An Exposition of Revelation, Chapter 6
CHAP. VI.
J. Act of the ſecond Viſion.
Verſ. 1. And I ſaw when the Lambe opened one of the Seals, &c.]
NOw the book begins to be opened, for Chriſt now reveals unto John the Councels of God, which were yet hidden and ſhut; he ſhewed to John in types which he made him underſtand; but he ſhews us the types, only concealing the myſteries, that we might exerciſe our ſelves in the diligent obſervation of things, both from hiſtories and events.
One of the foure beaſts ſaying come and ſee] the beaſts it ſeems performed the office of publike Cryers, whoſe work it is to call Perſons neerer the Throne of Judgement-ſeat; they in order call Iohn who ſtood afarre off, either for reverence, or that he might more certainly write down what he ſaw.
As the voice of thunder] The firſt beaſt was like a Lyon, who now called to Iohn to come and ſee, (requiring hereby great Attention) and hence this Lyon-like voice as of thunder.
Verſ. 2. And I ſaw and behold a white horſe] to wit, went out of the book or ſeale, for indeed as all the myſteries were in the book, ſo upon opening it they came out, that is, were expounded to Iohn; now if the book were ſo great to contain a horſe and man, how great was he that held the book? how great he that opened it? how great were the myſteries and events? The white horſe denotes the Purity of the Primitive Church, compared to that warlike creature, an horſe, becauſe the Church militant ſhould fight againſt the world, fleſh and divel.
The rider is Chriſt, who was ſwiftly carried on in the Miniſtry of the Apoſtles and other faithful Teachers in the firſt times. Thus Paul bare his name before the Gentiles; the Bowe is the Word, by which he wounds the hearts of the Elect, that he may heale and reſtore them to life: the Crown notes his Regal Crown of triumph, becauſe he goes forth conquering; by his death he conquered ſinne; by his reſurrection, death, hell, Satan, and the world, and tyrants. Iulian the Apoſtate confeſſed ſo much in his blaſphemous ſpeech, thou haſt overcome O Galilaean: he conquers hereticks, he conquers, converting ſinners, many ways he conquers; which for brevity ſake I omit. Chriſt in one reſpect opens the book, in another comes forth conquering, the firſt as the chief Prophet Godman, the laſt as God and King.
Verſ. 3. And when he had opened the ſecond Seale, behold a red horſe] John is called to ſee the future condition of the Church under perſecution; behold tis blood-red under many tyrants, tis the ſame Church though called another, becauſe of its differing colour; the rider I take to be Chriſt (not Satan) who is with his People in all miſery, He came not to ſend peace on the earth, but a ſword and fire, yet by accident (not in himſelf) becauſe of the malice of Tyrants and Hereticks oppoſing truth.
Verſ 4. And that they ſhould kill one another] Hereticks under a colour and pretence of Chriſt, perſecute and kill the ſervants of Chriſt; learn hence, the divel can do no more then Chriſt will ſuffer for our good, to wit, the exerciſe of faith. Chriſt ſuffers tyrants to afflict his Saints.—
Verſ. 5. Loe a black horſe, and he that ſate on him had a paire of ballances in his hand] To wit, the Church in her afflicted condition by wicked hereticks, who cloud the light of the truth with their black hereſies, and bring in a deformity upon the Church, who was formerly white. I omit the names of the Hereticks, who in the age following the Apoſtles, till the time of Greg. the firſt (though they profeſſed themſelves Chriſtians) overthrew Chriſtianity; after alſo the faith of Chriſt was oppreſſed, and way made for Antichriſt, who ſhortly after came into the Temple of God; when Boniface the third obtained the primacy over all Churches from Phocas the uſurper. Thus the white horſe became black, yet Chriſt rides on it, with the ballance of holy Scripture in his hands.
