The Key of the Revelation, License – Preface
Commons Houſe Munday Febr 21. An. Dom. 1641.
IT is this day Ordered by the Committee for Printing and Publiſhing of Books, &c. That Mr Jackſon Miniſter of Saint Michael in Woodſtreet London, be deſired to peruſe Mr More his Tranſlation of Mr Mede his book on the Revelation, this day preſented to the ſaid Committee to be licenced, and to report to the ſaid Committee his opinion therein, and concerning the Printing thereof.
Iohn White.
I Have according to the Order of the Committee for Printing, &c. read over Maſter More his Tranſlation of Mr Mede his booke on the Revelation, and finde it to be exactly Tranſlated, and that the book it ſelfe gives much light for the underſtanding of many obſcure Paſſages in that ſweet and comfortable Prophecie, and though Maſter Medes opinion concerning the thouſand years of the ſeventh Trumpet be ſingular from that which hath beene moſt generally received by Expoſitors of beſt eſteem, and I conceive hath no juſt ground, yet he therein delivers his judgement with ſuch modeſtie and moderation that I think the Printing of it will not be perillous: and therefore conceive that the publiſhing of this Tranſlation is a good work, and may with Gods bleſſing yeeld much comfort to many.
April 18. 1642. Arth. Iackſon.
IT is Ordered by the Committee of the Commons Houſe of Parliament concerning Printing, this eighteenth day of April 1642. That the book Intituled the Key of the Revelation, &c. be Printed.
Iohn White.
The Key of the REVELATION, ſearched and demonſtrated out of the Naturall and proper Charecters of the Viſions.
WITH A Coment thereupon, according to the Rule of the ſame Key, publiſhed in Latine by the profoundly Learned Maſter Joſeph Mede B. D. late Fellow of Chriſts Colledge in Cambridge, For their uſe to whom God hath given a love and deſire of knowing and ſearching into that admirable Prophecie.
Tranſlated into Engliſh by Richard More of Linley in the Countie of Salop. ESQVIRE, One of the Burgeſſes in this preſent Convention of Parliament.
REVEL. 1.3. Bleſſed is he that readeth (that is, interpreteth) and they that heare (him that interpreteth) the words of this propheci…, and keepe thoſe things that are written therein: for the time is at hand (that is, is now preſent) wherein the ſame things ſhall begin to be fulfilled, and daily more and more ſhall be fulfilled.
With a Praeface written by Dr Twiſſe now Prolocutor in the preſent Aſſembly of Divines.
Printed at LONDON by R. B, for Phil. Stephens, at his Shop in Pauls Church-yard at the ſigne of the gilded Lion. 1643.
A PREFACE written by Doctor Twiſſe, ſhewing the Methode and Excellency of Mr Medes interpretation of this Myſterious book of the REVELATION of Saint JOHN.
MAny ſhall runne (or paſſe) to and fro, and knowledge ſhall be encreaſed, Dan. 12. 4. I lighted ſome times upon a wittie interpretation of this paſſage in a certain Manuſcript; and the interpretation was this. That the opening of the world by Navigation and Commerce, and the increaſe of knowledge, ſhould meet both in one time, or age. The obſervation is juſtified by experience, howſoever Divines may judge as they ſee cauſe of the congruitie thereof unto Daniels text. And this increaſe of knowledge, which theſe latter times have brought forth, appeares in nothing more remarkeably, then in the interpretation of this myſterious booke, the Revelation of Saint Iohn. And as the mother of Solomon ſaith of the vertuous woman, whom ſhe deſcribeth, Pro 31.29. Many daughters have done vertuouſly, but thou ſurmounteſt them all. In like ſort may it be ſaid of Mr Mede in reference to his Expoſitions of the Revelation. Many Interpreters have done excellently, but he ſurmounteth them all. Neithere ſhould this ſeeme ſtrange, that being advantaged by the labours of thoſe that went before him, hee hath added ſomething of his owne, wherein hee hath ſurpaſſed others, yet without diſparagement to any; foreign, any man may adde ſomething to the labours of others, as Aristotle hath it, Ethic. 1. foreign; by theſe meanes Arts grow to perfection. Thus wee ſalve the credit of ancient Writers, though in ſome things, many of the preſent age doe excell them; for they have carried us on their ſhoulders to a great height by their inſtructions, and for us to ſoare a little higher, it is no great advancing of our abilities; certainly no diſparagement at all to them by whom we have profited in an high degree. Thus a dwarfe lifted up on a tall mans ſhoulders may eaſily diſcover much more then hee; thankes be to the tall man for it. Thus a Wren carried on an Eagles ſhoulders, to the higheſt pitch of her ſoaring aloft, if, when the Eagle is weary, the Wren ſprings up ſomewhat higher; this is no great glory to the Wren, much leſſe any diſhonour to the Eagle.
