The Ruin of Rome, Commentary on Revelation · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII.
WE hauehave heard out of the ſeuenth Chapter how the diuels and their inſtruments, the Romaine Emperors, did ſtop the courſe of the Goſpel. Now in this chapter we are to heare the woeful effects of the ſtopping thereof, which was the ſpringing vp, & preuailing of manifolde errors & hereſies in the worlde. So that the principall ſcope and drift of this chapter, is to ſhewe, that God for the contempt of his Goſpel, and great indignities offered to the true profeſſors thereof did giuegive vp the worlde to blindneſſe, to errour, to ſuperſtition and hereſie: and as the Apoſtle ſaith;2. Theſſ. 2. Becauſe they receiued not the louelove of the truth, therefore God ſent them ſtrong deluſions, that they ſhould beleeue lies. For, as before we hauehave heard how the worlde was moſt fearefully puniſhed with externall plagues and iudgements: So here we are to vnderſtand how the ſame was puniſhed with iudgements ſpirituall and internall, as formerly hath bene ſaid, vponupon the ſtopping of the foure windes. For although that ſpirituall plague was very great, yet theſe ſpirituall plagues which follow vponupon the opening of the ſeuenth ſeale, are farre greater. For now we are to heare and vnderſtand, not onelyonly of the errours and hereſies, whereby a way and paſſage was made by degrees, as it were by certaine ſtaires, for Antichriſt to climbe vp into his curſed chaire, and to take poſſeſſion thereof: but alſo wee are to vnderſtand of his very tyrannie and kingdome it ſelfe: and alſo of the kingdome of the Turke, and the laſt iudgement. For the things contained vnderunder the opening of the ſeuenth ſeale, do reach vntounto the ende of the worlde. For the booke ſealed with ſeuen ſeales containeth all the whole matters which were to bee reuealed.
This chapter containeth foure principall things, as it were the foure parts thereof.
Firſt, the reuerent attention and ſilence, verſ. 1 with admiration which was in the Church, at and vponupon the comming forth of this moſt horrible vengeance.
Secondly, before the execution of theſe moſt execrable plagues, verſ. 2.3.4.5. the Church is remembred and ſet in ſafetie with all her children, by her great mediator Chriſt Ieſus.
Thirdly, the execution of this vengeance, verſ. 6 which commeth forth at the blowing of the ſeuen trumpets by ſeuen Angels.
Fourthly, the vengeance it ſelfe contained in the preuailing of errour and hereſie: verſ. 7.8.9.10.11.12.13. the falling away of the Paſtors of the Church, and the vniuerſall darkeneſſe that followed therevpon.
And when hee had opened the 7. ſeale, there was ſilence in heauen about halfe an houre.
By heauen in this place he meaneth not the kingdome of glory after this life: but by heauen is meant the Church here vponupon earth: as it is ſo taken, chap. 12. verſe 1. and chap. 14. verſe 2. There may bee three reaſons yeelded, why the church is called heauen.
Firſt, becauſe the birth thereof is from heauen; for it is borne of God.1. Iohn. 51.
Col. 1.12.Secondly, becauſe the inheritance therof is from heauen, and therefore is called the inheritance of the Saints.
Phil. 3.20.Thirdly, becauſe the conuerſation therof is in heauen, as the Apoſtle ſaith.
To this may be added, that our Lorde Ieſus in his Goſpell dooth ſo often call his viſible Church the Kingdome of heauen by a trope,Math. 13. becauſe Chriſt beginneth his raigne in the faithfull therein, whom afterward he tranſlateth actually into the very kingdome of glory.
By ſilence here is meant the great attention of the church, becauſe great things were now in hand. For now vponupon the opening of the 7. ſeale, farre greater matters are threatned then any before: and therfore the Church doth liſten vntounto them in deepe ſilence, & as it were in horror and trembling through admiration: for now there appeare ſuch dreadfull iudgements of God to be executed vponupon the earth, that all the heauenly company are aſtoniſhed, and amazed to behold it, and do as it were quake and tremble to thinke vponupon it. For as when heauie newes commeth downe from the Prince, to bee proclaimed in open markets, all good ſubiects doe liſten and giuegive eare with ſilence and trembling: ſo it fareth in this caſe.
