Commentary Upon Revelation, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIIII.
IN the 12. Chapter was the Dragon, and eſtate of the Church in his open rage, againſt her and her firſt ſeed. In the 13 is the Beaſt of his authority, the Antichriſt, and his ſtrange ſucceſſe by hypocriſie. Now, in this Chapter, is the eſtate of the Church and her other ſeed of ſucceeding times: firſt, lurking and hid vnderunder Antichirſt, to the ſixth verſe: next, breaking out, and wreſtling with him, in m…ch ſuffering, to the 14. verſe: and laſtly, in his ouerthow, victorious, to the end.
2 In the firſt of theſe three caſes, the Church her ſtate is deſcribed. Firſt, from her Head and Captaine, the Lambe: her place, Mount Sion, the true habitation of God, and place where his honour dwelleth, euen the mountaine vnmouable amongſt mountaines: her number, 144000. Whereof, in the end of the laſt Chap their badge and marke, euen their adoption, to hauehave the Lambe his Father, whereto they are ſealed by the holy ſpirit of promiſe, w…th heart beleeuing, and mouth confeſſing, verſ. Rom. 10. 9.1. Next, the heauenly diſpenſation of grace toward this his fellowſhip, is noted, according to the three degrees of operation, which the word of God hath in the hearts of his own: which are expreſſed by a threefold compariſon. The ſound of many waters, the noiſe of great thunders, and ſound of harpes harping, verſe 2. Thirdly, their worſhip returned to God is ſingular: in ſpirituall ioy, knowen and approued of him, and performed in the vnity and fellowſhip of his true Church (through the miniſterie of the word made vntounto him a royall Prieſthood) in the midſt whereof, hee alwaies ſitteth King and Lord: which Church, as it remained vnknowen to the world, the time of Antichriſt his abſolute preuailing; ſo their worſhip was perceptible to none but theſe ſecret ſealed ones, whom God of his ſpeciall grace, had bought with his owne bloud, out of the world, verſe 3. to bee a holy and chaſte ſpouſe to himſelfe (for none are ſealed of Dan, Chap. 7.) by true faith, cleauing onelyonly and alwaies to the Lambe, and following none other: keeping the liberty whereto God had made them free, and not ſeruing men: ſingled from the world to be a peculiar people, Gal. 5. 1.holy vntounto God and Chriſt Ieſus, verſe 4. euen true Iſraelites like Nathaniel, and in Chriſt and his righteouſneſſe accepted and approued of God, verſe 6. This is the ſtate of the Church, cloſed in the Temple, Iohn 1. 47.Chapter 11. Lurking in the wilderneſſe, Chapt. 12. And heere ſtabliſhed on mount Sion, while all the world follow the Beaſt.
3 Now, to cleare the threefold compariſon put ver. 2. The voice of the Lord is compared to many waters, for the vnreſiſtable force, and admirable noiſe, breeding wonder: to thunder, for terror and power ſhaking all: to the douce ſound of harpes, for the worke of peace and ioy in the conſcience. By which three, is ſignified, that as the Church, lurking in time of Antichriſt his abſolute preuailing, had the preſence of the Lambe: ſo, howſoeuer vnſeene of the world, ſhe had alſo plentifull diſpenſation of ſpirituall graces from heauen. Which the ſpirit heere expreſſeth by theſe three, according to the three degrees of operation, which the word of God hath in the hearts of men. For, firſt it falleth to mens eares, as the ſound of many waters, a mighty, great, but a confuſed ſound, and which commonly, bringeth neither terrour nor ioy, but yet a wondering and acknowledgement of a ſtrange force, and more then humane power. This is that effect which many Mar. 1. 22 27. Luke 4. 32. Ioh. 7. 46.felt, hearing Chriſt, when they were aſtonied at his doctrine, as teaching with authority. What manner doctrine is this? neuer man ſpake like this man. This effect falleth euen to the reprobate, which wonder and vaniſh, Habak. 1. 5. Acts 13. 