The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials, Vial 1

The Pouring Out of the Seven Vials · Vial 1

p. 1Ʋiall I. The powring out of the SEVEN VIALS: OR AN EXPOSITION, with an Application, of the 16^th. Chapter of the REVELATION.

REVELATION 16.1.2.

And J heard a great voyce out of the Temple, ſaying to the Seven Angels; Goe your wayes, and poure out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

And the firſt went and poured out his Viall upon the Earth, and there fell a noyſome, and grievous ſore upon the men which had the Marke of the Beaſt, and upon them which Worſhipped the Image.

YOu have heard in the former Chapter, of the Preparation of the Seven Angels, to poure out the ſeven laſt Plagues of God upon the Antichriſtian State. In this Chapter, you read a large Deſcription of their Execution of that worke, which is,

Firſt, Commanded, Ʋerſe 1.

p. 22,Secondly, Performed, in the ſequell of the Chapter.

Commanded, wherein obſerve that Commandement ſet forth, Firſt, by the Jnſtrumentall efficient Promulger of it, a great voice [I heard a great Voice.]

Secondly, By the Subject-place, whence this Voice came forth, out of the Temple. [A great voice out of the Temple]

Thirdly, By the matter commanded by the voice, [Goe your waies and poure out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.]

This Commandement thus given, was accordingly performed by all the ſeven Angels, in this whole Chapter.

The firſt Angel poureth out his Viall, ver 2. and that is, firſt ſet forth by the ſubject upon which he poured it, [upon the earth.]

Secondly, It is amplified by the effect it wrought [There fell a noyſome and grievous ſore upon the men] What men? They are of two ſorts:

Firſt [Such as had the Marke of the Breaſt.]

Secondly, [Such as worſhipped his Image.]

The words are ſomewhat darke, and there is much variety in the Interpretation of them: I ſhall ſhortly open to you, what (by the comparing of this, and other Scriptures together) I take to be the meaning of the Words.

Firſt, when he ſaith [I heard a great voice] It is a voice of 1Authority, and Power. And whoſe can that be, but his, that hath power over all theſe Plagues, even God himſelfe, and the Lord Ieſus Chriſt, who alſo have power in the Temple: It is not the voyce of one of the foure Beaſts, the Officers of the Church alone, but a further power doth concur with this voice, ſuch as carried Majeſtie, and authority with it.

2Secondly, [Out of the Temple] It implieth it was a voyce delivered not by one of the foure Officers in private, but came out of Publike Adminiſtration, where onelyonly the Lord ſpeaking, did with Authority ſet forward theſe Angels upon this work. And it may further Imply, that it ſprung upon ſome Prayers of the Church in the Temple: for all the voices in the Temple, are either, the voice of the Church unto Chriſt, or of Chriſt unto the Church: And if the Lord ſpeake graciouſly in the Temple. It is commonly obtained in the Praiers of the Church, craving anſwer from him,

[To the ſeven Angels] That is to ſay, Seven ſorts of Gods p. 3Meſſengers, whether Magiſtrates or Miniſters, or whoſoever they be that poure out theſe Vials, they are Angels of God, as being the Meſſengers of his wrath. Neither is it meant of ſeven Individuall perſons, but ſeven ſorts of Perſons, that ſet forward this worke. And withall I doe accord with thoſe that ſay, that in all theſe adminiſtrations, there is ſome preſence of the heavenly Angels accompaning the men in the worke.

Goe your waies] [your waies] is not in the Originall, but [Goe] poure out the Ʋials.] The Vials are veſſels of large content, but of narrow mouthes, they poure out ſlowly, but drench deepely, and diſtill effectually the wrath of God: Veſſels they are of full and juſt meaſure, as all theſe judgements are diſpenſed in weight and meaſure.

Of the wrath of God] That argueth, that upon what ſubject ſoever theſe Vials fell, the wrath of God fell together with them, upon the ſame. And that helpeth not a little to open the place, and to ſhew the danger of ſome interpretations, which doe expound the Sunne verſ. 8. to be the Scriptures. If theſe Vials be the Vials of Gods wrath, how ſhall any of them be conceived to be poured out upon the Scripture, is the wrath of God kindled againſt the Scripture? And for the Earth, verſ. 2. Some conceive it to be meant of the common ſort of godly Chriſtians; but though ſome ſoare plagues might befall ſome of them, yet how can the wrath of God be conceived to be powred upon them? It cannot therefore be meant (as ſome of good note ſay) of the Waldenſes, and Albugenſes, Hugonets, and Lollards; but the wrath of God falleth upon ſuch, as worſhip the Beaſt and his Image: And therefore take that for certaine, that what things ſoever the Vials of Gods wrath are poured upon, they are ſuch as God is deepely diſpleaſed withall.

