A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 2 · Part 115 – Part 118
W. A.
to Walke. sig:
TO be alwayes present in the middest of the church to blesse, enrich, guide, and protect the Ministers and members thereof. Reuel. 2, 1. And Walketh in the middest of the seauen golden Candlestickes. If Christ be alwayes resident with his Church himselfe, to look into eueryevery thing, what need a Vicar▪
2 To line, or to order our life according to the direction of the word, which is a light to our steps. Reuel. 21, 24, And the people shall Walke in the light of it▪
Wall. sig:
The strength, defence, and safety of the Church, which is (as a Cittie that hath walles for defence.) Reuel. 21, 12. And had a great Wall on hie.
Wares. sig:
Not onelyonly outward Merchandise and stuffes; as Silkes▪ … precious stones, Pearles, Purple, Scarlet, & …. The value whereof, shall much abate at the fall of … ▪ but spirituall Marchandize; as Masses, Dirges, and such trash, which shall wax vile and nothing worth. Reuel, 18, 11.
Warre. sig:
Battell, hostility, or enmity against the true preachers and professors of the word, stirred vp against them, by Romish Antichrist, who is therefore sayd to be the Beast that commeth out of the bottomelesse pit, because his beastly and sauage power and Tirany, is from hell, which hee shall exercise with bloudy cruelty. Reuel. 11, 7. The Beast that commeth out of the bottomlesse pit, shall make war against them. Reuel, 13, 7. Make Warre against the Saints. This warre, is that hot opposition and bitter enmity, which the Tridentine Counsell, with the Popes and Emperors forces, made against the Protestants in Germany, as the learned collect, by comparing euents with prophesies. There is another battaile mentioned, chap: 19, verse 19, 20, &c. wherein the Beast shall ouercome and be taken.
to Wash long robes. sig:
To hauehave (being conuerted vntounto Christ by faith) the holinesse and righteousnes of Christ alone imputed to them. Reuel. 7, 14. And hauehave Washed their long Robes.
Wa…, and is not, &c. sig:
The diuers condition of the Roman Empire, according to the change of 4. seuerall times, 1. flourishing in Maiesty & power, vnderunder the raign of the first Emperors, Iulius, Augustus, Tiberius, Claudius, &c. 2. Ecclipsed and diminished in glory and power, vnderunder the succeeding Emperors, Nero, Galba, Domitian, &c. 3. But reuiued and raised vp againe in the Popes. 4. and finally, in Gods iust Iudgement to be thrust down into vtter destruction. Reuel. 17, 8. The Beast which thou hast seene, was, and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, and shall go to perdition. Some other Diuines, vnderstande this wholy of Antichrist, the Popish Empire, which began after S. Iohns time, in the end of the raigne of Constantine the Great; 2. & afterward, by an incursion of Barbarians, Rome and Italy, being miserably wasted, the pontificall Authoritie and Sea seemed, as it were not to be. 3. But this hurt & wound was afterward cured by Iustinian and Phocas, in the time of Pope Gregory the second, which exercised a greater power (both Ecclesiasticall and Temporall) then any of his predecessors had done. 4. Yet this newly-recouered dignitie, was not alwaies to last, but to be diminished by little and little (as we see this day) till it wholy be extinct, which posteritie must see. That this is the truest interpretation, may appear, by verses 10. and 12. of this chap. which make it manifest. This Beast heere spoken of, not to hauehave beene then when hee wrote this prophesie, nor had not then receiued his kingdome and power. Therefore, they are vtterly deceiued, which expound this verse of the *As Ribera the Iesuit dothDeuill; or which doo seeke for the beginning or seate of Anti-christ any where, but at Rome, where all the foure former mutations and chaunges are euidently knowne to hauehave happened, whether we vnderstand these changes, ioyntly of the Heathenish and Popish Monarchie, or of Ecclesiastical Empire alone, as it seemes that it ought to be, for the former reason.
to Watch. sig:
To shake off security and sluggishnesse, & with great care to preserue our Garments of faith & innocency. Reuel. 16, 15. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepes his Garments.
Waters. sig:
Peoples, and multitudes, and nations, & toongs; at a word, Countries of eueryevery language, obeying Rome as their Queene or Mistris. Reuel. 17, 15. The Waters which thou sawest, are peoples, and multitudes, &c.
2 All impediments and lets which hinder passage and accesse to a Region. Reuel. 16, 12. And the Water thereof was dried vp.
3 The Doctrine of Gods word, which is like sweet and wholesome waters, but being infected by corrupt Teachers, they become bitter as wormwood. Reuel. 8, 11. Many died of the Waters, because they were bitter. Reuel. 22, 1, 17.
4 Superstitions, errors, Haeresies, as a flood of water to drowne the Church. Reuel. 12, 15.
Way. sig:
Commodity or opportunity of dooing something. Reuel. 16, 12. That Way might be prepared for the Kings.
W. E.
Well of the water of life sig:
The sweetenesse of Christ, and his aboundant graces, ouer-flowing, to the satisfying of euerie thirsty soule, earnestly desiring to Communicate with the good things of Christ, Reuel. 21, 6. I will giuegive to the thirsty of the Well of the Water of life freely.
Weeping. sig:
Shedding of teares, together with sorrowes and calamities, the cause of teares. Reuel. 18, 19. And cry, Weeping and wayling.
W. H.
What Citty like? sig:
No Citty at all to be compared with Rome, being most ancient, flourishing in wealth and friends for many generations, accounted first the Queene of Nations, and afterward the Chaire of Peter, the terror of the world; Who would not hauehave thought this Citty farre enough, and free enough, from all destruction? Reuel, 18, 18. What Citty was like to this great Citty?