By halfe an houre, hee meaneth that ſhort time, wherein the minds of the godly were prepared, fitted and diſpoſed, wiſely to conſider of theſe matters, and to make good vſe of them. I know right well, that this Verſe is farre otherwiſe interpreted of ſome: but I take this to bee moſt ſound, and ſimple, and beſt agreeing to all that followeth: for the next Verſe is ioyned vntounto this by a coniunction copulatiue, to note a coherence of the matter, and to draw the ſenſe together: for he ſaith. And I ſaw 7. verſ. 2 Angels, which ſtood before God, and to them were giuen ſeuen Trumpets.
Theſe ſeuen Trumpets ſignifie, that God would proceede againſt the worlde in fearefull hoſtilitie, and come againſt it as an open enemie vntounto battell, proclaiming open warre againſt it, as it were with ſound of Trumpet and Dromme, ſetting vp the flag of defiance againſt it. And hereupon groweth this ſilence and trembling in the Church, which onelyonly is mooued with the ſignes of Gods wrath,Chap. 1.…. when as all others ſit ſtill in ſecuritie, as the Prophet Zachary ſaith in a like caſe.
To ſtand in this place, ſignifieth to adminiſter, as it is ſaid of the Prieſts & Leuites, that they ſtand before God,Heb. 1.1…. and before the Aultar, that is, Miniſter. So here the Angels doo ſtand before God, as readie to adminiſter and execute theſe iudgements. For they are miniſtring ſpirits, and here they do ſound the alarum at the commandement of God.
Theſe Angels are propounded as 7. in number, becauſe it pleaſed not God at once to powre downe his wrath vponupon the rebellious worlde, but at diuers times, and by peecemeale.
2. Sam. 24.16. 2. Kin. 19.35.Whether theſe were good or bad Angels, it is not material to diſpute, ſeeing God executeth his iudgements both by the one and the other.
Moreouer, it is ſpecially to be obſerued, that the blowing of theſe ſeuen trumpets, doo all belong to the opening of the ſeuenth ſeale, and are as it were the ſeuen parts thereof: for the things which fall out vponupon the blowing of theſe ſeuen trumpets, do reach euen vntounto the laſt iudgement, as the Angell ſweareth, chap. 10.6.7.
verſ. 3 Then an other Angel came, & ſtood before the Aultar, hauing a golden Cenſor, & much odours was giuen vntounto him, that hee ſhould offer with the praiers of all Saints vponupon the golden Aultar, which is before the throne.
We heard before, that whē the courſe of the Goſpell was ſtopt by the diuell and his inſtruments, yet God was very carefull for the ſafetie and ſealing vp of his owne ſeruāts: ſo likewiſe we are now to heare of the like care and prouidence. For now, that errors and hereſies were to be ſowne in the world, whereby many were corrupted: and that he himſelfe from heauen dooth proclaime open enmitie againſt the deſpiſers of his Goſpell, by giuing them vp to blindneſſe and error: hee doth double his care and prouidence to all his faithfull worſhippers. For here wee do plainely ſee, that the Church hath a mediator, and that he which keepeth Iſrael, neither ſlumbreth nor ſleepeth. And therfore when the wrath of God doth moſt of all breake forth vponupon the world for the contempt of his graces, yet the Church is remembred, and ſet in ſafetie, with all her children. For her praiers come vp before God, and are accepted through the ſame mediator. And this is the ſenſe and drift of this third verſe.
By this Angell is meant Ieſus Chriſt, the Angell of the couenant, as we hauehave heard before: who is not an Angell by nature, but by office.
It is manifeſt, that in the olde lawe there was a golden Aultar, and a golden Cenſor, in which the Prieſt did burne ſweete incenſe before the Lorde, which did figure the mediation of Chriſte, in whome the prayers of the Saintes are accepted.
Now heere the holy Ghoſt alludeth to that ſacrificing Prieſt-hood of the olde Teſtament, where incenſe was offered at the Aultar, which now is the ſweet ſauour of the death of Chriſt, through whom both we and all our ſacrifices are ſeaſoned & ſweetned.
