Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture, Scripture 62

Paraphrase of the Hard Texts of Scripture · Scripture 62

p. 376THE REVELATION OF S. IOHN.

CAP. I.

1 The Revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave unto him to shew unto his servants things which must shortly come to passe, and he sent and signified it by his Angell unto his servant John.THis which followeth is the Revelation, which Jesus Christ, the Sonne of God, made unto John; which revelation, God the Father gave to his Sonne Jesus, as the Mediator of his Church, that he might (according to that holy office of his) shew unto his servants, those things which must in the ensuing times, come to passe; and the same Jesus sent his Angells, and by their ministery signified these future things to his servant John.

3 Blessed is he that readeth and they that heare, &c.See Revelation 22. verse 7.

3 For the time is at hand.For the time is neare at hand, wherein divers of these following predictions shall be accomplished, & wherein an entrance shall bee made to those which shall afterwards succeed.

4 John to the seven Churches in Asia, grace be unto you, and peace from him which is, and which was, and which is to come, and from the seven spirits which are before his throne:John, to those seven famous Churches, which are in the lesser Asia, and under their name, to all other over the whole world: Grace be unto you, and peace from that almighty, and glorious God, who onelyonly hath an absolute, and infinite being, in, and of himselfe, who was p. 377from all eternity, & shall be the same, without all change everlastingly; who is the author of all blessings to his Church; and from those seven principall minstring spirits, which stand ready before his throne, to receive his commands for the behoofe of his Church; and to convay his blessings unto it; according to the number of those chiefe, and eminent Churches, whereto I write.

And as from these merely-spirituall natures,5 And from Jesus Christ, who is the faithfull witnesse, and the first begotten of the dead, and the Prince of the Kings of the earth: unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sinnes in his own blood. so also from him, that is God and man, Jesus Christ the righteous; who is the onelyonly faithfull, and true witnesse, that hath declared the will of his Father, to his Church; who both raised himselfe from the dead, and diffuseth the power, and vertue of his resurrection to all his; by whom all Kings raigne, as having received all power, and dominion from God his Father, over all the world: Unto that blessed, and gracious Saviour of ours, that hath loved us from all eternity, and hath cleansed, and purged us from the guilt of our sinnes, by his owne most precious blood.

And hath made us, who were before,6 And hath made us Kings and Priests unto God and his Father: to him be glory. the sonnes of wrath, and his enemies, to become Kings and Priests unto God, even the Father; Kings, in ruling over our selves, and subduing of our corruptions; and Priests, in offering up our bodies and soules unto him, together with the sacrifices of our praises, and thanksgiving: to him be glory, &c.

Behold, he shall come to judgement with glory,7 Behold, he commeth with cloudes, and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him: and all kinreds of the earth shall waile because of him: even so, Amen. and majesty in the clouds of heaven; and all men shall be witnesses of that divine state, and magnificence of his; even those his enemies, which used him contemptuously upon earth, and peirced his hands and feet, and side, in an insolent cruelty; and all the wicked throughout the world, shall tremble, and be confounded with feare, and anguish, because of his comming to take full vengeance of them: even so, Amen.

I am the onelyonly true and eternall God,8 I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty. who so was before all things, as that I gave being unto all things; and (whatsoever should become of all things which have their being from me) am everlasting; and have my being of my selfe, infinite, and independent; and therefore am he, from whom all things receive their beginning, and in whom they end; saith the Lord, which is not capable of any variation of time, who is, and was, and shall ever be, even the Almighty.

I was by the correption of the Spirit,10 I was in the spirit on the Lords day. in an holy extasie, on the first day of the week, (which, upon the occasion of Christs resurrection, was called the Lords day) &c.

p. 37812 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me, and being turned, I saw seven golden Candlesticks.And I turned to see him, whose voice spake unto me; and having turned, I saw seven golden Candlesticks representing those seven famous Churches, whereto I was commanded to write; as those, wherein were placed those seven worthy, and renowned Pastors, which gave light to their severall Churches.

13 And in the midst of the seven Candlesticks, one like unto the Sonne of man, clothed with a garment downe to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle.And in the midst of those representations of the seven Churches, I saw Christ, the Sonne of God, in the resemblance of a man, clothed, as for the gravity, and state of a King, or Priest, in a garment downe to the foot; and in signification of his ready addressednesse to the gracious workes of his Mediatorship, girt with a golden girdle about the middle.

14 His head and his haires were white like wooll, as white as snow, and his eyes were as a flame of fire.To imply the eternity of him, who is the true Ancient of dayes, his head and his haire were white, as the purest snow-like wooll; and to signifie his searching knowledge, and piercing insight into all things, his eyes were as a flame of fire.

15 And his feet like unto fine brasse, as if they burned in a furnace: and his voice as the sound of many waters.To import the purity of his proceedings, and the solidnesse, and invinciblenesse of that power of his, whereby he treads down all his spirituall enemies, his feet were like unto the purest, and finest brasse; and in signification of the loud diffusion, and great power of his word, his voice was as the sound of many waters.

16 And hee had in his right hand seven starres, and out of his mouth went a sharp two edged sword: and his countenance was as the Sunne shineth in his strength.And he had in his right hand seven starres; in resemblance of that sure protection that hee takes, and that wise, and just, and beneficiall disposition, which he makes of his faithfull ministers in his Church; and out of his mouth proceeded the sharp two edged sword of his powerfull doctrine; and his countenance was majesticall, and glorious, as the Sunne shining in his full strength.

18 And have the keyes of hell and of death.I have the absolute power over hell, and death; so as I can either command them for the just torment and punishment of wicked men, or discharge the penitent from the feare and danger of them.

CAP. II.

1 Unto the Angell of the Church of Ephesus, write.VNtoUnto the chiefe Pastor, or Bishop of the Church of Ephesus, write.

See chapter 1. verse 16. &c.

4 Neverthelesse, I have somewhat against thee, because thou hast left thy first love.Yet notwithstanding all this worth, which I doe acknowledge in thee, I have some just exceptions against p. 379thee; and this especially, that thou art not so zealous, and fervent, as thou wert in thy first conversion; but hast cooled and abated of that thy first love.

Repent thee therefore, of this decay of grace,5 Remember therefore from whence thou art fallen, and repent, and doe the first workes, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will remove thy Candlesticke out of his place, except thou repent. and bethinke thy selfe of recovering that measure of zeale, which thou once hadst; & bring forth such good workes, for the fruits thereof, as were formerly wrought by thee; or else, I will shortly come against thee, and enter into a course of judgement with thee, and remove away my Church from amongst you.

But in the meane time,6 But this thou hast, that thou hatest the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate. this commendable point I confesse to be in thee, that thou abhorrest the beastly opinions and practices of the Nicolaitans, the wicked followers of that revolted Deacon, and proselyte of Antioch; Who gave way to the indifferent use of fornication, and Idolatry; which things I also hate.

To him that holds out against all assaults,7 To him that overcommeth will I give to eate of the tree of life, which is in the midst of the Paradise of God. and prevailes against all his spirituall enemies, will I give a blessed participation of Christ, in the Kingdome of heaven, even of him who was at first figured by the tree of life in the earthly Paradise.

And I know the opprobrious and reviling speeches,9 And I know the blasphemy of them which say, they are Jewes, and are not, but are the Synagogue of Satan. which are cast out against the Christians of Smyrna, by those which call themselves Jewes, and so perhaps they are by blood, but in respect of their unbeleefe, and malicious persecution of the truth, are no better then the Synagogue of Satan.

And ye shall have persecution in that Church of yours,10 And yee shall have tribulation ten dayes. for the space of ten yeares.

He that over-commeth the spirituall enemies,11 He that hath an eare, let him heare, what the Spirit saith unto the Churches, He that overcommeth shal not be hurt of the second death. wherewith he must conflict, shall be sure to escape that second, and worst death of the soule, which is the utter, and finall separation of the soule from God.

See Revel. 1. verse 16.12 The sharpe sword with two edges.

I know that thou dwellest in a place, where heresie,13 I know thy workes, and where thou dwellest, even where Satans seate is, and thou holdest fast my name, and hast not denied my faith, even in those dayes, wherein Antipas was my faithfull Martyr, who was slaine among you where Satan dwelleth. superstition, Idolatry, and all kinde of wickednesse is, without all controlment, practised, and maintained; and yet thou dost constantly professe my Truth; and hast not beene drawne to deny my Gospell, and true religion; even in those dayes, when in the heate of persecution, Antipas my faithfull martyr, thy zealous assistant, was slaine in that city of yours, where Satan beares sway, and prevaileth.

As Balaam taught Balac to cast an offence before the14 Because thou hast there them that hold the doctrine of Balaam, &c. p. 380people of Israel, in drawing them to communicate with the Midianites in their Idoll feasts by alluring them to fornication and uncleannesse.

15 So hast thou also them that hold the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, which things I hate.So hast thou them that proceed in the same steps; teaching and maintayning the doctrine of the Nicolaitans, to the very same purpose; tending both to bodily, and spirituall uncleannesse, which wicked heresie I doe justly hate.

16 Repent, or else I will come unto thee quickly, and will fight against them with the sword of my mouth.Repent, or else I will come to take punishment of thee, shortly; and as I sent my Angel with a sword in his hand, to resist Balaam; so will I fight against these followers of Balaam, by my two edged sword, the powerfull word of my Truth, in the mouthes of my ministers, and will confound them.

17 To him that overcommeth, will I give to eate of the hidden Manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth, saving he that receiveth it.To him that overcommeth will I impart the true Manna, that came downe from heaven, which shall feed him to everlasting life; and will give unto him a free and full acquitall, and absolution from all his sinnes; & therewithall a comfortable assurance of his adoption to bee the sonne of God; which blessed condition, as it is new, and strange, in respect of the state of nature; so it is secret, in respect of the certaine knowledge of others, and cannot be surely discerned by any, but him that hath it.

18 Who hath his eyes like a flame of fire, and his feet, &c.See Revel. 1. verse 14, and 15.

20 Because thou sufferest that woman Jezebel, which calleth her selfe a prophetesse, to teach and to seduce my servants to commit fornication, and to eate things sacrificed unto Idols.Because thou sufferest that wicked woman, (which is no better then another Jezebel in the Church) who falsly stiles her selfe a prophetesse, to take upon her to teach publikely, contrary to the modesty of her sexe, and by her teaching to seduce my servants into those two abhominable errors of the Nicolaitans, the allowance and practice of fornication, and eating things sacrificed to Idolls.

22 Behold I will cast her into a bed, & them that commit adultery with her into great tribulation.Behold, I will cast her upon tho bed of sicknesse, and inflict a grievous disease upon her; and will p…ague those that commit adultery with her, and that abet her in her wicked errors, with many sore judgements, &c.

23 And I will kill her children with death.And I will sweepe away her followers, the chidren of her fornication, with violent death, &c.

24 As many as have not this doctrine, and which have not knowne the depth of Satan, as they speake, I will put upon you none other burden.As many of you as have not given way to this wicked doctrine, & have not approved these depthes and subtleties (as they call them, of their profound speculations) which are no other, nor no better then the devices of Satan himselfe, I will lay no other charge upon you then this.

p. 381That true and Apostolicall doctrine,25 But that which yee have already, hold fast till I come. and syncere religion, which ye have received, hold fast to the end.

To him will I give power, by vertue of that union,26 To him will I give power over the nations. which he shall have with me, to have victory over all the professed enemies of my truth; and to sit with me, as the assistant, and approver of that judgement which shall be passed upon them.

(And he shall in me,27 And hee shall rule them with a rod of yron: as the vessells of a potter shall they bee broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. as a limme of that body whereof I am the head, over-rule and subdue his enemies, and the enemies of my Church, as a brittle vessell of earth is broken into shivers, by an yron scepter) even as I received of my Father, so do I impart this power, according to the capacity of my Church, to the members thereof.

And howsoever he was obscured,28 And I will give him the morning starre. and basely accounted of in the world, I will put upon him exceeding glory, and majesty, and will communicate my selfe unto him, who am the true light that inlighteneth the world.

CAP. III.

THou hast the reputation of a zealous professour,1 That thou hast a name, that thou livest, and art dead. and faithfull teacher of my truth, yet indeed, thou art no better then an hypocrite, and hast not that measure of true life of grace in thee which thou pretendest.

Stir up thy selfe to care, and vigilancy;2 Bee watchfull, and strengthen the things which remaine, that are readie to die: for I have not found thy workes perfect before God. and labour to strengthen, and confirme those few good things that yet remaine in thee, which are ready, by thy slacknesse, and neglect, to be utterly extinguished; for I have found thy obedience (how ever seemingly perfect, yet very hollow, and defective in the sight of God.

I will come suddenly upon thee,3 I will come on thee as a thiefe, &c. and seize on thee by inexpected judgements, &c.

Thou hast, under thy charge,4 Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walke with mee in white: for they are worthy. some fewe worthy Christians, even in Sardis, which have not suffered themselves to be so much as outwardly tainted with the pollution of the common wickednesse, and Idolatry of the rest; and they shall partake with me of my heavenly glory; for my mercy accepteth them as justly capable of such happinesse.5 Hee that overcommeth, the same shall bee clothed in white raiment, and I will not blot out his name out of the booke of life, but I will confesse his name before my Father, and before his Angells.

He that overcommeth shall be clothed with glory and majesty in heaven, and as I have from eternity ordained him to life, and blessednesse; so I will undoubtedly continue unto him the right, and title thereunto; and will acknowledge him for mine, before my Father, and before the Angells of heaven.

p. 3807 He that hath the key of David; he that openeth and no man shutteth, and shutteth and no man openeth.He that hath all power, regiment and soverainty given to him over his Church, wherof the kingdome of David was a type, and resemblance; so as he admitteth, and excludeth; forbiddeth and commandeth; saveth, and destroyeth whom he pleaseth.

8 I know thy works: behold I have set before thee an open doore, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denyed my name.Behold I have vouchsafed to thee very faire, and meet oportunities to preach the Gospell; which no man can be able to bereave thee of; for although thou hast not those eminent gifts that some others have, yet thou hast well improved those which thou hast, and hast maintained my truth, and hast not denyed my name.

See Chap. 2. vers. 9.

9 Them of the synagogue of satan, which say they are Jewes: Behold I will make them to come, and worship before thy feet.I will so worke upon them; that they shall come in, and submit themselves unto thee, and shall humbly worship God before thee, and the congregation, as true converts, and penitents.

10 Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keepe thee from the houre of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to trie them that dwell upon, &c.Because thou hast kept that word, and Gospell of mine, which both injoyneth, and worketh patience in all my faithfull; I will also keep thee from the hurt, and danger of that grievous persecution, which shall come upon all the Asian Churches.

It shall not be long that thou shalt need to endure; hold fast therefore the profession of my Gospell, which thou hast received,11 Behold, I come quickly, hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take, &c. that thou maist not be defeated of that glory which awaits for thee.

As the manner of men is to erect pillars for monuments,12 Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the Temple of my God, and he shall goe no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem which cōmeth down out of heaven from my God. to continue their memory; so will I doe to him that overcometh: I will set him up, as a firme and during pillar; and will establish and settle him as one of those living stones whereof my spirituall Temple consisteth; so as hee shall be utterly unremoveable from thence; And I will (as the custome is in such pillars) write upon him the inscriptions of the names of those to whom he appertaineth; viz. the name of my God, and of those habitations above, whereto hee is designed; making it manifest, that hee is an undoubted sonne of God, and a citizen of heaven.

