The Ruin of Rome, Commentary on Revelation · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
IN the fourth chapter we hauehave heard the deſcription of God the Father, which holdeth the ſealed booke in his right hand. In the fift chapter wee hauehave had the deſcription of Ieſus Chriſt, the opener and interpreter of this ſeuen ſealed booke. Now in this ſixt chapter wee are to vnderſtande of the matter and contentes of this booke, and of the ſtraunge accidents and euents which followed vponupon the opening of euerie ſeuerall ſeale. For in this chapter ſixe of the ſeales are opened by the Sonne of God, and the myſteries thereof diſcloſed vntounto Iohn, that he might declare thē to the Church, for the comfort and inſtruction thereof.
This chapter containeth ſixe principall things, ariſing from the ſeuerall opening of the ſix ſeales; and they are theſe:
verſ. 1.2. verſ. 3.4. verſ. 5.6. verſ. 7.8. verſ. 9.10.11. The ſpreading of the Goſpell.
Great perſecutions following therevpon.
Famine.
Peſtilence.
Complaints of the Martyrs.
verſ. 12.13.14.15.16.17. Fearefull vengeance vponupon the worlde, for ſheading the bloud of Gods Saints.
verſ. 1 After, I beheld, when the Lambe had opened one of the ſeales, and I heard one of the foure beaſtes ſay, as it were the noiſe of thunder: Come and ſee.
Now, after all theſe former matters, Iohn did verie intentiuely fixe his eye vponupon the Lambe, being now about to open and vnclaſpe the firſt ſeale of the booke, and all on the ſudden hee was admoniſhed and ſtirred vp by one of the Cherubins, that he ſhould drawe neare and come vp, and take knowledge of theſe great and important matters, which were now to be reuealed vntounto him. And to the end that he might be throughly awaked, and ſtirred vp to attention in ſo waightie matters, it is ſaide, that the voice of the Angell which ſpake vntounto him, was like the voice of a thunder: So that hereby Iohn was throughly rowſed, fitted and prepared, to receiue theſe heauenly viſions.
Therefore I beheld, and loe, there was a white horſe, verſ. 2 and he that ſate on him had a bowe, and a crowne was giuen vntounto him, and he went forth conquering, that he might ouercome.
Iohn keeping his eye ſteadie vponupon the Lambe, hauing now opened the firſt ſeale, doth in a viſion ſee a white horſe, &c.
By this white horſe, is meant the miniſterie of the worde of God, and the firſt preaching of the Goſpell by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, and the ſucceſſors in the Primatiue Church. chapter 19.11. The white horſe is taken in this ſenſe in the 19. chapter of this Propheſie; where our Lorde Ieſus beeing vponupon this white horſe, beateth downe all his enemies before him: For who is able to reſiſt his worde, and the miniſtrie of it?
Zach 1.8.In the firſt chapter of the Propheſie of Zacharie, our Lord Ieſus purpoſing to build vp his church, being in a very ruinous eſtate after the captiuitie, is brought in by the Prophet on horſebacke, both for the reedifying of his Church, and alſo for the puniſhment of the Babilonians, his enemies, and the enemies of his people. In the 45. Pſalme the church the ſpouſe ſaieth thus to her beloued husbande Chriſt:Pſal. 45. Gird the ſworde vponupon thy thigh, ô thou mightie one, the ſworde of thy glorie and comely beautie, and with thy comely beautie ride on proſperouſly for the buſineſſe of truth, and of meeke righteouſneſſe, &c.
Now in all theſe places of the ſcripture, wee do plainely ſee, that when Chriſt goeth about either to broach his Goſpell, or build vp his Church, or to be reuenged on the enemies thereof, hee is brought in on horſebacke. And this doth ſtrongly confirme and warrant this expoſition, ſeeing it is not any imagined ſenſe, or new deuice of mans braine, but ſuch a ſenſe as other places of ſcripture will verie fully beare out.
Moreouer, if wee doo ſeriouſly conſider, and deepely weigh the purpoſe and intendment of the holy Ghoſt in all this, it will not a little helpe and further this expoſition. For the chiefe ſcope and drifte of all is, to deſcribe the ſtate of the Church from the Apoſtles time to the ende of the worlde. chapter 1.1. For this Propheſie ſerueth to ſhewe vntounto Iohn the thinges that must ſhortlye come to paſſe.