41. and whoſe hearts are conuinced, hearing the word, that it hath more then humane force, euen like the noiſe of many waters. But, as the firſt hearing of the roare of waters is moſt admirable, and the more one is acquainted therewith, the leſſe hee heareth it, as Cicero. in ſomnio Scipionis.theſe at the Catadupes of Nilus: ſo, in whom the word worketh but this firſt effect, his eares waxe duller and duller, as daily experience proueth. The next effect, is the voice of thunder. Which bringeth not only wonder but feare alſo: not only filleth the eares with ſound, and the heart with aſtoniſhment, but moreouer ſhaketh and terrifieth the conſcience. And this ſecond effect may alſo befall a reprobate, as Felix Act. 24. The third effect, is proper to the elect: the ſound of harping; while the word not onelyonly rauiſheth with admiration, and ſtriketh the conſcience with terror; but alſo, laſtly, filleth it with that ſweete peace and ioy, which none feele, but they whoſe hearts thereupon, againe, as well ſounding harpes, are tuned vp to ſing a new ſong vntounto God. And, albeit the firſt two degrees may be without the laſt, yet none feele the laſt, who hauehave not in ſome degree, felt both the firſt two. For the voice of the Lord is mighty, the voice of the Lord is glorious; it breaketh the Cedars, and maketh the wilderneſſe to tremble: But in his Temple only men ſpeake of his glory, Pſalm. 29. This gracious diſpenſation (incredible and vnſeene to the world, which could not therefore learne the ſong of praiſe thereupon) was in the 11. Chap. expreſſed by two witneſſes, which for diſpenſing grace and light, were two oliue Trees, and two Candleſtickes in the Temple, while it ſeemed impoſſible that any ſuch could bee, Antichriſt brooking City and Court: and for force and power, fire went out at their mouths, and they did ſtrike the earth with all manner of plagues. Now theſe compariſons of the voice of waters, thunder, and harping, as they expreſſe fitly what I hauehave told ſo, in them is implyed a ſure prognoſtick and argument of the next inſuing eſtate, in the Angels breaking forth and crying. For albeit, this ſound of water, thunder, and harping, the world, in this lurking condition of the Church, perceiued not, yet they could not ſtill remaine vnheard. Who can reſtraine the breach of great waters? what congealed cloude can keepe in thunder? and, exceſſiue ioy, a heart, of any thing, can leaſt hold vp. Forth therefore, this hid Church behoued to come. The bellies made bitter, with eating the little booke, behoued to burſt or breake out: according as we ſee in the three Angels following, who come forth like the ſwelling of Iorden, like ſonnes of thunder (according as Chriſt Chapt. 10. preparing for this outbreake, his roaring voice, was ſeconded with ſeuen thunders) and like the burſting out of a blythe heart, which cannot hold vp a ſurfet of ioy.
4 This ſecond condition, of the Church breaking forth, hath the velitation or skirmiſh, and a coincident caſe with it. The velitation (I call it ſo, in compariſon to the great battell in the ſeuenth trumpet and ſeuen vials thereof, ſummarily proponed in the end of this Chap. and exponed largely thenceforth) according to the firſt degrees of the light of the Goſpell reuiuing, is ſet downe in three Angels; types of theſe Miniſters whom God ſtirred vp, to bee the firſt open conteſters with Antichriſt to the 12. verſe. The coincident caſe, is in the 12. and 13. verſes.
