. The Antitype to this is the Epheſine ſtate, as I may call it, becauſe the one is like the other. And this is that which we call the Primitiue Church, or firſt Chriſtian Church, during the time of the Apoſtles, and Apoſtolicall men, their immediate ſucceſſors; or, as ſome thinke, to Conſtantine the Great: in which theſe vertues of this Church of Epheſus did ſhine, This firſt Chriſtian Church was full of good workes, PaſtorsIuſt. Mar. Apol. 2. Euſeb. lib. 3. cap. 33. Iuſt. Apol. 2. Cyprians Epiſtles. painfull in teaching, the wicked not tolerated among them, but the cenſure of the Church paſſed vponupon the obſtinate, Tertul. Apologet. cap. 39. Origen in his treatiſe on Matth. 35. Hom. 7. on Ioſua. Great was the patience of the Saints and Teachers in the Church, whom perſecutions could not daunt. Stories are plentifull for this. In which time the deedes of the Nicolaitans were hated, the Church was a pure virgine, from fleſhly filthineſſe and ſpirituall fornication, it had not yet waxed wanton with fleſhly deuices of humane wiſedome. But as the Angell of Epheſus left off his louelove at length, euen ſo this Epheſine ſtate decaied in the firſt louelove, declining thereby to worſe and worſe; as may be gathered from Cyprian, Epiſt. lib. 4. 4.and Euſebius ſpeaking of the Church a little before Diocleſian. It ſeemeth to bee like the ſtate of the Iſraelites, who ſerued the Lord all the daies of Ieſua and Elders ouerliuing him, but after fell away.
Now Satan, in this defection of the Churches louelove, ſlept not; but when ſhe began to be drowſie, hee awoke and roſe vp to ſow tares. And as Epheſus had counterfeit Apoſtles, the picture of falſe Teachers; ſo had this Epheſine ſtate deteſtable Heretikes, Menander, Ebion, Cerinthus and diuers others. And thus wee ſee Epheſus, the type; and the Primitiue Church, the Epheſine ſtate.
The ſecond type is Smyrna, poore and in affliction, yea and the ſame foretold to bee greater afterwards, though the time ſhould not be long. This poore afflicted Church is approued of God, as rich.
The Antitype is the Smyrnean ſtate, which followed vponupon the Epheſine, and was from Conſtantine the Great, (if the former extended thither) vntounto the time of the Emperour Gratian, for that ſo the type and this Antitype agreeth. This Smyrnean ſtate was poore and afflicted, more towards the end, then at the firſt; yet were euen there found ſuch as were, as this Angell of Smyrna, rich in gifts and graces, earneſtly contending for the truth; ſuch a one was Athanaſius, a right Smyrnean Angell. But this ſtate is better ſeene by conſidering the falſe Church, of which much is ſpoken in the type.
At this time Satans kingdome was greatly encreaſed. His falſe Apoſtles in the Epheſine ſtate, had ſo beſtirred themſelues, as now in this Smyrnean there was a Synagogue of Satan; before, onelyonly a ſending out of his Apoſtles to gather a falſe Church, and here in this ſtate it was effected. So as now the counterfeit Chriſtians, and falſe Iewes, blaſphemed the true ſeruants of Chriſt, the true Smyrnean Angels; and they onelyonly would bee the true Church. So heere was now Chriſtians (in name) perſecutingSocra. lib. 2. 4. Theod. lib. 2. & 4. Sozom. lib. 3. 4. 6 Chriſtians in deed. Theſe Iewes in type were Arian Biſhops and their fauourites in this Antitype, who would be the true Church, but were indeede the Synagogue of Satan, and fore-runners of Antichriſt. For from almoſt the beginning of the Epheſine ſtate in Iohns time, were many Antichriſts, and the myſterie of iniquitie was in working; and the now Antichriſt of Rome his ſeate was by Satan in theſe great broyles (yea and bloudy perſecutions) in preparing: when at this time a golden ſcepter was offered to Sylueſter, then Biſhop of Rome, by Conſtantine; Anno 314. Sabell.which howſoeuer it was refuſed, yet we may ſee Satans working, and abuſing the Emperors good mind, to get vp, in this Smyrnean ſtate, his ſonne of perdition into the chaire of peſtilence, and high throne, of which in the next Pergamine ſtate.
The third type is Pergamus, in a miſerable condition, dwelling where Satans throne was, yet holding conſtantly the truth, euen when ſome did ſuffer martyrdome for it, and when Balaamites and Nicolaitans were among them, which they too much bare with; ſo as the throne of Satan was erected, and falſe waies taught.