Rides] For the worſt and groſſeſt Heretick profeſſeth Chriſt: 2. By his providence rules them, for in greateſt confuſion of hereſies he is not wanting to his Church, as they came not unawares, but for the tryall of his Church, ſo they are continually examined and confuted by the ballance of his word, he ſo ordering it, for a ballance is the tryall of juſt or unjuſt weights: ſo Scripture is a true touchſtone to try gold and braſſe.—
Verſ. 6. And I heard a voyce in the midſt of the 4. beaſts &c] 'Twas the Lambs voyce in the midſt of the Throne, and foure beaſts, Chap. 5.6. proclaiming a famine of the Goſpel, for through the ambition, Luxury covetouſneſſe and negligence of Biſhops, the Goſpel ſhould be ſo corrupted; and by Here ticks ſo adulterated that nothing ſhould be pure and ſound; by wheat in this place, ſincere teachers are meant, who ſhould be rare; by barley, the comforts of the Goſpel, which ſhould be ſcarce, though ſome underſtand a plenty hereby, ſince a meaſure of wheat and three meaſures of barley ſhould be ſold for a penny, a meaſure containted a quart, being a mans allowance for a day a penny was neer 7 pence with us, if ſo, then Chriſt in the midſt of all hereſies had truth*The penny was wages for the day as Mat 20.13. now a meaſure (being as much as a man could cat in a day) was to be had for the penny or dayes labour. enough for his people.
See thou hurt not the Oyle and the Wine] By Wine and Olye ſome underſtand the Orthodox faith which ſhould not be totally obſcured by heretical blackneſſe. Now as Wine Cheriſhes and Oyle clenſes, ſo ſound doctrine doth glad and cleanſe the conſcience. Alcaſar applies Oyle to the light and true knowledge of happineſſe, and wine to ſpirituall joy which the Lambs voice promiſeth the Elect ſhall not be deprived of, notwithſtanding the dearth of truth by the darkneſſe of hereſie: Which happened partly, when the whole world groaned under Arrianiſme.
Verſ. 7, 8. And I looked; and behold, a pale horſe, &c.] This fourth beaſt having the for me of a flying Eagle, with quick fighted eyes, having ſpied ſomething (as it were on high) cals to John, for I beleeve hereby may be ſignifyed theſe plagues coming from above, to revenge the injuries done to the Saints, and to puniſh the impenitent. This pale horſe is the ſame Church of Chriſt in the ſucceeding age, though of another colour. Pale. becauſe it is infirme, weak, ſickly, neer unto death and hell: it by accident was occaſioned by Conſtantines exceſſive bounty to the Church, for then Paſtors began to be proud luxurious, idle and fertile in vices. Jerome complained in his time, that after Princes became Chriſtians, the Church indeed was greater in power and riches, but leſſe in vertue; the remote cauſe was, the guile and malice of that old ſerpent the devil. Alſo now Biſhops by infinite ceremonies, and human traditions increaſed the pale diſeaſe; Nay Monks (whoſe (at firſt) ſolitary, hard life wrought much upon the people) increaſed this paleneſſe for people that deſired pardon for ſin, were ſent to the Monks dennes (not to Chriſt) whereby this mortall wound came upon the Church, drawing more to hell then either the blacknes of hereſies or ſword of tyrants, though this might ſeeme rather to be expreſſed under the notion of the darkning the Sun, and rolling up the heaven, then by the pale-horſe.
He that ſate opon his back was death, &c.] Though Chriſt doubtleſſe was carried up and down as rider in the Church (for all profeſt him) yet ſince in works they denied him; death the effect of ſin is ſaid to ſit upon his back, drawing hell, for that waits on death without Chriſt) after him. Now though by beaſts, beaſtly luſts raigning in the ſouls of the people (through the negligence, ſlothfulneſſe and ſecurity of Biſhops) wounding and killing many: may be underſtood; And by famine, that of the word Amos 8.11. By the ſword, the wounding tongue (which cuts like a ſharp raſor, Pſal. 52.2.) or falſe wounding doctrines of Hereticks ſuffered in the Church: by death, the ſpiritual death, for want of Chriſt the life and the Goſpel: the food of the ſoule (for I heare not of a perſecuting ſword in this age) yet certainly there is a plain alluſion to Ezech. 14.21. where the Lord threatens Jeruſalem for her Apoſtacy, with his foure ſore, that is, ſome cruel puniſhments, to which Chriſt likens here the curſed effects of ſecurity in teachers and hereticks, wounding doctrines, deſtroying a fourth part, that is, a great part of the earth under the Romane Empire.
Now follow Act. 2. Viſion ſecond.