Ʋpon the earth] They thought right, that thought it to bee meant of the common ſort of Catholikes: but let us further conſider how it commeth to paſſe that the firſt of theſe Angels poureth out his Viall upon the earth, and the reſt upon other things, yet they a…l have a Commiſſion to poure out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth. For the opening of this difficulty (which elſe might exerciſe ſome) we muſt know, that in this Prophecie ſometimes [earth] is oppoſed to Heaven, and then as by Heaven is meant the pure Church, as Revel. 4.1. & 12.1. So by Earth is meant an earthly and corrupt Church. Sometimes p. 4alſo by Heaven is meant, a corrupt ſtate of Religion, wherein heavenly and divine honour is given to Satan, or Idols, as Revel. 12.3.7. Againe, ſometimes Earth is oppoſed not unto Heaven, but unto ſome other Element in the World, and ſo is it in this Chap. The firſt Angel poureth forth his Viall upon the Earth, the ſecond poureth his Viall on the Sea, &c. So then in this caſe, the Earth is to be underſtood in a double ſenſe. In generall, of the Antichriſtian ſtate, or world, Verſ. 1. And in the Antichriſtian World they have ſome things that repreſent the Earth, and ſome things the Sea, and ſome things repreſent the Sunne of that World, and ſome things repreſent that Ayre of that world; therefore in the particular execution of this Commiſſion, When the firſt Angel poureth out his Viall upon the Earth, it is upon the loweſt and baſeſt Element in the Antichriſtian world, and that can bee no other, but the loweſt ſort of vulgar Catholiks, and they were the firſt that had the wrath of God pour'd upon them, which did afterwards ariſe higher to the Sea, and then to the Fountaines and Rivers of water, then to the Sunne, then to the throne of the Beaſt, then to the River Euphrates, and laſt of all to the Ayre, and in all theſe doth the wrath of God aſcend higher and higher, as may afterwards more clearely appeare.

The firſt Angel went and poure out his Viall upon the earth.] This firſt Angel muſt be theſe firſt ſort of Gods Meſſengers, that did poure out ſome wrath upon Common Catholikes. And doubtleſſe ſuch wrath it was, as being poured out, did worke a Noyſome and grievous ſore upon them that worſhipped the Beaſt, and his Image (as the Text expreſſeth) They that had the Mark of the Beaſt (you heard before out of the 13. Chapt.) are ſuch as receive ſome indeliable Character of the Beaſt; ſuch are their Secular, or Regular Prieſts, and all that receive religious Orders from the Church of Rome. Who then are they that worſhip his Image? The Jmage of the firſt Beaſt (you know) is all Nationall, and Dioceſan, and Provinciall Churches; and they that rule them are the Image of the ſecond Beaſt: So then they that worſhip the Image of the Beaſt, be ſuch as are devoted to the Canons of Popiſh Churches, who drink them up, and receive them as Articles of their Faith; theſe are all afflicted with a noiſome and grievous ſore by the pouring out of this firſt Viall: For thoſe who did poure it out, they were ſuch as did convince them of the Damnable eſtate of a Catholike, and taught them, that by p. 5their Religion they could go not beyond a Reprobate; and this was the common practiſe of the Martyrs of Ieſus Christ in Queene Maries time, in Edward the ſixth, and in Henry the eight's time, who diſcovered unto you, that all their Religion was but the worſhip of God after the deviſes of men, even Will-worſhip, ſuch as they were led into by the Man of Sinne, who being himſelfe blinde, leadeth thoſe that are blinde, and both fall into the ditch; thoſe that thus diſcovered the unſoundneſſe of the Religion of theſe Catholikes, who before ſeemed to be good Churchmen, and good Houſe-keepers, and good Chriſtmas-keepers, they were the men that poured out this firſt Viall upon the earth. And upon this their diſcovery, there fell a noyſome, and grieveous ſore upon their Catholike Prieſts, who had borne the common ſort in hand, That Ignorance was the mother of Devotion, and ſuch ignorant Devotion was the way of Salvation, when they ſee that all their People, who were heretofore their honeſt and good Neighbours, full of benevolence towards them, were now informed, that they lay under a ſtate of deepe Damnation, it was an eye-ſore to their Catholike Prieſts, and all of that Religious Order, a double ſore fell upon them.

