Commentary Upon Revelation, Chapter 5
CHAP. V.
THe firſt part of the introduction to the Story, was in the fourth Chapter, in a goodly type of the militant …hurch, and God his generall diſpenſation in her. The ſecond part is in this Chapter: wherein is ſhewed, in whom, for whom, and by whom it is that the Church hath all this preſence, protection and graces: and in ſpeciall, (for bringing on the ſecond part, in the ſtory of ſpeciall euents) by whom, and for whom, ſhee hath this particular benefite of this Reuelation; the great dignitie whereof, albeit it appeareth ſufficiently by that which in the former Chapter was ſeene, it being from ſuch a King as God, to his owne Church; yet here it is more plainely ſhewed in two great points. The one is, the retired highneſſe of the matter, ſurpaſſing the reach of all Creatures: the ſecond is, the ſingular worth, and prerogatiue of that perſonage by whome it is reuealed.
2 The retired height of the matter, is declared firſt by the naturall condition of it, in it ſelfe: and next by the imbecility of all Creatures in attaining thereto. The condition of the matter is, according to the manner of men, ſet forth in foure circumſtances. 1. That it is in the hand of him that ſitteth on the throne. 2. It is a book. 3. Copiouſly written. 4. It is moſt ſurely ſealed. That it is in the hand of God, not onelyonly is ſhewed the eminency thereof, but alſo that the whole caſe of his church, and wrath on the world for her hard entertainement, are directed by him as the worke of his owne right hand; as alſo his carefull memory of it, keeping the record therof in his right hand, as men doe of theſe things they hold moſt deare. It is a booke, for the certainety of things, regiſtred in God his booke: Pſal. 139. according to the manner of men, who carefully put in Regiſter that whereof they would hauehave the record abide ſure. For properly God hath no booke, but is his owne booke. It is copiouſly written, in that the inſide of Fzech. 2. 10.the roll (for bookes muſt bee vnderſtood, according to the manner of that time) not ſuffiſing to containe the whole; it is written alſo on the backe: and this ſheweth, beſides the certainety of the matter, ſo carefully and amply recorded, the ſpeciall prouidence of God in al the particular caſes of his Saints, as, whoſe wandrings are counted, teares are regiſtred, and haires are numbred. It is ſealed with ſeuen ſeales, to ſhew the abſtruſe Iſai 29. 11.ſecreſie, as perfectly cloſed vp, which the number of ſeuen implyeth.
3 Now beſides this condition of the matter in it ſelfe, the retired eminency thereof is declared alſo by the imbecility of all creatures to attaine thereto, proued by a moſt ſure argument, euen experience, which is heere ſet out after the manner of men: in that all beeing by publike edict prouoked to the opening of the booke, all come ſhort of it. Which firſt euent of imbecility of all Creatures, is more cleared by a ſecond euent in the Apoſtle, who thereupon mourneth a ſore mourning: Here then are to bee obſerued, the Herauld, the tenor of the Proclamation, and the double euent aforeſaid. The Herauld is a ſtrong Angell, hauing a ſtrong voice, ſuch as becommeth the Herauld of a great King, for making all Creatures heare him. And euen herein is implyed an amplification of the imbecility of creatures, as which all are prouoked, and hauehave lawfull warning. The tenor of the Proclamation is, Who is worthy to open the booke, & looſe the ſeuen Seales thereof? ſhewing, as a free eſſay offered to all, yet that to atchieue it, was required great worthineſſe. The firſt euent, is the inſufficiencie of all creatures, whereof, according to the ordinary maner of Scripture, is put a perfit enumeration, of thoſe in heauen, in earth, and vnderunder the earth: neither Saint nor Angel being found worthy of this work. And their weaknes is amplified, in that al were ſo far from the worthines of taking and opening the booke, as none were able to looke vponupon it. The iudgements of God are ſo great a depth. VponUpon this firſt euent, followeth a ſecond, in Iohn: who hauing beene called vp to heauen, to ſee ſuch things as afterwards were to be fall the Church, hee is at the firſt, brought almoſt to deſpaire of ſeeing ought: whereupon, in a holy, albeit infirme, affection (hauing forgot on whoſe breaſt hee had leaned) as zealous of the Church her good, and hartely ſorry ſhe ſhould remaine depriued of ſo great benefit, hee mourneth, and mourneth much; an affection now rarely found in any. And certainely, ſo long as, for obtaining ought out of God his hand, for our comfort, wee looke to any creature, wee ſhall reape but mourning, till wee ſee him, who onelyonly is worthy, to bring vsus grace from the father.