14 And unto the Angell of the Church of the Laodiceans, write, These things saith the Amen, the faithfull and true witnesse, the beginning of the creation, &c.These things saith that God of Truth, the faithfull and infallible witnesse of his Fathers will, the powerfull creator of all things; by whom the Father made all that was made.

15 I know thy workes, that thou art neither cold nor hot, I would that thou wert cold or hot.I know thy workes, and thy disposition; that thou art of a luke-warme temper, neither opposite to religion, p. 383nor yet a zealous friend to it; I would thou wert resolved one way, or other; I had rather thou wert any thing, then what thou art; open hostility to the Gospell should not so much displease mee, as this hollownesse, and vncertainty.

So then,16 So then, because thou art luke-warme, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth. because thou art thus spiritually lukewarme, and neither hot nor cold; I will deale with thee as a man doth by luke-warme water (wherewith the stomack is made apt to egestion) cast thee up out of my mouth, and discharge my selfe of any further entertainment of that profession thou makest of mee.

Because thou art carried away with a spirituall pride,17 Because thou sayest, I am rich and increased with goods, and have need of nothing: and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poore, and blinde, and naked; and fondly conceivest thy selfe to be stored with all holy graces and vertues, and that thou hast no defect in any of them, and art farre from knowing aright the truth of thine estate, how sinfull thou art, how ignorant, how wretched every way;

I counsell thee to have recourse unto mee, thy God and Saviour,18 I counsell thee to buy of mee gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest bee rich, and white raiment that thou mayest be cloathed, and that the shame of thy nakednesse doe not appeare, & annoint thine, &c. and by my meanes to furnish thy selfe with all those heavenly graces, whereby thy wants may bee supplyed, which may be to thee in stead of gold to remedy thy poverty, and glorious raiment to remedy thy nakednesse, and eye-salve to redresse thy blindenesse.

Behold, I have used all meanes for thy conversion; I have patiently expected it,20 Behold, I stand at the doore and knock, if any man heare my voice, and open the doore, I will come in to him, and will suppe with him, and hee with mee. and earnestly importun'd it; and still I continue so doing; and if any man heare the voice of my word, and open the doore of his heart to mee, yeelding to those my vehement solicitations; I will impart my selfe to the soule of that man, and will have mutuall fellowship with him, and he with mee.

To him that overcommeth will I give the honour of a meet participation with mee in my glory,21 To him that overcommeth will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame. in such manner and measure, as every true member partakes of the honour of the head, &c.

CAP. IV.

AFter this, I looked up; and behold,1 After this I looked, and behold, a doore was opened in heaven: and the first voice which I heard, was as it were of a Trumpet talking with me, which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter. the heaven seemed to open it selfe to mee, and a large doore appeared to be set wide open therein; and as my eye was taken up with this sight, so my eare was filled with the sound of a voice from thence, which was strong and loud, as of a trumpet, talking with me; which said, Come up hither, and I will shew thee things which must be hereafter accomplished.

p. 3842 And immediately I was in the spirit, and behold, a throne was set in heaven, and one sate on the throne.And immediately I had, in a further continuation of this vision, represented to mee a glorious throne, which was set in heaven; and a person of great glory sitting on the throne.

3 And he that sate was to looke upon, like a Jasper, and a Sardine stone; and there was a rain-bow round about the throne, in sight like unto an Emerald.And he that sate upon it was God the Father, full of resplendence, and majesty, having a shining brightnes, like to the most sparkling pretious stones, and the throne was encompassed about with a glorious rainbow, in the mixture of the colours whereof the greene smaragd-like colour was most eminent; to import that gracious and comfortable reconciliation which is betwixt God, and his people.

4 And round about the throne were foure and twenty seats, and upon the seats I saw foure and twenty Elders sitting, cloathed in white raiment, and they had on their heads crowns of Gold.And round about the throne were foure and twenty seats of state or judicature; and upon the seats, I saw foure and twenty ancient and majesticall persons sitting, which were the Patriarks, and Prophets of the old Testament, and the Apostles, and Euangelists of the new, and the Saints of both; which were honoured with their participation of glory, and their assistance of the righteous judgement of God: And these Elders to signifie that perfect righteousnesse, and glory wherewith they were invested, were cloathed in white raiment, and had crownes of gold upon their heads.

5 And out of the throne proceeded lightnings, and thundrings, and voices: and there were seven lamps of fire burning before the throne, which are the seaven Spirits of God.And God declared his power from that his glorious throne, by thundring, and lightning and dreadfull voices; and to shew the excellent variety of the graces of his spirit, which God hath to give, and dispose for the good of his Church; before the throne there were seaven lamps burning.

6 And before the throne there was a sea of glasse like unto Chrystall, and in the middest of the throne, & round about the throne, were foure beasts, full of eyes before and behinde.And to import how cleare and transparent all things are before the face of God; there was, before the throne, a sea of glasse, like unto chrystall; and round about, and under the throne, as supporters of the frame thereof, were Angels of severall ranks, and imployments, all of them (to signifie their great knowledg, and perspicacity) were full of eyes, before and behinde.

7 And the first beast was like a Lyon, and the second beast like a Calfe, and the third beast had a face as a man, and the fourth beast was like a flying Eagle.And these Angels had formes answerable to those eminent graces that were in them; as those which were stout and majesticall as lyons, strong as buls, wise as men, swift as eagles.

8 And the foure beasts had each of them sixe wings about him, and they were full of eyes within, and they rest not day and night saying, Holy, &c.And those Angel, s to shew their agility, and readiness to execute the will and pleasure of God, had each of them sixe wings; and to expresse their exquisite knowledge, they were full of eyes within: and they never cease lauding, and praysing the Lord with the joyfull acclamations of Holy, &c.

p. 385And as ascribing all thanks,10 And cast their crowns before the Throne, saying, and praise to God for his mercy in glorifying them, and in an humble acknowledgment of all power and majesty to be derived from him, they did cast their crownes before the throne, &c.

CAP. V.

ANd I saw, as it were,1 And I saw in the right hand of him that sate on the throne, a booke written within, and on the back-side, sealed with seaven seales. a rolle or booke of the great mysteries of the decrees, and counsels of God, in the hand of God the Father, who sate upon the throne; and it was written on both sides, both within and without, to shew that universall providence of God which is in, and over all events and actions; and to signifie the secrecy and firmnesse of his said decrees, it was sealed on the backe side with seven seales.

And (as the Angels of God are desirous to looke into those great mysteries of Gods will,2 And I saw a strong Angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the booke, and to loose the seales thereof. which concerne the good of his Church;) I saw a mighty, and glorious Angell, proclaming, with a loud voice (in implication of the difficultie, & merit of that wonderfull action;) Who is worthy to open the booke, and to loose the seales thereof?

And there was no finite creature,3 And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the booke, neither to looke thereon. either in heaven or earth, that was able to unfold those great, and wonderfull mysteries, which were contained in that rolle of Gods eternall decree.

And one of those glorious persons,5 And one of the Elders saith unto me, Weepe not: behold, the lyon of the tribe of Juda, the roote of David, hath prevailed to open the booke, and to loose the seaven seales thereof. which represented the Patriarchs and Prophets, &c. before the throne, said unto me, Be not discomforted, for that thou hearest not of any Angell or man that is able to unfold and disclose these mysteries; for behold, hee that is God and man, Christ Jesus, who is the King, and powerfull ruler of his Church, of the tribe of Juda, of the seed of David according to the flesh, hath prevailed to reveale, and manifest these great secrets, which have beene hitherto close sealed up, in the counsell of God.

And I beheld,6 And I beheld, and loe in the midst of the throne, and of the foure beasts, and in the midst of the Elders, stood a Lambe, as it had beene slaine, having seaven hornes, and seaven eyes, which are the seaven Spirits of God, sent forth into all the earth. and loe in the midst of the throne of God, and amidst his Angels, and Saints, stood the Sonne of God, Christ Jesus, who as hee is a lyon for his courage, and power, so is hee also a lambe for his meeknesse and innocence, as also in respect of that his sacrifice for mans redemption, being for that cause represented in the blood which was shed by him; and this holy and glorious Lambe, in signification of all power and might, put upon him by his Father, had seven p. 386hornes, importing his forcible meanes to be revenged of his enemies; and to imply his most perfect, and absolute knowledge, had seven eyes, which are the infinite graces of that Spirit which was given him, not by measure; and by him communicated to his Church upon earth.

7 And hee came and tooke the book out of the right hand of him that sate upon the throne.And hee as mediator betwixt God and man, came and received the full notice of the great, and secret counsels of God concerning his Church.

8 And when hee had taken the booke, the foure beasts, and foure & twenty Elders fell downe before the Lambe, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odors, which are the prayers of Saints.And when he had taken that roule or booke, wherein those counsels were set down, and sealed up: the holy Angels, and Saints which were before the throne, fell downe before the Sonne of God, in way of adoration of him, having every one of them melodious instruments for the celebration of the praise; and golden vials full of sweet incense, representing both their acceptable thanksgivings, and their generall apprecations of peace, and welfare to the Church of God upon the earth.

See 1. Pet. 2.9.

10 And he made us unto our God Kings and Priests: and we shall raign on the earth.And wee shall raigne, and triumph over our enemies which are on the earth.

11 And the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands.And there was an innumerable number of Angels, and Saints, which joyned together in magnifying the praise of Christ their Saviour, &c.

CAP. VI.

1 And I saw when the Lambe opened one of the seales, & I heard as it were the noyse of thunder, one of the foure beasts saying, Come and see.ANd I saw when Christ the Sonne of God opened the first of those seven seales; and I heard a mighty voice, as if it had beene of thunder, from one of those foure glorious Angels, which were next to the throne, saying, Come and see.

2 And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sate on him had a bowe, and a crowne was given unto him, and hee went forth conquering, and to conquer.And I saw, and behold, a notable representation of the happy successe and victory of the Gospell; set forth by the appearance of a white horse, whose rider had a bow in his hand, to signifie the wound that he had given to his enemies; and a crowne was given to him, in signe of triumph and honour; and he went forth to all the ends of the earth, conquering and bringing in subjection, every power that exalted it selfe against him.

p. 387And upon the opening of the second seale,4 And there went out another horse that was red; and power was given to him that sate thereon, to take peace from the earth, & that they should kill one another: and there was given unto him a great sword. I saw a representation of that bloody tyranny and persecution which should follow upon the preaching of the Gospell, set forth by the appearance of a red horse; and power was given to Satan, which was the mover and stirrer up of these cruell persecutors, the Tyrans of Rome, to take peace from the earth, and to incite them to a mutuall slaughter of each other; and for that purpose there was a great sword, by the just permission of God, given into his hand.

And when he had opened the third seale,5 And when hee had opened the third Seale, I heard the third beast say, Come and see, & I beheld, and loe a blacke horse; and hee that sate on him had a paire of ballances in his hand. I heard the third Angell, say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo, there was made to me a representation of an extreme dearth, and famine, which should follow upon the earth, by the appearance of a blacke horse, whose rider had a payre of scales in his hand; to signifie that they shall bee forced to measure out by drammes, and ounces, that corne which they shall be allowed to eate.6 And I heard a voice in the middest of the foure beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barly for a penny, and see thou hurt not the wine and the oyle.

And I heard a voice from among the foure Angells, saying, All graine which is for the food of man, shall bee at an high rate; and as for Wine and Oyle, which are for his pleasure, let spare be made of them; for they shall be rare, and hard to come by.

And upon the opening of that fourth seale I looked,8 And I looked, & behold a pale horse, & his name that sate on him was death, and hell followed with him: and power was given unto them, over the fourth part of the earth to kill with sword, and with hunger. and behold a representation was made of a great and generall mortality, which should be all the world over; set forth by the appearāce of a pale horse, the name of whose rider was Death; and the grave, or state of corruption, followed after him; and power was given him, to sweep away the fourth part of the inhabitants of the earth, by the sword, and by famine, and sicknesse, and wild beasts, and all other ordinary wayes of destruction.

And when he had opened the fifth Seale,9 And when hee had opened the fift seale, I saw under the Altar the soules, of them that were slaine for the word of God. I saw the soules of all those faithfull martyrs, whose lives had been sacrificed for the profession of the truth of God, and for the testimony, which they gave thereunto, even from the first martyr Abel, to this present day.

And they cryed with a loud voice,10 And they cryed with a loud voice, saying; How long, O Lord holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth. out of an holy desire of the vindication of Gods honour, and redresse of the proud and lawlesse impiety of men on earth; How long, (O Lord God, who art most holy in all thy wayes, and just and true in all thy performances) will it be, ere thou take just vengeance on thy bloody & insolent enemies upon earth, who for thy sake have spilt our blood, and exercised all manner of cruelty upon thy Saints?

And there was given unto every one of them,11 And white robes were given unto every one of them, and it was said unto them, that they shold rest yet for a little season, untill their fellow servants also, and their brethren that should bee killed as they were, should be fulfiled. a great measure of celestiall glory; and it was said unto them, p. 388that for the full consummation of that blessednesse of theirs, they should comfortably wait yet a while longer, untill the number of the rest of their holy brethren (the Martyrs of Christ, which should be killed for his sake) were fully accomplished.

12 And I beheld when he had opened the sixt seale, and loe, there was a great earthquake, and the Sunne became blacke as sackcloth of haire, and the moone became as blood.And I beheld when he had opened the sixt seale, and I saw a representation of wonderfull great and terrible alterations which should bee in the world; both in the Temporall, and Spirituall state; so as the powers thereof were shaken; and those that were wont to bee the commanders and lights of the world, were utterly obscured, and deprived of their wonted glory.

13 And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a figtree casteth her untimely figgs, when she is shaken of a mighty winde.And those that were wont to give subordinate light, both in their great authority, and doctrine, to the world, were now cast downe, and by the force of persecution fell away from the Church, as a figtree casteth her untimely figges, when she is shaken by a mighty winde.

So also verse 14.

14 And the heaven departed as a scroule, when it is rolled together, & every mountaine and Iland were moved out of their places.And no man shall be exempted from the fearfull revenges of God, which shall bee so intolerable, as that all estates & degrees, even the great Potentates of the earth, &c. shall wish they could bee buried quicke under the mountaines, to avoid the dreadfulnesse of Gods judgments which shall seize upon them.

16 And said to the mountaines and rockes, fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe.Neither shall those severall plagues, and vengeances be more terrible unto them, then the very presence of that awfull God, who sitteth upon the throne, and the wrath of that Lambe of God, who being of himselfe meeke, patient, gracious, is now so irritated by their sins, that his very countenance is worse then death to all his guilty enemies.

CAP. VII.

1 And after these things I saw foure Angells standing on the foure corners of the earth, holding the foure windes of the earth, that the winde should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree.NOw lest I should doubt what, in the midst, and issue of these persecutions, might become of Gods Church; I saw the powerfull executioners of Gods wrath, standing on the foure coasts of the earth; even those mighty Spirits, which by the appointment of God have power over the foure windes that blow upon the earth, to raise or restraine them; I saw them by the command of the Almighty staying, and withholding those stormie p. 389blasts from blustering upon the earth, or upon the sea, or upon the trees which lie most open to their violence; in short, I saw Gods mercifull restraint, for the time, of any damage that might come to his Church.

And I saw another Angell,2 And I saw another Angell ascending from the East, having the Seale of the living God: and hee cryed with a loud voice to the foure Angells, to whom it was given to hurt the earth and the sea: even the great Angell of the Covenant, Christ Jesus, ascending up from the Easterne coast (where Jerusalem stood) who by vertue of his Mediatorship had in his hand that Seale, or marke of the living God, which in his eternall decree is set upon all his elect, whereby they are sealed up both to salvation in the end, and to a gratious protection till then; Who did by the mighty voice of his word, command those foure Angells to whom power was given to hurt the earth:

Saying,3 Saying, Hurt not the earth, neither the sea, nor the trees, till we have sealed the servants of our God. hold your hands from doing any hurt to the earth, or sea; to the trees that grow upon the earth, or to the people that live upon it, untill we have set the Seale of Gods mercifull protection upon all those faithfull servants of our God, whom he hath decreed to preserve.