Firſt, a ſore of envy, and malice, againſt all the Martyrs of 1Chriſt, and all that ſought for Reformation of Religion; againſt whom their ſpirits were ſo ſtrongly embittered, that happy was he that could bring Fire and Faggot to execute vengeance upon them, that did diſcover the ſtate of the common ſort of Catholikes to be ſo dangerous. [It was a publike ſpeech of Henry the eight, when he ſate in Parliament, Complaining of the ſtirs that were made about Religion, There are many (ſaith he) that are too buſie with their new (Sumpſimus) meaning thoſe that clave to that which he counted the new Religion, though withall others he taxed, who doated (as he ſaid not amiſſe) much upon their old M…mpſimus. The new Religion (though true). Hee, and they all envied: the Old (though his owne) he deſpiſed.

Secondly, there was a noyſome loathſomeneſſe diſcovered, 2by theſe true Witneſſes, and Martyrs of Chriſt, unto the people. Whereby they began to ſee that the common ſort of their Religious Orders were full of Idleneſſe, of Ignorance, of Covetouſnes, of Pride, and of Hypocryſie, and that they had laid ſuch a foundation of Religion, as was not Ieſus Chriſt the true Foundation, but had indeed reared up an Antichriſtian Religion, whereof (as p. 6it is ſaid (Iſai. 28.19.) it ſhall be a vexation to heare the Report. A grievous malignant ulcer it was, and the more they ſtirred in it, the more they were vexed. And this let me further adde, for open ng the words, it is an alluſion to that noyſome ſore of Egypt that fell upon the Common ſort of the people, and upon the Magitians alſo, Exod. 9.11. So that they could not ſtand before Moſes; and ſo it was here, theſe noiſome ſores of which wee have ſpoken, did ſo fall upon the common ſort of Catholikes, and upon their common Religious Orders, that they fell before the Angell that poured out this Viall, as Dagon before the Arke. Thus you ſee meaning of theſe words.

Now for the Notes that ariſe from them.—You may obſerve that (Chap. 15 7.) One of the foure Beaſts gave unto the ſeven Angels, Seven golden Viols full of the wrath of God, but they went not then, to poure them out, untill they heare a great voice out of the Temple, and now they goe. So that the Doctrine in the firſt place to be obſerved, is this.

Doct. 1 Though the counſell and inſtruction, and adviſe of a Church-Officer may be a good invitement, and inducement, and preparative unto a Calling: yet it is the mighty Voice of Chriſt, ſpecially in Publike Ordinances, that Effectually ſtirreth up a man to the execution of it. Theſe Angels had councell and encouragement given them (as you have heard) to goe about this worke, and were furniſhed with the wrath of God for this ende: but were not effectually ſtirred up to fall upon the execution thereof, till they heare a great Voice of Chriſt out of the Temple, (that is in publike Ordinances) then they goe to poure out their Vials. You ſhall find this a very ordinary Practiſe in ſome things ſutable hereunto in Scripture. Iſaack gave Iacob a Commandement and Inſtruction to goe to Padan-Aram, Gen. 28 6. And thereupon Iacob went on his way, Verſ. 7. But the firſt night that he lodged out of dores, when the Lord appeared to him in the Houſe of God (Verſe 15.) and telleth him, That hee will bee with him, and keepe him in all places whitherſoever hee goeth, and will bring him backe againe into this Land. Then Iacob (Chap. 29 1) lifteth up his heeles, and goeth on his wayes, Like a Giant refreſhed with Wine to runne his Courſe. And the like was the Practiſe of the ſame Jacob, when they told him that Ioſeph was yet alive, Gen. 45.27.28. his ſpirit revived, and he ſaid, He would goe down to ſee him; but firſt he goeth to Beerſheba p. 7and there offereth Sacrifices, and conſulteth with the Lord, Gen. 46.1.2.3 4. and the Lord encourageth him to go… downe, bideth him not feare, He will be with him, and there make a great Nation of him, and bring him back againe (and ſo he did to be buried) thus are his hands fully ſtrengthned in his way: The like alſo was the caſe of the men of Samaria, Ioh. 4. When the woman had told them that Jeſus was the Chriſt, becauſe he had told her all that ever ſhee did, they beleeved, becauſe of her ſaying, Verſ 39. But when they came unto him, and talked with him, then they ſaid unto her Verſ 42. Now we believe, not becauſe of thy ſaying, for we have he…rd him our ſelves, and know that this is in…e…d the Chriſt, the Saviour of the World. Thus the voice of Chriſt carrieth his people an end in the waies of their callings, with effectuall power unto ſudden and ſpeedy execution.