Yet to confeſſe a truth, Maſter Mede hath many notions of ſo rare a nature, that I do not finde he is beholding to any other for them, but onelyonly to his owne ſtudiouſneſſe and dexteritie, with the bleſſing of God upon his labours.
And here, Firſt, I doe obſerve Gods direction of him in the courſe that he hath taken.
(1.) As Firſt, in his Clavis Apocalyptica, the Key of the Revelation, wherein hee hath drawne together the homogeneall parts of it, diſperſed here and there, yet belonging to the ſame time; the indiſtinction whereof may expoſe many to no ſmall errour ere hee be aware, conceaving all the Paſſages in the Revelation to be ordered in place, according to the order of time wherein they were fulfilled, which is found to be other wiſe, as in the Key is manifeſted, repreſenting many perticulers mentioned in different places, yet belonging to the ſame time.
(2.) Secondly, the Authour gave himſelfe to write Specimina Eſſayes; wherein he goes over every part of this book (excepting the three firſt Chapters) taking a generall view of each as he goes.
(3.) Thirdly, he proceeds to a more full Comentari… from the fourth Chapter to the fourteenth, that which followeth from thence to the end, containes onelyonly his former conceptions, which he called Specimina Eſſayes, or firſt adventures.
Secondly, whereas in performancies of this nature, two things are neceſſarily required. 1. A right diſcerning of the meaning of the words and phraſe, which for the moſt part is Figurative and Tropicall, the more exactly to finde out the ſenſe of the Prophecie thereby. 2. A right accomodation of each part, unto the proper time of the Hiſtorie, concerning the accompliſhment of things foretold.
(1.) As for the firſt of theſe, the whole Body of the Revelation for the moſt part, being carried along by Figurative expreſſions: it is requiſite to obſerve the Genius of Scripture phraſe in this kinde; wherein Maſter Mede excells, and hereby the ſenſe is cleared in ſuch ſort as to give great ſatisfaction. As in opening the myſterie of the battell in heaven, Revel. 12. and the caſting downe of Satan unto the earth, hee ſhewes that States and Kingdomes in the world Politicall, are indeed much anſwerable to the condition of the world Naturall, and accordingly repreſented in Scripture: for as the world Naturall conſiſts of heaven and earth: ſo in each State a Kingdome is found ſomwhat anſwerable hereunto, and that is the Nobilitie and the Laitie. And as in heaven there are Sunne, Moone, and Starres of leſſer and greater magnitude: ſo in every Kingdome there is a King and Queene, and Nobles, and that in great varietie of degrees of magnitude. And as in the earth there is great variety of creatures, as of trees of various ſorts, and of herbs and flowers: ſo in the people of any Common-wealth, is found great varietie of differences. And upon this ground, and by this courſe of interpretation which hee taketh, whereas other Writers many times give prety interpretations, which the Reader perhaps could wiſh to be true; Mr Mede by his grounds and manner of proceeding convinceth the Reader of the truth of that ſenſe and meaning the Text, which is delivered by him, even to admiration.
(2) And when this is done, as for the accomodation of the matter of fact in this prophecie thus interpreted by him, unto its proper time; this requireth great skill in Hiſtory; and I have found that Maſter Medes friends, who have been acquainted with the courſe of his Studies, would give him the bell for this, as herein out-ſtripping all others.
Thirdly, I have obſerved ſome notable diſtinctions in this Comentarie of Maſter Mede, which have given me great content, as giving great light to the cleare underſtanding of many things which otherwiſe would prove very obſcure. As for example.
(1) The diſtinction between the book-ſealed with ſeaven ſeales, which he calles the greater book; the contents whereof indeed are very large, containing an Hiſtory from the beginning of the preaching of the Goſpel, to the end of the world: and this hee ſaith, containes fata imperij, the fortunes o… deſtinies of the Empire, (2) and the little book mentioned, Revel. 10. which he ſaith containes fata Eccleſiae, the fortunes or deſtinies of the Church. The firſt containes the ſeaven Seales, and the ſeaven Trumpets; for the ſeaventh Seale produceth the ſeaven Trumpets.