And I heard the number of those, whom,4 And I heard the number of them which were sealed: and there were sealed an hundreth and forty and foure thousand, &c. out of all the tribes of Israel professing his name, Christ had marked out for his gracious protection, to bee an hundred forty foure thousand, that is, for each of the twelve tribes, twelve thousand.

The specialties whereof follow in their order;5 Of the tribe of Juda were sealed twelve thousand. of the tribe of Juda were marked out twelve thousand converts, or beleeving Christians, &c.

And besides these converted Jewes,9 After this I beheld, and Lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kinreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the Throne, and before, &c. I beheld an innumerable number of Christians, chosen out of all nations, kinreds, people, & toungs, which stood before the throne of God, & before that immaculate Lambe Christ Jesus, clothed with glorious, and resplendent robes, and having palmes of victory in their hands.

Who did all with one voice cry out aloud to the praise of God, and professe,10 And cryed with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God, which sitteth upon the Throne, and unto the Lambe. that salvation and all the glory thereof belongs unto that almighty God, that sitteth upon the throne, and to his Sonne Jesus, that Lambe of God which takes away the sinnes of the world.

And one of those glorious Saints,13 And one of the Elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are araied in white robes, and whence came they? which stood before the throne, as willing to give me occasion to inquire further into the quality, and condition of those innumerable company of triumphant persons, which were clad in long white robes, and carried palmes in their hands, asked me who those were that were thus araied; and whence they came.

And I, as willing to be informed by him, said; Lord,14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest, and hee said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lambe. it is enough for thee to know that; I desire to learne of p. 390thee, who they are; And he said; These are Christians converted frō Paganisme to the Gospell of Christ, which have suffered great persecution for his names sake; and who are clearely acquited and purged from all their sins, by the blood of Christ.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in the Temple: and he that sitteth on the Throne shall dwell among them.Therefore are they now in this glorious condition before the throne of God, and sing praises to him in his heavenly habitation continually; And the Almighty Lord God, who sitteth on the throne, shall make them blessed with the fruition of his presence for evermore.

16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more, neither shall the Sun light on them, nor any heate.They are now past all the danger of those extremities of hunger, and thirst, and all other bodily complaints, whereto they were subject upon earth; neither shall the Sunne scorch them any more, nor any heate, or cold annoy them.

17 For the Lambe which is in the middest of the Throne, shall feed them, and shall leade them unto living fountaines of waters, and God shall wipe away all teares from their eyes.For their blessed Saviour, Christ Jesus, which is in the midst of the throne, shall bee all-sufficient, both for their nourishment, and refreshing; hee shall feed them with hidden Manna, and shall comfort their soules with the waters of eternall life; and God shall fully free them from all trouble and sorrow.

CAP. VIII.

1 And when hee had opened the seventh Seale, there was silence in heavē about the space of halfe an houre.ANd now after that the tyrannicall persecutors of the Church, the bloody Emperours which lived in those primitive times, were justly punished by the hand of God, when the seventh Seale was opened, the Church had peace for a short time.

3 And another Angell came and stood at the Altar, having a golden censer, and there was given unto him much incense, that hee should offer it with the prayers of all the Saints upon the, &c.And the great Angell of the Covenant, Christ Jesus, came and stood, as the Mediator and High-priest of his Church, before the Altar of heaven, having, and executing the gratious office of his intercession; and many holy and effectuall prayers were offered unto him, that hee might by his mercifull, and effectuall mediation present them to God the Father.

4 And the smoke of the incense which came with the prayers of the Saints, ascended up before God, out of the Angells hand.And those faithfull praiers, being sweetned by the powerfull, and pleasing intercession of Christ, were with great acceptation received of God, from the hands of Christ his Sonne.

5 And the Angell tooke the censer, and filled it with fire of the Altar, and cast it into the earth: and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightenings, and an earthquake.And the same Angell of the Covenant, the Sonne of God, who as he is the just avenger of the enemies of his p. 391Church, (and therefore had cast the fire of his wrath upon the earth, on the heads of those tyrans and persecutors, as also of those hereticall seducers which vexed his Church) did now also, in much mercy to his Church, from that heavenly Altar of his, cast downe the fire of holy zeale, and illumination upon his servants on earth; who being inflamed and inlightned therewith, desire and endeavour to oppose those wicked heresies, which had beene broached in the Easterne Churches; and immediately hereupon followed great tumults, and much opposition.

And now upon the opening of the seventh Seale,6 And the seven Angels which had the seven trumpets, prepared themselves to sound. and these broyles, that followed after in the Chu ch; those seven Angels, which God had appointed to bee the heralds of his vengeance to the earth, prepared themselves to sound forth the reports of those severall judgements, and remarkable proceedings of God, with, and upon the world.

And the first Angell sounded;7 The first Angell sounded, and there followed haile, and fire mingled with blood, and they were cast upon the earth, and the third part of trees was burnt up, and all the greene grasse was burnt up. and there followed great store of heresies, and very raging, firy, bloody prosecutions of them in the Church; and the third part of the professors of the Gospell, which are the Churches of the East, were grievously plagued, and infested therewith; these were the heresies of Arius, Macedonius, Eunomius, Photinus, Luciferians, Messalians, Apollinaris, Priscillianus, Pelagius, Nestorius, Eutyches.

And the second Angell sounded,8 And the second Angel sounded, and as it were a great mountaine burning with fire was cast into the Sea, and the third part of the Sea became blood. and there was an eminent part of the Church, even that large and numerous Councell which was met at Ariminum for the establishing of the Arian heresie, which being fired with that wicked contention, diffused it selfe into the world; and a third part of the knowne Church was infected with it, and moued to a bloody persecution of the truth.

So also verse 9.

And the third Angell sounded,10 And the third Angell sounded, and there fell a great starre from heaven, burning as it were a lampe, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountaines of waters. and there fell out a fearfull Apostasie from the Church of Christ, partly by the seducement of wicked Mahomet, who after some acknowledgment of Christ, fell away and devised with Sergius the Nestorian Monke, and John of Antioch the Arian to frame his cursed Alchoran, and to advance his owne damnable impieties, and he corrupted a great part of the world; tainting both the Springs, and streames of religion; and partly by some dangerous errors, and superstitions, which beganne to prevaile in the Westerne Churches.

p. 39211 And the name of the starre is called Wormewood, and the third part of the waters became wormewood, and many men died of the, &c.And the doctrines of that wicked impostor were as bitter as wormwood, and did put an ill savour, and odious distastfulnesse upon all that were mis-seasoned with them; in so much as these seducements proved deadly to many thousand soules.

12 And the fourth Angell sounded, and the third part of the Sunne was smitten, and the thrid part of Moone, and the third part of the Starres, so as the third part of them was darkened: and the day shone not, &c.And the fourth Angell blew, and, what with the infection of Mahumetisme in the East, and the corruptions, and errors which beganne to creepe into the Westerne Church, a third part of the Christian world began to be darkned, and to be overspred with ignorance, or mis-beleife, and leese that pure light of truth, which had formerly shined forth unto them.

13 And I beheld, and heard an Angell flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a cloud voice, Woe, woe, woe, to the inhabiters of the earth, by reason of the other voices of the trumpet, of the three Angells which are, &c.Whereupon I beheld, and Loe, a swift messenger of fearfull tidings was sent by God unto his Church; premonishing his elect, that they must expect yet more grievous plagues to be inflicted upon the inhabitants of the earth, in the following times, at the sounding of those three other trumpets that yet remained.

CAP. IX.

1 And the first Angell sounded, and I saw a starre fall from heaven unto the earth: and to him was given the key of the bottomlesse pit.ANd the fifth Angell blew his trumpet; and I saw that fore-described Apostate both of the East, and West Church, to receive yet more power to prevaile in their impieties, and ambitions, and, as it were, to set open the gates of hell.

2 And hee opened the bottomlesse pit, and there arose a smoke out of the pit, as the smoke of a great fornace, and the Sunne and the ayre were darkned by reason of the smoke of the pit.And accordingly this Apostasie succeeded; so as the instruments, and agents therein, did, by their errors, and impieties, set open the way to the pit of hell; from whence there arose such fogges of mis-beliefe, and erroneous doctrine, as that thereby the light of the Gospell was much obscured.

And there came out of this hellish smoke new swarmes of Saracens in the East,3 And there came out of the smoke Locusts upon the earth, & unto them was given power, as the scorpions of the earth have power. and of superstitious abettors of usurpation and errors in the West; which wasted a great part of the Church; and by the sting and poyson of their false doctrine, had permission to envenome very many in all places.

Yet so did it please God to restraine the power and successe of their infection and annoyance,4 And it was commanded them, that they should not hurt the grasse of the earth, neither any greene thing, neither any tree, but onelyonly those men which have not the seale of God in their foreheads. as that they should not prevaile over those places, and persons, which he in his secret counsell had determined to preserve; no, not even the most weake & tender plants in his Church; but onelyonly over those men which have not the marke of p. 393Gods particular, and gracious protection set upon them.

And even over them also was the power of these noysome persons so limited,5 And to them it was given, that they should not kill them, but that they should be tormented five moneths, and their torment was as the torment of a scorpion when he striketh. as that they should not utterly destroy them, but oppresse and afflict them for the space of an hundred and fifty yeares after their first seizure upon every severall region which they should infest, at which time their tyranny should abate; the proceedings of which pernicious agents should be at first more easie, and tolerable, and afterwards should grow to extremity, and painfull death.

And therefore in those grievous oppressions,6 And in those dayes shall men seeke death, and shall not finde it, and shall desire to die, and death shall flee from them. both of body, and of estate, and of soule, men shall be so vexed, that they shall be weary of their lives; and shall wish to be freed from that servitude, even by death it selfe, and shall not be allowed it.

And the forme and deportment of these infernall locusts was altogether martiall; like unto barbed horses,7 And the shapes of the locusts were like unto horses prepared unto battell, and on their heads were, as it were, crownes like gold: and their faces were as the faces of men. prepared to the battell; carrying all by a cruell and impetuous violence, and bearing downe all oppositions before them; and through their happy successe, they triumphed as Kings; and had the very formes of crownes upon their heads; and they carried themselves, for their owne advantage, friendly and plausibly to those whom they meant to worke upon.

And they were altogether effeminate in their dispositions, being given up to wantonnesse, and lust,8 And they had haire as the haire of women, and their teeth were as the teeth of lyons. and to maintaine their luxurie, they were immoderately ravenous, and cruell; by strong hand invading the dominions, and inheritances of their opposites.

And they were strongly defenced against all hostile attempts: the Easterne locusts by their owne conquests;9 And they had brest-plates, as it were brest-plates of iron, and the sound of their wings was as the sound of charets of many horses running to battell. the Westerne, by that hand which they had got over the kings and princes of the earth, which were ready prest for their maintenance and supportation; and when they were provoked, their preparations and threats were great and terrible, like to the ratling of many charets, and neighing of horses to the warre.

And these hellish locusts,10 And they had tailes like unto scorpions, and there were stings in their tailes: and their power was to hurt men five moneths. besides their ordinary effect of wasting and spoyling the earth, had dangerous venome in them, and deadly stings in their tailes, which were like to those of scorpions, and had permission from God to torment and empoyson those with whom they had to deale, for the space of the forenamed hundred and fifty yeares.

And they ranged themselves under one kingdome or government; the Easterne locusts under their Mahomet;11 And they had a king over them, which is the angel of the bottomlesse pit, whose name in the Hebrew tongue is Abaddon, but in the Greeke tongue hath his name Apollyon. p. 394the Westerne under their universall head; both of them under satan the prince of darknesse, who being a manslayer from the beginning hath his name from destruction.

12 One woe is past, and behold, there come two woes more hereafter.One great calamity and misery to the Church is already foreshewed; which is in the joynt endeavours of the Easterne, and Westerne locusts; and behold there are two more and more grievous afflictions yet remaining.

13 And the sixt Angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the foure hornes of the golden altar which is before God,And the sixt Angell sounded; and as the temple on earth resembles heaven, and the golden altar in the temple, being neare seated to the holy of holies, and the propitiatory, signifies and imports a neare approach to the throne of God, I heard a voice comming as it were from the foure corners of that golden altar which is before God,

14 Saying to the sixt Angel which had the trumpet, Loose the foure angels which are bound in the great river Euphrates.Saying to that Angell, which had the charge to sound the sixt trumpet; Hitherto the evill spirits have beene restrained from the extremity of their machinations against my Church which is in the Easterne parts, about the great river Euphrates; but now I doe in my infinite justice and wisdome see it to be time to let them loose to inflict their greatest mischiefes upon those coasts.

15 And the foure Angels were loosed, which were prepared for an houre, and a day, and a monethmonth, and a yeare, for to slay the third part of men.And those foure evill angels, which were to be executioners of Gods wrath, were let loose; which howsoever they were restrained before, yet were ever forward, and eagerly prest to doe mischiefe, according to the proportion of the time limited them; if they were allowed but one houres liberty, they were ready prepared to doe their utmost hurt for that houre; if for a day, or a month, or a yeare, they were accordingly addressed for their execution upon the third part of the inhabitants; by the sword of the Turkes, and those bloodie warres which should be raised by their instigation.

16 And the number of the armie of the horsemen were two hundred thousand thousand, and I heard the number of them.And the number of those Turkish armies shall be exceeding great, above the proportion of all those Christian forces, which shall oppose them.

17 And thus I saw the horses in the vision, and them that sate on them, having brestplates of fire, and of jacinct, and brimstone, and the heads of the horses were as the heads of Lyons, and out of their mouthes issued fire, and smoke, and brimstone.And then I saw their horses, and the riders on them, in my vision; armed strongly, and set forth in a terrible fashion; their brest-plates and targets representing nothing but fire, and fury against their enemies, and their horses were fierce, and lyon-like, and the riders of them were furnished with such engines of death, as carried sulphur, and fire, and smoke in the mouths of them.

p. 395And by these instruments of death a great part of the Europeans were slaine;18 By these three was the third part of men killed, by the fire, and by the smoke, and by the brimstone which issued out of their mouthes. the maine force of the Turkes consisting in their troups of horses, and the military preparations of this kinde.

Such power and successe shall they have in their battailes, and open assaults; but withall,19 For their power is in their mouth, and in their tailes: for their tailes were like unto serpents, and had heads, and with them they doe hurt. they shall underhand worke much secret mischiefe by their serpentine plots, and devices; whereby they shall withdraw many from their Christian religion to accursed Mahometisme.

And the rest of those European Christians and neighbouring nations,20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues, yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils and idols of gold, and silver, and brasse, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor heare, nor walke. which have yet escaped those plagues of Turkish cruelty, have not beene warned by so severe an hand of God to repent of their wicked workes, and especially of their idolatry; wherein they have (under a pretence of holy devotion) worshipped the devill; and falne downe before Idols of gold, and silver, and brasse, and stone, and of wood, which neither can see, nor heare, nor walke.

CAP. X.