The Reaſon is taken firſt, from the greater power of the voice Reaſon 1 of Chriſt ſpeak…ng by his Spirit, then when hee ſpeaketh by the gifts of his Servants and therefore Paul putteth a great difference in this caſe, Acts 19.21. The Text telleth us, That he purpoſed in his Spirit to goe up to Hieruſalem, afterwards going on his way, he meeteth with certaine Diſciples, Act. 21.4. and they by reaſon of the Propheſie of Agabus concerning Paul, verſ. 11. fell upon him and wept, and beſought him not to goe up to Hieruſalem, What meane you (ſaith he) to weepe, and to breake mine heart, for J am ready not to be bound onelyonly, but to dye at Hieruſalem for the name of the Lord Ieſus. Behold here the Spirit of God had revealed clearely himſelfe in the heart of Paul, to ſtrengthen him to goe up to Heiruſalem, theſe Diſciples (upon the Prophecie of Agabus, that he ſhould be bound at Hieruſalem) ſaid to Paul through the Spirit, that he ſhould not goe up: By what spirit? By the gifts of the Spirit, the ſpirit of love, and their care of the Churches; but Paul waves them all, for hee had the minde of Chriſt, by the voice of the Spirit himſelfe; this was indeede in times of extraordinary Revelation: but it ſheweth you nevertheleſſe the difference betweene the voyce of the Spirit, and of the gifts of the Spirit, he giveth the greater power to the Spirit, then to the gifts of the Spirit, being ſuch kind of Gifts, wherein humane frailty might be mingled.

The ſecond Reaſon is taken from the greater power of Gods Reaſ. 2 voyce in Publike, then in private Adminiſtration; If one of theſe Elders ſpeake unto them, it may be but a private incouragement: p. 8Such as the advice of Nathan was unto David, to build the Temple, 1 Chro. 17.2. But had he come, (as afterwards he did) in way of Publike Adminiſtration; Hee could not have beene ſo miſtaken as then he was; For therein doth the Lord more ſpecially reveale the preſence, and the power of his Spirit, and grace, Matth. 18.18.19 20. Therefore it is, That when there commeth a great voice out of the Temple, it carrieth along the Seven Angels to a ſpeedy diſpatch of this great worke, of pouring out the Vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

Vſe 1 The firſt Vſe may teach us all, that have any private inducements or incouragements to any calling, or worke of God, by any Church-Officer, or Church-Member, not to ſleight the ſame; for theſe Angels did not ſleight the motion, when one of the Church Officers gave unto them the ſeven golden Viols, but they tooke the Vials, And when they ſee their time, when there commeth a publike Voice out of the Temple, then doe they all follow on effectually with their worke, in their ſeaſons. Sleight not therefore private encouragements to good callings, but looke for further provocation and ſtrengthning in them, from the publike Miniſtry, even from the voyce of Chriſt in the publike Ordinances of his Church. Private Revelations without the Word, are out of date, but certaine it is, that God doth ſpeake by his Spirit in private Meditation and Prayers, and conferences with Bretheren; and in all theſe, comforteth his people with the manifeſtation of his fatherly goodneſſe, yet ſpeaketh nothing, but in his word, and according to it. Now theſe be good hints, and good encouragements, which God giveth his people in them, and by no meanes to be ſleighted, when God ſheweth his preſence in them: God forbid that any of the ſonnes or daughters of God ſhould put them away. Yet this let me ſay, though ſuch be faire incouragements, (what private duty ſoever they come in) whether to beleeve on this or that gracious promiſe of God, or to ſtir us up unto any other Spirituall work, the ſervants of God are hereby led to attend the more upon the publike Adminiſtrations of the Church, for the further clearing of the mind and will of God; There will the Lord more clearely reveale himſelfe by his Spirit in every Ordinance of his Worſhip, there doth he delight to poure out all his freſh Springs, Pſal. 87. Laſt, For there the Lord commanded the bleſſing, even life for evermore, Pſal. 133.3. Eternall life doth he give in the Publike fellowſhip p. 9of his Saints, there doth hee confirme their callings to them, looke unto the Lord therefore for his bleſſing in this way, and ſo ſhall you be faithfull followers of theſe holy Angels of God, who being privately incouraged, waite for a publike voice to carry them an end in their Adminiſtrations, wherein the Lord by the mighty power of his Spirit doth confirme al his Promiſes, threatnings, and Commandements, and more throughly ſtirreth up the hearts of all his people to take hold of al that is ſpoken unto them; therefore if ever you perceive any voyce or ſpirit to take off a man from Publike Ordinances, and cauſe him to ſleight them, then ever looke at it as a manifeſt deluſion, for every diſpenſation of God, doth but enkindle a more earneſt longing that the Lord ſhould confirme the ſame by his broad Letters Patents, the Publicke Word and Sacraments in the Church. Yea ſo farre doe the Saints of God ſtand hereupon, that whatſoever is in private onelyonly brought unto them to beleeve, they will finde much adoe to reſt ſatisfied in it, untill they ſee it confirmed in publike alſo. As when men have any ſpeciall grant from their Prince, and have it confirmed by the Privy Seale, they will not reſt therwith, but will go to the Lord Keeper for the Broad Seale, to confirme what was before Sealed to them, though either of them apart be ſure, yet both joyned together will make it more ſure: Shall men be ſo carefull for this world, and for temporall Patrimonies, and ſhall Chriſtians take up every motion in private and ſleight publicke Ordinances? Be not deceived, whatſoever is brought unto you by the ſpirit of God in private, Will cauſe you to ſeeke for more cleare evidence from his loud voice in Publike, where his voice goeth on more ſtrongly and powerfully, convincing the Conſcience, and breaking downe all Temptations and diſcouragements that might hinder the comfort of Gods people.