Now, wee all knowe by bleſſed experience, that the firſt eſtate of the Church did conſiſt in the preaching of the Goſpell by Chriſt and his Apoſtles: and therfore this muſt needs be vnderſtood of that time & eſtate of the church. For Ieſus Chriſt is he that ſitteth vponupon this white horſe, that is, by the miniſtery of his Goſpell he conquereth and ſubdueth the nations vnderunder him.
There may bee three reaſons alledged why this horſe is ſaide to be of a white colour. Firſt, becauſe the doctrine of the Goſpell which was preached by Chriſt and his Apoſtles, was pure and ſincere, being without all ſpots and blots of error and hereſie. For the white colour in the ſcripture doth ſignifie puritie, ſinceritie, innocency, ioy, glory, and beautie.
Secondly, becauſe the doctrine of Chriſt and his Apoſtles, was full of ioy and comfort: As it is ſaide of Samaria, after Phillip had ſet the Goſpell abroache there,Act. 8.8. that there was great ioy in that Citie.
Thirdly, becauſe the miniſtery of Chriſt and his Apoſtles was very glorious and beautifull, as it is written:Rom. 10.15. How beautifull are the feete of them which bring the glad tydings of peace, &c. And againe,Pſal. 45. with thy comely beautie ride on proſperouſly, for the buſineſſe of truth, &c.
If any man demaund a reaſon of Chriſts ſitting on horſe-backe, and riding forth on horſe-backe: I anſwere, that it doth moſt fitly repreſent that maruellous ſwiftneſſe wherewith the light of the Goſpell ſhould be carried and ſpread, not only throughout all Iudea, Samaria, and Galile, but alſo throughout all the kingdomes of the world. For is it not a wonder, to conſider how ſwiftly, and as it were on horſeback, and alſo how farre ouer the Heathen nations, within a fewe yeares after Chriſts aſcention, the doctrine of the Goſpell was preached, and of multitudes imbraced. He rode forth indeed proſperouſly and ſwiftly vponupon this white horſe, euen the miniſtrie of the Goſpell, for the buſineſſe of truth, and of meeke righteouſneſſe; and his right hande wrought fearefull things, as ſaith the Pſalmiſt.
Moreouer, it is here ſaide, that Ieſus Christ hath a bowe in his hand. And in the 45. Pſalme, from whence it ſeemeth all theſe phraſes and ſpeeches are borrowed, hee is ſaide to hauehave sharpe arrowes in his hande, whereby he pierceth the heart of his enemies.
Now this bowe and arrowes doo ſignifie the piercing power of the Goſpell, whereby the world hath bene ſubdued vntounto Chriſte. For all the arrowes of the Goſpell which Chriſt ſhooteth out of this bowe, which is euen the tongue of his miniſters, doo ſticke in the hearts of men; yea, they pierce into all the ſecret places of the ſoule. For the miniſtrie of the Goſpell is liuely, Heb 4.and mightie in operation, ſharper then any two edged ſworde, and entreth through, euen vntounto the deuiding aſunder of the ſoule and the ſpirit, of the ioynts and the marrowe, and is a diſcerner of the thoughts, and the intents of the heart.
Heere is yet further mention made of a crowne which was giuen vntounto Chriſt, and that hee went forth conquering, that hee might ouercome.
This crowne ſignifieth the victorie which he getteth ouer the worlde with his bowe and arrowes. For the Pſalmiſt ſaieth: By thy ſharpe arrowes in the hearts of the kinges enemies, the people ſhall fall vnderunder them.
We reade in the ſecond of the Acts of the Apoſtles, that 3000.Act, 2.37. of the Kings enemies were at once ſhot thorough with this bowe, and theſe arrowes, and did fall vnderunder him. We reade of many other at other times, and in other places. For the Apoſtle ſaith plainely, that the weapons of our warfare are not carnall, but ſpirituall, 2. Cor. 10.mightie through God to caſt downe holdes, caſting downe the imaginations, and eueryevery high thing that is exalted againſt the knowledge of God, and bringing into captiuitie eueryevery thought to the obedience of Chriſt.