Who therefore is this Angell but Chriſt? Who is the golden Aultar but Chriſt? What are the ſweete odours with the which the prayers of all Saintes come before God, but the moſt ſweet mediation of the Lord Ieſus? What is meant by the ſmoake of the odours, which with the praiers of the Saints, went vp before God out of the Angels hand? Surely the ſweete incenſe of Chriſts mediation, wherwith our praiers are ſpiced and perfumed, that they might be as ſweete ſmelling ſacrifices in the noſthrils of God. For, as water caſt into a fire, raiſeth a ſmoake: ſo the teares of the faithfull, beſprinkeled in their praiers, make them as ſweete incenſe, acceptable to God through Chriſt. The ſumme of all is this, that in the midſt of all theſe hereſies, and thoſe helliſh troubles which ſhould be raiſed vp by the Pope & his Cleargie, the Turke and his armies, as in the next chapter wee ſhall ſee, the elect hauehave their praiers heard for their preſeruation by the merits of Chriſt.
verſ. 5 And the Angell tooke the Cenſor, and filled it with the fire of the Aultar, and caſt it into the earth, and there were voices, & thundrings, & lightnings, & earthquakes.
Here we ſee how Ieſus Chriſt taketh the Cenſor and filleth it with the fire of the Aultar; that is, the graces and gifts of the ſpirit: for ſo the fire of the Aultar is taken in Eſay.Eſay. 6.6.
Math. 3 11.In this ſenſe it is ſaid, that our Lord Ieſus ſhould baptiſe with fire and the holy Ghoſt; that is, the gifts and graces of the holy Ghoſt. In this ſenſe alſo the holy Ghoſt did reſt vponupon the Diſciples, in the likeneſſe of clouen tongues like fire,Act. 2.3. wherevpon they were all filled with gifts and graces.
The holy Ghoſt is compared to fire, becauſe hee burneth out our droſſe, purgeth the hearts of the faithfull, and ſetteth them on fire with the burning louelove and zeale of Gods glorie. So then it followeth, that as before there was prouiſion had for the ſafetie of the Church, by her Mediator: ſo here many heauenly giftes and graces are beſtowed vponupon her. For Chriſte caſteth this fire of the Aultar vponupon the earth; that is, vponupon his elect dwelling in the earth.
Herevpon it is ſaide, that there were voices and thundrings, &c. that is, all manner of broiles, tumults, vprores, ſlaughters, and diuiſions. For after the Goſpell was ſounded forth in the Church by the power of the holy Ghoſt, the diuell is diſturbed, and the worlde moleſted. And hence ſpring all theſe broiles and tumults, thundring and lightning: and wee muſt looke for ſuch ſtirres after the preaching of the Goſpell, whileſt there is a worlde and a diuell.
Therefore our Lord Ieſus ſaith, hee came not to bring peace into the earth, but fire and ſworde, and to ſette a man at variance againſt his father, Math. 10.34.and likewiſe the daughter againſt her mother, &c. for diuiſions and ciuill diſſentions doo alwaies followe the preaching of the Goſpell; which thing yet is not ſimply in the nature of the Goſpell, which is a Goſpell of peace, but accidentally through the frowardneſſe and corruption of mans nature, which will not yeelde vntounto it, but moſt ſtubbornely rebelleth againſt it.
verſ. 6 Then the ſeuen Angels which had the ſeuen Trompets, prepared themſelues to blowe.
Now beginneth this open warre to be proclaimed againſt the world, for their great vngodlineſſe and rebellion againſt the truth.
verſ. 7 So the first Angell blew the Trompet, and there was haile and fire mingled with blood, and they were caſt into the earth, and the third part of trees was burnt, and all greene graſſe was burnt.
