An Exposition of Revelation, Chapter 5
CHAP. V. Being a continuation of the ſecond Viſion.
Verſ. 1. And I ſaw in the right hand of him that ſate on the Throne a Book]
DOubtleſſe this Book is the Revelation it ſelf, which was not a materiall, but a Viſionall Book, Now as Chriſt is ſaid to receive the Revelation from God (of which before) and to deliver it to John by an angel; So here, this Book was in the right hand of him that ſate on the Throne, and taken out of his hand by the Lamb, verſ. 7. Opened and delivered unto the Angel who gave it to John, commanding him to eate it, chap, 10. Foraſmuch as all things thus agree, no queſtion this Book was the Revelation.
In his right hand &c] Becauſe God is the Author of the Revelation, alſo becauſe he held it forth to Chriſt to open and unfold.
Written within and without] This ſignifies the multitude of matters which were exhibited to John in the Revelation, no place in the Book was empty.
Sealed with ſeven ſeales] Becauſe the Book was ſhut up and kept ſecret and kept cloſe from the underſtanding of men; this is one uſe of ſeales, it notes the obſcurity and ſecreſie of the Revelation till by Chriſt opened.
Verſ. 2. And I ſaw a ſtrong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice] Or one of the ſeven Spirits excelling in ſtrength (See my Glimpſe of Chriſts love, pag. 43, 44.) who cried with a loud voice, becauſe with a mighty courage he proclaimed before the whole Company of heaven the queſtion about opening the Book.
Who is Worthy to open the Book &c] Not who can; for not only skill and ſtrength, but worthineſſe is alſo required in the opener of the ſecret counſell of God about things to come. Note this.
Verſ. 3. And no man in heaven &c.] Silence in heaven, all creatures dumb as unable and unworthy to open the Book, in earth men and beaſts, under the earth fiſhes and ſea monſters, being under the earth according to the ſenſe of the ſecond Commandement, that is, in the water under the earth. By heaven, earth, ſeas unableneſſe to open the Book is underſtood but thus much, no creature could.
Verſ. 4. And I wept much becauſe no man was found worthy to open &c] He concluded ſure ſome worthy matter is in the Book; therefore wept becauſe it could not be opened and known; this weeping was not in vaine; for by prayers and teares he hath his deſire granted him. Let this inſtruct us how to attaine to the knowledge of the myſteries of God.
Verſ. 5. Then one of the Elders ſaid unto me weep not &c.] Who is unknown; the Papiſts would needs perſwade it was Peter, but it was one the Jewiſh Church, not Chriſtian (as is obſerved) perchance he that was next to Iohn.
Behold the Lyon of the Tribe of Iudah] Alluding to Iacobs bleſſing, where Iudah is called a Lyons Whelp; it notes Chriſts dignity, ſtrength, and Kingly power; Chriſts mother was of this Tribe.
The root of David] Mary came of David.
Hath prevailed] Being found worthy; obſerve here Chriſts manhood, of the root of David. Chriſt Godhead, ſince he was worthy and overcame, admitting no creature with him into the Society of his function.
Verſ. 6. A Lamb] Before a Lyon conquering ſin, hell, death—now a Lamb noting Chriſts innocency.
In the midſt] To wit between the Throne and the Elders, as Mediator betwixt God and the Church; alſo it notes Chriſts exaltation at the right hand of God.
Stood as it had been ſlaine] His ſtanding notes his Reſurrection, being ſtaine his death; a Lamb ſlaine noting his manhood; a Lion and a Lamb ſtanding noting his Godhead, victory, Reſurrection.
Having ſeven hornes] Seven is taken indefinitely for many, or anſwering the ſeaven ſeales; hornes note power, eyes Divine inſight, ſo that Chriſt wants neither skill nor power to open the ſeven ſeales of the Book.
