A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 2 · Part 21
C. L.
Cloudes. sig:
Powers, Dignities, Honours, Principalities, in high place, yet not Supreame, as Cloudes which be placed high, yet are vnderunder the Heauens. Reuel. 11, 15. The Angell cryed to him that sate on the Cloud.
Cloathed with a cloud sig:
One, full of Maiesty. A Cloud in Scripture being a visible signe, to represent Diuine Maiesty. As Exod. 33, 9. 1. King. 8. Reuel. 10, 1. I saw another mighty Angell, Cloathed with a Cloud. Some other Diuines, expound this Cloathing with a Cloud, to signifie the obscure knowledge of Christ, being yet not so fully knowne, as afterward. The former is the more receiued exposition.
Cloathed in sackecloath. sig:
Men, full of griefe and lamentation, as if they did alwaies fast and mourne. Also, stirring vp others to repent, and be sorrowfull for their Idolatry, and other workes of darknesse, whereof wearing Sackcloath is a signe and token. Finally, this Cloathing his Witnesses with Sacke, admonisheth, that Christ would call men to repentance, euen by very meane and contemptible Seruants, couered, not with Purple, but with Sacke. Reu. 11, 3. They shall prophesie 1260. daies, Cloathed in Sacke-Cloath. This alludeth to the fashion of the olde Prophets, who were thus apparrelled.
to come with clouds sig:
To returne as Christ shall doe, with great glory to iudge the Worlde, hauing ready before him, Storme, Tempest, and Thunder, to reuenge himselfe vponupon the wicked his enemies. Reuel. 1, 7. But commeth with Clouds, and eueryevery eye shall see him. In this speech, there is an allusion vntounto the praise of the Prophets, who thus describe the notable iudgements of God, vsing the Clouds, and all other creatures for the good of his owne, and destruction of the vngodly. Sée Dan. 7, 13. Also Psalme 18, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, &c.
sitting on a Cloud. sig:
A glory peculiar to Christ, who as he ascended sitting on a Cloud; so at his second comming, hee shall returne gloriously (a Cloud beeing to him in stead of a Chariot or Throne rather.) As in Acts 1. and Reuel. 1, 7. Reuel. 14, 15. Crying to him that sate on the Cloud. Some Diuines (not without great shew of reason) Interpret this Cloud heere spoken of, of ciuill powers, lifted vp as Clouds in the Aire; and him who sate on it, to be such Rulers and Princes, as Christ did vse, for the furthering of his Church, and hindering the Kingdom of Antichrist; the reason is; because the Sonne of Man, who sate vponupon this Cloud, doing all at the commaundement of the Angell, as appeareth in the wordes of this Text, cannot be Christ Iesus, who is subiect onelie to his Father, and that as hee is Mediatour. This latter exposition, seemeth for this reason, to be the better.
white cloud sig:
The vprightnesse and integrity (represented by White) of Christ the Iudge, not miscarried in his sentence by ignorance or crooked affections (in their opinion, who vnderstand this Text of the last Iudgement.) But such Diuines as referred this text, to things done betweene the first and second comming of Christ, doe Interpret this White Cloud, of courteous, louing, beneficiall, and healthfull Princes and Estates; as Saxony, Hassia, Prussia, the free Citties of Argentorate, Tiguris, Berne, &c. With their good and religious Gouernours; as they expound the Angell comming out of the Temple, to be Iustus Ionas, Phillip Melan…thon, Bucer, Zuinglius, and others, which stirred vp good Rulers to abolish Popery, and erect the Faith and Religion of the Gospell, in their Iurisdictions and Dominions.
the Clusters of the Uineyard. sig:
The wicked Men of the World, which are compared to Clusters, because they grow so thicke, euen on heapes (like Grapes.) Do but consider how many renounce the Name of Christ, as Turks, &c. How many are Idolators amongst such as acknowledge his Name; how many Hyppocrites and wicked men, euen where the Gospell is maintained, and this will appeare a meete comparison. Reuel. 14, 18. Thrust in thy Sickle, and gather the Clusters of the Vineyard. Some very learned, restraine these Clusters, vntounto Popish religious buildings and persons, which did abound and flourish, euen as a vine spread full of Clusters, and that in this our Kingdome, till the daies of Henry the eyght, when thorough the zeal and courage of Cranmer and Crumwell (two great men) this Popish Vine was lopped and cut; yea, rooted out.