The Sealed Book Opened, To the reader – Table of contents
TO THE Reader.
Reader,
THe two greatest mistakings in the world, and of greatest concernment, is, the one of the obstinate Jew, and the other of the seduced Christian, the one concerning the true Messiah, the other concerning his opposite, cleer prophecies of the Old Testament so plainly pointing out the one, that it's a marvel how the obstinate Jewes should not long ago have known Christ, and no lesse plaine predictions of the New Testament lively painting out the other, that it's no lesse marvel that misled Christians so long should mis-know that Antichrist.
But the alike cause of both these mistakings is, while the incredulous Jew looked for a worldly temporal Monarch to come, he stood amongst the midst of them, whom they knew not, who was the true Saviour of souls, even so, while as the seduced Christian looks for an individual Antichrist, as yet only to come of such a conceited Jewish Tribe, Nation and continuance (as the Papists fancy) in the mean time he sits likewise amongst the midst of them, as in the Temple of God, who is their souls destroyer. So that the diversion of the eye from the right object of remarking wisely that which is present, to gaze idly after a misconceited future, has been Satans policy to make the Saviour of man-kinde unknown to the misbeleeving Jew, and is now the same to make that abaddon and destroyer, the Vicar of Satan, unknown in like manner to the misled Christian.
But would we trace the footsteps of a revealed way, and the words of a Prophecy forbidden to be sealed up, but given to be shewn unto Gods servants, and whereof both sanctified Reader and Hearers are pronounced blessed, we should cleerly see him to be that Romane Bishop (Rev. 22.10. Rev. 1.3.) pretending as Christs Vicar to be horned like the Lamb, but by his blasphemous mouth to be his maine opposite, and to speak like the Dragon. The neglect of which inquiry and taking notice thereof, chiefly now in the time of so cleer light, makes Gods work, even his strange work of a glorious and general reformation, which he has on the wheel of his providence, for purging his Temple, Dagons downfal and Babels destruction, neither to be so duely taken to heart, nor yet so zealously persued and assisted as it ought to be. As also makes so many poore seduced Christians (like those that followed Absolon in the simplicity of their hearts) to abide still in Babel, and continue so as they do in following the Beast, (Rev. 14.9) whereas after so loud an evocation and proclaiming cleerly of the eternal Gospel, there is a fearful commination pronounced against all such who do so, or receive his mark, that they shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, which is poured out without mixture in the cup of his indignation, &c.
Since therefore notwithstanding of the false resemblance of the hornes of the Lamb, the blasphemous mouth of the Dragon is now so well known, since likewise the retreat from Babylon to Jerusalem doth so cleerly sound, and that the Whore is so deserted and destroyed shall be, seeing also that God has begun again to feed his people on Carmel and Bashan as of old, and bring down Babel, so that her dust shall be scraped from her, and she shall be made like the top of a bare rock. Let none then be so madly desperate, (as she is said to be mad upon her idols. Jer. 50.38) as to be like Lots sons-in-law, not to go out of Sodom till fire and brimstone come down and consume them, nor bide in Babel to be partakers of her sins, till they be partakers of her plagues, and follow that Romane Antichrist till at last with him they perish for ever. But as the wise men followed the star to finde out Christ that they might adore him; So let the spiritually wise in like manner follow the star of Gods revealed light concerning Antichrist in this prophetical Revelation, that they may abhor him.
For the detection of which grand Antichrist specially, and son of perdition, and of his deceitful imposture of seduced Christians. I have laboured to search into that rich mine of Apocalyptick prophecy, that as Sampson found out hony out of the Lion, or the Philistims the meaning of his riddle by plowing with his heifer; so I might finde out the meaning of this hard part of Scripture, by conferring Scripture with Scripture, and the true history of things that are past, with the evident foretelling what was to come, and thus in so cleer a light of revealed truth, I may shew to all who are not wilfully blind, that the foretold Antichrist is the Pope of Rome, whose Sea is that great City that sits on seven hills, and whose ruine by the work of Reformation is surely at hand, and shall never cease in the determined progress, till her waters (which already run in a narrow channel) be quite dried up, that (as it befel Chaldean Babylon by Cyrus) she in like manner be utterly destroyed, unto which work it is to be wished that all, both Princes, Pastours, and People may concurre in their stations with their best endeavours, till the Lords work be perfected on Babel, that as the time of her threshing is come (as sayes the Prophet) yet a little while and the time of her harvest may come, Jer. 51.33. when that whore shall be made desolate and naked, and when her flesh shall be eaten and she burnt with fire. Which the Lord hasten in his own good time, for his own glory and his Churches good.
THE PREFACE To the READER, Concerning this Book of the Revelation and division thereof.
