Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 22 · Chapter 4
CHAP. IV. Verſe 1. A door was opened in heaven]
THat is, Preparation was made for the manifeſtation of more heavenly myſteries.
Was as it were of a trumpet] To rouſe and raiſe up his attention. For it might fare with him, as with a drouſie perſon, who though awaked, and ſet to work, is ready to ſleep at it. Compare Zach. 4.1.
Come up hither] Not by locall motion, but by mentall illumination.
I will ſhew thee] That thou maiſt ſhew the Church, that they have a moſt glorious and almighty deliverer.
Verſe 2. I was in the spirit] See Chap. 1.10.
And behold a throne] So Iſaiah was prepared for his prophecy by ſuch a ſight, Chap 6.1. And Ezekiel (beſides that ſtupendious viſion, chap. 1.) heard behinde him a voice of great …hing; ſaying, Bleſſed be the glory of the Lord from his place Chap. 2.12.
Sat on the throne] As Judge of heaven and earth, Gen. 18 25.
Verſe 3. Like a Jasper and a Sardine] God is here reſembled (ſaith one) by three precious ſtones, holding forth the three perſons in Trinity. A Jaſper having (as they ſay) a white circle round about it, repreſenting the eternity of the Father. A Sardine-ſtone of a fleſhy colour repreſenting Jeſus Chriſt, who took our fleſh upon him.Cottons 7 viall, p. 5. out of Brigh…m An Emrald being of a green colour, refreſhing the eyes of them that look upon it, repreſenting the Spirit, who is (as the rain-bow) a token of fair weather, and is a comfortable refreſher, whereſoever he cometh.
Verſe 4. And round about] The Saints are round about God, Pſal. 76.11. a people near unto him, Pſal. 148.14.
Four and twenty Elders] A full Senate, a ſtately Amphitheatre of the firſt-born, whoſe names are written in heaven, cloathed as Prieſts, crowned as Kings and Conquerours.
Verſe 5.Iob 31.3. Iob 9.4. Lightnings and thunderings] Is not deſtruction to the wicked? and a ſtrange puniſhment to perſecutours? Who ever hardened himſelf againſt Gods Church and proſpered? Have theſe workers of in…quity no knowledge, who …at up Gods people as they eat bread, Pſal. 144? Sur…ly, if they had but ſo much wit for themſelves, as Pilates wife had in a dream they would take heed of having any thing to do with juſt men. If any man will hurt Gods Witneſſ…s, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies, Revel. 11.5. It was therefore no ill counſel that a Martyr gave his perſecutour, If thou wilt not ſpare us, yet ſpare thy ſelf. It is a fearfull thing to fall into the puniſhing hands of the living God.
The ſeven spirits] See Chap. 1. verſe 4.
Verſe 6. A ſ…n of glaſſe] The Word, ſay ſome, the World, others.
Four beaſts] O… living wights: Not Angels, but Miniſters,foreign thoſe earthly Angels: who are ſet forth, 1. Full of eyes for their perſpicacity and vigilancy. 2. Furniſhed with ſix wings apiece for their pernicity and promptitude to ſcoure about for the peoples benefit. 3. Qualified with all neceſſary endowments, for the diſcharge of their duties, being bold as lions, painfull as oxen, prudent as men, delighted in high flying, as Eagles.
Verſe 8. Full of eyes within] To look to themſelves alſo as well as to the flock, Act. 20.28. leſt whiles they preach to others, &c. 1 Cor. 9.27.
They reſt not] Gr. They have no rest, and yet they have no unreſt neither: the ſweet content they take in their continuall emploiment, is fitter to be believed then poſſible to be diſcourſed.
Holy, holy] This they double, treble and warble upon,In quibuſdam exemplaribus. nine times over.
Verſe 9. And when thoſe beaſts] When the Preachers are performing their office, as Heralds of Gods praiſes.
Verſe 10. The four and twenty Elders] The people yeeld their aſſent, and ſay Amen: the want whereof S. Paul accounts no ſmall loſſe, 1 Cor. 14.16.
And caſt their crowns] Canutus King of England ſet his crown upon the crucifix, and proclaimed, ſaying,Hen. Hunting… Let all the inhabitants of the world know, that there is no mortall man worthy the name of a King, but he to whoſe beck heaven, earth and ſea, by his laws eternall are obedient. When the great Turk cometh into his Temple, he laies by all his ſtate, and hath none to attend him all the while. Solomons mother ſet the crown upon his head (ſo doth the Church upon Chriſts head) in the day of his eſpouſals, Cant. 3.11.
Verſe 11. Thou art worthy] If we would have our ſouls ſet as a pearl in that fai… ring of heavenly courtiers, that compaſſe the lambs throne, let us praiſe God, as they do.
For thou haſt created] Our ſervice muſt not be raſh but reaſonable, Rom. 12.1. ſuch as whereof we can render a reaſon.Joh. 4. God hates a blinde ſacrifice, a Samaritan ſervice, when men worſhip they know not what, nor why.
And were created] Gods power put forth in the creation and adminiſtration of the world is twice here mentioned; as that which can never be ſufficiently admired and adored. See my Notes on Geneſis 1.