Thus we ſee how Chriſt and his Apoſtles and all their true ſucceſſors riding vponupon this white horſe which is the miniſtery of the Goſpell, hauehave gone ouer all the worlde, conquering and ouercomming.
I am not ignorant that ſome doo expound this otherwiſe: but my purpoſe is not to meddle with other mens opinions, and iudgements, but to ſet downe that which God hath giuen me to ſee, and which in mine owne conſcience and perſwaſion, I ſuppoſe to be the truth, referring all to the iudgement of the church, and ſuch therein as are indued with the ſpirit of God. For the ſpirit of the Prophets is ſubiect to the Prophets. And be it knowne vntounto all men, that my chiefe indeuour throughout this whole booke, ſhall be to ſeeke the ſenſe that is, and not the ſenſe that is not: to meddle only with truth and let falſhood goe.
verſ. 3 And when he had opened the ſecond ſeale, I heard the ſecond beaſt ſay, Come and ſee.
As before at the opening of the firſt ſeale, ſo now againe at the opening of the ſecond ſeale, Iohn is called vponupon by an other Angell to giuegive attention: and ſo afterwards at the opening of the third and fourth ſeale. Wherein we may obſerue the heauineſſe and drowſineſſe of mans nature in all heauenly thinges, which is euermore readie to ſinke and fall aſleepe, except it be awaked by many meanes, and ſtirred vp by ſpeciall grace.
verſ. 4 And there went out an other horſe that was redde, and power was giuen to him that ſate thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they ſhould kill one an other: and there was giuen vntounto him a great ſword.
This redde horſe, repreſenteth the cruell perſecution, and bloodie warres which followed the preaching of the Goſpell. For the red colour in the ſcripture, doth note blood, crueltie, and warres. The rider vponupon this horſe is the diuel himſelfe: for who but he and his inſtruments delight in blood, perſecutions, and warres? hee hath power giuen him to take peace from the earth, (for hee could hauehave no power except it were giuen him) and to this purpoſe a great ſword was giuen him, to murther and kill withall.
All this is to be vnderſtood of the ſtate of the church vnderunder the tenne great perſecutions, raiſed vp againſt it by the perſecuting Emperours, Domitian, Traianus, Nero, Antoninus, Decius, Diocleſian, Maxentius, Licinius, and other cruell tyrants, euen vntill the times of Constantine the great.
Stories doo report, that theſe cruell perſecutors did in moſt ſauage and horrible manner, torture, torment, and ſhead the bloud of innumerable multitudes of Gods people. So that as the firſt eſtate of the Church, vnderunder the preaching of the Goſpell, was ioyfull and peaceable; ſo this ſecond eſtate of the Church, vnderunder ſuch outragious perſecutions, was troubleſome and tragicall: and yet for all that, in the middeſt of all theſe ſwordes, bloud and flames of perſecution, the Church did ſtill preuaile and encreaſe.Tertul. For the bloud of the Martyrs is the ſeede of the Goſpell. And the Church oftentimes beeing ſowne in the bloud, yet ſpringeth vp, and groweth in bloud. And as for the cruell and bloud-ſucking Emperours, which could not endure the light of the Goſpell, but ſtroue by tirannie to ſuppreſſe it, the iuſt God which taketh vengeance of all iniquitie, and ſpecially of the perſecution of his children, was euen with them well inough: for he gaue thē ouer, ſome to be ſlaine in the warres, ſome to be tortured with horrible diſeaſes, ſome to be poiſoned, ſome to bee murthered, and ſome to murther themſelues. Thus did God the auenger, ſhewe himſelfe from heauen, as the ſtories report, and pay home to the full theſe bloud-ſuckers of his Church, making them examples of his wrath, and ſpectacles of his vengeance to all nations.
verſ. 5 And when he had opened the third ſeale, I heard the third beaſt ſay; Come and ſee. Then I beheld, and loe a black horſe, and he that ſate on him, had ballance in his hand, &c.