NOw,1 And I saw another mighty Angel come down from heaven, clothed with a cloud, and a rainbow was upon his head, and his face was as it were the Sun, and his feet as pillars of fire. that in the midst of these broyles and miseries which should befall the world, it might appeare that God had speciall respect to his Church; behold, the great Angell of the Covenant, even Christ the Sonne of God, appeared, as comming downe from heaven, in a very glorious fashion; having, as it were, a bright rainbow upon his head, shining with variety of excellent colours; and his face was resplendent, and beamie, like to the Sunne, and his feet were as pillars of fire, to shew the certaine and powerfull revenge that he will take of his enemies.

And he had in his hand a little booke, open;2 And he had in his hand a little booke open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth. whether to signifie that abundance of knowledge of Gods word, which should be after the barbarismes of superstition, and Turkish ignorance; or whether to signifie the clearnesse of those few prophesies, which yet remained after these fore-mentioned events, to be fulfilled: and he put one of his feet upon the sea, and the other upon the earth, to signifie that he had the power and command of both; and that the things which hee was to speake, concerned all, both continent, and Ilands, and all that lived either on sea or land.

And hee spake aloud, with a strong, and mighty,3 And cried with a loud voice, as when a lyon roareth: and when he had cryed, seven thunders uttered their voices. and p. 396dreadfull voice; as when a lyon roareth; and when hee had spoken that which hee would say; seven thunders, as the eccho of that speech of his, were heard to resound with a very fearefull noyse; expressing what he had delivered.

4 And when the seven thunders had uttered their voices, I was about to write: and I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Seale up those things which the seaven thunders uttered: and write them not.And when the seven thunders had finished their sound; I was about to write that which was delivered by them; but presently I heard a voice from heaven charging me to the contrary, saying, Keepe unto thy selfe those things which the seven thunders have uttered; and doe not publi…h them to the world.

5 And the Angel which I saw stand upon the sea, and upon the earth, lifted up his hands to heaven.And this glorious Angell of the Covenant, whom I saw stand upon the sea with one foot, and on the land with the other, did in the solemne forme of an oath, lift up his hand to heaven, as calling God the Father, and the holy Ghost to record of that serious truth which hee would speake.

6 And sware by him that liveth for ever and ever, who created heaven, and the things that therein are, and the earth, and the things that therein are, and the sea, and things which are therin, that there should be time no longer.And swore by that eternall, and infinite God who created heaven, and all that is therein, and the earth with all the things that are in, and upon it; & the sea, & all the things therein, that the time, and world were now drawing to an end and (after these things should be fulfilled) should be no more.

7 But in the dayes of the voice of the seventh Angell when hee shall begin to sound, the mystery of God should be finished, as hee hath declared to his servants the Prophets.But that in the dayes of the sound of the seaventh trumpet, by which the seventh Angel should blow forth the plague of Gods last wrath; Antichrist should be destroyed, the kingdome of Christ should be erected; and the mystery of Gods finall judgement, (wherein all prophesies shall end) should be accomplished and performed.

8 And the voice which I heard from heaven spake unto mee againe, and said, Goe and take the little booke which is open in the hand of the Angel, &c.Then the voice, which I heard from heaven, spake unto me, againe, and charged mee that I should goe, and receive the full and cleare instructions of those mysteries, contained in that booke, which was open in the hand of Christ.

9 And I went unto the Angel, and said unto him, Give me the little booke: and he said unto me, Take it and eate it up, and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as hony.And I went unto Christ the Mediator, and humbly besought him that hee would be pleased to give mee the cleare, and perfect understanding of the mysteries therin contained; who graciously condescending to my request, did not onelyonly give mee the booke, but power to comprehend it; charging mee to take in, and speedily to digest the contents of it; and withall, fore-admonished me, that the matter comprised therein, howsoever it should p. 397be very sweet and pleasant to mee in the knowledge thereof: yet in regard of the trouble and opposition, which will follow upon the publishing thereof, and conveighing of it forth to the use of others, it should be found very bitter, and unpleasing.

So also verse 10.

And he said unto mee,11 And hee said unto mee, Thou must prophesie againe before many people, and nations, & tongues, and kings. As I have under these former visions, shewed thee the state of my Church, and revealed it unto thee, for the further manifestation thereof, to others; So doe I now againe renew unto thee the representation of the same truths, under other formes of expression; Thou therefore having taken in, and digested the contents of this booke, must prophesie againe of the same things before many peoples, and nations, and tongues, and kings.

CAP. XI.

ANd now to expresse the state of the Church under the first opening of those seaven seales;1 And there was given mee a reed like unto a rod, and the Angell stood, saying, Rise, and measure the Temple of God, and the Altar, and them that worship therein. there was given unto mee a reed like unto a rod, wherewith to measure the temple and the altar; signifying in effect, that I was enjoyned to take full notice of the condition of the Church of God, under the Gospell, and those that did faithfully, and truly make profession thereof.

But I was commanded to neglect and passe over the measure of the outer court;2 But the Court which is without the Temple leave out, and measure it not: for it is given unto the Gentiles, and the holy city shall they tread under foot forty and two moneths. in token that I should make no reckoning of those that did falsely, and unjustly challenge to themselves the title of a christian profession, for that they should in Gods just judgement be given over to hereticks and mis-beleevers in opinion, and men superstitious and profane in practise; who should prevaile against the more syncere and sound part of the Church; and hold them under their tyranny, for the space of one thousand, two hundred, and sixty yeares

Yet in the meane time I will raise up some few faithfull witnesses against them, and for my oppressed truth;3 And I will give power unto my two witnesses, and they shall prophesie, a thousand two hundred and three score dayes clothed in sackcloth. and they shall in their severall successions continue to speake against the errours, and corruptions of the times, for that whole space of a thousand two hundred, and threescore yeares, howsoever with much opposition on the part of their enemies, and trouble and sorrow on their part.

p. 3984 These are the two olive trees, and the two candlestickes standing before the God of the earth.These are they, whom I will raise up, as the noble, and profitable instruments, and meanes of much grace, illumination, holinesse to my Church, in a continued succession of times.

5 And if any man will hurt them, fire proceedeth out of their mouth, and devoureth their enemies, and if any man will hurt them, he must in this manner be killed.And if any hereticke or profane person, shall rise up against them, and oppose their holy doctrine, the power and evidence of that spirit, which is in these messengers of God, shall convince them; and shall bring judgements upon them.

6 These have power to shut heaven that it raine not in the dayes of their prophesie, and have power over waters to turne them to blood, and to smitet he earth with all plagues, as often as they will.These holy men shall prevaile so farre with God, as that upon their prayers (so as it was in the case of Elias) the heavens shall be shut up that no raine shall fall upon the earth during the time of their interdiction; and (according to the power given unto Moses) they shall be able to turne the waters into blood, and to bring much variety of plagues upon the earth; and God shall shew that hee beares great respect unto them.

7 And when they shall have finished their testimony, the beast that ascendeth out of the bottomlesse pit shall make warre against them, and shall overcome them, and kill them.And when they have finished their testimony, which is after a thousand, two hundred and sixty yeares, the Antichristian power shall be more vehemently bent against them; and shall strongly labour to suppresse them, by putting some of them to death.

And that great and wicked city, which is spiritually resembled by Sodome for uncleannesse, and by Egypt for cruelty,8 And their dead bodies shall lie in the street of the great city, which spiritually is called Sodome, & Egypt, where also our Lord was crucified. oppression, and superstition; even that, under whose power and jurisdiction the Lord was crucified, shall be notoriously knowne for her guiltinesse of their innocent blood shed.

And those that are favourers of errour, and superstition,9 And they of the people, and kinreds, and tongues, and nations shall see their dead bodies three dayes, and an halfe, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves. in all the kingdomes, and the countries of the world shall gladly heare and see the cruelty, which shall be offered to these faithfull messengers of God; and shall partake in persecuting them, both alive, and dead; denying them the rights of Christian buriall; and suffering their carcasses to lye openly in their streets, so long as till there might be danger of their owne annoyance.

10 And they that dwell upon the earth shall rejoyce over them, and make merry, and shall send gifts one to another, because these two prophets tormented them, that dwelt on the earth.And all carnall men, which are superstitiously affected, and who were troubled with their bold and conscionable reproofes, shall rejoyce and be glad at the death of these holy men, and in a congratulation of their riddance, shall send presents to each other. For these are they who by preaching downe their wicked courses, and erroneous doctrines, did much vexe, and disquiet those favourers of idolatrie, and errour.

11 And after three dayes and an halfe, the Spirit of life from God entred into them: & they stood upon their feet, and great feare fell upon them, which saw them.But after they have beene for a short time thus suppressed, persecuted and slaine, the Spirit of God, who is the author of life, shall raise up like minded successours p. 399unto them, who, as if they had beene animated with the same soule, shall maintaine the same holy quarrell; and their insulting enemies shall be much dismayed, and affrighted therewith.

But as for them, who have beene thus persecuted,12 And they heard a great voyce from heaven, saying unto them, Come up hither, and they ascended up to heaven in a cloud, and their enemies beheld them. and martyred; they shall be received triumphantly into heaven, and shall heare the gracious invitation of God, calling them up to their crowne, and glory; and their very enemies shall be witnesses of their blessed exaltation.

And at the same time,13 And the same houre was there a great earthquake, and the tenth part of the city fell, and in the earthquake were slaine of men seaven thousand, and the remnant were affrighted, and gave glory to the God of heaven. when these revived abetters of Gods truth shall be stirre themselves, there shall be very great commotions, and stirres in the Church; and a great part of the Romane adherencie shall fall off from her; and many thousands of them, who have, against the light of their owne consciences, upheld the errours, and abuses of the times, shall be swept away, with the just judgements of God; and the remnant shall be afraid of the like measure, and shall give glory to the God of heaven, and embrace his holy truth.

The fift and sixt trumpet have their severall sounds of fearefull plagues that shall befall to the Christian world;14 The second woe is past, and behold the third woe commeth quickly. the second of those woes, denounced by the sixt Angell, is now so past, as that the maine force of it, is abated; and now the third woe which the seventh trumpet shall proclaime is neare at hand.

And the seventh Angel,15 And the seventh Angell sounded, and there were great voyces in heaven, saying, The kingdomes of this world are become the kingdomes of our Lord, & of his Christ, and hee shall raigne for ever and ever. who sounds an utter and finall destruction to all the enemies of God, and his Church, blew the trumpet; and immediately there were heard joyfull acclamations in heaven, of the Saints and Angels; which said; Now the enemies of God are quite vanquished; and the kingdome of God, and his Sonne Christ is advanced, and submitted unto, by all the nations of the world, and established for ever.

Then those foure and twenty Elders which represented the Patriarchs and prophets of the ancient Church of God,16 And the foure and twenty Elders, which sate before God on their seats, fell upon their faces, and worshipped God. sitting before the throne of God in glorious seats, fell downe upon their faces, and worshipped God.

Saying, &c. vers. 17.

And those prophane enemies of thine,18 And the nations were angry, and thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that thou shouldest give reward unto thy servants the Prophets, and to the Saints, and them that feare thy Name, small and great, and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth. which were exasperated against thy Church, and offered all manner of affronts, and violences unto it, shall now finde that the time of thy wrath is comne; and the season of thy last p. 400judgement, wherein all that were formerly dead shal appeare before thee; and receive their retribution, according to their workes; wherein thy servants the Prophets, and thy Saints, and those that feare thy name, both small and great shal receive an happy reward of life and glory; and the persecutors of thy Chutch shall be recompenced with everlasting destruction.

19 And the Temple of God was opened in heaven, and there was seene in his Temple the Arke of his Testament, and there were lightnings, and voices, and thundrings, and an earthquake, and great haile.Then was an open way set forth (to the world) not onelyonly to the true Evangelicall Church, figured by the Temple, but also to the very holy of Holies, and therein to Christ the Saviour, figured by the Arke of the new Testament, and withall there was thereupon a terrible execution of judgment upon those wicked enemies of the Church, and Gospell of Christ, in all variety of plagues, and punishments.

CAP. XII.

1 And there appeared a great wonder in heaven, a woman clothed with the Sunne, and the Moone under her feet, and upon her head a crowne of twelve starres.HItherto hath the estate of the Church beene represented in two severall visions; now it pleased God to shew the same unto me, more at large, in a third vision; beginning at the primitive times thereof, and continuing till the end of all things. The primitive Church was therefore represented unto me, as a woman resplendent and glorious; though of herselfe, in respect of her nature and sexe, weake and feeble, yet made pure, and majesticall by the perfect beames of Christs righteousnesse shining upon her; the Moone was under her feet, to signifie her treading upon all the transitory, and changeable things of this life, now in the times of her first simplicity; and upon her head was a crowne, not of gold, but of heavenly matter, even of starres; to signifie that she is honoured as a Queene in heaven; of twelve starres, to signifie the heavenly doctrine of the twelve Apostles, the maintenance whereof is the onelyonly glory of her.

2 And shee being with childe cried, travelling in birth, and pained to bee delivered.And she that had been formerly barren, was now fruitfull, and great with child, ready to bee delivered of her happy burden, longing to bring forth children unto God.

3 And there appeared another wonder in heaven, and behold, a great red dragon having seven heads, and ten hornes and seven crownes upon his heads.And there appeared another wonder in heaven; for there was represented to me a fearefull image of that opposition which should be made to the Church, viz. that the devill (which was resembled by a great red dragon, cruell and bloody) whose chiefe seat and city standeth upon seven hills, being crowned with the command, and government of the world, and having under it many confederated Kingdomes, wherein the strength thereof p. 401consisteth) should stirre up the tyrans of the Roman Empire, to set themselves against it in all violent courses.

And the issue of this tyrannicall persecution,4 And his taile drew the third part of the stars, of heaven, and did cast them to the earth: and the dragon stood before the woman which was ready to be delivered, for to devoure her child assoone as it was borne. raised by Satan, was such, as that, by this meanes, very many who were, and might have beene lights to others, were miscarried from their Christian profession; and drawn backe to Pagan Idolatry; And these bloody persecutors (agents for the then-Roman Empire) stood ready to watch for any that would, or durst professe the name of Christ; and, so soone as any man did but offer to stand out for the maintenance of the Christian faith, were ready to seize upon him, and to proceed cruelly against him.

But in spight of all the malice and opposition of enemies, the Church brought forth,5 And she brought foorth a manchild, who was to rule all nations with a rod of yron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his Throne. through the power of the Gospell, a masculine issue of true and faithfull professors; in whom Christ was truly formed anew; even Christ mysticall, that Son of God who should rule over the nations; and in whose right his members partake of the same glory; And this blessed issue of hers was taken into the speciall protection of God, and in their severall times glorified with him.

And the Church, viz. 6 And the woman fled into the wildernes, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there a thousand two hundred and threescore dayes.the faithfull professors of Christs name, being after this, persecuted, were glad to retire themselves into deserts, and solitary places, where the providence of God had prepared maintenance, and safe protection for them; where they continued during the heat of that persecution.

And the Devill, the arch-enemie of mans salvation,7 And there was warre in heaven, Michael and his Angells fought against the dragon, and the dragon fought and his Angells, raised up watre against Christ and his Church; and there was a very great and sore conflict betwixt Christ, and his faithfull servants on the one part, and Satan, and his complices on the other.

But Satan, notwithstanding all his power and malice,8 And prevailed not; neither was their place found any more in heaven. prevailed not against the Church, neither was permitted to atchive any thing against the salvation of Gods elect.

And the great dragon the devill, and Satan,9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old Serpent called the devill and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world; he was cast out into the earth and his Angells were cast out with him. even that old serpent, which bore a deadly and perpetuall enmitie to Christ, and his holy seed; and who is the great deceiver and tempter of the Sonnes of men, was utterly defeated of all power to prevaile against Gods Church; and was put over, and limited to the exercise of his tyranny upon those earthly and carnall men whom he prevailes over.

