The Ruin of Rome, Commentary on Revelation · Chapter 1
CHAP. I.
The ſumme of the firſt Chapter.
THe firſt Chapter containeth foure principall things.
The Title of the booke.
The ſalutation of the Churches.
The maner of Iohns calling to receiue this Propheſie.
The deſcription of Chriſt, the perſon that calleth him.
The Title of the booke is ſet downe in theſe words: The Reuelation of Ieſus Christ which God gaue him.
verſ. 1 It containeth three things: Firſt the Author of the booke, which is Ieſus Chriſt, receiuing it from God the Father.
verſ. 1.2. Secondly, the end and vſe of this booke, which is, to ſhewe vntounto all the ſeruants of God the things which muſt ſhortly be done.
verſ. 3 Thirdly, the ſingular fruite and benefite which the Church ſhall receiue by it, in theſe words: Bleſſed is he that readeth, and they that heare the words of this Propheſie, &c.
verſ. 4 The ſalutation is in theſe words: Iohn to the ſeuen Churches which are in Aſia, Grace bee with you, & peace, &c. It containeth a deſcription of the Trinitie, or three perſons in the God-head. The Father is deſcribed of his eternitie, namely, to be he which is, which was, and which is to come.
verſ. 4 The holy Ghoſt is deſcribed of his diuerſe gifts and operations, and therefore is called the ſeuen ſpirits which are before the Throne, or which proceed from the Throne: but S. Iohn ſpeaketh here of the holy Ghoſt, according to the viſion ſhewed him in the fift chapter, where Chriſt is ſaid to hauehave ſeuen eyes, which are the ſeuen ſpirits of God, ſent into all the the world. Of the which afterward.
verſ. 5 6. Ieſus Chriſt is deſcribed of his three great offices, of King, Prieſt, and Prophet, and alſo of his glorious power and eternitie. verſ. 7.8.
Firſt, touching his kingly office, hee is called the Prince of the Kings of the earth, that is, verſ. 5 King of Kings, for he is King of Sion. He is a King to rule and gouerne his Church. Hee muſt raigne ouer the houſe of Iudah for euer. Hee muſt raigne ouer all his enemies, and in the middeſt of all his enemies, euen till he hauehave trode them all vnderunder his feete. And this benefite we hauehave by it, that we are made Kings in him, in this life to raigne ouer our corrupt affections, and after this life to raigne as crowned kings foreuer with him, in infinite glorie, and endleſſe felicitie.
Secondly, touching his Prieſt-hood, verſ. 5 hee is ſaid to louelove vsus, and waſh vsus from our ſinnes in his bloud. For hee is our onelyonly high Prieſt, which by his owne bloud hath once entred into the holy place, and obtained eternall redemption for vsus. Hee onelyonly it is,Heb. 9.12. which through the eternall Spirit, offered himſelfe without fault to God,Heb. 9.14. to purge our conſciences from dead workes to ſerue the liuing God. So then by vertue of his Prieſt-hood and ſacrifice, wee are reconciled vntounto God, hauehave free acceſſe vntounto the throne of grace, and are made Prieſts in him to offer vp ſpiritual ſacrifices acceptable to God through him. verſ. 6 For hee hath made vsus Kings and Prieſts vntounto God, euen his Father.
