The Revelation Unrevealed Concerning the Thousand Year Reign, Preface
THE PREFACE.
IF there bee any deeps in Divine Scripture wherein the Elephant may swim, The difficulty of the RevelationArias Mōtanus in his Commentary upon the Revelatiō, ridiculously interprets the severall Prophesies by abstracts, as Terrestris industria paganica rusticitas, &c.they are surely to be found in the Book of the Revelation; wherein many great wits have both exercised and lost themselves. Arias Montanus, that learned Spaniard, whose labours are famous for that noble Edition of the whole Sacred Volume of GOD, when he comes to illustrate the Revelation, with his Commentary shames himselfe with his improbable glosses, & by his ridiculous abstracts, moves both the wonder, and pitty of the judicious of either Religion, Castellio, whose elegant and painfull version of both Testaments, hath wont to pass with the learned for an usefull Paraphrase, when hee comes to this Book of the Revelation, Cujus vix millessimā partem in telligo. Castell. Annotat. in Apocal.is not ashamed to passe a non intelligo upon it. Master Junius, though given to this last Age for a great light to the holy Text, yet professes himself in many of these mysteries to be in the dark: Mysteria valdè obscura. Jun. Praefat.and no marvell, when Deodati grants that there are some parts of this Book still reserved under Gods secret Seal; Deodati Argument of the Revelation.the explication whereof is utterly uncertain. Dr. Andrews. B. Winch.And amongst our selves here at home, one whom no man will envie the reputation of one of the greatest Clerks in his Age; when a plaine man came seriously to him, and asked his opinion concerning an obscure passage in that Book, answered, My friend, I am not comne so far. Yet I know not how it comes to passe, such is the nature of our in-bred curiosity, that there is no Booke of the whole Scripture, wherein men are so apt to spend both their time and judgement: Like as every man is apt to try his strength in lifting at an over-heavie weight; and to offer at the string of that Bow, which is much too strong for him to draw. Whereupon have issued those strange obtortions of some particular Prophesies to private interests: Mr. Brightman, a learned & godly Divine, thinks to find not England only, but Cocill, and Walsingham there; A Belgick Doctor in the Synod of Dort thought to find Grave Maurice there; Joannes Brocardus thinks to finde Venice there; and a grave Divine (whose name I will spare) was so confident to finde the Palatinate there, both in the losse and recovery of it, as that he would needs present his thoughts to the judicious eys of King JAMES himselfe, with small thanks for his labour; neither wanted there some that made full account to finde the late Victorious Gustavus Adolphus therein plainly designed; as if the Blessed Apostle, now in his Pathmos, over-looking all the vast Continent betwixt us, should have had his thoughts taken up with our petty Occurrences in this other side of the World. What should I tell how many both of our own and Forreign Divines have bafled and shamed themselves in pre-defining out of their mis-taken constructions, the utmost period of the World, and have confidently set God a day for his finall judgement.
As for this place which we have in hand, The true importance of the point controversed.how rocky and shelvy it is, appears too well in those ribs of splitted Vessels, which lye still scattered on the sands: Not that I think the opinion of our new Chiliasts so deadly and pernicious in it selfe, as to make ship-wrack of their own or others faith; far be it from me to be guilty of so much uncharity, as to lay so deepe a charge upon my fellow Christians; for what prejudice is it to me, if the souls of Martyrs get the start of me in resuming their bodies a thousand years before me, if, in the mean while my soul be at rest in a Paradise of blisse? And what can it import any mans salvation to determine whether the Saints reign with Christ on Earth, or in Heaven, whiles I know that in either they are happy? Surely, in it's own terms, the Tenet seems to carry no great appearance of offence; but all the danger is in that train of strange Paradoxes, and uncouth consequences, which it draws in after it; specified in the following Discourse; and in the ill uses that are made too commonly, of it, by some ill-advised and mis-taken Clients: Whereof some vainly imagining this Reign of the Saints already begun, 5Lights at Walton.cast off Scriptures, and Ordinances as utterly use-lesse, and please themselves in a conceited fruition of their happy Kingdom, and an immediate cōversation with the King of Glory: Others construing all mutations which befall the Church; as either the harbingers, or severall stages of their Saviours approach to his new Kingdom, and theirs, applaud themselves in their imminent and already-descried glory; rejoycing to tel us how far he is on his way; and (lest we should appeal to our own eyes in so important a case) tell us that this object is not for our discerning, Zions joy in her King pag. 24, 25, &c.but for qualified persons only; men, not like the ordinary sort of professors, who are of a low, poor, pufillanimous spirit, but for such only, as are deepely engaged in the Churches Cause, and sharers in her Troubles, and Sorrows; whereas, certainly, if those which suffer most may be allowed to be the most quick-sighted, it may easily be known whose eys we may best trust for intelligence. Hence have followed heavie censures, & harsh entertainmēts of the otherwise affected; and an insultation upon dissenting brethren, as the oppressed and down troden enemies of this Kingdom of Christ.
I desire not to aggravate either these or any other inconveniences which doe usuall attend this opinion, as one that wishes rather to heale, then to corrode the publique soars.The intention of the Author in the following discourse.
Let mee therefore preingage my Reader, not to mis-take my discourse or my intentions; For my part, I am perswaded in my foul, that the coming of our Saviour is neer at hand; and that before that great Day God hath decreed, and will yet effect a more happy and flourishing condition of his Church here on earth, then we yet see; which I do humbly pray for, and hopefully expect; ambitiously suing to my God, that my poor endeavours might bee thought worthy to contribute any thing to so blessed a purpose; But, for the particularities of the time, and manner, I both have learn'd, and do teach silence. And if any man think he hath sufficient intimation of either, or both of these, in the words of holy Scripture; yet since those clauses are involved in some obscurity, & may afford multiplicity of sense; my desire and whole drift is, to beseech him tosuspend his judgement concerning these so deepe and intricate Doctrines, till God shall be pleased to clear them by apparent events. And in the mean time to rest contented, with those evident and unquestionable truths of the Gospel, which the Church of Christ hath hitherto unanimously taught and maintained; wherein he shall doe that which may happily conduce both to the Churches peace & his own.