A Paraphrase on the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
1. ANd I ſaw when the Lamb opened one of the ſeals, and I heard as it were the noiſe of thunder, one of the four beaſts ſaying, Come and ſee.
1. When Chriſt opened the divine decrees, in a noiſe like thunder, I heard one of the four Living Wights, or Cherubims, calling me to come and ſee.
2. And I ſaw, and behold, a white horſe; and he that ſat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.
2. Note, Some take this to be Chriſt going forth to convert men by the Goſpel: Others to be Chriſt, beginning his Judgments on the Jews: Others to be the Roman power by their conqueſts preparing for further execution on the Jews.
3. And when he had opened the ſecond ſeal, I heard the ſecond beaſt ſay, Come and ſee.
3. The ſecond Cherub called me to ſee, when the ſecond ſeal was opend.
4. And there went out another horſe, that was red: and power was given to him that ſat thereon, to take peace from the earth, and that they ſhould kill one another: and there was given unto him a great ſword.
4. God proceeded further towards his dreadful executions, and gave up the World, and ſpecially the Jews, to diviſions, and unpeaceable tumults, and to kill and ruin one another.
5. And when he had opened the third ſeal, I heard the third beaſt ſay, Come and ſee. And I beheld, and lo, a black horſe; and he that ſat on him, had a pair of ballances in his hand.
5. God yet proc…eded to the next judgment, which was famine; ſignified by one on a black horſe with ballance to weigh food, to ſhew its ſcarcity.
6. And I heard a voice in the midſt of the four beaſts ſay, A meaſure of wheat for a penny, and three meaſures of barley for a penny; and ſee thou hurt not the oil, and the wine.
6. A mans day wages for labor ſhall buy but bread enough for one man: There ſhall be a ſcarcity of the neceſſary part of food; ſpecially in Judea.
7. And when he had opened the fourth ſeal, I heard the voice of the fourth beaſt ſay, Come and ſee. 8. And I looked, and behold, a pale horſe; and his name that ſat on him was Death, and hell followed with him: and power was given unto them over the fourth part of the earth, to kill with ſword, and with hunger, and with death, and with the beaſts of the earth.
7.8. Judgment ſhall proceed from ſcarcity to death and ruins by famine, wars and plagues, which ſhall deſtroy a great part of the Jews (at leaſt.)
9. And when he had opened the fifth ſeal, I ſaw under the altar, the ſouls of them that were ſlain for the word of God, and for the teſtimony which they held.
9. Note; The heavenly Apparition relating to the Church on Earth, uſeth the name of an Altar, and I think juſtifieth the uſe of it now.
2. The Souls of Martyrs live in Heaven, and therefore ſo do other Saints; which proveth the Immortality of Souls. To be under the Altar, is to be in the heavenly Communion with them that offer praiſe to God: And to be commemorated at the Altar by the Church on Earth, that prayeth for deliverance from Perſecutors.
3. There be not only Praiſes, but Prayers in Heaven, and that for Juſtice on Perſecutors on Earth; therefore they know that their Blood is not revenged.
4. How then are miſerable Perſecutors like to ſcape, when Heaven and Earth pray againſt them?
10. And they cried with a loud voice, ſaying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, doſt thou not judge and avenge our blood on them, that dwell on the earth?
10. Note; This was not from uncharitableneſs, but conformity to God's Holineſs, Juſtice and Truth: The Revenge deſired being the Vindication of God's Holineſs and Truth, which he had promiſed.
11. And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was ſaid unto them, that they ſhould reſt yet for a little ſeaſon, until their fellow-ſervants alſo, and their brethren, that ſhould be killed as they were, ſhould be fulfilled.
11. They were clothed in White, which then ſignified Righteouſneſs and Dignity, in acknowledgment of their Fidelity; but the Revenge muſt be delayed till the reſt were killed; eſpecially, ſay ſome, by the Jews, that muſt kill more, that on that Generation might come …ll the righteous Blood ſhed, from Abel, till the laſt.
Note; God oft delayeth his Judgments but while more, and greater, ſins prepare for heavier Plagues.
One Reaſon why we are not preſently avenged, and delivered from Perſecutors, is becauſe more muſt yet ſuffer, before they are ripe for ſignal Vengeance. Our Souls may be under the Altar in Heaven, cloathed in White, before that day of Revenge.
12. And I beheld when he had opened the ſixth ſeal, and lo, there was a great earth-quake, and the ſun became black as ſack-cloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; 13. And the ſtars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig-tree caſteth her untimely figs when ſhe is ſhaken of a mighty wind.
12, 13. The great Calamities that were to follow (on the Jews, ſay ſome, and on the World, ſay others) were ſo diſmal, that they were repreſented to me, as the darkning of the Sun, and the Moon looking like Blood, and the Stars falling from Heaven; as if Heaven and Earth were diſſolving.
14. And the heaven departed as a ſcroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and Iſland were moved out of their place.
14. And it was repreſented to me, as the Diſſolution of Heaven, and Subverſion of the Earth.
Note; Some think, this is only of the Subverſion of Judea. Others (becauſe that was done already) that it was the Overthrow of the Heathen Powers by Conſtantine. Others, that it was the ſhaking of the Empire by the Goths. And others, that it is the laſt Diſſolution of the World.
15. And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bond-man, and every free-man hid themſelves in the dens, and in the rocks of the mountains; 16. And ſaid to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that ſitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17. For the great day of his wrath is come; and who ſhall be able to ſtand?
15, 16, 17. Note, 1. If this was meant of the Ruin of the Jews, it was indeed exceeding dreadful: and dreadful have God's Executions ſince been on Heathens, and other Enemies of Chriſt.
Note 2. Greatneſs, nor Numbers, will ſave none from Miſery and Terror, when the day of God's revenging Juſtice is come, which they would not before believe. Any ſort of hope of Deliverance would be then welcome: but all help will fail, and all hopes will be in vain, to them that know not the day of Grace.
Proud men are able now to oppreſs the Innocent, to ſcorn the Faithful, and to domineer in the Ruins and Blood of Saints; calumniating them, as the vileſt Malefactors: But wicked Princes, Lords and Judges, and bloody Soldiers, will then all cry out, [The great day of his Wrath is come, and who is able to ſtand?]