Thirdly, concerning his Propheticall office, hee is called that faithfull witneſſe. For hee ſaid to Pilate: verſ. 5 Iohn. 18 37.For this cauſe was I borne, and for this cauſe came I into the world, that I might beare witneſſe vntounto the truth. 1. Tim. 6.13.And the Apoſtle ſaith: Hee witneſſed vnderunder Pontius Pilate a good confeſsion. So then Ieſus Chriſt is one of thoſe three great witneſſes which beare record in heauen. 1. Iohn. 5.Ieſus Chriſt is the Prince of Prophets, euen that great Prophet that ſhould come into the world, through whom all the counſels of God are reuealed vntounto vsus: he is that only begotten ſon which is come downe from the boſome of his Father, and hath made knowne vntounto vsus whatſoeuer he hath receiued of his Father. Hee both by his doctrine, life, and miracles, hath borne witneſſe vntounto the truth, and by the vertue of his Propheticall office, the whole will of God is made knowne vntounto vsus. For God hath ſent him as the great Prophet to inſtruct the world in righteouſneſſe, and hath reuealed himſelfe to vsus in him:Coll 1.1…. Heb. 1.3. and therefore hee is called the Image of the inuiſible God, the brightneſſe of his glorie, and the ingrauen forme of his perſon. And therefore hee ſaid to Philip: Hee that hath ſeene mee, hath ſeene my Father alſo. Iohn. 14.7.And if you had knowne mee, you ſhould hauehave knowne my Father alſo.
And againe: No man knoweth the Father, Math. 15.27.but the Sonne, and hee to whom the Sonne will reueale him. Thus then wee ſee that Ieſus Chriſt is that faithfull witneſſe, and Prince of Prophets, in whom the will of God, and all the counſels of his Father are reuealed vntounto vsus.
The manner of Iohns calling to receiue this Propheſie, is ſet downe in theſe wordes: verſ. 9 I Iohn euen your brother and companion in tribulation and in the kingdome and patience of Ieſus Christ, was in the Ile of Pathmos for the word of God, and for the witneſsing of Ieſus Christ: verſ. 10 And I was rauiſhed in the ſpirit on the Lords day, and heard behinde mee a great voice, as it had bene of a trumpet, ſaying: I am Alpha and Omega, verſ. 11 that first and that last, and that which thou ſeest, write in a booke, and ſend it vntounto the ſeuen Churches which are in Aſia, &c.
Now out of theſe three verſes fiue things are to be obſerued.
Firſt, that Iohn is commaunded by the voice of Chriſt, which he heard behinde him as loude as a Trumpet, to write and record the viſions which he ſawe, and being ſo written and recorded, to commend them to all the Churches, for the common benefite and vſe thereof. So that herein Iohn doth nothing of himſelfe, nothing of his owne braine, but all things by ſpecial warrant and authoritie from Ieſus Chriſt, that Alpha and Omega, which doth call him and authorize him to this great buſineſſe which now he is ſet about.
Secondly, Iohns rauiſhment in ſpirit, to the ende he might be made more capable of all theſe heauenly viſions which were ſhewed vntounto him.
Thirdly, his great humiliation, whereby alſo hee was fitted to receiue and vnderſtand theſe great myſteries.Pſal. 25. For God will guide the meeke in iudgement, and teach the humble his wayes; yea, his ſecrets are with them that feare him. Therefore although Iohn was a great Apoſtle, and had ſeene wonderfull viſions, yet hee is not thereby puft vp with pride and conceit of himſelfe, but in the greateſt humiliation of his ſoule, calleth himſelfe a brother and companion of all the faithfull, verſ. 9 but ſpecially of ſuch as patiently ſuffer for Ieſus Chriſt and his kingdome.
Fourthly, the time when Iohn was called, which was the Lords day.
Fiftly, and laſtly, the place where he was called, which was the Ile of Pathmos, as formerly hath bene ſhewed.
The deſcription of Chriſt, the perſon that calleth Iohn to this new office, is ſet downe in the next fiue verſes following, wherein the excellent glorie of Chriſtes perſon is deſcribed. verſ. 13 Firſt, from the place where Chriſt did appeare vntounto him. Secondly, from the ſeuerall parts and members of his royall perſon. verſ. 14.15.
verſ. 16 Thirdly, from his prouident care ouer his true miniſters, and all his faithfull people.
