A73707:256
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…
A plain explanation of the whole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable in these days of trouble and affliction in the church. Penned by a faithful preacher, now with God, for more private use, and now published for the further benefit of the people of God.A plaine explanation of the vvhole Revelation of Saint John Very necessary and comfortable in these dayes of trouble and affliction in the church. Penned by a faithfull preacher, now with God, for more priuate vse, and now published for the further benefit of the people of God.
London: printed by T.S. for Nathaniel Newbery, 1622
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
After, he saith, He stood before the Woman; noting, that he setteth himself very fiercely and sharply against the woman, that is, the Church and Children of God, whose names were written in the Book of life: And therefore he is said to wait on the woman, first, to hinder her that she should not bring forth, and then to devour them at the least when they were brought forth, that is, when they have been called, and made profession of the truth, and are made members of Christ by faith; even then is he ready most strongly to assault them, to overthrow, if it were possible, the foundation of their faith. Where he compareth the Devil to an envious Mid-wife, opposing him to a good Mid-wife; for as she is careful to help the woman in travel, and to save the Child; so the Devil contrariwise is ready to hinder and hurt the Church, and to destroy her seed.
After, he saith, He stood before the Woman; noting, that he setteth himselfe very fiercely and sharpely against the woman, that is, the Church and Children of God, whose names were written in the Booke of life: And therefore hee is said to wait on the woman, first, to hinder her that shee should not bring forth, and then to deuoure them at the least when they were brought forth, that is, when they haue beene called, and made profession of the truth, and are made members of Christ by faith; euen then is hee ready most strongly to assault them, to ouerthrow, if it were possible, the foundation of their faith. Where hee compareth the Diuell to an enuious Mid-wife, opposing him to a good Mid-wife; for as she is carefull to helpe the woman in trauell, and to saue the Childe; so the Diuell contrariwise is ready to hinder and hurt the Church, and to destroy her seede.
Whereas the Church is said to bring forth a Man-Child; it is first meant of Christ, and then of his members and servants in the beginning of the Church, whom now he hath joined unto him in his kingdom, but principally it is to be understood of Christ, that valiant one, who albeit he was stung on the ⟨p. 75⟩Cross by the Serpent, yet even thereby he overcame, and after was taken up to heaven, and had victory, triumphing over the devil, over sin, and over all his enemies, and the enemies of the Church.