It were abſurd to imagine that any thing in this Verſe is to bee taken literally: ſeeing in the literall ſenſe there was neuer any ſuch matter. Therefore of neceſſitie it muſt be expounded myſtically, and allegorically: therefore by this haile and fire mingled with blood, is meant errours and hereſies. For as haile doth beate downe corne, and deſtroy the fruits of the earth, fire doth conſume, and blood doth corrupt and putrifie: So falſe doctrine and hereſie doth annoy, conſume, and corrupt the ſoules of men. For it is ſaide, that all theſe being mingled together were caſt vponupon the earth: that is, the inhabitants of the earth,Math. 7. and the third part of the trees, that is,Pſal. 1. numbers of men, or a verie great part of the worlde was corrupted. For trees in the ſcripture, ſignifie men,Eſay 40. and all greene graſſe was burnt: that is, the freſh fruites of grace did wither apace and drie vp: for as error and hereſie did preuaile, ſo truth and godlineſſe did decaie. All this hath relation to the hereſies of Sabellius, Manicheus, Marcion, Fotinus, Paulus Samoſatenus, Nestorius, Nouatus, Diodorus, Appollinaris, Pelagius, and many others, which about this time, which was foure hundred yeares after Chriſt, beganne to ſpring vp and grow apace.
And the ſeconde Angell blew the Trumpet, verſ. 8 and as it were a great mountaine burning with fire was caſt into the ſea, and the third part of the ſea became blood, &c.
Vppon the blowing of the ſeconde Trompet by the ſeconde Angell, heere appeareth a great mountaine burning with fire. Whereby is meant ſome great and notable hereſies, as that of Arrius, which troubled and waſted the Church, for the ſpace of three hundred yeares, being greatly fauoured of ſundrie Emperours, and other great Potentates in the earth; by meanes whereof, it continued and ouerſpread ſo long. Alſo this may be referred to other great and notable Arch▪hereſies: as that of Donatus, Macedonius, Eutiches, Valentinus, and ſuch like: which all are heere compared to a mountaine for their hugeneſſe and greatneſſe, and to a burning mountaine, becauſe the Church was almoſt burnt vp thereby.Luke 3.5. For this word Mountaine, is ſometimes in the ſcripture put for any let or hinderance to true Religion, as is error and hereſie. Zach. 4.7. Luk. 3.5.
Therefore it is ſaide, that it was caſt into the ſea, that is, theſe great hereſies were caſt vppon the worlde in Gods wrath and heauie indignation: for the ſea is put for the worlde: Chapter 4. Verſe 6. Chapter 13. Verſe 1. Chapter 21. Verſe 1. for as the ſea is full of rocke ſands, ſyrts, waues, ſtormes and tempeſts: ſo it fareth with this preſent euill world.
Moreouer it is ſaide, that the third part of the ſea became blood: that is, all Europe, or ſome great part of the worlde was corrupted and infected with theſe great hereſies. verſ. 9 And hee ſaith in the next verſe, that the third part of the ſhippes were deſtroyed: that is, a great number of Marriners and ſhip-maiſters, as well as land men were infected with theſe hereſies, and died of them, and in them.
verſ. 10 Then the third Angell blew the Trompet, and there fell a great ſtarre from heauen, burning like a torch, and it fell into the third part of the riuers, and into the fountaines of waters.
Starres in this booke are put for the Miniſters of the Goſpel, as we hauehave heard out of the firſt Chapter, and the reaſon why. Then it followeth that the falling of this ſtarre from heauen, doth moſt fitly ſignifie and ſet foorth the declining and fall of the Paſtors of the Church, and their corrupting of the true doctrine: which is meant by the freſh riuers, and pure fountaines into which it fell. This ſtarre hath his name of the effect: verſ. 11 for it is called Wormewood; becauſe through the fall of it, the ſweete waters into which it fell, were turned into bitterneſſe, and men died of them: that is, the pure doctrine was corrupted, which turned to the deſtruction of many.
And the fourth Angell blewe the Trumpet, verſ. 12 and the third part of the Sunne was ſmitten, and the third part of the Moone, and the third part of the ſtarres, ſo that the third part of them was darkned, &c.
This darkning of the Sunne, Moone, and ſtarres, doth ſignifie that great darknes which was brought vppon the Church by ſuch teachers as did daily more and more degenerate.