The Antitype is the Pergamine ſtate following vponupon the Smyrnean, which taking beginning from the time of Gratian, vntounto the Popes, ſeated in their ſupremacie at Rome, the Diuels thrones, called the ſeate of the Dragon, Reuel. 13. 2. continued a long time after, till neere the time of Iohn Wickliffe. In which time there yet were Pergamine Angels, ſuch as held faſt the truth of God. And of that Church were holy Martyrs ſuffering death. Such were Antipaſes, a ſit name to the Martyr in the type to be called Antipas, to ſet out the Martyrs now in this ſtate; who might hauehave y• name, either becauſe the whole world went after the Beaſt, and ſo they againſt all; or elſe for that they were againſt the Biſhop of Rome, called Papa, and ſo they Antipapa, for contending againſt the Pope and his pride. Among ſuch Martyrs were the Biſhop of Florentine, one Arnulphus, Gerardus, and Dulcimus Nauarenſis, with others. Yet this was a fault in this Pergamine ſtate of the true Church, that though ſome ſuffered, yet the Church is blamed for too much forbearing; this was her weakneſſe.
But now, touching the falſe Church. In the type at Pergamus, there was Satans throne, the murthering of Antipas, Teachers of the doctrine of Balaam, and the doctrine of the Nicolaitans: ſo now, in the Antitype at Rome, the Pope inthronized in his ſupremacie by Satan, who, as it was ſaid, in the Epheſine ſtate, ſent out his falſe Apoſtles; in the Smyrnean, got a Synagogue and falſe Church; and here in the Pergamine, a throne: in which the ſonne of perdition being ſetled, murthered many Antipaſes, and like a falſe Prophet (as he is called, Reuel. 20. 19, euen another Balaam) taught Balacs, that is, the kings of the earth, to caſt a ſtumbling blocke before the children of Iſrael. That is, hee made them to take his part, to vphold his wicked Decrees, Canons, Conſtitutions, and Popiſh doctrines, and to force Chriſtians to the obedience of the ſame; to eate things ſacrificed to Idols, that is, to allow of his Antichriſtian Idolatrie, worſhipping of Images, and praying to Saints, and ſo to commit whoredome againſt the Lord. Yea, ſuch was his filthineſſe, that the Nicolaitans doctrine muſt be held, that is, ſtewes muſt bee allowed; and rather then ſome ſort of perſons ſhould marry, fornication muſt bee committed, yea and mens wiues abuſed, being done cautè, though not castè, as the old ſaying hath been among them. Theſe things are ſo knowne, as the very relation, without witneſſe of ſtorie, is ſufficient.
The fourth type is Thyatira, which is commended for louelove, ſeruice, faith, patience, workes, and that the laſt workes were more then the firſt: yet herein faultie, in tolerating Ieſabel the falſe Propheteſſe among them, which Satan had raiſed to deceiue the people.
The Antitype is the Thyatirane ſtate, following vponupon the Pergamine, beginning ſomewhat before the twelfth hundreth yeere of Chriſt, when certain godly men preached openly againſt Antichriſt, and many other things in Poperie. In this time were the Waldenſes, and other moe,Tripart. hiſt. & Henr. Monachus Toloſanus. who ſhewed the commendable vertues of Thyatira; much charitie, ſeruice, faith, patience, and good workes. Which ſtate increaſed more and more in weldoing. For God raiſed vp Wickliffe, and after him Iohn Hus, and Ierome of Prage, which greatly diſcouered the tyrannie, idolatrie, and filthineſſe of Rome, ſo as the Bohemians would no more be vnderunder the Diuels throne, as they had been. But towards the end this Thyatirane ſtate paſſed her beginning and middle ſtate, (in which, Ioſabel was too much ſuffered of many) when Luther with others ſhaked the Popes throne ſo, as they made him to quake, and his throne to continue tottering vntounto this day. Thus much touching the true Church in this Thyatirane ſtate.
Now for the falſe Church in the time of this ſtate, when Satan perceiued how now the game went; that the authoritie of his helliſh ſonne vponupon his infernall throne, could not preuaile any further, but that the Thyatirane Angels would breake out from vnderunder his obedience: to keepe the Kings and inhabitants of the earth ſtill vntounto the ſea of Rome, hee taught the Romiſh Synagogue to act Ieſabels part, euen to play the whore, the deceitfull Sorcereſſe, to paint now out her ſelfe with glorious titles of antiquitie, vniuerſalitie, conſent, the Mother Church, the Catholike Church, the ſeate of S. Peter, and many other ſuch paintings: hauing alſo her falſe prophets to ſooth her vp, as the onelyonly Propheteſſe and true Church that cannot erre; yea to worke miracles, thereby ſeducing the world, and enticing earthly mindes to commit whoredome with her, as is at large ſet out in Reuel. 13, and 17. Which great Whore there, is this Ieſabel here, whom (as in chapter 18) the Lord threatens to deſtroy: ſo heere in this place, to kill her children with death.