THe whole Books of both Old and New Testament are of three ranks, historical, what has been, Doctrinal, what should be, and Prophetical, what shall be. Of which last sort, this Book of the Revelation is for the most part, being a Prophecy, as c. 1.1. of things to come, and which were to fall out and befal the Church of Christ from Johns dayes to Christs second coming. But yet it is such a Prophecy as is revealed, therefore called a Revelation, and consequently ought not to be hid by not reading, or having the same medled with and expounded. For,
1. Chap. 1.1. It was given to our Saviour as Mediator and great Prophet of his Church to shew to his servants the things that were shortly to come to passe, therefore is not to be hid up from those who are, or account themselves the servants of Christ, whoever they be.
2. V. 3. They are pronounced blessed who read, hear and observe the words of this Prophecy, therefore it is to be read, and heard by the expounding thereof, otherwise how can it be observed.
3. V. 19. John is commanded to write these Visions, and Prophecies, and the Apostle tells us, that what is written, is written for our instruction, that we thorow patience may have comfort of the Scriptures.
4. Chap. 14.9, 10. The wrath of God is denounced against all such who worship that Beast described, c. 13. and is it not therefore most necessary that it be known who he is, and that that part of Scripture be expounded to us?
5. Chap. 18.4. Gods people under a fearful commination are exhorted to come out of Babel, therefore should it not be known and expounded what that Mystical Babel doth mean?
This Book is partly Doctrinal, partly Prophetical; Doctrinal in the second and third Chapters, or Epistles written to the seven Churches of Asia, wherin is shewn the present estate of Christs Church, in the person of those seven Churches, as the same was in Johns time at the writing thereof; and whereunto in the first Chapter is prefixed a Vision of preparation, of Christ walking in the midst of the seven golden Candlesticks. The Prophetical part again begins at chap. 6. to 21. wherein is shewn the estate of the Church of Christ to the worlds end, 1. Under violent and bloody persecution chiefly, Satan using his force from the sixth to the eighth Chapter. 2. Under invasion of damnable heresies chiefly, Satan using his fraud, from c. 8. to 12 And, 3. Her particular sufferings under that grand imposture Antichrist, is set down, together with his ruine and her liberation at last; from chap. 12. to 21. unto which Prophetical part in like manner are set down or prefixed two Visions of preparation in the fourth and sixth Chapters, and from chap. 21. is set down the glorious estate of Christs Church after all her troubles, and the Epilogue wherewith this Prophecy and whole Canon of Scripture doth close.
A Short Methodical view of the Prophetical part of the REVELATION.
CHap. 4. Is set down the description of the glorious Majesty of God, who is the Author of this book of the Revelation.
Chap. 5. Christ is described, by whose Mediation this sealed book was opened, and the knowledge of these heavenly Mysteries were revealed to the Church.
Chap. 6. The matter or Contents of this sealed Book is shewn, and what strange things ensued upon the opening of the first six seals thereof.
Chap. 7. Is shewn how in the midst of all such plagues and commotions that fell forth, the Lord had a special care of the preservation of his Church.
Chap. 8. He declares how for the persecuting of Christs Church, and abuse of the Gospel, the world was not only plagued with corporal punishments, but also spiritual, as divers errours and Heresies.
Chap. 9. After these eresies that arose in the East concerning Christs natures and person, is set down the defection that should be in the West also, under the Papacy which is there described, as also Turcisme, by whom the Lord was to chastise Christians for their defection and idolatry.
Chap. 10. After so great a darknesse and defection to error and idolatry under Popery is shewn how gloriously at last the light of the truth should break forth, and what fit Ministers of the same the Lord should stir up.
Chap. 11. Wherein the Lord should imploy them, is set down, to wit, the reforming and re-edifying (as it were) of his Temple; and how those whom God should raise up first for that end, should be persecuted to the death by Antichrist.
Chap. 12. The true Church of Christ is described, and the many assaults that Satan should make against her.
Chap. 13. Satans Vicar, Antichrist is described, both by the state whereof he is Head, as also in his own person as head of that state.
Chap. 14. Is set down how in the greatest prevailing of Antichrist, that is of the Pope and Papacy, yet Christ had his own Church, who at last should kyth and couragiously oppose themselves to Antichrist and his kingdom of darknesse.
Chap. 15. The happy estate of those is first set down who in the time of general defection kept themselves free, and cleaved to the truth, and next the fearful estate of them is set down, who have done the contrary, and have followed Antichrist.
Chap. 16. Is set down the many fearful plagues that are poured forth upon the seat and followers of Antichrist.
Chap. 17. Rome is described to be the seat of Antichrist, her qualities, rising and ruine at last.
Chap. 18. Is shewn how sure, sudden, and irrecoverable her ruine shall be, as also, who should lament the same, and how justly deserved.
Chap. 19. The Saints rejoycing at her ruine, with Christs victorious marching forth for subduing of all his Churches enemies.
Chap, 20. The destruction at last of Satan the instigater of the wicked, as his instruments, and the casting of him and them into the lake of fire.
Chap. 21. The glorious and happy estate of Christs Church is described which she shall ha… in heaven, after all her troubles and warfare on earth.
Chap. 22. Which description is prosecuted and followed forth in this last Chapter, whereunto is subjoyned the closure of this whole Prophecy.