5 The firſt ranke of Preachers are expreſſed by an Angel fleeing thorow the mids of heauen, &c. for open and ſwift courſe, which notwithſtanding, was yet farre remoued aboue the perception of men of the earth, whereof few vnderſtood or imbraced the firſt warnings and light arriſing, it being but yet obſcurely preached: like as few vnderſtood the warning of Antichriſtian darkneſſe comming on, Chap. 8. and in reſpect of that Angel there, it is, that this, is called an other Angel, as who is the next, vſing his forme. See a contrarie diſpenſation to this, which cleareth this ſenſe, Chap. 18. His doctrine is ſet downe firſt in generall, and to whom he preached: and ſecondly, the ſpeciall points thereof. In generall, it is an euerlaſting Goſpell: euen that truth which was from the beginning, and which, when heauen and earth paſſeth away, ſhall abide for euer: the immortall ſeede, Math. 24. 35. 1. Pet. 1. 23.and begetting to immortality. So it is called, againſt the calumnies of nouelty, and in oppoſition to the doctrine of men. Hee preacheth to them who dwell on the earth, euen in Antichriſt his darkeneſſe: aboue whoſe reach, it is leſſe maruell that this firſt light was yet farre remoued; as a fleeing flaſh thorow the mids of heauen. He preacheth to all Nations, Kinreds, Tongues and Peoples, who had worſhipped the Beaſt; and of whom, by reſtored light of the Goſpell, an infinite number was now to be brought out of great tribulation, to ſing, with Palmes in hand, and hauing waſhed their garments in the bloud of the Lambe; Saluation is of our God and of the Lambe; and to be made partakers of the firſt reſurrection, the thouſand yeeres being expired, Chap. 20. Chap. 7.Now the hid ones beginne to breake out, and the ſong vnheard, to bee tuned vp loudlie in the eares of all the earth: therefore, this Angel is ſaid to cry loude. In his ſpeciall doctrine, is the ſubſtance thereof, and his manner of teaching. The ſubſtance is, that all feare, glory, and worſhip, bee giuen to God onelyonly, and that, both for auoiding his iudgements neere to bee executed, and becauſe he is creator of all things. A doctrine exceeding fite for that time. His manner is to bee marked: in that hee vrgeth onelyonly true worſhippe, not bold yet to challenge directly the Antichriſt, as the ſucceeding Angell doth roundly; but more the third, ſo wiſely and plainely as the Spirit ſheweth the courſe: and the accommodation of Story is euident. Now as this was the firſt degree of the conflict with Antichriſt; ſo accordingly in the ſong of victory, God is praiſed for theſe ſame points, Chapter 15. 3.
6 The ſecond Angell roundly denounceth the fall of Rome that ſpirituall Babell, Sodome and Egypt, and that becauſe ſhee had not onelyonly beene an Idolatreſſe her ſelfe, but as Ieroboam made Iſrael to ſinne, ſhee is the mother of Whoredomes through the world, making men drinke vp ſuperſtitious worſhippe greedily as wine, and ſo to be beſotted therewith. To the which, God both gaue ouer the world iuſtly in his wrath, that they who would not beleeue the truth, ſhould be taken with deceiueable illuſions, and for which, now againe the world iuſtly feeleth 2 Theſ. 2. 10. 11.the cuppes of the laſt wrath. As hee gaue to Iſrael Kings in his wrath, and tooke them away in his diſpleaſure.Oſe. 13. 11.
7 The third Angell yet more vehemently toucheth neerer. Warning all to leaue the Beaſt his worſhippe and character either in worke or profeſſion, vnderunder paine of eternall damnation. Wherein, they againſt whome the iudgement is denounced, are exactlie noted, and twiſe ſet downe in the beginning, and in the end of the denunciation, for ſpeciall purpoſe, and the quality, durance and continuance of their iudgement expreſſed. In the quality of iudgement, are two. Firſt, as they dranke greedily the Whores Wine, ſo get they to drinke the pure vnmixed wine of God his wrath: and next, they get it in the cup of his wrath: God ſometimes giueth a bitter cuppe to his owne children: but as ſtrong wine for mitigation, is tempered with water or ſugar: ſo are all God his chaſticements to his owne mixed with mercy: but to the wicked is powred out mercileſſe iudgement. Next, the Cuppe propined to the Saints, is not the Cup of wrath, but of louelove, and medicinall: but the wicked drinke out of the cuppe of wrath. Lord reproue mee not in thy wrath, Pſal. 6.