White. sig:
Pure▪ from all spot, by imputation of Christes Righteousnesse & shining in glory, both in themselues, by sence of Gods louelove; and with others, by praises rendered to God for his grace towarde them. Reuel. 3, 4, And shall walke with me in White.
white array▪ sig:
Eternall glory, happinesse, and life, by a perfect participation with Christ. Reuel. 3, 5. He that ouercommeth, shall be cloathed in White aray.
white cloud sig:
Earthly Principalities, Powers, and Rulers, lifted on high (as a Cloud) and for their benignity & clemency, compared to White clouds. Reu. 14, 14. Behold, a White cloud. This is commonly vnderstood of the last Iudgement, and referred to Christ, who shall come from Heauen in a cloud, representing his vprightnesse, by the Whitenesse. But this seemes not to agree with verse 15. Where hee that sate on the Cloud, is saide, to doo nothing but by the commandement of another Angell.
white horse sig:
The gladsome tydinges of the Gospell, by the Ministry of the Teachers and Pastors, spred abroad with great celerity and power, conuerting & subduing many people farre and neere vntounto Christ and his blessed truth. Reuel. 6, 2. Loe, there was a White Horse, and he that sat on him had a Bow. They seem then to be wide, which vnderstand this of the Arrowes of Pestilence, mightily and speedily striking men. Other, farre more probably, referre this to the victory which the truth had, vnderunder the Emperor Adrian, who by mediation of certaine Phylosophers, pleading the cause of Christians before him, was mooued to make a ioyful decree, that no Christian should bee condemned, but for ciuill crimes punishable by law. Euseb. lib. 4. cap. 3. as afterward, by Edict of the next Emperour, Antoninus Pius, at the motion of Iustinus Martir, it was proclaimed, that no Christian should be troubled, because hee was a Christian, and their accusers should bee iudged to punishment. Euseb. lib. 4, 11,
white robe. sig:
The holinesse, purity, and innocencie of Christ, put vponupon the elect by faith. Reuel. 7, 13. Arrayed in long White Robes.
White throne. sig:
A Tribunall seat, most Princely and glorious, as full of mercy, as of Maiesty. Reuel. 20, 11. I sawe a great White Throne.
Whore great. sig:
A notable Harlot, herselfe committing whoredome spiritually, and enticing others high and low, Princes and people to pertake with her in Idolatry. This plainly is Popish Rome, for Heathenish Rome, left euerie people to their owne Religion. Reuel. 17, 1. I will shew thee the damnation of that great Whore. Reuel. 19, 2. Hee hath condemned the great Whore.
W. I.
Widdowe. sig:
One, bereft of her dignitie, as a Wife of hir husband. Reuel. 18, 7. No Widdow.
Wife. sig:
The Church, collected of Gentiles and Iewes, which being two Sisters, do both make vp but one Wife, as Leah and Rachell were to Iacob. Reu. 19, 7. And his Wife hath prepared her selfe.
Wildernes sig:
A solitary and secret place, fit for one to hide himselfe in, also free from the pompe and glorie of the world. Reuel. 12, 6. And the Woman fled into the Wildernesse.
Wine of wrath. sig:
Idolatry, which is spirituall fornication, and kindleth Gods indignation and anger; yet superstitious persons drinke it in, as Drunkards doo draw in sweet wine. Reuel. 14, 8. To drinke of the Wine of the wrath of her fornication.
2 The most seuere paine, euen Fire and Brimstone due to Idolatry, wherein superstitious persons tooke not so great delight to practise it; but the righteous God will take as much pleasure in punishing it. Reuel. 14, 10. He also shall drink of the Wine of the wrath of God, &c. and shall be Tormented with fire and brimstone.
two wings. sig:
Meanes of flight, and swift escape: The two wings, be, Gods prouidence, protecting, and his Oracles, directing the Church in her speedie flight. Reuel. 12, 14. To the woman were giuen two Wings of a great Eagle.
Winepresse sig:
Hell, whereinto the Wicked enemies of the Church shall bee cast to bee tormented, as Clusters of Grapes be cast into a Wine-Presse, to be there pressed. Reuel. 14, 19. Were cast into that great Wine-presse of Gods wrath. How some vnderstand this; not of the last and great Iudgement in the end of the world, but referre it to that sharpe iudgment executed vponupon Popery, in the daies of Henrie the 8. King of England, by the downfal of their religious houses in this ours, and other Contryes of Europ, ye may read in the words [Uine] and [Uineyard.]
to Wipe all teares. sig:
To deliuer and set free from teares, and from sorrowes and calamities, the causes of teares, and with all to restore vntounto a more ioyful estate. Reuel.
Wisedome. sig:
Vnderstanding, Learning, and skill, to search, and by serching, to find the number of the name of the beast. Reu. 13, 18. Heere is Wisedome. Let him that hath vnderstanding, let him count, &c. Learned Iunius giues this Interpretation of this verse. The name and marke of the Beast (saith he) doo easily happen to any; but it is wisedom to hauehave the number of the Beast; that is, onelyonly the wise, and such as hauehave vnderstanding, can come by that number: for they must be most illuminated Doctors which attaine thereto. But I like the former better.
Witnesse. sig:
A Minister of the word, which by Doctrine and good life, and Martyrdome (if need be) doeth giuegive Testimony to the word of God. Reuel. 11, 3. I will giuegive the same to my two Witnesses. Sée two Witnesses.