Touching the place where Chriſte in a viſion did appeare to Iohn, hee ſaith it was in the middeſt of the ſeuen golden Candlestickes. For ſaith hee, I turned backe to ſee the voyce that ſpake with mee, and when I was turned, I ſawe ſeuen golden Candlestickes, and in the middest of the ſeuen Candleſtickes one like the ſonne of man, &c. The 7. verſ. 12 verſ. 13 golden Candleſticks are interpreted by Chriſt himſelfe, in the laſt verſe of this Chapter, to be the ſeuen Churches. The Churches are ſaide to be of golde, becauſe Chriſt delighteth in them as much as we do in golde; he valueth eueryevery true member thereof as we do golde:Pſal. 45.13. Cant. 4.1. Can. 1.9.10. Can. 6.9. for eueryevery beleeuer is all glorious within: eueryevery true Chriſtian is faire and beautifull: eueryevery regenerate man is all as golde, euen as moſt pure golde.
It is ſaid afterward, that Chriſt walketh in the midſt of theſe ſeuen golden Candleſtickes: that is, he is alwaies preſent with his Church, to feed it, gouerne it, defend it, & comfort it. The Prophet ſaith that Chriſt hath ſeuē eies which goe through the whole world:Zach. 4.10. Zach. 3 9. whereby is ſignified his watchfull prouidence for his Church: for hee is alwaies looking out for the good of it, to defend and protect it againſt all aduerſary power whatſoeuer. Which thing was figured in the Rammes skinnes, & Badgers skinnes, wherewithall the Arke was couered,Exod. 2.6. to defend it againſt all violence of winde and weather. Euen ſo the mercifull protection of Chriſt, is as it were the continuall couering of his Church.
As touching the parts and members of his royall perſon, hee is deſcribed of his head and haire, verſ. 13.14.15. of his face, of his eyes, of his voice, of his feete, of his garments, and of his girdle.
As concerning his head and haire, they are ſaid to be as white as wooll, and as ſnowe, verſ. 14 which ſignifie his great wiſedom & knowledge, to performe all things in his Church, for wiſedome and knowledge for the moſt part do accompany white heads, and gray haires.
His face ſhineth as the Sunne in his ſtrength. Which ſignifieth that Chriſt is the ſame to his Church, that the Sunne is to the world. For as the Sunne lighteneth the whole worlde with his brightneſſe; So Chriſt with the brightneſſe of his face lighteneth his whole Church.
His eyes are like a flame of fire, that is, exceeding bright, and piercing into all places, yea the very harts of men: for nothing is hid frō his ſight, with whom we hauehave to do. He hath Egles eyes to foreſee all dangers intended and plotted againſt his Church, that he may in due time preuent them.
His voice is compared to the ſounde of many waters, becauſe it ſhould ſounde throughout all the world by the preaching of the Goſpell. Waters is expounded Chapter 17. verſe 15. of multitudes, nations, and tongues. Chriſts voice therefore is like many waters, becauſe his voice ſhould goe through many countries, and kingdomes.
His feete are compared to fine braſſe: to ſignifie both the perfectiō of all his waies, and alſo his mightie power to treade downe all his enemies.
He is cloathed with a garment downe to the ground, to ſignifie that he walketh as King and Prieſt in the midſt of the ſeuen golden candleſtickes. For Kings and Prieſts in olde time did weare long garments, ſpecially in the execution of their offices.
He is girded about the pappes with a golden girdle: for as Kings and Prieſts did gird their garments cloſe vntounto them, leaſt otherwiſe they might be hindred in the execution of their offices. So Chriſt girdeth himſelfe cloſe to his buſineſſe: for he is no idle beholder of the ſtate of his church: but one that continually worketh out the good thereof.
Concerning his prouident care ouer his faithfull Miniſters, he is ſaid to carry them in his right hand: for hee had in his right hand ſeuen ſtarres: that is, verſ. 16 verſ. 20 the Miniſters of the churches. As Chriſt ſaith; the ſeuen ſtarres are the Angels; that is, the Miniſters of the ſeuen churches. Miniſters are compared to ſtarres, becauſe they ſhould ſhine as bright ſtarres in this darke world, both by life and doctrine.