4 The ſecond great argument, of the dignity of this reuelation, is the worthy perſonage by whom it is reuealed, to whom God gaue it Chap. 1. And of him are to bee obſerued two things. Firſt, his performing of that, wherein all creatures had ſuccumbed; and ſecondly, the euent and effect following thereupon. In the performer, are firſt, Iohn his knowledge of him, and next, the fact performed. Iohn his knowledge, is firſt, by information, and ſecondly, by ſight. In the information, are the occaſion, the informer, and what he informeth. The occaſion, is Iohn his mourning, whereof the informer would comfort him. For it is moſt true, that as, holding our eies on creatures, we can reape but ſorrow: ſo, till in conſcience of our owne wants, and felt experience of the vanity of all refuge to any creature, wee learne to mourne and mourne much, we finde no ſolid ioy, either for peace of conſcience, or light of reuelation. Our diuels are not caſt out but by praier and faſting. Daniel had then greateſt reuelation, when he had bene in heauineſſe Mat. 17. 21. Dan. 10. 1.three weekes of daies. The informer, is one of the elders. Now wee muſt conſider, whereof, theſe twenty foure elders are the type, and, what perſonage Iohn heere beareth: which duly weighed, wee ſhall not maruell, how this ſonne of thunder is informed, of one of the elders. Iohn, heere, is the type of one entring in heauen to know God his ſecrets. Now heauen and the twenty foure elders, are the type of God his true Church, as hath beene cleared. As then, the true Church is the pillar and ſtable ſeat of truth; ſo without it, is neither ſaluation, nor any true knowledge: for God is knowne in Iuda. Hereby 1. Tim. 3. 15.then is ſignified, that all true knowledge of Chriſt, is in Pſalm. 76. 1.his Church. The information hath, firſt, a dehortation from mourning: ſecondly, a deſignation of the ſingular perſonage: and thirdly, his prerogatiue to performe: the dehortation, as it is grounded on the comfort, hee was to ſhew him, ſo hath it this vſe, that true light bringeth euer true ioy. The deſignation of the perſon performer, is by two titles. 1 That Lion of the Tribe of Iuda. 2 That root or ſyour of Dauid. In theſe are to be obſerued, firſt the titles, and next, whence they are brought. He is a Lion, but with this note, that he is of Iuda. Satan is a Lion, and a roaring Lion, that Lion, whom Sampſon rent, & out of whoſe mouth Dauid, pulling 1. Pet. 5. 8. Iudg. 14 6 1. Sam. 17. 35. Gen. 49. 9. Nom. 24. 9.his ſheepe, killed him: but this Lion of Iuda, taketh the prey, and none is able to reſcue it, whom, when he lyeth downe, who dare ſtirre him vp? Hee is the root or ſyour of Dauid, by Iuda and Dauid to ſhew the true Meſſias promiſed of their ſeed. Theſe titles, are brought, the one from Geneſ. 49. the other from the 11. of Iſaiah, the one from Moſes, the other from the Prophets. They hauehave Moſes and the Prophets, ſaith Abraham in Parable; thither Chriſt ſendeth the Iewes, for true knowledge of himſelfe. So then, the elders informe, but out Luke 16. 29. Ioh. 5. 39.of Moſes and the Prophets; to ſhew, that as, onelyonly in the Church true knowledge is to bee had; ſo, no voice ſhould, there, be heard, but of the Scriptures. Search the Scriptures, for they beare witneſſe of mee. The third Ioh. 5. 39.point, whereof the elder informeth Iohn is the prerogatiue, of this great perſonage to performe. And it is ſet downe in this one word, hee hath obtained to open the booke, &c. of which, more heereafter in the ſong. This farre knowledge Iohn getteth by information; the other degree of knowledge, is by ſight: wherein, the ordinary degrees of true illumination, for ſtabliſhing of a ſoule in certainty of truth, heere, in great wiſdome ſet downe, are carefully to be marked. The firſt is the information of the Church and authority thereof, as Auguſtine calleth it, Opportunum inquirendi exordium. In which reſpect, Libro de vtilitate credendi.hee ſaith in another place, and in the perſon of one ignorant of Scripture, Ego Scriptur is non crederem, niſi me eccleſiae commo…eret authoritas. Yet, in this degree, albeit Contra Epiſt. fu damentalem. cap. 5.of great moment, the ſoule reſteth not, but hath, next, to aduert not onelyonly what, but alſo whence the Church ſpeaketh: neither in this yet canſt thou acquieſce, till, beſides both theſe degrees, God by his ſpirit open thine eies to ſee and behold: ſo as now, thou beleeueſt, not onelyonly for that the Church ſo ſaith; but becauſe by her teſtimony, out of the word, God hath lightned thy minde to ſee and know, Non iam hominibus, ſed ipſo Deo i…trinſecus mentem noſtram firmante atque illuminante, Ibidem cap. 14.as ſaith the ſame Auguſtine. In the ſight then of this perſon priuiledged aboue all creatures, as Iohn ſeeth him, are firſt, his place and geſture in it, and next his deſcription. The place is betwixt the throne, and the foure beaſts and twenty foure elders: his geſture is that hee ſtood. In both which is expreſſed, his adminiſtration betwixt God and his Church, towards both foreign. His deſcription is that he is a lambe, but of ſtrange note. Hee is the lambe of God, which taketh away Iohn 1. 