Three things are generally to be obſerued in the blowing of theſe firſt foure trumpets.
Firſt, that the plagues here mentioned, are ſpecially to be vnderſtood of ſpirituall plagues.
Secondly, that there is a progreſſion from leſſer to greater in theſe plagues.
Thirdly, that in eueryevery one there is mentioned but a third part deſtroyed; which plainly ſheweth, that although the Church was greatly annoyed and peſtred with theſe errors and hereſies, yet it was not deſtroyed and brought to vtter deſolation: for the full ſetting vp of Antichriſt was not yet come. All theſe errors and hereſies which were thus caſt vponupon the world, and did ſpring and grow apace in all places, did (as it were) make way for Antichriſt, and (as it were ſtirrops) hoiſt and helpe him vp into his curſed chaire.
By the ſtories of the Church, and courſe of times, it ſeemeth that the holy Ghoſt pointeth at thoſe manifolde hereſies which ſprung vp in the Church after the firſt three hundred yeares, eſpecially after the death of Constantine the great, who procured peace to the Church, deſtroied Idolatrie, and ſet vp true religion in his daies.
Now, after his raigne, and the raigne of Theodoſius that good Emperour, Constantius, Iulianus, Arcadius, Honorius, and many other wicked Emperours ſucceeded; by whoſe meanes all thinges in the Church grew worſe and worſe: yet this one thing is to bee obſerued, that all truth of religion was not vtterly extinct and put out, till the full looſing of Sathan, which was a thouſand yeares after Chriſt, as wee ſhall plainely ſee when wee come to the 20. chapter, concerning the binding of Sathan for a thouſand yeares. For ſure it is, that the maine principles and groundes of Religion, continued in the Church till this full looſing of Sathan; which was about the time of Pope Siluester the ſeconde, that monſter, as afterwarde wee ſhall heare.
But now in the meane time, wee ſee what hereſies ſprung vp, what corruption grew and encreaſed more and more, what darkneſſe began to ouerſpread a third part of the world: & theſe things grew worſe and worſe, euen vntill by theſe meanes the great Antichriſt came to bee poſſeſſed of his curſed ſeate and Sea of Rome, which was about ſome 600. yeares after Chriſt.
And I behelde, and heard one Angell flying in the middeſt of heauen, ſaying with a loud voice: Woe, woe, verſ. 13 woe to the inhabitants of the earth, becauſe of the ſounds to come of the three Angels which were yet to blowe the trumpets.
Becauſe the iudgements which were to be executed hereafter, vponupon the blowing of the next three trumpets, were farre more dreadfull and horrible then any that went before: therefore here is a ſpeciall Angell or meſſenger of God, ſent of purpoſe to giuegive warning thereof, and to proclaime openly in the Church, three fearfull woes, which ſhould come vponupon the inhabitants of the earth; that is, all earthly minded men, as worldlings, Papiſts, and Atheiſts, at ſuch time as the next three Angels ſhould blowe the trumpets.
The firſt of theſe three great woes, is to bee vnderſtood of the Papacie. The ſecond of Turciſme. The third of the laſt iudgement. As if hee ſhould hauehave ſaid: Woe vntounto the worlde, becauſe of Poperie. Woe vntounto the worlde becauſe of Turciſme. Woe vntounto the world becauſe of the laſt iudgement. Woe vntounto the worlde for Poperie, becauſe thereby men ſhould be puniſhed in their ſoules. Woe vntounto the world for Turciſme, becauſe thereby thouſands ſhould bee murdered in their bodies by the Turkiſh armies. Woe vntounto the world, becauſe of the laſt iudgement, for thereby all worldlings ſhall bee plagued both in body and ſoule in hell fire, for euermore.
Sith then theſe three laſt plagues which were to come vponupon the worlde, are more fearefull and terrible then any of the other foure, no maruell though here is ſent of purpoſe a ſpeciall meſſenger to giuegive intelligence thereof, that eueryevery man might looke to himſelfe, ſeeing ſuch great dangers were at hand. And for this cauſe alſo it is ſaide before, that there was ſilence in the Church for the ſpace of halfe an houre.