By the blacke horſe, famine and dearth is ſignified: for the blacke colour, is a mournfull and ſad colour: and what maketh men more penſiue & ſad then famine and extreame hunger. For it is a thing vntollerable: and therefore the holy Ghoſt ſaith; They be better that are killed with the ſword, Lament. 4.9.then they that die of famine. He that ſitteth on this horſe hath a ballance in his hand, which ſignifieth great penury and ſcarſitie of all things, but ſpecially of victuall: in ſo much that men muſt be pittanced & ſtinted in their victualls, and their bread and drinke muſt be deliuered out by waight and meaſure, as it fareth in ſtraight & ſore ſieges of cities, when victualls waxe ſcarſe.Leuit. 26. Ezec. 4. & 5. This is it that God threatneth in Leuiticus and Ezechiel, that hee would breake the ſtaffe of bread, and that tenne women ſhould bake in one ouen, and deliuer bread by meaſure. Now to declare the greeuouſnes of this famine, a voice commeth from the throne, and from the Angels, verſ. 6 that a meaſure of wheate ſhould be for a penny, and three meaſures of barly for a penny: the meaſure here ſpoken of is a Chenix, which ſome writers ſay, was ſo much as would ſerue a man for bread corne for one day. And the Romane penny vnderunder Domitian, was almoſt ſeuen pence of our mony. And at that time the labouring man did worke for a penny a day, which would do little more then buy him bread corne. How then ſhould his wife and children do? Whereas it is ſaid: Wine and Oyle hurt thou not, I take it that it ſhould rather he tranſlated, In Wine and Oyle thou ſhalt not do vniuſtly: as the word will beare it. And the ſenſe is, that in the ſtate of corne and vittaile, they ſhall deale conſcionably and mercifully, not ſelling at the higheſt, but rather at the loweſt rate now in the times of extreame ſcarcitie.
Now, all this is to bee vnderſtood of that moſt grieuous famine which wee reade to hauehave bene about the yeare of the Lord, 316. and ſundrie times afterward. And all this for the contempt of the Goſpell preached by Chriſt and his Apoſtles vponupon the white horſe, and the murdering of Gods Saints by him vponupon the redde horſe, and his inſtruments. So grieuous and fearefull a thing is the contempt of the Goſpell, and the perſecuting of the Saints. And God did moſt iuſtly cauſe the worlde to ſmart for it, and make them with ſorrowe inough to feele the puniſhment of the Goſpell reiected.
And whē he had opened the fourth ſeale, verſ. 7 I heard the voice of the fourth beaſt ſay: Come and ſee.
And I looked, and beholde a pale horſe, verſ. 8 and his name that ſate on him, was Death, and hell followed after him, &c.
This pale horſe ſignifieth the peſtilence and other contagious diſeaſes, which God moſt iuſtly brought vponupon the world for the contempt of the Goſpel, and the murthering of Chriſte and his Apoſtles, and as I noted before out of the ſcriptures, that when God commeth either in mercy or iudgement, he is ſaid to come on horſebacke, to note his expedition, and ſwiftneſſe, both in the one and the other: ſo, as before Chriſt is vppon the white horſe, the diuell vponupon the red horſe, famine vponupon the black horſe: ſo here death and hell are ſaid to be vponupon the pale horſe: for peſtilence and death maketh men looke pale: but being dead, hee ſaith hell followed. For aſſuredly hell doth alwaies followe the death of the bodie, excepting thoſe onelyonly whom Chriſt hath deliuered from hell and damnation by the power of his death.
Thus then it is: the redde horſe with blood, the blacke horſe with famine, the pale horſe with peſtilence, hauehave power giuen them ouer the fourth part of men, to murther, kill and ſlea, as all ſtories doe ſhewe, that for the reiecting of Chriſt and his Goſpell, theſe plagues were carried as it were on horſebacke, ouer a great part of the worlde. Now as touching this famine and peſtilence which fell out vponupon the opening of the third and fourth ſeales, they are to bee referred vntounto thoſe times eſpecially, wherein the Hunnes, Gothes, and Vandales, and other barbarous nations which were the waſters of the world, did waſte & decaie the Romane Empire both farre and neare. Wherevppon grew this famine, ſcarſitie, and peſtilence, and ſtraunge diſeaſes heere ſpoken of, about ſome 300. yeares after Chriſt, and ſomewhat more.
