A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
1. ANd I ſaw in the right hand of him that ſat on the throne, a book written within, and on the backſide ſealed with ſeven ſeals.
1. I ſaw a Roll called a Book, in his hand who ſate on the Throne, written on both ſides, but the Roll was ſealed up with ſeven Seals.
Note; The Roll contained God's Decrees, as they were to be fulfilled according to this Prophecy: And it's like they were ſeven Rolls together making one Book.
2. And I ſaw a ſtrong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to looſe the ſeals thereof?
2. Note; Every Angel or Man is not worthy or meet to be the Expoſitor and Meſſenger of God's Myſteries to Man.
3. And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.
3. It was a work and truſt too high for any meer creature in all the World: None of them was worthy.
4. And I wept much, becauſe no man was found worthy to open and to read the book, neither to look thereon.
4. I lamented that the creatures ſhould, be found ſo unworthy, and God's Myſteries be kept unknown.
5. And one of the elders ſaith unto me, Weep not: behold, the lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, hath prevailed to open the book, and to looſe the ſeven ſeals thereof.
5. One of the Elders, that were at the Throne, comforted me, and told me that Chriſt, who is called the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, and the Son of David, and Root of Jeſſe, was found worthy by the Dignity of his Perſon, and his Merits by Man's Redemption, to open to the Church all the Myſteries of God, which it was meet for Man to know, and to looſe the Seals.
6. And I beheld, and lo, in the midſt of the throne, and of the four beaſts, and in the midſt of the elders, ſtood a Lamb, as it had been ſlain, having ſeven horns, and ſeven eyes, which are the ſeven Spirits of God, ſent forth into all the earth.
6. Upon this glad tidings, I lookt and ſaw Chriſt in the likeneſs of a Lamb, wounded and bloody, as he was ſacrificed, which ſignified that it was by the Merit of Redemption that he had his power over all: And he ſeemed to have ſeven Horns and Eyes for the exerciſe of Government, by Judgment and Victory over his Enemies, and Illumination of his Church, and the full notice of all that concerneth his Government; which is done by the Spiritual Powers, or Angels and Miniſters, whom he ſendeth forth from God into all the Earth: Or, as others by the manifold Gifts of the Holy Ghoſt, which is his Agent or Advocate on Earth.
7. And he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that ſate upon the throne.
7. He that alone was worthy, received Power from God, both to open the Myſteries, and execute them.
8. And when he had taken the book, the four beaſts, and four and twenty elders, fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of ſaints:
8. Note, Who were the four Living Wights (here ill tranſlated Beaſts, when one was a Man) was before enquired, but its hard to know, only they ſeem to ſignifie ſome Greater than the Elders. Some Papiſts think they were the four firſt Patriarcks; and the Elders the Councils. Its more probable than ſo, that they were all the ſorts of Miniſters that were entruſted with the firſt gathering of Churches and ſealing the Goſpel by Miracles, as diſtinct from the fixed Church-Biſhops called Elders. That is, that they were Apoſtles, Prophets, Evangeliſts and Miracle-workers as ſuch. But all is doubtfull.
2. That both the Living Wights and the Elders were men on earth, is plain by their work here deſcribed; They are Prieſts that, in the ſacred Aſſembly, do by office Speak for and Lead the Church in offering up the Common Praiſes to God, and alſo the Prayers of the Congregation. That there be any Angels that reſemble this office in Heaven, we cannot conclude from ſo obſcure a Text.
Hence we ſee, 1. That Church Guides are the Worſhippers of Jeſus: 2. Though we cannot hence prove that Gods praiſes muſt be uſed with harps and Muſicall Inſtruments, they that uſe ſuch have a fairer pretence hence to prove them lawful (as doing Gods will, on earth, as John ſaw it reſembled in Heaven) than any can ſhew to prove it unlawful. 3. Miniſters in offering up the Churches praiſe and prayers, are ſubmediators under Chriſt.
9. And they ſung a new ſong, ſaying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the ſeals thereof: for thou waſt ſlain, and haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood, out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 10. And haſt made us unto our God, Kings and Prieſts: and we ſhall reign on the earth.