Chriſt is ſaid to hold them in his right hand, becauſe he alwaies defendeth them againſt the malice & fury of the world, which of all others is moſt outragiouſly bent againſt them, and their fauorites. But let men take heed of ouer bold preſuming to pul the ſtarres out of Chriſts right hand, leaſt they ſmart for it. The world is very buſie this way, they thinke to wring them out of his hands; but alas poore ſoules they are not able, he holdeth them too faſt, who can pull them out of his right hand? If they continue bold and buſie this way, they may hap at laſt take a beare by the tooth, and peraduenture pull an olde houſe vpō their heads. An other reaſon why Chriſt is ſaid to holde the 7. ſtarres in his right hand is, becauſe he worketh by them, and their miniſtrie, as an Artificer with his toole in his right hande. The things which Chriſt hath done by theſe inſtrumēts are glorious and admirable. For by the miniſtery of the Goſpell he hath cōuerted many ſinners, & ſaued many ſoules, then the which nothing can be more honorable & wonderfull: and therfore the word of God which is the Miniſters weapō, is compared to a ſharpe two edged ſword, verſ. 16 which came out of Chriſts mouth.
Now vntounto all this may be added that Chriſt ſaith; he was dead, but now aliue, becauſe hee died, and roſe againe. And alſo that he ſaith; Hee had the keyes of hell and death: that is, authoritie and power ouer hell and damnation. For he hath abſolute power to open and ſhut, binde and looſe; and therefore it is written, chapter 3.7. He hath the key of Dauid, which openeth, and no man ſhutteth; and ſhutteth, and no man openeth. All this ſetteth forth the great power & glory of Chriſts perſon, and all aimeth at this marke & end, to commend vntounto vsus the authoritie of this booke, becauſe it commeth from a perſon of ſo great dignitie & excellēcy.
Laſt of all, it remaineth to ſhewe how Iohn was affected with this viſion, wherein Chriſt did ſo gloriouſly appeare vntounto him: verſ. 17 for he ſaith; When I ſawe him I fell at his feete as dead. Wherein hee ſheweth how greatly hee was amazed and daunted with the ſight of Chriſts moſt glorious perſonage. Hee was ſtriken with ſuch an aſtoniſhment & feare, that there was almoſt no life, or ſpirit left in him, and all this was to humble him euen to the ground, in as much as by it, he findeth his owne weakeneſſe and imperfection, not capable of ſuch a ſight, ſo farre as to endure it. It was no doubt profitable, or rather neceſſary, that this holy ſeruant of God, ſhould thus be humbled and made fit to receiue this reuelation with the greater reuerence from his great Lorde and maiſter. And alſo it maketh much for our profit, as appeareth, in that eueryevery part of this viſion is rehearſed in the Epiſtles to the Churches. But to conclude, Iohn being thus humbled and caſt downe in himſelfe, is comforted and raiſed vp by Chriſt, who laid his right hand vponupon him, and willed him to feare nothing. For ſaith he: I am the firſt and the last, verſ. 17 and am aliue, but I was dead, behold I am aliue for euermore. In which wordes hee dooth greatly cheare vp Iohns heart, and telleth him plainely, that this might and terrour of his perſon is bent onelyonly againſt the wicked enemies of his Church, nothing at all againſt the friends thereof: but contrariwiſe, that all this power and glorie, might and maieſtie, is wholy and altogether for the good of his Church. Wherein wee may all clearely ſee and knowe to our great comfort, that the ſame arme of God which caſteth down the wicked, raiſeth vp the godly: the ſame power wich woundeth them, healeth vsus: the ſame hand which deſtroieth them, ſaueth vsus: the ſame might and maieſtie wich hurteth them, helpeth vsus. For whatſoeuer is in God, is wholly for his, and wholy againſt thoſe that are none of his. And thus much concerning the firſt Chapter.