His eyes are ſaid to be the ſeven Spirits of God ſent forth into all the earth] meaning ſeven choice created Angels, which proves Chriſts divine nature, ſince the Angels are his ſervants, who give him account of the ſons of men, (whoſe hearts however he knows without them; and which they know not, whom he uſes not for need, but majeſty and comfort to the godly.—)
Ver. 7. And he came & took the book out of the right hand of him that ſate upon the throne] to wit, out of the midſt, and went to the throne, and took the book to open it. Thus that is fulfilled, chap. 1. ver. 1. God gave the Revelation to Chriſt, and he to Iohn. Chriſt gives it to John as God, receivs it of his father as God-man, Sits on the throne as God, goes to the throne for the book as God-man.
Verſ. 8. When he had taken the book] which was not yet opened; though the Latine verſion read it ſo, which Alcuſar would faine excuſe. Here is noted the cauſe of the heavenly inhabitants joy, becauſe Chriſt had received the book, wherein the whole counſell of God touching the good of the Church, and the deſtruction of the adverſaries to the end of the world is contained.
And fell down before the Lambe] giving him divine worſhip, which proves his deity.
Having every one of them harps] not as if God were pleaſed with muſick, but becauſe it ſtirred up the affections of Saints to God-ward; with ſuch inſtruments the holy Prophets and Kings were wont to praiſe God, and to delight themſelves and others; for the ſame inſtrument might praiſe God and pleaſe others.
And golden vials full of odours, which are the Prayers of the Saints] as perfumes aſcend upward, and give forth a ſweet ſmell, ſo Saints in Prayer ſeek for heavenly things, and are pleaſing to God through Chriſt. Now as gold excels, ſo Prayers from a pure heart. Let the viol of our hearts be pure, and the Prayers of thy People be as ſweet odours in thy ſight O Lord.
Verſ. 9. And they ſung a new Song] A moſt excellent Song containing the new benefits of Chriſt.
They] both Churches, ſee the conſent of both Covenants, Know by the way, the Prayers carried by the Elders in vials were their own Prayers only.
Saying, thou art worthy to take the book and to open the Seals thereof] excluding worth from any other, the worth is the preciouſneſſe of his blood, which we ſhould well conſider.
For thou wert ſlaine] Chriſt by his death hath merited for others, and he only can give ſalvation.
Verſ. 10. Thou haſt redeemed us to God by thy blood, &c.] Here the Church applies the price of our redemption to her ſelf, with the effects. For he hath made them Kings and Prieſts; of which already. And we ſhall reign on earth, not only mortifying our earthly deſires, and trampling them under feet, but alſo as Chriſt our head doth raigne here (not by a ſecular power, for his Kingdome is not of this world, and the weapons of our warfare are not carnal) for the head reigning, the members reign, but this we underſtand not of an earthly but ſpiritual dominion.
Verſ. 11. And round about the throne] The Angels, whoſe number is even infinite, (only known to God) joyne with the Church triumphant, (of which they are members) in the praiſing Chriſt, who though they had not a redeemer as man, yet had benefit by Chriſts death. See Col. 1.20. compared with 16.) praiſe him for mans redemption (and perchance their own gathering together, Eph. 1.10. is thought on.)
Verſ. 12. Saying with a loud voice, worthy is the Lamb. &c.] Theſe Angels with Songs ſet forth ſeven divine Titles of the Lamb; yet his ubiquity, (as Pareus notes) is not mentioned.
To receive power,] becauſe he is omnipotent.
And riches] becauſe in him are hid all the treaſures of wiſedome and knowledge.
And wiſedome] being the eternal wiſedome of the father.
And ſtrength] becauſe he hath overcome the world and Satan.
And glory] becauſe he raigneth gloriouſly.
And bleſſing] he is worthy of bleſſing in whom we are all bleſt.
Verſ. 13. And every creature which is in heaven] all the creatures (nay divel and all) do in ſome ſort ſet forth the praiſes of God. Now here is another argument of Chriſts deity, ſince all the creatures worſhip him with religious worſhip.
Verſ. 14. And the foure beaſts ſaid Amen] here the Beaſts and Elders manifeſt their joy and conſent to the praiſes of Chriſt, ſung by the Angels (to ſpeak to capacity) by ſaying Amen, that is, ſo be it; and the Elders by worſhipping Chriſt, who liveth for ever and ever.
What joy and companions in praiſe, what holy members hath the Church triumphant in heaven? that tis even heaven to us below to think of it.