A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable…

These Souls cry for vengeance, saying, How long Lord, holy and true? &c. Which teacheth us what is the exercise of the souls departed, being slain for the truth, to wit, they cry for vengeance and judgement, not that they do it for desire of revenge for their own deaths, nor having any regard to themselves, and the injuries they have received, as our corrupt nature, being unregenerate, useth: But as their own words declare, it is for the glory of God; which appeareth in that they call him Lord, which is, as if they should say, as thou art Lord over all, so show thy self to be, and be not Lorded by them, but manifest thy self to have power over all, and show thy self one that will repay their rebellion against thee. ⟨p. 36⟩In that they say, holy and true: they desire that herein he will express himself to be holy and true in doing that which is right concerning revenge against the wicked, as having promised revenge.

These Soules cry for vengeance, saying, How long Lord, holy and true? &c. Which teacheth vs what is the exercise of the soules departed, being slaine for the truth, to wit, they cry for vengeance and iudgement, not that they doe it for desire of reuenge for their owne deaths, nor hauing any regard to themselues, and the iniuries they haue receiued, as our corrupt nature, being vnregenerate, vseth: But as their owne words declare, it is for the glory of God; which appeareth in that they call him Lord, which is, as if they should say, as thou art Lord ouer all, so shew thy selfe to be, and be not Lorded by them, but manifest thy selfe to haue power ouer all, and shew thy selfe one that will repay their rebellion against thee. ⟨p. 36⟩In that they say, holy and true: they desire that herein he will expresse himselfe to be holy and true in doing that which is right concerning reuenge against the wicked, as hauing promised reuenge.

In that they say how long! This they do in regard of the care, not only of themselves, but that they have of the oppressed children of God on earth. Not that there is any such care that hindereth their felicity, but only a desire of the help and deliverance of those on earth, as also of the consummation of their felicity. This doth not confirm that opinion of the Papists, that the Saints in heaven do know the particular estate of men on the earth; but this only they have remaining of that general knowledge of the will of God which they had even before their dissolution, which they loose not thereby, yet they see no further into mens actions; then by that knowledge they did before.