8 Now, this iudgement is denounced againſt ſuch as worſhippe the Beaſt, and receiue his Character, &c. And they are twice repeated, as I hauehave ſaid, wherein is no Tautologie, but diuine wiſdome, for to make vsus take vp a great point. In the 13. Chapter, all the Beaſt his followers hauehave his Character, or his name, or his number: whereof, as I ſhewed there, the difference is ill obſerued. For many hauehave his name, and are content to be called his, being ſo farre deceiued with his ſhew, as yet they receiue neuer his Character, as his mancipate ſlaues. And yet, moe hauehave the number of his name, that is, are counted and numbred to bee of his body, who yet in effect neither hauehave his name nor his Character. This hath deceiued men, that they hauehave imagined the Character to be ſome other thing then of his name. But as is cleare by this place, his Character is of his name, and they receiue his Character; who ſo hauehave his name, as they are characterized therewith, and vponupon his marke. A ſpeech Liers and murtherers like their father the diuel.from common vſe. Hereof it is, that in Mount Sion all hauehave the Character, that is, all who are of the true Church elected according to the purpoſe of grace. But as in the viſible Church many hauehave the name of God, & moe hauehave the number, that is, are accounted Chriſtians, who yet are not of the number ſealed: ſo in Antichriſt his Church, are many hauing his name, and moe hauing his number, and ſo are tolerated to hauehave commerce and trade with men, who yet neuer receiued his Character. Therefore it is, that the iudgement is denounced onelyonly againſt thoſe who worſhippe him and receiue his Character: and accordingly the Vials of wrath, Chapter 16. are powred onelyonly vponupon theſe. Who are here twiſe repeated, that wee may bee wakened to aduert; how here the holy Ghoſt teacheth vsus, not to iudge ſo hardly of all that follow the Beaſt, as that eternall damnation abideth them; but onelyonly ſuch as hauehave receiued his Character. For no queſtion, but many hauehave beene, and are ſtill named his, and counted of his number, who learned Chap. 2. 24.neuer the deepeneſſe of Sathan: as ſimple ſheepe fallen into that ſlocke of his, becauſe they ſaw there the publike Enſigne, and the Lambe his horns in ſemblance; becauſe hee brooked the holy City, and Court of the Temple. Euen like theſe two hundreth, who in ſimplicity of heart followed Abſolom from Ieruſalem, knowing nothing of his treaſon. For we muſt conſider what 2 Sam. 5. 11.ſort of enemy Antichriſt is. That hee is no fortaine inuader, but an inward Traitor. None directly fighting againſt the name and Enſigne of Chriſt, but by pretence of the name and Enſigne deceiuing. And ſitting euen in the Temple of God, as if a hid Traitor, pretending the King his Maſters ſeruice and commiſſion, would ſummon all true Subiects to follow him, while hee were but minding vſurpation: euen good Subiects might bee thus far deceiued as to follow the publike Enſigne, till the treaſon were detected. Further conſider, that the true Church in Antichriſt his greateſt preuailing, was alwaies within his compaſſe, within which, all were euer accounted to bee his owne, but yet were not. As within the compaſſe of the holy City, and Court of the Temple, were the Temple and witneſſes in it, Chapter 11. beſides, as no way could bee to the Temple, but through the City and Court: ſo no way euer was or ſhall bee to become a member of the true Church, but by comming through the viſible Church, wherein Antichriſt fortie two moneths working and obtaining without controlment: all behoued to ioyne to that body where was the Enſigne, and ſeek in through the City and Court to com to the Temple. Now, no maruell, though many in the paſſing through were taken in admiration of the City & Court before they got ſight of the Temple. And the prouidence of God was wonderfull in this, that in greateſt corruption he reſerued alwayes a ſure way through Antichriſt to the Temple, the Sacrament of Baptiſme in ſubſtance remaining, and the doctrine of the Trinity abiding ſound. So thus all comming through him, had his name or his nūber, of whom yet many neuer receiued his Character, but eſpying the pollution of City and Court, ſtepped into the Temple. Where ſtill, though quietly, God preſerued two Candleſtickes and two Oliues; till at length his impiety came to that height by murthering the Saints, that it was ſaid to them, Come vp hither, and ſo a viſible ſeparation was made, not from the Church, Chap. 11.but from the thiefe and Traitor in the Church, his mouth bewraying it ſelfe to bee the Dragons. And certainely, this holdeth true, (ſo as we neede not ſo much iangle with the Romans thereabout) that the Church hath and euer ſhall bee viſible, becauſe alwayes the common Enſigne is ſeene. But this Enſigne the Traitor craftily tooke vponupon him to beare, and thereby deceiued. Here is the fallacy, that by aequiuocation they conclude, if the Church hath alway beene viſible, then are wee the true Church. Here more is added. For albeit the church be alwayes viſible, yet the truth and true profeſſors in it are not alwayes ſo. For the witneſſes were cloſed in the Temple, the woman lurked in the wilderneſſe, and the