And I heard a loud voice of Saints and Angells,10 And I heard a loud voice, saying in heaven, Now is come salvatiō and strength, & the Kingdome of our God & the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast downe, which accused thē before our God, day and night. tryumphing in heaven, at this victory of Christ, and defeat of Satan; saying; Now, is salvation without all impeachment prepared for Gods chosen; and the strength p. 402and the Kingdome of our God, and the power of Christ his Sonne, is enlarged; for Satan, who is the great tempter, and accuser of Gods children, urging their sinnes against them, and pleading for revenge of their mis-deeds, and raising calumnies, and slanders against them, before God and men, is foyled, and dejected.

11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lambe, and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death.And these elect children of God have overcomne him; not by any power of their owne, but by the blood of Christ, that immaculate Lambe, applyed to them by a lively faith; and by the power of that mighty word of truth, which they have given their confession unto; and by their resolute, and patient suffering, and yeelding up their lives to a most bitter death for the maintenance of the Gospell.

12 Therefore rejoyce ye heavens, and ye that dwell in them; Woe to the inhabiters of the earth, and of the sea; for the devill is come downe unto you, having great wrath, because he knoweth that hee hath but a short time.Therefore rejoyce, O ye heavens, and ye blessed Angells and Saints, that dwell therein; for this your happy victory in Christ your Redeemer. But woe bee to you, earthly and carnall-minded men, whose affections are wholly set upon worldly things; for, since Satan cannot have his will of Gods faithfull ones, hee will bee sure to tyrannize over you; and for that purpose, is he labouring in his extreme rage against mankinde, to execute his wrath upon you; wherein he is so much the more eager, and vehement, because he knowes his kingdome draweth neare to an end.

13 And when the dragon saw that he was cast unto the earth, he persecuted the woman which brought forth the man childe.And when this malicious dragon saw that he was defeated of his purposes, of hindring the salvation of Gods Saints, hee turned all his rage against the Church militant on earth, raysing up by his wicked instruments all manner of persecutions against her, who had brought forth that masculine issue of faithfull professors.

14 And to the woman were given two wings of a great Eagle, that shee might flee into the wildernesse into her place, where she is nourished, for a time, and times, and halfe a time, from the face of the serpent.But unto the Church were given by the wise and gracious providence of the Almighty, many both forcible, and speedy meanes of her delivery, that she might retire, and betake her selfe to a place of more obscure safety; where he tooke order for her preservation and nourishment during all the time of her persecution.

15 And the Serpent cast out of his mouth water as a flood, after the woman, that he might cause her to be carried away of the flood.And the Serpent, when he saw that the speed of her rescue, was such, as that he could not overtake, and surprise her; he cast forth, after her, whole floods of lies, slanders, and reproches, by the mouthes, and pennes of her blasphemous enemies; and broached store of erroneous, and hereticall doctrines; wherewith if it were possible, he might draw her, either into detestation or apostasie.

16 And the earth helped the woman, and the earth opened her mouth, and swallowed up the flood which the dragon cast out of his mouth.But this attempt of his was also in vaine, for the providence p. 403of God so ordered it, as that all these false reproches, and attempts of infection prevailed not, but vanished away, even as a flood of land-water is swallowed up of the earth, and is seene no more.

And the devill was so much the more exasperated against the Church,17 And the dragon was wroth with the woman, and went to make warre with the remnant of her seed, which keepe the Commandements of God, and have the testimonie of Jesus Christ. for that he saw himselfe disappointed in all his projects; and therefore hee ceased not to stirre up warre against those children of the Church, which professed the truth of the Gospell, and indevoured to keepe sincerely the commandements of God, and the onelyonly-true religion of Jesus Christ.

CAP. XIII.

ANd I stood upon the shore of the Iland Pathmos;1 And I stood upon the sand of the sea: and saw a beast rise up out of the sea, having seven heads, and tenne kornes, and upon his hornes ten crownes, and upon his heads the name of blasphemie. and behold, there was a further vision presented to me. For I saw out of the ambitious stirres, and tumults of the world, there arose the great Roman Empire, in the forme of a beast, by reason of the brutish conditions of those that swayed it; whose chiefe seate was placed upon seven hills; and whose government was managed by seaven severall formes of soverainty; and whose strength consisted in ten severall Kingdomes, which were under the command of that Empire; and divers prophane & wicked governors of that Monarchy made profession of horrible blasphemies and impieties, in that they challenged to be stiled and adored as gods.

And the beast which I saw,2 And the beast which I saw was like unto a Leopard, and his feet were as the feet of a Beare, and his mouth as the mouth of a Lion: and the dragon gave him his power, and his seat, and great authority. representing the Roman Empire, was, as it were, cōposed of the qualities of those other three former Monarchies which were past; for in fiercenesse and speed of conquest it was like the Leopard of the Greeke Monarchy; and for ravening, like the Persian Beare; and for hautinesse and cruelty, like to the Babylonian Lion: And the devill did by all meanes set forward the power and authority of this Empire, advancing it by frauds, and cruelties, that it might serve for his owne purposes.

And I saw one of his heads wounded deadly,3 And I saw one of his heades as it were wounded to death, and his deadly wound was healed: and all the world wondred after the beast. in the cutting off of the Cesars line in Nero; and in the intercision of the Empire, for some time, by the Hunnes, and Gothes, and Vandalls, but this wound was soone healed up; and the flowrishing condition of that Empire was such, as all the world wondred at it, and were glad to doe their homage and fealty to it.

And men were so besotted with the admiration therof;5 And they worshiped the dragon which gave power unto the beast, and they worshipped the beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast? who is able to make warre with him? p. 404that they were ready to adore those hellish powers, by whose meanes, and furtherance, this Empire was so advanced; and to dote upon the honour, and greatnesse of this, which they called a sacred and perpetuall Monarchy; Saying, what Empire was ever so great and large as this, and what nation or Kingdome is able to stand out against it?

5 And there was given unto him a mouth speaking great things, and blasphemie, and power was given unto him to continue forty and two months.And Satan had so prevailed with divers of these Cesars, that in the pride of their heart, they spake horrible blasphemies against God, proclaiming their owne deity, and calling for adoration from the people; and through the permission of God, power was given unto this Empire to prevaile, and execute tyranny and cruelty for the space of a thousand, two hundred, and sixty yeares.

6 And hee opened his mouth in blasphemie against God, to blaspheme his name, and his Tabercle and them that dwelt in heaven.And these proud and Atheous governors opened their mouthes against God, to blaspheme his name, and to arrogate his title to themselves, as also to slander and traduce his Church, raysing wicked calumniations against his Saints and servants.

7 And it was given unto him to make warre with the Saints, and to overcome them: and power was given him over all kinreds, and tongues, and nations.And besides their blasphemies, they were permitted in the just judgement of God, to raise cruell persecutions, against those that professed the name of Christ; and to put them to death; and this power was yeelded to them universally, in all kingdomes, and countries, under their dominion.

8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the Book of life of the Lamb, slaine from the foundation of the world.And all that dwell upon the earth, under the Roman dition, shall be forced to burne incense to their Cesars; and to worship them as gods, even all they, whom God hath not by his especiall favour, decreed, and designed to eternall life, from eternity, purchased by the death of his Sonne Jesus Christ.

9 If any man have an eare, let him heare.If God have given to any man an understanding heart, and an hearing eare; let him well consider of these great, and mysticall things which are spoken of this Empire.

10 He that leadeth into captivity shall goe into captivitie: he that killeth with the sword, must bee killed with the sword: here is the patience and the faith of the Saints.For as this Roman Empire shall long tyrannize over the world, and lead many thousands into captivity, so it selfe shall be dealt with, at the last; And as it hath beene guilty of much innocent bloodshed, so it shal accordingly be served againe; and shall perish by the sword of an enemie: But in the meane time, there is much patience required of Gods Saints, and much faith to expect, and attend the accomplishment of these things; which must (though late) yet in their just time be fulfilled.

11 And I beheld another beast coming up out of the earth, and hee had two hornes like a Lambe, and he spake as a Dragon;And besides this secular, I beheld a spiritull tyrannie arising from small and weake beginnings, to a great height of pride, and impiety; the semblance and outward shew whereof was meeke and lamb-like; as tending to p. 405the advancement of the name of Christ; but the doctrine and practice of it was proud, and cruell.

And hee taketh upon him to exercise all imperiall power;12 And hee exerciseth all the power of the first beast before him, and causeth the earth, and them which dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose deadly wound was healed. making indeed but a mere shadow of the Empire; yet outwardly pretends to draw all the earth to the subjection and obedience of that Monarchy whose deadly wound was healed.

See verse 3.

And this spirituall tyranny doth advance it selfe continually by boasting of great miracles,13 And he doth great wonders, so that hee maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men. that are daily done by the abettors thereof; so that as Elias in his time, by calling downe fire from heaven, did approve the truth of his doctrine, and mission from God, so doth this tyrannicall state goe about to justifie their teaching and usurpation by strange and wonderfull miracles.

And this spirituall tyran deceived the inhabitants of the earth by those miracles which hee had power to doe in the presence of the subjects of that great Empire;14 And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth, by the meanes of those miracles, which he had power to doe in the sight of the beasts, saying to them that dwell on the earth, &c. and caused the people to renew, and receive a new restored forme, and image of that long vacant Empire of the West, which had received that deadly wound by the sword of the Hunnes, and Gothes, and Vandalls.

And he had power to put a new life into that new restored image, or shadow of the ancient Empire;15 And he had power to give life unto the image of the beast, that the image of the beast should both speake, and cause that as many as would not worship the image of the beast, should be killed. that it should bee able to doe the wonted actions of life; and make Lawes for its owne government, and the establishment thereof; and joyning the force of his decrees with the edicts of that meanly-revived Empire, should constraine all men under paine of death to yeeld their homage and subjection to that Monarchy of his owne erecting.

And he caused all both small and great, rich & poore,16 And hee causeth all, both small and great, rich and poore, free and bond, to receive a marke in their right hand, and in their foreheads. to make open profession of themselves, to be the subjects and vassalls of the Romane Empire; and both in their countenance to declare it, and with their hands to fight for it.

And he excommunicated all that would not subject themselves unto it;17 And that no man might buy or sell, save hee that had the marke, or the name of the beast, or the number of his name. inhibiting them from all liberty of trade and traffique, or any affaires of secular commerce; which did not professe their reverence and obedience to that his Latine Empire, and the honourable titles given thereunto.

Here is a proofe of the wisedome,18 Here is wisedome. Let him that hath understanding count the number of the beast: for it is the number of a man, and his number is, sixe hundred three score and sixe. and sagacity of any reader; let him therefore that hath skill, and knowledge, p. 406reckon the number of the numerall letters, whch are in the name of this Empire; for they make up the name of a man, even of one of the first princes (viz. Latinus) which swayed this government; and the numerall letters of his name make up the number of sixe hudred sixty and sixe.

CAP. XIV.

1 And I looked, and loe a Lambe stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and foure thousand, having his Fathers name written in their foreheads.NOw after that I had seene these fearefull representations of the two great enemies of Gods Church; I had a comfortable sight shewed unto mee of Christ the blessed protector thereof; who was represented to mee, as a lambe standing upon his holy mount Sion; and with him those his chosen servants (in infinite numbers) which had formerly received the marke of his gracious protection; and who had faithfully professed the truth of his religion.

2 And I heard a voice from heaven, as the voice of many waters, and as the voice of a great thunder: and I heard the voice of harpers harping with their harpes.And I heard the heavenly voice of Gods Church unanimously praising, and magnifying the name of God, for his wonderfull mercies to them, with such loudnesse, and strength, as if it had beene the sound of many waters, or of a mighty thunder; and I heard the joyfull melodie that they made in the expressing of their thanksgivings unto God.

3 And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the foure beasts, and the Elders, and no man could learne that song, but the hundred and forty and foure thousand which were redeemed from the earth.And these holy choristers sung, not the old song of their forefathers, which praised God for the redemption which was to come; but sung new songs of thanksgiving for their redemption, already atchieved, in the presence of God and his Angels, and glorified Saints; and none of the carnall, and unregenerate men of the world could know what that joyfull song meant; none having ever found the sweetnesse and comfort of these mercies of God in Christ, but onelyonly his chosen, and redeemed ones whom they concerne.

4 These are they which were not defiled with women: for they are virgins: these are they which follow the Lambe whithersoever he goeth: these were redeemed frō among men: being the first fruits unto God and to the Lambe.These are they, who are neither defiled with bodily fornication with women, nor with spirituall fornication with idols, but have kept themselves chast, and cleane from both those pollutions; these are wholly addicted to the sincere worship and service of Christ; these are bought with a price, even that inestimable price of his blood; being specially dedicated (as the holy first fruits of mankinde) to God and to Jesus Christ his Sonne.

5 And in their mouth was found no guile: for they are without fault: before the throne of God.These are so justified from their sinnes, by the blood of Christ, and so sanctified from their corruptions, by his p. 407Spirit; as that there is no wickednesse, nor falshood in them; and that being cloathed with Christs righteousnesse, they appeare without spot or blemish, before the throne of God.

Then I saw another mighty and glorious messenger of God; who for the more speed of delivery,6 And I saw another Angell flie in the midst of heaven, having the everlasting Gospell to preach unto them that dwell on the earth, and to every nation, and kinred, & tongue, and people. and safety from all danger of oppugnation, flew with the message of that true and sincere Gospell of Christ, which had beene long suppressed, and opposed by men, the truth whereof is everlasting; having charge that it should be broached, and published to all nations, and kinreds, and tongues, and people, by the faithfull dispensers thereof.

Teaching them all the world over,7 Saying with a loud voice, Feare God, and give glory to him. that forsaking all their superstitions, and sinfull wilworships, they should feare God onelyonly, and give glory to him, &c.

Then upon the free,8 And there followed another Angell, saying, Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because shee made all nations drinke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication. and sincere preaching of the Gospell, there followed another messenger, from God, which cryed saying; It is fallen, it is fallen; the mysticall Babylon, the great city of the world; because she hath drawne all nations, to drinke of the cup of her spirituall fornications, and thereby hath caused them to drinke of that cup of Gods wrath, and vengeance, which belongs to those grievous offences.

Then followed a third messenger from God,9 And the third Angell followed them, saying with a loud voyce, If any man worship the beast, and his image, and receive his marke in his forehead, or in his hand: with further tidings of judgements, upon those, which doe wilfully maintain the pride & tyranny, and wicked errors of the Antichristian state: saying, If any man doe after these cleare publications of the Gospell give divine worship to any created power whether civill or spirituall; and shall make profession of his servile and idolatrous prostitution thereunto:

See Chap. 13. verse 8.

The same man shall drinke of that unconceiveably bitter cup of Gods wrath, and vengeance,10 The same shall drinke of the wine of the wrath of God, which is powred out without mixture into the cup of his indignation, and he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy Angels, &c. without any mixture at all of mercy and remission; and hee shall bee infinitely, and eternally tormented with that fire and brimstone of hell; and both the holy Angels of God, and Christ, the meeke and mercifull Saviour of men, shall see them without pitty, so tormented for ever.

So also verse 11.

And now upon the sight of these torments inflicted upon wicked and idolatrous men,12 Here is the patience of the Saints; here are they that keepe the Commandements of God, and the faith of Jesus. Gods children shall p. 408well finde the fruit of their patience, and constant profession of the true faith of Jesus Christ; and their conscionable obedience to the Commandements of God; in that they see themselves free from this grievous vengeance, and possessed of joy and happinesse.