The uſe in the 2. place ſerveth to reflect a iuſt reprofe therfore Vſe 2 upon any that ſhall deſpiſe or neglect the Publike ordinances of God in the Church, for you ſee here that what is confirmed in the whole Church is the great voyce of God, and that without contradiction to the holy Saints and Angels, if therefore the Publick ordinances be vndermined and borne witneſſe againſt by any that commeth not from the ſpirit of theſe Angels, but from ſome evill roote in the hearts of the ſonnes and daughters of men, the report of which is a vexation of ſpirit to heare thereof. p. 10Thus much for the firſt note. Goe poure out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.

And the firſt Angel went, and poured out his viall vponupon the Earth, &c.

Here is a world you ſee diſcribed, having an earth and ſea, and rivers, and fountaines, and ſunne, and aire, and they all belong unto the Beaſt, and therefore the firſt Viall is poured upon them that had the marke of the Beaſt, and the laſt brought in the fall of Babilon: So that from firſt to laſt, they are the judgments of God vponupon the Roman Antichriſtian ſtate, as ſixe of the ſeaven ſeales brought in judgements upon the Pagan Romane world, and the ſeven Trumpets, his Iudgements upon the Chriſtian world, as they were ruled by Chriſtian Emperours: ſo are the ſeven laſt Vials powred out upon the Antichriſtian world; From hence therefore you may note thus much.

Doct. 2 That the whole antichriſtian world, or ſtate is but earthly and not heavenly. For all theſe Angels are commanded to poure the vials of the wrath of God vponupon the earth, and they went not beyond their commiſſion, in pouring them upon the ſea, and Rivers, and fountains, and vponupon the ſunne, and upon the throne of the Beaſt, and the River Euphrates, and the Aire; whereby the Holy Ghoſt holdeth forth vntounto us, that all theſe are but earthly, the ſea is but earthly, the fountaines and rivers earthly, their ſunne an earthly ſunne, and the throne earthly, &c. And though it is true (as ſome ſay) poure out any iudgement upon any element, and the earth fareth the worſe for it: yet take the deſcription of the Holy Ghoſt, as it is plaine, and it intendeth the antichriſtian world alone: They are of the world, therefore they ſpeake of the world, and the world heareth them, 1 Ioh. 4 5. And he that is of the earth, ſpeaketh of the Earth, Ioh. 3.31. And ſo alſo are all their ordinances earthly.

Reaſ. 1 The firſt Reaſon is taken from the efficient cauſe of all their frame and ſtate, which is but from the Earth: all their Doctrine, worſhip, and government, ſo farre as it is Antichriſtian is but humane, if not divelliſh, Rev. 13.18. The whole number of the Beaſt, whatſoever is numbred to belong unto him, is but the number of a Man, humane inventions and will-wiſedome, men will have it ſo, and this is the Summe of all Popiſh Religion.