(1) The ſix firſt Seales containe the Storie of the Empires continuance unto the dayes of Conſtantine included; in whoſe dayes there being a ſtrange Metamorphoſis of the Empire from Heathen to Chriſtian, this change is repreſented in ſuch a manner, as if it were the ending of the world, and the beginning of a new; which in my conceit ſeems very judiciouſly delivered by him.
(2) Then the ſeaven Trumpets (which are the contents and matter of the ſeaventh Seale) repreſent the judgements of God upon the world, for ſtanding out againſt the Goſpel; and ſhedding the blood of the Saints.
(1) By the heathen Emperours, and for that cauſe, ruine was brought upon the Empire by degrees, untill it was rent and torne into ten Kingdomes, which is ſet forth by the parts thereof in foure degrees, and accordingly that …ills up the materiall contents of the foure firſt Trumpets.
(2) The other three Trumpets are called Woe Trumpets, containing the judgements of God upon the Antichriſtian world, the degenerate States of Chriſtendome, (Firſt) by the Saracens, the contents of the firſt Woe Trumpet. (2) By the Turkes, the contents of the ſecond Woe Trumpet, chap. 9. (3) By the end of the world, Revel. 11. 15.
(2) Another diſtinction there is mentioned by him, and which carrieth great light with it, of great uſe for the clearing of the ſtate of Chriſts glorious Kingdom here on earth: and that is, Revel. 21.24. And the Nations that are ſaved foreign, that is, which eſcape the fire, or are ſaved from the fire at Chriſts coming) ſhall walk in the light of new Ieruſalem: by which it appeares clearly that new Ieruſalem is one thing, and the Nations that eſcape and are ſaved from the fire, wherewith the earth and all the workes thereof ſhall be burnt in the day of Chriſts coming, 2. Pet. 2. and 1. Theſ. 1. and 2. theſe I ſay are another thing, and muſt be diſtinguiſhed from new Ieruſalem. For in the light of this new Ieruſalem, thoſe nations ſhall walk, as is expreſly teſtified. And the diſtinction Mr Mede conceaves to be this; By new Ieruſalem is meant Chriſt and his raiſed Saints, who are called the Saints whom he ſhall bring with him, 1. Theſ. 4. and by the nations are meant, all the faithfull ſervants of God who ſhall be found here alive at Chriſts coming.
(3) And I finde that the want of diſtinguiſhing theſe, the ancient Fathers, and perticularly Epiphanius, have diſcourſed very wildely againſt the glorious Kingdom of Chriſt here on earth, yet in juſt oppoſition to the Corinthians, whoſe guiſe it was to diſcourſe very carnally of the glorious Kingdome of Chriſt; The conſideration whereof moved Auſtin to relinquiſh the doctrine of Chriſts Kingdome here on earth, which formerly hee embraced, as himſelf profeſſeth in one of his works Decivitate Dei, where he treats thereof.
(4) Yet as Mr Mede hath (in my judgement) exceeded in merit all others that went before him in this Argument; ſo others after him, may go beyond him in ſome perticulars; As to inſtance in a perticular, or two or three.
(1) The diſcovery of the true meaning of the number of the Beaſt 666. by Mr Potter, wherewith Maſter Mede himſelf was exceedingly taken even to admiration, profeſſing it to be the greateſt myſtery that hath been diſcovered ſince the beginning of the world.
(2) The ſame Maſter Potter hath other ſtrange myſteries to be diſcovered out of the ſame number, and eſpecially out of the fraction thereof, which as yet he hath not made publike.
(3) So likewiſe in explication of the myſterie of the two Beaſts mentioned, Revel. 13. hee differeth from Mr Mede. And I have ſeen an excellent diſcourſe thereupon, but as yet he hath not communicated it to the world. What cauſe have wee to bleſſe God for bringing us forth in theſe dayes of light: may we not apply that of Eſay unto theſe times? when darkeneſſe Eſay. 6…. 2.covered the earth, and groſſe darkeneſſe the people; the Lord hath riſen upon us, and his glorie hath beene ſeene upon us.
