Commentary on the Epistles and Revelation of John, Commentary 22 · Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Verſe 1. In the right hand]
GR. On, or, At the right hand. There it lay ready, but none could make ought of it, till the Lamb took it not only at, but out of the Fathers right hand, and opened it, ver. 7.
A book written] This book of the Revelation, which till the Son of man had received of his heavenly Father to ſhew unto his ſervants, neither they nor he (as Sonne of man) knew (ſo much at leaſt) of that day and hour of his ſecond coming.
And on the back-ſide] As wanting room within.
Verſe 2. And I ſaw a ſtrong Angel] Angels are very deſirous to know the myſtery of Chriſt, 1 Pet. 1.11. and to profit daily in that knowledge, Epheſ. 3.10.
Verſe 3. Nor under the earth] That is, In the ſea, as Exodus 20.4.
Neither to look thereon] Or, therein, becauſe ſealed up.
Verſe 4. And I wept] Out of a deep deſire of knowing the Contents of this book. And as our Saviour going toward his croſſe, turned again to the weeping women, and comforted them, ſo he ſoon ſatisfied the deſire of this his dejected Diſciple. Tears are effectuall Oratours. Luther got much of his it …ſight in… to Gods matters by this means. So did Melancthon, when he wept out thoſe words, Quos fugiamus habemus (Pontificios) quos ſequamur non intelligimus. It is ſaid of Sir Philip Sidney, that when he met with any thing that he well underſtood not, he would break out into tears—faciles motus mens generoſa capit. The Spouſe,Cant 7.4. ſeeking him whom her ſoul loved, had eyes like the pools of Heſhbon glazed with tears. And Daniel had greateſt revelations after three weeks of heavines, Chap. 10.2.
Verſe 5. And one of the Elders] A common Chriſtian, points the Divine to the Arch-prophet, whom for preſent he thought not on.Act. 8 26. R…m. 1.12. An eloquent Apollos may be better informed by a Tent-maker, and a great Apoſtle be comforted by an ordinary Roman.
Behold, the lion of the Tribe of Judah] So Moſes ſets forth our Saviour.
The root of David] So the Prophets. They have Moſes and the Prophets, ſaith Abraham. To the Law, and to the Teſtimony. Gen 49.9. Iſa. 11.1. Luk. 16.29. Iſa 8.20.If any ſpeak not according to this word, it is becauſe there is no light in them, nor to be gotten for them.
Hath prevailed] Gr. Hath overcome, or ſurpaſſed, foreign.ſc. all creatures in worth, to do this great work.
Verſe 6. In the midſt of the Throne] As a fit Mediatour betwixt God and men, even the man Chriſt Jeſus, who gave a ranſome,1 Tim. 2.5, 8. &c.
A Lamb as it had been ſlain] This form of ſpeech is put (ſaith an Interpreter) to ſhew the continuall recent vertue of Chriſts death, eternally effectuall before God, as whereby once for all he hath purchaſed eternall redemption. Some think that he ſtill retains in heaven the prints and ſcars of thoſe wounds that he received on earth in his hands, feet and ſide. His glorified body (ſaith one) is that golden cenſer, which through the wounds that are in it, as thorow chinks or holes, fumeth forth alwaies a pleaſant and ſweet ſavour in the noſtrils of his Father.
Having ſeven hor…s] Plenty of power. Antichriſt hath but two horns, Chap. 13.11.
And ſeven eyes] No want of wiſdome, no need of a viſible head to the Church, or any other Vicar generall to Chriſt, then the holy Ghoſt, called here, The ſeven spirits of God ſent forth into all the earth.
Verſe 7. And he came and took] As Mediatour he took it, as God he gave it. All things are delivered unto him of the Father: and no man knoweth the Father but the Son, and he to whom the Son revealeth him, Mat. 11.27. See the Note there.
Verſe 8. Fell down before the Lamb] As they had done before the throne, Chap 4. See Joh. 5.23. Divine adoration is an honour due to the manhood of Chriſt alſo, as it is taken into union with the God-head.
Full of odours] Therefore ſweet to God, becauſe Chriſt pours unto them of his odours, Rev. 8.3.
Which are the praiers of Saints] That is, their own praiers and praiſes recorded, verſ. 9. And this is added as an Expoſition, to let us know what is meant by odours. See the like, Joh. 2.21. and 7.39. Rev. 1.20.
Verſe 9. And they ſung] A generall joy in heaven and earth. Surely,2 Cor 4.…. it is a pleaſant thing to ſee the light: how much more to ſee the light of the knowledge of God in the face of Jeſus Chriſt? What a deal of triumph and exultation is here all the Church over upon the opening of this book, upon the receit of this Revelation? Should not this excite and kindle in our hearts a more earneſt deſire of underſtanding theſe myſteries? Oh I could finde in my heart ;to fall afreſh upon the ſtudy of the Revelation, had I ſtrength to do it, ſaid my Reverend old Maſter unto me, a little afore his death: Mr John Ballam I mean, Miniſter of the Word for many years at Eveſham, where I heard him (in my childehood) preaching many a ſweet Sermon upon the ſecond and third Chapters of this Book.
A new ſong] For the new work of redemption, beſides that old ſong, Chap. 4. for that of creation.
Out of every kindred] Let this be noted againſt the doctrine of univerſall Redemption, that's now again ſo violently cried up amongſt us.
Verſe 10. And we ſhall raign on the earth] Raign over our luſts, raign with and in Chriſt over all our enemies by a ſpirituall not ſecular ſcepter; and at laſt judge the world, 1 Cor. 6.2.
Verſe 11. Round about the throne and the beaſts] That is, round about the beaſts and the Elders. Angels encamp about the Saints, as miniſtring ſpirits, and are glad of the office, that there God manifeſted in the fleſh may be ſeen of them: and the multivarious wiſdome of God in mans redemption be diſplaied unto them.1 Tim. 2.16. Epheſ 3.
Verſe 12. With a loud voice] Betokening their earneſt affection; which alſo is here notably expreſſed by the many particulars they aſcribe to Chriſt, as if they could never give enough to him. Now if Angels, who have nothing ſo much benefit by him, doe thus magnifie him; how much more ſhould we? Our hearts ſhould be enlarged, our mouths opened, and we not a little ve…d at our own vile dulneſſe in being no more affected with theſe indeleble raviſhments.
Verſe 13. And every creature] The whole creation groaneth under vanity, and rejoyceth, as it were, in the fore thought of that liberty of the ſons of God at the laſt day, whereof it ſhall partake, Rom. 8.21. See the Note there.
Verſe 14. And the four beaſts] The Saints were the Precout…urs in this bleſſed Quire, and now they are the Succentors alſo. They began the Song, and ſo conclude it, as having far greater benefit by Chriſt then all other creatures, and God expects a proportion, that our returns be ſome what anſwerable to our receits.