Reaſ. 2 As the whole frame of their Religion commeth from the earth, ſo doeth it tend to the earth againe, for where doth all p. 11drive at, but the maintenance of an earthly Pompious, ſtately Prelacy; nothing in the world but devices to get money: they are full of covetouſneſs and ambition; both which, what are they but an open doore to their earthly libertie? theſe are ſenſuall (ſaith Iude ver. 19.) not having the ſpirit: There is nothing ſpirituall in all their orders, nor in their pleaſant ſights, ſweet ſmells, delightfull muſique, and many goodly Feaſts they have, and what are they but to pleaſe the taſts of men; and all their carved and painted ſtocks, and ſtones, their goodly Images, what doe they but pleaſe mens fancies, And

This you ſhall finde in the third place, that their beſt devotions Reaſon 3 doe but leave a man in an earthly and carnall eſtate, and therefore the Holy Ghoſt ſpeaketh boldly, Rev. 13.8. That all that worſhip the Beaſt, their names are not written in the booke of life, of the Lambe ſlaine from the foundation of the world: There is not a man of them, that knowing and beleeving no more then what he hath from the Beaſt, can be ſaved, therefore they thought not amiſſe who have written, that a Papiſt by his Religion cannot goe beyond a Reprobate, ſo then whatſoever is meant by theſe things in the antichriſtian world, whereon theſe vials were poured, all is but earthly; an earthly ſea, an earthly ſunne, an earthly light, an earthly aire, fitter to choake men (ſo farre as it is Antichriſtian) then to breath any life into the ſoules of Chriſtians.

To ſhew you the vanity of all their indeavours, that ſtudy to reconcile Popiſh and Proteſtant Churches together, I will Vſe 1 ſay but thus much, you may as ſoone bring Heaven and earth together, as you can draw Popiſh and Proteſtant Religion together; for Popiſh Religion is all but earthly, and all the Churches of Chriſt are Heavenly, and therefore when Heaven and earth meete, then will Poperie and Protrolemy meete together.

In the ſecond place let all men beware, leſt they have any licouriſh affection towards the old Religion, as they call it, if you Vſe 2 ſhall hearken to the voyce of ſuch charmers, charme they never ſo wiſely, your beſt Religion will be but earthly, your prayers earthly, your faith earthly, your obedience will bee earthly, you ſhall find nothing therein able to anſwer an Heavenly and ſpirituall mind: what though they tell you that Proteſtant Religion loveth caſe; but as for them, they have their whippings, p. 12& ſcourgings, and faſtings, and theſe (they will ſay) are no ſuch earthly dainties; Truely theſe ſo farre as they are Antichriſtian are but earthly; they faſt from fleſh indeed, and from white meats, but they have the dainties of the Apothecaries ſhops, preſerves, and conſerves, and ſuch kind of pleaſant meats, and what have they done all this while? theſe their practiſes are not ſanctified of God, and therefore doe leave the ſoules of men ſtill vnderunder carnall deluſions, being no other, but earthly and bodily exerciſes. Goe and poure out the vials of the wrath of God vponupon the Earth, and the firſt went and poured out his viall vponupon the earth. This is vponupon the loweſt and baſeſt element, in the antichriſtian world, Thence we may obſerve.

That God in his Iudgements vponupon wicked perſons, and Doct. 3 ſtates beginneth firſt with the leaſt and loweſt amongſt them, this is evident in the Text, firſt upon the earth, and the ſea is next; which like the naturall ſea is above the earth, and the Rivers, and fountaines are higher then it, and the ſunne higher then they: and then vponupon the throne of the Beaſt, and when we come to open the ſequell you ſhall ſee that all things goe in a gradation; And in this ſort did the Lord deale when hee brought antichriſt into the world, Rev. 8.7. The firſt judgement came vponupon the earth; The ſecond vponupon the ſea; The third vponupon the rivers and fountaines of water; The fourth vponupon the Sunne, then commeth Antichriſt the King of the Bottomeleſſe pit, Rev. 9.11. and here in the 5. Viall his throne is ſmitten, and upon the ſounding of the ſixt angell, the foure angels in the River Euphrates were looſened, and here pouring out the 6^th Viall, the River Euphrates is dryed up. And the conſideration yeeldeth great light to helpe us in the expoſition of theſe ſeven vials: for by the ſame ſteps wherby antichriſt came into the world, by the ſame ſteps doth the Lord vndermine him and bring him downe. For as firſt the common ſort of Chriſtians were corrupted when antichriſt was brought in, ſo firſt the Common ſort of Catholiques are blaſted, when antichriſt beginneth to fall: The like courſe did the Lord take in the plagues of Egypt, Exod. 7.19. &c. He beginneth with the loweſt, firſt to turne their waters into bloud, and thereby killeth their fiſh, but ſtill men ſubſiſt well enough, but then he bringeth frogs into all the land of Egypt, and they crawle into their kneading troughes, then he changeth the duſt of the land into lice, and that was a great deale p. 13more loathſome to men, and at length hee killeth all their firſt borne, and at laſt overwhelmeth Pharaoh and his hoſte in the bottome of the red ſea; and all this is according to the old covenant of his juſtice, Levit. 26.18, 21, 24, 28. If you will not for all this hearken vntounto me, J will puniſh you yet ſeven times more for your ſins, ſo he threatneth againe and againe in all thoſe verſes, untill at laſt he bring upon them ſuch feareful and horrible Iudgements, that they become an hiſſing to all nations.