And when hee had opened the fift ſeale, I ſawe vnderunder the Aultar the ſoules of them that were killed for the word of God, and for the testimonie which they maintained, &c.
Heere is diſcouered the ſtate of the Martyrs after this life, and the condition of the ſpirits of all iuſt and perfect men. For whereas it might bee demaunded, what became of all thoſe heapes and multitudes of men which were ſlaine for the teſtimonie of Ieſus in the tenne great perſecutions: it is here anſwered, that they were vnderunder the Aultar. Iohn in a Viſion ſeeth them vnderunder the Aultar. That is, vnderunder the mercifull protection of Chriſt in heauen, who for them and for vsus all, was made both Aultar, Prieſt, and Sacrifice. This Aultar Chriſt, is afterward called the golden Aultar, which is before the throne of God. chapter 8.3. So then it is cleare, that the ſoules of the Martyrs were with Chriſt in glory. For hee ſaith to his diſciples: Where I am, there ſhall you be alſo.Ioh. 14 3.
And in an other place he ſaith: If I were lift vp from the earth, I will drawe all men vntounto me, that is, Ioh. 12 32.all beleeuers. Then it followeth, that the ſoules of theſe iuſt and righteous men were in Paradiſe, and in Abrahams boſome, which is the very port and hauen of ſaluation. For although the perſecuting Emperours, and other tyrants of the earth, had power to kill theyr bodies, yet had they no power ouer theyr ſoules, as our Lorde Ieſus affirmeth.Math. 10.
verſ. 10 And they cryed with a loude voice, ſaying: How long Lord holy and true, doeſt thou not iudge and auenge our bloud on them that dwell vponupon the earth?
Here wee ſee plainely, that the ſoules of the Martyrs doo very vehemently crye for vengeance vponupon theſe cruell tyrants which ſhead their bloud. Moreouer, they crie for it ſpeedily, and ſeeme to be impatient of delay. But it is to be obſerued, that they doo not this in any hatred, or priuate deſire of reuenge, in reſpect of any wrong or crueltie ſhewed to them; but in a very louelove and burning zeale of the Kingdome and glory of Chriſt, and whatſoeuer deſire they hauehave, it is wholy to that ende. Wherefore they are here vnderunder a figure brought in crying for vengeance, rather to expreſſe what iudgement of God tarrieth for the cruell perſecutors, then to ſhewe what minde they beare towards them. For it is indeede their cauſe that cryeth for vengeance. And as Abels bloud: ſo theyr bloud cryeth aloude in the eares of the Lorde of Hoaſtes for reuenge.
Moreouer, wee may not imagine or gather out of this loude crying of the Martyrs in heauen, that they hauehave any diſturbance, impatience, diſquietneſſe, or any diſcontentment there. But this they do in a feruent deſire of that fulneſſe of glorie which they aſſuredly hope for and looke for in the conſummation of all things, when both their ſoules and bodies ſhall be ioyned together.
And long white robes were giuen vntounto eueryevery one; verſ. 11 and it was ſaid vntounto them, that they ſhould reſt for a little ſeaſon, vntil their fellow ſeruants & their brethren which ſhould be killed euen as they were, were fulfilled.
Theſe white robes do ſignifie that honour, glory, and dignitie, wherevnto not onelyonly the Martyrs, but alſo all other faithfull beleeuers are aduanced in the chambers of peace: for ſo white robes are to bee vnderſtood in ſundrie other places of this booke.Chap. 3.18. Chap. 7.13. Chap. 19.8. And this doth plainely proue, that the Martyrs were now in glory with Chriſt.
