A Christian Dictionary, Dictionary 2 · Part 6 – Part 11
A. N.
Angell. sig:
A created Spirit, or spirituall substance, which is called a Man, because it assumed and tooke the shape of a man. Reuel. 21, 17. By the measure of man; that is, of the Angell. This same is vnderstood of the Ministers of the Gospel, which do nothing in their seruice after their owne pleasure, but (as Angels of God) in all thinges doe respect the will of God.
2 The Minister of the word, which is Gods Messenger, sent to declare his will to some Church ouer which he is set by the holy Ghost. Reuel. 2, 1. Unto the Angell of the Church of Ephesus, write.
3 The Lord Iesus Christ, our King and Sauiour, who maketh intercession for the Saintes, with God the Father, offering vp their Prayers (as the Calues and Sacrifices of their lippes.) Reu. 8, 3. Then another Angell came. By the mediation of this Angell, the Church is kept safe amiddest great dangers, and receiueth many heauenly gifts. Some by this other Angell, vnderstand a certaine man, after the vse of Scripture; to wit, Constantine the Great. Other, take the word properly for a created Spirit. Formost, is the most receiued exposition.
Seauen Angels. sig:
So many created Spirits, as Seruants & Ministers of God, being alwayes in readines (which is meant by standing before God) to execute his heauie Iudgements vponupon the wicked, namely, Anti-christ and his members. Reuel. 8, 3. I saw seauen Angelles which stood before God. These Angels, whether good or bad, it appeares not by the Text.
foure Angels. sig:
Foure vncleane Spirits, or Diuels of Hell, as appeareth by this, that the plagues which these foure Angels must execute, are spirituall, tending to the destruction of sules, such as Diuels do execute. Re. 7, 1. I saw four Angels stand vponupon the 4. corners of the earth. These foure Angels were foure Wicked Spirits. 1. of Contention. 2. of Ambition. 3. of Heresie. 4. of Warre. Also in Chap. 9. verse 14. By foure Angels is meant, the foure chiefe Heades or Authours of the Turkish Gouernment, ruled by Diuels.
Another Angell. sig.
Christ Iesus, who is another differing from the common Angels, not onelyonly in number, but in Essence, Office, and operation, exceeding al Angels being an eternall Angell or word of God, Mediatour of the Couenant. Reu. 7, 2. I saw another Angell come vp from the East. So is another Angell taken. Cap. 8, 3. and 10, 1. but others do vnderstand that other Angell. Cap. 7, 1. of Constantine the Great, who came out of the East parts, and succeeded Dioclesian in the Empire. Howbeit, sithence it is Christ alone, who hath the Seale to set vponupon all the elect; therefore the former signification, is to be receiued in mine opinion.
2 A created spirit, throughly furnished with power, and with slight of glory (as ensigne of Power) deputed and appointed to this seruice of ruinating Babylon. Reu. 18, 6. I saw another Angell. This isNote. to be noted through this Booke, that the Angels, both holy and vncleane Spirites, according to the Nature of the work to be done, are the adminsters and Executioners of Gods decree and counsell, both for safety of his true flocke, and for the ouer-throw of the false Antichristian Church and Turkish conuenticles, assembled against Christ.
3 The Ministers of the truth, which liued in the succeeding age: whereof Iohn Husse and Hieromne of Prage were chee…e, mightily striuing against the Primacy of the Pope. Reuel. 14, 8. And there followed another Angell.
an Angell standing in the Sunne. sig:
An heauenly Spirit, Minister and Proclaimer euen in the Sunne; that is, openly, and in the sight of all (as Proclamations are wont to bee made by one standing in some high place, where he may bee heard) of a glorious Conquest and victory, which Christ and his Church should hauehave and get, ouer the Beast and the false Prophet, his strong enemies. Reuel. 19. 17. And I saw an Angell stand in the Sunne. Yet some Diuines, interpret this of some particular man, which should be a member of some particular Church, brightly shining aboue other Churches, in purity of heauenly doctrin, & light of the holy truth. By comparison with Reu. 12, 1. this rare Man should arise out of the Westerne Church, to call Christians of the West vntounto battaile, or rather to take the spoile of the Beast and the false Prophet, being subdued in Warre. The former exposition, is of Interpretors more commonly receiued: yet both may stand together, for Christ, the Authour and giuer of the victory ouer the Antichristian Army, and his Instrument whosoeuer are not contrary.