The Reaſon of Gods dealing thus, is to magnifie Gods patience Reaſ. 1 vntounto all; knoweſt thou not that the long ſuffering of God leadeth thee to Repentance, Rom. 2.4. It becommeth the Lord to magnifie his patience and when he doeth ſtrike he will not ſuddenly ſtirre up all his wrath, therefore when here he commeth to judge Antichriſt, he firſt poureth out his wrath where it is leaſt of all ſenſible to the great Lords of the Antichriſtian world, to magnifie the equity of his Iuſtice, and that he might alſo leave them without excuſe, if the loweſt judgements doe not prevaile: this God doeth that he might be juſtified when he judgeth, Pſ. 51.4. Thus though his wrath bee revealed from heaven againſt all vngodlineſſe and vnrighteouſneſſe of men, Rom. 1.18. yet ſuch is the holineſſe of Gods proceedings, that hee will ſhew his patience, and will ſtrike gently vponupon the leaſt and loweſt in eſtate firſt, and afterwards hee goeth on further in waſting to waſte, untill he have overſpread a ſtate with puniſhment; thus doth hee together magnifie his patience, and juſtifie his juſtice, and leave men without excuſe.

This may ſerve in the firſt place to teach all men in the feare of Ʋſe 1 God, to become wiſe by light Iudgements and gentle afflictions, thoſe which you would thinke may leaſt of all concerne you ſleight them not: nothing more diſtant, from the chiefe men in a State, then the common multitude. A Iudgement upon them doth not matter much, if a Famine were upon the common ſort of people, Princes and Great men would not be much affected therewith. But the leaſt of his judgements ſhould be warnings unto us, to teach us that the Lord hath taken his Sword into his hand, and will go on in judgement, untill he make the ſoules of men to tremble. What if a judgement begin upon mens cattell? That is farre off: It will come next upon your Servants and Children, and it may be, reach to the wife of your boſome; and if all this prevaile not, it may be, He will ſtrike you with grievous p. 14diſeaſes in your body; and if you hearken not for all this, what if he let the Devill looſe upon the ſoules and conſciences of men and women? What will the heart of a poore Creature doe in ſuch a caſe? O conſider this all ye that forget God! leaſt hee teare you in pieces, and there be none to deliver. When the Lord ſtriketh aloofe from us, It is but the Viall of the firſt Angell, but when the Lord beginneth, he will go on further; therefore it muſt be the wiſdome of the ſonnes of men to take heed of his ſtroakes afarre off. This alſo is the Method of Gods dealing with his owne Children: He did not fall upon the Conſcience of his Servant Iob at the firſt, but upon his Cattell, then upon his Servants, after that upon his Children, and nextly, upon his Body, and at laſt, writeth bitter things againſt his ſoule. Be we warned therefore by the firſt hints of chaſtiſements, by ſmall and gentle viſitations, and happy they that learne to profit by ſuch, to turne unto God, and to make their peace with him, before his wrath breake forth like a devouring fire, and there be none to quench it.

Vſe 2 The ſecond uſe is unto the common ſort of Chriſtians, if there be any more poore and common, and of leſſe eſteeme then other: Marke what I ſay, and take it from the word of the Lord, it behoveth you in ſpeciall manner to take heed to your Religion; for if corruptions grow therein, you will be the firſt that will ſuffer by them. And why ſo? It is becauſe Religion concerneth the common ſort of Chriſtians, as well as any other: and yet they commonly leave their Religon, (as they ſay) to men that are wiſer then themſelves; well, if you cannot read in the Book of God the broade Characters of Salvation, and the way thereof, looke for it, that when the ſmarting providences of God come upon any State where you are, you ſhall firſt taſte of them, and then ſhall you ſee the neceſſity of looking unto your Religion. And upon this ground it is that Apoſtle Iude, Verſ. 1.3. writeth unto all the faithfull, and exhorteth them, That they ſhould contend earneſtly for the Faith once given to the Saints: otherwiſe they ſhall have the firſt hanſell of Gods Iudgements, for they will be ſooneſt corrupted, and ſhall bee ſooneſt puniſhed,

Doct. 4 That the diſcovery of the loathſome, and ſhamefull ſinnes of men, is from the Viall of the wrath of God. For what was this Viall which is powred out upon the earth (that is upon the p. 15common ſort of Chriſtians) It was their conviction of their damnable Ignorance, and Superſtition, Idolatry, and Hypocriſie; and this the Lord threatneth, as a judgement unto Hieruſalem, Ezeck. 16.37. That hee will diſcover her nakedneſſe, that thoſe that loved her, and theſe that hated her ſhould ſee her nakedneſſe, Thus is his wrath revealed againſt all unrighteouſneſſe of men.