Verſ. 9. And when he had opened the firſt Seal] In this ſecond Act are three things contained:
1. What he ſaw, and the place where:
2. What they ſaid:
3. The anſwer they receceived.
The ſumme of all is to comfort the godly againſt the ſcandall of the croſſe, ſhadowed out eſpecially under the red horſe; particularly, leaſt John ſhould be daunted much at the effuſion of ſo much blood of the Martyrs, he ſees their ſouls ſafe under the protection of Chriſt; Obſerve then the ſoul is ſeparable eternall.
I ſaw under the Altar the ſouls of them that were ſlaine for the word of God, and for the teſtimony which they held] To wit, of all the Martyrs ſlain from Nero to Boniface the third the firſt Antichriſt.
Ʋnder the Altar] To wit, Chriſt Heb. 13.10. We have an Altar, not then in purgatory, but in heaven: Thou ſhalt be with me this day in Paradiſe; Not under the robbes of Mary, but under the ſafety of Chriſt: the Altar, not loſt, for they enjoy the preſence of Chriſt and of God as far as created natures are able.
Verſ. 10. And they cryed with a loud voyce, ſaying, how long &c.] By this is ſhewed their earneſt deſire of the haſtning Gods judgments ('twas no vocall but viſionall crying) which imports no impatiency (for the glorified Saints are free from ſuch corruption) their deſire is juſt, that Gods glory may be vindicated, the Church finally delivered. They do not preſcribe God a time, but cloſely ſubmit to the ſame, as unknown to them, only they intimate that to them, it ſeems juſt and equall that he ſhould deliver his Church, and no longer ſuffer the blaſphemies of cruall Tyrants.
Verſ. 11. And white Robes were given unto every on of them] They are anſwered in words and deeds, for white robes were given them, this notes the beginning of glory Moſes and Elias talking with Jeſus, had ſuch ſhining garments; the perfect robe (though this former be without ſpot) is referred till the day of judgment. Now for the word.
And it was ſaid unto them, that they ſhould reſt yet for a little ſeaſon] To wit, by him that ſate upon the Throne, or the Altar under whoſe protection they are: Now Chriſt is called an Altar, becauſe he was ſacrificed as a Lamb upon the Altar of the Croſſe (or his divine nature) which ſanctified and made the ſacrifice worthy and able to pacify divine Juſtice. In the anſwer note many things.
1. Antichriſts time is ſhort.
2. God heares alwayes the prayers of his Saints.
3. The cruelties of the wicked are not forgotten; but ſhall be revenged.
4. The cauſe of the forbearance, is firſt to lead men to repentance, that the full number of the Martyres may be accompliſhed.
5. A communion between the Saints above and theſe below; We ought not therefore to pray to them, being our fellow ſervants; Neither (though they love us) do they pray for us, becauſe it would derogate from Chriſt in whoſe preſence they are, as if his interceſſion were not ſatisfactory, or he were aſleep: however we ought not to pray to them, ſince they know not our particular wants (though they be in the preſence of GOD) For Abraham knowes us not, Eſay 93.
Act 3. Viſion ſecond.
Verſ. 12. I beheld when he had opened the ſixth Seal, and loe, there was a great earthquake, &c.] This Act conſiſteth of two parts, 1. Treats of the greater and more horrible confuſion of the Chriſtian world under Antichriſt, verſ. 2.15. then and in the 7. Chap. is treated comfortable things as the ſealing of the Elect to verſ. 8. I referre theſe Earthquakes to the laſt perſecutions under Antichriſt, upon Phocas the Emperours proclaiming Boniface the 3d. univerſall Biſhop and Prince of Prieſts (or indeed Antichriſt) then the Chriſtian world began to be horribly ſhaken, for now Chriſt the Son of righteouſneſſe began to be obſcured, (that is) the doctrine concerning his offices and benefits darkened; the Moon or Church turned into blood; the Starres or Paſtors fall from heavenly offices, the opened Book of Scripture, or the Heaven rolled up and forbidden to be read; the mountains, Kings and Princes (for they are higher then the other people) in Jeopardy. The Ilands brought under Antichriſts yoak and tyranny: Firſt of the earth-quake, ſometimes tis taken in a good ſence, as Heb. 12. I will ſhake heaven and earth, meaning, in reforming the world by Chriſt. Note alſo that the ſignes foretold to be at the laſt day (Math. 24.) in the Sun and Moon, ſhall litterally come to paſſe; when the Iſles ſhall fly away, and mountains were not found; to wit, at the day of judgement.
