Annotations Upon the New Testament, Revelation · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV.
Vers. 2. A Throne was set in heaven] That is, Gods presence in his Church in Gospell-ordinances;Thronus, quem vidit in Coelo postitum, fuit is, de quo supra cap. 1.4. & cujus deinceps vicies octies in hac Apocalypsi fiet mentio, quia imperium & judicium Dei in omnia, quod hic thronus repraesentat, perpetuo vult nobis esse in conspectu. Pateus. in allusion to the Holy of Holies, where God was present in the Mercy-seate. Esay 6.1. and Ezek. 43.2.
Vers. 3. The three precious stones hold forth the three persons in the Trinity. A Jasper having (as they say) a white circle round about it representing aCotton on 16. of Rev. Vide Brightm.the eternity of the Father; A Sardine stone of a fleshy colour representing Jesus Christ who tooke our flesh upon him; An Emerald being of a green colour, refreshing the eyes of those that looke upon it, representing the Spirit, who is (as the Rainebow) a token of bIn this place and 10. ch. 1. v. there is a description of Christs sitting in his throne, and mention made of the Rainebow, that we may acknowledge that the throne of Christ is compassed with mercy, and that he shewes in his countenance when he manifests himselfe to his. The Rainebow is signum gratiae & foederis, Gods covenant of grace and mercy toward his Church, is alwayes fresh and greene.faire weather, and a comfortable refresher wheresoever he cometh. By that is signified (saith Gerhard) our reconciliation with God by Christ. Gen. 9.13. Rom. 5.20. See 10. ch. 1.
Vide v. 6. & 5.8. Typus hic proponitur & totius ecclesiae, & sanctissimarum quae in ea quotidie funduntur precum & laudum, quae velut thymiamata per Christum Deo offerunturꝰ quatuor animalia praecones omnes & ministros verbi Dei notant. Hieron. August. Beda, Nam & homines sunt, c. 5.9. & inter thronum Dei & Seniores, quasi legati inter deum & opulum positi sunt, & Animalia sunt, id est vegeta & agilia, quia ad Dei mandata exequenda expeditos esse oportet: Alena oculis sunt ut hinc notetur eximia illa qua praeditos esse oportet perspicacia & populenta rerum divinarum intelligentia, quatuor sunt ut quatuor orbis plagas obire & verbo Dei illustrare possint. Crankanth. defens. eccles. Anglic. Vide Brightm. & Gerh.Vers. 4. And round about the Throne were foure and twenty seats, and upon the seats I saw foure and twenty Elders sitting] Hee alludes both to the twelve Patriarkes and twelve Apostles, which put together make up these foure and twenty, by whom the whole Church under both Testaments is represented. Mr. Arrowsmith.
Vers. 5. And out of the Throne proceeded lightenings and thunderings and voyces: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the Throne] Here is a double benefit of the ordinances. 1. Dona protectionis against all the Churches enemies, thunderings, Amos 1.2.2. Dona sanctificationis, all qualifying and sanctifying gifts, for their variety said to bee seven Spirits.
Vers. 6. A sea of glasse like unto Christall] That is, saith Deut, the world transitory and brittle as glasse, tumultuous and troublesome as the Sea. Quistorpius interprets it of Baptisme.
Mr Harris. See Brightman. All the ordinances of God …ere so cleare, as that you might see Christs face in them as in a mirrour of glasse. 2 Cor. 3.18. Mr Cotton on the 16. of Rev.Gods ordinances in this booke are set forth by name of a Sea of glasse, 1. For largenesse. 2. For steadfastnesse. 3. Clearenesse, as giving us a cleare sight of God, in which respect they are also here compared to chrystall.
Foure beasts full of eyes before and behind] Beasts is a barbarous translation, foure wights, living Creatures, foreign, men full of knowledge, of Lions courage,Sic oculata etiam erant Ezechielis animalia Oculio vigilantia & perspicacia Doctorum significatur. Oportet enim ceu Argos quosdam omni ex parte esse oculatissimos in ovibus pascendis, & curandis fidei suae Commissis, in Scripturis sacris scrutandis, in lupis à grege arcendis. Pareus. of Oxes patience to sacrifice, of mans quiet and humanity, and Eagles high flight; Martyrs; Polycarpus was a Lyon for courage, an Oxe for patience, a man indeed for wit, an Eagle for high flight, proclaming the Gospell. Broughtons Require of Consent.
By foure severall formes of beasts is meant (saith Pareus) the collection of the Church of Christ in the foure quarters of the World, and divers Nations, People and Tongues.
The Beasts represent the people, he alludes to the incamping of the People of Israel the wildernesse round about the Tabernacle.Numb. 1.52. and thence to the end of the second Chap. Mr Mede. The twelve Tribes which encamped round about the Tabernacle had some Beasts in their Scutchions. The 24. Elders in the fourth verse represent the Ministers which were cast by David into the 24. Orders.
Vers. 8. And the foure Beasts had each of them sixe wings about him, and they were full of eyes within] These Beasts are described full of eyes, having also sixe wings about, and those full of eyes within. So many eyes do set forth the multitude of sharpe-sighted men, and full of knowledge of the mysteries of God; such as are in the Beasts, that is, the Church which the beasts do represent. The wings, signifie agility, and alacrity,Mr Mede. to put in execution the Commandements of God. The wings full of eyes zeale joyned with knowledge and faith.
Holy, holy, holy] Some originall Copies have it 9. times over foreign Gerhard saith, tis better thrice foreign hoc fuit Seraphinorum. Iesa, c. 6.3. Ter sanctitatem Deo acclamant: sive S. Trinitatom in Deo innuentia, sive infinitam foreign iterationem significantia. Est enim Deus ter sanctus, sanctissimus, sanctitas, & puritas ipsa, beatos angelos & homines sanctificans. Pareusonelyonly as Esay 6.3.
Vers. 11. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour] For what, for his power as followeth, and power, that is, saith Piscator, potentiae laudem, the praise of power, which is as much as to say, he deserves to be glorified and honoured by the acknowledgement of his eternall power, for as much as he created all things out of nothing.