For the Lord is the firſt cauſe of all the Evill that is done among Rea. 1 the ſonnes of Men, Amos 3.6. So that, is me…s wickedneſſe diſcovered, is their loathſome, ſinfull, carnall, corrupt eſtate laid open? The Lord hath done it.

Becauſe it is the proper worke of the Spirit of God to convince Reaſ. 2 the World of ſinne, John 16.8. and he worketh it by the Law, For by the Law commeth the knowledge of ſinne, Rom. 7.7. And what the Law doth, the ſame doe the ſervants of God by the Miniſtery of it, yet all is the worke of the Spirit of God.

The Vſe may be, firſt to teach the Sonnes of men, to take Ʋſe 1 heede how you ſnarle at Inſtruments of Gods wrath, though it may be, they may ſometimes deale diſorderly; yet is it your part to ſee the righteous hand of God, and when men walke according to God, in diſcovering your wickedneſſe, there is it, the righteous hand of God much more. As when the Angels that poured out this Viall, were encouraged by the Officers of Chriſt in his Church, and ſo by the Lord himſelfe, to ſhow men that they were full of palpable Ignorance, and ſuperſtition: Therefore let men learne in theſe caſes, to ſanctifie the Lord in their hearts, and to acknowledge his hand on them, in ſuch convictions of their ſinnefull and ſhamefull eſtate and courſe.

Let it teach all ſuch whoſe ſinnes are diſcovered at any time, Ʋſe 2 to humble their ſoules under the mighty hand of God, that as their ſinnes have beene diſcovered by an Angel of wrath: ſo they may be covered againe by the Angel of peace.

That the diſcovery of the ſinnes of the Common ſort of people Doct. 5 doth inflict a noyſome Boyle upon their corrupt leaders, and guides that allow them therein. There fell a noyſome and grievous ſore upon the men which had the Marke of the Beaſt, and upon them that worſhipped his Image. When all this wickedneſſe is diſcovered in the common Catholikes, then doth the leaudneſſe of their leaders alſo grow notorious; what ſay you p. 16now to all their Catholicke Prieſts, Their wickedneſſe appeareth, their Idleneſſe, Hypocriſie, Covetouſneſſe, and wantonneſſe, breaketh forth. A grievous ſore lay upon them all, to ſee that all their labours are diſcovered, to be but a building men up in wrath, the Spirits of the Popiſh Leaders were greatly diſturbed and troubled to ſee men ſo buſie with their new Sumpſimus. A noyſome blemiſh was it to all their Religious Orders, and to all that did countenance thē in the ſame. Evident this is unto al thoſe that read the Stories of our owne times, or the times of our Fathers, how this noyſome ſore fell upon their Guids and Leaders, And ſo it hath done of old, Eſay 9.15.16. The Leaders of this People cauſe them to erre: So Jer. 5.31. The Prophets prophecie falſely, and the Prieſts beare rule by their meanes, and my people love to have it ſo: Thus are their falſe guides blemiſhed.

Reaſon The Reaſon is taken from the duty of the guides of the Church and People, which is to turn them from their evill waies, Jer. 23.22. Therefore if they lead them into evill wayes, needs muſt a noyſome ſore fall upon them, when the wickedneſſe of the people is diſcovered.

Vſe This may teach all the ſervants of Chriſt, to whom the Church of God is committed, to be the more vigilant in all the Adminiſtrations of the things of God in his Houſe, that there may remain in it no corruptions that are diſcerned; but that being diſcerned, they may be alſo borne witneſſe againſt, and be ſeaſonably rooted out, and the ſpirits of Gods people healed: elſe the ſoreneſſe will fall upon the guids of the Church, the people may periſh in their ſinnes, but their blood will the Lord require at the hands of thoſe that ſhould leade them in the way wherein they ſhould goe. It is not enough for the people to ſay, it is the fault of their guides, nor for Miniſters to lay the blame upon the people, unleſſe they warne them, then indeed have they delivered their owne ſoules, but if the People periſh for lacke of knowledge, God will require their blood at the hand of their Guides.