ſealed ones were, albeit ſinging, yet vnſeene and vnheard vponupon Mount Sion. Three diſtinct ſpeeches vſed of the Spirit for great purpoſe. The firſt, to ſhew that howſoeuer the true Church was hid, yet where ſhee was, to witte, within the compaſſe of the viſible where Antichriſt ruled, and where Sathan his throne was. The ſecond, to ſhew that albeit ſhee lurked, yet ſhe was fed, as was Iſrael in the wilderneſſe, and Elias in the dayes of famine. The third, that in that great preuailing of Antichriſt, when all the earth followed the Beaſt, yet ſhe was ſtabliſhed on Mount Sion: ſo as againſt her the gates of hell could not preuaile. The true Church is in ſome ſort euer vlſible, though not in her ſelfe, yet in her infallible Enſignes, as who ſeeth the Citie and Court, hee ſeeth in a ſort the Temple, becauſe albeit hee ſee it not diſtinctlie, yet ſeeing the City and Court, hee is certaine that the Temple is there. So ſeeing the viſible Church, within whoſe compaſſe, though no eye ſee them: yet God hath his true worſhippers, one ſeeth alſo the true Church. For within the Church are truth and lies, Chriſt and Antichriſt, and either of them now and then obtaine in it, and hold place communiter in toto, but neuer vniuerſaliter in ſingulis. From the Apoſtolike times, as witneſſe Paul and Iohn, Antichriſt was in 2 Theſ. 2. 7. 1 Ioh, 4. 3.the Church, but hee appeared not ſome ages after, In his time hee riſeth and obtaineth all the holy City, and Court of the Temple, erecteth a throne in Pergamus, and domineth as Iezabel in I hyatira. Truth is hid, and true Profeſſors, till the noiſe of many waters, the voyce of thunder, and ſound of well tuned Harpes, breake out of Sion and the Temple, and the woman returne from the wilderneſſe. It is a great Sophiſme to conclude from the Church viſible to the Church abſolutely, or true Church: or againe, from theſe to that: or to reaſon a toto communiter, ad vniuerſum ſingulariter. Albeit Antichriſt was commonlie acknowledged of all, yet neuer vniuerſally of each one. For he neuer ſet his foot in the Temple, nor vponupon Mount Sion. The Romans preſſe ſore vponupon vsus, to ſhew who in former ages hauehave been of our Religion, and our men but buſie themſelues more then is needfull, the holy Ghoſt hauing ſo plainely foretolde the caſe. And how common doe wee ſee in our daylie experience of particular Churches, that things will by cuſtome or tyranny ſo obtaine, as none are found to reſiſt, while yet in the meane time great numbers not only diſallow, but euen hold themſelues pure there from? Here, who would aske the ſucceeding age, what had beene the eſtate then: hee could find nothing, but that all had erred; becauſe the common Records beare but what obtained in the time: no Record remaining of theſe, who, though for feare they durſt not conteſt, yet miſliked and mourned for the iniquity. And if perhaps, they did vtter any thing which to the poſterity might hauehave carried teſtimony of their mind; the ſame being ſmothered by them who violently poſſeſſed and diſpoſed of all: I hauehave no doubt, but in eueryevery age, euen in the greateſt height of darkeneſſe, diuers hauehave not onelyonly been enemies thereof, & both children and miniſters of light: but euen hauehave beene in their time knowne to the godly then. Albeit to enquire the ſucceeding ages of their ſtory, it is ridiculous, and wee but faſhe our ſelues vnneceſſarily to haile therein the cord of contention with the aduerſaries: hauing otherwiſe ſo cleare, and ſolide anſweres furniſhed vsus by the holy Ghoſt to cloſe their mouthes. Yea, the Antichriſt his prerogatiue, and his long and peaceable obtaining in the viſible Church, diſmayeth vsus ſo little, as thereupon wee build a ſure argument, that there all the time was the true Church. For hee is a proper ſore of the body of the Church. And as ſuch a peſtilent boile or leproſie, which can bee in no other but a man his body, albeit the whole body ſhould bee ſo couered, that nothing could bee ſeene but the boile or leproſie: yet euen thereby the beholder is aſſured that there is a man his body, becauſe that ſoare can befall none other. So, by Antichriſt who is a proper euill, and ſitting no where elſe but in the Church, wee diſcerne and perceiue clearely where the true Church hath beene, and ſtill in great part is. For euen before the laſt fall of Babell, the Lord his people are exhorted to come Chap. 18. 4.out of her. In the viſible Church the truth hath alwaies beene: but ſo a long time, as the Booke of the Law was within the Temple before Ioſias. Now then the obiection 2 King. 22.of the Romans whereby they labour ſo much to ſhake vnſtable ſoules, is more then ridiculous: where was your Church before Luther? what became of all our Fathers? to which we anſwere: Our Church was euen where Satans throne was. And of our Fathers wee iudge well, as who, howſoeuer they receiued the Beaſt his name, or at leaſt the number of his name, yet might hauehave beene free from receiuing his Character: and ſo out of the danger of this ſentence of eternall fire. If they had eies to ſee, and hearts to vnderſtand this Propheſie, they would bee confounded in that wherein they glorie moſt: and aſhamed to obiect to vsus that which moſt approueth our cauſe.