29. 1. Cor. 5. 7.the ſinnes of the world, and our true paſſeouer. His notes are firſt, that he ſtood as though he were killed, not that ſo it was in apparance and not in truth, but this form Heb. 10. 14.of ſpeech is put, to ſhew the continuall recent vertue of his death eternally effectuall before God, as whereby Heb. 9. 12.once for all hee hath purchaſed eternall redemption. His Zach. 3. 9.ſecond note, are his ſeuen eyes, and ſeuen hornes, the ſeuen ſpirits of Iehouah, euen that full perfection of Pſal. 45 7.wiſdome and power wherewith hee is annointed aboue Iohn 3 34.his fellowes, hauing receiued the ſpirit without meaſure, to rule all things according to the high authority giuen him of the Father, of whom hee hath receiued all power Mat. 28. 18.in heauen and earth: ab…dantly ſo inſtructed with all that ſerueth for perfect execution of his royall, prieſtly, and Propheticall offices. Thus is the knowledge which Iohn had of this perſonage, followeth his fact, which is, that hee went and tooke the booke out of the hand of him who ſate vponupon the throne, &c. for, as by him onelyonly wee hauehave all bleſſing from the Father (whom none knoweth but the Sonne,) ſo particularly, this diuine reuelation.Mat. 11. 27.
5 Thus is his fact and performance of that which no Creature was able to looke vponupon. Followeth the euent enſuing hereon, in all which the dignity of this Reuelation appeareth clearely. And this euent is much different from that, which, deſpaire of getting the book opened, wrought in Iohn. For, now vponupon cleare ſight, and aſſurance of one taking the booke, and worthy to open the ſame, is raiſed an excellent ioyfull ſong of praiſe; wherein fall to bee marked, firſt the occaſion. 2. The Singers. 3. The quality and tenor of the ſong. And 4. the order of ſinging: That they ſee the Lambe take the Booke, it occaſioneth the ſong. The Singers are the 4. Beaſts, the twenty foure Elders, the Angels: And laſtly, all Creatures. Of theſe, the foure beaſts, and with, and following them, the twenty foure Elders, raiſe the ſong: the Angels in courſe ſucceed, and ſing their part: then all Creatures. Laſtly, theſe who raiſed the ſong, ſing the laſt paſſage, and ſo cloſe it. The quality and tenor will appeare through all, in the parts thereof. In the foure Beaſts, and twenty foure Elders, who are Precantors, are noted; firſt, their diſpoſing of themſelues to ſing. 2 the quality of their ſong, and 3. the tenor or ſubſtance of it. They diſpoſe themſelues by conuenient geſture, & by fitte inſtruments of praiſe. Their geſture is, falling downe, and that before the Lambe, as before they did before the throne; for hee is to bee honoured as the Father, and ſuch is the Father his will, that who honoreth the Father, they honour the Sonne alſo Their Inſtruments Iohn 5. 23.of praiſe are th… Harpes, golden Vialls full of odours, and voice ioyned therewith. Harps are known Inſtruments of praiſe through all the Pſalmes. The Odours are interpreted praiers of Saints, powred out of golden Vials, that is, faithfull and pure hearts: the ſpeech is from the Leuiticall Miniſtery, wherein Incenſe was offered on the golden Altar, and had a typicall relation to our Chriſtian ſacrifices of prayer and thanks giuing, Pſal. 141. 2(which Dauid ſought that they might bee directed before God, as incenſe) the golden Vials of the Legall worſhip being types of faithfull and cleane hearts, for faith is more precious then gold, and our prayers are odors and ſmell ſweetely through Chriſt, the golden Altar. 1. Pet. 1. 7Now with both theſe the voice is ioyned, to ſhew all earneſt endeuour to magnifie the gift of God in this benefite, euen with inſtrument, heart, and voice, as Dauid in the Pſalmes often. For God will hauehave all, outward, Rom. 10. 9 10.and inward. Here is no ground for praier to Saints, departed; an Idolatrous errour fondly builded here on Scripture miſtaken: and yet, euen in their ſenſe, giuing thereto no warrant: for, giuegive, that here the Saints departed, were ſaid to offer vp praiſes to God, as no doubt they doe alwaies; what reaſon is that for vsus to pray to them? but, as I hauehave ſhewed, all this is of the Church Militant, here ſpoken. Thus they diſpoſe themſelues to ſing. The quality of their ſong is, that it is a new ſong, which ſort ordinarily is of moſt account, the deſtruction of Sathan his workes, …eſtitution of all things, redemption of man is a new worke. Behold I make all Iſai. 43 19. Chap 21. 5. 2. Cor. 5. 17.things new. In Chriſt Ieſus wee muſt all become new Creatures: for old things are paſt away. Theſe ſame, Chapter 4. did ſing a ſong to him that ſate on the throne: but it was the old ſong for the old worke of Creation: here is a new ſong, ſo much the more magnifically ſet forth and ſung, as the worke of Redemption (that is the new work) in all degree of compariſon paſſeth the old.
