Commentary on Revelation, Lecture 3
LECTURE III.
Vers. 8.
And the second Angel sounded, and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast into the sea, and the third part of the sea became bloud:
9.
And the third part of the creatures which were in the sea, and had life, died, and the third part of the ships were destroyed.
YE may remember when we began to speak of this prophesie of the trumpets, we told you that in them was contained the story of the Church from the int…rrupting of the peace that it enjoyed under Constantine till Antichrist was at his height, and God by pouring out of the vials came to demolish his Kingdom.
The prophesie of the…e trumpets is divided in smaller and greater woes, the last three being the greatest.
The first four do continue the History of the Church from the peace it enjoyed under the sixth seal unto the discovery of Antichrist upon his seat and throne.
Ye heard, in the former trumpet, how hard the condition of the Christian Church was, and by what means it was weakened, 1. By outward inbreaking of cruel barbarous Nations, mercilesse enemies, to the defacing of it. 2. By enemies from within, such as Arians, Macedonians, N…storians, and also Schismaticks, as Luciferians, Novatians, A…daeans, &c. that would not keep unity, as the former would not keep purity. 3. By corrupting of the Doctrine, many unsafe and unsound Doctrines attended with pernicious practices, were creeping in amongst famous men in the Church. 4. It was also weakened by contention… and ambition amongst Bishops and Ministers for their precedency: out of all which, Satans designe of raising Rome, and bringing in Ant…christ, was wo…king, and took rooting, springing and spreading it self more and more till it came to the height. We shall say no more of the first trumpet, but proceed to the rest.
This second trumpet advanceth and carrieth on the same scope: and if any ask, why these trumpets blow not together, and yet one succeedeth another? I answer, there is some interim, to see how the former may work; and if any will repent, God taketh that time of triall. 2. When it worketh not, a greater cometh, then He plagueth seven times more: there are degrees even of spiritual judgements, Rom. 1. When alarms work not, there are worse coming.
For opening the meaning of this sad judgement, we must consider in it these three things, 1. The mean made use of, or the rise of the judgement, it was as a mountain burning. 2. Its object, it is cast into the sea. 3. The effects that follow upon it, the waters became bloud, and many ships are destroyed. Generally, it sheweth that this judgement extended further than the former, 1. The former was on the land only; this taketh in the sea. 2. It altereth quite the nature of these seas; the former destroyed but trees and grasse that were growing, This is more infectious.
1. It is said, as it were a great mountain, to shew it was something figuratively to be understood and not properly, like a hill, such as Aetna in Sicilie, or Hecla in Island, are, which burneth within it self, and dissolveth it self.
By mountains in Scripture, are understood figuratively Powers or Authorities, Zech. 4.7. Who art thou, O great mountain? before Z…rubbabel thou shalt become a plain. He meaneth the opposition of that Monarchie which then oppressed them. Ier. 51.25. Babylon is called a destroyed mountain, and a mountain that shall be made a burnt mountain: So by mountain here we understand eminent men in the Church and her Authority, or these placed in Authority in her, who by their place are eminent above others; it being the Church here that especially is spoken of, this mountain must be their Judicatories and these in power. Therefore the Disciples, and in them Ministers, are said to be as a city set on a mountain, or hill, Matth. 5. these being mountains for eminencie in the Church, as civil Governours, or Governments are in the State. 2. This mountain is said to be burning; which we conceive to be kindled with pride, and contention flowing therefrom, as Christ saith, He came to send fire on the earth, and it was already kindled, which is to be expounded variances amongst these in nearest relations: so also fire, it is taken for contention in Iothams parable, Iudg. 9. compare vers. 20. with vers. 23. which is the more clear here, that it followeth upon the former trumpet, as taking fire from it, and it seemeth to be the Church-Governours that were kindled by it. This fire having kindled within their bowels, breaketh out and infecteth others and spreadeth this division under this trumpet at the back of the former heresie and sad state which the Church was in, having to do not only with open Hereticks, but with pride and contention amongst Church-men themselves, whereby exceedingly the Church was wronged, and way was made for the in-bringing of more corruption and Antichrists rising.