9 Thus was the velitation. The caſe coincident, is terrible perſecution. The weight whereof is cleered by a warning, verſe 12. and a conſolation, verſ. 13. The warning, together with the weight, declare againſt whom this heauy perſecution is intended: to wit, the Saines, and thoſe who keepe the commandements of God, and faith of Ieſus. The weight is ſhewed in this, that their ſhall bee need of Chriſtian patience, as which ſhall be greatly exerciſed: and that the triall ſhall bee ſuch, as, the conſtant keepers of God his commandements and faith of Ieſus, ſhall finde wherein to be prooued. This, the phraſe of ſpeech ſheweth, as that Chap. 13. Heere is wiſdome. Now, this warning implieth cleerely, the party perſecuter to be the Beaſt, to whom was giuen, To make warre with the Saints and to ouercome them, Chap. 13. 7. who thereupon, got the ſame warning there, verſe 10. And, ſeeing that the remnant ſeed of the woman, againſt whom the Dragon was to ſtir vp warte, Chap. 12. 17. are deſcribed by the ſame titles Of keeping the commandements of God, &c. This warning heere giuen, hath alſo this end, to waken vsus vp to conſider the ſpeciall time and heate of that warre, their foretold to bee then, when Antichriſt, beeing chaffed with theſe three Angels, made all Europe to feele cruell fires and bloody maſſacres: whereof the memory is yet recent. That ſo, the reſt of them who ſhould be killed for Ieſus, being fulfilled, Chap. 6. 11. finall and full vengeance may come on that bloody ſtate. The weight of this perſecution is yet further amplified by the conſolation giuen againſt it. Which beſides the ſubſtance thereof, is notable in many circumſtances. Of the deliuery, from heauen: the commandement how to receiue it, in that it ſhould not onelyonly be heard, but alſo written, as worthy of laſting record: Chap. 19. 9. Iſa. 8. & 30. Aabac. 2. 2. Iob. 19. 23.of double aſſeueration: and that by the holy Ghoſt. The ſubſtance of the conſolation is, Bleſſed are the dead that hencefoorth die in the Lord. The reaſons are, They reſt from their labours: and their works follow them. Our daies heere are but a ſhadowe, and in them, euen our ſtrength is but labour and ſorrow: all, wherein a man ſeeketh happineſſe vnderunder the ſunne, beeing but vanity and vexation of ſpirit, from whence to remoue in the Lord, and enter into our reſt, is a great bleſſedneſſe; in ſo farre as our labour is not in vaine in the Lord, but great is our reward in heauen. Now, howſoeuer all men goe naked out of this world, as naked wee come: and nothing of all our great labour and works goeth with vsus. Yet, as eueryevery one ſhall be indged and receiue according to that which hee hath done in the fleſh, good or euill; ſo eueryevery ſoule carieth with it an inſtamped ſenſe of the workes done in the fleſh: ſo as either a ſpeaking and ſelfe accuſing guiltineſſe followeth a man; or then, as by grace he hath beene inabled to make his election ſure by good workes in this life, ſo ſhall the teſtimony of peace in his conſcience follow him. For, There is no condemnation for them which are in Chriſt Ieſus, which walks not after the fleſh but after the Rom. 8. 1.ſpirit.