6 The tenor or ſubſtance of their ſong hath firſt, the praiſe of the Lambe his worth…neſſe to take and open the booke, and next, the reaſon thereof. The praiſe, for the forme (whereby, in …maeb…an manner, they anſwere to the Proclamation of the ſtrong Angell) is exceeding delightfull; ſhewing now als triumphing ioy, as before, the ſight of impotency in all creatures bred to …ohn a dumpiſh ſorrow. For, where the Angell proclamed, Who is worthy to take the booke and looſe the ſeuen Seales thereof? Theſe, now in exulting ioy anſwer, Thou art worthy to take the Booke, and looſe the ſeuen ſeales thereof. The reaſon of this the Lambe his worthineſſe and merite is his ſlaughter, and the great effect & fruit thereof. Where, take heed, wee eſteeme not, this to bee the reaſon of his worthineſſe abſolutely, but in relation onelyonly to this fact, and all grace procured to his Church. For that we hauehave any acceſſe to God, or that any bleſſing is obtained to vsus from God, it is through the ſlaughter of the Lambe, and merite thereof; & this is that prerogatiue which the Lambe hath: the third point which I ſhewed was to bee obſerued in the Elder his information, in theſe words, Hee hath obtained, &c. And great reaſon is there, why his ſlaughter ſhould bee of ſuch merite For the onelyonly begotten ſonne of God died; and none tooke his life from him, but hee willingly gaue it, as who had power to lay it downe, and take it againe. Ioan 10. 18.The effect and fruit of his ſlaughter, is our Redemption; which is amplified, firſt, by that which buying implyeth: albeit not put here expreſly, that is, our wretched ſtate, from which hee redeemed vsus: for Redemption, of neceſſity, preſumeth bondage, and miſerable was our bondage. Secondly, to whom wee are redeemed, to God. Thirdly, by what price, neither gold nor ſiluer, nor any corruptible thing, no bloud of Goates or Bullockes, but by his owne, that is, God his 1 Pet 1. 18. Heb. 9. 12.bloud. Fourthly, is the large extenſion of his benefit, euen to all peoples, kindreds, tongues and nations; not as that of the Paſchall Lambe in Egypt, to Iſrael onelie. Neither thus, for that all, of all peoples, &c find the fruit, but the elected of all, Therefore it is ſaid, thou haſt redeemed vsus out of all, &c. The fift and laſt point, amplyfying the effect of the ſlaughter, is to what condition & eſtate wee are redeemed: euen to be Kings and Prieſts, Chap. 1. 16. 1. Pet. 2. 9.to raigne euen here vponupon earth, where we hauehave the kingdome of grace, vnderunder hope of that of glory. Now, by all theſe, conſider if his ſlaughter be not of great worth, why hee onelyonly ſhould obtaine to take the booke, &c. and therefore, alone to hauehave the praiſe of it. In all this ſong and tenor of it, are diuers infallible Arguments, that theſe foure beaſts bee no Angels, but Saints redeemed, as this whole type is euidently of the Church militant, and not of any ſtate in heauen.