13 And I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord, from henceforth, yea faith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours, and their workes do follow them.And I heard a voice from heaven bidding me to write these words following, as worthy of perpetuall remembrance and consideration; Blessed are the dead, which have now laid downe their life for Christ, and such as are found in Christ, when they goe hence; no lesse blessed are they then those holy martyrs of the Primitive times; yea, saith the holy Spirit, they are doubtlesse blessed, because they both are freed from those calamities which attended their life; and do likewise receive the comfort and benefit of all the good workes which they did here below.

14 And I looked, and behold, a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sate like unto the Sonne of man having on his head a golden crowne, and in his hand a sharp sickle.And I looked, and I beheld a present representation of addresse unto a terrible judgement; for there appeared Christ the eternall Sonne of God, as in his glorious humanity, sitting upon a white cloud, to shew the integrity, and glory of his presence; having on his head a golden crowne representing his Majesty, and power, and a sharp sickle in his hand; implying his readinesse to cut downe the ripe sinnes of the world; and to execute his just severity upon them.

So also verse 15, 16, 17, 18.

19 And the Angell thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepresse of the wrath of God.Then the Angell did, accordingly, by the sickle of his powerfull execution, cut downe the sinfull generation of mankinde; and did cast them downe into hell, the place of torment appointed for all the wicked enemies of God.

20 And the winepresse was troden without the city, and blood came out of the winepresse, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.And the execution was wonderfully great, & fearfull, in so much as the blood of the slain was so deepe, as that it reached up to the very bridles of the horses, for the space of two hundred miles in length; so great and generall was the destruction of those who did wilfully follow the enemies of Christ.

CAP. XV.

1 And I saw another signe in heaven, great and marveilous, seven Angels, having the seaven last plagues, for in them is filled up the wrath of God.ANd I saw another wonder in heaven, great and marvelous; for in way of preparation to that last judgement, and execution, I saw seaven Angels which had power to inflict the seven last plagues upon the enemies p. 409of Christ; in which is the accomplishment of all those judgements which he meant to bring upon the kingdome of Antichrist, before his utmost confusion.

And I saw, as it were, a sea of chrystall,2 And I saw as it were a sea of glasse, mingled with fire, and them that had got the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his marke, and over the number of his name, stand on the: sea of glasse, having the harpes of God. mixed with some tincture of rednesse, as of the colour of fire (by reason of the persecutions attending the profession of Christ) and I saw them that had couragiously, and constantly stood out both against the impious edicts, for idolatrie, which proceeded from the heathenish Emperours, and against the wicked and sinfull decrees of their successours, and the tyranny usurped by them, standing joyfully upon that glassie sea, (as having escaped all the billowes of their late persecutions) and testifying their joy in outward expressions of a melodious thanksgiving.

And they,3 And they sing the song of Moses the servant of God, and the song of the Lambe, saying, Great and merveilous are thy workes, Lord God Almighty, just and true are thy wayes, thou King of Saints. in acknowledgement of the benefit of their deliverance from these fiery waves of persecution, sung the same song, that Moses the servant of God uttered upon his deliverance from the red sea; Let us sing to the Lord, for hee hath triumphed gloriously; and together with it, sung a most sweet and pleasant ditty, which was taught them by the Lambe himselfe, Christ their redeemer, &c.

And after this I looked, and beheld the very inward part of heaven (which was as the Holy of holies,5 And after that I looked, and behold the Temple of the Tabernacle of the testimony in heaven was opened. wherein the Arke of the Testimony was placed) having beene formerly shut, was now opened.

And from thence,6 And the seven Angels came out of the Temple having the seven plagues, cloathed in pure and white linnen, and having their breasts girded with golden girdles. even from that more inward and reserved place of glory, came those seven Angels which had the seven last plagues to inflict; and they (to signifie their purity, and faithfull diligence in their executions) were clothed in pure and white linnen, and had their breasts girded with golden girdles.

And one of those prime Angels,7 And one of the foure beasts gave unto the seven Angels, seven golden vials, full of the wrath of God, who liveth for ever and ever. which were next to the Throne, delivered unto the seven messengers of Gods wrath, seven golden vials, wherein were contained those deadly liquors of just vengeance, which the everliving God had decreed and appointed to be poured out severally upon his enemies, on earth.

And as it was of old in the materiall Temple,8 And the Temple was filled with smoake from the glory of God, and from his power, and no man was able to enter into the Temple, till the seven plagues of the seven Angels were fulfilled. that when God would shew his presence there in, the smoke filled the roome, so as the ministers of that holy place could not stand in it; So it was now in the giving of this commission for these seven last plagues; the glory of God did so shew it selfe, as that no man was able to p. 410comprehend the majesty thereof; untill this so important a businesse was dispatched.

CAP. XVI.

1 And I heard a great voice out of the Temple, saying to the seven Angels, Goe your wayes and poure out the vials of the wrath of God upon the earth.ANd I heard a great voice as proceeding from God, out of his Temple in heaven; saying to those seven Angels, which were designed to be the executioners of this vengeance of God; Goe your wayes, and poure out the severall plagues upon the people of the earth.

2 And the first went and poured out his viall upon the earth, and there fell a noysome and grievous sore upon the men which had the marke of the beast, and upon them which worshiped his image.And the first Angell went, and poured out his viall upon those regions of the earth, which are under the Roman Empire, and there fell a noysome, and grievous sore, and botch, (like to the sixt plague of Egypt) upon the idolatrous clients of that bestiall government, and the successours therein; and (spiritually) great exasperation of minde, through envie and malice, against those which preached the sincere Gospell of Christ.

3 And the second Angel poured out his viall upon the sea, and it became as the blood of a dead man; and every living soule died in the sea.And that no part might be free, the second Angell poured his appointed plagues upon the sea, to the effusion of the blood of those that dwelt by, or upon it; in so large quantity, as that the waters seemed as the congealed blood of a dead man; so as the corrupted moisture thereof could not but kill all that lived therein; which was literally fulfilled in those bloody battailes, betwixt the Turkes and Christians; and those of hostilely affected Christians among themselves.

4 And the third Angell poured out his viall upon the rivers, and fountaines of waters, and they became blood.Yea that nothing might remaine pure, and wholsome; as the earth, and the sea were smitten with plagues, so the rivers and fountaines also were by the viall of the third Angell turned into blood (as it was done in the first plague of Egypt,) through that extreme bloodshed, which the avenging hand of God should justly cause amongst men, by their owne cruell divisions.

5 And I heard the Angel of the waters say, Thou art righteous, O Lord, which art, and wast, and shalt be, because thou hast judged thus.And I heard that Angell which had speciall charge given him over the waters, confesse, how just the proceedings of God were in this vengeance of his; saying, O thou eternall God, who art of thy selfe, and hadst thy being from thy selfe before all beginning of time, and shalt be everlastingly, thou art just and righteous in thus plaguing these wicked persecuters of thy servants.

6 For they have shed the blood of Saints, and Prophets, and thou hast given them blood to drinke: for they are worthy.For they have not stuck to shed the blood of thy Saints in their horrible, and frequent massacres; and now thou p. 411hast given them blood to drinke; neither are they worthy of any other potion, who tooke delight to spill it.

And I heard a voice of one of those martyrs,7 And I heard another out of the Altar say, even so, Lord God Almighty, true and righteous are thy judgements. which had cryed formerly for revenge from under the altar (Chap. 6.) now applauding the justice of this vengeance; saying, Even so Lord God Almighty, thou hast heard our prayers, and hast approved thy judgements to be most true and righteous.

And yet further, that even the very heavens,8 And the fourth Angell poured out his viall upon the Sunne, and power was given unto him to scorch men with fire. (whose influence had wont to be wholsome, and beneficiall to mankinde) might now be turned harmfull, and deadly to wicked men; the fourth Angell poured out his viall upon the Sunne; and thereupon, that goodly planet which was wont to bring comfort, by the light thereof, to the inhabitants of the earth, became so fiery and scorching, that the beames thereof were intolerable; breeding extreme plagues, and calentures, and other deadly maladies amongst men.

And men being broyled (as it were) with the extremity of heate,9 And men were scorched with great heat, and blasphemed, &c. and tormented with the diseases which followed thereupon, in stead of humbling themselves, under the just, and powerfull hand of God, wickedly blasphemed his name; who had the power to inflict these plagues, and they repented not of their sinnes, nor gave him the glory of his justice.

And the fifth Angell poured out his viall on the prime seat, and metropolis of the Empire;10 And the fifth Angell poured out his viall upon the seate of the beast, and his kingdome was full of darknesse, and they gnawed their tongues for paine; and the power and government thereof, both spirituall and temporall began to be obscured, and abased; and the followers and abettors thereof gnawed their very tongues for indignation;

And instead of acknowledging their errour,11 And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their paines, & their sores, and repented not of their deeds. they blasphemed the God of heaven, because of their deepe discontent, and vexation; and repented not of their wickednesse.

And the sixt Angell poured out his viall upon the great river Euphrates,12 And the sixt Angell poured out his viall upon the great river Euphrates, and the water thereof was dryed up, that the way of the kings of the East might be prepared. which was the defence of the easterne Babylon; and as Cyrus, when hee went about to take that city, first drained the channell of Euphrates, and derived the streames another way; so shall it be now ordered, by the providence of God, that this great river shall be made passable to the Kings of the East, that so those of the Turkish Empire may have way and oportunity for their armies against the West.

And I saw a resolute conspiracie,13 And I saw three uncleane spirits like frogges come out of the mouth of the dragon, and out of the mouth of the beast, &c. and combination of Satan, and his two powerfull instruments, the secular and spirituall powers, who agreed to send forth their p. 412most forcible agents for the making of a strong party on their behalfe.

14 For they are the spirits of devills working miracles, which goe forth unto the Kings of the earth and of the whole world, to gather them to the battle.For they are the emissaries of Satan, and for the effecting of their purpose, doe, and pretend strange miracles; stirring up the Kings of the earth, to arme all their powers, and to bring them forth to rhat great battell, wherein Almighty God hath determined to give that notorious foile unto the enemies of his Church.

15 Behold, I come as a theefe: blessed is he that watcheth and keepeth his garments, lest hee walke naked, and they see his shame.Behold, this which I intend to doe, I will doe it suddenly; and inexpectedly: Blessed is he that abideth in prayer, and watching, keeping about him the garments of true righteousnesse, and innocence; lest being stripped thereof, he be put to just shame and confusion.

And these people were gathered together by the providence of the Almighty,16 And hee gathered them together into a place, called in the Hebrew tongue Armageddon. through the instigation of their busie emissaries, into a place designed by God for their destruction; as Sisera and his army were brought into the vally of Megiddo for their overthrow.

17 And the seventh Angell poured out his viall into the aire, and there came a great voice out of the temple of heaven, from the throne, saying, It is done.And the seventh Angell powred out his last, and most universall plague, into the very aire, wherein the enemies of his Church doe breath; and there came a great voice out of the heavenly Temple, even from the throne of the Almighty, saying; The overthrow of mine enemies is now comne to a very speedy execution.

18 And there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings, and there was a great earthquake, such as was not since men were upon the earth, so mighty an earthquake.And in a kinde of heavenly applause, to this sentence, and decree of the Almighty; and as an effect of those plagues, which were powred out of the seventh viall, for the confusion of the enemies of God, there were voices, and thunders, and lightnings; and there was a great earthquake and strange commotions, and alterations of the states of the world, such as were never formerly seen, or knowne.

19 And the great citie was divided into three parts, and the cities of the nations fell: and great Babylon came in remembrance before God, to give unto her the cup of the wine of the fiercenes of his wrath.And the great city, which was the Empresse of the world by the force of that commotion, was divided into three parts; whiles some adhered unto their old superstitions, and errors, others professed dislike & detestation of them; and a third sort carried them in a neutrality betwixt both; and the cities of the Paganish, Jewish, Mahumetan profesion fell off from their wonted mis-religion; and that great city the mysticall Babylon came in remembrance (for her speedy revenge) before God; who now was ready to poure upon her the fiercenesse of his wrath and indignation.

20 And every Island fled away, and the mountaines were not found.And every Island fell off, and revolted from her, and those firme stayes which she thought to be most assured, were no more found to stand out for her maintenance.

21 And there fell upon men a great haile out of heaven, every stone about the weight of a talent, and men blasphemed God because of the plague of the haile: for the plague thereof was exceeding great.And as it was in the dayes of Joshua, that God fought p. 413against his enemies from heaven, by casting downe great and weighty hailstones upon their heads, so shall he confound his Antichristian enemies at the last, and men in the bitternesse of their anguished soules shall bee ready to blaspheme the name of God which sendeth this judgment upon them.

CAP. XVII.

ANd there came one of those seven Angells which had the charge of the seven last plagues to be powred upon the world, and talked with me, saying;1 And there came one of the seven Angels, which had the seven vailes, and talked with me, saying unto me, Come hither, I will shew unto thee the judgment of the, &c. Come hither, and I will shew thee the judgement of that great citie, who is infamous for her spirituall fornications, and who ruleth over many nations.

By whom the Kings of the earth have beene drawne into abhominable Idolatries,2 With whom the Kings of the earth have committed fornication, and the inhabiters of the earth, have beene made drunke with the wine of her fornication. and the inhabitants of the earth have beene deceived, and bewitched with the pleasing doctrine, and practice of her superstitions.

So he ravished me away, in an holy extasie of spirit,3 So hee carried mee away in the spirit into the wildernesse, and I saw a woman sit upon a scarlet coloured beast, full of names of blasphemie, having seven heads and ten hornes. into the wildernesse; and there, for the more free and full contemplation of these matters, by the oportunity of the solitarinesse of the place, he represented unto me the Antichristian state, in the forme of a woman sitting upon that great and glorious seat of the Empire, which was distained with horrible and great blasphemies, being situated upon seven hills, and having the command of ten Kings.

And the woman was very gorgeously set forth in all manner of rich ornaments, that the earth or sea could afford;4 And the woman was arayed in purple and scarlet colour, and decked with gold and precious stone, and pearles, having a golden cup in her hand, full of abhominations, and filthinesse of her fornication. and she had in her hand a golden cup, specious in shew, but full of errour and abhomination; which was that poysonous and intoxicating doctrine of heresie and idolatry, wherewith she hath seduced the people of the earth.

And in the open shew and carriage of her,5 And upon her forehead was a name written, Mystery, Babylon the great, the Mother of harlots, and abhominations of the earth. any indifferent man might read thus much; This is that mysticall Babylon, the great city of the world, the most infamous author and patterne of all both spirituall, and bodily fornications, and all outrageous wickednesse.

And I saw the cruelty of this state and government such,6 And I saw the woman drunken with the blood of the Saints, and with the blood of the Martyrs of Jesus: and when I saw her, I wondered with great admiration. as that it was even over-laid with the excesse of that innocent blood of Gods Saints, and holy Martyrs p. 414which it had causelesly shed. And when I saw this sight, I stood marvelling, with great astonishment and admiration.

7 And the Angell said unto me, Wherefore didst thou marveile? I will tell thee the mysterie of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her.And the Angell seeing me thus amazed, said unto me; Why wert thou thus astonished at this sight? I will shew thee the true and plaine meaning of this vision; and the signification both of the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her, &c.