2. The object, it is cast into the sea, 1. By the sea, in Scripture among the Prophets, is understood a numerous people, as, to fit on many waters, Revel. 17.15. By this then we are to understand, that though this infection began among the Church-men, yet was it cast in the sea, that is, spread far off amongst the people. So it was in this time, and so it useth to be. 2. By sea, is understood in Scripture, Nations beyond seas; often the west part of the world, because they were by the sea divided from Iudea, as by the earth or land is understood the east par…, Isa. 60.5, &c. and thus it may well here look to Rome, Africk and the west, upon which this storm mainly did fall, as the first did fall on the Church in the east chie…ly, which was called the earth. 3. By sea, in this prophesie, is understood the Ordinances, in Discipline, Worship, and Government of the Church, and exercises of Religion, because in these, and by these, Christians in this World of the Church do converse together, traffique one with another, communicate one with another, as men do by seas and ships, who otherwayes are at a distance. So, (Chap. 18.) in the Antichristian world, their Church-men are compared to men in ships, or Merchants, who (amongst other things) trade for mens souls, which can be meaned of no other but their Church-men, vers. 15. and their going about their superstitions, is compared to trading in Ships and Seas: Whereby it would appear, that here especially a storm upon Ordinances, Worship and Discipline, is signified, as in the former, the Doctrine was set upon; yet Discipline and Councels were in some vigour, both having some Authority from without by Constantine, unity and respect from within, as at Nice, foundnesse and solidity in proceeding; but in the succeeding ages, all was changed. First, Emperours became Arians, Councels became heterodox, unity was broken, partly by Schisms amongst themselves, partly by the Pelagians and Donatists, which at this time came to a height: separation from Churches, flowing from pride, under the pretext of the unholinesse of the Churches Members, began and continued long, troubling especially the west part of the world, which formerly was free, and the preaching of the Word was foisted with humane inventions by men who were not Hereticks, the government of the Church spoiled, broken, dissolved and burnt; pride consumeth all and maketh it contemptible. So it is said of Babylon, Jer. 21.25. I will make thee a burnt mountain, when the dissolution of her authority is prophesied of.
3. The effects of this mountains casting in the sea, recorded here, are two, the one the effect of the other, 1. The waters are turned into bloud, shewing they were corrupted; that being the great evidence of corruption in them, alluding to the plague of Egypt, Exod. 7.19. which sheweth, that by that foregoing rent, Discipline was weakened, Ordinances corrupted, and the nature of them altered; they were before usefull, now they are hurtfull, as being abused by this firy mountains falling into them. So the Synods, Councels and Ministrie in many places became such as were rather for destruction than edification, and Churches were rent and divided, and stumblings laid before poor people, whereby the second effect followed, that is, as in waters turned to bloud, fishes cannot live, so by these errors in Doctrine and Worship (which both now continue together) poor souls are destroyed, simplicity of Worship corrupted with ceremonies and traditions, and all Church men, almost, who trade in these ships, are undone and destroyed with this ambition; for, bloud signifieth any death, even spiritual death, Ezek. 3.18. His bloud will I require of thee, &c. which is His spiritual killing of them; and here we are to understand their being killed with self-seeking and pride, and so to be dead while they were alive, 1 Tim. 5.6. and deadly to others also. In sum then, by the second trumpet we are to understand the corruption of the Government and Governours, who heightening their places beyond Christs order, and exercising that power, not for edification, but for destruction (contrary to its nature) in fiery contentions flowing from their pride and ambition, by which the eminency of the Church in that respect was dissolved in its Authority, and became low (as a mountain doth, which is consumed by fire from within) whereby many dreadfull effects tending both to the wronging of the Ordinances of Jesus Christ, and exceeding hurtfull to all the members of the Church who lived under them, were brought to passe, and so the Churches life (as it were) brought into greater hazard, than under open Hereticks.
For application of this, we will find it suit well with the contentions that followed on the Councel of Nice, and then burst out amongst Church-men, exceeding hurtfully unto the Church: for clearing whereof, we may observe these things from the story of that time, 1. Divisions and contentions abounded, as is clear from the many complaints of Emperours and Fathers, especially Gregori… Nax. who therefore took a prejudice at Councels, because so much contention followed that of Nice.