Another Beast. sig:
The Ecclesiasticall Dominion and Kingdome at Rome, exercised with tyrannous and beastly fury & fiercenesse. It succeeded the politique power of the Emperours, beeing now to be found resident in the corporation of the Pope and his false Prophets, and forgerers of false doctrine. This Dominion and power Ecclesiasticall, though it bee the same with the former politique power of Emperours, in nature and constitution, both being bloudy and beastly; yet it is called another Beast, because this power had another Originall and beginning. For the former Beast with seauen heads came out of the Sea: this other Beast, came vp out of the Earth; that is, his authority was encreased and raised vp euen aboue Lay-men, not exempting the Emperour himselfe, which became vnderling and Vassall to the Pope, hauing before great authoritie ouer the Cleargy alone. This happened in the time of Gregory the second. Hence it is, that the Monarchy and Dominion of the Pope, was both the seauenth head of the former Beast described in the beginning of the thirteenth Chapter: And also, a Beast of himselfe, euen in respect of the double power which this second Beast did challenge; that is, the highest power ciuill ouer all Emperors and Kings; Also, the highest power spirituall ouer the Faith, ouer the consciences and Soules of all men. Reue. 13, 17. And I behold another Beast comming vp out of the Earth, &c. It is vsual in Scripture, by Beasts, to vnderstand Kingdomes and Dominions ruled in a beastly fashion. As in Daniell often, and in the Reuelation.
A. P.
Apples desired or lusted sig:
The fruites, desired and lusted after, by a Sinecdoche of the part for the whole. When it is saide heere, these are departed, it signifieth, eyther that their desired and longed for Haruest of all ripe and delicate fruites was perished, so as they had not their wonted abilitie; or else their wanton lust after such fruits (about which they spare no cost to procure them) was now extinct and quenched, which causeth the friendes of Rome to mourne. Reue. 18, 14. And the Apples which thy Soule lusted after, are departed from thee.
A. R.
Armageddon. sig:
The Mountaine of *Some thinke it to be allusion to Dan. ca. 11, 45.Megiddo, where Iosiah was slaine. 2 Chron. 35, 22. (as some think) or the destruction of an Army (as others thinke) or (as others thinke) a cutting downe subtilly: or the town Megiddo, mentioned. Iudges 5, 19. Where Debora and Baruch, with a smal number ouerthrew Sisera. Certain it is, that by this name, is signified the place of that vnrecouerable destruction, giuen to such wicked Kings & their forces, assembled in battaile, for that great Whore of Rome, against the Lorde and his people: which affords a speciall comfort to Gods Church. Reu. 16, 16. And they gathered them together into a place, called in Haebrew, Armageddo.
A. S.
to Ascend into heauen sig:
After much labour taken in preaching the Gospell, and many reproaches suffered for it, to bee raised vp to great Dignity and honour heere in the Church (which is called Heauen in this Booke of Reuelation) and after this life ended, to bee made partakers of heauenly glory. This is the portion & comfort of all the faithfull Witnesses of Christ, as experience of all times doe prooue. It was fulfilled to Luther, Caluin, Melancthon, Peter Martyr, Bucer, and many others. Reuel. 11, 12. And they shall Ascend vp to Heauen in a Cloud.
A. T.
Athirst. sig:
One, who feeling a great want of the Waters of life (the graces of the Spirit) dooth highly value them, and earnestly couet and seeke after them, neuer giuing ouer till they be satisfied. Reuel. 22, 17. Let eueryevery one that is athirst come. Reue. 21, 6.
A. U.
to Auenge. sig:
To recompence vntounto the wicked after their merits, punnishing iustly the cruell iniuries doone by them to the Saintes, for the Name of Christ. Reu. 19, 2. And to Auenge the bloud of his Seruants.