A commentary upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…A commentarie upon the book of the Revelation Wherein the text is explained, the…

the vials therefore which suppose Antichrists height to be past, and the Churches flourishing condition to be begun, can in respect of none of them contemporate with the sealed number, but with the palm-bearing company; and so all of them must contemporate with the seventh trumpet; which was the thing to be demonstrated.

the vials therefore which suppone Antichrists height to be past, and the Churches flourishing condition to be begun, can in respect of none of them contemporate with the sealed number, but with the palm-bearing company; and so all of them must contemporate with the seventh trumpet; which was the thing to be demonstrated.

His fourth Synchronism, is, of the Serpent and Dragon his binding, chap. 20, with the seventh trumpet. This being well understood, according to our former grounds, whereby the seventh trumpet, and all the vials are made contemporary, is to be fixed as a ⟨p. 338⟩truth: but being understood (as he doth understand it) by contemporating the seventh trumpet with the seventh vial only, and that interval which followeth the destruction of the beast by the sixth vial, is not to be admitted. And supposing that that binding of Satan, (during these thousand years, chap. 20.) doth contemporate fully with the seventh trumpet, chap. 11. (which is indeed a truth) and supposing that the seventh trumpet doth begin with the seven vials immediately on the fall of Antichrist his declining Kingdom (which we have formerly made out) It will necessarily follow, that the thousand years are to begin with the vials where the sixth trumpet closet Antichrist his height: and as the seventh trumpet doth not presuppose Antichrists full, but his begun ruin, (as hath been shown) So it must be said of that thousand years binding of Satan, which is called the time of his binding; because, during that period, he cometh to be bound, although at the entry thereof his restraint be not at its height: concerning which, more is to be seen, chap. 20. Lecture 4.

His fourth Synchronism, is, of the Serpent and Dragon his binding, chap. 20, with the seventh trumpet. This being well understood, according to our former grounds, whereby the seventh trumpet, and all the vials are made contemporary, is to be fixed as a ⟨p. 338⟩truth: but being understood (as he doth understand it) by contemporating the seventh trumpet with the seventh vial only, and that intervall which followeth the destruction of the beast by the sixth vial, is not to be admitted. And supposing that that binding of Satan, (during these thousand years, chap. 20.) doth contemporate fully with the seventh trumpet, chap. 11. (which is indeed a truth) and supposing that the seventh trumpet doth begin with the seven vials immediatly on the fall of Antichrist his declining Kingdom (which we have formerly made out) It will necessarily follow, that the thousand years are to begin with the vials where the sixth trumpet closet Antichrist his height: and as the seventh trumpet doth not presuppose Antichrists full, but his begun ruine, (as hath been shewn) So it must be said of that thousand years binding of Satan, which is called the time of his binding; because, during that period, he cometh to be bound, although at the entry thereof his restraint be not at its height: concerning which, more is to be seen, chap. 20. Lecture 4.

His fifth Synchronism, is, of the thousand years of Christs reign with the seventh trumpet or interval following the beasts destruction. This reign of Christs, being the same with Satan's restraint; what judgement we have given of the former Synchronism, is also to be applied here.

His fifth Synchronism, is, of the thousand years of Christs reign with the seventh trumpet or intervall following the beasts destruction. This reign of Christs, being the same with Satans restraint; what judgement we have given of the former Synchronism, is also to be applied here.

The seventh and last Synchronism, is, of that palm-bearing innumerable company, chap. 7. vers. 9. with the seventh trumpet, or, interval aforesaid. This general we acknowledge to be a truth, the seventh trumpet being begun with the first vial, as hath been said: but the restricting of it to the interval, following the destruction of the beast and sixth vial, cannot be admitted: and is the rise of that discrepancy which is in the application of many of these Synchronisms, which otherwayes in the general are solid, and do agree fully with the series and mould which we have laid down, as in the procedure will appear.

The seventh and last Synchronism, is, of that palm-bearing innumerable company, chap. 7. vers. 9. with the seventh trumpet, or, intervall aforesaid. This generall we acknowledge to be a truth, the seventh trumpet being begun with the first vial, as hath been said: but the restricting of it to the intervall, following the destruction of the beast and sixth vial, cannot be admitted: and is the rise of that discrepancie which is in the application of many of these Synchronisms, which otherwayes in the generall are solid, and do agree fully with the series and mould which we have laid down, as in the procedor will appear.

LECTURE II.

Vers. 1. And I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts, saying, Come, and see. 2. And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Vers. 1. ANd I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals, and I heard, as it were the noise of thunder, one of the four beasts, saying, Come, and see. 2. And I saw, and behold, a white horse, and he that sat on him had a bow, and a crown was given unto him, and he went forth conquering, and to conquer.