As also by the many contrary Synods and contests for precedency in them among Churchmen, who continued till the Bishop of Rome carried away the title of Vniversal Bishop, as will appear more under the fifth trumpet. 2. The time of these contentions will agree to this; for, this fire of pride was kindled, and the foundation laid for carrying on these contests to that height from the former heresie; some acts were made, whereby some Bishops, especially they of Rome, were preferred to others, because they were more free of that infection, and were more able to help the truth and these who were persecuted for it in the East, as particularly that seventh canon at Sardica, overtured by Osius for that end, from which Rome took advantage afterward. 3. In these Councels upon this occasion the precedency of some Seas was established, and a foundation of the Ecclesiastick hierarchie was laid. First, The Councel of Nice appointed four Patriarchs, at Alexandria in Egypt, at Antioch in Asia, at Ierusalem in Syria, at Rome in the West, over all Metrapolitans, who yet were independently of equal Authority within their own bounds, as is clear, Can. 6. Secondly, After that Rome was preferred in order to the rest, and Constantinople made second, not by any dignity of these Seas, but because they were the seats of the imperiall Authority, as appeareth from Can. 3. of the second Councel at Constantinople, confirmed, Can. 28. of the Councel at Chalcedon, and the 36. Can. of the Councel at Trulos, where Constantinople is made second to Rome, because it was new Rome, and had the same civil priviledges with old Rome: which sheweth the reason why both these Seas were preferred, was built meerly upon civil priviledges, which also Balsamon upon the foresaid canons confirmeth from Iustinian's Laws, Novel 130. 4. Rome took much occasion to plead its supremacie, partly from these constitutions, partly from the practice of men who still endeavoured to have that Bishop on their side as a great help to their party, and therefore fled to it for succour whether they maintained Truth or Error; partly, from this, that their interposing had great weight with others upon the former considerations, which they endeavoured afterward to impose upon other Churches as of due belonging to them, and therefore first opposed that act whereby Constantinople was equal to them, and afterward pleaded for appeal unto themselves from the Churches of the East and in Africk, as appeareth by their letters to the Councel of Antioch, and their propositions made in the Councel of Chalcedon, but more especially by their ambassages and letters to the Councel of Carthage, where these things are observable,
1. That one Apiarius, Bishop of Sica, justly censured by a former Councel at Carthage, did appeal to the Bishop of Rome. 2. Three Bishops of Rome, Zosimus, Boniface, Caelestinus, one after another, did so far own that appeal, as to admit the sentenced person to their communion, and to send Faustinus and others their Ambassadours to the sixth Councel of Carthage (where were conveened 217. Bishops, among which was Augustine, and Aurelius Bishop of Carthage, who presided, and is called Pope by Balsamon) desiring the former sentence to be repealed. 3. They grounded their interposing in these matters upon the Councel of Nice; some pretended acts whereof, their Commissioner Faustinus produced, wherein it was alleged to be decreed that a Bishop in any place might appeal to the Bishop of Rome. 4. It is observable that these Fathers acknowledged no such act, neither was there any such found amongst the canons of the Councel at Nice which any of them had seen, and therefore did suspect the design of the Romane Bishop, as aiming to stretch his power too far; whereupon they directed messengers to the Bishops of Antioch, Canstantinople and Alexandria, for obtaining authentick and unsuspected copies of the canons of the said Councel, which afterward they received from Cyrillus Bishop of Alexandria, and Atticus Bishop of Constantinople, without any such acts in them for Romes Authority, as was alleaged.
It is true, this supremacie was not pleaded from any divine institution (which at that time they did pretend unto) but only upon Ecclesiastick constitution; it is true also that whatever priviledges Rome claimed by Constantin's donation, or any canons of the Councel of Nice and Sardica, are also attributed unto Constantinople by the Councels of Constantinople and Chalcedon, whereby its Authority and priviledges are every way equal to Rome in things Ecclesiastick, as it was equal to it in Civil things by the Emperours Laws; so that appeals were as warrantable to Constantinople as to Rome (as Balsamon also upon the former Councels alleageth; and therefore sheweth the priviledges of Constantinople and its Bishop out of the gift of Constantine, as it is called, to the Bishops of Rome.) 3. It is also clear, that there was no just ground, even from Ecclesiastick constitutions, for that which was pretended, and that these Fathers foresaid did neither credit the Bishop of Rome in asserting his own Authority, nor yet cede to him in the least measure when they had evidenced his alleageance to be false; but, on the contrary, maintained their own Authority to be independent of him, and therefore do enact that from thenceforth none of their number should appeal beyond Sea, (to wit, to Rome) Can. 31. and that none should cite another of their number thither, Can. 126. under pain of Excommunication; and did write back to Boniface, and after to Caelestin (Zosimus being dead ere the answer from Egypt returned) expostulating with them for the marring them in the exercise of their due Authority, and pleading that none, censured by them, should be heard by