Now, as concerning the anſwere to their complaint and crie, it was this, that they ſhould be content, and hauehave patience for a little ſeaſon, (for the time remaining, to the ende of the worlde, was but as a day with God, and as a moment in compariſon of eternitie) and the reaſon of the delay is yeelded, which is this, that there were numbers of others, their bretheren in the worlde, which ſhould bee martyred and ſlaine for the truth, as well as they vnderunder the great Antichriſt of Rome, and the bloudie Turke, at and vponupon the opening of the ſixt and ſeuenth ſeale. And therefore in conſideration that the moſt wiſe God had decreed and fore-determined with himſelfe in his moſt ſecret and hid counſell, to bring multitudes of others to glory by the ſame way and meanes that they themſelues were brought, that therefore in the meane time beeing ſo ſhort a time, they ſhould reſt ſatisfied and contented. And hereby the way, we ſee what ſtaieth the comming of Chriſt vntounto iudgement; namely this, that the number of his Martyrs and Saints, and all ſuch as he hath choſen vntounto life, are not yet accompliſhed.
verſ. 12 And I behelde, when hee opened the ſixt ſeale, and loe there was a great earthquake, and the Sun was as black as ſackcloath of haire, and the Moone was like bloud.
verſ. 13 And the ſtarres of heauen fell vntounto the earth, as a figge-tree caſteth her green figges, when it is ſhaken of a mightie winde.
verſ. 14 And heauen departed away as a ſcrole when it is rolled, and eueryevery mountaine and Ile were moued out of their place.
VponUpon the opening of this ſixt ſeale, very dolefull and fearefull things which doo followe: As earthquakes, the darkening of the Sunne, the obſcuritie of the Moone, the falling of the Starres, the rolling together of the heauens, the remouing of mountaines & Iles out of their places, the howlings and horrors of kings and captaines, & other great potentates of the earth, which all are things very terrible and fearefull to beholde: and all theſe do repreſent and figure out vntounto vsus the moſt fearefull tokens of Gods high diſpleaſure and moſt heauie indignation againſt the wicked world. Very grieuous things fell out vpō the opening of the 2.3. & 4. ſeales: but they are farre more grieuous which followe vponupon the opening of this ſixt ſeale: for this ſixt ſeale containeth an aggrauation and encreaſe of all the former iudgements. For now after the crie of the Martyrs for vengeance, GOD the auenger of the bloude of the righteous doeth ſhewe himſelf from heauen, and declare his wrath in more fearefull manner then before, euen to the great aſtoniſhment of all the creatures in heauen and earth. So horrible a thing is the ſheading of the bloud of the Chriſtians. For now we ſee plainely, that God heareth the cries of his Martyrs, and commeth as a Giant, or as an armed man, to take vengeance of all their enemies. For Pretious in the ſight of the Lorde, Pſal. 116.15.is the death of his Saints: and hee is much mooued with the crie of their bloud, as here wee ſee. And therefore now threatneth to holde a generall Aſſiſes, wherein hee will make inquiſition after bloud, and arraigne and condemne all ſuch as are founde guiltie thereof: according as the perſecuting Emperours and many others, did finde and feele by wofull experience. For if God be angry but a little, who may endure it?
Now, although the Stories do report, that in thoſe dayes, which was aboue 300. yeares after Chriſt, there were many great and fearefull Earthquakes in diuers nations and cities of the world: yet it is apparant, that the Earth-quake here ſpoken of, cannot bee taken literally, nor any of the reſt here mentioned. For there was neuer any time, neither is it mentioned in any Chronicle, that euer the Sunne was as blacke as ſacke-cloth of haire; or the Moone turned into bloud; or the Starres fell from heauen; or the Heauens rolled together like a ſcrole; or that Mountaines and Ilandes were mooued out of their places. Therefore of neceſſitie all this muſt bee vnderſtood metaphorically; that is, that God did in ſo ſtraunge and fearefull a manner manifeſt his wrath from heauen by tumults, commotions, ſeditions, & alteratiōs of kingdomes, as if theſe things of the Sun, Moone, and Starres, had bene viſibly repreſented to the eye. An earth-quake in this booke, and other bookes alſo of the ſcriptures, doth by a borrowed ſpeech ſignifie commotions of commonwealth, troubles, tumults, vprores, and great alterations of ſtates & kingdoms. The darkning of the Sun, Moone, and Starres, & rolling together of the Heauens, do by a metaphor in the ſcriptures, ſignifie the fearefull wrath and angrie face of God; which they being not able to endure, are ſaid here to bluſh at, to couer themſelues, to hide themſelues, to be aſhamed of thēſelues, to remoue out of their places, no more to do their offices, &c. For as birds doo hide themſelues, and thruſt their heads into buſhes when the Eagle commeth abroade: And as all the beaſtes of the forreſt doo tremble and couch in their dennes when the Lyon roareth: And as that ſubiect doth hide himſelfe, and dare not ſhewe his head, with whom the King is diſpleaſed: So here it is ſaide, that the whole earth doth tremble, and all the celeſtiall creatures are amazed and confounded with beholding the angry face of God againſt the worlde, in ſo much that they do as it were, drawe a canopie ouer them, hide themſelues vnderunder a cloude, and ſurceaſe to do their offices.