10 From the 14. ver. is the third part of this Ch. Wherein is the ſummary propoſition of the full ouerthrow of the enemies: which at length, in the ſubſequent Chapters, is explaned. Now heere, the courſe of this Propheſie is The courſe of this Booke.carefully to be marked, for a great light through all. The iudgements of God, firſt, and ſecond vponupon the worlde, were in the ſixe Seales and ſixe Trumpets of the ſeuenth. To the 15. verſe of the 11. Chapter, there the ſeuenth Trumpet ſoundeth, and the laſt wrath is denounced. Before the particular declaration whereof, that the iuſtice of God, therein might the better appeare, it was requiſite, that the Hiſtorie of theſe enemies to be deſtroied, in their dealings againſt the Church, ſhould be cleered: for which it is, that the world feeleth all this wrath. That ſtory therefore was in the 12. 13. and thus farre in this 14. Chapters. Wherein, is no idle repetition of what appeareth before ſet downe. For the conſideration is much diuers: in that, whatſoeuer before the 12. Chapter was ſpoken of the enemies, or their dealing, was to ſhew, how by them, the world and worldly ſort, in God his iuſtice were puniſhed. The caſe of the Church ſparingly touched: ſo farre as might ſhew her to bee free from theſe euils (euen in the midſt of them) which were poured on the world for her hard intertainement. And what in the eleuenth Chapter ſeemeth wholly agreeable for time and condition with that which, hithertils in this Chapter is ſaid of the Church in her two declared ſtates, yet hath a farre diſtinct conſideration from this. In that there, the witneſſes, firſt, in the Temple, next in their warre with the Beaſt, ſlaughter, riſing againe, going vp to heauen, and terrour of their enemies thereupon, with the fall in a part of the Antichriſtian kingdome; are put, as plagues on the world, and men thereof; whom they firſt plagued, next tormented and vexed, after terrified, and in part ouerthrew. For, the Goſpell, to whom it is not the ſauour of life, is the greateſt iudgement that commeth on the world. But from the beginning of the 12. Chapter to this place, the enemies are handled, as by them the Church is exerciſed. Firſt, fighting and preuailing to Satan his deiection and exaltation of the firſt ſeede. Yet ſo, as through Satan his rage, but aided thereto with the two wings of that great Eagle, the true Church at length, fleeth to the wilderneſſe and there lurketh. Wherethrough, the Beaſt comming in place, obtaineth, and deceiueth all, except theſe who on mount Sion inioy the preſence of the Lambe. Who at length, by degrees breake foorth, and albeis in much ſuffering, yet ſtill fight, till at length, by him who ſitteth on the white cloude, the iudgemeuts of God are made manifeſt. Chap. 15. 4.The ſtory of the eleuenth Chapter and of this, are for time and matter, the ſame: but the conſideration and reſpect of handling much different. Which, is yet, for courſe and order, in ſo diuine an artifice led on, as heere the ſtory falling in againe to the ſame point, from which, for inſerting this narration, it was ſince the eleuenth Chapter, broken off: of that, which from the 15. verſe of 11. the Chapter at the ſound of the ſeuenth Trumpet, was vponupon preconceiued ioy denounced; heere, from the foureteenth verſe of this Chapter, to the ende; the execution is ſummarily proponed. Exceeding fitly, ſo falling in, to the large explication of the ſeuenth trumpet in the ſubſequent Chapters.
11 This ſummary execution is declared by two compariſons. One of the Harueſt: the other of the Vintage. From Ioel 3. In both, are to be conſidered, the Actors, and their actions. The Harueſt hath two actors: and ſo hath the Vintage. The actiōs of both Actors, both in harueſt & vintage are, that the one worketh, furniſhed with conuenient inſtrument, & the other ſtirreth to the work. Which in the Harueſt, is reaping the harueſt of the earth: in the Vintage, the cutting downe of the Grapes, caſting them in the winepreſſe, treading, &c. The arguments whereby the inciters ſtirre the executers, is the readineſſe of both, for reaping and cutting downe. Thus by ſimilitudes familiar in the Prophets for ſuch iudgements, the deſtruction of Iere. 51. 33.the enemies of the Church is expreſſed: who in God his wrath as an vncleane thing, without the Citie, are deſtroied Heb. 13. 