A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
1. AFter this I looked, and behold, a door was opened in heaven: and the firſt voice which I heard, was as it were of a trumpet talking with me, which ſaid, Come up hither, and I will ſhew thee things which muſt be hereafter.
1. After this the Viſion, that I further ſaw, was as if a Door had been opened into Heaven, &c.
Note, 1. Not that Heaven hath a Door, but the Viſion was to be ſuited to the Capacity of a Soul in Fleſh. 2. The Notices which advance Man's Underſtanding on Earth, come all from Heaven. 2. And thither muſt we look and ſeek, if we will know the things of God.
2. And immediately I was in the ſpirit: and behold, a throne was ſet in heaven, and one ſat on the throne.
2. And immediately I was in an Extaſie, the Spirit acting me as above the Body: And God revealing things according to my Capacity, I thought I ſaw a Throne, the Seat of Royal, Glorious Majeſty, and a Royal Perſon ſat on the Throne.
3. And he that ſat, was, to look upon, like a jaſper, and a ſardine ſtone: and there was a rain-bow round about the throne, in ſight like unto an emerald.
3. And the Power and Glory of him that ſat on the Throne was repreſented to me, as by the ſimilitude of precious Stones, a Jaſper, and a Sardine: And his Glory, and faithful keeping of his Covenant, was repreſented to me, by the Appearance of a Rain bow, like an Emerald in colour, round about the Throne.
4. And round about the throne were four and twenty ſeats, and upon the ſeats I ſaw four and twenty elders ſitting, clothed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of gold.
4. Note; The Apparition, being made to him that was a Jew, was a Repreſentation of the Jewiſh Camp in …he Wilderneſs, with the Tabernacle in the midſt; … cording to which alſo the Temple-Worſhip was …med to bear ſome ſimilitude: And the Chriſtian-Aſſemblies had ſome reſemblance to that: Some think it relateth to the Church at Jeruſalem, which had (ſay they) twenty four Elders; ſay ſome, twelve Apoſtles, and twelve Elders; others that it is to the Biſhop of Jeruſalem, and four and twenty City-Biſhops of Judea, who uſe to ſit in Council with him; who yet (ſaith Dr. H.) were then but the ſole Paſtors of ſingle Aſſemblies, without any other Elders under them, but were after to have ſuch: Others think it intimateth, that all Churches ſhould unite in ſuch Synods as conſiſt of twelve Teaching Elders, and twelve Ruling Elders that are not Teachers. Rather all Churches and Paſtors are ſignified by twenty four. But all theſe are but mens unproved thoughts, ſave only that in general, the Viſion appeared in reſemblance of ſuch an Aſſembly as is here deſcribed: And it clearly intimateth, 1. That the Elders have a proper Dignity, and Honour, and Power, ſignified by their Seals, and White Rayment, and Crowns of Gold. I would not have ignorant, proud Lads, that can but get a Lay-Patron to preſent them to a Benefice, where they may live in the guilt of betraying Souls, to call themſelves theſe Elders, nor to feign in White Rayment that they have Crowns of Gold.
5. And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thunderings, and voices: and there were ſeven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the ſeven ſpirits of God.
5. Note 1. The Glory and Terrour of the heavenly Apparition is thus expreſſed: From the ſimilitude of the Temple-Worſhip, and more fully of the Church-Worſhip and Sacred Aſſemblies, whence muſt proceed the Light of Doctrine, the Thunder of Reproof, and juſt Cenſures, and the Voices of common Conſent and Praiſes to God. Whether it ſignifie the ſcorching Lightnings, and Thundering… ▪ Excommunications of Lay-Chancellors, Officials, Surrogates, Commiſſaries, &c. that uſe an abſent Biſhop's name over (not one Pariſh only, but) many ſcore or hundred Pariſh-Churches, I leave to the Arguments of the Affirmers.
2. The ſeven Lamps are expounded of the ſeven Spirits of God, relating, as ſome ſuppoſe, to the Lamps which were continually to burn before the Tabernacle, Exod. 17.20. and after before the Temple: And as others think, to the ſeven Deacons at Jeruſalem. Others think it is the ſeven Guardian Angels of the Aſian Churches, to whom John ſpecially directeth all this Book, though for the uſe of all others.
But of this, and other ſuch paſſages, the great doubt is, whether really there be not, in the Spiritual World which John ſaw, ſuch things as he deſcribeth, and the Inſtitutions about Tabernacle, Temple, and Church-Aſſembles, be not formed to ſome reſemblance of theſe? Or whether all be ſpoken only of the things below, of which the ſuperior World hath no real ſimilitude, but by fiction?