But here the Earthquake ſignifies the ſhaking and oppreſſing the Church by Antichriſt, who darkened the Sun, to wit, Chriſt, and the true light of the Goſpel; and the Hypocriticall Monkes who wore garments of ſackcloth (glorying of perfection) do (as by a true badge) teſtifie that they live under this darkneſſe ſpoken of.
But (ſay they) the Pope profeſſeth Chriſt againſt all Hereticks.
Anſw. Should he openly caſt off the name of Chriſt, then he could not have brought under his bondage the Chriſtian world? But his coming (as the Apoſtle writeth) is withall deceiveableneſſe in them that periſh. Chriſt is darkned, and Mary adored, free-grace rejected, for polluted works; the Sacraments changed into Idols, the Goſpel into Traditions: ſcarce any thing but the name of Chriſt remaining.
The Moon became as blood] The Moon is the Church: Now as the Moon borrowes light of the Sun, ſo the Church all of Chriſt.
Into blood] The cruell tyranny of Antichriſt: makes the Church red with the blood of the Saints, the oft Maſſacres prove this in part.
Verſ. 13. The Starres of Heaven fell into the earth] Starres do not really fall but falſe ones do, ſo falſe teachers like untimely figs fall to the earth; or earthly and worldly affaires; by Antichriſt, or the Popes mighty wind, or threatnings, as excommunication or the like.
Verſ. 14. The heaven departed, as a ſcrowle when it is rolled together] The light, to wit, departed, alluding to the old cuſtome of rolling up their books, (not binding as now) ſo being ſhut, they could not be read, but enough to be expound this place; either the true Church of Chriſt ſhall be hid in the time of Antichriſt, or the light of the Scripture ſhall be darkned, and it forbidden to be read, or in ſumme ſhall be ſhut up.
And every Mountain and Iſland were moved out of their places] That is, Kings, for as mountains are higher then the reſt of the earth, ſo Kings are above other People. Kings are interpreted mountains, Rev. 17.9, 10. The Empire of Rome is the mountain, chap 8. ver. 8 the Perſian Kingdome is a mountain before Zerubbabel, Zach. 4.7. the mountains or Empires were moved by Antichriſt; Eccleſiaſtically, when Kings and Emperours were made to kiſſe his feet; Civilly when depoſed by him, and ſome trampled under foot, (witneſſe Alexander the third, trampling on Frederick the firſt,) many of the like nature I omit, and of his boaſting himſelfe above Councels.
Iſlands were moved] As waters note People, chap. 17, 15. ſo Iſlands are nations, and ſubjects of Princes, now neceſſitated upon pain of ſalvation to be ſubject to the Romiſh Biſhop.
Act. 4. Viſion ſecond.
Verſ. 15. And the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rirh men, and the mighty men, &c.] This Act conſiſts of joy here being treated of the final puniſhment of the wicked (in the general) at the laſt day; here the ſervants of Antichriſt (of all ſorts,) who have been inſtruments of his advancement and tyranny over the Saints, or who have drawn their ſwords for him againſt them, by reaſon of Antichriſt are brought to miſerable deſtruction, and deſire to hide at the laſt day from the ſight of the Lamb, who formerly made the poore ſervants of God thus hide in dens and caves. Now what ſhall become of the ſeries of Antichriſts if their inſtruments be thus puniſhed? if the ſerpent be curſed, woe to the divel himſelf.
The wrath of the Lambe] Chriſt is never ſaid to have wrath until now. Here is the judgement of the laſt day treated of, when Chriſt the Lamb ſhall poure forth his wrath upon the wicked, Go yee curſed. Now this proves Chriſts divine nature, for Antichriſt ſure and his adherents ſhall be afraid of none elſe but God.
Verſ. 17. For the great day of his wrath is come, and who ſhall be able to ſtand] To wit, the day of judgement; here is the reaſon of the wickeds horrour, becauſe of the day of judgement, becauſe of their evil conſcience againſt God, Chriſt, and the ſpouſe of the Lamb, to wit, the Church. Thus the wicked ſhall not ſtand in judgement.