(1) Not onelyonly in reſpect of the great Reformation wrought in this Weſterne part of the world an hundred yeeres agoe and more: God awaking as it were out of a ſleep, and like a gyant refreſhed with wine: and the Lord Chriſt awaking, and ſtirring up his ſtrength for the raiſing up of Iacob, and reſtoring the deſolations of Iſrael, and bleſſing us with a reſurrection of his Goſpel, and diſcovering the man of ſin, and blaſting him with the breath of his mouth.
(2) But alſo opening the myſterie of the ſlaughter of the Witneſſes, which we have juſt reaſon to conceive to have beene on foot divers yeares, not by judiciall proceedings only in the Martyrdom of Gods Saints; but by the ſword of war, Firſt in the Low-Countries, then in France, after that in Bohemia, then in Germany, (which how long it ſhould continue Mr Mede profeſſeth to be vncertaine) and now amongſt us, Firſt in Ireland, then in England, and that by the Antichriſtian generation, with ſo manifeſt oppoſiton unto truth and holineſſe under a Proteſtant Prince, as I thinke the like was never known ſince the beginning of the world.
After this ſtrange warre and ſlaughter of the Witneſſes which haſteneth to a Period, the continuance of it ſhall be but three years and an half, in which ſpace of time, they that dwell on the earth ſhall rejoyce over them and make merrie, and ſend gifts one to another, becauſe theſe prophets tormented them that dwelt upon the earth. But after three dayes and an halfe when the Spirit of life from God ſhould enter into them, and they ſtand upon their feet, great feare ſhould fall upon them which ſaw them. And a voyce ſhall bee heard from heaven, ſaying unto them, Come up hither. And they ſhall aſcend up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies ſhall behold them: But certainely when that comes to paſſe, the ſame houre there ſhall be an Earthquake, and the tenth part of the Citie ſhall fall. This Citie undoubtedly is Rome, which Maſter Mede proveth curiouſly to be at this day preciſely the tenth part of the Citie of Rome, as it was in Saint Iohns dayes when this prophecie came forth: and in the Earthquakes ſhall be ſlaine of men (of names of men) ſeaven thouſand; which Maſter Mede interpreteth men of qualitie.
It followeth, The ſecond Woe is paſt; Now that Woe was the plague of the Chriſtian world by the Turkes: whereby is ſignified the deſtruction of the Turkes, which people I take to be all one with Gog and Magog in Ezekiel, repreſented there as the great enemies of the Iewes invading the land of Jewrie. And the Hebrew doctors conceave that warre of Gog and Magog to be yet to come.
Here it may be objected, that the Turke is Lord of the land of Canaan already: I grant it, but when the time ſhall come for the calling of the Iewes, which Maſter Mede conceaved ſhould be wrought in a ſtrange manner, by the appearing of Chriſt unto them, as he appeared unto Paul at his converſion: Saint Paul acknowledging that grace to have been ſhewed to him firſt, implying, that the like grace ſhould be ſhewed to others after him. Then I ſay, upon this their converſion, they ſhall gather themſelves together from all places toward the land of Canaan, where ſhall be the place of Chriſts throne in his glorious kingdome here on earth: upon which coming of the Iewes into the land of Canaan, the Grand Seignior will be moved to raiſe all his power gathered together out of all Nations under him to oppoſe them, and at firſt ſhall prevaile, as we read, Ezekiel 28. and Zachariah 14. in the beginning: but in the iſſue the Iewes ſhall prevaile. For Saviours ſhall come up on Mount SION, and the Kingdome ſhall bee the Lords, Obadiah 21. Thither ſhall the Lord cauſe his Mightie ones to come downe. Let the Heathen bee awakened, and come up to the valley of Iehoſhaphat: for there will I ſit to judge all the Heath…n round about, Joel 3. 11, 12. And the Lord ſhall be King over all the earth, in that day ſhall there bee one Lord, and his Name One, Zachariah 14. 9. So that this implies the calling of the Iewes a little before. And whereas both Gog and Magog, ſhall be deſtoyed by fire, Ezechiel 39. and the Man of ſinne by fire, 2. Theſſalonians 2. Maſter Mede was of opinion that all this is but one and the ſame fire, even the fire that ſhall bee at Chriſts comming, 2. Theſſalonians 1. 8. and 2. 8. Then follows the ſecond Reſurrection of the dead, and Chriſts Kingdom, the contents of the ſeaventh Trumpet, Revelation 11. 15. Even ſo come Lord Ieſus, Come quickly.
William Twiſſe.