An Exposition of Revelation, To the reader – Errata
Prolegomena, OR, Certaine advertiſements to the READER.
WHen I conſidered how ſearching (after ſecrets) the nature of man is, and how in this our Age every one is prying into the ſecrets of the Revelation, (ſome of very ordinary Capacities) having no eaſie guide in briefe, ſuch as they will read and buy; and in Engliſh (for that many of theſe pryers can only or beſt underſtand) except the godly and learned Mr Dent, who alſo hath not (methinks) hit the marke every where, nor ſatisfied me and others; I thought fit, having many extraordinary helps that way, and having an infinite deſire to ſatisfie my ſelf and others (if poſſible) in the myſteries of the Revelation, after the peruſall of the moſt choice Commentaries, as Bullinger of Helvetia, Francis Junius, Thomas Brightman, Auguſtine, Marlorate, alſo Auguſtine de Civitate dei, but eſpecially (among many) the excellent and learned David Pareus, to gather a ſmall, yet full and perfect Epitome of Expoſitors on the Revelation, or the marrow of the choiceſt of them to comfort and inſtruct the meaner ſort of godly people (for they will I, nill I, will be walking in this dark path) with and in the moſt heavenly and high myſteries of this Book, I hope ſo plainely that one may runne and read.
The learned ſort of people may uſe larger and far better Commentaries then this; the common and ignorant people can neither attaine to buy or read them (conſidering their language and largeneſſe) who may eaſily underſtand and purchaſe this. Why Calvin, Luther and others abſtained from the Interpretation hereof, I diſcuſſe not; perchance their other weighty occaſions gave them not leave; they no way queſtion the Authority of the Book, and many excellent Teachers in all ages have laboured to expound it (though ſome have anciently ſuppoſed this Book to be forged by the Heretick Cerinthus, becauſe ſeemingly favouring the errour of the Millenaries, though it be indeed full of divine teſtimonies of Chriſts divine nature, and no way favours that Millenary errour, as will appear in the progreſſe;) if the objections of Hereticks and others had preſently been beleeved, we ſhould long ſince have had little or nothing entire in the whole Scripture. Among all Commentators Pareus (who borrowed much of Brightman and Bullinger by his own Confeſſion: but eſpecially of Anonymus upon whom he ſeemes ſometimes to be but a large Commentary) moſt affects me (yet ſometimes I borrow light of a ſeemingly leſſe glorious torch then his.) This book is a Propheſie (as Mr Goodwin obſerves it out of Mr Mede) of the deſtruction of the Romane Empire, either as heatheniſh in the whole, or elſe Chriſtian (yet perſecuting) in both the parts of it, Eaſt and Weſt: The Book is tragi-comedy, which begins with a kingdom given to be won by conqueſt, Rev. 6.— and ends with the Coronation of a King, and the Marriage of his Bride: and all between is but the removing of all ſuch lets and impediments, namely, of the Roman Monarchy, and all other kingdomes which that was broken into, ſo far as they ſtand in the way, and poſſeſſe the roome of that kingdome which is to beſet up. When Chriſt firſt began (the whole world then worſhipping Idols) he ſets upon conquering the whole Romane Empire, as it was heatheniſh, and the worſhip of Satan and Idols in it, and in three hundred yeares he diſpatcheth that, and throws down all both Idoll worſhip and Princes that did uphold it; And then when the whole Empire was turned Chriſtian, yet the devill (as one ewll ſaid) did not turne Chriſtian: but under the name and profeſſion of Chriſt he ſtirreth up the Arrian Chriſtian world to proſecute the Orthodox Chriſtians as much as heatheniſh Rome had done; but Chriſt takes further vengeance for this perſecution under both theſe, Heatheniſh and Arrian Rome (it was the cry of the bloud of the Saints — ſlaine under both that brought on them the vengeance that followed, ſee Chap. 6. verſ. 10.11.) The Empire having been afore divided into two parts; the Eaſterne (all which now the Turk poſſeſſeth) and the Weſterne; this in Europe: he fals firſt on the Weſterne Europian part, breaking that by the incurſion of thoſe barbarous nations*Which the foure firſt Trumpets did ſound forth, as M. Goodwyn affirms, Rev. 8. the Goths and Vandals; then for the Eaſterne part of the Empire (although his revenge was ſlower, yet) he reſerved them for the foreſt vengeance that could befall the Chriſtian world, the Conqueſt and Tyranny of the*The 6. Trumpet ſounded forth this, ch. 9.13. Saracens firſt, afterwards the Turks; Thus here is an end of the Romane Monarchy under the Emperours in the whole, and in the parts of it. The Weſterne part in Europe was by occaſion of the Goths invaſion broken into ſeven Kingdoms, which though helping the Woman againſt the floud of Arrian perſecution, yet (through Satans ſeducing of them) they ſet up the Beaſt or Antichriſtian Rome. And theſe altogether did joine to make us as great a war againſt the Saints in Ch. 13. as the Heathens and Arrians had done; and ſo Chriſt in a manner was as far off his Kingdome as at firſt. The next counterplot of Jeſus Chriſt is to overcome theſe Kingdomes; ſo you find Rev. 17.14. They ſhall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb ſhall overcome them; for he is Lord of Lords, and King of Kings, and they that are with him are called choſen and faithful. Thus far he.