9.10. Note, 1. Chriſt is to be praiſed in the Church with a new ſong, or Praiſes ſuited to his works of Redemption and his Glory, and not only with the Jewiſh Pſalms and Worſhip▪ (though thoſe Pſalms alſo may be uſed) 2. Though the Collective phraſe of gathering out of every nation, &c. makes ſome think that it is an aſſembly of Glorified Saints in the heavenly Jeruſalem, called the General Aſſembly of the firſt born, and the Spirits of the perfected juſt that is here primarily meant, it ſeems more probable that it is the Church on earth alone: And that it is the firſt ages by Faith, and the following alſo, by ſome experience of the Churches deliverance by Conſtantine, that mention reigning on the earth: The Saints departed indeed ſhall judge the World. To be Kings and Prieſts to God, is to be endowed with Power, and Honour, and Holyneſs, and employed accordingly in Gods adminiſtrations and Holy Worſhip.
11. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beaſts, and the elders: and the number of them was ten thouſand times ten thouſand, and thouſands of thouſands;
11. As I looked I ſeemed to hear innumerable Angels, joyning with the Living Wights, and Elders, in the Praiſes of Chriſt for mans Redemption.
Note, That this ſignifies the multitude of believers, or of Miniſters through all the World, is not to be proved. But that it is meant properly of Angels is moſt probable. And it is to be noted that when the Living Wights are but four, and the Elders but twenty four, the Angels that praiſe Chriſt are millions and numberleſs. So Heb. 12.24. Whence note, that its ignorance that calls God more ſevere then merciful, becauſe its but a few of this World that are ſanctified and glorified; when as the vaſt and glorious Regions above ſeem, to Reaſon and by ſcripture, to have ſo many millions of Angels, that its like the damned are very few to them.
The greateſt Kingdom is not near ſo great and glorious, in compariſon of one Jail and one Gallows, as the Heavenly Regions are in compariſon of this ſpot called Earth, or the place of execution called Hell.
12. Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was ſlain, to receive power, and riches, and wiſdom, and ſtrength, and honour, and glory, and bleſſing.
12. Theſe Angels joined with the Churches in the Praiſes of Chriſt, aſcribing to him, in their Praiſe; all Power and Glory, &c. as deſerved by his Redemption of the World by his death.
Note, Thoſe Angels that joyn with us in Chriſts praiſes, and are preſent in our aſſemblies, and Guardians of us and them, and pitch their tents about us, and bear us up in their hands, and rejoice in our Converſion, and are miniſtring Spirits for our good, are not ſo ignorant of us and our concerns and our prayers, as ſome imagine. We have many ignorant men that think they know more of our caſe here below than the Angels do; when they ſcarce know ſo much as may keep them from being ſeducers, and deviders, of the Church. They are ſure but ill Guardians who know as little of our affairs as theſe men think. Chriſt ſaith that the leaſt Chriſtians have their Angels who behold the face of God; And why are they called their Angels, and what do they for them with God, if they know not our condition and concerns? And though this will not warrant Praying to them, which themſelves in this book ſeem to diſown; yet we ought not to think that miſtake of thoſe ancient fathers and Churches to be greater than it was, who thought that, as Paſtors on earth offer up the Congregations prayers and praiſes to God, ſo there is an anſwerable office of Angels to offer them, as from them to Chriſt, who offereth them to God the Father: And who thought, as a man might pray a Miniſter to pray for him, ſo he might do an Angel, though it be an errour, one is no more Idolatry than the other.
13. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth and under the earth, and ſuch as are in the ſea, and all that are in them, heard I, ſaying, bleſſing, honour, glory, and power be unto him that ſitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.
13. And as all the World, which was curſt for mans ſin, was according to each Creatures capacity redeemed from that curſe by Chriſt (to be performed in due time) ſo I ſeemed to hear all that part of the World, that belonged to man, to magnifie Chriſt and God by him, for the Worlds Redemption: Aſcribing to him all perfection, Bleſſing, Honour, Glory, Power, &c.
Note, Whether there be any reaſonable Creatures in the ſea is unknown to us: The reaſonable Creatures praiſe God and Chriſt underſtandingly; the reſt demonſtratively and objectively. Thoſe under the earth are the Antipodes on the other …ide of the earth.
14. And the four beaſts ſaid, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down, and worſhipped him that liveth for ever and ever.
14 And the four Living Wights, who are as the four Cherubi…s mentioned in Ezekiel, joined with the four and twenty Elders, (who anſwer the Jews Sanhedrims,) that is, with the Churches in the praiſes of God and of the Redeemer.
Note, If theſe four Cherubims ſignified only Angels, it is no wonder that they joyn with the Church in the Praiſes of Chriſt when they are of the ſame ſociety with us, though the higher parts,