11:with ſo huge a ſlaughter, as all the earth is filled farre and deepe with their blood: by Hyperbolike ſpeech expreſſing the greatneſſe of the plague; and, as to the holy City, ſo alſo alluding to the Land of Canaan, which is in length 160. furlongs, as witneſſeth Rabbi Menahen, vponupon Geneſis fol. 60. For clearing heereof, the Actors, and their diſtinct actions muſt be diligently aduerted, ſo much the more, as to the obſcuring of all the Propheſie, this place is widely miſtaken. In them are to bee noted, their properties, their doing, and their order of doing: for courſe of time to be carefully obſerued. In the harueſt, hee that worketh, being accordingly furniſhed with fit inſtrument, by all hi… notes, is vndoubtedly, Chriſt the Lord of the harueſt. For, he is one like the ſonne of man, which, in all Chap. 1. 13.this Propheſie, is put but in one other place, and that for Chriſt: he fitteth, as a Iudge: on a white cloude, both for eminency and maieſty; as alſo, by the whiteneſſe, to ſhew the cleareneſſe & pureneſſe of his iudgements, which Now were to be made manifeſt, Chap. 15. 4. The firſt flying Angell foretold that they were neere, now Chriſt is cleerely to ſhew himſelfe: by ſhewing, hence, The ſigne of the ſonne of Man in heauen. The ſpeech is from Iſai 19. 1. Behold the Lord rideth on a ſwift cloude. Hee hath, with a ſharpe ſikle, a crowne: to ſhew him to be the Lord both of Harueſt and Vintage. For he not onelyonly gathereth Matth. 13. 30. Iſa. 63. 3.the Saints, but alſo the Tares in bundles: and treadeth the Winepreſſe of God his wrath: and in both, he conquereth & ouercometh, Chap. 6. The other, comming out of the temple, is the type of Saints & faithfull ones, whoſe habitation is in the Temple, out of which they are now bold to ſtep out and be ſeene: and perceiuing the ripenes of the Harueſt (whereto it was not yet come in the fifth Seale, and therefore, this execution, craued of them then, was delaied) and yet not being able, in that weake eſtate of the Goſpell reuiuing, for ſo great a worke: (therefore it is that this Angell hath no ſikle) they beſeech the Lord of the harueſt to put too his hand, and HaueHave mercy on Sion. For the time to hauehave mercy, for euen the ful time is come. The harueſt of the earth is ripe, and the reſt of the Saints ſlaine. Neither is this thus expreſſed, as if euen then, or at any time, Chriſt did not worke by inſtruments: but to ſhew the beginnings; ſuch, as, in reſpect of the greatneſſe of the worke, and little humane aide, it was in a ſort, Chriſt his owne arme which helped him. But in proceſſe of time, by the powerfull progreſſe of the Goſpell, hee getteth to himſelfe miniſters of executing his wrath, euen out of the Temple, furniſhed with conuenient weapons. And to expreſſe this, in the Vintage, the Actor commeth out of the Temple hauing a ſharpe ſikle: as Chriſt, betime got himſelfe, and daily raiſeth of his owne faithfull ones fit inſtruments inabled and furniſhed with power to execute his iuſt iudgements againſt the enemies: To doe to her as ſhee hath done to vsus, and to render her double. For this it is, that this ſecond Actor hath theſe different notes from the firſt. He ſitteth not; he is not crowned; and he commeth out of the Temple. So then, this Angell is the generall type, in this ſummary propoſition, of that ſame, whereof the ſeuen Angels are, in the large explication, Chapter 15. As is moſt cleere by comparing the Angell, ſtirring this to execution, with that one of the foure beaſts, furniſher of the Vials to the ſeuen Angels, Chapter 15. This laſt inciter, hath this common note with the former two Angels, that he commeth out of the Temple: but this he hath ſingular, that he came from the Altar. So then, he is a miniſter of the Altar, by alluſion, ſtill to the Temple and Legal worſhip. Next, he hath power ouer fire: as Chriſt who came to ſend fire in the earth: as the two Witneſſes, Cha. Luk. 12. 49.11. and Elias: out of whoſe mouthes fire proceeded to deuoure their aduerſaries: and who had power to plague the earth with all manner of plagues, als often as they would, as hauing vengeance in readineſſe againſt all diſobedience. 2. Cor. 10. 16.Now then, as by the Angell out of the Temple armed with the ſikle, are expreſſed heere generally and ſummarily, in this ſummary propoſitiō, all faithfull Chriſtians; of whatſoeuer calling, inſtructed with power from God to execute his wrath againſt the enemies: which executors are more largely expreſſed in the ſeuen Angels, Chapter 15. So this, comming from the Altar, is the type of true paſtours: by whoſe plaine and powerful preaching, the other are informed and ſtirred to conſecrate their hands to the Lord. Euen to ſerue Babel as ſhee hath ſerued vsus. As accordingly, Chapter 15. The ſeuen Angels receiue the vials of wrath from one of the foure beaſts. Of whom Chapt. 4.