him, or received into communion with him; and did also refuse to louse the sentence of the foresaid Ap…arius (whereupon he afterward left his dependency on the Bishop of Rome and submitted to his own Synod) I say, though these things be true, and it might be thought that the supremacie of Rome had no great advantage from them, yet from this we may see that Church-authority was abused by the pride of Church-men, even at that time; and that, upon the occasion of the former heresie, grounds were laid, from which the Bishops of Rome drew encouragements to prosecure their supremacie, and upon which they continued to build it up, till it came to its height; for, still there were debates about it, especially between them and the Bishop of Constantinople (who, in the Emperour Mauritius his time, assumed first to himself the title of Vniversal Bishop and precedency beyond Rome, because then the Emperour lived at Constantinople) untill Antichrist was discovered. By which we may see, how hurtfull that contention was to the Church, and how far it contributed in the event of it for the advancing of Antichrist, which is the main plague intended in these trumpets, and therefore not unsuitably taken-in under this second trumpet, as being agreealbe with the scope, type, time, and other reasons alleaged in the application of the former trumpet,
Observe, 1. What an evil thing pride is, especially when it entereth among Church-men: O how evil a thing is it! it is the inlet of all confusion, it openeth a door to it and every evil work, and hath a speciall hand in overturning of whatsoever is beautifull in a Church, Iames 3.14, 16. Therefore it is no wonder Satan seek to destroy government and unity, when he would destroy a Church; and no wonder Christ so much commend humility and unity to his followers. 2. The more eminent folks be in place or power, they are the …ooner kindled with the fire of pride; the higher mens places be, they are the readier to grow proud; mountains sooner than valleys, men of gifts sooner than others, they have fewell to this fire that others do want, and are more obnoxious to blasts; partly, the things being excellent they have in their hand; and partly, they being eminently and highly planted, pride hath the more matter to work upon, and Satan hath the readier accesse, and occasion to blow them up; it is a rare thing to be eminent and humble; to be great and in prosperity, and yet to be lowly: prosperity and gifts are a snare to many; it had been advantage to many they had never had them, considering how they have been abused by their pride and other corruptions. 3. Pride is especially incident to Church-men: which might be cleared both in the Old and New Testament. They are as cities set on an hill, Mat. 5. The Church is a mountain that is eminent, and Church-governours are eminent above others; and therefore liable to maniest tentations, being about the most eminent things, the devil setteth on them most, knowing what advantage he hath, when he hath gained ground among them, and Christ had to do even with His Disciples in this, Matth. 18. vers. 20.4. It is a great plague and judgement, and bringeth great hurt to the Church: when this fire of pride and, contention entereth and kindleth among the Officers of the Church, it spreadeth, marret…, and corrupteth all; it is the rise of much ill, and abusing of the power that God hath given: Diotrephes, loving the preeminencie, put all in confusion; it began soon in Iohn's dayes, 3 Epist. Ioh. and it is opposed to receiving of the Gospel, and accounting of the Apostles. This is no matter of laughing to you, however ye look upon it as if ye were not concerned; no, it is your plague, as if a firy mountain were tumbled-over on you. This should make us all respect unity and peace in the Church, and watch against pride and contention that marreth it. 5. There are four ills in this text that follow on pride and contention among Church-men, 1. It weakeneth and bringeth down Church-authority; when this mountain taketh fire, it falleth. 2. It spreadeth, infecteth, and kindleth others, it goeth among the people, I am of Paul, and I'am of Apollos, and they become carnall and factious, 1 Cor. 1.12. and 3.1, 2. and the life of Religion is eaten out amongst them, seing from the Priests profanenesse spreadeth through the whole land, Ier. 23. and so do pride and contention; kindle the Officers, and the whole Church will be in a fire. If we looked on it rightly, we would think the rise of contention a terrible plague, and people would beware of adding fewell to this fire, and labour by all means to quench it; because it is hard to know where it may end. 3. It corrupteth all, first, the Doctrine; secondly, the Practice; thirdly, Discipline and Order, and then cometh confusion and every evil work. 4. Many are stumbled and Spiritually slain when these waters become bloud; so that corrupting of Government and Governours is no small judgement, whereby we may know why Satan aimeth so much at this, and why we ought to be the more watchfull against it.
6. This plague, or stroak, on the Church, doth often accompany a spirit of error and defection, partly succeeding it, partly going before it, either causally inferred, or at least occasioned, or in Gods righteous judgement trysted with it, that the triall may have the greater extent and efficacie to discover many Hypocrites and rotten Professours. Tremble to think on it, and adore Gods holy Justice in the measure it is met out to us in our time; when the outward mean of Discipline and Government is so weakened, there had need to be the more watchfulnesse and dependencie on God to be helped and sustained by Him, when outward means are not so frequent nor in such vigour as they wont to be.