The beast then, which thou sawest, is no other then the Roman Empire;8 The beast that thou sawest, was and is not, and shall ascend out of the bottomlesse pit, and goe into perdition, and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder (whose names were not written in the Booke of life, from the foundation of the world) when they behold the beast that was and is not, and yet is. the port and magnificence whereof was very great in the dayes both of their former governors, and especially in the raigne of their late Emperours, Julius, Augustus, Tiberius, and Claudius; but now in the following times of Nero, Galba, Otho, Vitellius, and Domitian, is much abated of the former glory, and greatnesse; and is now void by the death of the late governour; but shall be supplyed againe by much varietie of usurpers (as it were) out of hell it selfe; into which place of perdition they shall soone returne; and those that doe not belong to the election of God, nor are acquainted with the course of his providence, shall wonder at the strange, and uncouth alterations of this vast Monarchy, which was once so glorious, and powerfull, and now is not so great as it was, yet still hath an eminent being amongst men.

9 And here is the mind which hath wisedome. The seven heads are seven mountaines, on which the woman sitteth.This is the interpretation of this vision, according to true understanding, and wisedome. The seven heads are seven hills, whereon that city is built.

10 And there are seven Kings, five are fallen, and one is, and the other is not yet come: and when hee commeth he must continue a short space.And withall, they signifie seven formes of government, or rule, which that state hath beene, and must be swayed by; viz. Kings, Consuls, Dictators, Decemviri, Tribunes, Emperours, Ecclesiasticall Princes, whereof the five first are past, and gone; and the sixt of them is now in being; and the seventh is not yet come; and when it doth come, it shall not hold long before it be wasted, and for the time suppressed by the inundation of barbarous nations.

11 And the beast that was, and is not, even he is the eight, and is of the seven, and goeth into perdition.And that last forme of government, which I said should be for a time suppressed, & yet is not comne into being; even that is the eighth in respect of that spirituall power and jurisdiction which it shall challenge and usurpe, and yet is one of the seven, in respect of this temporall dominion, which it claimeth, and shall in due time be destroyed.

12 And the ten hornes which thou sawest are ten Kings, which have received no kingdome as yet: but receive power as Kings one houre with the beast.And the ten hornes which thou sawest, are ten severall Kings, but such as are not yet, in being; nor have p. 415their Kingdomes as yet erected; but shall be set up afterwards, even at the same time, that the second beast shall arise to greatnesse, out of the ruines of the Empire.

These are all agreed to give their utmost strength,13 These have one minde, and shall give their power and strength unto the beast. and assistance to that second beast, which is the false Prophet; and shall joyne both their counsells, and forces to that purpose.

These shall oppose the government,14 These shall make warre with the Lambe: and the Lambe shall overcome them. and doctrine of Christ; and at the last, the truth of the Gospell, and the power of Christ shall overcome them, &c.

And he saith unto me; The waters which thou sawest,15 And he saith unto me, The waters which thou sawest, where the whore sitteth, are peoples, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues. where this Antichristian state beareth rule, doe signifie, people, and multitudes, and nations, and tongues.

And the ten Kingdomes which thou sawest, represented by the ten hornes;16 And the ten hornes which thou sawest upon the beast, these shall hate the whore, and shall make her desolate and naked, and shall eate her flesh and burne her with fire. shall fall off from that Antichristian state, and shall hate it, and leave it utterly destitute, and forsaken, and shall both professe, and execute all manner of hostile violence against it.

For God hath so over-ruled them by his secret and powerfull providence,17 For God hath put in their hearts to fulfill his will, and to agree, and give their Kingdome unto the beast, untill the words of God shall be fulfilled. as that they have unwittingly done that, which his most wise counsell had determined, in that they yeelded up their Kingdomes unto that second beast, untill the time should come, wherein the decree of God should be accomplished.

And that woman which thou sawest sitting as Soveraigne,18 And the woman which thou sawest, is that great citie which raigneth over the Kings of the earth. in this Antichristian state, is that great city, which is the mistresse of the world, and raigneth over all the Kings of the earth.

CAP. XVIII.

THe mysticall Babylon, the great city and state,2 Babylon the great is fallen, is fallen, and is become the habitation of devills, and the hold of every soule spirit, and a cage of every uncleane and hatefull bird. is falne and utterly ruined; and is becomne a desert habitation of devills, a place haunted with uncleane spirits, and a desolate wildernesse, for Scrich-Owles, and other ominous birds to abide in.

For she hath poysoned all nations with the infections of her spirituall fornications,3 For all nations have drunke of the wine of the wrath of her fornication, and the Kings of the earth have committed fornication with her, and the merchants of the earth are waxed rich thorough the abundance of her delicacies. and hath thereupon drawn them into the partnership of her judgements: and the Kings of the earth have beene seduced by her, to her palpable p. 416Idolatries; and the Merchants of the earth, both spirituall, and temporall, are growne rich through the trafique of her voluptuous, and curious delicacies.

4 And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sinnes, and that yee receive not of her plagues.And I heard another voice from heaven, charging all that wish well to their soules, to depart from the superstitions, and abominations of that city, and state, and warning them to avoid the partaking of her sinnes, upon paine of partaking of her plagues.

7 For she saith in her heart, I sit a Queene, and am no widow, and shall see no sorrow.For she saith in the pride of her heart, (as that type of her, the old Chaldean Babylon did (Esa. 47.8.) I sit as a Queene over all the earth; I am not as a solitary widow, but am full of lovers; the great Princes of the world are glad to court me, with their best observances, neither is it possible that I should faile, and miscarry of my greatnesse, or be in any danger of distresse.

9 And the Kings of the earth, who have committed fornication, and lived deliciously with her shall bewaile her.And those Kings, and princes of the earth, which have beene drawne into the partnership of her Idolatries, shall bewaile her, &c.

And those spirituall, and temporall merchants which were wont to enrich themselves which the costly wares,11 And the merchants of the earth shall weepe and mourne over her. appertaining to her glorious superstitions, shall weepe and mourne, &c.

So verse 12. and 13. &c.

21 And a mighty Angell tooke up a stone like a great milstone, and cast it into the sea, saying, Thus with violence shall that great citie Babylon bee throwne downe, and shall be found no more at all.And a mighty Angell (to represent unto me the irrecoverablnesse of this mysticall Babylon) tooke up a great stone, like a mil-stone, and cast it into the Sea; saying, Looke how impossible it is, that this weighty stone thus violently cast into the sea should rise up from the bottom thereof againe; so impossible is it, that this Babylon thus dejected by the just hand of God, should ever recover it selfe from this finall confusion.

23 For thy merchants were the great men of the earth: for by thy sorceries were all nations deceived.Those that traded in thy spirituall merchandises, were great, and mighty men, and heaped up very great treasures, by that trafique of theirs; for by the inchantments of thy false doctrines, and Idolatries were all nations deceived.

24 And in her was found the blood of Prophets, and of Saints, and of all that were slaine upon the earth.For she is found full of blood, and cruelty; as being guilty of the effusion of the blood of Gods faithfull Prophets, and Apostles, and of all his Saints and holy Martyrs upon earth.

p. 417CAP. XIX.

1 And after these things I heard a great voice of much people in heaven, saying, Alleluia: salvation, and glory, and honour, and power unto the Lord our God.ANd after these things I heard a very great applause in heaven, given by all the Saints and Angells; and a joyfull acclamation of all the hosts thereof, praising God for the just destruction of this mysticall Babylon.

And the smoke which ariseth up from the fire of her destruction, shall ever ascend;3 And her smoke rose up for ever and ever. and remaine as an assured witnesse of that her burning, and utter comsumption.

Let us rejoyce and be glad, and give glory to God;7 Let us bee glad and rejoyce, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lambe is come, and his wife hath made her selfe ready. for whereas Christ Jesus of old betrothed himselfe to the Spouse, his Church, now the marriage shall be fully solemnized, & consummated; and the Bride his Church, hath decked and trimmed her selfe, with those spirituall ornaments, that are fit for the Spouse of so glorious an husband.

And this her heavenly Bridegroome hath granted to her, for that purpose,8 And to her was granted, that shee should be araied in fine linnen, cleane and white: for the fine linnen is the righteousnesse of Saints. the shining and precious rayments of purity, and integrity; which is the dresse that he hath prepared for the soules of his Saints.

And the Angell said unto me; Write thou,9 And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lambe, and hee saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. and make an everlasting record of this, which I shall now say unto thee; Blessed are they which are effectually called by God, to bee partakers of the mariage supper of Christ their Saviour; and are therein united unto him; And he said unto me; These things which I have spoken unto thee are the undoubted truths of God himselfe, and shall most certainly be fulfilled.

And I, seeing the glory of that Angell,10 And I fell at his feet to worship him, and he said unto me, See thou doe it not: I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren, that have the testimony of Jesus: Worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. and hearing him to mention the name of God, fell downe to worship him; But he forbad this my adoration, and checked me for it, saying; Beware of offering any such kinde of reverence to me; I am thy fellow creature and thy fellow servant, and one of thy brethren in office, bearing (as thou dost) the testimony of Christ our Lord; worship thou God onelyonly; as for me, I am one of those ministring spirits, whom God doth use in the revealing of his mysteries to his Prophets, that they may testifie and declare them to men: and the office of testifying Jesus to men, is of the same ranke with that of revealing him by way of prophesie unto the teachers.

And now,11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse, and he that sat upon him was called faithfull and true, and in righteousnesse he doth judge and make warre. after these representations of the bloody oppositions, which should be made to his Church, and the discomfiture of his proud enemies, I saw heaven opened, and there was shewd me a representation both p. 418of the happy triumph of Christ Jesus, and his blessed Gospell, and of a preparation for a further victory: And behold there was shewed to mee a white horse; and a glorious rider sate upon him; whose name was the faithfull and true God, who doth judge justly, and revengeth righteously.

12 His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crownes, and hee had a name written, that no man knew but he himselfe.Whose eyes are as sharpe, and as searching as fire, making passage into the very innermost, and deepest secrets of the heart; and upon whose head were many crownes; to signifie his soveraigne command over all the kingdomes of the earth; both hee and his name are infinite, and incomprehensible; neither is any finite creature capable of the perfect knowledge thereof.

13 And hee was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood, and his name is called the Word of God.And hee was clothed with a vesture dipt in blood, to shew that hee had already victoriously steeped his garments in the blood of his enemies, and triumphed in their confusion, and so should doe againe; and his name is called, The eternall and incarnate Word of his Father.

14 And the armies which were in heaven, followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linnen, white and cleane.And the armies of the Saints in heaven followed him, in a triumphant, and warlike manner, upon white horses, clothed in perfection of purity, and righteousnesse.

15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharpe sword, that with it hee should smite the nations: and hee shall rule them with a rod of iron, and hee treadeth the winepresse of the fiercenesse and wrath of Almighty God.And out of his mouth proceedeth that sharp two edged sword of his mighty word; whereby hee pierceth, and subdueth the hearts of all nations; and by the powerfull scepter of that kingdome of his, he swayeth, and governeth them; and hee most justly, and yet terribly executeth the fierce, and finall vengeance of God, upon his enemies.

16 And he hath on his vesture, and on his thigh a name written; King of kings, and Lord of lords.And in the demonstration of his power, he hath given open markes and proofes of his glorious soveraignty over all creatures; so as he is publiquely proclaimed, and acknowledged, the King of kings, and Lord of lords.

17 And I saw an Angell standing in the Sunne, and hee cryed with a loud voice, saying to all the fowles that flie in the middest of heaven, come and gather your selves together unto the supper of the great God;And I saw an Angell stand in the Sunne (the most conspicuous place in heaven) to execute the office of the great Herald of God, who with a loud voice, cryed to all the fowles that flye in the aire; saying, Behold there is a wonderfull slaughter towards, of all the enemies of Christ; there will be infinite numbers of carcases strewed upon the earth; come therefore, O all ye fowles of prey, and addresse your selves to this great banquet that the great God hath provided for you;

18 That yee may eate the flesh of Kings, and the flesh of Captaines.That yee may feed upon the delicate flesh of Kings, and great commanders of the earth, &c.

p. 419And I saw the great Roman Monarch,19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies gathered together to make warre against him that sate on the horse. and his confederated princes, and their armies gathered together to make warre against Christ, and his Gospell; and against the faithfull professors thereof.

And that same presumptuous Monarch, was overcomn,20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet, that wrought miracles before him, with which hee deceived them that had received the marke of the beast, and them that worshiped his image; these both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. and taken; and together with him that false prophet, the man of sinne, who had by pretence of many miracles deceived both him, and those that professed their homage to his idolatrous government; and ascribed divine worship to his shadow, or image, that came in his roome. These both, after their grievous seducements and abominations, were cast downe into hell.

As for the remnant of their followers,21 And the remnant were slaine with the sword of him that sate upon the horse, which sword proceeded out of his mouth, &c. which out of ignorance, or simplicity maintained their errours and tyrannies, they were slaine by the powerfull command of Christ, and upon their bodily death, all the fowles were filled with their flesh.

CAP. XX.

ANd whereas in my former vision I had seene the dragon,1, 2, 3. And I saw an Angell come downe from heaven, having the key of the bottomlesse pit, and a great chaine in his hand, and hee laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the devill and satan, and bound him a thousand yeares, and cast him into the bottomlesse pit, and shut him up, and set a seale upon him, that hee should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand yeares should be fulfilled: and after that hee must be loosed a little season. persecuting the Church under the tyrannicall rule of the heathen Emperours, now I saw an Angell come downe from heaven, having power and commission from God, to chaine up and imprison the dragon, that old serpent the devill, and to restrain his power during the space of a thousand yeares, after Constantines restoring of peace to the Church; who did accordingly lay hold on him, and shorten and restraine his power, and malice, from his wonted violent, and subtle machinations against the Church; that hee should not in so prevalent manner deceive the nations of the earth, untill that thousand yeares were accomplished; and after that he must be let loose for some further exercise of Gods children, and seducement and destruction of his enemies; but that liberty of his shall be but for a short time.

And now I saw such glory and majesty put upon the faithfull ones, in the time that Satan was shut up,4 And I saw Thrones, and they sate upon them, and judgement was given unto them, and I saw the soules of them that were beheaded for the witnesse of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshiped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his marke upon their foreheads, or in their hands, and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand yeares. as that they sate upon thrones; and the power of judgement was committed unto them; to manage the affaires of Gods Church, and to execute due censures upon the offenders, p. 420and I saw those faithfull and holy martyrs, which were ready to lay downe their lives for the testimony of Jesus Christ, and his Gospell; and those which refrained from, and abhorred the idolatry of the times; and they lived and raigned with Christ, in a sanctified and comfortable estate here upon earth, framing themselves to all godly courses, during all this time of the thousand yeares of satans restraint.

5 But the rest of the dead lived not againe untill the thousand yeares were finished. This is the first resurrection.But for the rest, which lay dead in their sinnes and impieties, they did not at all recover, at the last, this spirituall happinesse and life, and attaine to the true knowledge and fruition of God. This, which we now speake of, viz. the abandoning of the corruptions of the times, and attaining to the true knowledge, and love of the saving truth of God, and a conscionable obedience to him, is the first resurrection.

6 Blessed and holy is hee that hath part in the first resurrection; on such the second death hath no power, but they shall bee priests of God, and of Christ, and shall raigne with him a thousand yeares.Blessed and holy is hee that thus hath his part in this first resurrection; for certainly on such, the second death, which is eternall damnation, and separation of the soule from God, neither hath, nor can have any power; but they shall be wholly consecrated to the service of God, and his Christ, and shall here raigne, with him in their severall times, all the whole space of the thousand yeares, wherein satan is shut up: they shall triumph in God, and themselves, whiles the rest of the world is in vexation and bondage.