The fifth type is Sardis, which had workes, and gotten a name of life; but in the generall ſtate was dead, hauing onelyonly a few names, which defiled not their garments. In this Church is no mention of falſe Apoſtles, Iewes, Synagogue of Satan, Balaam, Nicolaitans, Ieſabel, or any ſuch; becauſe this is a type of the Church, and the firſt of the three come out from Babylon.
The Antitype is the Sardine ſtate, the firſt ſtate of the reformed Church eſcaped from the Whore; and therefore is not here either Balaam, or Ieſabel mentioned, but the Church is conſidered as being come out of Babylon. This begun with Luthers time, and holdeth on to the time of the Harmony of Confeſſions publiſhed. In this ſtate the Lutheran Churches got a name, in which they ſeemed to reioyce more, as being come out from Rome; and were no Papiſts, then, indeed, ſound Proteſtants. For, as it was ſaid of the type, that her workes were not perfect: ſo may it bee ſaid of theſe in this Antitype, that their workes are imperfect, as appeareth by their erroneous doctrines, and remainders of Popiſh deuices among them. Yet in this Sardine ſtate there was to bee found a few names, that is, ſome particular Churches, which cleerely quit themſelues of Popery, ſo as their garments were not defiled therewith, as is ſufficiently well knowne.
The ſixth type is Philadelphia, which hath a doore open before her, and none can ſhut it; and though her ſtrength be ſmall, yet ſhe holdeth the ſaith, and word of truth; and to her ſhall the falſe Iewes bee made ſubiect, and doe her all honour, as beloued of the Lord.
The Antitype is the Philadelphian ſtate, and is now that wherein we doe liue, and ſhall continue to the ouerthrow of Rome. In this ſtate, the paſſage of the Goſpell ſhall be no more letted; the doore is open by the power of Chriſt, and no man ſhall ſhut it: though our ſtrength (in the reaſon of man) be very little, the word ſhall be vpheld, til the falſe Iewes (the Romiſh Catholikes) be made to ſtoope vntounto vsus, as wee hauehave afore time been ſubiect to Rome. And leſt this might ſeeme incredible, the Lord ſaith. I, (that is, he himſelfe,) will make them come and worſhip at our feete: it will be his worke, and not mans: neither ſhall this be done for our deſert, but his own louelove to vsus will bring it to paſſe; that they may know, that the Lord loueth vsus. This is the beloued ſtate, this is the Philadelphian ſtate, beginning with the Harmonie and ſweete conſent of Confeſſions, wherein brotherly louelove ſhould abound: which the Lord grant, euen for his Goſpels ſake, our peace, and the Enemies deſtruction.
The ſeuenth type is Laodicea, a luke-warme Church, neither hot nor cold, without all praiſes.
The Antitype is the Laodician ſtate, which followeth next vponupon this Philadelphian, after the Church of Chriſt hath gotten full victorie ouer the Enemies, and ſhall be inriched with abundance of all things, wanting nothing; which is that, which breedeth luke-warmneſſe. This ſtate then is not yet. For firſt, in the Philadelphian ſtate, the Enemies muſt be made to ſtoupe to vsus, which is not yet come to paſſe: then a tentation muſt come ouer the world, from which mercifully the Philadelphian ſtate ſhall be preſerued; which I take to be the great battell at Armageddon, Reu. 16. 16. vponupon which ſhall come ſuch an Earthquake and alteration, as was neuer, ſince men dwelt vponupon the earth: and laſtly, as is ſaid, in the Philadelphian ſtate y• Church muſt grow to ſuch wealth after theſe things, and enioy ſuch peace and liue ſo ſecurely, as ſhall breed that Laodician condition and ſtate, a time like the daies of Noah, before the comming of the Sonne of man. But here wee muſt thinke, that the following ſtate ſhall not bee ſo of a ſudden; but onelyonly by length of daies, after the Church hath floriſhed gloriouſly for a time in a moſt gracefull ſtate; as the new Ieruſalem, in a very vnſpeakable manner.
Theſe things being ſo, this ſheweth vsus Maſter Brightmans errour, in making the Church of England to be typed out by the Church of, Laodicea: when wee ſee, that theſe bee no types of any particular Church in any one Countrey or other; but are types generall, of a generall ſtate of Chriſt his Church. And hee himſelfe maketh no ſuch particular application in any of the firſt types; neither, indeed, could hee, nor in this ought hee ſo to hauehave done. I cannot but bleſſe the Lord for very many things in his Commentary vponupon the Reuelation; as (be it ſpoken without offence to any) being the beſt of moſt before him, that I hauehave read of, and a labour praiſe worthie; but for deſcending to ſuch particulars, as by the text and words of the prophecie cannot be made good. And yet hauehave I obſerued, that for theſe particular applications, his booke hath been more bought vp, then for the reſt of his moſt praiſe-worthie labour; and the ſame places ſo applied, moſt ſtudied of all other: by ſome for the pleaſure they take in them, but without good ground from the text; and by otherſome, to carpe ſo at them, as thereby they may vilifie all the reſt of his paines; by which both the one ſort and the other might greatly profit themſelues, if they would lay aſide their by-reſpects in their readings, and giuegive themſelues to the beſt things, and make a right vſe thereof, in his and other mens labours. But as their ſiniſter readings on the one ſide, maketh thē cunning, perhaps, in their picked places; ſo it maketh them barten in the reſt of the prophecie, which I finde many very ignorant of, and yet can name very readily the fore-mentioned places. But I leaue them both, the one ſort to their ſelfe-pleaſing fancifulnes, and the other to their ill-bent carping peruerſnes, til the Lord teach them a better way to reade godly mens labours.