6. And before the throne there was a ſea of glaſs like unto cryſtal: and in the midſt of the throne, and round about the throne, were four beaſts, full of eyes before and behind.
6. Note; Before the Tabernacle and the Temple there was a great broad Veſſel of Water, called a Sea, for the Prieſts to waſh in, Exod. 20.18. 1 Kings 7.23. ſignifying the Purity required in the Worſhippers of God; being as Cryſtal, tells us, that no ſpots or Hypocriſie is unſeen to God. (Though ſome make this to ſignifie the multitude of Worſhippers.)
The four Beaſts, ſome ſay, reſemble the four Sta… dards and Camps of Iſrael in the Wilderneſs, or as others, the four Evangeliſts: But it is like to mean the Executioners by Providence and Miracles of Chriſt's Will and Power, full of Eyes, as knowing all the Affairs of the Sons of Men about which they are employed, called Living creatures for their executive power.
7. And the firſt beaſt was like a lion, and the ſecond beaſt like a calf, and the third beaſt had a face as a man, and the fourth beaſt was like a flying eagle.
7. Note; As theſe four agree with the Apparition in Ezekiel 1.10. in the main (notwithſtanding ſome ſmall difference) ſo it is obſervable which D. Hammond noteth from Aben Ezra, that theſe were the Eſcutcheons on the four Enſigns or Standards of the Camp of Iſrael, a Lion for the Camp of Judah, a Man for the Camp of Reuben, an Oxe for the Camp of Ephraim, and an Eagle for the Camp of Dan: And an Oxe and Calf are oft uſed for the ſame. And theſe four are noted to be the chief in their ſeveral kinds; the Lion among wild Beaſts; the Oxe among the tame and ſerviceable; a Man among all Animals; and an Eagle among Birds. To conjecture what God would ſignifie by them to Iſrael, muſt needs be uncertain: I know nothing liker than an intimation of Duty and Prophecy, that Iſrael ſhould be victorious over their Enemies, and valiant as a Lion, wiſe, and in Dominion as Man, and ſhould have a fertile and plenteous Land, ſignified by the Oxe, and be Seraphick and Divine in the holy Worſhip of God, ſignified by the Eagle that mounteth Heaven-ward in her ſtrength. And it's like ſuch bleſſings are hereby ſignified to be conferred on the Church; ſome fix the ſignification on Angels, ſome on Miniſters: And leſs probable are theirs that think Pete…, John, Paul and Barnabas are meant, or they that apply it to the four Evangeliſts, or four Patriarchs.
8. And the four beaſts had each of them ſix wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they reſt not day and night, ſaying, Holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty, which was, and is, and is to come.
8. Note; The Beaſts reſembling the Standard-bearer in the Camp, are likeſt to ſignifie both the Angels in Heaven, who glorifie God's Attributes, and ſerve him in the performance of his Promiſes to the Church; and alſo the Apoſtles, and Prophets, and Evangeliſts, and Paſtors, who do their part herein on Earth. See Iſa. 6.2. of their wings.
2. Holy, holy, holy, may relate to the Trinity, but certainly ſignifieth that the Holineſs of God is that for which he is loved and praiſed by Angels and Saints. His Holineſs is his Perfection, and Tranſcendency above all creatures, being the end of all, to whom they are to be devoted; and conſequently his perfect contrariety to all evil.
3. The celebrating of the Praiſes of the moſt Holy God, is the unceſſant work of heavenly Spirits, and moſt of the work of Miniſters and Church-Aſſemblies on Earth.
9. And when thoſe beaſts give glory, and honour, and thanks to him that ſat on the throne, who liveth for ever and ever, 10. The four and twenty elders fall down before him that ſat on the throne, and worſhip him that liveth for ever and ever, and caſt their crowns before the throne, ſaying, 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory, and honour, and power, for thou haſt created all things, and for thy pleaſure they are and were created.
9, 10, 11. Note, With the chief Angels concur all the heavenly H…ſt, in magnifying the Holy, Eternal God, as ſhining forth in the glory of all his works, by him, and for him, by his efficient Will, and for his complacential Will fulfilled, they being all created, preſerved and ordered. And this heavenly work is to be imitated by the Churches on Earth, whoſe Paſtors leading the People muſt concur in the Praiſes of the moſt Holy, Everliving God, And thoſe Churches that are dry and ſcant in theſe Praiſes of God (how well ſoever the Word be there preached) are defective and unlike their Pattern. Theſe paſſages are beſt expounded in the three firſt Petitions of the Lord's Prayer; Let thy Name be hallowed, Thy Kingdom come, and Thy Will be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven. Neither Heaven nor Earth muſt be left out in the Expoſition.