7 Thus was the ſong of the foure beaſts, and twenty foure Elders: the Angels in courſe ſing the next part: in whom, are notable three things. Their place, their number, and their ſong. Their place is about the throne, beaſts and elders, for two reſpects: one of protection, and defence, The Angels of the Lord pitch round about Pſal 34. 8them who feare him, as miniſtring Spirits for the good of the Elect. The other reſpect is, in the Church, and Heb 1. 14.by the Church, to behold and learne the manifold wiſdome of God, For, they deſire to looke in theſe thinges: Eph. 3. 10. 1 Pet. 1. 12.And this is one maine point of the myſterie of godlines, that God in the fleſh is ſeene of Angels. To whome the 1. Tim 3. 16Church, for God his wonderfull diſpenſation, in, and towards her, is the cleareſt looking glaſſe of God his infinite wiſdome. Whereupon, that reaſon is brought by Paul for women their modeſt carriage in the church: For the Angels. This ſhould much ſtirre vsus to a carefull 5 Cor. 11. 10.beholding of that, whereby euen the Angels are made wiſe; and to a deepe conſideration of our dignity, and care of our wayes, whom God hath made looking Glaſſes to the Angels. Their number, firſt is ſet downe indefinite, in the word many: Next in a definite, but huge number, to ſhew innumerable Angels, and God Pſal. 68. 17. Dan. 7. 10.the onelyonly Lord of hoſtes; all ſet for defence of his Church, for both their place and number; conſider the ſtory of Eliſha and his ſeruant, In their Song is ſhewed 2. King 6. 17.their earneſt affection to the Lambes praiſe, as which they ſing with a loud voice. Next, is the Lambe his worthineſſe to receiue all praiſe: whereof they giuegive him ſeuen points, as he hath ſeuen horns and eyes. Firſt, power, or authority: for hee hath all in heauen and earth. With authority are requiſite riches. Theſe hee hath, as who is abundantly rich towards all that beleeue, is the 2 Cor. 8. 9. Rom. 10. 12. Coloſ 1. 27. Chap. 3. 18.riches of God in vsus, and onelyonly hath gold tried by fire, to enrich the poore. Now authority and riches without wiſdome, are but the weapons of miſchiefe in the hands of a foole. But hee hath alſo all wiſdome, & with wiſdome ſtrength: ſo as nothing is lacking to him, or can let him to performe what him pleaſeth: therefore of all to bee honoured, in all things to hauehave the glory, & of all things to report the praiſe. Next to the Angels, all Creatures ſing their part, of whom a perfect enumeration is put, as verſe 3. and in their ſong, they affirme what the Angels had ſung before them. This they hauehave ſingular, that to the Lambe they ioyne him who ſitteth on the throne; to ſhew that they are one, and their praiſe one. That ſinging of praiſe is attributed to vnreaſonable and inſenſible Creatures, it is the ordinarie frame of Scripture ſpeech; to ſhew that all things, in their owne kind, praiſe God; and that not onelyonly, for that the glory of God, Creator and Adminiſtrator of all, is in them ſet forth; but alſo, for that after a ſort, they reioice for the redemption of the ſonnes of God, hoping therby to bee freede from the vanity whereto they are ſubiect Rom. 8. 19.through the ſin of man, and vnderunder which they groan together with vsus. The laſt paſſage is ſung by theſe who firſt raiſed the ſong, wherin as the angels ioined him who ſitteth on the thro…e with the Lambe; ſo theſe, to ſhew the vnity, and that in praiſing both, they praiſe but that one eternall liuing God, they giuegive all praiſe to him who liueth for euermore. Now in this courſe and order of ſinging, wee hauehave to obſerue, that as the ben…fite belongeth firſt and properly to the beaſts and elders, that is, the Church, ſo they beginne the ſong. The Angels who gather matter of praiſe out of beholding the church, ſucceed in ſinging. Hereupon all Creatures in their kind reioyce (for certainely this type hath a true relation,) the Church laſtly cloſeth the ſong: to ſhew, that as from them it ought to be ginne, whereby all the reſt may magnifie God; ſo the ſinging of the reſt ſhould ſerue the Church for a new vpſtirring to inſiſt in his praiſe. And truely it is a great ſhame, that all both Angels and other Creatures ſhould ioy at our good, and wee remaine ſenſeleſſe: and that the very ſenſleſſe creatures ſhould groane vnderunder the burden of our ſinne, longing for our full redemption, and wee bee nothing moued. And a huge ſinne is it, in place of raiſing the ſong of God his praiſe, and ſtirring all both Angels and other Creatures to the ſame duty, when we marre all that heauenly melody grieue the good ſpirit of God, contriſt the Angels, who ioy at the conuerſion of one ſinner: and in place of gladneſſe, make all both ſenſeleſſe and ſ…ikeleſſe Creatures to groane for griefe of ingratitude.