A Plain Explanation of Revelation, Title page – To the reader
A PLAINE EXPLANATION OF THE WHOLE REVELATION OF SAINT JOHN.
Very neceſſary and comfortable in theſe dayes of trouble and affliction in the Church.
Penned by a faithfull Preacher, now with God, for more priuate vſe, and now publiſhed for the further benefit of the people of GOD.
There came a voyce from heauen, ſaying: Come away from her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her ſinnes; leſt ye be partakers of her plagues, Reu. 18. 4.
Here are they that keepe the commandements of God, and the Faith of Ieſus, Reuel. 14. 12.
Alas, alas, wat great City is in one houre come to deſolation, Reuel. 18. 16. 17.
The Beaſt, and the falſe Prophets, were aliue caſt into a Lake of fire, &c. Reuel. 19. 20.
Printed at London by T. S. for Nathaniel Newbery, 1622,
To the Chriſtian Reader.
WHatſoeuer things were written afore time, were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might hauehave hope. Rom. 15. 4. And the Reuelation of Ieſus Chriſt, which God gaue vntounto him, to ſhew vntounto his Seruants, Reu. 1. 1. was giuen and written for the comfort of the Church in her lateſt and greateſt troubles, and ſharpeſt afflictions and perſecutions; wherein certes Gods louelove and care of his Church, is abundantly manifeſted. For not any of the Primitiue perſecutions, or latter Antichriſtian Seducions, and bloudy Combuſtions, wherewith at this day the Church is turmoyled: But they are foretold, with their Iſſue and Euents in this Booke; that ſo the choſen and elect of God might not be carried to euerlaſting perdition, or ouerwhelmed with ſorrow and diſpleaſure in their ſeeming inextricable temporary calamities.
Many Commentaries and Expoſitions of this Booke hauehave beene publiſhed by very Reuerend and excellent learned men, no doubt to the great comfort of Gods people; and therefore the leſſe need there may be imagined to be of any more: but, (beſides that this is more briefe and plain vponupon the whole Book then any other; and ſo is more vſefull for the moſt, that hauehave moſt vſe of it; if it ſhall ſerue but as a watch-word, euen now to direct Gods people in their perplexities, whether to hauehave recourſe for comfort and conſolation, and ſo incite them to a more diligent reading, and ſtudious ſearch of this holy Reuelation, it will be a ſufficient apollogy for this publication; eſpecially at this time; when ſo many wauer betweene hope and diſpaire of the good ſucceſſe, of the affaires of Chriſtendome; which ſo nearely concerne the welfare of the Church, as that the Enemies begin to looke bigge againe; daily expecting the ruine of it, as if the hope of Gods people were vaine; or as if by their wicked pollicy and power they made ſure account to diſappoint God of his purpoſe, and decreed deſtruction of the Kingdome of Antichriſt; not conſidering that the more they extend their malicious practiſes againſt the deſolate Woman, the more and greater woes are due vntounto them, and the more horrible iudgements ſhall come vponupon them, and that happily by meanes of thoſe weaklings whom they now ſo much ſcorne and trample vponupon. For, vponupon whom hauehave they gaped, at whom hauehave they hiſſed, but at the holy ones, and the annointed of God? Well, I ſay no more, but that God is wonderfull in all his workes, and ſo will declare himſelfe in the deſtruction of thoſe his enemies; and in the deliuerance of his faithfull ones out of the hands, and from the rage of the Dragon, and his Inſtruments; the Beaſt, and the falſe Prophet, with all their Locuſts and Frogs; let them caſt abroad neuer ſo great flouds of deceits and perſecutions to ouerwhelme the Church, and to extirpate true Religion; onelyonly it behooues the profeſſors of truth, in this expectation to arme themſelues with faith and patience, and to exerciſe themſelues in obedience to Gods holy Commandements; and then they may reſt aſſured of the accompliſhment (in Gods good time) of all the promiſes expreſſed in this Booke.
Wherein to helpe vsus, the Author (a man of excellent gifts) long ſince trauailed; and now by the prouidence of God, are his labours in this kinde publiſhed for our comfort. I pray God that we may be directed to make good vſe both of the holly Reuelation it ſelfe; and of his labour in the Explanation of it.
Farewell.