Thus (Chriſtian Reader) hauehave I, as I promiſed, ſhewed briefly, what I thinke probably of this opinion touching theſe ſeuen Churches. In which (beſides what hath been ſpoken) may bee obſerued a gradation of corruption in eueryevery ſtate, as if one came out of another. As, defeat of louelove, or decay of zeale, in the Epheſine ſtate, brought *This is implied in the exhort. Reu. 2. 10.feare of man, in the Smyrnean. This feare brought forth a forbearing to deale with the wicked, in the Pergamine. This forbearing brought a plaine toleration, in the Thyatirane. This brought foorth a meere conformitie to a bare outward profeſſion, without the life of religion, in the Sardine. And hereto a ſuperioritie being added, and peace obtained ouer Enemies, in the Philadelphian, brought foorth luke-warmneſſe in the Laodician ſtate. And as theſe may be noted in the ſtates of the Churches; ſo here may bee obſerued certaine ſteps, one after another, in the working of the myſterie of iniquitie in the foure firſt Churches. Where we may ſee, how Satan begun it with ſubtiltie, ſending out his wicked ſeedſmen vnderunder the name of Apoſtles: he increaſed it by hypocrifie, & contempt of the godly, by making men to profeſſe to be that they were not, and to ſpeake ill of other better then themſelues: he inforced it by Tyrannie, hauing exalted it into a throne: and laſtly, hee did vphold it by wicked ſorcerie, and all manner of deceiueableneſſe of vnrighteouſneſſe, by which to this day that Ieſabel of Rome yet remaineth, and ſo ſhall, till the appointed time come, of her finall deſtruction. Which Kings and Princes muſt atchieue by the ſword; which Preachers muſt vrge them vntounto by the word; and which people muſt heartily pray for: which I doe; and ſo (friendly Reader) oughteſt thou to doe, and thou verely wilt doe, if thou beeſt a ſound Proteſtant, a Proteſtant in good earneſt, which I hope thou art; and if thou beeſt not, I pray God thou maiſt be, and ſo I bid thee heartily farewell.
Thine, as thou art Chriſts, R. B. Batcombe: March 14.
THE WRITERS VPONUPON THE Apocalyps, read by the Author of this booke, for his helpe and furtherance to the vnderſtanding of that heauenly Prophecie.
Andraeas Caeſarienſis.
Rich. de Sancto Victore
Rupertus.
Haymo.
Thomas Aquinas.
Dionyſ. Carthuſianus.
Marlorat.
Bullingerus.
Lambertus.
Meyerus.
Aretius with N. Coladō.
Leoninus.
Fox.
Eglinus.
Graſſerus.
Piſcator.
Carolus Gallus.
Iunius.
Bezae annotat.
Brocardus.
Forthus.
Alphonſus Conradus.
Brightmanus.
Napier.
Fulk.
Gyffard.
Dent.
His Maieſties Meditations.
Simonds.
Forbes.
Broughton.
Bale.
Tafin.
Maſter Perkins.
Pererius.
Ribera.
Viegas.
Bulengerus.
Alcaſſar, omniū peſſimꝰ.
Reade we may all of all ſorts: but in the firſt place, the beſt and laſt of our owne, and other reformed Churches; the more ancient, as liuing in greater darkneſſe, and ſo not ſo well ſeene into this prophecie, in the ſecond place. And the enemies, as peruerters, in the laſt place.
THE CONTENTS OF this Booke.
I. That this booke of the Reuelation, is to be diligently ſtudied of all ſorts, in theſe laſt times.
II. That it is an Apocalypſis, and not an Apocrypſis, but a myſterie made manifeſt.
III. What hath made this booke till theſe later times ſo obſcure; wherein the obſcuritie lieth; and to whom (chiefly) it becommeth ſo hard to be vnderſtood.
IV. What is to be done, to come to the vnderſtanding thereof, to remoue the obſcurities, and ſo rightly to expound the ſame.
V. An interpretation giuen, of all the moſt difficult things in the Chapters, throughout the whole booke.