7 And when the thousand yeares are expired, satan shall be loosed out of his prison,And when those thousand yeares shall be expired, satan shall for the time be let loose; and suffered to raise great tumults, and troubles in the world,

8 And shall goe out to deceive the nations, which are in the foure quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle.And shall upon faire pretences stirre up all the enemies of Gods Church, which are in all the regions of the earth, both Scythians, Turks, and mis-beleeving Christians; and shall gather them together to battle against the little flock of Christ, &c.

9 And they went up on the bredth of the earth, and compassed the campe of the Saints about, and the beloved city, and fire came downe from God out of heaven, and devoured them.And they went up into all the coasts of the earth, and by their great number encompassed the small handfull of Gods Saints round about; and taking advantage of their paucity, hemm'd them in, as enclosing the true beleeving Church, for the slaughter; But the fire of Gods wrath did, as I were, fall from heaven upon their heads, and consume them, and frustrate all their cruell intentions.

10 And the devill that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophets are and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.And I saw a great, and glorious throne, erected for the last judgement, and the Sonne of God sitting thereon in great majestie, and heavenly magnificence; at p. 421whose presence, the heavens and earth did melt away, and were so suddainly changed, as that they appeared in their former estate, no more.

There shall be now no more dying, nor graves,14 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death. all these things are at an end; and nothing shall remaine, but a finall damnation of the devils and reprobate soules for ever; and this is the second death.

And whosoever was not found registred in Gods eternall election to life, was cast into hell fire.15 And whosoever was not found written in the booke of life, was cast into the lake of fire.

CAP. XXI.

THen I saw an happy renovation of all things;1 And I saw a new heaven, and a new earth: for the first heaven, and the first earth were passed away and there was no more sea. even the heaven and earth refined to their utmost perfection; for this imperfect condition of the heavens and earth, that now are, passed away; neither was this sea, as it now is, but freed from that impurity and corruption which it now hath.

And now in this universall revolution of the world,2 And I John saw the holy city new Jerusalem comming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. I John saw the celestiall city, the purified and glorious Church of God, comming downe as it were from God out of heaven, decked with all kinde of spirituall ornaments, and prepared with all riches of grace, and glory, as a fit bride for her gracious husband.

And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying;3 And I heard a great voice out of heaven, saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and hee will dwell with them, and they shall bee his people, and God himselfe shall bee with them, and be their God. Behold now, God shall settle his eternall habitation with men; so dwelling with, and in his Saints, that hee shall never be removed from them; but shall in a full and perfect manner injoy and possesse them as his people, and they him as their God.

Behold,5 Behold, I make all things new, and hee said unto mee, Write, for these words are true and faithfull. now I will remove away all the impurity and imperfection of my creature; and make all things absolute, and glorious.

And hee said unto mee;6 And hee said unto mee, It is done, I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, I will give unto him that is a thirst of the fountaine of the water of life freely. It is as surely done as if it were past already; I am the first and the last; even the first before all beginning, and the last, after all endings, eternall, without beginning or ending; To him that hath hungred and thirsted after righteousnesse, will I freely give out of the lively fountaine of my grace, and mercy, everlasting life.

p. 4227 Hee that overcommeth shall inherit all things, and I will be his God, and hee shall bee my sonne.He that overcommeth the tentations of satan, and the world, shall be possessed of this heavenly inheritance of glory; and I will be his God and Father, and he shall be my deare sonne for ever.

8 But the fearefull & unbeleeving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and Idolaters, and all liers shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.But those which have cowardly, for feare of paine, or danger, shrunke from the truth; and the unbeleeving, and those which have lived in abominable sinnes, cruell murtherers, whoremongers, &c. shall have their portion in the everlasting torments of hell fire; which is the second death.

10 And hee carried me away in the spirit to a great and high mountaine, and shewed mee that great city, the holy Jerusalem descending out of heaven from God.And hee ravished mee away in an extasie of spirit, and (as it were) upon an high mountaine, shewed mee the excellent beauty of his now renued, and purified Church, the holy and spirituall Jerusalem; which God from heaven, had put upon that blessed Bride of his.

11 Having the glory of God: and her light was like unto a stone most pretious, even like a Jasper stone, cleare as christall….Which was set forth with all heavenly glory; even the glory of Gods eternall presence, and the shining brightnesse thereof was like unto the lustre of the most pretious and glittering stones.

12 And had a wall great and high, and had twelve gates, and at the gates twelve Angels, and names written thereon, which are the names of the twelve tribes of the children of Israel.And (to set forth the magnificence thereof by the resemblance of a city built of the most pleasing and precious matter that the earth can afford) the wals thereof (which are wont to be for defence and ornament) were strong and high, impregnable by any enemy, and perfectly safe for the inhabitants; and as it is the praise of a city, that the situation and forme of it gives both security from enemies, and easie entrance to the citizens; so it was here, as there was a strong and high wall to keepe out the enemie, so there were twelve gates, to admit of the convenient, and free passage of the inhabitants, that every tribe of Israel might have a gate of his owne. And for the more sure guard of those twelve gates, there were twelve heavenly Angels to keepe them; and every severall gate, had the name of a severall tribe ingraven upon it, of the children of Israel.

13 On the East three gates, on the North three gates, on the South three gates, and on the West three gates.For the elect of God which should come from the East coasts, there were three gates appointed, and set open, ready to receive them; For those likewise which should come from the North, three gates; for those which should come from the South, three gates also; and three gates in like manner, for those which should come from the West.

p. 423The wall of the city, which encompasseth,14 And the wall of the city had twelve foundations, and in them the names of the twelve Apostles. and fortifieth it on every side (which is that sacred bond of unity, wherewith the whole Church is knit together, and is defended from the danger of all errour and ignorance) is built upon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles, Jesus Christ being the chiefe corner stone.

And the Angell,15 And hee that talked with mee had a golden reed to measure the city, and the gates thereof, and the wall thereof. who was employed to reveale these things unto mee, represented unto mee a golden metwand, which hee had in his hand, as thereby importing that hee was to make manifest unto mee the excellent symmetrie and proportion of this heavenly city, and the gates and wall thereof.

And the city is so built and contrived,16 And the city lyeth foure square, and the length is as large as the bredth: and hee measured the city with the reed, twelve thousand furlongs: the length and the bredth, and the height of it are equall. that nothing is wanting to the exquisite perfection thereof; it is every way square, and in all the parts and measures thereof framed by the line and levell of Gods infinite wisedome, and power; able for the largenesse thereof, to containe all those happy soules that appertaine thereunto.

The wall or bulwarke of this city is infinitely strong;17 And he measured the wall thereof an hundred and forty and foure cubits, according to the measure of a man, that is, of the Angell. being for the bredth of it raised up in twelve severall courses of the firme and invincible doctrine of the twelve Apostles; and thereupon arising up to twelve times twelve cubits; according to the measure, not of an ordinary man, but of the Angell, which appeared in a larger shape.

As for the matter, both of the wall and of the city;18 And the building of the wall of it was of Jasper, and the city was pure gold, like unto cleare glasse. it is so pure, and rich, and precious, as no earthly substance can possibly expresse it; but if ought be more excellent, and of higher estimation then other, as gold, pearles, and pretious stones of all exquisite varieties, let these serve to resemble the beauty, and unconceiveable glory of this heavenly city.

So also verse 19, 20, 21.

And whereas in the old Jerusalem,22 And I saw no Temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty, and the Lambe, are the Temple of it. Salomons goodly Temple was the glory of that city, now here, in this heavenly Jerusalem, there is no one roome set apart for the Temple; but the whole city is the consecrated Temple to God, and to his Christ; neither shall there need any signes or Sacraments of Gods presence, and grace, but the Lord God shall be there really, and essentially exhibited to all his Saints; and God the Father shall there clearely manifest himselfe in his Sonne Christ Jesus to his elect.

p. 42423 And the city had no need of the Sunne, neither of the Moone to shine in it; for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lambe is the light thereof.And this glorious city had no need of any outward, and adventitious light, from the Sunne, or Moone, or stars, which are but the conveiances of this created light to the inferiour world; for the glory of God, the Creator, doth perfectly inlighten it, more then many thousand Sunnes can doe; and the Lambe, Christ Jesus, is the full and bright luminary, which sendeth forth perfect beames of heavenly knowledge & blessednesse to all his.

And whereas the earthly Jerusalem was the receptacle of none but her owne people,24 And the nations of them which are saved, shall walke in the light of it: and the kings of the earth do bring their glory and honour into it. abhorring the communion of the Gentiles; now here, all the elect of all the nations of the world, shall be received into one blessed society, and shall injoy the glorious light of Gods presence; and the Kings of the earth shall be admitted into it, and shall here so lay downe their glory, as that they shall see and confesse all their earthly pompe and magnificence to be nothing in comparision of this.

25 And the gates of it shall not be shut at all by day: for there shall be no night there.And in this citie there shall bee such safety, and such freedome, as that the gates thereof shall not bee shut at all; but ever stand open for the receit and admittance of the blessed Saints of God; even the materiall, and earthly cities are wont to be open by day, but shut by night; but here there shall be no night at all, but a perpetuall day of continuing and constant blessednesse.

26 And they shall bring the glory and honour of the nations into it.And if there be any one amongst the Gentiles, more excellent then other, it shall be his happinesse to be admitted hither; and here shall he be glad to lay downe all his former glory.

27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lambes booke of life.And yet though the gates shall be alwaies open, shall there be no entrance here, for any impure, and polluted soule; nor for any that liveth in abhominable wickednes, and practiceth lying and falshood; but onelyonly the elect Saints of God, which are ordained to this blessednesse, and sanctified by the blood of Christ their Saviour.

CAP. XXII.

ANd to shew that there can be no pleasure wanting in this city of God,1 And he shewed me a pure river of water of life cleare as christall proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lambe. the Angell shewed me a pure river of water of life, cleare as Chyrstall, free from those muddy impurities, which wee meet with here below; proceeding, not out of the Temple (as that which Ezekiel saw) but out of the throne of God, and of the Lambe; The Lord himselfe being that inexhaust fountaine, from which these everlasting refreshments doe proceed.

p. 425Whereas in the earthly paradice there was one onelyonly tree of life, which grew in the midst of the garden,2 In the midst of the street of it, and of either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yeelded her fruit every monethmonth: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. as a sacrament and pledge of that eternall life, which man should upon his obedience enjoy; of the taste whereof man was deprived upon his sinne; now in the midst of the streets of this new Jerusalem, and on either side of this cleare river, there is growing this tree of life in a free and plentifull manner; so as there is open accesse thereunto for all commers.

And that there may be no danger of either cloying, or fading; this tree of life shall yeeld all pleasing variety of fruits; and shall perpetually flourish, without all interchange of Winter, and Summer; every monethmonth shall be an autumne to yeeld her ripe increase; And this ever-florishing tree of life, Christ Jesus, by the soveraine leaves of his merits shall be effectuall to heale all the maladies of the beleeving Gentiles.

And whereas after mans first placing in paradice, there soone followed a curse,3 And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lambe, shall be in it, and his servants shall serve him. now in this heavenly city, there is no danger, or feare of a curse; but the glorious throne of God, and of his Sonne Christ shall be erected in it for ever, and his servants shall celebrate his name with perpetuall songs of praise and thanksgiving.

And they shall have the blessed vision of him;4 And they shall see his face, and his name shall be in their foreheads. and shall be owned for his before all Saints and Angels.

And in that presence of God,5 And there shall be no night there, and they need no candle, neither light of the Sunne, for the Lord God giveth them light, and they shall raigne for ever and ever. there shall bee no shadowing of that bright glory and resplendence, no changable course of day, and night; but the Sunne of righteousnesse ever shineth there; so as there can be no need of candle, or materiall Sunne, to inlighten them; for in Gods light they shall see light, and they shall raigne for ever and ever.

Christ himselfe spake in my hearing, saying,7 Behold I come quickly: blessed is hee that keepeth the sayings of the prophesie of this booke. Behold I come quickly, neither will delay my returne; but in the meane time blessed is he that carefully thinkes upon, and duly observes that which is contained in the prophesie of this booke.

See Chap. 19. vers. 10.9 Then saith he unto me, See thou do it not, for I am thy fellow servant, &c.

Doe not seale up this booke,10 And hee saith unto mee, Seale not the sayings of the phophesie of this booke: for the time is at hand. but let the words of the prophesie thereof be open for all men to read, and know; for there is present use of them, and the time is at hand wherein some part of them shall be fulfilled.

p. 42611 Hee that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and hee which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and hee that is righteous, let him be righteous still; and hee that is holy, let him be holy still.Now hee that deales unjustly, let him (if hee thinke good) dare to doe unjustly still; and hee which is filthy, let him (if hee list) be filthy still; and contrarily, let the righteous man hold on the course of his righteousnesse, and let the holy man continue in his holinesse.

12 And behold, I come quickly, and my reward is with mee, to give every man according as his worke shall be.For behold, I am now shortly comming; and will not come empty handed; but will bring with me due retributions to every man according to his worke, whether it be good or evill.

13 I am Alpha, and Omega, the beginning, and the end, &c.See Chap. 21. vers. 6. and ch. 1. vers. 8.

14 Blessed are they that do his Commandements, that they may have right to the tree of life, and may enter in thorough the gates into the city.Blessed are they which walke holily, and conscionably according to his will, that they may have their part, and portion in Christ, who is the tree of life; and may enter in, through him, which is the way, and the doore, into the possession of the heavenly Jerusalem.

15 For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers.Out of the precincts whereof are justly excluded all filthy and wicked persons; all currish and spightfull snarlers at goodnesse, and contemners of holy counsell, whoremongers, &c.

16 I am the root, and the of-spring of David, & the bright and morning starre.I am both the root of David, whence hee had his being, according to my Deity; and the branch, that issued from David, according to my humane nature; and I am that cleare light of the world, which inlighteneth it with the beames of knowledge and grace; and all true light, both of understanding and comfort, is derived from mee alone.

17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, come, and let him that is a thirst come, and whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.And the Spirit of God moveth the hearts of his faithfull ones, and they (which are his spirituall bride) being therewith moved, are ready to second his holy motions; and say in a servent desire, Come Lord, and let him that heareth or readeth this prophesie, breake forth into the same holy desire, and say, Come Lord; and in the meane time, let him that hungreth and thirsteth after grace, come to him; and whosoever is by this Spirit moved and inabled to desire grace from him, let him abundantly receive of that plentifull grace and mercy comfortably, and freely.

18 For I testifie unto every man that heareth the words of the prophesie of this booke, if any shall adde unto these things, God shall adde unto him the plagues that are written in this booke.And now, that I may seale up this prophesie with a just and vehement ratification, for as much as I know the devill will be apt to raise questions, and stirre up indeavours, for the disparaging of the authority of this booke, I do protest, and testifie to every man that heareth, or readeth the words of this holy Revelation; if any man p. 427shall, upon pretence of defect, and imperfection, adde any thing unto these things which are here written, God shall plague him with an addition of all those fearefull plagues, of death and hell, which are contained in this booke.

And if any man (upon pretence of the superfluity,19 And if any man shall take away from the words of the booke of this prophesie, God shall take away his part out of the booke of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this booke. and needlessenesse, or improbability of any passage thereof) shall diminish any part of the words of this prophesie; God shall so wipe his name out of the booke of life, and so thrust him out of the holy city, his new Jerusalem, as that hee will make it manifest to the world, that the same man neither hath beene, nor shall ever be recorded amongst the elect ones, nor had, nor shall have any portion in heaven.

And loe, that Sonne of GOD,20 He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, Come Lord Jesus. which makes this powerfull ratification, saith, Surely, I come quickly. Amen. Even so, Come LORD JESU.

SOLI TRINVNI DEO, LAVS, HONOR, GLORIA.