The darkning of the Sunne and Moone is taken in this ſenſe in the ſecond of Ioel, and alſo in the ſecond chapter of the Acts of the Apoſtles. For there God promiſing and foretelling, that in the laſt dayes he would abundantly powre forth of his ſpirit vponupon all fleſh (which is to be vnderſtood of the plentifull preaching of the Goſpell in the Apoſtles time, and the aboundance of grace that was giuen with the ſame) addeth, that for the contempt of ſo great grace and merciemercy, he would ſhewe wonders in heauen aboue, and tokens in the earth beneath. Bloud and fire, and the vapour of ſmoake; the Sunne ſhall bee turned into darkeneſſe, and the Moone into bloud, before that great and notable day of the Lord come. The meaning of the Prophet is,Act. …. as Peter alſo dooth expound it, that God from heauen will ſhewe ſuch apparant ſignes of his wrath againſt the worlde, that men ſhould bee no leſſe amazed, then if the whole order of nature were inuerted. And this was performed, when as the Iewes for the contempt of Chriſte and his Goſpell, were moſt miſerably deſtroied by the Romanes.
Euen ſo here, vnderunder the opening of the ſixt ſeale, God dooth threaten, that for the murdering of his ſonne Chriſt, and his Apoſtles, and innumerable Chriſtians, hee would bring ſtraunge iudgements and extraordinarie calamities vponupon the worlde, according as all ſtories do ſhewe, that thoſe times were full of bloud-ſheads, commotions, famines, peſtilence, and miſeries of all ſortes. I am not ignorant, that the darkening of the Sunne and Moone, and the falling of the Starres from heauen, are ſometimes in this booke put for the obſcuritie and corruption of pure doctrine, and the falling away of the Paſtors of the Church from their ſinceritie and zeale. But in this place the circumſtances will not beare that ſenſe: Firſt, becauſe heere the darkening duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page duplicate page of the Sunne and Moone, &c. is ioyned with an Earth-quake, the rolling together of the Heauens, and the mouing of Mountaines and Ilands out of their places, which argueth a moſt horrible confuſion and concuſſion of all things. Secondly, becauſe afterward in the eight chapter, hee doth of purpoſe ſpeake of the corrupting of pure doctrine, & the falling away of the Miniſters, referring it to that chapter, as his proper place. Thirdly, becauſe the kings and captaines of the earth here immediatly mentioned, would neuer hauehave bene caſt into any ſuch perplexities and horrours vponupon any corruption of doctrine and the miniſtrie, as here we reade of. For commōly men are not any whit touched or moued with that, or ſuch like things. Laſt of all, becauſe the ſcope and drift of the holy Ghoſt, vnderunder the opening of this ſixt ſeale, is to deſcribe corporall, not ſpirituall; viſible, not inuiſible iudgements. For he doth orderly and of purpoſe; handle them in the next chapter.
Now, whereas it is ſaid in the laſt three verſes, that the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, verſ. 15 and the chiefe Captaines, and the mightiemen, and eueryevery bond-man, and eueryevery free-man, hidde themſelues in dennes, verſ. 16 and amongst the rockes of the mountaines, and ſaid to the rockes and mountaines, verſ. 17 fall on vsus, &c. the ſenſe and meaning of all is this, that theſe viſible iudgements ſhould bee ſo horrible and extraordinarie, that all ſorts of men then liuing vponupon the face of the earth, ſhould euen wiſh themſelues buried quicke, or that they might runne into a mouſe-hole or awger-hole, to hide themſelues from the wrath of the Lambe. For being both outwardly terrified with theſe ſenſible iudgements, and inwardly griped and tormented with the furie of their owne conſciences, they were at no hande able to endure it.