Followeth now the History of opening the seals, which is to be knit to vers. 7. of chap. 5. and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the Throne. There is then a digression by a Song from the matter, whereunto now he returneth, as it were, thus; I saw when the Lamb had taken the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne, He went on to open the seals, thereafter I saw and behold, &c.

FOlloweth now the History of opening the seals, which is to be knit to vers. 7. of chap. 5. and he came and took the book out of the right hand of him that sat upon the Throne. There is then a digression by a Song from the matter, whereunto now he returneth, as it were, thus; I saw when the Lamb had taken the book out of the right hand of Him that sat upon the throne, He went on to open the seals, thereafter I saw and behold, &c.

Every one of these seals hath a type, holding forth the matter contained in it, and some word of explication added for the understanding of it.

The first four have one common type, to wit, a Horse, because they relate to one common subject or object, to wit, the Church; and they have a voice, calling, Come, and see: The fifth and sixth have no such voice, because they speak so distinctly of themselves with difference from the former four in respect of their scope.

For conceiving the meaning of these seals, take notice, 1. that they are not to be looked upon as continuing a Story of the Church from the beginning to the end of the World, as ⟨p. 339⟩was said; yea, it appeareth by the Answer given to the Saints in the fifth seal, that there were Martyrs to be crowned by suffering after that time before the end; and it being clear that these Martyrs are not crowned by the sixth seal, which bringeth judgement upon persecutors, It must remain therefore to be fulfilled under the trumpets, and consequently that they must intervene between the sixth seal and the end.

For conceiving the meaning of these seals, take notice, 1. that they are not to be looked upon as continuing a Story of the Church from the beginning to the end of the World, as ⟨p. 339⟩was said; yea, it appeareth by the Answer given to the Saints in the fifth seal, that there were Martyrs to be crowned by suffering after that time before the end; and it being clear that these Martyrs are not crowned by the sixth seal, which bringeth judgement upon persecuters, It must remain therefore to be fulfilled under the trumpets, and consequently that they must interveen between the sixth seal and the end.

2. Take notice, that by them is set forth the state of the Church, and that under persecution uninterrupted, until the sixth seal be opened. For, 1. there is one common sign or type in the first four seals, to wit, an horse, which in the first seal representeth the Church as honourable and victorious by the spreading of the Gospel. And therefore, 2. by an horse, under the second, third, and fourth, must be understood the same thing represented, to wit, the Church, although different in her condition from the former, according as the same type is variously set forth. 3. It appeareth by the fifth seal, that the Churches suffering is here to be understood, Where we have these four, 1. That the party suffering was the Church, as appeareth by their Prayer, Dost thou not avenge our blood; &c. 2. It appeareth, that their suffering was for no private quarrel, by their description, vers. 9. The souls of them that were slain, for the Word of God, and for the testimony which they held. 3. It appeareth that this suffering was from men, and that without the Church, by their description who were instruments, Dost thou not avenge our blood on them that dwell on the earth? as looking to the multitude of the world, contradistinguished from the Church. 4. It appeareth, that this suffering was for a long time uninterrupted, and so must be the first suffering of the Church before God overthrew Heathen persecutors: their Prayer, How long, Lord, wilt thou not judge and avenge our blood, &c. which importeth, that unto this time God had not visibly reckoned with Heathen persecutors as He did when Authority began to own Christianity: and so these first five seals, at least, hold forth the suffering condition of the Church during the time of Heathenish Emperors: and this period runneth to the first great change of Gods outward dispensations to His Church, to wit, when civil Authority and force began to befriend the Church against her enemies, which will be found to be in Constantine's time, about the year 310 or thereby. Yet would we not peremptorily assert, that none of these judgements affected the wicked world during that time. For, 1. God sendeth the Gospel into the world. 2. Many profane men reject it: for which, 3. God plagueth the ungrate world more than before the Gospel came:

2. Take notice, that by them is set forth the state of the Church, and that under persecution uninterrupted, untill the sixth seal be opened. For, 1. there is one common sign or type in the first four seals, to wit, an horse, which in the first seal representeth the Church as honourable and victorious by the spreading of the Gospel. And therefore, 2. by an horse, under the second, third, and fourth, must be understood the same thing represented, to wit, the Church, although different in her condition from the former, according as the same type is variously set forth. 3. It appeareth by the fifth seal, that the Churches suffering is here to be understood, Where we have these four, 1. That the party suffering was the Church, as appeareth by their Prayer, Dost thou not avenge our bloud; &c. 2. It appeareth, that their suffering was for no private quarrell, by their description, vers. 9. The souls of them that were slain, for the Word of God, and for the testimonie which they held. 3. It appeareth that this suffering was from men, and that without the Church, by their description who were instruments, Dost thou not avenge our bloud on them that dwell on the earth? as looking to the multitude of the world, contradistinguished from the Church. 4. It appeareth, that this suffering was for a long time uninterrupted, and so must be the first suffering of the Church before God overthrew Heathen persecuters: their Prayer, How long, Lord, wilt thou not judge and avenge our bloud, &c. which importeth, that unto this time God had not visibly reckoned with Heathen persecuters as He did when Authority began to own Christianity: and so these first five seals, at least, hold forth the suffering condition of the Church during the time of Heathenish Emperors: and this period runneth to the first great change of Gods outward dispensations to His Church, to wit, when civil Authority and force began to befreind the Church against her enemies, which will be found to be in Constantines time, about the year 310 or thereb. Yet would we not peremptorily assert, that none of these judgements affected the wicked world during that time. For, 1. God sendeth the Gospel into the world. 2. Many profane men reject it: for which, 3. God plagueth the ungrate world more than before the Gospel came:

whereupon, 4 the rage and malice of men do break out against the Gospel and the professors of it, as the causes of all their evil, which procureth again new judgements from God. By which we may see what interwoven connection there is amongst these things, to wit, the Churches sufferings and the worlds (which hath been long since observed by Tertullian and Cyprian in their Apologies contra Scapulam and Demetrium) But this we think, that though there might be (and no question were,) judgements on the world for despising the Gospel, and particular plagues on persecutors; yet during that time, there was no such general reckoning with them, nor are they such judgements which these seals primarily describe, which is all we would say.

whereupon, 4 the rage and malice of men do break out against the Gospel and the professors of it, as the causes of all their evil, which procureth again new judgements from God. By which we may see what interwoven connexion there is amongst these things, to wit, the Churches su••erings and the worlds (which hath been long since observed by Tertullian and Cyprian in their Apologies contra Scapulam and Demetrium) But this we think, that though there might be (and no question were,) judgements on the world for despising the Gospel, and particular plagues on persecurers; yet during that time, there was no such generall reckoning with them, nor are they such judgements which these seals primarily describe, which is all we would say.

For understanding these seals, or types in them, we would have respect to these three, 1. To the key or series of the Story before expressed from the fifth seal. 2. To the nature of the type it self, being compared with other Scriptures. 3. To the events as they are recorded in story.

The first words of this Chapter hold forth the rise of the vision, to wit, the Lambs opening one of the seals; which is to be knit to vers. 7. chap. 5. as is said. By opening one of the seals, is understood the first seal, as Matth. 28.1. by One of the Sabbath• or, by One day of the week, is understood the first day of the week, as by comparing of the Evangelists is clear, and is here confirmed by designing, the second, the third, &c. after this; and so also it is clear, that by mentioning one beast, is understood the first, by the same reasons. We show before (chap. 5.) that these Books were long scrolls, rolled about something, and the Book being so rolled, it might be divided by sundry seals, so that one part might be opened and read, while the rest were sealed, and so, when he had opened the first seal, importeth, that such a part of the scroll was made legible.

The first words of this Chapter hold forth the rise of the vision, to wit, the Lambs opening one of the seals; which is to be knit to vers. 7. chap. 5. as is said. By opening one of the seals, is understood the first seal, as Matth. 28.1. by One of the Sabbath• or, by One day of the week, is understood the first day of the week, as by comparing of the Evangelists is clear, and is here confirmed by d•signing, the second, the third, &c. after this; and so also it is clear, that by mentioning one beast, is understood the first, by the same reasons. We shew before (chap. 5.) that these Books were long scrols, rolled about something, and the Book being so rolled, it might be divided by sundry seals, so that one part might be opened and read, while the rest were sealed, and so, when he had opened the first seal, importeth, that such a part of the scrol was made legible.

The first thing that occureth, is, the preparation by the first beasts inviting to come and see. This is common to the first four seals, though in some things there be difference. There are three parts in the preparation for this seal▪ the first is common, a voice, saying, ⟨p. 340⟩come and see: which is not only for Johns upstirring and warrant to behold that type; but also for all Readers and Hearers, to put them to observe it, implying, that there is some mystery in the thing, yet desirable in it self to be known, and to be desired by Gods People.

The first thing that occureth, is, the preparation by the first beasts inviting to come and see. This is common to the first four seals, though in some things there be difference. There are three parts in the preparation for this seal▪ the first is common, a voice, saying, ⟨p. 340⟩come and see: which is not only for Iohns upstirring and warrand to behold that type; but also for all Readers and Hearers, to put them to observe it, implying, that there is some mystery in the thing, yet desirable in it self to be known, and to be desired by Gods People.