A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 2 · Part 15 – Part 17
B. O.
Booke. sig:
This Prophesie, or Booke of Reuelation (as appeareth by the opening the seales of this *Some think this Booke to be the whole Bible: others thinke it to be the New Testament, but they do erre.Booke heere shewed Iohn in a Vision) containing the Decrees, Counsels, and will of God the Father, touching the Gouernment of the world; namely, of his Church till Christ come. Whereas these counsels are written in a Book, it signifieth the certainty of them, that they are surely determined: And whereas the Booke was written within & without, (after the fashion of writing in Parchments, vsuall in those times) it signifieth, the largenesse of this Prophesie, that there be many things to be reuealed. And whereas, it is sealed with seauen seales, it signifyeth these Decrees, only to bee knowne to God, vntill he was pleased to manifest them: And whereas no creature was able to open the Booke, or to looke on it; this signifies both the difficulties and dignity of these secrets, that they must be with great honour reuerenced. Reuel. 5, 1. I saw a Booke Written, &c.
little Book. sig:
The Scripture, containing the doctrine of grace, by the powerfull preaching whereof, in the latter end of the world, Antichrist is to be ouerthrowne, as hath bin begun to be fulfilled, through the pubshing of the Diuine truth, written in that Booke, by Luther, Wicliffe, and others. Reuel. 10, 8. Go & take the little Booke. Also verse 9, 10. Some expound the taking of this little Booke, to bee the restoring of prophesie, or preaching the trueth vntounto the Church, which is all one with the former.
to eate this Booke. sig:
To hide the knowledge of it in the heart, and to digest it by godly Meditation. Reuel. 10, 9 Take it and eate it vp. The effect of this Booke, should be sweetnesse (like the sweetnesse of Honey) in the mouth, but bitternesse in the belly. To knowe and beleeue it, bringes exceeding delight to the Christian minde; but the earnest desire to vent & publish it to others, the heauinesse and sorrow, for the contemning of it, and preferring errors before it, shall be as Gawle to Gods Seruants. In this phrase there is allusion to that in Ezek. 3, 3. Ieremy 15, 16 Iob. 32.
Bookes opened. sig:
Mens Consciences, or records and Testimonies of eueryevery mans conscience, being vn…olded and manifested through the mighty power of God, wherin (as in Bookes) are written all mens thoughtes, words, and workes. Reuel. 20, 12. And the Bookes were opened.
Booke of life. sig:
Gods immutable and aeternall Decree, wherein (as in a Booke) the names of the elect are written, (as Souldiors names vse to be written in a Muster Booke.) VponUpon this most firme and merciful decree of saluation to aeternall life by Christ, doth depend the election of the godly, who otherwise are not without many blots, and very foule ones too, in their Consciences, which yet are wiped out by the blood of Christ, according to Gods euerlasting louelove and purpose. Reuel. 20, 12. Another Booke was opened, which was the Booke of Life. Also, Reuel. 22, 19.
Bottomles pit. sig:
Hell, where the Diuels bee tormented, and whence commeth all Tyranicall and wicked beastly seruage, both power and practises of the cruell enemies of the Church. Hell, for the largenesse of the place, and deepenesse of the pain suffered there, is called [Bottomlesse] & a [Pit] because it is below, in the nethermost parts of the world, a darkish vncomfortable place, like a pit or dungeon. Reuel. 11, 7. The Beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit.
2 The company of Reprobates and earthly minded men, among whom Satan raigneth as king Reuel. 20, 3. And cast him into the bottomlesse pit. Comparing this place with Chap. 12. verse 13. It is plaine, that Bottomlesse pit, signifies the earth; that is, earthly minded men, which are but Christians in shew onelyonly, and name; for vntounto such Satan is sent.
Bought from the earth. sig:
The elect of God the Father, redeemed by Christ, fealed vp to the day of Redemption by the holie Spirit, by whose effectuall sanctification, they hauehave escaped the fellowship of the false church, signified by earth, as it were brands pulled out of the fire, and are made members of the true Church, euen his sincere worshippers. These alone can praise the Lambe with ioyfull hearts. Reuelat. 14, 3. Forty foure thousande, which were bought from the Earth.
Bowe. sig:
The Tongues of Gods Ministers, out of which, wholesome Wordes (as sharpe Arrowes) are sent to pierce euen the hearts of men. Reuel. 6, 2. Had a Bowe.
to Boyle in great heate. sig:
To feele great distemper and torment in the body (vponupon the extreame heat of the Sun) scorching and drying vp the fruits of the earth, and all greene things, whereof commonly followes, greeuous diseases; as burning pestilences, hot Agues, with other noisome paines, which cause Idolaters, though not openly and directly, yet obliquely and secretly to blaspheme God. Euen as Herodotus reporteth of the people Athlantici, that they vse to ban and cursse the Sunne, because it broyles them with the too much and immoderate heate thereof. Reuelat. 16, 9. And men boyled in great heate, and Blasphemed God.
B. R.
Bright morning Starre. sig:
Christ Iesus, who to vsus (being couered with the night of spirituall darkenesse) is the beginning of all Light, both of Holynesse and Happinesse (euen as the Morning Starre, is to the day) and at length, all Darkenesse, both of Sinne and Misery, being vtterly dispersed, hee shall bring vsus to the full brightnesse of heauenly glory, where there shall be no night, but a perpetuall and most cleere light of blessednesse, Reuel. 22, 19. I am that Bright morning Starre. In the same sence, he is called. Iohn. 1. The Light of the world; and by the Prophet, the Sonne of Righteousnesse, See Reuel. 2, 28.
Brimstone. sig:
The extreame cruelty of the bloudy enemies of Christ and his Church, in terrible manner destroying mens bodies with death, and their soules with false Religion. Reuel. 9, 17. And of Brimstone. Also verse 18, 19.
2 The sharpe and bitternesse of helpaines. Reuel. 21, 8. With fire and Brimstone.
to Bring forth. sig:
To beget children spiritually vntounto God, as the Church doth by the Ministry of the Gospell, thorough the power of the Spirit. Reuel. 12, 3. To deuour her childe, when she had brought it forth.
B. U.
to Buy and sell. sig:
To exercise Artes belonging to the sustentation of this life; or to hauehave Trafficke and enter-course of Merchandise with men, which was denyed to al, saue such as were subiect to the Romaine Popish power. Reuel. 13, 17. That no man may buy and sell, &c. whereof we read in their Decrees, that no man might hauehave to doo with him, to whome the Pope was enemy.
to Buy ware. sig:
To entertaine the Doctrine and superstitions of Rome, and all meanes which serued outwardly and pompously to decke the Church of Rome, and to set forth her Idolatry. All these shall waxe vile, no man shall giuegive any more price for them, after the full fal of the Romish Citty, and impiety. Reuel. 18, 11. For no man buyeth their ware any more.
Burthen. sig:
Affliction and Tribulation, by exile, imprisonment, &c. for the Gospell. Reuel. 2, 3. Thou wast Burdened, and hadst patience.
2 Prophesie of calamity. Reu. 2, 24. I will put vponupon you no other burthan; that is, I will speake to you no worse thing, but onelyonly to require what to doo; no Calamity I will Prophesie and denounce against you, as against other Churches. In this phrase, there is allusion and respect vntounto the forme of speech vsed by the olde Prophets, who vsed to call the propheticall predictions of publick calamities, by the name of Burden; as the burden of Babell, the Burden of Moab, of Egypt, &c. Esay 13, 6, 15, 1, & 19, 1.