Which generall methodicall diviſion I in the general like and allow of, though in particular I have ſhewed upon Chapter eight, that the firſt foure Trumpets did not ſignifie the incurſion of thoſe Nations, Goths, and Vandals, neither indeed came they to help the Woman, but to deſtroy her, though they embraced her faith when moſt corrupted, of which more in order and place. See Chap. 12. I deſire the Reader to remember that though the Revelation may ſeeme to be one continued Viſion, yet indeed it is not one, nor revealed at one time, but ſeven, as ſo many ſights exhibited to John in the Spirit. John was not once only, but oft times raviſhed in the Spirit, neither ſaw he all in one place, but ſome things in Patmos, ſome things in heaven, ſome things at the ſeaſhore, ſome things in the Wilderneſſe. Note the Revelation (ſayes Pareus out of Auguſtine) ſpeakes the ſame things after a diverſe manner; the former Viſions are for the moſt part more obſcure, the latter bring clearer light to the darkneſſe of the former, if one rightly obſerve them, (ſayes Pareus;) for example in the ſecond Viſion, the black horſe denotes the Church made black with hereſies after Constantines time: the pale horſe having death ſitting on, and drawing hell after him, the Church ſick even unto death towards Antichriſts riſing: In the third Viſion by the ſounding of the third, fourth, and fifth Trumpets, the ſame ſtate of the Church is indeed repreſented: yet more eſpecially the declining, corruption, and laſtly, the Apoſtacy of the Sea of Rome — plainer. Some Viſions repreſent the foure conditions, or the foure acts of the Church, to wit, of its flouriſhing and groaning under Roman Tyrants till peace brought in by Conſtantine. 2. Of the Church raigning and rioting under Chriſtian Emperours till the riſing of the Weſterne Antichriſt, Boniface third Pope of Rome, and of the Eaſterne in Mahomet ſix yeares after. 3. Of the Church trodden upon, and oppreſſed by Antichriſt, eſpecially the Weſterne, till the meaſuring of the Temple, which began to be effected by the Two witneſſes John Huſſe, and Ierome of Prague, who were ſlain by the Beaſt in the Councel of Conſtance, Anno 1414. and thence untill Luther, by whoſe Miniſtry the meaſuring of the Temple (hindered through the tyranny of Popes) began to be continued, Anno 1517. The fourth of the Church reformed from Popery, and of the declining of Papacy, to endure till the end; Some Viſions repreſent not the entire, but only the two*The 2, 3, 4, and 7. Viſions containe the 4. Acts or eſtates of the Church: the 5. and 6. Viſions are more particular: containing the 7. laſt plagues, and the judgment of the Whore. latter conditions of the Church: Thus the moſt excellent Pareus. It is ſafeſt expounding the Revelation by the Revelation, one thing explaining another: yet much of this Book the Lord hath yet reſerved in his own power (yet this latter age hath had better help of experience then that of the Fathers, many things being fulfilled, which they dived not into.) The fourth Actor condition of the Church with its accompliſhment is ſecret: Becauſe the ſeventh Trumpet hath not yet ſounded: Neither is the ſeventh Viall yet poured out into the aire; a great part alſo of the third Act is reſerved unto poſterity which in time ſhall ſee the gathering together the Kings of the earth into Armageddon, the burning of the whoriſh woman, the deſolation of Babylon, the event of the Goggiſh war— More then the beginning we have ſeen, and further ſhall ſee.
E. H.
The Errata of moment are theſe.
CHap. 1. page. 2. line 10. Alcaſar ſhould be ſet in the margin againſt that line. l. 13. read (changeable cauſes) for unchangeable cauſe. ch 3. p. 30. l. 6. after doth r. not. l. 26. for ſpiritual r. ſpirit. ch. 8. p. 54. l. 31. r. Biſhops, ſucceſſors—ch. 9. p. 66. l. 30. for eye r. uſe ch. 9. l. laſt for withdraw r. wrath ch. 10. p. 72. l laſt. after locuſts r. doctrine. ch. 11. p. 83. l. 37. for ſhew r. flew. ch. 12. p. 88. l. 11. for of Chriſts birth, r. at Chriſts birth.